Reading and Use of English Part 3:

For questions 1 – 16, read the two texts below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

The world’s oldest known bread

       Archaeologists working at a site in Jordan recently found the oldest reported evidence of bread. Identified by means of new (1. METHODOLOGY) _________________ developments involving the magnification of tiny fragments of food, the bread is about 14,400 years old and (2. DATE) _________________ the advent of agriculture by at least 4,000 years.

       The (3. DISCOVER) _________________ was made in a location used for thousands of years by early hunter-gatherers. At that time, humans gathered and consumed food for purposes that were (4. PRIMARY) _________________ nutritional, but archaeologists think the huge effort required to produce bread meant it was probably reserved for special occasions.

       ‘The (5. PRESENT) _________________ of the ancient remains of burned food in the fireplaces at this site gives us some (6. EXCEPTION) _________________ useful insights,’ said one researcher. ‘Bread represents a major change in eating practices, away from food as merely a source of energy to the (7. CONSUME) _________________ of food for social and cultural reasons. We used to think agriculture led to the development of bread, but now we think bread-making, with wild grain, may have influenced the (8. EMERGE) _________________ of the practice of growing crops – in other words, the beginning of agriculture.’

The Joy of Mathematics

        Are you good at maths? Many people would say ‘no’. They have no confidence in their dealings with numbers. Maths lessons at school are remembered as hours of (9. ENDURE) ________________ rather than enjoyment, and this memory is (10. DOUBT) ________________ what colours their attitude to maths in adulthood.

       But in some ways, society is (11. TOLERATE) ________________ of this attitude. We accept without question the need to be literate, so why isn’t numeracy valued in the same way? For those who loathe maths, there seem to be (12. MASS) ________________ psychological barriers preventing them from appreciating the (13. USE) ________________ of maths to our everyday lives.

       But all is not lost. A professor of maths in the USA has set up a blog that aims to make maths (14. ACCESS) ________________ to those who missed out at school and to remove the many (15. ANXIOUS) ________________ that some people have about the subject. He wants to share some of his enthusiasm for maths, and by introducing people to the beauty of maths, (16. HOPE) ________________ make it a more joyful experience.

Part 2:
For questions 1 – 10, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each space. 
Write your answers in CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Rain making

        When it rains, it doesn’t always pour. During a typical storm, a comparatively small (1) _______________ of the locked up moisture in each cloud reaches the ground as rain. So the idea that human (2) _______________ – a rain dance, perhaps – might encourage the sky to give up a little (3) _______________ water has been around since prehistoric times. More recently, would-be rain makers have used a more direct procedure – that of (4) _______________ various chemicals out of aeroplanes in an effort to wring more rain from the clouds, a practice known as ‘cloud seeding’.

        Yet such techniques, which were first developed in the 1940s, are notoriously (5) _______________ to evaluate. It is hard to ascertain, for example, how much rain would have fallen anyway. So, (6) _______________ much anecdotal evidence of the advantages of cloud seeding, which has led to its adoption in more than 40 countries around the world, as far as scientists are (7) _______________ , results are still inconclusive. That could be about to change. For the past three years, researchers have been carrying out the most extensive and rigorous evaluation to (8) _______________ of a revolutionary new technique which will substantially boost the (9) _______________ of rainfall.

        The preliminary (10) _______________ of their experiments indicate that solid evidence of the technique’s effectiveness is now within the scientists’ grasp.

7. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs below.

Verbs:

(consider   |   get (×2)   |   get used to   |   not receive   |   report   |   prosecute   |   try)

1. His probation officer ___________ always ___________ to get him involved in counselling programmes.

2. She ___________ excellent marks in every exam she took in her four years at law school.

3. My brother ___________ into trouble with the police in his teens, but he’s grown out of that now.

4. Stories about the kidnapping ___________ constantly ___________ in the news for weeks after the interview.

5. The family ___________ by the police for anti-social behaviour, but then the key witness disappeared.

6. He ___________ the prison routine, so freedom, when it came, was a real shock.

7. Over the years, petty criminals ___________ always ___________ a sentence the public think is appropriate.

8. The accused’s lawyer ___________ an appeal, but most people thought he’d be unlikely to win it.

I. Reading Comprehension 

A. Read the article Supplements vs. Whole Foods. Then choose the best answer for each question.

Supplements vs. Whole Foods

Section 1

1 The human body needs roughly 40 vitamins and minerals each day for good health. These are required for normal growth and development, healthy bones, teeth, muscles, and blood, and a strong immune system. For most people, a healthy diet provides all the nutrients that the human body needs. Food not only supplies vitamins and minerals, but also gives us fiber and other healthy compounds, like phytochemicals and antioxidants.

 Section 2

2 A healthy diet includes all of the following:

·       Fresh fruits and vegetables: We need these to supply our bodies with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds, which are thought to be responsible for many health benefits.

·       Oily fish: Scientists believe that the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish are responsible for improved heart health. Studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.

