-FCE-

You are going to read a magazine article about crime prevention. For Questions 1-8, choose the correct
answer A, B, C or D.

A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be burgled now than 20 years ago and
the police advise everyone to take a few simple precautions to protect their homes.
The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy opportunities, like a house which is very obviously
empty. This is much less of a challenge than an occupied house, and one which is well-protected. A burglar will
wonder if it is worth the bother.
There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming another crime statistic. Avoid leaving signs
that your house is empty. When you have to go out, leave at least one light on as well as a radio or television, and
do not leave any curtains wide open. The sight of your latest music centre or computer is enough to tempt any
burglar.
Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. The first place a burglar will look is under the doormat
or in a flower pot and even somewhere more 'imaginative' could soon be uncovered by the intruder. It is much safer
to leave a key with a neighbour you can trust. But if your house is in a quiet, desolate area be aware that this will be
a burglar's dream, so deter any potential criminal from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the
outside of your house.
But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a burglar or intruder has decided to
target your home. Windows are usually the first point of entry for many intruders. Downstairs windows provide
easy access while upstairs windows can be reached with a ladder or by climbing up the drainpipe. Before going to
bed you should double-check that all windows and shutters are locked. No matter how small your windows may be,
it is surprising what a narrow gap a determined burglar can manage to get through. For extra security, fit window
locks to the inside of the window.
What about entry via doors? Your back door and patio doors, which are easily forced open, should have top
quality security locks fitted. Even though this is expensive it will be money well spent. Install a burglar alarm if you
can afford it as another line of defence against intruders.
A sobering fact is that not all intruders have to break and enter into a property. Why go to the trouble of
breaking in if you can just knock and be invited in? Beware of bogus officials or workmen and, particularly if you
are elderly, fit a chain and an eye hole so you can scrutinise callers at your leisure. When you do have callers never
let anybody into your home unless you are absolutely sure they are genuine. Ask to see an identity card, for
example.
If you are in the frightening position of waking in the middle of the night and think you can hear an intruder,
then on no account should you approach the intruder. Far better to telephone the police and wait for help.
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1 A well-protected house
a) is less likely to be burgled.
b) is regarded as a challenge by most criminals.
c) is a lot of bother to maintain.
d) is very unlikely to be burgled.
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2 According to the writer, we should:
a) avoid leaving our house empty.
b) only go out when we have to.
c) always keep the curtains closed.
d) give the impression that our house is occupied when we go out.
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3 The writer thinks that hiding a key under a doormat or flower pot:
a) is a predictable place to hide it.
b) is a useful place to hide it.
c) is imaginative.
d) is where you always find a spare key.
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4 The 'aforementioned precautions' refer to steps that:
a) will tell a burglar if your house is empty or not.
b) are the most important precautions to take to make your home safe.
 c) will stop a potential burglar.
d) will not stop an intruder if he has decided to try and enter your home.
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5 Gaining entry to a house through a small window:
a) is surprisingly difficult.
b) is not as difficult as people think.
c) is less likely to happen than gaining entry through a door.
d) is tried only by very determined burglars.
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6 According to the writer, window locks, security locks and burglar alarms:
a) cost a lot of money but are worth it.
b) are good value for money.
c) are luxury items.
d) are absolutely essential items.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 The writer argues that fitting a chain and an eye hole:
a) will prevent your home being burgled.
b) avoids you having to invite people into your home.
c) is only necessary for elderly people.
d) gives you time to check if the visitor is genuine.
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8 The best title for the text is:
a) Increasing household crime.
b) Protecting your home from intruders.
c) What to do if a burglar breaks into your home.
d) Burglary statistics.

1a; 2d; 3a; 4d; 5b; 6a; 7d; 8b

You are going to read a magazine article about various local campaigns

A Homes For All

Organisations that help the homeless are warning that people will face even greater hardship this winter
unless urgent action is taken to offer shelter to those without a home. This warning follows publication of
figures showing an increase in the number of homeless people. Susan Evans of the organisation 'Homes for
All' said: "With a shortage of accommodation, more people than ever before - young and old - are having to
sleep rough. A cold winter is predicted this year which means that these people will have to put up with sub-
zero temperatures. Action must be taken urgently to offer these people shelter." A nationwide demonstration
to raise awareness of the problem will take place this weekend. Supporters welcome.

B Village Protest
Residents of local village, Shilden, are preparing for a night of protest to save their village from
Government planners. Proposals for a new motorway to be built that will run within 2 kilometres of Shilden
have caused uproar amongst residents. They claim that they were given insufficient time to respond to the
proposal. Tony Fellows, spokesperson for the 'Village Protest' campaign explains: "The planned route cuts
across some of the most picturesque countryside in the region. Shilden welcomes thousands of tourists each
year. Many of the shopkeepers depend on this trade and would almost certainly face ruin if tourists were put
off coming by the damage this road is likely to cause". The all-night protest will take place in the fields where
the building work is likely to begin.

C New Youth Club

Youngsters in the city-centre will lose out on a much-loved project if substantial funds are not found this
year. The 'New Youth Club', which is open to young people from the ages of 10 to 17, is being threatened
with closure by Health and Safety officials who claim the building is unsafe. The club, built 30 years ago, was
badly damaged by heavy storms last year and city engineers estimate that one hundred thousand pounds in
needed to repair structural damage. With only limited funds at their disposal, managers fear the club will have
to close. Youngsters from the club have organised an Open Day on Tuesday in an effort to raise some of the
money needed to enable the repairs to be undertaken. "This alone won't be enough, however" warned Adam
Ross, Youth Leader.

D Save lea Valley

A rare species of butterfly and many native plants face extinction if the 'Lea Valley office complex'
project goes ahead. This is the claim made by local environmentalists involved in the 'Save Lea Valley'
campaign. They argue that the proposed development, to be built on the site of woodland dating back
hundreds of years, will rob the country of several rare species of wildlife. 'Local people would be horrified if
they knew of the consequences of this project,' claimed environmentalist Ian Wilson yesterday. "We need to
instigate a local campaign to alert everyone to the dangers. We are starting by writing letters to everyone in
the area asking for their support. The office complex developers must not be allowed to do this.".

