Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.
I really must _____ up my Japanese before we visit Japan next year.
Write one word in each gap.
The Librarians - On the bookshelf ***
They stole the at last year’s Brit Awards. Their last album was described by New Music Today as “ of this world”. Then, after acrimonious and bitter infighting, they announced they’d split up. But fans of The Librarians will be cheered to know the band have now patched things and have recorded a brand album. The two ballads on the album, Carefree and Tomorrow I’m leaving don’t particularly out as anything special, but its best, On the bookshelf contains some of the finest songs. The Librarians have ever written. There’s no doubt they’ve got alternative electro-rock to a fine art, and when they get it right, they get it right style.
* don’t bother
** only for die-hard fans
*** check it
**** takes of place in anyone’s CD collection
Read the text and choose the best answer to fill in the blanks.
Mobile phones microwave radio emissions. Researchers are questioning whether exposures to these radio waves might to brain cancer.
So far, the data are not conclusive. The scientific evidence does not us to stay with certainty that mobile phones are categorically . On the other hand, current research has not yet clear adverse effects associated with the prolonged use of mobile phones.
Numerous studies are now going in various countries. Some of the results are contradictory but others have shown an association between mobile phone use and cancer. , these studies are preliminary and the issue needs further long-term investigation.
the scientific data are more definite, it is prudent for people to try not to use mobile phones for long periods of time. Don't think that hands-free phones are any safer either. At the moment, research is in fact showing the and they may be just as dangerous.
It is also thought that young people bodies are still growing may be at particular risk.
Read the text below and look carefully at each sentence. Find errors at each sentence and correct them (there may be more than one error in each sentence).
If there is no mistake, write "x" in both blanks.
(1) Even before the turn of the century, movies began to develop in two major directions: the realistic and the formalistic. (2) Realism and formalism are merely general, rather than absolute, terms. (3) When using to suggest a tendency toward either polarity, such labels can be helpful, but in the end they are still just labels. (4) Few films are exclusive formalist in style, and fewer yet are completely realist. (5) There is also an important difference between realism and reality, although this distinct is often forgotten. (6) Realism is a particular style, where physical reality is the source of all the raw materials of film, both realistic and formalistic. (7) Virtually all movie directors go to the photographable world for their subject matter, but what they do with this material - how they shape and manipulate it - determines their stylistic emphasis.
(8) Generally speaking, realistic films attempt to reproduce the surface of concrete reality with a minimum of distortion. (9) In photographing objects and events, the filmmaker tries to suggest the copiousness of life himself. (10) Both realist and formalist film directors must select (and hence emphasize) certain details from the chaotic sprawl of reality.
Mistake(s) in sentence (1):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (3):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (4):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (5):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (7):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (8):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (9):
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Mistake(s) in sentence (10):
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Complete the text by changing the form of the word in capitals.
The Black Widow Spider
The black widow spider’s (NOTORIOUS) is not without foundation. However, an element of exaggeration has led to certain (CONCEPT) regarding its evil nature.
Firstly, while it is indeed one of the most venomous species of spider, its venom being 15 times stronger than that of the prairie rattlesnake, its bite injects such a small amount of venom in (COMPARE) that it is unlikely to kill humans. In fact (FATAL) are rare.
Black widows bite only if they are touched or their web is threatened, and only the adult female is (POISON) . The female is (SOLITUDE) by nature, and has been known to kill and eat the male after mating. Such (OCCUR) are rare, but they explain how the spider got its name – and its reputation.
Nevertheless, the (PLEASE) effects of this spider’s bite should not be (ESTIMATE) , and if you live in a certain climate and have a fireplace in your home, it is advisable to take (CAUTION) . Black widow spiders often inhabit wood piles, so you should wear gloves when handling firewood.
Read the following passage then choose the best answer to each question below.
1. The craft of perfumery has an ancient and global heritage. The art flourished in Ancient Rome, where the emperors were said to bathe in scent. After the fall of Rome, much of the knowledge was lost but survived in Islamic civilizations in the Middle Ages. Arab and Persian pharmacists developed essential oils from the aromatic plants of the Indian peninsula. They developed the processes of distillation and suspension in alcohol, which allowed for smaller amounts of raw materials to be used than in the ancient process, by which flower petals were soaked in warm oil. This knowledge was carried back to European monasteries during the Crusades.
