TEST 3

PART A
Part 1. You will hear an interview with two experts on technology and learning.
For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to
what you hear.

1. What does Michael say about online learning?

A It appeals to a greater variety of learning styles.
B It enables learning to suit the needs of the individual.
C It may one day replace the traditional school system.
D It allows us to choose the subjects we study.

2. When discussing the Khan Academy, Michael and Helen agree that it
A focuses only on mastering a specific subject, like maths.
B offers a generous amount of teaching and practice.
C has brought education to huge numbers of people.
D is less effective in generating original thought.

3. TED serves as an example of a site

A whose speakers provide amusing, factual talks.
B whose original focus has changed over time.
C which offers extended lectures in various subjects.
D which presents the same speakers every year.

4. Both Michael and Helen agree that schools

A are too rigid in the choice of subjects taught.
B are not tolerant of independent thinkers.
C educate children for the present, not the future.
D underestimate the importance of failure in learning.

5. What conclusions about gaming do Michael and Helen reach?

A It provides relief from difficult everyday issues.
B It generates cooperation between participants.
C It can be a huge source of knowledge.
D Its competitive aspect can become addictive.

6. When discussing the potential of gaming, Helen reveals that she is

A surprised at the abilities it develops in gamers.
B excited about the endless possibilities.
C doubtful about our ability to see the bigger picture.
D concerned about the time gamers spend online
Part 2. You will hear a student, Sophie Reece, giving a short talk about a
conservation project. For questions 1-9, complete the sentences with a word or
short phrase.
The state of the planet is the result of people’s need to make 1) ________________.
Sophie doesn’t want to delve into the subject of 2) ________________.
The volunteers offer the group whatever 3) ________________ they can spare.
The generosity of the public allows the group to take care of
their 4) ________________.
Recently the group have been working on a(n) 5) ________________ involving local
businesses.
The group discovered that 6) ________________ in the way companies conduct
themselves can cut down on their environmental impact.
After the group left, the publishing company were almost a(n) 7)
________________ .
Volunteering to help the environment can help alleviate one’s 8) ________________.
Sophie believes everyone’s 9) ________________ is to do something positive.
Part 3. You will hear five short extracts in which different people talk about
doing without their mobile phones. While you listen, you must complete both
tasks.
Task 1 For questions 1 — 5, choose from the list (A — H) what reason each
speaker gives for doing without their mobile phone.
A it was too distracting
B it disappeared
C it was broken beyond repair
D it was someone else's fault
E it was not waterproof
F it was stolen
G it was lost
H it needed expert attention
1 Speaker 1 __________
2 Speaker 2 __________
3 Speaker 3 __________
4 Speaker 4 __________
5 Speaker 5 __________
Task 2 For questions 6 — 10, choose from the list (A — H), what each speaker
missed most about their mobile phone.
A being connected
B making phone calls
C social media
D some personal pictures
E favourite apps
F getting woken up
G games and email messages
H a complete list of contacts

