English
Reading Comprehension
II
SVÖR
1. Ludwig van Beethoven
Words
composer: tónskáld, höfundur
composition: tónsmíðar
gained: öðlaðist
a reputation: orðspor
a virtuoso: snillingur
to deteriorate: hraka, versna
decade: áratugur
deaf: heyrnarlaus
performing: koma fram; flytja tónverk
in public: opinberlega
continued: hélt áfram
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
He was German.
On 17 December 1770.
To Vienna.
Joseph Haydn.
His hearing began to deteriorate.
In 1811.
Nine.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
2
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What was Beethoven‘s nationality?
[ ] a) English
[ ] b) French
[x] c) German
[ ] d) Spanish
2. When was Beethoven born?
[ ] a) 1750
[x] b) 1770
[ ] c) 1790
[ ] d) 1810
3. To where did Beethoven move when he was twenty-one?
[ ] a) Berlin
[ ] b) London
[ ] c) Paris
[x] d) Vienna
4. With whom did Beethoven study in Vienna?
[ ] a) Antonio Vivaldi
[ ] b) Franz Liszt
[ ] c) George Frideric Handel
[x] d) Joseph Haydn
5. What happened to Beethoven in his late 20s?
[ ] a) His eyesight began to deteriorate
[x] b) His hearing began to deteriorate
[ ] c) He lost his sense of smell
[ ] d) He lost his wife
6. When did Beethoven give up performing in public?
[ ] a) In 1776
[ ] b) In 1784
[ ] c) In 1793
[x] d) In 1811
7. How many symphonies did Beethoven write?
[ ] a) One
[ ] b) Five
[x] c) Nine
[ ] d) Thirty-two
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
3
2. The Nile
Words
entirely: alveg, eingöngu
the equator: miðbaugur
delta: óseyri; óshólmar
annual: árviss, árlegur
flood: flóð; að flæða
provided: útvegaði; lét í té
crops: uppskera
whereas: aftur á móti
a desert: eyðimörk
an oasis: vin
historian: sagnfræðingur
the completion: lúkning, fullkomnun
dam: stífla
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
In Africa.
About 6650 km long.
Its water made it possible to grow things.
That Egypt was the gift of the Nile.
5. Because of the Aswan Dam.
6. In 1970.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
4
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Where is the Nile?
[x] a) In Africa
[ ] b) In East Asia
[ ] c) In South America
[ ] d) In Spain
2. How long is the Nile?
[ ] a) 1799 km
[x] b) 6650 km
[ ] c) 7910 km
[ ] d) 12181 km
3. Why was the Nile important to the Ancient Egyptians?
[ ] a) They could bathe in it
[ ] b) It was a steady source of fish to eat
[ ] c) It was difficult for enemy armies to cross it
[x] d) The water helped crops to grow
4. What did Herodotus write about the Nile?
[ ] a) That it came from Hell
[ ] b) That there were no fish there anymore
[x] c) That Egypt was a gift of the Nile
[ ] d) That it was poisonous
5. Why does the Nile not flood today?
[x] a) Because of the Aswan Dam
[ ] b) Because so much water is used for drinking
[ ] c) Because of the Suez Canal
[ ] d) The weather has changed; it doesn‘t rain as much as it did
6. When was the Aswan Dam completed?
[ ] a) 1966
[x] b) 1970
[ ] c) 1984
[ ] d) 1992
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
5
3. Green
Words
research: rannsókn(ir)
has revealed: hafa sýnt; hafa leitt í ljós
employees: starfsfólk
more productive: afkastameiri
maintained: viðhaldið
with attention to: með tilliti til
environmental: umhverfisimpact: áhrif
the presence: nærvera, viðurvist
levels: stig
rectangle: rétthyrningur
boosts: eykur
output: afköst
associations: tengsl
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
That employees in a green building are more productive.
A building built and maintained with attention to its environmental impact.
Lower stress levels.
Their creative output is increased by 20%.
Go green.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
6
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What does the research done in San Diego show?
