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EXTRA EXAM PRACTICE

Name

Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

DRAGON SLAYERS
In recent years, many countries have been exporting work to China. Companies in the United States that
sell toys and textiles, for example, often have their products made in China, where labour is cheap. Now
workers in China have got a new job. They are being hired to play computer games.

II

Every month, more than 100 million people all over the world log on to their computers to play computer
games. Some of the games, like World of Warcraft and Magic Land, are played at many levels, and players
progress from one round to the next. As the game progresses, the rounds get harder. However, many
players want to log on directly to the more challenging levels, and are prepared to pay someone to play the
earlier rounds for them. So, tens of thousands of young Chinese are employed full-time in gaming
factories, playing these games.

III

It isnt all fun killing monsters and fighting battles on the screen. Working conditions are hard. Many of
these factories are in old buildings and these young people must work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week.
They are supervised by bosses and have to complete fixed amounts of work. The pay is only about $250
a month, but as one young worker put it, Thats pretty good compared with other jobs Ive had.

IV

Apart from their wages, the workers do not profit from their game successes, but people who hire them
sometimes make money. As players reach the higher levels of a game, they get rewards for their successes
and are paid in virtual gold coins. They trade these coins with other players who use them to buy
weapons and other things to help them to progress more quickly to higher levels. Virtual money can also
be traded for real money as there are Internet sites which are full of adverts from people willing to buy
and sell. This idea seems strange to many people because its as if the world of fantasy and reality have
become one.

Choose the correct answer.

1. Shops in the United States sell a lot of toys

a. in China.
b. that are made in China.
c. that are cheap.
2. Gaming factories in China
a. have recently started making computer games.
b. only offer services to Chinese players.
c. were set up to help people progress quickly in
the games.
2

Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)?

Find evidence in the text to support your
answers.

Find words or expressions in the text that mean:

1. employed (paragraph I)
2. not expensive (paragraph I)
3. one stage of a game or
competition (paragraph II)
4. said (paragraph III)
5. exchange (paragraph IV)
4

5
...... 1. Employees at gaming factories decide on the
amount of work they want to do.
1.
............................................................................
............................................................................
2.
............................................................................
............................................................................
...... 2. At the higher levels, the players receive real
money prizes.
............................................................................
............................................................................

.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................

Complete the sentence using the information given

in the text. Use your own words as far as possible.
Some Internet sites advertise ................................
............................................................................... .
Write a composition of about 100-150 words.
Choose one option.
In your opinion, is it right for companies to export work
to other countries? Explain your reasons.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of
computer games as a form of entertainment?

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