In Part 4 of First Certificate Paper 1 Reading you have several short texts and fifteen questions to answer. You should read the questions first and then scan, or look very quickly through, the texts to find the answer to each question. In this lesson you practise this type of exercise. You need to recognise when the information is given using different words and eliminate wrong choices. You need to read the texts quickly, without worrying about words you don't know, as you don't have time to read each text thoroughly.

Below are two texts about sports facilities. Read them quickly without worrying about the words you don't know and decide which centre has each feature. Write the feature in the correct column.

High Green Leisure Centre:
Feature
Sharrow Baths:
 
cheaper for retired people

 
 
adult swimming classes in the evenings
 
 
badminton and table tennis
 
 
gym
 
 
special pool for diving
 
 
special pool for young children
 
 
special times for serious swimmers
 
High Green Leisure Centre

Fun for all the family, at the biggest leisure centre in the area. Try our new splash pool with wave machine - it's great for kids. And for the very littlest, there's a toddlers' pool (min. age 2). We have swimming classes for all ages in the evenings, and at the weekend too. If that's not enough, don't forget we've got squash, tennis, badminton, table-tennis, and roller skating, all in the one great centre. And after all that exercise, why not drop into the Hungry Bear, an excellent-value restaurant with all your kids' favourites? Hurry to High Green now - family membership is half-price, but for a limited period only.

Sharrow Baths

Full-sized swimming pool with all facilities, and separate diving pool. Lunchtime lane swimming for serious swimmers only. Morning classes for all levels. Monday afternoon parent and baby class. Children's after-school classes. Personal survival and lifesaving classes. Well-equipped gym with qualified instructors. Games room with table tennis. Snack and drink machines. Special rates for children, pensioners and the unemployed. Open all day Mon - Sat and Sun mornings.

Often the wording in the question may be different from the information in the texts. You need to be able to recognise where the same thing is said in different ways (paraphrasing). Match the expressions below that mean the same thing.
1. weekdays only
(a) buy one, get one free
2. two for the price of one (b) in the evening
3. at times to suit you (c) have a snack
4. daily (d) at the times you want
5. half-price (e) every day
6. after school (f) Monday to Friday
7. grab a bite to eat (g) cheaper prices
8. special rates (h) fifty per cent off
You may need to use a process of elimination when doing this kind of task. Read this text about another leisure facility and decide if The Spa has the following features and facilities. Write Y for Yes and N for No in the correct column.
Features and Facilities at The Spa
Yes or No
good for children
 
swimming pool  
exercise classes  
sauna  
food available  
swimming classes  
squash  
open in the evening  
open on Sundays  
The Spa

Sheffield's first and best women-only gym. Start off your day in a positive way at our morning aerobics classes. Have a lunchtime swim in our rooftop pool, or unwind after a hard day's work in our health spa, with sauna, Jacuzzi and relaxing massages. Grab a bite to eat in our popular sandwich and juice bar. Whatever your schedule, you can find time to visit The Spa. We're open Mon - Fri from early to late, and Saturday morning too. We're right in the centre of town, so why delay, pop in today!

Here are some texts about sports facilities around Sheffield. For questions 1-10, choose from the sports facilities A-E. Write the appropriate letter or letters in the column after the question.
According to the texts, which centre(s) is/are best for
Paragraph letter(s)

1. someone who wants help in the gym? (2 letters)

 
2. a woman who wants early morning aerobics? (2 letters)  
3. a child who wants swimming classes after school? (2 letters)  
4. a retired man with little money?  
In which centre(s) can you..  
1. swim on Sunday afternoons? (2 letters)
 
2. have a full meal?  
3. buy diet supplements?  
4. learn a martial art?  
5. take a young baby?  
6. exercise with people of the same sex?  

A High Green Leisure Centre

Fun for all the family, at the biggest leisure centre in the area. Try our new splash pool with wave machine - it's great for kids. And for the very littlest, there's a toddlers' pool (min. age 2). We have swimming classes for all ages in the evenings, and at the weekend too. If that's not enough, don't forget we've got squash, tennis, badminton, table-tennis, and roller skating, all in the one great centre. And after all that exercise, why not drop into the Hungry Bear, an excellent-value restaurant with all your kids' favourites? Hurry to High Green now - family membership is half-price, but for a limited period only!

B The Spa

Sheffield's first and best women-only gym. Start off your day in a positive way at our morning aerobics classes. Have a lunchtime swim in our rooftop pool, or unwind after a hard day's work in our health spa, with sauna, Jacuzzi and relaxing massages. Grab a bite to eat in our popular sandwich and juice bar. Whatever your schedule, you can find time to visit The Spa. We're open Mon - Fri from early to late, and Saturday morning, too. We're right in the centre of town, so why delay, pop in today!

C Carbrook Gym

In our two weight-training and fitness rooms you'll find all the latest equipment and fully-qualified instructors to help you. All new members receive a personal training plan, and your progress is checked regularly. Results guaranteed - we'll help you achieve the body you've always dreamed of. And don't forget to check out our shop, for all your nutrition and diet supplement needs. Opening soon - 15m pool and three squash courts. Join the North's most dynamic gym. Open every day (including Christmas day). Five minutes' drive from the M1, free parking.

D Sharrow Baths

Full-sized swimming pool with all facilities, and separate diving pool. Lunchtime lane swimming for serious swimmers only. Morning classes for all levels. Monday afternoon parent and baby class. Children's after-school classes. Personal survival and lifesaving classes. Well-equipped gym with qualified instructors. Games room with table tennis. Snack and drink machines. Special rates for children, pensioners and the unemployed. Open all day Mon - Sat and Sun mornings.