[ ] a) That bananas grow better in greenhouses
[x] b) That employees in a ‘green’ building are more productive
[ ] c) That all buildings are the same
[ ] d) That the presence of plants reduces productivity
2. What is a ‘green’ building?
[ ] a) A building that is painted green
[ ] b) A building where you can grow vegetables
[x] c) A building built and maintained with attention to its environmental impact
[ ] d) A building that stands away from other buildings
3. What are green plants in an office known to do?
[ ] a) Make people want to sing
[ ] b) Make the buildings last longer
[ ] c) Increase stress levels
[x] d) Lower stress levels
4. What happens when people look at a green rectangle for a couple of seconds?
[ ] a) Their mathematical skills are increased by 20%
[ ] b) They become disoriented
[x] c) Their creative output is increased by 20%
[ ] d) They get tired and drowsy
5. What should you do if you want to increase productivity in your workplace?
[ ] a) Go blue
[x] b) Go green
[ ] c) Put more pictures on the walls
[ ] d) Have people eat healthy food
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
7
4. The Story of Babar
Words
published: gefin út
was an immediate success: sló strax í gegn
sequels: framhaldssögur
civilized: siðmenntaður
founds: stofnar
suit: föt, jakkaföt
merchandise: varningur
items: hlutir
recognized: þekkt
exhibited: sýndar
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Jean de Brunhoff.
In 1931.
Eight.
An elephant which has learned the ways of men.
Celesteville.
A green suit.
Six.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
8
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Who wrote the first Babar book?
[ ] a) Enid Blyton
[ ] b) Hergé
[x] c) Jean de Brunhoff
[ ] d) Walt Disney
2. When was the first Babar book published?
[x] a) In 1931
[ ] b) In 1935
[ ] c) In 1943
[ ] d) In 1952
3. How many Babar books did Jean de Brunhoff write?
[ ] a) Five
[ ] b) Six
[ ] c) Seven
[x] d) Eight
4. Who or what is Babar?
[ ] a) An alligator that behaves like a man
[x] b) An elephant that has learned the ways of men
[ ] c) A duck which claims to be an elephant
[ ] d) A mouse with the heart of a lion
5. What is Babar‘s city called?
[ ] a) Babarville
[x] b) Celesteville
[ ] c) Los Babar
[ ] d) Rio Celeste
6. What kind of clothes does Babar wear?
[ ] a) A blue suit
[x] b) A green suit
[ ] c) A brown suit
[ ] d) A yellow suit
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
9
5. Pain of Scissors
Words
surgery: uppskurður
frequent: tíður
sharp: skerandi
decades: áratugir
unrelated: óskyldur
X-ray: röntgenmynd
surgical scissors: skurðstofuskæri
abdomen: kviðarhol
rusty: ryðguð
removed: fjarlægð
recovering: á batavegi
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
It doesn‘t say, but probably in Vietnam.
He had a traffic accident.
After the surgery.
He thought nothing could be done about it.
In his abdomen.
He had to have an X-ray because of something unrelated to the accident.
Eighteen years.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
10
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What was the man‘s nationality?
[ ] a) He was from China
[ ] b) He was from Singapore
[ ] c) He was from South-Korea
[x] d) He was from Vietnam
2. Why did the man have surgery eighteen years ago?
[x] a) He had a traffic accident
[ ] b) He fell off a cliff
[ ] c) He fell off his horse
[ ] d) He got kicked during a football game
3. Why didn‘t the man see a doctor about his pain?
[ ] a) He liked the pain
[x] b) He thought nothing could be done about it
[ ] c) He didn‘t have the time
[ ] d) He believed it was God‘s punishment
4. What object did the man carry in his body for eighteen years?
[ ] a) A drill
[ ] b) A hammer
[ ] c) A pen
[x] d) Scissors
5. Where in the man‘s body were the scissors?
[x] a) In his abdomen
[ ] b) In his lungs
[ ] c) In his head
[ ] d) In his thigh
6. How long had the scissors been inside the man?
[ ] a) Ten years
[ ] b) Fourteen years
[ ] c) Sixteen years
[x] d) Eighteen years
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
11
6. We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn
Words
compilation album: safnplata
enormously: gífurlega, geysilega
toured: fór í tónleikaferðalag
the troops: hermennirnir
morale: siðferðisþrek, baráttuhugur
associated with: tengdir við
a selection: úrval
UK Albums Chart: vinsældalisti hljómplatna á Englandi
feat: árangur
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
We‘ll Meet Again.
