Listening – part 2 – Test 1

Part of
Word Definition Pronunciation Example
speech

She came up with a

brilliant idea for a new
product.
Verb To think of or create
Come up with /kʌm ʌp wɪθ/
phrase something new.

The child wrote a very

Having or showing imaginative story.
Adjective Imaginative imagination or /ɪˈmædʒ.ə.nə.tɪv/
creativity.

It was an uphill battle

to get the project
approved.
Adjective Uphill Difficult or challenging. /ˈʌp.hɪl/

He found a novel way

to solve the problem.
Noun A new and original way
A novel way /ə ˈnɒv.əl weɪ/
phrase of doing something.

There are three

Noun Three Three openings for a vacancies for the
/θriː ˈveɪ.kən.sɪz fər/
phrase vacancies for job or position. position of software
engineer.
 The school offers a
wide range of out-of-
school activities,
A variety of activities
A range of out- including sports, music,
Noun that students can /ə reɪndʒ əv aʊt əv
of-school and art.
phrase participate in outside skuːl ækˈtɪv.ə.tiːz/
activities
of school.

He volunteered to help
out at the story club at
the local library.
Verb Help out a To provide assistance /helpaʊt ə ˈstɔː.ri
phrase story club to a story club. klʌb/

I've heard that you

have done some acting
You have participated in high school.
Verb You have done /juː hæv dʌn ˈsʌm
in theatrical
phrase some acting ˈæktɪŋ/
performances.

I'm interested in
learning more about
Your interest in and your theatrical side.
Noun
Theatrical side experience with /ˈθɪ.ə.trɪ.kəl saɪd/
phrase
theater.
 I ended up teaching my
friends how to play the
End up To unintentionally or guitar.
Verb /end ʌp ˈtiː.tʃɪŋ
teaching unexpectedly teach
phrase ˈʌð.ərz/
others others something.

The students were able

to take in a lot of
information during the
Verb Take in a lot of To learn or understand /teɪk ɪn ə lɒt əv lecture.
phrase information a lot of information. ɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/

CAM 18 - Test 1 – part 1 Urban farming

Part of
Word Definition Pronunciation Example
speech

The new farming method

is soil-free.
Adjective Soil-free Not using soil. /soɪl-friː/

The seeds sprouted

abundantly in the warm,
moist soil.
Sprout Grow or develop /spraʊt
Verb phrase
abundantly in large numbers. əˈbʌn.dənt.li/
 I peered inside the box to
To look at see what was inside.
something closely
Verb phrase Peer inside /piːr ɪnˈsaɪd/
through a small
opening.

The plants were dangling

down inside their pots.
Dangling
Prepositional Hanging loosely /ˈdæŋ.ɡlɪŋ daʊn
down inside
phrase down inside them. ˈɪn.saɪd ðəm/
them

Flowers burst row upon

row in the garden.
To suddenly
Burst row /bɜːrst roʊ əpɒn
Verb phrase appear in large
upon row roʊ/
numbers.

The kitchen was filled with

the smell of aromatic
Herbs that have a herbs.
Aromatic
Noun phrase strong, pleasant /əˈrɒ.mə.tɪk ɜːbz/
herbs
smell.

The pots were packed with

a mixture of peat moss and
To fill something perlite.
Pack not with
Verb phrase with something /pæk nɒt wɪð soɪl/
soil
other than soil.
 She made a delicious dish
with aubergines and
tomatoes.
Noun Aubergines Eggplants. /ˈɔːbə.dʒiːnz/

The farmer sells bundles of

brightly colored chards at
Brightly Stalks of Swiss the farmers market.
/braɪt.li ˈkʌl.ərd
Noun phrase coloured chard that have
ˈʃɑːdz/
chards bright colors.

The aeroponic growing

tower is a space-saving and
A vertical efficient way to grow herbs
Aeroponic structure that /ˈeər.əˌpɒ.nɪk and vegetables.
Noun phrase
growing tower uses aeroponics to ˈɡroʊ.ɪŋ ˈtaʊ.ər/
grow plants.

The gardener has tended

To care for it and
Tend it have the vegetable garden for
Verb phrase have picked /tend ɪt hæv pɪkt/
picked many years and has picked
produce from it.
many delicious crops.

The farmers are facing

several constraints,
Limitations or
Noun Constraints /kənˈstreɪnts/ including limited water
restrictions.
resources and labor
shortages.
 The urban farm is a real-
life showcase of
A real-world sustainable agriculture.
A real-life /ə riːl-laɪf
Noun example of
showcase ˈʃoʊ.keɪs/
something.

The researchers conducted

field enquiries to gather
data on the impact of
Inquiries or climate change on crop
investigations
Noun Field enquiries /fiːld ɪnˈkwaɪ.riːz/ yields.
conducted in the
field.

The new breed of farmers

is using innovative
techniques to grow food in
A new type or urban areas.
Noun A new breed /ə nuː briːd/
group of people.

Livestock ( chăn nuôi) are

Huge Things that /hjuːdʒ
huge generators of
generators of produce large ˌdʒen.ər.eɪ.tərz əv
Noun phrase greenhouse gases,
greenhouse amounts of ˈɡriːn.haʊs
contributing to climate
gases greenhouse gases. ɡæ.səz/
change.
 The seeds undergo a
substantial journey before
they reach the consumer's
Substantial A long and /səbˈstæn.ʃəl plate.
Noun phrase
journey important trip. ˈdʒɜː.ni/

CAM18 - test 1 – part 2 Forest management in USA

The landowner planted trees

along the property line.

Noun Landowner A person who owns land. ˈlændˌōnər

The lumberjacks ( thợ rừng) cut

into logs and transported them
to the mill.( nhà máy)

To chop down a tree and ˌkʌt ˈɪntu

Verb Cut into logs cut it into logs. ˈlɒgz

The gardener grafted ( ghép) a

Noun Stem The main stalk of a plant. ˈstɛm new stem onto the rose bush.

The black knot disease was

A fungal disease that ravaging ( tàn phá) the cherry
Black knot affects trees, causing knots ˌblæk ˈnɑt trees in the orchard.( vườn cây
Noun disease to form on the branches. dɪˈziːz ăn quả)
 The woodworker crafted(chế
A person who works with tạo) a beautiful table from
Noun Woodworker wood. ˈwʊdˌwɜːkər walnut wood.

The selective removal of The loggers ( người khai thác gỗ)

the most valuable trees engaged in high-grading, leaving
Noun High-grading from a forest. ˈhaɪˈɡreɪdɪŋ behind the less valuable trees.

The family's legacy was one of

hard work and perseverance.

Something passed down

from an ancestor or
Noun Legacy predecessor. ˈlɛgəsi

The taller trees shaded out the

smaller ones, preventing them
from growing properly.

Verb Shade out To block out sunlight. ˈʃeɪd ˌaʊt

The wood was gasified to

produce fuel and chemicals.

Verb Be gasified To be converted into a gas. biː ˈɡæsɪfaɪd

The lorries rumbled down ( chạy

Large trucks used for ầm ầm ) the highway, carrying
Noun Lorries transporting goods. ˈlɒrɪz supplies to the construction site.
 The invasive plants were choking
out( bóp nghẹt) the native
vegetation.
Plants introduced into an
area where they are not
Invasive native and cause harm to ɪnˈveɪsɪv
Noun plants the ecosystem. ˈplænts

The lush foliage of the rainforest

provided a habitat for many
animals.

Noun Foliage The leaves of plants. ˈfəʊliːɪdʒ

The crowns of the trees swayed

gently ( đung đưa nhẹ nhàng )in
the breeze.

Noun Crowns The tops of trees. ˈkraʊnz

The software was tailored to

meet the requirements of the
company.

To be made or adapted to
fit a specific need or
Verb Be tailored situation. biː ˈteɪlərɪd

The pathogens spread rapidly

Noun Pathogens Disease-causing organisms. ˈpæθədʒɪnz through the population.
 The vigorous trees provided
shade and shelter for the
animals.

Vigorous Trees that are healthy and

Noun trees growing well. ˈvɪɡərəs ˈtriːz

The outbreak of the virus caused

widespread panic.

A sudden increase in the

number of cases of a
Noun The outbreak disease. ðiː ˈaʊtbreɪk

The seedlings were carefully

transplanted ( được cấy cẩn thận
vào) into the garden.

Young trees that have just

Noun Seedlings started to grow. ˈsiːdlɪŋz

The two-tier forest provided

Two-tier A forest with two layers of ˈtuː ˈtaɪər habitat for a variety of birds and
Noun forest trees, one above the other. ˈfɒrɪst animals.

