1 Reading "The Fishmen"

Three Taiwanese fishermen were rescued yesterday from a small uninhabited island in the
South Pacific. The men had disappeared for more than three months. They had left Taiwan
in a small fishing boat and had planned a week-long trip. On their fifth day, however, they
encountered a typhoon, and it badly damaged their boat. Fortunately, no one was hurt. After
the storm had passed, they discovered that the engine wouldn ́t start, so their boat just drifted
at sea for over a month.
During this time, the fishermen caught fish to eat and drank rain water to stay alive. Finally,
the boat drifted toward a small island. When it got close enough, the men jumped out and
swam to shore. On the island, they found fresh fruit and vegetables, and they continued to
catch fish to eat. The fishermen had lived on the island for two months when a passing ship
rescued them. Although the three men had lost a lot of weight, they were still in fairly good
shape. Their families feared that the fishermen had died during the typhoon. They were
surprised and happy that the ship had found them and that they were safe and sound.
Reading taken from:Formato de archivo: Microsoft Word193.231.1.3
/file.php/34/SUPORT_DE_CURS.../Course_05.doc Image taken from:
http://davidlazarphoto.com/galleries/visions-of-myanmar/02-david-lazar-burmese-
fishermen/

2 Reading "The Tattoos"

For many years tattoos were associated with sailors and soldiers, then in the 60s and 70s with
bikers and heavy metal rock stars. But today more people from all social classes are having
tattoos done and there has been a significant increase in the number of women who have
them.
Many famous people have had tattoos done too. Footballer David Beckam, and his wife,
Victoria, both have tattoos of their first son's name Brooklyn. David has one on his back and
Victoria has one on her arm. Other famous people include singers, actors and actresses such
as Robbie Williams, Britney Spears, and Angelina Jolie among others.
Tattoos have existed for more than 5.000 years. The word tattoo comes from the Polynesian
word tatau, meaning ''symbol''. In Polynesia tattoos were a sign of social status and the
transition from childhood to adult life. They became known in the West when sailors on
voyages of discovery to the Polynesian islands had tattoos done because they wanted to be
accepted by native people or because they wanted a souvenir of their voyage.
The traditional method of tattooing is to make a drawing on the skin and then trace the lines
of the final tattoo by injecting ink under the skin, using a machine with a needle. Sounds
painful? It is. But not as painful (or expensive) as having a tattoo removed! Modern laser
surgery has improved the situation, but even with this method there is no guarantee that a
tattoo can be completely removed. So a lot of people have henna tattoos, which are not
permanent. These are fine if the pure henna dye is used, but sometimes artists use inferior
dyes containing the chemical PPD, which can cause permanent skin problems. There are also
semi -permanent tattoos which can last for up to five years
Taken from: http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=4242

3 Reading "Memories of my Life"

Hi. My name is Harold MacKagan and I think I had had a very interesting life. I was born in
1940, I’m 73 now and I don’t work anymore. I was in the army for 51 years. I retired 2009.
I had been to so many countries that I can’t remember all of them. I’d been to Australia six
or seven times and to South Africa three times. I had also been once to Russia but I didn’t
like it at all: much too cold for me! People say that love greatest thing in life and I agree. I
had been married four times but never for more than five years. I don’t think women really
understand me!
I had never been on television, but I had been on the radio once. It was a program about life
in military about twenty years ago. I met the Prime Minister on the same day. Actually, I had
met a lot of famous people: members of the royal family, famous politicians and also famous
cinema and television personalities. However, I had never met any President though, which
is a pity. Because I had traveled a lot, I had seen a lot of wonderful things and had also eaten
and drank some stranger foods and drinks. I ate cat and rat in India and drank something
called Mirto on a little island in Italy many years ago.
(Fragment taken and adapted from: http//www.esl-lounge.com/students and
grammar//2g30-old-colonel-php)
4 Reading "Can you imagine what will happen if
temperatures continue to rise around the globe?"
According to scientists, global temperatures have increased by over 1 degree in the past fifty
years. If this continues our earth will face disaster. For example, if temperatures at the North
and South Poles increase, ice there will melt faster. This means a greater volume of water
will pour into the oceans. If the sea level rises, Coastal cities will flood.
Big cities on the coast like New York and Miami and Venice will be unlivable like New
Orleans shortly after Hurricane “Katrina” in 2005, but, in contrast, damage by ocean flooding
will be irreversible. Another danger is from snowfall on the mountain tops. If the snow melts
faster, the volume of water will increase. This means rivers will swell and cause flooding and
erosion. Or if high temperatures do not allow snow to form on the mountains we will lose a
valuable source of fresh water.
If we don’t do something soon the situation will be very critical. Scientists hope people will
soon understand the danger and act quickly. If they don’t, the imminent disaster will occur.
Scientists hope that the active involvement of well-informed people will be crucial in
preventing calamities and natural disasters caused by man-induced weather changes.
(fragment taken an adapted for "Global Warming Facts." By James D. Agresti and
Schuyler Dugle. Just Facts, August 15, 2011. Revised
7/25/13.http://www.justfacts.com/globalwarming.asp )

