Reading, 5

January 14, 2007 You are going to read a magazine article about ice hockey in Northern Ireland. Choose from the list AI the sentence which best summarizes each part (17) of the article. There is one summary sentence that you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A New possibilities B Clever salesmanship C The kids love it D A battle of the giants E Future heroes F Not like football G Traditional heroes H A surprise success I A great game to watch

Giant strides
0A Eamon and Dean are among a group of children of all religions and none, on a visit organized by the local police as part of a community relations project. Before the arrival of the Giants, a crosscommunity trip to a sporting event would have been near impossible. Traditional sport in Northern Ireland has been split by tribal divisions. But the arrival of ice-hockey has changed this. 1 _____ The Belfast Giants were formed last year to play in the UKs ice hockey Superleague. The team started slowly but rallied in December when the arena opened and the Giants started playing at home. Support for the team surged. At present, attendance has exceeded all expectations the average 6,500 crowd makes the Giants the best-supported team in the league. 2_____ At the merchandizing kiosk queues have built as fans snap up goods ranging from rubber pucks to Giants shirts, hats and jackets. Kiosk supervisor Marion Livingstone says Belfast has been crying out for something like this. Soccer teams have always had either Catholic or Protestant supporters. But this is a sport for all. 3_____ The universal popularity is not an accident but the result of a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign. The teams communications director has worked hard at selling ice hockey as a game fo reveryone. A telling slogan In the land of the Giants everyone is equal appears on the cover of the programme sold at each game as well as on the teams website. 4 _____ The teams name is also a clever piece of marketing. It refers to the legendary Finn McCool, whose footsteps, so the story goes, created the extraordinary geological formation which is known as the Giants Causeway one of

Northern Irelands top tourist attractions. As a Scottish-Irish hero, McCool is an icon embraced by both communities. 5 _____ The family-friendly environment created at the Odyssey, the home arena, along with the games fast and furious qualities, have also been factors in the sports soaring popularity. The puck can travel at 95100 miles an hour, the players can skate at 35 miles per hour says Collins. The speed, aggression and showmanship can draw you into the game. 6 _____ Since the Giants began playing at home, children have been flocking to Northern Irelands only public ice -rink at Dundonald, on the edge of Belfast. The Giants run weekly coaching sessions for young people. Its amazing says Steve Roberts, who plays left wing for the Giants. We started out with about 25 and now there are 127 children that come regularly. 7 _____ It will probably be many years before the Belfast team is fielding any home-grown players. At present they are all North American. Jerry Keefe, a Bostonian of Irish extraction who plays centre for the Gi ants, says All of the team started when we were three or four but eventually I think we will see some good players coming out of Northern Ireland.

Paper 1, part 4
You are going to read a magazine article about various people who did courses later in life. For Questions 21-35, choose from the people (A-D). There is an example at the beginning (0). Of which of the people A-D are the following true? A Fiona B Deborah C Joyce D Sonya She recommends the course she took. 0:C (xample) She felt relaxed when doing a course. 21:_____ She felt obliged to do a course. 22:_____ Her training made it hard for her to do some of the work on a course. 23:_________ Her colleagues attitude towards her has changed. 24:____ She feels confident about the future. 25:______ She was put off education earlier in life. 26:______ The way classes were organised suited her. 27: ______ Her plans became more ambitious while doing a course. 28:________ She wasted her time when she was at college before. 29:______ She realised she had thought of a strong commercial idea. 30:_______ Her teacher provided practical advice. 31:_______ She found her experience of life useful when doing a course. 32:______ She enjoyed the company of the others taking a course. 33:________ She has learnt not to be nervous in certain circumstances. 34:_________ A success encouraged her to study other subjects. 35:________

A FIONA Fiona, a freelance journalist, has just finished a four-year part-time degree in English Literature. Fiona, 33, who hadnt been in further education since finishing a journalism course at London Printing College 11 years ago, says: I got more out of doing it later in life than str aight after school. When I did my journalism course, we sat in the canteen chatting half the time, but when youre older you realise that the only person youre cheating is yourself if you do that. And when youre older you can bring so much more to your analysis because youve done more. It was quite strange having to write an essay after many years, particularly after being a journalist where you have to say things as briefly as possible. But it was interesting having access to such knowledgeable tutors. B DEBORAH Deborah left school without any qualifications and ended up ten years later with a degree. Obtaining the degree gave her an enormous desire to learn more. Since then, Deborah has enrolled on courses ranging from pottery to African cinema to salsa dancing. She says: I never liked school. They didnt teach me to enjoy learning and Im sure this experience can destroy many peoples desire to learn more later in life. Theres so much in life to learn as you get older, it becomes a real pleasure. There are no pressures you dont have to prove anything. You are therebecause you want to be. There is also something special about spending time with people who share a common passion. You dont know their names or anything about them, but all the barriers are broken down because everyone has the same objective. C JOYCE Joyce joined the Start Your Own Business course a few months ago and she is now preparing to start an international business in furniture design. Joyce, who is in her early thirties, says: I had a flood of ideas that came to me in bed one night and I had to get up to draw them while they were still fresh in my mind. The course was taught by businesswoman, Diane Shelley. She says: Joyce was full of ideas and is now about to start her own m ulti million pound business. The course helps you identify so many things, says Joyce, the ideas developed until they were almost out of control; by the end my idea had become an international business. Diane didnt just teach theory, she also shared her own experience with us. That helped me a lot, because years ago I would have been frightened to see bank managers and accountants as I didnt understand the financial aspects. Diane made me realise that you employ these people to do the work. Now Im no t scared of borrowing money because I know the business will be successful. D SONYA Sonya did a three-day intensive desk-top publishing course in May. Sonya, 24, who works as a publicity assistant at a bank, says: I needed some skills to make me better at my job. Writing reports is an essential part of my job and so the presentation of my work is important. The course, held at the London College of Printing, covers both practice and theory. Sonya says: It was quite demanding, they really get you thinkin g. Because there were only six or seven in the group, we got more attention and it was easier to ask questions. Now my reports appear more professional and I can produce them quicker. A lot of people have said Your works improved, and it has made me get on better with people in the office because Im in a privileged position, having knowledge others dont have.

Paper 1, part 3
You are going to read a magazine article about an actress. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the article. Choose the most suitable paragraph from the list A-H for each part (15-20) of the article. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). Nyrees Story After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country,Nyree Dawn Porter made London her home. Interview by Alan OKelly. A I didnt like school and I spent most of my time in my head. One of the teachers noticed that. Shed say, Im not going to repeat that for Nyree Porter because shes not listening anyway. No doubt shell let me have the sketch shes doing under the desk. B Her mother also did well at school. She became a gifted painter and was, as her father always said, The prettiest girl in New Zealand. C Against hundreds of other actors, Nyree was given the part. She had no hesitation in giving up everything to act and within two years had been brought to England by a famous film producer. D By the time she left school, Nyree had passed all the required exams for teaching ballet. She had her own dance studio and enjoyed her work. But something told her that at some stage she would have to leave New Zealand to find full satisfaction. E Nyree was born on the north island of New Zealand. Her father was a butcher who later became a developer and a businessman. She was given the Maori name of Ngaire which was later changed to its present English form as nobody could pronounce it. F Sadly, that didnt happen. My parents were like oil and water, explains Nyree. They simply couldnt live together. My fathers work kept him away from home but I think it was partly becaus e he found it difficult to live with my mother. G That was followed by another successful show called Look Whos Here at the Fortune Theatre and a BBC television series, Madame Bovary. Four years later, in 1967, came The Forsyte Saga, the series which became addictive, not just in Britain, but all over the world. H It stopped me dead and instead of joining the other performers I walked down to the front of the stage to find out what that noise was. Nyrees Story After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country,Nyree Dawn Porter made London her home. Interview by Alan OKelly. Nyree Dawn Porter made her first stage appearance at the age of three. Playing the part of a ladybird in an amateur production of Noahs Ark, she walked onto the stage and into the lights to delighted applause and laughter. 0: H (example)

That noise has charmed her ever since and in a long, successful career, both on the theatre stage and on television, she has received plenty of it. 15: _____________ Nyree speaks lovingly of her father Ken, who was warm and affectionate and loved music passionately. For a long time she was an only child, but when her sister, Merle Isabel, came along, the happy family should have been complete. 16:_____________ As a result, Nyree remembers her childhood as being sad but productive. She had a nervous stammer and was so shy and quiet that her teachers became extremely worried about her. She found her release through books, painting and ballet. 17: ___________ A teacher named Jim Goodall came to her rescue by encouraging her to do well and by making her president of the drama club. A second influential person was another teacher, who had spent a lot of time in England and France. Her enthusiasm helped Nyree to use her natural gift for French and she also encouraged her to act. 18:_____________ I was acting in a local amateur production when a woman came to my dressing room and asked me if I had ever considered acting as a career. She was the wife of a leading actor at the New Zealand National Theatre. Her car had broken down outside and that was the only reason she had come in. She arranged for me to try for a role in an American comedy called The Solid GoldCadillac. 19:____________ I loved London and my lucky break came when I wa s given a letter of introduction to Hazel Vincent Wallace at the Leatherhead Theatre. I got a job in a Christmas show, both acting and dancing. 20:____________ Nyree Dawn Porter has adopted England, and we have adopted her. She has lived here ever since, although she does visit her old home andregularly works in Australia.

Paper 1, part 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a book. For Questions 8-14, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D. Natural CLASSIC Each month we ask one of our experts to tell us what wildlife book novel, guide or textbook has most influenced him or her. Here, Martha Holmes, marine biologist, TV presenter and filmproducer, reveals all. Im a very keen reader, but selecting the boo k with a natural-history theme which has influenced me most was some challenge, until I thought back to my childhood. Then it was easy. Where the book came from is a mystery, and I have never met anyone who has heard of it. It is Rita Richies The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan. I read it when I was about 10 years old and I remember to this day the effect it had on me. Set in 1218, it is a story of a rich boy whose parents are dead. He is growing up in the splendid city of Samarkand and has a fascination for hawks, those magnificent hunting birds. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding his past, but he is led to believe that a band of Mongols killed his father

to steal a rare type of bird the golden hawk. Determined to get these birds back, he runs away from Samarkand and joins a group of people travelling to the country of Mongolia. What follows is a grand adventure centred on the city of Karakorum, where the great Mongol chief Genghis Khan was then based. The book combines adventure, mystery, honour, friendship, danger, suffering all seen through the eyes of the young hero, Jalair. I still find this fantasy a thrilling read. Jalairs great love for the birds was enviable and inspiring. But most of all it was the sense of place that stayed with me. The book gives the reader an idea of the vast open spaces of central Asia and its huge skies, without the use of the long descriptive passages that would bore a child. There are no boundaries. The emptiness of the Gobi Desert, the Tian Shan mountains and the excitement of riding through forests and over rolling hills fascinated me. The book gave me more than hawks, horses and a desire for wild places. It also gave me a set of values. The Mongols in The Golden Hawks were totally uninterested in possessions, a characteristic that is absolutely essential for people who spent their lives travelling from place to place. They were never mean. Generosity, goodwill and optimism were highly valued, hard work was enjoyed and the rest was pure fun. They simply loved life. Two years ago, I fulfilled a life-long ambition and went riding in Mongolias mountains. I was not disappointed. 8 When first asked to choose a book, Martha Holmes A was influenced by the experts. B chose one she had read recently. C had difficulty in making a decision. D was pleased to have been approached. 9 What does it in line 6 refer to? A the choice B Marthas childhood C the book D the theme 10 Martha says the book The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan A was recommended by a friend. B was very popular when she was a child. C is known to very few people. D is one of many mystery books she has read. 11 The main interest of the hero of the book is A what happened to his parents. B the desire to see different countries. C the beauty of his homeland. D his passion for particular birds. 12 Where does most of the story take place? A in Samarkand B in Karakorum C on the way to Karakorum D in the Tian Shan mountains 13 What did Martha enjoy about the book? A the range of characters B the geographical setting C the descriptive writing D the changes of atmosphere

14 What values did Martha learn from the book? A the importance of a sense of humour B how to be a successful traveller C the need to protect your goods D how to get the most out of life

I. Reading, part 1
You are going to read a newspaper article about a day in the life of a footballer. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-I for each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Domestic matters B Time off C All players are different D Putting in the practice E Working together F Keeping my standard up G What makes a good player H Not my choice A day in the life of Jim Barber, Scottish Footballer Jim Barber is a centre forward for Glasgow Rangers football club. He talks to Paul Sullivan about a typical day in his life. 0: I (example) I dont usually get up till 8.30. On a match day Ill get up even later. Ill sit in bed, watch breakfast TV for a while, and then Ill go down, get the mail, have a coffee and read the papers. Ill have a wash and then Ill get ready to go to the club. Rangers is probably the only club where the players have to come in every morning wearing a shirt and tie; its a traditional thing and I quite like it really. 1:________________ Every day except Sunday, Ill be at the club by 10. Its a short drive but Ill still usually be a few minutes late. Ive a bad reputation for being late, and Ive been fined many times. Each day of training is in preparation for the next match. Well do some weight training and some running to build up stamina. Players work on particular aspects of the game but tactics are usually left till match day. 2: _____________ After training Ill usually have a sauna and then well have lunch: salads and pasta, stuff like that. In the afternoon I just try to relax. I started playing golf with the rest of the lads, and I love horse racing, too. My other great hobby is music which helps me to escape the pressure of work. 3:________________ The best thing in football is scoring goals and Im a top goal-scorer. It feels absolutely fantastic but I never feel above the rest of the team; if I did, I wouldnt last two minutes in the dressing room. Any success I have is a team success. My idol in the past was always Kenny Dalglish. My idols now are the other Rangers players.

4: ______________ The matches themselves are always different from each other. You go through a lot of emotions during a game but really its a question of concentration. Youve got just 90 minutes to give everything youve got and take every chance you can. Theres luck and theres being in the right place at the right time, but you cant make use of those without concentration and responsibility. 5:____________ Sports writers often talk about age but its not something that bothers me. Im 30 and feel fantastic. I missed a few games last year due to injury and my place was taken by a young player at Rangers. We are friends but he is a threat to my position. My job is to score goals and if I dont Ill be replaced. 6:______________ I try not to let football rule my home life but my wife would probably disagree; last year we only got three weeks holiday. Its difficult for Allison, my wife, but I think shes learned to accept it. She likes football and comes to the matches. I do like to go out and see friends but I always have dinner with my wife. 7:_____________ Well usually go to bed about midnight. Sometimes I do worry when I think of the day it all ends and I stop scoring. That scares me and I cant see myself playing for any other team, either, but the reality is that the players dont make the decisions. If someone makes your club a good enough offer for you, theyll accept it. But I try not to let things like that bother me.

Reading, 15
You are going to read a magazine article about Ewan McGregor, a British actor. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from sentences A H the one which fits each gap 16 21. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A This might account for the old-fashioned, romantic qualities he can bring to roles in films such as Emma, Scarlet and Black and A life Less Ordinary. B Its all going so unbelievably well, he admits, you start to worry something really terribles going to happen. C I just didnt get it. I just remember not liking many of the teachers. They said I had attitude problems. D No, hes very, very involved with the part. Hed obviously thought about it a great deal. You can see that at each point, in each scene, he knows exactly where he wants to be. Hes a very dynamic and instinctive actor. E God knows what everyone thought I was so excited about. I couldnt even tell my brother cos I knew hed just tell all his mates. F He never seems to stop smiling, a particularly rare quality to find in actors these days. G I was more nervous than I have been for a long time. Sitting there, feeling really scared again. It was brilliant! H His first professional acting job was as an Indian in the film A Passage to India where immediately, he says, I knew I was where I wanted to be

Into Orbit Seven years ago Ewen McGregor was still at drama school. Now hes the leading British actor of his generation. Set for inter-galactic fame in the new Star Wars Trilogy, he is a modest man with the world at his feet. So how do you audition for Star Wars, one of the biggest, most popular phenomena in Hollywood history? That was really scary. Ewan McGregor beams with real enthusiasm. 0: G While every aspiring young actor and agent in Hollywood was competing for a part, McGregor simply met the casting agent, talked to director George Lucas and did a screen test. Playing pool in a pub in Galway, he sounds as casual as you like, sauntering round the table with his trademark cocky grin. Bob Marley sings dont worry bout a thing Ewans selection from the jukebox and it could just about sum up his life right now. 16: ________ The Star Wars project was so shrouded in secrecy, McGregor wasnt allowed to tell anyone, except his parents and his wife, Eve. I was on the set of Velvet Goldmine when I found out my first days filming! So all day I walked around going like this. (biting his fist, eyes wide with delight) 17: _______ Arriving at the pub, McGregor is freshfaced and enormously good-natured, seemingly unburdened by the pressures of fame and full of confidence. He wanted to be an actor from the age of nine, when he started to idolise his uncle, Local Hero actor Denis Lawson (who also had small parts in the three original Star Wars movies) and has pursued his dream since then with almost manic enthusiasm, probably ruthless determination, and more than a hint of arrogance. It just didnt even enter my head that it wouldnt work out. Evidently he was so keen on acting that even his parents, who were teachers, gave him their blessings to leave school at 16. I didnt hate school, he explains. 18: ________ He grew up in Grief!, in Perth, with an adventurous childhood, kicking around in the countryside, riding horses every weekend. Never fond of sports, he would spend Saturday afternoons lying on the carpet in front of the T V, watching black and white movies. 19: _______ Ask people who have worked with him how his success has been so meteoric, and rather than mention his talent first of all, they tend to talk about his energy, eagerness and above all, his charm. The directors of two forthcoming releases, Todd Haynes (Velvet Goldmine) and James Deardon (Rogue Trader), both say they were struck by the enormous enthusiasm and commitment he brings to his roles. He gives 100 per cent in every take, says Haynes. He gave us some unbelievably strenuous performances. Deardon says McGregor is not the kind of actor wholl be chatting away to the crew or cast before a take, and then just carry on with what he was saying afterwards. 20: _______ Another thing people remark upon is just how likeable Ewan McGregor is. He combines an eagerness, energy and fierce friendliness with the sort of sharp sarcasm that you see in Trainspotting and Shallow Grave, which prevents him from seeming too full of himself. 21: _______ He has already settled down into domesticity with his production designer wife, Eve Mavrakis, who he met on the set of Kavanagh QC, and their two-yearold daughter Clara, who he describes as something else. I love her to bits. People ask how I manage to combine a family life and a career but I dont look at it that way. My family and career are my life. Theyre not separate.