She was English.
During the second world war.
Egypt, India and Burma.
Decca Records.
She is the oldest artist to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
12
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What is the name of the compilation album by Vera Lynn?
[ ] a) The Decca Years
[ ] b) What a Wonderful World
[x] c) We‘ll Meet Again
[ ] d) The White Cliffs of Dover
2. What was Vera‘s nationality?
[ ] a) She was American
[x] b) She was English
[ ] c) She was Irish
[ ] d) She was Scottish
3. When was Vera at the height of her popularity?
[ ] a) During the first world war
[x] b) During the second world war
[ ] c) In the sixties
[ ] d) In the seventies
4. Where did Vera tour during the second world war?
[ ] a) Egypt, France and Cuba
[ ] b) Egypt, Iceland and Japan
[x] c) Egypt, India and Burma
[ ] d) The US, Belgium and Greece
5. For what company did Vera Lynn record from 1936 to 1959?
[ ] a) Atlantic Records
[x] b) Decca Records
[ ] c) EMI Records
[ ] d) RCA Victor
6. What record does Vera Lynn hold?
[ ] a) She is the youngest artist ever to reach the number one spot in Britain
[ ] b) A song by her held the number one spot longer than any other song
[ ] c) She has had the most hits of all British artists
[x] d) She is the oldest artist to reach number one on the UK Album s Chart
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
13
7. Hymn to Love
Words
Hymne à l‘amour: Sálmur til ástarinnar
performed: flutt
lyrics: texti, söngtexti
translated: þýtt
protégé: skjólstæðingur, lærisveinn
hymn: sálmur
version: útgáfa, gerð
featured: (sem) er hluti af, með í
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Édith Piaf.
Marguerite Monnot.
At the Cabaret Versailles in New York.
On September 14, 1949.
Marcel Cerdan.
He died in a plane crash in 1949.
Cyndi Lauper.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
14
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Who wrote the lyrics to "Hymne à l‘amour"?
[x] a) Édith Piaf
[ ] b) Marguerite Monnot
[ ] c) Marcel Cerdan
[ ] d) Eddie Constantine
2. Who wrote the music to "Hymne à l‘amour"?
[ ] a) Édith Piaf
[x] b) Marguerite Monnot
[ ] c) Marcel Cerdan
[ ] d) Eddie Constantine
3. Where was "Hymne à l‘amour" first performed?
[ ] a) At the Moulin Rouge in Paris
[x] b) At the Cabaret Versailles in New York
[ ] c) At the Royal Albert Hall in London
[ ] d) At the Grosser Musikvereinssaal, Vienna
4. When was "Hymne à l‘amour" first performed?
[x] a) On September 14, 1949
[ ] b) On October 28, 1949
[ ] c) On May 2, 1950
[ ] d) In 2003
5. For whom was "Hymne à l‘amour" written?
[ ] a) Édith Piaf
[ ] b) Marguerite Monnot
[x] c) Marcel Cerdan
[ ] d) Eddie Constantine
6. What became of Marcel Cerdan?
[ ] a) He died in a car crash in 1950
[ ] b) He drowned in the Mediterranean in 1949
[ ] c) He died from a blow in a boxing match
[x] d) He died in a plane crash in 1949
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
15
8. FOMO
Words
update: uppfæra
suffering: þjást
survey: könnun
FOMO: (fear of missing out) óttinn við að missa af einhverju
networks: tengslanet; netkerfi
term: hugtak
dictionary: orðabók
definition: skilgreining
anxiety: kvíði; hræðsla
aroused: vakinn
participated: tóku þátt
admitted: viðurkenndu
social media: samfélagsmiðlar
Questions
1. The abbreviation for "fear of missing out".
2. 56%.
3. Anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening
elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.
4. That the first thing they do in the morning is check their social media feeds.
5. Cigarettes and reality TV.
6. 3%.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
16
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What is FOMO?