5 Reading "Broken Hearts and Fish Out of Water"

Yesterday Tad and Hannah went to a seafood restaurant for lunch. While they were eating,
Hannah noticed a very cute guy at the next table. Later, when Tad went to the restroom,
Hannah started talking to the man, Jim. Tad came back while they were talking, and he got
very angry. He yelled at Jim and grabbed him by the neck. Suddenly, Jim fainted. Tad didn’t
know what to do, but Hannah started to perform CPR on Jim. While Hannah was performing
CPR, Jim’s girlfriend, Tammy, walked into the restaurant. Tammy thought Hannah was
kissing Jim, and she suddenly fainted. Unfortunately, when she fainted, she crashed into a
giant fish tank. The fish and water spilled everywhere.

After the fish tank fell over, the restaurant manager left the cash register and ran over to see
what was happening. Before he returned to the cash register, someone robbed it. Both Jim
and Tammy recovered, but the restaurant lost a lot of money and fish. The restaurant manager
is suing Tad, Hannah, Jim and Tammy
Taken from: http://www.onestopenglish.com/community/lesson-
share/pdfcontent/grammar/grammar-broken-hearts-and-fish-out-of-water-
lessonplan/147553.article

6 Reading "My Life"

I used to live in Romania but now I live in Barcelona, Spain. I have lived here for seven years
now, so I am used to the lifestyle. Life is more hectic here than in Romania. I had to get used
to eating lots of seafood. In Romania I used to eat fish only once or twice a year. It took me
a while to get used to having lunch late - the first months in Barcelona I used to be hungry
all the time! I also had to get used to a different mentality. People in Barcelona are more laid-
back and spend time outdoors with their friends.
Now I am used to meeting up with friends after dinner, which often happens after 10 o'clock
at night. The thing I can't get used to is the coffee. In Romania I used to drink a lot of coffee
but it was much less strong. Now I always add extra water to my coffee to be able to drink
it.
Taken from: http://www.ejerciciodeingles.com/ejercicios-distinguir-used-to-be-used-toget-
used-to/D

7 Reading "David’s Trip to Paris"

I had never seen such beautiful sights before I visited Paris in 2012. I had saved money for 5
years before I booked my trip to Paris. I was very excited! Before my trip to Paris, I had
never been out of the United States.
When I went to Paris, I spent many days touring the city. The city was big. Sometimes I got
lost and asked for directions. I asked for directions in French. That was easy because I had
studied French for 2 years before I visited Paris.
By the time I left Paris, I had toured many beautiful places. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame
Cathedral, and Luxembourg Gardens were just a few of the places I saw. Before I visited
Paris, I had only seen those places on television.
Taken from: http://www.really-learn-english.com/english-grammar-tenses-es.html

8 Reading "Dane and Emily Dancers"

Last night, Dane and Emily danced in a competition. They danced a salsa dance. They had
practiced for 6 months before they danced in the competition. They were very good. Dane
and Emily's friends were in the audience. Before that night, they had never seen Dane and
Emily dance. In fact, Dane and Emily had never danced in front of anyone before the
competition.
After everyone had danced, the judges announced the winners. Dane and Emily won! They
were the best dancers in the competition. Emily said she had never practiced so hard before!
She was glad they had practiced a lot.
Taken from: http://www.really-learn-english.com/english-grammar-tenses-es.html

