Reading, 45 January 23, 2007 You are going to read some information about Star Signs For questions 22 – 35, choose from the list of Star Signs A – G Some of the Star Signs may be chosen more than once When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order There is an example at the beginning (0) People of which si9n(s): will win a competition? 0:_A_ will receive an invitation? 22: _ will meet new people? 23: _ may travel? 24: _ 25: _ are making plans for college? may change house? 26: 25: 26: 29: _ are advised to be sincere? 30: _ will have to look after younger brothers or sisters? 31: _ may run short of money? 32: will reorganise their place? 33: 34: are advised not to hurry in love matters? 35: Star Signs A ARIES Expect more than one heart-to-heart with dad or a teacher about school plans New neighbours arrive and you think that it’s cool that they have the same interests as you If you are involved in sports, make room on the trophy shelf; victory is yours for the asking You’ll have many late-night phone conversations with a friend about straightening out the world B TAURUS Letters of loan approvals, scholarships and grants for college are in the mail Don’t panic if you overhear your folks talk about moving They won’t get the house on the market till spring Towards the end of the month that gorgeous guy you met last summer will touch base with you By the 25th, a friend will confide in you about a relationship that’s on the rocks C GEMINI If you are in your last year of high school, you will spend all your free time hunting for a college Check with your local libraries for available scholarships If you are not ready for college yet, focus on college-prep classes With Saturn in Aries, you and your friends will be accepted into the same programmes Mum may be busy this month, so you’ll have to help take care of the siblings D CAPRICORN Romance is on the upswing, but don’t microwave the affair; let love simmer With Neptune in Capricorn, your ideals will be very important when Romeo comes along Unexpected expenses leave your wallet light, and you may have to borrow from a friend Communication is very important to you, so waiting for news may be frustrating E LEO Check your wardrobe for a great outfit You’ll probably be invited to a concert or a play by someone special Money may be a little tight after the holidays Your wallet may seem like a revolving door Saturn in Aries will inspire you to volunteer for a trip connected to school or work You will finally hear from the college of your choice this month:hooray! A last minute maths quiz will take you by surprise Offer to tutor someone struggling with the subject F VIRGO You will have time to spare at work, so take your homework along Review your paycheque; there could be an error in your favour Someone a bit younger than you will express his affection Let him down gently Love is in the air, but honesty is the best policy Tell him that you are interested but want a monogamous relationship The sun in Capricorn has you rearranging your bedroom furniture While you’re at it, why not paint something artistic on the walls? G LIBRA Friends will want to hang out at your house and study with you There will be a flurry of last-minute get-togethers this month Is one a surprise party for your mum? The changes you make at the beginning of the month will bring results by the 23rd Look under the bed for that lost treasure With Jupiter and Mars in Aquarius, plan on an unexpected trip with friends You’ll have a blastl Reading, 44 January 23, 2007 You are going to read an article about a female boxer Seven sentences have been removed from the article Choose from the sentences A – H the one which fits each gap 16 – 21 There is one extra sentence which you not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0) A Millions saw Tyson, but now the main event was over, the cameras were switched off and the crowd was going home B For the second time that night, Christy is left with only a handful of people to impress C As she prowls the ring, arms held high and punching the air, Christy Martin looks like a woman on top of the world D Women’s boxing has never been taken very seriously by the almost exclusively male boxing crowd E Christy might worry about her teeth getting knocked out F Since signing with him two years ago, Christy’s left blows are now worth thousands of dollars G “Look,” she says, examining it closely, “I did break my nail.” H “It does hurt my feelings that I work so hard and I don’t get mentioned,” she says The female Tyson The crowd was jubilant Mike Tyson had just beaten Buster Mathis Junior in the third round in a cavernous stadium in Philadelphia, as everyone suspected he would Fox Television had transmitted the fight coast to coast 0: _A_ This was a pity They missed the only surprise of the evening Dressed in her baby-pink robe, with her greased face and hungry look, Christy Martin pounces into the ring later than scheduled The straying crowd heading for the exit lingers Within 144 seconds Christy has floored her opponent A seasoned ringside photographer shakes his head and says, “She’s something else, isn’t