6.

THE DEATH OF LANGUAGES

The death of languages has been repeated many times in history. Localised disasters such
as great floods or warfare have (1) a part, but in the modern era the increased
international movement of people has greatly (2) the destruction. Local languages
may be overpowered by a metropolitan language, thus increasing the pressure to neglect
ancestral tongues in (3) of the new one, which is seen as the key to prospering in the
(4) culture. Children may be forbidden to use their mother tongue in the classroom,
as has occurred to many groups, including the Welsh and Aboriginal Australians. The
death of a language is not only a tragedy for those directly affected, but also an (5)
cultural loss for the world. Through language, each culture expresses a unique
worldview. Thus, any effort to (6) linguistic variety implies a deep respect for the
positive values of other cultures.
1

done

made

adopted

played

speeded

accelerated

urged

hurried

favour

preference

supporte
d

choice

foremost

major

leading

dominant

invaluabl
e

irretrievabl
e

inimitabl
e

irrepressibl
e

champion

hold

preserve

collaborate

7.OLD FRIENDS
Dear Davina and Simon, began the letter from Debbie, A visit from your family
wouldnt be complete without a subsequent visit to the Post Office. Im pleased to say
that that this time youve left only a minor item that didnt (1) me in fretting over
who wasnt going to be able to clean their teeth or explain to a teacher about a missing
homework book.
(2) of how often I entreat the kids to pack up their own stuff, or how (3) I
search the bedrooms and bathroom, we always leave something behind.
Weve known Debbie and Andrew since before any of our children were born. Debbie
and I had our first babies at around the same time, and lent each other lots of moral and
practical support. What you (4) then, I suggest, bonds you to those you (5) the
experience with. When we lived round the corner from each other, all this leaving behind
of possessions never (6) but since they moved 70 kilometres away the leavings have
had to be posted back.

entail

involve

imply

oblige

Despite

Considering

Provided

Regardles
s

diligentl
y

disconcerting
ly

despicabl
y

dependabl
y

put up

get by

go
through

stand for

cope

share

deal

bear

bothered

minded

fussed

mattered

8. BEAUTY FROM THE BEAST

Our cashmere sweaters are made (1) of the purest, whitest cashmere in the
world. It comes from the rugged goats that (2) the dry, barren, windswept plains of
Inner Mongolia. Grazing is (3) even in the summer months, and winter
temperatures drop down to 30 degrees below freezing with the (4) that the goats
grow a unique protect fleece. A fraction of the width of a human hair, its the rarer downy
underhairs growing closest to the goats body that are the most (5) and the only
fibres used in our sweaters. Why? Well, for a start, theyre the longest, and longer fibres
yield softer, stronger, more consistent yarns which can be knit tighter to aid longevity.
And (6) even the finest cashmere grows in several natural shades, we use only
white. White fibres hold dyes better to give our sweaters a rich, natural hue.
1
A
B
C
D
especi
extensi
effecti
exclusiv
ally
vely
vely
ely
2

roam

ramble

trampl
e

trek

slim

scanty

sparse

skimpy

recour
se

reward

result

respons
e

honou
red

prized

gifted

awarded

unless

whilst

provid
ing

despite

abject

obsolet
e

arcane

ob
tus
e

9. THE ELEPHANT ORCHESTRA

Some of the forty-six elephants living at the Elephant Conservation Centre near Lampang
in Thailand have (1) a new life in music. Six of the centres elephants (2) the
Thai Elephant Orchestra by playing a variety of percussion instruments. Those familiar
with Thai instruments will recognise the slit drums, the gong and the thundersheel. The
only difference is that the elephant (3) are a bit sturdier. When they play, the
elephants are given a (4) to tell them when to start; after that, they improvise. They
clearly have a (5) sense of rhythm. They flap their ears to the beat and some add to
the melody with their own trumpeting. Elephant mood-music, it seems, could have a
commercial future. A thirteen-track CD has been produced and anyone not knowing who
the players were would simply (6) them to be human. All profits from the sales of
the CD are helping to keep the centre going.
1

found

settled

taken

opted

put
together

make up

play out

lead off

types

replicas

versions

sorts

twitch

tip

cue

hint

quick

stark

high

keen

assume

attribute

allocate

appraise

10. NEW ADVENTURE

It was normal that I should feel some anxiety about my departure. Not only was I setting
out to a place I had never been before, I was also (1) on a kind of life about which I
knew nothing and, what is more, striping myself of all that was familiar to me into the (2)
. We are all, in our journey through life, navigating towards some special, dreamed-

of place; and if for some reason we are (3) off course, then we must strike out, at
whatever risk, to (4) things right. Not all of these forays need have the drastic
flavour of my own leap into the unknown; some are such subtle turnings that it is only
afterwards that one looks back and sees what is was all (5) to. But to drift, blown
this way and that or for that (6) to pursue a wrong course for the sake of fear or
pride, costs time; and we none of us have too much of that.
1

escaping

exploring

emigrating

embarking

deal

arrangement

bargain

negotiation

spun

kicked

thrown

headed

set

establish

sort

have

approaching

steering

going

leading

end

matter

point

sense