English Olympiad

For those students who are keen on learning English and would like to check themselves doing English Olympiad Year 9 Reading Test 4

Look at the sentences below about the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui. Read the text to decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, put T. If it is not correct, put F.

Feng Shui

1 __ Feng Shui has been practised all over the world for 5,000 years.

2 __ Feng Shui says that family members will get on better with each other if the home is properly furnished.

3 __ The entrance of the home should be neat and tidy.

4 __ The living room should be made to look as small as possible.

5 __ Windows in the living room should be covered.

6 __ Stereos and CD players should be kept in the bedroom, if possible.

7 __ A sheet could be used instead of a table-cloth to cover the TV.

8 __ Sleeping under a window is not a good idea.

Feng Shui is the art of arranging your home and the things in it in the best possible way. It began in China about 5000 years ago, but recently architects and designers all over the world have started to include the idea in their work. The most important thing to understand about Feng Shui is the idea of chi, which means vital energy or life force. The art of Feng Shui is to make sure that the right objects are in the right places so that the chi can flow freely around the home. This is said to create good health and financial well-being as well as improved relationships between parents and children and husband and wife. You can improve your own Feng Shui by trying some of the techniques listed below.

Firstly, keep the hall of your home clear of shoes, umbrellas and other objects. This is to allow the chi to enter your home freely. If possible, put a small indoor fountain in this part of your home.

In the living room, choose furniture which is the right size for the room and arrange it so that people can move around the room comfortably. If the room is small, hang a mirror to create a feeling of space. Make sure you have blinds or curtains to prevent the chi from escaping.

The bedroom is considered a very important area in Feng Shui. It is best not to have a television or any other electrical item in here, but if you find it impossible to live without them, you can cover them with a plastic tablecloth when you have finished using them. The table-cloth must be plastic — other materials will not work. It is also important to unplug everything before you sleep. The head of the bed should be against a wall rather than under a window, as this would allow your chi to escape. You should be able to see the door easily while you are lying in bed. Place lamps by your bed for lighting instead of bright lights in the ceiling.

Try these simple ideas for a few months and see how much energy and happiness you can bring into your home.

Was English Olympiad Year 9 Reading Test 5 difficult? What new information about the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui have you learnt?