Pre-reading questions:
- Do you get nervous when you take tests?
- What do you do after taking a difficult exam?
- Have you ever cheated on a test?
High school graduates in Japan have completed the unified college entrance examinations. It is a 2-day examinations that ended last Sunday at 691 sites. Due to the stern weather, some sites were forced to reschedule. According to a student who took the tests at Tokyo Institute of Technology, she was delighted that the tests were over and will work harder in preparation for the next lap of examinations for the university she hopes to study in.
Some sites encountered delays in starting the tests due to heavy snowfall. There were 79 aspirants who came late but were given another chance to retake. As per the National Center for University Entrance Examinations, 12 students were caught in the act of cheating by using smartphones and calculators. As a result of their reckless behavior, their results will be canceled.
Vocabulary:
unified [adjective] – coordinated; a unified system is the same everywhere it is used
stern [adjective] – severe ; very strong
delighted [adjective] – greatly pleased
aspirant [noun] – someone who very much wants to achieve something
reckless [adjective] – doing something dangerous and not worrying about the risks and the possible results
Comprehension Questions:
- High school graduates in Japan have completed the unified high school entrance examinations.
- Some students weren’t able to take the examinations.
- The examinations ended last Wednesday.
- Late comers don’t have the chance to retake the examinations.
- Cheaters were given consideration for their act.
Express Your Opinion:
- Taking exams is a waste of time.
- Test scores reflect a student’s true ability and intelligence.
- Examinations can help a student learn.