Module 3: Big Data and Databases 2022-2023

Unit 2: Databases

1. Reading
Pre-reading:
What information do you think a photo can reveal?

Your photos reveal more than where you went on vacation

Summer is upon us and that means clichéd vacation photos are nigh. But that picture of your cousin
holding up the leaning tower of Pisa or of Fred from accounting jumping in front of the Eiffel Tower
could be a data point in a bigger picture. Scientists are tapping into the vast repositories of photo
sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa to investigate scenarios that typically unfold over months or years,
such as how tourists explore a city or the changing of a skyline or glacier through time.

Computer scientists from Google and the University of Washington have developed a method for
stitching together photos that yields stunning time-lapse sequences of sites from around the world.
The researchers, who will present the work at the 2021 SIGGRAPH meeting in August, mined some 86
million photos uploaded to the Google sites Picasa and Panoramio and sorted them using geo-
location tags and timestamps. The team then aligned the photos and used various algorithms to warp
the images to a common viewpoint and smooth over variations in appearance (including removing
your cousin or Fred from the shot).

The constructed videos allow the viewer to witness the growth of the Goldman Sachs Tower in
Manhattan, the shrinking of the Briksdalsbreen Glacier in Norway and even the slight shift in the
position of Wall Street’s charging bull.

The effort is computationally taxing; it takes several hours to compile, align and clean up the photos.
But using this passively collected data takes far less time than setting up a camera in a potentially
remote location and then waiting, waiting, and waiting for the data to accumulate. If people were
encouraged to send pics of far- flung places to a particular server, the approach could help track
changes in remote, access-limited locations, the researchers propose.

Similarly, other scientists are using photo datasets to explore patterns in human behavior, research
that previously would take months or years of expensive surveys and field studies.

“We are living in a very interesting age”, says Stanislav Sobolevsky, a research scientist at MIT’s
SENSEable City Laboratory. “We can measure things using a single global dataset that would have
taken years to examine in the past.”

Sobolevsky should know; along with colleagues from MIT and the University of Calabria in Italy, he is
using photos uploaded to Flickr to examine how people experience cities. The researchers gathered
roughly 70 million photos taken between 2017 and 2020. Then, for a given photographer and a given
location, they looked at the duration of time over which the photos were taken to roughly determine
where the person who snapped the shots lived (resident, a domestic tourist or a foreign tourist).
Then the scientists ranked the top 10 most popular cities (San Francisco came out on top, Berlin in
10th place) and explored who was doing what where.

Despite cultural differences among photographers and variations in each city’s tourist attractions, the
findings, reported in the May EPJ Data Science, were surprisingly consistent. Maps generated from

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the data revealed that photos taken by residents span a much wider area than those taken by
domestic tourists, who explore a wider area than foreign tourists. Tabulations of hot spots reveals
that sports venues (Yankee Stadium in New York and Olimpico Stadium in Rome) are, indeed,
popular. And between visits of famous architectural landmarks, tourists go to parks, many of which
are landmarks in their own right.

While the research is preliminary, it aligns well with other work by Sobolevsky and colleagues that
examined human travel patterns using Twitter and credit card transactions. Such research might be
used to help city planners make infrastructure decisions, such as where to put a new subway stop, or
inform an entrepreneur who wants to open a new restaurant, Sobolevsky told me.

For another look at where people are posing (and if you pride yourself on visiting out-of-the-way
places), check out Sightsmap, a heat map of photographed spots overlaid on Google Maps. Then
snap and upload those pics. If a scientist gets their hands on them, your photos may end up revealing
more than you think. (Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/culture-beaker/your-photos-reveal-more-where-you-went-vacation)

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. The study carried out by scientists at Google and the University of Washington…
a) has used photos taken by scientists.
b) has smoothly combined photos taken at different times.
c) has sorted photos mainly based on where they were taken.

2. The study has produced time-lapse videos that show…

a) people visiting different locations.
b) subtle changes to important landmarks.
c) changes taking place in mostly urban areas.

3. The word ‘taxing’ refers to…

a) the financial cost of compiling and editing the images.
b) the use of sophisticated technology to produce the videos.
c) the time-consuming processes needed to create the videos.

4. The writer says this method of collecting data…

a) may allow scientists to collect data from isolated places more quickly.
b) is similar to other methods used in the past.
c) relies on travellers directly sending information to scientists.

