Beauty over youthFrom the countless videos portraying young healthy-looking beauties to a flourishing cosmetics

industry that promises slow aging, women are led to believe that men primarily prefer youth to beauty. But a new study from Britain suggests that men go for older attractive women rather that younger plain-looking ones.

The new study by a psychologist of Chiterns University College shows that up to a certain age, men find attractiveness more important than youth when considering potential mates. The psychologist took a photo of a 36-year-old woman who was very attractive in the eyes of a group of men. They showed the picture to three other groups in their early 20s along with the same eight pictures of women aged 20-45 who had been considered less attractive. The researchers told the group the beautiful woman was either 36, 41 or 45 years old. When asked who they’d prefer as a long-term partner, all three groups of men chose her, regardless of how old they thought she was.

The study shows that beauty counts and that men are not concerned with the number of children they can have. The younger, plainer women will give them more children, but the fact that men are going for “aging beauty” is indicative that beauty is more important at some level. But the psychologist also stressed that the study was based only on physical attractiveness and didn’t take into account other characteristic traits like kindness, generosity, and caring, which were just as, if not more important, in determining long-term relationships.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Write down the evidence from the text. Nomarks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) During the experiment, each group of men saw different set of pictures.

b) All the men thought that the beautiful 36-year-old woman would be their first choice.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas from the text, answer the following questions.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Why do women think that men find youth more important than beauty?b) What does new research show about the way men consider women as potential mothers?

3. Find the words in the text that mean. (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a. numerous (paragraph 1)b. above all (paragraph 1)c. consider (paragraph 3)d. lasting (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate from of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Although Mary does not worry________ her age, I think she is not young________ to have a baby now.b) The study________ (do) in 2000, and its findings have been valid________ then.c) Dr. Feldman is the psychologist________ has conducted this study. He________ (be) working on specific areas of human behaviour for ten years.d) Thank you for________ (help) me with the research. All of you are invited to a party on Saturday.It will be at Tony’s, the________ (big) pub in town.

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics.Is physical appearance in a boy/girlfriend more important for you than personal qualities? (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

1

Compulsive shoppingA new illness, the Compulsive Buying Disorder, has been diagnosed. Its symptoms are frequent

thoughts of shopping, experiencing senseless impulses to purchase unneeded items, and overspending to the extent that it harms relationships or job performance. A recent survey has found that one in twenty American adults buy things they may not even want -or. need. In today's world of consumerism, where we are constantly bombarded by ads, this is perhaps not unusual. But more surprising is a further finding that runs counter to the conventional and rather stereotyped view that compulsive buying is very much a '_woman's disease": men are just as likely as women to suffer from compulsive buying. Gone seem to be the days when women dragged their bored men around shopping malls

Researchers say that the number of men who indulge in unnecessary shopping has rocketed. Experts claim that past trends and figures may have been unfairly distorted as mate obsessive shoppers used to be more reluctant than women to recognize that they have a problem, admit it, and seek help. While women buy more clothing and products that improve appearance, men tend to focus more on gadgets and technical items and can become compulsive collectors.

And help seems to be exactly what the doctor orders for any compulsive shopper who is usually not made any happier by his or her relentless buying. Doctors have concluded that this behaviour is a way for people to try to complete themselves. For some people, being complete is being impeccably dressed at having something new. Instead, medical practitioners encourage those seeking treatment to cultivate non-materialistic aspects of their Jives.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. According to the survey, women are more compulsive shoppers than men.

b. Experts believe that buying is a form of self-realization for compulsive shoppers.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. How does the text describe a compulsive consumer?b. What are the differences between male and female compulsive buyers?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima 1 punto)a. result (paragraph 1)b. increased (paragraph 2)c. tendencies (paragraph 2)d. looking for (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. As a result of too much shopping, some anxiety or depression may _________(experience) and this might interfere _______ work or school performance.b. Contrary to the general idea that shopping is a ladies' habit, men are now ________ (admit)that they also have this problem, and they even ask ________ some help.c. Doctors suggest that compulsive shoppers _______ (cultivate) more spiritual aspects of their lives, rather ________ buying material things to complete themselves.Complete the following sentence in reported speech.d. Yesterday the salesman said to me: “Don’t pay now”.

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topics. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)Do you ever buy things that you don’t need? Why?

2

Pointing at fingerprintsFor many years, criminals have been identified and brought to justice because of a fingerprint that they

left behind. Details of the technique of fingerprinting were published by British scientist Sir Francis Galton in 1892, and it became widely used as a reliable method of identification. In fact, a fingerprint was first used as evidence to convict a criminal that same year.

However, the use of fingerprints as evidence is not entirely foolproof. Many fingerprints are “latent”; that is, they must be treated with powdered chemicals before they can be seen, which may be inconvenient at the scene of a crime. Other fingerprints are incomplete, difficult to make a positive identification from, and so not very helpful to police. Because of these problems, DNA identification, or “genetic fingerprinting”, became popular in the 1980s. But now new methods of recovering and analysing fingerprints are causing a revival in the use of traditional fingerprinting.

Fingerprints are formed when fingertips, coated with fatty acids produced by the glands, make contact with most surfaces. Researchers are now examining these fat deposits to learn more than just the identity of the person leaving the prints. Scientists are already able to determine approximate age, as well as the use of certain drugs like tobacco. These new insights may have consequences in areas beyond crime detection. Analysing a fingerprint may eventually yield as much information about an individual’s health as a blood sample and it will certainly be less painful to produce!

So, with both traditional and DNA fingerprinting seemingly here to stay, will there be anything new for 21st-century detectives? Police may soon be able to make positive identifications using earprints. It seems that many burglars press their ear to a door or window before attempting a break-in, leaving a clear and unique print for police to trace.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) The fingerprint was first used as evidence in 1892.

b) The fatty acids in fingerprints can reveal the exact age of the depositor.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Why did “genetic fingerprinting” become popular?b) Why may fingerprints one day be used instead of blood tests?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) extensively (paragraph 1)b) completely (paragraph 2)c) finally (paragraph 3)d) trying (paragraph 4)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) The man ______ the police suspected was identified ______ his fingerprints. b) The robbers were successful in ______ (steal) money and jewellery ______ that house last night. c) They didn’t realise that they ______ (leave) their earprints ______ some of the doors and windows.Complete the following sentence to report what was said.d) “Give me a blood sample,” ordered the doctor. The doctor ordered …

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)b) Storing tissue for DNA identification is an invasion of personal privacy.

3

DragonsOf all the mythological creatures, few have captured the human imagination as much as the dragon. It

appears in the literature and legends of cultures as diverse as China, Japan, Iran, the Mayans, classical Greece, Rome, Judaism, the Babylonians, ancient Egypt, and medieval Europe.

