INTER B - READING

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READING

Read this article about wedding pictures.

Wedding pictures are all about the loving couple, with lots of flowers and soft focus and friends and family in their best
clothes, right?

Well, yes for a traditional couple, but for those looking for something a little more adventurous, modern wedding
photography has a lot more to offer, according to photographer Jo Brokenshire. “It’s like all the other parts of a
wedding these days,” she explains. “People are looking for something that little bit different, something that will make
their day and their memories unique, something that expresses their individuality.”

Some of the photographs she shows me simply play around a little with the traditional format. One, for example,
shows the happy couple photographed through an empty picture frame held by their children. Another is a shot of a
couple leaning toward one another for a kiss, with friends and family in the background framed by the V-shape their
bodies produce.

Others are distinctly further along the bizarreness scale. According to Brokenshire, there is currently a trend for silly
pictures such as this one of a wedding group in the foreground with an enormous green monster emerging above a
group of trees behind them. “These two are an accountant and a librarian,” Brokenshire laughs. “So maybe this reflects
a desire for some excitement in their lives!”

However, anyone really seeking a thrill might consider taking part in the latest craze sweeping the USA—the “Trash
the dress” photo shoot. Making the most of the fact that a wedding dress will (we hope) be worn only once, these
photographs show the bride destroying her dress at the end of the day, for example, by walking into the sea, or taking
part in a food fight.

In one striking image Brokenshire showed me online, a woman stands on a windy beach with orange flames leaping up
the sides of her white dress. “That really is one for the family album!” grins Brokenshire. “But I wouldn’t like to try it
with my clients—it looks highly dangerous!”
1 According to the article are the sentences true, false, or is there not enough information to be sure?Choose A, B, or
C.

0 The photographer says that some people want unusual photographs nowadays.

A True B False C Not enough information

1 The writer was shown some pictures that were only slightly different from traditional pictures.

A True B False C Not enough information

2 One picture the writer saw showed children holding a photograph of their parents on their wedding day.

A True B False C Not enough information

3 The couple who had the monster picture were very bored with their jobs.

A True B False C Not enough information

4 “Trash the dress” pictures are currently being produced only in the USA.

A True B False C Not enough information

5 In the “Trash the dress” pictures, brides take their dresses off and destroy them.

A True B False C Not enough information

Score: /5

Read what this town planner says about her job.

“I have worked as a town planner for around ten years. It’s a fascinating job, and one that a lot of people don’t even know
exists. They may have a vague idea about building regulations, but they don’t realize that there’s a lot of thought and
work behind growing and developing a successful urban environment.

There are so many different aspects to this job. It’s not just a matter of deciding where to put buildings and how many to
allow. For a start, we have to plan the infrastructure to support any new development. What pressure will it put on our
roads, public transportation, schools, and hospitals, for instance? Are there sufficient water supplies? Can we get gas
into the area?

Personally, I’m very eager for community engagement—letting local residents have a real input into the planning
decisions that affect them. Of course, you always get people who oppose any new building, but most people appreciate
the need for more housing as well as commercial development that will bring jobs to their area.

One role I take very seriously is that of guardian of our town’s heritage. It’s very important that our historic buildings are
preserved, and that new developments are not allowed to destroy the character of an area. With an ever-growing
population, we always have to think about using the land we have in the most effective way, but it’s a real challenge to
balance the needs of communities and businesses and at the same time to consider the environmental impact of
everything we are doing.

I’d say that in general people are becoming more knowledgeable about planning, particularly with regard to
environmental issues. We always carry out a thorough environmental assessment on any project we are planning, and
we try to make sure that our cities are as sustainable as possible in terms of energy use, though I must admit we have a
long way to go on that one.”
2 According to the text are the sentences below true, false, or is there not enough information to be sure?Choose A, B,
or C.

0 It is obvious to most people that cities require careful and professional planning.

A True B False C Not enough information

1 New buildings are never permitted before services such as roads and water are in place.

A True B False C Not enough information

2 If you ask local people for their views on planning, they usually understand what is best for their area.

A True B False C Not enough information

3 The speaker is only involved in new developments in the area where she works.

A True B False C Not enough information

4 She enjoys trying to solve environmental problems.

A True B False C Not enough information

5 Town planners are not particularly successful in encouraging the use of green energy.

A True B False C Not enough information

Score: /5