6 Speaker 1 __________
7 Speaker 2 __________
8 Speaker 3 __________
9 Speaker 4 __________
10 Speaker 5__________
PART B
Part 1. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.(10 points)
1.Money was short and people survived by ____ and saving.
A.scrimping B.scavenging C.scouring D.scrounging
2. You can try reformatting your computer, but once you open that ____, you’ll
probably be working on it for days.
A.apple of discord B.can of worms C.load of cobblers D.spot of
brother
3. The luxurious office accentuated the manager’s position ____ in everything.
Every detail is matched on each side.
A.on the pecking pole B.at the nipping post
C.at the nipping post D.in the pecking order
4. The first ____ of the ladder is important in your career.
A.step B.grade C.push D.rung
5. Anyone who lies under oath will be charged with ____ the course of justice.
A.perverting B.inverting C.converting D.diverting
6. I’m realy glad that pompous oaf lost his court case, maybe that will bring him
down a ____ or two.
A.step B.notch C.peg D.rung
7. The designer refuses to glid the ____, preferring clean,simple lines for his
creations.
A.lily B.flower C.rose D.daisy
8. She ____ agreed to go with him to the football match although she had no
interest in the game at all.
A. apologetically B. grudingly C. shamefacedly D.
discreetly
9. The number of people traveling by air has been growing ____ .
A. by leaps and bounds B. from time to time
C. slow but true D. by hook and crook
10. The Red Cross is ____ an international aid organization.
A.intriguingly B.intrusively C. intrinsically D.intrepidly
11. I don't drink at all because I come from a long line of alcoholics, and I am
determined to_ the cycle!
A. break B. crack C. crash D. shatter
12. She played her_ card during the debate by bringing up her opponent's earnings
from investment firms that contributed to the global recession just a few years prior.
A,winner B,ACE C,wrong D,bogus
13 I know that certain people can come across as selfish or mean-spirited, but you
should try_ a mile in their shoes before you dismiss them too quickly.
A. running B. walking C. riding D. hiking
14. A: "But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn't even asked
me to?"
B: ”That has nothing to do with why you're in trouble now, so stop_at straws."
A damping B. grappling C. clutching D. Clasping
15. You need to stop sweeping your problems under the_. Nothing will get resolved
like that!
A.rug B.mat C.carpet D.Tapestry
16. I didn't run for mayor expecting to find a_ berth---I'm prepared to fight for the
changes I believe will make this a better city!
A,comfy B. soft C. thin D. fine
17. We'll have to go back to_ one if the government pulls our funding on this project
A square B. equal C. even D. Fair
18. Pedal to the_, boys-we need to get these packages shipped by the end of the day.
A. alloy B. leaf C. metal D. Ingot
19. That's the last time you play_, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you to school
every morning!
A,wag B. nod C. shake D. flutter
20 This thesis will attempt to_ the waterfront of English Law from 1950 to the
present.
A,cover B. seal C. cap D. bury
Part 2.The passage below contains 10 errors. Underline and correct them. Write
your answers in the correspondent numbered boxes. (10pts).

The market for tourism in remote areas is booming as never before. Countries all
across the world are active promoting their 'wilderness' regions - such as mountains,
Arctic lands, deserts, small islands and wetlands - to highly spending tourists. The
attraction of these areas is obvious: by defining, wilderness tourism requires little or
no initial investment. But that does not mean that there is no cost. Like the 1992 UN
Conference on Environment and Development recognized, these regions are fragile
(i.e. highly vulnerable of abnormal pressures) not just in terms of the culture of their
inhabitation. The three most significant types of fragile environment in these respects
are deserts, mountains and Arctic areas. An important character is their marked
seasonality. Consequently, most human acts, including tourism, are limited to clearly
defined parts of the year.
Tourists are drawn to these regions by their natural beauty and the unique culture
of its people. And poor governments in these areas have welcomed the 'adventure
tourists', grateful for the currency they bring. For several years, tourism is the prime
source of foreign exchange in Nepal and Bhutan. Tourism is also a key element in the
economics of Arctic zones such as Lapland and Alaska and in desert areas such as
Ayres Rocks in Australia and Arizona's Monument Valley.
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
Part 3.For questions 1-10, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the
numbered space
provided.
There are a myriad of lifestyle issues affecting the youth of today. Such is the pressure
heaped on many school-goers to achieve academic excellence by their parents that
these 1_______ (real) expectations are causing children to become hopelessly
depressed. Indeed, some, in their 2_______ (despair) to escape and their sense of guilt
at being unable reach the levels of success demanded of them by their 3_______
(push) parents, either rebel in what is 4_______ (amount) to a cry for help, or, worse
still, engage in 5_______ (harm). It is no coincidence that suicide rates, expecially
amongst young males, have been rising steadily for some time now. These are tough
times to be a teen.
Then there are those who get hooked on the internet; the 6 _______ (virtue) world
becomes their reality. For these teens, their social circle shrinks 7_______ (drama)
until, at last, their friendship sphere is limited solely to their online 8_______ (bud).
Not alone do they commonly suffer from sleep 9_______ (private) on account of their
destructive addiction to game play and net-surfing, their behaviour may become so 10
_______ (err) and peculiar over time as to be considered 11_______ (social) . And
while they sit at their computer screens hidden away in splendid isolation from the
real world, such is the lack of exercise they get that their calorie intake far exceeds
what is necessary for them to maintain a stable weight. In essence, due to their
sedentary lifestyle, their weight 12_______ (rocket) until such time as they become
morbidly obese.
Part 4.Read the text below and decide which answer (a, b, c or d) best fits each gap.