CAM 18 - test 1 – part 3 conquering Earth’s space junk problem

A government
/ˈsɪv.əl
department The civil department ( sở
Noun Civil department dɪˈpɑːrt.mənt/
responsible for public dân sự) is responsible for
 works and maintaining the city's
engineering. infrastructure.

The company plans to

deploy a constellation of
satellites to provide
global internet access.

Launch a large
Deploy number of satellites /dɪˈploɪ
Verb constellations of into orbit in a kɒn.stəˈleɪ.ʃənz
phrase satellites coordinated pattern. əv ˈsæt.ə.laɪts/

Two satellites smashed

into each other in orbit,
creating a cloud of
debris.

Verb Collide with

phrase Smash into something forcefully. /smæʃ ˈɪn.tuː/

Space shrapnel poses a

threat to satellites and
spacecraft.

Fragments of debris
Noun Space shrapnel orbiting Earth. /speɪs ˈʃræp.nəl/

Rising or extending The towers stretched up

Adjective Stretching up upwards. /ˈstretʃ.ɪŋ ʌp/ into the sky.
 The car was out of
control, and I couldn't
steer away (không thể
tránh khỏi) from the
oncoming traffic.

Verb I cannot steer I am unable to change /aɪ ˈkæn.ət stɪər

phrase away direction or course. əˈweɪ/

The scientists compiled

data from several
experiments to test their
hypothesis.

Collect and organize

Verb data for analysis or
phrase Compile data reference. /kəmˈpaɪl ˈdeɪ.tə/

Space debris is a growing

problem, posing a risk to
satellites and spacecraft.

Man-made objects
orbiting Earth that are
Noun Space debris no longer functional. /speɪs dəˈbriː/

It was an unthinkable
tragedy that shook (rung
chuyển) the nation.

Unable to be
imagined or
Adjective Unthinkable considered possible. /ʌnˈθɪŋ.kə.bəl/
 The explosion set off a
panic ( cuộc hoảng loạn)
in the crowd.

Verb Cause something to

phrase Set off begin or happen. /set ɒf/

A runaway cascade of
fragments could have
devastating
consequences for space
exploration.
An uncontrolled and
A runaway rapid increase in the /ə rʌn.ə.weɪ
cascade of number of fragments kəˈskeɪd əv
Noun fragments orbiting Earth. ˈfræɡ.mənts/

The satellite was

rendered useless (trở lên
vô dụng)by the collision.

Making something
unusable or
Verb Rendering ineffective. /ˈren.də.rɪŋ/

The volcano vented its

anger in a massive
eruption. (phun trào)
To release something,
such as gas or steam,
from a confined
Verb Vent space. /vent/

The rocket had leftover

Fuel that remains fuel, which allowed it to
Noun Leftover fuel unused. /leftˈoʊ.vər fjuːl/ extend its mission.
 The meteor disintegrated
in the atmosphere.

To break up into small

Verb Disintegrate pieces. /dɪˌsɪn.təˈgreɪt/

The park rangers are

stewards of the natural
world.

People who are

responsible for
managing and
Noun Stewards protecting something. /ˈstuː.ədz/

The medicine helped to

alleviate her pain.

To make something
Verb Alleviate less severe or painful. /əˈliː.vieɪt/

The pilot skillfully

maneuvered the aircraft
through the storm.

To change direction or
Verb maneuver position skillfully. /məˈnuː.vər/
 The dancers performed a
choreographed routine
to the music.

A carefully planned
and executed
Choreographed sequence of /ˈkɒr.i.ə.ɡræft də
Noun routine movements. ˈruː.tiːn/

A comprehensive and The book is an

Authoritative reliable list of /əˈθɒ.rə.teɪ.tɪv authoritative catalogue
Noun catalogue information. ˈkæt.ə.lɒɡ/ of the artist's work.

The architect drew on

traditional design
elements for his work.

Used as a source of
Verb information or
phrase Drawn on inspiration. /drɔːn ɒn/

The researchers used

statistical methods to
find correlations
between the data sets.
To discover or
establish relationships
To find between two or more /tuː faɪnd
Verb correlations things. kəˈreɪ.leɪ.ʃənz/

The war was a tragedy

that claimed the
lives(cướp đi mạng sống)
of millions of people.

A disastrous event
that causes great
Noun Tragedy sadness or suffering. /ˈtræ.dʒə.di/
CAM18 - test 2 – part 1 Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a
prehistoric monument in
England.

A structure or
A prehistoric construction built by /ə prɪːhɪsˈtɒr.ɪk
Noun monument people in the past. ˈmɒn.jə.mənt/

Scientists have puzzled

over the meaning of
Stonehenge for
centuries.

To try to understand
or explain something
that is difficult to
Verb phrase Puzzle over comprehend. /ˈpʌz.əl ˈoʊ.vər/

The builders erected the

monument using
primitive tools.

To build or construct
something that
Verb Erect stands upright. /ɪˈrekt/

The monument
comprises a large circle
of standing stones.

To consist of or
Verb Comprise contain. /kəmˈpraɪz/
 The pyramids of Egypt
are iconic prehistoric
ruins.
A well-known and
Iconic recognizable /aɪˈkɒn.ɪk
prehistoric prehistoric prɪːhɪsˈtɒr.ɪk
Noun ruin monument. ˈruː.ɪn/

Early humans used

primitive tools to hunt,
gather, and build
shelters.

Simple tools made

Primitive from stone, wood, or
Noun tools bone. /ˈprɪm.ə.tɪv tuːlz/

The tools were

fashioned out of deer
antlers.

To make or create
something from a
Verb phrase Fashion out of particular material. /ˈfæʃ.ən aut əv/

The earl humans used

deer antlers to make
tools and weapons.

The bony growths on

Noun Deer antlers a deer's head. /diər ˈænt.lərz/

Prepositional Having existed for a The monument dates

phrase Dating back to long time. /ˈdeɪ.tɪŋ bæk tuː/ back to 3000 BC.
 Scholars have studied
Stonehenge for
centuries.

People who have

extensive knowledge
of a particular
Noun Scholars subject. /ˈskɒ.lərz/

The arrangement of the

stones at Stonehenge is
said to resemble a
horseshoe.

A U-shaped piece of
metal used to protect
Noun A horseshoe a horse's hoof. /ə ˈhɔːs.ʃuː/

Archaeologists have
traced the movement of
the stones from the
quarry to the
monument.

To follow or find the

path or course of
Verb Trace something. /treɪs/

The monument is built

Noun Boulder A large rock. /ˈbəʊl.dər/ from large boulders.
 Stonehenge is a long-
standing mystery.

Existing for a long

Adjective Long-standing time. /ˈlɒŋ-stænd.ɪŋ/

The stones may have

been transported to the
site on sledges and
rollers.

Devices used to
Sledges and transport heavy /ˈsledʒ.ɪz ænd
Noun rollers objects. ˈroʊ.lərz/

The builders would have

had to lug the stones to
the site.

To carry or pull
something with great
Verb phrase To lug effort. /tuː lʌg/

The stones may have

been towed to the site
on rafts.

To pull something
Verb Tow behind a vehicle. /toʊ/
 The builders may have
used a fleet of vessels to
transport the stones to
the site.

A fleet of A group of ships or

Noun vessels boats. /ə fliːt əv ˈves.əlz/

The stones may have

been transported to the
site on rafts.

Flat platforms made

of logs or planks used
Noun Rafts for floating on water. /ræfts/

The grooved planks may

have been used to
transport the stones.

Long pieces of wood

Long grooved with grooves cut into /lɒŋ gruːvd
Noun planks them. plænks/

Oxen may have been

used to pull the sledges
and rollers.

Adult male castrated

Noun Oxen cattle. /ˈɒk.sən/

A scientist who
studies the Earth's Geologists have studied
physical structure and the rocks used to build
Noun Geologist composition. /dʒiːˈɒ.lə.dʒɪst/ Stonehenge.
 Stonehenge came into
being over a long
period."

Come into To start to exist or /kʌm ɪn.tuː

Verb phrase being happen. ˈbiː.ɪŋ/

The workers were

carting the stones to the
construction site.

Transporting
something in a cart or
Verb Carting vehicle. ˈkär-ting

Glaciers played a role in

shaping the landscape
around Stonehenge.

A large mass of ice

moving slowly over
Noun Glacier land. ˈglā-shər

Some people are

sceptical about the
theories explaining the
purpose of Stonehenge.

Doubting or
Adjective Sceptical distrustful. ˈskep-ti-kəl
 The main structure of
Stonehenge is made
from sandstone slabs.

