Cheating On A Test
Cheating On A Test
Cheating On A Test
Cheating on a Test
[start of story]
Oscar: By writing the answers on a cheat sheet? You’re not going to get away with that.
Elena: I got a “D” on the last test and I have to do better on this one. If I don’t get at least a “B,”
I’m going to flunk this class.
Oscar: You’re taking a big risk. You could get suspended or expelled!
Elena: I know, but my final grade is on the line. And plus, I think that the worst that could
happen is that I get an automatic “F” on the test. It’s not like I’m stealing a copy of the test or
plagiarizing on an important assignment.
Oscar: Still, there’s no telling what Mr. McQuillan will do to you if he finds out. I’d let you copy
off my test if I thought we could get away with it, but he always keeps a close eye on us during
tests. That’s why I think you’re going to get caught.
Elena: It’s not like I have any choice, do I? It’s either cheating or going to summer school.
Elena: Then, just don’t think about it. Let me worry about it, okay?
[end of story]
GLOSSARY
cheat sheet – a secret piece of paper with information written on it that will help a student do
well on a test
* Michelle is selling cheat sheets to the other students for the chemistry exam. If the teacher
finds out, she’ll be in a lot of trouble.
to get away with (something) – to be able to do something bad without getting in trouble
* She got away with having a big party last weekend, but only because she cleaned the house
really well before her parents came home.
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* Fyodor flunked his biology class because he received only 20 points on the final exam.
* There’s always a risk of death with any surgery, even if it’s a very common surgery.
to suspend (someone) – not to allow someone go to classes or work for a period of time as
punishment for something that he or she did
to expel (someone) – to not allow someone go to classes or work ever again as punishment for
something that he or she did
* The principal told us that we could be expelled for bringing a gun to school.
final grade – a letter of A (the best), B, C, D, or F (the worst) that shows how well one did in a
course
* I got a D on the first assignment, but if I do well on the rest of the assignments and exams, I
can still get a good final grade.
* Johanna’s job is on the line if she doesn’t make at least $100,000 in sales this month.
an automatic F – a failing grade received as punishment for something that one did
* In Mr. Haftl’s class, students get an automatic F if they don’t give him their assignments on the
day that he asks for them.
* When Peter was a little boy, he once stole money from his mother’s purse to buy candy.
to plagiarize – to copy another person’s writing and say that it is one’s own
* If you want to use someone else’s words in your essay, you have to put them in quotation
marks (“ ”). Otherwise, you’re plagiarizing.
* There’s no telling what her parents will do when they find out that she didn’t go to school
today.
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* How did you find out that this employee was lying about her experience?
to copy off (one’s) test – to secretly write down the answers that another student has written on
his or her own test
to keep a close eye on (someone) – to watch someone carefully, especially to see if they are
doing something wrong or if they are in danger
* Please keep a close eye on Wes. He hasn’t been feeling well today, and if he gets worse, I want
you to take him to the doctor.
to get caught – to have someone else discover that one is doing something bad
* Ellery and his friends got caught smoking behind the school.
summer school – classes during the summer months (June, July, and August) when most other
students are on vacation
* Celina has to go to summer school because she didn’t do very well in her French class last
year.
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Conversation questions:
What is your definition of cheating?
Have you ever cheated?
Why do you think that people cheat?
Have you ever cheated in an exam?
Have you ever been caught cheating on an exam?
If you had a chance to cheat now, would you take it?
In what situations do people usually cheat?
Have you ever been cheated on by somebody else?
Describe a time when you cheated and it helped you.
Do you think if people stopped cheating the world would be a better place?
What do you think of people who cheat in their relationships?
What do you think can be done to prevent cheating?
What are some things you can do to prevent cheating?
What would you do it you saw someone cheating at something.?