The fight for women's rights 

Lowell, Massachusetts is not a particularly (1) _____ place; it's a medium-sized town
of about 100,000 citizens, most of whom have average incomes and live comfortable
lives. But it serves as a turning point in the history of women's rights, as the women
there fought against the (2) _____ conditions they endured at the city's textile mills in
the 1800s. Almost 8,000 women - some as young as 13 - were employed at the mills
that (3) _____ the industrial landscape of Lowell at the time. Employment gave these
'Mill Girls' a certain kind of independence for the first time in their lives, because
before then, their husbands did not (4) _____ their wives or daughters working
outside the home. 
But before this story begins to sound like a tale of employer (5) ___, it is important to
point out that employers hired the women at half the wages of the men, proving that
there was nothing truly kind in their actions. They thought they could (6) _____ away
with it, but in an ironic twist, the women, with their new-found sense of
empowerment, (7) ___ a strike against their employers. Some very positive
developments came (8) ____ the resistance; employers had to cave in to their
demands and the women were offered better wages and working conditions.
1. a. effective b. instrumental c. affluent d.
impoverished
2. a. oppressive b. domineering c. stifling d.
overwhelming
3. detracted b. distracted c. dominated d.
diversified
4. a. condemn b. contain c. condone d. confine
5. a. benevolence b. justice c. equality d. mercy
6. a. stay b. run c. do d. get
7. a. occupied b. mounted c. formed d. pickets
8. a. away with b. up to c. down to d.
out of

Part 5. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use
only one word in each gap. Write your answer in correspondent numbered
boxes. (10pts)

