READING

Task 1

Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (1—5). There are three choices you do not need to
use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

WAYS TO VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR KIDS

Everyone wants their children to learn and know about the world around them, and a great
hands-on practice is volunteer work. Is there a better way to learn than getting out there and doing
something that benefits others?

1 Unfortunately, every community has residents without homes who need shelter, food or
clothing. Volunteer to make or serve food at pantries or shelters that serve these people in
your community. Take it a step further, and organize your own food drive to collect and deliver
much-needed food to these organizations.

2 One of the biggest impacts on the environment is discarded trash. Take your children to
a location like the beach or a park, and pick up trash. Also, check with local organizations to
see if they are hosting annual cleanup days. Many groups hold events each year to clean up
rivers, highways and other public lands.

3 Most children love animals, so volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue operation is
a great way to get them involved. Visit the animal shelters, and walk the creatures that are
waiting in cages to find homes. Kids also can help out by collecting pet food and other supplies
that are in constant demand at animal shelters.

4 Most families have more clothes than they really need. Clean out your wardrobes, and gather
your gently used belongings and take them to a nearby shelter. Use this activity as a teaching
opportunity for your children, explaining how we can use what we have to help others.
Take it a step further, and help them organize their own community clothing drive for local
organizations.

5 Volunteering with your children provides a great way to show your kids other life lessons
as well. Take your kids to the grocery store, and give them a dollar amount. Have them
pick out the most cost-effective and most nutritious foods — which becomes a maths
lesson for your kids, too — and then take it to a shelter or food drive. Another example
is having your children read to seniors in the hospital, which helps improve the kids’
literacy skills.
(After Karon Warren)

A Celebrate the holidays.

B Go to the dogs.
C Clean your closets.
D Go on litter patrol.
E Teach your kids.
F Do it for the kids.
G Help the homeless.
H Go to the local children’ s hospital.

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 Task 2

Read the text below. For questions (6— 10) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Write your
answers on the separate answer sheet.

COPERNICUS, KING OF CRATERS

The best-known impact crater on the Earth is Meteor Crater. It is nearly a mile across and about
550 feet deep. To see it, you would have to drive far out into the desert in Arizona.
The Moon’s best-known meteor crater is Copernicus. It is 58 miles in diameter and more than 2 miles
from top to bottom. To see it, you just have to step outside and look at the Moon through binoculars.
You may have already noticed that the Moon’ s surface is a mix of bright and grey areas. The
grey areas are lava plains. The largest and darkest lava plains are found along the left-hand side of
the Moon. Using binoculars, look just to the left of the Moon’ s centre. You’ ll see a small bright spot
against the gray. That’s Copernicus.
Since the Moon doesn’t have an atmosphere to protect it as the Earth has, tiny grains of space debris
called meteoroids collide with the Moon constantly. This meteoroid «rain» wears down the lunar surface,
creating a layer of dust. Meteoroids of the size of rocks and boulders strike the Moon less often, but they
are more powerful. These rocks can produce craters measuring anywhere from a few feet to several miles
across. On rare occasions, the Moon is hit by an object of the size of the one that carved out Copernicus.
That object — either a rocky asteroid or an icy comet — was more than a mile in diameter.
Still, there are larger craters on the Moon, so why is Copernicus special? The answer is simple:
because the crater faces the Earth directly, it looks nice and round, exactly the way everyone thinks
a crater should look.
But what really makes Copernicus special is its halo of rays. These wispy streamers stretch
outward in every direction. Like the crater itself, they are brightest when the Moon is full. Take
a close look at these feather-like splashes.
When a big object blasts out a crater, the smallest particles travel farthest from the point of impact.
This spray of rock then falls in a splash pattern onto the lunar surface. This material looks bright because
it’s made up of crushed and broken rock, which reflects light better than the dust-covered lava plain.
Over long periods of time, the constant bombardment by meteoroids darkens the rays and mixes them
with the surface dust. Eventually, the rays disappear. Copernicus’s rays are still bright because this
crater is young. It’s only 810 million years old. Many other large craters are nearly 4 billion years old.
The crater is named after the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. In the 1800s, another
astronomer studied this scar on the Moon’s surface. He called it the Monarch of the Moon. Today,
we can call it the king of craters.
{By Edmund A. Fortier)
6 We can see the biggest craters________
A on the Moon.
B on the Earth.
C in the desert.
D in Arizona.
7 The surface of the Moon looks like________
A lakes and oceans.
B the gloomy areas.
C a mixture of dark and shiny areas.
D small stars.
8 The Moon’ s dust layer has been created because o f ________
A the hits of big rocky asteroids.
B the Moon’ s special atmosphere.
C the collision of the Moon and the very small space pieces.
D the comets hits.

m i
9 Copernicus interests scientists because______
A it looks deep and square.
B it is surrounded by a ring of light.
C it’s the oldest Moon crater.
D its brightness remains always unchanged.

