Read the texts below. Match choices (A-H) to (1-5). There are two choices you do not need to use. An example (0) has been done for you.
A There is an age limit for this activity. B If you send a message, you may win a prize. C You need to pay to enter the contest. D They open a new high school soon. E They need your reaction and support. F They will deliver a magazine to your school. G They have started a new service online. H There is a deadline set for this activity.
YOUR ANSWER READING TASK 1
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
1
2
3
4
5
TASK 2
Read the text below. For (6-10) choose T if the statement is true according to the text, or F if it is false. An example (0) has been done for you.
"Swans Swim past My Bedroom Window" Danielle Walker, 13, from Derbyshire
"Four years ago, I lived in a regular house in Nottinghamshire with Mum, Dad and little sister, Nicole, 8. But my dad had always been really into boats, and one day he came home and announced we were all going to live on one.
"The boat is like the TARDIS - it's loads bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. It's as long as two double-decker buses and six foot, six inches high. Because of the big windows, it feels airy and light inside - and the only way you'd know you were on water is a gentle bobbing feeling, which I don't even notice any more.
"I share my bedroom with Nicole. It's small. My only bit of personal space is a desk with my computer on it so I can keep in touch with mates on MSN. I have to keep my stuff super-tidy, and not having any space definitely makes me think twice about buying things I don't really need. "But it's worth it. I love living so close to nature. When I look out of my window I can see water and the other boats in the marina - there are always swans and fish swimming past. In the winter it's warm and cosy, and in the summer, when we sail away on our holidays, I don't even need to pack. We just untie the rope and float away..."
0 Danielle has been living on a boat-house for four years. (TRUE) 6 All of the family always wanted to live on a boat. 7 The boat is as big and airy as the house where Danielle lived before. 8 You can feel a slight swaying when you are on the boat. 9 Danielle and her sister have enough space to live in. 10 You can always see different birds close to the boat.
YOUR ANSWER READING TASK 2
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TRUE
FALSE
6
7
8
9
10
TASK 3
Read the text below. For questions (11-15) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). An example (0) has been done for you.
Hidden Treasure
If, like me, your vision of the perfect Caribbean holiday involves muscovado sand beaches, blissfully warm azure sea and a constant supply of rum-based cocktails, then Antigua won't disappoint.
The island has 365 palm-fringed beaches - one for every day of the year, as Antiguans will tell you - great food and wonderful, open-hearted people.
It also has some top accommodation options, including the luxurious St James's Club. Moving from my perfectly positioned lounger was always going to be a challenge. My husband, however, had other ideas. He'd hired a jeep and was determined to explore.
Lured by the prospect of a picnic lunch in a deserted cove, I agreed to join him, and I'm very glad I did. The island has a host of unexpected treasures.
At picturesque English Harbour we explored historical Nelson's Boatyard, and bought a bag of 'black gold' -nothing to do with pirates, but the sweetest pineapple I've ever tasted.
Along the way we saw pastel-coloured houses, Eric Clapton's villa, kids playing barefoot cricket -Antigua is home to Sir Viv Richards - and more great beaches.
Our four-year-old daughter was entranced to see real bananas growing on trees and whole families of goats and chickens trying to cross the road.
For an outstanding view of the island, I heard the best place is Shirley Heights. On a Sunday afternoon this is the place to be for 'jump-up' - a traditional Caribbean party involving barbecued food, cold beer, steel band music and endless dancing.
There are plenty of boat trips on offer in Antigua and it's definitely well worth taking a catamaran cruise to the nearby island of Barbuda - home to the famous K Club resort, a spot much favoured by celebrities, including late Princess Diana. With barely anyone else in sight, even the sand at the resort feels exclusive.
Close to Barbuda, and only accessible by boat, is a sanctuary for the magnificent frigate bird. The males have bizarre large red balloons beneath their beaks, which they plump up during the mating season to attract females.
Back on land we made the bone-rattling journey to Brown's Bay on the east side of the island for an exquisite dinner at the upmarket B&B Harmony Hall. Not only does the place offer local arts and crafts and a stunning view of uninhabited Green Island (brilliant snorkelling) but it also serves the best daiquiris ever. Bliss.
By Dawn Alford
GETTING THERE
Seven nights in Antigua with Virgin Holidays, staying at The Beach Club hotel, starts at $929 per adult and $489 per child, including return Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick to Antigua, transfers and accommodation on an all-inclusive basis. Prices, based on departures between 1 Sep-11 Oct 2007, may be subject to a fuel surcharge. Virgin is a Clubcard Deals partner, so every $10 in Clubcard Vouchers can be exchanged for $40 worth of Holiday Tokens to pay for all or part of your holiday. Pick up a Clubcard Deals brochure in store or visit.
