Reading Practice

Task 1 (1-5)

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

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

Task 2 (6-10)

Read the text below. For questions 6-10 choose the correct answer A,B,C or D.

6) Before her last job interview, Sonya...

Overweight, underpaid

Sexual, racial and age discrimination are outlawed. Are sizeism and lookism the last prejudices?

SONYA is heavily overweight and used to what she describes as fatism from the general public. But she hadn't expected her obesity to affect her career prospects. 'I knew the moment I turned up to my last job interview that my chances were low,' she says. 'When I met my two interviewers, I knew I'd lost immediately because of the way they looked at me. The thing that was most upsetting was that the telephone conversation I'd had with one of them beforehand suggested I had all the skills and experience necessary and the interview was just a formality.'

Lookism is the latest discrimination to hit the workplace, according to the law firm, Eversheds. Victims of the trend are judged by employers on aspects of their appearance ranging from weight to clothing and from hairstyle to body piercing. Some are turned down for jobs, others miss out on promotion. The latest research has revealed a culture of appearance discrimination sweeping businesses across the world. A staggering 16% of Americans believe they have been discriminated against because of the way they look and 33% believe that those who are more physically attractive are more likely to get promoted.

Discrimination claims involving alleged lookism are surging in the US. In fact, there are only two states of America that have specific laws against appearance discrimination. In other states, lawyers are turning to discrimination laws relating to issues like gender, race and disability. So if someone is overweight because of a clinical problem, they can claim disability discrimination.

There are examples of lookism issues already arising in the UK as well. A couple of years ago, Fitness First received widespread criticism after a leaked email claimed that larger employees did not fit the firm's image. In the UK, we don't have any laws against appearance discrimination, but Ms Emma Harris, an associate at Eversheds, believes it won't be long before we do. 'I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of beauty bias legislation comes into play,' she says. In the meantime, victims of lookism are, like most Americans, relying on sex, race and disability discrimination. Among the British who have been successful in an indirect discrimination claim are Matthew Thompson, who last year argued that he had suffered sexual discrimination because he was forced to wear a tie while his female colleagues weren't, and a man who was made to cut his long hair by his employers.

7) During the interview...

Overweight, underpaid

Sexual, racial and age discrimination are outlawed. Are sizeism and lookism the last prejudices?

SONYA is heavily overweight and used to what she describes as fatism from the general public. But she hadn't expected her obesity to affect her career prospects. 'I knew the moment I turned up to my last job interview that my chances were low,' she says. 'When I met my two interviewers, I knew I'd lost immediately because of the way they looked at me. The thing that was most upsetting was that the telephone conversation I'd had with one of them beforehand suggested I had all the skills and experience necessary and the interview was just a formality.'

Lookism is the latest discrimination to hit the workplace, according to the law firm, Eversheds. Victims of the trend are judged by employers on aspects of their appearance ranging from weight to clothing and from hairstyle to body piercing. Some are turned down for jobs, others miss out on promotion. The latest research has revealed a culture of appearance discrimination sweeping businesses across the world. A staggering 16% of Americans believe they have been discriminated against because of the way they look and 33% believe that those who are more physically attractive are more likely to get promoted.

Discrimination claims involving alleged lookism are surging in the US. In fact, there are only two states of America that have specific laws against appearance discrimination. In other states, lawyers are turning to discrimination laws relating to issues like gender, race and disability. So if someone is overweight because of a clinical problem, they can claim disability discrimination.

There are examples of lookism issues already arising in the UK as well. A couple of years ago, Fitness First received widespread criticism after a leaked email claimed that larger employees did not fit the firm's image. In the UK, we don't have any laws against appearance discrimination, but Ms Emma Harris, an associate at Eversheds, believes it won't be long before we do. 'I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of beauty bias legislation comes into play,' she says. In the meantime, victims of lookism are, like most Americans, relying on sex, race and disability discrimination. Among the British who have been successful in an indirect discrimination claim are Matthew Thompson, who last year argued that he had suffered sexual discrimination because he was forced to wear a tie while his female colleagues weren't, and a man who was made to cut his long hair by his employers.

8) Lookism...

Overweight, underpaid

Sexual, racial and age discrimination are outlawed. Are sizeism and lookism the last prejudices?