9 Reading "Thanksgiving Dinner"

Last Thanksgiving my parents had a large family dinner at their house. Getting ready for
Thanksgiving dinner takes a lot of work.
The day started well and by late afternoon we had completed most of the work. Everyone
had helped to make the meal a success. We had put the turkey in the oven earlier that day so
the house was starting to smell like roast turkey. The grandchildren had finished setting the
table for Thanksgiving dinner. My aunt had made two pies for dessert, a pumpkin pie and an
apple pie. My brother and I had peeled the carrots and the potatoes. We had just turned on
the stove to start cooking the vegetables when the power went out! The oven stopped
working! We couldn’t cook the vegetables! The turkey wouldn’t finish cooking! We waited.
We talked. We went for a walk.
We had waited two hours by the time the power came back on. We had almost given up hope.
Dinner was late that night but it was a Thanksgiving dinner that we won’t forget.
Text taken from: http://www.readingesl.ca/grammar/past.htm
10 Reading "A Cake Was Made"
Seven tablespoons of cocoa powder were measured into a small bowl. Half a cup of boiling
water was added. The mixture was stirred until it was smooth. It was left to cool down.
A half cup of softened butter was put in a large bowl. Two cups of white sugar were added.
The mixture was stirred until it was smooth. Next, three eggs were added and the mixture
was stirred again.
The dry ingredients were added next - two cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1
teaspoon of baking soda. The last additions that were made to the batter was a cup of sour
cream and all of the cocoa mixture. The batter was mixed well.
The batter was poured into two cake tins. The cakes were baked in the oven for 45 minutes.
After the cakes had cooled, chocolate icing was spread over them and the cakes were
decorated. The best part was saved for last.... the cakes were eaten!
Taken from: http://www.readingesl.ca/grammar/past.htm

11 Reading "Late for the Party"

Last week-end my sister had a birthday party. There was a snowstorm that day and the traffic
was horrible. I was so late I missed most of the party. By the time I arrived all the cake had
been eaten and most of the wine had been drunk. All the gifts had been opened too. Songs
had been sung and wishes had been said. A good time was had by everyone! I stayed long
enough to finish the last of the wine and help my sister clean up after the party. The drive
home was much easier because the roads had been plowed by the time I left my sister’s
apartment.
Taken from: http://www.readingesl.ca/grammar/past.htm
12 Reading "The Simple Life"
Five people talk about how they have cleared the clutter from their lives and are now living
in style with relatively few possessions.

A. Toby Thomson
I’m a perfectionist and this is reflected in my apartment. I used to live in a small flat that was
quite cluttered with lots of possessions scattered all over the place. By contrast, my present
place is wonderfully empty and spacious. The rooms are all painted white and when you’re
inside them, you feel great because you get maximum use of the natural daylight. I have no
pictures on the walls. As an architect, I work with drawings all day and I don’t want to look
at them in the evening. Everything in the apartment has to be just right. I take ages choosing
each piece of furniture or lamp because I think it through carefully and know exactly what
I’m after.

B. Melanie Martin
Having a simple orderly wardrobe makes life less complicated. These days I am much more
careful about clothes that I used to be. I buy one well-made piece of clothing that I’m going
to love and cherish, rather than several inexpensive items which will son wear out. I’ve
refined my wardrobe down to a couple of well-known labels and I take a lot of care whenever
I buy something to make sure it’s right for me. A few years ago, I would just take clothes off
the rails without really thinking about whether they’d suit me. Inevitably, some of them
would get thrown away unworn. Having fewer clothes means you know exactly what goes
with what. When I get dressed in the morning I don’t spend half an hour rummaging through
stuff trying to figure out what will look right.

