You are going to read an article about a man who makes works of art out of seashells. For questions 1-8, choose the answer (А-D) which you think fits best according to the text.
THE SHELL ARTIST
At the age of 83 Peter Cooke has become a master of his art.
There are still many things that Peter Cooke would like to try his hand at - paper-making and feather-work are on his list. For the moment though, he will stick to the skill that he has been delighted to perfect over the past ten years: making delicate and unusual objects out of shells.
'Tell me if I am boring you,' he says, as he leads me round his apartment showing me his work. There is a fine line between being a bore and being an enthusiast, but Cooke need not worry: he fits into the latter category, helped both by his charm and by the beauty of the things he makes.
He points to a pair of shell-covered ornaments above a fireplace. 'I shan't be at all bothered if people don't buy them because I have got so used to them, and to me they're adorable. I never meant to sell my work commercially. Some friends came to see me about five years ago and said, "You must have an exhibition -people ought to see these. We'll talk to a man who owns an art gallery".' The result was an exhibition in London, at which 70 per cent of the objects were sold. His second exhibition opened at the gallery yesterday. Considering the enormous prices the pieces command - around ?2,000 for the ornaments - an empty space above the fireplace would seem a small sacrifice for Cooke to make.
There are 86 pieces in the exhibition, with prices starting at ?225 for a shell-flower in a crystal vase. Cooke insists that he has nothing to do with the prices and is cheerily open about their level: he claims there is nobody else in the world who produces work like his, and, as the gallery-owner told him, 'Well, you're going to stop one day and everybody will want your pieces because there won't be any more.'
'I do wish, though,' says Cooke, 'that I'd taken this up a lot earlier, because then I would have been able to produce really wonderful things - at least the potential would have been there. Although the ideas are still there and I'm doing the best I can now, I'm more limited physically than I was when I started.' Still, the work that he has managed to produce is a long way from the common shell constructions that can be found in seaside shops. 'I have a miniature mind,' he says, and this has resulted in boxes covered in thousands of tiny shells, little shaded pictures made from shells and baskets of astonishingly realistic flowers.
Cooke has created his own method and uses materials as and when he finds them. He uses the cardboard sent back with laundered shirts for his flower bases, a nameless glue bought in bulk from a sail-maker ('If it runs out, I don't know what I will do!') and washing-up liquid to wash the shells. 'I have an idea of what I want to do, and it just does itself,' he says of his working method, yet the attention to detail, colour gradations and symmetry he achieves look far from accidental.
Cooke's quest for beautiful, and especially tiny, shells has taken him further than his Norfolk shore: to France, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa and the Philippines, to name but a few of the beaches where he has lain on his stomach and looked for beauties to bring home. He is insistent that he only collects dead shells and defends himself against people who write him letters accusing him of stripping the world's beaches. 'When I am collecting shells, I hear people's great fat feet crunching them up far faster than I can collect them; and the ones that are left, the sea breaks up. I would not dream of collecting shells with living creatures in them or diving for them, but once their occupants have left, why should I not collect them?' If one bases this argument on the amount of luggage that can be carried home by one man, the sum beauty of whose work is often greater than its natural parts, it becomes very convincing indeed.
1 What does the reader learn about Peter Cooke in the first paragraph?
A
He has produced hand-made objects in different materials.
B
Не was praised for his shell objects many years ago.
C
Не hopes to work with other materials in the future.
D
He has written about his love of making shell objects.
2 When looking round his apartment, the writer
A
is attracted by Cooke's personality.
B
senses that Cooke wants his products to be admired.
C
realises he finds Cooke's work boring.
D
feels uncertain about giving Cooke his opinion.
3 The 'small sacrifice' in paragraph 3 refer to
A
the loss of Cooke's ornaments.
B
the display of Cooke's ornaments.
C
the cost of keeping Cooke's ornaments.
D
the space required to store Cooke's ornaments.
4 When the writer enquires about the cost of his shell objects, Cooke
A
cleverly changes the subject.
B
defends the prices charged for his work.
C
says he has no idea why the level is so high.
D
notes that his work will not always be so popular.
5 What does Cooke regret about his work?
A
He is not as famous as he should have been.