Sandstone Large, flat pieces of

Noun slabs sandstone. ˈsand-stōn slabs

Radiocarbon dating has

been used to estimate
the age of the stones at
A method of Stonehenge.
determining the age
of organic materials
Radiocarbon by measuring their ˈrā-di-ō-kär-bən
Noun dating radioactivity. ˈdā-ting

Antiquarians have
studied Stonehenge for
centuries.

A person who is
interested in or
Noun Antiquarian collects old objects. ˈan-ti-kwər-ē-ən

Archaeologists have
unearthed many
artifacts from the area
around Stonehenge.

To discover or find
something that was
Verb Unearth hidden or buried. ˈən-ərth

The longest day of

the year in the
The alignment of
Summer Northern
Stonehenge with the
Noun solstice Hemisphere. ˈsə-mər ˈsol-stis
summer solstice has
 been the subject of
much research.

The area around

Stonehenge was once
inhabited by several
tribes.

Groups of people
who live together and
share a common
Noun Tribes culture. trībz

Stonehenge may have

been built by agrarian
tribes.

People who practice

Noun Agrarians agriculture. ə-ˈgre-rē-ənz

The people who built

Stonehenge were
indigenous to the area.

Originating or
occurring naturally in
Adjective Indigenous a particular place. ˌin-di-ˈjə-nəs

A way of life in which

people share Stonehenge may have
resources and live been built by people
Communal together in a close- ˈkə-myo͞o-nəl wā who lived a communal
Noun way of life knit community. əv līf way of life.
 The people who built
Stonehenge may have
descended from earlier
inhabitants of the area.

To be a descendant of
someone or
Verb phrase Descend from something. di-ˈsend frəm

Our knowledge of the

people who built
Stonehenge is shadowy
at best.

Shadowy at Not well-known or

Phrase best understood. ˈsha-dō-ē et best

There is no consensus
on the purpose of
Stonehenge.

A general agreement
among a group of
Noun Consensus people. kən-ˈsen-səs

Stonehenge is a cluster
of megalithic stones.

Cluster of
megalithic A group of large, ˈklə-stər əv ˌme-
Noun stones prehistoric stones. gə-ˈli-thik stōnz
 Stonehenge may have
been used to observe
the solstices, equinoxes,
and eclipses.

Solstices, Astronomical events ˈsol-stə-sēz, i-

equinoxes, that occur at specific ˈkwi-näk-sēz, i-
Noun eclipses times of the year. ˈklip-sēz

The purpose of
Stonehenge remains
obscure.

Not clearly
understood or
Adjective Obscure expressed. ˌäb-ˈskyo͝or

Some people believe

that Stonehenge has
curative powers.

Curative Abilities to heal or ˈkyoor-ə-tiv ˈpou-

Noun powers cure. ərz

CAM 18-TEST 2-part 2: Living with artificial intelligence

Part of
speech Word Definition Pronunciation Example

Landing on the moon was

an astonishing feat.

Noun An incredible
phrase Astonishing feat achievement. /əˈstɒ.nɪ.ʃɪŋ fiːt/
 She has a long list of
prodigious
accomplishments to her
name.

Noun Prodigious Remarkable /prəˈdɪ.dʒəs

phrase accomplishments achievements. ə.kəm.plɪʃ.mənts/

The new technology

allows us to work free of
many constraints.

Adjective Free of many Not limited by /friː əv ˈmeɪ.ni

phrase constraints many restrictions. kənˈstreɪnts/

The human birth canal is

a complex and fascinating
structure.

The passage
Noun through which a /ˈhjuː.mən bɜːθ
phrase Human birth canal baby is born. kəˈnæl/

Many athletes with

handicaps overcome their
limitations to compete at
the highest level.

Disadvantages or
Noun Handicaps limitations. /ˈhænd.i.kæps/

The new technology has

To increase the the potential to
speed of accelerate progress in
Verb Accelerate something. /əkˈsel.ə.reɪt/ many areas.
 The coexistence of
different cultures can lead
to a richer and more
A mutually
vibrant society.
beneficial
relationship
Noun Worthwhile between two or /ˈwɜːθ.hwaɪl
phrase coexistence more things. koˌek.sɪs.təns/

There are many plus sides

to living in a big city.

An advantage or
Noun positive aspect of
phrase Plus side something. /plʌs saɪd/

The book is full of tales of

people from all walks of
life.

Adjective Full of tales of Rich in stories /fʌl əv teɪlz əv

phrase people about people. ˈpiː.pəl/

The company's goals are

aligned with the needs of
its customers.

In agreement or
Verb harmony with
phrase Aligned with something. /əˈlaɪnd wɪð/

The fallible nature of

Noun The tendency to /ˈfæl.ə.bəl humans means that
phrase Fallible nature make mistakes. ˈneɪ.tʃər/ mistakes are inevitable.
 For safety's sake, we
should always wear
seatbelts when driving.

Noun For the sake of

phrase Safety’s sake safety. /ˈseɪf.tiːz seɪk/

The farmer used troughs

to water his cattle.
Long, narrow
containers for
feeding or
Noun Troughs watering animals. /trɒfs/

The captain was steering

the ship carefully through
the storm.

Guiding or
directing
Verb Steering something. /ˈstiər.ɪŋ/

The idea of a world

without poverty and
crime is an otopian vision.

An unrealistic or
Noun idealistic idea of a /juːˈtoʊ.pi.ən
phrase Otopian vision perfect society. ˈvɪʒən/

Verb To be found to be The old rumor turned out

phrase Turn out to be true or correct. /tɜːn aʊt tə biː/ to be true.
 Tribal leaders met to
discuss a peace treaty.

Relating to or
characteristic of a
Adjective Tribal tribe. /ˈtraɪ.bəl/

The country gained

autonomy from its former
colonial ruler.

Noun Autonomy Self-government. /ɔː.təˈnɒ.mi/

We can discourage some

of the lapes by providing
clear instructions.

Reduce the
Verb Discourage some frequency of some /dɪsˈkʌr.ɪdʒ səm əv
phrase of the lapes of the mistakes. ðə leɪps/

We often take for granted

the things that make our
lives easy.
Fail to appreciate
or value
Verb something. – coi là
phrase Take for granted đương nhiên /teɪk fər ˈɡræn.tɪd/

Treat one group or The company was

individual more accused of discriminating
Verb Discriminate in favorably than /dɪsˈkrɪm.ɪ.neɪt ɪn in favor of male
phrase favour of another. ˈfeɪ.vər əv/ employees.
 The new technology is a
sign of progress in the
field of medicine.

An indication that
Noun something is /ə saɪn əv
phrase A sign of progress improving. prəˈɡres/

The idea that aliens are

living among us is far-
fetched.

Unrealistic or
Adjective Far-fetched implausible. /fɑːr-ˈfetʃt/

The government should

act in the interests of
taxpayers by reducing
taxes.

Act in the /ækt ɪn ðə

Verb interests of Take actions that ˈɪn.tr.əsts əv
phrase taxpayers benefit taxpayers. ˈtæks.peɪ.ərz/

The war-torn country (đất

nước bị chiến tranh) was
deprived of basic
necessities (nhu yếu
phẩm) like food and
water.
Deny someone of
something that
they need or have
Verb Deprive a right to. /dɪˈpraɪv/
 The leaders were able to
set aside their self-
interest and work
together to resolve the
Put aside one's conflict.
own personal
interests in favor
Verb Set aside of self- of the greater /set əˈsaɪd əv ˈself-
phrase interest good. ˈɪn.trəst/

CAM 18 – Test 2- READING PASSAGE 3 - An ideal city - 22 – Dec -2023

Part of
1 Word Definition Pronunciation Example
speech

She was a musical

genius who
Exceptional
composed
intellectual or
symphonies at a
creative power.
2 Noun Genius /ˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ young age.
Sức mạnh trí tuệ
Cô là một thiên tài
hoặc sáng tạo đặc
âm nhạc, người đã
biệt.
sáng tác các bản giao
hưởng khi còn trẻ.

Values and beliefs Their design

centered on human philosophy embraced
welfare and humanist sensibilities,
Humanist dignity. /ˈhjuː.mə.nɪst prioritizing comfort
3 Noun phrase
sensibilities sɛns.əˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/ and accessibility.
tập trung vào phúc
lợi và phẩm giá của Triết lý thiết kế của
con người họ chấp nhận

The painting
Represent or embodies the spirit of
Embody
4 Verb express something /ɪmˈbɒ.di/ the Renaissance
Hiện thân perfectly. period.
tinh thần
 Đại diện hoặc thể
hiện một cái gì đó
hoàn hảo.