C. Annabella Bevan
My flat is uncluttered, I have wooden floors and only a few pieces of furniture, but I have
chosen what I own with care. But If I go off something, I won’t hesitate to throw it out
because, for me, things have to be right. I work from home and I’m setting up my own
company to sell things on the Internet, but I’d like to work in a soothing, relaxing
environment. Having an orderly home and wardrobe helps me to cope with the frantic
lifestyle people around me lead in London. It sounds strange, but when I switch on my
computer here, I feel a lot calmer than I would in an office. Of course, the look of things does
come into it too, but I think if you keep your clothes and possessions tidy, it can improve
your mood.
D. Graham Knight
The design of my flat is not a fashion statement. It’s meant to be modern and contemporary,
but I did it because I like it, not because it’s the current trend. It’s very much my space
because I designed the interior myself. It’s very sparse, but very homely. It’s also very
functional. I love cooking and the focal point of the flat is the Steel worktop in the kitchen
area. There’s no dining table, so I both cook and eat on the worktop. I’m always having
people round for dinner and they seem to like the informality of it. In the living room, there
are two cream sofas and a black side table. I don’t feel the need for anything else because
I’m not a very materialistic person really.
Taken from: Fast Track to FCE Longman Pearson Education Limited 2001

13 Reading "Living in the Big Apple"

To most people, New York seems an incredibly exciting place to live. What do New Yorkers
think of their city?

A. THE SINGLE GIRL-Sherrin Bernstein

Living in Manhattan is one big financial struggle for Sherrin Bernstein, a trainee beauty
therapist. She earns enough to pay the bills, but there is little left for luxuries. “I can’t afford
to do expensive things”, she says. But she can have a lot of fun in New York on a Budget. A
good meal in a restaurant costs little, and her favorite hobby is rollerblading in Central Park,
which costs nothing. Apart from a short break in Spain last year, Sherrin has not had a holiday
in ten years. I wish I could go to Italy. It is a fantastic place to go on vacations. She is paying
her way through college and earns money by working as a skating instructor. Despite the
financial drawbacks, she loves New York. “The energy in this city is incredible”. The worst
aspect, according to Sherrin, is pollution and noise. I wish the alarms would not go off
through the night. It’s hard to get a good night’s sleep. The aggressive nature of New Yorkers
also makes her uncomfortable. “People push you out of the way on the subway or in the
street. Sometimes I long for a more peaceful way of life”.

B. THE FAMILY- Mr. and Mrs. Miles and their daughters

Seymour Miles, his wife, Jan, and their two daughters live in a three-bedroom apartment,
which is large by New York standards. Mr. Miles runs his own business and Jan is vice-
president at a bank. The Miles say they are fortunate they can afford to send their daughters
to a private school. “The school has an excellent academic reputation, every child has a
computer. Things like that influenced our decision to invest so much in their education”.
Bringing children up in New York has its benefits and drawbacks. A big advantage is access
to New York’s rich cultural life. The girls go regularly to museums and art galleries and see
all the latest films. “In New York they are exposed to the diversity of people, they see other
cultures and are enriched by that” says Mr. Miles. The disadvantages is they do not have the
freedom to go out in the street and play. “We wish they could play safely in the streets.
Everything has to be supervised.” The Miles say New York is becoming more expensive and
dangerous to live in, so many people are leaving and moving out to the suburbs.

C. THE COUPLE- Mr and Mrs Rochford

A few years ago, Jeff Rochford considered moving out of New York, “where he’s lived in
all his life. “Crime was out of control, the economy was in mess. It was becoming a dangerous
place to live. But the clampdown on crime has improved the city tremendously”. Mr.
Rochford and his wife, Verda, live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment. Although it is expensive
to live in Manhattan, Mr. Rochford says he feeds off the city’s energy and would not live
anywhere else. “Here we’ve got everything at our fingertips. Anything you want is available
24 hours a day. “Mrs. Rochford, however, who grew up on a farm in the country, says she
has a “love-hate” relationship with New York. “I hate that feeling of being closed in. We
wish we could buy a bigger house”, she says. “We’re trying to save up for a bigger home”.