You are going to read a magazine article about an author

'A good book for children should simply be a good book in its own right.' These are the words of Mollie
Hunter, a well known author of books for youngsters. Born and bred near Edinburgh, Mollie has devoted her
talents to writing primarily for young people. She firmly believes that there is always and should always be a
wider audience for any good book whatever its main market. In Mollie's opinion it is essential to make full use
of language and she enjoys telling a story, which is what every writer should be doing: 'If you aren't telling a
story,you're a very dead writer indeed,' she says.
With the chief function of a writer being to entertain, Molly is indeed an entertainer. 'I have this great
love of not only the meaning of language but of the music of language,' she says. This love goes back to early
childhood. 'I've told stories all my life. I had a school teacher who used to ask us what we would like to be
when we grew up and, because my family always had dogs, and I was very good at handling them, I said I
wanted to work with dogs, and the teacher always said "Nonsense Mollie dear, you'll be a writer." So
eventually I thought that this woman must have something, since she was a good teacher - and I decided when
I was nine that I would be a writer.
This childhood intention is described in her novel, A Sound of Chariots, which although written in the
third person is clearly autobiographical and gives a picture both of Mollie's ambition and her struggle towards
its achievement.
Thoughts of her childhood inevitably brought thoughts of the time when her home was still a village
with buttercup meadows and strawberry fields - sadly now covered with modern houses. 'I was once taken
back to see it and I felt that somebody had lain dirty hands all over my childhood. I'll never go back,' she said.
'Never.' 'When I set one of my books in Scotland,' she said, 'I can recapture my romantic feelings as a child
playing in those fields, or watching the village blacksmith at work. And that's important, because children
now know so much so early that romance can't exist for them, as it did for us.'
To this day, Mollie has a lively affection for children, which is reflected in the love she has for her
writing. 'When we have visitors with children the adults always say, "If you go to visit Mollie, she'll spend
more time with the children." They don't realise that children are much more interesting company. I've heard
all the adults have to say before. The children have something new.'

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1 What does Mollie Hunter feel about the nature of a good book?
It should not aim at a narrow audience.
It should be attractive to young readers.
It should be based on original ideas.
It should not include too much conversation.
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2 In Mollie Hunter’s opinion, one sign of a poor writer is:
lifeless characters
complicated ideas
the weakness of the description
the absence of a story
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3 What do we learn about Mollie Hunter as a very young child?
 She didn’t expect to become a writer.
She didn’t enjoy writing stories.
She didn’t have any particular ambitions.
She didn’t respect her teacher’s views.
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4 What does 'its' refer to in paragraph 3?
novel
picture
ambition
struggle
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 How does Mollie feel about what has happened to her birthplace?
confused
ashamed
disappointed
surprised
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6 In comparison with children of earlier years, Mollie feels that modern children are:
more intelligent
better informed
less keen to learn
less interested in fiction
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7 Mollie’s adult visitors generally discover that:
she is a very generous person
she is interesting company
she talks a lot about her work
she pays more attention to their children.
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8 What is the writer’s purpose in this text?
to describe Mollie Hunter’s most successful books.
to share her enjoyment of Mollie Hunter’s books.
to provide information for Mollie Hunter’s existing readers.
to introduce Mollie Hunter’s work to a wider audience.

1A; 2D; 3A; 4C; 5C; 6B ;7D; 8D

Trip to Australia

The noise of the engines changed, became louder. After a slow, 36-hour A It felt good, if strange,
flight from England to Australia, we were about to land. I looked at Maureen, to hear her voice again,
my teenage dauighter, sitting beside me, and gave her what I hoped was a and I heard myself
reassuring grin. saying, 'You never
know, you might see me
0: H there one of these days.'
I was about to see my elder sister Sheila, who had gone to live in Australia Sheila answered: 'Do
13 years previously, for the first time in as many years. Since she left England, you really mean that?'
we had all but lost touch. Now, in just a few minutes, I was going to see her. The And suddenly, the
plane dipped lower. I could see a sunlit field below, with a small building to the throwaway remark
side. The plane touched the ground. became a real
possibility.
1 B It must have been
And then, we were in the airport building. My sister stood there, instantly the adrenalin that kept us
recognisable, and we gave each other a hug. At last, I knew that I'd done the going when we reached
right thing in going, that it had been worth all the saving, all the organising. our destination. Sheila,
 Maureen and I sat up
2 late that night, talking
She sent our mother a plane ticket, so they could spend Christmas together. On non-stop as we caught up
New Year's Day, while my mother was there, I plucked up the courage to phone. on just some of our news.
It was the first time Sheila and I had spoken in eleven years. C Mike, my husband,
decided not to go, and our
3 son, Michael, was busy at
I'd never even left Europe before. The first thing I had to do was save. So I put a work. But Maureen was
small amount away each month and over eleven months it built up into a tidy sum, still at school, and we both
enough for me and my daughter to spend a month in Australia. felt it would be a
wonderful adventure for
4 her, as well as moral
Having done that, we chose an inexpensive Far Eastern airline, which stopped off support for me.
at about five places. But we didn't mind that particularly - we were going to see D The plan had been
the world. We started our journey on a Sunday evening. We arrived in Australia hatched eleven months
on Wednesday, towards noon. earlier. After many years,
my sister suddenly
5 decided it was time to
'Does it feel foreign?' Sheila kept asking, as she showed me around her home. reinforce old familiy ties.
It was very Australian - single storey, with a family sitting room in the cellar. E I realised afterwards
But it didn't strike me as foreign - I felt at home there. that getting to Australia
was a great achievement -
6 as well as the knowledge
When she got itchy feet after going to Australia, she saved for her own adven that if you plan in
ture. She's currently travelling round the world, and she's just been staying with advance, and save on a
her Aunt Sheila. The family link carries on. regular basis, you can
afford to go anywhere.
The world really is open
to you as Maureen
realised.
F We walked down
the steps, and I was
surprised to find that
although it was early
summer, it wasn't
particularly warm. It was
jumper weather.
G The long
preparation was essential,
because it gave me time to
get funds together, and
shop around for a good
deal on flights - important,
as prices vary so much.

H I don't know who I was

trying to convince, her or
me. The fact was, I was
feeling incredibly
nervous. And the nerves
were mixed up with jetlag,
tiredness and excitement.
 F D A G B E
Wouldn't it be fun to run a restaurant!