·       Nuts and seeds: These are high in antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats. One study found that four weekly servings of nuts or seeds was linked to a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

·       Whole grains: Whole grains contain many valuable nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins, and minerals such as iron and magnesium. Whole grain consumption has also been associated with protection against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

 Section 3

3 The problem is, many people don’t have a healthy, well-balanced diet, often as a result of their fast-paced lifestyles. Their diets are heavy in fast foods and nutrient-poor processed food, refined grains, and added sugar. In fact, even if they eat all the right foods, some people, such as the elderly, may fall short of necessary nutrients. “Their ability to absorb nutrients from food decreases,” explains Dr. Howard Sesso, an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

4 Can a supplement make up the difference? "It's a touchy subject, and you need to look at your individual needs first," says Dr. Sesso. Dietary supplements such as multi-vitamin pills would seem to be the obvious way to fill the gaps in one’s diet, but taking too much of certain vitamins can actually be harmful. "Extra vitamin A supplements can lead to toxic levels if taken too frequently," notes Dr. Clifford Lo, a professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

5 Most people feel that nutritional supplements are almost chemically identical to those found in food. However, the production process of synthetic nutrients is very different from the way plants and animals create them. So, despite having a similar structure, people’s bodies may react differently to supplements.

6 Both Dr. Sesso and Dr. Lo advise that you try to improve your diet before you use supplements. That's because nutrients are stronger when they come from food. Not only that, but, "food tastes better and is often less expensive than adding supplements," says Dr. Sesso.

 Section 4

7 Eating whole foods offers three main benefits over dietary supplements:

·       Greater nutrition. Whole foods are complex, containing a variety of the micronutrients the body needs.

·       Essential fiber. Whole foods provide dietary fiber, which can help prevent certain diseases.

·       Protective substances. Many whole foods are also good sources of antioxidants—substances that slow down a natural process leading to cell and tissue damage. It isn't clear that antioxidant supplements offer the same benefits as antioxidants in food.

 Section 5

8 However, both doctors agree that a supplement may sometimes be appropriate for certain types of people:

·       People who don't eat well or consume fewer calories than needed.

·       Vegans or vegetarians who eat a limited variety of foods. Since certain vitamins and minerals are found mainly in animal products, this group is often at a risk of deficiency for vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamin D.

·       Pregnant women may have to supplement their diet with extra vitamins and/or minerals (such as vitamin D) and avoid others (such as vitamin A).

·       The elderly tend to be at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and may also need more vitamin B12 and calcium for bone health.

·       People who have certain medical conditions that affect how their bodies absorb or use nutrients, such as food allergies, food intolerance, or various diseases may require supplements.

 Section 6

9 Before taking supplements, it is a good idea to talk to a doctor or a dietitian about which supplements and what doses might be appropriate. It is important to ask about possible side effects and interactions with any medications you take. If you decide to take a multi-vitamin, Dr. Sesso suggests, "Look for a multivitamin with D and B vitamins (especially folate), iron, magnesium, and calcium and go for a well-known brand that's been around for a long time and is likely well tested."

 10 The take-away conclusion is this: The ideal way to get nutrients is from whole food. Research consistently shows that nutritional supplements are no replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. However, if a person is lacking in a specific nutrient and in some other special cases, then taking a supplement can be beneficial.

1. Which of the following would be the best alternative title for this reading?

A. Multivitamins or a Healthy Diet?

B. How the Body Uses Vitamins

C. Fresh Foods vs. Processed Foods

D. What Does “Eating Right” Mean?

2. The word roughly in Section 1, line 1 is closest in meaning to … 

A. precisely

B. nearly

C. approximately

D. clearly

3. The word their in line 5, Section 3 refers to … 

A. people who don’t have a healthy diet

B. nutrients from food

C. older people

D. unhealthy diets

4. Which of the following was NOT specifically mentioned as contributing to heart health? 

A. fresh fruits and vegetables

B. oily fish

C. nuts and seeds

D. whole grains

5. Which of the following should avoid taking vitamin A? 

A. vegans and vegetarians

B. the elderly

C. pregnant women

D. people with certain medical conditions

6. Doctor Sesso suggests ….... 

A. getting vitamins from a doctor or a dietician

B. buying individual vitamins rather than multivitamins

C. taking one pill for vitamins, one for minerals

D. buying a famous brand of vitamins

B. Read the statements. Write T (true) or F (false).

_____ 7. According to the article, a healthy diet supplies nutrients that multivitamins do not.

_____ 8. Both oily fish and nuts and seeds contain healthy fats.

_____ 9. According to the passage, it is the way nutritional supplements are made that make them different from natural nutrients.

_____ 10. Dr. Sesso does not agree with Doctor Lo regarding the fact that some people need to take supplements.

Part 1. Give the correct form of the words in brackets to complete the passage. (2.0 pts)

         As an (1.  ETERNITY) ________________ testament to humanity, plastic bags, cheap clothes and chicken bones are not a (2.  GLORY) ________________ legacy. But two scientists exploring which items from our technological civilisation are most likely to survive for many millions of years as fossils have reached an ironic but (3.  INSTRUCT) ________________ conclusion: fast food and fast fashion will be our (4.  LAST) ________________ geological signature.
        “Plastic will definitely be a signature ‘technofossil’, because it is (5.  CREDIBLE) ________________ durable, we are making massive amounts of it, and it gets around the entire globe,” says the palaeontologist Prof Sarah Gabbott, a University of Leicester expert on the way that fossils form. “So wherever those future civilisations dig, they are going to find plastic. There will be a plastic (6.  SIGN​) ________________ that will wrap around the globe.”
        Fast food (7.  CONTAIN) ________________ dominate ocean plastic, but aluminium drink cans will also be part of our legacy. Pure metals are (8.  EXCEPT) ________________ rare in the geological record, as they readily react to form new minerals, but the cans will leave a distinct impression.