• Author / Uploaded
• bpxamz

Citation preview

TEXT 1 1 Thinking of taking a holiday? Read the texts below about holiday adventures. Which text, A, B, C or D, talks about ... ? (7 x 2 = 14 points) 1 participating in a group experience .......... 2 trying hard to succeed in difficult conditions .......... 3 combining different forms of transport .......... 4 a natural phenomenon .......... 5 the cost of the holiday .......... 6 an opportunity to help solve an environmental problem .......... 7 reports of other holiday-makers about their experiences .......... A Swim with Whale Sharks in Australia Would you consider swimming alongside a shark? Most probably not, but if you’re in Western Australia’s Ningaloo Marine Park between March and early July, don’t miss the opportunity to snorkel with a whale shark. It’s hard to believe that whale sharks are harmless when you discover that they have 3,000 tiny, sharp teeth, weigh up to 40 tons and are around 10 metres long. However, many people who have swum near them describe them as gentle giants. Whale sharks are in fact the world’s largest fish and are vulnerable to extinction from fishing by humans. Ecotourism is a way to protect these giants, as it can provide people with income from working with them rather than from hunting them. So, if you want to take a challenge and do a good deed, go for it! B Heli-Biking in New Zealand New Zealand is a popular country for adventure activities and now has something new: heli-biking. You’ll have a fun-filled day enjoying a scenic helicopter flight to the top of a mountain trail before hopping onto a mountain bike and making your way on a twisting, downhill path. The routes vary, with the highest drop being at 6,000 metres, leading on to breathtaking scenery as you bike down with an adrenalin rush. The drawbacks of this sport, however, are that the helicopters can’t fly in bad weather and it’s expensive. But, if the weather is fine and you have money, then this is an opportunity not to be missed.

1

C Survivor Island Expedition in Tonga If you’re looking for both a physical and psychological experience, then welcome to Survivor Island in Tonga. This is not your typical adventure holiday! You’ll be abandoned on a deserted island with five other participants and an expert guide for an entire week, having to make do with what the island has to offer. In order to build a shelter, make fire and gather water and food, you’ll need to innovate, create and work together as a team. Not everyone is cut out for life on Survivor Island. This experience forces you to step out of your comfort zone and tests your resilience. But, if you’re someone who wants to test your survival skills and to push limits – this is the adventure for you! D Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii Have you ever seen glowing lava at night? Felt the hot steam coming from a steam hole? Walked on lava fields? The Kilauea Volcano Tour will give you all of these – and more. Kilauea is the biggest accessible active volcano in Hawaii and receives nearly three million visitors a year. It has been spilling out huge quantities of crimson, slow-moving lava almost continuously since 1983. After dark, see the glow of the clouds and landscape – a scene like no other. This one-ofa-kind experience involves hours of uphill hiking, but is well worth the effort!

2 Complete the sentences. (3 x 2 = 6 points) 1 Whale sharks are harmless despite ............................................................................................. . 2 If the weather conditions aren’t good, ....................................................................................... . 3 The Survivor Island Expedition isn’t suitable for .................................................................... . 3 Find words or expressions in the text that mean: (5 x 2 = 10 points) 1 an act of kindness (Text A) ................................................... 2 disadvantages (Text B) ................................................... 3 manage (Text C) ................................................... 4 suits (Text C) ................................................... 5 unique (Text D) ................................................... ANSWER KEY ( TEXT 1) 1 1 C

2 C

3 B

4 D

5 B

6 A

7 A

2 1 having 3,000 tiny, sharp teeth, weighing up to 40 tons and measuring around 10 metres long 2 you can’t go heli-biking 3 people who don’t like to leave their comfort zone / test their resilience 3 1 a good deed 2 drawbacks 3 make do

4 is cut out for 5 one-of-a-kind

TEXT 2 Read the text and answer the questions that follow. I II III IV

Stop Making So Much Noise, Please! Not everyone feels comfortable in noisy places like restaurants, subways, shopping centres, school hallways and other places where people gather. However, most people find ways to adapt to these sounds, as these places are hard to avoid. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for me – I can’t stand the sound of people drinking coffee, clicking their pens or even touching their hair. These “noises” drive me crazy and can bring on a major panic attack or feelings of anger. I have what is called “misophonia”, a disorder resulting in an extreme sensitivity to – in fact a hatred of – sounds such as eating, moving around and breathing. This disorder is caused by changes in the brain in certain people and is most likely hereditary. Before I was diagnosed, getting through each day was a huge effort, with most of my time spent trying to avoid social situations. I didn’t like hanging out with friends because I couldn’t concentrate on any of the conversations, especially if people were eating and drinking around me. In addition, my schoolwork suffered as I could barely concentrate in class and even more so during exams. Though I couldn’t see what someone was writing, I felt like I could hear every word being written down. The quiet exam room only made me more aware of the rustling of the papers and the clicking of the pens. After years of suffering, I discovered an online forum for people with misophonia. On it were helpful coping strategies such as taking short breaks during the day and finding safe places in order to relax and alleviate the distress. Another tip was to take some form of exercise like Pilates, which helps to calm down the nervous system, thus lessening sensitivity to sounds. Meditation is another way of relaxing and teaching yourself to take control. Additionally, letting people know about the condition reduces anxiety and promotes understanding from others, who might otherwise be confused by your behaviour. Lastly, the forum gave me a very practical suggestion that when all else fails, you can always use a good set of earplugs or earphones! Although I haven’t been cured, I now know how to manage my life by using all of these strategies – and I hope to help other misophonia sufferers in the future.