People- ordinary, sane, decent but untrained people - have decided that it would be wonderful to start
their own restaurant.
A: Roger Bates, knew he wanted his own restaurant when he was 23. But he didn't make his move until
he was 39. The property he and his wife, Sandra, bought is a restaurant with rooms for guests, which is
down a quiet lane on the wooded slopes of a beautiful valley. 'People will come and find you if you are good
enough. That was the challenge.' Roger says the only unpredicted difficulty was the attitude of some of the
customers. 'It was hard to get used to being treated like servants.' For Sandra, the most demanding part was
the physical work. She also had the difficulty of taking over someone else's staff and someone else's menus.
She gradually changed the menus, and she has a little more time off now that the business is established.
B: Tony and Gina Wignell of Strathlachlan in Scotland, have spent their whole lives in the hotel and
catering industry. They have made one major sacrifice, however, as by moving into a restaurant they have
taken a considerable drop in income for a better quality of life. Tony and Gina used to manage a hotel,
which provided financial security but never-ending work. Moving to the restaurant has meant working seven
days a week in the high season, but they can make time for themselves by shutting in the afternoon. And by
closing down entirely during the off-season, they get a clear two months off. But they found it hard to
combine being in the restaurant trade with bringing up a family. Despite this they carried on and their
children, now 18 and 20, look back and say that they never realised that there was any other life.
C: It's a similar story for Tina Bricknell-Webb and her husband Tony. 'I'm on my feet for such long
hours. You have to be incredibly strong to do this job.' Tina's first experience of cooking in a restaurant was
when the chef walked out three days after it opened. Gradually, her confidence has built up. For Tony and
Tina the hard work has been made worthwhile by a special award for excellent food. Tony believes their
restaurant works because they run the show themselves. 'If you have a place like this, the customers want to
see you there every time they come in. You're an actor and they've bought your performance with the price
of a dinner.' Clearly proud of their achievement, the Bricknell-Webbs admit there have been sacrifices. They
have no social life and no children. If they did start a family, the restaurant would have to go.
D: David and Jane Blackford found this to be true. When their restaurant opened for business they had
two small children. 'When they were very small we could manage by putting them to bed early but later
there was a real conflict of interest. On Saturdays and Sundays we'd sit them down in front of videos. I
ended up feeling it was David and the restaurant against me and the children.' When David caught
pneumonia, they made their decision. The family had to come first. 'One day we may have another
adventure in the restaurant trade, but for the time being putting up the 'closed' sign has been a great relief.

E: Perhaps David and Hilary Brown have the most perfect arrangement. Ever since they met at school
in their teens they had dreamt of having a restaurant. While other teenagers went out to clubs, David and
Hilary saved up to go to restaurants. When they saw a little restaurant for sale outside Edinburgh, they
couldn't resist. Now the restaurant, which holds thirty people, is their whole life. It is well known for its food
and appears in the best guide books, so people are prepared to travel long distances to eat there.

A day in the life of Jim Barber, Scottish Footballer

A:Domestic
Jim Barber is a centre forward for Glasgow Rangers football club. He talks to matters
Paul Sullivan about a typical day in his life. B: Time off
C: All players
0 Getting started are different
I don’t usually get up till 8.30. On a match day I’ll get up even later. I’ll sit in bed, D: Putting in
watch breakfast TV for a while, and then I’ll go down, get the mail, have a coffee the practice
and read the papers. I’ll have a wash and then I’ll get ready to go to the club. E:Working
Rangers is probably the only club where the players have to come in every morning together
wearing a shirt and tie; it’s a traditional thing and I quite like it really. F: Keeping
1 my standard up
Every day except Sunday, I’ll be at the club by 10. It’s a short drive but I’ll still G What makes
usually be a few minutes late. I’ve a bad reputation for being late, and I’ve been a good player
fined many times. Each day of training is in preparation for the next match. H Not my choice
I Getting started
We’ll 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 I’ll usually have a sauna and then we’ll 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.
A:Domestic
3
matters
The best thing in football is scoring goals - and I’m a top goal-scorer. It feels
B: Time off
absolutely fantastic but I never feel above the rest of the team; if I did, I wouldn’t
C: All players
last two minutes in the dressing room. Any success I have is a team success. My
are different
idol in the past was always Kenny Dalglish. My idols now are the other Rangers
D: Putting in
players.
the practice
4
E:Working
The matches themselves are always different from each other. You go through
together
a lot of emotions during a game but really it’s a question of concentration. You’ve
F: Keeping
got just 90 minutes to give everything you’ve got and take every chance you can.
my standard up
There’s luck and there’s being in the right place at the right time, but you can’t
G: What makes
make use of those without concentration and responsibility.
a good player
5
H:Not my choice
Sports writers often talk about age but it’s not something that bothers me. I’m 30
I:Getting started
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 don’t I’ll 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. It’s difficult for Allison, my wife, but
I think she’s 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
We’ll 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 can’t see myself playing for
any other team, either, but the reality is that the players don’t make the decisions.
If someone makes your club a good enough offer for you, they’ll accept it. But I try
not to let things like that bother me.

Natural CLASSIC - You are going to read a magazine article about a book

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 film producer, reveals all.
I’m a very keen reader, but selecting the book 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
Richie’s 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 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. Jalair’s 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 Mongolia’s mountains. I was not
disappointed.
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1 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 What does ‘it’ in 'Then it was easy' refer to?
the choice
Martha’s childhood
the book
the theme
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3 Martha says the book The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan
was recommended by a friend.
was very popular when she was a child.
is known to very few people.
is one of many mystery books she has read.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 The main interest of the hero of the book is
what happened to his parents.
the desire to see different countries.
the beauty of his homeland.
his passion for particular birds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Where does most of the story take place?
in Samarkand
in Karakorum
on the way to Karakorum
in the Tian Shan mountains
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 What did Martha enjoy about the book?
the range of characters
the geographical setting
the descriptive writing
the changes of atmosphere
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 What values did Martha learn from the book?
the importance of a sense of humour
how to be a successful traveller
the need to protect your goods
how to get the most out of life

1C; 2A; 3C; 4D; 5B; 6B; 7D

 Nyree's Story

After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own A: ‘I didn’t like school and I spent
country, Nyree Dawn Porter made London her home. Interview by most of my time in my head. One of the
Alan O’Kelly. teachers noticed that. She’d say, “I’m
not going to repeat that for Nyree Porter
Nyree Dawn Porter made her first stage appearance at the age of because she’s not listening anyway. No
three. Playing the part of a ladybird in an amateur production of doubt she’ll let me have the sketch she’s
Noah’s Ark, she walked onto the stage and into the lights to doing under the desk.” ’
delighted applause and laughter. B: Her mother also did well at
0H school. She became a gifted painter and
‘That noise’ has charmed her ever since and in a long, successful was, as her father always said, ‘The
career, both on the theatre stage and on television, she has received prettiest girl in New Zealand.’
plenty of it. C: Against hundreds of other actors,
1 Nyree was given the part. She had no
Nyree speaks lovingly of her father Ken, who was warm and hesitation in giving up everything to act
affectionate and loved music passionately. For a long time she was and within two years had been brought
an only child, but when her sister, Merle Isabel, came along, the to England by a famous film producer.
happy family should have been complete. D: By the time she left school, Nyree
2 had passed all the required exams for
As a result, Nyree remembers her childhood as being sad but teaching ballet. She had her own dance
productive. She had a nervous stammer and was so shy and quiet studio and enjoyed her work. But
that her teachers became extremely worried about her. She found something told her that at some stage
her release through books, painting and ballet. she would have to leave New Zealand
3 to find full satisfaction.
A teacher named Jim Goodall came to her rescue by encouraging E: Nyree was born on the north island
her to do well and by making her president of the drama club. A of New Zealand. Her father was a
second influential person was another teacher, who had spent a lot butcher who later became a developer
of time in England and France. Her enthusiasm helped Nyree to and a businessman. She was given the
use her natural gift for French and she also encouraged her to act. Maori name of Ngaire which was later
4 changed to its present English form as
‘I was acting in a local amateur production when a woman came nobody could pronounce it.
to my dressing room and asked me if I had ever considered acting F: Sadly, that didn’t happen. ‘My
as a career. She was the wife of a leading actor at the New Zealand parents were like oil and water,’
National Theatre. Her car had broken down outside and that was explains Nyree. ‘They simply couldn’t
the only reason she had come in. She arranged for me to try for a live together. My father’s work kept
role in an American comedy called The Solid Gold Cadillac.’ him away from home but I think it was
5 partly because he found it difficult to
‘I loved London and my lucky break came when I was given a letter live with my mother.’
of introduction to Hazel Vincent Wallace at the Leatherhead Theatre. G: That was followed by another
I got a job in a Christmas show, both acting and dancing.’ successful show called Look Who’s
6 Here at the Fortune Theatre and a BBC
Nyree Dawn Porter has adopted England, and we have adopted her. television series, Madame Bovary. Four
She has lived here ever since, although she does visit her old home years later, in 1967, came The Forsyte
and regularly works in Australia. 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.’