These fascinating creatures have taken different forms and qualities in the mythologies of different cultures throughout history. To the Chinese, a dragon was an immensely wise animal which brought good luck. But for the Norsemen of Scandinavia, it was an evil, terrifying and treacherous monster. And to the ancient Greeks, the dragon was often a creature of intelligence and virtue – and might be found guarding shrines dedicated to the gods. All these dragons do have some things in common, however. They tend to be showed with huge bat-like wings, long toothed jaws like a crocodile, piercing eyes, sharp eagle-like talons and huge scaly bodies-and they can often breathe fire. Another common point is that they’re always creatures of immense power and strength.

But where do dragons come from? The creatures they most resemble, in size and shape, are dinosaurs – but since the last dinosaurs died out tens of millions of years before the firs humans ever appeared, that seems an unlikely source of inspiration. One theory is that the earliest humans may have evolved when huge lizards – smaller than dinosaurs, but larger than anything know today – were still around. Another theory is that the dragon represents something submerged in the human subconscious. It’s fun to speculate, but nobody knows for sure.

QUESTIONS1. Are they following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidences from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Dragons in China are considered to have a positive influence on people’s life.

b) Dragons in different cultures do not physically resemble one another.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.a) How do dragons appear in European cultures?b) Is there any connection between dragons and dinosaurs? Explain.(puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

3. Find a synonym for the following words according to meaning in the text:a) clever (paragraph 2)b) keeping (paragraph 2)c) look like (paragraph 3)d) hidden (paragraph 3)(puntuación máxima 1 punto)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate from of the word in brackets when given. (puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Dragons______(from) a part of human mythology since long ago. One only has to consult ancient texts_____(know) that this is true.b) In China the dragon_____(see) as a wise and lucky animal, while Greek people were afraid of it_____ of its evil and terrifying reputation.c) The Komodo Dragon is the world’s______(large) living lizard, although there are some species of reptile, such as the crocodile, that are much_____(big).Rewrite the following sentence in reported speech with the words given.d) “Dragons have played an important role in my life” Steven Spielberg said.-Steven Spielberg said…..

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics.a) Have you ever read a look or seen a film about dragons? Tell the story. (puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

4

Greening the SaharaSurprisingly, the fertile fields of cauliflower and melons growing in a vast stretch of sand near Cairo's

pyramids are all too real. Tarek el-Kowmey points proudly to the banana trees he grows on what were once Sahara sands near the Development Centre where scientists experiment with high-tech techniques to make Egypt's desert green. "This used to be just sand," he said. "Now we can grow anything."

With only 5% of the country habitable, almost all of Egypt's 74 million people live along the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt's population is expected to double by 2050, and already crowded living conditions will likely get worse. So the government is keen to encourage people to settle in the desert by moving ahead with an expensive plan to reclaim 3.4 mil1ion acres of desert over the next 10 years. But to cultivate these areas, the government will need to irrigate the land with the scarce water resources of the Nile River because rainfall is almost non-existent. Government authorities believe that greening the Sahara might be Egypt's best hope of bringing prosperity to its people.

However, the plan has raised controversy among environmentalists. They think that authorities should focus on eco-tourism rather than agriculture, which might not be particularly profitable and could destroy fragile wildlife habitats that might otherwise be an attraction for tourists. They affirm: "We have long considered the desert the enemy we have to fight. But the desert cannot be conquered and we should live in harmony with it. Let's enjoy the desert as it is. There's enormous economic value in the desert without water.”

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or F ALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) The number of people living in Egypt will increase in the future.

b) The text says that the government's plan to reclaim the dessert for agriculture is economical.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Why is Tarek el-Kowmey mentioned in the text?b) Why do environmentalists believe desert tourism is better than agriculture for Egypt? Give two reasons.

3. Find the words or phrases in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima 1 puntos)a) huge (paragraph 1)b) probably (paragraph 2)c) since (paragraph 2)d) instead of (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) The Sahara, the "Great Desert", is almost as large __ ___ the United States and extends __ ___ the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.b) My friends have suggested _____ (travel) to Egypt next year. The pyramids are considered to be the world's_____ (ancient) monumental structures. The first one ___ __ (build) in 2612 B.C.c) Egypt's economy depends mainly __ ___ agriculture, petroleum and tourism.d) Eco-tourism, _____ has become very popular in recent years, reduces the negative effects of conventional tourism on the environment. Government officials have agreed ____ (promote) eco-tourism in Egypt.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.What can tourists do to protect the environment? Discuss.(Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)

5

Trick or treat! It's HalloweenChildren celebrate Halloween around the world on the night of October 31st. They go out in macabre

costumes of ghosts, witches or skeletons to knock on their neighbours' doors and shout "Trick or treat!" The neighbours must give them sweets; otherwise, the children will play tricks on them. Halloween is big business in the United States where people spend around seven billion dollars each year on Halloween products. Theme parks like Disneyland hold week-long festivals and many cities have parades. New York's Village Halloween Parade attracts two million people who celebrate in the streets, dressed in stunning costumes. The tradition is strongest in the United States, but interest is growing in Europe.

Actually Halloween originated in Europe as a Celtic New Year’s celebration. For the Irish, in the Celtic calendar, October 31st was Samhain, a pagan festival. The Celts believed that the dead returned to possess the living during that night, and so they opened their doors and provided food to the wandering good souls and wore costumes to scare off the evil ones.

In the 19th century, Irish and Scottish immigrants took their traditions to America and it seems that trick-or-treating is linked to Irish Samhain traditions, and thus became popular about the time that the Irish began to immigrate to the United States in 1arge numbers, fleeing from Ireland’s potato famine of 1846. They began to dress up in costumes and go from house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's trick-or-treat tradition. A new American tradition was born and has continued to grow. Today, Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the United States.QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Halloween was originally a Christian celebration.

b) Like the Celts on October 31st, Irish immigrants in the USA wore disguises in order to frighten away the evil souls.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Why does the text say that Halloween is one of the greatest commercial holidays in the United States?b) In what sense is the "trick or treat" tradition similar to the Celtic celebration?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) goods (paragraph 1)b) spectacular (paragraph 1)c) in fact (paragraph 2)d) escaping (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) ____ children don’t get sweets ____ their neighbours, they will play tricks on them.b) The Irish emigrated to America ____ they could find ____ better life.c) ______ it is an American tradition. Interest ______ Halloween is increasing in Europe.d) Rewrite the sentences starting with the words given:d. New York's Village Halloween Parade attracts two million people who celebrate in the streets.Two million people ……… .(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics.Write about a Halloween party or any other party where you went wearing a disguise.(Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)

6

Coetzee wins Nobel PrizeThe 2003 Nobel Prize for Literature was won by the South African novelist J. M. Coetzee. This is

wonderful news. Coetzee, 63, is unquestionably among the greatest living writers in English.The Nobel has often been misapplied. It evaded Tolstoy, Chekhov, Joyce, Kafka and Nabokov. It was

won, on the other hand, by Bjornstjerne Bjornson, José Echegaray, Rudolf Eucken and others now wholly forgotten. In many cases, the judges seem to have been influenced by political, rather than literary, factors. But in choosing Coetzee, the judges have got it right and ignored the fact that Coetzee has many things to say that do not sit comfortably with liberal political assumptions.

