This document contains a reading passage and exam questions about the importance of taking holidays. 1. The passage discusses holiday policies in different countries, with Finland and France having the most annual leave at 30 days. It notes some people never take holidays and continue working even on holidays. 2. It explains doctors have found holidays can reduce health risks like heart attacks by taking time off to relax and recharge. 3. The document concludes that holidays increase energy levels and ability to accomplish work, so people should consider taking real holidays for benefits even if just dreaming about them.

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Progress Test 4
Test PROGRESS TEST 4
Name:
Date:
Mark: / 80 marks
Units 7 & 8
Reading
A Read the text about the importance of holidays.
Whoneedsaholiday?
You do! In 137 countries around the world, governments
have passed laws that guarantee employees annual leave
of three or four, or even more, weeks every year.
However, in some countries, such as the United States,
there is no such annual leave law. France and Finland
have the most time off – 30 days. 25 days leave is the
norm for quite a few countries, such as Austria, while
China and Canada only have ten days.
Nevertheless, many people don’t take holidays often
enough. Some never take them! Their workload is so huge
that they feel that they can’t take any time off. These
people are constantly trying to juggle their workload. Even
when they do take a holiday, they often take work with
them, so they’re still working. Even if they don’t take work
with them, they almost certainly check e-mails which means
they can’t completely forget about work and relax.
Doctors and medical researchers know that taking time off
is more than a good idea. A holiday may be just as
important to your physical health as taking medicine or
getting regular exercise. They say that an annual holiday
can cut the risk of heart attack in men by 30 percent and in
women by 50 percent. A holiday enables you to recharge
your batteries, to do things that you never have time to
do, to experience new things or even to just rest. Time
away from the job also helps your mental health. Just
being away helps relax the mind and increase your
level of happiness.
Another benefit of a holiday is that you return from it
better able to do your regular work, whatever that may
be. A recent study by C. Fritz and S. Sonnentag showed
that holidays increase your energy level so that you need
less effort to get work done when you return. Many
people have said that their ability to accomplish
meaningful work is far greater after a holiday; they feel
totally energised. So maybe it’s time to start thinking
about taking a real holiday. There may even be some
benefit in dreaming about it, even if you can’t actually
do it.
B Complete the Exam Task.
Read the text and the questions below. For each question, choose the correct letter a, b, c or d.
Exam Task
1 In which country do workers have the most time off?
a the USA
b Austria
c Canada
d Finland
2 In paragraph 2, what does the word they refer to?
a people’s workload
b people who don’t take holidays
c holidays
d people who frequently take holidays

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National Geographic Learning.
Permission granted to photocopy for classroom use.
Close-up B1 Second Edition
Progress Test 4
3 The writer says that some people who take
holidays
a use a laptop to relax on holiday.
b don’t enjoy them.
c can’t stop thinking about work.
d should take work with them.
4 According to paragraph 3,
a people are able to do anything they like when
they are at work.
b holidays allow people to exercise their minds.
c holidays are more important than taking
medicine.
d doctors believe it is very beneficial to take
holidays.
5 How would the writer explain the importance of
going on a holiday?
a We work better after a holiday.
b It’s good to think about a holiday after going
back to work.
c Work becomes more meaningful before a
holiday.
d Holidays make people excited about work
( / 10 marks)
.

3. Copyright ©
National Geographic Learning.
Permission granted to photocopy for classroom use.
Close-up B1 Second Edition
Progress Test 4
Vocabulary and Use your English
A Match the words in bold in the sentences 1–8 with their meaning a–h.
1 Mrs Jenkins is supervising an exam so she can’t deal with your question
at the moment.
2 They survived in the mountains with little food or water.
3 It’s too difficult! I give up!
4 Did you injure your foot when you fell?
5 She collapsed after walking in the desert for days.
6 How easily did you adapt to the freezing temperatures?
7 Some college students find it hard to cope with attending college and
working part-time.
8 Jason excels at learning languages.
a get used to
b Hurt
c does extremely well
d handle a difficult situation
e stop trying
f fell down
g managed to stay alive
h solve a problem
( / 8 marks)
B Circle the correct words.
1 I know you’re worried but please try to save / keep calm.
2 When did Linda take / find up swimming?
3 They always do / make a long journey during the summer.
4 I want to find out / up if she knows my brother.
5 Do you know when the adventurer went / got missing?
6 I hate the way he is always showing off / up his new phone.
7 If you go hiking this weekend, be careful. It’s very easy to go / get lost in the forest.
8 You won the writing competition! This calls to / for a celebration!
C Circle the odd one out.
( / 8 marks)
1 field ice valley
2 healthy hurt injured
3 hobby pastime victim
4 blankets sweaters trousers
5 ordeal sculpture painting
6 explorer companion expedition ( / 6 marks)
D Complete the sentences with these words.
during in above about over of across on
1 the years, tennis has become a very popular sport in Spain.
2 I’d like to try lots of extreme sports, but all I want to go free-diving.
3 She has always dreamt of climbing to the top Mount Everest.
4 All the trainers on this shelf are the same price, so pick them ones you like best.
5 The water must be freezing so don’t fall it!
6 I really don’t understand how the athletes manage to run the desert.
7 Pete has windsurfed a lot the summer. That’s why he’s got much better at it.
8 If he wins this Iron Man contest, he’ll be one of the toughest people the planet.
( / 8 marks)

4. Copyright ©
National Geographic Learning.
Permission granted to photocopy for classroom use.
Close-up B1 Second Edition
Progress Test 4