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1. Fossil fuels are a source of energy because they take millions of years to form.
2. plants utilise the heat stored in the Earth to generate electricity both
sustainably and cost-effectively.
3. We are faced with an unprecedented rate of depletion because we are using up reserves faster than they can be replenished.
4. In a bid to reduce their footprint, residents of this community have decided to use bicycles as their primary means of transport.
5. depletion results in more ultraviolet light from the sun reaching the Earth,
which disrupts the food chain by changing the life cycles of plants.
6. All local residents need to do is put all recyclable items into one bin because the new
plant mechanically separates materials using highly engineered systems.
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Grammar
A. Choose the word or phrase that produces a grammatically correct sentence.
1. My supervisor very pleased about the fact that we will not be able to meet the deadline.
a. couldnt be b. mustnt be c. shouldnt have been d. cant be
2. By the end of the year, I for this company for longer than I care to remember.
a. will have to work b. will be working c. will have been working d. will work
3. It is said that at that time valuable artifacts sold by him on the black market for more than one
hundred thousand euros a piece.
a. were selling b. had been selling c. were being sold d. had sold
4. If you want to speak to Kathy, you will have to hurry because shes just .
a. about leaving b. about to leave c. to leave d. to be leaving
5. I was hoping to go to the theatre but its too late now, the performance started by now.
a. will have b. shall have c. will be d. is going to be
6. Im sorry to have kept you waiting but my mother to run some errands for her.
a. made me b. had me c. got me d. put me
7. Beth all night working on her assignment as the tutor was absent the next day and an extension
was given.
a. neednt have stayed up b. shouldnt have stayed up c. shouldnt be staying up d. didnt have to stay up
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8. The monthly instalment at the end of the month without delay or else your car will be
confiscated.
a. is to be paid b. is being paid c. is to be paying d. being paid
9. The walls of the office were filled valuable paintings by celebrated artists.
a. in b. of c. with d. by
10. Despite his lack of experience, he get the job done without delay and managed to save the
company a lot of money.
a. could b. couldnt c. was able to d. wasnt able to
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B. 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 three and eight words, including the word given.
1. I am pretty sure that they are presently renovating that hotel because I saw them delivering truck-loads of
new furniture just yesterday.
BE
It was just yesterday that I saw truck-loads of new furniture being delivered so they
that hotel.
2. Most people suspect that he was embezzling large sums of money while serving in the Ministry of
Education.
HAVE
He large sums
of money while serving in the Ministry of Education.
3. John will have to have a look at my car because its been playing up lately and Im worried about it
breaking down and leaving me stranded.
LOOKED
I by John
because its been playing up lately and Im worried about it breaking down and leaving me stranded.
4. It is possible that various conservation groups will deal with the severity of the situation by combining
forces.
MAY
It is by combining forces that the
by conservation groups.
5. It is believed that his active involvement in crucial negotiation processes has defused a potentially volatile
situation.
BEEN
A potentially volatile situation
by his active involvement in crucial negotiation processes.
6. Buying such an expensive present for your bosss wife was completely unnecessary.
HAVE
You such an
expensive present for your bosss wife.
7. Fortunately, the central heating system had been tested by an expert before we moved into our new
home.
WE
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Fortunately,
before we moved into our new home.
8. Ted and Sally got married 25 years ago and next Thursday is their wedding anniversary.
WILL
By next Thursday Ted and Sally
25 years.
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READING
Seven paragraphs have been removed from the text below. Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap in the text. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
Coral Reefs in Crisis
Rich in marine life and bursting with kaleidoscopic colour, coral reefs are one of the finest examples of natures bounty. Theyve often been described as the rainforests of the sea, and with good reason: coral reefs are the key components of some of the most complex and diverse ecosystems in nature. In fact, about 25 per cent of all marine creatures, including fish, molluscs and sponges, either depend on coral reefs for food or use them as spawning grounds.
Coral reefs are made up of colonies of tiny creatures called coral polyps. The polyps absorb calcium from the sea and use it to produce a limestone exoskeleton that expands as the creatures grow. Polyps feed on the larvae of shellfish, but they also need algae to thrive. Polyps enjoy a symbiotic relationship with algae the algae live in the polyps tissues and provide them with nutrients; they also produce chemicals that help the polyps secrete their exoskeletons.
Ocean acidification is another reason why coral reefs are under threat. This occurs when excessive amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (one of the causes of global warming), are absorbed by the ocean. The result is that sea water becomes more acidic, thus compromising the polyps ability to secrete their exoskeletons. If global warming continues unabated, its likely that all corals could become extinct within the next 100 years.
Destructive fishing practices are one of the main reasons why the reefs of Southeast Asia are the most threatened in the world. Fishermen in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines routinely use explosives or sticks of dynamite to kill fish, often causing irreparable damage to coral reefs in the process.
Another problematic form of land-based pollution is agricultural runoff. This is water that flows from farms through river systems and into the ocean, and it often contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphates. Increased nitrogen levels in sea water cause an overgrowth of algae; as a result, the corals are deprived of sunlight and eventually die. High levels of phosphates can also kill coral by impeding the growth of the coral polyps exoskeletons.
