Test Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. Whether it’s for tests like University Entrance Exams or IELTS and TOEFL, or even just for fun, these pages help you to read, understand and improve your English.
Read the following story. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Satit Bangna School in Samut Prakan is Thailand’s first educational institute to have been certified as a Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education, which provides educational leadership programmes worldwide.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
FranklinCovey Education has developed the “Leader in Me” curriculum, aimed at improving children’s leadership skills and emotional quotients (EQ).
The Lighthouse School model was inspired by Dr Stephen Covey’s best-selling book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which has been translated into 38 languages and sold more than 30 million copies. The book is based on research into successful leaders’ habits in both their private and professional lives. Its findings indicated that they share seven basic habits.
Over 2,000 schools have adopted the curriculum but only 171 schools, including Satit Bangna School, have so far been certified.
“We were certified as a Lighthouse School in 2016. It took about five years to successfully implement the programme,” said Dr Nadrudee Chitrangsan, headmaster of Satit Bangna School.
STEP BY STEP
To ensure that students and their parents understand the Seven Habits policy, the school arranges a course and seminar every year. According to Nadrudee, it’s important to have the parents cooperate in order to put the ideas into practice.
The first habit is “Be Proactive.” Children must learn how to be active in developing their capabilities and solving different problems, including emotional issues. Second is “Begin With the End in Mind,” which encourages children to make preparations and find out more about their future careers.
“We don’t just ask, ‘What do you want to be?’ We also show them the responsibilities related to their desired careers,” Nadrudee said. Each year the school carries out a survey of students’ dream jobs. Parents who work in the top 10 career areas are invited to the school to give a talk on their job specifications and occupational skills.
“Put First Things First” helps children to learn about priority management, enabling them to manage time properly.
GIVE AND TAKE
“Think Win-Win” helps children learn to put themselves in somebody else’s shoes.
“When students read a story, the teacher will ask what they think about each character. What are their problems? Are they trying to find a way out of the crisis? What’s the best solution for all parties? This is to guide them on how to find a win-win solution,” Nadrudee said.
“Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood” encourages children to use empathetic listening in order to understand a person’s needs and feelings. “Synergise” teaches children to realise that everybody’s contribution is important and they are part of a team’s success. Last but not least, “Sharpen the Saw” encourages students to keep developing both physically and mentally.
“Students don’t need to compete with each other. They’re better off competing with themselves, continuing to improve certain behaviours. I hope that my students will be successful, enjoy working and enjoy life,” Nadrudee said.
SECTION 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. How to succeed in business.
b. Behaviours of successful people.
c. Tips for successful teamwork.
2. Which of the following statements is true according to the information given about 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
a. The book is an international bestseller.
b. The book was written by Franklin Covey.
c. It’s based on research into seven successful leaders.
3. When was Satit Bangna School certified as a Lighthouse School?
a. In 2016.
b. In 2013.
c. In 2011.
4. What is “Leader in Me”?
a. A leadership programme.
b. A best-selling book.
c. One of the seven habits of highly effective people.
5. Which of the following best describes “Synergise”?
a. The habit of empathetic listening.
b. The habit of endless learning.
c. The habit of creative cooperation.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
a. “Put First Things First” encourages children to learn more about their future careers.
b. More than 2,000 schools have been certified as Lighthouse Schools.
c. The seven habits encourage children to develop their leadership skills and EQ.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true according the article?
a. FranklinCovey Education provides schools with educational leadership programmes.
b. Satit Bangna School is located in Bangkok.
c. “Sharpen the Saw” is the seventh habit of highly effective people.
SECTION 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8. certified | a. a way of dealing with a difficult situation |
| 9. capabilities | b. an action or a service that helps to cause or increase something |
| 10. solution | c. to officially recognise somebody or something as meeting certain standards. |
| 11. findings | d. information that is discovered as the result of research into something |
| 12.contribution |
e. the ability or qualities necessary to do something |
SECTION 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Satit Bangna School …..13….. education from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 (Mattayom 6). …..14….. the Seven Habits policy, the school also encourages students to master English. “Our students take part in a reading forum …..15….. in Hong Kong every year. For instance, last year King Ling College hosted the forum, and …..16….. from our school were assigned to …..17….. English novels and books from the choices given. They summarised the stories and expressed …..18….. opinions on stage. The forum was divided …..19….. four categories — Individual Presentations, Plenary Discussions, Debate Sessions and General Participants.”
13.
a. provide
b. providing
c. provides
14.
a. In addition
b. Additionally
c. In addition to
15.
a. holds
b. held
c. hold
16.
a. representatives
b. representative
c. representation
17.
a. reading
b. readers
c. read
18.
a. their
b. them
c. theirs
19.
a. by
b. onto
c. into
SECTION 4
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, adjective or adverb.
20. educational
……………
21. research
……………
22. highly
……………
23. stimulates
……………
24. worldwide
……………
Answers
Section 1
1. b.
2. a.
3. a.
4. a.
5. c.
6. c.
7. b.
Section 2
8. c.
9. e.
10. a.
11. d.
12. b.
Section 3
13. c.
14. c.
15. b.
16. a.
17. c.
18. a.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Adjective.
21. Noun.
22. Adverb.
23. Verb.
24. Adverb.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
