TEST 15

A. LISTENING (50 pts)

Part 1: You will hear an interview with Dr. Maurice Harmann, an expert on obesity.
For question 1-5, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what
you hear.
1. According to Dr. Harmann, what is true about the problem of obesity?
A. Other health campaigns have indirectly addressed it.
B. It makes people more aware of their bodies.
C. People only care about it when they realise that their clothes don’t fit.
D. There has been an increase in attacks on sufferers.
2. In the last 20 years,
A. various false statistics have been released.
B. cases of obesity have risen quite significantly.
C. several organisations have been set up to help.
D. our attitude to the problem of obesity has got worse.
3. Dr. Harmann, suggests that
A. Eating fast food once a week causes obesity.
B. Young people are unable to eat properly.
C. Restaurants have been shown to be unwilling to help.
D. Obesity is linked to the spread of fast food outlets.
4. Which of the following can cause obesity?
A. Incurable medical conditions
B. Very common health problems
C. A relaxed lifestyle and home-cooked meals
D. Inherited complaints and eating disorders
 5. The doctor says that an eating disorder can be caused if the person
A. Is suffering from depression.
B. Is too comfortable with food.
C. Eats too much on one occasion.
D. Sometimes eat when they are bored.

Part 2: You will listen to the classroom conversation about the benefits of sport and
decide whether the following sentences are true (T) or false (F). (10 pts)

1. The class have already talked about at least three of the physical effects sport has
on the human body.
2. Doing sport can slow down the production of chemicals in the brain that make us
feel good.
3. There are no real benefits associated with doing individual sport.
4. Being part of a team requires you to practice more regularly.
5. It doesn’t matter which sport you choose, as long as you’re good at it.

Part 3: You will hear a short talk on what deforestation is. Listen and give short
answers to the questions. Write NO MORE THAN FIVE WORDS AND/OR A
NUMBER taken from the recording. (10 pts)

1. What can deforestation be called when it benefits few at the expense of the many?

2. What is an example given as a kind of non-food crops?

3. In Brazil, what do farmers deforest for?

4. Apart from massive industrial scale deforestation, how are forests cleared?

5. How many species go extinct around the world every year?

Part 4: You will hear a report about the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. WRITE NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER in the corresponding numbered
boxes. (20 pts)

Ruth Adam reports that

Another name for the San Diego Freeway is the (1) __________.

The Getty Museum looks like a(n) (2) __________ stranded on land.

The only way to get to the museum is by (3) __________.

The six buildings of the museum are of great interest to (4) __________.

It took (5) __________ to design and construct the museum.

Only (6) __________ parties are allowed before 11 am.

The museum is the only one which has been set in such a (7) __________ location.

The museum has a fine collection of examples of 15th to 19th century (8) __________.

If you are at the museum and you travel away from the ocean, you will go towards (9)
__________.

Most of the floors of the car park are (10) __________.

B. LEXICO AND GRAMMAR (30 pts)

Part 1: Choose the word/ phrase that best completes each of the following sentences.
Write your answer in the corresponding numbered boxes. (10 pts)
1. The modification has been the _______ on the cake for both of us, for a lot of hard
work has gone intothe design and development of the course.
A. chilling B. cooling C. freezing D. icing
2. Annabel and Insidious 3 are not James Wan’s best movies by far and those would
be _______ betweenany of the other sequels on air, but they are pretty incredible.
A. kiss-offs B. summings-up C. tip-offs D. toss-ups
3. Researchers have made a(n) __________ plea for more sponsorship so that they
can continue the project.
A. compassionate B. dispassionate C. encompassed D. impassioned
4. You shouldn’t have been _______ to your elders by raising those matters.
A. ill-mannered B. immaterialC. impertinent D. inapposite
5. Should you fail, the sacrifices made by your family would be meaningless and
reside _______.
A. on your conscience B. at your wits’ end
C. off your own boat D. under your thumb
6. Many Americans refused to fall in with the idea that religion is a(n) _______
disreputable anachronism.
A. academically B. cerebrally C. cognitively D. intellectually
7. She expects the political experience gained in this election will stand her in good
_______ in her future career, which, she suggests, could include another
campaign.
A. footing B. grounding C. precedent D. stead
8. I ran into an unknown in the gap-filling exercise, but I didn’t try and _______ the
gap.
A. held on B. hang out C. press on D. stuck at
9. I was out of __________ with you on this matter, but let’s not quarrel about it.
A. empathy B. harmony C. keeping D. sympathy
 10. Poor management brought village shops to teeter _______ of collapse although
community-owned shops, Internet retailing and home delivery schemes were
becoming more popular.
A. In the teeth B. on the brink
C. on the razor’s edge D. on the threshold

