Real Reading 1
Unit 4 Test
NAME: _____ DATE: SCORE: /30
My World: People with Unusual Jobs
Real Reading 1 Unit 4 Test 1
1 In the third part of our series on interesting and unusual jobs, we speak to Mike Miller, who is a professional clown at Barnaby’s Circus.
5 Q: How long have you been a clown?
A: My mother would say I’ve always been a clown! But I’ve been working professionally for about nine years.
Q: Why did you become a clown?
10 A: My introduction to clowning was in the theater because I started as an actor. We did a piece that involved a lot of physical work: falling down, hitting people, that kind of thing. I loved it, and I was good at it. So I 15 started looking for clown jobs.
Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Q: What is so special about clowning?
A: The humor is very direct. Everybody gets the joke. We work in different countries and different cultures, but it doesn’t matter. 20 Because there’s no speech, everyone laughs. This kind of comedy doesn’t need an interpreter. It translates into any language.
Q: How did you start?
A: A friend of mine was sick, and the 25 circus needed someone to take his place. So I did it, and it was quite successful, so they asked me to come back. Then I found out
that they wanted a clown for the rest of the season. So I applied and got the job.
30 Q: How do you think of new things to do?
A: I watch a lot of videos. I also do experiments with everyday objects, like spoons or newspapers. I play with them and 35 see what’s popular and what people find humorous. Then I use the object in my act.
Q: What are some of your favorite acts?
A: I like to work with another clown. We run around the stage and that kind of thing. I 40 have a lot of energy. I like to be active on stage.
Q: Do you always do the same thing?
A: No! We like to surprise each other! You can’t ever really control what’s going 45 to happen next.
Q: What makes people laugh?
A: I think people laugh the most when they see some part of themselves. Clowns make fun of human nature, especially the 50 “bad” emotions, like arrogance and greed. The audience sees the similarities, and people can laugh at their own mistakes. It’s not offensive. That’s the important thing. It’s just a lot of fun.
Read the statements about the reading. Write T (true) or F (false).
1. Mike Miller has been working as a clown for about eleven years.
2. He became a clown because he couldn’t find work as an actor.
3. When Mike works in other countries, he needs a translator.
4. Mike got his first job as a clown when a friend was sick.
5. Mike uses different objects in his act.
6. Mike’s style is slow and quiet.
7. Mike does the same things in every show.
8. According to Mike, clowns help people to laugh at themselves.
Total: ______ / 8
A. Replace the underlined word or words with a word from the box. (You will not use two of the words.)
emotions humorous make fun of physical speech
found out introduction mistake popular surprise
1. That joke isn’t very funny. _________________
2. It’s not polite to laugh at other children. _________________
3. Fear and happiness are basic human feelings. _________________
4. Mike discovered that he was good at clowning. _________________
5. Sue is well-liked in school. She has a lot of friends. _________________
6. I didn’t read the whole book. I just read the first part. _________________
7. The scientist gave an interesting talk at the university. _________________
8. We sent the wrong information because of a computer error. _________________
B. Complete the sentences with the words from the box. (You will not use two of the words.)
active control fun offensive surprised
brain experiment interpreter physical translate
1. The scientist did a(n) _________________ to find out what makes people laugh.
2. Nobody expected to pass the exam. The good results _________________ everybody.
3. Swimming or walking every day helps you to stay _________________.
4. Sudoku and crossword puzzles are good for your _________________.
5. _________________ exercise, such as running or swimming, is very important.
6. There was ice on the road so it was hard to _________________ the car.
7. This woman doesn’t speak any English. She needs a(n) _________________ to help her understand the doctor.
8. I didn’t laugh at the joke because I thought it was _________________.
Use the suffix –al or –ity to create new words from the words in the box. Then use the new words to complete the sentences. (You will not use one of the words.)
active experiment popular similar
emotion nature practice
1. Everybody cries at the end of the movie when the young girl dies. It’s a very _________________ scene.
2. Is that wall man-made, or is it _________________?
3. My sister and I look different, but we have one important _________________: we both love horses.
4. Every day, I try to walk, run, or do some kind of physical ...
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