EXAM ESSENTIALS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1

Part 1 test 1 - Nature’s clocks

Our biological clocks govern almost every ……………………. of our lives. Our sensitivity to stimuli (1)
……………….. over the course of the day, and our ability to perfom certain functions is subject to
fluctuations. The middle of the day, for example, is the (2) ………………… time for tasks such as making
decisions. Anything that demands physical co-ordination, on the other hand, is best attempted in the early
evening. What is (3) ………………………, there is a dramatic drop in performance if these activities are (4)
………………….. out at the other times. The risk of accident in a factory, for example, is 20% higher during the
night (5) …………………….. .

Primitive humans lived in tune with the daily cycle of light and dark. Today, we are (6) ……………………
convinced that we can impose schedules on our lives at will. Sooner or later, however, we pay a (7)
…………………………. for ignoring our natural rhythms. A good example is jet lag, caused when we confuse our
body’s biological clocks by (8) ………………….. several time zones. Jet lag often lasts for several days and can
badly affect our decision-making ability.

1. A modifies B ranges C varies D wavers

2. A peak B summit C máximum D optimum
3. A more B else C different D besides
4. A made B gone C carried D set
5. A labour B work C duty D shift
6. A powerfully B firmly C steadily D highly
7. A Price B fine C fee D cost
8. A landing B penetrating C crossing D traveling

Part 1 test 2 - Satellite archaelogy

Archaelogy is a messy (0) …………….. . There’s no getting away from it; digging holes in the ground is an (1)
………………. part of archaeological work. But there is a new way to search without a shovel. Satellite images
are now used to (2) ………………….. buried objects in landscapes with astonishing (3) …………………. . In the
same way that medical (4) ………………………. let doctors examine parts of the body they couldn’t otherwise
see, satellite image help scientists find and map long-lost rivers, roads and cities, and make (5)
……………………. archaeological features in places which are very difficult to survey from the ground. “There’s
much we miss on the ground”, emphasises archaeologist Sarah Parcak, a (6) ……………………. in using
satellite imagery.

Through ‘thousands of hours’ of trial and (7) …………………………., Parcak has developed techniques using
satellite imagery which allow her to detect (8) ……………………… changes in the surface of the land caused by
objects like bricks buried underground. In 2011, her team discovered evidence of hundreds of dwellings at
the 3,000-year-old city of Tanis near the River Nile delta in Egypt. This might have taken a century using
traditional methods.
 1. A inflexible B inevitable C inclusive D infalible
2. A disclose B conceive C define D identify
3. A attention B measurement C precision D adjustment
4. A scans B looks C regards D sights
5. A through B out C for D up
6. A creator B principal C chief D pioneer
7. A failure B mistake C error D fault
8. A subtle B thin C mild D soft

Part 1 test 3 - Citizen scientists

Experts (0) …………………… that the nine-spotted ladybug, or ladybird as it is known in some countries, was
becoming extinct. Then, in 2011, Peter Priolo, a volunteer ladybug hunter, (1) ………………………. one sitting
on a sunflower in New York. The ladybug population had once been so (2) ………………………… in the state of
New York that it was the ‘official state insect’, but the last (3) ……………………….. sighting of one had been
almost 30 years before. Priolo was thrilled. So was the Lost Ladybug Project, which studies different species
of North American ladybugs with the assistance or ordinary people, a (4) ……………………………… known as
‘crowdsourcing’. One reason for the ladybug’s (5) …………………………….. may be that other imported insects
have (6) …………………………………………… its habitat and are eating its food.

‘In future, crowdsourcing may help us to stop this happening’, says the project’s director, John Losey from
Cornell University.

(7) …………………………….. up ordinary citizens isn’t new to science. Amateur astronomers, weather watchers,
and other hobbyists going back to the 1700s have all (8) …………………………….. a part in development of
science. What’s different today is the internet, which has helped recruit hundreds of thousands of
volunteers over the past decade or so.

1. A regarded B glanced C observed D considered

2. A widespread B thorough C overall D comprehensive
3. A accounted B recorded C marked D entered
4. A ritual B habit C manner D practice
5. A recession B drop C decline D letdown
6. A interfered B invaded C interrupted D involved
7. A Signing B Drawing C Bringing D Meeting
8. A put B done C added D played

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 Test 4 - Raising awareness

In cities around the world, a wide (0) ……………………… of schemes is being instigated to promote
environmental awareness. ‘It’s just as easy to (1) ……………………… of litter properly as it is a drop it on the
streets,’ says city councillor Mike Edwards. ‘It’s a question of encouraging people to do so as a (2)
………………….. of course. Once the habit is ingrained, they won’t even (3) ……………………………. they are doing
it. After all, think what we’ve achieved with recycling in the home. People have become accustomed to it,
so it doesn’t (4) ………………………. to them that they’re spending any additional time in the process. Only if
they have to carry this waste for some appreciable distance to find a suitable container do they feel they
are (5) ………………………. .

A quirky, (6) ………………………….. gimmick might be enough to change behaviour. With this in (7)
………………………………….. the city of Berlin is introducing rubbish bins that say danke, thank you and merci
when someone drops an item of rubbish into them. It might just (8) …………………………. the trick in this city,
too.