E Valley Sports Centre

Get fit and have fun at the centre that offers you more. More choice of activities - from aerobics and archery to trampolining and tae kwon do. More classes at times to suit you - from 7am to 9pm (weekdays only). More ways to pay - you can choose from morning only, off-peak only or full membership. Get good enough and you may even be able to join our highly-successful swimming and water-polo teams. Open every day (except bank holidays). Sorry - pool closed to the general public on Monday evenings for water-polo training.

You can listen to the article on sports facilities if you log on to the FCE Reading pages on the LearnEnglish Professionals website.
You are going to read a magazine article about people who have been in trouble with the law. For Questions 1 - 16, choose from the people (A-E). Some of the people may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order.
Multiple matching
In this part of the reading paper you have to find information from several different texts. To do this you have to read quickly, to find the meaning which corresponds to each question. Look at the question first and then quickly pass down the texts till you find a meaning which matches. The words will be different from those in the question.
Which person states the following opinions or ideas? Write the paragraph number in the correct column.
Statement Paragraph number
A. Although I have often broken the law, this was the first time I got into trouble.
 
B. I broke the law because I got angry.  
C. I could not take the judge seriously.  
D. I felt ashamed of what I had done.  
E. I got a worse punishment than I deserved.  
F. I got into trouble because I was not paying attention to what I was doing.
 
G. I have been able to continue with my normal job while in prison.  
H. I have lost contact with someone in my family.  
I. I have plans for the future.  
J. My friends and I were stealing something. 2 answers
K. My job is more boring than breaking the law.  
L. My punishment will be reduced because I have behaved well.  
M. Someone checks that I am not getting into trouble.  
N. Thank goodness he was not seriously injured.  
O. This was the first time I had broken the law.  

Attitudes to punishment

How do people feel when they get punished by the law? Fanny Adams talked to five people who have been in trouble.

  1. Max Middleton (23): I've been in prison now for nearly three years. I was sentenced to five, but with good conduct, I'll probably be let out early next year. I regret what I did - I hit a policeman during a fight after a football match. He just got in the way - but I do think my punishment was too harsh. Five years is a long time for losing your temper once. The worst thing about prison is the lack of privacy. Even when you think you are alone, someone can watch you through the door. And I miss my family. I've made some good friends here, though. And I've learnt a new trade. When I get out, I hope to be a furniture maker. Perhaps I'll start my own business. I don't want to come back here.
  2. Yusuf Ali (19): I've been on probation now for about three months. It's all right. All I have to do is report to the probation officer once a week and then we have a little talk about what I've been doing, who I've been spending my time with, you know, who my friends are. His job is to see that I don't get into trouble again because my friends and I were had up for burgling. I haven't done any burglaries since I was arrested because next time they'll send me to prison. Occasionally the probation officer comes to my house just to make sure I'm still living with my family. And I have a job now driving a delivery van. It's not as exciting as crime and the money's not so good but at least my family is happy about it.
  3. Marina Lacherche (37): I didn't stop at a red light and hit a cyclist who was coming in the other direction. Fortunately he wasn't badly hurt, but both he and I were very shocked. I don't know what came over me. I suppose I was a bit absent-minded from stress at work. I had to appear in front of the magistrates, and they fined me £500. But it wasn't the money, it was the embarrassment that was the worst, especially as there was a report in the local paper and people at work gave me a few funny looks. But at least I didn't lose my licence as it was a first offence, or I'd probably have lost my job as well.
  4. Hans Schlinger (47): At least I have a room to myself here - I don't have to share a cell with another prisoner, and as long as I'm back by seven o'clock to sleep there's no problem. Open prisons are a reasonable way of combining punishment with maintaining my job and my professional life. But I miss those things I'm not allowed to have: a home life, and complete independence. And my wife hasn't spoken to me since the trial, which was three years ago, so you could say my emotional life is a mess. And all for receiving stolen goods. It's not worth it.
  5. Kevin Smith (17): I was caught with one of my mates breaking into a car in a street near where I live. It was quite easy to get the door open with a screwdriver, but just as we were getting inside, the police came along. Caught red-handed, we were! I've taken cars plenty of times just for a drive here or there. The first time was when I was fifteen. I've never had an accident, and this was the first time the police had caught me. When the magistrate saw me, he just gave me a caution and told me not to do it again. I could have laughed, but when my mum found out, she was so angry that I think I'll give stealing cars a rest for a while.
Look at these words and phrases from the texts. Decide which are types of punishment, which are people connected with the law, and which are crimes and write them in the correct column below.
probation
probation officer
magistrates
fined
lose my licence
receiving stolen goods
burglary
a caution
open prison
 
Types of punishment
People connected with the law
Crimes
 

 

 

 

 


 
Here are more words which appeared in the texts. Join the words connected with crime with their explanations.
1. sentenced
a) unimportant crime
2. good conduct b) room in a prison
3. let out c) condemned
4. had up d) arrested
5. offence e) discovered in the act of breaking the law
6. trial f) released
7. caught red-handed g) good behaviour
8. cell h) legal process in court
Note that the expressions let out, had up, and caught red-handed are colloquial and informal.
You can listen to the article “Attitudes to Punishment” if you log on to the FCE Reading pages on the LearnEnglish Professionals website.
In this e-m@il lesson you have:
looked at a strategy for dealing with paper 1 part 4, the multiple matching exercise
practised matching paraphrases
studied vocabulary relating to crime and punishment
The next lesson focuses on parts 2 and 3 of the reading paper, and studies multi-word verbs and word building.