Reading, 14
You are going to read some information about some endangered species. For questions 22-33, choose from the species (A-F). Some of the species may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). For questions 34 and 35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Which endangered species: has had its products replaced by other products? 0: B is sometimes killed for entertainment? 22: ____ is being threatened by nature itself? 23:____ is killed in order to cure humans? 24:_____ seems in less danger of disappearing than the others? 25: ____ are often caught by accident? 26: _____ 27: _____ do not live on land? 28:_____ 29:______ are eaten? 30: ______ 31: ______ live in only one area of the world? 32: ______ 33: _____ 34 What is the main aim of this text? A to inform B to frighten C to entertain D to sell 35 The World Wide Fund for Nature International must be A an association for educating hunters. B an institution for protesting. C an organisation for protecting animals. D a group for world peace. FACT SHEET World Wide Fund for Nature International (WWF) Tigers A The Tiger (Panthera tigris) is one of the cat Felidae family and lives only in Asia. Despite its wide range and adaptability, the tiger is severely threatened today. It is so dependent on cover that it cannot survive where people have cleared the land for agriculture. The tiger is still widely hunted down, despite being legally protected in almost every country where it is found. In Chinese popular medicine, every part of a tigers body is valued and this has made hunting even more popular.

Three of the eight tiger subspecies have already been wiped out and a fourth is very near extinction. WWF is promoting projects to save these subspecies. Whales- B We know little about the earliest whales, but fossil remains and comparative anatomical studies indicate that they were probably descended from small, primitive, bear-like animals. Todays whales have evolved into mammals which live in the water. Commercial whalers have exploited almost every whale species, causing many populations to come close to extinction. As a result, international trade in whale products, once of enormous volume, has now ended. Both natural and synthetic substitutes are available for all whale products and are competitively priced. At the annual meeting in 1982, after many years of debate, the IWC (International Whaling Commission) voted to ban all commercial whaling for an indefinite period from 1986. Elephants C The elephants we see today have been on the scene for some five million years. They are the only survivors of a once wide-spread group of animals with trunks, the Proboscidae, which produced more than 300 different species over a span of 50 million years. At present, all international trade in elephant products, including ivory, is not permitted because all elephant populations are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which prohibits all trade in elephant products such as meat and hides. The Asian elephant has been on this list since 1975. The African elephant was placed on Appendix I in 1990. Giant Panda D In prehistoric times, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) was wide-spread in China. Today it is estimated that only 1,000 of these black-and-white bear-like animals remain, all living in the bamboo forests of southwestern China. The main threats to the panda are destruction of its habitat and deliberate poaching for export of skins. Suitable habitat for the animals has shrunk by about 50 per cent in the last 15 years. Accidental snaring in traps set for other animals is also a major threat. Another problem is bamboo flowering. It takes the bamboo plant about one year to regenerate from seed but it can take up to 20 years before it can support a panda population. In total, WWF has spent SFr8 million on conservation in China. Foxes and Wolves E Foxes and wolves belong to the Canidae, or wild dog, family. Of the 14 fox subspecies, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most wide-spread. Though the red fox is heavily hunted and trapped for its fur, populations have remained the same.

The coyote or prairie wolf (Canis latrans) is found throughout the United States, southern Canada, and northern Central America. The population is large and increasing even though people hunt it for fur, sport, and to reduce loss of livestock and poultry. WWF and mCN (the World Conservation Unions Canid Specialist Group) both believe that most species require legally enforced protection measures. It is also necessary to protect their natural habitat and to increase the publics awareness of the problems confronting these animals. Dolphins and Porpoises F Dolphins and porpoises are marine mammals belonging to the cetacean family which also includes whales. They are found in oceans, estuaries and rivers. One of the threats facing dolphins and porpoises is hunting. As human populations have grown, more indigenous people fish in order to feed their families. More aggressive fishing methods have also been developed, such as the use of rifles. Other serious threats include water pollution, destruction and fragmentation of habitat through such activities as dam building, and general disturbance by humans which reduce food supplies. The largest catches of cetaceans, however, occur by chance while people are trying to catch other fish. Concern about this type of incidental catch led to the 1989 UN General Assembly adopting a resolution that called for the end of large-scale driftnet fishing by 30 June 1992.

Reading, 13
January 16, 2007

You are going to read an extract from a book. Seven sentences have been removed from the extract. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (16-21). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to lise. There is an example at the beginning (0). Other guests were in the house. Several times while I was washing and changing I heard doors opening and closing. I put on my new blue slacks and sweater and picked up my bag, hoping that no one would notice how heavy it was. 0: H I intended to fight him in his own territory. Finding a library in a large country house is not difficult when youve travelled widely and have quite a few wealthy friends. Libraries usually have double doors opening inwards and do not lead to anywhere else. 16: _____ In a room nearby someone was playing the piano. 17: ______ Surely people with your kind of job shouldnt sit with their backs to the door, I said when I could see whom I was talking to. I already knew what he looked like. 18: _____ Sir George rose. He was of medium height, slightly fat, silver-haired and with a face surprisingly youthful for his sixty years. 19:_______

With not a second to spare, a word from him prevented huge dogs from attacking me. Grabbing collars, he said, Do help yourself to sherry while I get rid of this lot, and crossed to another door as if floating in a sea of black and gold jumping gun dogs. Two elderly dogs followed with a couple of tail wags especially for me. 20: _____ I helped myself to sherry, a pale, dry luncheon sherry that would do nothing to dispel my tummy rumbles of hunger, and heard him despatch his dogs into the grounds with the weird cries people reserve for their pets when they dont think anyone else can hear. Sir George returned, rubbing his hands, and warmed them before the blaze. God, its cold out there. 21: ______ Am I wrong in assuming you prefer to be called Miss Langley? A His youngest daughter had recently married a television script writer and the wedding had been shown in all the newspapers. B The whole lot, I could see now, had been asleep on the floor in front of the log fire. C He reseated himself, waving me to a chair near the fire. D There was just one set of double doors leading off the large square hall; I crossed the fancy wooden flooring, noticing Persian rugs and an arrangement of bronze flowers and copper branches in a brass jug. E Instead of an old-fashioned smoking jacket and grey trousers he wore a sweater and woollen slacks from neither of which anyone had succeeded in removing the mornings harvest of dog hairs. F I entered, prepared to apologise and leave immediately if necessary; for a moment I thought the room empty but then saw that one of the leather chairs was occupied, cigar smoke floating above it. G I turned and ran towards the warmth of the kitchen. H It seemed best to put it under my arm in a relaxed sort of way, relaxed and attractive according to the expensive mirror at the top of the stairs. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 1 Comment

Reading, 12
January 16, 2007

You are going to read an extract from a book. For questions 8-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

The car braked. One of its headlights had gone out, the one that had hit Lars, he supposed. It moved slowly, as if the driver were hesitating. Then it gathered speed and, one-eyed, it disappeared into the night.Tyrin bent over Lars. The other sailors gathered around, speaking Swedish.Tyrin touched Lars leg. He yelled out in pain. I think his leg is broken, Tyrin said. Thank God thats all. Lights were going on in some of the buildings around the square. One of the officers said something, and one ran off toward a house presumably to call for an ambulance. There was more rapid dialogue and somebody else went off in the direction of the dock. Lars was bleeding, but not too heavily. The officer bent over him. He would not allow anyone to touch his leg. The ambulance arrived within minutes, but it seemed forever to Tyrin: he had never killed a man, and he did not want to. They put Lars on a stretcher. The officer got into the ambulance, and turned tospeak to Tyrin. You had better come. Yes. You saved his life, 1 think. Oh. He got into the ambulance with the officer. They sped through the wet streets, the flashing blue light on the roof casting an unpleasant glow over the buildings. Tyrin sat in the back, unable to look at Lars or the officer, unwilling to look out of the windows like a tourist, not knowing where to direct his eyes. He had done many unkind things in the service of his country and Colonel Rostov he had taped conversations of lovers for blackmail, he had shown terrorists how to make bombs, he had helped capture people who would later be tortured but he had never been forced to ride in the ambulance with his victim. He did not like it. They arrived at the hospital. The ambulance men carried the stretcher inside. Tyrin and the officer were shown where to wait. And, suddenly, the rush was over. They had nothing to do but worry. Tyrin was astonished to look at the plain electric clock on the hospital wall and see that it was not yet midnight. It seemed hours since they had left the pub. 8 Lars had been hit by A an elderly driver. B a vehicle. C someone who stayed to inquire about his health. D a flying object. 9 How did Tyrin feel about Lars injury? A happy B unsympathetic

C relieved D embarrassed 10 Where had the accident happened? A in the countryside B in a city or town C right next to a hospital D on the dock 11 Before the accident, Tyrin A had wanted to kill people. B had occasionally killed people. C hadnt killed anybody. D had killed many times. 12 Why did the officer ask Tyrin to corne with him? A He was suspicious. B He thought Tyrin could give him some information. C He was worried about Lars condition. D He wanted to arrest Tyrin. 13 What was Tyrins opinion of the work he had done before this? A He clid not like it. B He did not mind it. C He was proud of it. D He was shocked by it. 14 Who had planned Lars accident?

A the driver of the car B a Swedish sailor C Lars himself D Tyrin himself 15 In the hospital, how did Tyrin feel about Lars condition? A unkind B astonished C anxious D satisfied Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 11
January 16, 2007

PART 1 You are going to read a newspaper article about jeans. Choose from the list A-I the heading which best summarises each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). ,A The changes are many B Jeans make money C A film star start D A reflection of character E Teenagers love them F Three brands lead G Two things required

H Styles come and go I Owned by many HOW THE WEST HAS WON 0: I One in two men and four in 10 women under 45 buy at least one pair of jeans each year. 1: ________ Thats a whole lot of denim, with Levis flattening all in its wake with 22 per cent of the entire market, followed by Pepe and Wrangler with an annual battle for second place and the serried ranks of countless lesser-known brands bringing up the rear. We have become so used to the presence of this western uniform that we have forgotten what an amazing achievement it is for any single piece of clothing to be so popular for so many years. 2: _______ Few people know or care about the social origins of neck-ties or short skirts, but the purely functional roots of jeans as good old boy American workwear remain vital to their popularity over a century later. Ever since Brando and Dean wore jeans (Levis and Lee) in their cinematic refusal to accept societys rules of behaviour, they have been the most popular informal dress ever. 3: ______ Designer jeans greatly increased in popularity after they were first introduced by Gloria Vanderbilt, and it has developed into an important branch of designer fashion. Paul Smith, whose own jeans check out at nearly 60 pounds, explains, Jeans have never really been out. They have more important periods than others but they are always around. Designers do their own because its a good way of profiting from their brand name. In other words, theres money in it and though it would take a colossal amount of the stuff to get rid of Levis, the public is always ready to buy up new styles or change a particular brands cool rating. 4:_______ So effectively do jeans satisfy those two great and differing human needs, to be like everybody else and to be different from everybody else, that they will always find a way of reinventing themselves to fit every social and economic group. 5: _______ I remember going to the first showing of black Levis in the early eighties, before black had established itself as the colour of the 80s. They actually seemed far too strange at the time.

Since then, jean styling has gone through several changes, from snow-washed through marbled, stretch, striped, torn, ankle-Zipped, baggy and back to flared out at the ankle. 6: _______ As Ashley Heath, associate editor of The Face, says, If anything is going to make masses of people look really stupid, its jeans. He calculates that it takes two months for these different designs to go from an idea in the designers head to the shops; then they slowly fade out of the shops. 7:________ The single most important item of clothing to emerge in the last 50 years, the most widely-worn uniform ever to be adopted by successive generations, jeans still appear to say less about fashion than they do about you. No one wants to wear their heart on their sleeve but few people can resist wearing a little piece of their soul on their rear end. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 10
January 14, 2007
LUNCH ON THE DOUBLE I am not easily shocked, but I still havent got over a recent experience in New York. A business contact had invited me to lunch at a trendy restaurant. I turned up on time, expecting a gastronomic treat and a leisurely chat about matters of mutual interest. So you can imagine how I felt when he said that, sorry, we could only share a first course because he had scheduled a second lunch appointment. What nerve! What an insult! I vowed to never speak to him again, until a friend of mine told me that such bad manners have become quite fashionable among Manhattans movers and shakers. It wasnt personal, just the trendy thing to do. It seems that many business executives are double and triple decking their lunches like club sandwiches, a practice known as Type A feeding behaviour. It works like this: an appetizer at the Four Seasons, a hamburger with another client at 21, and dessert and coffee with a third business contact at Michaels. The whole silly business is another version of the power game, a demonstration that you are more important than your guest and that your time is therefore more valuable. I dont know what anyone hopes to gain by this kind of nonsense. It certainly didnt work with me; and I can well imagine the reaction of other visitors from countries which still regard lunch as a serious matter, an opportunity to establish or nurture personal relationships, exchange views, lay the foundations for a deal, or celebrate the successful outcome of negotiations. I have made lasting friends and have initiated many lucrative transactions over lunch at good London restaurants like Langans and Shepherds. I believe that mixing business with pleasure is part of civilized behaviour, and all the more agreeable if one can do it on an expense account.My idea of a good time is an hour-long lunch with a companion who doesnt look at his watch every five minutes, who has something interesting to say, and who thinks that my opinions are worth listening to. The ambience should be stylishly casual, the service attentive but not rushed and the menu as intriguing as a balance sheet. I can do without martinis, but I prefer wine to water. I would not dream of going to the Four Seasons or Le Cirque in Manhattans excellent Palace Hotel and insulting the chef as well as my guest by settling for a bowl of soup.The simple answer is to lay down the ground rules beforehand. Make it clear how much time you have available and ask the guest if it fits in with his own schedule. What made my experience so shocking is that it came as a complete surprise. I hope that the insulting practice of back-to-back lunch dates is one New York trend that will not catch on in London, Paris,

Rome, or Berlin. We Europeans have a reputation for lingering over our lunches. I gather that US cities like Chicago and San Francisco are holding the line at the single lunch, which is good news. They have great restaurants which deserve the appreciative patronage of relaxed and discerning customers. I dont mind if a host wants to show how powerful he is, its all part of business. However, there is more than one way of doing this. A really important player is careful in his choice of guests, but gives them his full attention. He demonstrates his power by not rushing off to another restaurant or to the office. 1.-What is Type A feeding behaviour? A when business executives have club sandwiches for lunch B when business executives have lunch at the best restaurants C when business executives have not scheduled their lunch in advance D when business executives have different courses with different guests

2.-How did the writer feel about this? A silly B pleasantly shocked C offended D trendy 3.-Why, according to the writer, do some business executives do this? A They dont like eating with the same people. B They want to show they are more powerful than their guests. C They dont have time. D They are silly and play games. 4.-How does the writer view lunch? A as a way of making friends and doing business B as a way of celebrating and having fun C as a way of ensuring you get a nutritious meal D as a strict business meeting 5.-According to the writer, a business lunch

A should not be rushed. B should be stylish. C should have a balanced menu. D should have quick service. 6.-What according to the writer is the simple answer? (line 32) A to make your intentions clear in advance B to play by the rules C to change your schedule D to completely surprise your guest 7.-What is implied about Chicago and San Francisco? A They are holding the same line as New York B They deserve a patronage from New York. C There is some good news about restaurants. D They are not following New York in this fashion. 8.-What conclusion does the writer give us? A It doesnt matter how powerful a host is. B Do not change restaurants all the time. C Show your power in another way. D Its all part of business. Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 9
January 14, 2007 You are going to read an article about lunching in a famous restaurant. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-I for each part 1-7 of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A Cross-cultural differences and table manners B An embarrassing event C They dont get too close! D Lunching with celebrities E Take your time F Is it unique? G Time is money when you lunch at The Ritz H What to choose and what to avoid I Eat only what you know how

OUT TO LUNCH
0
D

It is the prettiest room in London, and the most extravagant, hotelier Giles Shepard looks around him with satisfaction. We are lunching at his place, The Ritz. To our left is Sir David English from Associated Newspapers. To our right is Max Hastings, editor of The Evening Standard. We are not only in one of the prettiest dining rooms in London, but also in one with power and influence.

1 ______________
In a city full of bright new restaurants, where a new place to eat appears on a daily basis, the buzz of The Ritz dining room is interesting to behold. It is full of people. Business associates rub shoulders with ladies who lunch, socialites sit side by side with socialists. At least they would, if the tables were closer together. But this is one of The Ritzs tricks. We understand the need for privacy, says Shepard. There are not many things you can describe as luxurious these days, but privacy is one and space is another.

2 ______________
From the comfortable seclusion of our table, we watch an American party of eight eating asparagus with their knives and forks. Extraordinary, says Giles Shepard, but they think its dreadful manners when we pick it up with our fingers. Another example of our different cultures, I fear!

3 ______________
We discuss how important it is to choose food that does not embarrass you; food that wont suddenly create some sort of terrible culture shock.

4 _____________

Like artichokes, said Shepard. Not easy to eat. I was once seated beside a young lady at lunch, when an artichoke starter arrived. I thought I was being helpful when I mentioned in an abstract sort of way how to eat them. She insisted she knew what she was doing and downed each one whole. Sadly, she had to leave the table, presumably to extract each prickle from her throat.

