PET Reading Trial Test 2

Rock tlhe Planet

Music journalist Nick Hilman meets young actors from this popular musical show.

Rock the Planet, a musical show where actors also have to be really good musicians, openedinLondon last year, after fiveyearsintheUSA, where it was voted 'Best Musical’ four times! But doing the show with an all-British cast of actors was challenging. The UK puts more limits on how many performances young actors can do weekly- in the USA, they’re allowed to do more shows. Because of this, twice as many actors were required here. Luckily, the director found plenty of talented UK-based actors, and they’ve just won their first ‘Best Musical’ award. Although the theatre in London is bigger than the US venue, it’s been full every night, with everyone wanting to hear the songs that first became popular in America.

I met 11-year-old Jamie, one of the show’s actors. ‘It’s brilliant that I get paid to play,’ he said, ‘especially a beautiful and expensive Gibson guitar.’ He told me how busy the young actors are. ‘We have normal school lessons each day at the theatre. While the teacher’s great, I miss my old school mates.’ And what do they think of the show? ‘Well, my whole class came! The theatre does special deals on tickets for schools. They absolutely loved it and that made me feel really confident. My parents come when they can, but it’s expensive for them,’ he explained.

When I said I also play guitar, Jamie found a spare one and invited me to play along with him and the other young actors. We played Days, a song I wasn’t familiar with. Jamie took me through it and I was very pleased with myself when I finally got it right. I was impressed by Jamie’s ability and wished I had similar skills.I was just trying to keep up and was glad the show’s director wasn’t there to hear my mistakes!

While the young actors were already musicians, with some playing several instruments, none had played in a band before. Fortunately, they’ve found it pretty easy. Jamie admitted that the hard part was appearing natural when they first performed together. They were concentrating so much that they forgot to smile!

The show’s on in London for another year, and is well worth seeing.

The most unusual festival I've been to

by Diane Key

Last year I visited a small village near the city of Gloucester, England, where a very special and unusual race takes place once a year. It's called 'Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling'. On a Saturday at the beginning of spring, people from all over the world go to Cooper's Hill to see the race. The first written information about the race was in a message sent to the local government in 1826. 16 So nobody knows when it really started. Each year, the event becomes more and more popular with people coming from all over the world to take part and to watch. 17

The way the race works is as follows. There is a very large piece of cheese, which is round, like a wheel, and weighs about 4 kilograms. 18 One of the people in charge of the event sends the large piece of cheese down the hill and half a second later everyone taking part runs down the hill after the cheese. 19 In the past, the cheese has hit people watching the race and injured them. It's not just the spectators who get injured; many of the people running down the hill get serious injuries, too. The injuries are usually broken ankles and legs as the runners lose control coming down the steep hill. 20 T here are also lots of local people helping to catch the runners, so they don't fall over and hurt themselves, they are called 'catchers'.

This event has become so famous that it appears on television all over the world on the BBC network and, also, on Trans World Sport. People watching this event think it is very strange and that the people taking part are crazy.

A. It has wood around it to protect it.
B. The police think the event is very dangerous.
C. Winners of the event have come from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal.
D. Sometimes they use an old tyre.
E. The words in this message showed that this event was already a tradition then.
F. That's why, at the bottom of the hill, there are lots of ambulances and medical staff. 
G. The first person over the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese.
H. Children are not allowed to eat the cheese.

My first flight

Last week my family and I travelled by plane for the first time. I must admit we all had a few questions that we were too (21)___ to ask anyone and I guess there are many other teens that could use some (22)___ to help them go through their first flight.

So, first, make sure you arrive with all the (23)___ paperwork to board the flight that is your passport, which must be valid. As most airlines issue e-tickets, don't worry if you don't get a paper ticket, as well. Once you show though your e-ticket to the staff, you will be given a physical boarding pass; this is what will give you (24)___ to the aeroplane.

All travellers get confused by airline rules about baggage. For trips lasting several days or more, you'll need to (25)___ in a piece of hold luggage, while for a long weekend or for a city break, all you need can usually fit into a bag or case which you can take with you on the plane.

Once you've made it successfully on to your flight, look for a number followed by a letter on your boarding pass. That's your seat number. If you can't locate your seat, the cabin crew will be happy to help and put your luggage in a safe place, either in an overhead (26)___ or under your seat. Now, all you need to do is sit back and relax.

Staying in on a Saturday night

Most teenagers look forward to Saturday night as it is normally the time to go (27) and have fun with friends. But occasionally, as I am exhausted from all the studying for school, I just need to relax and (28) at home.

Tonight, two of my friends are coming round to my house and we are (29) to watch a film on Netflix together. We are going to watch an action film, which is great, because my audio system has four speakers around the living room. The sound effects will be great!

We have decided to order some pizzas because my mum has to work late and none of us wanted to cook tonight.

(30) is also a lot of ice cream in the freezer for dessert. I guess we won't be eating healthy food tonight. My sister (31) already gone to the cinema with her friends, so she won't be bothering us (32) she comes home early!