Traditional skills are

Becoming
fading into
Fading into increasingly /ˈfeɪ.dɪŋ ɪn.tuː
5 Verb phrase insignificance in the
insignificance unimportant or ɪn.sɪg.ˈnɪ.fɪ.kəns/
face of technological
forgotten.
advancements.

Pass on knowledge,
traditions, or values The family carried
to future down the recipes for
generations. generations,
6 Verb phrase Carry down /ˈkæ.ri daʊn/ preserving their
Truyền lại kiến
culinary heritage.
thức, truyền thống
hoặc giá trị cho các di sản ẩm thực
thế hệ tương lai.

Very close to
We stand on the cusp
something
of a scientific
important or
Prepositional breakthrough with
7 On the cusp of significant. /ɒn ðə kʌsp əv/ the potential to
phrase
Rất gần với một cái change the world.
gì đó quan trọng
đứng trên đỉnh
hoặc quan trọng.

The climate crisis calls

Drastic or
for radical solutions
innovative
Radical /ˈræd.ɪ.kəl to reduce greenhouse
8 Noun phrase approaches to
solutions səˈluː.ʃənz/ gas emissions.
solving problems.
Đòi hỏi giải pháp triệt
quyết liệt
để

The museum
Protect something safeguards its
9 Verb Safeguard from harm or /ˈseɪf.ɡɑːrd/ precious artifacts
danger. with advanced
security measures.
 Hiện vật

The Great Plague was

A widespread a terrifying pestilence
10 Noun Pestilence outbreak of disease, /ˈpɛs.tɪ.ləns/ that ravaged Europe
often deadly. in the 14th century.
Tàn phá

Widely recognized He was a renowned

and admired for physicist who
11 Adjective Renowned exceptional /rɪˈnaʊnd/ contributed greatly to
achievements. our understanding of
Thành tích đặc biệt the universe.

History is an
A field of study academic discipline
Academic /əˈkæ.dɛ.mɪk
12 Noun phrase within a university that explores the past
discipline dɪsˈsɪ.plɪn/
or college. and its impact on the
present.

Advance or The researchers

progress with force pushed forward with
13 Verb phrase Push forward or determination. /pʌʃ fɔːr.wərd/ their experiments
despite facing
Quyết tâm numerous challenges.

The medieval city's

narrow streets and
A town or city in towering churches
Europe during the /ˈmiː.diː.ˌeː.vəl reflected the
14 Noun Medieval city architectural style of
Middle Ages (5th to ˈsɪ.ti/
15th centuries). the period.
Trung cổ - nhà thò
cao chót vót

Snow piled against

Accumulate or heap
the windows,
15 Verb phrase Pile against up against /paɪl əˈɡeɪnst/
blocking the view
something.
outside.
 Tích lũy hoặc chất
đống chống lại một
cái gì đó.

A protective wall
The soldiers manned
with gaps or
the battlements,
openings at the top,
16 Noun Battlement ready to defend the
used on castles and /ˈbæt.əl.mənt/
castle from attack.
fortifications.
Canh gác – bảo bệ
lâu đài và công sự.

It was a rational
Based on reason or decision to postpone
17 Adjective Rational /ˈræʃ.ə.nəl/
logic. the meeting due to
the bad weather.

Utilize something to The students took full

its greatest advantage of the
Take full /teɪk fʌl
18 Verb phrase potential. library's extensive
advantage of ədˈvɑːn.tɪdʒ əv/
resources for their
Tận dụng research project.

Genuine creativity His work displayed

True originality and innovation, not true originality,
/truː
19 Noun phrase Độc đáo thực simply imitating unlike anything seen
existing ideas. əˌrɪ.dʒə.næl.ə.ti/
sự before in the art
Bắt chước world.

The fusion of jazz and

The act of traditional Indian
combining two or music resulted in a
20 Noun Fusion more things to /ˈfyuː.ʒən/ unique and
create something captivating sound.
new.
Quyến rũ

A plant that uses

water pressure to The hydraulic plant
/haɪˈdrɒ.lɪk
21 Noun Hydraulic plant generate electricity provided clean energy
plænt/
or power for the entire town.
machinery.
 A depression or
The river flowed
low-lying area,
through a fertile
often containing
22 Noun Basin /ˈbeɪ.sɪn/ basin surrounded by
water.
rolling hills.
Vùng trũng - trũng
Màu mỡ - thoai thoải
thấp

Situated away from

the coast or a large The farm was located
23 Adjective Inland body of water. /ˈɪn.lənd/ in an inland region,
miles from the ocean.
Nằm cách xa

A modern urban The contemporary

center with the city offered a vibrant
Contemporary latest amenities /kənˈtem.pə.rɛr.i mix of cultural
24 Noun
city and developments. ˈsɪ.ti/ attractions and
technological
Tiện ích advancements.

The architect
conceived a bold
design for the new
Conceive Form an idea or city hall,
25 Verb /kənˈsiːv/ incorporating green
Hình dung plan in the mind.
spaces and
sustainable features.
Thiết kế táo bạo

A division of a The new subdivision

larger area into featured tree-lined
26 Noun Subdivision smaller, planned /səb.dɪ.ˈvɪ.ʒən/ streets and family-
units, often housing friendly amenities.
developments. Đường rợp bóng cây

Having good air The open floor plan

/wɛl and high ceilings
27 Adjective Well-ventilated circulation.
ˌven.tɪˈleɪ.tɪd/ created a well-
Lưu thông
ventilated space in
 the modern
apartment.

The city center

Wide avenues and boasted an extensive
pedestrian paths for network of
Boulevards and strolling and /ˈbuː.lə.vɑːdz boulevards and
28 Noun phrase
walkways exploring the city. ænd ˈwɔːk.weɪz/ walkways, lined with
cafes and shops.
Đi dạo
Tự hào

Cam 18 – Test 3 - READING PASSAGE 1 - Materials to take us beyond concrete. Dec -22-2023

Part of
Word Definition Pronunciation Example
Speech

The unexpected delay

Make a problem or further aggravated the
1 Verb Aggravate əˈɡræ.və.teɪt already tense situation.
situation worse.
Tình trạng căng thẳng

The immense size The sheer scale of

and production manufacture in the
Noun Sheer scale of capacity of a ʃɪər skeɪl əv textile industry led to
2
Phrase manufacture manufacturing ˈmæn.juː.fæk.tʃər environmental concerns.
process.
Ngành công nghiệp dệt
mênh mông may

The clay was incredibly

moldable, allowing the
Capable of being artist to create intricate
3 Adjective Moldable ˈmoʊl.də.bəl figures.
shaped or formed.
Phức tạp – complex –
difficult – sophisticated

The thick batter was not

Able to be poured
4 Adjective Pourable ˈpɔː.rə.bəl pourable and required
easily.
spreading with a spatula.
 Bột được đánh nhuyễn –
cái thìa

The emergence of online

The act of coming
communication platforms
5 Noun Emergence into existence or iˈmɜːr.dʒəns
revolutionized how we
becoming visible.
connect.

A substance that The strong adhesive

binds two surfaces ensured the wallpaper
6 Noun Adhesive together. əˈdhiː.sɪv
would stay firmly
Liên kết attached to the wall.

The carpenter carefully

locked the wooden
Secure something
Verb beams in place to ensure
7 Lock way firmly in place. ˈlɒk weɪ
Phrase the stability of the
Một cách chắc chắn structure.
Thợ mộc

The most important Technological innovation

Noun factor influencing or is the key driver of
8 The key driver ðə kiː ˈdraɪ.vər
Phrase causing something to economic growth in many
happen. countries.

Cam 18 – Test 3 - READING PASSAGE 2 - The steam car – tend to practice 23-Dec-2023

Part of
Word Definition Pronunciation Example
Speech

The miniaturized
Miniaturized A much smaller /ˈmɪ.ni.ə.tʃə.raɪzd version of the telescope
1 Noun
version replica of something. ˈvɜːr.ʒən/ allowed for easy
portability.

Verb Illuminated by a The miners lit their way

2 Lit by hand /lɪt baɪ hænd/
phrase handheld source of through the tunnels
 light, like a candle or with lanterns lit by
torch. hand.

The town relied on a

Large containers network of water
Noun Water /ˈwɔː.tər
3 used to store and reservoirs to provide
phrase reservoirs ˈrez.ər.vwɑːrz/
supply water. clean drinking water to
its residents.

The forest
The act of refilling or
replenishment program
4 Noun Replenishment restoring something /rɪˈplɛ.nɪʃ.mənt/
aimed to replant trees
to its previous state.
lost to deforestation.