[ ] a) Fear of making out
[x] b) Fear of missing out
[ ] c) Fear of machine objects
[ ] d) Fear of moving objects
2. How many people suffer from FOMO when they are away from social networks,
according to the survey?
[ ] a) 25%
[ ] b) 27%
[ ] c) 44%
[x] d) 56%
3. How is the term defined in the Oxford English Dictionary?
[ ] a) Anxiety that everone is badmouthing you behind your back
[ ] b) Anxiety of being attacked on the internet when you are sleeping
[ ] c) Anxiety of beint thrown out of all social media on the internet
[x] d) Anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be
happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website
4. What did 27% of those who participated in the survey admit?
[ ] a) That they monitor the internet while sleeping
[ ] b) That they have nightmares about the internet
[x] c) That the first thing they do in the morning is check their social media feeds
[ ] d) That they would gladly be rid of the internet if that was possible
5. What were 25% ready to give up in exchange for social media?
[x] a) Cigarettes and reality TV
[ ] b) Cars and other means of transport
[ ] c) Travelling abroad
[ ] d) Their favourite food
6. How many said they were ready to give up sex in exchange for social media?
[x] a) 3%
[ ] b) 25%
[ ] c) 27%
[ ] d) 56%
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
17
9. Casualties of War
Words
military: hernaðar-; hermannacivilian: óbreyttur borgari
casualties: fórnarlömb
ranking: flokkað
conflict: átök
personnel: starfslið, starfsfólk
the Allies: Bandamenn (Bretland, Frakkland, Ítalía, Rússland og Bandaríkin)
the Central Powers: Miðveldin (Þýskaland, Austurríki-Ungverjaland, Tyrkland og Búlgaría)
diseases: sjúkdómar
presumed: sem gert var ráð fyrir
flu pandemic: flensufaraldur
belligerents: stríðsaðilar
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Over 38 million.
Around 17 million.
About 7 million.
4 million.
One-third.
The flu pandemic.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
18
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What was the total number of casualties in World War I?
[ ] a) About 11 million
[ ] b) Around 17 million
[ ] c) Nearly 20 million
[x] d) Over 38 million
2. How many people died in World War I?
[ ] a) About 11 million
[x] b) Around 17 million
[ ] c) Nearly 20 million
[ ] d) Over 38 million
3. How many civilians died in World War I?
[x] a) About 7 million
[ ] b) Around 11 million
[ ] c) Nearly 17 million
[ ] d) Over 20 million
4. How many military personnel did the Central Powers lose in World War I?
[ ] a) 2 million
[x] b) 4 million
[ ] c) 6 million
[ ] d) 8 million
5. How many of the military deaths in World War I did not occur in battle?
[x] a) One-third
[ ] b) Two-thirds
[ ] c) One-half
[ ] d) Three-quarters
6. What illness took many lives in 1918?
[ ] a) The black death
[x] b) The flu pandemic
[ ] c) Tuberculosis
[ ] d) Smallpox
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
19
10. Treasure Island
Words
novel: skáldsaga
published: gefin út
desert island: eyðieyja
squire: óðalsbóndi; óðalseigandi
unfortunately: til allrar óhamingju
peg-legged: með staurfót
interfere: trufla; skipta sér af
progress: framvinda
possession: eignarhald
establishing: ákvarða; koma á fót
eyepatch: leppur fyrir auga
hooligans: óeirðaseggir
parrots: páfagaukar
enduring: varanlegur; sívarandi
motifs: minni; sagnaminni
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Robert Louis Stevenson.
In 1883.
Jim Hawkins.
A treasure hunt.
Long John Silver.
Treasure chests and treasure maps marked with an X.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
20
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Who wrote the adventure novel Treasure Island?
[ ] a) Frederick Marryat
[ ] b) Herman Melville
[x] c) Robert Louis Stevenson
[ ] d) Walter Scott
2. When was the novel Treasure Island first published?
[ ] a) In 1773
[x] b) In 1883
[ ] c) In 1899
[ ] d) In 1910
3. Who is the main character in Treasure Island?
[ ] a) Dr. Livesey
[x] b) Jim Hawkins
[ ] c) Squire Trelawney
[ ] d) Robert Louis Stevenson
4. What is the main theme of the novel?
[x] a) A treasure hunt
[ ] b) The search for the big white whale
[ ] c) It is a love story
[ ] d) The belief in God
5. Who is the main bad guy in the novel?
[ ] a) Captain Kidd
[ ] b) Henry Morgan
[ ] c) Blackbeard
[x] d) Long John Silver
6. What popular modern image of pirates comes from the novel aside from peglegged hooligans with parrots on their shoulders?