Part 2: The text below contains 5 mistakes. Underline the mistakes and write the
corrections in the space provided. (5 pts). There is an example at the beginning (0)

H-C TRAVEL MOTORCYCLE TOURS to India, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet offer
something for everyone: from the beauty of Sikkim, the challenging Ladakh High Roads
and the mysteries of Tibet to the splender of Rajasthan. Our Lost Horizon Run takes you
to Sikkim, until 1975 an independent remote mountain kingdom and unsurpassable for
scenic beauty. With more spectacular mountain terrain and a greater variety of flora and
fauna than anywhere else in the world, Sikkim has long been regarded as one of the last
Himalayan Shangri-Las. Enhancing your experience, you will be riding India’s finest
machine, the Royal Enfield Bullet 500, nearly new and thoroughly maintained.

Ladakh is one the only places left on Earth where the Tibetan Buddhist faith still
flourishes as it does for thousands of years. Situated in the northernmost part of India,
bordered the Karakoram Range and Tibet, it is surely one of the last unspoiled ultimate
destinations. Closed to outsiders until 1974, Ladakh also contains the world’s highest
motorable pass, Khardung-La (5,605m).

Our motorcycle expedition takes us from the plains of Delhi, through the valleys and
foothills of the Himalaya, over the military road first opened to foreign travel in 1992,
crossing the Tibetan Plateau and finally to the Indus River Valley and Ladakh. We cross
five major passes en route, including the world’s highest and second highest traversing
three distinct Himalayan ranges.

(0) Line 1: offers  offer

Part 3. Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable preposition or
particle. Write your answer in the corresponding numbered boxes. (5 pts)

1. She wept herself __________ when she heard the bad news.
2. If you don’t believe me, go and see __________ yourself!
3. You go to the beach with the kids and I’ll follow __________ when I’ve finished
my work.
4. Supporting this is anecdotal evidence that this is a responsible decision while
glossing _______ the very real possibility of harm and danger to the student.
5. You could hardly tell the difference, but manufacturers claimed they had the
second-rate productsfobbed ____________ with many beer-drinkers.

Part 4: Write the correct form of each bracketed word in corresponding numbered
boxes. (10 pts)

CHARLES BABBAGE, COMPUTER PIONEER

‘Propose to any Englishman any principle, or any instrument, however admirable it may
be,’ grumbled the inventor Charles Babbage, ‘and you will observe that the whole effort
of the English mind is directed to find a difficulty, a defect, or an impossibility in it.’
Babbage’s dream, back in the 1830s, was for a computer – the Analytical Engine. His
detailed designs (46)_______ (CORPUS) almost every principle of modern computers,
(47)_______ (DISTINCT), for instance, between memory and processor, and recognising
the need to skip and repeat during calculations. The problem was that Babbage was a
century before his time, his ideas unfortunately disregarded as (48)_______ (THINK),
temerarious, non-viable and (49)_______ (BRAIN) because they could not be realised by
mechanical terms. Common sense was not his strong suit. His Analytical Engine would
have been five metres tall and six metres in diameter had it ever been built. His
Difference Engine No. 1, the one big project he did not exactly prove (50)_______
(FRUIT), was a huge calculator of cast iron and brass designed to print (51)_______
(ERR) mathematical tables. The section completed in 1832, now in the Science Museum,
is a(n) (52)_______ (PIECE) of precision engineering, but the full-size engine would
have weighed 15 tonnes and (53)_______ (TAIL) 25,000 individually
machined parts. After ten years, Babbage’s attempts to build it collapsed (54)_______
(MID) accusations and (55)_______ (CRIME), at a cost to the state of £17,500.

C. READING

Part 1: For questions 1–10, read the following passages and decide which answer (A,
B, C or D) best fits each gap. Write your answers (A, B, C, or D) in corresponding
numbered boxes. (10pts)

(Source: OBJECTIVE PROFICIENCY)

Urban gum crime

The Mayan tribes of South America would chew chicle, a natural form of rubber, while
the Ancient Greeks (1)_________ the resin of a mastic shrub. In modern Britain, we like
to chew sticks and tablets of manufactured gum – and (2)_________ of the tasteless
sticky residue on the ground.

