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5 Extra Exam Practice Name

Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

BEING HAPPY
They are supposed to be the best years of our lives. However, it appears that for many, the childhood years are far from
happy and can actually be very difficult and challenging. Recently published figures show that five per cent of British
teenagers suffer from depression. The British government, in its desire to deal with this worrying phenomenon, has
introduced a new programme in British schools. “Happiness” lessons are being taught in various schools around
5 the country in an attempt to turn students into well-adjusted and content members of society.
The new programme, called Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL), is intended to equip children with the
skills necessary to lead an emotionally healthy life. It includes lessons in building self-esteem and learning self-control.
The children are also taught decision-making and negotiating skills, as well as relaxation techniques.
Supporters of SEAL feel that happiness lessons will support those quiet students most at risk of depression, who are often
10 ignored. In addition, they claim that the programme will also improve exam results. In their view, a happy student is more
likely to succeed at school than a depressed one.
SEAL has been criticised by those who believe that these lessons merely result in teachers abandoning traditional teaching.
Furthermore, they claim that there’s little evidence that such lessons indeed lead to any long-term improvement in emotional
health or academic success. They argue that there’s even evidence to suggest that these lessons may in fact harm some of the
15 children participating in them. They claim the lessons can make them become obsessed with how they feel, which can lead
to depression.
Will SEAL be successful? It’s difficult to know whether the programme will really be able to help students cope with
problems they will inevitably face in their lives.

1 Choose the correct answer. 3 Complete the sentences using the information given in
1. The SEAL programme aims to … . the text. Use your own words as far as possible.
a. help students to help themselves 1. The SEAL programme has been introduced because .......
...........................................................................................
b. solve students’ problems
......................................................................................... .
c. make children obsessed with how they feel
2. The SEAL programme teaches students how to ...............
2. Critics of SEAL claim that … . ...........................................................................................
a. academic success isn’t important ......................................................................................... .
b. the programme may have negative effects
c. it’s possible to improve students’ emotional health 4 Choose the best meaning for each word.
3. The writer of the article believes that … . 1. equip (line 6)
a. the programme will definitely succeed a. combine b. cover c. provide
b. it’s hard to determine how useful the programme will be 2. obsessed (line 15)
c. the programme will reduce the number of problems a. preoccupied b. dissatisfied c. unhappy
faced by teenagers 3. inevitably (line 18)
a. immediately b. unavoidably c. never
2 Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false
(F). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers. 5 Write a composition of about 100-150 words. Choose
…… 1. Childhood is always a happy time. one option.
.................................................................................. 1. In your opinion, are happiness lessons likely to be
.................................................................................. effective? Give reasons for your answer.
…… 2. Schools often fail to help depressed students. 2. Describe an occasion when you felt very happy or satisfied.
.................................................................................. What factors influenced your feelings at that time?
..................................................................................

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