5. The writer says that this type of research…

a) has mainly been used to measure changes in landmarks so far.
b) is now being used to speed up research into how people behave.
c) has already been used to investigate behavioral patterns for years.

6. Sobolevsky’s research…
a) is mainly focused on establishing the most popular cities.
b) did not take into account where the photographers are from.
c) has been used to show how people explore urban areas.

7. The researchers used the photos to find out…

a) the approximate area in which each photographer resided.
b) how many photos each photographer had taken.
c) approximately how long the photographers had spent in each area.
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8. The results of the study indicated that…

a) where visitors live affects how they experience the places.
b) visitors tend to prefer architecturally important landmarks over parks.
c) there is little consistency in how different visitors travel.

9. According to the results…

a) domestic tourists tend not to explore such a wide area as foreign tourists.
b) foreign tourists are more likely to visit a wider range of popular sports venues.
c) residents usually take photos in a wider area than foreign and domestic tourists.

10. Soblevsky says that this research…

a) has taken into account the use of credit card transactions.
b) may be used in the future to change how cities are planned.
c) is being used to decide where to locate new restaurants.

Match these words with their definitions:

1. check out a) building or place that is easily recognized and is often

famous
2. far-flung
b) distort (bend/change/twist) something
3. heat map
c) evening something out
4. landmark d) find and/or follow someone or something
e) picture or map that uses colours to show different
5. out-of-the-way
levels of activity in different places
6. overlaid
f) places that are a great distance away
7. posing g) places that people don’t usually go to
h) positioning oneself by standing in a certain way
8. smooth
i) prove that information or facts are true or correct
9. track
j) put one on top of the other
10. warp

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2. Grammar: Causatives
GRAMMAR: have something done
Use this form when an action is done for you by somebody else.

I had my suit cleaned. (The shop did it.)

He had his mobile phone repaired. (An engineer did it.)

Use a form of have + object + past participle:

 present simple
Claire has her hair cut every month.
 present continuous
Dave and Bill are having their hair cut.

 past simple
Claire had her hair cut last week.
 present perfect
Claire has had her hair cut.

! Do not confuse this form with the past perfect.

We had a new computer system installed. The technician had installed a new computer
system. (past perfect)

We can make questions and negatives.

Are you having your car serviced this week? I haven't had the windows cleaned for ages.

In spoken or informal English, we can also use get + object + past participle.

I got my eyes checked last week because I've been having headaches.

We also use this form to talk about something that happens to us that we have no control over.

In this street we have our rubbish collected once a week.

We often use the form for unexpected or unpleasant things that happen to us.

To our great surprise, we had our money refunded. He had his mobile phone stolen.

Read these sentences. Underline examples of have something done.

1. I discovered early on in this business that you have to look after the customer.
2. Sorry, we've had to move the date of printing.
3. So, we had the designs prepared by a design company.
4. Well I'm not sure you can have a role model for business.
5. Sorry, but we've had the wrong posters delivered.
6. Every Monday we have all our stuff collected by a delivery service.

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7. It does have to be done for a good reason.

8. We had everything boxed by a packaging company.
9. What we do is we meet people who want to have their product advertised.
10. I've never had a call from a customer saying that they've had their campaign ruined by our
poor posters or brochures.

Match uses a-c with the sentences above.

1. When an action is done for us by somebody else.
Extracts: __________
2. Something that happens to us which we have little or no control over.
Extracts: __________
3. Unexpected or unpleasant things that happen to us.
Extracts: __________

Rewrite these sentences using the form have something done.

1. Our windows are cleaned once a month.

2. Have you got someone to finish the report?

3. The dentist hasn't checked my teeth for over a year.

4. A ghostwriter is writing my autobiography.

5. The government inspects our school every six months.

6. Someone has stolen my car!

3. Speaking: Podcasts
You are going to work in pairs. You have to choose a topic and then listen to the podcast about the
topic. After listening to the podcast, you should discuss the questions/issues below with your
partner and prepare a short presentation (in PowerPoint) to present to the class.

Multigenerational Holidays
https://www.womanandhome.com/travel/multigenerational-holidays-329689/
https://www.rickshawtravel.co.uk/blog/a-guide-to-multi-generational-holidays/

 Advantages and disadvantages of multigenerational holidays.