SONYA is heavily overweight and used to what she describes as fatism from the general public. But she hadn't expected her obesity to affect her career prospects. 'I knew the moment I turned up to my last job interview that my chances were low,' she says. 'When I met my two interviewers, I knew I'd lost immediately because of the way they looked at me. The thing that was most upsetting was that the telephone conversation I'd had with one of them beforehand suggested I had all the skills and experience necessary and the interview was just a formality.'

Lookism is the latest discrimination to hit the workplace, according to the law firm, Eversheds. Victims of the trend are judged by employers on aspects of their appearance ranging from weight to clothing and from hairstyle to body piercing. Some are turned down for jobs, others miss out on promotion. The latest research has revealed a culture of appearance discrimination sweeping businesses across the world. A staggering 16% of Americans believe they have been discriminated against because of the way they look and 33% believe that those who are more physically attractive are more likely to get promoted.

Discrimination claims involving alleged lookism are surging in the US. In fact, there are only two states of America that have specific laws against appearance discrimination. In other states, lawyers are turning to discrimination laws relating to issues like gender, race and disability. So if someone is overweight because of a clinical problem, they can claim disability discrimination.

There are examples of lookism issues already arising in the UK as well. A couple of years ago, Fitness First received widespread criticism after a leaked email claimed that larger employees did not fit the firm's image. In the UK, we don't have any laws against appearance discrimination, but Ms Emma Harris, an associate at Eversheds, believes it won't be long before we do. 'I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of beauty bias legislation comes into play,' she says. In the meantime, victims of lookism are, like most Americans, relying on sex, race and disability discrimination. Among the British who have been successful in an indirect discrimination claim are Matthew Thompson, who last year argued that he had suffered sexual discrimination because he was forced to wear a tie while his female colleagues weren't, and a man who was made to cut his long hair by his employers.

9) In the USA...

Overweight, underpaid

Sexual, racial and age discrimination are outlawed. Are sizeism and lookism the last prejudices?

SONYA is heavily overweight and used to what she describes as fatism from the general public. But she hadn't expected her obesity to affect her career prospects. 'I knew the moment I turned up to my last job interview that my chances were low,' she says. 'When I met my two interviewers, I knew I'd lost immediately because of the way they looked at me. The thing that was most upsetting was that the telephone conversation I'd had with one of them beforehand suggested I had all the skills and experience necessary and the interview was just a formality.'

Lookism is the latest discrimination to hit the workplace, according to the law firm, Eversheds. Victims of the trend are judged by employers on aspects of their appearance ranging from weight to clothing and from hairstyle to body piercing. Some are turned down for jobs, others miss out on promotion. The latest research has revealed a culture of appearance discrimination sweeping businesses across the world. A staggering 16% of Americans believe they have been discriminated against because of the way they look and 33% believe that those who are more physically attractive are more likely to get promoted.

Discrimination claims involving alleged lookism are surging in the US. In fact, there are only two states of America that have specific laws against appearance discrimination. In other states, lawyers are turning to discrimination laws relating to issues like gender, race and disability. So if someone is overweight because of a clinical problem, they can claim disability discrimination.

There are examples of lookism issues already arising in the UK as well. A couple of years ago, Fitness First received widespread criticism after a leaked email claimed that larger employees did not fit the firm's image. In the UK, we don't have any laws against appearance discrimination, but Ms Emma Harris, an associate at Eversheds, believes it won't be long before we do. 'I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of beauty bias legislation comes into play,' she says. In the meantime, victims of lookism are, like most Americans, relying on sex, race and disability discrimination. Among the British who have been successful in an indirect discrimination claim are Matthew Thompson, who last year argued that he had suffered sexual discrimination because he was forced to wear a tie while his female colleagues weren't, and a man who was made to cut his long hair by his employers.

10) In the UK...

Overweight, underpaid

Sexual, racial and age discrimination are outlawed. Are sizeism and lookism the last prejudices?

SONYA is heavily overweight and used to what she describes as fatism from the general public. But she hadn't expected her obesity to affect her career prospects. 'I knew the moment I turned up to my last job interview that my chances were low,' she says. 'When I met my two interviewers, I knew I'd lost immediately because of the way they looked at me. The thing that was most upsetting was that the telephone conversation I'd had with one of them beforehand suggested I had all the skills and experience necessary and the interview was just a formality.'