B
Не makes less money than he should make.
C
Не is less imaginative than he used to be.
D
He is not as skilful as he used to be.
6When talking about the artist's working method, the writer suspects that Cooke
A
accepts that he sometimes makes mistakes.
B
is unaware of the unique quality his work has.
C
underrates his creative contribution.
D
undervalues the materials that he uses.
7What does the reader learn about Cooke's shell-collecting activities?
A
Not everyone approves of what he does.
B
Other methods might make his work easier.
C
Other tourists get in the way of his collecting.
D
Not all shells are the right size and shape for his work.
8 What does 'it' in the last paragraph refer to?
A
Cooke's luggage
B
Cooke's argument
C
the beauty of Cooke's work
D
the reason for Cooke's trips
YOUR ANSWER TASK 1
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D
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TASK 2
You are going to read a magazine article about a new hotel. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (9-15). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A
For guests, though, it is the other technology offered in their rooms which is most likely to find favour.
B
Being part of the hotel site has huge benefits, both for him and the hotel itself.
C
Extra cables have been laid to handle whatever scientific advances may occur.
D
He expects fifty per cent of the rooms to be occupied in the hotel's first year.
E
Another hi-tech system controls this essential area of comfort.
F
However, for details of his guests' preferences, he relies on the hotel's computer system.
G
The one hundred and forty-five bedrooms, large and well-furnished, are both comfortable and welcoming.
H
He praises its efficiency and talks enthusiastically of the facilities it offers.
Five-star luxury meets up-to-date technology
The five-star Merrion Hotel, which has just opened, is the result of considerable research into customer requirements and nearly two years' work converting four large eighteenth-century houses in Dublin. Creating a new hotel in this way has allowed the latest technology to be installed. This has been done for the benefit of staff and guests alike.
At the Merrion, General Manager Peter MacCann expects his staff to know the guests by name. 9_____ It can deal with return clients in the extra-special way that is appropriate to a five-star hotel.
Though the system cost $250,000 to install, it will pay for itself over time, according to MacCann. 10_____ For example, a guest who requests certain music CDs during a first stay will find those same CDs ready for him on a return visit. This is thanks to the guest-history facility which allows staff to key in any number of preferences.
Hotel guests the world over frequently complain about room temperature. 11_____ Guests have the opportunity to change the temperature themselves within three degrees either side of the normal 18°C but, in addition, each individual room can be adjusted by any amount between 14°C and 25°C at the front desk.
12_____ This is particularly true for the business user, and MacCann estimates that up to sixty-five per cent of his business will come from this part of the market. To provide the best service for such needs, the hotel has taken the traditional business centre and put it into individual bedrooms. Each one has three phones, two phone lines, a fax machine that doubles as a photocopier and printer, and a video-conferencing facility.
Technology changes so quickly these days that the hotel has had to try to forecast possible improvements. 13_____ The televisions are rented rather than bought, so that they can be replaced with more up-to-date models at any time. DVD recorders can also be upgraded when necessary.
Despite the presence of all this very up-to-the-minute equipment in the rooms, MacCann says they have tried hard not to make guests feel threatened by the technology. 14_____ There are, of course, a swimming pool and gym, six conference rooms, two bars and two restaurants, and a beautiful garden at the heart of it all.
As at all luxury hotels, the food that is offered to guests must be excellent. Chef Patrick Guilbaud's Dublin restaurant already had two Michelin stars when he agreed to move his restaurant business to the Merrion. 15_____ He has been able to design a new kitchen and take it into the modern age. There are better parking facilities than at the previous address, too. From the hotel's side, they are able to offer a popular and successful place to eat, with no financial risks attached.
Aided by technology and a highly capable staff, the Merrion looks likely to succeed.
YOUR ANSWER TASK 2
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
TASK 3
You are going to read a magazine article in which five people talk about their characters. For questions 16-30, choose from the people (A-E). The people may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order.
Which person or people
16
mentions joining because of loneliness?
17
had some theatre experience before joining The Globe Players?
18
has a high opinion of The Globe Players?
19
joined to keep busy?
20
has mixed feelings about finishing a show?