Many nations rely heavily on coral reefs for their livelihoods and food supply. The coral reef fisheries of Southeast Asia, for example, enjoy profits of about 2.4 billion dollars a year. In developing countries, roughly 25 per cent of potential fish harvests come from coral reefs. Fisheries worldwide employ about 38 million people, while another 162 million people are indirectly involved in the fishing industry. Should coral reefs continue to die out, the economic impact would be devastating, and many people would have to turn to alternative food sources to supplement their diets and their incomes.
And its not just the fishing and tourism industries that need coral reefs to thrive; coral reefs are also indispensable to the pharmaceutical industry. Research has shown that some of the organisms that live on coral reefs, such as sponges and seaweed, produce chemicals that have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. These chemicals are the main ingredients of new medicines that are being formulated to treat a range of diseases and viruses. Thus, the degradation of coral reefs could have serious implications for the future of medicine.
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One way they are doing this is by applying low voltage electrical currents through seawater to
crystallize dissolved minerals onto steel structures. When this is done a white carbonate is
produced which is the same mineral that natural coral reefs consist of. These steel
structures are then colonized by corals at a very quick pace.
We can only hope that these and other efforts are enough to preserve our coral
reefs for generations to come.
A. Though the situation seems dire, steps have been taken to try to protect and sustain our remaining
coral reefs. Some of the reefs in the Philippines, for example, have been declared no-go areas to protect
them from overfishing. Also, some attempts have been made by conservationists to restore coral reefs.
B. Coral mining is another issue that is of great concern to coral reef conservationists. Coral mining involves the
removal of large chunks of coral from reefs, usually for building purposes. The coral is then crushed and mixed
with other materials to make bricks or cement. In the Maldives, for example, building materials are quite scarce
and corals are the mainstay of the construction industry. The high demand for coral in the Maldives could
potentially wipe out many of the coral reefs in the country.
C. Aside from global warming and overfishing, one of the biggest contributing factors to the decline of coral reefs
is pollution. Because of rapid development in coastal areas, increased amounts of industrial waste, sewage,
oil and pesticides are now being disposed of in the ocean. These toxins are harmful to the reefs, and
pesticides in particular have been proven to interfere with coral reproduction and growth.
D. The decline of coral reefs will also impact the tourism industry. Half the gross national product of many
Caribbean countries is derived from tourists flocking to their beaches and reefs. The Maldives and the
Seychelles depend on coral reef tourism for a significant portion of their foreign income, and in Florida, USA,
reef tourism is a billion-dollar industry.
E. Coral reefs flourish in warm, tropical seas, but polyps are extremely sensitive to increases in water
temperature. Global warming has caused the surface water of the ocean to become warmer and the polyps
react to this rise in temperature by expelling the algae that they depend on for food. This process is called
blanching: once the polyps have released the algae, they turn white and starve to death.
F. Of course, its not just land-based pollution that has impacted coral reefs. Marine debris (including plastic, glass
and discarded fishing nets that are simply tossed into the ocean), has also caused significant damage to coral
reefs. Floating debris, from plastic packets to bottles, can smother coral reef organisms or break down the
coral structure entirely.
G. It would be difficult to imagine a world without coral reefs, but, according to a recent global study, this alarming
prospect could easily become a reality. The study found that a third of all coral reefs are facing extinction,
primarily as a result of global warming, overfishing and pollution. The loss of coral reefs could have a
potentially devastating impact on tourism and the fishing industry, and on the economies of countries that rely
on coral reefs for their livelihoods. But what are coral reefs and how do they develop?
H. According to estimates, 19 per cent of the worlds coral reefs have already died, including 50 per cent of the
reefs in the Caribbean. This is in no small part due to the scourge of overfishing and the adoption of
destructive fishing practices, such as dynamite fishing. In parts of the Caribbean, overfishing has wiped out
virtually all the herbivorous fish that feed on the algae and seaweed that live on coral reefs. In the absence of
herbivorous fish, algae and seaweed grow at a rapid rate and eventually kill the coral.
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LISTENING
You will hear a radio interview with a spokesman from a dolphin conservation organisation. The primary topic of conversation is how dolphins are affected by their encounters with humans. For questions 1-5 choose the answer a, b, c or d which fits best according to what you hear.
1. According to Rupert Clarkson,
a. it appears that there is a special bond between humans and dolphins.
b. humans falsely believe that dolphins are playful and friendly.
c. dolphins enjoy interacting with humans.
d. because of their intelligence, dolphins appreciate interacting with humans.
2. In addition to being a pleasurable pastime, swimming with dolphins
a. can stimulate people to be more sociable.
b. can interfere with ones brain function.
c. can have a therapeutic effect on some afflictions.
d. can make one more energetic.
3. Rupert believes that if people were more informed about dolphins,
a. they would try harder to save them from extinction.
b. more people would want to swim with them.
c. they would gain greater insight on human-animal communication.
d. they could understand the behavioural patterns of other mammals.
4. How does Rupert Clarkson feel about people swimming with dolphins?
a. He is in favour of it.
b. He has some reservations about it.
c. He believes it should not be allowed.
d. He suggests that it could be potentially dangerous for humans.
5. Dolphin-human interaction can affect a dolphins
a. ability to take care of its young.
b. ability to breathe.
c. sociable mood.
d. eagerness to communicate with humans.
