Mark the statements true (T) or false (F)
-
Fairies are miniature supernatural beings in the form of humans.
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The pixies of England and the brownies of Ireland are essentially the same creatures and just as real.
-
The famous author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle accepted the existence of fairies, elves and other creatures.
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There is an agreement on the origins of the many varieties of the fairies.
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One definition says fairies are the dispossessed spirits of humans not yet ready for heaven.
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The English version wears a green conical cap, a red cloak interwoven with flowers, green trousers and gold slippers
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Other fairies are winged like bees and dressed in filmy negligees.
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In various cultures there are both good and bad fairies.
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A malevolent fairy lives in the mines of Germany, causing accidents and misleading the miners.
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Fairies fear iron.
Circle the correct item
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Fairies are miniature supernatural beings in the form of …
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people
-
humans
-
creatures
-
The pixies of England and the brownies of Scotland are … the same creatures and just as real.
-
important
-
essentially
-
necessary
-
The famous author … accepted the existence of fairies, elves and other such creatures.
-
G.B. Shaw
-
Sir A.C. Doyle
-
J. Galsworthy
-
There is no agreement … of the many varieties of the fairies.
-
on the place
-
on the situation
-
on the origins
-
Fairies are the dispossessed … of humans not yet ready for heaven.
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characters
-
spirits
-
souls
-
The … version wears a red conical cap.
-
English
-
Spanish
-
French
-
Some fairies have wings as …
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dragonflies
-
flies
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butterflies
-
In various cultures there are … fairies.
-
only bad
-
only good
-
both good and bad
-
A malevolent fairy lives … of England.
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in the forests
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in the mines
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in the castles
-
Fairies fear …
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glass
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iron
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wood
Text № 49
Archaeology is the study of ancient buildings, tools, and other objects as a way of learning about the past. Archaeologists work like detectives, and treat the things they find as clues to the lives of the people who made and used them. Archaeologists may make exciting new discoveries, such as an Egyptian tomb filled with gold. But a few grains of hardened corn from a buried cave in New Mexico may reveal even more about early man.
Before scientists learn to estimate how long mankind has existed, archaeologists tried mainly to fill in gaps in the history of civilizations. Since the late 1800s, however, archaeologists have worked more to learn about prehistoric peoples. These peoples had no writing. But, through thousands of years, they laid the foundations of present-day civilization.
One way to understand the archaeologists’ task is to imagine what would happen to our houses and the things we use if they were abandoned for any length of time. Objects of wood and cloth would crumble, and houses would gradually fall apart. More durable belongings, such as knife blades or bicycle frames, would lie scattered among the ruins. Any archaeologist of the future who wanted to know about our life would have to do three things: find where our houses stood and salvage whatever he could, figure out the age of these remains, and reconstruct our way of life from what he found.
The archaeologist must go through the same basic steps in trying o learn about people, whether they lived thousands of years ago or in more recent times. In both cases, he needs the help of many kinds of scientists. Geologists tell him about the earth at different periods. Botanists trace ancient plant life. Zoologists identify animals. Petrologists and mineralogists supply information about stones and minerals used for implements and weapons. Chemists and physicists help discover what things were made of and contribute new methods of dating and preserving archaeological finds, or discoveries.
Archaeology is usually considered a branch of anthropology, and other branches of this science also help the archaeologist. Physical anthropologists identify the races of early men from parts of their skeletons. Cultural, or social, anthropologists help figure out the religious beliefs, social organization, and other customs of prehistoric people.
Mark the statements true (T) or false (F)
-
Archaeology is the study of ancient buildings, tools and other objects as a way of learning about the past.
-
Archaeologists work like lawyers.
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Archaeologists may make exciting new discoveries such as a Pyramid tomb filled with gold.
-
Archaeologists tried mainly to fill in gaps in the history of civilizations.
-
Prehistoric peoples had no writing.
-
Objects of metal and clay would crumble.
-
Any archaeologist of the future who wanted to know about our life would have to do five things.
-
Geologists tell archaeologists about the earth at different periods.
-
Botanists trace ancient animal life.
-
Physical anthropologists identity the races of early men from parts of their skeletons.
Circle the correct item
-
The study of ancient buildings, tools and other objects as a way of learning about the past is…
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history
-
the study of ancient remains
-
archaeology
-
Archaeologists work like…
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a person who investigates crimes
-
detectives
-
scientists
-
Since the late … archaeologists have worked more to learn about prehistoric peoples.
