Learning objectives

8.4.2.1(8.R2) Understand specific information and detail in texts on a growing range of familiar general and curricular topics, including some extended texts

8.5.1.1 (8.W1) Plan, write, edit and proofread work at text level with little support on a range of general and curricular topics

8.5.6.1(8.W6) Link, independently, sentences into coherent paragraphs using a variety of basic connectors on a range of familiar general topics and some curricular topics

Assessment criteria

·    Realize particular facts and parts in reading passage

·    Make a clear plan of writing; Write a text; Check the written draft

·    Connect sentences into paragraphs with basic connectors and linking words

Level of thinking skills

Knowledge and comprehension

Application

Duration

20 minutes

Reading

Task 1. Read the text carefully. Select if the statements are TRUE or FALSE, put a tick in an appropriate column and EXPLAIN your choice.

Britain’s favourite store

Marks & Spencer is Britain’s favourite store in London. It attracts a great variety of customers. The Duchess of York and the British Prime Minister are just a few of its famous customers. Last year it made a profit of £929 million, which is more than £18 million a week.

It all started 122 years ago, when a young Polish immigrant, Michael Marks, had a stall in Leeds market. He did not have many things to sell: some cotton, a little wool, many buttons and a few shoelaces.  Above his stall he put the now famous notice: DON’T ASK HOW MUCH – IT IS A PENNY. For many years, the philosophy of M&S didn’t change – to sell goods at a moderate price.

Ten years later, he met Tom Spencer and together they started Penny Stalls in many towns of England. Today there are over 1300 branches of M&S all over the world – in Britain, America, Canada, Spain, France, Belgium, Egypt, Russia, Greece, Finland and Hungary. Britain has the majority of the company’s stores, 852 stores open their doors for all sorts of customers daily.  India takes the leading position among the international stores with 52 stores there.

The store bases its business on three principles: good value, good quality and good service. In addition, it changes with the times – once it was all jumpers and knickers. Now it is food, furniture and flowers as well.

The most important key to its success is its happy staff. Conditions of work are excellent. There are company doctors, dentists and hairdressers to look after the staff and all the staff can have lunch for under 40 pence!

Writing

Task 2. Write an essay about daily routine. You should write your essay according to the plan and structure and it has to be in the present simple. Look at the example that is given below.

Use basic conjunctions for your essay:

·         Then, next, after that, or, because, so

·         First, second, finally, for example, moreover

Plan of an essay

1.      Activities in the morning

2.      Activities at the school

3.      In the afternoon

4.      In the evening

Example of the essay

   My name is Aidar. I always wake up at 7 o’clock in the morning then I wash my face and brush my teeth. After that, I do some exercises then I put my clothes on and prepare my school bag. Next, I have my breakfast and read a book. At 8 o’clock I go to school and start my classes at school.

   At school I always sit in the first bench and listen to what my teachers say. I take down the important notes. Then I take part in indoor and outdoor games. After that, I often take my lunch break and talk with my friends.

  Our school breaks up at 2 p.m. Then I come back to my home straight. After taking a little rest, I go to the playground. I play football with my classmates.

  At around 6 p.m. I go back home and take a rest. Next, I usually watch some TV and chat with my family then I do my homework and help my mother in the house. At 9 o’clock I read a book and go to sleep.