Countable noun (the number) - Past tense (1975 - 2000)

The line graph below shows the number of times that fast food was consumed by
Australian teenagers from 1975 to 2000.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.

eaten
The line graph compares how many times junk food was consumed each year by teenagers
in Australia between 1975 and 2000. Overall, it can be seen that hamburgers and pizza have
an upward trend, however, fish and chips has a downward trend.
a decade - 10 years before + verb (ing)
To begin with the foods that had an increase in consumption, the figure for hamburgers
started at about 10, and then rose sharply to just over 80 in 1985. Consumption then rose
again to 100 a decade later, before remaining almost stable in 2000. Pizza had the lowest
figure in 1975 at roughly 5, there was a steep increase to approximately 85 in 1995, and
then the figure stayed constant for the next 5 years.
eaten
Moving to the only food that was consumed less, fish and chips had the highest figure of
100 in 1975, the figure then fell slightly by 15 in 1980, however, this was followed by a
minimal rise to just under 100 in 1985. Finally, the number fell continuously to finish at
almost 40 in 2000.

Words: 172 Qualifiers - about, around, roughly, approximately, just over, just under

- almost, nearly - 39 is almost/nearly 40

- 41 - do not use ‘almost, nearly 40’ because the figure is over 40

- 41 - approximately 40
Ko Samui is an island off the east/west coast of Thailand.

The coral reefs of Agatti Island

A - Agatti is one of the Lakshadweep Islands off the southwest coast of India (1). These
islands are surrounded by lagoons and coral reefs, which are in turn surrounded by the open
ocean. Coral reefs, which are formed from the skeletons of minute sea creatures, give
shelter to a variety of plants and animals, and therefore have the potential to provide a
stream of diverse benefits to the inhabitants of Agatti Island.

B - In the first place, the reefs provide food and other products for consumption by the
islanders themselves (2).Foods include different types of fish, octopus and mollusks, and in
the case of poorer families these constitute as much as 90% of the protein they consume.
Reef resources are also used for medicinal purposes. For example, the money cowrie, a shell
known locally as Vallakavadi, is commonly made into a paste and used as a home remedy to
treat cysts in the eye.

C - In addition, the reef contributes to income generation (3). According to a recent survey,
20% of the households on Agatti report lagoon fishing, or shingle, mollusk, octopus and
cowrie collection as their main occupation (Hoon et al, 2002). For poor households, the
direct contribution of the reef to their financial resources is significant: 12% of poor
households are completely dependent on the reef for their household income (10),while
59% of poor households rely on the reef for 70% of their household income, and the
remaining 29% for 50% of their household income.
Exchange
D - Bartering of reef resources also commonly takes place, both between islanders and
between islands (4).For example, Agatti Island is known for its abundance of octopus, and
this is often used to obtain products from nearby Androth Island. Locally, reef products may
be given by islanders in return for favours, such as help in constructing a house or net
mending, or for other products such as rice, coconuts or fish.
use low
E - The investment required to exploit the reefs is minimal (5).It involves simple, locally
available tools and equipment, some of which can be used without a boat, such as the
fishing practice known as Kat moodsal (11). This is carried out in the shallow eastern lagoon
of Agatti by children and adults, close to shore at low tide, throughout the year. A small cast
net, a leaf bag, and plastic slippers are all that are required, and the activity can yield 10–12
small fish (approximately 1 kg) for household consumption. Cast nets are not expensive, and
all the households in Agatti own at least one. Even the boats, which operate in the lagoon
and near-shore reef, are constructed locally and have low running costs. They are either
small, non-mechanised, traditional wooden rowing boats, known as Thonis, or rafts, known
as Tharappam.

F - During more than 400 years of occupation and survival, the Agatti islanders have
developed an intimate knowledge of the reefs (6) (12).They have knowledge of numerous
different types of fish and where they can be found according to the tide or lunar cycle.
They have also developed a local naming system or folk taxonomy, naming fish according to
their shape. Sometimes the same species is given different names depending on its size and
age. For example, a full-grown Emperor fish is called Metti and a juvenile is called Killokam.
The abundance of each species at different fishing grounds is also well known. Along with
this knowledge of reef resources, the islanders have developed a wide range of skills and
techniques for exploiting them. A multitude of different fishing techniques are still used by
the islanders, each targeting different areas of the reef and particular.