she?” 16: _ Back in the dressing room, she brushes her long hair and worries about her injury of the night 17: _ Christy is 27 and has been fighting for just five years, yet some consider her to be the Tyson of women’s boxing And, like Tyson, she’s signed to the prince of all promoters, Don King – the most powerful man in a multi-million dollar sport 18: _ I “I’ve gone from fighting $25-a-round club shows to fighting in the best and biggest rings in the boxing world We spoke to all the promoters, but none of them was interested in having a woman fighter Now I’m glad because we were available when Don King had time to talk to us King gives people opportunities and I’m glad he gave me a chance.” At the press conference after the fight, Christy waits respectfully as Mike Tyson talks to the press But as soon as he’s finished, they are off 19: _ From the stage Don King booms, “Where are you all going? What’s the matter with you guys – are you discriminating?” Like any professional woman struggling to make it in male territory, Christy gets overlooked 20: _ “The other day, Don King was raving about me at a press conference, saying it was the fight of the night He even gave me a bonus for it But the next day, there was not one line in the papers to say I’d fought Journalists are afraid to write about it, but as soon as one of them says, ‘Yes, we rate Christy Martin’, then the rest follow suit.’ Almost on cue, a radio boxing commentator interrupts to congratulate her on the fight 21: _ Until Christy came on the scene and Don King got involved, it was dismissed as ‘two women slapping each other about’ But in the cut-andthrust world of boxing, the only thing that counts is a fighter’s ability, and Christy has earned her respect Mention her name in the after-fight bar and everyone agrees “I used to say I didn’t want any women fighting in my ring, full stop,” says match-maker Bobby Mitchell, “but I’ll never say it again Christy Martin shuts mouths and opens eyes.” Reading, 43 January 23, 2007 You are going to read some information about the remote control For questions – 15, choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text A SHORT HISTORY OF THE REMOTE CONTROL Oh sure, it’s easy being a couch potato now Wondrous advances in technology, particularly during the 1990s, have made it easy and fun to ‘surf’ the television channels from the comfort of your armchair Remote controls offer everything from picture-within-a-picture technology, to on-screen programming that doesn’t even require you to look at the remote control As we rush towards ever greater technological advances, let us not forget the difficulties experienced by the millions who have come before us For years they struggled with remote controls that changed channels or muted the volume unpredictably Though proclaimed as technological marvels in their day, today those devices look extremely funny So come with us as we flash back to the 1950s The decade may have been the Golden Age of television, but in the evolution of the remote control, it was the Stone Age The most primitive of the remotes was developed in 1950 by Zenith Electronics which decades later would win an Emmy for its pioneering work in remotecontrol technology Zenith’s first creative idea was the clever ‘Lazy Bones’, a control with a cable that connected the television to the device Just by pushing buttons on the remote, viewers could turn the television on and off and change channels ‘Prest-o! Chanqe-o!’ cried a magazine ad introducing the product ‘Just press a button … to change a station!’ The problem? ‘Trip-o! Fall-o!’ Customers complained that the cable, besides being unsightly as it snaked across the living room floor, tripped many an unsuspecting passerby In 1955 Zenith came up with a wireless remote Zenith engineers invented the Flashmatic, which worked by firing a beam of light First-generation couch potatoes accepted the new technology eagerly, but there was a glaring problem It reacted to any kind of light, channels changed unpredictably and the sound mysteriously came and went “So if the sun set glaringly and came through the living room window, it would hit the set and cause problems,” says Zenith engineer Robert Adler Also, viewers who weren’t as technologically aware as they are today, had trouble remembering which button controlled which function It was Adler, an Austrian born immigrant, who fathered the remote-control that would dominate the industry for the next quarter of a century Ironic when you consider that Adler, by his own admission, to this day watches no more than an hour of television a week In 1955 Adler came up with the concept of a remote based on ultrasonics – that is, high-frequency sound beyond the range of human hearing Adler’s invention which Zenith introduced in 1956 and named the Space Commander 400, would react to any number of metallic noises similar to those produced by the transmitter For example, the family dog could change channels just by furiously scratching its back legs, thereby causing its dog tags to jingle A ringing telephone or jingling keys would have the same effect Today, in the Golden Age of