5 _____________
We agreed that artichokes are bad news in the how-to-do-it stakes. Others include asparagus, not even the Queen risks butter trickling down her chin or anything that contains a bone or shells. Lobster, of course, is impossible. The safest bet is a plate of smoked salmon followed by fillet steak.

6 _____________
I wonder if there is a general return of lunching in hotels, or is The Ritz alone in fashion? Shepard graciously mentions that there are other outstanding places throughout the capital, such as The Savoy. The Dorchester too, has a lot going for it, although the main restaurant is a little gloomy. The Oriental is much better and the food is wonderful.

7_______________ Nobody around us seems to be suffering from time constraints, and I notice that
although we have sipped a little champagne while choosing our meals, eaten two courses, drunk double coffees and chatted non-stop, we have taken up a very reasonable hour-and-a half. Its part of the lunching secret, agrees Mr Shepard. Lunch is the best meal of the day because few of us can allow it to drag on. The fact that it takes place in daylight gives us a carefree moment in our day as well as being fun. Click here to check your answers

Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 8
January 14, 2007

You are going to read an article in which various parents talk about punishment for teenagers. For questions 2235 choose from the parents (AF). The parents may be chosen more than once. When more than oneanswer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning ( 0). A Madeline Portwood, educational psychologist and mother B Theresa Gill, mother and nursery nurse C Grant McNally, social worker and father D David Spellman, father and psychologist working with disturbed teenagers E John Peel, father and radio presenter F Tim Burke, spokesman for the National Youth Agency

Which of the parents: believes that parents must carry out threats? 0 __A___ get annoyed with teenage laziness? 22 _____ 23 ____ does not deal with youngsters professionally? 24 _____ believes we must remember that all teenagers are individuals? 25 _____ is happy with the way his/her children have turned out? 26 _____ believes we should expect arguments between teenagers and parents? 27 _____ is happy with the upbringing that he/she had? 28 _____ has a son who can be very naughty? 29 _____ has a written agreement with his/her children? 30 _____ thinks we should focus on the good things about our children? 31 _____ believes that punishment only works with younger children? 32 _____ have teenage sons? 33 _____ 34 _____ believes it is important for teenagers to set their own limits? 35 _____ A.-Madeline Portwood Educational psychologist and mother The first thing a parent has to decide is whats going to be meaningful to a teenager. If you ground them but they can stay in and play computer games, it wont necessarily be that meaningful to them. Parents make endless threats, but they must carry them out and they must be realistic. Its also important for teenagers to see sanctions as just. If the teacher behaves the same way to all pupils, they accept it. If there is more than one child in the family, parents have to apply sanctions equally. As children get older, sanctions often become meaningless to them. B.-Theresa Gill Mother and nursery nurse My oldest son is just thirteen and he has not really stepped out of line so far, but if he did get to that lazy and argumentative stage, I would withdraw luxuries such as his mobile phone, computer and football training. While he lives in my house he has to obey the rules. Once hes 18 and out of the house, h e can do as he pleases. My siblings and I were given quite a lot of freedom by our parents and their reasoning was that if we were going to do something anyway, they would rather we did it at home and weve all turned out to be quite well -balanced. C.- Grant McNally Social worker and father

I operate a contract system with my two boys: one is eleven and the other two years older. We have all signed it and breaches of behaviour result in loss of privileges such as stopping of pocket money or grounding. Some flexibility is important, but if the contract is altered too much, the boundaries start collapsing. My older son works well with it, but my younger son has behavioural problems and that makes things harder to manage. It is difficult when you try to be a non-authoritarian and inclusive parent and recognize childrens rights. But parents have rights too like the right to a stress-free life. D.-David Spellman Father and psychologist working with disturbed teenagers I think you can turn sanctions round and offer rewards instead, which can motivate teenagers. Parents should reward the behaviour they want to see. There does seem to be a great preoccupation with punishment. Its quite clear to me that parents relationships with teenagers are much better if the y focus on the positive and acknowledge and appreciate their children. It is quite easy to get into a negative, punitive position as a parent, which is often selfdefeating. Every teenager is different and they cant just be lumped together into one group a nd all treated the same. E.-John Peel Father and radio presenter I dont think we really employed sanctions with our children because I just dont think they work. They are sullen, unhelpful and resentful if you do that. I think that, actually, their reluctance to help out with things caused us more anxiety than things they did that we wish they hadnt. It was more about motivating them into some sort of action. One of the things I always tried to avoid was drawing a line in the sand. If a child has any sort of character, he or she will want to step over it. They are all nice people and we like being with them you cant ask for more than that. F.-Tim Burke Spokesman for the National Youth Agency Applying sanctions to a young person can be a bit like prison: it may work for some people on some occasions, but for may others it is counter-productive, especially when used inappropriately. Some degree of conflict between parents and teenagers is inevitable; young people need to push the boundaries its part of growing up and finding out who they are. Self-imposed boundaries that they have arrived at through their own experience and reflection are more effective. Our organization supports youth workers who help young people learn about themselves and about how to be members of their communities. Check your answers here

Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 7
January 14, 2007 You are going to read a magazine article about acupuncture treatment. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the article. Choose from the paragraphs AH the one which fits each space (1621). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Pins and needles

I was curious to find out more about acupuncture as Id heard a lot about its beneficial effects. However, I didnt feel in any particular need of treatment myself so I decided to ask a friend of mine if I could observe her receiving treatment. 0: H The Traditional Acupuncture Centre was just as youd expect: the incense, rubber plants and charts on the wall. These mapped out the bodys energy channels. They seem to be the typical wall coverings of an alternative health centre. 16: _____ Nina returned and explained that she needed to ask Joan questions about her health, lifestyle, diet and personal history. She began by asking why Joan wanted acupuncture. Joan described the shoulder stiffness and backache that had bothered her for years. 17: ______ Nina then explained that in Chinese medicine,physical and emotional aspects are not distinct. An imbalance of either manifests itself in the same way. The division between mind and body is a Western idea. 18: _____ Nina opened a sachet of sterile 4 cm long needles. They were fine and flexible, but Joan was still apprehensive. Nina took a pulse at six points on each of Joans wrists, looking for certain qualities that she would then treat. 19:_____ Nina inserted the first needle into Joans shin. It went in a surprisingly long way before she twisted it to the right and Joans leg shot up suddenly. Ow! she exclaimed. She was visibly tense, but as Nina inserted the next needle it wasnt so bad. 20: _____ When the time came to remove the needles, Joan was more relaxed, though she flinched as they came out. All the time Nina was reassuring her. She informed Joan that the shocks she felt were due to blockages of the energy channels. 21: _____ I asked Joan the next day about how she felt. She said that she felt a little more relaxed and that she had slept deeply that night. However, she really felt that she needed a course of treatment to be able to assess its effectiveness.

A Nina said that she felt Joans problems with her back and her shoulder stiffness came from her office job. She recommended that Joan do yoga exercises at work, as this kind of relaxation had many benefits for mind and body. B Nina finished with a pressure point massage on Joans shoulders and back. Im looking forward to seeing you again, Nina said, as she bade a relieved Joan a fond farewell. Nina left the decision to Joan about arranging another appointment. C Our health apparently depends on the motivating energy, or chi, made up of the equal and opposite qualities of Yin and Yang. When these are unbalanced, one can become ill. By inserting needles into points on the energy channels, healing responses are stimulated and the balance is restored. D Surprisingly, these questions went on for a whole hour. Joan was asked about her attitudes to many things, including work and relationships. She was also asked about her attitude to herself on several occasions. E Nina Doughty, the acupuncturist, introduced herself and then slipped away to prepare the treatment room. Joan was anxious. I hope this doesnt hurt too much, she murmured. F She also looked at Joans tongue, an indicator of her general state of health. At this point, Joan felt that the experience was rather like being at the dentist. However, at the dentist one usually knows where the needle will be inserted. G She placed more needles in Joans ankles, feet, lower back and forearms. She tweaked them as she put them in, regularly checking Joans pulse, then left them for 20 minutes. Joan lay on the bed all this time. H I asked Joan Hughes, who I knew had been complaining of muscular stiffness for some time. She agreed, so excitedly we attended her first appointment at the local centre. Click here to check your answers

Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 6
January 14, 2007

You are going to read an extract from an article about an asteroid or comet hitting the earth. For questions 815 choose the answer A, B, C or D, which you think fits best according to the text.

Killer comet
In a discovery with frightening implications for humans dominance of the Earth, scientists have discovered that a massive comet or asteroid, similar to the one that killed off thedinosaurs, wiped out the giant reptiles predecessors about 200 million years earlier. The finding suggests that regular collisions between our planet and large

objects act as an evolutionary dice-shaker. They send dominant species back to the starting square and advance other species to a dominant position. We could be next.
Students of the fossil record have long wondered about the greatest catastrophe ever to strike life on Earth, which they call The Great Dying. This happened 251 million years ago, when suddenly 90% of all m arine animals and 70% of land vertebrates perished. The impact of a comet or asteroid similar to that which brought doom to the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was suspected. However, the latest edition of the journal Science reports on the first evidence that such a collision actually happened. Scientists at the Universities of Washington and Rochester in the US have found that molecules of helium and argon gas, which have been locked in since The Great Dying are present in such proportions that they must have come from space. As in the later impact, the strike came from a body between 6 and 12 kilometres wide. Researcher Robert Poreda said yesterday the effect would have been to release energy one million times greater than the biggest earthquake of the past century. The crash coincided with volcanic activity on an unimaginable scale in what is now Siberia. Over a million years a relatively short time in geological terms 1.6 million cubic kilometres of lava poured out of the ground, covering the entire planet in a layer ten metres thick. Said Robert Poreda, Were not sure of all the environmental consequences but with the impact and the volcanic activity, we do know that Earth was not a happy place. It may be that the combined effects of impact and volcanism are necessary to cause such a tremendous extinction. The end of the dinosaurs also coincided with an eruption of lava from below the Earths crust, in what is now India. In both cases, the impact of the comet or asteroid may have caused the eruption. The dinosaur-killing impact has been tied to a crater on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, but it is not known where the earlier collision happened. At the time all the Earths land made up a single continent, Pangea. The age immediately prior to the din osaurs was called the Permian. Although there were reptiles living in land and water (earlier versions of the dinosaurs), the dominant life form was the trilobite. This creature is visually somewhere between the woodlouse and the armadillo. At their peak, there were 15,000 kinds of trilobite. Around the time of the impact they disappeared. Something similar happened to the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. In the same way that the earlier impact seems to have cleared the way for them, the later crash made roo m for our ancestors, the mammals. The two extinctions are like bookends for the age of the dinosaurs, said Dr Peroda. The first boundary helped the dinosaurs to establish themselves and the second extinguished it. Although it is likely to be millions o f years before the next big asteroid or comet impact, there is a growing call for a defence system to be put in place. 8 Scientists have discovered that a huge comet or asteroid wiped out A the dinosaurs. B giant reptiles. C creatures before the dinosaurs. D creatures similar to the dinosaurs. 9 The Great Dying happened A 200 million years ago. B 251 million years ago. C 65 million years ago. D 265 million years ago. 10 The Great Dying killed

A a few land vertebrates. B all the dinosaurs. C most marine animals. D some mammals. 11 Which statement is not true of the asteroid or comet? A It was under 12 kilometres in diameter. B It contained helium and argon. C It contained lava. D It was over six kilometres in diameter. 12 Where did the first massive comet or asteroid hit the earth? A it is not known B in Siberia C in India D in Mexico 13 Which statement is not true of the lava that covered the planet? A It was caused by the impact of the asteroid. B It was 1.6 cubic kilometres in volume. C It was ten metres thick. D It happened over one million years. 14 Which creatures lived at the same time as the trilobites? A reptiles B armadillos C mammals D dinosaurs 15 According to the article, which of the following statements is true?

A There will be another giant asteroid. B There is unlikely to be another ever. C Humans will dominate the earth. D It is time to expect another asteroid. Click here to see the right answers

Newer Entries

Reading, 25
January 18, 2007

You are going to read a newspaper article about someone who works. Eight sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-I the one which fits each gap (15-21). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). THE PIES HAVE IT AFTER A SLICE OF PART-TIME WORK Interview by Charlotte Beugge Paul Hutchinson did not have a full-time job for nearly two years. 0: I Mr Hutchinson, 48, from Prestwich, Manchester, was a manager of a chain of car dealers before he was made redundant 20 months ago. He was jobless for a few months and then started temporary work at a factory. Then he took a temporary job at the bakery. 15: _____ Mr Hutchinson said, When I was out of work, I joined a job club. 16: _____ It is easy to sit around and do nothing and get depressed but I am a strong sort of person and fortunately, I was financially OK. 17: _______ I started doing temporary jobs and got this job through that. Mr Hutchinsons new job is a complete career change for him: his previous work mainly involved administrative work and accounting. But he is hopeful that his new job will be the first step on the ladder to a new career. He said, There are a lot of choices available at my new company. 18: _____ I know I am over-qualified for my current job. 19: ______ I am really enjoying my new job: the company and the people are fantastic. Mr Hutchinson got his new job through an employment agency, Brook Street. 20: ______

There is a huge pool of people out there so no-one should take any refusals too much to heart. 21: _____ A There may be opportunities to move upwards or sideways. B I used their facilities to write my curriculum vitae and apply for jobs. C People should explore any opportunities that present themselves for work. D His employers were so impressed with his work, that they offered him a full-time post on the pie-packing production line. E But youve got to start somewhere even at my time of life. F I got a golden handshake from my last job, but I didnt go out and spend it all. G Mr Hutchinson was strongly supported by his wife. H Hamish Thompson, marketing executive of Brook Street, said, It is a difficult job market but people need to have a strong way of dealing with things in a difficult situation. I But he has just started a new job at a Manchester bakery. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 24
January 18, 2007

You are going to read an article about a policewoman. For questions 8-14, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

This is WPC Sue Porters third year as a member of Avon and Somersets task force, a specialised hit-squad providing support for her colleagues. Her job is physically and mentally taxing. From disarming a knife attacker to bringing round the victim of a car crash she is expected to perform as well as the boys.

Her 119 male colleagues in the squad would doubtless recognise that the words task force are usually associated with males. To try to remedy this the unit was renamed support team on January 1. Porter, 26, is one of three women working in it. Im not out to prove something because Im a woman. Im out to be me. They cant expect any more from me and if they do theyre going to be disappointed: she says. Porter is less than 5ft 5in tall and weighs about nine stone. In a fight she says her colleagues would probably feel better with a 6ft well-built man behind them. If I know we are going where things are going to be difficult I offer to drive. The driver always stays with the van. But no-one else would ever ask me to drive, and often we dont have time to prepare and its the ones in the back who get out and deal with it. Last year, dealing with it included having building blocks and bricks thrown at them in several protests and riots. Porter says the violence is there, no matter what sex you are. Being a woman makes little difference. Sometimes people tell you that you shouldnt be in this job, but thats usually their way of explaining why theyve hit you. But sometimes a couple of men will react better to a woman telling them to calm down: they see a big man as a good opportunity to fight. At the station Porter books in her struggling prisoner. He has no home address and is unemployed. He does not like being arrested by a woman and keeps swearing at her. Ill see you in court: he shouts as he is dragged to a cell. Porter looks on without emotion. It is 3.30 am and there is still the paperwork to do. The team will reassemble at 7.30 pm to prepare for Arsenal fans coming in to a sleepy Yeovil for an FA cup match. It could be a busy night. 8 What does taxing, in the third line, mean? A easy B difficult C terrible D satisfactory 9 Why didnt the men on the squad ask her to drive? A They respected her. B She wasnt a good driver. C She had to stay with the van. D They were afraid someone would hurt her.