-
1900s
-
1700s
-
1800s
-
Prehistoric peoples had no …
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putting science and other words on paper
-
writing
-
reading
-
Botanists trace ancient … life.
-
insects
-
plant
-
fish
-
Animals are identified by…
-
zoologists
-
biologists
-
botanists
-
Petrologists and mineralogists supply information about …
-
jewels and stones
-
stones and minerals
-
jewels and minerals
-
Archaeology is usually considered a branch of…
-
anatomy
-
anthropology
-
physiology
-
Physical anthropologists identify the races of early men from parts of their …
-
skeletons
-
bodies
-
remains
-
Cultural or social anthropologists help figure out the religious beliefs, social organization and other customs of …
-
very old people
-
prehistoric people
-
ancient people.
Text № 50
Arctic is the region of continuous cold around the North Pole. It includes the Arctic Ocean, thousands of islands, and the northern parts of the continents of Europe, Asia, and North America. Men long believed that the Arctic was a cold barren place where people could not live. But explorers and scientists found that, except for Greenland, nine-tenth of all arctic lands have no snow and ice in summer. Berries, vegetables, and flowers grow in a few places. The sun never shines on much of the Arctic during the winter. But it shines on the entire region for at least part of the day from March to September.
The Arctic has great importance to man. Information from arctic weather stations helps scientists predict the weather farther south – in Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States. The airplanes that fly over the Arctic daily from Europe to Los Angeles do what men had dreamed of doing for hundreds of years. They are following a short route between Europe and the Pacific Ocean.
Northern nations such as Canada, Russia, and the United States have built military installations in the Arctic to protect their frontiers and trade routes. To build these installations, men have had to learn many things about this harsh region. Engineers have learned how to construct houses on the permanently frozen soil, and scientists have studied the plant and animal life to find ways that people can survive in the Arctic.
Mark the statements true (T) or false (F)
-
Arctic is the region of continuous cold around the South Pole.
-
Arctic includes the Arctic Ocean, thousands of islands and the northern parts of the continents of Europe, Asia and North America.
-
Men believed that the Arctic was a place where people could live.
-
Nine – tenth of all arctic lands have no snow and ice in summer.
-
Berries, vegetables and flowers grow in a few places.
-
The sun shines in Arctic from April to October.
-
The Arctic has great importance to man.
-
The airplanes fly over the Arctic daily from Europe to Los Angeles.
-
Northern nations such as Canada, Japan and the United States have built military installations in the Arctic.
-
Scientists have studied the plant and animal life to find ways that people can survive in the Arctic.
Circle the correct item
-
The region of continuous cold around the North Pole is:
-
Antarctic
-
Arctic
-
Australia
-
Arctic includes the Arctic Ocean, thousands of islands and the northern parts of the continents of…
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Europe, Asia and North America
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Australia, North America, Europe
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Europe, Asia and Southern America
-
Men long believed that the Arctic was a cold barren place where people…
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could not live
-
could not work
-
could not develop
-
Explorers and scientists found that, except for Greenland, … of all arctic lands have no snow and ice in summer.
-
eight-tenth
-
nine-tenth
-
seven-tenth
-
The sun shines on the entire region for at least part of the day from…
-
March to September
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April to October
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March to July
-
The Arctic has great importance to…
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civilization
-
humanity
-
to our planet
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The airplanes that fly over Arctic daily from … do what men had dreamed of doing for hundreds of years.
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Africa to Boston
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Asia to New York
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Europe to Los Angeles
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Northern nations such as Canada, Russia and the USA have built … in the Arctic to protect their frontiers and made routs.
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military installations
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military objects
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military headquarters
-
To build these installations, men have had to learn many things about this…
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rough and unpleasant region
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harsh region
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cruel region
-
Engineers have learned how to construct houses on the … frozen soil.
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permanently
-
long-lasting
-
always
Text № 51
From Rags To Riches
At the southern end of Waterloo Bridge in London, by the banks of the River Thames, stand the Royal National Theatre, the National Film Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall. In stark contrast to this centre of London's cultural activity, are the subways close by, which offer some relief from the cold at night. They have become a Mecca for the homeless. The place is littered with the cardboard boxes and old mattresses that they use as beds. It became so popular there in the 1980s that each person had their own, much-prized space that they would guard carefully. It gave them a sense of security and became so permanent that the locals gave the area a nickname - Cardboard City. This was also the name of a theatre play directed by the now famous Oscar-winner (for American Beauty) Sam Mendes.