 Your own experience of multigenerational holidays.
 A highly recommended type of holiday or a nightmare.
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Elderly Loneliness
https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/home-care/loneliness/causes-of-loneliness-az2sz4h7d397
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/
loneliness-in-older-people/
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/advice-for-life-situations-and-events/loneliness-in-the-elderly/

 Main reasons why so many elderly people feel lonely.

 Different ways to overcome loneliness.
 Do you know an elderly person who feels extremely lonely?

Women marriage proposals

https://www.bustle.com/p/why-arent-more-women-proposing-to-men-how-weddings-have-
changed-stayed-the-same-in-recent-years-12241845
https://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/gallery/how-to-propose-to-boyfriend-10-ways-expert-tips

 Why is it still unusual for women to propose marriage these days?

 What do some people think of women who propose?
 Do you know of any woman who has proposed (popped the question) to her man?
 What are your views on the subject?

New Working Models

https://inpsyde.com/en/work-4-0-the-future-of-work/
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/three-elements-for-successful-virtual-working/

 Unemployment because of Digitization.

 Competences needed in the future world or work.
 Working remotely as a future working model.
 What are your views on the subject?

4. Speaking: Databases

a. The following buildings (supermarket, school, hospital, public library) hold databases.
In pairs, discuss what they are used for.

b. Can you think of any other places where databases are used?

c. How are relational databases designed?

d. What is the function of a DBMS?

e. What is the function of SQL in relation to databases?

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5. Reading: Database development life cycle

Insert the following words in the text: analysis, available, bug, construction, correctness, environments,
focuses, implementation, output, provides, repeatedly, requirements, solution, stakeholders, subdivision

Database development is just one part of the much wider field of software engineering, the process
of developing and maintaining software. A core aspect of software engineering is the (1)__________
of the development process into a series of phases, or steps, each of which (2)______________ on
one aspect of the development. The collection of these steps is sometimes referred to as a
development life cycle. The software product moves through this life cycle (sometimes
(3)______________ as it is refined or redeveloped) until it is finally retired from use. Ideally, each
phase in the life cycle can be checked for (4)______________ before moving on to the next phase.
Figure 1 illustrates a general waterfall model which could apply to any computer system
development. It shows the process as a strict sequence of steps where the (5)______________ of
one step is the input to the next and all of one step has to be completed before moving onto the
next. However, in reality, there is usually some degree of refinement and feedback as the product
proceeds through the development stages.
We can use Figure 1 as a means of identifying the tasks that are required. What is important is the
scope of the activities, which can be summarized as follows:
 Establishing requirements involves consultation with, and agreement among, (6)_________
as to what they want of a system, expressed as a statement of requirements.
 Analysis starts by considering the statement of (7)______________ and finishes by
producing a system specification. The specification is a formal representation of what a
system should do, expressed in terms that are independent of how it may be realized.
 Design begins with a system specification and produces design documents, and (8)________
a detailed description of how a system should be constructed.
 Implementation is the (9)______________ of a computer system according to a given
design document and taking account of the environment in which the system will be
operating (for example specific hardware or software (10)______________ for the
development). Implementation may be staged, usually with an initial system than can be
validated and tested before a final system is released for use.

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Figure 1. A general model of system development: the waterfall model

 Testing compares the implemented system against the design documents and requirements
specification and produces an acceptance report or, more usually, a list of errors and bugs
that require a review of the (11)______________, design and implementation processes to
correct (testing is usually the task that leads to the waterfall model iterating through the life
cycle).
 Maintenance involves dealing with changes in the requirements, or the (12)_____________
environment, (13)______________ fixing or porting of the system to new (14)____________
(for example migrating a system from a standalone PC to a UNIX workstation or a networked
environment). Since maintenance involves the analysis of the changes required, design of a
(15)______________, implementation and testing of that solution over the lifetime of a
maintained software system, the waterfall life cycle will be repeatedly revisited.
(adapted from: http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=399373)

Find synonyms in the text for the following words:

1. central _________________
2. execution _______________
3. improvement _____________________
4. independent (self-contained) _________________
5. job (assignment) ___________
6. manage __________________
7. mistake __________________
8. need _____________________
9. range (extent) ______________
10. constantly (over and over again)_________________

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What is the verb tense most commonly used in the text? Why is it used?