10 What do we learn about the people in protests and riots? A They always throw things at the police. B They rarely throw things at the police. C They sometimes throw things at the police. D They never throw things at the police. 11 Why did some people say she shouldnt be on the hit-squad? A They wanted to explain how they felt. B They thought that men usually reacted better. C They felt guilty. D They were innocent. 12 How did the prisoner react to her arresting him? A He dragged her to a cell. B He asked her to read him his rights. C He tried to insult her. D He calmed down. 13 How did she feel about her prisoner? A She was frightened of him. B She was confused about her feelings. C She was pleased that she had arrested him. D She didnt feel anything at all. 14 What would be the most suitable title for this article? A Hard night for a policewoman B No equality in the police force

C Police officers like violence D Police work tough for beginners Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 23
January 18, 2007

You are going to read a magazine article about shoes. Choose from the list A-I the heading which best summarises each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Shoe designs are simple B Right and left C Some feet are bigger than others D Function turns to fashion E Expensive shoes are not always the best F Women like to look taller G Shoes sheltered the feet H Factories take over production I Know your history

DR MIX ON FOOT CARE: IF THE SHOE FITS 0: I

If you perform pedicures on your clients feet, they will probably ask you about shoes. By understanding the history of shoes, the basics of shoe fitting, and the mechanics of shoe wear, you will be able knowledgeably to counsel your clients on how to choose the right footwear. 1:_______ It is thought that the first shoes were worn more than 12,000 years ago by our ancestors who lived in a colder climate. These first shoes were probably an early version of moccasin made of leather and lined with fur or grass for insulation. They were to protect the foot more from the cold than from the harsh terrain. 2: ______ Sandals appear to be the next development in foot coverings. Drawings dating back to 60009000 BC show craftsmen constructing this type of shoe. The earliest existing example is an Egyptian sandal dating back to 2000 BC From this simple design the Egyptians and Mesopotamians introduced fashion by adding colour ornamentation, and different shapes to their sandals. 3: ______ All footwear fashions come from only seven basic designs. The newest of these designs, the laced oxford, dates back 300 years! And not one of these basic designs was created by or for women. Up until about 70 years ago, when shoes became more affordable and available to the masses because of mass production, only about 10 per cent of the population even wore shoes. 4: ____ In the 16th century the high heel shoe was introduced into womens fashion. It is recorded that Catherine de Medici, a 17-year-old Italian, was sent to marry King Henry II of France. Because of her short stature, she wore shoes with 2- to 3-inch heels. High heels became the rage of Europe, to the point that the church clergy branded them devices of Satan to stir the lusts of men. 5: ______ Early 19th-century America gave the world three great innovations in footwear construction and fit. Until then, all shoes were made from straight moulds, which meant the shoe could be worn on either foot. The idea of a left shoe and a right shoe was first introduced in 1824 but was rejected by the public because the shoes looked crooked. It was not until around 1900 that left and right shoes gained a firm foothold in the commercial marketplace. 6: _______ The second thing that revolutionised shoe manufacturing was Elias Howes invention of the sewing machine in 1845. This allowed the upper pieces of the shoe to be sewn by machine

instead of by hand. The McKay sewing machine was then developed to stitch the sole to the upper pieces. This allowed mass production of footwear, making shoes affordable to the general population. 7: ______ The third innovation was the first common-sense system of shoe sizing, put forth by Edwin B. Simpson of New York in 1886. Until this time, shoes were generally available in only two sizes: large and small, fat and slim, or mens and womens. Simpsons system of progressive measurements applied separately to mens, womens, childrens, and infants shoes. By the turn of the century this system finally gave the world uniformity in shoe sizing. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 2 Comments

Reading, 22
January 18, 2007

You are going to read biographical information about five writers. For questions 22 . 35, choose from the writers A E. Some of them may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). According to the text which of the writers: explores social and political issues in his/her writings? 0: C was involved in acting? 22: ____ 23: ____ lived in Africa? 24:_____ 25:_____ fought in a war? 26: _____ 27: _______ 28: _____ was raised in a religious environment? 29: _____ wished he/she had gone to University? 30: _____ was born in the 19th century? 31: _____ 32:_____ was educated in Great Britain? 33:___ 34: ___ 35:____ A Generation of Writers A: Jean Rhys

Jean Rhys was born in 1894 at Roseau on the island of Dominica in the West Indies. Her mother was a Creole and her father a doctor of Welsh descent. She came to England as a schoolgirl. Later she went to the Academy of Dramatic Art, after which she became an actress working as a chorus girl and film extra. During the First World War she worked as a voluntary cook. In 1919 she left Britain and lived in Paris, where she began, what was later recognized as, a highly successful writing career. B: John Wyndham John Wyndham is one of the several pseudonyms used by John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris. Born in 1903, the son of a barrister, he attended a number of prep schools in England before starting at a progressive independent school, which suited his needs and personality. On leaving school he chose not to go to university (a decision he was later to regret) and instead he worked at various jobs. By 1925, aged 22, he was producing short stories for publication and by 1930, he was writing regularly, sending his short stories (his main output) to American magazines. During the war he experienced both civil and military service and began to write again in 1946, in a style recognized as science fiction. However, he referred to his own writing as logical fantasy. During his lifetime he wrote various novels and short stories, now well-known, several of which have been made into films. C: Doris Lessing Doris Lessing was born in Khermanshah, Persia (now Iran) in 1919, of British parents. When she was five the family moved to a farm in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). She left school at fifteen and worked as a housemaid and then as a shorthand typist and telephone operator in Salisbury. Before leaving Africa for England in 1948, she had married twice and had become involved in radical politics. She has written various novels, short stories and non-fiction in which her concern for politics, the changing role of women, and the possiblility of catastrophes are reflected. D Roald Dahl Roald Dahl was born in 1916 at Llandaff, Glamorgan, the son of Norwegian parents, and was educated at Repton School in Derbyshire. As a young man he joined an expedition to explore the interior of Newfoundland, and on his return he started work at the Shell Oil Company in London. In 1938 he was sent to Dar es Salaam, but at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 he enlisted in the RAF in Nairobi. He was seriously injured after joining a fighter squadron in Libya, but later saw further active service as a fighter pilot in Syria and Greece. Since then he has written a huge number of short stories for adults and children. E Liam OFlaherty Liam OFlaherty was born in 1897 in the Aran Islands, Southern Ireland. He was brought up in a Gaelic-speaking community. He was intended for the priesthood, but finding that his real interest was in a military career, he left university in 1915 and joined the Irish Guards. He served in Belgium during the First World War, but was shell shocked and discharged in 1917. He returned

to Dublin where he became involved with the Republican cause during the Civil War. In 1918, he went to work in London, first in a brewery, and then on the stage. Eventually, he joined a ship bound for Rio de Janeiro. He began writing in 1921. Some of his novels have been dramatized; however, he is perhaps best known for his short stories. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 21
January 18, 2007

You are going to read a magazine article about escaping the stresses of modern life. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A H the one which fits each gap 16 21. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Ive leapt off what felt like an out-of-control express train three times in my life. B Its obvious that you have been made redundant. C One of those jobs that elicits the comment, Shes so successful. D So I moved to Nice to the smallest, cheapest hotel I could find in the Avenue Gambetta. E It was far away from memories of Harry and racing around London achieving things that suddenly didnt seem important. F Some of the brightest and best people have been fired or made redundant. G You say, One day Im going to .. . but you cant envisage that day. H But because he insisted I could do anything and he was always there to catch me if I fell, I did it.

GETTING OFF THE FAST TRACK You have a very pressurised, fast moving and high-flying job.

0: C Okay, so youre often exhausted and you talk to friends, when you see them, about how little time you have to yourself and how you dont even have a moment to sort out the dry-cleaning. 16: _____ By Friday night youre failing asleep on the sofa at 8.30 even though you promised yourself youd go and do a work-out. Okay, some days and evenings are pretty damned good but mostly life is something that nibbles around the edges of work. Sooner or later, and often after a holiday, youre thinking: Theres got to be something better than this. Nowhere is it written that you have to stay on the fast track for ever. Getting off it for a while or for good is often the best thing youll ever do. 17: _____And Ive got friends whove done or were forced to do the same. Listen sometimes its easier if someone else makes the decision for you. And in these days of downsizing, its not personal. 18: _____ Yes, I know if there are bills theres an intake of breath, and maybe you will find yourself staring at the bedroom walls at five in the morning feeling like the figure in Munchs The Scream as you wonder how youre going to cope. In my case, the awful doubts come much later after the exhilaration and the thrill of freedom. In my 20s I sold advertising space. Harry, my boss, was full of encouragement and the kind of enthusiasm that made me want to jump through hoops for him. In the early days, while he was still training me to be the best, Id say, Harry, I cant do that. I just cant do it. 19: _____ By the time he got leukaemia and left the office and me running it, I was very good at selling. But without him, the office that had sparkled was just an office. I spoke to his wife one wretched Wednesday morning. Harry was dying. The sky turned black. A copy of The Times lay folded on the office table and I picked it up and tried to read through tears. I remember the ad in the personal column: secretary for Cote dAzur. French speaker. Car driver. Two weeks later I was living in Eze, a few kilometres from Nice. 20: _______ And I surrendered to the beauty of spring in the South of France, the smell of mimosa, winding roads, tall pine trees and a social job in a chateau. The job lasted three months. But I couldnt face London. Not just then. 21: _______ I fell in love with France and a man, learned to speak fluent French and didnt read an English newspaper for six months. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 1 Comment

Reading, 20
January 18, 2007

You are going to read seven tips on taking pictures. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A I for each tip 1 7. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Tact and sensitivity B Get some support C Dressing down D The guillotine effect E Stock up F Bridge those barriers G Dont be caught out H Travel light I Enrich those colours

PICTURE PERFECT Whether you are going to Melbourne, Madras, Mali or Mauritius, travelling puts a wealth of photo opportunities within your reach. Here are 7 ways to help you achieve those stunning images to take back home. 0: F Learn some simple phrases in the language of the country you are visiting as this will particularly help you, when you want to take photographs of people. Berlitz and Lonely Planet publish good phrase books on most destinations. 1: ______ Before leaving home, disguise expensive looking camera bags and equipment; it doesnt pay to advertise. Try hiding your camera bag inside a simple travel bag. 2: _______ First, decide whether you prefer negative or slide film. Buy your favourite film at home as it may be unavailable, badly stored or more expensive in the places you are travelling to. A medium range film like ISO 100 will cover most travel situations. Faster films like ISO 200 and 400 are useful for low light photographs.

3: ______ Pack a colour filter to deepen those lovely blue skies and give your travel pictures impact. An 81A warming filter is useful for enhancing natural light and warming up overcast days. Try filters over the lenses of compact cameras. 4: _____ A tripod is the key to pin sharp travel pictures. A cheap handy alternative is a handsized bean bag for the camera to rest on. 5: ______ Try not to be too extravagant with your equipment. You need to be able to keep your kit portable enough to carry around comfortably all day. 6: _______ When looking through the viewfinder of a compact camera you see the subject from a slightly higher angle and to one side compared to the lens. This can cause the heads and arms of your subjects to be chopped off when you move in too close. To avoid this, hold the camera a little higher and to the same side of the viewfinder. 7: ______ Instead of sneaking around taking pictures of people unexpectedly with a telephoto lens, which can cause offence, approach your subject with a smile and simply ask. Most people will gladly oblige. In some countries you may be asked for money in exchange for a photo. If this happens, either politely decline or agree on a price to avoid problems later. When you pay, it helps to have low denomination coins and notes. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 19
January 17, 2007

You are going to read an extract from a book. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap (15-20). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). The luggage was to be sent up to the Royal Suite, which during the year had already been occupied by royalty, like Princess Grace of Monaco.

0: H The Royal Suite is on the first floor at Claridges and can be reached by an elegant staircase from the ground floor, or by a roomy lift with its own seat. 15: __________ The suite itself consists of four rooms: a small dressing-room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and an elegant drawing-room overlooking Brook Street. The furniture and pictures make it possible for you to believe that you are still in Victorian England. Only the telephone and television indicate otherwise. 16: ________ After a shower and change of clothes, Harvey glanced through his waiting mail and telexes from the bank, which were all routine. He took a short nap before going down to dine in the main restaurant. 17: ________ He had reached that time in life when he did not like change; the management of Claridges, aware that the average age of their customers was over fifty, served accordingly. 18: ________ Harvey managed a little shrimp cocktail and a med.iurn fillet steak with a bottle of Mouton Cadet. As he leaned forward to study the sweets trolley, he did not notice the four young men eating near the wall on the far side of the room. 19: ________ Not exactly what I expected: commented Stephen. 20: ________ A Harvey always took the lift up and walked down. At least that way he convinced himself he was taking some exercise. B There in the large foyer was the usual small band, looking like hungry beggars. Harvey recognised the four musicians. C Francois, the head waiter, showed Harvey to his usual table. D Harvey was sure that they were extremely wealthy women. They could certainly afford to stay at Claridges.

E Stephen, Robin, Jean-Pierre and James all had an excellent view of Harvey Metcalfe. He would have had to bend double and move slightly backwards to have any sight of them. F Put on a bit of weight since those photographs you supplied: said Jean-Pierre. G The room is large enough to be used for cocktail parties or by visiting heads of state to entertain large parties. Henry Kissinger had received Harold Wilson there only the week before. Harvey enjoyed the thought of that. It was about as close as he was going to get to either man. H But Harvey still considered that his annual holiday at Claridges was more certain than theirs. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 18
January 17, 2007

You are going to read a newspaper article about tosing your job. Choose from the list A-I the sentence which best summarises each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Others are often blamed for a situation seen as hopeless. B Ignore the whole situation so that you do not do anything foolish. C Finding a sympathetic ear is a positive step. D See the situation as a step forward, not a step backward. E Initial reactions are often a sense of shock and panic. F Along with acceptance comes the decision to take control of your own life. G Recognise that it is all right to feel sad. H Organise your day in order to organise your life. I Losing a job means more than just losing your income.

What do you do when you lose your job? 0: I lf youve recently become unemployed, you may be asking yourself, Why didnt 1 see it coming? What could 1 have done to keep my job? Whats wrong with me? When you lose a job, you lose far more than just a wage. You lose your faith that hard work pays off. You lose part of your identity, because, to some extent, you define yourself by your job. You are no longer sure who you are or what you can do. You lose some self-esteem. 1: ________ It is common to mourn the loss of a job and go through certain stages. At first you feel like you dont have the strength to do anything. During the first few weeks the thought of this cant be happening to me sits in your mind. The longer you have spent with an employer, the longer the numbness may last. You cant imagine yourself working for anyone else. You tend to panic. Youre afraid and you dont know what to do. You might start imagining selling your home or being forced to ask family or friends for a loan just to buy food. You worry about what to tell your relatives and friends. This nervousness could cause headaches and stomach problems. 2:___________ After all the effort 1 put into my job: you think, I dont deserve to lose it: You find yourself venting your anger on innocent members of your family, the kids, shop assistants, even innocent bystanders. When you start searching for another job, its not easy. Why apply for a job thats advertised in the paper: you say to yourself. Ill never get it. Nobody wants me. 3: _________ You slowly come to believe what has happened, and you begin looking for a job with a more realistic attitude, accepting youll have good and bad experiences. You know youll feel low when youve been turned down, but youre optimistic that one of these days, youll find the right job. This is my life and Ive got to get on with it: becomes your attitude. 4: __________ There are some ways to help you handle the anxiety of going through these stages. Here are some suggestions. You must realise that feeling miserable when youve lost a job and are out of work is normal. It is not a sign of weakness. 5: _____ Friends, family members and acquaintances can sometimes help find you jobs, encourage you and cheer you on. Confide in your partner, but dont lean too hard on them. They may be feeling anxious too, and your fears will only add to theirs.

6: __________ lf youre not ready to phone employers first thing in the morning, how about planning to do something else thats constructive. Take a brisk walk; exercise at home; you could even learn a foreign language. The more active you are, the less miserable you will feel. 7: ___________ Dont blame yourself for losing your job. Keep your eyes on what you have to gain by this event, and not what you have to lose. You have a chance to rediscover other things in life and develop friendships; take this opportunity to do so. Be open, ready and waiting when the right career opportunity comes along. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 17
January 17, 2007

You are going to read an article about a man who learned to read. For questions 8 _ 15, choose the answer A, B, CorD which you think fits best according to the text. BROTHERS Earl Flowers can read. He can read every word on this page. When he reads a story out loud, he reads with feeling and passion. The stories Earl reads are not merely words on a page. They spark his imagination, and he usually has something thoughtful to say about what he has learned. I mean, the man can read. I tell you this because less than two years ago, when he was 44, he couldnt. But Earl decided to change all that. When he went to his local library in Los Angeles, he told the interviewer from LARP (the Library Adult Reading Project) that the main reason he wanted to learn to read was so that he could understand the Bible better. He was, and still is, a pastor at his church, the New Directions Christian Center in Los Angeles. Never mind my dyslexia, Earl told the people from LARP. I want to learn how to read. Teach me, because I want to be able to read the Bible. Since what Earl did was in no way related to saving people from a burning building or standing in front of rushing government tanks, his decision may not seem like the bravest gesture youve ever heard of, but sometimes the greatest act of courage is to stand before the mirror of our heart and admit to ourselves and to the world. the secrets that we desperately do not want to acknowledge. When I met Earl, I had just completed training, administered through LARP, that would enable me to be a volunteer literacy tutor for adults. I did not view my voluntary community service as charity. I do not particularly like charity, especially when writing a cheque becomes an easy

substitute for doing something more useful. I told the people at LARP, who pair each tutor with a single client, that I wanted a fiercely motivated student, someone who wanted to help himself or herself as badly as I wanted to give my time. That was my chief criterion. Furthermore, I told LARP that I would prefer to teach a person of colour. Here in Los Angeles, many of my liberal friends talk about building bridges, about reaching out. to the minority community, as they say. Unfortunately, the truth is, about the only contact most of my white friends in Hollywood have with blacks and Hispanics is when members of the minority community are checking them out at the grocery store or watering their emerald lawns. When I met Earl, I quickly realized that he was just the student I had hoped for. Born : in the Central American country of Belize in 1950, he had the determination to emigrate and build a life in America. He was smart. One doesnt successfully skate through life lacking reading skills unless he is terribly clever, and he had the energy and enthusiasm to succeed. Earl and I did not become instant close friends. I did not immediately confide in, him that I was going through the shattering pain of a divorce. He did not immediately reveal to me the scars of being abandoned as a young child and having to live for a time in a horse stable with nothing but the clothes on his back. But over time, as he learned to trust me, we became a team: triumphs and failures were ours, not solely his or mine. When Earl successfully read his first story, our eyes both welled with tears. Earl, I said, resting my hand on one of his broad shoulders, you read that story, you did it. He nodded his head in wonder and exclaimed, I did it. Praise God, I did it. The next time we met, a week later, Earl stood up from his chair to greet me, and said, Hello, my brother. He has called me that ever since. 8 What does the writer mean by saying the man can read? A He changes what he reads using his imagination. B He only reads stories aloud. C He reads in a meaningful way showing his emotions. D He learned how to read at school. 9 What, according to the writer, is an act of courage? A to see what you really look like in a mirror B to admit your flaws and weaknesses C to save people who are in danger D to reveal your secrets

10 What would the writer do after he had completed training? A teach adults to read without getting paid B become a teacher in a school C teach literature to adults D find a job as a writer of training material 11 Why doesnt he like charity? A He doesnt like helping people. B He doesnt like giving money. C He believes people may be offended. D He believes it is more important to do things. 12 What kind of student was he looking for? A someone who was a wild student B someone with bad motivation C someone who would appreciate the time he would spend for him D someone who wanted to learn very much 13 What contact did his friends have with the minority community? A a very close one B a superficial one C not as close as they wanted it to be D they built bridges for them 14 How did he reach the conclusion that Earl was smart? A He couldnt read but he managed to do well in life. B He made the smart decision of emigrating to America.