G - The reef plays an important role in the social lives of the islanders too, being an
integral part of traditions and rituals. Most of the island’s folklore revolves around the
reef and sea (7).There is hardly any tale or song which does not mention the traditional
sailing crafts, known as Odams, the journeys of enterprising ‘heroes’, the adventures of sea
fishing and encounters with sea creatures. Songs that women sing recollect women looking
for returning Odams, and requesting the waves to be gentler and the breeze just right for
the sails. There are stories of the benevolent sea ghost baluvam, whose coming to shore is
considered a harbinger of prosperity for that year, bringing more coconuts, more fish and
general well-being.
social right - everyone can use it
H - The reef is regarded by the islanders as common property, and all the islanders are
entitled to use the lagoon and reef resources (8) (13).In the past, fishing groups would
obtain permission from the Amin (island head person) and go fishing in the grounds allotted
by him. On their return, the Amin would be given a share of the catch, normally one of the
best or biggest fish. This practice no longer exists, but there is still a code of conduct or
etiquette for exploiting the reef, and common respect for this is an effective way of avoiding
conflict or disputes.

I - Exploitation of such vast and diverse resources as the reefs and lagoon surrounding the
island has encouraged collaborative efforts, mainly for purposes of safety, but also as a
necessity in the operation of many fishing techniques. For example, an indigenous gear and
operation known as Balafadal involves 25–30 men. Reef gleaning for cowrie collection by
groups of 6–10 women is also a common activity, and even today, although its economic
significance is marginal, it continues as a recreational activity (9).
What’s the nature of your job? - What do you do in your job?

Islanders - the people who live on the island

Questions 1-9 - Choose the correct heading for each paragraph

i) Island Legends Folklore ii) Resources for Exchange

iii) Competition for Fishing Rights
v) Agatti’s Favourable Location
vii) The Nature of Reef Occupations
ix) High Levels of Expertise
xi) Resources of Earning Money
iv) The Low Cost of Equipment
vi) Rising Income Levels
viii) Islanders own Resources
x) Alternative Employment Sources
xii) Social Rights and Obligations