Underline all the modal passives (write them below):

6. Speaking: Structured Query Language (SQL)

SQL is the most commonly used language to retrieve data from a database. Data is retrieved using a
type of SQL statement known as a query statement. Queries, and other kinds of SQL statements, use
a basic building block referred to as a query specification. A query specification may consist of the
following five clauses:

SELECT <select list>

FROM <table list>
WHERE <search condition>
GROUP BY <grouping column list>
HAVING <search condition>

In pairs, decide what you think the following queries mean:

SELECT patient_id, patient_name SELECT student_id, mark

FROM patient FROM assignment
WHERE gender = 'F' WHERE mark > AVG(mark)
AND (height < 160 OR weight > 60)
SELECT name, address, email_address, SELECT COUNT(patient_name) AS num_patient_names
registration_date FROM patient
FROM student
WHERE name = 'martínez' OR name = SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT patient_name) AS
'sánchez' num_distinct_names FROM patient

student_id course_code assignment_number mark

s05 c2 1 78
s05 c2 2 63
s09 c2 1 92
s09 c2 2 76
s22 c2 1 74
s22 c2 2 68
s02 c5 1 70
s02 c5 2 65
s38 c5 1 51
s57 c5 1 74
With the data in the table (assignment) above, write an SQL query for:

List the student_ids of all students whose marks are greater than 70.

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7. Grammar
Verbs followed by `-ING' or `to'-infinitives

A>>Many verbs are followed by `-ing' forms and not `to'-infinitives. The most common of these verbs
are those of `saying', `thinking' and `feeling':

admit consider deny describe detest

enjoy imagine mention recall suggest

Other common verbs are the following:

avoid commence delay finish involve

keep miss postpone practise resist

B>>Many verbs are followed by `to'-infinitives but not `-ing' forms. The most common of these verbs
are those of `saying' and `thinking':

agree choose decide hope intend

mean offer plan promise refuse

C>>Some verbs are followed by an object and a `to'-infinitive clause. The object of the verb is the
subject of the `to'-infinitive clause.

advise ask encourage expect invite

order persuade remind teach tell
Example:
They advised us to wait for another five minutes.
I asked her to explain her point of view.

D>>The following verbs can be followed by a `to'-infinitive clause or an `-ing' form, with little
difference in meaning.

attempt, begin, continue, dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, start, try
Example:
It started raining so they decided to stay at home.
It started to rain so they decided to stay at home.

E>>If you `are used to doing' something, you are accustomed to doing it. If you `used to do'
something, you did it regularly in the past, but you no longer do it now.
Example:
We are used to working together.
I used to live in this street.

F>>You can use an infinitive with a `wh'-word.

Example:
What shall I wear?
I can't decide what to wear.

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i) Complete the following sentences.

(1) He promised..........................................................................................................
(2) I decided.................................................................................................................
(3) I advise....................................................................................................................
(4) He persuaded..........................................................................................................
(5) She ordered............................................................................................................
(6) She encouraged......................................................................................................
(7) She expected them................................................................................................
(8) I hope......................................................................................................................
(9) He offered..............................................................................................................
(10) She told................................................................................................................

ii) Complete the following sentences with either a `to'-infinitive or an `-ing' clause.

(1) He kept .......................................... while we were talking.

(2) We asked him to stop ........................................... but he took no notice.
(3) The key is on the shelf. I remember .......................................... it there.
(4) Maria suggested .......................................... Fred to help.
(5) He expects .......................................... you at home.
(6) She admitted .......................................... the glass.
(7) He refused .......................................... about his girlfriend.
(8) He loves .......................................... to jazz.
(9) She encouraged him .......................................... smoking.
(10) He denied .......................................... his best friend's car.

iii) Rewrite these sentences using a `wh'-word and a `to'-infinitive.

(1) Who shall I ask to go with me to the party?

I don't know...........................................................................................
(2) Where should we go to find a good pub here?
Can you tell us........................................................................................
(3) How do you open this tin?
Can you explain.......................................................................................
(4) I want to learn to play tennis.
Can you teach .........................................................................................
(5) I can't swim. I never learned................................................................

8. Vocabulary
Word Building (3): Synonyms
Synonymy is the relationship of sameness: the relationship between words such as fast, rapid,
quick. To say that two words are synonymous is to say that they have the same meaning. For
example,

The examination depressed me=The examination got me down.

