NAME:________________________________________________ CLASS:_________

2nd BACHILLERATO, RETAKIG EXAMIATIO. DATE:_________

THE LOST WRITER

Taught at home by a tutor, as a child Agatha Christie never attended school. She
invented games to keep herself occupied at a very young age. A shy child, she could not
express her feelings; she first used music as a means of expression and, later, writing. In
1914, at the age of 24, she married Archie Christie, a pilot. While he was at war, she
worked as a nurse, and, working in a hospital, Christie first had the idea of writing a
detective novel.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles gave the world Hercule Poirot, a retired Belgian police
officer who would become one of the most famous character in fiction. He was a
meticulous, slightly absurd little man. Christie wrote more than 30 novels where Poirot
appeared. In 1926, Archie asked for a divorce. Agatha immediately disappeared, and all
England became excited about “The Case of the missing writer”. She was found three
weeks later, explaining to police that she had lost her memory.

She found happiness by marrying Max Mallowan, a young archaeologist whom she
met on a trip to Mesopotamia. Another of Christie's most well-known characters was
introduced in 1930: Miss Jane Marple, an elderly spinster in the English village of St.
Mary Mead, who solved mysteries with concentration and intuition. Christie wrote over
66 novels, numerous short stories and screenplays. Several of her works were made into
successful films, such as Murder on the Orient Express(1974). Her work has been
translated into more than a hundred languages. In short, she is the most popular mystery
writer of all time.

1. COMPREHESIO: (2,5)

1.1 Answer the questions A-B according to the information given in the text.
USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
A) What different kinds of writing did Agatha Christie do? (0,75)

B) In what ways was Agatha Christie different from most other people? (0,75)

1.2 Are these statements TRUE or FALSE ? Justify your answers with the precise
words or phrases from the text , or use your own words.
C) Poirot asked for divorce in 1926, she disappeared right after that .(0,5)

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NAME:________________________________________________ CLASS:_________
2nd BACHILLERATO, RETAKIG EXAMIATIO. DATE:_________

D) Christie wrote about a hundred novels and a few short stories. (0,5)

2. USE OF EGLISH : (2) (0,25 each)

1. Give a synonym for “ SLIGHTLY” (adverb) ____________________________

2. Find one opposite for “ANONYMOUS” (noun)____________________________

3. Find in the text one word meaning “childless woman who has never been married.”

_____________________________
4. Give a noun with the same root as “ EXCITED” (adjective)__________________
5. Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated:
“At the age of 24, she married Archie Christie.”
When she … ______________________________________________________
6. Join the following sentences using a Relative . make changes if necessary.
“Christie wrote over 66 novels. Her work has been translated into more
than a hundred languages.”
_________________________________________________________________
7. Turn the following sentence into the Passive voice.
“ She invented games to keep herself occupied at a very young age”
_________________________________________________________________
8. Turn the following into the Reported Speech:
“ Let’s read Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie” ( The students)
_________________________________________________________________

3. GRAMMAR and VOCABULARY: (2,5)

1.Write the following sentences into Reported Speech: (0,5)

*Mrs.Smith said to the children: “ What are you watching on my TV now?”

*The owner of the house said, “ This thief stole my computer and my watch
yesterday after closing my shop”.

2. PASSIVE VOICE: (0,5)

a. Write this sentence into passive voice:
People expect that the new mayor will open an indoor swimming-pool in the town.

b. Write this sentence into active voice:

A single injection of the growth gene was given to a mouse.

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NAME:________________________________________________ CLASS:_________
2nd BACHILLERATO, RETAKIG EXAMIATIO. DATE:_________
3.Rewrite the following sentence: (0,25)
I'm sure their parents were very strict.
Their parents..........................................................................................................

3.Choose the suitable phrasal verb and write it in the correct form. (0,5)

TUR OUT PUT UP WITH SEE SOMEOE OUT

SEE THROUGH STAD I FOR USE UP
BRIG DOW COME DOW O MAKE OFF WITH
1. Sometimes things do not …....................................the way you expect.
2. After Christmas, shops all over town usually …........................their prices.
3. Marge …....................................her boss' bad moods for years.
4. When Mr. Smith saw his son, he …...................................him because of his
behaviour at school.
5. Don't worry! The maid will …..........................................(you) . Good bye!

4.Write a synonym or a definition of the following words: (0,75)

hoot
Get a word in the
edgeways
harsh
yell
shades
roar
grab
Get the sack
gleam
groan
trunk
inmate
Bite my head off
mainstream
utter

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NAME:________________________________________________ CLASS:_________
2nd BACHILLERATO, RETAKIG EXAMIATIO. DATE:_________

4. PRODUCTIO: (3)

Write a composition of 120 words about the topic, focus strictly on it.
Do you think rich or famous people are happier than the rest of us? Give reasons and
your opinion.

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