Despite the continued resilience of those early town perks, it wasn't until the
Depression that modern Hershey started to take (1) …………. Perhaps the only town
in the country actually to prosper during the 1930s, it thrived because Hershey vowed
his Utopia would never be on the (2) ………….. Instead he funded a massive building
boom that gave (3) …………. to the most visited buildings in today's Hershey and
delivered wages to more than 600 workers. He admitted that his (4) …………. were
partly selfish: "If I don't provide work for them, I’ll have to feed them. And since
building materials are now at their lowest cost levels, I'm going to build and give
them jobs." He seems to have spared no (5) ………….; most of the new buildings
were strikingly opulent. The first to be finished was the three-million-dollar limestone
Community Centre, home to the 1,904-seat Venetian-style Hershey Community
Theatre, which has played (6) …………. since 1933 to touring Broadway shows and
to music, dance, and opera performances. It offers just as much to look at when the
lights are on and the curtains closed. The floors in the aptly (7) …………. Grand
Lobby are polished Italian lava rock, surrounded by marble walls and capped with a
bas-relief ceiling showing (8) …………. of wheat, beehives, swans, and scenes from
Roman mythology. With dazzling inner foyer, Hershey (9) …………. his nose even
harder at the ravages of the Depression: The arched ceiling is tiled in gold, the fire
curtain bears a painting of Venice, and the ceiling is studded with 88 tiny lightbulbs to
re-create a star-(10) …………. night.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6 7 8 9 10
Part 6. Read the passage and choose the best answer.
It stands to reason that galaxies, large star systems that contain millions or even
billions of stars, should collide with one another fairly often, given that the average
separation between galaxies is only approximately 20 times the diameter of the
average galaxy. In contrast, stars almost never collide because the average distance
between stars is astronomical, perhaps 10,000,000 times their diameter.
Using a telescope, it is possible to find hundreds of galaxies that appear to be
colliding. However, when two galaxies appear to come into contact, there is in reality
no direct contact between the stars of one galaxy and the stars of the other. Instead,
the two galaxies pass through each other, and the gravitational forces in the two
galaxies alter the shapes of the galaxies, often producing tails and bridges. One well-
known pair of colliding galaxies, for example, is called the Mice because each of the
two interacting galaxies resembles a mouse with a long tail, and the Whirlpool galaxy
appears to be connected to a smaller galaxy by means of a bridge extending from one
of its long spirals. It is impossible for astronomers to monitor the changing shapes of
colliding galaxies because the interactions between galaxies last hundreds of millions
of years, but it is possible to study galaxies in various stages of collision and draw
conclusions about what happens when galaxies collide.
In certain situations, when two galaxies collide, they do not always pass through
each other and emerge as two separate galaxies. In one situation, if two galaxies are
moving slowly enough, they may collide and then may not have enough velocity to
escape each other's gravitational pull after the collision. In this case, the two galaxies
will collide, and then move past each other, and then be pulled back to collide again,
and continue this way until they eventually merge into a single galaxy. In another
situation, if a much larger galaxy comes into contact with a smaller galaxy, the larger
galaxy may absorb the smaller one in a process called galactic cannibalism. In this
process, a larger galaxy first pulls away the outer stars of the smaller galaxy and then
begins to pull at the denser core. While the process of galactic cannibalism is taking
place and the two galaxies are merging into one, the cores of both the larger galaxy
and the smaller galaxy can be clearly visible.
Some giant elliptical galaxies, with what appear to be multiple nuclei, have been
found in the skies, and astronomers once thought that these giant galaxies were giant
galactic cannibals that had consumed many smaller galaxies recently enough that the
cores of the cannibalized galaxies were still intact. One such galaxy, with what
appeared to be eight separate nuclei, was found and was used to put forth the
hypothesis that galaxies could be voracious monsters capable of swallowing up
uncountable other galaxies simultaneously. However, further studies have shown that
the numerous nuclei that seemed to be part of a single large galaxy were in reality the
nuclei of smaller galaxies that were in front of or behind the larger galaxy. Thus,
astronomers are now confident that galactic cannibalism exists among a limited
number of interacting galaxies; however, astronomers are not convinced of the
existence of cannibalistic galactic monsters that swallow up large numbers of smaller
galaxies simultaneously.
Signs of galactic cannibalism exist even in our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
Astronomers have found younger stars south of the galaxy's disk, where only older
stars should be found, suggesting that the younger stars formed when our galaxy
cannibalized a smaller galaxy. Furthermore, it can be clearly seen now that our galaxy
is beginning to digest the Magellanic Clouds, which are small irregular galaxies that
are companions to the Milky Way and are visible in the southern skies over Earth.
1. Which of the following is NOT true according to paragraph 1?
A. Galaxies may contain billions of stars.
B. On the average, the distance between galaxies is around 20 times the diameter
of a galaxy.
C. It is unusual for stars to collide.
D. The average distance between stars is 70 times their diameter
2. The author mentions tails and bridges in paragraph 2 in order to
A. provide a visual image of the parts of galaxies that have been affected by
gravitational forces
B. provide examples of the types of galaxies that tend to collide
C. describe the recognizable characteristics of the colliding galaxies called the
Mice
D. create a visual roadmap of the routes that galaxies take through the skies
3. The word last in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by
A. end in B. endure for C. finish with D. lose out
to
4. The word merge in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
A. divide B. swallow C. join D. appear
5. What occurs during galactic cannibalism, according to paragraph 3?
A. A larger galaxy is absorbed by a smaller one.
B. The first step involves pulling at the core of the smaller galaxy.
C. The outer stars of the smaller galaxy are absorbed by its core.
D. The core of the smaller galaxy generally manages to remain visible
6. Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the highlighted
sentence in paragraph 4?
A. Astronomers have recently found some giant galaxies that have cannibalized a
number of galaxies.
B. Astronomers used to think that certain giant galaxies that appeared to have a
number of nuclei were galactic cannibals
C. When astronomers find galaxies with multiple nuclei, they know that they have
found galactic cannibals.
D. Even though a galaxy has multiple nuclei, it is not certain whether or not the
galaxy is a galactic cannibal.
7. The phrase put forth in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. encounter B. understand C. deny D. promote
8. Why does the author mention voracious monsters in paragraph 4?
A. To emphasize how violently the galaxies strike each other
 B. To emphasize how much energy the giant galaxies consume
C. To emphasize how many smaller galaxies the giant galaxies seem to consume
D. To emphasize how really big the giant galaxies are
9. It is stated in paragraph 4 that scientists today are quite certain that
A. galactic cannibalism does not really exist
B. there is a limited amount of galactic cannibalism
C. galactic cannibalism is commonplace
D. galactic cannibals are capable of taking over numerous small galaxies at the
same time
10. Based on the information in paragraph 5, what will be most likely to happen to the
Magellanic Clouds in the distant future?
A. They will become galactic cannibals.
B. They will develop separate nuclei.
C. They will become regular galaxies.
D. They will become part of the Milky Way

