READING ASSIGNMENT FOR ENT303

READING PASSAGE 1
Local governments have had to take on a new responsibility; that of ensuring that people stay fit
and healthy. Birmingham council is already hot on the case. For the past few years they have been
encouraging local residents to enroll on the Be active scheme, which allows them to use local
leisure services completely free of charge.
Participants must register to obtain a membership card. They can then use the facilities in leisure
centers across the city at certain times of the day.
29 leisure centers are signed up to the scheme. Each leisure center must offer a minimum of one
hour of swimming time and an hour of gym time to Be Active members. In reality, in some
establishments in the more deprived areas, 70% of opening hours are reserved for Be Active
members. Exercise classes and badminton courts are also made available on top of the standard
facilities. Be Active classes are also being provided in schools and community centers. There are
guided bike rides, and even proposals to roll out activities in public spaces such as rounders games
in parks, and buggy pushes for new mothers.
Since it was launched in 2008, a third of the local population, a total of 360,000 people, has signed
up for the scheme. 60% of these are from minority groups, and the average age is 49, as opposed
to 29, the figure for private gyms. The majority were not previously members of a sports club of
any kind, half were overweight or obese, and a fifth considered themselves to be in poor health,
indicating that the scheme is reaching the people who need it most. Research also shows that since
the scheme was set up, there has been a rise in demand for information about reducing alcohol
intake and quitting smoking.
Statistics show that for every £1 spent on the Be Active scheme, £23 is saved in the health
service. Sadly, the scheme has suffered from budget cuts, and lately it has had to reduce the hours
available to members. Nonetheless, other councils are interested in the great strides made by
Birmingham council, and officials from Birmingham have been holding workshops with
representatives from other councils to spread the word about what can be achieved.
Source: Triggle, N. (2013) Can free leisure services get people fit? BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22350807
Read the following sentences and write T (True), F (False) or NG (Not Given)
1. The Be Active scheme started up earlier this year.
2. Everyone in Birmingham is eligible for Be Active.
3. Participants must pay a one-off fee to register.
4. Participants can use the leisure facilities at any time of day.
5. Participants can use their Be Active membership cards at any sports center in Birmingham.
6. Participants can only use the leisure facilities for two hours per week.
7. Some sports centers dedicate over half their opening hours to Be Active members.
8. Some Be Active activities take place outside leisure centers.
9. The Be Active scheme was not as popular as the council hoped.
10. The Be Active scheme attracts both slim and overweight people.

READING PASSAGE 2
Social media influencers
It is estimated that about 40 per cent of the world’s population use social media, and many
of these billions of social media users look up to influencers to help them decide what to
buy and what trends to follow.
So what is an influencer and how do we become one?
An influencer is a person who can influence the decisions of their followers because of
their relationship with their audience and their knowledge and expertise in a particular area,
e.g. fashion, travel or technology.
Influencers often have a large following of people who pay close attention to their views.
They have the power to persuade people to buy things, and influencers are now seen by
many companies as a direct way to customers’ hearts. Brands are now asking powerful
influencers to market their products. With some influencers charging up to $25,000 for one
social media post, it is no surprise that more and more people are keen to become
influencers too. If you are one of them, then here are five tips on how to do it.
1. Choose your niche
What is the area that you know most about? What do you feel most excited talking about?
Find the specific area that you’re most interested in and develop it.
2. Choose your medium and write an interesting bio
Most influencers these days are bloggers and micro-bloggers. Decide which medium –
such as your own online blog, Instagram or Snapchat – is the best way to connect with your
followers and chat about your niche area. When you have done that, write an attention
grabbing bio that describes you and your specialty area in an interesting and unique way.
Make sure that people who read your bio will want to follow you.
3. Post regularly and consistently
Many influencers post daily on their social media accounts. The more you post, the more
likely people will follow you. Also, ensure that your posts are consistent and possibly
follow a theme.
4. Tell an interesting story
Whether it is a photo or a comment that you are posting, use it to tell a story that will catch
the attention of your followers and help them connect with you.
5. Make sure people can easily find your content
Publicize your posts on a variety of social media, use hashtags and catchy titles and make
sure that they can be easily found. There is no point writing the most exciting blog posts
or posting the most attractive photographs if no one is going to see them. Most importantly,
if you want to become a social media influencer, you need to have patience. Keep posting
and your following will gradually increase. Good luck!
Task 1
Choose the best answer.
1. A social media influencer is not someone who …
a. guides the decisions of their followers.
b. is an expert in a particular area.
c. pays their followers to buy products.
d. has many followers who pay attention to their opinions.
2. Companies want to use influencers to help …
a. sell their products to their followers.
b. develop new products.
c. write their blog posts.
d. design their websites.
3. If you want to be an influencer, your bio on your social media account shouldn’t…
a. say who you are.
b. talk about your niche area.
c. be interesting.
d. be the same as other people’s bios.
4. You should make sure that you post …
a. once a month.
b. every day for the first month and then once a month after that.
c. about similar subjects.
 d. about all sorts of different things.
5. You can make sure that people find your post by …
a. using hashtags.
b. using funny or memorable titles.
c. using different social media to link to your post.
d. doing all of the above.
6. What should the title of this blog post be?
a. Five ways to influence people
b. Five ways to use influencers in marketing
c. Five tips on becoming a social media influencer
d. Five tips on making money as an influencer

Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?
1. An influencer needs to know about as many topics as possible, e.g. fashion, travel,
technology, etc.
2. Companies are paying some influencers up to $25,000 to post about their products.
3. Most influencers write regular posts on their blogs or micro-blogs.
4. You can chat with your followers using your bio.
5. Your posts should not only be attractive but should tell a story.
6. You can become a social media influencer in a short time. \
READING PASSAGE 3
The legend of fairies
(1) Fairies today are the stuff of children’s stories, little magical people with wings, often
shining with light. Typically pretty and female, like Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, they usually
use their magic to do small things and are mostly friendly to humans.
(2) We owe many of our modern ideas about fairies to Shakespeare and stories from the
18th and 19th centuries. Although we can see the origins of fairies as far back as the
Ancient Greeks, we can see similar creatures in many cultures. The earliest fairy-like
creatures can be found in the Greek idea that trees and rivers had spirits called dryads and
nymphs. Some people think these creatures were originally the gods of earlier, pagan
religions that worshipped nature. They were replaced by the Greek and Roman gods, and
then later by the Christian God, and became smaller, less powerful figures as they lost
importance.
(3) Another explanation suggests the origin of fairies is a memory of real people, not spirits.
So, for example, when tribes with metal weapons invaded land where people only used
stone weapons, some of the people escaped and hid in forests and caves. Further support
for this idea is that fairies were thought to be afraid of iron and could not touch it. Living
outside of society, the hiding people probably stole food and attacked villages. This might
explain why fairies were often described as playing tricks on humans. Hundreds of years
ago, people actually believed that fairies stole new babies and replaced them with a
‘changeling’ – a fairy baby – or that they took new mothers and made them feed fairy
babies with their milk.
(4) While most people no longer believe in fairies, only a hundred years ago some people
were very willing to think they might exist. In 1917, 16-year-old Elsie Wright took two
photos of her cousin, nine-year-old Frances Griffiths, sitting with fairies. Some
photography experts thought they were fake, while others weren’t sure. But Arthur Conan
Doyle, the writer of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, believed they were real. He
published the original pictures, and three more the girls took for him, in a magazine called
The Strand, in 1920. The girls only admitted the photos were fake years later in 1983,
created using pictures of dancers that Elsie copied from a book.
Task 1
Are the sentences true or false or is the information not given?
1. Fairies are not usually male.
2. Newer religions changed how people thought of fairies.
3. People used iron to protect themselves from fairies.
4. People thought very good babies were presents from the fairies.
5. Arthur Conan Doyle created some fake photos.
6. Elsie and Frances were surprised Arthur Conan Doyle believed them.
Task 2
Circle the best answer.
1. In paragraph 1, the word they refers to …
a. fairies.
b. children.
c. stories.
2. In paragraph 2, the words these creatures refer to …
a. tree and rivers.
b. the spirits of trees and rivers.
c. the Ancient Greek people.
3. In paragraph 2, the word they refers to …
a. pagan gods.
b. pagan religions.
c. Greek and Roman gods.
4. In paragraph 3, the words this idea refer to …
a. the idea that fairies were based on people.
b. the idea that fairies used metal weapons.
c. the idea that fairies used stone tools.
5. In paragraph 3, the word this refers to …
a. the fact that fairies were thought to be afraid of iron.
b. stolen food.
c. the possibility that hiding people stole food and attacked villages.
6. In paragraph 4, the word more refers to …
a. the girls.
b. the photos.
c. the fairies.

