Olympiad Practice: Writing 9th Form Questions
Olympiad Practice: Writing 9th Form Questions
Olympiad Practice: Writing 9th Form Questions
WRITING
Technology also plays a huge role in English’s global triumph. Eighty percent of the
electronically stored information in the world is in English; sixty-six percent of the world’s scientists read
in it, according to the British Council. “It’s very important to learn English because information
technology books are only in English,” says Umberto Duirte, a Uruguayan IT student learning English in
London. New technologies are helping people pick up the language, too: Chinese and Japanese students
can get English-usage tips on their mobile phones.
Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false)
1. All governments are linguistically protectionist because they don’t want to lose their culture.
2. English is a global phenomenon, being taught as a mandatory class all over the world.
3. Members of Academie Francaise are given swords to defend the sanctity of the French Language.
4. A commission suggested that English be treated as part of the required core curriculum.
5. The Minister of Education agreed that English should be a part of the core curriculum in France.
6. Ninety-six percent of all French School children study English as elective courses in school.
7. Umberto Duirte studies English because all books are in English.
8. Sixty-six percent of the world’s electronically stored information in the world is in English.
9. According to this article, mobile phones are helping people learn English.
10. Technology plays a huge role in English’s global triumph.
In 1943 he wrote his first children’s book, "The Gremlins," which was originally intended to be
made into an animated film by Walt Disney. The film was not made and instead, Dahl turned to writing
adult fiction, not writing another children’s story until the 1960s.
By this time he was a father himself and had started making up stories to entertain his own
children. From this came the stories of "James and the Giant Peach" and "Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory." He went on to write 21 children’s books including "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "The
BFG", "Matilda", and "The Witches", all of which have been made into films. Roald Dahl died on
November 23, 1990.
Questions 11 through 15 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
12. Of these books by Roald Dahl, which has NOT been made into a film?
A. Matilda
B. The Gremlins
C. The Witches
D. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
13. Why did Roald Dahl start writing most of his children's books?
A. He was injured in the war and needed work.
B. He wrote about his experiences as a child.
C. He wasn't successful writing for adults.
D. He made up stories to tell his own children.
14. Which profession did Roald Dahl NOT have in his life?
A. Attaché
B. Author
C. Film director
D. Oil company worker
The several waves of migration are said to account for the many native linguistic families while
the common origin is used to explain the physical characteristics that Native Americans have in common
(though with considerable variation): Mongoloid features, coarse, straight black hair, dark eyes, sparse
body hair, and a skin color ranging from yellow-brown to reddish brown. Many scholars accept evidence
of Native American existence in the Americas back more than 25,000 years. In pre-Columbian times
(prior to 1492) the Native American population of the area north of Mexico is estimated to have been
between one and two million.
There is no part of the world with as many distinctly different native languages as the Western
Hemisphere. Although most of the Native American languages that were spoken at the time of the
European arrival in the New World in the late 15th century have become extinct, many of them are still
in use today.
Questions 16 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
16. After migrating across the Bering Strait to Alaska, the Native Americans ______ east and south.
A. looked
B. moved
C. encouraged
D. hunted
17. All of the following statements about Native Americans are true EXCEPT that...
A. their languages are extremely diverse.
B. they have a common appearance.
C. they arrived in the Americas prior to the year 1500.
D. most of the Native American languages are still spoken today.
18. Why were the Americas called the ‘East Indies’ by Columbus?
A. It was thought that the Americas were actually part of the Indies.
B. According to Columbus, the Native Americans looked like Indians from India.
C. The East Indies are located in the Pacific Ocean.
D. The land and resources of the New World were very similar to that of the Indies.
20. Why do Native Americans look so similar, yet speak so many different distinct languages?
A. They were trying to establish new societies in the New World.
B. Each tribe invented a new language before arriving in Alaska.
C. Migrants crossed the Bering Strait at the same time and then spread over the continent.
D. They all migrated from Asia, but at different times.
Text 4: From “Teutonic Speeds” by Tom Zeller, National Geographic, October 2007.
Freedom to speed is an undeniable right in Germany – at least on those portions of the nearly
8,000 miles of autobahn that have no posted limit. Some drivers well exceed 150 miles per hour (mph).
So there was an uproar when a European Union official suggested last year that Germany cut
greenhouse emissions by imposing a limit of 75 mph or so on the entire expressway.
The idea has merit. Cars burn fuel to overcome friction, air resistance, and other forces allied
against them. The more fuel a car burns, the more carbon dioxide it produces. Every car has a peak
fuel-efficient speed that gains the greatest distance per unit of energy spent. That speed varies by make
and model, but according to David Greene, a corporate researcher, “there would be very few cars with
an optimal speed above 70 mph.” Still, an autobahn limit might not be a huge help. Even now, its
drivers average around 80 mph.
Questions 21 through 25 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
21. Why did a European Union official suggest placing a speed limit on the autobahn?
A. There have been too many deaths resulting from high speed accidents.
B. New EU member citizens are driving on the autobahn with little experience.
C. The official is concerned that the price of petrol is too high, and should be conserved.
D. Driving slower uses less petrol, and is therefore more environmentally friendly.
23. Imposing speed limits on the autobahn may not help reduce pollution because…
A. cars are becoming more fuel efficient, therefore speed limits are not necessary.
B. there so many other sources of pollution that it won’t help much.
C. although there is no posted speed limit, drivers drive close to the optimal speed already.
D. people never follow the posted speed limits.
24. At what speed does the average car use the least amount of petrol?
A. Under 70 mph.
B. 150 mph.
C. 75 mph.
D. 80 mph.
Text 5: “The Dark Side – Making War on Light Pollution” by David Owen, The New Yorker.
In 1610, Galileo Galilei published a small book describing astronomical observations that he had
made of the skies above Padua, Italy. His homemade telescopes had less magnifying and resolving
power than most beginners’ telescopes sold today, yet with them he made astonishing discoveries: that
the moon has mountains and other topographical features, that Jupiter is orbited by satellites which he
called planets, and that the Milky Way is made up of individual stars. It may seem strange that this last
observation could have surprised anyone, but in Galileo’s time people assumed that the Milky Way must
be some kind of continuous substance. It truly resembled a streak of spilled liquid and it was so bright
that it cast shadows on the ground (as did Jupiter and Venus). Today, by contrast, most Americans are
unable to see the Milky Way in the sky above the place where they live, and those who can see it are
sometimes baffled by its name.
The stars have not become dimmer; rather, the Earth has become vastly brighter, so that
celestial objects are harder to see. Air pollution has made the atmosphere less transparent and more
reflective, and high levels of terrestrial illumination have washed out the stars overhead – a
phenomenon called “sky glow.” Anyone who has flown across the country on a clear night has seen the
landscape ablaze with artificial lights, especially in urban areas. Today, a person standing on the
observation deck of the Empire State Building on a cloudless night would be unable to discern much
more than the moon, the brighter planets and a handful of very bright stars – less than one percent of
what Galileo would have been able to see without a telescope.
Today, the very darkest places in the United States are increasingly threatened. For someone
standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon on a moonless night, the brightest feature of the sky is not the
Milky Way but the glow of Las Vegas, a hundred and seventy-five miles away. To see skies truly
comparable to those which Galileo knew, you would have to travel to such places as the Australian
Outback and the mountains of Peru.
Questions 26 through 30 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
29. According to the text, which of these things did Galileo NOT discover?
A. that the moon has mountains
B. that Venus casts a shadow on the ground
C. that the Milky Way is made up of many stars
D. that Jupiter is orbited by satellites
As people spend more time communing with their televisions and computers, the impact is not
just on their health, researchers say. Less time spent outdoors means less contact with nature and,
eventually, less interest in conservation and parks. Visits to national parks peaked in 1987 and dropped
23 percent by 2006.
"Declining nature participation has crucial implications for current conservation efforts," wrote the co-
authors of the report. "We think it probable that any major decline in the value placed on natural areas
and experiences will greatly reduce the value people place on biodiversity conservation. The
replacement of vigorous outdoor activities by sedentary, indoor activities has far-reaching consequences
for physical and mental health, especially in children. Watching television and computer use have been
shown to be a cause of obesity, lack of socialization, attention disorders and poor academic
performance."
By studying visits to national and state parks and the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses,
the researchers documented declines of between 18 percent and 25 percent in various types of outdoor
recreation. The decline, found in both the United States and Japan, appears to have begun in the 1980s
and 1990s, the period of rapid growth of video games, they said.
Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false)
The first woman to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in its 26 year history, Zaha Hadid has
defined a radically new approach to architecture by creating buildings with multiple perspective points
and fragmented geometry, meant to evoke the chaos of modern life.
When Zaha Hadid was named as the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture
in 2004 the opening words of the citation were: “Her architectural career has not been traditional or
easy.” An understatement. All architects have to struggle, but Hadid seems to have struggled rather
more than most. Her single-mindedness and singular lack of compromise is the stuff of legend. In part,
it is simple artistic temperament - necessary, perhaps - to create forceful architecture like Hadid’s. And
in part it is the survival mechanism required to create such architecture in what remains a profession
dominated by men.
Hadid’s forcefulness is both her curse and her blessing. A curse because strong character can make
clients run for the hills. Until recently Hadid was more famous not for the buildings she had built, but for
the ones she had not. Often, these opportunities to build were lost quite spectacularly. In the end,
though, her forcefulness is a blessing. Like architectural natural selection, it helps to weed out weak
projects and weak clients, so that when architecture is finally built, it is as strong-willed as its creator.
Questions 11 through 15 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
11. In the first paragraph, the word “evoke” most likely means:
A. reduce
B. suggest
C. remember
D. modernize
12. The article mentions the opening words of Hadid’s citation in order to...
A. explain why Hadid is such an honored architect.
B. introduce the idea that Hadid has had to struggle more than other architects.
C. elaborate upon the details of Hadid’s architectural career.
D. showcase the fact that Hadid was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize.
14. In the third part of the text, why does the author believe that Hadid’s character is a positive thing?
A. It ensures that Hadid only follows through with strong projects.
B. It scares away clients.
C. It has made her famous.
D. It helps distinguish her from male architects.
From the time she was a small child, Alexis Ells remembers rescuing injured animals and bringing
them home for care.
"Healing has always been innate to me," says Ells. "It's been a calling, a passion. I was one of
those blessed people who always knew what she wanted to do."
By continuing to follow this innate passion, Ells is fulfilling her life's dream as the founder of the
Equine Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and retrains injured performance
horses that can no longer compete.
Ells says reaching her dream meant facing life's inevitable uncertainties and taking action now,
not later.
"So many people are waiting for that perfect moment," she says. But "that right moment never
shows up. We have to create that moment. Our destiny isn't about fate, it's about a choice."
Ells's life has been fraught with great challenges, including a serious illness and a car accident in
1988 that ended her competitive riding career and left her with a serious brain injury. But she believes
her success is built on her attitude that being challenged in life is inevitable; being defeated is optional.
"I think it's about perception and perspective," she says. "If you give yourself the freedom to
know that anything is possible, and you keep having faith, belief, and perseverance despite the odds,
you will eventually arrive at the top of the mountain."
Questions 16 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
20. When Ellis speaks of arriving at “the top of the mountain,” she is speaking about...
A. her hobby as a climber.
B. her inability to challenge herself in high altitudes.
C. reaching your destiny.
D. overcoming your greatest fears.
Text 4: From “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell.