D. THE HOMELESS PERSON- Gerry Brown

Begging for coins on Fifth Avenue, Gerry Brown doesn’t display an ounce of self-pity. “A
lot of wealthy people live here and good luck to them. I know a lot of them and they give me
money because they like me”. Gerry, 44, has been unemployed for five years. He stays at a
friend’s house and comes into the city center every day. “I do odd jobs”. He gets financial
support and food stamps each month from the State. The rest of the time he earns money by
going through rubbish bins and picking out cans and bottles for recycling. “I find stuff, like
televisions and radios and sell them”, he says. He is experienced enough to know to look
after himself. “I know where to get a free shower. I know where to get food – the
supermarkets, the restaurants – they all give it away.”

Taken from: Fast Track to FCE Longman Pearson Education Limited 2001
14 Reading "Gateway to the Global Village"
Britain’s capital is a treasure trove of foreign culture. People from all over the world live in
London and the result is a thrilling multiculturalism: cafés, restaurants, shops and markets
offer you the world on your doorstep. Come and meet people who are…

A. Indian
After the Irish, the Indian community is the second largest in London. The first Indians
arrived in 1597 and more came after the founding of the East India trading company in the
seventeenth century. Numbers increased when India became independent in 1947 but the
community really took off in the 1950s and 1960s with employment opportunities around
Heathrow airport. Although “Little Indians” exist all over London, the most striking is the
district of Southhall in West London, not far from the airport. Here Indian foodstalls and
video shops are everywhere, spicy aromas fill the air, and women stroll around wearing the
typical colourful sari, just as in India. In McDonald’s, the piped music is refreshingly Indian.

B. Portuguese
The supermarkets and shops in Lambeth and Stockwell Roads are the most obvious
indication that you are in “Little Portugal”, but there is much more to this community than
that. Over 20,000 Portuguese live south of the River Thames. The majority have come from
the island of Madeira rather than from the mainland of Portugal. This close-knit community
is mad about football and folk-dancing and holds its own carnival every February. It’s a
community that is determined to hold on to its traditions and it’s a great place to experience
Madeiran culture.

C. Caribbean
When the ship Emperor Windrush docked in 1948 with its 500 immigrants, it marked the
start of the main period of Caribbean immigration, stimulated by British economic expansion.
Since then, over 300,000 have established vibrant communities all around London. The
greatest Caribbean celebration is the Notting Hill Carnival, now Europe’s largest street party,
which takes place every August. However, Brixton, in South London, is the hub of the
community. As you step out of the Underground station into Brixton Market, your senses are
stimulated by the noise, the bright colors and the rhythmic sound of Caribbean music. This
is one of the best places to shop for food in London. However, the area has become a very
popular place to live and prices are rising.
D. Japanese
Finchley and Hendon in North London are the principal centers for Japanese people. The
national affection for golf has had a noticeable effect on these areas – if you drive up Finchley
Road, you have an almost unlimited choice of golf shops and courses. Other than this, there
is little evidence of a community. Although there are restaurants and food stores here, most
socializing takes place at home. It isn’t as permanent as other communities, either – many
Japanese arrive on five-year contracts in the banking and technology sectors and then return
home afterwards. The best restaurants tend to be in central London, where most of the
community works.

E. Polish
The Polish community isn’t as distinct as some other ethnic communities in London. Andrzej
Morawicz, President of a well-known Polish club, puts this down to integration. “When you
are a large enough community, it’s easy to hold on to your culture and customs. In
comparison, the Polish community has become part of British society to a large extent, so
keeping up traditions isn’t so easy”. All the same, you can hear Polish conversations along
King Street in Hammmersmith, West London, where newsagents’ windows are full of
advertisements in Polish for the benefit of the local community. There are also plenty of
clubs, restaurants and food shops that help to keep traditions alive. There is even a daily
Polish-language newspaper, Dziennik Polski.
Taken from: Fast Track to FCE Longman Pearson Education Limited 2001

