Julie has to work very hard to earn just enough money to pay her bills. (end)

=> ..........................................................................................................................................

What did you do at the moment of the explosion? (when)

=> ...........................................................................................................................................

Read the article and look at the statements below it. Write Yes if the statement agrees with the opinion in the text and No if it contradicts them.

COMPUTER AND TECHONOLOGY

Has the present lived up to the expectations of the past? Throughout the ages people have tried to predict what life in the twenty-first century would be like. Many science-fiction writers did manage to predict the influence of the computer would have on our world. Some even imagined that it would take over our lives, develop a personality, and turn on its creators.

To some extent they were right, especially when it comes to children and cyber addiction. One constant prediction was that, thanks to computers and machines, the time devoted to labour would diminish. Even in 1971, in his book Future Shock, Alvin Toffler envisaged a society awash with 'free time'. The author noted that time at work had been cut in half since the turn of the previous century and wrongly speculated that it would be cut in half again by 2000.

However, our gadget-filled homes are a tribute to the various visions of the future: the microwave oven, internet fridges with ice-cube dispensers, freezers, video monitors, climate control, dishwashers, washing machines, personal computers, wireless connections and cupboards full of instant food. These may no longer be considered cutting-edge but they have matched, if not surpassed, visions of how we would live. The domestic robot never quite happened, but if you can phone ahead to set the heating and use a remote control to operate the garage door, they may as well be redundant.

The car, of course, has failed to live up to our expectations. It has been given turbo engines, DVD players and automatic windows, but its tyres stick stubbornly to the road. Why doesn't it take off? The past promised us a flying car in various guises. In 1947 a prototype circled San Diego for more than an hour but later crashed in the desert. Some 30 patents for flying cars were registered in the US patent office last century but none of these ideas has been transformed into a commercially available vehicle.

At least communication technology in this digital age hasn't let us down. Even in the most remote areas people have access to some form of communication device. The introduction of the telephone last century changed our world, but today's mobile phones and the virtual world of the Internet have revolutionised it.

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) to complete the passgae.

A MORE COMMERCIAL TUNE

Roger Press, 40, has changed his career. After spending five years (21) __________ a concert pianist, he has gone into business, recently setting up his own company. After leaving university I decided to (22) __________ myself to a career in music. I loved performing, but it was hard work. I played at concerts in Europe and America, made recordings and got reviews. But after a while I felt I had gone as far as I could. Unless you're one of the world's top 20 pianists, it's difficult to earn a good living and I wasn't one of the greatest. When I gave up my performing career, people around me were more sad and disappointed than I was. But I felt free and (23) __________I knew I was getting serious about life. After getting a qualification in business administration I joined the recording company EMI and mes about famous artists. A year ago started their classical video division, producing program I left EMI and formed a new company, New M nd formed a new company, New Media Systems, which (24) __________ in multimedia programs. (25) __________I run my own business, I'm in control of my life and I feel proud of my achievements. Although the stress is high and I work long hours, the stress involved in piano playing was much worse. It took physical, emotional and mental skills. I prefer the pressures live with now.

Perhaps we have to hire more workers. We’re quite................. at the moment.

When I saw the avalanche descending on them, I............... “Look out!”

Carol could meet her husband while she..............in Europe.

Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from that of the others.

Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the others.

Listen to a small talk about Carbon Footprint and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

We have to do something about pollution. Even though there are warnings about (36)................., companies don’t do anything to reduce pollution. Our sky, air, rivers, beaches and countryside are becoming rubbish dumps. The air is so polluted it is giving children (37).................problems. Polluted rivers have no fish left in them and beaches are too dangerous to walk on because of the (38).................everywhere. It seems a lot of people don’t care. I think there should be (39).................for polluters. I don’t mind paying more for things if they can be made with less pollution. The problem is that companies are more interested in (40).................than pollution. We have only just started looking at our carbon footprint.

I had to go pass your house so I decided to drop in. (passing)

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Many people believe that all cats have tails, but they’re wrong. (belief)

=> Contrary ............................................................................................................................

Only when the storm subsided was it clear just how much damage had been done. (until)

=> ..........................................................................................................................................

Crimes using weapons are happening increasingly frequently.

=> There are ...........................................................................................................................

Read the text and questions below. Mark the correct letter A, B, C or D for each question.

In Britian, greeting cards are sold in chain stores and supermarkets, in newsagents’ shops, corner shops and, increasingly, in shops that specialize in the sale of cards and paper for wrapping presents in.

The most common cards are birthday and Christmas cards. Many Christmas cards are sold in aid of charity and special “charity card shops” are often set up in temporary premises in the weeks before

Christmas. A wide variety of birthday cards is available to cater for different ages and tastes. Some, especially ones for young children or for people celebrating a particular birthday, have the person’s age on the front. Many have comic, often risqué, messages printed on them, and cartoon-style illustrations. Others are more sober, with reproductions of famous paintings or attractive original designs. The usual greeting on a birthday card is “Happy Birthday”, “Many Happy Returns” or “Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday”.

Some people also send special cards for Easter and New Year. Easter cards either portray images of spring, such as chicks, eggs, lambs, spring flowers, etc, or have a religious theme.

Cards are produced for every “milestone” in a person’s life. There are special cards for an engagement, a marriage, a new home, a birth, success in an examination, retirement, a death in the family, etc. Some are “good luck” or “congratulations” cards. Others, for example “get well” cards for people who are ill, express sympathy.

(Extracted from The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Encyclopedic Dictionary)

What is the passage mainly about?