1. EXTRA READING + LISTENING New English File Elementary Unit
8
READING COMPREHENSION
1 Read Tom’s Story. Choose the correct answer, A, B, or C.
Tom’s story
Tom Larter was born in London in 1961. When he left school he worked as an electrician for seven
years. ‘I worked for a photocopy company but I didn’t like it,’ said Tom as we sat in a bar, drinking his
favourite beer. ‘Then the company went bust and I didn’t have a job for two years.’ Tom now lives in
Mannheim, Germany. He works in a glass factory in Heidelberg. He likes his job and the work is not
too difficult.
So why did he come to Germany? ‘I studied German at night school in London,’ explained Tom. ‘I
knew lots of vocabulary but my German accent was, and still is, terrible. A friend of mine studied with
me. He had a girlfriend in Germany and went over to join her in 1987. He wrote me a letter and told
me about life in Germany. I lived in a horrible flat in a poor part of London. One day my landlord told
me I had to leave.’
Tom came to Germany in 1988. For the first three weeks he slept on the floor of his friend’s flat. Then
he got the job at the glass factory. ‘The money was good and the people were friendly,’ said Tom as
we drank our beer. ‘It is strange but I felt at home in Germany. I found a good flat and I made some
good friends.’
Tom works in a factory but his big love is art. He loves painting but in London he didn’t often have
enough money to buy the materials he needed. After one month in Germany he started painting
again. ‘I was very lucky,’ continued Tom. ‘One of my friends works in a café. She agreed to have an
exhibition of my paintings in her café. It was a wonderful evening and I sold three paintings!’
Does he miss anything from England? ‘I miss my family of course – I try to fly home at least once a
year. I missed English football for a few years but now I have satellite television and I watch three or
four matches every week. But there’s one thing I can’t get in Germany – a good curry!’
Does he plan to stay in Germany all his life? ‘Probably. I’ve got some very good friends, I can paint
every evening, watch football, and (he held up his second glass) I have the best beer in the world.’
1 Tom went to Germany because…
A he spoke perfect German.
B his girlfriend lived there.
C a friend recommended it.
2 His German accent is …
A very bad.
B quite good.
C very good.
3 Before he went to Germany…
A he went to university.
B he worked in a British factory.
C he worked in Britain for several years.
4 His flat in Germany is…
A smaller than his London flat.
B nicer than his London flat.
C cheaper than his London flat.
5 His art…
A makes him a lot of money.
B doesn’t make him any money.

2. C makes him a little money.
2. Read the article about a working holiday. Choose the best word (A, B or C) for each space
(1 – 9).
The Ruwenzori Mountains
Mary Daniels is a student in England. This year she (0) __________ a very
interesting summer holiday. She travelled (1) __________ fifteen other people to
the Ruwenzori Mountains in africa. They went there to help make a road (2)
__________ a forest between two big towns. It was very difficult (3) __________
there was no water to drink and no shops where we (4) __________ buy food,
said Mary. It was also very cold and wet in the mountains. It is one of the (5)
__________ places in the world.
Mary (6) __________ in the mountains (7) __________ six weeks. It was hard
work, but she says it was the (8) __________ thing she has done. She is hoping to
return next year to do (9) __________ more work.
Example 0 A had
: .
B have
C has
1. A to 6. A stay
B with B stays
C by C stayed
2. A in 7. A for
B on B during
C over C in
3. A then 8. A good
B because B best
C why C better
4. A could 9. A some
B would like B any
C went C many
5. A wetter
B wettest
C more wet

3. LISTENING COMPREHENSION
1 Listen to Patrick and Sarah talking about their ambitions. For questions 1–5 circle the
correct answer.
Example
Patrick is _____.
A very happy.
B not very happy.
C very unhappy.
1 The place where Patrick lives is _____.
A exciting.
B quite boring.
C terrible.
2 Patrick is _____.
A an architect
B famous.
C interested in languages.
3 Sarah would like to _____.
A live abroad.
B live in south-east Asia.
C spend some time travelling.
4 Sarah likes _____.
A being in South America.
B being near her family and friends.
C having a husband and children.
5 Patrick would like to_____.
A live in another country.
B have children.
C buy a house.
2 Listen to James talking about his holiday. For questions 6–10 complete the table.
He went to Dublin.
How long? 6…….nights
Weather: 7 t rainy t sunny t cloudy
Hottest temperature: About 8…….o
Population: More than 50% is under 9…………………. .
It’s 10……………………. than a lot of capital cities.

4. Reading
1
1 C
2 A
3 C
4 B
5 C
2
1 B
2 A
3 B
4 A
5 B
6 C
7 A
8 B
9 A
Listening
1
1 B
2 C
3 C
4 B
5 A
2
6 3
7 cloudy
8 16
9 30
10 (much) safer

5. Taken from NEW ENGLISH FILE ELEMENTARY, Test Resource CD’s, File 8, Extra
Reading + Extra Listening (Tracks 16,17)