The 1980s saw an enormous increase in people sleeping rough in Britain, as many unemployed came to cities in the south, especially London, where jobs were easier to find. But it's virtually impossible to get a job in Britain without a permanent address, and it's very difficult to get somewhere to live if you don't have a job, so most of those people got trapped. They ended up with no work and nowhere to live. Today the housing charity Shelter estimates there are around 100,000 homeless people in London alone, who are either in temporary accommodation or simply living on the streets. These people often hang around railway stations and other public places asking for money.
The British public is asked by their government not to give money to street beggars. People sympathetic to the homeless are being told to donate money to charities who specialize in caring for the poor or to offer beggars gifts of food or clothes instead of money. Another way you can help is to buy a copy of The Big Issue weekly magazine.
Run for the homeless, The Big Issue is a success on many levels. Its first issue was published in 1991; it won the Magazine of the Year award in 1993, and sells 270,000 copies weekly, which means a readership of over one million. All profits are reinvested into the magazine or diverted to The Big Issue Foundation, a charity that runs many social support programmes for the homeless. The magazine is actually sold by the homeless themselves, which gives them a chance to earn money and retain a sense of dignity. Encouraged by its success in Britain The Big Issue has become international, and now seventeen titles throughout Europe are being published.
Mark the statements true (T) or false (F)
1.Thousands of people live on the street.
2. The Big Issue is a financial success, and it generates huge amounts of money to be spent on good causes.
3. Cultural landmarks stand next to temporary shelters for people sleeping rough.
4. In the 1980s, many people arrived in the capital in search of a home and a job.
5. The Big Issue is now an international initiative.
6. The life of homeless people on the South Bank was immortalized in a theatre play.
7. People can offer support through special organizations and by buying The Big Issue.
8. There are around 100,000 homeless people in Britain.
9.The locals ask people to give only food or clothes to the beggars.
10. Many social support programmes are run in London.
Circle the correct item
1.Suburbs have become a Mecca for the homeless because…
a) they are close to the centre of London
b) you can get warm at night
c) you can make a lot of friends there
d) homeless have nowhere else to go.
2. It was called a Cardboard city by…
a) the beggars
b) the homeless people who came to London in search of a job.
c) neighbours.
d) the local government.
3. Most people got into “catch-22-situation” because…
a) they had no permanent address
b) they couldn’t get somewhere to live if they didn't have a job
c) they couldn’t get a job if they didn’t have somewhere to live
d) they had neither permanent dwelling nor job.
4. You can help beggars by giving them…
a) money
b) food
c) clothes
d) food or clothes.
5. The Big Issue weekly is the magazine that…
a) is run for the homeless
b) is sold by the beggars
c) cares for the homeless in every aspect
d) is read by the beggars.
6. The magazine got the award because…
a) it has become international
b) seventeen titles throughout Europe are being published
c) has a readership of over one million
d) all profits are reinvested into the magazine or diverted to The Big Issue Foundation.
7. We can infer from the text that “rough” is…
a) comfortable
b) uncomfortable
c) cosy
d) tough
8. All of the following words are synonymous with ‘accomodation’ EXCEPT…
a) dwelling
b) shelter
c) lodging
d) settlement
9. Which of the following words is the closest in meaning to ‘divert’?
a) redirect
b) switch
c) change
d) swerve
10. The title of the text could mean…
a) to become very rich after starting life very poor
b) very close to the luxurious part of the city
c) diversity in the city life
d) dreams some time come true.
Text № 52
from “Marseille is having a makeover, though there’s still lots of gritty charm”
by Robert V. Camuto, The Washington Post, 2010
In the past decade, France's second-largest city has undergone a dramatic makeover, accelerated by a high-speed train that now connects it to Paris in just over three hours. A bouillabaisse of European and North African immigrants, Marseille has evolved into a town that is young and cosmopolitan while keeping its gritty charm. It may also be the closest thing France has to a melting pot: the media have noted that it was one of the few French cities to avoid the widespread rioting that followed the accidental deaths in 2005 of two teenagers from immigrant families who were fleeing police in a Paris suburb.
