Test 12

Test 12

Task 1

Read the text below. Match choices (A—Ж) to (1—5). There are three choices you do not nеed to use.

LABOUR LAWS FOR TEENS

While millions of teens are gainfully employed in part-time and summer capacities, there are many state and federal laws that dictate when they сan work and what they can do. These laws gradually introduce more freedom in employment as the child grows older.

1. 1. In most instances, a child has to be 14 years old or older before beginning employment. Strict labour laws prohibit children of 13 and younger from working in most cарасities. This prevents them from being overworked or placed in hazardous situations. However, children are allowed limited work eхperiences in newspaper delivery and babysitting. They can work in a business or on a farm that is owned or operated by their parents. They can also work as actors in motion pictures, television, and theatre or radio performances.

2. 2. Теenagers can only work certain hours without violating labour laws. There are many federal restrictions regarding teens who are 14 or 15 years old. The teenagers in this age bracket can only work between the hours of seven in the morning and seven in the evening. The only exception to this occurs between June 1 and Labour Day, when teenagers are allowed to work until nine in the evening. They are not permitted to work during school hours. Further restrictions dictate that they cannot work more than three hours on a school day, with a limit of 18 hours in a school week. They cannot work longer than eight hours on a non-school day or 40 hours in a non- school week.

3. 3. There are different оссuрational allowances depending on the teenager's age . Thresholds at the child's 14th and 16th birthdays dictate what kind of positions they can work in.

   At 14, teens can be employed in an office, store, restaurant, movie theatre, amusement park, or gas station, although the specifically allowed positions in these businesses are limited. These restrictions may be slightly different depending on the state in which the child resides. Under nо circumstances are they allowed tо work in positions requiring them to drive or operate machinery or any mining or manufacturing positions. At 16, teenagers can be employed in any оссuрation that has not been declared hazardous.

4. 4. Children younger than 12 are permitted to work on designated «small farms». These farms are not required to pay the federal minimum wage and do not use more than 500 days of agricultural labour in a three-month period. These children can only work in non-hazardous jobs, only when school is not in session, and only with parental permission. Youth who are 12 or 13 years old can work on a farm with written parental consent or if a parent works on the same farm. They can only work when school is not in session and in non-hazardous capacities.

   Teenagers who are 14 or 15 years old can work on any farm, but are still required to work in non-hazardous jobs when school is not in session. After turning 16, however, a teenager can work on any day, for any number of hours and in any agricultural capacity.

5. 5. However, these can be restricted by individual state legislation. Jobs that do not fall within the scope of federal child labour laws include newsparer delivery, babysitting, acting, and working within a business or on a farm owned or operated by parents as long as the business does not involve hazardous occupations, as determined by the Department of Labour. Similarly, odd jobs like mowing lawns are generally not addressed by labour laws

Task 2

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

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Any list of the greatest thinkers in history contains the name of the brilliant physicist Albert Einstein. His theories of relativity led to entirely new ways of thinking about time, space, matter, energy, and gravity. Einstein's work led to such scientific advances as the control of atomic energy, even television is a practical application of Einstein's work.

In 1902 Einstein became an examiner in the Swiss patent office in Bern. In 1905, at the age of 26, he published the first of five major research papers. The first one provided a theory explaining Brownian movement, the zig-zag motion of microscopic particles in suspension. The second paper laid the foundation for the photon, or quantum, theory of light. In it, he proposed that light is composed of separate packets of energy, called quanta or photons, that have some of the properties of particles and some of the properties of waves. The third paper contained the «special theory of relativity» which showed that time and motion are relative to the observer if the speed of light is constant and the natural laws are the same everywhere in the universe. The fourth paper was a mathematical addition to the special theory of relativity. Here Einstein presented his famous formula, E = mc², known as the energy-mass equivalence. In 1916, Einstein published his general theory of relativity. In it he proposed that gravity is not a force, but a curve in the space-time continuum, created by the presence of mass.

Einstein spoke out frequently against nationalism, the exalting of one nation above all others. He opposed war and violence and supported Zionism, the movement to establish Jewish homeland in Palestine. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, they denounced his ideas. He then moved to the United States. In 1939 Einstein learned that two German chemists had split the uranium atom. Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning him that this scientific knowledge could lead to Germany developing an atomic bomb. He suggested the United States begin its own atomic bomb research.