Bleak darkness was blacking out the sea and jungle when Rainsford sighted the lights. He came
upon them as he turned a crook in the coast line; and his first thought was that he had come upon a
village, for there were many lights. But as he forged along he saw to his great astonishment that all the
lights were in one enormous building—a lofty structure with pointed towers plunging upward into the
gloom. His eyes made out the shadowy outlines of a palatial chateau; it was set on a high bluff, and on
three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows.
"Mirage," thought Rainsford. But it was no mirage, he found, when he opened the tall spiked
iron gate. The stone steps were real enough; the massive door with a leering gargoyle for a knocker was
real enough; yet above it all hung an air of unreality.
He lifted the knocker, and it creaked up stiffly, as if it had never before been used. He let it fall,
and it startled him with its booming loudness. He thought he heard steps within; the door remained
closed. Again Rainsford lifted the heavy knocker, and let it fall. The door opened then—opened as
suddenly as if it were on a spring—and Rainsford stood blinking in the river of glaring gold light that
poured out. The first thing Rainsford's eyes discerned was the largest man Rainsford had ever seen--a
gigantic creature, solidly made and black bearded to the waist. In his hand the man held a long-barreled
revolver, and he was pointing it straight at Rainsford's heart.
Questions 21 through 25 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
21. Rainsford saw so many lights that he thought he had come upon:
A. a village.
B. a city.
C. a large house.
D. a palace.
22. Which of the following words would describe the knocker on the door:
A. old
B. new
C. soft
D. wooden
23. Rainsford compared the light that poured from inside the house to:
A. a light as bright as a shining star.
B. a river of glaring gold light.
C. a golden light that shone through the dark jungle.
D. the first sunlight that greets us in the morning.
24. The author does NOT use the following word to describe the man who greets Rainsford.
A. gigantic
B. solid
C. legendary
D. black bearded
25. The man at the door held which of the following objects in his hand?
A. a revolver
B. a sword
C. a stick
D. a candle
Text 5: From “The Frog Finder” by Rory Callinan, Time for Kids: World Report Edition.
It was just after midnight when Stephen Richards heard a strange, melodious whistle amid the
patter of rain in the Papau New Guinea cloud forest. Papau New Guinea is a country on the eastern half
of the island of New Guinea, which lies north of Australia. Richards, 44, knows the terrain and its
creatures well, but the sound he heard was completely new. "When I heard this, I knew it was going to
be fantastic," he says.
Richards moved carefully through thorny vines toward the sound. After an hour of searching, he
found the source: a "warty brown blob." When he gently took hold of the blob, it bit him on the hand.
"I was shocked," he says. "Frogs don't normally bite you." The animal's bite along with its unique cry
and strange appearance, told Richards he had discovered a new species. It was an exhilarating moment.
But to Richards, who is a zoologist with the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Australia, it was also
another day at work.
Richards believes he has discovered almost 100 frogs. He has managed to scientifically classify
and name 30. Another 70 must be studied carefully before they can be classified as new species.
Frogs are threatened by habitat destruction, disease, and predators. Richards believes
recording the amphibians is vitally important. As for the blob that bit him, Richards has not classified
and named it yet. But you can bet it will have a name that fits its snappy temperament. "I like a frog
with attitude," he says.
Questions 26 through 30 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
26. How did Stephen Richards discover this new species?
A. He accidentally stepped on it.
B. He followed the sound of its whistle.
C. The frog jumped on him.
D. Another zoologist brought it to him.
28. Which did NOT contribute to Richards's belief that he had discovered a new species?
A. the frog's bite
B. the frog's whistle
C. the frog's jump
D. the frog's appearance
29. How many frogs has Richards already classified and named?
A. 100
B. 30
C. 70
D. None
30. Why does Richards believe that it's important to record behaviors of frogs?
A. Frogs are threatened by habitat destruction, disease, and predators.
B. They may be poisonous and Richards wants to prevent them from harming others.
C. They are useful in treating illnesses.
D. He wants to open a zoo that mainly displays frogs.
11th Form Questions:
Text 1: From "Pandora's Box," Greek Myths and Legends, Literary Heritage Series.
Pandora was modeled in the likeness of Aphrodite. She was carved out of white marble, her lips
made of red rubies and her eyes of sapphires. Athena breathed life into her and dressed her in elegant
garments. Aphrodite gave her jewels and fixed her mouth in a winning smile. Into the mind of this
beautiful creature, Zeus put insatiable curiosity, and then he gave her a sealed box and told her never to
open it.
She was brought down to earth and offered in marriage to Epimetheus, who lived among the
mortals. Epimetheus had been warned never to accept a gift from Zeus, but he could not resist the
beautiful woman. Thus Pandora came to live among mortals, and men came from near and far to stand
awestruck by her wondrous beauty.
But Pandora was not perfectly happy, for she did not know what was in the box that Zeus had
given her. It was not long before her curiosity got the better of her and she had to take a quick peek.
The moment she opened the lid, out swarmed Greed, Vanity, Slander, Envy, and all the miseries
that had been unknown to mortals. Horrified, Pandora shut the lid, just in time to keep Hope from flying
out too. Zeus had put Hope at the bottom of the box, and it would have quickly put an end to the
unleashed evils. They stung and bit the mortals as Zeus had planned, but their sufferings made them
wicked instead of good, as Zeus had hoped. They lied, stole, and killed each other and became so evil
that Zeus in disgust drowned them in a flood.
Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false)
Farther south, Brazilian Fernando Meirelles earned a best-director nomination in 2003 for his
film “City of God,” a movie that was produced by fellow Brazilian director Walter Salles, whose film,
“Central Station,” earned two Oscar nominations in 1998 and whose new film, “The Motorcycle Diaries,”
may obtain best-picture and best-director nominations.
None of this would have happened without the major sociopolitical changes that occurred in
Mexico and South America in the past 20 years. “My generation is the first generation [in South
America] to be able to express itself freely,” Salles says. “Until the early ‘80s in Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Peru, we were living under military dictatorships, under censorship. If you have not been able to express
your voice for 25 years and you finally recover it, there’s a passion to express yourself that has no
parallel. This generation of directors and actors has developed from that." This generation of Mexican
directors, by contrast, was the first to grow from a different kind of cultural repression.
Questions 11 through 15 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
11. Of all the Oscars given for best director in the United States 27% have gone to…
A. Americans.
B. foreigners.
C. men for whom English is a foreign language.
D. directors from Mexico and South America.
13. Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola…
A. are Pan-American directors.
B. are talents of the 1970s.
C. will become more known in the next decade.
D. are a group of new directors.
Text 3: "Meteor Streaks across Pacific Northwest," The Metro, February 24, 2008.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — a meteor streaked through the sky over the Pacific northwest and
apparently landed in Eastern Washington early Tuesday.
A private pilot reported seeing the meteorite hit the Earth in a burst of light near State Route 26
and the Lind-Hatton Road in Adams County about 5:45 a.m., said an employee who refused to identify
himself at the Federal Aviation Administration regional operations center in Seattle. Mike Fergus, an FAA
spokesman in Seattle, originally reported that a Horizon Airlines pilot saw the meteorite strike, but the
employee said that was incorrect.
Sheriff's dispatchers said they had no reports of damage, injury or a meteor landing in the area,
about 175 miles east-southeast of Seattle and 90 miles southwest of Spokane. Washington State Patrol
Lt. Robert D. Kerwin said there was no indication of a traffic disruption.
A number of pilots reported seeing the meteor streaking through the sky from Boise, into
Washington State, said an FAA duty officer who declined to give his name.
Television stations in Spokane reported getting viewer calls from across Washington State and
north Idaho, parts of Oregon and southeastern British Columbia, starting about 5:30 a.m.
The callers said it resembled summer lightning, a rocket, a satellite or an exploding transformer.
A viewer from Walla Walla, about 55 miles south-southeast of the reported crash site, said she heard a
sonic boom and felt a shock wave not long after seeing the streaking meteor.
Questions 16 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
18. From which states did TV stations in Spokane NOT report getting calls about the meteorite?
A. Washington and Idaho
B. Kansas and Iowa
C. Washington and Oregon
D. British Columbia and Oregon
19. What did a viewer from Walla Walla say she heard and felt not long after seeing the meteor?
A. a sonic boom and a shock wave
B. a sonic boom and a satellite
C. an exploding transformer and a sonic boom
D. a satellite and a traffic disruption
20. What kind of damage was reported in the area around where the meteor was seen?
A. about 175 miles of damage
B. serious flooding and some burning
C. no reports of damage
D. only minor damage was reported
Text 4: From "The Fire Element," from www.spiritsingles.com/astrology
The first element is Fire, represented by the signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. For these people,
the first reaction to everything is a physical one. They are the ones most likely to "shoot first and ask
questions later." Before they assess the practicality of their actions, before considering the emotional
consequences, and before intellectual perceptions have a chance to impose control, Fire sign people
need to do something. The moment their interest is aroused, they charge into battle unarmed. In their
haste to do something important details may be forgotten or disregarded. They can be unmindful of
how their careless actions may hurt or infringe on the rights of others. The positive side of their
animated natures is that fire signs possess great courage. They are willing to take chances and do things
others would not attempt. Their accomplishments can be legendary if they learn to channel their energy
constructively into worthwhile endeavors and develop the patience to complete the projects they
initiate. Fire sign people are the most physically active. Aries likes to be active simply as a release of
energy. Leo wants to get around in order to enjoy the attention and sociable companionship of others.
Sagittarius loves the freedom that comes from being physically independent.
Questions 21 through 25 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
21. People who are born under the Fire element are known to respond with …
A. their minds
B. their bodies
C. emotions
D. practical thinking
22. The phrase "shoot first and ask questions later" means …
A. to be good at sports
B. to ask questions
C. to be are impulsive
D. to be very practical
24. All of these favourable characteristics are about Fire element people EXCEPT:
A. they are brave
B. they try things some people may not undertake
C. they are energetic
D. they are patient
25. Which sign of the Fire Element gets pleasure from camaraderie and being the focus of others?
A. Sagittarius
B. Leo
C. Aries
D. None of these
In the fall of 1972, my parents drove me to the University of North Dakota for my freshman
year. Everything I needed was packed in a brand-new royal-blue aluminum trunk: a crazy-quilt afghan
that my mother had crocheted for my bed, thirty dollars’ worth of new clothes, my Berlitz French Self-
Teacher, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (a gift from my father), a framed photograph of my
grandfather Mooshum, and a beaded leather tobacco pouch that he had owned ever since I could
remember, and which he had casually handed to me as I left, the way old men give presents.
Other freshmen were already moving into their dormitory rooms when we arrived, with their
parents helping haul. I saw boxes of paperbacks, stereo equipment, Dylan albums and varnished
acoustic guitars, home-knitted afghans, none as brilliant as mine, Janis posters, Bowie posters, Day-Glo
bed sheets, hacky sacks and stuffed bears. But as we carried my trunk up two flights of stairs terror
invaded me. Although I was studying French because I dreamed of going to Paris, I actually dreaded
leaving home, and in the end my parents did not want me to leave, either. But this is how children are
sacrificed into their futures: I had to go, and here I was. We walked back down the stairs. I was too
numb to cry, but I watched my mother and father as they stood beside the car and waved. That moment
is a still image; I can call it up as if it were a photograph. My father, so thin and athletic, looked almost
frail with shock, while my mother, whose beauty was still remarkable, and who was known on the
reservation for her silence and reserve, had left off her characteristic gravity. Her face and my fathers
were naked with love. It wasn’t something that we talked about - love. But they allowed me this one
clear look at it. It blazed from them. And then they left.