However, recent legislation in the UK means that used chewing gum is now
(3)__________ as litter and anyone who drops it on the pavement or (4)__________ in
any public place is committing a crime and can be fined. Some areas have council litter
wardens who can (5)________ on-the-spot fines.

A new government campaign (6)_______ the extent of the problem and aims to
(7)________ awareness about this anti-social habit, for instance with posters in shopping
areas.
Throughout the UK, councils spend 150 million pounds a year (8)_______ chewing gum
from the streets, and 4 million of that is in London alone. Indirectly, this is (9)________
taxpayers’ money. (10)_______ is the main removal method, but use is also made of
chemical sprays, freezing, pressurized water and steam.

1. A. favoured B. approved C. commended D. indulged

2. A. discard B. dispose C. dispense D. disperse
3. A. ranked B. classified C. systematised D. codified
4. A. at any rate B. anyway C. even so D. indeed
5. A. fix B. compel C. impose D. prescribe
6. A. features B. declares C. focuses D. highlights
7. A. make B. provoke C. grow D. heighten
8. A. erasing B. spraying C. removing D. washing
9. A. no doubt B. for sure C. of course D. within reason
10. A. Scraping B. Clawing C. Scratching D. Rubbing

Part 2: Read the text below and think of one word which best fits each space. Use
only ONE WORD for each space. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes. (10 pts)

(SOURCE: PROFICIENCY PRACTICE TESTS, TEST 1, PAGE 22)

The Rosetta Stone

For centuries Egyptian hieroglyphics represented one of the world’s greatest linguistic
challenges. They (1)......................... scholars baffled until they were finally deciphered in
the nineteenth century, (2) ........................ to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.

In the year 1799 some French soldiers found a slab of black basalt (3) .......................
working on a fortress near the small town of Rosetta. One officer, Pierre Francois
Bouchard, realised they had stumbled (4) ........................ a finding of great significance
and handed it over to scholars.

The Rosetta Stone has inscriptions in two languages, Egyptian and Greek,
(5) ........................ there are, in fact, three scripts carved on it. The (6) ........................
script is hieroglyphics, a pictorial form of writing used (7) ........................ transcribe the
language of Ancient Egypt, and which (8) ........................ be found on many Egyptian
buildings and monuments. The hieroglyphics are followed by Demotic, (9) .......................
Egyptian script. The third script is Ancient Greek, and it was (10) ................... that alerted
Bouchard, who recognised it, to the importance of the discovery.

Part 3: Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D)
according to the text. Write your answers (A, B, C or D) in the corresponding
numbered boxes (15pts).

(SOURCE: http://lopngoaingu.com/examinations/index.php?
id=reading_comprehension/c-hiu-toefl-bi-154)

Until recently, most American entrepreneurs were men. Discrimination against women in
business, the demands of caring for families, and lack of business training had kept the
number of women entrepreneurs small. Now, however, businesses owned by women
account for more than $40 billion in annual revenues, and this figure is likely to continue
rising throughout the 1990s. As Carolyn Doppelt Gray, an official of the Small Business
Administration, has noted, "The 1970s was the decade of women entering management,
and the 1980s turned out to be the decade of the woman entrepreneur". What are some of
the factors behind this trend? For one thing, as more women earn advanced degrees in
business and enter the corporate world, they are finding obstacles. Women are still
excluded from most executive suites. Charlotte Taylor, a management consultant, had
noted, "In the 1970s women believed if they got an MBA and worked hard they could
become chairman of the board. Now they've found out that isn't going to happen, so they
go out on their own".