READING PASSAGE 4
Read about a proposal to build a solar farm near a British village called Barnley. Then answer
the questions.
The Barnley Village Committee is opposed to plans to build a 6,890 panel solar farm on a 15-acre
site adjacent to the village recreation ground, currently used for agriculture. Under the proposed
scheme, the area will be surrounded by an 8ft-high fence. The panels themselves will be about 7
feet high.
The committee has already lodged an appeal to the local authority against construction of the solar
farm. The councilors are due to meet on 13th March to vote whether or not plans will go ahead.
Local residents are invited to attend. Our objections will be presented before the board, and a
representative from the solar firm Sun Gen will put forward the case for the development.
Residents are encouraged to voice their objections to the development. These must address the
aspects of the scheme that violate the current planning policy. However, you are welcome to make
your objections personal, by stating how the plans will affect you as a user of the recreation
ground. Some of the most common objections are listed below:
1. The extensive views from the village and recreation ground across the open country will be
blocked by the panels and high fencing. Furthermore, once the site has been built upon, it may be
considered brownfield, thus an acceptable site for housing or industrial development. It does not,
therefore, comply with the local policy which states that developments must not adversely effect
on the appearance or character of the landscape.
2. The recreation ground has recently undergone major improvements including a perimeter
running track, new playground equipment and seating. It is heavily used by families, sports teams
and dog walkers, and is regularly used for village events. Cricket and football teams regularly use
the recreation ground and it is not uncommon for balls to enter the field. Cricketers are worried
that they may become liable for damage to solar panels. If teams are forced to relocate, this would
adversely affect the character of the village, and may jeopardize participation in the children’s
teams. This goes against the National Planning Policy Framework which requires developments
to promote high quality public space and encourage the active and continual use of public areas.
3. There has been no assessment of the extent to which noise from inverters and cooling fans will
affect local residents.
4. As the ground beneath the solar panels will be surfaced, there will be more additional run-off
of rainwater. The recreation ground already has problems with drainage, and these may be
exacerbated by this development. A formal flood risk assessment must be submitted.
5. The lighting and security systems have not been outlined, it is not clear how the area will be
made safe for children
Email your objections to planning@barnelycouncil.gov.uk, and quote the reference
BLY7458/00578 in the subject line.
1. What is the committee’s opinion of the development?
a. It is opposed to the development
b. It supports the development.
c. It is waiting for comments from residents before taking a viewpoint.
2. The solar farm would be built.
a. on the recreation ground
b. in an agricultural field.
c. on a brownfield site
3. The meeting with councilors...
a. has already taken place.
b. will take place shortly.
c. has been proposed, but not planned.
 4. Which of the following is NOT true of the proposed solar farm?
a. It will be surrounded by a high fence.
b. It will comprise of 6,890 7-foot high panels.
c. The solar panels will be placed directly on the grass
5. People who want to object the development are advised...
a. not to write about their personal feelings.
b. to refer to the village’s planning policy.
c. to send a letter in the mail.
6. What is inferred about brownfield sites?
a. It is easier to get permission to develop brownfield sites.
b. There are already too many brownfield sites in the village.
c. A brownfield site is not a suitable location for a solar farm
7. Teams may no longer play on the recreation ground because...
a. parents will be worried about their children’s safety.
b. spectators won’t want to watch matches at the recreation ground.
c. players will be worried about damaging the panels.
8. Which of the following is NOT true of the recreation ground?
a. It has recently received considerable investment.
b. It occasionally floods.
c. It is well-lit.

READING PASSAGE 5
Read the five job adverts. Answer the questions. Write A, B, C, D, E or None.
A. IT Recruitment Officer
We are looking for recent graduates who would like to work with some of the most important
companies in the digital industry. This post is based in Dubai. Once you have received training
on our computer system, you will be responsible for:
- liaising with recruiters to create job descriptions
- Advertising jobs
- sourcing possible candidates
- updating the database
We are looking for someone with passion, drive and commitment. Recruitment Resources
must be able to work under pressure and be self-motivated and people-focused. These qualities
will help you progress within the company. Recruitment Resources who are willing to learn can
train to become Account Managers and Account Directors.
- Competitive basic salary plus commission

B. Logistics Associate
Our company is looking for someone to work in the sales and customer service department to
ensure that customers have a professional service from the moment they place an order until they
receive their shipment. The job is for 27 hours per week. Hours are negotiable. Opportunities for
overtime are likely.
Your responsibilities will include:
- placing and processing orders
- keeping accurate records
- processing returns and refunds
The successful candidate will:
- be educated to degree level
- be able to work efficiently and to deadlines in a high pressured environment
- have good IT skills
Candidates should have experience in business logistics, purchasing and supply management or
operations management.