These words can convey the same information (the same denotation) but different connotations.
`Get down' is less formal than `depress'. There is a tendency for the shorter Anglo-Saxon verbs (e.g.
pull out) to be less formal than the Latin words (e.g. extract). Synonyms (e.g. friend-mate; man-chap)
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can not only express different degrees of formality; but also positive and negative evaluation: thin,
slim, skinny. `Thin' is neutral, `slim' is positive and `skinny' is negative. Similarly, the synonym of a
word may change depending on its context:

What is the correct dress for a formal party? = right, appropriate

I need to know the correct time. = exact
Could you please mend my car? It has a leaky radiator. = repair
He broke his leg last week; it will take eight weeks to mend. = heal

i) Match the Latin words in Column A with phrasal verbs in Column B:

Column A Column B
1. adopt a. call off
2. cancel b. carry on
3. construct c. come up with
4. continue d. cut down
5. disconnect e. cut off
6. enter f. get away
7. escape g. get into
8. examine h. go back
9. extinguish i. go over
10. postpone j. put off
11. propose k. put out
12. reduce l. put up
13. remove m. take away
14. return n. take over
15. take control of o. take up

ii) Put the appropriate synonym in the spaces in the sentences below:
A. appropriate, correct, proper, right, suitable
(1) He realized that I was __________ and that he had been wrong.
(2) Lack of __________ company funding is making the project difficult to manage.
(3) He was not __________ for the job.
(4) Your answer to the question is __________ .
(5) The company thought it __________ to run a computer course for all staff.

B. complete, full, global, overall, total

(1) The company employs a __________ of forty part-time workers.
(2) The project was estimated at an __________ cost of 300 million pesetas.
(3) The __________ economy is growing rapidly.
(4) The government is working towards __________ employment.
(5) His plans for the restructuring of the company were a __________ failure.

C. contemporary, modern, new, original, recent

(1) The company's new logo is very __________.
(2) I am not very keen on __________ architecture.
(3) In __________ times, the press has become a political force.
(4) The club welcomes __________ members.
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(5) He is an __________ thinker and has come up with interesting ideas for new products.
9. Pronunciation
Diphthongs: Listen and Repeat

buy day toy cow blow

pure hair hear

Practice (1)
Diphthongs are two vowel sounds which have been put together. Decide which diphthong is the
correct one in the table below (1, 2, 3 or 4):

1. / aɪ/ 2. / eɪ / 3. / ɔɪ/ 4. / aʊ /
a) Pay
b) Voice
c) Loud
d) Grey
e) Die
f) Noise
g) House
h) Wales
i) Try
j) Coin
k) High
l) Weigh

Practice (2)
Put the correct diphthong of these words between the backslashes (/ /):
1. aɪ 2. eɪ 3. ɔɪ 4. aʊ 5. əʊ 6. ʊə 7. eə 8. ɪə
a) bear = / / beer = / / bay = / /
b) toy = / / tie = / / toe = / /
c) roll = / / real = / / rail = / /
d) how = / / hair = / / high = / /
e) they = / / though = / / there = / /
f) I'll = / / oil = / / owl = / /
g) dear = / / day = / / die = / /
h) show = / / share = / / shy = / /

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10. Speaking: EcoHouse

http://www.ecofriendlyhouses.net/
https://proyectos.habitissimo.es/proyecto/11-casas-bajo-tierra-con-mucho-encanto

Learning objectives:
• to imagine a house which is integrated into the landscape (urban/rural) and is
ecofriendly
• to plan different elements of the house which are adapted to its local
environment/setting (climate, landscape, materials, energy needs, etc.) and is
respectful with the environment
• to use computers to maximize full automation of the house
• to prepare and give a short presentation

A Choose the location of your house (Madrid, Alicante, coastal & rural area in Galicia, rural
area in Teruel, tourist destination in Andalusia). Think what these places are like: climate,
geography etc.

B Consider the following aspects:

1. Climate
2. Landscape
3. Materials used & properties
4. Household’s energy needs
5. Energy sources
6. How computers can automate the eco-friendly house

C Prepare a presentation of your EcoHouse

11. Reading & Use of English

Multiple Choice Cloze: For questions 1- 8, read the text below and decide which
answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of (1) _____________ can be woven into textiles. The
protein fibre of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is (2) ____________ by certain insect larvae to
form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry
silkworm Bombyx mori, which is reared in (3) ____________.

The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fibre, which
(4) _____________ silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different
colours.

