1 Xu 9 VSi Op L

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 6

I Listening

1 Listen to six speakers. Are the statements true (T) or false (F)?
1 The woman is aggressive towards Ben. F
2 The woman likes factual programmes.
3 The man is older than his colleagues.
4 The woman thinks the exhibition reflected the critics’ views.
5 The man is embarrassed about enjoying gossip.
6 The man looks forward to getting up every day.

2 What are they talking about? Listen and tick the correct answer: a), b) or c).
1 a) kidnapping
b) stalking ✓
c) mugging
2 a) mugging
b) shoplifting
c) pickpocketing
3 a) hacking
b) tax evasion
c) identity theft
4 a) shoplifting
b) vandalism
c) pickpocketing
5 a) kidnapping
b) mugging
c) bribery
6 a) arson
b) vandalism
c) counterfeiting

20

II Reading

Crop-growing skyscrapers

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the Earth's population will live in urban centres. Applying the most
conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about
three billion people by then. An estimated 10 hectares of new land (about 20% larger than Brazil) will
be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming methods continue as they are
practised today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops
is in use. Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can
be done to ensure enough food for the world's population to live on?

The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes and other produce
has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to
accommodate another three billion people. Many believe an entirely new approach to indoor farming
is required, employing cutting-edge technologies. One such proposal is for the 'Vertical Farm'. The
concept is of multi-storey buildings in which food crops are grown in environmentally controlled
conditions. Situated in the heart of urban centres, they would drastically reduce the amount of
transportation required to bring food to consumers. Vertical farms would need to be efficient, cheap to
construct and safe to operate. If successfully implemented, proponents claim, vertical farms offer the
promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (through year-round
production of all crops), and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal
farming.

It took humans 10,000 years to learn how to grow most of the crops we now take for granted. Along
the way, we despoiled most of the land we worked, often turning verdant, natural ecozones into semi-
arid deserts. Within that same time frame, we evolved into an urban species, in which 60% of the
human population now lives vertically in cities. This means that, for the majority, we humans have
shelter from the elements, yet we subject our food-bearing plants to the rigours of the great outdoors
and can do no more than hope for a good weather year. However, more often than not now, due to a
rapidly changing climate, that is not what happens. Massive floods, long droughts, hurricanes and
severe monsoons take their toll each year, destroying millions of tons of valuable crops.

The supporters of vertical farming claim many potential advantages for the system. For instance,
crops would be produced all year round, as they would be kept in artificially controlled, optimum
growing conditions. There would be no weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods or pests.
All the food could be grown organically, eliminating the need for herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers.
The system would greatly reduce the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the
agricultural interface. Although the system would consume energy, it would return energy to the grid
via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants. It would also dramatically reduce
fossil fuel use, by cutting out the need for tractors, ploughs and shipping.

A major drawback of vertical farming, however, is that the plants would require artificial light.
Without it, those plants nearest the windows would be exposed to more sunlight and grow more
quickly, reducing the efficiency of the system. Single-storey greenhouses have the benefit of natural
overhead light: even so, many still need artificial lighting. A multi-storey facility with no natural
overhead light would require far more. Generating enough light could be prohibitively expensive,
unless cheap, renewable energy is available, and this appears to be rather a future aspiration than a
likelihood for the near future.

One variation on vertical farming that has been developed is to grow plants in stacked trays that
move on rails. Moving the trays allows the plants to get enough sunlight. This system is already in
operation, and works well within a single-storey greenhouse with light reaching it from above: it is not
certain, however, that it can be made to work without that overhead natural light.

Vertical farming is an attempt to address the undoubted problems that we face in producing enough
food for a growing population. At the moment, though, more needs to be done to reduce the
detrimental impact it would have on the environment, particularly as regards the use of energy. While
it is possible that much of our food will be grown in skyscrapers in future, most experts currently
believe it is far more likely that we will simply use the space available on urban rooftops.

1. Questions 1-7

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.

Indoor farming

1) Some food plants, including ............., are already grown indoors.

2) Vertical farms would be located in ............., meaning that there would be less need to take them
long distances to customers.

3) Vertical farms could use methane from plants and animals to produce ..............

4) The consumption of ............. would be cut because agricultural vehicles would be unnecessary.

5) The fact that vertical farms would need ............. light is a disadvantage.

6) One form of vertical farming involves planting in ............. which are not fixed.

7) The most probable development is that food will be grown on ............. in towns and cities.

2. Questions 8-13

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the Reading Passage? Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the views of the writer.

FALSE if the statement contradicts what the writer thinks.

NOT
if it is impossible to know what the writer's point of view is.
GIVEN

8) Methods for predicting the Earth's population have recently changed.

9) Human beings are responsible for some of the destruction to food-producing land.

10) The crops produced in vertical farms will depend on the season.

20

III Vocabulary
Complete these sentences with the most appropriate word or expression from A, B or C.

1) The two machines .......... considerably. One has an electric motor, the other runs on oil.

A. differ B. differentiate C. differential

2) The .......... in weather between the north and the south of the country is very noticeable.

A. comparison B. contrast C. compare

3) Many people cannot .......... between lemon juice and lime juice.

A. differ B. Differentiate C. contrast

4) Children must be taught to .......... between right and wrong.

A. differ B. contrast C. distinguish

5) There is a .......... between being interested in politics and joining a political party.

A. distinguish B. distinctive C. distinction

6) Can you tell the .......... between a good boss and a bad one?

A. difference B. differentiate C. contrast

7) The management must not .......... between male and female applicants.

A. differ B. contrast C. discriminate

8) Asia covers a huge area. .......... Europe is very small.

A. By way of contrast B. By ways of comparing C. By similar means

9) The new model of car is very .......... to the old one.

A. same B. similar C. common

10) Her political opinions are .......... to mine.

A. same B. exactly C. identical

10
IV Grammar
Choose the correct answers: a), b) or c).
1 I’m sorry I didn’t mean what I just said. I b it all back.
a) give b) take c) put d) pull
2 I’m really looking forward you later.
a) to see b) seeing c) to seeing d) see
3 That sales assistant was so – in fact she was downright rude.
a) diplomatic b) tactful
c) helpless d) unhelpful
4 Please papers now and correct your partner’s answers.
a) swap b) grab c) divert d) scam
5 We’ll have to cut the meeting as something urgent has come up.
a) down b) off c) up d) short
6 We’ll sun, sand and sea this time next week.
a) be enjoying b) have been enjoying
c) have enjoyed d) enjoy
7 Steve have lost his way as he’s never late.
a) can’t b) must c) mustn’t d) can
8 My grandmother me eat everything on my plate even if I didn’t want to.
a) let b) allowed c) made d) forced
9 I’m so busy these days that there’s time to relax.
a) a little b) enough c) few d) little
10 I can’t really remember the house I grew up in.
a) where b) that c) what d) whose
11 If Sam had enough money, he his car last week.
a) wouldn’t have sold b) would have sold
c) wouldn’t sell d) would sell
10
V Writing

You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City Museum shop
during the holidays. You decide to apply for the job.

Write a letter to the director of the Museum. In your letter,

• introduce yourself

• explain what experience and special skills you have

• explain why you are interested in the job

Write at least 150 words.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

20
VI Speaking – 20 points

TOTAL 100 points

You might also like