1 Choose the correct answer. (4 x 2 = 8 points) 1 What is the main purpose of the article? a to describe a personal experience b to talk about a cure c to ask for advice d to give a warning 2 During exams, the writer ...... . a tried to see what people were writing b couldn’t use a pen c couldn’t stay quiet d couldn’t focus because it was too quiet 3 What type of coping strategy is NOT mentioned in the text? a taking up physical activity b discussing the problem with different people c playing music d having short rests 4 What tone does the writer use in the last paragraph? a apologetic b angry c optimistic

d hopeless

2 Answer the questions. (5 x 2 = 10 points) 1 In the first paragraph, why does the writer use quotation marks around the word “noises”? ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 Why did the writer try to avoid social situations? ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 The writer mentions finding “safe” places. What do you think is meant by that? ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 What exercises are good for misophonia sufferers? Explain why. ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Does the writer believe it’s a good idea to talk about having the disorder? Why or why not? ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Find words or expressions in the text that mean: (6 x 2 = 12 points) 1 meet (paragraph I) ................................................... 2 cause (paragraph I) ................................................... 3 surviving (paragraph II) ................................................... 4 meeting (paragraph II) ................................................... 5 anxiety (paragraph III) ................................................... 6 reducing (paragraph III) ................................................... ANSWERS KEY 1 1 a

2 d

3 c

4 c

Page 2 2 1 2 3 4

Because for other people, these sounds would barely be noticed. Because focusing on conversations was very difficult. quiet places with no people around Pilates because it calms down the nervous system and reduces sensitivity to sounds, and meditation because it allows you to relax and take control. 5 Yes, because it reduces tension and helps others to understand you better.

3 1 gather 2 bring on 3 getting through

4 hanging out with 5 distress 6 lessening

TEXT 3

Read the text and answer the questions that follow. I II III IV V VI

A New (and Better) World? Are you someone who enjoys watching films depicting widespread destruction, environmental disaster and imaginary new worlds, such as in The Hunger Games? Then you are not alone – millions of young people around the world are also into dystopian and apocalyptic films. Tales of doomsday and dystopian societies have crept into all aspects of pop culture – especially onto the big screen, but also into music, video games, books and blogs. Dystopian and apocalyptic storylines portray the vision of a society after a major disaster, such as nuclear war or an environmental catastrophe. These events cause civilisations to try and adapt to the changes and build a faultless way of life. 1 These types of stories about building new societies are not new. People have been creating stories about the end of life as we know it for as long as we’ve been2around, and many of them have been made into blockbuster films. Going back to Biblical times, the tale of Noah’s Ark depicts a new, better world after a flooding disaster. In modern times, The Hunger Games depicts a future society where America is divided into districts which produce their own resources for the dictator state in order to maintain peace. In this novel, the perfect community of the protagonist, Jonas, lacks nothing except freedom and equality. 3 be extremely So, why do these often depressing films appeal to teenagers? Firstly, they can of course entertaining and exciting. Secondly, these films can encourage us to think about what the possible consequences of our irresponsible, wasteful behaviour could be for our planet. Young adults who are trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be in life can identify with them and their message. 4 The dystopian and apocalyptic film genre is just a recent addition to our fascination with the end of the world and the quest for a better life. In fact, the only thing that might stop people from watching an apocalyptic film is, of course, an apocalypse! 5

1 Five sentences have been removed from the text. From sentences A-F, choose the one that fits each gap. There is one extra sentence. (5 x 2 = 10 points) A Narratives questioning society’s mortality are certainly not a new theme. B Another dystopian work of fiction is The Giver by Lois Lowry. C However, this attempt at a “perfect” society often goes wrong. D The idea that humans will one day undergo a day of reckoning has confronted every generation. E For as long as mankind has existed, there have been rulers. F Lastly, they are told from a teenager’s perspective through the actions of young heroes.