In the past, most women entrepreneurs worked in "women's" fields: cosmetics and
clothing, for example. But this is changing. Consider ASK Computer Systems, a $22-
million-a-year computer software business. It was founded in 1973 by Sandra Kurtzig,
who was then a housewife with degrees in math and engineering. When Kurtzig founded
the business, her first product was software that let weekly newspapers keep tabs on
their newspaper carriers-and her office was a bedroom at home, with a shoebox under
the bed to hold the company's cash. After she succeeded with the newspaper software
system, she hired several bright computer-science graduates to develop additional
programs. When these were marketed and sold, ASK began to grow. It now has 200
employees, and Sandra Kurtzig owns $66.9 million of stock.
Of course, many women who start their own businesses fail, just as men often do. They
still face hurdles in the business world, especially problems in raising money; the
banking and finance world is still dominated by men, and old attitudes die hard. Most
businesses owned by women are still quite small. But the situation is changing; there are
likely to be many more Sandra Kurtzigs in the years ahead.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Women today are better educated than in the past, making them more attractive to the
business world.
B. The computer is especially lucrative for women today.
C. Women are better at small businesses than men are.
D. Women today are opening more businesses of their own.
2. The word "excluded" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
A. not permitted in
B. often invited to
C. decorators of
D. charged admission to
3. All of the following were mentioned in the passage as detriments to women in the
business world EXCEPT
A. women were required to stay at home with their families
B. women lacked ability to work in business
C. women faced discrimination in business
D. women were not trained in business
4. In line 17, "that" refers to
A. a woman becomes chairman of the board
B. women working hard
C. women achieving advanced degrees
D. women believing that business is a place for them
5. According to the passage, Charlotte Taylor believes that women in the 1970s
A. were unrealistic about their opportunities in business management
B. were still more interested in education than business opportunities
C. had fewer obstacles in business than they do today
D. were unable to work hard enough to succeed in business
6. The author mentions the "shoebox under the bed" in the third paragraph in order to
A. show the frugality of women in business
B. show the resourcefulness of Sandra Kurtzig
C. point out that initially the financial resources of Sandra Kurtzig's business were limited
D. suggest that the company needed to expand

7. The expression "keep tabs on" in line 24-25 is closest in meaning to

A. recognize the appearance of
B. keep records of
C. provide transportation for
D. pay the salaries of
8. The word "hurdles" in line 33 can be best replaced by
A. fences
B. obstacles
C. questions
D. small groups
9. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes that businesses operated by
women are small because
A. women prefer a small intimate setting
B. women can't deal with money
C. women are not able to borrow money easily
D. many women fail at large businesses
10. The author's attitude about the future of women in business is
A. skeptical
B. optimistic
C. frustrated
D. negative

Part 4: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follows. Write your answer
in the space provided. (15 pts)

(SOURCE: http://ieltsmaterial.com/ielts-reading-practice-test-57-with-answer-key-
2/)

A. A constellation is a group of stars which when viewed collectively appear to have a

physical proximity’ in the sky. Constellation boundaries and definitions as used today in
Western culture, and as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), were
formalised in 1930 by Eugene Delporte. There are 88 official constellations as recognised
by the IAU, those visible in the northern hemisphere being based upon those established
by the ancient Greeks, the constellations of the southern hemisphere – since invisible to
the Greeks due to geographical location – were not defined until later in the early modem
era.
B. Arguably, the twelve constellations through which the sun passes – as used to
represent the signs of the zodiac to define birth characteristics – are the most culturally
significant and well known of those established by the ancient Greeks. Cultural
differences in Interpretation and definition of star constellations mainly relate to these
zodiac interpretations, Chinese constellations, for example, which are different to those
defined in the western world due to the independent development of ancient Chinese
astronomy, includes 28 ‘Xiu’ or ‘mansions’ instead of the 12 western zodiac
counterparts. In Hindu/Vedic astronomy, in which constellations are known as ‘rashis’,
12 rashi corresponding directly to the twelve western star signs are acknowledged; these
are however, divided again into 27 ‘Nakshatras’ or ’lunar houses’. Many cultures have an
intricate mythology behind the stars and their constellations. In Greek mythology, for
example Pegasus, the winged horse, is said to have sprung from the decapitated head of
Medusa, and later was used by the God King Zeus to carry thunder and lightning to
Earth, before being put into a constellation.

C. In Western astronomy, all modern constellation names derive from Latin, some stars
within the constellations are named using the genitive form of the Latin word by using
the usual rules of Latin grammar. For example, the zodiac sign for the Fish constellation
Pisces relates to Piscium. In addition, all constellation names have a standard three-letter
abbreviation as assigned by the IAU, under which, for example, Pisces becomes PSC.

D. Some star patterns often wrongly considered constellations by laymen are actually
‘asterisms’ – a group of stars that appear to form patterns in the sky -and are not in fact
one of the 88 officially divided areas truly defined as a constellation. A famous example
of an asterism oft mistaken for a constellation is the Big Dipper’ (as it is termed in North
America) or the ‘Plough’ as it is known in the UK. In astronomical terms, this famous
star formation is in fact considered only part of the larger constellation known as Ursa
Major.
E. In order to identify the position of stars relative to the Earth, there are a number of
different celestial coordinate systems that cart provide a detailed reference point in space.
There are many different systems, all of which are largely similar with the exception of a
difference in the position of the fundamental plane – the division between northern and
southern hemispheres. The five most common celestial systems are the Horizontal
system, the Equatorial system, the Ecliptical system, the Galactic system and the
Supergalactic system.