Lookism is the latest discrimination to hit the workplace, according to the law firm, Eversheds. Victims of the trend are judged by employers on aspects of their appearance ranging from weight to clothing and from hairstyle to body piercing. Some are turned down for jobs, others miss out on promotion. The latest research has revealed a culture of appearance discrimination sweeping businesses across the world. A staggering 16% of Americans believe they have been discriminated against because of the way they look and 33% believe that those who are more physically attractive are more likely to get promoted.

Discrimination claims involving alleged lookism are surging in the US. In fact, there are only two states of America that have specific laws against appearance discrimination. In other states, lawyers are turning to discrimination laws relating to issues like gender, race and disability. So if someone is overweight because of a clinical problem, they can claim disability discrimination.

There are examples of lookism issues already arising in the UK as well. A couple of years ago, Fitness First received widespread criticism after a leaked email claimed that larger employees did not fit the firm's image. In the UK, we don't have any laws against appearance discrimination, but Ms Emma Harris, an associate at Eversheds, believes it won't be long before we do. 'I think it's only a matter of time before some kind of beauty bias legislation comes into play,' she says. In the meantime, victims of lookism are, like most Americans, relying on sex, race and disability discrimination. Among the British who have been successful in an indirect discrimination claim are Matthew Thompson, who last year argued that he had suffered sexual discrimination because he was forced to wear a tie while his female colleagues weren't, and a man who was made to cut his long hair by his employers.

Task 3 (11-16)

Read the paragraphs below. For every question (1-16) choose the correct answer (A—H). There are two extra answers you do not need to use.

11 Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle — at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn't, some 70 per cent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

12 Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

13 Nationals Park Home of Major

League Baseball's Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation's capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

14 World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

15 Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

16 Centennial Field

Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., saw its first game in 1906. The current grandstand was erected in 1922. Built on the University of Vermont's campus, the park is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters. Modest upgrades like permanent bathrooms were added through the years, and the stadium now has a video scoreboard.

Which stadium...

11 Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle — at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn't, some 70 per cent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

12 Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

13 Nationals Park Home of Major

League Baseball's Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation's capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

14 World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

15 Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

16 Centennial Field

Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., saw its first game in 1906. The current grandstand was erected in 1922. Built on the University of Vermont's campus, the park is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters. Modest upgrades like permanent bathrooms were added through the years, and the stadium now has a video scoreboard.

Which stadium...

11 Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle — at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn't, some 70 per cent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

12 Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

13 Nationals Park Home of Major

League Baseball's Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation's capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

14 World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

15 Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

16 Centennial Field

Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., saw its first game in 1906. The current grandstand was erected in 1922. Built on the University of Vermont's campus, the park is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters. Modest upgrades like permanent bathrooms were added through the years, and the stadium now has a video scoreboard.

Which stadium...

11 Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle — at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn't, some 70 per cent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

12 Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

13 Nationals Park Home of Major

League Baseball's Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation's capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

14 World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

15 Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

16 Centennial Field

Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., saw its first game in 1906. The current grandstand was erected in 1922. Built on the University of Vermont's campus, the park is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters. Modest upgrades like permanent bathrooms were added through the years, and the stadium now has a video scoreboard.

Which stadium...

11 Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle — at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn't, some 70 per cent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

12 Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

13 Nationals Park Home of Major

League Baseball's Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation's capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

14 World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

15 Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

16 Centennial Field

Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., saw its first game in 1906. The current grandstand was erected in 1922. Built on the University of Vermont's campus, the park is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters. Modest upgrades like permanent bathrooms were added through the years, and the stadium now has a video scoreboard.

Which stadium...

11 Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle — at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn't, some 70 per cent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

12 Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

13 Nationals Park Home of Major

League Baseball's Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation's capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

14 World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

15 Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

16 Centennial Field

Centennial Field, in Burlington, Vt., saw its first game in 1906. The current grandstand was erected in 1922. Built on the University of Vermont's campus, the park is home to the Vermont Lake Monsters. Modest upgrades like permanent bathrooms were added through the years, and the stadium now has a video scoreboard.

Which stadium...