2. At first, the use of fragrances was primarily associated with healing. Aromatic alcoholic waters were ingested as well as used externally. Fragrances were used to purify the air, both for spiritual and health purposes. During the Black Death, the bubonic plague was thought to have resulted from a bad odor which could be averted by inhaling pleasant fragrances such as cinnamon. The Black Death led to an aversion to using water for washing, and so perfume was commonly used as a cleaning agent.
3. Later on, the craft of perfume re-entered Europe and was centered in Venice, chiefly because it was an important trade route and a center for glass-making. Having such materials at hand was essential for the distillation process. In the late seventeenth century, trade soared in France, when Louis XIV brought in policies of protectionism and patronage which stimulated the purchase of luxury goods. Here, perfumery was the preserve of glove-makers. The link arose since the tanning of leather required putrid substances. Consequently, the gloves were scented before they were sold and worn. A glove and perfume makers' guild had existed here since 1190. Entering it required 7 years of formal training under a master perfumer.
4. The trade in perfume flourished during the reign of Louis XV, as the master glove-and-perfume makers, particularly those trading in Paris, received patronage from the royal court, where it is said that a different perfume was used each week. The perfumers diversified into other cosmetics including soaps, powders, white face paints, and hair dyes. They were not the sole sellers of beauty products. Mercers, spicers, vinegar-makers, and wig-makers were all cashing in on the popularity of perfumed products. Even simple shopkeepers were coming up with their own concoctions to sell.
5. During the eighteenth century, more modern, capitalist perfume industry began to emerge, particularly in Britain where there was a flourishing consumer society. In France, the revolution initially disrupted the perfume trade due to its association with aristocracy, however, it regained momentum later as a wider range of markets were sought both in the domestic and overseas markets. The guild system was abolished in 1791, allowing new high-end perfumery shops to open in Paris.
6. Perfume became less associated with health in 1810 with a Napoleonic ordinance which required perfumers to declare the ingredients of all products for internal consumption. Unwilling to divulge their secrets, traders concentrated on products for external use. Napoleon affected the industry in other ways too. With French ports blockaded by the British during the Napoleonic wars, the London perfumers were able to dominate the markets for some time.
7. One of the significant changes in the nineteenth century was the idea of branding. Until then, trademarks had had little significance in the perfumery where goods were consumed locally, although they had a long history in other industries. One of the pioneers in this field was Rimmel who was nationalized as a British citizen in 1857. He took advantage of the spread of railroads to reach customers in wider markets. To do this, he built a brand which conveyed prestige and quality, and were worth paying a premium for. He recognized the role of design in enhancing the value of his products, hiring a French lithographer to create the labels for his perfume bottles.
8. Luxury fragrances were strongly associated with the affluent and prestigious cities of London and Paris. Perfumers elsewhere tended to supply cheaper products and knock-offs of the London and Paris brands. The United States perfume industry, which developed around the docks in New York where French oils were being imported, began in this way. Many American firms were founded by immigrants, such as William Colgate. who arrived in 1806. At this time, Colgate was chiefly known as a perfumery. Its Cashmere Bouquet brand had 625 perfume varieties in the early 20th century.
Why does the writer include this sentence in paragraph 2: "During the Black Death, the bubonic plague was thought to have resulted from a bad odor which could be averted by inhaling pleasant fragrances such as cinnamon."?
Why did the perfume industry develop in Paris?
London canoe to lead the perfume industry because _____.
Which city is being described in this sentence: 'The perfume industry developed here because the city produced materials and equipment necessary for perfume production.'?
Read the following passage and choose which of the headings from A - J match the blanks. There are two extra headings, which do not match any of the paragraphs.
List of headings
A. Environmental change has always been with us
B. The scarcity of water
C. Rivers and seas cause damage
D. Should we be despondent? Or realistic?
E. Disasters caused by the climate make us feel better
F. Water, the provider of food
G. Humans’ relationship with water
H. How to solve flooding
I. Far-flung flooding
J. A pessimistic view of the future
Adam’s Wine
Paragraph 1: What is water?
Water is the giver and, at the same time, the taker of life. It covers most of the surface of the planet we live on and features large in the development of the human race. On present predictions, it is an element that is set to assume even greater significance.
