PART 1 - TEXT COMPREHENSION

Read the following text carefully.

The earth’s total water supply is estimated to be 330 million cubic miles. The problem is that 96% of it
is found in the oceans and is saline. A little over 2% is tied up in icecaps and glaciers, and nearly 1% in
the earth’s atmosphere. Ground water, fresh water lakes, and rivers account for just 0.6% of the fresh
water. The net result is that 99.7% of all the water on earth is not available for human and animal
consumption. Of the remaining 0.3%, much is inaccessible due to unreachable locations and depths, and
the vast majority of water for human and animal consumption is stored in ground water.
An important feature of the earth’s supply of fresh water is its non-uniform distribution around the
globe. Water, for which there are no substitutes, has always been mankind’s most precious resource.
The struggle to control water resources has shaped human political and economic history. Due to its
scarcity and vital importance for the development of a country, water has been a source of tension
wherever water resources are shared by neighbouring peoples.
Water-related tensions around the world can have significant implications. In the Middle East, for
example, water is a source of conflict not only between Israel and its Arab neighbours, but also between
Egypt and Sudan, and Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Many have forgotten that the progression towards the
1967 War was triggered by the water dispute between Israel and Syria over control over the Jordan
River.
Population growth and economic development are driving a steadily increasing demand for new water
supplies, and global demand for water has more than tripled over the past half century. Globally, the
largest user of fresh water is agriculture, accounting for roughly three quarters of total use. In Africa
this fraction approaches 90%. In the U.S., agriculture accounts for 39% of fresh water use, the same
fraction used for cooling thermal power plants.
Future prospects are not encouraging. Global water withdrawal in 2000 was estimated to be about 30%
of the world’s total accessible fresh water supply. By 2025 that fraction may reach 70%.
In http://www.iags.org/n0813043.htm (abridged and adapted)

A. Copy the sentences from the text which suggest the following. (30p)
1. Most of earth’s water supply has a high salt content.
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2. The amount of available fresh water varies from country to country.
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3. Water disputes have characterised our civilization.
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4. Struggles to control water resources have already led to armed conflicts.
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5. Most of our water is used in farming.
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B. Answer these questions. (20p)
1. When and why can water be a cause of conflict?
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2. What has caused the continuously rising need for water?
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C. Complete the following sentences meaningfully. (30p)
1. Less than _____________ of the world’s total water supply is actually available for human use.

2. We get our fresh water mainly from _______________________________________________________________

3. In Africa 90% of ________________________________________________________________________________

4. For cooling its thermal power plants, the US ________________________________________________________

5. In the near future, global water withdrawal _________________________________________________________

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 PART 2 - VOCABULARY
A. Look at these infographics and complete the sentences accordingly. (10p)

At seven billion people and counting, the population of the globe is ___________________ with no signs of
slowing down in the near future. By 2025 it is expected to reach ___________________ and 25 years later
___________________. With so many people on Earth, we would require ___________________ planet’s worth of
resources to consume in order to survive. Thus overpopulation is putting enormous strain on our resources. In the
near future, the demand for fresh water will increase by over ___________________. Some
___________________ out of three people living on the globe will even be suffering from lack of
___________________. Feeding the population will also be a major issue. It is believed that agriculture will need
to increase its production by more than ___________________. Presently we are already experiencing the
scarcity of ___________________ as the oceans have been exploited above ___________________.

B. Decide which of the words in column A collocate with the words in column B. Write down the letters.
(10p)

1_____ 2_____ 3_____ 4_____ 5_____ 6_____ 7_____ 8_____ 9_____ 10_____ 11_____ 12_____

A B
1. acid a) farming C. Now complete the sentences with some of the collocations. (10p)
2. carbon b) fuels
3. coastal c) development a) If the polar _____________________________ melt, the ocean levels rise.
4. exhaust d) wave b) She's been on three international flights this year, so she's worried about
5. fossil e) caps her _____________________________.
6. heat f) waters c) Over the past month officers have been stopping vehicles in Manchester
7. ice g) rain to test _____________________________.
8. oil h) dump d) They have built a new _____________________________ outside the city.
9. organic i) power e) _____________________________ pollute sea water and kill marine life.
10. solar j) fumes f) Many bays and ___________________________ have been contaminated
11. sustainable k) spills with heavy metals.
12. waste l) footprint

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 PART 3 - GRAMMAR

A. Change the verbs in brackets into an appropriate tense to express a future meaning. (20p)

1. “I’m going out shopping for organic food.” – “Oh, are you? Wait, I _________________________ (go) with you.”