The early self-propelled

A vehicle that moves
carriages laid the
Self-propelled under its own power, /ˌsɛlf-prəˈpɛld
5 Noun foundation for the
carriage not drawn by ˈkær.ɪ.ɪdʒ/
development of
animals.
modern automobiles.

The shuttle bus was

Moving quickly and constantly shuttling
6 Verb Shuttling frequently back and /ˈʃʌt.lɪŋ/ passengers between
forth. the airport and the city
center.

The new policy

Have the opposite of backfired, leading to an
7 Verb Backfire /ˈbæk.faɪər/
the intended effect. increase in pollution
rather than a decrease.

The company is phasing

Gradually eliminate
Verb out its older models of
8 Phase out something from use /feɪz aʊt/
phrase computers in favor of
or production.
newer ones.

The old photographs

To revive or restart
rekindled memories of
9 Verb Rekindle something that has /riːˈkɪn.dl ̩/
childhood summers
faded or died down.
spent at the beach.
 The storm wrecked the
Destroyed or
10 Verb Wrecked /rɛkt/ boat, leaving it
severely damaged.
stranded on the rocks.

The library was filled

with virtual silence,
Noun A state of almost /ˈvɜːr.tʃu.əl
11 Virtual silence broken only by the
phrase complete quietness. ˈsaɪ.ləns/
occasional page
turning.

The dishes clattered in

Making a loud, harsh
12 Verb Clattering /ˈklæt.ər.ɪŋ/ the sink as she washed
noise.
them.

The swift action of the

Moving or happening
13 Adjective Swift /swɪft/ firefighters prevented
quickly.
the fire from spreading.

The engine sputtered

The act of starting
and coughed before
14 Noun Ignition something to burn or /ɪgˈnɪ.ʃən/
finally achieving
explode.
ignition.

Looking forward to The children were

Verb Eagerly /ˈiː.ɡər.li
15 something with great eagerly awaiting the
phrase awaiting əˈweɪ.tɪŋ/
anticipation. arrival of Santa Claus.

The cold weather made

Slow and lacking
16 Adjective Sluggish /ˈslʌg.ɪʃ/ her feel sluggish and
energy.
unmotivated.

A widespread
The Black Plague
epidemic of
ravaged Europe in the
17 Noun Plague infectious disease, /pleɪg/
Middle Ages, killing
often causing great
millions of people.
suffering.

Minor problems or The software update

errors in the introduced some
18 Noun Glitches /glɪtʃ.ɪz/
operation of glitches that caused the
something. computer to crash.
 Gave something
She lent her friend her
19 Verb Lent temporarily to /lɛnt/
car for the weekend.
someone.

Made small
The inventor tinkered
adjustments or
Verb Tinkered /ˈtɪŋ.kərd endlessly with his new
20 repairs to something,
phrase endlessly ˈɛnd.lɪsli/ machine, trying to
often in a playful or
improve its design.
experimental way.

She was adamant that

Firmly determined she would not give up
21 Adjective Adamant and unwilling to /əˈdæ.mənt/ on her dream, despite
change one's mind. the challenges she
faced.

Cam 18 – Test 3 - READING PASSAGE 3 - The case for mixed-ability classes

Part of
Word Definition Pronunciation Example
Speech

Uncertain or hesitant. The athlete gave a

1 Adjective Tentative /ˈten.tə.tɪv/ tentative smile after her
E ngại close call in the race.

Publicly support or The environmentalist

recommend a advocates for stricter
2 Verb Advocate particular cause or /ədˈvɒ.keɪt/ regulations on pollution
policy. control.
Một cách công khai Ủng hộ

Finding happiness in
The quality of showing
simple pleasures
Noun Virtue of restraint and avoiding /ˈvɜːr.tʃuː əv
3 exemplifies the virtue of
Phrase moderation extremes. ˌmɒd.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ moderation.
Sự kiềm chế
Minh họa

Flowing continuously, The news station was

4 Verb Streaming especially in a steady /ˈstriː.mɪŋ/ streaming live coverage
stream. of the disaster.
 The scientist's goal was
The act of achieving
5 Noun Attainment /əˈteɪn.mənt/ the attainment of a cure
something.
for the disease.

The child's drawing,

Appealing to one's gut
Intuitively /ɪn.tjuː.ɪ.tɪv.li though simple, had an
6 Adjective feeling or natural
appealing əˈpiː.lɪŋ/ intuitively appealing
understanding.
charm.

Someone who has a

All stakeholders were
vested interest in
invited to participate in
7 Noun Stakeholder something, such as a /ˈsteɪk.hoʊl.dər/
the company's strategic
customer, employee,
planning process.
or investor.

Decrease gradually in As the sun dipped below

8 Verb Wane size, amount, or /weɪn/ the horizon, the day's
strength. light began to wane.

Someone or something The athlete was the last

9 Noun Straggler that falls behind or lags /ˈstræg.lər/ straggler to cross the
behind the main group. finish line.

The collective effort of

Shared by or belonging
the firefighters finally
10 Adjective Collective to a whole group or /kəˈlɛk.tɪv/
brought the blaze under
community.
control.

The state of being of

He longed to escape the
average or moderate
11 Noun Mediocrity /miː.diˈɒ.kri.ti/ mediocrity of his small-
quality, not very good
town life.
or bad.

She had a remarkable

A natural ability or skill aptitude for languages,
12 Noun Aptitude /əˈptɪ.tjuːd/
for something. learning new ones with
ease.

The company's dominant

Fix something firmly in
13 Verb Entrench /ɪnˈtrɛnʃ/ market position is deeply
a position or situation.
entrenched.
 The teacher used positive
Persuade someone
reinforcement to
Verb Encourage who is hesitant or /ɪnˈkʌr.ɪdʒ ðə
14 encourage the reluctant
Phrase the reluctant unwilling to do rɪˈlʌk.tənt/
student to participate in
something.
class.

Cam 18 – Test - 4 - READING PASSAGE 1 - Green roofs

Pave Make it easier for something The invention of the printing press
Verb the to happen or for someone to /peɪv paved the way for the spread of
1 phrase way succeed. ðə weɪ/ knowledge.

Cam 18 – Test - 4 - READING PASSAGE 2 - The growth mindset

Part of
Word Definition Pronunciation Example
Speech

Babies have an innate

Existing naturally in
ability to communicate
2 Adjective Innate someone or /ɪˈneɪt/
through facial
something from birth.
expressions and cries.

A passage or corridor The children lined up

3 Noun Hallway inside a building, /ˈhɔːl.weɪ/ in the hallway before
connecting rooms. the school play.

Commendation or
The artist received
approval for someone
universal praise for her
4 Noun Praise or something's good /preɪz/
groundbreaking
qualities or
sculpture.
achievements.

Introduce or establish
The teacher instilled a
a feeling, belief, or
5 Verb Instill /ɪnˈstɪl/ love of learning in her
habit in someone or
students.
something.

Failing at a challenging
Put at risk one's task can risk one's
Verb Risk sense of
6 feeling of value or /rɪsk sens əv wɜːrθ/ sense of worth, but it
phrase worth
self-confidence. can also be a learning
opportunity.
 An obstacle or Traffic congestion was
hindrance that makes a major impediment to
7 Noun Impediment /ɪmˈped.ɪ.mənt/
it difficult to do reaching the airport on
something. time.

The act of becoming The doctor's timely

8 Noun Intervention involved in a situation /ˌɪn.tərˈven.ʃən/ intervention saved the
to make a change. patient's life.

Confuse or combine People often conflate

Verb two things that are confidence with self-
9 Conflate with /kənˈfleɪt wɪð/
phrase different or not closely esteem, though they
related. are distinct concepts.

A healthy level of self-

One's confidence and
10 Noun Self-esteem /ˌsɛlf-ɪˈstiːm/ esteem is important
pride in oneself.
for mental well-being.

A real Graduation from a

accomplishment or challenging program
Noun Genuine /ˈdʒen.juː.ɪn
11 success earned was a genuine
phrase achievement əˈtʃiːv.mənt/
through effort and achievement for the
ability. student.

Someone who She is a vocal

advocates for or proponent of
12 Noun Proponent /prəˈpoʊ.nənt/
defends a particular environmental
cause or policy. protection measures.

Paradoxically, failing
In a way that seems can sometimes lead to
13 Adverb Paradoxically contradictory or /ˌpær.əˈdɒk.si.kəl.li/ greater success
absurd. through the lessons
learned.

Her aspiration was to

A strong desire or
become a renowned
ambition to achieve
14 Noun Aspiration /əs.pɪˈreɪ.ʃən/ scientist and make a
something in the
difference in the
future.
world.
 The idea that money
Noun Deluded A false or unrealistic
15 /dəˈluː.did ˈnoʊ.ʃən/ can buy happiness is a
phrase notion belief or idea.
deluded notion.