His books deal with difficult, painful matters −betrayal, the abuse of power, the nature of evil, our cruel treatment of animals− and ultimately they express deep scepticism over whether or not any of us are capable of true empathy with others. Coetzee presents these unwelcome truths with a rigour and purity that cannot be ignored.

Coetzee was born in Cape Town in 1940 and trained as a computer scientist, coming to London in the Sixties to work for IBM, a period recollected in a superb autobiographical novel. He them became a professor of literature in the United States, initially using his computing skills for verbal analysis of writers, before returning to Cape Town in the early Seventies, where he has continued to teach and publish literary criticism. His first fiction, Dusklands, was published in 1974, followed by In the Heart of the Country and Waiting for Barbarians, which swiftly won him international recognition.

Questions1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only True or False. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Many years ago Tolstoy was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.

b) Coetzee has not yet written any book based on his life.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer these questions.a) Why has the Nobel Prize been sometimes wrongly awarded?b) What did Coetzee do professionally before he wrote his first novel?(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) without doubt (paragraph 1)b) completely (paragraph 2)c) ideas (paragraph 2)d) quickly (paragraph 4)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate from of the word in brackets when given.a) Coetzee, _________ was born in South Africa in 1940, won the Nobel Prize _________ year.b) Before _______(win) the Nobel Prize, Coetzee ________(receive) international recognition..c) James Joyce, ________ works are still universally known, _______ (not choose) for the Nobel Prize during his lifetime.d) The German Rudolf Eucken, a Nobel Prize winner, wrote ______ ethics and religion. But ___ works are almost forgotten today.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on ONE of the following topics. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)How can winning a prize affect people’s lives?

7

India's Economic RevivalThe idea that India is a poor country is a relatively recent one. Historically, South Asia was always

famous as the richest region of the globe. Ever since the great Greek conqueror Alexander penetrated the Hindu Kush in 329 B.C., Europeans fantasized about the wealth of these lands where precious jewels were said to lie scattered on the ground like dust.

During the 17th century, the Indian Mughal emperors were rivalled only by their Ming counterparts in China. For their contemporaries in distant Europe, they were potent symbols of power and wealth. By the 17th century, Lahore had grown even larger and richer than Constantinople and, with its two million inhabitants, was much bigger than either London or Paris.

What changed was the advent of European colonialism Following Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to the East in 1498, European colonial traders to India - first the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the British - slowly destroyed the old trading network and imposed a Western imperial system of economics. It was only at the very end of the 18th century that Europe had for the first time in history a favourable balance of trade with Asia. The era of Indian economic decline had begun. By 1870, at the peak of the British dominion, India had been reduced for the first time to a Third World nation, a symbol across the globe of famine, poverty and deprivation.

Then, what is happening today with the rise of India and China is not some miraculous novelty - as it is usually depicted in the Western press - so much as a return to the traditional pattern of global trade in the medieval and ancient world.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) In the past, people in the Western world dreamed about the treasures in South Asia.

b) While India was ruled by the British it became a typical example of underdevelopment.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Why are the Chinese emperors of the Ming dynasty mentioned in the text?b) What kind of influence did the Portuguese, Dutch and British have on India?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) riches (paragraph 1)b) powder (paragraph 1)c) highest point (paragraph 3)d) hunger (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) India is a country in South Asia ______ comprises most of the Indian subcontinent. The Ganges is the ______ (long) river in India.b) The term "colon y" comes ______ the Latin colonia, which originally ______ (mean) a place for agricultural activities.c) "How ______ does it take to fly from London to India?" "It ______ (take) around nine hours."d) The Ming dynasty began in 1368, and lasted until l644 AD. ______ founder was a peasant who became Emperor after ______ (defeat) the Mongols and the Yuan Dynasty.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)What distant or exotic country would you like to visit? Give reasons for your choice.

8

Make room for the robotsWhen world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma announced that he would be playing with the Detroit

Symphony, every seat was sold. However, Yo-Yo Ma’s performance was not the only thing that amazed the audience. The conductor did too. The conductor stepped onto the stage and lifted both arms to direct the musicians who played the song "The Impossible Dream." Until recently, that is exactly what this performance would have been. This is because ASIMO, the conductor, is only eight years old and 1.2 meters tall. It is also a robot. The scientists who built ASIMO equipped it with many abilities such as climbing stairs, recognizing faces, or even helping musicians make beautiful music.

Since the 1960s, robots have been doing jobs that are too boring or dangerous for humans. These industrial robots, unlike ASIMO, do not have a humanoid appearance. But now that robots are moving into our homes, many are starting to look more like us. One company has built a dish-washing robot called Monty. To reach the sink, Monty needed to be more than 1.5 meters tall and have a human-like hand to pick up coffee cups. "Once you make a robot for human environments," says the company’s manager, "you end up getting closer to a human shape. But building robots to look like people is not always necessary.” His company also makes a disc shaped vacuuming robot called the Roomba and more than 3 million are already in use.

Will the robots of the future look more like Monty or Roomba? Either way, the company’s manager is happy to hand over the boring chores. "I'd rather have a robot do dishes," he says. Wouldn't you?

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) ASIMO was designed only to direct an orchestra.

b) The Roomba vacuuming robot has a humanoid appearance.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.Do not copy from the text(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Describe ASIMO’s appearance and its role with the Detroit Symphony.b) Explain why Monty needs to look more human.

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) raised (paragraph 1)b) skills (paragraph 1)c) tedious (paragraph 2)d) risky (paragraph 2)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) Roomba is _____ (easy) to use than a normal vacuum cleaner and I am more than _____ (satisfy) with it.b) Could you _____ me a favour? Tell me where I can buy the _____ (good) cooking robot on the market.c) A Japanese company has made a new robot that looks and acts _____ a dog, but it is not a substitute _____ a real pet.d) Many novels about robots _____ (write) by science fiction writers. I especially enjoy _____ (read) Isaac Asimov’s robot novels.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.Would you like to have a humanoid robot in your home? Why or why not?(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

9

Mobile phones in social lifeTen years ago, everybody was getting home after work to a fixed answerphone and nobody ever left

a message. Now, everywhere you look − on trains, on buses, in shopping centres, in restaurants, at wedding receptions − what a mirac1e! What a transformation! So many happy people talking away into their mobile phones. Connected at last!

