A World of Many Languages studying abroad

A. Before reading the text answer the following question in 30-40 words.
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If you could choose any country in which you would like to attend an English course, what would it be and why?

B. Now read the text and do the tasks which follow it.

Cactus Language Worldwide Cactus is an award-winning company and one of the worlds leading providers of language travel abroad and language training in the UK. Established in 1998 in Brightons North Laine,
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speciality) are like cacti: prickly on the outside and juicy on the inside. People are often put off learning a language because they think it will be too difficult, just as many people are too scared to taste the cactus. But as we demonstrated at one of our shows, where we gave thousands of people the chance to try some edible cactus,
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we are proud to offer language courses in over 25 languages, and in some 45 countries and 150 destinations, worldwide. We are passionate about languages and lifelong learning and, as well as speaking some 12

they were terrified before tasting and amazed afterwards at how delicious it was. Any of you who have learnt another language will know this feeling: after going through days or weeks of thinking you will never be able to understand

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languages between us, have personally visited all the locations we send our clients often taking the language courses ourselves! This means that we are consistently able to offer you, our clients, the highest levels of customer
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or make yourself understood, you suddenly get to that level where you are communicating in another language and another culture and experiencing things that do not exist in your own language.

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service, good value and enjoyment. And, unlike our competitors, there are no hidden costs as all registration fees and course materials are included in our prices. Dont forget our dedicated team of linguists and
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Secondly, even in our early days as Travel Santa Fe (our former trading name), we always had a cactus as a logo so why not keep up our old traditions... And thirdly, love it or hate it, Cactus is simply a

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travellers are always at the end of the phone to help and advise. For now well leave you to sit back and enjoy the website, and look forward to sharing our passion with you soon. A good question that many of you may, and do, ask is
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great name, and a word understandable in many languages. Why not try for yourself: learn a language & TASTE THE CACTUS!
http://www.cactuslanguage.com/en/cactus/index.php (adapted and abridged)

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Why Are We Called Cactus? First of all, and most importantly, languages (which are our

1. Find evidence in the text to support the following statements.

a) Cactus operates and offers courses all over the world. b) To ensure quality, they attend the courses themselves before offering them to their clients. c) As far as the costs are concerned, Cactus is very different from other companies. d) Cactus provides its clients with phone aid and support.

2. Answer these questions. Use your own words as far as possible.

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a) To what does the author compare a language? Account for your answer. b) Why are most people put off learning a language? c) What sales tactic does Cactus use in its shows to make its point across? d) Which stages does a foreign language student go through when abroad?

3. Find in the text words/expressions that mean the same as these.

a) intense b) pleasure c) undisclosed d) aid

C. Rewrite the sentences that follow. Do not alter the meaning and begin with the word given. 1. Cactus provides its clients with a special online information service.
Cactuss clients

2. Cactus can find you a language course anywhere in the world.

Cactus is...

3. Cactus is the most efficient provider of language courses abroad I have ever known.
I have never

4. A friend has given me a leaflet of Cactus which I found very appealing.

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5. You must be over 18 to go on one of Cactuss courses.

You are

D. Write about 100-120 words on ONE of the following. 1. Imagine you are in a foreign country taking a course. Write a letter to one of your friends telling
him or her what you have been doing.

2. Comment on the statement that follows.

Spending time in an English-speaking country is the best way to learn English. All other methods such as language lessons, summer courses and video courses are totally useless.
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E. Listening section 1. Listen to these people who have been on a programme for learning languages abroad and
complete the sentences. Speaker 1 a) Annie is currently in b) Her c) She hopes to take up Speaker 2 d) Byron and Paulines school is run by e) According to Byron, the teachers are way. f) The teachers took a special interest in the students Speaker 3 g) Felicity has been to h) She found the school was i) Felicity feels taking part in an and the she took the course. for learning Chinese. was great. . . and their material is presented in a fun and she finds the soon. really impressive. city. are excellent and she thinks Barcelona is a

Test specification
A. B. 1. (4 * 6) 2. (4 * 8) 3. (4 * 2) = 22 = 24 = 32 = 8 C. D. Total (5 * 10) = 50 (1 * 50) = 50 = 200 points

F. 1. (14 * 1) = 14