2 Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F). Find evidence in the text to support your answers. (4 x 2 = 8 points) 1 Dystopian societies are a popular pop culture theme. .......... ............................................................................................................................................. 2 In The Giver, Jonas has a perfect life. .......... ............................................................................................................................................. 3 The writer mentions an environmental connection to apocalyptic films. .......... ............................................................................................................................................. 4 The dystopian and apocalyptic film genre has been around for a long time. .......... ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Find words or expressions in the text that mean: (6 x 2 = 12 points) 1 appeared gradually (paragraph I) ............................................................ 2 perfect (paragraph II) ............................................................ 3 existed (paragraph III) ............................................................ 4 attract (paragraph V) ............................................................ 5 understand (paragraph V) ............................................................ 6 search (paragraph VI) ............................................................ ANSWERS KEY ( Text 3) 1 1 C

2 D

3 B

4 F

5 A

Page 2 2 1 T Tales of doomsday and dystopian societies have crept into all aspects of pop culture – especially onto the big screen, but also into music, video games, books and blogs. 2 F … the perfect community of the protagonist, Jonas, lacks nothing except freedom and equality. 3 T … these films can encourage us to think about what the possible consequences of our irresponsible, wasteful behaviour could be for our planet. 4 F The dystopian and apocalyptic film genre is just a recent addition to our fascination with the end of the world and the quest for a better life. 3 1 crept into 4 appeal to 2 faultless 5 figure out 3 been around 6 quest

TEXT 4 Read the text and answer the questions that follow. I II III IV V

Caring About the Elephants If you’ve ever been to Thailand or know someone who has, chances are you’ve heard about the famous elephant rides there. Up until the late 1980s, elephants were used in the logging industry to transport heavy pieces of wood, but this ended when logging became illegal in 1989. As a result, elephant owners were forced to find alternative ways of earning money, and so resorted to training elephants to give tourists rides. The training process involves cruel treatment of the animals, rewarding them with food and water for good behaviour. Ironically, this time period coincided with the advent of ecotourism, and Thailand was a popular destination. Ecotourism encourages people to visit and experience an unspoilt area in a respectful and sensitive manner. It makes sense, then, that as ecotourism surged at a rate of about 20-35% annually, the awareness and suspicion of the elephant ride phenomenon grew accordingly. Baby elephants have long been a favourite of tourists and are the easiest to tame, so they are most at risk of being captured by ruthless poachers. What many people don’t know, and what helps explain the resulting trauma of both the captured babies and the remaining herd in the wild, is that elephants are strikingly similar to humans. Both are intelligent creatures with strong social and familial ties and the ability to remember things and recognise others. Luckily, the increased interest in ecotourism and sensitivity to the environment has led people to pay attention to the elephants’ plight. Consequently, this has resulted in successful efforts to educate the public, specifically potential tourists. What they learn is that although riding an elephant might seem harmless, it contributes to severe animal abuse. While riding elephants is unfortunately still practised, it is swiftly losing its appeal and instead, other more elephant-friendly attractions are gaining in popularity. Elephant Nature Park (ENP), an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, was established by Thai native Lek Chailert, and is committed to rescuing elephants and improving their treatment. At ENP, tourists enjoy interacting with the elephants in ways that are fun for animals and people alike. Lek hopes that when visitors spread the word about their positive experiences, others will visit and help save Thailand’s elephants as well.

1 Choose the correct answer. (2 x 1 = 2 points) 1 Elephant rides in Thailand started .......... . a since elephants were used to carrying logs b when tourism increased in Thailand in the 1980s c to provide an activity for the growing trend of ecotourism d because their owners needed a new way to make money 2 Ecotourism began .......... . a before the 1980s b when logging was legal c in the late 1980s d very recently

2 Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F). Find evidence in the text to support your answers. (2 x 2 = 4 points) 1 As ecotourism grew more popular, so did the elephant ride industry. .......... ............................................................................................................................................. 2 At ENP, elephants are kept far away from people. .......... ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Answer the question. (2 points) Why does the author compare elephants to humans? ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Complete the sentences. (3 x 2 = 6 points) 1 In the training process, elephants receive food and water when .......................................... ................................................................................................................................................................. . 2 Not everyone understands that by riding an elephant, ............................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................. . 3 At ENP, tourists and elephants ...................................................................................................... . 5 Find words or expressions in the text that mean: (6 x 1 = 6 points) 1 in danger (paragraph III) .................................................. 2 cruel (paragraph III) .................................................. 3 connections (paragraph III) .................................................. 4 unfavourable situation (paragraph IV) .................................................. 5 rapidly (paragraph IV) .................................................. 6 tell everyone (paragraph V) .................................................. ANWERS KEY 1 1 d

2 c

Page 2 2 1 F … as ecotourism surged at a rate of about 20-35% annually, the awareness and suspicion of the elephant ride phenomenon grew accordingly. 2 F … tourists enjoy interacting with the elephants … 3 To show that elephants, like humans, are intelligent, live as families and are able to remember events and recognise others. 4 1 they behave well 2 you are contributing to animal abuse 3 interact with each other in a fun way 5 1 at risk 2 ruthless 3 ties

4 plight 5 swiftly 6 spread the word

WRITE AN ESSAY (120-150 WORDS) DESCRIBING AN ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY THAT YOU’D LIKE TO EXPERIENCE. (20 POINTS)