Reading

D Read the text and decide if each sentence is T (true) or F (false).

The Galápagos Islands

Imagine hiking through stunning scenery in one of the world’s most remote islands. The waves are crashing against
the shore and iguanas are swimming in the bay. This amazing island, with its incredible variety of wildlife and
landscapes that are perfect for taking pictures, is part of the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Famous for
inspiring explorers and scientists such as Charles Darwin, there are very few places in the world as unspoilt as the
Galápagos.
Made up of 21 different islands, the Galápagos Islands are 563 miles west of Ecuador, and are actually part of that
country. They include the Galápagos National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Galápagos Marine
Reserve, which both help protect the area’s many rare and endangered animals and plants. With so many
incredible things to see, it’s easy to understand why it’s the perfect destination for adventure seekers!
The Islands include mountains, volcanoes, cliffs, beaches and wild coastline. However, they aren’t just the home of
amazing wildlife, people also live there too. In fact, there are towns, a population of around 26,000, and even a
capital city, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal Island. Here you can find hotels, shops, and a natural
history museum. It’s also a good place to enjoy extreme sports such as surfing and scuba diving. Snorkeling is very
popular, too.
Although the Galápagos Islands are in South America, the weather isn’t as good as you’d expect. While it can be
sunny, the warm season only goes up to 25 oC, with the cold season falling to 22 oC. In addition to this mild weather,
there is also rain throughout the year. For most visitors, the best time to explore the Islands is December to May
during the warm months, but make sure you bring a raincoat or an umbrella for those showers!
One thing is for sure: whenever you decide to visit, you can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a place that
hasn’t changed for thousands of years! The Galápagos Islands are full of breathtaking beauty that makes you feel
like you’re in another world!

1 The writer suggests having a camera when visiting the Galápagos Islands. …….
2 Charles Darwin was the only scientist to visit the area. …….
3 The Galápagos Islands are very close to the coast of Ecuador. …….
4 The Galápagos Marine Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. …….
5 There are two main protected areas on the Islands. …….
6 San Cristóbal is the name of the capital city. …….
7 Outdoor activities are not allowed on the islands. …….
8 The climate on the Galápagos Islands can be very wet. …….
9 In the summer, the temperature doesn’t go above 25 degrees. …….
10 December is a cold time of year to visit the Galápagos Islands. …….

Marks ____
101 10
EAnswer the following questions based on the text. Marks ____
52 10

1What is special about the Galápagos Islands? 5 What activities are popular in Puerto Baquerizo
........................................................................... Moreno?
4 How many people live on the the islands?
3 What kinds of scenery can you see there?
2 How many islands make up the Galápagos
Islands?
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Reading
D Read the text and for questions 1-3, choose the correct answer A, B, or C.

The Future of Language Learning?

Imagine a future where we can instantly understand any language in the world without having a single lesson. In
his novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the author Douglas Adams describes a small fish that goes in your
ear and translates for you. Of course, this is science-fiction, but with new technology the future is closer than you
think! For example, if you see a sign or poster in a foreign language, you don’t have to look it up in your
phrasebook or even type it into the Internet. All you need to do is take a photo on your smartphone and a
translation app will identify the text and translate it for you! Fantastic technology like this is ideal for people
travelling in a country for a short amount of time as they don’t have time to learn the language. However, it isn’t
ideal for students or teachers, since it won’t help you actually learn the language.
If you’re looking for a way to learn a language or improve your vocabulary, there are also hundreds of apps and
tools that make language learning quicker and easier than ever before. In the same way that teachers use games
to make learning more interesting for their students, these new apps use clever techniques to teach you a foreign
language. Scientists believe that this is much more useful than just repeating words over and over again. For
instance, apps use pictures and animations as well as games to help you remember words or phrases. With one of
these apps on your smartphone or tablet, you can practise your vocabulary at any time, wherever you are, not just
at home or in the classroom. These apps also motivate you by awarding points when you learn new words.
So, while these translation apps sound like a good idea, we are still a long way away from the point where we can
stop learning languages. Besides, there are a lot of advantages to learning another language apart from just
communicating. Learning a language helps you understand other cultures as well as expanding your brain’s
capabilities. So, although automatic translation apps are very useful, it will always be better to learn the language
yourself, with or without the help of technology!

1 How can you translate a foreign sign using a 3 What is the author’s purpose in the text?
translation app? A to inform the reader about new technology.
A Type in the text. B to persuade the reader to buy a smartphone.
B Take a picture. C to explain how to memorise new phrases.
C Use a phrasebook.

2 In the text, the author argues that

A we no longer need to learn languages.
B technology does not help us learn languages.
C it is good to learn languages.
Marks ____
32 6

E Mark the sentences as T (true) or F (false).

1 Translation apps are perfect for 2 Apps often use images to help
the classroom. …… students remember words. ……

Marks ____
22 4
F Answer the following questions based on the text. / 10 p.

1 What does the fish do in The Hitchhiker’s Guide 4 How do language learning apps keep you
to the Galaxy? motivated?
........................................................................... ...........................................................................
........................................................................... ...........................................................................

2 Why are translation apps ideal for travellers? 5 Why does the author think we should learn
........................................................................... another language?
........................................................................... ...........................................................................
...........................................................................
3 How do language learning apps help you
memorise new words?
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