However, on some social occasions, from just a meeting of two friends to a funeral, mobile phones can be the enemy. They mean that people are not joining in, they're imposing, they're disrupting. It would have been better if they'd brought a book with them, which they could get on with quietly in a corner. SWITCH THEM OFF. Liberate yourself. The missed call won't be someone saying your house has burnt down. If you can't control yourself, "check" your phone out of sight of the others, in the toilets perhaps.

It's perfectly obvious but, how often does it happen? If you really have to either make or receive an urgent call during a social occasion, you should explain the situation to the others at the outset. When the time comes, remove yourself from the scene to deal with the call. Whatever you do, apologise.

And now, here is an appeal to the good, too-silent majority. Don't put up with it. Don't suffer in silence. If you come across some rude mobile phone addicts, don't hesitate to interrupt and ask them to move away, to switch off. If' they are passengers in your car, stop, ask them to get out, especially if it's raining.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. Nowadays a lot of people seem to enjoy using the mobile phone.

b. The text suggests that it is advisable to inform the other members of the group when you are expecting an important call.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. Why is the use of mobile phones sometimes seen as antisocial behaviour?b. What does the text recommend doing about inconsiderate mobile phone users?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. maybe (paragraph 2)b. beginning (paragraph 3)c. say sorry (paragraph 3)d. encounter (paragraph 4)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. The link between _______ (use) a mobile phone when driving and road accidents is well established and this _______ (apply) to all kinds of phones, including hands-free.b. More technological advances _______ (be) made in the last fifty years ______ in all previous centuriesc. Charles, ______ is a mobile phone addict, can't stand being away ______ his phone.Complete the following sentence to report what was said.d. "Is there a mobile phone in your bag?" → I asked the girl ...

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics.Describe an unusual personal experience you have had that involved a mobile phone.

10

Pedal your Way to a Free MealA Danish hotel is offering a free meal to any guest who is able to produce electricity for the hotel on

an exercise bike attached to a generator. The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen says the idea is not only to encourage people to get fit, but also reduce their carbon footprint and save electricity and money. Guests will have to produce at least 10 watt hours of electricity – roughly 15 minutes of cycling for someone of average fitness. The bicycles will have iPhones attached to the handlebars measuring how much clean energy is being generated for the hotel. This energy is stored in a battery and then fed back into the hotel’s main power supply.

The plan will be launched for the first time on 19 April and run for a year, the hotel says. Guests staying at this Crowne Plaza Hotel will be given meal tickets worth 26€ once they have produced 10 watt hours of electricity. A hotel spokeswoman said: "Many of our visitors are business people who enjoy going to the gym. The free meal offer applies just to paying guests, not passers-by.”

Copenhagen is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. 36% of Copenhagen’s residents commute on two wheels to work each day, one of the highest percentages in the world. "Since Copenhagen is strongly associated with cycling, we felt the bicycle would work well as a symbol of the hotel's green profile. If successful, the electric bicycle meal programme will be extended to all Crowne Plaza hotels in the UK,” affirmed the hotel spokeswoman.

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) The cycle-for-a-meal offer has been tested in other hotels.

b) If the hotel’s bicycle scheme works, it will expand to the Crowne Plaza hotels all over the world.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) What are the objectives of the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s free meal offer? Mention two.b) How does the hotel bicycle initiative work? Give at least three characteristics.

3.- Find the words or phrases in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) decrease (paragraph 1)b) more or less (paragraph 1)c) only (paragraph 2)d) because (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) While the offer lasts, guests _____ (invite) to jump on a bicycle and if they _____ (produce) enough electricity, they _____ (give) a free meal.b) The free meal programme ______ (begin) last April.c) I stopped _____ (drive) to work last year. I now find it _____ (easy) to cycle to work than to go _____ car.d) The Crowne Plaza Hotel is against _____ (waste) energy.

5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.What can you do at school or at home to improve the environment?(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

11

Pointing the FingerA child’s future really may be written in his hands-not in the creases of his palms but in the relative

lengths of his fingers. A report just published in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology suggests that people with autism have ring fingers that are abnormally long compared with their index fingers.

Children with autism have trouble interacting with other people. Both their verbal and their gesture-based communication are poor, and they often have low intelligence. Early symptoms-a failure to point at things, follow the gaze of someone else, or engage in pretend play-are often obvious by the tender age of 18 months. About one in 500 suffers from the condition.

Two British researchers, who have studied what fingers can indicate about everything from fertility to sexual preference, have observed 72 autistic children and 23 with Asperger’s syndrome, a related condition in which the individual’s intelligence is not affected.

The scientists photocopied the children’s hands, and carefully measured the lengths of their fingers from the copies. They worked out the ratio of length of the index finger to the length of the ring finger for each child, and compared it with those of their relatives.

The researchers found that autistic children had extremely long ring fingers compared with their index fingers. Children with Asperger’s also had abnormal index-to-ring finger ratios, though less so than autistic. Even the unaffected relatives of thee autistic children had ratios that differed significantly from the average lengths.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Write down the evidence from the text. NoMarks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Autistic children have index and ring fingers of the same length.

b) Autistic cannot be perceived before the age of two.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas from the text, answer the following questions.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Why are the British researchers studying fingers? Explain.b) According to the text, what cannot autistic children do?

3. Find the words in the text that mean. (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) lines (paragraph 1)b) the look (paragraph 2)c) relationship between two amounts (paragraph 4)d) standard (paragraph 5)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate from of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) The relative sizes of our finger________(fix) for life within three months of conception, and the relationship seems________(govern)by hormones.b) _______the reason is not yet understood, earlier studies have shown that finger-length ratios indicate the exposition _______testosterone in utero.c) In general terms, the ________(early) an illness is diagnosed, the___________ (easy) its treatment will be.Put in the correct order:d. say/ I / things / could / so / fingers / never imagine / that my /many / could

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics.Living with a serious illness: how would life be every day?

12

Political Polls*Many people are closely following the political polls during the final weeks preceding an important

election. But how do these polls actually work? They are surveys of a relatively small number of people compared to the actual number who will vote. They are an attempt to determine who may actually win an election before the final vote. Let’s say that 100 million people are expected to vote in the general election. If 100 people are asked for their opinions, each respondent represents a million voters. Obviously, the results of such a poll are not very reliable. The more people surveyed, the more meaningful the results.

Political parties have various ways of making their polls more accurate. They try to find a representative variety of people to question. For example, they look for people with similar backgrounds and from similar regions to those of all the voters. Political parties also ask questions that try to determine how many people who support each candidate will actually vote. If a candidate has a higher percentage of enthusiastic supporters than his opponent, he has a better chance of winning than the simple numbers might suggest.