21
have difficulty finding suitable roles?
22
have difficulty finding suitable roles?
23
enjoys being with people who have different ideas?
24
thinks that acting is out of character for them?
25
mentions the publicity they sometimes receive?
26
believes the other members are like them in character?
27
talks about the complications of putting on a play?
28
feel that not everyone approves of them acting?
29
feel that not everyone approves of them acting?
30
doubts their ability to perform?
The Globe Players
A Christina Howard
When I moved to this area the children were quite little, and I wondered how I was ever going to meet people. Then I met Susanna Dickster, who was the organiser of The Globe Players, and she said, 'Do you want to join?' And I said, 'Well, yes, all right.' They appeared to be incredibly extrovert people, which I suppose I am by nature too. For three years I was the theatre manager. I think I make a better manager than an actress, but I did have a dream role in a play the year before last.
B Eric Plumber
I do about one play a year, just out of interest. But I'm a quiet sort of chap, not one of the world's extroverts, and yet here I am in an extrovert field, doing theatrical activities. There is a sort of magic to the theatre. There's a sense of togetherness with the rest of the actors in the cast. When a play is over, on the last night, there's a combination of anticlimax and relief. It's rather nice to think you will be able to do all the things that you weren't able to do when the play was on. But there's also a sense of loss, so you look forward to the next play.
C Laura Goldcrest
I have done some stage management for productions at my school and when I saw the play The Globe Players were going to do next, I thought I'd try for it. Usually there are not a lot of parts for people my age, so when there was this opportunity, I went along and auditioned. It went all right, and I got the part. Lots of my friends just hang around with people of their own age, but there are people at The Globe Players who are quite old, and I get talking to them about all sorts of things. It's amazing how our views differ, but we have lovely conversations.
D Clare MacDonald
When I was at school, I used to think I'd rather like to go on stage. But then other things came along. One job I did was as a stewardess for an airline. That's like giving a performance. I left the airline and joined The Globe Players. My husband will always come to performances, but he does tend to moan a bit because he feels it takes up too much time. As a club I feel we are very professional. I do about one play a year, which is quite enough for me. Obviously, there are fewer parts as you get older, particularly for women: one can no longer play Juliet or other young parts, which I feel sad about.
E Robin Wilson
I work behind the scenes with The Globe Players because it's always a challenge. For instance, the last play I did needed a full-sized, working swimming pool. Well, most amateur theatres have a bucket of water in the wings. But our director said, 'I want a real swimming pool on that set. Go away and do it.' It was a real challenge for me. However, we did it. We got more reviews than we usually do because, of course, it was something different. And quite a lot of amateur societies came to see if they could do it - and a lot of them decided they couldn't. F Mike James
I was a science teacher and took early retirement from my college. After twenty-four years it was a bit hard and I got rather bored. During that time it was good to have the drama group. It takes your mind off things; you can't act and worry about something else. But it's very disruptive to a family - my wife will tell you that. Teaching in a way is like being on stage. When you go into a class you may not be feeling very well, you are not necessarily very keen on the subject you are teaching - the whole thing adds up to a no-no. But you go in, you are enthusiastic and you try to generate interest, and it's an act.
YOUR ANSWER TASK 3
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
TASK 4
For questions 31-42, read the text below and decide which answer (А-D) best fits each gap.
Markets
In practically any country in the world you are 31_____ to find a market somewhere. Markets have been with us since 32_____ times, and arose wherever people needed to exchange the goods they produced. For example, a farmer might have exchanged a cow for tools. But just as times have 33_____ , so have market practices. So, 34_____ in early times the main activity 35_____ with markets would have been 'bartering' - in 36_____ words exchanging goods - today most stall-holders wouldn't be too 37_____ on accepting potatoes as payment, for instance, instead of cash. In contrast, what might be a common 38_____ in a modern market in some countries is a certain amount of 'haggling', where customer and seller eventually 39_____ on a price, after what can sometimes be quite a heated debate. However, behaviour which is 40_____ in a market in one country may not be acceptable in another. Even within one country, there may be some markets where you could haggle quite 41_____ and others where it would be 42_____ not to try!