C He was a successful skater. D People who knew him had told him this. 15 What was their relationship? A They were not close friends. B They never told each other their secrets. C They became friends step by step. D They trusted each other at once. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 16
January 17, 2007

You are going to read six extracts from a brochure describing Londons well known museums. For questions 22 35, choose from the list of museums A-F. Some of the museums may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). Which museum(s) would you recommend for someone who: would like to see a criminal? 0: C is interested in the cinema? 22:____ 23: _____ 24: ____ would like to admire objects from ancient times? 25: ____ wants to see what the first man looked like? 26: ____ is interested in an old edition of the Bible? 27: ____ is interested in sports? 28: _____ is interested in the exploration of space? 29: _____ 30: _____

loves animals and wants to know all about them? 31: _____ 32: _____ is researching building bridges? 33: _____ would like to become an actor? 34: ____ would like to see what the Royal Family of England looks like? 35: _____ A guide to Londons most well-known museums A The British Museum Founded in 1753, it is one of the greatest museums in the world, showing the works of man from prehistoric times to the present day. There are permanent displays of antiquities from Egypt, Western Asia, Greece and Rome, as well as Roman British and Oriental Collections. Prints and drawings, coins and medals are displayed in a series of temporary exhibitions. The British Library exhibition galleries are housed within the British Museum. B The Natural History Museum One of the finest museums in the world and, probably the best of its kind. Enter our extraordinary buildings in South Kensington and experience first-class exhibitions on the Natural World based on our vast collections and authoritative research. In short, the home of the Wonders of the Natural World. This unique combination of education and fun is the hallmark of the museums award-winning exhibitions. An unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Come and see what a dinosaur looked like or follow the stages of evolution of the human species. Our programme of special exhibitions and events offers a new insight into the Natural World past and present whenever you visit. C Madame Tussauds Museum and The London Planetarium Home of kings, queens, heroes and villains. Where else can you experience an audience with royalty, meet the great and powerful, mingle with the stars and come face to face with the infamous? The London Planetarium. The distinct copper dome of the London Planetarium plays host to more stars than Madam Tussauds! Seated inside, you can enjoy a star show which will take you far beyond our own fragile world. With a perfect sky as a backdrop, many worlds and puzzles of the Universe will be revealed. D The National Museum of Science and Technology Come and explore the exciting World of Science. The five storey premises can help you explore Space; learn all about Transport and Telecommunications; discover sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Computing; climb up the escalators to the field of Optics,

Photography and Cinematography, and finally to the section devoted to Medicine. The Science Museum will never cease to amaze you! E Guinness World of Records Exhibition Experience the Guinness World of Records, Europes greatest three dimensional display of all that is superlative around the globe. Through the use of life size models, videos and the latest audio technology, thousands of records come alive at the touch of a button. Do not miss any of the six sections: The Human World, The Animal World. Our Planet Earth, Structures and Machines, Sports World, World of Entertainment. F Museum of the Moving Image Who ever heard of a museum where you could read the news on TV? animate your own cartoon? tryout for a Hollywood movie? With its treasure of cameras and costumes, with hundreds of favourite film clips, with a cast of actor guides to tell you more, award-winning MOMI is the most exciting cinema and TV museum in the world. Check your answers here

Reading, 35
January 21, 2007

You are going to read an article about the discovery of Tutankhamens tomb. For questions 8 15, choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text.

A GRAVE MISTAKE? On 12 February 1924, Howard Carter, amateur archaeologist, watched a pulley winch open a sarcophagus. He was about to witness a sight unseen for thousands of years: the face of a Pharaoh of Egypt. The story of how the tomb with its riches and the mummified body of Tutankhamen was discovered is well known and there is no doubt that without Carters enthusiasm and determination the most exclusive cemetery in the world would not have been discovered. What is more debatable, however, is the truth surrounding the supposed Curse of Tutankhamen.

After discovering the tomb, Carter refused to enter it until his patron Lord Carnarvon was by his side. It was, after all, Carnarvons generosity which had allowed Carter to carry out his ambition of finding an unplundered tomb. They were awestruck at the contents of the chamber and in the dead of night, returned to the tomb to observe the wonders that the chamber held. It was this secret entry that supposedly caused the anger of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen. A few days after the official opening ofthe burial chamber, Lord Carnarvon accidentally cut a mosquito bite on his cheek while shaving. It became septic, and Lord Carnarvon came down with a fever. A couple of weeks later he died of pneumonia. As he breathed his last breath, it is said that all the lights across Cairo flickered and went out. Bizarrely, at the same moment back in England, his beloved dog howled, then dropped dead. It was immediately claimed by the newspapers that Lord Carnarvon had been the victim of a curse. Rumours of even more mysterious circumstances began to circulate. It was said that on the day of the discovery, Carters pet canary had been eaten by a cobra, the same serpent which is portrayed on the brow of a Pharaoh spitting poison. It was also claimed that a mysterious inscription had been found near the tomb, warning that Death will come on swift wings to whosoever touches the tomb of the Pharaoh, although it was acknowledged that these words had strangely vanished. The death of anyone associated with the opening of Tutankhamens tomb was used as proof of the Curse. To a public raised on the exotic novels of Rider Haggard and Wilkie Collins this was very exciting. But, in reality, if the Pharaoh was seeking revenge on those who had desecrated his tomb, then he was very selective. Above all, he seems to have spared the life of the most obvious candidate for his revenge Howard Carter himself. Even scientific attempts to argue that the Curse was true for instance, theories that there were deadly microbes in the tomb, or poisonous fungi must founder on that one conclusive fact. It is no wonder that Carter himself was so contemptuous when asked about the Curse The answer, he would reply, is spherical and in the plural. Instead of dying in premature and mysterious circumstances, Carter in fact lived for 17 years after his incredible discovery. Yet one great mystery, which Carter himself was powerless to solve, continues to exist. There was barely any evidence found which could shed light on Tutankhamen himself. His reign remains a mystery; his character even more so. Although there have been numerous autopsies on his mummy, we cannot even be certain what caused his death it has been suggested that he was murdered or killed in battle. As Carter was forced to confess, the mystery of his life eludes us the shadows move, but the dark is never quite dispersed . All we can be certain of is that Tutankhamen, like any Egyptian, would have craved the remembrance which it was believed gave a spirit true life after death. Forgotten for over three thousand years, the boy kings name is now famous allover the world. Thanks to the efforts of Howard Carter, Tutankhamen has true immortality at last. 8.-Why did Carter refuse to enter the tomb after discovering it? A He was afraid of dying.

B He didnt want to do it alone. C He wanted to go in with Lord Carnarvon. D He wanted to wait for the daylight. 9.-How did Lord Carnarvon die? A of a mosquito bite B shaving himself C of pneumonia D of high fever 10.-It was claimed by the newspapers that Lord Carnarvon A had been the victim of a murder. B had died because of a curse. C had been eaten by a cobra. D had been poisoned. 11.-What was the Curse associated with? A spitting poison B giant cobras C strange deaths D swift wings 12.-What does this in line 30 refer to? A the Curse B the exotic novel C the Pharaoh D death

13.-What does the writer imply about the Curse? A If it were true, Carter was the one who should have died. B It was all invented by R. Haggard & W. Collins to sell their novels. C It was true since a lot of people who opened the tomb died. D The Pharaoh chose who would die. 14.-What did Carter believe? A He believed in the Curse. B He believed the true mystery was Tutankhamen himself. C He believed he was lucky not to have died of the Curse. D He believed that there was some scientific truth in the Curse. 15.-What did the ancient Egyptians believe? A Remembering a dead person made him/her immortal. B A spirit should be left in peace after death. C True immortality comes after thousands of years. D A dead person should be buried and forgotten. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 34
January 21, 2007

You are going to read an article about the popularity of snacks. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A I for each part 1 7 of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A The great-grandfather of snacks B Different nations like different flavors

C An effort to produce and sell even more D The good-for-you-snack trend E Snacking: past and present F Eating snacks while watchin sports G Varieties of potato chips H Snacks have to look good I Success is not the same for all

SNACKOLOGY Once they were just potato chips. Now theyre a fourth meal occasion. And apparently, when it comes to the universe of snacks, there is no final frontier. 0: __F__ The snack industry is becoming truly creative for the first time in history. Thats good news for the thoughtful host, especially one wanting to provide a quality televised-football viewing experience. On the day of a game, Americans eat more snacks than any other day. 1: _____ If that sounds like the same old thing, you can be sure that its not. While millions of hands are moving between bowl and mouth, snack industry scientists are working endlessly to create more irresistible snacks to make those hands move faster. 2: _____ Potato chips today, for example, come in ridged or regular; flavored or plain; baked, fried or crisped; in a bag or stacked in a tube. Chips now come in flavors from the most exotic to the most ordinary, satisfying tastes that vary with the person and the region. Salt-and-vinegar chips, for example, failed in Ohio but were a great success in New England and eastern Canada, and the English love them. 3: _____

The Swedes prefer onion as a flavor for their chips, the Germans paprika, the Norwegians salt and pepper. Barbecue dominates in the United States, but the American liking for novelty and variety includes everything from the ketchup flavored potato chips introduced by Herr Foods of Nottingham, Pennsylvania, to the chocolate-covered potato chips of Nelsons Confectionery in Perham, Minnesota. 4: _____ Snacks in the United States will never get as wild as snacks in other parts of the world, although perhaps that is merely a subjective judgment. American shoppers would never choose the snack known as Mopani, found in Uganda: white grubs served in cans or plastic bags. In fact, we in the United States wont even try some of the more conventional flavors popular in other countries. Those flavors wouldnt cut it here, says Bernie Pacyniak, editor of Snack Food and Wholesale Bakery magazine. You couldnt sell a seafood flavored Cheeto in the United States. Some people even find the mustard flavored pretzels really strange. 5: _____ Crunchy snacks have been popular since the days of ancient Greece, when theater audiences ate roasted barleycorn during performances, crunching loudly when they were bored. Tragemata, they called their snacks, which translates roughly as munchies. 6: _____ Todays consumers want healthy snacks, which accounts for the boom in baked chips. If health y doesnt taste as good however, consumers are willing to compromise. 7: _____ Snacking is a return to those millions of years before cooking and agriculture led to the rituals of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our early ancestors took every opportunity to eat anything they could find: berries, roots, insects, etc. Certainly, they were getting plenty of raw fiber, vitamins and minerals. But they could never have imagined the joys of shopping in supermarkets or of sitting endlessly in front of a television eating concentrated carbohydrates, sugar, salt, fats and oils. Nor did they live long enough to worry about heart attacks. Perhaps if they had, theyd have served a nice vegetable meal with a non-fat sauce. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 33
January 20, 2007

You are going to read some information about your star sign. For questions 22-33, choose from the star signs (A-L). Some of the star signs may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). For questions 34 and 35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Which star sign: is warned that others envy them? 0: __L___ is told it is time for an addition? 22: ____ is advised to make full use of time spent asleep? 23: ____ is told love is waiting for them? 24: ______ is told to put money matters first? 25: ____ 26: ____ is advised to control strong feelings? 27: ____ is reminded to be grateful? 28:______ is tired of a temporary relationship? 29: _____ is warned about something terrible? 30: ____ 31: ____ is told their past will help them? 32: _____ is told to complete their work? 33: ____ 34 Where has this text come from? A a newspaper report B an advertisement C a magazine D a school textbook 35 What is the main aim of this text? A to offer advice to people with problems B to inform people about what may happen in the future

C to recommend that people be careful D to encourage people to write to Richard Starr YOUR HOROSCOPE THIS WEEK by Richard Starr Aries A Your family is going through the turmoil of many difficult changes. Not everyone is cooperating with these changes, which is resulting in feelings being hurt and relationships being threatened. A family crisis can be stopped if you unexpectedly change your mind. See if you cant be more understanding and lend a sympathetic ear to the members of your family who need it most. Taurus B It may be time to start thinking about starting or adding to the family. But dont panic! Things will fall into place if you are calm and plan out your moves carefully. A bigger family will bring you the peace, joy and satisfaction that will fill that space within you which has been empty as of late. Gemini C You are facing an overwhelmingly big job and you are feeling very distressed. Calm down! Why not invite in a group of friends or colleagues to assist you? Together you can tackle the job and enjoy yourselves along the way. Watch that you dont antagonise anyone, though remember to say thank you to all those who rally to support you. Cancer D You are on an emotional roller coaster. You do not know if you are coming or going, and may consider turning to unsavoury companions for advice. Instead, look to your childhood for the answers. Happy memories will give you the moral strength to face what is to come, and even unhappy memories may comfort you in difficult moments. Leo E Your passionate nature is going to get you into trouble. You like to let your emotions run free, but caution might be the better route to follow this week. Put the brake on and slow down. Do not get upset. Be especially watchful late in the week for incidents which will trigger misunderstandings in the future. Virgo F

You have always had a strong dream life, full of vivid colours and activities. Now it is time for you to put those dreams to good use. Write down your dreams and use them to come to an understanding of the inner workings of your mind. Your subconscious may help you solve problems in real-life situations. Libra G You may be more interested in romance than in business, but an impressive business deal keeps dogging you. Do not ignore it. Cut down on romantic involvements and concentrate on business deals. You will have plenty of time for love, so now it is more productive to focus on finding the money with which to entertain your future romantic escapades! Scorpio H A difficult health issue awaits you or someone who is very close to you. Pay close attention to the matter and have it looked into by an expert. Neglecting to do something now may prove disastrous in the years to come, so make sure that you look after everything that needs looking after. Sagittarius I You have been working on a project for a very long time and the time has come for you to finish it. While it has been difficult for you to concentrate lately, you must put aside these distractions and get down to ending what you started. You may be surprised at how relieved you feel once it is done. And at how profitable it will be! Capricorn J A lucky week for you! You have long wanted to become romantically involved with someone, and the time is right for you to be brave. Approach that person. Tell that person how long you have wanted to get better acquainted. Say how much you would like to become a part of that persons life. The outcome will pleasantly surprise you, and you will wish that you had spoken up sooner. Aquarius K You will be expected to make a firm commitment, like marriage, and there will be tears if you do not. Although you are afraid of such a commitment, you also want something more permanent. Deal with this situation carefully, in order to avoid hurt feelings. Pisces L Do not worry so much about what anyone else thinks. Follow what you think is the best course of action in the situation at hand. You are shining lately, and other people are jealous of your achievements. Do not listen to them, but rather follow your heart. In the end, this will payoff handsomely.

Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 32
January 20, 2007

You are going to read a letter from someone to her sisters family. Eight sentences have been removed from the letter. Choose from the sentences A-I the one which fits each gap (15-21). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). April 22. 1994 Dear Kathy. John. Gigi. Well. hello everybody!! 0: ___I___ Hows school, Gigi? I hear youve been studying hard. Have you made any earrings lately? Do you need any more jewellery backs, etc.? What are your plans for the summer? 15: ______ Brittany and Brendyn are doing well. They have so many friends here. There are kids all over the place at Whyte Ridge. Brittany knows some of her friends phone numbers and sometimes calls them up and just invites them over. And Brendyns latest is to ask any kid walking by if he/she wants to come to his house to spend the night. Either for that or for supper 16: ___________ We had a nice time at Moms in Saskatoon. 17: ______ Unfortunately. she was sick. then we all were sick, so our energies werent up to par. This summer, we plan to go to Nicks second cousins wedding in Yorkton first thing in July, then to the lake with MaryAnne (from Ohio), Theresa, Cathy, etc., for a week, then to Calgary for the 14th for Rosies brothers anniversary. Then on our holiday to pick cherries. Wed also like to sneak in as many trips to the lake as p0ssible with our caravan, and maybe to the Mall of America. Well see. Nicks back is slowly getting better; he sort of takes it easy, and uses the exercise bike all the time, as he says it helps his back. 18: ______ We love our house. Everything has turned out beautifully. 19: _____ We just bought a lovely new purple sofa made in Italy (Natuzzi) for our lounge. We have not taken any pictures yet. Well, Brittany and Brendyn can both ride two-wheelers now and can both whistle! How are both your Mom and Dad feeling, John? Do they get out to Kanalia much?

I know they love their village. 20: _______ Love, JoAnn, Nick, Brittany, Brendyn P.S. Bonnie and Phil had a girl Tessa. 21: ______ A Then we brought her back here for awhile. B And Patti is pregnant with her third! C Black and white is the theme throughout. D When can you convince your Mom and Dad to bring you here again?! E I had it in mind while writing this letter, but my response may have been too late. Sorry about that! F It was very painful and he thought he might need surgery. G Got to go so much to do as Nick and I are going out to supper tonight! H Speaking of Whyte Ridge, theres a dalmatian dog who is the most popular dog in the neighbourhood; we have very nice neighbours, too! I Sorry its been so long but weve been getting settled in our new home. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 31
January 20, 2007

You are going to read an extract from an autobiography. For questions 7-14, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. The war was the most peaceful period of my life. The window of my bedroom faced southeast. My mother had curtained it, but that had small effect. I always woke with the first light and, with all the responsibilities of the previous day melted, feeling myself rather like the sun, ready to shine and feel joy. Life never seemed so simple and clear and full of possibilities as then. I put my feet out from under the clothes I called them Mrs Left and Mrs Right and invented dramatic situations for them in which they discussed the problems of the day. At least Mrs Right

did; she easily showed her feelings, but I hadnt the same control of Mrs Left, so she mostly contented herself with nodding agreement. They discussed what Mother and I should do during the day, what Santa Claus should give a fellow for Christmas, and what steps should be taken to brighten the home. There was that little matter of the baby, for instance. Mother and I could never agree about that. Ours was the only house in the neighbourhood without a new baby, and Mother said we couldnt afford one till Father came back from the war because they cost seventeen and six. That showed how foolish she was. The Geneys up the road had a baby, and everyone knew they couldnt afford seventeen and six. It was probably a cheap baby, and Mother wanted something really good, but I felt she was too hard to please. The Geneys baby would have done us fine. Having settled my plans for the day, I got up, put a chair under my window, and lifted the frame high enough to stick out my head. The window overlooked the front gardens of the homes behind ours, and beyond these it looked over a deep valley to the tall, red-brick houses up the opposite hillside, which were all still in shadow, while those at our side of the valley were all lit up, though with long strange shadows that made them seem unfamiliar; stiff and painted. After that I went into Mothers room and climbed into the big bed. She woke and I began to tell her of my schemes. By this time, though I never seem to have noticed it, I was freezing in my nightshirt, and I warmed up as I talked until, the last frost melted, I fell asleep beside her and woke again only when I heard her below in the kitchen, making the breakfast. 7 The time the author spent as a child during the war was A sad and frightening. B happy and calm. C peaceful and puzzling. D violent and shocking. 8 When he woke up in the morning, he A would call on Mrs Left and Mrs Right. B would open up the curtains. C would play with his feet. D would agree with Mrs Left. 9 How did the writer and his mother feel about having a baby? A They werent able to agree.