10 You can observe Copernicus________

A only when the Moon is full.
B using an instrument designed to aid vision.
C looking into the sky at daytime.
D having no optical instruments.

Task 3

Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (11—16). There are two choices you do not need to
use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

INCREDIBLE TRIPS

11 Thailand
If you have the time, this exotic nation has what it takes to please urban seekers as well as those
who crave a more rural or nature-inspired vibe. We advise an 11-day itinerary spent visiting
the cities of Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Bangkok gives you the big-city bustle, Phuket
is known for its white-sand beaches perfect for a romantic stroll, and Chiang Mai boasts the
best of Thai culture, including the chance to ride elephants.
12 Greek Isles
Soak in the natural beauty of this mystical region, tailor-made for honeymooners or any
couple seeking the ultimate in romantic ambience. To experience several facets of the country,
spend three nights in Athens, three in Santorini and another three in Crete, Nelson says. Here
you can find many beautiful beaches, art galleries, fantastic food and friendly people. Oia,
Santorini, has long been credited with the most beautiful sunsets in the world — with a good
reason.
13 Napa Valley
Romance and wine go hand in hand, and very few places in the world represent this duo better
than Napa Valley. This world-famous wine region boasts some of the finest vintages, stunning
scenery and haute cuisine locales. « With all the wineries and gorgeous views, the Napa Valley
is an ideal destination for any couple while travelling domestically », said Sarah Nelson, project
manager at Travel Leaders in Mesa, Arizona. « Another great part of Napa Valley is being able
to take an afternoon hiking the region hand in hand».
14 Hawaii
Learn how to surf, snorkel with exotic fish, tour historical sites and dine on celebrity chef
cuisine on the island of Oahu. Home to the state’ s capital of Honolulu, the island offers
picturesque beaches and waves on the east side and north shore, museums and art galleries,
the famous snorkeling playground of Hanauma Bay and elegant restaurants. There’s also the
nightlife of Waikiki’s bars and clubs, and if you want a dose of rural island life, unspoiled
Kauai is a 30-minute plane ride away.
15 Portland Food Tour
Foodie fans can appreciate seeing a city from a slightly different yet delicious perspective.
Among the best are the Forktown Food Tours in Portland, Oregon, which offers culinary
escapades through the city’s most charming and historic neighbourhoods, including downtown,
the Alphabet District and North Mississippi Avenue. These tours are locally driven and

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 combine city history along with small bites from five to seven hot spots. The Forktown Food
Tour in Portland can be customized for just two guests to amp up the romance and fun.
16 Pacific Coast Highway
If you prefer to do some driving, motor along the most picturesque portions of California
State Route 1. Start in Los Angeles and meander through worthy sites like Morrow Bay, tour
the historic Hearst Castle and do a tasting at a vineyard or two en route to San Francisco.
There are plenty of places to stop along the way and there is such beautiful scenery. It’ s just
gorgeous and can easily be done in a week.
(By Georganrt Yard)

You will visit this place i f ________

A you dream about basking in each other’s company during a walk.
B a sampling of blue waters and ancient sites appeals to you.
C you want to experience an animal ride.
D you long for a romantic week in a magical place.
E the ideal trip for you is aboard the ship.
F you are keen on active moving in a vehicle.
G a night in a restaurant is what you would like to experience.
H you are a real food and history gourmet.