1E 2F 3A 4D 5C 6G
 Going Back to School

Returning to education after years of working can open any number of doors, as Frances Brierley discovered.

A: Fiona, a freelance journalist, has just finished a four-year part-time degree in English Literature. Fiona, 33,
who hadn’t 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 straight after school. When I did my journalism course, we sat in
the canteen chatting half the time, but when you’re older you realise that the only person you’re cheating is
yourself if you do that. And when you’re older you can bring so much more to your analysis because you’ve 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 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 didn’t teach me to enjoy learning
and I’m sure this experience can destroy many people’s desire to learn more later in life. There’s so much in life to
learn as you get older, it becomes a real pleasure. There are no pressures – you don’t have to prove anything. You
are there because you want to be. There is also something special about spending time with people who share a
common passion. You don’t know their names or anything about them, but all the barriers are broken down
because everyone has the same objective.’

C: 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
multi-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 didn’t 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 didn’t understand the financial aspects. Diane made me
realise that you employ these people to do the work. Now I’m not scared of borrowing money because I know the
business will be successful.’

D: 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 thinking. 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 work’s improved,” and
it has made me get on better with people in the office because I’m in a privileged position, having knowledge
others don’t have.’

She felt relaxed when doing a course.

A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 She felt obliged to do a course.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Her training made it hard for her to do some of the work on a course.
A Fiona
 B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Her colleagues’ attitude towards her has changed.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 She feels confident about the future.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 She was put off education earlier in life.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 The way classes were organised suited her.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Her plans became more ambitious while doing a course.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 She wasted her time when she was at college before.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 She realised she had thought of a strong commercial idea.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Her teacher provided practical advice.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 She found her experience of life useful when doing a course.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
 D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 She enjoyed the company of the others taking a course.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 She has learnt not to be nervous in certain circumstances.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 A success encouraged her to study other subjects.
A Fiona
B Deborah
C Joyce
D Sonya

1B 2D 3A 4D 5C 6B 7D 8C 9A 10C 11C 12A 13B 14C 15B

Nicolas-Francois Appert
(1749-1841)

Tinned food and drink is big business: every day more than 175,000 million tins are sold throughout the world.
The process by which food products can be preserved in tins was invented in 1810 by a Frenchman called
Nicholas-Francois Appert.

His father ran a small hotel, where Appert learned about preserving fruit and vegetables when he was a boy. He
then became a cook and sweet-maker and grew fascinated by the idea of being able to preserve food for longer
than is naturally possible. He experimented with various foods and finally scceeded in preserving vegetables, fruit
juices and jams. What he did was to put the food in glass containers which were then boiled for a long time.

In 1810 the French government offered a prize to anyone who invented a means of preserving high-quality food.
The food was needed to feed Napoleon's rapidly expanding army and navy. Appert won the prize and with the
money he received he set up a commercial food-preserving factory. At first Appert used only glass jars and bottles
but in 1822 he changed to metal containers. His achievements were widely praised and his method was soon in use
throughout France and the rest of the world.

Puppet Shows

Puppets are dolls representing

(0) traditional or modern characters in TRADITION
stories. They are a popular form of
(1) ... for both children and adults. ENTERTAIN
Some puppets seen in Europe today
were (2) ... created in Italy in the ORIGIN
1500s. A puppet show was an (3) ... EXPENSIVE
way to enjoy yourself so people could
go to see the same (4) ... again and PERFORM
again.

So what is the continuing (5) ... of the ATTRACT

puppet show? Used (6) ... by artists, CLEVER
 puppets have a living magic. However
beautiful, funny or (7) ... to look at, they FASCINATE
are really simple tools used by artists
to express their ideas, (8) ... and PERSON
character. Of course they must have
great technical (9) ... but the fun and ABLE
charm come from the way the artists
(10) establish ... with the audience. COMMUNICATE

Computers That Play Games

Computers have had the (0) ability to play ABLE

chess for many years now, and their (1) ... PERFORM
in games against the best players in the
world has shown steady (2) ... . However, IMPROVE
it will be years before the designers of
computer games machines can beat their
(3) ... challenge yet - the ancient board BIG
game called 'Go'. The playing area is (4) ... CONSIDERABLE
larger than in chess and there are far
more pieces, so that the (5) ... of moves is COMBINE
almost (6) ... . The game involves planning END
so many moves ahead that even the (7) ... IMPRESS
calculations of the fastest modern
computers are (8) ... to deal with the SUFFICIENT
problems of the game.
In a recent (9) ... for computer 'Go' COMPETE
machines, the best machine beat all its
rivals, but lost (10) ... to three young HEAVY
schoolchildren, so there is obviously still
a lot of work to do.