I think now that everything that was concentrated in that one look - the care they had taken in
bringing me up, their patient lessons in every subject they knew how to teach, their wincing efforts to
give me my freedom, the example they had set of fortitude in work was what allowed me to survive.
The trunk was quickly emptied; my room was barely filled. Then, books to my chest, I curled up
beneath the afghan and looked out the window. I understood right then that I would be spending most
of my first semester in this position.
Questions 26 through 30 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)
The economic success of the Scandinavian countries is surprising, perhaps, for some. It is often
said that in the era of globalization, countries with generous welfare policies cannot be competitive. It is
claimed that countries with high taxes and large public expenditures cannot be successful growth
nations. The rapid development of the Scandinavian countries during the past decade is a powerful
argument against this logic.
True, we live in times of sweeping change. The last 10 years have taken us on a great journey,
full of rapid and fascinating developments. The overall prosperity of the world is growing. People are
rising out of hunger, oppression and illiteracy. More countries have become democracies. Research
and new technology offer new opportunities. Medicines are becoming cheaper and more widely
accessible. At the same time new threats—in the forms of terrorism, infectious diseases and climate
change—spread fear around the world.
But change itself is nothing new for an open, trade-oriented country like Sweden. For us, all this
is challenging, but also exciting. Our economic growth is largely a product of continuous structural
adjustments. We have encouraged those changes, and continue to do so. Our openness and innovative
climate has helped us to build a number of successful international companies such as Saab, IKEA, Volvo,
Ericsson and Asea.
What is new is the pace of change. The globalization of economies and markets affects people’s
everyday lives. For society as a whole, the continuous shift of labor into new, more productive areas is
of great benefit. But for individuals, these changes can carry great costs. Workers in the most
developed countries face competition from workers with lower wages and less secure working
conditions. Businesses face tougher pressure on prices and a rapid increase in efficiency demand. At
the same time, more jobs require high education and specific skills, and an increasing number of jobs
are emerging in the service sector.
Along with the other Scandinavian countries, Sweden has been coping well with this fast-
changing environment. Our country has had higher growth over the past 10 years than the EU and
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average. Sweden is held to have the
world’s most internationalized economy after Ireland. We have been designated the most creative
country in the world and the best climate for innovation in the EU. Sweden is third in the World
Economic Forum’s ranking of growth prospects, and invests more in education than any other OECD
country except Denmark. Sweden is also in the lead at balancing growth and environmental concerns.
International studies confirm it time and again: Sweden is one of the world’s most modern
countries. We have strong social security—but a higher level of employment and work-force
participation than most other countries. We have high public expenditure—but we have had greater
economic growth in the past 10 years than the OECD average. We have a large public sector—but there
is also a vigorous and expanding business sector that competes successfully in the world market.
I believe the reason we are doing relatively well is that we have developed policies that facilitate
structural adjustment. That enables us to harness the full potential of globalization. It is not about
protecting old and inefficient sectors. It is about facilitating change for the individual—to build bridges
from the old to the new, from the shrinking sectors to the innovative, from the stagnating to the vibrant
and growing.
To do so, we must provide people with opportunities to learn new things, to move or to change
jobs late in life. And they need secure incomes, in case the unpredictable—an illness, unemployment—
strikes. In a rapidly changing economy, lifelong education, a strong social security system and active
labor-market policies are key assets.
The Swedish model clearly shows that an ambitious welfare policy is fully compatible with free
trade and openness. High taxes do not get in the way of good growth if they are levied through a
sensibly constructed tax system that does not place an excessive burden on production.
On the contrary—a system of this kind is an advantage for development and growth. A robust
public sector gives people the security to seek new opportunities and test new grounds. In this way,
security goes hand in hand with development. Our experience also confirms this. Willingness to pay
tax, moreover, is relatively high in Sweden, as people feel confident that the money is used to address
common concerns—health care, schools and social services available to all.
In the same way, it is crucial to give women the same rights, opportunities and wages as men.
Parenthood must not be an obstacle to work, which is why Swedish couples have the right to stay home
with 80 percent pay for 13 months (including at least two months for the father) after childbirth, and to
full-time day care. As a result, Sweden has one of the highest levels of female labor participation in the
world, and one of the highest birthrates in the European Union. As Western populations age, a high
birthrate is critical for maintaining a balance between working age people and retirees so we can afford
pensions. Sweden—small, cold, with a difficult language—cannot hope to rely on immigration.
I am convinced that the Swedish general-welfare model is modern and forward-looking. It is not
only fair. It can also be a very competitive model in a globalized economy.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
1. In this passage, the author portrays the Scandinavian countries as:
a) economically weak
b) highly competitive economically
c) opposed to globalization
d) generous welfare states that cannot compete in a global market
2. In the author’s viewpoint, the last ten years have been a time of:
a) improvement in the literacy rate
b) technological change
c) heightened threat
d) all of the above
12. When the author says, “Sweden cannot hope to rely on immigration,” he means:
a) immigrants present many problems in Sweden
b) Sweden does not welcome new immigrants
c) people are unlikely to immigrate to Sweden
d) it is illegal to immigrate to Sweden
Number Answer
1 B
2 D
3 C
4 B Annie Finnigan, “Sustainable Development: No City’s an
5 A Island,” (Special Advertising Section), Newsweek (Special
6 B Edition), December 2005-February 2006.
7 D
8 D
9 B The world’s urban populations are exploding. According to a
10 B report from the United Nations, some 3 billion people live in
11 D cities today, and their ranks are increasing at almost double the
12 C rate of growth overall. Two years from now, for the first time in
history, city dwellers will outnumber country inhabitants. And
25 years from now the number of those living in cities will have grown by another two thirds, to 5
billion.
Experts say we must change the way our metropolises function if we’re to leave our children—
who in 25 years will be raising children of their own—cities that are functional and healthy. We must
create cities that are both economically and environmentally sustainable, where clean industry and
green options for energy and transportation are the rule rather than the exception.
Valenciennes, in France’s industrial north, is trying to do just that. The former steel and coal
town was economically depressed when it began, in the 1990s, to invest in sustainability. It has worked
hard to attract “green” businesses, like the Toyota plant on its outskirts—a model in terms of energy
use. In addition, it has completely rethought transportation: next year, it’s launching a new light rail
system that will connect it with nearby towns and cut down on traffic. “The tram is a real step forward
for Valenciennes,” says Jean-Louis Borloo, the city’s former mayor and now France’s minister of
employment, social cohesion and housing. “It’s a clean means of transportation that helps us control
our energy consumption and reduce congestion, pollution and noise.” Along its path, hundreds of trees
will further offset emissions.
Other cities are approaching the sustainability question in a different way. Former textiles
capital Lille—once called the “Manchester of France”—has turned to cleaner industries, like computers
and bioresearch. In addition, Lille was an early adopter when it came to renewable energy: in 1992, it
became the first city in Europe to use biogas buses. Biogas is captured from sewage sludge, which
would otherwise release harmful methane into the atmosphere, and its use has been shown to sharply
cut ozone, particulate and hydrocarbon levels. Today, a significant portion of the city’s bus fleet runs on
biogas.
Valenciennes, Lille and cities like them are finding ways to boost their economies and move their
people—but not at the expense of the environment that future generations must live in. “Today, if
there’s one thing we must always keep in mind,” Jean-Louis Borloo says, “it is the heritage we will leave
our children.”
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
2. Twenty-five years from now, the number of people living in cities will have grown by:
a) three fourths
b) three fifths
c) two thirds
d) one half
3. Experts say we must change the way our cities function if they are to remain:
a) exciting
b) healthy
c) democratic
d) free of crime
8. Lille became the first city in Europe to use biogas buses in:
a) 1982
b) 1990
c) 1992
d) 1994
Number Answer
1 C
2 C
3 B
4 C
5 D
6 D
7 A
8 C
9 C
10 B
Lonely Planet: Turkey, Lonely Planet Publications, Melbourne, 2003 (8th edition), p. 98
Driving around Turkey gives you unparalleled freedom to enjoy the marvelous countryside and
coastline. On the other hand it also exposes you to extra costs and dangers.
You need to know that Turkey has one of the world’s highest motor vehicle accident rates, with
thousands of fatalities each year, and tens of thousands of injuries. Despite efforts to persuade Turkish
drivers to tame the ‘trafik canavari’ (motoring monster) within them, there’s still a long way to go.
Turkish drivers are not particularly discourteous, but they are impatient and incautious. They drive at
high speed and have an irrepressible urge to overtake. To survive on Turkey’s highways, drive cautiously
and very defensively, avoid driving at night, and never let emotions affect what you do.
Having said that, most foreign visitors travel thousands of kilometres around the country
without incident.
If you bring your motorcycle to Turkey you’re bound to have a fine time. Spare parts will
probably be hard to come by, so bring what you may need, or rely on the boundless ingenuity of Turkish
mechanics to find, adapt or make you a part. Or else be prepared to call home, have the part flown in,
and endure considerable hassles from customs.
There are good motorways (otoyols) from the Bulgarian border near Edirne to Istanbul and
Ankara, and south from Emir to Aydin. All motorways have tolls but they’re usually only around US$1 a
time.
Roads tend to be worse in the east. Severe winters play havoc with road surfaces and the
highways department is hard-pushed to keep up with the repairs.
If driving from Istanbul to Ankara you should be aware of a particularly nasty fog belt around
Bolu that can seriously reduce visibility.
There are petrol stations everywhere, at least in western Turkey, and many are mega-
enterprises, complete with hotel, restaurant and shopping mall. All the same, it’s a good idea to have a
full tank when you start out in the morning across the vast spaces of central and eastern Anatolia.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
3. The author advises the reader that when bringing a motorcycle to Turkey:
a) Parts for the motorcycle will be easy to find if it breaks down
b) Turkish mechanics will be tempted to buy the motorcycle
c) You should bring your own parts for the motorcycle
d) You may be able to obtain parts from customs officials
Number Answer
1 C
2 D
3 C
4 A
5 D
6 B
Lonely Planet: Turkey, Melbourne, Lonely Planet Publications, 2003 (8th edition), p. 230.
Izmir owes its famously “special” atmosphere to its turbulent history. What you see today has
risen from the ashes of Ottoman Izmir since 1922 when a disastrous fire razed most of the city. Before
that, Izmir was Smyrna, the most Westernised and cosmopolitan of Turkish cities, where more citizens
were Christian and Jewish than Muslim, and where there were thousands of foreign diplomats, traders,
merchants and sailors.
The first settlement, at Bayrakh near the eastern end of the bay, was built in the 10 th century
B.C., but there were probably people here as far back as 3000 B.C. Famous citizens of ancient Smyrna
included the poet Homer, the founder of Western literature, who lived before 700 B.C.
After a long period in the shadows things began to look up for Smyrna after the Ottomans took
over in 1415. In 1535, Suleyman the Magnificent signed the Ottomans’ first commercial treaty with
Francois I of France, permitting foreign merchants to reside in the sultan’s dominions. Smyrna rapidly
became Turkey’s most sophisticated commercial city and its streets and buildings took on a quasi-
European appearance.