the remote control, some 99 percent of TV sets and all video cassette recorders sold in the United States come with remote controls So many other electronic components, such as compact disc players, and satellite dishes ‘Universal’ remotes, which have been around since the mid-’80s, allow you to operate several products – say, for example, the TV, the VCR and CD player – with just one transmitter rather than three separate units Even common household functions – switchinq on a light or turning off a ceiling fan – can be performed today by remote control In an industry that is continuously introducing amazing new gadgetry, who knows where couch-potato technology will go from here? Why is it easy to be a ‘couch potato’ nowadays? A potato chips have been invented B advances in technology have made it possible C armchairs nowadays are very comfortable D the climate is perfect for growing vegetables What is the second paragraph about? A the technological developments in remote controls B the money spent on technology C the problems of early remote controls D the marvels of early remote control technology 10 What was the main problem with ‘Lazy Bones’? A The cable tripped many people B The cable was too long C The control was difficult to use D The control was too slow 11 What was the main problem of the ‘Flashmatic’? A The channels changed even with other kinds of light B It had a mysterious use C Some sets did not react to its beams D It broke loose easily 12 What was another problem with it? A It was bad for someone’s memory B It wasn’t technologically advanced C It was technically complex for the time D It didn’t have enough functions 13 What does ‘it‘ in line 33 refer to? A the living room window B the sun C the remote control D the beam fired by the Flashmatic 14 What was the problem with the remote based on ultrasonics? A It reacted to other noises, too B Even the family dog could use it C You could not hear other sounds like the phone ringing D It made too much noise 15 What does the writer call ‘universal’ remotes? A The kind used allover the world B The kind used for common household functions C The kind which are very expensive D The kind used to operate several appliances Reading, 42 January 23, 2007 You are going to read a newspaper article on the latest developments concerning working women and their maternity rights Choose the most suitable heading from the list A – I for each part – of the article There is one extra heading which you not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0) A A shameful comparison B Complexity and inefficiency C The case at the moment D Rights for both E No protection F An unsuccessful attempt G A paradise for working mothers H I A future promise It’s for women only The High Price of Eurobabies 0: B _ Nothing in the law of a country is simple But it is a disgrace that British law, on something so important as maternity leave for working women, should be as complicated as it unfortunately is And if that was not bad enough, women in the UK have the worst maternity pay rights in Europe 1: Before 1975, motherhood in the UK had a high cost Until that year, there were no legal rights for pregnant working women A mother had absolutely no legal rights if having her baby meant she lost her job 2: _ Today’s law gives a minimum measure of protection to most working women, but it has been a slow process with several later Acts complicating the first two Nowadays, women’s employment contracts in Britain, especially at senior and middle-management level, often include generous maternity rights But the reality for most women is still the bare legal minimum, and in the UK that minimum really is bare : _ Women in the UK are entitled to a minimum of six weeks maternity leave on 90 per cent of their salary and eight weeks thereafter on £57.70 That is very little when compared to the other 14 member states of the European Union Every EU member state has improved on the Pregnancy Directive’s minimum 14-week entitlement except Britain, where it is the only maternity leave insisted on by law Even countries outside the EU have a higher minimum standard for their women workers and executives than in Britain, as for instance Belarus, Norway and the Ukraine which offer 18 weeks on 100 per cent salary 4: _ Mothers get a raw deal in the UK, but fathers hardly get a deal at all Some of the big corporations are starting to take fathers seriously but they are few and far between Some businesses may allow a man a few days off when his wife or partner has a baby, but for many fathers there is no legal entitlement in their terms of employment Research has shown that only 31 per cent of workplaces employing men allow their employees paid paternity leave The general attitude is that childbirth is something to be left to a woman to get through on her own, even when she is not a single parent ! 