Kitchen Hygiene
The next time you go to the supermarket don't
forget to buy the (0) BIGGEST bottle of kitchen BIG
cleaner you can to (1) ... your work surfaces. INFECT
Recent (2) ... research in America has shown that SCIENCE
the kitchen is often the most (3) ... of all the rooms HYGIENE
in the home.
The (4) ... of food, heat and dampness means the COMBINE
kitchen is (5) ... a breeding ground for bacteria that POTENTIAL
can cause stomach upsets and vomiting.
The study at the University of Arizona examined
15 homes over 30 weeks. Levels of (6) ... were CLEAN
certainly not below average yet cutting boards
and dishcloths were found to contain bacteria in
far greater number than elsewhere in the home.
(7) ... say ignorance is the cause of the problem RESEARCH
and point out that (8) ... cleaning can lead to ADEQUATE
serious food poisoning.
The (9) ... ? Make sure you clean all work surfaces SOLVE
(10) ... and keep an eye on that dishcloth! DAY
 Dress Code

UK companies have received (0) CRITICISM from CRITIC

a business forum for what their report refers to as
a rather narrow-minded attitude towards the dress
code for office workers. This follows a case in
which a male (1) ... working in the post room of a EMPLOY
large (2) ... in the United Kingdom received a ORGANIZE
(3) ... for wearing jeans to work. SUSPEND
Whilst the report accepts that there is a need for
people dealing with (4) ... to look well dressed, CUSTOM
it questions whether employees who work behind
the scenes necessarily need to dress formally.
The authors of the report made a (5) ... between COMPARE
the UK and other European nations where
employers seem (6) ... about the need for their CONCERN
workers to wear smart clothes in the office.
Their (7) ... is based on research that claims ARGUE
workers are far more (8) ... when they have the PRODUCT
(9) ... to dress in a way that they feel most FREE
(10) ... in. COMFORT

The London Tea Trade

The London Tea Trade Centre is on the north bank of the River Thames. It is the centre of an industry of great
importance in the everyday lives of the British. Tea is without doubt the British national drink: every man, woman
and child over ten years of age has on average over four cups a day or some 1500 cups annually. Some thirty per
cent of the world’s exports of tea makes its way to London. Britain is by far the largest importer of tea in the
world. Samples of the vast amounts of tea brought into the country to satisfy the national thirst go to the London
Tea Trade Centre, where they are tasted by skilled professional tea tasters before being sold at each week’s tea
sale. It is fascinating to see them at work . Over a hundred samples are laid out in a line on long tables. Teas are
generally tasted with milk, since that is how the majority in Britain drink their tea. The tasters move down the line
with surprising speed, tasting each sample from a spoon and deciding what is a fair price for each tea. The types of
tea that are popular in Britain are comparatively inexpensive but they are of a very high quality. The best are
delicate mixtures of numerous teas from different sources and countries of origin.

Write the Perfect Crime Novel

Most people are born with the natural ability to tell stories, but only a rare few have the determination to
become professional authors, and even fewer have the joy of seeing their novels top the list of bestselling books.
Some of the world's famous crime writers have achieved the greatest success of all. Who can deny the appeal of
famous detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot? Even if you haven't read the original
books you will have seen them in films or on the TV.
If you have an ambition to become the next Agatha Christie what should you do? The best starting point is to
read lots of examples of crime fiction written by good authors. You will need a notebook to carry around with you
or, even better, some loose sheets of paper that you can make notes on and then file into a folder. After all, the
most everyday situation - for example, watching a woman get off a train - may be the inspiration for your first
bestseller.
Like any good recipe you have to know the main ingredients of a successful novel. These are: an original
story, strong characters and a memorable setting.

No More Classes

The use of computers has meant students can study language programmes at their own speed when and for
how long they want - and no need to worry about the teacher having a favourite or doing yet another boring lesson.
What's more , in the virtual classrooms of the future the student will put on their headset, and be transported into
an imaginary school, choose their class, take the books they need off the shelf and hold conversations with other
computerised students.
They might instead choose to pay a visit to the supermarket or the train station, the bank or the restaurant. At
the put of a button they would be transported to such realistic settings where they could practice their English,
maybe getting a hand from a virtual English companion. All this perhaps, at the computer, from the comfort of
their home: no need to catch the bus to college, or a plane to England.
Exciting? Certainly, and an interesting alternative to traditional classroom lessons. But would it ever replace
the classroom? Hopefully not. Surely the need to relate to real people talking about real issues and generally
learning a little more about others will always lead language learners to spend at least a little of their time with real
people.

Camping Holidays

Although it has a reputation for being rather basic in terms of home comforts, the modern material used in the
manufacture of tents means camping is at least a lot less hard work. Nowadays tents are so lightweight that you
hardly notice you're carrying them. They're easy to put up yet still a cheaper alternative to hotel accomodation.
Talk to an expert first before spending a lot of money on a tent. Different tents suit different needs and there's
no point in buying a mountaineering tent unless you're planning to camp in these conditions. Don't be tempted to
splash out on all the latest equipment either. Most of the fun of camping lies in the chance to get back to nature.
There's no need to take anything more than the basics.
Always try to plan your arrival at the site long before it gets dark. You will want to see what you're doing
when you try to erect your tent. Don't forget to ask for permission if you're not camping on a registered site, and
remember to take a supply of food and drink with you in case the local shops are closed when you arrive. You can
then enjoy your first meal under the stars and begin to appreciate the joys of camping.

Department Stores

In 1846 an Irish immigrant in New York named Alexander Stewart opened a business called the Marble Dry-
Goods Palace. By doing so, he gave the world something completely new - the department store. Before this, no-
one had tried to bring together such a wide range of goods under a single roof. The business did very well . It
expanded rapidly and soon had a staff of two thousand. For Stewart even that was not enough, however . In 1862
he moved to an eight-storey building nearby, which he renamed A.T. Stewart's Cast Iron Palace. It was, and for
many years would remain, the largest shop in the world.
Others followed Stewart's example and soon there were stores like his in many major cities in the United
States. We don't know when people started calling them department stores. The expression wasn't used in print
untill 1893, when it appeared in Harper's Magazine, but the way that it is used there makes it clear that it was
already widely understood.
What is certain is that department stores completely changed the shopping experience for millions of people.
They offered not only an enormous range of goods, but also levels of comfort, luxury and excitement previously
unknown to customers. Almost from the start they had restaurants, toilets and many other facilities, so there was
no need to go elsewhere for anything.