If we look at polls that are taken over time, we can often detect a tendency. We can tell if a candidate is gaining or losing support when we compare the most recent poll to earlier ones. Polls often ask potential voters what they like or dislike about each candidate. The campaigns use those results to help them decide which issues to stress or which positions to clarify. They can also determine which voters to target with their messages. *Polls = Encuestas de opinión

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) The results of polls based on a small number of opinions are very precise.

b) One of the objectives of opinion polls is to find out how many people will go and vote.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) How can political opinion polls be made more precise? (Give two answers.) b) How do politicians and their advisors use opinion polls to their advantage?

3.- Find the words or phrases in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto) a) significant (paragraph 1) b) correct (paragraph 2) c) trend (paragraph 3) d) to emphasise (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) Opinion polls _____ (use) for many years by politicians _____ (help) them plan their election strategy. b) The _____ (large) the number of people questioned, the _____ (accurate) the result of the opinion poll. c) Sometimes, _____ takes a long time for the election result to be decided. The votes have to be recounted several times _____ a final result is reached. d) Opinion poll designers are people _____ always try to find new ways to improve their product. In the future the polls will certainly be more effective _____ they are now.

5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)What would you propose to improve society if you were an influential politician?

13

Self-driving Google CarsAnyone driving the curves between San Francisco and Los Angeles may have recently seen a small

car with a curious cylinder on the roof holding video cameras, radar sensors and a laser device to "see" other vehicles, 1t was harder to notice that the person at the wheel was not actually driving, The car is a project of Google, which has been working in plain view on vehicles that can drive themselves, mimicking the decisions made by a human driver. With someone behind the wheel to take control if something goes wrong, seven test cars have driven 225,000 kilometres with only two human interventions, 1t drives at the speed limit, which it knows because the limit for every road is included in its database, and it stops for lights and stop signs.

Robot cars react faster than humans, have 360-degree perception and do not get distracted, sleepy 01' intoxicated, which saves lives and avoids injuries, the engineers argue. They also say that this technology could double the capacity of roads by allowing cars to drive more safely while closer together. Because the robot cars would eventually be less likely to crash, they could be built lighter, reducing fuel consumption. But of course, to be truly safer, the cars must be far more reliable than today's personal computers, which crash occasionally,

The Google research programme, using artificial intelligence to revolutionise the automobile, is proof that the company's ambitions reach beyond the search engine business. Autonomous cars are years from mass production, but technologists, who have long dreamed of them, believe that they can transform society as profoundly as the Internet has.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or F ALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or F ALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) While testing the Google car, humans never had to take control and drive it.

b) Since robot cars can be made to weigh less, they will use less petrol.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) According to the text, what does a Google self-driving car' look like?b) Give at least three advantages of robot cars.

3. Find the words or phrases in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima 1 puntos)a) more difficult (paragraph 1)b) in fact (paragraph 2)c) decreasing (paragraph 2)d) evidence (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) Last year my neighbour ______ (buy) a Google car and he _______ (complain) since then.b) According to the World Health Organization more ______ 1.2 million lives ____ lost (lose) in accidents every year.c) Nowadays there ___ many people who would enjoy ______ (drive) a robot car.d) The robot car was invented ___ Sebastian Thrun, ___ engineer who works for Google.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.How have new technologies influenced your life? Explain.(Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)

14

Should Everest be closed?Everest has been described as the highest junkyard in the world. Environmental groups are pushing

for a radical solution: temporary closure of the world’s highest mountain.Warnings from ecologists that a disaster is imminent in the area around Mount Everest have been

ignored for years. However, campaigners warn that the price of tourism is both rubbish and the colonisation of the area by restaurants and internet cafes. An environmentalist explained the strain placed on the indigenous population: “Providing enough electricity and water for the small communities surrounding Everest becomes very challenging when there are tens of thousands of tourists and climbers competing for those same resources.” He claimed that even eco-tourism is doing more harm than good, since it is estimated that only 10% of the money spent by trekkers each day reaches village economies.

But the sherpas who earn their living from the perilous work of guiding adventurers to the summit oppose any reduction in climbing permits. Ang Dawa, a guide in Katmandu said: “For us it is simple. There are tens of thousands of people in the region who solely depend on the trekkers and mountaineers for their income. If they don’t come, these people will starve.” Nepalese officials say that they have no immediate plans to close down the mountain. “All climbers are welcome as long as they are willing to pay,” a government spokesman said. This is not surprising. For a team of seven climbers even to set foot on the slopes of Everest, they must pay a royalty of $94,000 to the Nepalese government.

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) The problem Mount Everest is suffering has only been denounced recently.

b) Limiting the number of tourists to Everest means the local people will die of hunger.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.Do not copy from the text(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Explain why ecologists want to close Mount Everest. Give at least two reasons.b) Why is the Nepalese government against closing Mount Everest?

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) supplying (paragraph 2)b) dangerous (paragraph 3)c) decrease (paragraph 3)d) mountain top (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) What a paradox! By _____ (visit) places of natural beauty, we only manage _____ (destroy) that beauty.b) Last year, a geological team _____ (find) signs that the landscape of Everest has changed _____ (significant) since 1953.c) _____ we protect the environment now, it will be too late _____save the world.d) Rewrite the following sentence from the text. Begin with the words given. d. “Ecotourism is doing more harm than good.” More harm than good _____(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.Write about a trip you are organizing with a group of friends to spend a few days in the mountains. Give details of the programme of activities and what everybody should take for the excursion.(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

15

Solomon's real mine discovered?In a discovery straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, archaeologists believe they have uncovered one

of the lost mines of King Solomon. The vast copper mine lies in an arid valley and was created in the 10th century BC1 ―around the time Solomon is believed to have ruled over the ancient Hebrews. The mines are enormous and would have generated a huge income for the king, who is famed for bringing extraordinary wealth and stability to the newly-united kingdom of Israel and Judah.

According to the Bible, Solomon was the third king of Israel and ruled for 40 years, between 965 BC and 925 BC. The son of King David ―of the David and Goliath story― and Queen Bathsheba, Solomon was renowned for his wisdom, his writings and the size of his harem. During his reign, Israel was at the heart of a prosperous and stable empire. He rebuilt Jerusalem, creating magnificent palaces and fortresses. He is said to have accumulated a huge fortune from mining and trading, some of which was spent on building the grand temple and opulent palace of Jerusalem.

Archaeologists and treasure-hunters have searched for the mines in Africa since 1885. This is because the best-selling Victorian novel, King Solomon's Mines, was set in this continent. Besides, it claimed they could hold a treasure of gold and diamonds. But now, it seems the real mines could have been closer to Solomon’s kingdom, and, in fact, supplied the king with copper. The ancient mine was found in a desolate region south of the Dead Sea in modern-day Jordan in an area called Khirbat en-Nahas, which means 'ruins of copper' in Arabic.

