Read the article on the future of human beings. Match paragraphs 1-5 with pictures A - E.

FACES OF THE FUTURE

Humans have adapted and changed through the ages and, unless a catastrophe destroys the Earth, we'll probably survive and continue to change. Scientists are already saying that children born now might live until they're 150. Further into the future, perhaps people won't die but simply buy new body parts as they get older!

What other changes are possible in the years ahead?

1. Homo Informaticus

If we continue to use computers and screens more and more, our eyes and brains will probably get bigger in order to process more information.

2. Neo-humans

If there’s a terrible war or an epidemic, survivors might leave the cities and live in caves. They'll become stronger, hairier and more agile.

3. Homo Perfectus

If scientists manipulate human genes, will some people pay to have children who are better looking, healthier and more intelligent than ‘normal’ humans?

4. Cyborgs

Soldiers of the future might be part human, part machine, with super-strong body parts, auto-zoom eyes and a brain connected by Wi-Fi to super computers.

5. Space humans

If the Earth gets too crowded, humans will move to other planets. If they adapt to a different atmosphere and gravity on another planet, they won't look the same as humans on Earth.

Which possibilities do you think are most likely? 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

According to the passage, all of the following can dwarf a species of animal or human except _____.

A. little food

B. a deeply forested area with little sunshine 

C. few predators

D. limited land

Work in pairs. Tick (v) the boxes to show what conditions a planet needs to support human life.

1. There must be enough liquid water on the planet. 

2. The planet must have craters on its surface. 

3. The planet must hold an atmosphere. 

4. The planet must have at least two moons.  

5. The planet must have enough oxygen in the air.    

Can you add other conditions for a habitable planet?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

According to the passage, why does a smaller size help species survive under certain condition?

A. It makes them more difficult for predators to see.

B. It allows them to move more quickly. 

C. It allows them to consume less food.

D. All of the above

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

The word “remains” in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

A. pictures

B. descendants

C. fossils

D. records

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

Which of the following best favors a smaller body size?

A. a mainland where there is a little competition for survival 

B. a small, isolated area where there is a limited food supply 

C. an island that has a large and varied food supply 

D. an environment where there are many predators

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

Which of the following is true of the newly discovered species?

A. They are the only human species to live with modern man.

B. They moved from island to island. 

C. They needed less food than modern human. 

D. They were only as intelligent as a three-year-old child.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

We learn from the passage that dwarfing has occurred _____.

A. on every continent

B. only on the island discussed in the passage 

C. on their islands as well

D. none of the above

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the

correct answer to each of the questions from 40 to 47.

Hobbit-like Species of Humans

On the tiny island of Flores, east of Bali and midway between Asia and Australia, the scientists have discovered the remains of a small, hobbit-like species of humans. These people grew no larger than the modern three-year-old child. They lived about 18,000 years ago and are completely different species of human.

This discovery has taught scientists a lot about the human species. This remarkable discovery shows that the human species is more varied and flexible in its ability to adapt than previously thought. These hobbit-like people join a short list of other type of humans that lived with modern humans.

The researchers believe that these hobbits evolved from a normal size, human population that reached Flores around 840,000 years ago. One likely explanation is that, over thousands of years, the species became smaller because the environmental conditions favored a smaller body size. The dwarfing of mammals on islands occurs frequently. Islands limit food supply and predators and species compete for the same environmental space. Survival would depend on minimizing energy requirements.

Which is the main topic of this passage?

A. The reasons for the dwarfing of mammals 

B. Detailed information about the features of a different species of human 

C. The discovery of a hobbit-like species of human and its significance 

D. A fictitious character in world history