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Silk is produced by several insects, but only the silk of moth caterpillars has been (5) _____________
for textile manufacturing, although there has been some research into (6) _____________ types of
silk.

Silk is mainly produced by the larvae of insects undergoing (7) _____________ metamorphosis, but
some insects such as web spinners and raspy crickets produce silk throughout (8) _____________
lives.

(1) A witch B which C that D what

(2) A produced B manufactured C invented D offered
(3) A chains B cell C prison D captivity
(4) A encourages B tempts C allows D forces
(5) A manipulated B functioned C employ D used
(6) A another B others C other D same
(7) A complete B entire C thorough D intense
(8) A them B they're C there D their

Open Cloze: For questions 1-8, read the text below and think of the word which fits each
gap. Use only one word in each gap.
The Crow
Crows are thought to (1) _____________ among our most intelligent birds, and the success of the
American Crow in adapting to civilization would seem to confirm (2) _____________. Despite past
attempts to exterminate them, crows, (3) _____________ are very common in farmlands, can also
be seen in towns, and even cities, and (4) _____________ distinctive 'caw' is a familiar sound over
much of the continent. Sociable, especially when not nesting, crows may gather in communal roosts
(5) _____________ winter nights, sometimes with thousands or even tens (6) _____________
thousands roosting in one grove. Most crows are adaptable but often shy where persecuted; (7)
_____________ towns, some become tame and may visit gardens. They all have strong, scaly feet,
and stout or downcurved bills, mostly with (8) small patch of bristly feathers covering the nostrils.

Word Formation: For questions 1- 8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at
the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.

Rome
Rome is one of the most (1) _________ cities in the world. With ancient (1) VISIT
history dating back more than two and a half thousand years, (2) (2) CREDIBLE
________architecture, museums, culture, and cuisine, it isn't hard to see why (3) IMMENSE
this city is so (3) _______ popular with tourists from all over the world. It is
also quite a big city as it has the fourth biggest population in the European
Union, so many tourists find themselves returning again and again to see
what they weren't able to see the first time. While Roman (4) __________ (4) MYTH
claims the city was founded around 753 BC, the site has (5) _________ been (5) ACTUAL
inhabited by humans for much longer, making Rome one of the oldest (6) (6) CONTINUE
____________ occupied locations in Europe. It has been a kingdom, a
republic, an empire, and then a republic again. It even houses the tiny (7) (7) DEPEND
________ country state of the Vatican City within its walls, which only adds to (8) DIVERSE
its cultural importance and (8) _____________ .

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Keyword Transformation: For questions 1-6, 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.

Transformation Exercise
(1) You should try and take advantage of his help.
MOST
You should try and _____________ help he gives you.

(2) My sister was involved in her school spelling competition.

PART
My sister _____________ spelling competition.
(3) Could they grow anything here after the war?
ABLE
Were _____________ here after the war?

(4) 'Why didn't you call me?' asked Joe.

ASKED
Joe _____________ not called him.

(5) You drove so fast that we had an accident.

HAD
If _____________ so fast, we wouldn’t have had an accident.

(6) I hadn't seen my sister for about a year, when I saw her last.
ABOUT
It is _____________ since I last saw my sister.

Reading Text 1
Physicist Steven Desch has come up with a novel solution to the problems that now beset the
Arctic. He and a team of colleagues from Arizona State University want to replenish the region's
shrinking sea ice by building 10 million wind-powered pumps over the Arctic ice cap. In winter, these
would be used to pump water to the surface of the ice where it would freeze, thickening the cap.
The pumps could add an extra metre of sea ice to the Arctic's current layer , Desch argues. The
current cap rarely exceeds 2-3 metres in thickness and is being eroded constantly as the planet
succumbs to climate change.Thicker ice would mean longer-lasting ice. In turn, that would mean the
danger of all sea ice disappearing from the Arctic in summer would be reduced significantly.
Hence Desch's scheme to use wind pumps to bring water which is insulated from the bitter Arctic
cold by its icy surface, where it will freeze and thicken the ice cap. Nor is the physicist alone in his
Arctic scheming. Other projects to halt sea-ice loss include one to artificially whiten the Arctic by
scattering light-coloured aerosol particles over it to reflect solar radiation back into space, and
another to spray sea water into the atmosphere above the region to create clouds that would also
reflect sunlight away from the surface.