[ ] a) The duality of man; that every man is both good and bad
[ ] b) The striped headscarf
[ ] c) Intense swordplay
[x] d) Treasure maps marked with an X
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
21
11. Isabel Allende
Words
aspects: atriði; sjónarmið
magic realism: töfraraunsæi
tradition: hefð
The House of the Spirits: Hús andanna
commercially: markaðslega; hvað varðar sölu
inducted: vígð inn; tekin inn
pay homage to: virða; sýna virðingu
elements: atriði; hluti
myth: goðsagnir
realism: raunsæi
granted: veitt
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
In Peru.
As magic realism.
The House of the Spirits.
Chile's National Literature Prize.
Barack Obama.
The lives of women.
US citizenship.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
22
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Where was Isabel Allende born?
[ ] a) In Chile
[x] b) In Peru
[ ] c) In the US
[ ] d) In Venezuela
2. How is her writing sometimes classified?
[ ] a) As fairy tales
[ ] b) As realistic fiction
[x] c) As magic realism
[ ] d) As science fiction
3. What famous novel of hers was published in 1982?
[ ] a) City of the Beasts
[ ] b) Daughter of Fortune
[x] c) The House of the Spirits
[ ] d) The Stories of Eva Luna
4. What honour was bestowed on her in 2010?
[x] a) Chile's National Literature Prize
[ ] b) The Man Booker Award
[ ] c) The Presedential Medal of Freedom
[ ] d) The Nobel Prize for Literature
5. Who awarded Allende the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
[x] a) Barack Obama
[ ] b) Bill Clinton
[ ] c) Jimmy Carter
[ ] d) Ronald Reagan
6. What do many of Allende's novels pay homage to?
[ ] a) Lost cultures
[ ] b) Children's lives
[ ] c) The lives of men
[x] d) The lives of women
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
23
12. Zeus
Words
ancient: forn
Mount: fjall
thunderbolt: þrumufleygur
infuriated: reitti til reiði
mortal: dauðleg
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Jupiter.
On Mount Olympus.
Hera.
That Zeus had children with other women.
Leda.
Wine and theatre.
Dionysus's mother.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
24
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. By what name was Zeus known in Rome?
[ ] a) Apollo
[ ] b) Dionysus
[x] c) Jupiter
[ ] d) Poseidon
2. Where did Zeus live?
[ ] a) On Mount Ararat
[x] b) On Mount Olympus
[ ] c) In Egypt
[ ] d) In Rome
3. Who was Zeus's wife?
[ ] a) Artemis
[ ] b) Ares
[ ] c) Hebe
[x] d) Hera
4. What infuriated Hera?
[ ] a) That Zeus was stronger than she
[ ] b) Zeus's laugh
[x] c) That Zeus had children with other women
[ ] d) That Zeus was more popular as a god than she was
5. What was Dionysus god of?
[ ] a) Marriage
[ ] b) All animals
[ ] c) War and famine
[x] d) Wine and theatre
6. Who was Semele?
[x] a) The mother of Dionysus
[ ] b) Zeus's daughter
[ ] c) Hera's sister
[ ] d) The goddess of heaven and marriage
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
25
13. Eleanor Roosevelt
Words
activist: aðgerðasinni
longest-serving: lengst þjónandi; sem var lengst í stöðu
the post: stöðunni; starfinu
terms in office: kjörtímabil
served: þjónaði
delegate: sendifulltrú; erindreki
controversial: umdeild
stance: staða; afstaða
racial issues: málefni kynþátta
spouse: maki
press conferences: fréttaráðstefnur
newspaper column: pistill í dagblaði
host: að stýra
convention: þing; ráðstefna
advocated: barðist fyrir
expanded: auknum
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Twelve years.