B They sometimes agreed. C They often agreed. D They always agreed. 10 Why was the writer upset with his mother? A He could not understand her. B She was poor. C She was not very intelligent. D She did not love him enough. 11 The writer believed A that Santa Claus really existed. B that his father would never come home from the war. C that they were poorer than the Geneys. D that one could buy a baby. 12 The houses on his side of the valley were lit up because A they were facing the sun. B they were still all in shadow. C they had all turned their lights on. D they had odd shadows that made them look strange. 13 What was his mothers bed like? A freezing B uncomfortable C small D warm

14 What did the writer feel then that he does not feel now? A That everything is possible. B That war is ugly. C That his mother loves him deeply. D That life is complicated. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 30
January 19, 2007

You are going to read about five men with strong wives. For questions 22 35, choose from the list of men A-E. Some of them may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). Which husband: eventually took the role of influencing his wife? 0: A harmed his wifes career? 22: ___ was much older than his wife? 23: ___ was of a much lower social status than his wife? 24: ___ caused great sorrow to his wife when he died? 25: ___ did not stand by his wife when she needed it? 26: ___ was murdered by his wife? 27: ___ had a devoted wife? 28: ___ 29: ___ helped his wife improve her looks? 30: ___ was not happily married to his wife? 31: ___ 32: ___ helped his wifes career by giving her money? 33: ___

was of aristocratic origins? 34: ___ 35: ___ BEHIND EVERY GREAT WOMAN A Mr Queen Victoria Born in 1819, Prince Albert, the younger son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, married Queen Victoria in 1840 and became her private secretary, His position as a foreigner in Victorias court required a great deal of tact from the royal couple and initially he was excluded from state affairs. Soon his political abilities and social skills began to show and eventually he found that he was advising his wife on most aspects of her political duties. The renowned Great Exhibition was held at his suggestion in 1851. It wasnt until after his death, in 1861, that his contribution to the arts, science and social welfare of Britain was recognised. The Queen remained in mourning for the rest of her life. B Mr Benazir Bhutto Former Pakistani first husband Asif Ali Zardari does not have a good reputation as a political figure. Many people believe that his wife lost her position as Prime Minister in 1996 as a result of his arrest on charges of corruption. As Finance Minister, he was unofficially named Mr Ten Per Cent supposedly referring to the cut he took in all state contracts during Bhuttos reign, in which 1 billion pounds is believed to have been mishandled. Zardari was then accused of involvement in the murder of his wifes brother, and political rival, Murtaza, who was shot dead in a mysterious police ambush in September 1996. Bhutto has supported him through his darkest moments, even though she suffered guilt by association. Should he avoid blame this time, however, the couples relationship may become a lillie distant. C Mr Catherine the Great Pity poor Peter III. In marrying the German Princess Sophia Augusta von Anhalt-Zerbst (Catherine II), the successor to the Tsarina Elizabeth bit off more than he could chew. His first act after coronation in 1762 was to return to Frederick the Great all the Prussian provinces conquered by Russia during the Seven Years War. Unsurprisingly the military was unimpressed and he was killed in a coup led by his wife and her lover Count Orlov. Catherines subsequent love affairs with different officers and politicians were widely publicised, although it is said she was devoted to Peter in the early years of their marriage. D Mr Celine Dion When the parents of 12-year-oid Canadian singer Celine Dion sent promotions manager Mr Angelil a demo tape, he liked it so much he cried. Then, much to his first wifes annoyance, he mortgaged the family home to finance her debut album. By the age of 18, Dion had had seven French-speaking hit albums, before Angelil paid for English lessons to help her make an impression on the major pop markets. Then it was time to get her teeth fixed and for her to lose some weight to squeeze into all those cute little Chanel numbers. Enter the new Mrs Angelil, 26 years his junior, and the most successful singer in the world.

E Mr Liz Taylor VII The marriage of former truck driver Larry Fortensky to Elizabeth Taylor never had much chance of success. However, the couple was optimistic. Fortunately, her seventh husband, even signed a prenuptial agreement which left him very little in the case of divorce. According to insiders it wasnt Taylor who caused the breakdown of their four year marriage but Fortensky who went out on the town while his wife was recovering from a hip-replacement operation. Consequently, the marriage was over. Oh, and about that pre-nup: he attempted to have it overturned to sue for 3 million pounds. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 29
January 19, 2007

You are going to read an article about a famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A H the one which fits each gap 16 21. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A What I want to express, in both figure and landscape, isnt anything sentimental or melancholy, but deep anguish. In short, I want to get to the point where people see my work and say: that man feels deeply, that man feels keenly. B Its quite remarkable, then, that during his year in the asylum he managed to create a series of beloved masterpieces such as the Starry Night, found today at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art. C I already feel, he wrote that year, old and broken. D I didnt have to put myself out very much in order to try and express sadness and extreme loneliness, Van Gogh wrote. E In April 1899, Van Gogh had checked himself into the asylum in this monastery, looking for relief from the epilepsy that had tormented him in Aries, where he had threatened his friend Paul Gauguin with a razor and had cut off his own left ear lobe during a fit.

F Now light and wonderful pure colours were everywhere in his work: yellow, red, green and blue, all glowing under the sun. G At 16, he went to work for an art dealer, a job that his younger brother, Theo, followed him into. H The day will come, however, when people will see that they are worth more than the price of the paint and my living expenses. DARKNESS AND LIGHT The Life of Vincent Van Gogh The Provencal sun was blinding on the warm winter day when I drove into Saint-Remy. I reached the Monastery of St Paul-de-Mausole, where the garden looked just as I thought it would its flowers and trees much as Vincent Van Gogh had painted them more than a century ago. 0: E Van Gogh had arrived in Provence the previous year, finally finding himself as a painter after a decade of artistic wandering. When the voices drove him to Saint Remy, Van Gogh was in one of the most productive periods any artist has ever had, creating in the last 21 1/2 years of his life the work that most people know him by. But there were times in Saint-Remy, after he ate paint, when his doctors wouldnt let him near the artists palette. 16: _____ Van Gogh was the most autobiographical artist, and his works reveal much about the last years of his passionate life. Born in Holland in 1853 Vincent Van Gogh was the eldest son of a priest; his formal education was patchy, but he was a great reader who loved literature and biography. 17: _____At 23, Vincent was fired. He then wandered through odd jobs before he decided to become an artist. I want to paint drawings that will touch people, he wrote to Theo in 1882. 18: _____ Van Gogh started writing regularly to Theo in 1872 and continued to express his feelings and his artistic adventures until just before his death in 1890. Half of Van Goghs painting life was spent in the dark; working in sad tones where sunlight was rare. In early 1886 he travelled to Paris to live with Theo, years in which Theo financially supported his brother. A series of self-portraits shows how he felt during that period. The pictures show him with fierce, suspicious and tired eyes. 19: _____ He would find rebirth in the south of France. That winter he moved to Arles, where he was fascinated by the flowers and the sun. I am in a constant fever of work, he told Theo. 20: _____ But poverty and the pain of having sold only a few of his paintings pressed in on Van Gogh as his health failed. I cannot help that my pictures do not sell, Van Gogh wrote. 21: _____

Some years later Van Gogh shot himself. Theo died six months later but his widow, Johanna devoted the rest of her life to establish Vincent Van Gogh as a great painter. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 28
January 19, 2007

You are going to read an article about a racing car driver. For questions 8 15, choose the answer A, B, CorD which you think fits best according to the text.

DRIVING AMBITION Formula 1. The roaring engines. Speeds of up to 200 miles an hour. Millions of dollars at stake. And it all takes place in front of millions of viewers, across five continents. Amidst this crazy motoring circus, world champion Michael Schumacher remains a stable, mysterious figure; keeping as low a profile as possible. He feels this is the only way to survive in a world where nerves must be made of steel and seconds count. Formula 1 racing originated in 1950, but was a very different sport then to what we see nowadays. Talent and guts guaranteed a place at the top; the driver made all the difference. These days, Formula 1 is a million-dollar industry. The role of the driver has diminished substantially with the last decades rapid developments in technology. What you drive has become more important than how you drive. Taking that into account, Benetton, the company for which Schumacher formerly raced, was perfect for him. At the time, they had the fastest cars, challenged only by the Williams on the very fast circuits with long straights and fast bends. But, despite the technical perfection that Benetton offered, Schumacher signed a contract with Ferrari last year, saying that it was a dream contract. So far it has been unproductive, but despite losing his world title this season to the UK driver Damon Hill, Schumachers legendary self-confidence has not been damaged. What is remarkable about the 27-year-old German is that, even for a racing driver, he seems really dispassionate. He shows no signs of emotion and no signs of weakness. From the beginning of his career he has been called a variety of names: boring, arrogant, and even a robot.

Yet Schumacher has never worried about this and has never made any attempt to change his image. He has simply gone on with the task of winning races, and has become the youngest ever world champion. Born in 1969, Schumacher dreamed of becoming a policeman as a child. He fell in love with racing at a very early age when his father put him in a car at the age of four. By 1987 he had won the German and European championships. Mercedes trained him in their sportscar team, and he made his debut in the World Championships in 1991 when he put Bertrand Cachots Jordan Ford in the seventh position on the starting grid. Unfortunately, his debut performance was shortlived. After one lap he had to withdraw, but he had made his mark. Twelve months later he achieved his first victory. Within two years, he was world champion. His achievements began to attract attention from talent hunters for the big teams. Bennettons Flavio Briatore was particularly interested. A notorious name in Formula 1 racing, Briatore was the prototype of the modern team manager and has been quoted as saying: To me Formula 1 is purely a marketing instrument. The sporting side is of minor importance. Sports fans do not like this viewpoint, but, in some ways, he does have a point. The impact of the sport and the money it generates, grows by the day. Many experts have tried to analyse Schumachers career success, but he has his own ideas about what has helped him achieve so much at a young age: Working more and harder than the rest, always looking for something that can win you a hundredth-of-a-second, and if you cannot find anything, trying again. There are a lot of racers in the same league and level. The technical aspect is essential. Being an ex-mechanic, makes me good at that. I instinctively feel what the car needs. I can translate what I have felt through to my mechanics perfectly so they can adjust the car just right. You can always find me to be the first in and the last remaining in the garage. 8.- What kind of person is Michael Schumacher according to the text? A a person who likes money a lot B a person who likes fame C a person who does anything to survive D a person who doesnt like to show off 9.-In what way has Formula 1 changed nowadays? A Drivers nowadays dont have the talent they used to have. B Drivers nowadays are paid millions of dollars. C The car has become more important than the driver. D The rules of the sport have changed.

10.-What information do we get about Benetton? A It is the company Schumacher always dreamed of working for. B Its cars are technically very good. C It gave Schumacher to Williams. D Its cars are especially good at fast bends. 11.-What has happened since Schumacher signed a contract with Ferrari? A He has had great success. B He has lost his self confidence. C He has lost the world title. D He has been challenged by Williams. 12.-What is remarkable about Schumacher? A He has no passion for racing. B He has all the typical characteristics of a racing driver. C He is not influenced by his emotions. D He is a cruel person. 13.-What happened in the World Championships in 1991? A He stopped early but he was noticed. B He became the World Champion. C He managed to finish the race in 7th position. D He achieved his first victory. 14.-What do we learn about Flavia Briatore? A He is Benettons racing driver. B He strongly believes in the commercial side of Formula 1.

C He is very popular with Formula 1 fans. D He believes that Formula 1 has become too commercial. 15.-Schumachers career has been so successful because A he believes himself to be a better racer than the rest. B he never interferes with the technical aspect. C he understands what is needed to fix the car. D he is always looking for more money. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 27
January 19, 2007

You are going to read a list of tips on how to shop for wine. Choose the most suitable sentence from the list A I for each part 1 7 of the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Be alert for the alternative choice script. B Decide your price-per-bottle before entering the wine shop. C What to do if you are still in the dark. D Dont buy a bottle of wine you are not familiar with. E Tell the salesperson exactly why youre buying the wine. F Give the salesperson the credibility test. G Talk about wines you know personally to be good. H Continue being precise in your requests. I Forgetting all you know. How to Shop for Wine

0: I I Buying wine in a liquor shop nowadays can be a confusing and embarrassing task. A friend of mine recently told me that he goes blank whenever salespeople in liquor shops approach him and ask, Is there a particular wine youre looking for? Everything he thinks he has learned about wine suddenly sprouts wings and flies away. My solution is to learn a few strategies on how to deal with a retail wine salesperson. 1: _____ Im willing to spend up to $10 a bottle and I need six bottles. So my spending limit is around $65, including tax. Be firm and clear about the money you intend to spend by establishing it early on so the retailer will know what price range to work with when offering suggestions. 2: _____ It may be either for dinner at a friends house, a gift for your cousin who just got married, or, for your wedding anniversary. By quickly revealing your reason for buying the wine, you move the focus from price to the general wine category. Sparkling wine is suitable for both an anniversary gift and a wedding present. How about dinner with friends? A red or a dry white may do. 3: _____ Whether they are white, red or sparkling, dont wait for the salesperson to ask you which wines you like. Say something like, Ive always liked Robert Mandavis Cabemet Sauvignon. Do you have the most recent vintage of if? Whats the price? By initiating this step yourself, you tell the salesperson, one, that youre in the hunt for red wine, and two, that you have experienced good wine from California. More importantly, by making a specific request, youre staying in control at a point where the advantage can swing to the stores side. If the particular wine you asked for is in stock and within your price range, the deals done. 4: _____ If they dont have the wine you asked for in your price range, you are likely to be asked about alternatives. We dont currently have the Mondavi, but have you tried the Blankitee-Blank Vineyards or the Whatsit Winery Cabemets? the salesperson may reply, thinking that you havent tasted them. Every bit as good as the Mondavi. Momentary pause, usually accompanied by thoughtful expression. At roughly the same price, only $3 more per bottle. 5: _____ In the event that the merchant doesnt have three similar wines from California in the Cabernet category, ask him or her to suggest three comparable wines from another country or region where Cabernet Sauvignon is produced (just about everywhere today) say, France, Chile or Australia. Maintain the focus on what you originally wanted as much as possible, in terms of either wine type, region or country, price, or familiarity.

6: _____ At this stage, you want to keep requesting information. When you have the alternative wines in front of you, if you have not previously tasted them, press the salesperson to tell you which consumer magazines have rated them and how they did. Unfortunately, I know first hand the widespread lack of genuine wine knowledge among retailers; an authoritative second opinion protects your investment. 7: _____ If you dont have the necessary knowledge or experience, choose the one thats in the middle of your price range or the one closest to your original choice, first by producer, then by grape type, and lastly, by region or country of origin. Never buy more than one bottle of any unfamiliar wine, just in case it fails to fulfil your expectations. Last but not least, never ever be talked into purchasing a 12-bottle case of wine thats unknown to you, no matter how attractive the case price. Youll often find out the hard way from whose point of view its so spectacular. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 26
January 18, 2007

You are going to read some information about some cultural events happening in different European cities. For questions 22-26, choose from the cities (A-I). Some of the cities may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). For questions 27-35, indicate the answer to each question by choosing from the list of events A-D. Some of the events will be required more than once. Note: Where a city offers more than one event, you may give the answers in any order. Which city or cities would you recommend for someone who: likes photography? 0: H enjoys folk music? 22: ____ is interested in stone carving? 23:____ is interested in musical instruments? 24: _____ is interested in South America? 25:______ 26:______ What are the events offered in the following cities?