C. Insurance Telesales
Do you have previous sales experience? Are you available from January 6th until the end of
March?
We are currently looking for someone to deal with insurance renewals sales. The role will involve
calling existing customers and asking them if they intend to renew their policy, and if necessary,
discuss how we can keep them as a customer. The role is a 3-month fixed term contract. The hours
of work will be 8:45am until 5pm Monday to Friday. We are looking for a hard worker who is
computer literate and has a good telephone manner.

D. Data Analyst
As a Data Analyst you will join a team that analyses research data for anomalies and presents
findings to people within and outside the company. A graduate with an eye for detail and a love of
working with figures would be ideal. Confident communications skills are also vital. If you enjoy
problem solving, have an investigative and enquiring mind, have a good knowledge of word
processing and spreadsheet software, and excellent numerical skills, this could be a great career
opportunity for you.
A great benefits package is available including health cover and gym membership.

E. Project Assistant
Reporting to the Project Manager, you will undertake property surveys, site inspections and
attend site meetings to ensure that work undertaken by our contractors is being carried out properly.
You must have initiative, as you will be required to work on your own. It is essential that you have
your own transportation. An allowance will be provided. Candidates should have: Good keyboard
and IT skills, an organized and methodical approach, good written and verbal communication
skills.
REQUIREMENTS
* Minimum 2-year Construction related qualification.
* Minimum of two year's relevant experience or transferrable skills from a relevant background.

Which job(s):
1…….. .requires applicants to have their own car?
2. ……..does not require applicants to have IT skills?
3. ……..is temporary?
4. ……..is part-time?
5.………is located abroad?
6. ……..offers people the chance of promotion
7. ……..is suitable for a mathematician
8. ……..requires the employee to work alone
9. ……..does not involve working with people
10. …….. gives employees the opportunity to earn more by making sales
11. …….. gives employees the opportunity to earn more by working extra hours
12. …….. requires experience in the building trade
13. ……..offers perks
14. …….. requires the employee to make presentations

READING PASSAGE 6

Read about Parkour and free running, then answer the questions.
The World of Parkour
In 1902, a volcano in the Caribbean island of Martinique blew up. A French naval officer on the
scene, Lt. George Hébert managed to coordinate the rescue of over 700 people, both indigenous
and European. He noticed, as he did so, how people moved, some well, some badly, around the
obstacles in their path, and how this affected their chances of survival. Hébert had travelled widely
and was well aware of skills many indigenous people exhibited in being able to traverse the natural
environment. From these experiences, Hébert developed a training discipline which he called ‘the
natural method’ in which climbing, jumping and running techniques were used to negotiate
obstacles. His method was adopted by the French military and became the basis for all their
training. In time, it became known as parcours du combattant – the path of the warrior.
Raymond Belle was a practitioner of parcour in Vietnam in the 1950s. He had great athletic ability,
and the skills and agility he had learnt through parcour earned him a reputation as an agile and
elite soldier. In later life, he returned to France and passed on his skills to his son, David, who
combined what he had learnt from his father with his own knowledge of martial arts and
gymnastics, and in time, the sport of parkour was born.

Parkour involves a range of ‘moves’, although none are official. They involve vaulting, jumping
and landing accurately on small and narrow features, catching ledges, traversing high wall and
landing with a rolling impact to absorb impacts.
Belle formed a group of traceurs called the Yamikasi, meaning ‘strong man, strong spirit’, that
included his friend, Sebastian Foucan. In time, the two of them started to follow different
paths. Belle concentrated on the art of getting from place to place in the most efficient way
possible, while Foucan developed his own style which involved more self-expression. This he
termed freerunning.
From the late 1990s, the art and sport of parkour spread worldwide. Both Belle and Foucan gave
interviews and appeared on television. In 2003, filmmaker Mike Christie made the film Jump
London, and urban freerunning, or freeflow, began to dominate the London scene. But it was the
arrival of YouTube in 2005 that really brought freerunning to a global audience. People around
the world began to post their videos online, making freerunning a mainstream sport, and in 2007,
the first major freerunning and parkour competition was held in Vienna.
Since parkour values freedom, there are few facilities dedicated to the practice. Traceurs use both
rural and urban areas, typically parks, offices and abandoned buildings. Traceurs generally respect
the environment they practice in, and since part of their philosophy is ‘leave no trace’, there have
been few concerns over damage to property. However, law enforcement and fire and rescue teams
argue that freerunners are risking their lives needlessly, especially when they practice at
height. However, practitioners argue that injuries are rare, because they rely on their own hands
and feet rather than things out of their immediate control, such as ice and wheels, as is the case
with skiing and race-driving.