F. The launch of the Hubble space telescope in April 1990 changed the way that
astronomers saw the universe, providing detailed digital images of constellations, planets
and gas- clouds that had never been seen before. Compared to ground-based telescopes,
Hubble is not particularly large. With a primary mirror diameter of 2.4 meters (94.5
inches). Hubble would be considered a medium-size telescope on the ground. However,
the combination of its precision optics, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and
unprecedented pointing stability and control, allows Hubble to more than make up for its
lack of size, giving it a range of well over 12 billion light years.

G. The telescope’s location above the Earth’s atmosphere also has a number of
significant advantages over land based telescopes. The atmosphere bends light due to a
phenomenon known as diffraction (this is what causes starlight to appear to twinkle and
leads to the often blurred images seen through ground-based telescopes). The Hubble
Space Telescope can also observe infrared light that would otherwise be blocked by the
atmosphere as the wavelength (distance between successive wave crests) of ultraviolet
light is shorter than that of visible light.

H. Despite early setbacks – one of the reflective mirrors had to be replaced after finding
that it had been ground incorrectly and did not produce the images expected – the
telescope has reignited interest in space amongst the general public – a requirement,
given that taxpayer funding paid for the research, deployment and maintenance of the
telescope.

Questions 1-5. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-F from the list of headings
below.

List of Headings

i. Different methods of locating and identifying

ii. A better view of the constellations

iii. Technological advances in research and development

iv. Atmospheric weaknesses of telescopes in orbit

v. Different interpretations of star groupings

vi. Common misconceptions

vii. Bypassing terrestrial limitations

viii. Renewed interest in the stars

ix. Ethnic differences in celestial mapping

x. Formal marking of constellations

xi. Universal myths of constellations

xii. Historical and modern reference

1. Paragraph A
 2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph C
4. Paragraph D
5. Paragraph F

Questions 6-10. Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

Despite an initial flaw in a 6_______________, the Hubble space telescope is superior to

telescopes on land as it can identify 7_________________ which would not normally
reach the Earth’s surface. This is all the more impressive given that Hubble is only
classified as a 8______________ telescope. Being above the atmosphere, it also has the
advantages of not being affected by 9 _____________, which would otherwise lead to 10
______________ images.

Part 5: Read the text below and answer questions (10pts).

(SOURCE: SUCCEED IN CPE)

Creole Language in Jamaica

A. Language in Jamaica today reflects the history of the country’s interaction with a
variety of cultures and languages from many ethnic, linguistic, and social
backgrounds. Aside from the Arawaks, the original inhabitants of Jamaica, all its
people were exiles or children of exiles. Over 90 of the 2.5 million people living in
Jamaica today are descendants of slaves brought from western Africa by the
British. The local Jamaican language is a reflection of a history of contact with a
variety of speakers, but the official language remains Standard English. The most
influential speakers were immigrants from Africa and Europe. Kwa, Manding, and
Kru are amongst the variety of prominent African languages apparent in Jamaican
history. Early Modern English was brought to the Caribbean by sailors, soldiers,
 indentured servants, convicts, and lower-class settlers in the form of regional and
non-standard dialects.

B. Today the Jamaican creole language, called Jamaican Patois, falls at one extreme
of the linguistic spectrum while Standard English lies at the other end of the
spectrum. The majority of the population speaks a language which falls in between
the two. At one end there is the educated model spoken by the elite, which follows
the “London Standard”. At the other extreme is what linguists call “creolized’
English, fragmented English speech and syntax with African influences developed
during the days of slavery. This is the speech of the peasant or laborer with little
education. In the middle of the language scale there is the inclusion of Jamaican
rhythm and intonation of words, which evolved within the country, as well as the
presence of other uniquely Jamaican traits including retention in common speech
of English words now rare or poetic as well as new formations such as alterations
of existing words.
C. Jamaican history and the formation of Patois are based on the experience of exile.
In the early 16th century Spanish settlement began in Jamaica with the Arawaks as
their first slave labour force. Within 100 years very few Arawaks survived due to a
deadly epidemic. The only evidence of the Arawak dialect in Jamaica today is a
few loan words, place names, foods, natural objects, and events. Xaymaca is
actually an Arawak word meaning ‘island of springs”, which is where the name
Jamaica is derived from. It is possible that the first contact of the Arawaks and the
Spaniards may have led to an early pidgin or bilingualism among the first
generation of mixed blood. Age in Jamaica have led to an early pidgin or
bilingualism among the first generation of mixed blood. Throughout Spanish rule,
the Arawaks had contact with Spanish colonists, Portuguese, Amerindians brought
in as slaves from other parts of the Caribbean, and West Africans. Then, in 1655,
the English attacked the Spanish colony bringing with them new influences.
Arriving with the invaders were soldiers recruited from England, Barbados, and
 Montserrat; settlers from Surinam, Barbados, Bermuda, New England, and
Virginia; Jews from Brazil; indentured servants from Bristol; midland and
northern lower-class English speakers; convicts from large prisons in England;
Romany speakers; and a variety of African speakers. The birth of population
centers, such as Port Royal, Passage Fort, and Kingston. Served as a mixing pot of
many different speakers.