5: _ Since 1982 the EOC has been calling, without success, for a modest five day paternity leave for new fathers In 1993 when the Labour MP Greville Janner introduced a Private Member’s Bill to give spouses or partners of pregnant women the right to a maximum three months’ unpaid leave, John Major’s government blocked it 6: _ However, the tide now seems to be turning Early in April of this year, it was leaked to the press that Tony Blair’s Government was proposing to give working fathers one week’s paid paternity leave, though at the low level of £57.20 The Minister was quoted as saying “We want to send a message to women that men should be by their side when they give birth.” Nothing came of that suggested move and the Government has since issued a White Paper ‘Fairness at Work’ in which it promises to implement an EU directive on the whole subject of Parental Leave by the end of next year 7: _ So, again, Britain is behind its European partners Most of Europe already has that message In fact, many countries have gone beyond the concept of mere paternity leave for the father and have developed the idea of parental leave for whichever parent wants it For instance, in Belgium there is three to 12 months’ paid leave for up to a total of three years during anyone person’s working life, although this does not apply to senior managers In France and Germany, parental leave is available until a child is three and may be taken by either parent or shared but, in France, it is only paid leave for the first child On the other hand, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and Spain all offer generous shared leave but only on an unpaid basis 10 The ‘Great Dying’ killed A a few land vertebrates B all the dinosaurs C most marine animals D some mammals 11 Which statement is not true of the asteroid or comet? A It was under 12 kilometres in diameter B It contained helium and argon C It contained lava D It was over six kilometres in diameter 12 Where did the first massive comet or asteroid hit the earth? A it is not known B in Siberia C in India D in Mexico 13 Which statement is not true of the lava that covered the planet? A It was caused by the impact of the asteroid B It was 1.6 cubic kilometres in volume C It was ten metres thick D It happened over one million years 14 Which creatures lived at the same time as the trilobites? A reptiles B armadillos C mammals D dinosaurs 15 According to the article, which of the following statements is true? A There will be another giant asteroid B There is unlikely to be another ever C Humans will dominate the earth D It is time to expect another asteroid Reading, January 14, 2007 You are going to read a magazine article about ice hockey in Northern Ireland Choose from the list A–I the sentence which best summarizes each part (1–7) of the article There is one summary sentence that you not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0) A New possibilities B Clever salesmanship C The kids love it D A battle of the giants E Future heroes F Not like football G Traditional heroes H A surprise success I A great game to watch Giant strides 0A Eamon and Dean are among a group of children of all religions and none, on a visit organized by the local police as part of a community relations project Before the arrival of the Giants, a crosscommunity trip to a sporting event would have been near impossible Traditional sport in Northern Ireland has been split by tribal divisions But the arrival of ice-hockey has changed this _ The Belfast Giants were formed last year to play in the UK’s ice hockey Superleague The team started slowly but rallied in December when the arena opened and the Giants started playing at home Support for the team surged At present, attendance has exceeded all expectations – the average 6,500 crowd makes the Giants the best-supported team in the league _ At the merchandizing kiosk queues have built as fans snap up goods ranging from rubber pucks to Giants’ shirts, hats and jackets Kiosk supervisor Marion Livingstone says ‘Belfast has been crying out for something like this Soccer teams have always had either Catholic or Protestant supporters But this is a sport for all.’ _ The universal popularity is not an accident but the result of a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign The team’s communications director has worked hard at selling ice hockey as a game foreveryone A telling slogan ‘In the land of the Giants everyone is equal’ appears on the cover of the programme sold at each game as well as on the team’s website _ The team’s name is also a clever piece of marketing It refers to the legendary Finn McCool, whose footsteps, so the story goes, created the extraordinary geological formation which is known as the Giant’s Causeway – one of Northern Ireland’s top tourist attractions As a Scottish-Irish hero, McCool is an icon embraced by both communities _ The family-friendly environment created at the Odyssey, the home arena, along with the game’s fast and furious qualities, have also been factors in the sport’s soaring popularity ‘The puck can travel at 95–100 miles an hour, the players can skate at 35 miles per hour’ says Collins The speed, aggression and showmanship can draw you into the game _ Since the Giants began playing at home, children have been flocking to Northern Ireland’s only public ice-rink at Dundonald, on the edge of Belfast The Giants run weekly coaching sessions for young people ‘It’s amazing’ says Steve Roberts, who plays left wing for the Giants ‘We started out with about 25 and now there are 127 children that come regularly.’ _ It will probably be many years before the Belfast team is fielding any home-grown players At present they are all North American Jerry Keefe, a Bostonian of Irish extraction who plays centre for the Giants, says ‘All of the team started when we were three or four but eventually I think we will see some good players coming out of Northern Ireland.’ Paper 1, part January 10, 2007 You are going to read a magazine article about various people who did courses later in life For Questions 21-35, choose from the people (A-D) There is an example at the beginning (0) Of which of the people A-D are the following true? A Fiona B Deborah C Joyce D Sonya She recommends the course she took (Example) She felt relaxed when doing a course 21: _ She felt obliged to a course 22: _ Her training made it hard for her to some of the work on a course 23: _ Her colleagues’ attitude towards her has changed 24: She feels confident about the future 25: She was put off education earlier in life 26: The way classes were organised suited her 27: Her plans became more ambitious while doing a course 28: She wasted her time when she was at college before 29: She realised she had thought of a strong commercial idea 30: _ Her teacher provided practical advice 31: _ She found her experience of life useful when doing a course 32: She enjoyed the company of the others taking a course 33: She has learnt not to be nervous in certain circumstances 34: _ A success encouraged her to study other subjects 35: A FIONA Fiona, a freelance journalist, has just finished a four-year part-time degree in English Literature Fiona, 33, who hadn’t been in further education since finishing a journalism course at London Printing College 11 years ago, says: ‘I got more out of doing it later in life than straight after school When I did my journalism course, we sat in the canteen chatting half the time, but when you’re older you realise that the only person you’re cheating is yourself if you that And when you’re older you can bring so much more to your analysis because you’ve done more It was quite strange having to write an essay after many years, particularly after being a journalist where you have to say things as briefly as possible But it was interesting having access to such knowledgeable tutors.’ B DEBORAH Deborah left school without any qualifications and ended up ten years later with a degree Obtaining the degree gave her an enormous desire to learn more Since then, Deborah has enrolled on courses ranging from pottery to African cinema to salsa dancing She says: ‘I never liked school They didn’t teach me to enjoy learning and I’m sure this experience can destroy many people’s desire to learn more later in life There’s so much in life to learn as you get older, it becomes a real pleasure There are no pressures – you don’t have to prove anything You are therebecause you want to be There is also something special about spending time with people who share a common passion You don’t know their names or anything about them, but all the barriers are broken down because everyone has the same objective.’ C JOYCE Joyce joined the Start Your Own Business course a few months ago and she is now preparing to start an international business in furniture design Joyce, who is in her early thirties, says: ‘I had a flood of ideas that came to me in bed one night and I had to get up to draw them while they were still fresh in my mind.’ The course was taught by businesswoman, Diane Shelley She says: ‘Joyce was full of ideas and is now about to start her own multi million pound business.’ ‘The course helps you identify so many things,’ says Joyce, ‘the ideas developed until they were almost out of control; by the end my idea had become an international business Diane didn’t just teach theory, she also shared her own experience with us That helped me a lot, because years ago I would have been frightened to see bank managers and accountants as I didn’t understand the financial aspects Diane made me realise that you employ these people to the work Now I’m not scared of borrowing money because I know the business will be successful.’ D SONYA Sonya did a three-day intensive desk-top publishing course in May Sonya, 24, who works as a publicity assistant at a bank, says: ‘I needed some skills to make me better at my job Writing reports is an essential part of my job and so the presentation of my work is important.’ The course, held at the London College of Printing, covers both practice and theory Sonya says: ‘It was quite demanding, they really get you thinking Because there were only six or seven in the group, we got more attention and it was easier to ask questions Now my reports appear more professional and I can produce them quicker A lot of people have said “Your work’s improved,” and it has made me get on better with people in the office because I’m in a privileged position, having knowledge others don’t have.’ Paper 1, part January 10, 2007 You are going to read a magazine article about an actress Seven paragraphs have been removed from the article Choose the most suitable paragraph from the list A-H for each part (15-20) of the article There is one extra paragraph which you not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0) Nyree’s Story After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country,Nyree Dawn Porter made London her home Interview by Alan O’Kelly A ‘I didn’t like school and I spent most of my time in my head One of the teachers noticed that She’d say, “I’m not going to repeat that for Nyree Porter because she’s not listening anyway No doubt she’ll let me have the sketch she’s doing under the desk.” ’ B Her mother also did well at school She became a gifted painter and was, as her father always said, ‘The prettiest girl in New Zealand.’ C Against hundreds of other actors, Nyree was given the part She had no hesitation in giving up everything to act and within two years had been brought to England by a famous film producer D By the time she left school, Nyree had passed all the required exams for teaching ballet She had her own dance studio and enjoyed her work But something told her that at some stage she would have to leave New Zealand to find full satisfaction E Nyree was born on the north island of New Zealand Her father was a butcher who later became a developer and a businessman She was given the Maori name of Ngaire which was later changed to its present English form as nobody could pronounce it F Sadly, that didn’t happen ‘My parents were like oil and water,’ explains Nyree ‘They simply couldn’t live together My father’s work kept him away from home but I think it was partly because he found it difficult to live with my mother.’ G That was followed by another successful show called Look Who’s Here at the Fortune Theatre and a BBC television series, Madame Bovary Four years later, in 1967, came The Forsyte Saga, the series which became addictive, not just in Britain, but all over the world H ‘It stopped me dead and instead of joining the other performers I walked down to the front of the stage to find out what that noise was.’ Nyree’s Story After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country,Nyree Dawn Porter made London her home Interview by Alan O’Kelly Nyree Dawn Porter made her first stage appearance at the age of three Playing the part of a ladybird in an amateur production of Noah’s Ark, she walked onto the stage and into the lights to delighted applause and laughter 0: H (example) ‘That noise’ has charmed her ever since and in a long, successful career, both on the theatre stage and on television, she has received plenty of it 15: _ Nyree speaks lovingly of her father Ken, who was warm and affectionate and loved music passionately For a long time she was an only child, but when her sister, Merle Isabel, came along, the happy family should have been complete 16: _ As a result, Nyree remembers her childhood as being sad but productive She had a nervous stammer and was so shy and quiet that her teachers became extremely worried about her She found her release through books, painting and ballet 17: _ A teacher named Jim Goodall came to her rescue by encouraging her to well and by making her president of the drama club A second influential person was another teacher, who had spent a lot of time in England and France Her enthusiasm helped Nyree to use her natural gift for French and she also encouraged her to act 18: _ ‘I was acting in a local amateur production when a woman came to my dressing room and asked me if I had ever considered acting as a career She was the wife of a leading actor at the New Zealand National Theatre Her car had broken down outside and that was the only reason she had come in She arranged for me to try for a role in an American comedy called The Solid GoldCadillac.’ 19: ‘I loved London and my lucky break came when I was given a letter of introduction to Hazel Vincent Wallace at the Leatherhead Theatre I got a job in a Christmas show, both acting and dancing.’ 20: Nyree Dawn Porter has adopted England, and we have adopted her She has lived here ever since, although she does visit her old home andregularly works in Australia Paper 1, part January 10, 2007 You are going to read a magazine article about a book ForQuestions 8-14, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D Natural CLASSIC Each month we ask one of our experts to tell us what wildlife book – novel, guide or textbook – has most influenced him or her Here, Martha Holmes, marine biologist, TV presenter and filmproducer, reveals all I’m a very keen reader, but selecting the book with a natural-history theme which has influenced me most was some challenge, until I thought back to my childhood Then it was easy Where the book came from is a mystery, and I have never met anyone who has heard of it It is Rita Richie’s The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan I read it when I was about 10 years old and I remember to this day the effect it had on me Set in 1218, it is a story of a rich boy whose parents are dead He is growing up in the splendid city of Samarkand