Reading Comprehension B1+

Read the texts below. Match choices (A-Д) to (1—5). There are three choices you do not need to use.

Colourfully Yours. How Colour Affects Your Mood.

Read the text below. Choose from given options the one which best fits each space (1-6). There are two choices you do not need to use.

Computers in the Classroom

Kids are going all over the world without ever leaving their school. They are using their computers. A school in California could be the most wired school in America. They are wired to the Internet (1)                         [to avoid the Internet, to afford it, her own home page, through their computers, to few people, on teachers, to get them away, to the Internet]............ . Thirty students are able to use the Internet every day. The kids are between the grades of kindergarten and fifth grade. The teacher says that it is hard (2)                         [to avoid the Internet, to afford it, her own home page, through their computers, to few people, on teachers, to get them away, tonthe internet]............ from the computers. They do not even want to go to recess. Internet has opened the world to many people. Now students can go to any library on earth. They can get information. They can visit a child in another country. Laura Bacon likes to visit with other students. She's going to Peggy's page. Peggy is a school student in London, England. She puts (3)                                  [to avoid the Internet, to afford it, her own home page, through their computers, to few people, on teachers, to get them away to the Internet]............ on the Internet. It includes pictures of Peggy, her school, her parents and friends. You can send her mail, too. A scientist helped to wire the school. He says, "There is a plan to connect 12 thousand California schools (4)                         [to avoid the Internet, to afford it, her own page, through their computers, to few people, on teachers, to get them away, to the Internet] ............ ." Wiring schools in California can cost a lot of money. It needs to be done on volunteer effort or schools will not be able (5)                         [to avoid the Internet, to afford it, her own home page, through their computers, to few people, onteachers, to get them away, th the Internet] ............ . They think that it will cost as much as fifty billion dollars. Some people say that the money should be spent (6)                         [to avoid the Internet, to afford it, her own page, through their computers, to few people, on teachers, to get them away, to the Internet]............ instead of computers. Some people say that it would be worth it to wire all of the classrooms.

Read the text below. For question (6—11) choose the correct answer (А, В, C or D).

BULBS

Bulbs are ideal for new gardeners, including children, because they are easy to plant and they always flower well in their first season. They need comparatively little attention, provided that the soil has been properly prepared, and the place where they are planted is chosen with care. They will last for many years and give you an annual show of flowers that are often so richly coloured or beautifully formed as to be in a class apart from other garden flowers.

However, it is a mistake to buy bulbs without any plan of what effect you really want from them. I have written this book to help in selecting the most suitable bulbs for the typical, small, modern garden of the non-specialist gardener, and have made some suggestions to help readers who may not have had a garden before.

Too many books for beginners tell new gardeners to grow a few "sensible" kinds of plants and leave the more interesting kinds to adventurous experts. For the first few years of ones gardening life one should, it seems, concentrate on learning simple techniques while admiring the gardens of more experienced neighbours.

In fact, as a learner-gardener you need not fear that your efforts will necessarily show your inexperience, because (and here I give away a most closelyguarded secret), provided the bulbs come from a really reliable source, it is possible to produce as good results in your first year of gardening as in your eightieth. There are some difficult bulbs that will disappoint you, notably some lilies and a few miniature daffodils, but these are often no more attractive than the really easy ones. Therefore, be bold with bulbs; they are a sound investment for any garden.

Never be content to plant the bulbs by themselves. The majority look best when planted among other kinds of plants, because they have unattractive leaves which are thus hidden. There are a few bulbs, such as standard daffodils, which are, however, at their best grown in short grass.

1.Why should new gardeners try growing bulbs?   [a, b, c, d]....

A They are cheap, so a great many can be grown.

В Once planted, little after-care is needed.

C They will grow anywhere in the garden.

D Their flowers get better and better each year.

2. What is this book on gardening about?   [a, b, c, d].....

A Planning an easily maintained garden.

В Up-to-date information on new bulbs.

C General advice for beginner gardeners.

D The choice of bulbs for small gardens.

3. Inexperienced gardeners are often told that they should   [a, b, c, d]............

A experiment with different plants.

В ask their experienced neighbours for advice.

C plant only a few types of plants.

D learn by visiting other gardens.

4. Some lilies and miniature daffodils are different from other bulbs because they are   [a, b, c, d] …

A particularly attractive in colour.

В difficult to grow successfully.

C disappointing when they flower.

D rare and very eye-catching.

5. Bulbs are described as an investment because   [a, b, c, d] ............

A they flower year after year.

В they go on flowering all summer.

C the beginner can learn from them.

D they make other plants look good.

6. Many kinds of bulbs look magnificent   [a, b, c, d]............

A when they grow in long grass.

В because they have unattractive leaves.

C when the soil has been properly prepared.

D when they are planted among other plants.