Four.
As United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.
Because of her outspokenness.
Expanded roles for women.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
26
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Who was Anna Eleanor's husband?
[ ] a) Abraham Lincoln
[x] b) Franklin D. Roosevelt
[ ] c) Teddy Roosevelt
[ ] d) Dwight D. Eisenhower
2. For how long was she the First Lady of the US?
[ ] a) Eight years
[ ] b) Ten years
[x] c) Twelve years
[ ] d) Fourteen years
3. For how many terms was Eleanor's husband elected president?
[ ] a) One
[ ] b) Two
[ ] c) Three
[x] d) Four
4. Where did Eleanor serve from 1933 to 1945?
[x] a) As United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
[ ] b) As United States Delegate to the Bank of England
[ ] c) As United States Delegate to NATO
[ ] d) As United States Delegate to the Ministry of War
5. Why was Eleanor controversial as a first lady?
[ ] a) Because of her narrow-mindedness
[x] b) Because of her outspokenness
[ ] c) Because of her lack of interest in everything that her husband was fighting for
[ ] d) Because of how she dressed
6. What did Eleanor fight for?
[x] a) Expanded roles for women
[ ] b) The abolishment of all wars
[ ] c) The freedom of speech
[ ] d) Stricter laws against minority groups
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
27
14. Gone with the Wind
Words
epic: söguleg
produced: framleidd
The American Civil War: Borgarstyrjöld Bandaríkjanna; Þrælastríðið
plantation: plantekra
the cast: leikhópurinn
delayed: frestað
determination: staðfestu; ákveðni
briefly: í stuttan tíma
due to: vegna
exhaustion: örmögnun
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1939.
Margaret Mitchell.
Vivien Leigh.
Rhett Butler.
Selznick had to wait for Clark Gable.
1400.
Three.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
28
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. When was the film Gone with the Wind shown for the first time?
[ ] a) 1929
[ ] b) 1936
[x] c) 1939
[ ] d) 1943
2. Who wrote the novel Gone with the Wind?
[ ] a) Harriet Beecher Stowe
[x] b) Margaret Mitchell
[ ] c) David O. Selznick
[ ] d) Victor Fleming
3. Who played the role of Scarlett in the film?
[ ] a) Clark Gable
[ ] b) Leslie Howard
[ ] c) Olivia de Havilland
[x] d) Vivien Leigh
4. Why was the filming delayed for two years?
[ ] a) The director had to go on leave due to exhaustion
[ ] b) Selznick wanted to use a new colour technique that wasn't ready
[x] c) Selznick had to wait for Clark Gable
[ ] d) The book's author didn't want the story to be filmed
5. How many women were interviewed for the part of Scarlett?
[ ] a) Twelve hundred
[x] b) Fourteen hundred
[ ] c) Over two thousand
[ ] d) Two thousand and four hundred
6. How many directors worked on the film?
[ ] a) One
[ ] b) Two
[x] c) Three
[ ] d) Four
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
29
15. Batman
Words
fictional: sögulegur
a cover for: dulbúningur fyrir
crook: bófi
vows to: heitir því að
athlete: íþróttamaður
a bat: leðurblaka
moonlit night: tunglbjört nótt
companion: félagi
mansion: höfðingjasetur; stórhýsi
police commissioner: lögreglustjóri
bizarre: undarlegur; afkáralegur
riddler: gátumeistari
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
In 1939.
Bob Kane and Bill Finger.
A man called Bruce Wayne.
Robin the Boy Wonder.
The butler at the Wayne mansion.
He is the police commissioner of Gotham City.
The Joker, The Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
30
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. When was Batman created?