Task 4

Read the text below. Choose from (A—H) the one that best fits each space (17—22). There are two
choices you do not need to use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

BAD FOR BREATHING

New study connects pollution to several common diseases that affect the lungs and airways.
Researchers have connected exposure to high levels of pollutants called polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, or PAHs, to a greater likelihood of having asthma and allergies. Inhaling air
pollutants can trigger breathing problems, (17)________. Asthma itself can be triggered by allergies.
So physicians have observed that allergies, asthma and air pollution go hand in hand.
During an asthma attack, inflammation causes the inside of small airways in the lung to swell.
This narrows those passageways, (1 8 )________in any given breath. This means people will have
a hard time (1 9 )________to breathe comfortably.
Researchers have now linked a common family of air pollutants to a breakdown in cells
(20) ________. It plays a role in allergies. The cells they focused on are called T-regs (short for
T-regulatory cells). Normally, they help protect the body by controlling swelling (2 1 )________.
To probe the connection between PAHs and T-regs, Kari Nadeau of Stanford University and her
co-workers looked at many different types of data. They collected blood tests, lung measurements
and other health information from more than 150 children in Fresno, (2 2 )________. The scientists
the also measured PAHs in the air in and near the homes of these children. T-regs didn’t work as
well as they should in kids living in heavily polluted areas. Children exposed to high levels of PAH
also were much more likely to have asthma.

A reducing how much air can move through them

B meeting of scientists who study allergies
C the California city with high levels of air pollution
D such as asthma
E involved in the immune system
F caused by inflammation
G used to protect against infections or toxic substances
H drawing in enough air

4^9
 READING

Task 1

Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (1—5). There are three choices you do not need
to use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

TATA MANZA
Arguably the best-looking Tata car currently on roads, Indigo Mama is another addition to the
exquisite range of customer friendly Tata cars. The car is a sedan version of Indica Vista. Built on the
Indica Vista platform, with a modified look, Mama can be categorized to join the luxury car segment
of the country. The stylish car has a bold smart look, spacious interiors and high class designing. It
shares a lot of features and technology with Tata Indigo and Indica. It is expected to pose a good
competition for Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Ford Fiesta, Ford Ikon, and Mahindra Renault Logan.
1 __________________
Largely inspired from Tata Indica Vista, the front part of Tata M am a retains the sweeping
angular headlights, with a dual projector barrel-shaped reflectors that typically characterize
Indica Vista design. The front bumper in the car features a big dam, with black finish and has
round fog lights. The front grill is made of four horizontal lines, featuring a big Tata logo and
chrome finish upper lip. The centre owes its classy look and elegance to the vertical tail lamps
at the rear end. A chrome strip runs across the rear bumper, imparting a big and wide look to
the car. The exquisite looks of the car live up to it catchy slogan «Indulge in Style».
2
With its cool and spacious interiors, Tata Indigo M am a scores well as a comfortable car. It
features spacious legroom and headroom, making the ride extremely enjoyable for the front as
well as the rear seat passengers. The convenience features provided by M am a include HVAC
with electric controls, tilt adjustable power steering, adjustable head rest on front seat, two­
way adjustable lumber support for front seats, fixed support for front lumber seats, rear seat
centre armrest and height adjustable driver’ s seat, etc.
3 ________________
The engine of Tata M am a has been sourced by Fiat. It is available in two engine options,
1.3-litre petrol engine that is known as Safire and 1.4-litre diesel engine called Quadrajet.
The petrol version of the car is also available with an ABS option. The capacity of the petrol
engine goes up to 1248 cc1. M am a’s petrol variant will have aCRDi fuel system and the diesel
variant will have FSI. The car has a standard 5-speed manual transmission for all the models.
4 ________________
The host of advanced safety features in Tata M am a includes a superior crash-tested cockpit
design, dual front airbags, antilock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribu­
tion (EBD) and front disc brakes. Passive safety features are side impact beams, height ad­
justable front seatbelts, warning lamp for driver seatbelt, front passenger seatbelt reminder,
child locks and central locking. Wider tubeless tyres with alloys option are also available.
5 ________________
Tata Indigo M am a has been launched in eight kinds, four with diesel engine and four with
petrol engine. As for the colours, you have six options to choose from — Arctic Silver, Cavern
Grey, Gala Red, Infiniti Black, Marine Silver, and Noble Blue. The base variant of Tata M am a
has been reasonably priced at 4.8 lacs2and the top variant is priced at 6.75 lacs.
A Showroom Presentations
B Variants and Price
C Safety
1 cc = abbreviation for cubic centimetre(s)
2 lac = (in India and Pakistan) the number 100 000, especially when referring to this sum of rupees

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 D Engine
E Design
F Manufacturing
G Comfort
H Car Testing

-------------------------------------------------------------- Task 2 --------------------------------------------------------------

Read the text below. For questions (6— 10) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Write your
answers on the separate answer sheet.

