READING COMPREHENSION
Variant 1
- Read the text below. For (1—7) choose T if the statement is true accordingto the text, and F if it is false. An example (1) has been done for you.
Human-made noise pollution in the Earth’s oceans and seas is becoming a serious threat to sea wildlife. Scientists report that there is hardly an underwater place left where sea mammals can live in peace and quiet. Dozens of species of whales, dolphins, turtles and other creatures depend on sound in their communication, finding mates and hunting for food. So noisy environment is making it difficult to lead a normal life. This is according to a report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), called «Ocean Noise: Turn it Down». The environmental group says noise from shipping, oil and gas surveys, and offshore construction and water sports has reached dangerous levels for sea life.
The IFAW says the distance over which blue whales can communicate is down by 90 per cent. It also reports that in the past decade, many whales have become beached after being disorientated because of loud noise. The group also warns that noise pollution is only going to get worse. There are 90 survey ships active in the oceans today. In addition, the number of ships sailing the seas will double by 2025. Mark Simmonds, an IFAW spokesman, said, «Man-made noise is already causing a kind of acoustic fog», and called for a «response to noise pollution in the underwater».
T 1) The noise humans make is harmful for creatures living in the oceans.
__2) There are very few quiet places left in the oceans.
__3) Sound doesn’t help sea animals to hunt for food and look for a mate.
__4) The distance over which blue whales can communicate has become larger.
__5) Noise pollution can mean whales lose their way and die on beaches.
__6) The number of ships on the seas is not going to change in the next 20 years.
__7) Mark Simmonds, a IFAW spokesman, said it’s very foggy in the oceans.
9th form READING COMPREHENSION
Variant 2
- Read the text below. For (1—7) choose T if the statement is true accordingto the text, and F if it is false. An example (1) has been done for you.
Road pollution is a serious danger to children’s health. Researchers from the
University of California spent 13 years studying children who lived within 500 metres of busy roads. They found that most of the 3,600 children in the study had weak lungs. Researchers said this meant the children could have breathing problems for the rest of their lives.
The main author of the study W. James Gauderman and his team conducted their research on youngsters who lived near busy roads and in high-pollution areas. Once a year, the team measured the children’s lung power. It checked how much air the children could release in one breath and how quickly it could be released. The team found that by their 18th birthday, children who lived within 500 metres of a highway breezed out three per cent less air compared with children who lived one-and-a-half kilometres away. Further, the highway children’s lung power was seven per cent weaker in the rate at which they could breeze out. Gauderman said that: «Even if you are in a relatively low regional pollution area, living near a road produces lung problems».
About a third of the children moved away from busy roads during the study but stayed near the same area. Their lungs developed more healthily.
F 1) Researchers monitored different children for 30 years.
__2) The text doesn’t say how many children in the study had lung problems.
__3) Living near a busy road doubles the chances of lung damage.
__4) Researchers tested the children’s lungs on a monthly basis.
__5) Children living 500 metres from busy roads had 30 % less lung power.
__6) Living near a busy road is still bad even if it’s in a low-pollution area.
__7) Children who moved away from roads still suffered lung problems
- Read the text below. Match choices (A—E) to (1—5). An example (1) has
been done for you.
- A) Work Is Honourable
- B) Some People Go through Life Hating and Avoiding Work
- C) So the Question You Must Ask Is «Why Do People Do It?»
- D) Work Gives You a Sense of Purpose
- E) Work Is a Means to Develop Character
A week has 168 hours. If you sleep eight hours a day, that leaves 112 hours per week of active time in your life. If you work about 50 hours a week, that is almost half of your week’s active time. This is a very significant part of your life that you spend working.
1 (C)
One simple answer is that most people need to earn money. But many
billionaires, like Bill Gates, Larry Ellison and Warren Buffett, spend a significant
amount of their time working, probably more than most people. And yet, they
don’t need any money. Let’s look at the advantages work can give us.
2 ( )
Many people go through their working life thinking about retirement. They
think about the day when they will just be able to sit back, relax and take it
easy. But when the day arrives they enjoy the first few months of their newly
found freedom and stress-free living, but after a while they start losing their
sense of purpose. Their work gave them a sense of being important that they
now miss, and they start to feel worthless.
3 ( )
In many lines of work, you have to deal with people and their personalities,
egos, beliefs, cultures, politics, habits, and all of the struggles and joys that
make up the human existence. You also face conflicts and hard choices. As
you gain experience in your work, you develop character. You learn how to
deal with different types of people and different situations.
4 ( )
When you do a good job, you feel a sense of pride and achievement. Being
able to work in whatever capacity, is an honourable activity.
5 ( )
But I haven’t seen a successful person yet that does not do any type of
work. Work is the very essence of what success is about
- Read the text below. Match choices (A—E) to (1—5). An example (1) has
been done for you.
- A) Some of Your Thoughts and Ideas Are Rather Stable and Permanent in Nature
- B) Success Is in Your Mind
- C) Get in the Habit of Writing
- D) Take Time to Think
- E) However, There Are Thoughts and Ideas Which Are Usually Temporary
1 (B)
Regardless of your definition of success, most people would agree that success
starts with your thoughts, your ideas and your beliefs — in other words, your mind. It is a great feeling to realize that with the power.
2 ( )
These are the beliefs, the habits, the behaviour, and all the other details
of the mind that make up the core of who you are. Knowledge, skills and
abilities are other components of your mind that have a somewhat stable
character. So a person’s beliefs, habits, personalities, knowledge, skills and
abilities are important components of success that will not disappear or be
lost in a passing moment.
3 ( )
These are the ideas that pass through your head in a moment of inspiration.
Most people don’t pay much attention to these temporary thoughts when
your mind reveals to you something that could result in a good opportunity.
4 ( )
Successful people understand the importance of spending quality time doing
high-level thinking. You should plan to have a time period of at least 30
minutes to one hour each day when you are alone and your mind is free
from fuss and disorder. Use this time to let your mind flow and reveal to you
the interesting ideas which you may dismiss when you are busy with other
things. When those thoughts come to you, don’t reject them. Let them fill
your mind with the possibilities and with your dreams of success.
5 ( )
You never know when great ideas will pop in your head. Therefore, it is very
important that you always carry with you a notebook and pen to write down
your ideas as soon as they come to you. This notebook can also be very useful
for writing down observations that will help you become successful. If you run
into a successful person that you admire, write down the habits and qualities,
or anything else about this person. If you observe something that is done with
excellence, or high quality, be it a product or a service, write it down.