Part 7.Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. (15 points)
This passage contains 8 paragraphs. Match each paragraph with its suitable
heading listed below.
List of headings
i Scientists’ call for a revision of policy
ii An explanation for reduced water use
iii How a global challenge was met
iv Irrigation systems fall into disuse
v Environmental effects
vi The financial cost of recent technological improvements
vii The relevance to health
viii Addressing the concern over increasing populations
ix A surprising downward trend in demand for water
x The need to raise standards
xi A description of ancient water supplies

1. Paragraph A: ……………….
Paragraph B: iii
2. Paragraph C: …………..…..
3. Paragraph D: ………………
4. Paragraph E: ………………
5. Paragraph F: ……………….
6. Paragraph G: ……………….
7. Paragraph H: ……………….
MAKING EVERY DROP COUNT

A The history of human civilisation is entwined with the history of the ways we
have learned to manipulate water resources. As towns gradually expanded, water
was brought from increasingly remote sources, leading to sophisticated
 engineering efforts such as dams and aqueducts. At the height of the Roman
Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built
sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is
provided in many parts of the industrial world today.
B During the industrial revolution and population explosion of the 19th and 20th
centuries, the demand for water rose dramatically. Unprecedented construction
of tens of thousands of monumental engineering projects designed to control
floods, protect clean water supplies, and provide water for irrigation and
hydropower brought great benefits to hundreds of millions of people. Food
production has kept pace with soaring populations mainly because of the
expansion of artificial irrigation systems that make possible the growth of 40%
of the world’s food. Nearly one fifth of all the electricity generated worldwide is
produced by turbines spun by the power of falling water.
C Yet there is a dark side to this picture: despite our progress, half of the world’s
population still suffers, with water services inferior to those available to the
ancient Greeks and Romans. As the United Nations report on access to water
reiterated in November 2001, more than one billion people lack access to clean
drinking water; some two and a half billion do not have adequate sanitation
services. Preventable water-related diseases kill an estimated 10,000 to 20,000
children everyday, and the latest evidence suggests that we are falling behind in
efforts to solve these problems.
D The consequences of our water policies extend beyond jeopardising human
health. Tens of millions of people have been forced to move from their homes –
often with little warning or compensation – to make way for the reservoirs
behind dams. More than 20% of all freshwater have destroyed the free-flowing
river ecosystems where they thrive. Certain irrigation practices degrade soil
quality and reduce agricultural productivity. Groundwater aquifers are being
pumped down faster than they are naturally replenished in parts of India, China,
the USA and elsewhere. And disputes over shared water resources have led to
violence and continue to raise local, national and even international tensions.
E At the outset of the new milennium, however, the way resource planners think
about water is beginning to change. The focus is slowly shifting back to the
provison of basic human and environmental needs as top priority – ensuring
‘some for all’, instead of ‘more for some’. Some water experts are now
demanding that existing infrustructure be used in smarter ways rather than
building new facilities, which is increasingly considered the option of last, not
first, resort. This shift in philosophy established water organisations.
Nevertheless, it may be the only way to address successfully the pressing
problems of providing everyone with clean water to drink, adequate water to
grow food and a life free from preventable water-related illness.
F Fortunately – and unexpectedly – the demand for water is not rising as rapidly as
some predicted. As a result, the pressure to build new water infrastructures has
diminished over the past two decades. Although population, industrial output
and economic productivity have continued to soar in developed nations, the rate
at which people withdraw water from aquifers, rivers and lakes has slowed. And
in a few parts of the world, demand has actually fallen.
G What explains this remarkable turn of events? Two factors: people have figured
out how to use water more efficiently, and communities are rethinking their
priorities for water use. Throughout the first three-quarters of the 20 th century,
the quantity of freshwater consumed per person doubled on average; in the USA,
 water withdrawals increased tenfold while the population quadrupled. But since
1980, the amount of water consumed per person has actually decreased, thanks
to a range of new technologies that help to conserve water in homes and
industry. In 1965, for instance, Japan used approximately 13 million gallons of
water to produce $1 million of commercial output; by 1989 this had dropped to
3.5 million gallons (even accounting for inflation) – almost a quadrupling of
water productivity. In the USA, water withdrawals have fallen by more than
20% form their peak in 1980.
H On the other hand, dams, aqueducts and other kinds of infrastructure will still
have to be built, particularly in developing countries where basic human needs
have not been met. But such projects must be built to higher specifications and
with more accountability to local people and their environment than in the past.
And even in regions where new projects seem warranted, we must find ways to
meet demands with fewer resources, respecting ecological criteria and to a
smaller budget.