and has a fascination for hawks, those magnificent hunting birds There is a great deal of mystery surrounding his past, but he is led to believe that a band of Mongols killed his father to steal a rare type of bird – the golden hawk Determined to get these birds back, he runs away from Samarkand and joins a group of people travelling to the country of Mongolia What follows is a grand adventure centred on the city of Karakorum, where the great Mongol chief Genghis Khan was then based The book combines adventure, mystery, honour, friendship, danger, suffering – all seen through the eyes of the young hero, Jalair I still find this fantasy a thrilling read Jalair’s great love for the birds was enviable and inspiring But most of all it was the sense of place that stayed with me The book gives the reader an idea of the vast open spaces of central Asia and its huge skies, without the use of the long descriptive passages that would bore a child There are no boundaries The emptiness of the Gobi Desert, the Tian Shan mountains and the excitement of riding through forests and over rolling hills fascinated me The book gave me more than hawks, horses and a desire for wild places It also gave me a set of values The Mongols in The Golden Hawks were totally uninterested in possessions, a characteristic that is absolutely essential for people who spent their lives travelling from place to place They were never mean Generosity, goodwill and optimism were highly valued, hard work was enjoyed and the rest was pure fun They simply loved life Two years ago, I fulfilled a life-long ambition and went riding in Mongolia’s mountains I was not disappointed When first asked to choose a book, Martha Holmes A was influenced by the experts B chose one she had read recently C had difficulty in making a decision D was pleased to have been approached What does ‘it’ in line refer to? A the choice B Martha’s childhood C the book D the theme 10 Martha says the book The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan A was recommended by a friend B was very popular when she was a child C is known to very few people D is one of many mystery books she has read 11 The main interest of the hero of the book is A what happened to his parents B the desire to see different countries C the beauty of his homeland D his passion for particular birds 12 Where does most of the story take place? A in Samarkand B in Karakorum C on the way to Karakorum D in the Tian Shan mountains 13 What did Martha enjoy about the book? A the range of characters B the geographical setting C the descriptive writing D the changes of atmosphere 14 What values did Martha learn from the book? A the importance of a sense of humour B how to be a successful traveller C the need to protect your goods D how to get the most out of life I Reading, part January 10, 2007 You are going to read a newspaper article about a day in the life of a footballer Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-I for each part (1-7) of the article There is one extra heading which you not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0) A Domestic matters B Time off C All players are different D Putting in the practice E Working together F Keeping my standard up G What makes a good player H Not my choice A day in the life of Jim Barber, Scottish Footballer Jim Barber is a centre forward for Glasgow Rangers football club He talks to Paul Sullivan about a typical day in his life 0: I (example) I don’t usually get up till 8.30 On a match day I’ll get up even later I’ll sit in bed, watch breakfast TV for a while, and then I’ll go down, get the mail, have a coffee and read the papers I’ll have a wash and then I’ll get ready to go to the club Rangers is probably the only club where the players have to come in every morning wearing a shirt and tie; it’s a traditional thing and I quite like it really 1: Every day except Sunday, I’ll be at the club by 10 It’s a short drive but I’ll still usually be a few minutes late I’ve a bad reputation for being late, and I’ve been fined many times Each day of training is in preparation for the next match We’ll some weight training and some running to build up stamina Players work on particular aspects of the game but tactics are usually left till match day 2: _ After training I’ll usually have a sauna and then we’ll have lunch: salads and pasta, stuff like that In the afternoon I just try to relax I started playing golf with the rest of the lads, and I love horse racing, too My other great hobby is music which helps me to escape the pressure of work 3: The best thing in football is scoring goals – and I’m a top goal-scorer It feels absolutely fantastic but I never feel above the rest of the team; if I did, I wouldn’t last two minutes in the dressing room Any success I have is a team success My idol in the past was always Kenny Dalglish My idols now are the other Rangers players 4: The matches themselves are always different from each other You go through a lot of emotions during a game but really it’s a question of concentration You’ve got just 90 minutes to give everything you’ve got and take every chance you