A BRAIN-BOOSTING VIDEO GAME

In the video game Tetris, players try to pack as many shapes as possible into a small space.
According to a new study, that’s not all they’re doing.
It sounds like a joke, but the study uses serious science. A team of three researchers from Canada
and the United States scanned the brains of 15 adolescent girls, aged 12 to 15, who played Tetris.
The scans showed that after 3 months of playing the block-stacking game, grey matter in the girls’
brains was thicker. (Grey matter is the wrinkly mixture of brain cells and blood vessels responsible
for processing information in the brain.) Part of the thicker grey matter was in a region of the
brain near the top of the head. This area, called the parietal lobe, is believed to be responsible for
collecting information from the senses.
The study shows that «brain structure is much more dynamic than had been appreciated», says
Richard Haier of the University of California, Irvine, one of the three scientists behind the study. Haier
says they studied girls’ brains because they typically spend less time playing video games than boys.
For comparison, the scientists also scanned the brains of 11 girls who had not been playing Tetris.
They found no increase in the thickness of those girls’ grey matter — suggesting that certain parts
of the game-playing girls’ brains grew because the girls had played the video game.
The researchers didn’t stop there — they also did real-time brain scans of girls while they were
playing Tetris. For those scans, they used a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging,
or FMRI. An FMRI tracks how blood moves through the brain, and allows scientists to see which
brain areas are being used.
These scans showed that in the brains of girls who played Tetris for three months, some parts of
the brain were being used less. The scientists don’t know why. Haier suggests that the drop in activity
may be due to the brain actually working more efficiently than before. « We’re not sure, but we think
the brain is learning which areas not to use», Haier says. «As you learn the game, it becomes more
automatic ». The parts of the brain that got bigger over the course of three months were not the same
parts of the brain that were being used less. This comparison hints that bigger is not always better:
just because a part of the brain gets bigger doesn’t mean that it’s working more efficiently.
«Understanding how the brain works is not easy», says Haier. The scientists don’t know if the
brain changes due to Tetris will help a person learn new skills or have better memory. «We know
Tetris changes the brain», Haier says. «We don’ t know if it’s good for you».
6 Scientists found a connection between playing Tetris and________
A the thickness of grey matter in the brain.
B the size of parts of the brain.
C the conditions of the brain cells.
D the thickness of the blood vessels inside the brain.
7 What does the research of the grey matter show?
A It was more diluted in the brain near the bottom.
B It was responsible for processing blood in the vessels.
C It was answerable for collecting information from the senses.
D It was thicker in the brain at the top.
8 The scientists who were examining the girls’ brain knew that boys usually spent
A more time playing video games than girls.
B less time playing video games than girls.
C as much time as girls who played video games.
D not so much time as girls who were accustomed to playing video games.
9 The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging t o ________
A study how the girls were playing a game.
B monitor the process of blood circulation through the brain.
C study the processes of the mental activity.
D do a scanning of the parts of the brain.
10 What does the word «it» in line 24 mean?
A Grey matter.
B Brain.
C Learning.
D Game.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Task 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------
Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (11— 16). There are two choices you do not need to
use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND SUPPLEMENTS

There appear to be a lot of bottles in the supplement area of any store. Every magazine is filled
with ads for pills that will change your life, prime-time television has advertisements for a pill for any
part of your body and mind, and the Internet has everything for sale.
11 Supplements are a multibillion dollar business. The hard questions are: what do we need, how
much do we need, and are the ads telling the whole truth? Here is some background information
that may help answer the questions. In 1994 Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Act which
states that if something is called a dietary supplement, the FDA does not have to test it and no
one monitors what is really in the supplement. There has been a lot of abuse since then. Claims
are made that may not be true which leaves the consumer at a strong disadvantage. For some
strange reason many Americans feel that if something is sold over the counter, or if it says « all
natural», that it is safe. Nothing could be further from the truth.
12 Many people think, «If a little bit is good, more is better». This thinking can lead to health
consequences. So how does one dig through all of the advertising and decide what will enhance
their health, what is a waste of money, and what will do no harm? Multivitamins do not fix
a lousy diet. Megadose vitamins can be harmful because of having too much of some nutrients.
The best bet for a multivitamin mineral tablet is a store brand. High price does not give better
quality (about 20 cents a day is the most you should pay). Look for a tablet that provides 100 %
of RDA for most nutrients. You cannot get enough vitamin E or calcium in a multivitamin. If
you are over age 50, be sure that the tablet has at least 25 meg of B12- Too much iron is a problem
that may be worse than too little iron, so vitamins for mature adults should have no iron.
13 Beyond the multivitamin a person may want to supplement vitamin E to get 100—400IU a day.
And, of course, a person wants to supplement the diet to receive a total of 1000—1500 mg
calcium depending on age. The only nutrients that have good clinical studies on their benefits are
vitamin E, calcium, folate and vitamin D. The folate and vitamin D are in most multivitamins,
so vitamin E and calcium are the only supplements needed beyond the multi unless you have
been diagnosed through testing by a bona fide physician with a deficiency of a nutrient. Hair
analysis, looking in the eyes, etc. are not legitimate tests for deficiency. You need blood tests.
In a recent study, one group was given supplements and another group ate better. At the end of
the study those taking the multivitamin had little to no change in nutritional status while those
on the balanced diet improved their nutritional status. More studies need to be done to confirm
this finding.