1. Paragraph A V 2. Paragraph B VIII

3. Paragraph C XI 4. Paragraph D II

5. Paragraph E IV 6. Paragraph F IX

7. Paragraph G I 8. Paragraph H XII

9. Paragraph I VII

Questions 10-13 - Choose the correct letter,A, B, C or D

10. What proportion of poor households get all their income from reef products?

a) 12% b) 20% c) 29% d) 59%

11. Kat Moodsal fishing …….

a) is a seasonal activity b) is a commercial activity

c) requires little investment d) requires use of a rowing boat

12. Which characteristic of present-day Islanders do the writers describe?

a) Physical Strength b) Fishing Expertise

c) Courage d) Imagination

13. What do the writers say about the system for using the reef of Agatti?

a) Fish catches are shared equally b) Reef Owners issue permits

c) There are frequent disputes d) There is open access
disputes - arguments
 A Disaster of Titanic Proportions
A - At 11:39 p.m. on the evening of Sunday, 14 April 1912, lookouts (2)Frederick Fleet and
Reginald Lee on the forward mast of the Titanic sighted an eerie, black mass coming into
view directly in front of the ship. Fleet picked up the phone to the helm, waited for Sixth
Officer Moody to answer, and yelled “Iceberg, right ahead!”(1)The greatest disaster in
maritime history was about to be set in motion.
B - Thirty-seven seconds later, despite the efforts of officers in the bridge and engine room
to steer around the iceberg, the Titanic struck a piece of submerged ice, bursting rivets in
the ship’s hull and flooding the first five watertight compartments. The ship’s designer,
Thomas Andrews, carried out a visual inspection of the ship’s damage and informed
Captain Smith at midnight that the ship would sink in less than two hours (3).By 12:30
a.m., the lifeboats were being filled with women and children, after Smith had given the
command for them to be uncovered and swung out 15 minutes earlier (4). The first
lifeboat was successfully lowered 15 minutes later, with only 28 of its 65 seats occupied. By
1:15 a.m., the waterline was beginning to reach the Titanic’s name on the ship’s bow, and
over the next hour, every lifeboat would be released as officers struggled to maintain order
amongst the growing panic on board.
C - The dosing moments of the Titanic’s sinking began shortly after 2 a.m., as the last
lifeboat was lowered and the ship’s propellers lifted out of the water, leaving
the 1,500 passengers still on board to surge towards the stern. At 2:17 a.m., Harold Bride
and Jack Philips tapped out their last wireless message (6) after being relieved of duty as
the ship’s wireless operators (5), and the ship’s band stopped playing.Less than a minute
later, occupants of the lifeboats witnessed the ship’s lights flash once, then go black, and a
huge roar signaled the Titanic’s contents plunging towards the bow, causing the front half of
the ship to break off and go under. The Titanic’s stem bobbed up momentarily, and at 2:20
a.m., the ship finally disappeared beneath the frigid waters.
D - What or who was responsible for the scale of this catastrophe? Explanations abound,
some that focus on very small details. Due to a last-minute change in the ship’s officer line-
up, iceberg lookouts Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee were making do without a pair of
binoculars that an officer transferred off the ship in Southampton had left in a cupboard
(7)onboard, unbeknownst to any of the ship’s crew. Fleet, who survived the sinking, insisted
at a subsequent inquiry that he could have identified the iceberg in time to avert disaster if
he had been in possession of the binoculars.
E - Less than an hour before the Titanic struck the iceberg, wireless operator Cyril Evans on
the California, located just 20 miles to the north, tried to contact operator Jack Philips on
the Titanic to warn him of pack ice in the area. “Shut up, shut up, you’re jamming my
signal,” Philips replied. “I’m busy.” The Titanic’s wireless system had broken down for
several hours earlier that day, and Philips was clearing a backlog of personal messages
that passengers had requested to be sent to family and friends in the USA (9).
Nevertheless, Captain Smith had maintained the ship’s speed of 22 knots despite multiple
earlier warnings of ice ahead (10). It has been suggested that Smith was under pressure to
make headlines by arriving early in New York, but maritime historians such as Richard
Howell have countered this perception, noting that Smith was simply following common
procedure at the time, and not behaving recklessly (11).
F - One of the strongest explanations for the severe loss of life has been the fact that
the Titanic did not carry enough lifeboats for everyone on board. Maritime regulations at
the time tied lifeboat capacity to the ship size, not to the number of passengers on board.
This meant that the Titanic, with room for 1,178 of its 2,222 passengers, actually
surpassed the Board of Trade’s requirement that it carry lifeboats for 1,060 of its
passengers (12). Nevertheless, with lifeboats being lowered less than half full in many cases,
and only 712 passengers surviving despite a two-and-a-half-hour window of opportunity,
more lifeboats would not have guaranteed more survivors in the absence of better training
and preparation. Many passengers were confused about where to go after the order to
launch lifeboats was given; a lifeboat drill scheduled for earlier on the same day that the
Titanic struck the iceberg was cancelled by Captain Smith in order to allow passengers to
attend church.
Questions 1-6 - Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the
text for each answer.

Job title
Time Person’s Position Action

11.39pm …(1)… …(2)… Reported sighting of iceberg

…(3)… Andrew’s Ship’s Reported how long the Titanic could float
designer
12.15am Smith Captain Order …(4)… to be released
2.17am Bride & …(5)… Relayed final …(6)…
Phillips

1. (Frederick) Fleet 2. lookout

3. midnight – 12am 4. lifeboats

5. wireless operators 6. (wireless) message

Questions 7-13 - Are the statements True, False or Not Given

7. The binoculars for the men on watch had been left in a crew locker in Southampton.
8. The missing binoculars were the major factor leading to the collision with the
iceberg.
9. Philips missed notification about the ice from Evans because the Titanic’s wireless
system was not functioning at the time. not functioning - not working
10. Captain Smith knew there was ice in the area.

11. Howell believed the captain’s failure to reduce speed was an irresponsible action.
12. The Titanic was able to seat more passengers in lifeboats than the Board of Trade
required.
13. A lifeboat drill would have saved more lives.

7. False 8. Not Given 9. False

10. True 11. False 12. True

13. Not Given

 The family who turned back the clock
When Malcolm Jones woke up last Monday, he heard the birds singing (2). Not remarkable,
you might think, especially given that he lives near a forest (1). But birdsong in the Jones
household is usually drowned by a tidal wave of electronic music crashing around the house
as soon as his four children wake up.