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the victorious Allies sought to carve up the sultan’s
dominions. Some Greeks had always dreamed of re-creating the long-lost Byzantine Empire and, in
1920, with Allied encouragement, they invaded Izmir and headed towards Ankara. In fierce fighting on
the outskirts of Ankara, they were eventually pushed back again. With half its men taken prisoner, the
defeated Greek army fled to ships waiting in Izmir. Unfortunately during mopping-up operations, a
disastrous fire destroyed most of the old city, but the day that Ataturk recaptured Izmir (9 September
1922) marked the moment of victory in the Turkish War of Independence. It’s now the biggest local
holiday.
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
Number Answer
1 B
2 D
3 B
4 A
5 C
6 B
Neil Wilson, Beth Potter, David Rowson, Keti Japaridze, Lonely Planet: Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Melbourne: Lonely Planet Publications (2000), p. 87
Georgian cooking has something in common with other regional cuisines but is on the whole
unmistakably distinctive. The ingredients are usually very fresh (different dishes are cooked in different
seasons), and the recipes elaborate. Many dishes involve grated walnuts, garlic, and a range of herbs
and spices. West Georgian cooking in particular can be quite hot, as it employs the use of a lot of chili.
Georgian cuisine is good news for vegetarians, as there are many delicious vegetarian specialties
such as lobio (red or green beans with herbs and spices), pkhali (a spinach or beetroot paste with
walnuts and garlic), aubergines, mushrooms and salad. The table is usually covered with a great variety
of dishes, some meat, some vegetable, from which you can take your choice.
Fish is not eaten much, but there are many excellent meat dishes. There are mouthwatering
combinations such as lamb with tarragon and wild plums, chicken with tomatoes and herbs, lamb stew
with aubergines, and tomatoes and turkey or chicken eaten cold in a walnut sauce. Other tasty sauces
include the wild plum tkemali and the hot chili ajika.
Georgians generally like their food salty, and many people would say that some of their cheeses
suffer from this, though sulguni and gudis kveli, two of the more famous types, deserve their reputation.
The Georgian variety of yoghurt, matsoni, is very good.
Dessert usually means cakes, typically laden with cream and sugar, and fruit, which the country
has in great abundance. In the autumn in eastern Georgia, churchkhela is made by coating strings of
nuts in wine juice and flour.
People eat at any time of day, and often the food dished up for breakfast may be similar to what
you get at dinner (including the wine or vodka if you are a house guest). However, the most typical
breakfat fare is bread with cheese, omelets, honey and jam.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
4. All of the following are mentioned as ingredients in Georgian vegetable dishes except:
a) mushrooms
b) aubergines
c) spinach
d) zucchini
1 C
2 B
3 A
4 D
5 C
6 A
7 D
8 C
9 B
10 D
AUBERGINE MOUSSAKA
Ingredients:
616 grams aubergines
336 grams minced meat
half a minced onion
parsley
a little tomato puree
breadcrumbs
olive oil or butter for frying
Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3-4 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 egg
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon grated cheese
3 servings
Method:
Slice the aubergines, sprinkle them with salt and leave them to dry. Fry them in butter or olive oil. Fry
336 grams minced meat in butter or oil, with half minced onion, parsley and a little tomato puree.
Grease a baking dish and coat it with breadcrumbs. Put in it a layer of aubergines, then the minced
meat. Add the remaining aubergines and cover with the thick sauce (recipe below). To the sauce add a
few breadcrumbs and a little melted butter. Brown in the oven.
Sauce:
Melt the butter. Add the flour little by little and stir until dissolved. Remove the pan from the stove,
add the milk and stir till all the flour dissolves and it is cooked thoroughly. Stir the sauce continuously
until it becomes like custard; add cheese and egg.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
2. All of the following should be fried with the minced meat except:
a) onion
b) tomato puree
c) parsley
d) breadcrumbs
Number Answer
1 C
2 D
3 A
4 B
5 A
6 B
Douglas K. Stevenson, American Life and Institutions, Stuttgart, Ernst Klegg Verlag, p. 60.
The concept of continuing (or lifelong) education is of great importance to Americans. In 1991,
57 million Americans 17 years and older furthered their education through participation in part-time
instruction, taking courses in universities, colleges, professional associations, government organizations
or even churches and synagogues. Most participants in adult or continuing education have a practical
goal: they want to update and upgrade their job skills. As a result of economic changes and the rapid
advance of the “information age,” the necessity to acquire new occupational skills has increased. Adult
education thus fills a need of many Americans who want to improve their chances in a changing job
market. This is one explanation for the continuing growth of adult education classes over the past
several years. Of course, not all people who take courses in adult education do this for job-related
purposes. Many simply want to broaden their knowledge or learn something they would enjoy doing
such as print-making, dancing or photography.
Continuing education courses are provided mainly by community or junior colleges and mostly
take place in the evenings. The types of courses adults enroll in range from hobby and recreational
activities to highly specialized technical skills. Courses in business, health care and health sciences,
engineering and education are most popular. Most of these courses are taken by employees because
the employer provided major support for educational programs, either by paying part of the fees, giving
time off, or providing other incentives. While some 50 percent of all people in adult education are
enrolled in programs sponsored by educational institutions, about 15 percent were sponsored directly
by business and industry. Over 80 percent of all companies today conduct their own training programs.
Many large corporations offer complete degree programs, and some even support their own technical
and business colleges and universities. In the 1980s about five million students took industry-sponsored
university programs and roughly twice that number were involved in corporate education of some kind.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
1. All of the following are mentioned as places where adults take continuing education courses
except:
a) colleges
b) universities
c) recreational centers
d) government organizations
2. The phrase “upgrade their job skills” means people want to:
a) earn higher marks
b) get a promotion at work
c) improve their professional competencies
d) have fun while learning
3. Which of the following courses might be one of the “most popular” according to the text:
a) Ballroom Dancing for Beginners
b) Introduction to Accounting Methods
c) The History of Western Civilization
d) Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance Art
4. Which is not mentioned as a reason for employees to take continuing education courses:
a) The employer pays part of the course tuition
b) The employer gives the employee time away from work in order to take the course
c) The employer provides other means of motivating employees to take courses
d) The employer requires all employees to take courses
Number Answer
1 C
2 C
3 B
4 D
“Saving Europe’s Woodlands,” FCE Use of English (2), Virginia Evans, Swansea, Express Publishing,
1998, p. 94.
Hidden in almost every European country there are ancient and untouched forests. These
forests are often rich in wildlife and are (1)__________ to many endangered species. One example is a
small patch of Scottish forest which contains a variety of coniferous trees (2)___________ for a wide
range of birds and insects. Although many of the ancient (3)________ of Europe worshipped trees,
there is (4)________ respect for them today. The World Wild Life Fund has decided to (5)____________
attention to the importance of Europe’s ancient woodlands. They are asking for the remaining forests to
be protected by controlling the trade in wood. (6)_________, governments are being asked to
regenerate forests where necessary and manage them in a more nature-friendly way. At present almost
a third of western Europe is (7)_________ by trees. Unfortunately, many of these were only
(8)_____________ recently. This means they can’t support such a(n) (9)___________variety of plant
and animal life. If we destroy the ancient forests we will cause many species to (10)__________ extinct.
Mark the word A, B, C or D that best fits each numbered blank space:
Blank No. A B C D
1 house place home shelter
2 capable suitable able plenty
3 humans peoples beings persons
4 small tiny little few
5 draw bring carry move
6 As well as In addition Too Plus
7 loaded packed full covered
8 placed put plotted planted
9 deep wide excessive extreme
10 come end become get
Number Answer
1 C
2 B
3 B
4 C
5 A
6 B
7 D
8 D
9 B
10 C
First Certificate Reading, Longman, p. 42.
MANAGER WANTED
Applications are invited for the post of Manager at our Madrid store.
Applicants must speak English, be computer literate, have administrative experience and an interest in
health and lifestyle issues. An ability to speak Spanish is an advantage, although language training will
be provided.
Responsibilities include day-to-day running of the store together with recruitment and training of new
staff. The manager acts as representative for the company and is expected to provide excellent service
to customers.
Contact Sue Jones on (00 44) 181 744 1243 for more information.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
6. According to the text, all of the following will be functions of the Manager except:
a) speaking Spanish
b) hiring new employees
c) training new employees
d) setting prices of new products
7. Based on the text, one can conclude that Herbal Health is:
a) a small business conducted from someone’s home
b) .a fairly large store
c) an online business
d) a mail-order business
Number Answer
1 B
2 C
3 A
4 C
5 B
6 D
7 B
8 D
Bruce R. Smith, The Art and History of Washington, D.C., pp. 79-82.
Television news broadcasts have made The White House one of the most recognized images in
the world. Having first seen it close (1) __________ on a television screen, many first-time visitors are
struck by the modest size of what is, after all, an eighteenth-century country house enveloped by a huge
city. The surroundings were altogether different when Abigail Adams moved in with her husband, John,
the second president, in 1800. Under (2) __________ since 1792, the building was not finished when
the Adamses arrived, and Mrs. Adams used the East Room for hanging out the laundry. Thomas
Jefferson, the next occupant, found the place “big enough for two emperors, one Pope, and the grand
Lama.” His own design for the building, submitted
(3) __________, had been passed over in favor of one by James Hoban, an Irish-American who was a
self-taught architect. To offset the pompous effect, Jefferson added two low-lying terrace-pavilions that
are still used for offices and service functions. Succeeding occupants have left their own marks on the
place, (4) __________ Harry Truman, who upset purists by adding a balcony to the curved South Portico,
and Jacqueline Kennedy, who (5) __________ out a century and a half of accumulated furnishings and
restored the public rooms to something like their early nineteenth-century appearance. The most (6)
__________ moment in White House history came in August 1814, when the British invaded
Washington and set the building afire. Alone in the house, Dolly Madison managed to get out just in
time, first sending away Gilbert Stuart’s full-length portrait of George Washington, which still (7)
__________ the East Room. A violent summer thunderstorm (8) __________ the house from total
destruction. Hoban’s reconstruction of the building over the next four years included a coat of white
wash, perhaps to hide (9) __________ marks from the British flames. The name “White House,” in use
from the very beginning to describe the structure’s (10) __________ sandstone, did not become official
until 1902.
Multiple Choice:
Mark the word A, B, C or D that best fits each numbered blank space.
A B C D
Number
1 by up out within
1 B
2 C
3 A
4 D
5 B
6 D
7 B
8 C
9 A
10 C
California Department of Education, Preparing for the California High School Exit Examinatoin, An
English-Language Arts Study Guide, October 2003, p. 96.
Human beings have only one stomach, one heart, and one brain…right? Not exactly. The
cerebral cortex, the most advanced part of the brain, might be thought of as two structures, connected
by a band of fibers called the corpus callosum. Each structure, or hemisphere, performs different tasks
and is responsible for different functions.
The right side of the body is controlled by the left hemisphere of the cortex, and vice versa.
Thus, the hand movements of right-handed people are controlled by the left hemisphere and those of
left-handed people by the right hemisphere. Similarly, everything perceived on the right is processed by
the left hemisphere. Whatever is received in one hemisphere is quickly transmitted to the other across
the corpus callosum. Thus, we see a single visual world rather than two half-worlds.