1 George Hebert developed parcour du combattant because...

A. he saw native people doing it in Martinique.
B. he saw how it could save lives.
C. he saw how the French were poor at negotiating obstacles.
2. The natural method…..
A. was replaced by Hebert’s new discipline.
B. was taught to Hebert by indigenous people.
C. was widely practiced by the French military.
3. Raymond Belle...
A. was trained by George Hebert.
B. gave the discipline its new name.
C. was a notable practitioner of the natural method.
4. David Belle….
A. Brought in moves from other disciplines.
B. also learnt parcour while in the French military.
C. learnt parcour from his father in Vietnam.
5. A traceur is...
A. a parkour move.
B. someone who practices parkour.
C. an obstacle in a parkour course.
6 Freerunning differs from parkour in that….
A. it is faster.
B. it is more creative.
C. it is more efficient.
7. What brought parkour and freerunning to an international audience?
A. TV appearances and interviews
B. a British documentary
C. video sharing website
8. According to practitioners, where is the best place to do parkour or free-running?
A. in cities
B. in safe facilities
C. wherever you like
9. Which of the following is NOT true about freerunning?
A. There are a large number of reported injuries.
B. There are now international competitions.
C. Practitioners often cause damage to public property.
10. Parkour and freerunning practitioners…..
A. require a lot of equipment.
B. rely on their own bodies.
C. avoid taking risks.

READING PASSAGE 7

Read part of an employee handout regarding working with businesses in other countries.
Like most companies in an increasingly globalized world, our firm does business with other firms
abroad. Company cultures vary worldwide, and it is important for delegates from our company to
recognize how company culture overseas might be different from our own. This document will
give you a brief guide to company culture in the countries we associate with.
Russia
Until recently, people and businesses were oppressed by the state and this has affected people’s
attitudes. It is not uncommon for laws to be ignored and taxes to go unpaid. In some cases, only
contracts between close personal friends are acknowledged. Therefore, networking is vital for
successful business. Presently, the legal situation in Russia is in a state of flux, with laws constantly
being rewritten. Those that exist are often unenforceable. Most agreements are therefore made on
a trust basis, so it is vital that personal relationships do not break down. The management style is
centralized and directive. Too much debate can indicate a lack of decisiveness. Subordinates take
orders from the ‘big boss’. Many westerners see this as a lack of initiative on the part of middle
managers, but in actual fact, middle managers have little power. Most delays occur because the
question has not been presented to actual decision-maker. However, things are changing in Russia.
The old regime is gradually being replaced by western business style, and younger managers will
have a much more modern approach than their older counterparts.
South Korea
South Korea is one of the world’s most successful economies, having seen five consecutive
decades of high economic growth. When faced with adversity, South Koreans change direction
quickly and effectively. Despite the frantic economic growth, South Korean society is still very
conservative and conformist due to the influence of Confucian values. Companies are hierarchical
and regimented and ‘face’ is very much valued. Consequently, change can sometimes be slow and
painful. Managers are paternalistic, authoritative figures who expect their instructions to be carried
out obediently and respectfully. In return, they give their subordinates support and help, not only
in work issues but in home issues as well. Group harmony is important, so South Koreans avoid
confrontation and blame, especially among people of equal rank. Friendship is therefore vital to
business success. The Korean saying 'make a friend first and a client second' sums this up exactly.
Australia
Australia has a relatively small population in relation to its vast size. Its geographic isolation and
its small domestic market mean that international trade is essential to guarantee future prosperity.
Increasingly, this is done in countries in Asia rather than Commonwealth countries. Australian
managers are not considered to have superior status to other workers. Their jobs are just
different. Authoritative management styles are not appreciated among Australians workers.
Instead, managers adopt a more consultative and inclusive style which encourages open debate.
Challenging superiors is acceptable, indeed it is a sign of commitment and professionalism.
Outsiders may consider such dialogues confrontational, but Australians regard them as effective
ways to communicate ideas. Australian managers like to be seen as ‘one of the boys’ and they are
more likely to socialize with their team than segregate themselves and just mix with other
managers.
UK
In the last half century, Britain, like many industrialized countries, has moved away from heavy
engineering towards service and high-tech industries. With this has come a major shift in
management style. Hierarchical systems have been swept aside and replaced by modern business
models, heavily influenced by the US. The ‘job for life’ is rare. Neither managers nor junior
workers expect to climb the corporate ladder within one company; rather, they manage their own
career paths by progressing from company to company. Such short-termism can be frustrating for
outsiders. British managers tend to be generalists rather than specialists, and are not necessarily
the most technically competent person in the team. Instead, they are expected to have the necessary
interpersonal skills to ensure the team works together effectively. They cultivate a close and
humorous relationship with subordinates, which may be considered too soft. Giving direct orders
can be seen as impolite, so managers often make indirect requests rather than explicit instructions,
which is sometimes confusing for non-British people.
Write down the name of the correct countries after each statement:
1. “The people I deal with keep moving on to new job”. …………………………..
2. “Unless you’re friends, they may not honor your agreement.” …………………………..
3. “It’s frustrating because the official regulations keep changing”. …………………………..
4. “Disagreements between colleagues are frowned upon”. …………………………..
5. “I thought the manager had the authority to make a decision, but it turned out that he didn’t.”
…………………………..
6. “The manager and another member of staff had a huge disagreement in the meeting, and no-one
seemed to care”. …………………………..
7. “They weren’t terribly charming – they just wanted to get on with making the deal.”
…………………………..
8. “I expected the manager to have more technical knowledge than he actually did.”
9. “I dealt with two companies in this country last year. One was really hierarchical, but the other
was really modern.” …………………………..
10. “The manager kept asking me about my wife and children. I don’t know why it was so
important to him.” …………………………..
READING PASSAGE 8