This is a family who has chosen to fill their home with every conceivable gadget. They have
nine television sets, including one in each bedroom and in the kitchen. All the children have
their own personal computers and CD player. Of course, there are all the usual appliances
we all take for granted, such as the washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, deep
freeze, microwave oven and video recorder, but they also have an electric trouser press,
two power showers, an Olympic-sized spa bath and Jacuzzi, three cars, and a music system
which plays throughout the whole house.

The experiment: What happens if all the props of modern living are removed?

To help us find out, we asked the Joneses to turn back the clock fifty years and to switch off
all their labour-saving gadgets and push-button entertainment for three days. We also
wanted them to stop using their cars. The family, comprising Malcolm, 48, Carol, 43 and
their four children Emma, 17, Richard, 14, Tamsin, 9, and Tom ,7, were not enthusiastic, but
everyone, except for Emma, agreed to try. (She couldn’t stand the thought of being without
the telephone and her car, which she had only just learnt to drive, so she refused point-
blank to join in) The other three children were not allowed to use their computers or watch
TV. They were banned from opening the freezer to get out fish fingers and oven chips.
Malcolm was forbidden to use his electric razor and mobile phone, but allowed to use his
car (3) for work. Carol was encouraged to go everywhere on foot or by bicycle (3) (women
rarely drove 50 years ago) told to ignore the washing machine and dishwasher, and she was
discouraged from using the telephone (6).

How did they cope?

The much-dreaded three days got under way! Old–fashioned meals, (7) games, and
entertainment were planned for the evenings. After eating together at the kitchen table,
they sat playing cards, putting off doing the washing-up because they all hated doing that.
Carol was surprised at how long everything took. By the time I had washed up the breakfast
things and got back from walking the children to school, it was nearly lunchtime. Getting to
the shops, which normally takes five minutes in the car, took at least an hour, so it was
impossible just to pop out for a loaf of bread. It was strange having to wait until the washing
dried in the garden before getting the ironing done, instead of simply using the drier.’

Although Carol found it quite difficult to get used to the length of time it took to do things,
she enjoyed having a slower, more relaxed pace of life. Also, the lack of electronic
entertainment, particularly the TV, had a dramatic effect on the children. They got on much
better together and seemed to enjoy each other’s company more, although they clearly
believed that they were suffering. Tamsin even spent some time gazing at the blank TV
screen in her bedroom.
‘All sorts of things that we had put off (4) doing got done,’ said Carol. ‘Bikes got mended,
rooms tidied, bookshelves sorted, hamsters cleaned out. Tamsin and Tom started to play
games together and even read stories to each other.’

What did they think?

What Malcolm liked most was the peace. ‘I usually start the day by watching the business
news on TV from bed. Then I press the music button while I shower and get dressed. I didn’t
miss any of this, I just enjoyed hearing the birds singing and chatting to Carol. I think the
whole experience did the children a lot of good. If it were my decision now, I’d throw all the
televisions away.’

The children vigorously denied that any good had been done to them. Richard spoke for
them all when he said, ‘It was awful (8). I missed my music, I missed the computer games,
and I missed the TV. We had to read books instead!’ (9)

Carol’s feelings were the most ambiguous.’ (10) I enjoyed doing more things together as a
family. But as the housewife, I didn’t like my day being so full of household chores (5).
When you’ve got a dishwasher, you stack it as you go through the day and turn it on at
night. But you can’t leave dirty dishes in the sink all day, so you’ve got to keep doing the
washing-up. Also, without a phone and a car, I felt really isolated.’

All of this just goes to show that, fascinating as the experiment was, you cannot turn clock
back. This is doubtless a big relief to the Jones children!
Questions 1-5 - Complete the sentences by using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS

1. The sound of animals would not be uncommon considering they live near a forest

2. Normally Mr. Jones would hear birds singing first thing in the morning.

3. The husband was allowed to use his car, but the wife had to travel on foot or by
bicycle if she needed to go out of the house.

4. During the three days, things that had been put off were finally accomplished.

5. Mrs. Jones wasn’t happy about (the) household chores

Questions 6-7 - Choose the correct answer.

6. Mrs. Jones was (c)asked not to make telephone calls

7. The family could (b) only eat similar meals to that of 50 years ago

Questions 8-10 - Select T for ‘true’, F for ‘false’ or NG for ‘not given’.

8. The children enjoyed the experiment. False – it was awful

9. The children didn’t enjoy reading books. True – we had to read books

10. Mrs. Jones had mixed feelings about the experiment. True – ambiguous