Контроль навыков чтения для 10 –А класса

Контроль навыков чтения для 10 –А класса

A CHRISTMAS STORY

Years ago, there was a very rich man whose main interest in life was art collecting. He was a widower and he had an only child, a son, who from an early age shared his father's passion. Together they travelled around the world, buying the finest pictures for their collection. Priceless works by old masters as well as pictures by Picasso. Van Gogh and Monci adorned the walls of their house.

The old man looked on with satisfaction as his son became an experienced art collector. The young man had a trained eye and sharp business mind and his father beamed with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

War put an end to their travels. As winter approached, the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action.

The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while taking a fellow soldier to hospital.

Miserable and lonely, the old man thought about the upcoming Christmas holidays with pain and sadness. The joy of the season -a season that he and his son had so looked forward to -would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home.

As he opened the door, he saw a young soldier with a large package in his hand. The soldier introduced himself to the man by saying. "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you ".

The soldier told the old man how his son had saved his life and how everyone in the regiment loved and respected him.

"I'm an artist," said the soldier," and I want to give you this." He handed the package to the old man. The old man unwrapped the package and saw that it was a picture -a portrait of his son.

The old man knew enough about art to understand that the picture would never be called the work of a genius, but it was his son's face, his features, his expression.. The likeness was striking. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier.

A few hours later, after the soldier had left, the old man poured himself a glass of whisky, sat in his armchair and spent the Christmas night looking at the gift he had received.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would go on because of those who remembered him. He soon learnt that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief.

1. The old collector’s son became an experienced art collector because

1) he travelled a lot.

2) he shared his father’s passion to art collecting from his childhood.

3) he bought the finest pictures for the collection.

4) his father was a rich man.

2. They stopped travelling because of

1) a financial crisis.

2) the son’s service in the army.

3) the war.

4) the received telegram.

3. The young man died

1) listening to the bad news.

2) trying to save a soldier.

3) being miserable and lonely.

4) looking forward to the upcoming Christmas.

4. The art collector was unhappy on Christmas morning because

1) he was full of fears.

2) there were few masterpieces in his collection.

3) one of his friends knocked on the door.

4) the holiday would never be merry again.

5. A young soldier brought the art collector

1) a gift from his friend.

2) a message from his son.

3) whisky.

4) a portrait of his son .

6. The old man understood it was not the work of a genius because

1) he was an artist.

2) he knew a lot about art.

3) he was an experienced stamp collector.

4) he had priceless works by old masters.

7.The art collector was proud of his son because

1) the boy had a lot of friends.

2) he was a real genius.

3) he was brave and had a caring heart.

4) the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him.

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