CAE
RESURRECTION OF A DEAD MAN'S DREAM

Few great architects have been so adamant in their belief in the integration of architecture and design as
Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Clients who tried to modify his grip on every detail of the structure, interior
decoration or furniture often ended up with the architect losing his temper – and his commission. Now, 63 years
after he died, Mackintosh has found the perfect patron, in the form of a 56-year-old structural engineer and fellow
Glaswegian named Graham Roxburgh.
The story begins with a competition launched in December 1900 by Zeitschrift Für Innendekoration, an
innovative design magazine published in the German city of Darmstadt. European architects were invited to design
an Art Lover's House. Mackintosh sent in his entry in March 1901, his one chance to design a house unfettered by
financial constraints or a conservative client. But he was disqualified for failing to include the required number of
drawings of the interior. He hastily completed the portfolio, which he then resubmitted. Delighted with the
designs, the judges awarded Mackintosh a special prize (there was no outright winner).
Publication of these drawings did much to establish Mackintosh's reputation abroad as an original and
distinctive architect, particularly in Austria and Germany. The Art Lover's House is an important twentieth-century
building because it anticipates the abstract forms of Modernism. At first glance it could be an illustration from the
thirties. Artists of the avant-garde Vienna Secession described Mackintosh as “our leader who showed us the way”
– an acclaim that he was never able to gain at home. Rich Glasgow businessmen never quite took him seriously.
But today Glaswegians hail Mackintosh as their local genius. Three years ago, the enterprising Mr Roxburgh,
who has already rescued Craigie Hall, a mansion on the outskirts of Glasgow that Mackintosh helped design,
hatched a plan to build the Art Lover's House – now close to completion on a site in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park.
Strathclyde Council, the Scottish Development Agency and the Scottish Tourist Board have picked up a third of
the hefty £3 million bill. Roxburgh has raised the rest through sponsorship and private loans.
The original designs contradict each other in places. Details of the elaborate external stone carvings and much
of the furniture and fittings for the main interiors – which will be open to the public – are exact, but Mackintosh
gave no indication of what should be done with the lower ground floor or the roof spaces. No matter, for the area
will be rented out as offices to recoup some of the costs. The plans have been meticulously interpreted by Andy
McMillan of Glasgow's Mackintosh School of Architecture and the furniture made by an expert cabinet-maker.
The elegant, mysterious music-room is lit by tall windows along one side; the vertical lines are repeated in the
elongated female figures embroidered on linen that hang in the recesses, in the clusters of coloured lamps
suspended on slender wires and the uncomfortable high-backed chairs. The whole effect culminates in the strange
superstructure of the piano.
What would Mackintosh have made of the Art Lover's House? There is a danger it will be all too perfect, like
those expensive reproduction Mackintosh chairs you find in shiny magazines or on the dust-free floors of design
buffs. Yet Roxburgh's attention to detail and refusal to cut corners makes him a man after Mackintosh's heart. He
is now hunting for an extra £300,000 to complete the interiors according to his exacting requirements.

1 Why were there sometimes problems between Mackintosh and his clients?
A Mackintosh resented interference from his clients.
B Clients refused to pay him in full for his work.
C Mackintosh did not pay enough attention to detail.
D Clients did not like the changes Mackintosh made.

2 According to the writer, Mackintosh decided to enter the competition because

A not many drawings had to be submitted.
B no designs were required for furniture.
C there was no need to worry about cost.
D he had designed similar buildings before.

3 What was significant about Mackintosh's entry for the competition?

A It was considered to be ahead of its time.
B It was based on architecture from Austria and Germany.
C It changed the opinion of him in his own country.
D It was the most attractive building he had designed.

4 Mackintosh's original designs for the Art Lover's House

A included areas intended for commercial use.
B gave full information about the interior.
C concentrated on external features.
D were incomplete in certain respects.

5 If Mackintosh could see the Art Lover's House now, the writer feels he would probably
A think that it had cost too much.
B wish he had completed his designs.
C think it was an improvement on his design.
D approve of Roxburgh's approach to building it.
 A Swiss Alpine Races
This is as beautiful – and tortuous – as it sounds: the Swiss Alpine races take runners through verdant upland
meadows and deep woods on primitive running trails. Runners travel through tunnels, over high wooden bridges,
up flights of steps and through mountain villages, with only yodelling spectators to break the silence. Two of the
three races (the 28-kilometre Landwasserlauf and the 67-kilometre ‘marathon’) begin benignly enough on a
stadium track in Davos (at 5,000 m), a centre for high-altitude sports training in Europe. The mid-distance
Sertiglauf covers the last 39 kilometres of the marathon course, providing runners with the challenge of crossing
the 3,000 m Sertig Pass. Founded as recently as 1986, the races already attract more than 2,000 runners from over
20 countries to the south-eastern, German-speaking quadrant of Switzerland. A training camp, held the week
before the race, includes alpine running and hiking in the mountains to help runners to acclimatise to the altitude.
C Boston Marathon
Qualifying for Boston has become a goal for runners everywhere. Arguably the world’s most famous
marathon (now over 100 years old), Boston was known to sports fans decades before there was any such thing as a
running boom. While the event has been modernised to accommodate the financial realities of big-time
marathoning, Boston retains many of its charms and traditions from the old days. One is the Monday noon start
(Patriots Day in Massachusetts) at Hopkinton's village green. The Boston experience includes Hopkinton’s
crowded and frantic start, the deafening cheers from the women of Wellesley College, the reality test of the
Newton Hills (including, at 17 miles, the infamous Heartbreak Hill) and a downtown Boston finish in front of
thousands of spectators. Runners take over the city the weekend before, with exhibitions, warm-up runs along the
Charles River and famous-runner sightings among the leading activities. Moderately demanding qualifying
standards limit the field to about 7,000 and add prestige to the event.

B Stramiliano 15km & Half Marathon

Italy’s electrifying Stramilano breaks the pattern for road races by holding separate events in four classes of
running. On the Saturday, thousands of spectators jam the streets at the heart of the city of 1.7 million people to
watch 200 élite men run a four-lap half-marathon. The next day's citizens’ 15-kilometre race draws a field of
around 50,000 from 50 countries to trek from the Piazza Duomo (the square in front of Milan's massive white
marble cathedral, which dates from 1386) to Arena Stadium. About 2,500 non-élite runners opt for a half-
marathon that begins and ends in the stadium. Finally, there’s a 6-kilometre junior fun run from the Piazza Duomo
to the stadium. Founded in 1972, Stramilano is one of the best deals in international road racing. For the equivalent
of £5, runners receive a programme, medal and T-shirt. Until recently, the race has been largely unknown outside
Italy, even though Milan has long been Italy's centre for finance, sport and some of the greatest northern Italian
cuisine.

D New York City Marathon

The ‘big daddy’ of the modern big-city megamarathon, the New York traces its humble origins to a four-lap
run around Central Park which took place in 1970, with 55 finishers. When the race went citywide in 1976, the
world took notice, and the field has now ballooned to nearly 30,000. Apply early for entry – more runners are
rejected than accepted through New York's lottery system. The race starts at the world’s largest suspension bridge,
the Verrazano Narrows, and finishes among falling autumn leaves in stately Central Park. The meandering point-
to-point course (with some hills) passes through all five New York boroughs, giving runners a rich sampling of the
city's many ethnic neighbourhoods and subcultures and weaving them through crowds of enthusiastic spectators.
The race-support covers every imaginable runner need, from foreign-language translation to psychological trauma
counselling.

E The Medoc and Graves Marathon

It may not be the ideal race to set a world best in, but if it’s fun and frivolity you want throughout your 42
kilometres, then Médoc has it in abundance. It features an extraordinary party in the grounds of an ancient château,
a route that cuts through the cloistered, manicured private vineyards of the region, and the kind of hospitality and
atmosphere that no other event can match. Fancy dress is the order of the day, with wide-eyed villagers turning out
to cheer on hordes of runners as they make their slow progress from the wine parishes of Pauillac, St Estèphe, St
Julien and Margaux. Finishers get an open-air supper and take home a wooden-cased bottle of claret, a pendant
cast as a bunch of grapes and a knapsack to carry the goodies in. Understandably, the French make up the lion’s
share of the field, but although large tour groups are discouraged, single competitors or small independent groups
are welcomed with open arms. Apply early – it’s the most popular marathon in France and always heavily over-
subscribed. But with all that for under a fiver, it’s not hard to understand why.

