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Read the passage below and answer 11 questions. Section A Muynak used to be a port city. Inhabitants of Muynak, of which there are fewer and fewer, now pose for pictures next to ships which were once anchored along the shores of the Aral Sea, but are now stranded in an ocean of sand where water once was. These pictures are published in scientific journals and magazines alongside descriptions of how what was once the worlds fourth largest lake may disappear altogether by 2020. Section B The Aral Sea is located in the central Asian desert between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In 1960, it covered 68,000 km2, and its waters fed agriculture across the region. By 1998, the area of the Aral Sea had shrunk to one third of its previous size and has now become a symbol of how drastically human activities can adversely affect the environment, and how much this effect can, in turn, affect human activities. Section C The reason for this change is not exclusively due to man. Droughts in the 1970s and 80s reduced the amount of water carried by the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, two rivers which feed the sea. However, farming policies implemented during the middle of the 20th century increased the farming of water-hungry crops like cotton, and farmers used vast quantities of water from these two rivers to irrigate their land. The result of this was that very little water was entering the Aral Sea, and it consequently began decreasing in volume. Section D Policy makers at the time were aware of the effect of diverting so much water for agriculture, but they saw it as an acceptable trade-off to improving agricultural output, and thereby improving the economy. The sea itself was of less importance to the progress of society than farming which could produce not only crops for domestic use but commodities for trade. Section E They did not, however, anticipate all the effects that the drying of the Aral Sea would have. The Aral Sea is a salt-water sea, and the salt left behind when the waters retreated has now blown away with wind and storms, making patches of land unsuitable for farming. This affects not only the surrounding region, but lands as far as a thousand kilometers away. In addition, the remaining waters have become increasingly more concentrated in salt, and this is killing off a once thriving fishing industry as it kills off the fish themselves. The Aral Sea, like all large bodies of water, has a strong effect on local climate, and as it has disappeared, harvesting seasons have become shorter and dryer. Many farmers in the surrounding area have had to give up growing cotton because the growing season is not long enough for this crop. Section F The effect on inhabitants of the area is not limited to economics and productivity. The health of those living in the area has deteriorated due to a supply of drinking water which has high concentrations of minerals. The area has seen sharp jumps in the rates of cancer and respiratory illnesses. Section G There are compelling reasons to halt and try to reverse the fate of the Aral Sea, but it would be difficult. The region, though weakened by worsening conditions, still depends on agriculture to survive, and there are no alternative sources of water. In the 1980s, it was proposed to divert water from rivers far to the north in an effort to save the Aral Sea, and it might have worked had the price of the project, an estimated $250 billion, not been prohibitive. age has seven sections, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number i-x in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet. List of Headings i) Man mostly to blame ii) Devastating outcomes iii) A port in a sea of sand iv) A lost cause v) The world's fourth largest lake vi) A symbol of environmental disaster

vii) A man-made disaster viii) A fair exchange? ix) Poisonous waters x) The problem of salt

1) Section A 2) Section B 3) Section C 4) Section D 5) Section E 6) Section F 7) Section G

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? On your answer sheet write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information FALSE if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this 8) The Amu Darya and the Syr Darya were not water sources before the 20th century. 9) The Aral Sea will be saved by diverting water from other rivers. 10) Many farmers have had to stop growing cotton and opt for other crops due to increased salt in the soil. 11) Policy makers were unaware of how much the Aral Sea would shrink due to increased agriculture in the area. This reading test contains 14 questions. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. To make it more authentic, download the test and do it with pen and paper.

Read the passage below and answer 14 questions. Bird Body Language A Birds are becoming popular as pets, but unlike with more common pets, owners of birds are often not familiar with the behavioural patterns of the animal which allow them to recognise what the pet needs and wants. For example, most of us can recognise the behaviour a dog exhibits when he is hungry or wants attention, but how many of us know how birds go about showing the same feelings? By learning about the behavioural patterns of birds, its owner can forge a stronger relationship with his pet. Owners can learn how to read bird body language,

including movements of the eyes, wings, tail and beak. In addition, the sounds the bird makes can also indicate the mood, desires, and requirements of the pet. B A birds eyes are different from a humans. While both birds and humans have pupils and irises (the black and coloured parts respectively), birds have the ability to control the size of their pupils by enlarging and reducing their irises quickly. This behaviour, flashing, is something birds may do when they are angry, interested, or frightened. C A bird also communicates through the use of their wings. A bird may lift or open his wings as a sign of happiness. But if the bird starts opening and closing their wings, it may signal anger or pain. If a bird fails to fold its wings against its body, and instead lets them hang by their side, the bird may be ill. Healthy adult birds will typically tuck their wings against their bodies when they are at rest. D Birds often use their tail feathers to communicate, so an understanding of this behaviour will help the pets owner. A bird may move his tail from side to side, called wagging, to express happiness (similar to dogs in behaviour and meaning). Happiness is also the emotion expressed by other kinds of tail movement, such as up and down. However, if a bird fans his tail feathers out, it is usually a way to show anger or aggression. E While the birds beak is used mainly for eating and grooming, a bird may also communicate by using beak movements. For example, a bird may click his beak once as a greeting, and several clicks can be taken as a warning. Birds may sometimes bite, but it is often difficult to determine the reason behind it birds bite as a way to defend territory, show anger or express fear. F Finally, the sounds a bird makes are very important in communication. Birds use vocalisations to communicate with each other (and with their owners). Singing is the sign of a happy bird, and many birds love to sing when others are around. Birds may also purr, though this is not the same as a cat's purr. A bird's purr sounds more like a low growl, and may indicate annoyance. Finally, a bird may click his tongue against his beak, and this often indicates a desire to be picked up and petted. omplete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Part of Movement the body Eyes Rapid change ____(1)____ size of pupils, called ____(2)____ Wings Wings in an ____(3)____ position Wings ____(4)____ of wings Wings Wings ____(5)____ Tail ____(7)____ in any direction Tail Fanning out Beak One click Beak Several clicks