New hotels and luxury apartments are sprouting along its waterfront; boutiques, restaurants and artists' studios have revived once seedy neighbourhoods. You can sense the change in the millions of dollars of public works projects underway in preparation for 2013, when Marseille takes its turn as Europe's Capital of Culture. And you can see it in the construction cranes at the Hotel-Dieu, the sprawling 18th-century landmark hospital being converted into a luxury hotel.
Yet despite the changes, Marseille's odd vibe remains. The local culture - which elevates soccer to a religion, drinking pasties (an anise-flavored liqueur) to ritual, local food specialties such as bouillabaisse to an art form and the local French-mangling dialect to a language of its own - isn't showing any signs of waning.
Mark the statements true (T) or false (F)
-
Marseille is one but the largest city in France.
-
A dramatic makeover is enhanced by construction of high-speed motorway to Paris.
-
There are a lot of immigrants from CIS in the city.
-
Many newcomers did not agree with the lifestyle in France.
-
Marseille has developed into a huge city in recent years.
-
New hotels are being built in the city center.
-
The city center was rather seedy long ago.
-
The authorities of the city are striving to prevent famous landmarks being converted into luxury ones.
-
People in Marseille are against changes in their lifestyle.
-
They speak their own variant of English.
Circle the correct item
1. In the text, what does the word “gritty” mean?
a) Sandy
b) Rough
c) Grainy
d) Greasy
2. Based on this text, which adjectives best describe Marseille today?
a) Diverse and affluent
b) Old-fashioned and gritty
c) Dangerous and affluent
d) Mysterious and diverse
3. Which of the following factors are NOT involved in Marseille’s ‘makeover’?
a) Marseilles will be Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2013.
b) The reconstruction of the Hotel-Dieu.
c) The elevation of bouillabaisse to an art form.
d) The high-speed train between Paris and Marseilles.
-
In 2005 Marseille was noted for…
-
numerous teenagers fleeing police in a Paris suburb.
-
avoiding the widespread rioting.
-
accidental deaths of immigrant teenagers.
-
many immigrants fleeing police in a Paris downtown.
5. Marseille is different from other French cities because…
a) it has more sophisticated local cuisine.
b) it has a more multicultural yet peaceful community.
c) it is developing more quickly.
d) it is less fashionable.
6.The opposite of “seedy” is…
a) shabby
-
run-down
-
deteriorated
-
revived.
7. Based on the text, we can assume that ten years ago, Marseille…
a) had more immigrants.
b) was less stylish.
c) was more modern.
d) did not have an odd vibe.
8. Which of the statements BEST reflects the theme of the text?
a) Marseille is turning into another luxurious European metropolis.
b) Marseille’s impressive progress can give hope to other struggling cities.
c) Marseille’s culture is defined by local oddities as well as increasing development.
d) Marseille is an eclectic city, influenced by immigrants from Europe and Africa.
-
Preparation for 2013, when Marseille takes its turn as Europe's Capital of Culture presupposes…
-
huge investments
-
reconstructions
-
renovation
-
expansion of infrastructure.
10. Local culture includes all the following EXCEPT…
a) preferring football
b) sipping local beverages
c) speaking their own language
d) introducing a new art form.
Text № 53
from “Video Game Addiction: Nearly 1 In 10 Children Is At Risk,” Huffington Post, 2011
Roughly 1 in 10 children who play video games are at risk of becoming pathologically addicted to them, found a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. That means for every classroom of 30 kids, three of them could develop a hardcore digital addiction that boosts the risk of depression, social phobia and poor school performance, the study found. Over a two-year span, researchers from the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore studied the video game habits of 3,000 Singaporean children from grades 3, 4, 7 and 8.
Kids who averaged 31 or more hours of game play a week were classified as pathological or "obsessive" gamers and were determined more likely to develop serious mental health issues. Inclined to believe video game addiction is just a passing phase? WebMD reports that 84 percent of students who were considered addicts when the study began were still addicted two years later. Still, such findings are preliminary. U.S. News reports: Although pathological video gaming appears to share a number of characteristics with other addictive behaviors, such as pathological gambling, the researchers noted that "pathological gaming" is not yet an established psychological disorder.
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