Trash Talk
Sorting through a mountain of pottery to track the Roman oil trade

(A) In the middle of Rome’s trendiest neighborhood, surrounded by sushi restaurants and
nightclubs with names like Rodeo Steakhouse and Love Story, sits the ancient world’s
biggest garbage dump—a 150-foot-tall mountain of discarded Roman amphoras, the
shipping drums of the ancient world. It takes about 20 minutes to walk around Monte
Testaccio, from the Latin testa and Italian cocci, both meaning “potsherd.” But despite its
size—almost a mile in circumference—it’s easy to walk by and not really notice unless
you are headed for some excellent pizza at Velavevodetto, a restaurant literally stuck into
the mountain’s side. Most local residents don’t know what’s underneath the grass, dust,
and scattering of trees. Monte Testaccio looks like a big hill, and in Rome people are
accustomed to hills.

(B) Although a garbage dump may lack the attraction of the Forum or Colosseum, I have
come to Rome to meet the team excavating Monte Testaccio and to learn how scholars are
using its evidence to understand the ancient Roman economy. As the modern global
economy depends on light sweet crude, so too the ancient Romans depended on oil—olive
oil. And for more than 250 years, from at least the first century A.D., an enormous number
of amphoras filled with olive oil came by ship from the Roman provinces into the city
itself, where they were unloaded, emptied, and then taken to Monte Testaccio and thrown
away. In the absence of written records or literature on the subject, studying these amphoras
is the best way to answer some of the most vexing questions concerning the Roman
economy—How did it operate? How much control did the emperor exert over it? Which
sectors were supported by the state and which operated in a free market environment or in
the private sector?

(C) Monte Testaccio stands near the Tiber River in what was ancient Rome’s commercial
district. Many types of imported foodstuffs, including oil, were brought into the city and
then stored for later distribution in the large warehouses that lined the river. So, professor,
just how many amphoras are there?” I ask José Remesal of the University of Barcelona,
co-director of the Monte Testaccio excavations. It’s the same question that must occur to
everyone who visits the site when they realize that the crunching sounds their footfalls
make are not from walking on fallen leaves, but on pieces of amphoras. (Don’t worry, even
the small pieces are very sturdy.) Remesal replies in his deep baritone, “Something like 25
million complete ones. Of course, it’s difficult to be exact,” he adds with a typical
Mediterranean shrug. I, for one, find it hard to believe that the whole mountain is made of
amphoras without any soil or rubble. Seeing the incredulous look on my face as I peer
down into a 10-foot-deep trench, Remesal says, “Yes, it’s really only amphoras.” I can’t
imagine another site in the world where archaeologists find so much—about a ton of
pottery every day. On most Mediterranean excavations, pottery washing is an activity
reserved for blisteringly hot afternoons when digging is impossible. Here, it is the only
activity for most of Remesal’s team, an international group of specialists and students from
Spain and the United States. During each year’s two-week field season, they wash and sort
thousands of amphoras handles, bodies, shoulders, necks, and tops, counting and
cataloguing, and always looking for stamped names, painted names, and numbers that tell
each amphora’s story.