Last November, when sea ice should have begun thickening and spreading over the Arctic as winter
set in, the region warmed up. Temperatures should have plummeted to -25C but reached several

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degrees above freezing instead. It's been about 20C warmer than normal over most of the Arctic
Ocean, which is unprecedented.

In fact, sea ice growth stalled during the second week of January - in the heart of the Arctic winter -
while the ice cap actually retreated within the Kara and Barents seas, and within the Sea of Okhotsk.
Similarly, the Svalbard archipelago, normally shrouded in ice, has remained relatively free because
of the inflow of warm Atlantic water along the western part of the island chain. Although there has
been some recovery, sea ice remains well below all previous record lows.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Why is Desch's proposal described as novel?

A) Because it is very expensive.
B) Because it is theoretical.
C) Because it has never been done before.
D) Because it would be very difficult.

What outcome is suggested in the second paragraph?

A) The thinning of the sea ice could be halted.
B) The risk of the sea ice disappearing would be dramatically reduced.
C) 2-3 metres of additional sea ice could be deposited.
D) The constant erosion of the sea ice could be stopped.

In which sense is the water insulated?

A) The ice cap protects the water underneath from freezing.
B) The effect of the sun prevents the water from getting too cold.
C) Artic water is colder.
D) Pollution in the water makes it difficult for it to freeze.

What problem are the projects described at the end of the third paragraph hoping to solve?
A) Cleaning the ice that has been discoloured.
B) Increasing the amount of snow that falls on the ice.
C) Making the thickness of the ice uniform.
D) Preventing the sun from melting the ice.

What situation is being discussed in the fourth paragraph?

A) Conditions that have never happened before.
B) Conditions that happen very rarely.
C) Normal winter conditions.
D) Conditions that were predictable.

What reason is given in the final paragraph for the fact that the sea ice is not getting thicker?
A) The winds from the north are too warm.
B) The ice cap is not thick enough.
C) Seismic activity under the ice had an effect.
D) Warm water currents affected the formation of the ice.

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Reading Text 2
One of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world is the annual migration across North
America of the Monarch butterfly.
(1) _____________
In practice, however, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. Female Monarchs lay
eggs for the next generation during the northward migration, and at least five generations are
involved in the annual cycle.
There are many different migration routes, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, but the
eastern population starts its journey in Canada and finishes in Mexico.
(2) _____________
Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating Monarch
butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico. These storms also appear to have frozen or
killed about 7m of the estimated 84m butterflies that wintered there.
(3) _____________
This highlights just how fragile these forests are, and how fragile the Monarchs are.
(4) _____________
They depend on finding relatively well-preserved forests, where millions of the orange-and-black
butterflies hang in clumps from the branches, and mate. The trees, and the clumping, help to protect
the butterflies from cold rains and steep drops in temperature.
(5) _____________
Conservationists have tried to convince the largely impoverished farm and mountain communities,
which actually own most of the land, that the forest is worth more to them in terms of tourism when
left standing, instead of being cut down.
(6) _____________
The future looks bleak indeed for these intrepid and elegant travellers.

Sentences

A This was the first time such a combination of high winds, rain and freezing temperatures had
occurred in this area.
B The biggest danger to their habitat comes from illegal logging.
C Many of the butterflies are eaten by birds.
D They have had limited success in this endeavour.
E In theory, these small insects cover a round trip of over 15,000 km.
F These beautiful creatures travel enormous distances for one reason.
G This is where some extremely sad news comes from.

Reading Text 3

(A) The Banana

The banana is an edible fruit which is botanically a berry, and in some countries, bananas are used
for cooking. The fruit is variable in size, colour and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved,
with soft flesh. It is rich in starch, and covered with a rind which may be green, yellow, red, purple,
or brown when ripe. The fruit grows in clusters hanging from the top of the plant. Banana plants are

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grown in at least 107 countries, primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make fibre, banana
wine and banana beer, and as ornamental plants. Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6 and
though many people think they have a very high potassium content, that is not the case.

(B) The Mango

The mango is a juicy stone fruit, which is native to South Asia, from where it has been distributed
worldwide to become one of the most cultivated fruits in the tropics. It is the national fruit of India,
Pakistan, and the Philippines, and the national tree of Bangladesh. Over 400 varieties of mangoes
are known, many of which ripen in summer, while some give a double crop. The fruit takes three to
six months to ripen, and it does not survive freezing and drying. Mangoes contain a variety of
nutrients, but the only vitamin present in significant amounts is vitamin C.

