UNIT TEST 1 ● GROUP A
Dictation, Listening and Reading
Name: ____________________________________ Listening
Class: ____________________________________ 2 [Track 3] Listen to five people talking about
Total: _ /30 studying. Match statements A-F with speakers 1-5.
There is one extra statement.
Dictation This speaker …
1 [Track 2] Listen and write the sentences you hear, A was unable to make an important decision.
including the punctuation.
B was happy with a small circle of friends.
C wasn’t impressed by the teaching.
D learned an important lesson about life.
E listened to the wrong advice.
F now has a different attitude to studying than
before.
Speaker 1 2 3 4 5
/10
/10
© Pearson 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE Focus 4 SECOND EDITION (B2/B2+)
UNIT TEST 1 ● GROUP A
Dictation, Listening and Reading
Reading As we can see, Finland and South Korea do share one
great similarity. In both societies, people look up to
3 Complete gaps 1–5 with sentences A–F. There is
teachers and recognise the importance of the job
one extra sentence.
they are doing. So, let’s have more respect for
LEARNING FROM HOW OTHERS LEARN teachers, students and education in general and,
If we want to give our children the best education maybe, our children can be challenging those from
possible, it is sensible to look at the most successful South Korea and Finland in the future.
education systems in the world for ideas. Different
countries have different ideas about how to ensure A The answer appears to be by sheer hard work.
that their children maximise their potential. It’s clear Students are under immense pressure to achieve
that no education system is perfect. (1) ___ So, what, their goals.
if anything, can we learn from them and are there any
similarities between them at all? B These comparisons can hide faults and ignore
The two countries are South Korea and Finland. Korea positive aspects of poorly performing students
has a one hundred percent literacy rate. Its but, generally, they give us a good idea of which
students achieve outstanding grades in all kinds education systems work best.
of tests compared to those in other countries.
How do they do it? (2) ___ Many are taught by C Alternatively, it could be an interest in what they
private tutors after their normal lessons. Despite are learning and a thirst for even more
large class sizes, there are no problems with knowledge.
discipline. Teachers are respected and teach in a
traditional manner with the children paying attention D However, in most studies, two countries have a
and obeying instructions unquestioningly. higher standard of education than others, even
Finnish children also do very well in comparison with though the way they educate their children
school students in other countries. However, in seems to be completely different.
Finland, schools combine a short school day and
extra after-school activities to develop individual E The idea is that they will work hard because they
interests and motivate the children. (3) ___ There is want to rather than because they are forced to.
much less stress in Finnish schools than in Korean
schools but that doesn’t mean that the teaching is F The public are more aware of the length of
unprofessional. Finnish teachers spend less time teachers’ holidays than the enormous
teaching but more time in professional development. pressure they are under in the classroom.
They are highly educated and teaching is a well- /10
respected and well-paid profession.
So, what can we learn from this brief look at two
countries who are able to educate their children
more effectively than we can? Firstly, children need a
reason to learn. That may be pressure from parents,
peers and society as a whole to succeed. (4) ___ Too
often in our schools, we find children who are
uninterested in the lessons and parents who are
uninterested in their progress. Politicians and
journalists would rather criticise teachers than
praise them and, as a result, members of the
teaching profession lack the respect they receive in
other countries. (5) ___ The opposite should be
true.
© Pearson 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE Focus 4 SECOND EDITION (B2/B2+)