G London Marathon
Inspired by Chris Brasher’s trip to New York in 1980, the race has now surpassed its older American cousin
in numbers of applicants, entrants and finishers. In 1994, with the finish moved from Westminster Bridge back
down the Mall to the steps of Buckingham Palace, the number of finishers reached a historic high of 25,000. The
now familiar flat-to-downhill course, starting at Greenwich Park and on Blackheath Common and passing the
Cutty Sark, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament along the way, packs in more history than a
secondary-school textbook. Competition for places is intense, with the lottery for ‘open’ spots denting more than a
few British club runners’ ambitions. Not only is the race the world’s biggest in numerical terms, it also raises the
most money for charity. Cartoon characters, charging rhinos and Zulu warriors all find their way onto the start
line, with thousands of pounds riding on their successful finish.

F Bolder Boulder
Set in the Rocky Mountain foothills and with the presence of a core of élite athletes and a fitness-mad
population, one of America’s largest 10- kilometre races is a natural outgrowth of the Boulder Community. Few
cities do a better job of giving 30,000 runners a memorable day without losing them in the masses. Some 40 wave
starts, in which runners are grouped with those of similar ability, ensure a smooth, uncrowded course. The
‘citizen’ divisions begin first, so that later everybody gets to watch separate fields of élite men and women sprint
to the tape in the 51,000-seat Folsom Field stadium. To take your mind off the gruelling nature of this hilly, mile-
high course, there are entertainers performing along the way, including belly dancers, gymnasts and rock bands.
There are 10 prizes for each age group, and all finishers receive a certificate with their official time and placing.
The race has gone from strength to strength since 1979, when local banker Steve Bosley and Olympic gold
medallist Frank Shorter created the event.

Which race or races

is open to children? 1 ..........

generates a lot of money for worthy causes? 2 ..........
A: Swiss Alpine Races
has not changed much since it began? 3 ..........
B: Stramiliano 15 km
has separate races for different ability groups? 4 ..........
& Half-Marathon
begins in a confused manner? 5 ..........
C: Boston Marathon
began as a very simple race? 6 ..........
D: New York City
takes place in an isolated scenic area? 7 ..........
Marathon
caters for anything runners may require? 8 ..........
E: Medoc and Graves
existed a long time before marathon running became popular? 9..........
Marathon
have more participants than the races they were originally based on? 10....11 .….
F: Bolder Boulder
restricts entry according to runners’ ability? 12 ..........
G: London Marathon
offer good value for money? 13 .......... 14 .........
is highly regarded among athletes? 15 ..........
offers facilities to prepare runners for the race? 16 ..........
shows participants the diversity of life in that city? 17 ..........
is organised so that participants are not too close together? 18 ..........

Crocodiles

Crocodiles see well, their eyes are equipped with three eyelids, each having a different function. Their
eyeballs slide back out of harm’s way during an attack. Should they lose one of their eight-centimetre-long teeth, a
replacement is always ready. A crocodile may go through several thousand during a lifetime of over seventy years.
Crocodiles cannot chew as their teeth are designed only to penetrate and hold. These animals can attack at time of
the year, but they are more active in the warmer months and when in search of mates. Underwater, crocodiles
choose their victims at the water's edge by sensing any movement in the water. Once they have a hold on their
victim, they drag it deep into the water to drown it. Then they crush and swallow it.
 Many battles occur over mates. About six weeks after mating, the female makes a nest, often on a river bank,
and lays about fifty eggs. She then seals the nest for protection and also as a way of controlling the temperature.
After ten to twelve weeks the baby crocodiles come out of the eggs: only about one percent of these make it to
adulthood, as thousands die in flooding or are eaten by fish or bigger crocodiles. In an attempt to ensure a source
of healthy animals, crocodile farms have been set up, and a vast industry now exists in crocodile skin and meat.

Children and Convenience Foods

Nowadays, parents often feel guilty if they don't give their children healthy food for each single meal.
Packaged food is frequently known as 'junk food' but in many instances that simply isn't so. Of course children
should eat well, though meals should also be relaxed enthusiastic and compatible with family life today.
And it's essential to remember that most parents of young children are by definition, extremely busy people.
Convenience foods are here to stay and they can be a valuable aid to the pursuit of happiness. Parents must seek
out the best and aim for a balance between real food and practicality. With all these convenience foods, you can
balance out the meal by adding something fresh and home-made. When your children beg for ice-cream give them
frozen yoghurt with fresh fruit. Indeed, a home where the fruit bowl needs refilling regularly is a home where
people eat well. The crucial point is balance. What is at stake is your child's gastronomic happiness - and your own
sanity.

Learning how to behave

Most people are unaware they possess a quite remarkable skill, which is usually overlooked because it is
exercised daily, and in the most ordinary of contexts. But without it, our lives would be unfulfilled and empty. It is
the ability to relate to others, to engage them in conversation, to operate as social and sociable individuals and to
develop both short-term and long-term relationships which lies at the heart of our very existence as human beings.
We are not born with this ability. There is nothing wired into the human brain that provides us with se responses to
social situations.To perform effectively in a world that relies so heavily on social interaction ,encounters and
relationships, we have to learn what to do. Small babies, as any parent will remember, are among the least sociable
beings that you can imagine. They are totally demanding, utterly selfish and scream with rage if their every whim
is not immediately satisfied. Somehow this unlikely raw material is transformed over the years into a being which
relies for its survival on being able to form reciprocal bonds with others and to follow complex rules that govern
every aspect of its social life . The monstrous infant becomes the caring, responsible adult whose life experiences
revolve around both the joys and pains, and the giving and receiving, of friendships and other relationships. It is
this remarkable transformation which is the central characteristic of being human.

Sound Advice for Language Learners

A recent issue of a language learning magazine has consulted a number of experts in the field of second
language acquisition. Their advice may prove invaluable for those considering a language course. One suggestion
is that you assess whether you are likely to be successful at learning a language. Did you enjoy studying languages
at school, for example? Do you have enough time to learn a language? The major cost will be your own time and
effort. Therefore you must make sure that the course on offer leads to a recognised qualification. Also, be realistic
in your goals . If you don't set achievable aims you are more likely to give up. Do not be deceived into thinking
that the most expensive courses are the best. Shop around to get the best possible value for money. You should
also bear in mind that the quicker you learn a language the more quickly you forget it. Sandra Miller, a French
teacher, tried to teach herself German by enrolling on a crash course. Already fluent in four languages and with a
sound knowledge of teaching methodology her chances of making progress were high. Three years on she
remembers very little. She feels her biggest mistake was not to follow up her first experience. "Moreover, I think
the teacher's role is important. It's so nice to have somebody give you a/an hand ".