The two hemispheres not only control opposite sides of the body, but also seem to differ in
function. The left hemisphere is apparently responsible for language and logical thought. The right
hemisphere seems to be concerned more with spatial relations, perception, and fantasy.
How do scientists know all this? In some pioneering experiments, researchers have studied the
behavior of patients who have had their corpus callosum severed through surgery. This operation,
sometimes performed on patients with severe epilepsy, prevents seizures from traveling across both
hemispheres. It also produces a split brain, with each hemisphere functioning more or less
independently.
In the everyday world, people with split brains function with little difficulty. This is because full
communication between the two parts of the brain is not necessary in most processes. For instance,
split brain subjects can see what a normal person does by moving their eyes so that both hemispheres
perceive an image. In some situations, however, the effects of split-brain surgery can be quite dramatic.
In one experiment, researcher Roger Sperry (who won a Nobel Prize for his work) flashed the
word “heart” across the center of the screen. The “he” was shown to the left part of the visual field, the
“art” to the right. When asked to say what they had seen, the subjects answered, “art.” This is because
speech is controlled by the left hemisphere, where the “art” was processed. However, when they were
told to point with the left hand to one of the two cards—“he” or “art”—to identify what they had just
seen, the subjects always chose the card with “he.” In this case, the right hemisphere—which controls
the left side of the body—prevailed.
It would be a mistake to assume that all language involves only the left hemisphere or that all
spatial relations engage only the right. When a brain is damaged on one side, as in the case of a brain
stroke, the other side frequently takes over and does its work. Neither hemisphere has exclusive control
over any one task.
Multiple Choice:
Based on the text, choose the best answer.
5. A split brain:
a) Causes both hemispheres of the brain to function similarly
b) Causes people to become confused
c) Causes each hemisphere of the brain to become enflamed
d) Causes each hemisphere of the brain to function separately
6. According to the text, full communication between both hemispheres of the brain:
a) rarely occurs
b) occurs only after surgery
c) is not necessary for most of the things humans do
d) occurs only in scientific experiments
Number Answer
1 B
2 C
3 D
4 A
5 D
6 C
7 B
8 C
Ukraine is close to finding its most promising diamond deposit ever, if (1) __________
discoveries by geologists in Kirovohrad region pan out.
On the eve of the New Year, specialists from the State Geological Service of Ukraine (DGS) said
all the signs point (2) __________ a big kimberlitic pipe, or diamond-encrusted layer of earth, lying near
an exploration site in the south-central region.
For Ukraine, which already has a developed cutting industry for small- and medium-sized
diamonds, a major discovery could give a (3) __________ to domestic production of rough diamonds,
industry specialists say.
“The geological (4) __________ of the layers, as well as micro-diamonds that we have found at
the site, indicate that the quality of the diamonds possibly lying there could match that of the diamonds
produced by world leaders in Russia and South Africa,” said Anton Dzidzinsky, head of the department
of geological (5) __________ at DGS.
Dzidzinsky says, however, that it could take up to five years before any actual diamonds could
be extracted, and that’s only if the necessary financing is (6) __________ provided. He said the
Ukrainian government had allocated some $8 million for diamond exploration works this year. For
comparison, Russian diamond production giant ALROSA spends about $30-35 million a year on
exploration work.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has several potential diamond sites, including ones in Volyn region in
northwestern Ukraine and in the southeast near the Sea of Azov, which could produce fine-quality
diamonds, said Dzidzinsky. “I wouldn’t compare Ukraine’s diamond prospects to Russia or South Africa
now, but there are certainly big plans for this industry’s development.” Some foreign
(7) __________ also would not hurt, he added.
Currently, the only foreign company exploring promising diamond sites in Ukraine is Canada’s
North Star Diamonds, which acquired three diamond projects in Volyn region in 2004. The company has
invested some $450,000 in exploration activity in Ukraine since 1995, drilling 16 diamondiferous holes,
the company’s (8) __________ office said.
Dzidzinsky hopes more foreign investors will arrive soon, and some of the biggest seem
(9) __________ to invest.
“I know that the world’s biggest diamond producer, De Beers, is already interested in exploring
Ukraine,” he said, adding that (10) __________ non-state money to the country’s diamond exploration
industry is one of the main goals of the State Program for Diamond Exploration over the next five years.
Circle the word that best fits each numbered blank space.
Number A B C D
2 out by from to
UNTITLED
The Kyiv-based Farmak pharmaceutical company launched Ukraine’s most sophisticated insulin
production last month, thanks in large (1) __________ to a cooperation pact with American
pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly.
The new production line, launched on Dec. 9, 2005, during an opening ceremony attended by
U.S. Ambassador John Herbst, will produce insulin using genetic engineering technologies in
accordance (2) __________a license from the American corporation.
It will be the only production line of insulin in Ukraine that can boast the standards of a widely
(3) __________ transnational company like Eli Lilly, said Farmak officials.
Farmak has invested nearly $9 million into the new production line, designed using know-how
provided by Eli Lilly. The launch of the production line also makes for what Farmak officials call a higher
level of relations with their American (4) __________.
“The opening of the first full-scale production line marks a new stage of partnership relations
development between the two companies,” Philya Zhebrovska, president and director of Farmak, said
during the opening ceremony.
Zhebrovska said that by “cooperating with one of the world’s leading producers of the human
recombinant insulin, Eli Lilly, Farmak has joined a narrow circle of genetically-engineered insulin
producers.”
Farmak is one of the largest producers of pharmaceuticals in Ukraine.
Farmak’s manufacturing output comprises 11 percent of Ukraine’s overall medical products
market. It initiated its cooperation with Eli Lilly on the planned production line back
(5) __________1999.
Originally, Farmak was buying ready-produced insulin flasks from Eli Lilly, later packing and re-
selling them under its own trademark. In 2003, both companies (6) __________ an agreement yielding
Farmak licensing rights to high quality Eli Lilly technology to establish its own insulin production.
A U.S. embassy spokesperson told the Post that “Eli Lilly is the first pharmaceutical company to
make this kind of investment into the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry. In essence, it has made an
investment in the form of a technology know-how transfer to Farmak.”
Genetically engineered insulin makes up nearly 30 percent of Ukraine’s insulin market; a small
share if one considers that worldwide such insulin accounts for the (7) __________share of sales.
Today, Ukraine’s insulin market is represented by two Ukrainian and two foreign companies.
Ukrainian Indar boasts 80 Percent market share, while Farmak holds around 18 percent.
(8) __________ in Indianapolis, Indiana, Eli Lilly is a leader in medical research and the
development of new medicines to help patients living with such diseases as cancer, diabetes,
osteoporosis and others.
Large foreign pharmaceutical companies (9) __________ set up a business with its own
representation office or legal entity in the country, use a Ukrainian agent company, or sign a licensing
agreement with a Ukrainian partner, as is the case between Eli Lilly and Farmak.
“While not all international pharmaceutical companies own production plants in Ukraine, the
vast majority of them work through representative offices because it is more advantageous and
convenient for them,” Vitaliy Kiryk, managing director of Ratiopharm International GmbH’s
representative office in Ukraine, told the Post.
In a recent press release, Herbst said that the production of high-tech recombinant human
insulin by Farmak is part of a U.S.-Ukrainian agreement and that neither of the countries’ governments
spent any money on the initiative.
As part of its investment, Farmak has installed a bottling line to (10) __________ insulin
production at international standards. Before actual production started, company employees were sent
on internships abroad to learn about production, laboratory equipment was purchased, and an insulin
storage system was set up.
Circle the word that best fits each numbered blank space.
Number A B C D
2 to with from as
5 to in out from
True or False:
1. Most schools require a child to fit to the school and Summerhill fits to the child.
2. The children are allowed to be free and make their own decisions.
3. The children can choose whether to go to lessons or not.
4. There is a very strict timetable for the students.
5. The children have classes according to their age and interests.
6. Summerhill specializes in new and improved teaching methods.
7. The children are sometimes sad, but mostly happy.
8. Everyone is equal and has equal rights at Summerhill.
9. It is easy to influence the children at Summerhill.
10. The founder of the school believes that an absence of fear is good for a child.
SPEAKING
3. Fairytales and short stories play an important role in the lives of children.
What was your favorite story growing up? Why?
What was the moral or lesson that you learned from it?
Describe the main characters and theme in a fairytale or short story you might write.
4. In Ukraine, it is common to eat meats such as pork and beef. In some foreign countries, it is common
to eat whale meat, horse meat, and even insects.
Are there any limits to what you would eat? What foods might you not eat and why?
What cultural and/or moral differences are there between eating horse meat and pig meat?
What reasons for vegetarianism do people give? Do you agree with these views? Why?
5. Travelling by plane is one of the safest modes of transportation, yet many people are still afraid to fly.
Would you rather take a plane or a ship across the Atlantic Ocean? Why?
Why do people still believe that flying is unsafe when the facts show otherwise?
How can people learn to overcome their basic fears? How do you overcome yours?
7. Transportation greatly influences our lifestyles and the growth patterns of our communities.
What means of transportation does your community have, and how have they affected
people’s lifestyles?
How do you and your family usually get around?
Which form of transportation in your town could you go without if necessary? Why?
8. You are travelling to another country for one year and can only take one suitcase. What will you
bring?
What items do you think you cannot live without?
What items from your country would you like to show someone from another culture?
How do these items represent you and your country?
9. When choosing a profession there are many factors to consider; for example, salary, the difficulty and
availability of work, and the benefit the work has on society as a whole.
When thinking about your future profession, which of these factors do you value most?
How does your future profession fulfill these factors?
How realistic is it for your future profession to address these factors?
10. The fall of the Berlin Wall was an important historical event for the world.
What was an important historical event in your country?
Why do you think this event was so important?
What lessons can we learn from this event?
11. People make choices every day that affect their health.
What are the most important components of a healthy lifestyle?
How do you keep yourself healthy?
What can be done to convince people with unhealthy habits to live a healthy lifestyle?
12. Imagine that you have begun correspondence with a pen pal in another country.
Where is your friend from, and what is his/her life like?
What will you share with him/her about your own life?
How is your life different from his/hers?
13. Your family wants to adopt a new pet. Everybody has a chance to state their opinion.
What kinds of pets would NOT be good for your family?
How would you convince the rest of your family your idea is perfect for all of them?
What kind of care would this pet need?
17. Games and puzzles have been part of human traditions since the beginning of our existence.
What is the value, if any, of such traditions? What are your favourite games and why?
What games and puzzles are indicative of your country and/or culture?
Are games as important for adults as they are for children? Why or why not?
18. You have become a famous writer or artist. Whom do you credit as your creative influence?
What did this person accomplish in his or her life that has had such a great impact on you?
What characteristics do you admire in this person and how do you hope to emulate them?
If you could have dinner with this person, what would you ask him or her? Why?
19. Many people dream of the perfect home. In your dreams, what type of home would you live in?
Why?
Describe the architecture, floor plan, decoration and style of your home.
Where would this home be located? Describe its surroundings.
What influences your idea of a perfect home?
20. If you could have any talent that you don’t already possess, what would it be?
Why is this talent so important for you to have?
How would you use it?
What is better: to gain talents through hard work or through natural ability? Why?