Cam 18 test 1 – p1
Urban farming -11 JAN
In Paris, urban farmers are trying a soil-free approach to agriculture that uses less space and
fewer resources. Could it help cities face the threats to our food supplies?
On top of a striking new exhibition hall in southern Paris, the world's largest urban rooftop farm
has started to bear fruit. Strawberries that are small, intensely flavored and resplendently red
sprout abundantly from large plastic tubes. Peer inside and you see the tubes are completely
hollow, the roots of dozens of strawberry plants dangling down inside them. From identical
vertical tubes nearby burst row upon row of lettuces; near those are aromatic herbs, such as
basil, sage and peppermint. Opposite, in narrow, horizontal trays packed not with soil but with
coconut fibre, grow cherry tomatoes, shiny aubergines and brightly coloured chards.
Pascal Hardy, an engineer and sustainable development consultant, began experimenting with
vertical farming and aeroponic growing towers - as the soil-free plastic tubes are known - on his
Paris apartment block roof five years ago. The urban rooftop space above the exhibition hall is
somewhat bigger: 14,000 square metres and almost exactly the size of a couple of football
pitches. Already, the team of young urban farmers who tend it have picked, in one day, 3,000
lettuces and 150 punnets of strawberries. When the remaining two thirds of the vast open area
are in production, 20 staff will harvest up to 1,000 kg of perhaps 35 different varieties of fruit and
vegetables, every day. 'We're not ever, obviously, going to feed the whole city this way,' cautions
Hardy. 'In the urban environment you're working with very significant practical constraints,
clearly, on what you can do and where. But if enough unused space can be developed like this,
there's no reason why you shouldn't eventually target maybe between 5% and 10% of
consumption.'
Perhaps most significantly, however, this is a real-life showcase for the work of Hardy's
flourishing urban agriculture consultancy, Agripolis, which is currently fielding enquiries from
around the world to design, build and equip a new breed of soil-free inner-city farm. 'The
method's advantages are many,' he says. 'First, I don't much like the fact that most of the fruit
and vegetables we eat have been treated with something like 17 different pesticides, or that the
intensive farming techniques that produced them are such huge generators of greenhouse gases.
I don't much like the fact, either, that they've travelled an average of 2,000 refrigerated
kilometres to my plate, that their quality is so poor, because the varieties are selected for their
capacity to withstand such substantial journeys, or that 80% of the price I pay goes to
wholesalers and transport companies, not the producers.'
Produce grown using this soil-free method, on the other hand - which relies solely on a small
quantity of water, enriched with organic nutrients, pumped around a closed circuit of pipes,
towers and trays - is 'produced up here, and sold locally, just down there. It barely travels at all,'
Hardy says. 'You can select crop varieties for their flavor, not their resistance to the transport and
storage chain, and you can pick them when they're really at their best, and not before.' No soil is
exhausted, and the water that gently showers the plants' roots every 12 minutes is recycled, so
the method uses 90% less water than a classic intensive farm for the same yield.
Urban farming is not, of course, a new phenomenon. Inner-city agriculture is booming from
Shanghai to Detroit and Tokyo to Bangkok. Strawberries are being grown in disused shipping
containers, mushrooms in underground carparks. Aeroponic farming, he says, is 'virtuous'. The
equipment weighs little, can be installed on almost any flat surface and is cheap to buy: roughly
€100 to €150 per square metre. It is cheap to run, too, consuming a tiny fraction of the electricity
used by some techniques.
Produce grown this way typically sells at prices that, while generally higher than those of classic
intensive agriculture, are lower than soil-based organic growers. There are limits to what farmers
can grow this way, of course, and much of the produce is suited to the summer months. 'Root
vegetables we cannot do, at least not yet,' he says. 'Radishes are OK, but carrots, potatoes, that
kind of thing - the roots are simply too long. Fruit trees are obviously not an option. And beans
tend to take up a lot of space for not much return.' Nevertheless, urban farming of the kind being
practised in Paris is one part of a bigger and fast-changing picture that is bringing food
production closer to our lives.
18 CAM – TEST 1 –P2 - Forest management in Pennsylvania, USA -12-JAN
How managing low-quality wood (also known as low-use wood) for bioenergy can
encourage sustainable forest management

A
A tree's 'value' depends on several factors including its species, size, form, condition, quality,
function, and accessibility, and depends on the management goals for a given forest. The same
tree can be valued very differently by each person who looks at it. A large, straight black cherry
tree has high value as timber to be cut into logs or made into furniture, but for a landowner more
interested in wildlife habitat, the real value of that stem ( or trunk) may be the food it provides to
animals. Likewise, if the tree suffers from black knot disease, its value for timber decreases, but
to a woodworker interested in making bowls, it brings an opportunity for a unique and beautiful
piece of art.
B
In the past, Pennsylvania landowners were solely interested in the value of their trees as high-
quality timber. The norm was to remove the stems of highest quality and leave behind poorly
formed trees that were not as well suited to the site where they grew. This practice, called 'high-
grading', has left a legacy of 'low-use wood' in the forests. Some people even call these 'junk
trees', and they are abundant in Pennsylvania. These trees have lower economic value for
traditional timber markets, compete for growth with higher-value trees, shade out desirable
regeneration and decrease the health of a stand* leaving it more vulnerable to poor weather and
disease. Management that specifically targets low-use wood can help landowners manage these
forest health issues, and wood energy markets help promote this.
C
Wood energy markets can accept less expensive wood material of lower quality than would be
suitable for traditional timber markets. Most wood used for energy in Pennsylvania is used to
produce heat or electricity through combustion. Many schools and hospitals use wood boiler
systems to heat and power their facilities, many homes are primarily heated with wood, and
some coal plants incorporate wood into their coal streams to produce electricity. Wood can also
be gasified for electrical generation and can even be made into liquid fuels like ethanol and
gasoline for lorries and cars. All these products are made primarily from low-use wood. Several
tree- and plant-cutting approaches, which could greatly improve the long-term quality of a forest,
focus strongly or solely on the use of wood for those markets.
D
One such approach is called a Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Cut. In a TSI Cut, really poor-
quality tree and plant material is cut down to allow more space, light, and other resources to the
highest-valued stems that remain. Removing invasive plants might be another primary goal of a
TSI Cut. The stems that are left behind might then grow in size and develop more foliage and
larger crowns or tops that produce more coverage for wildlife; they have a better chance to
regenerate in a less crowded environment. TSI Cuts can be tailored to one farmer's specific
management goals for his or her land.
E
Another approach that might yield a high amount of low-use wood is a Salvage Cut. With the
many pests and pathogens visiting forests including hemlock wooly adelgid, Asian longhomed
beetle, emerald ash borer, and gypsy moth, to name just a few, it is important to remember that
those working in the forests can help ease these issues through cutting procedures. These types
of cut reduce the number of sick trees and seek to manage the future spread of a pest problem.
They leave vigorous trees that have stayed healthy enough to survive the outbreak.
F
A Shelterwood Cut, which only takes place in a mature forest that has already been thinned
several times, involves removing all the mature trees when other seedlings have become
established. This then allows the forester to decide which tree species are regenerated. It leaves
a young forest where all trees are at a similar point in their growth. It can also be used to develop
a two-tier forest so that there are two harvests and the money that comes in is spread out over a
decade or more.
G
Thinnings and dense and dead wood removal for fire prevention also center on the production
of low-use wood. However, it is important to remember that some retention of what many
would classify as low-use wood is very important. The tops of trees that have been cut down
should be left on the site so that their nutrients cycle back into the soil. In addition, trees with
many cavities are extremely important habitats for insect predators like woodpeckers, bats and
small mammals. They help control problem insects and increase the health and resilience of the
forest. It is also important to remember that not all small trees are low-use. For example, many
species like hawthorn provide food for wildlife. Finally, rare species of trees in a forest should
also stay behind as they add to its structural diversity.
Alfred Wegener: science, exploration and the theory of continental drift
by Mott T Greene
0-Introduction
This is a book about the life and scientific work of Alfred Wegener, whose reputation today rests
with his theory of continental displacements, better known as 'continental drift'. Wegener
proposed this theory in 1912 and developed it extensively for nearly 20 years. His book on the
subject, The Origin of Continents and Oceans, went through four editions and was the focus of an
international controversy in his lifetime and for some years after his death.
1
Wegener's basic idea was that many mysteries about the Earth's history could be solved if one
supposed that the continents moved laterally, rather than supposing that they remained fixed in
place. Wegener showed in great detail how such continental movements were plausible and how
they worked, using evidence from a large number of sciences including geology, geophysics,
paleontology, and climatology. Wegener's idea - that the continents move - is at the heart of the
theory that guides Earth sciences today: namely plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is in many respects
quite different from Wegener's proposal, in the same way that modern evolutionary theory is very
different from the ideas Charles Darwin proposed in the 1850s about biological evolution. Yet plate
tectonics is a descendant of Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, in quite the same way
that modern evolutionary theory is a descendant of Darwin's theory of natural selection.
2
When I started writing about Wegener's life and work, one of the most intriguing things about him
for me was that, although he came up with a theory on continental drift, he was not a geologist.
He trained as an astronomer and pursued a career in atmospheric physics. When he proposed the
theory of continental displacements in 1912, he was a lecturer in physics and astronomy at the
University of Marburg, in southern Germany. However, he was not an 'unknown'. In 1906 he had
set a world record (with his brother Kurt) for time aloft in a hot-air balloon: 52 hours. Between
1906 and 1908 he had taken part in a highly publicized and extremely dangerous expedition to the
coast of northeast Greenland. He had also made a name for himself amongst a small circle of
meteorologists and atmospheric physicists in Germany as the author of a textbook,
Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere ( 1911 ), and of a number of interesting scientific papers.
3
As important as Wegener's work on continental drift has turned out to be, it was largely a sideline
to his interest in atmospheric physics, geophysics, and paleoclimatology*, and thus I have been at
great pains to put Wegener's work on continental drift in the larger context of his other scientific
work, and in the even larger context of atmospheric sciences in his lifetime. This is a 'continental
drift book' only to the extent that Wegener was interested in that topic and later became famous
for it. My treatment of his other scientific work is no less detailed, though I certainly have devoted
more attention to the reception of his ideas on continental displacement, as they were much more
controversial than his other work.
4
Readers interested in the specific detail of Wegener's career will see that he often stopped
pursuing a given line of investigation (sometimes for years on end), only to pick it up later. I have
tried to provide guideposts to his rapidly shifting interests by characterizing different phases of his
life as careers in different sciences, which is reflected in the titles of the chapters. Thus, the index
should be a sufficient guide for those interested in a particular aspect of Wegener's life but perhaps
not all of it. My own feeling, however, is that the parts do not make as much sense on their own
as do all of his activities taken together. In this respect I urge readers to try to experience
Wegener's life as he lived it, with all the interruptions, changes of mind, and renewed efforts
this entailed.
5
Wegener left behind a few published works but, as was standard practice, these reported the
results of his work - not the journey he took to reach that point. Only a few hundred of the many
thousands of letters he wrote and received in his lifetime have survived and he didn't keep
notebooks or diaries that recorded his life and activities. He was not active (with a few exceptions)
in scientific societies, and did not seek to find influence or advance his ideas through professional
contacts and politics, spending most of his time at home in his study reading and writing, or in the
field collecting observations.
6
Some famous scientists, such as Newton, Darwin, and Einstein, left mountains of written material
behind, hundreds of notebooks and letters numbering in the tens of thousands. Others, like
Michael Faraday, left extensive journals of their thoughts and speculations, parallel to their
scientific notebooks. The more such material a scientist leaves behind, the better chance a
biographer has of forming an accurate picture of how a scientist's ideas took shape and evolved.
7
I am firmly of the opinion that most of us, Wegener included, are not in any real sense the authors
of our own lives. We plan, think, and act, often with apparent freedom, but most of the time our
lives 'happen to us', and we only retrospectively turn this happenstance into a coherent narrative
of fulfilled intentions. This book, therefore, is a story both of the life and scientific work that Alfred
Wegener planned and intended and of the life and scientific work that actually 'happened to him'.
These are, as I think you will soon see, not always the same thing.
 CAM 17 – READING TEST 1 – P1
The development of the London underground railway