Paragraph 2:
Throughout history, water has had a huge impact on our lives. Humankind has always had a rather ambiguous relationship with water, on the one hand receiving enormous benefit from it, not just as a drinking source, but as a provider of food and a means whereby to travel and to trade. But forced to live close to water in order to survive and to develop, the relationship has not always been peaceful or beneficial. In fact, it has been quite the contrary. What has essentially been a necessity for survival has turned out in many instances to have a very destructive and life-threatening side.
Paragraph 3:
Through the ages, great floods alternated with long periods of drought have assaulted people and their environment, hampering their fragile fight for survival. The dramatic changes to the environment that are now a feature of our daily news are not exactly new: fields that were once lush and fertile are now barren; lakes and rivers that were once teeming with life are now long gone; savannah has been turned to desert. What perhaps is new is our naive wonder when faced with the forces of nature.
Paragraph 4:
Today, we are more aware of climatic changes around the world. Floods in far-flung places are instant news for the whole world. Perhaps these events make us feel better as we face the destruction of our own property by floods and other natural disasters.
Paragraph 5:
In 2002, many parts of Europe suffered severe flood damage running into billions of euros. Properties across the continent collapsed into the sea as waves pounded the coastline wreaking havoc with sea defenses. But it was not just the seas. Rivers swollen by heavy rains and by the effects of deforestation carried large volumes of water that wrecked many communities.
Paragraph 6:
Building stronger and more sophisticated river defences against flooding is the expensive short-term answer. There are simpler ways. Planting trees in highland areas, not just in Europe but in places like the Himalayas, to protect people living in low-lying regions like the Ganges Delta, is a cheaper and more attractive solution. Progress is already being made in convincing countries that the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is causing considerable damage to the environment. But more effort is needed in this direction.
Paragraph 7:
And the future? If we are to believe the forecasts, it is predicted that two-thirds of the world population will be without fresh water by 2025. But for a growing number of regions of the world, the future is already with us. While some areas are devastated by flooding, scarcity of water in many other places is causing conflict. The state of Texas in the United States of America is suffering a shortage of water with the Rio Grande failing to reach the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in 50 years in the spring of 2002, pitting region against region as they vie for water sources. With many parts of the globe running dry through drought and increased water consumption, there is now talk of water being the new oil.
Paragraph 8:
Other doom-laden estimates suggest that, while tropical areas will become drier and uninhabitable, coastal regions and some low-lying islands will in all probability be submerged by the sea as the polar ice caps melt. Popular exotic destinations now visited by countless tourists will become no-go areas. Today’s holiday hotspots of southern Europe and elsewhere will literally become hotspots – too hot to live in or visit. With the current erratic behaviour of the weather, it is difficult not to subscribe to such despair.
Paragraph 9:
Some might say that this despondency is ill-founded, but we have had ample proof that there is something not quite right with the climate. Many parts of the world have experienced devastating flooding. As the seasons revolve, the focus of the destruction moves from one continent to another. The impact on the environment is alarming and the cost to life depressing. It is a picture to which we will need to become accustomed.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
His recent behaviors are outrageous. (behaved)
=> The way ordinary.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
His recent behaviors are outrageous. (behaved)
=> The way ..... ordinary.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
David apologised for being unable to come to the meeting next week. (COULD)
=> David said he come to the meeting next week.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
I can never remember dates for anything, even though I really try. (MATTER)
=> I can never remember dates for anything ................................ try.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
Casper didn’t mention the fact that we had met before. (REFERENCE)
=> Casper _______ the fact that we had met before.
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
I tried to remember what has happened all those years before. (CAST)
=> I tried to ........
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
It was only when the film had ended that I remembered to switch off the oven.
=> Not .....
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
It's possible the looming crisis won't ever actually materialize.
=> It's not beyond .....
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
Journalists are expected to work until late at night. (PUT)
=> Journalists are expected .....
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning to the first.
My salary is half what I would be in the job I was offered in January.
=> If ..........
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
David apologised for being unable to come to the meeting next week. (COULD)
=> David said he ......... come to the meeting next week.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. Do not change the word given.
Since starting her new job, Charlotte has completely forgotten about the plans she used to have. (SIGHT)
=> Since starting her new job, Charlotte has completely ..... the plans she used to have.