can There’s luck and there’s being in the right place at the right time, but you can’t make use of those without concentration and responsibility 5: Sports writers often talk about age but it’s not something that bothers me I’m 30 and feel fantastic I missed a few games last year due to injury and my place was taken by a young player at Rangers We are friends but he is a threat to my position My job is to score goals and if I don’t I’ll be replaced 6: I try not to let football rule my home life but my wife would probably disagree; last year we only got three weeks’ holiday It’s difficult for Allison, my wife, but I think she’s learned to accept it She likes football and comes to the matches I like to go out and see friends but I always have dinner with my wife 7: _ We’ll usually go to bed about midnight Sometimes I worry when I think of the day it all ends and I stop scoring That scares me and I can’t see myself playing for any other team, either, but the reality is that the players don’t make the decisions If someone makes your club a good enough offer for you, they’ll accept it But I try not to let things like that bother me [...].. .Reading, 41 January 22, 2007 You are going to read some information about some companies For questions 22-34, choose from the companies (A-H) Some of the companies may be chosen more than once When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order There is an example at the beginning (0 ) For question 35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according... non-fat sauce Reading, 33 January 20, 2007 You are going to read some information about your star sign For questions 22-33, choose from the star signs (A-L) Some of the star signs may be chosen more than once When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order There is an example at the beginning (0 ) For questions 34 and 35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best... something more permanent Deal with this situation carefully, in order to avoid hurt feelings Pisces L Do not worry so much about what anyone else thinks Follow what you think is the best course of action in the situation at hand You are shining lately, and other people are jealous of your achievements Do not listen to them, but rather follow your heart In the end, this will payoff handsomely Reading, ... World Tickets for the weekend cost £62.75 for adults (based on two people sharing a room), £26.75 for children under 14, and £4.50 for children under five, staying in their parents’ room (babysitters are available) The price includes bed and breakfast, theatre tickets and the trip to Cadbury World Telephone 0121-236 2302 for details and to book ahead Reading, 37 January 21, 2007 You are going to read... them and considered them to have magic powers G Needless to say, we have a great responsibility towards them H Hopefully this is not too confusing! Reading, 39 January 22, 2007 You are going to read an extract from a book For questions 8-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text Just after midnight the last of the lights had gone out and Boyd started the car,... suitable title for this extract? A Caught as a spy B An ordinary burglar C Looking for information D Telling secrets January 22, 2007 You are going to read an advertisement for a theatre club Choose from the list A-I the heading which best summarises each part (1 - 7) of the advertisement There is one extra heading which you do not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0 ) A See excellent actors... moving experience; many people (and yes, I am afraid you will find a few fellow travellers beside you at the top) choose to share the experience with their beloved covered up under a blanket Good idea Best for the physically fit B Merida The university town of Merida in the Venezuelan Andes is famous for two things: its ice cream shop boasts the most flavours in the world (avoid the garlic and spinach... to read a newspaper article about bats Seven sentences have been removed from the article Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (1 6-2 1) There is one extra sentence which you will not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0 ) BATS ARE NOCTURNAL, BUT NOT AS BLACK AS PAINTED By Anna Harrisson Bats may play an essential part in horror films, but they suffer from an undeserved... dealing room and treasury activities, the bank offers corporate financial services (including consultancy on mergers, acquisitions and participations) as well as a comprehensive package of international services through its international network _ Roberts Pharmaceuticals – D Roberts Pharmaceuticals (NASDAZ: RPCX) is fast realising its goal of becoming a major pharmaceutical company whose... letter from someone to her sister’s family Eight sentences have been removed from the letter Choose from the sentences AI the one which fits each gap (1 5-2 1) There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use There is an example at the beginning (0 ) April 22 1994 Dear Kathy John Gigi Well hello everybody!! 0: _I _ How’s school, Gigi? I hear you’ve been studying hard Have you made any earrings