In the first half of the 1800s, London’s population grew at an astonishing rate, and the central
area became increasingly congested. In addition, the expansion of the overground railway
network resulted in more and more passengers arriving in the capital. However, in 1846, a Royal
Commission decided that the railways should not be allowed to enter the City, the capital’s
historic and business centre. The result was that the overground railway stations formed a ring
around the City. The area within consisted of poorly built, overcrowded slums and the streets were
full of horse-drawn traffic. Crossing the City became a nightmare. It could take an hour and a half
to travel 8 km by horse-drawn carriage or bus. Numerous schemes were proposed to resolve these
problems, but few succeeded.

Amongst the most vocal advocates for a solution to London’s traffic problems was Charles
Pearson, who worked as a solicitor for the City of London. He saw both social and economic
advantages in building an underground railway that would link the overground railway stations
together and clear London slums at the same time. His idea was to relocate the poor workers who
lived in the inner-city slums to newly constructed suburbs, and to provide cheap rail travel for
them to get to work. Pearson’s ideas gained support amongst some businessmen and in 1851 he
submitted a plan to Parliament. It was rejected, but coincided with a proposal from another group
for an underground connecting line, which Parliament passed.

The two groups merged and established the Metropolitan Railway Company in August 1854. The
company’s plan was to construct an underground railway line from the Great Western Railway’s
(GWR) station at Paddington to the edge of the City at Farringdon Street – a distance of almost
5 km. The organisation had difficulty in raising the funding for such a radical and expensive
scheme, not least because of the critical articles printed by the press. Objectors argued that the
tunnels would collapse under the weight of traffic overhead, buildings would be shaken and
passengers would be poisoned by the emissions from the train engines. However, Pearson and his
partners persisted.
The GWR, aware that the new line would finally enable them to run trains into the heart of
the City, invested almost £250,000 in the scheme. Eventually, over a five-year period, £1m
was raised. The chosen route ran beneath existing main roads to minimise the expense of
demolishing buildings. Originally scheduled to be completed in 21 months, the construction of
the underground line took three years. It was built just below street level using a technique known
as ‘cut and cover’. A trench about ten metres wide and six metres deep was dug, and the sides
temporarily held up with timber beams. Brick walls were then constructed, and finally a brick
arch was added to create a tunnel. A two-metre-deep layer of soil was laid on top of the tunnel
and the road above rebuilt.

The Metropolitan line, which opened on 10 January 1863, was the world’s first underground
railway. On its first day, almost 40,000 passengers were carried between Paddington and
Farringdon, the journey taking about 18 minutes. By the end of the Metropolitan’s first year of
operation, 9.5 million journeys had been made.

Even as the Metropolitan began operation, the first extensions to the line were being authorized;
these were built over the next five years, reaching Moorgate in the east of London and
Hammersmith in the west. The original plan was to pull the trains with steam locomotives, using
Firebricks in the boilers to provide steam, but these engines were never introduced. Instead, the
line used specially designed locomotives that were fitted with water tanks in which steam could
be condensed. However, smoke and fumes rema
ined a problem, even though ventilation shafts
were added to the tunnels.

Despite the extension of the underground railway, by the 1880s, congestion on London’s streets
had become worse. The problem was partly that the existing underground lines formed a circuit
around the centre of London and extended to the suburbs, but did not cross the capital’s centre.
The ‘cut and cover’ method of construction was not an option in this part of the capital. The only
alternative was to tunnel deep underground.

