 |
Variant 3. Task 1. Answer the questions according to the reading passage. Task 2. Choose the best variant to complete each sentence.
|
|
|
|
Variant 3
Task 1. Answer the questions according to the reading passage.
The future of energy - are biofuels the answer to our problems? Over recent years there has been great concern about global warming and pollution, and there is a need to find alternative energy sources that are renewable. Biofuels may be one answer. Biofuels are derived from agricultural crops, such as soybeans or com, and are therefore renewable. There are a number of environmental benefits of using biofuels. They cause less pollution than traditional petroleum-based fuels, and they do not contribute to global warming because they only release back into the environment the carbon dioxide (CO, ) that their source plants took out of the atmosphere in the first place. One major challenge is growing enough crops to meet demand. It is estimated that nearly all the world’s remaining forests and open spaces would need to be devoted to these crops for biofuel to satisfy our global energy needs. Another problem with biofuels is that producing them may well require more energy than they can generate. One study found that producing ethanol (a biofuel derived from com) required 29 percent more energy than the end product itself is capable of generating. There were similarly troubling numbers in making biodiesel from soybeans. There is no easy way for us to give up using fossil fuels such as petroleum, and the future will likely see a combination of sources from wind and ocean currents to hydrogen, solar, and, yes, some use of biofuels - powering our energy needs. What is often ignored when considering energy options, however, is the hard reality that we must reduce our consumption; we cannot just replace one fuel with another. Indeed, conservation is probably the largest single “alternative fuel” available to us.
1. One argument in favor of biofuels is that they ….
a) cause no pollution
b) produce no carbon dioxide
c) cause no increase in global warming
2. It is verv difficult to ….
a) persuade people to use biofuels
b) produce the quantity of biofuels that we need
c) find the right type of land to use
3. A study found that the biofuel ethanol produces … energy than is needed to make it.
a) more
b) as much
c) less
4. In the future we will ….
a) have fewer types of energy available to us
b) stop trying to produce biofuels
c) a variety of energy sources
5. The writer believes that the most effective wav to solve our energy problems is to ….
a) use less energy
b) find more ways to produce energy
c) do more research
Task 2. Choose the best variant to complete each sentence.
1. People in the past began to develop more _________ sources of food through primitive forms of agriculture.
a) reliable b) useful c) helpful d) changeable
2. The invention of microscope had a ___________ effect on studies in the biological sciences and led to the discovery of cells.
a) stable b) profound c) difficult d) various
|
|
|
3. The nature of viruses has become _________ only within the last half of the 20th century and the first step on the path of this discovery was taken by the Russian botanist Ivanovsky in 1892.
a ) hazardous b) tolerant c) wide-spread d) evident
4. Genetics regards genes as the primary units of ______________ in all living things.
a ) information b) inheritance c) connection d) reliability
5. Genetic engineering has made it possible to produce genetically ______________ organisms.
a) modified b) classified c) organized d) changed
6. The cell ____________ regulates what enters and leaves the cell and also aids in the protection and support of the cell.
a) nucleus b) membrane c) cytoplasm d) chromosome
7. Economic botany enables people to increase food supply and eliminate hunger and ________.
a ) starvation b) prosperity c) security d) poverty
8. Climate change has become a major issue of concern for ______________and international agencies over the last few years.
a ) authorities b) governments c) organizations d) societies
9. Governments in many countries of the world struggle against a lot _____habits involving more and more young people.
a) ruinous b) favourable c) irreducible d) extraordinary
MODULE 7. WORK AND BUSINESS
PART 1 PRACTICE YOUR READING AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
Text 1
Exercise 1. Read the following cv summary and fill in the header for each section with `EDUCATION', `WORK EXPERIENCE', `PERSONAL DETAILS', `PROFILE' and `SKILLS AND INTERESTS':
The CV
Andrea Patarino Rome, Italy
1 Date of birth: 23 June 1980 Marital status: Single
2 A British Culture Studies and English Linguistics graduate with four years' experience in the field of international cultural cooperation. Self-motivated, dynamic and ready to meet new challenges.
3 2000-2005 University of Rome, M. A. in British Culture Studies
4 2003-present Project co-ordinator, British Council, Rome, Italy 2002-2003 Internship, National Youth Agency, Leicester, UK 2001-2002 Tour guide, Tourist Information Centre, Rome, Italy
5 IT skills (good knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office), fluent in English (Certificate of Proficiency obtained in 2003), well-travelled, enjoys reading and skiing.
Exercise 2. Now look at the following expressions from the interview and match them to their functions below:
I would describe myself as someone who is ambitious, hardworking and motivated by challenge. As you can see from my CV, I've been working as a project coordinator for the British Council in Rome for several years. My job has mainly involved organizing special events. Against the odds, I managed to successfully work with our partners and reschedule the project events. I guess at times I am a little reluctant to delegate certain tasks. I would say successfully completing my university degree has been my most rewarding accomplishment. My long-term goals involve growing with a company where I can continue to learn, and take on additional responsibilities. Once I gain the necessary experience, I see myself moving on to a management position.
a. describing your current job
b. describing your personal qualities
c. describing a personal weakness
|
|
|
d. describing how you overcame a difficult situation
e. describing your ambitions
f. describing your achievements
Exercise 3. Read the whole interview paying special attention to the answers:
- Interviewer: How would you describe yourself?
- Andrea: I would describe myself as someone who is ambitious, hardworking and motivated by challenge. My language and interpersonal skills have allowed me to successfully manage various international projects for the British Council over the past few years.
- Interviewer: What influenced you to choose a career in cultural relations? Andrea: Well, I've always been fascinated by the British/American language and culture, and how it has become so globally important.
- Interviewer: Tell me about your current job. What have you been doing? Andrea: As you can see from my CV, I've been working as a project co-ordinator for the British Council in Rome for several years. My job has mainly involved organising special events, such as the Social Diversity event which took place last month in Amsterdam. I have also helped prepare budget forecasts for various projects.
- Interviewer: How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a team?
- Andrea: Well, during my period as a project co-ordinator for the British Council, I've had to work within an international team and deal with outside partners. I've had to motivate others to meet deadlines, and I get on well with everyone.
- Interviewer: Tell me about a major problem you recently handled. Were you successful in resolving it?
- Andrea: While I was coordinating a British Council project in Rome, one of the main speakers fell ill a few days before the event. Against the odds, I managed to successfully work with our partners and reschedule the project events. I was under a lot of pressure, but in the end the problem was resolved.
- Interviewer: How do you handle pressure?
- Andrea: I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment.
- Interviewer: Why do you want to work for this company?
- Andrea: Well, I am an ambitious person and I want to be part of a well-established company. I believe the job is tailored to my skills and experience, which include language skills and managing international projects.
- Interviewer: What would you say has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
- Andrea: I would say successfully completing my university degree has been my most rewarding accomplishment. I had to work pretty intensively since I was taking on several jobs to support my studies, including working as a tour guide for English-speaking visitors to Rome.
- Interviewer: What personal weakness has caused you the greatest difficulty on the job?
- Andrea: I guess at times I am a little reluctant to delegate certain tasks. I think this is because I am hardworking by nature. However, my current employer has told me that I've made significant improvements during the last few months of the job, and I believe I will continue to improve in this area.
- Interviewer: What are your goals for the future?
- Andrea: My long-term goals involve growing with a company where I can continue to learn, and take on additional responsibilities. Once I gain the necessary experience, I see myself moving on to a management position.
Exercise 4. Look at the following `difficult' questions that you might hear during a job interview and write your own answers:
|
|
|