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14 In the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of herbal supplements
on the shelf. Some people are using them indiscriminately without realizing that they may have
interactions with prescription drugs. Also, studies have been conducted that show that a lot of
the herbal supplements do not have enough of the herb in it to be of any value. Remember, there
is no governing agency that the manufacturers must answer to. No one is testing for purity or
for contents. Herbs have been used in Europe for a long time, but their products are tested for
purity and content. Many herbs are considered medicine in European countries.
15 Many people take better care of their automobile than they do of their body. They would not dump
anything that a friend recommended into the vehicle, but they will do it to their body. We own
nothing more precious than our body and keeping it fit and healthy should be our primary concern.
Do not live to regret what you did to yourself. Before taking anything, research it carefully looking
for valid research by independent researchers from major universities. Do not take something based
only on the testimony of somebody else. You would not ask a neighbour to set your broken arm.
Do not use them for nutrition information. Talk to the experts in the field, registered dietitians.
16 The good news is that the average person is unlikely to take so much of a nutrient that he or
she will run into trouble. But it’s always wise to consult your doctor before you start using
a supplement regularly. And that’ s definitely true if you’re using any supplement in high doses
or for prolonged periods of time.

This paragraph dwells o n ________

A the ill effects of the most popular products.
B herbal supplements.
C the wrong idea of taking too much vitamins.
D the misconception of supplements.
E the importance to follow the experts’ advice.
F food that keeps your body healthy.
G clinical studies of energy suppliers usage.
H the dosage of vitamins and minerals.

Task 4

Read the text below. Choose from (A—H) the one which best fits each space (17—22). There are
two choices you do not need to use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

GENERATION «Y» AND CHANGE

Generation Y (why) members (aged 13—27) are bright, insightful, fascinating, challenging and
inquisitive young adults who are ready to change the world. The question is, are we ready?
They look at the world much differently (1 7 )________. And why shouldn’ t they? Generation
Y rival the Baby Boomer population in size. Born after the civil right, woman’ s rights and gay
rights movements, they view diversity (1 8 )________. Their world has always included high-speed
computers, the Internet, cell phones, text messaging and instant communications. Rapid change is
the by-product of their instant communications world.
Generation Y ’s world revolves around instant everything. They rely less (19) ________ and
more on cell phones, instant messaging and the Internet. They don’ t wait for answers. If they have
a question or an idea, they can immediately share it with their friends or do research on the Internet.
In their world the answers to most of life’s questions are (2 0 )________.
Change will be rapid, constant and revolutionary. We can’t stop it. At best, we can slow it down
a little. But, change will be coming from all directions and at speeds we have never seen before.
Generation Y accepts high speed change as obvious and the status quo (2 1 )________. They don’t
want to change things simply for the sake of change, however, they will investigate, challenge and
reinvent virtually everything.
If rapid change is inevitable then how can we prepare for it? By changing our attitude toward it
and insuring that the changes (2 2 )________. Today’s change is tomorrow’s norm. Generation Y will

-H%9
dramatically affect our world for the next forty years. Today’s young people want mentors but they
want a two-way relationship. Parents, teachers, leaders and managers still hold the keys. They are
their bridge from the status quo to the future.
Tuli Kupferberg said, «When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge». Hang on, these next
few years will be fast, unpredictable and very exciting!

A make things better and not just faster

B only a couple of key strokes away
C than most of us
D as a relic
E as good or as bad as you make it
F on face-to-face communications
G as an accepted norm
H change how you react to it

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