Although the technology to create these tunnels existed, steam locomotives could not be used in
such a confined space. It wasn’t until the development of a reliable electric motor, and a means of
transferring power from the generator to a moving train, that the world’s first deep-level electric
railway, the City & South London, became possible. The line opened in 1890, and ran from the
City to Stockwell, south of the River Thames. The trains were made up of three carriages and
driven by electric engines. The carriages were narrow and had tiny windows just below the roof
because it was thought that passengers would not want to look out at the tunnel walls. The line
was not without its problems, mainly caused by an unreliable power supply. Although the City &
South London Railway was a great technical achievement, it did not make a profit. Then, in 1900,
the Central London Railway, known as the ‘Tuppenny Tube’, began operation using new electric
locomotives. It was very popular and soon afterwards new railways and extensions were added to
the growing tube network. By 1907, the heart of today’s Underground system was in place.
 Stadiums: past, present and future
A
Stadiums are among the oldest forms of urban architecture: vast stadiums where the public
could watch sporting events were at the centre of western city life as far back as the ancient
Greek and Roman Empires, well before the construction of the great medieval cathedrals and
the grand 19th- and 20th-century railway stations which dominated urban skylines in later eras.
Today, however, stadiums are regarded with growing scepticism. Construction costs can soar
above £1 billion, and stadiums finished for major events such as the Olympic Games or the
FIFA World Cup have notably fallen into disuse and disrepair.
But this need not be the case. History shows that stadiums can drive urban development and
adapt to the culture of every age. Even today, architects and planners are finding new ways
to adapt the mono-functional sports arenas which became emblematic of modernisation
during the 20th century.
B
The amphitheatre* of Arles in southwest France, with a capacity of 25,000 spectators,
is perhaps the best example of just how versatile stadiums can be. Built by the Romans in
90 AD, it became a fortress with four towers after the fifth century, and was then
transformed into a village containing more than 200 houses. With the growing interest in
conservation during the 19th century, it was converted back into an arena for the staging of
bullfights, thereby returning the structure to its original use as a venue for public spectacles.
Another example is the imposing arena of Verona in northern Italy, with space for 30,000
spectators, which was built 60 years before the Arles amphitheatre and 40 years before
Rome’s famous Colosseum. It has endured the centuries and is currently considered one of
the world’s prime sites for opera, thanks to its outstanding acoustics.
C The area in the centre of the Italian town of Lucca, known as the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro,
is yet another impressive example of an amphitheatre becoming absorbed into the fabric
of the city. The site evolved in a similar way to Arles and was progressively filled with
buildings from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, variously used as houses, a salt depot
and a prison. But rather than reverting to an arena, it became a market square, designed
by Romanticist architect Lorenzo Nottolini. Today, the ruins of the amphitheatre remain
embedded in the various shops and residences surrounding the public square.
D
There are many similarities between modern stadiums and the ancient amphitheatres
Intended for games. But some of the flexibility was lost at the beginning of the 20th century,
as stadiums were developed using new products such as steel and reinforced concrete, and
made use of bright lights for night-time matches.
Many such stadiums are situated in suburban areas, designed for sporting use only and
surrounded by parking lots. These factors mean that they may not be as accessible to the
general public, require more energy to run and contribute to urban heat.
amphitheatre: (especially in Greek and Roman architecture) an open circular or oval building with a
central space surrounded by tiers of
seats for spectators, for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events

E
But many of today’s most innovative architects see scope for the stadium to help improve the
city. Among the current strategies, two seem to be having particular success: the stadium as
an urban hub, and as a power plant.
There’s a growing trend for stadiums to be equipped with public spaces and services that
serve a function beyond sport, such as hotels, retail outlets, conference centres, restaurants
and bars, children’s playgrounds and green space. Creating mixed-use developments such as
this reinforces compactness and multi-functionality, making more efficient use of land and
helping to regenerate urban spaces.
This opens the space up to families and a wider cross-section of society, instead of catering
only to sportspeople and supporters. There have been many examples of this in the UK: the
mixed-use facilities at Wembley and Old Trafford have become a blueprint for many other
stadiums in the world.
F The phenomenon of stadiums as power stations has arisen from the idea that energy
problems can be overcome by integrating interconnected buildings by means of a smart grid,
which is an electricity supply network that uses digital communications technology to detect
and react to local changes in usage, without significant energy losses. Stadiums are ideal
for these purposes, because their canopies have a large surface area for fitting photovoltaic
panels and rise high enough (more than 40 metres) to make use of micro wind turbines.
Freiburg Mage Solar Stadium in Germany is the first of a new wave of stadiums as power
plants, which also includes the Amsterdam Arena and the Kaohsiung Stadium. The latter,
Inaugurated in 2009, has 8,844 photovoltaic panels producing up to 1.14 GWh of electricity
annually. This reduces the annual output of carbon dioxide by 660 tons and supplies up
to 80 percent of the surrounding area when the stadium is not in use. This is proof that a
stadium can serve its city, and have a decidedly positive impact in terms of reduction of CO2
emissions.
G Sporting arenas have always been central to the life and culture of cities. In every era, the
stadium has acquired new value and uses: from military fortress to residential village, public
space to theatre and most recently a field for experimentation in advanced engineering.
The stadium of today now brings together multiple functions, thus helping cities to create a
sustainable future.
READING PASSAGE 3
To Catch a King
Anna Keay reviews Charles Spencer’s book about the hunt for King Charles II during the English Civil
War of the seventeenth century.
27-31/ 36
Charles Spencer’s latest book, To Catch a King, tells us the story of the hunt for King Charles II in
the six weeks after his resounding defeat at the Battle of Worcester in September 1651. And what
a story it is. After his father was executed by the Parliamentarians in 1649, the young Charles II
sacrificed one of the very principles his father had died for and did a deal with Scots, thereby
accepting Presbyterianism* as the national religion in return for being crowned King of Scots. His
arrival in Edinburgh prompted the English Parliamentary army to invade Scotland in a pre-emptive
strike. This was followed by a Scottish invasion of England. The two sides finally faced one another
at Worcester in the west of England in 1651. After being comprehensively defeated on the
meadows outside the city by the Parliamentarian army, the 21-year-old king found himself the
subject of a national manhunt, with a huge sum offered for his capture, through a series of heart
– poundingly close escapes, to evade the Parliamentarians before seeking refuge in France. For the
next nine years, the penniless and defeated Charles wandered around Europe with only a small
group of loyal supporters.
32-35

Years later, after his restoration as king, the 50-year-old Charles II requested a meeting with the
writer and diarist Samuel Pepys. His intention when asking Pepys to commit his story to paper was
to ensure that this most extraordinary episode was never forgotten. Over two three-hour sittings,
the king related to him in great detail his personal recollections of the six weeks he had spent as a
fugitive. As the king and secretary settled down (a scene that is surely a gift for a future
scriptwriter), Charles commenced his story: ‘After the battle was so absolutely lost as to be beyond
hope of recovery, I began to think of the best way of saving myself.’
37
One of the joys of Spencer’s book, a result not least of its use of Charles II’s own narrative as well
as those of his supporters, is just how close the reader gets to the action. The day-by-day retelling
of the fugitives’ doings provides delicious details: the cutting of the king’s long hair with agricultural
shears, the use of walnut leaves to dye his pale skin, and the day Charles spent lying on a branch
of the great oak tree in Boscobel Wood as the Parliamentary soldiers scoured the forest floor
below. Spencer draws out both the humour – such as the preposterous refusal of Charles’s friend
Henry Wilmot to adopt disguise on the grounds that it was beneath his dignity – and the emotional
tension when the secret of the king’s presence was cautiously revealed to his supporters.
38
Charles’s adventures after losing the Battle of Worcester hide the uncomfortable truth that whilst
almost everyone in England had been appalled by the execution of his father, they had not
welcomed the arrival of his son with the Scots army, but had instead firmly bolted their doors. This
was partly because he rode at the head of what looked like a foreign invasion force and partly
because, after almost a decade of civil war, people were desperate to avoid it beginning again. This
makes it all the more interesting that Charles II himself loved the story so much ever after. As well
as retelling it to anyone who would listen, causing eye-rolling among courtiers, he set in train a
series of initiatives to memorialize it. There was to be a new order of chivalry, the Knights of the
Royal Oak. A series of enormous oil paintings depicting the episode were produced, including a
two-metre-wide canvas of Boscobel Wood and a set of six similarly enormous paintings of the king
on the run. In 1660, Charles II commissioned the artist John Michael Wright to paint a flying
squadron of cherubs* carrying an oak tree to the heavens on the ceiling of his bedchamber. It is
hard to imagine many other kings marking the lowest point in their life so enthusiastically, or
indeed pulling off such an escape in the first place.
Charles Spencer is the perfect person to pass t
Charles Spencer is the perfect person to pass the story on to a new generation.His pacey, readable
prose steers deftly clear of modern idioms and elegantly brings to life the details of the great tale.
He has even-handed sympathy for both the fugitive king and the fierce republican regime that
hunted him, and he succeeds in his desire to explore far more of the background of the story than
previous books on the subject have done. Indeed, the opening third of the book is about how
Charles II found himself at Worcester in the first place, which for some will be reason alone to
read To Catch a King.
40
The tantalizing question left, in the end, is that of what it all meant. Would Charles II have been a
different king had these six weeks never happened? The days and nights spent in hiding must have
affected him in some way. Did the need to assume disguises, to survive on wit and charm alone,
to use trickery and subterfuge to escape from tight corners help form him? This is the one area
where the book doesn’t quite hit the mark. Instead its depiction of Charles II in his final years as an
ineffective, pleasure-loving monarch doesn’t do justice to the man (neither is it accurate), or to the
complexity of his character. But this one niggle aside, To Catch a King is an excellent read, and
those who come to it knowing little of the famous tale will find they have a treat in store.
.
* Presbyterianism: part of the reformed Protestant religion
* cherub: an image of angelic children used in paint