Form 10 Writing Gateway B2 (II)

Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete the text.

Ever since George Stephenson (1)   the first steam locomotive in 1829, designers (2)   trying to make trains go faster. The problem is that reaching very high speeds in a train involves the same kind of acceleration as a plane taking off and (3)   The human body isn’t designed for such rapid acceleration and people can suffer from motion sickness as a result.

Another problem is that the tracks for the existing rail networks often have to go round bends to (4)   across the landscape, with its rivers and mountains. In the 1970s, tilting trains were designed to lean in to a curve, but this still didn’t completely solve the problem of motion sickness for (5)   because of the way the human brain perceived the movement. Also, although many high-speed trains can achieve speeds of up to 250 mph (400 km/h) they rarely do so because they have to share tracks with existing trains.

In Asia, the latest high-speed trains have resolved many of these problems by (6)   the Maglev system. Maglev stands for ‘magnetic levitation’ and Maglev trains use completely different tracks, with the train moving by means of very powerful magnetic forces. Maglevs are not a new idea. The first patents were granted as early as 1907 and the first commercial Maglev system (7)   at Birmingham airport in 1984. But it is only now that the full benefits can be seen, especially in Japan and China.

Japanese Maglev trains routinely (8)   at 311 mph (500 km/h) and can achieve speeds of 373 mph
(600 km/h). In the future, the top speeds will be too fast to be comfortable for humans. However, Maglev trains will probably (9)   goods at much higher speeds and lower costs than current modes of transport. What’s more, the system is very energy efficient and clean so it has
(10)   benefits, too.

1 A has built B builds C will build D built

2 A did B have been C were D are

3 A launch B getting off C landing D flight

4 A trip B voyage C travel D tour

5 A passengers B astronauts C crowds D crew

6 A used B to use C didn’t use D using

7 A has opened B opened C will open D opens

8 A had moved B are moving C move D moved

9 A carry B carried C to carry D are carrying

10 A outdoors B location C pollution D environmental

Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete the text.

My dad has just (1)   from his job. It had become quite (2)   because they’ve completely changed the teaching system. In the past, people wanted classes to be as small as possible, but now they have classes of 70 or more students! Of course, they don’t have just one teacher dealing (3)   the whole class; there are several teachers working together with different groups. The head teacher says this means they can target those who need more help. She insists that the children in these classes (4)   much more progress than they do in smaller ones. But Dad just wasn’t enjoying it anymore. He’s a very good teacher and has already been (5)   another job!

1 A dismissed B resigned C sacked D retired

2 A underpaid B part-time C dangerous D stressful

3 A for B about C with D on

4 A do B get C have D make

5 A offered B made C signed D become

Complete the dialogue with the correct form of these verbs.

do • find • study • take • work

A: Hi, Tom. Would you like to come to the cinema with me this evening?

B: No, sorry, I can’t. We’re going to my sister’s graduation. We (1)            the train this evening because the ceremony is early tomorrow morning.

A: Well, that should be good. What’s her degree in?

B: She’s been studying archaeology for the last two years. She was studying history too and (2)           really well in it, but then she decided to specialise.

A: What’s she going to do next?

B: She’s really lucky. She speaks Italian and she
(3)                 on a dig in Rome when I see her next. We’re going to visit her there in the summer holidays. Then I think she wants to do a master’s in Italy as well. By the time she finishes, she
(4)                         for six years. I think she wants to be an academic.

A: Isn’t it great that she (5)           something she really wants to do?

B: Definitely. My parents are really proud.