Exam Prep 1 · Year 8
Practise for your class test with similar tasks: a listening dialogue, a reading text, a writing task and words & grammar exercises — all about impressions of the USA.
How to use this page: work through the four parts in any order. Most exercises check themselves and explain the answer. The writing task is not auto-corrected — use the checklist to check your own text, or compare it with a sample answer.
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Part 1
Mia has just come back from an exchange year in the United States. Listen to (or read) her conversation with Tyler, then do the exercises below.
Mia: Hey Tyler! I just got back from my exchange year in the United States. Can I tell you about it?
Tyler: Of course! What was American high school like?
Mia: It’s so different from our school here. First of all, almost everyone takes the yellow school bus in the morning.
Tyler: Really? I always thought that was just something from movies.
Mia: No, it’s real! And the school had a huge cafeteria where everyone eats lunch together.
Tyler: What about lessons? Are they similar to ours?
Mia: Not really. Students choose a lot of their own subjects, and we moved to a different classroom for every lesson. We also had lockers in the hallway for our books.
Tyler: That sounds practical. Did you join any clubs or sports teams?
Mia: Yes! I joined the school’s football team — but it’s American football, not soccer. The games on Friday nights were a huge event. The whole town came to watch.
Tyler: Wow, that’s intense. What about things like prom? I’ve seen that in so many films.
Mia: We had prom in May. Everyone got really dressed up, and it was a huge deal for the seniors.
Tyler: Did you also have something called homecoming? I keep hearing about that.
Mia: Yes, homecoming was in October. There was a parade, a football game, and a dance in the evening.
Tyler: This all sounds amazing. Would you go back?
Mia: Definitely. I made great friends, and I learned so much about a different culture. I’d recommend an exchange year to anyone.
Tyler: I think I need to start saving money for my own trip now!
1a
Tick the things Mia actually talks about. There are more options than correct answers.
Part 2
Read the blog post below, then do the exercises.
Hi everyone!
Choosing where to go on your first trip to the United States can be really difficult, especially with so many incredible cities to pick from. Today, I want to compare two very different destinations: Chicago and Miami. By the end of this post, you should have a better idea of which one suits you best.
Let’s start with Chicago, sometimes called the “Windy City.” Chicago is famous for its impressive skyline*, with skyscrapers* that seem to touch the clouds. If you love architecture, you can take a boat tour along the river and learn about the history of the buildings. Chicago is also known for its deep-dish pizza, which is much thicker than the pizza you might be used to. Another highlight is Millennium Park, home to “The Bean,” a giant, shiny sculpture* that reflects the whole city around it. Keep in mind, though, that Chicago can get extremely cold in winter, with icy wind coming off Lake Michigan.
Miami, on the other hand, offers a completely different experience. With its warm weather almost all year round, Miami is perfect if you enjoy beaches, swimming, and outdoor activities. South Beach is famous for its colourful Art Deco* buildings and lively atmosphere. Miami also has a strong Latin American influence, which you can see in the food, the music, and the languages spoken on the streets. If you are interested in nature, you can take a day trip to the Everglades, a huge area of wetlands* full of unique wildlife, including alligators.
When it comes to cost, both cities can be expensive, but Miami’s hotels tend to be pricier* during the winter months, when tourists from colder places escape the cold. Chicago, meanwhile, often has cheaper accommodation* in the winter, since fewer tourists want to visit then.
So, which city should you choose? If you prefer culture, architecture and food, Chicago might be the better choice. If you are looking for sunshine, beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere, Miami could be perfect for you. Of course, the best solution might be to visit both — just not in the same season!
Let me know in the comments which city you would choose and why!
*skyline – die Skyline, *skyscraper – der Wolkenkratzer, *sculpture – die Skulptur, *Art Deco – Art Deco (Baustil), *wetlands – Feuchtgebiete, *pricier – teurer, *accommodation – die Unterkunft
2a
Click a heading, then click the paragraph slot you think it belongs to. Click a filled slot to remove it again.
Part 3
Your class is planning a trip and can choose between New York City and Toronto. You really want to go to New York. Write an email to your teacher explaining why you want to go to New York and give good arguments. Write 75 words or more.
Higher level: also give two reasons why you don’t want to go to Toronto. Write 100 words or more.
0 words
Dear Mr Owen,
I’d really like to go to New York City for our class trip this year. I think it’s a better choice than Toronto because New York has so much to offer. In New York you can visit world-famous places like Times Square, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, and you can also see a real Broadway show. Also, New York is a very international city, so it would be a great chance to practise our English with people from all over the world.
I don’t really want to go to Toronto because it is much quieter than New York, and I think we would get bored after a day or two. Another reason is that Toronto doesn’t have as many famous sights as New York, so there would be less to explore and talk about afterwards.
I hope you will consider New York for our trip!
Best wishes,
Jonas
Part 4