0 The text is about
A
looking for treasures.
B
visiting historical places.
C
meeting famous people.
D
having perfect holidays.
11 The couple explored the island of Antigua ______
A
on foot.
B
in a car.
C
on a boat.
D
on a horse back.
12 Which sight did the family NOT see in Antigua?
A
Brown's Bay
B
English Harbour
C
Nelson's Boatyard
D
Shirley Heights
13 Barbuda is famous for its ______
A
traditional Caribbean party.
B
exotic fauna and flora.
C
wonderful resort.
D
'black gold' treasures.
14 The family had dinner at
A
St James's Club.
B
TEric Clapton's villa.
C
Sir Viv Richards'.
D
B&B Harmony Hall.
15 Staying at the Beach Club hotel starts at $ . . . per child
A
10
B
489
C
40
D
929
YOUR ANSWER READING TASK 3
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A
B
C
D
11
12
13
14
15
TASK 4
Read the text below. Match choices (A-H) to (16-20). There are two choices you do not need to use. An example (0) has been done for you.
A
If you want to reach the highest top.
B
You'll be pleased with the perfect fishery.
C
Do you like submarine travelling?
D
Enjoy an adventurous water ride in spring!
E
Enjoy wonderful horse back scenery.
F
Acquaint with the amazing underwater world.
G
Exciting tours with water ride activities.
H
Do you prefer walking among other activities?
Outdoor adventure From the stately flanks of its Cascade volcanoes to the stony shores of its myriad waterways, the region offers an unmatched wealth of all fresco activities.
0 - A With Mount Rainier keeping a constant vigil over the city, it's no wonder many Seattleites claim mountaineering as hobby Ml. In spring and summer, locals and tourists bolt for the hills and the region's many hikes and climbs. If you've succumbed to the siren song of Rainier's 14,411-foot summit, get in touch with a professional guide service. Feeling a bit mellower? Head to a bookstore and pick up a local hiking guidebook; you'll find profiles of dozens of hikes nearby.
16_____ Hurricane ridge, huge trees, hikes, Lake Crescent and quaint towns. Visit the 5th most visited National Park in the US. Enjoy Puget Sound ferry rides, gigantic trees dripping with moss, hike up to a waterfall, and enjoy the spectacular view from mile high hurricane ridge. See the heart of this unusual and wild eco-system. On this tour you have a good chance of spotting elk, deer, eagles, and maybe even banana slugs.
17_____ With the onset of the spring snowmelt, the area serves up prime-time Whitewater rafting. Rafters flock to two rivers in particular: the forest-hemmed Skykomish and the wide-open, sundrenched Wenatchee. Both offer rollicking fun for participants of all skill levels. Guide services offer tours on both rivers.
18_____ From the crystal-clear trout streams of the Cascades and Olympics to the deep-water sport-fishing waters of Washington's Pacific Coast, the Evergreen State offers up an array of angling opportunities that ranks among the nation's best. Whether you're after salmon, steelhead, tuna, trout, halibut or any number of first-class fish, the Pacific Northwest has something for you.
19_____ Home to 8-foot octupi and sixgill sharks, Puget Sound is one of the deepest, most diverse aquatic ecosystems in the Lower 48. Harmless creatures aside, it's also home to some great diving. From West Seattle's Alki Beach to the San Juans, the Puget Sound offers entertaining dive options for beginners and pros alike. Contact a local dive shop for suggested dives and local know-how.
20_____ Seattle is literally inundated with lakes, rivers and saltwater, so it only makes sense that kayaks are a preferred mode of sightseeing. Several outfitters offer rentals on Seattle's Lake Union and Elliott Bay, but if you're hankering for an escape from civilization, head north to the San Juan Islands. Once there, you'll find stunning scenery and first-class paddling - plus a bevy of guide services to provide the boats and show you the way to aquatic nirvana.
YOUR ANSWER READING TASK 4
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
16
17
18
19
20
TASK 5
Read and complete the text below. For each of the empty space (21-32) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). An example (0) has been done for you.
Do Cows Point North? By David Derbyshire, Environment Editor
If you're (0)A lost in the countryside without a compass, don't panic. Just look for a herd of cows and see which way they are pointing.
After (21)_____ the behaviour of thousands of cattle, scientists have found that they tend to face north after aligning themselves with the Earth's magnetic field.
The astonishing ability appears to be a (22)_____ of the days when the wild ancestors of today's domesticated cattle used inbuilt compasses to find their way across the plains of Africa, Asia and Europe on long (23)_____
Although cows are famed for their ability to (24)_____ rain hours advance, their talent for navigating has so far gone overlooked.