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. Nomarks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Israel and Judah were two different kingdoms before King Solomon’s time.

b) The copper mines discovered are located in what is now Israel.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Why do archaeologists think they have found King Solomon’s lost mines?b) Why did treasure-hunters and archaeologists first look for the mines in Africa?

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) dry (paragraph 1)b) centre (paragraph 2)c) commerce (paragraph 2)d) nearer (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) All we know _______________ King Solomon comes ___________________ the Bible.b) Before ____________ (become) King of Judah, Solomon’s father was ________ shepherd, according to the Old Testamentc) When the Queen of Sheba arrived ______________ King Solomon’s palace, she _____________ (give) the king many gifts.d) The action of King Solomon’s Mines takes place in Africa. The novel _______________ (write) by H.R. Haggard, __________________ adventure books were set in exotic locations.

5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on ONE of the following topics. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)Is there anything in common between archaeologists and treasure-hunters? Do you think their lives are interesting? Discuss.

16

Do you sleep enough?A good night’s sleep LS becoming ever more elusive for the average American und it's a problem that

plagues us at all ages, from infancy to adulthood. Now three new articles in the journal Sleep tackle the question of sleeplessness: two studies illuminate the reasons why teens and adults don't sleep enough. With teens, a major culprit is cell phone use; with adults, it's work. Meanwhile, a third study of young children reveals that sleep deprivation in early life may lead to future behavioural and cognitive problems.

The study in children was conducted al the Sleep Disorders Center in Montreal, where researchers analyzed the sleep patterns of 1500 children aged 2.5 to 6 years. The youngsters' mothers were asked to record the amount of time the children slept each night and fill out questionnaires about their child’s hyperactivity, inattention and daytime sleepiness. Half of the kids slept 10 hours a night on average -the recommended amount for preschool-aged children while 6% slumbered for less than 10 hours each nigh... Those short-sleeping children, says Dr. Montplaisir, performed poorly on tests vocabulary and mental development tests at age 5, compared with the more rested group. Not surprisingly, the short-sleepers were also more likely to score higher on tests of hyperactivity at age six, which shows the importance of consistent sleep for concentration and attention.

The study, then, suggests that early childhood -before about 3.5 years of age- is a critical period during which parents should establish proper sleeping patterns, because luck of sleep during that stage can negative1y affect behaviour and development later in life.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Most Americans find it easy to rest well at night.

b) Researchers did not require any help from families to carry out the study on the effects of sleep in children.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Why is the journal Sleep mentioned in the text?b) Give two differences found in the study between children who slept enough and those who did not.

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) dea1 with (paragraph 1)b) insomnia (paragraph 1)c) quantity (paragraph 2)d) crucial (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Last year 2,500 children where asked how ______ they were woken up ______ night by incoming text messages on their mobile phone.b) Adolescents______ gets a good night’s sleep do better in school ______ those who don’t get enough.c) It seems that children and teenagers under the age of 18 are more vulnerable to radiation coming _____ mobile phones because _____ immune systems are not strong.d) Last month I_____ (spend) to much talking on my mobile phone, but I usually spend _____ average of €20 each month.

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)Do entertainment gadgets, such as iPods and game consoles prevent young people from getting enough sleep? Discuss

17

Cell Phone JammersIt might look like a walkie talkie, but that little box is more powerful than you think. When a cell

phone jammer is turned on, it can block any cell phone service in the area. Using one is not only a federal crime but it could result in a $16,000 fine and jail time.

But that did not stop Eric, a man from Philadelphia, who was fed up with the chatty cell phone talkers on the 44 bus. According to a TV channel, Eric would fire up that jammer when he did not want to hear the conversations. “A lot of people are extremely loud, no sense of privacy or anything. When it becomes a bother, that’s when I screw on the antenna and flip the switch”, Eric told the reporters.

Eric claimed that he did not know it was illegal to block a cell phone signal, and thought it was a “gray area”. He said he was under the impression that it was only illegal when blocking television or radio signals. “I guess I’m taking the law into my own hands and, quite frankly, I’m proud of it”, he added.

This type of jammers is illegal because they could prevent cell phone communication in emergencies and because they can block other important signals such as police radio. But the bigger issue is that Eric is not alone in this jamming practice. Jammers are easy to buy at sites on the Internet. Police reported that other people in the New Jersey and New York area are using them as well. Maybe Eric’s story will remind them all of just how illegal using that powerful device is.

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Eric is not sorry for his action.

b) The use of cell phone Jammers has been restricted to the Philadelphia area.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) According to the text, what is a jammer used for?b) Why is using a jammer considered a crime?

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) penalty (paragraph 1)b) tired of (paragraph 2)c) nuisance (paragraph 2)d) like (paragraph 4)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) ________ (use) a blocking device can ________ (consider) a crime.b) ________ would you do if you ________ (bother) by other people’s conversation?c) It is probably ________ (good) to put ________ with the annoying chatter than calling the police.d) Complete the following sentence to report what was said.“I have used cell phones ever since I started going to school”, Kate said.Kate said that she ___________________________________________.

5.- Write about 120to 150 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)Describe a situation in which a cell phone could be really useful.

18

The International Year of the PotatoThe potato is currently a worldwide star. The United Nations declared 2008 as "The International

Year of the Potato", with the goal of calling global attention to the important role of this nutritious plant. Only in Antarctica is the potato neither cultivated nor consumed.

The potato was domesticated by pre-Colombian farmers eight thousand years ago from species that grew in the wild near Lake Titicaca. For the residents of the Andes, the potato represents an irreplaceable product in their daily diet and, during many centuries, they selected potatoes based on their flavour and resistance against the adverse climate of the Andes. However, it’s not just that: the vegetable is a part of their culture and way of life, being integral to certain legends and traditions.

The International Year of the Potato is raising awareness of the key role played by the "humble tuber" in agriculture, the economy and world food security. The potato should be a major component in strategies aimed at providing nutritious food for the poor and hungry. This "food of the future" is ideally suited to places where land is limited and labour is abundant, conditions that characterize much of the developing world. The potato produces more nutritious food more quickly, on less land, and in harsher climates than any other major crap. Over the next two decades, the world's population is expected to grow on average by more than 100 million people a year. Over 95 per cent of that increase will occur in developing countries. The potato will surely be an important part of efforts to meet those challenges.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) The potato is grown all over the world.

b) The number of inhabitants on our planet will remain stable.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) What is the objective of the "International Year of the Potato"?b) What does the potato mean to the population of the Andes?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima 1 puntos)a) objective (paragraph 1) b) taste (paragraph 2)c) plentiful (paragraph 3)d) without doubt (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) The potato, __ ___ was an important part of the diet of ancient tribes _____South America, is now seen as the food of the future.b) Being better adapted to harsh climates, the potato plant is_____ (strong) and _______ (productive) than other crops.c) The potato_______ (introduce) into third world countries in an attempt ________ (solve) the world food crisis.d) Rewrite the question beginning with the words given. "Will the new food policy be successful?" politicians asked.Politicians asked… (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)How could the problem of hunger in the world be solved? Give your ideas.

