Reading (45 minutes)

Dance and drama groups

A. Let's go!

We offer classes for advanced dance and drama students who want to develop their talents to a really high level. Our expert teachers will work with you on your acting and your preferred dance style so that you are ready to compete against the best!

B. Mouse House

We welcome all levels of ability and experience, and offer drama classes for children of all ages, led by professional performers. The activities are fun and great for building self-confidence, so you are soon ready to enter competitions. We meet every Saturday and parents are welcome to wait in the hall.

C. The Phoenix Group

With us, you'll take part in weekend drama workshops and receive a free ticket per term to watch a play at the local theatre. You'll have opportunities to perform to the public throughout the year. No experience is necessary, but you will need to book a term in advance.

D. Monsters DC

This group is for young people under 16 who want to develop their acting ability, or for more experienced actors who want to teach others their skills. All our members are encouraged to take part in our annual show, and every month you can meet successful actors and get their advice on a career in acting.

E. Peppermint Performers

Working with experienced theatre directors, you'll learn performance skills through a year- long programme of workshops. The first term is a series of skills-based sessions covering a range of different performance styles, with certificates for successful students. In future terms, you'll take part in plays performed for the general public.

F. Moon Productions

In our classes, we teach jazz, tap and street dance, and you'll soon be creating your own dances. We hold contests against other clubs and put on displays for parents every summer. Want to find out what a life as a professional dancer is like? Every term we invite a star to talk about their career.

G. The Focus Group

Classes are available every evening. You'll receive excellent training in dance and drama, and develop techniques and performance skills in no time. One-to-one tuition is offered, and it's possible to work towards a certificate. You'll also have the opportunity to take part in a professional play.

H. Bubble Company

Just come along with your friends and we'll do the rest. There's no need to have any experience, and we provide all the costumes and special dance shoes if you need them. We run small hour-long classes in dance or drama every evening after school, and family members are welcome to stay and watch.

Write the right LETTER in the empty spaces.

My name's Martin Cabello and I'm a young photographer. Taking photographs was always my favourite activity as a child. And when I was 15, I felt that if I wanted to take my hobby to the next level, I had to do something special. So I decided to start a personal project: I would take one photograph every day for a whole year of my life. I knew that many other young photographers before me had done the same thing, but it seemed like a really great idea, and so I started.

After a few weeks, I decided to put these photos onto a website for young photographers because I was keen to create a photo diary, and also to have the chance to show other people my photos. I was amazed to discover that there were others who liked the way I saw and photographed things. I was also enjoying photographing a wide range of subjects. Then someone suggested that if my photographs all had a common topic or idea to connect them, my project would be even better — and I agreed.

So I began to concentrate more on taking photos of nature scenes, especially of birds and the sky. A lot of them were black and white photographs, which was very different to what many other young photographers were doing — they were all taking colour photos. As a result, I sometimes had doubts about my project, and I almost gave up several times. In the end, however, I trusted my own feelings, and became more confident about my photographic style and choices.

One day I showed my project to my art teacher at school. She told me about a national photography competition for people my age. So I entered some of my photos, just for fun. I'll never forget the moment when the judges told me that I had won first prize; I was so happy, as my project meant so much to me. It was the first time I realised that maybe my photography really was good, and that I might actually be able to work as a professional photographer. I now have my own photography studio and I've never regretted my career choice.

Ballet for children and teenagers

It can take a long time to reach a professional level in ballet, so most dancers begin their training very young. It is essential that very young dancers learn the ballet movements properly right from the beginning. (16)............... This is because it is usually more difficult to change old habits than to learn new ones.

The first thing that young children who are interested in learning to dance often do is attend creative movement classes, where they can practise basic skills like jumping and turning, and just have fun.(17)................ In addition, some people recommend that they should learn either to sing or play an instrument.

Young people who decide they want to have a ballet career can attend a dance school. Here, students not only study normal school subjects but also do daily dance training. (18)................. And the whole dance-school environment is set up to support the young people's artistic development; it allows them to focus on their dance more easily, and prepares them for their future. But how can a young dancer and their parents tell which dance school is the most suitable? (19)............

The older students taking part in it should clearly have more highly-developed ballet skills than the younger dancers.

By the time they are 16 or 17, many ballet dancers are entering ballet competitions and taking classes at professional studios.  (20)................ It is important for young dancers to know how well they are doing, because the dance world is very competitive and the training hard; not everyone makes it to the top.

Living on a boat

Fourteen-year-old Jon Atkins hasn't had a typical childhood. His parents had always intended to buy a boat and sail round the world, and when Jon was eight tthey did (21)................... that. When they first told him of the plan, Jon felt sad about (22).................. his friends, but also excited because of the adventures he would (23).................. Since then, Jon has sailed over 8,000 km and  (24)..................... that he loves living on a boat.

The boat has two sleeping cabins and Jon's cabin has just enough (25).................... to sit up in. In the main cabin there's a desk where he studies every day, as he needs to continue his education. Although he doesn't have any teachers, he doesn't think his lifestyle will (26)...................... his future choices. He plans to become a ship's captain, and is certain that life on a boat is excellent preparation for this.

My city

by Harry Satler

Do you live in a nice place? I do! The city (27).............. I live is called Bristol, and it's in the south-west of England. It's not very big, but there are loads of things for teenagers to do here.

 (28)................ you're interested in television, you should go to the Bristol TV and Radio Studios. On the tour of the studios, you can have a go at presenting and appear (29)................ your own radio drama.

Or if you are into sport. why (30)................. try canoeing ?The best place is a very pretty local section of the Kennet and Avon canal. It connects Bristol to London and it  (31)................ built in the early 18th century, so you can experience some local history at the same time.

These are just two (32).................. the many things you can do here. It really is a great place.