[ ] a) In 1929
[x] b) In 1939
[ ] c) In 1943
[ ] d) In 1954
2. Who created Batman?
[x] a) Bob Kane and Bill Finger
[ ] b) Dick Grayson and James Gordon
[ ] c) Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth
[ ] d) Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon
3. Who is Batman really?
[ ] a) A man called Alfred Pennyworth
[x] b) A man called Bruce Wayne
[ ] c) A man called Dick Grayson
[ ] d) A man called Bill Finger
4. Who is Batman's companion in fighting crime?
[ ] a) The Catwoman
[ ] b) The Joker
[ ] c) The Riddler
[x] d) Robin the Boy Wonder
5. Who is Alfred Pennyworth?
[ ] a) Gotham City's Police Commissioner
[ ] b) Batman's main enemy
[x] c) The butler at the Wayne mansion
[ ] d) Batman's grandfather
6. What role does James Gordon play in the stories?
[x] a) He is Gotham City's Police Commissioner
[ ] b) He is Batman's main enemy
[ ] c) He is the butler at the Wayne mansion
[ ] d) He is Batman's uncle
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
31
16. Raphael
Words
The Renaissance: Endurreisnarstefnan
compatriots: samlandar
considered: álitinn
workshop: verkstæði; vinnustofa
the period: tímabilið
disputation: varnarræða
sacrament: sakramenti; náðarmeðal
remained: var kyrr
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
He was a painter.
The Renaissance.
On 6 April 1483 in Urbino, Italy.
About fifteen.
The Marriage of the Virgin.
To Florence.
He was invited by Pope Julius II.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
32
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What kind of artist was Raphael?
[ ] a) He was an actor
[x] b) He was a painter
[ ] c) He was a sculptor
[ ] d) He was a troubadour
2. What artistic period did Raphael belong to?
[ ] a) The Baroque period
[ ] b) The Neoclassical period
[x] c) The Renaissance period
[ ] d) The Romantic period
3. Where was Raphael born?
[ ] a) In Austria
[ ] b) In France
[x] c) In Italy
[ ] d) In Spain
4. How old was he when he joined the workshop of Petro Perugino?
[ ] a) About twelve
[x] b) About fifteen
[ ] c) About seventeen
[ ] d) About eighteen
5. What was Raphael's first major work?
[ ] a) The Disputation of the Sacrament
[x] b) The Marriage of the Virgin
[ ] c) Parnassus
[ ] d) The School of Athens
6. Why did Raphael go to Rome to paint in the Vatican?
[ ] a) He wanted to become a monk
[ ] b) He wanted to be with his friend Michelangelo
[ ] c) He was forced to by the Swiss guards
[x] d) He was invited by Pope Julius II
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
33
17. Winnie-the-Pooh
Words
sequel: framhald
in order: í röð
separate: aðskilinn
episode: kafli
independent of: óháður
hugely: gríðarlega
translated: þýddar
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A. A. Milne.
In 1926.
The man who drew the pictures for the two books.
Eeyore.
The only human character in the books.
In 1928.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
34
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Who created Winnie-the-Pooh?
[x] a) A. A. Milne
[ ] b) Christopher Robin
[ ] c) Enid Blyton
[ ] d) Lewis Carrol
2. When was the first book about Winnie-the-Pooh first published?
[x] a) 1926
[ ] b) 1928
[ ] c) 1930
[ ] d) 1932
3. Who was Ernest Shepard?
[ ] a) A cowriter of the stories
[x] b) The man who drew the pictures for the two books
[ ] c) The first publisher of the books
[ ] d) The man who adapted the books into movies
4. What is the name of the toy donkey who is Winnie's friend?
[x] a) Eeyore
[ ] b) Piglet
[ ] c) Owl
[ ] d) Tigger
5. Who is Christopher Robin?
[ ] a) The author's father
[ ] b) Winnie-the-Pooh's enemy
[x] c) The only human character in the books
[ ] d) Winnie-the-Pooh's brother
6. When was Tigger first introduced to the public?
[ ] a) 1926
[x] b) 1928
[ ] c) 1930
[ ] d) 1932
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
35
18. Jim Morrison
Words
poet: ljóðskáld
attended: gekk í
undergraduate degree: gráða veitt eftir grunnnám í háskóla (B.Sc., B.A., B.Ed.)
graduation: útskrift
poems: ljóð
regarded: álitinn
iconic: þekktur; virtur
influential: áhfrifamikill
performers: flytjendur
evidence: sönnun; merki um
foul play: glæp
autopsy: krufning
buried: grafinn
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Being the lead singer of The Doors.
James Douglas Morrison.
UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).
An undergraduate degree in film.