Aachen 27:_____ 28:______ 29:______ Amsterdam 30:______ Antwerp 31: _______ Barcelona 32:______ Basel 33:_____ Copenhagen 34: _____ 35: _____ A music B dance C art D theatre CULTURAL EVENTS IN EUROPE ________________________________________ AACHEN-A LUDWIG FORUM FUR INTERNATIONALE KUNST Julicher Str 97-109. Die 5. Biennale von Havanna. This is the first time that this event has been held in Europe. Visitors can see street theatre and dance from Colombia, music from Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba and Trinidad, and enjoy literature and film from Brazil. There will also be a two-day Latin-American market. Until II December. Tel +49 241-18070 _______________________________________ AMSTERDAM B HET MUZlEKTHEATER Waterlooplein 22. Performances of Mozarts Le nozze di Figaro on 9, 11, 14 October. Conducted by Graeme Jenkins and directed by Jurgen Flimm. It features Dean Peterson as Figaro, Roberto Scaltriti as the Count of Almaviva and Joan Rodgers as the Countess of Almaviva. The music is provided by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. Tel +31 205518922 _________________________________________

ANTWERP-C HESSENHUIS FALCONRUI 53. Music and Painting in the Golden Age: Music and Graphics. An outstanding collection of works from Flemish and Dutch artists of the 17th century. In addition to 55 paintings there are musical instruments and pieces of music on display. There are stilllifes of instruments, portraits in which the subjects play music and pastoral settings. There are 120 prints, mostly from the 16th century, which portray the social and symbolic importance of music, song and dance at this time. Until 30 October. Tel +32 2-2269300 _________________________________________ BARCELONA D CENTRE CULTURAL DE LA FUNDACIO LA CAIXA Passeig de Sant Joan. Kandinsky/Mondrian Two roads towards abstraction. This exhibition celebrates the anniversary of the deaths of two great pioneers of modern art. One of its aims is to highlight the parallels as well as the differences which mark the stylistic development of the two artists. Among the works on display are 35 canvases by the Russian-born Kandinsky and 56 oils, drawings, watercolours and gouaches by the Dutch-born Mondrian. Until 1 3 November. Tel +34 3-4046073 ___________________________________________ BASEL- E KUNSTMUSEUM BASEL St Alban-Graben 16. Fernand Leger 1911-1924 Ie rhythme de la vie moderne. A collection which concentrates on major works and work groups dating back to the critical early years of Legers career when he developed his style. He is considered a painter of the modern world, seeing the basis of modern art in the principle of opposites. Until 27 November. Tel +41 61-2710828 __________________________________________ BUDAPEST-F HUNGARIAN NATIONAL GALLERY, Buda Castle. Several museums in the Hungarian capital have permanent exhibitions and this gallery has an important collection of Hungarian art from all periods, medieval stone carvings as well as Renaissance and Baroque art.

HUNGARIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM, Muzeum Krt. 14 which has Hungarian coronation regalia on display is also worth a visit. Tel. +361-1179800 ___________________________________________ COPENHAGEN G THE ROYAL THEATRE Kongens Nytorv.An adaptation of Bournonvilles La Sylphide ballet by Peter Schaufuss can be seen on 5, I I and 13 October. Musical adaptation is by Ole Norlyng and Graham Bond is the conductor. Tchaikovskys Onegin. based on Pushkins famous novel about the cynical antihero in the Russia of the I 820s, can be seen on 8 and 17 October. Conducted by Graham Bond and choreographed by John Cranko. Tel. +45-33141002 ___________________________________________ EDINBURGH H THE FRUITMARKET GALLERY 29 Market Street. BT new contemporaries. This is an exhibition designed to showcase student and new graduate art in the UK. There is a variety of work on show from 36 artists including the six prizewinners. A strong feature of the exhibition is photography, with a wide variety of examples of how this medium can be employed. The artists have used materials as diverse as wood and soap. 8 October-12 November. Tel. +44 31-2252383 __________________________________________ FRANKFURT - I DEUTSCHES ARCHITEKTURE-MUSEUM Schaumainkai 43. Zeitgenossische Architektur in Brasilien (Contemporary architecture in Brazil). The exhibition is devoted to architecture of the past ten years and the aim is to show how dynamically contemporary architecture has developed. The climate alone in Brazil tropical temperature as well as frost and snow means that architects must be very creative with their methods. 8 October-6 November. Tel +49 69-2121847 Check your answers here

Reading, 45
January 23, 2007

You are going to read some information about Star Signs. For questions 22 35, choose from the list of Star Signs A G. Some of the Star Signs may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). People of which si9n(s): will win a competition? 0:_A_ will receive an invitation? 22: _____ will meet new people? 23: _____ may travel? 24: _____ 25: _____ are making plans for college? 26:____ 25: ____ 26: ____ may change house? 29: _____ are advised to be sincere? 30: _____ will have to look after younger brothers or sisters? 31: _____ may run short of money? 32: ____ 33: ____ will reorganise their place? 34: ____ are advised not to hurry in love matters? 35: ____

Star Signs A ARIES

Expect more than one heart-to-heart with dad or a teacher about school plans. New neighbours arrive and you think that its cool that they have the same interests as you do. If you are involved in sports, make room on the trophy shelf; victory is yours for the asking. Youll have many latenight phone conversations with a friend about straightening out the world. B TAURUS Letters of loan approvals, scholarships and grants for college are in the mail. Dont panic if you overhear your folks talk about moving. They wont get the house on the market till spring. Towards the end of the month that gorgeous guy you met last summer will touch base with you. By the 25th, a friend will confide in you about a relationship thats on the rocks. C GEMINI If you are in your last year of high school, you will spend all your free time hunting for a college. Check with your local libraries for available scholarships. If you are not ready for college yet, focus on college-prep classes. With Saturn in Aries, you and your friends will be accepted into the same programmes. Mum may be busy this month, so youll have to help take care of the siblings. D CAPRICORN Romance is on the upswing, but dont microwave the affair; let love simmer. With Neptune in Capricorn, your ideals will be very important when Romeo comes along. Unexpected expenses leave your wallet light, and you may have to borrow from a friend. Communication is very important to you, so waiting for news may be frustrating. E LEO Check your wardrobe for a great outfit. Youll probably be invited to a concert or a play by someone special. Money may be a little tight after the holidays. Your wallet may seem like a revolving door. Saturn in Aries will inspire you to volunteer for a trip connected to school or work. You will finally hear from the college of your choice this month:hooray! A last minute maths quiz will take you by surprise. Offer to tutor someone struggling with the subject. F VIRGO You will have time to spare at work, so take your homework along. Review your paycheque; there could be an error in your favour. Someone a bit younger than you will express his affection. Let him down gently. Love is in the air, but honesty is the best policy. Tell him that you are interested but want a monogamous relationship. The sun in Capricorn has you rearranging your bedroom furniture. While youre at it, why not paint something artistic on the walls? G LIBRA Friends will want to hang out at your house and study with you. There will be a flurry of lastminute get-togethers this month. Is one a surprise party for your mum? The changes you make at

the beginning of the month will bring results by the 23rd. Look under the bed for that lost treasure. With Jupiter and Mars in Aquarius, plan on an unexpected trip with friends. Youll have a blastl . Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 3 Comments

Reading, 44
January 23, 2007

You are going to read an article about a female boxer. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A H the one which fits each gap 16 21. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A Millions saw Tyson, but now the main event was over, the cameras were switched off and the crowd was going home. B For the second time that night, Christy is left with only a handful of people to impress. C As she prowls the ring, arms held high and punching the air, Christy Martin looks like a woman on top of the world. D Womens boxing has never been taken very seriously by the almost exclusively male boxing crowd. E Christy might worry about her teeth getting knocked out. F Since signing with him two years ago, Christys left blows are now worth thousands of dollars. G Look, she says, examining it closely, I did break my nail. H It does hurt my feelings that I work so hard and I dont get mentioned, she says.

The female Tyson

The crowd was jubilant. Mike Tyson had just beaten Buster Mathis Junior in the third round in a cavernous stadium in Philadelphia, as everyone suspected he would. Fox Television had transmitted the fight coast to coast. 0: _A_ This was a pity. They missed the only surprise of the evening. Dressed in her baby-pink robe, with her greased face and hungry look, Christy Martin pounces into the ring later than scheduled. The straying crowd heading for the exit lingers. Within 144 seconds Christy has floored her opponent. A seasoned ringside photographer shakes his head and says, Shes something else, isnt she? 16: _____ Back in the dressing room, she brushes her long hair and worries about her injury of the night. 17: _____ Christy is 27 and has been fighting for just five years, yet some consider her to be the Tyson of womens boxing. And, like Tyson, shes signed to the prince of all promoters, Don King the most powerful man in a multi-million dollar sport. 18: _____ I Ive gone from fighting $25-around club shows to fighting in the best and biggest rings in the boxing world. We spoke to all the promoters, but none of them was interested in having a woman fighter. Now Im glad because we were available when Don King had time to talk to us. King gives people opportunities and Im glad he gave me a chance. At the press conference after the fight, Christy waits respectfully as Mike Tyson talks to the press. But as soon as hes finished, they are off. 19: _____ From the stage Don King booms, Where are you all going? Whats the matter with you guys are you discriminating? Like any professional woman struggling to make it in male territory, Christy gets overlooked. 20: _____ The other day, Don King was raving about me at a press conference, saying it was the fight of the night. He even gave me a bonus for it. But the next day, there was not one line in the papers to say Id fought. Journalists are afraid to write about it, but as soon as one of them says, Yes, we rate Christy Martin, then the rest follow suit. Almost on cue, a radio boxing commentator interrupts to congratulate her on the fight. 21: _____ Until Christy came on the scene and Don King got involved, it was dismissed as two women slapping each other about. But in the cut-andthrust world of boxing, the only thing that counts is a fighters ability, and Christy has earned her respect. Mention her name in the afterfight bar and everyone agrees. I used to say I didnt want an y women fighting in my ring, full stop, says match-maker Bobby Mitchell, but Ill never say it again. Christy Martin shuts mouths and opens eyes. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 1 Comment

Reading, 43
January 23, 2007

You are going to read some information about the remote control. For questions 8 15, choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE REMOTE CONTROL Oh sure, its easy being a couch potato now. Wondrous advances in technology, .particularly during the 1990s, have made it easy and fun to surf the television channels from the comfort of your armchair. Remote controls offer everything from picture-within-a-picture technology, to onscreen programming that doesnt even require you to look at the remote control. As we rush towards ever greater technological advances, let us not forget the difficulties experienced by the millions who have come before us. For years they struggled with remote controls that changed channels or muted the volume unpredictably. Though proclaimed as technological marvels in their day, today those devices look extremely funny. So come with us as we flash back to the 1950s. The decade may have been the Golden Age of television, but in the evolution of the remote control, it was the Stone Age. The most primitive of the remotes was developed in 1950 by Zenith Electronics which decades later would win an Emmy for its pioneering work in remotecontrol technology. Zeniths first creative idea was the clever Lazy Bones, a control with a cable that connected the television to the device. Just by pushing buttons on the remote, viewers could turn the television on and off and change channels. Prest-o! Chanqe-o! cried a magazine ad introducing the product. Just press a button to change a station! The problem? Trip-o! Fall-o! Customers complained that the cable, besides being unsightly as it snaked across the living room floor, tripped many an unsuspecting passerby. In 1955 Zenith came up with a wireless remote. Zenith engineers invented the Flashmatic, which worked by firing a beam of light. First-generation couch potatoes accepted the new technology eagerly, but there was a glaring problem. It reacted to any kind of light, channels changed unpredictably and the sound mysteriously came and went. So if the sun set glaringly and came through the living room window, it would hit the set and cause problems, says Zenith engineer Robert Adler. Also, viewers who werent as technologically aware as they are today, had trouble remembering which button controlled which function. It was Adler, an Austrian born immigrant, who fathered the remote-control that would dominate the industry for the next quarter of a century. Ironic when you consider that Adler, by his own admission, to this day watches no more than an hour of television a week. In 1955 Adler came up with the concept of a remote based on ultrasonics that is, highfrequency sound beyond the range of human hearing. Adlers invention which Zenith introduced

in 1956 and named the Space Commander 400, would react to any number of metallic noises similar to those produced by the transmitter. For example, the family dog could change channels just by furiously scratching its back legs, thereby causing its dog tags to jingle. A ringing telephone or jingling keys would have the same effect. Today, in the Golden Age of the remote control, some 99 percent of TV sets and all video cassette recorders sold in the United States come with remote controls. So do many other electronic components, such as compact disc players, and satellite dishes. Universal remotes, which have been around since the mid-80s, allow you to operate several products say, for example, the TV, the VCR and CD player with just one transmitter rather than three separate units. Even common household functions switchinq on a light or turning off a ceiling fan can be performed today by remote control. In an industry that is continuously introducing amazing new gadgetry, who knows where couch-potato technology will go from here? 8 Why is it easy to be a couch potato nowadays? A potato chips have been invented B advances in technology have made it possible C armchairs nowadays are very comfortable D the climate is perfect for growing vegetables 9 What is the second paragraph about? A the technological developments in remote controls B the money spent on technology C the problems of early remote controls D the marvels of early remote control technology 10 What was the main problem with Lazy Bones? A The cable tripped many people. B The cable was too long. C The control was difficult to use. D The control was too slow. 11 What was the main problem of the Flashmatic?

A The channels changed even with other kinds of light. B It had a mysterious use. C Some sets did not react to its beams. D It broke loose easily. 12 What was another problem with it? A It was bad for someones memory. B It wasnt technologically advanced. C It was technically complex for the time. D It didnt have enough functions. 13 What does it in line 33 refer to? A the living room window B the sun C the remote control D the beam fired by the Flashmatic 14 What was the problem with the remote based on ultrasonics? A It reacted to other noises, too. B Even the family dog could use it. C You could not hear other sounds like the phone ringing. D It made too much noise. 15 What does the writer call universal remotes? A The kind used allover the world. B The kind used for common household functions. C The kind which are very expensive.

D The kind used to operate several appliances. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 42
January 23, 2007

You are going to read a newspaper article on the latest developments concerning working women and their maternity rights. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A I for each part 1 7 of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A A shameful comparison B Complexity and inefficiency C The case at the moment D Rights for both E No protection F An unsuccessful attempt G A paradise for working mothers H A future promise I Its for women only

The High Price of Eurobabies 0: ____B___ Nothing in the law of a country is simple. But it is a disgrace that British law, on something so important as maternity leave for working women, should be as complicated as it unfortunately is. And if that was not bad enough, women in the UK have the worst maternity pay rights in Europe. 1:______ Before 1975, motherhood in the UK had a high cost. Until that year, there were no legal rights for pregnant working women. A mother had absolutely no legal rights if having her baby meant she lost her job.

2: _____ Todays law gives a minimum measure of protection to most working women, but it has been a slow process with several later Acts complicating the first two. Nowadays, womens employment contracts in Britain, especially at senior and middle-management level, often include generous maternity rights. But the reality for most women is still the bare legal minimum, and in the UK that minimum really is bare. 3 : _____ Women in the UK are entitled to a minimum of six weeks maternity leave on 90 per cent of their salary and eight weeks thereafter on 57.70. That is very little when compared to the other 14 member states of the European Union. Every EU member state has improved on the Pregnancy Directives minimum 14-week entitlement except Britain, where it is the only maternity leave insisted on by law. Even countries outside the EU have a higher minimum standard for their women workers and executives than in Britain, as for instance Belarus, Norway and the Ukraine which offer 18 weeks on 100 per cent salary. 4: _____ Mothers get a raw deal in the UK, but fathers hardly get a deal at all. Some of the big corporations are starting to take fathers seriously but they are few and far between. Some businesses may allow a man a few days off when his wife or partner has a baby, but for many fathers there is no legal entitlement in their terms of employment. Research has shown that only 31 per cent of workplaces employing men allow their employees paid paternity leave. The general attitude is that childbirth is something to be left to a woman to get through on her own, even when she is not a single parent ! 5: _____ Since 1982 the EOC has been calling, without success, for a modest five day paternity leave for new fathers. In 1993 when the Labour MP Greville Janner introduced a Private Members Bill to give spouses or partners of pregnant women the right to a maximum three months unpaid leave, John Majors government blocked it. 6: _____ However, the tide now seems to be turning. Early in April of this year, it was leaked to the press that Tony Blairs Government was proposing to give working fathers one weeks paid paternity leave, though at the low level of 57.20. The Minister was quoted as saying We want to send a message to women that men should be by their side when they give birth. Nothing came of that suggested move and the Government has since issued a White Paper Fairness at Work in which it promises to implement an EU directive on the whole subject of Parental Leave by the end of next year. 7: _____

So, again, Britain is behind its European partners. Most of Europe already has that message. In fact, many countries have gone beyond the concept of mere paternity leave for the father and have developed the idea of parental leave for whichever parent wants it. For instance, in Belgium there is three to 12 months paid leave for up to a total of three years during anyone persons working life, although this does not apply to senior managers. In France and Germany, parental leave is available until a child is three and may be taken by either parent or shared but, in France, it is only paid leave for the first child. On the other hand, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and Spain all offer generous shared leave but only on an unpaid basis. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 41
January 22, 2007

You are going to read some information about some companies. For questions 22-34, choose from the companies (A-H). Some of the companies may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). For question 35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Which company or companies: is proud of their research programme? 0:__F__ deals with a precious metal? 22: _____ deals with communication links? 23: _____ is partly owned by management? 24: _____ states it does not work in Europe? 25: _____ states it is concerned with the whole family? 26: _____ profit from natural resources? 27: _____ 28: _____ directly exchange money? 29: _____ 30: _____ mention how many people they employ? 31: _____ 32: _____ make medicine? 33: _____ 34: _____ 35 Why would someone read this text?