2. Having goals in life is important because it keeps you focused and allows you to set priorities.
What are some goals you have set for yourself?
Have you made steps towards accomplishing these goals?
What are some obstacles you have faced and overcome while trying to reach your goals?
4. Tell about your favorite city or place that you have traveled to.
What is it about this place that makes it significant to you?
Describe this place and its points of interest.
What suggestions would you have for other people who wish to travel to this location?
5. Some would say it’s almost impossible to be true friends with people from different generations. Do
you agree?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of these types of relationships?
What does society think about such relationships?
Do you have any close friends from a different generation?
8. Let’s imagine that many people have fallen ill in the city where you live due to the high number of cars
in town that are creating air pollution.
What would you suggest be done about this problem?
How do you think people of your town will respond to limitations on car use?
How practical do you think bicycle riding is as an alternative to car driving in Ukraine?
9. The invention of the wheel has changed the course of human progress.
What do you think are the three most influential inventions of the last 100 years?
Why do you think these inventions are so significant?
What are some qualities that might be common to all inventors?
10. People say that “classics” are books that people can relate to throughout the ages. Tell about a book
you have read that you feel is a classic.
Briefly explain the book’s main elements (plot, genre, etc.).
In what ways were you influenced or affected by the book?
Why and how do you think the book would appeal to a broader audience?
11. In English there is a saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” which means that children are
not very different from their parents. Speak about the ways in which you are similar to and different
from your parents or other relatives.
Are you or your siblings more like one parent than the other?
Do you believe that the environment or genetic make-up determines a child’s character?
Give examples from your experiences.
12. Imagine that aliens have landed on Earth and wish to interact with humans. Explain to the aliens
some general rules of etiquette for our planet and, in particular, for Ukraine.
How do people here generally form friendships and/or relationships? Describe the process.
How would you treat a friend differently from a colleague, acquaintance, or neighbor?
What types of interactions, relationships and/or friendships do you attempt to avoid?
13. Vegetarianism is promoted for its health benefits, for environmental reasons, and to prevent animal
cruelty.
Which of these reasons do you relate to the most?
If you were a vegetarian, what dishes would you miss the most?
Are there any social situations where it would be awkward for you to be a vegetarian?
15. Studies show that aerobic exercises (running, swimming, etc.) increase blood flow to the brain and
can improve memory, problem solving, and other mental functions.
In what kinds of physical activities do you participate?
What other benefits does regular exercise have?
Do you think that the smartest people are also the most physically fit? Explain.
16. Many pupils dream of travelling to other countries. Let’s imagine that you have to choose one
country, not your native country, where you will go to live for a long time.
Which country would you choose? Why?
What would be the worst part about living there? The best?
How would you deal with the problem of being far from your native land?
17. People sometimes wish that they had been born in another time and place. They would like the
chance to observe both life and themselves through a different lens.
Where would you like to live? In what time period? Explain.
What things would you try to do?
What would you miss most about your current life?
18. Many people believe that by driving cars they produce emissions that help contribute to the earth’s
growing environmental problems. They have stopped driving and started using public transportation like
busses and the metro.
Do you believe that small measures like these are effective?
What measures can be taken to help lower emissions and clean up the environment?
If emissions continue to rise and the environment gets worse, what will some consequences
be?
19. Thanks to your excellent marks in English class, you have been awarded a trip to any English-
speaking country in the world. Which country will you choose? Why?
Describe the places in this country that you will visit.
What lessons do you anticipate learning on your trip?
What will you miss most about your native country?
20. Smoking is a growing problem in your town; men, women, and even children as young as fourteen
smoke cigarettes. You realize that their smoke can make you and others ill. You and your friends decide
to start a campaign against smoking.
How can you convince your fellow townspeople to stop smoking?
What can be done to prevent pupils and children from starting to smoke?
How does smoking affect our world?
3. What are some common occupations in your country? Which occupations do you think are most
respected by society and why?
Which jobs are most common for men and for women?
When you were a child, what kind of job did you want?
Does it differ from the career you want to pursue now?
4. A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this traveler go? What one
place should they see?
What makes this place the most significant in your country?
Give them directions on how to get there from the airport.
What should they do and how should they act while in this place?
5. Many years ago, pupils graduating secondary schools were expected to know the basics of Latin,
Greek and French. Yet today, many students leave school without knowing the basics of one foreign
language.
Which system of education do you prefer, the old or current?
Is it important to learn a foreign language in school? Why?
How could learning Latin, ancient Greek or other dead languages, help you in life?
6. In most American schools, students may begin to choose their classes after the tenth form. However,
this means that many students may elect to take a photography class rather than Physics.
What do you think about this system? Is it healthy for the pupils’ minds?
Do students who choose not to learn Physics have a disadvantage in the world? Explain.
If you could choose to take certain courses, which would you choose and why?
7. Today, many people claim that even a simple pencil drawing is art. But had you lived 500 years ago,
they would have told you that only the works of seriously trained painters, sculptors and architects are
eligible to receive the title of ‘art.’
In your opinion, what is the truest form of art? Why?
How does art affect you personally? How does art make you feel?
What is your favorite work of art? Artist? Why?
8. Given a chance to have any job in the world, what would you choose and why?
What allure does this job hold for you?
What changes would you make in your realm of influence? Why?
How could you use this job to make the world a better place?
11. The invention of the Internet is one of the most revolutionary inventions of the past century.
How has the Internet impacted your life?
How has it impacted the lives of the people around you?
What do you think life would be like without the Internet?
13. Often in Ukraine many generations of the same family live together in one house.
What does this mean for the lives of the different family members?
What roles do the different family members have?
What is your own family like?
15. Imagine there has been a cataclysmic world event, and the climate of Ukraine has suddenly become
tropical.
Describe the climate in Ukraine and the lifestyle of its inhabitants before the event.
How would life change if the weather were tropical?
What would you do in order to survive and be successful in this new environment?
16. Imagine you have won two million dollars, but you aren’t allowed to spend the money on yourself.
Describe how you would spend the money.
After telling your loved ones about the situation how would your relationships change?
Do you believe your own life would be improved by such an experience? Explain.
17. Your parents have decided to send you off to a prestigious boarding school.
Give some reasons why this might be a good or bad idea.
Are you mature enough to live on your own? Why or why not?
How would a year at boarding school change your life?
18. In the United States the legal driving age is sixteen years old, and most young people drive regularly.
How would having your own means of transportation affect your lifestyle?
What are some of the positives and negatives associated with teen driving?
How would the ability to drive influence your relationship with your parents?
19. It is now clear that the world is getting warmer. Do you think this is a natural change or due to
human activity?
What would a warmer world be like? How might Ukraine be affected by global warming?
How do you think countries can cooperate and address the issue of global warming?
What can individuals do to improve their environment and reduce their waste?
20. Although humans have been flying in space for more than 50 years, we have not travelled very far
from our planet.
Do you think the destiny of humankind lies on earth or in space? Explain your opinion.
Would you go into space if someone invited you? Why or why not?
Do you think there is life on other planets? Why do you think this?
21. Many countries are now passing very strict laws against smoking.
Do people have the right to smoke wherever they want? Why or why not?
Do you think that governments should be able to control where people smoke? Explain.
Does Ukraine have such laws? If so, should the laws be more or less strict?
22. Herbert Spencer once said, “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”
How do you interpret this statement?
Do you agree that the purpose of education is to help make the world better?
Do you think that knowledge itself has value? Explain your answer.
LISTENING
Text: From "Welcome to Toronto" editor Chris Lumsdon, Official Toronto Visitor Guide 2007.
Built by the imaginations of residents and visitors alike, Toronto is a city of rare openness,
energy, style, and surprise. Where else but in this new creative city can you find a fairytale castle, the
world’s tallest building, a museum with a crystalline facade and even a school built on stilts in the sky?
Toronto is an unfolding city – where a world-renowned arts community thrives on the mosaic of
culturally diverse neighborhoods, and where the unlimited potential of everyone is celebrated
wholeheartedly through food, music, festivals, and the everyday.
Toronto is now the fifth-largest city in North America. Its continual growth and constant
renewal brings a lot to the visitor experience – every time you return to Toronto, there’s something
new. The waterfront is being revitalized, new growth is encouraging neighborhoods such as Leslieville,
Liberty Village, Gerrard India Bazaar, Cabbagetown, and Roncesvalles to thrive, and the city is
undergoing an architectural renaissance that can be seen across the cityscape. From the Art Gallery of
Ontario’s expansion to the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum and the newly opened
Four Seasons Centre for the performing Arts, Toronto is changing dramatically to reflect the creative
spirit of our time. The result is an imaginative place that, as it grows, never ceases to surprise.
The city’s cultural diversity is a hallmark of open-mindedness; here, Torontonians embrace their
differences to create a world within a city where experience is a collaboration of 100 cultures, the
millions of people who celebrate in our street festivals and the unique personalities expressed in each of
our neighborhoods.
Toronto is also a city built from the limitless imaginations of the people who come here to visit.
It’s a center of openness and experimentation, where guests to Toronto contribute to the energy of the
streets, the dynamic vibe in our restaurants and a thoughtful appreciation for the art in theatres, parks,
galleries, and attractions. You’ll soon discover that the city’s spirit sings, dances, draws and rises to
many occasions in different forms. All of Greater Toronto is a stage. Whether you find yourself in one of
the city’s three theatre districts, or exploring one of our many museums and galleries, Toronto will
inspire you as it unfolds. You could find yourself learning the complete history of footwear at the Bata
Shoe Museum, on stage at the original Second City Comedy Club, on a nature trail, marveling at Group
of Seven works, or in the middle of an impromptu jam session of your favorite rock band at the
Horseshoe tavern. Never tried sushi? Never ridden a streetcar? Never canoed through the Toronto
Islands, sat behind home plate at a Toronto Blue Jays game, touched the Stanley Cup, toured a working
castle and stood on the glass floor inside of the CN Tower, the world’s tallest building, all in one day?
You can do it here. And once you do, you won’t be the same.
Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false).
Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D).
16. People of Toronto "embrace" differences to achieve cultural diversity. In this case another word for
"embrace" would be...
A. hold.
B. love.
C. accept.
D. squeeze.
Text:
When Faye Pattison, a penniless 21-year-old student, checked her bank account recently, she was
surprised to find a very healthy balance…
I: Was finding all that cash a shock?
You bet. I’m a typical student, struggling on a part-time job at Woolworth’s. It was two weeks before my
next statement was due to be sent out from the bank. I was checking my balance at the cashpoint
machine, just in case my wages had already been paid in. Then up came all these zeros. My first
reaction was panic – I thought it was an overdraft – although I soon realized my account was actually in
credit by a massive amount.
I: How much was in there?
The balance the first time was 34,000 pounds. As I stood there, visions of touring Australia flashed
through my mind. But I knew it wasn’t mine, so I went into the bank and told them they made a
mistake.
I: Were they pleased at your honesty?
I thought they would be, but they just sat me in a corner and ignored me for half an hour. They took it
back in the end, explaining it was from another bank. One number was keyed wrongly, so the money
ended up in my account.
I: Was that the end of the story?
Two weeks later, I again checked my balance, to be sure they’d sorted it out. Up popped 500,000
pounds. I felt like a lottery winner, though without the ticket. When I told the bank this time, they said
that because their computers were down I would have to leave it with them. I did, but within the week,
the sum had doubled!