Do the following statements 8-10 agree with the information given in the
passage?
In the numbered boxes, write:
YES If the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO If the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NO If it is impossible to say that the writer thinks about this
INFORMATION
8. Feeding increasing populations is possible due primarily to improved irrigation
systems.
9. Modern water systems imitate those of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
10. Industrial growth is increasing the overall demand for water
Part 8.
1. People of different social classes are working together to improve the
community.
2. There are no buildings to spoil this area.
3. There are specific things that you must take with you on this trip.
4. There is a slight risk of serious injury or even death on this trip.
5. Different eras can be compared in this place.
6. A political change had an unexpectedly good outcome.
7. A place used by several monarchs.
8. A remarkable form of transport.
9. The near total destruction of a population in one area.
10. A trip for artistic people.
Places to visit around the world
A Preah Vihear, Cambodia
This enigmatic temple/fortress near the Thai/Cambodian border welcomed tourists
until, in 1993, the Khmer Rouge settled here. Though they soon left, it was ten years
before Preah Vihear was completely reopened - Cambodia finally finished the access
road in 2003. The original temple was started in the 9th century, although it was
subsequently maintained and enlarged by many different kings. For the makers, the
cracking views were incidental: building the temple on a mountain was designed to
encourage religious meditation.
The best way to reach Preah Vihear is to hire a driver or join a coach party from Siem
Reap. If you go under your own steam you might want to stay overnight in the basic
accommodation at the foot of the mountain or the even more primitive
accommodation atop the 550m peak. The area has been largely cleared of land mines
but it's probably best to stick to the main paths.
B Gorgongosa National Park
Ten years ago, this magnificent wildlife park in central Mozambique was an
environmental disaster area. In 1971, 12,000 visitors came here, attracted by the
greatest lion population in Africa. From 1983 to 1992, the park was the stage for
many battles in Mozambique's civil war. By 1992, when peace arrived, the park's
stock of large mammals had fallen by 95%.
The park, a day's drive from the capital Maputo, was partially reopened in 1998.
Gorgongosa's recovery has gathered momentum this year. Buffalo have been reintro-
duced and the park has received donations from internet mogul Greg Carr and rock
star Ronnie Wood. It may be a while before the cheetah and rhino return but 1,862m-
high Mount Gorgongosa is still an unforgettable hike.
C Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a bustling modern city set against the grandeur of African horizons. It
was here Nelson Mandela began the revolution that destroyed apartheid, and today the
same spirit lives on in the diverse population - they are now living the new South
African dream.
After the end of Apartheid in 1994, many felt the change to democratic government
would spell decline. That simply hasn't happened - instead, the negative image of the
city has taken a turn for the better. Johannesburg has an edge, no-one can deny that,
but recently it has shaken off its reputation for grime and crime. The centre of town is
beginning a hesitant renaissance - restaurants are multiplying, the theatre is booming -
while its outer suburbs are flourishing. This is a city where, against all odds, people
from all walks of life are coming together and forging something new.
D Northern India
Palanquin Traveller has a new programme of cultural studies on location, designed to
satisfy the seriously inquisitive traveller. Origins of the Buddha is a journey across
northern India travelling in the Buddha's footsteps. Visiting important sites in
Buddha's life is not just for pilgrims - this expedition stays in rural villages and homes
to get a better understanding of how modern and traditional India strive to co-exist.
The tour is led by scholar Shantum Seth, who is not only a charismatic companion
and fascinating guide, but also an adviser to the UN and Unesco.
This thirteen-day trip involves some challenging trekking and basic mountain
climbing so appropriate clothing and footwear is essential. Accommodation and all
food included in holiday price.
E Estonia
Would you like to spend your next holiday in an Eastern European bog? This may
seem like a daft idea, until you realise 50% of Estonia is made up of virgin forest,
including some of the most glorious and pristine bogs in Europe. The landscape is
unmarred by human construction, save the boardwalks that penetrate this soggy
countryside as shown on 'Light and Land's' new photography trip to Estonia. Mineral
islands amongst the murky pools provide a haven for wildlife - bears, lynx, flying
squirrels and elk - and denning sites for Estonia's thriving wolf population.
Point your lens upwards to the peaks of the ancient pines and you'll find an array of
birdlife from golden eagles to white-backed woodpeckers. On the ground, there's a
host of curious flora and wild flowers including orchids, bittercress and lady's slipper.
Led by wildlife enthusiast and photographer Niall Benvie, this is an unusual and
rewarding trip to a wilderness in Europe.
F Sail the Galapagos
This really is the trip of a lifetime. This seven-day expedition is in association with
the Galapagos Conservation Trust. Sailing on the Sagitta is an experience in itself -
three masts tower above this handsome tall ship and sails ripple into action as she sets
off around the archipelago to mingle with the world's friendliest wildlife. This trip is
led by Galapagos naturalist, author and photographer David Horwell. Pick his brains
on the local fauna and flora over the scrumptious Ecuadorian food on board.
Help collect data for the Trust and be part of a team of select scientists for a fortnight.
Contribute to the effort to conserve this magical part of the world. This truly is a
'green holiday' where tourist becomes conservationist rather than destroyer of the
planet
Part 9. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions
119-125, read the passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits
each gap. There is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered box provided.
WELCOME TO ECO-CITY
The world has quietly undergone a major shift in balance. According to UN estimates,
2008 marked the first year in history when more than half of the world's population
lived in cities. There are now around 3.4bn human beings stuffed into every available
corner of urban space, and more are set to follow. At a time when humanity has
woken up to its responsibility to the environment, the continuing urban swell presents
an immense challenge. In response, cities all over the world are setting themselves
high targets to reduce carbon emissions and produce clean energy. But if they don't
succeed, there is another option: building new eco-cities entirely from scratch.
119.