(D) Although scholars worked at Monte Testaccio beginning in the late 19th century, it’s
only within the past 30 years that they have embraced the role amphoras can play in
understanding the nature of the Roman imperial economy. According to Remesal, the main
challenge archaeologists and economic historians face is the lack of “serial
documentation,” that is, documents for consecutive years that reflect a true chronology.
This is what makes Monte Testaccio a unique record of Roman commerce and provides a
vast amount of datable evidence in a clear and unambiguous sequence. “There’s no other
place where you can study economic history, food production and distribution, and how
the state controlled the transport of a product,” Remesal says. “It’s really remarkable.”

Exercise 1: Which paragraph contains what information? Write the correct letter,
A-D.
1. Questions about the Roman economy _________
2. A unique feature _________
3. Description of the dump _________
4. Dialogue with a professor _________
Exercise 2: Do the following statements agree with the information given in the
reading? Write True/False or Not Given.
1. World’s biggest garbage dump is surrounded by restaurants and nightclubs.
_________
2. The garbage dump is as popular as the Colosseum in Rome. _________
3. Ancient Roman economy depended on oil. _________
4. There is no information on how many amphoras are there. _________
5. Remesal says that Monte Testaccio is a great place to study economics. _________

Exercise 3: Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each
answer.

1. It is unknown for __________ what’s underneath the grass, dust, and scattering of
trees.

2. Monte Testaccio stands near the ancient Rome’s _________ .

3. Remesal doesn't believe that the whole mountain is made of _________ without any
soil or rubble.
4. Remesal’s team washes and sorts thousands of amphoras each year’s two-week
_________ .

5. _________ started working at Monte Testaccio in the late 19th century.

READING PASSAGE 9
Scientists Are Mapping the World's Largest Volcano

(A) After 36 days of battling sharks that kept biting their equipment, scientists have
returned from the remote Pacific Ocean with a new way of looking at the world’s largest -
and possibly most mysterious - volcano, Tamu Massif.

(B) The team has begun making 3-D maps that offer the clearest look yet at the underwater
mountain, which covers an area the size of New Mexico. In the coming months, the maps
will be refined and the data analyzed, with the ultimate goal of figuring out how the
mountain was formed.

(C) It's possible that the western edge of Tamu Massif is actually a separate mountain that
formed at a different time, says William Sager, a geologist at the University of Houston
who led the expedition. That would explain some differences between the western part of
the mountain and the main body.

(D) The team also found that the massif (as such a massive mountain is known) is highly
pockmarked with craters and cliffs. Magnetic analysis provides some insight into the
mountain’s genesis, suggesting that part of it formed through steady releases of lava along
the intersection of three mid-ocean ridges, while part of it is harder to explain. A working
theory is that a large plume of hot mantle rock may have contributed additional heat and
material, a fairly novel idea.

(E) Tamu Massif lies about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) east of Japan. It is a rounded
dome, or shield volcano, measuring 280 by 400 miles (450 by 650 kilometers). Its top lies
more than a mile (about 2,000 meters) below the ocean surface and is 50 times larger than
the biggest active volcano on Earth, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa. Sager published a paper in 2013
that said the main rise of Tamu Massif is most likely a single volcano, instead of a complex
of multiple volcanoes that smashed together. But he couldn’t explain how something so
big formed.

(F) The team used sonar and magnetometers (which measure magnetic fields) to map more
than a million square kilometers of the ocean floor in great detail. Sager and students
teamed up with Masao Nakanishi of Japan’s Chiba University, with Sager receiving
funding support from the National Geographic Society and the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
(G) Since sharks are attracted to magnetic fields, the toothy fish “were all over our
magnetometer, and it got pretty chomped up,” says Sager. When the team replaced the
device with a spare, that unit was nearly ripped off by more sharks. The magnetic field
research suggests the mountain formed relatively quickly, sometime around 145 million
years ago. Part of the volcano sports magnetic "stripes," or bands with different magnetic
properties, suggesting that lava flowed out evenly from the mid-ocean ridges over time and
changed in polarity each time Earth's magnetic field reversed direction. The central part of
the peak is more jumbled, so it may have formed more quickly or through a different
process.

(H) Sager isn’t sure what caused the magnetic anomalies yet, but suspects more complex
forces were at work than simply eruptions from the ridges. It’s possible a deep plume of
hot rock from the mantle also contributed to the volcano’s formation, he says. Sager hopes
the analysis will also help explain about a dozen other similar features on the ocean floor,
as well as add to the overall understanding of plate tectonics.

