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University Tips
In the news
By Ajarn Helen Jandamit, Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the university entrance examination.
SECTION 1
Scan the following articles and excerpts from the Bangkok Post newspaper. Then, in the spaces provided, write the correct letter of the articles to match the following headings.
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1. Weather forecast
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2. Comic strip
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3. Classified Ads
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HELPFUL NEWS VOCABULARY
Before beginning this week’s University Tips, let’s look at some terms that are used in newspapers. They will be helpful in doing this week’s exercises.
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headline
(n): the
title of a newspaper or magazine story byline (n): the name of the reporter or writer weather forecast (n): a newspaper column that tells you what the weather will probably be like today or over the next few days classified ads (n): the section of a newspaper with small advertisements arranged in groups according to their subject, that are placed by people who want to buy or sell something, offer a job, rent an apartment, etc. lead (n): the first sentence or first few sentences of a story comic strip (n): a series of drawings inside boxes that tell a story and are often printed in newspapers |
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SECTION 2
Look at the news story. Then, write the information from the story for each of the following.
RAF HELPS BLINDED PILOT LAND CESSNA SAFELY IN ENGLAND
by Jennifer Quinn
London — A British pilot who suffered a stroke and lost his sight mid-flight was talked down safely by a military pilot, the Royal Air Force (RAF) said yesterday.
Jim O’Neill asked for help after he was suddenly blinded 40 minutes into a solo flight from Scotland to southeastern England last week. The BBC reported that O’Neill, flying a small Cessna aircraft, lost his sight 1,676 metres in the air.
“It
was terrifying,” O’Neill said. “I couldn’t see the dials in front of me.”
An air force news release said that O’Neill initially thought that he’d been dazzled by bright sunlight and made an emergency call for help. He then realised that something more serious was happening, saying, “I want to land as soon as possible.”
RAF Wing Commander Paul Gerrard was finishing a training flight nearby and was called to help the stricken pilot.
“Landing an aircraft blind requires somebody to be right there to give directions,” Gerrard said. “On the crucial final approach, even with radar assistance, you need to take over visually. I was just glad to help a fellow aviator in distress.”
O’Neill’s son, Douglas, said that his father is an experienced pilot who has flown for nearly two decades. The 65-year-old pilot is recovering in hospital and is beginning to regain his sight. — AP
4. Write the headline of the story.
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5. Write the byline of the story.
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SECTION 3
Read the news story. Then, answer the following comprehension questions.
6. What does RAF stand for?
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7. What nationality is the pilot of the Cessna aircraft?
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8. How many people were flying with the pilot in the plane?
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9. When did the pilot become blind?
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SECTION 4
Rearrange the following letters to spell words from the news story.
10. trekos
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11. raftcair
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12. taryilmi
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13. dedblni
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