A to invest in a business B to look for a job C to order a report D to buy a product _______________________________________ FINANCIAL TIMES ANNUAL REPORT SERVICE Choose which of the following reports you wish to have sent to you: TVX Gold Inc. A TVX Gold INC. is a Canadian-based growth-oriented international mining company with 1993 gold and gold equivalent production of a record 439,000 ounces at an average cash cost of $172 per ounce from its interests in six operating gold mines located in North and South America. The strengths of TVX Gold include quality reserves, long mine life, low average cash costs and increase in production, and a new, experienced and aggressive management team. _______________________________________ Statoil- B Statoil is an integrated Norwegian oil and gas company and ranks as the leading operator on Norways continental shelf. Operations are also pursued in 20 other countries. The group reported a profit before taxation of NOK 12 billion in 1993 as against NOK 9.9 billion the year before. This increase was due to a high level of production, a reduction in operating costs and improved financial results. Statoil is organised in four business areas Exploration and Production, Natural Gas, Oil Trading and Shipping, and Refining and Marketing. From 1994 Statoils involvement in Petrochemicals has been transferred to Borealis, a new petrochemical company owned 50 per cent by Statoll and 50 per cent by Neste. After the hive-off of its petrochemical operations in 1994, the group has about 12,000 employees. ________________________________________ The Rabobank Group C With total assets of NLG 253.2 billion the Durch Rabobank Group ranks among the top 20 banks in Europe and the top 50 worldwide. Over the past two decades, the bank has gradually expanded its international network to cover strategic geographic areas. It comprises now 47 offices in the worlds major financial and commercial centres. The Groups central bank, Rabobank

Nederland, operates as a wholesale house, specialising in serving major national and international corporations and in operations on the financial markets. Besides dealing room and treasury activities, the bank offers corporate financial services (including consultancy on mergers, acquisitions and participations) as well as a comprehensive package of international services through its international network. _______________________________________ Roberts Pharmaceuticals D Roberts Pharmaceuticals (NASDAZ: RPCX) is fast realising its goal of becoming a major pharmaceutical company whose diverse products contribute to the health and wellbeing of all age groups. Roberts has successfully combined an aggressive product development programme with strategic acquisitions, to create a profitable company with a well-balanced product portfolio concentrated in six major therapeutic categories. _______________________________________ Telia E The Telia Group offers public and private networks for telephony. data communications and mobile telephony. Together with PTT Netherlands and Swiss PTT. Telia is a co-owner of Unisource. In 1993, the Telia Groups revenues totalled USD $4.5 billion. Return on capital employed was 14.5 per cent. Telia invested a total of USD 910 million. _______________________________________ Roche F Roche is a Swiss-based international health-care group employing 56,000 people worldwide. It is a research-driven company with a leading position in biotechnology and activities covering the entire health spectrum of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Roche has gained a high reputation for the quality of its innovative research and the original contributions it has made to the development of new drugs. In addition to pharmaceuticals Roche is engaged in the fields of vitamins and fine chemicals, diagnostics, fragrances and flavours. _______________________________________ BSS - G BSS is a Swiss bank with all that this applies in terms of tradition, experience, security and confidentiality. BSS is owned by the Fondation de Famille Sandoz and by key executives of the bank. The bank focuses on asset management for private and institutional clients and offers a wide range of securities and banking services including global custody, forex and stock exchange operations.

______________________________________ Saga Petroleum a.s. - H In 1993, Saga Petroleum had an operating profit of NOK 1694 million and a profit before taxes of NOK 1006 million. The Groups proved and probable oil and gas reserves total 1,474 million tonnes of oil equivalent, of which 44 per cent is oil. In terms of reserves, Saga is among the largest independent upstream companies in the world. It is Sagas intention further to strengthen its position on the Norwegian shelf, and to utilise the companys expertise and capacity gradually to develop its international activities. Sagas objective is to give the companys shareholders the highest possible return on their investment through efficient operations and strict requirements to the profitability of new products. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 40
January 22, 2007

You are going to read a newspaper article about bats. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (16-21). There is one extra sentence which you will not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

BATS ARE NOCTURNAL, BUT NOT AS BLACK AS PAINTED By Anna Harrisson Bats may play an essential part in horror films, but they suffer from an undeserved reputation. Just as strange is the preference of some, but not all, bat species to hang upside-down when resting. 0:__H__ Lets start at the beginning; first things first. Our friends the bats dont wish to get knotted up in our hair; they dont suck blood; they dont spread disease! Most bats are gentle and kindly, more keen on helping farmers than biting the necks of young women dressed in their nightdresses.

16:______ In pre-historic times, the cavemen noticed bats hanging like bunches of grapes, from the roofs of caves. Their first reactions were feelings of fear, which changed to respect when watching the tender care with which the mother looked after her baby bats, cleaning them and feeding them all day. 17: _____ The classical Greeks, who were great naturalists, were the ones to give bats their name, chiroptera. 18: _____ While we humans are meat-eating, of the more than 1,000 kinds of bats on our planet, only one, the vampire bat from the Carpathian mountains, sucks blood. 19: _____ I I Mosquitoes also suck blood and people are much less afraid of them, although they may be much more dangerous, spreading the disease malaria. The tiger mosquito in Central America spreads encephalitis. Bats in Europe are 100 per cent insect eaters. In Greece, at the beginning of this century, there were great communities of bats living around the plains of Thessaly. 20: _____ Then they would clean up the insects, many of which were harmful to the farmers crops, acting like flying vacuum cleaners. Now things are changing fast, and not all for the better! Bats have been living on our planet for about 40 million years, and they move from place to place, living sometimes in caves, forests, old buildings, and every once in a while in a church bell tower. 21: _____ ______________________________________ A This means hands with wings. B But unless weve been introduced and got to know someone, how can we love them isnt this the case with bears, wolves and street dogs? C In the evenings and nights, they would fly over the wet ditches and the wheat fields. D How is it that just one out of more than one thousand species can give all bats such a bad name, considering that there are many, such as fruit bats and flying-foxes, which are completely vegetarian? E Fools are described as batty or have bats in the belfry. F All the ancient civilisations were sympathetic towards bats, respected them and considered them to have magic powers. G Needless to say, we have a great responsibility towards them. H Hopefully this is not too confusing!

Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 1 Comment

Reading, 39
January 22, 2007

You are going to read an extract from a book. For questions 8-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Just after midnight the last of the lights had gone out and Boyd started the car, drove down to the coast road and turned so that the car would be facing the right way for when he left. They didnt look as if they would be a problem but the quicker he could leave the easier it would be. He stopped the car just past the entrance to the driveway. The nylon ropes and the torch were on the passenger seat beside him. His gun was in his right-hand jacket pocket. When he got out he opened all the car doors very slightly after he had switched off the parking lights. He walked up the road until he guessed he was opposite the house and then climbed over the low dry-stone wall. The moon was full, making the house look almost as if it were all lit up. Treading slowly and determinedly he moved down the slope towards the house, across the drive and over to the front door. It was in deep shadow and he shone the torch on the lock as he gently pushed in the key. It turned easily and when he moved the handle he felt a soft rush of cold air as the door opened. He left the door slightly open and he shone the torch around the big square hall. The stairs made a lot of noise despite his keeping well against the wall, but nobody stirred. The bedroom facing the top of the stairs was locked, and he tried several keys in the lock. The third one unlocked it and he opened the door slowly. There was a smell of stale smoke, and he guessed it was not used as a bedroom. He shaded the torch with his hand and saw that the room was unoccupied. He found the switch, turned on the light and closed the door. There were two long tables in the centre of the room. The kind that decorators use. They were piled with papers and books, with a space cleared for a portable typewriter. Against the far wall was a projection screen on a metal stand. A slide projector and a 16mm sound projector were on a metal stand at the side of metal shelves. There were three worn armchairs and on an otherwise empty bookshelf was a small portable radio. 8 Why did Boyd wait to park his car? A to let the others go to bed B to make sure his car was facing the right way C to get the ropes and torch ready D to let the moon go behind a cloud

9 Why did Boyd turn the car around? A He wanted to be able to leave quickly and easily. B He was worried that he might have problems with the car. C He wanted to park just past the entrance to the driveway. D He couldnt see well because the lights had gone out. 10 How did he feel as he got near the house? A guilty and fearful B disappointed and determined C nervous and frightened D confident and calm 11 What does it in line 12 refer to? A the low dry-stone wall B the moon C the house D the slope 12 What does treading in line 12 mean? A running B walking C escaping D racing 13 While going up the stairs, he thought that A he should keep away from the wall. B he might be heard.

C he must have lost his keys. D he was the only one in the house. 14 What do we learn about the bedroom facing the top of the stairs? A It had just been decorated. B It was unlocked. C It had been used by smokers. D It had been used as a cinema. 15 What would be the most suitable title for this extract? A Caught as a spy B An ordinary burglar C Looking for information D Telling secrets Check your answers here Posted in Reading | 1 Comment

Reading, 38
January 22, 2007

You are going to read an advertisement for a theatre club. Choose from the list A-I the heading which best summarises each part (1-7) of the advertisement. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A See excellent actors and actresses B How to join the Theatre Club C A choice of three D Listen to an expert E How to book a seat

F A show for the holiday season G For those with a sweet tooth H Performances held in different cities I The Sunday Times: The Theatre Club YOUR TICKET TO THE BEST SEATS 0:__I__ The Theatre Club now has 25,000 members, proving that its one of the fastest growing clubs in the country. ______________________________________ 1: _____ In the new year the club will introduce a series of weekend breaks, giving members the opportunity to visit and enjoy the rich variety of theatres around the country. From the oldest Georgian playhouse to the most modern auditorium, members will get the chance to go backstage and meet the people who make theatre happen, as well as to enjoy some sightseeing. _______________________________________ 2: _____ This weeks offers reflect the clubs wide range of activities. Theres a chance to meet one of the countrys leading producers, go on a Chocoholic Theatre Weekend, or go to a special family ballet matinee. _______________________________________ 3: _____ Call ahead to book seats for any of these shows at the Theatre Clubs own booking service on 0171-413 1412, which is available 24 hours a day, or call the number given with each show during box-office hours. _______________________________________ 4: _____

Send a cheque for 12.50, made payable to The Theatre Club, together with your name, address and telephone number to: The Theatre Club, PO Box 2, Owen Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 3HH. If you need more information, please telephone 0171-3879673. ______________________________________ 5: _____ LONDO : English National Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Royal Festival Hall New Years Day matinee 2.30 pm. Tchaikovskys magical ballet features flying cooks, a Christmas tree that grows and grows, a magic Santas sleigh and dolls that come to life. Members are offered a special tea party after the matinee performance. The cost is just 30 a ticket for adults and half price for children. Telephone 0171-928 8800. _______________________________________ 6: _____ LONDON: An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde at the Globe Theatre Tuesday, January 19 Meet the producer, Bill Kenwright, before a performance of Sir Peter Halls production of An Ideal Husband. Bill Kenwright is one of the five most prolific producers in the country. He currently has five shows in the West End and produces at two regional theatres. Members have the chance to learn at first hand the producers role in the theatre. Tickets are available to members at 26, which includes a pre-theatre buffet and top price seats for the show. Telephone 0171-240 1690. _______________________________________ 7: _____ BIRMINGHAM: A Chocoholics Theatre Weekend with The Wizard of Oz at the Repertory Theatre January 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 Enjoy a weekend full of chocolate and fun. Members will stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and will receive a bundle of chocolate sweets before relaxing in the best seats in the theatre for The Wizard of Oz. Later, a cup of hot chocolate before bed finishes off the evening, which is followed the next day by a tempting trip to Cadbury World. Tickets for the weekend cost 62.75 for adults (based on two people sharing a room), 26.75 for children under 14, and 4.50 for

children under five, staying in their parents room (babysitters are available). The price includes bed and breakfast, theatre tickets and the trip to Cadbury World. Telephone 0121-236 2302 for details and to book ahead. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 37
January 21, 2007

You are going to read a travel guide to eight romantic destinations. For questions 22 35, choose from the list of places A-H. Some of the places may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order. There is an example at the beginning (0). Which romantic destinations would you recommend for someone who: likes ice cream? 0:__B__ enjoys the view from above? 22: ____ 23:____ 24: ____ wants to be alone with their loved one? 25: _____ likes to make an early start to the day? 27: ____ 28: ____ likes ancient places? 29: ____ is interested in 20th century decoration? 30: _____ has a particular interest in wildlife? 31: _____ likes the sea? 32:____ 33:____ 34: _____ 35: _____

A ROMANTIC ADVENTUROUS GETAWAY

It has to be admitted that some travel experiences will excite the traveller more than others. So here is our guide to a few offbeat or at least less-travelled romantic adventures which might make your heart beat a bit faster. A Gebel Musa Stroll up the mountain of Moses, from St Catherines monastery on the Sinai Peninsula in the very early hours to experience dawn at the summit with Exodus written large on the peachcoloured landscape below. Its a deeply moving experience; many people (and yes, I am afraid you will find a few fellow travellers beside you at the top) choose to share the experience with their beloved covered up under a blanket. Good idea. Best for the physically fit. B Merida The university town of Merida in the Venezuelan Andes is famous for two things: its ice cream shop boasts the most flavours in the world (avoid the garlic and spinach flavours-thats not romantic), but more importantly, it is the source of the longest and highest cable car on the planet. Watch the city fall away behind you as the cable car climbs to an astonishing 16,000 ft summit then step out and feel your head spin at the wonder of the landscape (not to mention the lack of oxygen). C Caribbean Romantics have always revelled in sailing the Seven Seas, even while turning green and reaching for the nearest empty paper bag. One of the greatest cruising experiences of our time involves lying side-by-side hanging over the sea on the fourmasted schooners, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, under 36,000 ft2 of sail, watching dolphins frolic in the foaming Caribbean waves. D Miami Learn to skate together in Miami not like Torville and Dean, it doesnt get quite that cold on South Beach. In-line skating is all the rage in the art deco district, gliding hand-in-hand through candy-coloured buildings on one side, the ocean on the other. You can hire the skates and all the equipment at several shops nearby. E Masai Mara Early morning is the best time to share a hot-air balloon gliding over the Masai Mara with a bottle of bubbly, admiring the zebras, giraffes, monkeys, wildebeest and a rather worrying, mysterious dark shape which you eventually identify as your own balloons shadow. F Maui Ride a horse along the Hana coast on the Hawaiian island of Maui on the lookout for pods of whales, then turn deep inland into the rainforest to swim in a pretty emerald lagoon.

G San Francisco Few bath tubs can boast a view like those of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in San Francisco. Lying on the top floor of the third highest building in the city, you find yourself up to your neck in a foam-bath beside a large picture window with the city spread out below your toes and the Golden Gate Bridge emerging through the mist. H Fiji The staff on Yasawa Island resort in Fiji are not keen on crowding guests. Say the word and they will abandon you on one-and-a-half mile long Champagne Beach for the day with little more than an enormous shade, a vast picnic, plenty of cold drinks, books, games, your swimsuit and snorkel gear to explore the spectacularly colourful marine world. Check your answers here Posted in Reading | Leave a Comment

Reading, 36
January 21, 2007

You are going to read an article about Grigory Efimovich Rasputin. Seven extracts have been removed from the article. Choose from the extracts A H the one which fits each gap 1621. There is one extra extract which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0). A An American might have gone from log cabin to White House; but no Siberian before Rasputin, and none since, until Boris Yeltsin, achieved Rasputins fame. B Years later, the niece of one of the Tsars doctors remembered him teaching her to pray with the most wonderful words and explaining quietly why she should never tear up flowers, because it was cruel to take life by force. C In truth, Rasputin was neither mad, nor a monk. He was pious and lustful, intelligent, charismatic, outrageous and utterly amoral. He was also strikingly modern. His skills as a spiritual leader and manipulator of souls match those of any modern-day guru. D These holy men, with a special grace from God, were known as staretsy, elders. Dostoevsky described the guru-like skills of a starets in his novel The Brothers Karamazov. E The church could not give them the religious comfort they craved, but Rasputins skills as a starets almost always brought elevation, interest, and, to an unhappy soul, cheerfulness, hope, comfort, and even joy, an official investigation said.

F By 1916, he had engineered the appointments of the two most powerful and corrupt officials in Russia. He is said to have had a hypnotic power over the Tsar, to have been a German agent, and to have seduced the Empress and her daughters. G There were many claims that Rasputin used hypnosis. Rasputin himself always denied this; the secret police who followed him 24 hours a day, in shifts, logged a single visit to a hypnotist, and noted that he showed no more interest in the subject. H Cant stand it any more, he complained. So many folks have come. Received them since morning and they still keep coming.

RASPUTIN: an alternative viewpoint Grigory Efimovich Rasputin was a much misunderstood man; he was neither mad nor a monk. There was actually plenty to admire in the peasant who became guru to the Romanovs. History has been no kinder to Rasputin than the conspirators who shot and beat him to death in the basement of a St Petersburg palace in 1916. His followers believed he was a saint; but the reputation that survives is the one given to him by his many enemies. They named him the Mad Monk, the incarnation of evil, the cartoon devil in Foxs Anastasia with leering and hypnotic eyes. 0:__C__ His rise to power has a fairy tale quality. Born in a cabin on the banks of a Siberian river, he made his way to St Petersburg, the distant capital of a great empire, and there won the trust and affection of Tsar Nicholas and Empress Alexandra. He had a gift for healing. He enslaved the royal couple by saving the life of their haemophiliac son, Tsarevich Alexis; as a result, his influence grew. 16: _____ The fact that Rasputin had a reputation at all was evident in his character. He was born in 1869 in the Siberian village of Pokrovsokoye, the son of a carpenter. The place was not well known; no reigning Tsar had ever visited his land beyond the Urals. 17: _____ Life for villagers was an eternal deadend of illiteracy, boring tasks, and drinking. Young Rasputin brawled, drank and thieved, but Siberia gave him the exceptional qualities necessary to leave it. He was fearless and ambitious. When he was 20, he spent three months at the monastery

of Verkhoturye, in the eastern foothills of the Urals. Hermits lived in huts in the surrounding forests in simplicity and self-denial, on black bread and water. 18: _____ It is said that Rasputin only reached the heights he did because he was able to ease the sufferings of the haemophiliac Tsarevich, Nicholas and Alexandras son. But evidently Rasputin was an accident waiting to happen; the haemophilia merely confirmed his role. Well-born women were the core of his clientele. 19:______ Rasputin was introduced to Alexandra at court by the spiritualist daughters of the corrupt King of Montenegro. Rasputin established himself rapidly at the palace. He had a natural way with children; he had three of his own, and was a fond and much-loved father. He attracted the attention of the young Romanovs with stories of his experiences. 20: ____ He had an undeniable power of healing. As a young boy in Siberia, he had been a horsewhisperer, curing livestock of ailments, and there are many later examples of his ability to ease suffering. He exhausted himself, too, with his generosity to those who sought out his help. 21: _____ But, even when he had not slept after a nights drinking, he would appear at ten, bow low, look at the crowd, and say: Youve all come to ask me for help. Ill help you all. Check your answers here