Exercise 1: What paragraph has the following information? Write the correct
letter, A-H

1. Possible explanation of the differences between parts of the mountain __________

2. Size data __________

3. A new way of looking __________

4. Problem with sharks __________

5. Uncertainty of the anomalies __________

6. Equipment which measures magnetic fields __________

7. The start of making maps __________

8. A working theory

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from
the passage.

9. A large plume of __________ rock may have contributed additional heat and material.
10.Tamu Massif is a __________ , or shield volcano.
11. Replacing the device with a __________ didn't help, as that unit was nearly ripped
off by more sharks.
12. Sager believes that the magnetic anomalies were caused by something more than
__________ from the ridges.

READING PASSAGE 10
Work–life balance
Ronan
I work in a fairly traditional office environment doing a typical nine-to-five job. I like my
job, but it’s annoying that my commute to work takes an hour and a half each way and
most of my work could really be done online from home. But my boss doesn’t seem to
trust that we will get any work done if left to our own devices, and everyone in the company
has to clock in and out every day. It’s frustrating that they feel the need to monitor what
we do so closely instead of judging us based on our task performance, like most companies
do these days.
Jo
I used to do a typical five-day week, but after I came out of my maternity leave, I decided
that I wanted to spend more time with my children before they start school. After
negotiating with my boss, we decided to cut my working week down to a three-day work
week. This of course meant a significant cut in my pay too, as I’m paid on a pro-rata basis.
I’ve since noticed, though, that my workload hasn’t decreased in the slightest! I’m now
doing five days’ worth of work in three days, but getting paid much less for it! I find myself
having to take work home just so that I can meet the deadlines. It’s wearing me out trying
to juggle work with looking after my children and my family, but I don’t dare to bring this
up with my boss because I think he feels as if he’s made a huge concession letting me come
in only three days a week.
Marcus
I work for a global IT company, but because their headquarters is in the States, I do all my
work online from home. That means that I don’t waste time commuting or making idle
chitchat with colleagues. I work on a project basis, and this flexibility is very valuable to
me because it means that I can easily take some time off when my children need me to go
to their school performances or if I need to schedule an appointment with the dentist. The
downside is that without clear office hours, I tend to work well into the evening, sometimes
skipping dinner to finish a task. It can also get quite lonely working on my own, and I
sometimes miss sharing ideas with colleagues.
Lily
I’m a freelancer and work for myself. This is great because I am in control of what I do
and how I spend my time. At first, I was working from home, but I found it really hard to
concentrate. There were just too many distractions around: housework that needed doing,
another cup of tea, my family members wanting my attention for various things. So I started
to go to a nearby café to work, but the Wi-Fi connection wasn’t ideal and I found myself
drinking too much coffee. In the end, I decided to rent a desk in a co-working space with
five other freelancers like myself. I liked getting dressed to go to work in the morning and
being able to focus in an office environment. The other freelancers do similar kinds of web-
based work to me and so it’s nice to have workmates to bounce ideas off as well.
Task 1
Circle the best answer.
1. Ronan would prefer it if he …
a. wasn’t left to his own devices.
b. could spend more time commuting and less time in the office.
c. could work from home and be judged based on task performance.
d. could trust his boss more.
2. Jo wanted to reduce her working hours because she …
a. thought she would be more efficient and productive when she was at the office.
b. wanted to bring her work home.
c. wanted to go on maternity leave.
d. wanted to spend time with her children.
3. Jo is unhappy with her three-day work week because …
a. she didn’t realize how much the change would affect her economically.
b. she now hast to spend more time looking after her children and her family.
c. she has more deadlines to meet.
d. her workload has remained the same although she’s reduced her hours.
4. In Marcus’s opinion, which of these is a disadvantage of working from home?
a. You spend a lot of time in the house.
b. It’s easy to get distracted by your family.
c. You tend to work later.
d. You end up eating more as you have access to the fridge all day.
5. Why did Lily not like working from home?
a. She found it lonely.
b. Her family didn’t like her working.
c. She didn’t have a good Wi-Fi connection.
d. There were a lot of distractions.
6. What solution did Lily find most suitable for her working needs?
a. Renting an office space to work from.
b. Working from a café.
c. Working for an employer.
d. Working for other freelancers.
Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?
1. Ronan’s boss thinks his employees will not be as productive if they work from home.
2. Ronan thinks that the performance of employees should be judged according to how
much time they spend in the office.
3. Jo is paid the same for a five-day work week as she is on a three-day week.
4. Jo feels exhausted trying to manage both a five-day workload and childcare.
5. Although Marcus sees the benefit in not having idle chit-chat, he misses interacting with
his colleagues.
6. Lily didn’t like working from the café because the coffee wasn’t very good.