TEXT A — Boredom and child development. A study published in The New York Times lamented the fast pace of modern parenting and found that regardless of education, income, or race, parents believed children who are bored should be enrolled in extracurricular activities. According to Erin Westgate, a professor of psychology at the University of Florida, there is a kind of cultural stigma attached to boredom, particularly in the United States. 'Only boring people get bored,' the saying goes. But the reality is that boredom is 'normal, natural, and healthy.' Dr. Westgate believes that in moderate doses, boredom can offer a valuable learning opportunity, encouraging creativity and problem solving. 'Preventing kids from ever feeling bored is not suitable in the same way that preventing them from ever feeling sad, or frustrated, or angry is not suitable,' she said. Boredom is like an indicator light on a car's dashboard: it tells you that what you are doing is too easy, too difficult, or lacks meaning. One way parents can help children to manage boredom is to help them distinguish between feeling sad or bored. Boredom can lead to fulfillment — letting kids loose in the backyard may initially feel boring, but they may find meaningful activities like counting bugs, playing with a ball, or drawing with sidewalk chalk. 'If parents don't allow for free, imaginative play, children may never discover their innate love of nature, sports, or art.'
TASK 1 — Decide whether statements 1.1 to 1.4 are TRUE or FALSE and find a text fragment that confirms your answer.
1.1. According to Dr. Westgate, only boring people get bored.
1.2. Dr. Westgate does not recommend parents to prevent their kids from ever feeling bored.
1.3. Young children may confuse sadness with boredom.
1.4. It's in the parents' hands to help their kids substitute boredom for meaningful activities.
TASK 2 — Complete each sentence with your own words (10-15 words). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY.
2.1. It is not a good idea ___.
2.2. Allowing children ___.

TEXT B — Artificial intelligence in education. Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay — it's already having a positive impact across society, including education. To understand how educators use AI, opinions are being collected from professionals and the edtech sector on its risks and possibilities. The results show AI is already being used to reduce administrative tasks and are optimistic about its potential. A two-day hackathon was organised for teachers and school leaders. £2 million has been invested in AI tools for Oak National Academy (ONA), an online learning platform; this boost will help develop new free resources for teachers (lesson planners, classroom quizzes). AI tools could cut teacher workload by providing teachers with a virtual 'assistant' — drafting curriculum plans, producing teaching resources. Does this mean pupils could be taught by AI? Absolutely not. Teachers are irreplaceable, and AI could never be a substitute for teachers' professional judgement. For pupils, the development of any AI tools would prioritise safety and security, ensuring children are not accessing harmful or inappropriate content online and that their data and intellectual property are protected. AI could provide pupils with their own virtual 'tutor' and a personalised workplan.
TASK 1 — Choose the best option (A, B, or C) for items 1.1 to 1.4.
1.1. According to the opinions collected from different groups in the education sector, AI …
A. … has great potential — i.e., it can be used for other things as well as to reduce administrative tasks.
B. … has too many risks to be safely used by educational professionals and in the edtech sector.
C. … may not have such a large potential as those in the education and edtech sector believed.
1.2. £2 million …
A. … is the cost of the AI tools that have improved the Oak National Academy.
B. … were used to create an online learning platform (Oak National Academy).
C. … were spent on AI tools as a result of the hackathon organised by teachers and school leaders.
1.3. With the implementation of AI in education, teachers' …
A. … workload will basically consist of drafting curriculum plans and producing teaching resources.
B. … personal relationships with students will disappear, as virtual assistants will substitute teachers.
C. … professional judgement will always be necessary, and no AI tool is going to replace it.
1.4. As for pupils, AI tools …
A. … such as the virtual tutor will be developed to reduce the amount of work to do outside school.
B. … must be developed that prevent pupils' access to harmful or inappropriate online content.
C. … would neither guarantee their safety and security nor protect their intellectual property.
TASK 2 — Complete each sentence with your own words (10-15 words). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY.
2.1. Teacher workload can ___.
2.2. It is unlikely that ___.

TASK 3 — Complete the text choosing the best option (A, B, or C) for each gap (1-15). Use CAPITAL LETTERS.
For Brazilians, the news of Pelé's death did not come as a shock when it was announced (1) … 21st December 2.022. His daughter, Kely Nascimento, had been updating fans on social media ever (2) … he was taken to the hospital. He had been suffering (3) … health problems since 2.012 when he had an operation (4) … left him needing a wheelchair, but it was cancer that had seen him go in and out of the hospital and eventually took his life. (5) … his death was expected, (6) … was emotional news for his fans. He was adored around the world. The man some called the greatest footballer (7) … and who in Brazil was known as The King (8) … .
Born in 1.940, Pelé grew up poor. He worked in cafes and tea shops from a young (9) … to make extra money. His father was footballer Dondinho, (10) … taught the young Pelé to play football. As they had no money to buy a proper football, they often used a sock filled (11) … newspaper and tied up with string. (12) … not, they would use a grapefruit.
Pelé's favourite player was a goalkeeper named Bilé. His school friends joked about the way he pronounced the name, which sounded (13) … like 'Pelé' than like 'Bilé'. Although he protested, they began to use it (14) … his nickname and it stuck. Pelé (15) … said he thought it sounded childish, and it had no meaning in Portuguese.
Options:
1. a) in b) on c) at
2. a) from b) than c) since
3. a) off b) by c) from
4. a) that b) who c) where
5. a) However b) Even though c) Therefore
6. a) he b) there c) it
7. a) ever b) never c) all times
8. a) was gone b) gone c) did go
9. a) age b) time c) year
10. a) whose b) whom c) who
11. a) in b) with c) off
12. a) If b) But c) Why
13. a) less b) more c) so
14. a) by b) for c) as
15. a) later b) was c) after

TASK 4 — Complete THREE of the following sentences so that each keeps the meaning of the sentence printed before it and includes a clear change of linguistic structure. COPY THE COMPLETE SENTENCES.
4.1. If only I hadn't told Mark about my secret!
I _____ Mark about my secret.
4.2. We haven't had such bad weather in years.
This is the _____ in years.
4.3. Weather experts predict that this summer will be the hottest summer in ten years.
This summer _____ the hottest summer in ten years.
4.4. I did not start to look for another job because my boss gave me a promotion.
If my boss _____ to look for another job.
4.5. The army general said publicly, "The war will be over in a year."
The army general declared _____ over in a year.

TASK 5 — Choose ONE of the four options below (a, b, c, or d) and write the corresponding text (150-175 words).
a) Argumentative writing. Money cannot buy you happiness. Discuss. WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT including arguments in favor of and against this statement.
b) Descriptive writing. Graduation ceremony and after-party. WRITE A PARAGRAPH describing your ideal high school graduation ceremony and graduation after-party (describe — do not narrate).
c) Opinion writing. Too much time spent on social media is harmful to children's and/or teenagers' mental health. Do you agree? WRITE AN OPINION PARAGRAPH/TEXT adopting a clear position.
d) Email writing. One of your two best friends has decided to do a university degree in England, so you would like to throw him/her a surprise going-away party. WRITE AN EMAIL to your other best friend explaining (a) your ideas regarding the theme and overall organisation, and (b) in which way(s) he/she could help you organise the party.