`Rather than just design a city in the same way we'd done it before, we can focus on
how to minimise the use of resources to show that there is a different way of doing it',
says Roger Wood, associate director at Arup. Wood is one of hundreds of people at
Arup, the engineering and architecture giant, hired by Shanghai Industrial Investment
Corporation to set out a master plan for the Dongtan eco-city.
120.

When the first demonstrator phase is complete, Dongtan will be a modest community
of 5000. By 2020, that will balloon to 80,000 and in 2050, the 30km2 site will be
home to 500,000. Arup says that every one of those people will be no more than seven
minutes' walk from public transport. Only electric vehicles will be allowed in the city
and residents will be discouraged from using even those because each village is
planned so that the need for motorised transport is minimal.
121.

That's a big cornerstone of Arup's design for Dongtan. The aim is that the city will
require 66 percent less energy than a conventional development, with wind turbines
and solar panels complementing some 40 percent that comes from biological sources.
These include human sewage and municipal waste, both of which will be controlled
for energy recovery and composting. Meanwhile, a combined heat and power plant
will burn waste rice husks.
122.

Work on Dongtan had been scheduled to begin in late 2008 with the first
demonstration phase completed by 2010. Unfortunately, problems resulting from the
complicated planning procedures in China have led to setbacks. Dongtan's rival
project in Abu Dhabi has suffered no such hold-ups. Engineers broke ground on the
Masdar eco-city in March 2008. Although it will take a different approach in terms of
design, like Dongtan, the city is planned to be a zero-carbon, uber-efficient showcase
for sustainable living.
123.