I: How much was in there?
Over a million! I was falling about laughing at the cashpoint; the people behind me must have thought I
was on drugs or something. It was brilliant looking down at those figures and imagining it was really
mine.
I: Hadn’t the bank noticed by this time?
Apparently not. Since my boyfriend John worked for another bank, he knows how banks operate. He
couldn’t believe what had happened. /After a few weeks, my friends started saying I should move the
money abroad and take off! Even my dad, who’s a retired policemen, said I should start withdrawing
300 pounds a day – that’s the interest, so I wouldn’t have been touching the capital.
I: Were you surprised that they did nothing?
I was, and annoyed as well. I gave up on my local branch, and contacted the head office in order to sort
it out once and for all. But in spite of phoning them numerous times,. It still took a while before anyone
would deal with the matter. And even then, their attitude was amazing. They seemed very ungrateful
considering all the hassle they caused me.
I: Was that the end of the story?
Not quite. The day after the 1 million pounds was finally removed from my account, 300 pounds
appeared. It was part of the interest earned. I know 300 pounds isn’t a fortune to some people but for
me it was a lot. I did tell the bank about it but eventually they said I could keep it. I’m spending it on a
trip to Turkey.
Write the letter of the best variant for each question below.
8. Faye says that the bank’s “attitude was amazing.” She probably means that
a. The bank really worked hard to fix the situation
b. The bank offered her a reward for her honesty
c. The bank acted as though the mistake was Faye’s fault
d. The bank didn’t seem to care about fixing the mistake
10. Faye says that finding lots of unexpected money in her account was
a. Hilarious
b. Frightening
c. Brilliant
d. A shock
Ronald Carter and Michael N. Long, Teaching Literature, Longman, 1991, p. 147. Excerpt from Kon-Tiki
Expedition by Thor Heyerdahl.
The date was the 28th of April. It was the early morning. Callao harbour was very busy. The
Minister of Marine had ordered a tug to row us out of the harbour. A crowd of people was waiting to
watch.
When I arrived, only Herman was there. He was guarding the raft. I got out of the car and
jumped on board. Fruit baskets and boxes lay in a heap on the deck. They had been thrown on board at
the last moment. In the middle of the heap sat Herman. He was holding a cage; and in the cage there
was a green parrot. The bird was a present from a friend in Peru.
“Take care of the parrot for a minute,” said Herman. “I want to go ashore and have a drink. The
tug won’t be here for a long time.”
Herman went for his drink, and a few minutes later the tug arrived. A large motor-boat came to
tow the raft away from the other boats. The motor-boat was full of officers and sailors. The officers
called out some orders; and the sailors then fixed a strong rope to the raft.
“One moment!” I shouted. “It’s too early! We must wait for the other men.” I pointed towards
the city.
But nobody understood. The officers only smiled politely. I untied the rope and threw it into
the water. I waved my arms and made signs to the officers. This excited the parrot. The bird opened its
cage and escaped. It walked about on the bamboo deck. I tried to catch the parrot. But it called out
rude words in Spanish and flew into the cabin. At last, I caught the bird and put it back into its cage.
True or False:
Multiple Choice:
Merle Miller, Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, New York, Berkley Books, 1974,
pp. 266-267.
Interviewer:
Mr. President, you said the other day that you decided you were going to run for re-election the first day
you were President, in April, 1945, but you didn’t go into any detail about that. What were some of the
reasons you decided so soon?
Harry Truman:
I always knew that from April, 1945, until January, 1949, what I would really be doing was filling out the
fourth term of Roosevelt, who was a great President, but I had some ideas of my own, and in order to
carry them out I had to run for re-election and be re-elected, and that is exactly what happened.
Of course I didn’t say I was going to run for quite some time. It didn’t do any harm that I could see to
keep people guessing for a while. I knew I’d be able to win, though. I knew that all along.
Interviewer:
You knew?
Harry Truman:
Of course I knew. I knew the Republicans would come up with somebody like Taft or Dewey, and I knew
that the people of the country weren’t ready to turn back the clock—not if they were told the truth,
they weren’t.
The only thing was, I had to figure out how to tell them the truth, in what way, and I decided that, the
way I’d always campaigned before was by going around talking to people, shaking their hands when I
could, and running for President was no different. The only difference was instead of driving to the
various communities where people were, I went by train. But otherwise, it was exactly the same
experience. I just got on a train and started across the country to tell people what was going on. I
wanted to talk to them face to face. I knew that they knew that when you get on the television, you’re
wearing a lot of powder and paint that somebody else has put on your face, and you haven’t even
combed your own hair.
But when you’re standing right there in front of them and talking to them and shaking their hands if it’s
possible, then people can tell whether you’re telling them the facts or not.
I spoke I believe altogether to between fifteen and twenty million people. I met them face to face, and I
convinced them, and they voted for me.
Multiple Choice:
5. When Truman says “the people of the country weren’t ready to turn back the clock,” he means:
a) people wanted to work longer hours
b) people wanted more hours of daylight
c) people did not want to return to old government policies
d) people wanted new ways to tell time
Text: From "The Terra-Cotta Army of Emperor Qin" by Barbara Gotthelf, Highlights Magazine.
For more than two thousand years, Chinese children have heard fantastic stories about China’s
first great ruler, Emperor Qin [ʧɪn]. The stories told about a great army made up of terra-cotta soldiers
and of a burial tomb filled with jewels and magical rivers that flowed to the sea.
In 1974, the Chinese made an amazing discovery—the stories about Emperor Qin and his great
army are not fantastic at all; they’re true. An army of more than eight thousand soldiers made of terra-
cotta, a baked reddish clay, is buried three to four meters beneath the earth not far from the tomb
pyramid where Emperor Qin is believed to be buried along with riches of his dynasty.
People learned by accident that the stories about Emperor Qin were true. Farmers digging a well
in a field struck the head of a terra-cotta soldier. News of the discovery quickly spread, and archeologists
swarmed to the site in central China. After much effort was spent drilling core samples from the earth,
archeologists learned that about eight thousand terra-cotta warriors were buried in chambers beneath
the ground.
So far, archeologists have dug up and pieced together about one thousand of the soldiers. The
soldiers were damaged by raiding rebel armies shortly after their creation and also by the collapse of
heavy roof timbers over time. Also uncovered were about one hundred wooden war chariots, about six
hundred life-size terra-cotta horses, and thousands of weapons. The soldiers stand about two meters
tall, and each appears to have his own individual personality.
“They’re all different, every single one of them,” says Dr. Donald Wood, the curator of Asian Art
at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama. “Each soldier has his own characteristics. Some are
almost smiling; some look very stern. Some look like they are middle aged, and some are very young.
Each has his own little mustache and little changes to his hairstyle.”
Dr. Wood says that the workers who made the soldiers may have modeled them after the real
soldiers of Emperor Qin’s army. The terra-cotta horses buried alongside the soldiers also have their own
facial expressions. The weapons the soldiers carry don’t just look real—they are real. The arrows,
swords, and crossbows are made up of special combinations of metals. They are as sharp today as they
were twenty-two centuries ago.
Emperor Qin’s terra-cotta army had at least two purposes. The army was designed to protect
Qin after he died. Dr. Victor Mair, a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of
Pennsylvania, explains that the ancient Chinese had a very strong belief in the afterlife. “When you die,
that’s not the end of you,” says Dr. Mair. “The army was meant to protect [Emperor Qin] in death, down
in the underworld. That’s why there were such incredible efforts to be realistic.” The more lifelike the
soldiers looked, Mair says, the more effective they would be in guarding the Emperor against his
enemies in the afterlife.
The army was also created to demonstrate Emperor Qin’s power while he was still alive. Qin,
who was born in 259 B.C., began construction of the army and tomb when he became ruler at the age of
thirteen. Archeologists estimate that it took as many as seven hundred thousand people more than
thirty years to complete the project.
Emperor Qin was powerful, indeed. When Qin declared himself emperor, he ended hundreds of
years of fighting among the different states in China, and he unified the country. Under Qin’s rule,
people in China used the same form of money, the same system of measurement, and the same written
language. Qin even had all of the axle widths in China made the same size so that all wheels would fit in
the same ruts in the roads.
While Qin made many positive changes in the country, he was also a ruthless leader who
ordered people to work on his huge projects. Historians believe that during Qin’s rule, one out of every
ten Chinese was put to work creating not only Qin’s terra-cotta army but also 270 magnificent palaces.
They also worked at connecting one of the greatest wonders of the world—the two-thousand-mile-long
Great Wall of China.
Despite his strength, Qin was ruled by his own fear of death. Later in life, he slept in a different
palace every night because he feared that people might try to kill him. Qin also spent most of his life
looking for the secret of eternal life. It was his own attempts to avoid death that may have killed him.
Some people believe that at the age of forty-nine Qin drank a magic potion that was supposed to keep
him alive forever. Instead, the potion contained poisonous mercury.
Archeologists are convinced that Qin is buried in a spectacular tomb located inside a tomb
pyramid in the center of the field where the terra-cotta army was found. In ancient Chinese history
books, the tomb is called Mount Li, and is said to contain fabulous jewels, miniature cities, and rivers of
mercury that flow to a man-made sea.
There is reason to believe that the story of Emperor Qin’s tomb is true. Tests done on the soil
near Mount Li have shown unusually high levels of mercury. But archeologists have no plans to excavate
Mount Li. Dr. Wood says that before any serious digging begins, scientists would have to set up at the
site special chemical laboratories and climate-controlled storage facilities to preserve what they find.
Otherwise, he says, the treasure of Mount Li might disappear before their eyes.
In the meantime, digging continues in the area near Mount Li. More and more soldiers, chariots,
horses, and weapons are being found. Visitors to China can see the terra-cotta army in three special
museums built above the site. And they can look to the tree-covered Mount Li nearby and reflect on all
the spectacular discoveries that are yet to be uncovered.
Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false).
1. The soldiers were buried almost thirty to forty meters below the surface of the earth.
2. The soldiers are miniature-sized.
3. Each of the soldiers looks very similar.
4. The soldiers may have actually been made to look like real-life soldiers.
5. The Terra-Cotta army was created ONLY to protect him in the afterlife.
6. Emperor Qin was only 17 years old when he became Emperor.
7. Emperor Qin proclaimed himself as ruler.
8. Emperor Qin unified the system of measurement in China.
9. Though strong, Emperor Qin was a nervous and uneasy person during his life.
10. Emperor Qin was buried in the same chamber as his soldiers.
Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D).
17. Emperor Qin's work on the Great Wall of China included ...
A. connecting parts of the Great Wall together.
B. he began the Great Wall.
C. he finished the Great Wall.
D. he first thought of the idea for the Great Wall.
19. Why won't archeologists start digging below the area of Mount Li?
A. They have already finished and found all that is there.
B. They need to set up preservation facilities.
C. They are afraid the roof of the tomb will collapse.
D. They don't have the money.
20. In ancient Chinese history books, the tomb of Mount Li is said to contain all EXCEPT …
A. fabulous jewels.
B. ancient artworks.
C. miniature cities.
D. rivers of mercury.
Elderly Neighbors
Our neighbors are an elderly couple, they have worked hard all their lives. They live simply and
quietly, getting up early and going to bed early every day. When the annual summer holiday arrives,
they spend a week with the wife’s sister, and the rest of the time repainting and decorating their home.