Reason Anger, interest Contentment Anger or pain ____(6)____ Happiness Aggression ____(8)____ Warning

The Reading Passage has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-F in boxes 9-14 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once. 9) Mentions behaviour connected to a birds state of health

10) Describes how birds say hello 11) Compares the behaviour of two different pets 12) Compares humans and birds 13) Discusses the importance of learning about bird behaviour 14) Describes how birds indicate they want physical contact reading test contains 10 questions. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. To make it more authentic, download the test and do it with pen and paper.

Read the passage below and answer questions 1-10. What you need to know about Culture Shock Most people who move to a foreign country or culture may experience a period of time when they feel very homesick and have a lot of stress and difficulty functioning in the new culture. This feeling is often called culture shock and it is important to understand and learn how to cope with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new homes culture. First of all, its important to know that culture shock is normal. Everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock, and the extent of which they do is determined by factors such as the difference between cultures, the degree to which someone is anxious to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity that person has to the new culture. If you go, for example, to a culture that is far different from your own, youre likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the behavioural norms of the new culture. There are four general stages of cultural adjustment, and it is important that you are aware of these stages and can recognise which stage you are in and when so that you will understand why you feel the way you do and that any difficulties you are experience are temporary, a process you are going through rather than a constant situation. The first stage is usually referred to as the excitement stage or the honeymoon stage. Upon arriving in a new environment, youll be interested in the new culture, everything will seem exciting, everyone will seem friendly and helpful and youll be overwhelmed with impressions. During this stage you are merely soaking up the new landscape, taking in these impressions passively, and at this stage you have little meaningful experience of the culture. But it isnt long before the honeymoon stage dissolves into the second stage sometimes called the withdrawal stage. The excitement you felt before changes to frustration as you find it difficult to cope with the problems that arise. It seems that everything is difficult, the language is hard to learn, people are unusual and unpredictable, friends are hard to make, and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick, and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new culture or country. This is the stage which is referred to as culture shock. Culture shock is only temporary, and at some point, if you are one of those who manage to stick it out, youll transition into the third stage of cultural adjustment, the recovery stage. At this point, youll have a routine, and youll feel more confident functioning in the new culture. Youll start to feel less isolated as you start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment. Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand. At this stage, youll deal with new challenges with humour rather than anxiety. The last stage is the home or stability stage this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. At this stage, youll function well in the new culture, adopt certain features and behaviours from your new home, and prefer certain aspects of the new culture to your own culture. There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called reverse culture shock. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture foreign because you are so used to the new culture that you have spent so long adjusting to. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild you may notice things about your home culture that you had never noticed before, and some of the ways people do things may seem odd. Reverse culture shock rarely lasts for very long. Do the following statements agree with the information given in the article? In boxes 1-10 on your answer sheet write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE

if the statement contradicts the information if there is no information on this

NOT GIVEN

1) Some people will find the process of adapting to a new country easier than others. 2) Knowing about these four stages will help people adjust to a new culture more quickly. 3) People can ease culture shock by learning about the language and customs before they go to the new culture. 4) Culture shock is another name for cultural adjustment. 5) The first stage is usually the shortest. 6) In the first stage, people will have a very positive impression of the new culture. 7) Many people will leave the new culture while they are in the second stage. 8) By the third stage, people do not experience any more problems with the new culture. 9) In the fourth stage, people speak new language fluently. 10) Reverse culture shock is as difficult to deal with as culture shock.

Answers Passage1
1) iii 2) vi 3) i 4) viii 5) ii 6) ix 7) iv 8) NOT GIVEN 9) FALSE 10) FALSE 11) TRUE

Passage 2
1) in 2) flashing

3) open 4) movement 5) hanging down / at side 6) illness 7) wagging / movement 8) greeting 9) C 10) E 11) D/F 12) B 13) A 14) F

Passage 3
1) TRUE 2) NOT GIVEN 3) TRUE 4) FALSE 5) NOT GIVEN 6) TRUE 7) NOT GIVEN 8) FALSE 9) NOT GIVEN 10) FALSE