Pre-History

That fragment of pottery, that little piece of bone or the remains of an early human tool are very often the only
evidence we have of our early history. However, as a consequence of the work of archaeologists and others in this
field, we have over the years built up an extremely good understanding of early human development. This is the
case despite the fact that there is no written evidence of the period we term pre-history. What is startling to note is
that this period, which predates the invention of writing, accounts for 99% of human existence. It was at this time
that discoveries that shaped the human race were made, early settlements created that were to become our major
cities and in general was the time when the very foundations of human civilisation were laid. The evidence of our
pre-history can be found everywhere, from remnants of human existence buried deep in the ground to ancient
pathways and burial grounds. The first and easiest place to start your exploration of pre-history is of course your
local museum, particularly if you are interested in discovering more about the area where you live. You may even
have a local archaeological group that would be prepared to let you work as a volunteer.

21st Century Workplace

The economy of the 21st century will be based on
skills and (0) knowledge according to a recent report. KNOW
The study shows that there will be more jobs in the
workplace for those with (1) ... and the right skills, and QUALIFY
fewer jobs for those with none. The best (2) ... will be EMPLOY
one that can demonstrate a level of academic or (3) ... VOCATION
achievement that can enable the individual to
support their CV with evidence of desirable personal
qualities. As well as wanting people who are flexible,
companies are also looking for evidence of (4) ... ADAPT
It is also (5)............ necessary to be an excellent INCREASE
communicator as the majority of (6) ..... make their ORGANISE
profits from the skills of people selling their goods as
much as from the producers themselves.
The new economy is here to stay and unless
businesses show the (7) ... to adapt they may fin they WILL
are (8) ... according to the authors of the report. SUSTAIN
The Internet is 30 Years Old
The Internet recently celebrated its 30th birthday. Its
universal (9) ... has made it the most powerful and ACCESS
cost - (10) ... tool for business and personal EFFECT
communication. It currently has 60 million users and
has a (11) ... rate of 200,000 users per month. Not GROW
(12) ... it has also created the largest number of SURPRISE
(13) ... under the age of thirty. The Internet was MILLION
developed by scientists (14) ... as a way ORIGIN
for the American government to withstand nuclear
attacks. Who would have thought 30 years ago that
its (15) ..... would have extended to so many areas APPLY
of our daily life?

Extract From A Letter

With this letter you will find your (0) ... to attend the INVITE
Annual General Meeting of the Society. Please note
that it will take place on 10 September (the last
newsletter (1) ... stated that the meeting would be CORRECT
on 9 September). The meeting will begin at 8pm but
(2) ... will be available from 7pm. You will therefore REFRESH
have time to chat (3) ... with committee members FORMAL
and (4) ... of the Society before the meeting OFFICE
commences.
At 8pm, the Chairman will make a brief (5) ... INTRODUCE
speech and then put forward some proposals for
your (6) ... There will also be elections to fill the two APPROVE
(7) ... on the committee. The enclosed agenda VACANT
gives a full description of the business to be
 conducted at the meeting.
Dreaming
The first study of what goes on in our heads during
dreaming has been completed, casting light on an
activity that humans have always found (1) ... . The MYSTERY
research, reported in the journal Nature, opens up a
(2) ... new chapter in efforts to understand what we SIGNIFY
do with a (3) ... of our lives. It supports the THREE
(4) ... that dreams are formed by calling up images SUPPOSE
from a store of emotional memories.
Scientists find dreaming an enormous puzzle.
The reason for their (5) ... lies in the IGNORE
(6) ... complicated design of the brain which contains ASTONISH
as many nerve cells as there are stars in the universe.
Each of the nerve cells communicates with thousands
of its neighbours, producing an (7) ... amount of BELIEVE
chatter. Now, however, it seems scientists are
beginning to make sense of the brain’s (8) ... activity. NIGHT

The Influence of Other Languages on English

How many native speakers of English realise the influence that other languages have had on their language?
Many of the common features of the English that we read, write, speak and listen to today owe a huge debt to
Scandinvian, French, Greek and Latin, for example. The Scandinavian invasions between the 8th and 10th
centuries left their mark upon the English language. It is well-documented that phrasal verbs, whose verb plus
particle are a considerable source of frustration for many an EFL learner, are a common feature of the
Scandinavian language. An equally strong consequence of the invasion was the gradual 'wearing away' of the
inflectional endings that characterised Old English. This simplification of English led to the commonly-held view
today that English has “no grammar”. The influence of French (and Latin) in the three centuries following the
Battle of Hastings in 1066 was no less significant. Modern English has many pairs of words and expressions (or
'doublets'), which have a similar meaning but a slightly different connotation. Would you prefer to receive a
cheerful 'hearty welcome' the next time you visit a friend, or a more formal 'cordial reception'? Speakers of
English today may wonder why it is that so manyof our technical terms derive from Greek. This influence can be
traced back to the time when Athens led the world in philosophy, art and science. Conversely, it could be argued
that Greek words are so commonplace in English that we have to struggle to remember their origins . In the field
of medicine alone we find many Greek suffixes, such as '-itis', which originally meant 'disease' but narrowed its
meaning to describe the part of the body that is inflamed.

Turn A Hobby into a Business

It is not (0) unusual to make a hobby pay for itself USUAL
even if you have no (1) ... of turning it into a business. INTEND
Most (2) ... is so expensive these days that few EQUIP
people can afford to make, for example, picture frames
or items of furniture without (3) ... offering them up OCCASION
for sale.
Some hobbyists begin by donating a piece of work to a
(4) ... sale and then being surprised by how quickly CHARITY
and (5) ... it sells. They wonder why not do it PROFIT
themselves. An honest (6) ... should be undertaken APPRAISE
regarding the demand for the work and the price the
customer is prepared to pay in (7) ... . However, do not REAL
forget the degree of personal (8) ... as well. SATISFY

People of the Forest

This TV documentary follows a family of chimpanzees
who live in the forest of Tanzania. (9) ... we humans APPEAR
share 98% of our genes with chimpanzees; indeed, they
are our closest relative in the animal (10) ... KING
The focus of the film is on Fifi and we first see her as
a (11) ... five-year-old who spends all her time PLAY
annoying her younger brother. Meanwhile, the older
male chimps fight for (12) ..., whilst the SUPREME
females deal with the day-to-day (13) ... matters. The ORGANISE
(14) ... splendour of the location makes this GEOGRAPHY
programme worth viewing, although our (15) ... SIMILAR
to these animals will make you think.