15 Reading "Class of 2000"

Do you ever wonder what will become of your classmates? Can you spot who’s going to
become famous, travel the world or get a really interesting job? Colin Bacon decided to look
up some people he’d known at secondary school to find out just that.
The first person I found was Andrew. He’d always wanted to work in the music industry. He
reminded me, “As a student, I used to do DJ work at the weekends. The academic side of
university wasn’t my main priority. After graduation, I did temporary jobs before getting into
a record company as assistant to the marketing manager. I learned a lot from him and
progressed quickly. I’m now in charge of signing new bands. A typical week involves
meetings with artists and producers, and I have to stay abreast of what’s going on in the music
world. No two days are ever the same in this job and an average day can change in an instant
if you hear a new band and you realize you’re on to something big. The thrill of that makes
all the dull days worthwhile”.
Barbara was much more of a shock. She was always rather quiet at school. She explained,
“After school I got a place at Art College to do a four-year degree, but after a year I had a
change of heart and swapped to a Geography degree which I thought was more interesting.
On that course, I met up with some people who were thinking of joining the army. I suddenly
realized it was just the thing for me too. After graduation, I spent a year doing officer training
and then shadowed another officer for two months before getting my own first commission.”
She now has fifty-five soldiers under her command. “Promotion depends on performance
and time served, but I hope to have been promoted to the rank of captain in two years’ time.”

Carl was always a patient sort, so I wasn’t surprised to find him still in the classroom. He
told me, “In my last year at school, I considered teaching as a career, but I ended up doing
two years of a medical degree instead, because that was the advice I was given at the time. I
never really felt committed to it, however, and after two years switched to Biology and
returned to my original plan. I chose a very practical training course where I spent a lot of
time in schools rather than in a lecture theatre. The advantage is that you build up a teaching
style quite quickly, but you do miss out a bit on the education theory behind it. I now work
in an inner-city secondary school and the challenge is motivating the rather troublesome
pupils to learn.”

Biggest shock of all was Diane. She was quite scruffy at school and the last person I expected
to be working as a fashion model. As she explained, “Anyone who says you become a model
just because you’re pretty is totally wrong. To be successful you need personality, drive,
maturity as well as good looks. A model’s job involves getting up early, performing miracles
in front of the camera even when you feel awful, and then staying miles away from home
because you’ve got to do it all again tomorrow. It is often exhausting. It’s glamorous enough
if you make it to the top, but most don’t. Fortunately, I’m building up the experience
necessary to start my own agency because modelling is not something you can do forever”.

And finally, I tracked down Eric. He works from home, but spends a lot of his time in the
great outdoors. As he told me, “I completed a degree in Zoology and because I’ve always
been interested in the sea, I started doing voluntary work with the Marine Conservation Trust
while I was looking for a job. It wasn’t long before I got taken on to the staff, however, and
I’m now their education officer. This involves responding to telephone enquiries from the
public and setting up courses for people who want to come and study the seashore. I also
have to do things like go round companies and try to get sponsorship for our schemes.”

Taken from: Fast Track to FCE Longman Pearson Education Limited 2001
16 Reading "Are You in Love?"
You think you are falling in love. You are really attracted to a certain person. But this
happened before and it was just a “crush”. How can you tell if it’s real this time? Here is
what our readers said:
If you are in love…
You will find yourself talking to or telephoning the person for no reason. (You might pretend
there’s a reason but often there is not).
You will find yourself bringing this person into every conversation. (“When I was in Mexico
-, “a friend begins. You interrupt with, “my boyfriend made a great Mexican dinner last
week”).
You might suddenly be interested in things you used to avoid. (“When a woman asks me to
tell her all about football, I know she is fallen in love,”) said a TV sports announcer.
Ok, so you’ve fallen in love. But falling in love is one thing, and staying in love is another
thing. How can you tell, as time passes, that you are still in love? If you stay in love, your
relationship will change. You might not talk as much about the person you are in love with.
You might not always call him or her so often. But this person will nevertheless become
more and more important in your life.
You’ll find that you can be yourself with this person. When you first fell in love, you were
probably afraid to admit certain things about yourself. But now you can be totally honest.
You can trust him or her to accept you as you are. Falling in love is great – staying in love is
even better!
Taken from: Richards, J. Proctor, S. & Hull, J. (1997) New interchange 3rd edition, (P. 59)
Cambridge university press.