2. By the end of 2050, the population in Europe _____________________________(suffer) a significant decrease.

3. Hurry up! It’s getting late. You ______________________________(miss) the beginning of the Earth’s summit.

4. This time next week I ___________________________________(explore) the countryside on foot.

5. You didn’t know? Sam ______________________________________(help) with the beach clean-up next week.

6. Please wait here until someone from the campaign _______________________________(come) back.

7. Please, stop dumping your industrial waste into rivers or I _____________________________(report) you to the
authorities.

8. Brian is late again. We __________________________(finish) separating all the waste by the time he gets here.

B. Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences. (20p)

1. … the population growth slows down, pollution will continue to increase.

a) Unless b) If c) When d) Because

2. … there are fines for companies that ignore environmental regulations, some choose to overlook them.
a) Furthermore b) Despite c) Even though d) However

3. Sea levels are slowly rising. ..., people don’t seem to take global warming seriously enough.
a) Therefore b) Consequently c) Nevertheless d) Whereas

4. Many endangered species are being protected. …, their survival is by no means guaranteed.
a) Also b) So c) Besides d) However

5. I buy rechargeable batteries … the higher costs.

a) although b) despite c) because of d) as a result of

6. … blaming governments for the state of our planet, we should all do our bit to protect it.
a) Once b) While c) As d) Instead of

7. Most water supplies are inappropriate for human use; … some of them are completely inaccessible for us.
a) since b) moreover c) then d) thus

8. Megacities face serious problems, … water and air pollution.

a) namely b) because c) as a consequence d) since

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 PART 4 - WRITING

Using about 180 words, comment on the situation below. Refer to its causes and consequences. Then
present some solutions to stop this problem. (50p)

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KEY
Part 1
A.
1. The problem is that 96% of it is found in the oceans and is saline.
2. An important feature (...) of fresh water is its non-uniform distribution around the globe.
3. The struggle to control water resources has shaped human political and economic history.
4. Many have forgotten (...) the 1967 War was triggered by the water dispute between Israel and Syria over
control over the Jordan River.
5. Globally, the largest user of fresh water is agriculture, (...) three quarters of total use.
B.
1. Water leads to tension when countries have to share the same water resources because it is a scarce/rare
resource and vital to the development of a country.
2. The continuously rising need for water is the result of population growth and economic development.
C.
1. ... 0.3%
2. ... ground water.
3. ... the fresh water (supply) is used in agriculture.
4. ... uses 39% of its fresh water.
5. ... may/will reach 70% of the world’s total accessible fresh water supply.
Part 2
A. At seven billion people and counting, the population of the globe is increasing with no signs of slowing down
in the near future. By 2025 it is expected to reach 8 billion and 25 years later 9.6 billion. With so many people on
Earth, we would require three planet’s worth of resources to consume in order to survive. Thus overpopulation is
putting enormous strain on our resources. In the near future, the demand for fresh water will increase by over
30%. Some two out of three people living on the globe will even be suffering from lack of water. Feeding the
population will also be a major issue. It is believed that agriculture will need to increase its production by more
than 50%. Presently we are already experiencing the scarcity of fish as the oceans have been exploited above
70%.
B.
1g) 2l) 3f) 4j) 5b) 6d) 7e) 8k) 9a) 10i) 11c) 12h)
C.
a) ice caps b) carbon footprint c) exhaust fumes d) waste dump e) Oil spills f) coastal waters
Part 3
A.
1. will go
2. will have suffered
3. are going to miss
4. will be exploring
5. is helping/ is going to help
6. comes
7. will report
8. will have finished
B.
1a) 2c) 3c) 4d) 5b) 6d) 7b) 8a)

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