D. Today linguists agree that East Indians, Spanish, and Arawaks have contributed a
little vocabulary to the Jamaican dialect, but the majority of non-English terms,
grammar and phonology is African. Africans came to acquire forms of English
because of the domination of the English dialects of their plantation-owning
masters. The heyday of sugar. Between 1700-1834. Is the period thought to be
most responsible for the forming of Patois? At this time, increasing numbers of
Africans were imported to work on the Large plantations. By the end of the
century Africans made up a quarter of the slave population and Creole took
precedence over the African past. Increases in written records of Jamaican Creole
were seen at the time of the abolitionist movement from 1770 to 1838, but English
continued to influence Jamaican Creole in the form of biblical and prayer-book
language.
E. The perception that English-lexicon Creole languages are a form of “bad English”
still persists today in Jamaica. Jamaican Patois continues to be considered an
unacceptable official language and an informal language not to be used for any
formal purpose. Creole speakers are often compared to those speakers of Standard
English. The similarity of Creole to English has led Creole speakers to be labelled
as socially and linguistically inferior, although Jamaica Creole is increasingly
showing up in newspapers once known for their old-fashioned Standard English,
on the radio, and in songs. Indeed, in the past 30 or 40 years linguists have final
begun to recognize Creole as a language in itself.
 In which section are the following mentioned?
1. The reason why Jamaican Creole is looked down upon
2. A source by which Jamaicans were exposed to English after Patois developed
3. How most people speak in Jamaica?
4. The name of the legally recognized language of Jamaica
5. Why there are not many Arawak’s in Jamaica today
6. The part of society that speaks the London Standard of English
7. The places where most Jamaican people live
8. A significant development during the years when growing sugar was important
9. African languages that were particularly important in the development of Patois
10. The characteristics that make Jamaican Patois unique

D. WRITING

Part 1: Summarize the following passage with your own words. Your summery
should be about 140 words long.

(SOURCE: https://www.ielts-
exam.net/docs/reading/IELTS_Reading_Academic_29.htm)

For many years, the preferred option for refuse disposal in Britain has been the landfill.
In fact, the UK, more than any other European country, makes use of landfills to get rid
of its biodegradable waste. However, problems have arisen with this method and
alternative solutions have had to be researched.

One of the biggest drawbacks to landfills is the cost. In the past this was not the case as
land was plentiful and cheap with abandoned quarries and mines often being utilised. But
by 2015, since space for approved and licensed landfills will have run out, viable
alternatives to waste disposal have to be found. Another disadvantage is the
environmental impact made by the acids and hazardous chemicals that are leaked from
the landfills. Older sites depended on these substances being diluted naturally by rain but
this often did not occur and surrounding agricultural land was affected and livestock
poisoned. Nowadays, more modern landfills use liners within the pits to contain any
dangerous material and the liquid is then collected, treated and discharged within the site
itself. But perhaps the most apparent annoyance for the general public living in the
immediate vicinity of the landfill is the nuisance that results from the traffic, the noise,
the dust and the unpleasant odors emanating from the site. Although no risks to human
health have been verified, symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness and exhaustion have
been reported by people living close to landfills. These may have been caused by toxic
emissions from the site but they may be connected to the impact that living next to the
sites can have on stress and anxiety.

Part 2

The charts show the Australian school leavers did immediately after leaving
secondary school. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Part 3

Write an essay of about 300-350 words expressing your opinion on the following topic:

Should young people be encouraged to start up?

- The end -