In 1965.
Light My Fire.
In Paris.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
36
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What is Jim Morrison best known for?
[ ] a) His novels
[ ] b) His guitar playing in the Doors
[x] c) Being the lead singer of The Doors
[ ] d) His controversial films about rock music
2. What university did Morrison go to?
[ ] a) UCA (University of Central Arkansas)
[ ] b) CSUB (Californa State University, Bakersfield)
[ ] c) HSU (Humboldt State University)
[x] d) UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)
3. What degree did Morrison earn at university?
[x] a) An undergraduate degree in film
[ ] b) An undergraduate degree in literature
[ ] c) An undergraduate degree in poetry
[ ] d) An undergraduate degree in French
4. When was the band The Doors formed?
[ ] a) In 1943
[x] b) In 1965
[ ] c) In 1967
[ ] d) In 1971
5. What song was the first to become a huge hit by the Doors?
[ ] a) L. A. Woman
[x] b) Light My Fire
[ ] c) Riders of the Storm
[ ] d) People Are Strange
6. Where is Morrison buried?
[ ] a) In London
[ ] b) In Los Angeles
[x] c) In Paris
[ ] d) In Florida
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
37
19. Louis Armstrong
Words
trumpeter: trompetleikari
manager: forstöðumaður
brass bands: lúðrasveit
orchestra: hljómsveit
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Jazz.
In 1901 in New Orleans.
He was put in a home for difficult children.
The manager of the home for difficult children.
"Hello Dolly".
Heart attack.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
38
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. What kind of music is Louis Armstrong famous for?
[ ] a) Blues
[ ] b) Classical
[x] c) Jazz
[ ] d) Rock
2. Where was Louis Armstrong born?
[ ] a) In Arkansas
[ ] b) In Chicago
[x] c) In New Orleans
[ ] d) In New York
3. When was Louis Armstrong born?
[x] a) In 1901
[ ] b) In 1907
[ ] c) In 1919
[ ] d) In 1922
4. What happened to Louis when he was nine years old?
[ ] a) He got hit by a car
[ ] b) He ran away from home
[x] c) He was put in a home for difficult children
[ ] d) He went as a trespasser to Paris
5. Who introduced Louis to the trumpet?
[ ] a) His mother
[ ] b) His teacher at college
[ ] c) His uncle
[x] d) The manager of a home for difficult children
6. What was Louis's most famous song?
[x] a) Hello Dolly
[ ] b) On the Sunny Side of the Street
[ ] c) That Lucky Old Sun
[ ] d) When the Saints Go Marching In
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
39
20. Harry Potter
Words
wizard: töframaður
defeats: sigrar
barges in: ryðst inn
witchcraft: galdrar; fjölkynngi
throughout: í gegnum
difficulties: erfiðleika
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
J. K. Rowling
Between 1997 and 2007.
When he was eleven years old.
Lord Voldemort.
The Dursleys.
Hagrid told him.
Eighteen years old.
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
40
Fjölvalsspurningar
1. Who is the author of the Harry Potter books?
[ ] a) A. A. Milne
[ ] b) Enid Blyton
[x] c) J. K. Rowling
[ ] d) Lewis Carroll
2. When were they published?
[ ] a) 1987-2003
[x] b) 1997-2007
[ ] c) 1999-2005
[ ] d) 2001-2007
3. When did Harry discover that he was a wizard?
[ ] a) When he was nine years old
[ ] b) When he was ten years old
[x] c) When he was eleven years old
[ ] d) When he was twelve years old
4. Who was Harry Potter's main enemy?
[ ] a) Bellatrix Lestrange
[ ] b) Draco Malfoy
[ ] c) Lucius Malfoy
[x] d) Lord Voldemort
5. Who raised Harry from when he was just one year old?
[x] a) The Dursleys
[ ] b) Hagrid
[ ] c) His parents
[ ] d) The Weasleys
6. How did Harry discover that he was a wizard?
[ ] a) Arthur Weasley told him
[ ] b) Albus Dumbledore told him
[x] c) Hagrid told him
[ ] d) Severus Snape told him
Skólavefurinn | English Reading Comprehension II | Svör
41