1. 6. Where was Albert Einstein born?   [A, B, C, D]

   A In Germany.

   B In Israel.

   C In Switzerland.

   D In the United States.

2. 7. Einstein's primary work was in the field of...   [A, B, C, D]

   A biology.

   B engineering.

   C physics.

   D chemistry.

3. 8. According to Einstein, light is composed of separate packets of energy called...   [A, B, C, D]

   A photoelectrons.

   B quanta.

   C gamma rays.

   D electrons.

4. 9. Einstein contributed to the development of mathematics in his...   [A, B, C, D]

   A fourth paper.

   B fifth paper.

   C first paper.

   D second paper.

5. 10. In his theory of relativity Einstein proved that...   [A, B, C, D]

   A time and motion are relative to the observer.

   B the natural laws are the same everywhere in the world.

   C gravity is a force.

   D microscopic particles move in suspension.

Task 3

Read the text below. Match choices (A—Ж) to (11—16). There are two choices you do not nеed to use.

BODIES UNDER CONSTRUCTION: TEEN COSMETIC SURGERY

Three years ago, when a 15-year-old British girl decided to get breast implants for her sixteenth birthday, the story made headlines around the world. Since then, media reports have continued to speculate that cosmetic surgery, once the exclusive domain of wealthy older women, is a trendy new option for any teenager with an adolescent hang-up.

1. 11. Dr Darrick Antell, a top New York City plastic surgeon, says he has seen an increase in the number of teenage patients but cautions against calling it a trend. «One of the main reasons for the increase is visibility: today's teenagers are growing up with parents who have had cosmetic surgery, so they see and hear about it more. The media has also done a good job of making people aware of the procedures available. Another reason is acceptability. In a way, plastic surgery has come out of the closet», Dr Antell says.

2. 12. When details of cosmetic procedures are frequently discussed on talk shows and published in magazines, it's not surprising that they filter into our consciousness. «Sometimes when I'm out to dinner with my friends, we'll play a game called ''What would you have done?" where we discuss what we would do if money was no object and the procedures were safe», says 18-year-old Alison Preiss. «I could grow up to realize that there are more important things than my nose, or it could really bother me to the point where I decide to have surgery. I suppose it depends on my lifestyle and career choices», says Preiss. Suzanne Ma, a 19-year-old student, has considered a double eyelid procedure popular in Asia. «I'm Chinese, and I don't like my eyes. I don't have double eyelids , so I feel that my eyes look a lot smaller than they really are. My concerns are not entirely for cosmetic reasons. With my heavy eyelids, my eyelashes don't grow out properly. Some of them get trapped under the eyelids and it's very easy for me to get an infection», Ma says.

3. 13. As in North America, plastic surgery is booming overseas, especially in wealthier Asian countries like Taiwan and Korea, where it is seen as a way to improve career prospects and self-confidence. In China, women and some men are paying thousands of dollars to have a brutal surgical procedure performed that lengthens their legs so they can fulfill height requirements often used to narrow down the number of job applicants.

4. 14. Cosmetic surgery may have a positive impact if your body image is consistently tied to a negative focus on a particular facial feature or body part. Dr Antell says, «The classic case is a teenage patient of mine who had reconstructive surgery to correct a significant discrepancy between her upper and lower jaws. When she came into my office for the initial consultation she was constantly looking at the floor . After the surgery, she was looking up and smiling. Now she's singing in her local school group».

   Dr Antell is careful to point out that there are murky areas. « Liposuction is one of those areas. So is breast augmentation because you' re not really sure that the teenager has stopped growing yet. But there are exceptions, for example, if a patient has breast asymmetry».

5. 15. Doctors are very aware of the psychological drama affecting our lives and it has become a very important factor when evaluating a patient. Dr Brown says, «The key thing from my perspective is to assess physical, emotional and psychological maturity before treating a patient. I spend a great deal of time with my patients, regardless of their age, to determine that they have thought out their concern carefully and have reasonable goals and expectations». In other words, cosmetic surgery can improve a patient's body but it won't necessarily improve their self-image or guarantee happiness. Dr Antell says, «I've done liposuction on a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. This is somebody most people would think looked perfect. But she was very insecure. She didn't see herself the way others did. I can't give people confidence».