Dozens of species of animals use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate - including birds, turtles, termites and salmon. The ability is also (25)_____ in some mammals including rats and bats. Animals are thought to use (26)_____ magnets - made of crystals of magnetite - to find their way around. Homing pigeons, for instance, have a tiny blob of these crystals in their beaks. Dr Sabine Begall and colleagues from the University of Duisburg-Essen used Google Earth to find images of cattle in worldwide locations including Britain, Ireland, India and the U.S. They (27)_____ directly observed almost 3,000 deer in the Czech Republic. Their researches suggested that cattle were behaving in the same way as their close relatives, the deer.
(28)_____ the direction of the wind and sunlight varied hugely in the different locations, the scientists were able to rule out weather and the position of the sun as an explanation. "We conclude that the magnetic field is the only common and most likely factor responsible (29)_____ the observed alignment," the researchers wrote in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Gywn Jones, who (30)_____ kept dairy cattle for 25 years in West Sussex, confirmed: "They know what weather to (31)_____ in advance. Beef cattle will head up to higher altitudes if the weather is going to good. "My dairy cattle have their favourite fields where they go if it is going to be sunny.
"I let mine go in and out, and if it's (32)_____ to be wet they head inside.
"In rough weather they like to have their backs to the wind. But I've not noticed a preference for facing north."
Daily Mail, Tuesday, August 26, 2008
0
A lost
B dropped off
C was left
D found yourself
21
A monitoring
B inspection
C observing
D acquaintance
22
A track
B surplus
C relic
D hint
23
A dislocations
B migrations
C relocations
D travels
24
A forecast
B prophesy
C presage
D see
25
A eminent
B surfaced
C notable
D found
26
A visual
B internal
C embed
D integrated
27
A too
B already
C also
D finally
28
A because
B actually
C however
D sometimes
29
A to
B for
C towards
D at
30
A had
B has
C was
D is
31
A be
B come
C forecast
D expect
32
A becoming
B will
C going
D must
YOUR ANSWER READING TASK 5
#
A
B
C
D
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
WRITING
TASK 1
Read the text below. Complete the story with the correct forms of the words in brackets (33 – 44). An example (0) has been done for you.
A great place to visit all four seasons
In Norway, each season has (0) its (it) own special features and charm. The contrasts are great and the scenery is ever-changing, year round. If you (33)_____(to think) that Norway was a country only really suitable for summer holidays, then you are mistaken. The Norwegians are just as active in the winter. In winter they swap their (34)_____ (to hike) boots for skis, their swimming costumes for classic knickerbockers. Did you see the broadcasts from the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer? Never before have so many people sat glued to (35)_____(they) TV screens as during those two weeks in February 1994. Never before has such a successful winter Olympics been staged, and Norway was once and for all placed on the map as (36)_____(a, the) great winter nation.
Norway is a paradise for all (37)_____(that) who enjoy messing about in the snow in winter. Ski enthusiasts from all over Europe flock here. You can go skiing on the Olympic facilities in Lillehammer, where Alberto Tomba and Vegard Ulvang (38)_____ (to cheer) on by tens of thousands of spectators.
Whichever style of (39)_____(to ski) you prefer - slalom, cross-country, snowboarding, freestyle or telemark - you can do it here. One thing we don't recommend, however, is ski jumping at Holmenkollen. Holmenkollen is the ski jump which (40)_____ (Norwegian) consider to be the Mecca of the sport of skiing.
But before the white winter sets in, the autumn colours adorn the mountains and valleys of Norway. The scenery bursts into an explosion of (41)_____(red), yellows and oranges. A walk in the mountains is like an adventure in colour. A good thing to do is to take a rucksack and try your luck at fishing in the numerous ponds and lakes. If you are lucky, you may come across a piece of marshland (42)_____(to cover) wich golden cloudberries, and you will find blueberries in the forests which taste wonderful with pancakes.
In spring the snow begins to retreat and the flora and fauna awaken. The rivers and waterfalls become gushing (43)_____(a torrent) which carry the melting snow from the mountains down to the fjords and out to the ocean. The sight of the fruit trees in blossom brightens up the fjords and valleys after the long winter. Norwegians start looking forward to 17 May, the (44)_____ (a country) national day.
YOUR ANSWER WRITING TASK 1
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33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
TASK 2
45. You've got a letter from your British pen-friend. He/she writes you that he/she likes to dress well. He/she tries to buy his/her clothes at famous fashion designers' shops. But it is very expensive and his/her parents don't want to buy such clothes for him/her. Write a letter to your friend in which you:
• express your opinion about present-day fashions • write what clothes you usually prefer to wear • when you usually buy clothes and who help you to do the shopping • give an advice to your friend what he/she should do in his/her situation
Write a letter of at least 100 words. Do not write any dates and addresses.