1. A dispose B discard C dump D dispense

2. A principle B system C matter D duty
3. A notice B remark C comprehend D appreciate
4. A concern B occur C impress D strike
5. A inconvenienced B sacrificed C complicated D imposed
6. A light-hearted B mundane C subjective D intense
7. A context B thought C spirit D mind
8. A serve B do C make D play

Test 5 - Mountain rescue in Scotland

Last year, over 200 climbers were rescued from the mountains of Scotland by local teams, who go out in all
weathers whenever disaster (0) ……………………. . Many of these people are volunteers, giving their time and
energy freely and, on (1) ………………………….. putting themselves in danger. They will risk life and (2)
…………………………… in an emergency when they are (3) ………………………… on upon to rescue foolhardy or
unlucky climbers. A whole (4) ……………………….. of things can go wrong up in the mountains, from sudden,
violent storms with virtually zero visibility to unforeseen accidents, and many walkers and climbers owe a
huge (5) …………………….. of gratitude to the rescue teams!

While rescue teams often work for Little or no pay, there are still considerable costs (6) ………………………… in
maintaining an efficient service. Equipament such as ropes and stretchers is of (7) ………………………………..
importance, as are vehicles and radio communications device. Although some of the costs are borne by the
government, the rescue teams couldn’t operate without (8) ……………………………… from the public.
Fortunately, these tend to be very generous.
 1. A situation B event C moment D occasion
2. A limb B blood C bone D flesh
3. A pulled B called C summoned D required
4. A scope B extent C host D scale
5. A recognition B liability C debt D claim
6. A implied B involved C featured D connected
7. A lively B main C essential D vital
8. A grants B allowances C donations D aids

Test 6 - A new look at the Middle Ages

The institute for Medieval Studies is holding a series of lectures to (0) ………………………. interest in a period
of European history which is all too often (1) …………………………… . It is hoped that these lectures will (2)
………………………….. some of the misconceptions that (3) …………………………….. to this day about the long and
eventful span of time between the sixth and the 15th centuries.

It is true that Europe was (4) ……………………………… by the plague in the latter part of the 14th century, and
that living (5) ………………………………….. for the majority of people were appalling by modern standards, and
life (6) ……………………………….. was low. The peasants suffered under a brutal feudal system and the (7)
……………………………….. of learning was open only to a small minority.

However, these negative aspects of medieval life cannot be properly evaluated unless they are viewed in
the brooader (8) ………………………… . The Middle Ages were also a period of great achievements in
architecture, science, technology, art and trade, and the lectures will explore the more progressive and
enlightened features of the age, as well its darker aspects.

1. A neglected B abandoned C subdued D deserted

2. A respond B refuse C rectify D revive
3. A insist B persist C consist D resist
4. A injured B eliminated C wounded D ravaged
5. A states B circumstances C conditions D situations
6. A estimate B forecast C prediction D expectancy
7. A pursuit B chase C desire D quest
8. A background B setting C context D environment

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 Test 7 - Vanilla surprise

Vanilla is such a (0) ……………………………… flavour that it comes as a surprise to learn that it is also one of the
world’s most expensive crops. The vanilla plant is (1) ……………………………. to the Americas. Its flowers grow
in (2) ……………………………….., and in nature they are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. The (3)
……………………………….. seed pods resemble oversized French beans, and develop their (4)
……………………………. flavour and fragance during the curing process. After harvesting, the beans are treated
with heat or hot water and placed in the sun every day for many weeks. When they have (5)
………………………….. to a fifth of their original size, they are divided according to size and quality.

Like other spices that we (6) …………………………… for granted today, vanilla has a fascinanting history. In the
16th century, the Spanish imported the spice to Europe. However, attempts to grow vanilla in other
locations (7) ………………………….. with failure: the plants would not produce pods, and it was only when a
way was found to pollinate the flowers artificially that the comercial explotation of this valuable crop (8)
……………………… under way.

1. A resident B local C native D inhabitant

2. A series B bouquets C bands D bunches
3. A deriving B resulting C producing D arising
4. A distinctive B appetsing C tasteful D potential
5. A concentrated B shrunk C sunk D lessened
6. A give B make C do D take
7. A resulted B hit C met D finished
8. A got B started C came D began

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 Test 8 - Mushrooms

In order to maintain a healthy diet, we encourage to eat a (0) ……………………………. range of fruit, vegetables
and other natural foodstuffs. The nutritional (1) …………………………. of such things as carrots, fish and beans
are often praised, but mushrooms tend to be (2) ………………………………… . Research, however, suggests that
they may well be qualified to join the (3) …………………………….. of so-called superfoods like broccoli and
blueberries.

‘They may seem plain’, says dietician Dr Sarah Schenker, but studies have (4) ………………………………… that
they help reduce the risk of serious illnesses. They contain (5) ……………………….. no fat, sugar or salt, and
they’re a valuable (6) …………………………. of dietary fibre. They also contain many essential vitamins and
minerals, and they’re good, too, for people wanting to (7) ……………………………. down on their calorie intake
– adding them to dishes like stews can make you feel fuller, but they’re 90% water.

More than 2,500 (8) ……………………………………. of mushrooms grow in the wild, but, so far, most research
has focused on a few types like shitake, maitake and white button mushrooms. There is clearly much more
to discover about this intriguing food.

1. A profits B aids C favours D benefits

2. A overdrawn B overlooked C overgrown D overseen
3. A ranks B grades C rows D files
4. A presented B displayed C revealed D exposed
5. A virtually B fairly C closely D utterly
6. A outset B base C root D source
7. A break B cut C pull D let
8. A breeds B classes C varieties D bands

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