6. 16. Dr Antell says, «Teens need to be really realistic with the fact that cosmetic surgery may be only one peace of many things that serve to improve aspects of themselves. There may be physical changes but the real change begins with who they are inside».

   So, if you're considering cosmetic surgery you need to ask yourself what you hope to achieve because it's not going to be the one magic solution that makes everything better. In fact, it may even change you for the worse – just surf the Web and read the thousands of horror stories from people hoping to find peace of mind or happiness by going under the knife.

Task 4

Read the text below. Choose from (A-Ж) the one which best fits each space (17-22). There are two choices you do not need to use.

DETERMINATION

Michael Jordan is known throughout the world (17) _______ he brought to the Chicago Bulls basketball team. We saw his majestic feats on the court.

However, many of us did not get a chance (18) _______ and determination on the practice court. His quote below tells a lot about the man and his determination to be the very best.

«I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in life. And that is why I succeed».

Determination is having the guts (19) _______ Michael could have given up after missing a couple of those game-winning shots. He didn't. Rather, he learned from those missed opportunities and continued to work even harder (20) _______ .

Most of us will never be NBA basketball players, but we can all learn something from Michael's determination (21) _______ . And we can apply those lessons to whatever we are doing - school, work, hobbies, sports, etc.

When you set a goal, and have the determination to complete it, you find that setbacks become a problem to overcome (21) _______ .

Task 5

Read the text below. For questions (23-32) choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).

FACTS ABOUT MOUNT RUSHMORE

Located in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Monument was established in 1925 and (23) _______   [A, B, C, D] the first 150 years of the history of the United States. Stunning carvings of former United States Presidents were carved into the Black Hills. Today, the monument serves as more than a (24) _______   [A, B, C, D]of art, but as a (25) _______   [A, B, C, D] of freedom and hope for people of all cultures.

Known as the “Father of Mount Rushmore”, Doane Robinson had an (26) _______   [A, B, C, D]for a colossal carving in the Black Hills. His goal was to create an (27) _______   [A, B, C, D]that would draw people from all over the country to the (28) ________   [A, B, C, D]of South Dakota. In August, 1924, he contacted Gutzon Borglum, an American sculptor and artist, who was working at Stone Mountain, GA on the face of Robert E. Lee. In a letter, Robinson invited Borglum to visit South Dakota and discuss the (29) _______   [A, B, C, D]of carving a mountain.

Congress agreed to match up to $250,000 of (30) _______   [A, B, C, D]for the project and created the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission. Work began on the project. By 1933, the Mount Rushmore project became part of the National Park Service. Borglum did not like having the NPS oversee the construction. However, he continued to work on the project (31) _______   [A, B, C, D]his death in 1941. The monument was deemed (32) _______   [A, B, C, D] and ready four dedication on October 1941. The four presidents carved in the mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. No one died while building Mount Rushmore. The sculpture cost $989,992.32 to build.

Task 6

Read the text below. For questions (33-42) choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).

JAPANESE SCIENTISTS PHOTOGRAPH GIANT SQUID

Japanese scientists have taken the first-ever photographs of a live giant squid. These sea creatures are called “giant” for a reason. This particular squid was 26 feet long. Giant squids (33) _______   [A, B, C, D] to grow up to 60 feet long!

Squids are invertebrates, which (34) _______   [A, B, C, D] they do not have backbones. They have eight short arms and two long tentacles, which are covered with suction cup-like suckers.

(35) _______   [A, B, C, D] giant squids on film has been very difficult because they are shy creatures that (36) _______   [A, B, C, D] in very deep water. In the past 100 years, there only have been 50 confirmed (37) ______   [A, B, C, D]of live giant squids. Most scientists have only seen dead squid that washed ashore or were caught in (38) _______   [A, B, C, D] nets.

It took three years for scientists to get pictures of this squid. Scientists placed a camera about 3,000 feet under water near the coast of Japan’s Bonin Islands. They put bait near (39) _______   [A, B, C, D]camera. Finally, a squid came by to test the bait and (40) _______   [A, B, C, D] .

Scientists already have learned a lot about giant squids from the pictures. Many people thought squids (41) _______   [A, B, C, D] slow because they are so big. But the photos show that giant squids might be (42) _______   [A, B, C, D] active predators than thought. The photos also show that a giant squid uses its tentacles to squeeze prey in much the same way a python does.