19

The truth about bearsThe wildlife biologist, John Rogers, had spent thousands of hours studying North America's black

bears. He shot them with tranquilisers before fitting them with radio co11ars. He took their blood and studied their DNA. And he tracked their movements and marked them on maps. But none of that had allowed him to really know the creatures.

Rogers finally decided that he couldn't hope to know bears unless he won their trust. And so he abandoned scientific detachment and took the controversial step of forming relationships with his study animals, using food to gain acceptance among an extended bear family in Minnesota. Now, he has abandoned almost everything he knew, or thought he knew, about bears. They do not like honey. They are not even that crazy about berries or nuts, if they have a choice of larvae in a tree trunk.

And they are not dangerous. "In a11 my 42 years of working closely with bears, 1 have not found a way of getting a bear to attack. The more 1 push, the more they try to get away. If they wave their arms aggressively, it's just a way to keep me at a distance while they find a way to escape. 1t's humans who are the more dangerous animals", he said. "If you look at statistics, one black bear out of a million kills somebody. Among humans, it's one person out of 18,000 who kills somebody. So you could see why 1 would feel a lot less comfortable in the city than in the woods next to a bear."

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.a) The biologist collected factual information about bears, like the area where they lived and travelled around.

b) Making close contact with your object of study is normal in scientific research.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) What has the biologist discovered about the bear's diet?b) Why does he think humans are dangerous?

3. Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) animals (paragraph 1)b) confidence (paragraph 2)c) distance (paragraph 2)d) move (in the air) (paragraph 3)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Everybody ______ (believe) that bears love ______ (eat) honey.b) If we want to know the real facts ______ animals, we ______ study them in action.Rewrite the sentences starting with the words given:c) It's not necessary to dissect an animal to know a lot about it.You ....d) When Rogers went near the bear, he called to it "Don't worry, bear!"Rogers told ....

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on one of the following topics. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)Pets in city flats? Argue for or against.

20

What's in a Name?Recently, a couple in New Zealand was not allowed to name their baby son 4Real. Even though New

Zealand has quite liberal rules about naming children, names beginning with a number are not allowed. They decided to call him Superman instead.

In many countries around the world, unusual names for children are becoming more popular, especially since the increasing fashion for celebrities to give their children silly names. In Britain, you can call a child almost anything you like the only restrictions on parents relate to offensive words. Some parents choose names which come from popular culture. For example, there have been six boys named Gandalf after the character in the Lord of the Rings novel s and films. Equally, names relating to sport are fairly common - since 1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal after the football team.

Other countries have much stricter rules about how parents should name their children. Countries including Japan, Denmark, Germany and Argentina have an approved list of names from which parents must choose. In China, there are some rules about what you may call a child - no foreign letters 01' symbols are allowed. As a result, just a year ago, a couple could not name their baby son @.

In Britain, some names which were previously considered old-fashioned have become more popular again, such as Maisie or Ella for a girl, or Alfie or Noah for a boy. But the most popular names are not the silly ones. The top names are fairly traditional - Jack, Charlie and Thomas for boys and Grace, Ruby and Jessica for girls.

QUESTIONS1. Are the following statements TRUE or F ALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or F ALSE. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a. There are no rules about what you can name your child in the UK.

a. Some children in the UK now have names of fictional characters.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) What was the New Zealand couple's problem and how did they solve it?b) Explain at least three different regulations on naming children mentioned in the text.

3. Find the words or phrases in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima 1 puntos)a) trend (paragraph 2)b) select (paragraph 2)c) in the same way (paragraph 2)d) like (paragraph 4)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)a) Naming your baby is one of __________ (important) tasks you will ever face. A silly name may affect you and your child ____ ever.b) ___ you don't like the first name that comes into your mind, keep ______ (search) until you find a name that you really like.c) No one _____ (like) having their name constantly ______(mispronounce), that's for sure.d) Once you have an idea for your _____ (baby) name always check the initials! I had a neighbour _____¨_ initials were "P.J.G.".

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.What names would you give your children and which ones would you avoid? Explain why.(Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)

21

Women and SustainabilityAccording to professor McElhaney, founder of the Centre for Responsible Business at the University

of California, companies that empower women are more likely to act sustainably. It has been found that businesses with more women on their board of directors are more likely to manage and improve their energy efficiency, invest in renewable power, measure and reduce their carbon emissions, improve access to healthcare in developing countries and have anti-corruption policies. What is more important, women have strong partnerships with local communities.

But why is this? Do men have by nature unsustainable ways of acting in the world? Does testosterone fuel the exploitation of our planet and its people? Are women our best hope for creating a sustainable future?

Elle Carberry, co-founder of China G. Initiative, believes that women may be drawn to sustainability because of its social angle. “From all my 20 years in business, I have met more women working in this area than in others,” she says. In China, women appear to be playing an increasingly important role in sustainability and for one Chinese woman in particular, it turned her into the wealthiest self-made woman in the world. Zhang Yin is the founder of a recycling company that buys scrap paper from the US, imports it into China, and turns it mainly into cardboard for use in boxes to export Chinese goods.

However, despite this and many other role models, millions of women are still under-represented, but the hope is that more will be empowered to join the sustainability revolution.QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) One of the reasons why women succeed in the sustainability sector is because they maintain close contacts with the locals.

b) Elle Carberry’s experience reveals that there are a higher proportion of women in the sustainability sector as compared to others.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Name three advantages of having female top executives in this sector.b) Why has Zhang Yin become so successful?

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) give authority to (paragraph 1)b) attracted (paragraph 3)c) seem (paragraph 3)d) products (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) Nick: How _____ do top executives attend conferences on recycling? Sue: Once a year.b) Zhang Yin's recycling company invested in _____ (buy) new equipment for special services. In 2006, she topped the list of the wealthiest people _____ China and by 2010 her fortune was _____ (great) than that of J. K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter.c) A few years ago, I _____ (invite) to speak to an organisation in Shanghai called“Women in Sustainability Action”, _____ was set up in 2000.d) Albert studied at a very prestigious university. If he _____ (not obtain) good marks, he _____ (not get) such a good job. 5. Write about 100 to 150 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)Are there some jobs which are more appropriate for men than for women? State your opinion and give specific reasons and examples.

Mozart Bananas22

Although there is no research data to back the surprising claim that Mozart's music can have an effect on food, one reason for its popularity can be found in the theory that high frequency sounds have relaxing and rejuvenating effects on humans. The music of Mozart happens to be rich in such frequencies, but do bananas ripened to the tunes of Mozart taste better?

A Japanese fruit company, Toyoka Chuo Seika, says they do. Arriving as ordinary unripe bananas from the Philippines, "Mozart bananas" are in for a surprise. "Piano Concerto 5 in D major", among other works, plays continuously for one week in their ripening chamber. The result, the company says, is a sweeter banana. And consumers agree: "Mozart bananas", which made their debut last July, are more expensive than ordinary bananas, but sales are sky-rocketing. Bananas are not the only food item which the Japanese subject to classical music. Over the past few decades, a wide variety of foods and beverages, exposed to classical vibrations, can be found in Japanese supermarkets: sake, soy sauce, noodles, mushrooms or "Beethoven Bread”.

Even tomatoes are listening to Mozart in Japan. Hiroko Harada, the manager of Star Drop Tomatoes, has placed speakers throughout nine greenhouses, quietly streaming Mozart for about 10 hours a day, from October through May. "The most important thing," said Harada, "is that the music creates a relaxed and comfortable environment for us to work in, and that has a positive effect on the tomatoes.” They have three times more iron and vitamin C than regular tomatoes and Harada feels that Mozart, along with skilled organic farming, plays a role.

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) The so-called “Mozart bananas” are grown in Japan.

b) Even though “Mozart bananas” are not more economical, sales are increasing.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) How do Mozart bananas become sweeter? b) What does Hiroko Hirada think about Mozart’s music?

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto) a) support (paragraph 1) b) rising rapidly (paragraph 2) c) drinks (paragraph 2) d) ordinary (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) The manager of Star Drop Tomatoes first _____ (think) of the idea 15 years ago, after she _____ (hear) about cows whose milk production went up after _____ (listen) to Mozart. b) According to many reports, listening to classical music is highly beneficial. _____ has positive effects ______ both plants and humans. c) In 1996, a farmer in Spain said that his Mozart-listening cows produced 1 to 6 litres more milk per day _____ other cows. d) Oranges have been grown in Brazil _____ the 16th century and many people think that they are the _____ (good) in the world. 5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)What kind of music do you like? Describe it and explain why you like it.

What Should We Do about Climate Change?23

Climate scientists are telling us that the earth is warming, we are causing it, and we should reduce carbon dioxide emissions to lessen the effects. So what should we do? Firstly, we should either use less energy, or use renewable energy sources, like solar panels. These panels are now providing energy in Europe more cheaply than nuclear generators, and without the waste products. In Australia, peak energy demand is on hot summer days, when solar energy is most abundant. So, it makes sense to use solar energy to help meet this peak demand.

Most importantly, we must stop listening to disinformation. Arguments that deny the existence of climate change have been repeatedly shown to be false and misleading. Claims that climate change is a hoax, or a conspiracy, or that climate scientists have deceived the public, is an inversion of the truth. Climate change denial is false propaganda. As a matter of fact, ninety seven per cent of scientists agree that climate change is happening. The time for scepticism about climate change has passed.

However, people should be encouraged to critically examine evidence and motivations. Thousands of scientists can’t have been fabricating evidence and theory for over a hundred years in a conspiracy. Perhaps there is a hidden reason. Maybe some industries could be sponsoring a disinformation campaign, because they will lose billions of dollars in profits if people use less or alternative forms of energy. Keep in mind that the cost of prevention now is less than the cost of trying to fix the damage later.QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) In Australia, more energy is used in the winter.

b) Most scientists think climate change is taking place.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)a) How can global warming be solved? Give at least two possible solutions.b) Why are some industries against informing the public about climate change?

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)a) supplying (paragraph 1)b) maximum (paragraph 1)c) since (paragraph 3)d) repair (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.a) The environment is a topic_____ many people are interested _____.b) The electricity_____ (cut) off while we were listening _____ the radio.c) Last year I _____ (take) the bus to work instead of _____ (drive) my car.d) Rewrite the following question, beginning with the words given.“Why should people use less energy?” they asked.They asked ________________________________(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5.- Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic.Is climate change a real problem? Why? Give your opinion on the topic.(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

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Air-conditioned Clothes in JapanA damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, severely limiting Japan’s power supply, has forced the country

to reduce power usage. With restricted use of electricity, many people are looking for alternative ways to cool off in the hot Japanese summer. Hiroshi Ichigaya, engineer and president of the Japanese company "Kuchofuku", meaning air-conditioned clothing in Japanese, has invented a must for hot summers: the “Kuchofuku” jacket. The idea of “personal air-conditioning” struck Ichigaya in the 1990s, when he worked for Sony, trying to invent an air conditioner that would use little electricity. “It came to me that we don’t need to cool the entire room, just as long as people in it feel cool,” he said.

Kuchofuku jackets come equipped with a pair of battery-operated fans which draw air in, giving the jacket a puffed-up look. Ichigaya says the constant breeze inside the jacket helps evaporate all the sweat and creates a personal cooling system in the process. The goal is not to lower temperatures outside the body but expand the body's comfort zone, and eliminate the need for energy-consuming air conditioners.

Ichigaya's first collection only featured the standard air-conditioned jacket, but his collection has slowly expanded, along with the company. The Kuchofuku catalog now features air-conditioned cushions, shirts and pants, with fans installed in each pocket. Nearly 1,000 companies in Japan use Kuchofuku, including automobile giants, steelmakers, food companies and construction firms. The shirts and jackets are far from fashionable, but demand for them is soaring because they are not just economical. They also help boost worker productivity and aid in the fight against global warming.

QUESTIONS1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) The name of the company is related to the product it manufactures.

b) Ichigaya’s air-conditioned jackets are very stylish.

2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos) a) What made Hiroshi Ichigaya decide to invent air-conditioned clothes? b) Explain how the Kuchofuku jacket works.

3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto) a) decrease (paragraph 1) b) whole (paragraph 1) ¡c) objective (paragraph 2)d) grown (paragraph 3)

4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. a) Air-conditioned clothing is often used ________workers at hot construction sites. Last summer, many of Sony’s employees ________ (wear) Kuchofuku jackets. b) Temperatures in Iraq range from 48 degrees________the summer________below freezing. Soldiers operating in this kind of environment would benefit________ (great) from air-conditioned clothing. c) Another Japanese company, ________name is CoolBiz, is also manufacturing air-conditioned clothes. d) Have you ever ________ (think) about ________ (buy) an air-conditioned jacket? (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5. Write about 120 to 150 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)Describe an invention that you think is important and explain why you chose it.

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