WHAT TIME SHOULD SCHOOL START?

[A]

The debate in the USA about whether to start school later has been running for many years. Ask any
American teenager arriving at school at 7.30 a.m. and they will tell you that it’s difficult to memorise
chemical formulae or lists of vocabulary so early in the morning. Is it just laziness, or is there a biological
reason for this? Studies by scientists in the UK show that teenagers naturally want to go to bed about
two hours later than adults and also get up later. This trend begins at about the age of thirteen and
continues right through the teenage years. The scientists conclude that students inevitably feel tired in
the morning and will therefore perform worse at school before lunch.

[B]

Schools in some US states have tested this theory, and the findings back up the science. By delaying the
start of school by just one hour, academic achievement has risen, absenteeism has declined and cases of
depression among teenagers have also fallen. One study that involved 9,000 students revealed that
grades in maths, English and science all rose when school began at 8.35 a.m. or later. Studies in other
countries such as Brazil, Italy and Israel also show that later start times improve learning.

[C]

However, not everyone advocates changing the school timetable. They claim that it would cause a huge
amount of disruption. Others are opposed to the change because students won’t have time for after-
school activities or part-time jobs. However, one benefit of a later start time may yet convince the
doubters. A study in Wyoming showed that car crashes among 16 – 18-year-olds fell by 70% after the
start time was changed from 7.35 a.m. to 8.55 a.m. More studies need to be carried out before a
definite link can be made between the number of accidents and the school start times, but it is
undeniable that it is less safe to drive when you feel sleepy.

Match paragraphs A-C with questions 1-4 below. One paragraph matches two questions.

In which paragraph does the author …

1 suggest that students might be safer if the school start time were changed?

2 refer to evidence that shows that adults’ body clocks are different from those of teenagers? A

3 quote the results of a study that confirms the conclusions of British scientists? B

4 mention some practical problems that might result from a change in the start time? C

Now read the extract from a story. Circle the correct answer (A-D).

The Pennine Way is a 469-kilometre walking path which runs from the Peak District in Derbyshire to just
inside the Scottish border. Other trails go further, but it is known as the most challenging. This is
because of the nature of the landscape, which is hilly, rocky and often very muddy. Some people see this
trail as an opportunity to take a pleasant day’s hike on a small section of the route, but eighteen-year-
old David Lemming saw it as a challenge. ‘I’d come across a great account of hiking the whole trail,
written a few years ago, and I was determined to do it myself. A friend was going with me, but he
changed his mind. So I promised my parents I’d check in daily on my mobile, and I’d also post pictures
on my social media page. I didn’t feel anxious – I was just excited to get going.’

Things went perfectly for the first week. David made good progress and was really enjoying the
experience. Since many people use the trail, he was constantly meeting fellow hikers, so he never felt
isolated. ‘But then it got really stormy,’ he says, ‘so a lot of people gave up. I could go for hours without
seeing anyone at all. But as long as I had my mobile, I wasn’t really worried about anything bad
happening.’

Unfortunately, something bad did happen. During a particularly heavy rain storm, David slipped in the
mud, went off the edge of the trail and fell about ten metres down the hill. ‘I realised I’d broken my arm
immediately, but I knew my location and thought I could still call for help. Then I found that my mobile
had fallen out of my pocket. And when I tried to get up to look for it, I couldn’t stand up at all. My leg
was injured too.’

All he could do was to shout for help. ‘I yelled until my throat was sore,’ he says. ‘And nothing
happened. But then I saw a head at the top of the hill – someone had heard me. A man came down, saw
the state I was in and called for help. And really, that was the most amazing part of the whole
experience. At the hospital, even the doctors were impressed at how much of the trail I’d covered. I felt
really proud.’ Will he try to walk the trail again? ‘Absolutely,’ he says. ‘It’s a fantastic place, and nothing
can keep me away.’

1. The Pennine Way is

A the longest trail in Britain.

B located mainly in Scotland.

C not popular with inexperienced walkers.

D considered a difficult trail to walk.

2. Where did David get the idea of hiking the trail?

A from reading about it

B from his parents

C from hearing an account of it

D from being challenged by a friend

3. How did David get help after his accident?

A He called for help on his mobile.

B He spoke to a passer-by.

C He called out until someone heard him.

4. What is the best title for the article?

A A Foolish Adventure

B How a Mobile Saved a Boy’s Life

C Near Tragedy, But No Regrets

D Fear and Tragedy on the Pennine Way

A BRIGHTER CITY!
The city of Łódź in Poland was another unremarkable industrial city until a few years ago. In 2009, an
organisation called the Urban Forms Foundation was set up by a well-known art historian and an
actress. Their idea was to bring the tired urban landscape to life again.

The Foundation planned an art project that would change the city’s image and regenerate the centre,
and presented it to the city council. It wanted the council to ask street artists to paint on walls around
the city centre as a permanent outdoor exhibition. The mayor of the city supported the idea and the
Foundation was given permission to go ahead and raise the money needed. Famous street artists from
all over the world were invited by the Foundation to come to Poland to work, including Os Gemeos from
Brazil, Aryz from Spain and Remed from France, as well as local talent like M-City and Etam Cru. In total,
artists from eight countries took part in the project over the next few years, and more than twenty huge
murals were created on the sides of buildings in public spaces.

Łódź is now the second city in the world for street art after New York, and people visit there especially to
see the amazing artworks. With a special map, tourists can walk round the city and view them all in a
couple of hours. Now, once a year, the Foundation organises an art festival which attracts participants
from all over the world. And in the future, the project will be continued with other pieces of urban art –
statues, sculptures and ‘street jewellery’. The transformation goes on!

I. Read the text. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 Łódź was famous before the work of the Urban Forms Foundation. T
2 The Foundation’s art project didn’t cost anything. T
3 The project is now completed. F

II. Circle the correct answers.

1. Two people started an organisation in Łódź to

a provide more industry in the city.

b rebuild the city centre.

c hold more art exhibitions.

d improve the look of the city.

a asked the mayor to help.

b needed the city council to agree to the project.

c asked the council for money for their idea.

d told the city council what to do.

3. Famous street artists

a weren’t interested at first in the project.

b from abroad only were invited.

c were asked to take part in the project.

d asked the Foundation for work.

4. Because of the Foundation’s work,

a the city has become famous in the art world.

b the city now has more street art then New York.

c tourists are allowed to paint on the city walls.

d there is no need for more artwork in the city.