In the blistering desert of the Gulf state, where it's almost too hot to venture outdoors
for three or four months of the year, the big question for Masdar is how to keep cool
without turning on the air-conditioning. In this equation, insulation and ventilation
suddenly become more important than the performance of solar panels. To maximise
shade, I the city's streets are packed closely together, with limits of four or five
storeys set on the height of most buildings.
124.

The other major design feature for Masdar is that the whole city is raised on a deck.
The pedestrian level will be free of vehicles and much of the noisy maintenance that
you see in modern cities. Cars are banned from Masdar entirely, while an
underground network of `podcars' ferries people around the city.
125.

Given that this concern is legitimate, developers of both cities would do well to
incorporate both a range of housing and jobs to make them inclusive to everyone.
This will be difficult, obviously, but then just about everything is difficult when
you're completely reinventing the way we build and live in a metropolis. And
supposing these sustainable and super-efficient cities are successful, could they even
usher in a new world order?

A. The city will be built on a corner of Chongming Island in the mouth of the Yangtze
River. It will be made up of three interlinked, mixed-use villages, built one after the
other. Each will combine homes, businesses and recreation, and a bridge and tunnel
link will connect the population with Shanghai on the mainland.
B. The skin of each building will be crucial. Thick concrete would only soak up heat
and release it slowly, so instead engineers will use thin walls that react quickly to the
sun. A thin metal layer on the outside will help to reflect heat and stop it from
penetrating the building. Density is also critical for Masdar. The city is arranged in a
definite square with a walled border. Beyond this perimeter, fields of solar panels, a
wind farm and a desalination plant will provide clean energy and water, and act as a
barrier to prevent further sprawl.
C. 'If you plan your development so people can live, work and shop very locally, you
can quite significantly reduce the amount of energy that's being used', Wood says.
`Then, not only have you made the situation easier because you've reduced the energy
demand, but it also means that producing it from renewable sources becomes easier
because you don't have to produce quite as much'.
D. Arup's integrated, holistic approach to city planning goes further still. Leftover
heat from the power plant will be channelled to homes and businesses. Buildings can
be made of thinner materials because the electric cars on the road will be quiet, so
there's less noise to drown out. Dongtan will initially see an 83 per cent reduction in
waste sent to landfill compared to other cities, with the aim to reduce that to nothing
over time. And more than 60 per cent of the whole site will be parks and farmland,
where food is grown to feed the population.
E. Developers at Masdar and Dongtan are adamant that each city will be somewhere
that people want to live. Critics do not question this but they do, nevertheless, wonder
if these cities will be realistic places for people on a low income. They say that it
would be easy for places like these to become a St Tropez or a Hamptons, where only
rich people live.
F. Funded by a 12bn (euro) investment from the government in Abu Dhabi, it has not
passed the attention of many observers that Masdar is being built by one of the
world's largest and most profitable producers of oil. Even so, under the guidance of
architects as Foster and Partners, the city is just as ambitious as its Chinese
counterpart and also hinges on being able to run on low power.
G. Since cars and other petrol-based vehicles are banned from the city, occupants will
share a network of ‘podcars' to get around. The 'personal rapid transit system' will
comprise 2500 driverless, electric vehicles that make 150,000 trips a day by following
sensors along a track beneath the pedestrian deck. Up to six passengers will ride in
each pod: they just hop in at one of 83 stations around the city and tap in their
destination.
H. Incredibly, this is already happening. Two rival developments, one in China and
one in the United Arab Emirates, are progressing in tandem. Work on Masdar, 17km
from Abu Dhabi, began in 2008, while Dongtan, near Shanghai, will eventually be
home to half a million people. The aim for both is to build sustainable, zero-carbon
communities that showcase green technology and demonstrate what smart urban
planning can achieve in the 21st century.
Part 10. Some people think that it is more beneficial to take part in sports, which
are played in teams, like football, while other people think that taking part in
individual sports, like tennis or swimming, is better. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion. (30 points)