It is the same every year, so much of the paintwork in the house is not more than two years old.
Last year, for the first time, their routine changed. For one thing, the wife’s sister was in the hospital.
For another, they had talked it over thoroughly and decided that for once they would take a holiday like
everyone else.
They chose a caravan camp (a tent camp) at the seaside. They packed their bags, and traveled there
by train. The caravan was dirty, they said, and people in neighboring caravans played their radios loudly
most of the night. The next day was cold and wet; though they did not mind the rain, they did mind the
wind, which made the caravan shake and rock like a boat.
That night there was a storm. Two caravans were blown into the sea. Their own caravan was safe,
but neither of them had any sleep.
So they packed their bags again, and next morning, they were at the station, waiting for the first train
home.
Now if you ask them about holidays they will answer you, “We don’t like holidays. We’re not going to
holiday again.”
On your answer sheet write + (true) or – (false) for each of the statements below.
4. The phrase “have worked hard” can mean all these except
a. Have suffered deeply from their work
b. Have had great difficulties in doing the work
c. Have done a lot of work
d. Have been regularly employed
Steven Bower, Chris Wilson: First Certificate: First, Examination Practice 2 (Teacher’s Book), Express
Publishing, p. 99.
Good afternoon and welcome to another edition of “You and Your Body.” The topic of today’s
program is vitamins, one of the basic components of the human body, and one that still mystifies many
people…at least that’s what the letters from listeners show. Today we will try to answer as many of your
questions as possible.
So, what are vitamins? Well, vitamins are one of the five elements essential for a healthy body.
The others are proteins, which we get from meat; carbohydrates, which we get from pasta and bread;
fats and minerals. Actually, the name vitamin comes from Latin “vita” which means “life.”
Now, before we go on, let me clarify something. Some people may believe that vitamins and
minerals are similar because they’re combined in the various food supplements on the market. But
they’re not. Vitamins are organic compounds, whereas minerals are inorganic substances. For example,
calcium is a mineral, not a vitamin.
Actually, even vitamins differ from one another in their chemical composition and the way they
act. Nevertheless, we can see two main vitamin groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble, that is, vitamins
that can dissolve either into fat or into water. Let’s have a closer look at those two groups.
Fat-soluble are vitamins A, D, E and K. Their common characteristic is that the body can store
them in fat, in the liver and in the kidneys. So we don’t need to take them on a daily basis. Water-
soluble are vitamin C and the vitamin B complex. The body cannot store them, so we must make sure
that they are contained in our daily diet.
Why are vitamins so important? The main reason is that vitamins help the metabolism of three
of the important elements we mentioned before: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. In other words,
without vitamins the body cannot process these essential substances. Vitamins also help the body
create blood cells, hormones, chemicals in the nervous system and genetic material. Unfortunately, we
still don’t know much about the complex ways in which vitamins operate in the body. Actually, we are
not even sure about the precise effect of certain vitamins, for example, vitamin E.
You may be asking, “How do we get these vital elements?” Well, the main sources of vitamins
are just around the corner at your local supermarket. We can see two categories: plant products such
as fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetable oil and margarine; bread, pasta and cereals; and animal
products; meat, poultry and fish; liver, heart and kidneys; and dairy products, that is fresh milk, butter
and cheese. Now, there is one vitamin which you get for free, so to speak. Most of vitamin D is
produced in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. And here is an important piece of
information for vegetarians who don’t eat any animal products. Because vitamin B12 is found only in
animal products, vegans should take vitamin B12 supplements. Vitamin supplements may also be
needed by pregnant women and people on special diets.
I would like to end this program with a word of caution. Vitamins are essential for our health
and we do need to ensure that we take the necessary amounts, but we can have too much of a good
thing. Yes, it may sound strange to some of you, but taking more than the amount we need will result in
a number of health problems. This happens particularly with fat-soluble vitamins. For example, large
amounts of vitamin A can cause anything from headaches and skin rashes to growth problems in
children. Even large doses of vitamin C, which is not stored in the body, can destroy vitamin B12 and
reduce calcium in bones. So be careful when taking food supplements. Good day and good health.
Multiple Choice:
4. Vitamins are:
a) organic compounds
b) the same as carbohydrates
c) the same as proteins
d) inorganic compounds
6. Fat-soluble vitamins:
a) need to be taken every day
b) do not need to be taken every day
c) add significantly to body weight
d) give the body extra energy
8. Vitamin D is produced:
a) while you sleep
b) when the body is exposed to sunlight
c) by vitamins A and E
d) in a laboratory
Beyond the town of Cordova, on Prince William Sound in south-eastern Alaska, the Copper River
delta branches out in silt and swamp into the gulf. Marie Smith, growing up there, knew there was a
particular word in Eyak, her language, for the silky, gummy mud that squished between her toes. The
driftwood she found on the shore, acquired a different name if it had a proper shape and was not a
broken, tangled mass. If she got lost among the flat, winding creeks her panicky thoughts were not of
north, south, east or west, but of ‘upriver,’ ‘downstream,’ and the tribes, Eskimo and Tlingit, who lived
on either side. And if they asked her name it was not Marie but rather an Eyak word meaning ‘a sound
that calls people from afar.’
Upriver out of town stretched the taiga, rising steadily to the Chugach Mountains and covered
with black spruce. The spruce was an Eyak dictionary in itself, from lis, the neat, conical tree, to its wiry
root, useful for baskets; from, its blue-green, flattened needles, which could be brewed for beer or tea,
to sihx, its resin, from which came pitch to make canoes watertight. The Eyak were fishermen who,
thousands of years before, were thought to have crossed the Bering Strait in their boats. Marie's father
still fished for a living, as did most of the men in Cordova. While the neighboring Athapaskan tribes, who
had crossed the strait on snowshoes, had dozens of terms for the condition of ice and snow, Eyak
vocabulary was rich with particular words for black abalone, red abalone, ribbon weed and tubular kelp,
drag nets and dipping nets and different sizes of rope. One word, demexch, meant a soft and
treacherous spot in the ice over a body of water: a bad place to walk on, but possibly a good one to
squat beside with a fishing line or a spear.
This universe of words and observations was already fading when Marie was young. In 1933
there were 38 Eyak-speakers left, and white people with their grim faces and intrusive microphones, as
they always appeared to her, were already coming to sweep up the remnants of the language. At home
her mother donned a kushsl, or apron, to make cakes in a round mixing bowl; but at school ‘barbarous’
Eyak was forbidden. It went unheard, too, in the salmon factory where Marie worked after fourth grade,
canning in industrial quantities the noble fish her people had hunted with respect, naming not only
every part of it but the separate stems and shoots of the red salmonberries they ate with the dried roe.
As the spoken language died, so did the stories of tricky Creator-Raven and the magical loon, of
giant animals and tiny homunculi with fish-spears no bigger than a matchstick. People forgot why ‘hat’
was the same word as ‘hammer’, or why the word for a leaf was also the word for a feather, as though
trees and birds shared one organic life. They lost the sense that grouped apples, beads and pills together
as round, foreign, possibly deceiving things. They neglected the superstitions that kept fish and animals
separate, and would not let fish-skin and animal hide be sewn in the same coat; and they could not
remember exactly why they built little wooden huts over gravestones, as if to give more comfortable
shelter to the dead.
Mrs. Smith herself seemed cavalier about the language for a time. She married a white man,
William Smith, and brought up nine children, telling them odd Eyak words but finding they were not
interested. Eyak became a language for talking either to herself, or to God. Only when her last surviving
older sister died, in the 1990s, did she realise that she was the last of the line. From that moment she
became an activist, a tiny figure with a determined jaw and a colourful beaded hat, campaigning to stop
clear-cutting in the forest (where Eyak split-log lodges decayed among the blueberries) and to get Eyak
bones decently buried. She was the chief of her nation, as well as its only full-blooded member.
She drank too much, but gave it up; she smoked too much, coughing her way through interviews
in a room full of statuettes of the Pillsbury Doughboy, in which she said her spirit would live when she
was dead. Most outsiders were told to buzz off. But one scholar, Michael Krauss of the University of
Alaska at Fairbanks, showed such love for Eyak, painstakingly recording its every suffix and prefix and
glottal stop and nasalisation, that she worked happily with him to compile a grammar and a dictionary;
and Elizabeth Kolbert of the New Yorker was allowed to talk when she brought fresh halibut as a tribute.
Without those two visitors, almost nothing would have been known of her.
As a child she had longed to be a pilot, flying boat-planes between the islands of the Sound. An
impossible dream, she was told, because she was a girl. As an old woman, she said she believed that
Eyak might be resurrected in the future. Just as impossible, scoffed the experts: in an age where perhaps
half the planet's languages will disappear over the next century, killed by urban migration or the
Internet or the triumphal march of English, Eyak has no chance. For Mrs. Smith, however, the death of
Eyak meant the not-to-be-imagined disappearance of the world.
Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false).
Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D).
12. The Eyak used the needles of the black spruce tree to…
A. make tar to cover the outside of their boats.
B. weave baskets.
C. brew beer and tea.
D. sew fishing nets.
16. As the Eyak language died, which of the following was NOT forgotten?
A. The story of the Creator-Raven.
B. Why the word for hat is the same as hammer.
C. Why every part of every fish had a name.
D. The superstition that kept fish and animals separate.
17. Marie realized that she and her language were important only…
A. when her older sister died.
B. after her children told her they did not want to learn Eyak.
C. because of the visitors that came.
D. when she became chief of the Eyak nation.
18. In her old age, which of these things did Marie NOT do?
A. become an activist for the proper burial of Eyak bones
B. fight against clear-cutting in forests
C. help create an Eyak dictionary
D. become a designer of colorful, beaded, Eyak hats
Other Samples:
Text:
In America, we celebrate many holidays during the year. I will tell you about three of my favorite
holidays, when they occur, why they are important and how we celebrate them. These three holidays
are the Fourth of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
On the Fourth of July, we celebrate the birthday of the United States. This holiday is not only
called the Fourth of July, but also Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the people of the American
colonies declared their independence from England. Many people, including George Washington,
helped the early Americans gain their freedom and independence. Today, Americans celebrate the
Fourth of July in different ways. Many families gather to enjoy a special meal outdoors in the warm
weather. Some families go to the beach to relax. Some families watch sports such as baseball. And all
over America, people watch a beautiful show of fireworks.
Another one of my favorite holidays is Halloween. We celebrate Halloween on the 31 st of
October. Children all over America love Halloween. They dress up in costumes, looking like ghosts and
witches. They ask people for candy and other sweet things to eat. They go to parties and try to scare
one another. Even adults love Halloween, because it is a time to dress in costume and pretend to be
someone else.
My third favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. We celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in
November. Children do not go to school and adults do not go to work on this special day. Early
Americans celebrated Thanksgiving to express their thanks for the fall harvest. Today, we celebrate
Thanksgiving to take time to be thankful for all the wonderful things we have, such as family, food, good
health and freedom. On Thanksgiving, families gather and enjoy a special meal of turkey, sweet
potatoes, and pumpkin pie. In New York City, there is a special parade with music and dancing. Many
Americans watch the Thanksgiving parade on television to make the day special. I have been to the
parade and have enjoyed seeing how happy everyone is to celebrate this special day.
True/False
Multiple Choices: