Two friends are discussing the major they are going to choose at university.
- Peter: "My parents gave me no choice but to study business."
- Danny: "_____."
Schoolchildren are gifted at _____ nicknames for their teachers.
Complete the sentence by changing the form of the word in capitals.
VITAMIN PILLS
In the fight to stay healthy, the vitamin pill is seen by many as a great ally. Whereas once upon a time a small (SELECT) of vitamin bottles could be found reaching their expiry dates in the dusty corner of a chemist's shelf, the market is now a hugely (PROFIT) one for the pharmaceutical industry. Interestingly enough, as world obesity rates rise, so does our (CONSUME) of these dietary supplements as more and more shoppers regard them as an absolutely (VALUE) part of their daily nutritional intake. The vast range of vitamins means that they are used for numerous reasons, common ones being for the (GENERATE) of skin cells, as natural aids to digestion, cures for (SLEEP) and for stress-related symptoms as headaches, (IRRITATE) and depression. However, vitamin manufacturers are (INCREASE) coming under attack for making (REAL) claims about their products. Can the right mix of vitamins really help you (LIVE) your contemporaries and reach great old age? There is no scientific evidence to support this.
Read the following passage then choose the best answer to each question below.
CROSSWORD PUZZLES - AND WHY THEY ATTRACT?
What is it about this enigmatic grid of black and white squares that holds such universal appeals?
Crosswords exercise our little grey cells, of course; and they test our vocabularies and general knowledge. But the urge to solve a crossword is about more than mental gymnastics. Humans are, by nature, problem-solvers. We love the crossword because the puzzle is solvable and finite: there is a right answer. The crossword allows us to bring order to chaos. It challenges, absorbs, comforts, and distracts us. As Martha Petheridge, the first female editor of the crossword puzzle, said at the height of the Great Depression, "Who can worry about the rent when you are trying to solve 25 down?"
The very first puzzle resembling a crossword was devised by a man named Arthur Wynne. Wanting something a bit special for that year's seasonal supplement, he came up with the "Word-Cross". Derived from the ancient game of acrostics and the Victorian pastime of word squares, Wynne's first puzzle was diamond-shaped. It was published on Sunday, December 21st, 1913 with 31 simple clues, no black squares and little fanfare. The story might have ended there, but a few readers wrote in expressing their enthusiasm for the new brain-teaser and, much to the dismay of the typesetters, it was back the following week.
The first crossword published in the United Kingdom appeared in the Sunday Express on November 2, 1924. After initial skepticism, including an article in the Times branding the crossword a menace that had "enslaved American, Britain succumbed to the puzzle's allure; but the challenge of the straightforward "definitional" crossword - where the clue might be quick and the answer is "fast" - soon began to pall. A new, distinctly British, style of crossword began to emerge: the cryptic. The cryptic was complicated, intellectually brooding cousin of the definitional - its bad mystique and depth. With English being a language that consists of so many words from other languages and having so many ways of saying the same things, it was hardly surprising that cryptic crosswords writes took pains to go beyond simple definitions. But whether you enjoy a quick crossword or a cryptic one, the essential features are the same. The best writers all know that the essence of a good crossword lies in providing a sufficient number of questions for which the answers come with relative ease and then grading the difficulty level of those that remain. In other words, what you get is something that appears "doable" at first, but that gradually opens up in the face of dogged persistence. This is where the addiction sets in: The more crosswords one completes, the more fluent one and the more addicted you become.
Over the past century, there have been many imitators - and in recent years, a numerical challenge in the form of the mathematical teaser, Sudoku - yet the appeal of the classic crossword remained undimmed. In fact, a curious turnabout is taking place as crosswords hold their own against video games and other competitions. Rather than competing, the internet facilitates endless discussions about clues and answers, and, as a consequence, the typical crossword consumer appears to be getting considerably younger than their counterparts in previous generations.
The Martha Petheridge quote illustrates the fact that _____.
For each question, write the correct answer. Write ONE word for each gap.
PENGUINS IN PERIL
The emperor penguins of the Antarctic have survived some of the conditions on Earth for centuries. However, their long-term survival now seems to be in doubt due to global warming, the effects of became apparent in the region as early as 2001. In January of that year, a massive iceberg broke from the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest platform of ice in Antarctica. At 290 km long and 39 km wide, it was the biggest iceberg recorded. After drifting at sea, it eventually with another section of the Ross Ice Shelf, destroying the nesting areas of emperor penguins in process. Many of the parent penguins that had been sitting on their eggs were crushed, while those that survived the area. Consequently, chick production plummeted to less than half the level it had been prior to the disaster.
Read the text and choose the best answer to fill in the blanks.
AUDIOBOOKS - BOOKS ON CASSETTE
In the modern world, there is a of leisure activities to choose from. Entertainment industries compete for your leisure time. You can watch TV, listen to music, go to an art gallery or concert or, of course, read a book. Sometimes it seems that reading is neglected because, you're a fast reader, it can take a plentiful amount of time to finish a novel, for example. But in the modern world, time is something that can be in short supply.
Book publishers haven't been slow to realize this and are now selling a product which needn't as much of your time but still tells you an excellent story. The new product is the audiobook - cassette recordings of shortened novels, often read by well-known personalities or the authors themselves. Audiobooks are new but people are becoming more aware of them and sales are increasing all the time.
One of the attractions of audiobooks is that they're like listening to the radio. You can listen to what you want when you want, and you won't ever miss anything. Much of their appeal in their flexibility. They allow you to do other things while you're listening, such as driving or doing the housework. For some people, audiobooks can be a much more enjoyable way of gaining knowledge than reading.
Read the text and do the tasks that follow.
WE'RE YOUNGER THAN WE EVER WERE!
Today mature adults are participating in all kinds of activities, both physical and intellectual. Old people have never been so young.
A. A Helping Hand
If you belong to the older generation, Singapore is a good place to live! On this island, the Ministry for Community Development and Sport is working hard to encourage sporting activities among all age groups, including the older citizens. The Ministry believes that physical activity helps people to keep a positive self-image and contributes to their sense of well-being: mental as well as physical. There are two main programmes which aim to promote and encourage different activities among the older generation. The first of these is a Mutual Help programme, where older people meet for various activities including sports. Here, the emphasis is on helping and thinking of other people. The second programme is a programme of activities organised by the Senior Citizens' Clubs. Many of these clubs have keep-fit equipment, and a large number of social and cultural events take place there, as well as sporting activities. Both programmes aim to encourage older people to lead an active, healthy and life.
B. Healthy Exercise
In Ireland, there is a national programme for sport and physical activity for older people. It is called "Go for Life". The physical fitness professionals on this programme work exclusively with older people. We know that regular physical activity is good for our health. Research also proves that it can prevent many common illnesses, such as high blood pressure and asthma. Physical exercise will also help people who already have such illnesses. However, people often become active as they get older. This is probably because they feel that they are "too old" to participate in sports. Nothing could be less true. Older people can take part in the programme on their own, with activities such as walking, gardening or swimming, or they can bring their friends to organized events in their own area, such as bowling, tennis or dancing. There is a free book called Opportunities in Retirement which suggests different kinds of activities and gives contact details of different organizations.
C. Lifelong Learning
Elderhostel, founded in 1975, is the world's largest educational and travel organisation for older adults. Its aim is to excite people's minds and enrich people's lives. There are no examinations or marks. All that you need, in order to enroll on a programme, is an enquiring mind and an adventurous spirit. Also, of course, you need to believe that learning and discovery continue all your life. There are expert instructors and experienced group leaders for field trips and cultural excursions. Elderhostel offers a large number of programmes in a huge variety of areas. First of all, there are traditional programmes. Here, people study ancient histories, literature and art, and can learn about different cultures, modern peoples and issues. Then there is a group of adventure programmes involving activities like hiking, kayaking, biking and studying whales. There are also programmes which give people the chance to help communities in different ways, such as protecting endangered species, tutoring school children and building affordable housing. Finally, there are programmes which take place aboard a boat, anywhere from the Antarctic waters to the Mississippi River.
D. The Spice of Life
Port Lincoln, a city in Australia, is a place which is particularly geared to older people. This is because of an organization called OPINACT (Older People in Action). OPINACT's motto is: "Promoting the lifestyle of the over 50's in Port Lincoln". Amongst other things, it provides simple on-line information on activities and services. For example, under the heading "Lifestyle", it lists 28 different options, ranging from "Boating & Fishing" to "Yoga", from "Family History" to "Tai-Chi". There is no shortage of activities, here! In the "Sports" section, there are 33 different possibilities. Alongside the usual sports like swimming, hockey and cricket, you will find "Dog Clubs", "Flying Clubs" and "Aussie Sports". The "Seniors" page shows fascinating headings, such as "Age of Reason", "Year of Older Persons" and "Seniors in Cyberspace". Clearly, they believe in the connection between physical health and mental health. The word "old" has a very different and very positive meaning in Port Lincoln.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between TWO and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.
Anna inherited a fortune when her father died. (into)
=> After the death of a fortune.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
I'm afraid there is no room in the concert hall tonight. (BOOKED)
=> I'm afraid the tonight.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between TWO and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.
They chose not to drive because they thought there would be too much snow. (fear)
=> They chose not to too much snow.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between TWO and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.
She'll probably win first prize. (stands)
=> She of winning.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between TWO and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.
When the assembly line was introduced, five hundred workers were dismissed. (advent)
=> With the , five hundred workers were dismissed.
Some people think that schools should reward students who show the best academic results, while others believe that it is more important to reward students who show improvements.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write 250-300 words.
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