(C) The Kiwi

The Kiwi is a fruit with an oval shape. It is green on the inside with small black seeds that can be
eaten. The kiwi has furry brown skin which is edible, but is usually removed, and is relatively thin.
The kiwi is native to South China. The fruit was named in 1959 after the kiwi, a bird and the symbol
of New Zealand. Before that, its English name was Chinese gooseberry. The kiwi is extremely healthy
and contains many vitamins and minerals. Kiwis are rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and
fibre. Kiwis have more vitamin C than an equivalent amount of oranges.

(D) The Coconut

The coconut is a fruit and not a nut, and its name comes from the Spanish word for head because it
resembles a human head. Coconuts are known for their great versatility, as they are commonly used
in cooking and frying, as well as in soaps and cosmetics. The coconut also has cultural and religious
significance in certain societies, particularly in India, where it is used in Hindu rituals. Coconuts are
distinct from other fruits because of the large quantity of water they contain, and when immature,
they are harvested for their potable coconut water, which is a good source of Vitamin C, Riboflavin
and Calcium, but is very high in Sodium.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1) Which fruit gets its name from a European language?
A B C D
2) Which fruit contains more vitamin C than an equivalent amount of another fruit?
A B C D
3) Which fruit is connected to a belief system?
A B C D
4) Which fruit can be used to make a cleaning product?
A B C D
5) Which fruit is the national fruit of several countries?
A B C D
6) Which fruit used to have a different name?
A B C D
7) Which fruit is mistakenly thought to be a good source of potassium?
A B C D
8) Which fruit is used in making alcoholic drinks?
A B C D
9) Which fruit is spoilt if frozen?
A B C D
10) Which fruit is associated with a bird?
A B C D

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12.Communicative Activity: Job Interview

Pre-Listening task: Discussion

You are going to listen to someone being interviewed for a job. First, you will discuss the
qualities that employers are looking for in future employees. In groups, rank the following
qualities in order of importance from 1-8 for obtaining a job:
 Good Presentation ( )
 Good Communication & Public Relations skills ( )
 Ambitious, dynamic and enthusiastic ( )
 Good qualifications ( )
 Good organizational skills ( )
 Computer literate ( )
 Very experienced ( )
 Self-motivated and able to work without supervision ( )

Listening (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ga3_cNYAPg)

You are going to hear 11 questions which are used in job interviews. Write
down the questions while you listen. Some questions are quite long.

1. ........................................................................................................................................
.

2. ........................................................................................................................................
.

3. ........................................................................................................................................
.

........................................................................................................................................
.

4. ........................................................................................................................................
.

5. ........................................................................................................................................
.

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6. ........................................................................................................................................
.

7. ........................................................................................................................................
.

8. ........................................................................................................................................
.

9. ........................................................................................................................................
.

10. ........................................................................................................................................
.

........................................................................................................................................
.

11. ........................................................................................................................................
.

........................................................................................................................................
.

Post-listening task

Speaking: Role Play

This friendly company (degreed.com) is looking for a really exceptional ambitious database developer
with product development experience to join their very successful and dynamic, enthusiastic
technical team.

You are now going to roleplay a job interview. Student A will be the interviewer and Student B will be
the interviewee.

 Job Interview Roleplay

 Student A (Interviewer)
 You will ask 15 questions which you will prepare with your partner

 Student B (Interviewee)
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This is the job you are applying for:

Database Developer who has a passion for databases, performance, and reporting.

 Role:
 You will support a growing database through maintenance, upgrades, performance,
analysis, and improvements
 Recommend and carry out sound database schema design
 Implement stored procedures and work with relational and document databases
 You will recommend and consult on solid reporting and data warehouse solutions
 You will learn, grow professionally, contribute to an amazing team, and play a key
role in fuelling a massive change in learning and learning recognition
 Benefits:
 Salary 35.000€, paid vacations, health/life insurance and pension plan.
 The company provides financial aid so that workers can continue their
education.

Write your fifteen questions here below:

1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________________
7. __________________________________________________________
8. __________________________________________________________
9. __________________________________________________________
10. __________________________________________________________
11. __________________________________________________________
12. __________________________________________________________
13. __________________________________________________________
14. __________________________________________________________
15. __________________________________________________________

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