Тест НМТ 40 з англійської

Task 1

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

Which restaurant _____

1)

Which restaurant _____

2)

Which restaurant _____

3)

Which restaurant _____

4)

Which restaurant _____

5)

Task 2

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

Working as a tour guide by Anthea Robert

6. Why does the writer mention dust on top of a wardrobe?

After finishing university with a degree in Tourism, there was only one job which appealed to me: working in a hotel. I was lucky enough to find a great job at a top hotel in the capital, only to quickly find out how demanding the work was. As a concierge, I was faced with not only the more pleasant tasks of arranging theatre tickets or making restaurant reservations, but also a never-ending stream of complaints from guests about the tiniest of things. These could be anything from a bit of dust on top of a wardrobe to not enough coffee provided in the room. It was up to me to make sure one of the staff members got it dealt with, fast. I was working all hours, and it soon became exhausting and repetitive. What had started as a dream job had become a nightmare.

Then I spotted an advert for a holiday company which was seeking to employ tour guides. I should make one thing clear at this point: being a tour guide isn’t the same as being a holiday rep, though many people confuse the two. Becoming a rep would have been a continuation of the job I’d left behind – spending most of my time sorting out problems! As a tour guide, someone else would be responsible for that part of people’s holidays, while I focused on providing running commentaries about historical places and cultural events I considered worthy of interest to travellers, in addition to making recommendations about things to do, where to eat, and so on, for when I wasn’t with them.

The job I applied for was in an area of Spain I was familiar with, and I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’ I’d spent many thrilling summers at my grandparents’ place in Spain, soaking up not only the sun, but also the culture and history of the region. My only reservation was the possibility of spoiling memories of spending perfect golden days at the beach, wandering through the pretty, winding streets of the village where my grandparents lived, and eating delicious local food by candlelight at the tiny harbour. I needn’t have worried. The minute I stepped off the plane into the midday heat, I felt like I was right back where I belonged.

I love my job, but I have to admit that it isn’t all fun and games! I still have to answer a lot of questions from customers, but as long as I’ve done my homework and prepared ahead of each tour, I can usually deal with them – even the silliest ones you think everyone knows the answer to! And of course, there are those who believe they have superior knowledge to you. All you can do is nod and smile, and gently correct people where necessary. Getting impatient is a no-no in this profession.

The other drawback is being away from home for weeks on end, missing family events, friends' parties, and other social occasions I’d love to go to. But it’s all part of the job, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. My favourite groups to guide are young people who are full of curiosity and may never have travelled abroad before. I’m the one who gets to open their eyes to a whole new world, maybe even change their lives. Nothing can beat the first time in a foreign country with its new sights, sounds, and smells. The only things you really need for this job are a love of travel, local knowledge, and a desire to show others everything you know!

7. What does the writer do in the second paragraph?

8. How did the writer feel before going to work in Spain?

9. What does the writer suggest about the questions she is asked in her current job?

10. What is the main point of the text?

Text 3

Read the texts below. Match choices (A–H) to (11–16). There are two choices you do not need to use.

Which criminal(s) ______

Somebody once said that crime doesn’t pay. Was he thinking of the robber who broke into a shop, only to make off with an empty cash register? Television and the Internet are full of stories about criminals who do inexplicable or simply stupid things. Why is it that so many would-be crimes end in disaster for those trying о commit them? And why do we find it so funny? There is, of course, the joy of seeing a villain punished by his or her own stupidity, if not by the law.

11. ___

Two men from Michigan, USA, were in desperate need of money and decided to turn to crime to solve their financial difficulties. After thinking about it for a while, they concluded that their best bet would be to hold up a music store as the security there would not be too tight. If everything went well, they would move on to bigger businesses like supermarkets and why not even banks. On the day of the robbery, the two men felt extremely nervous as this was going to be their first attempt at armed robbery. Nonetheless, they decided to go through with their plan. The robbers rushed into the music store and as they were waving their revolvers around, the first one shouted to the terrified assistant and customers: ‘Nobody move or we shoot!’ Unfortunately, when his nervous partner moved, the first robber immediately shot him.

12. ___

A young man in Seattle wanted to go for a nice long drive with his best friend. Unfortunately, he had no money for petrol so he decided to steal petrol from a motor home by putting a hose into the tank. The police later found a very ill man curled up next to the motor home near spilt sewage. Later, the man explained to the police that instead of putting the hose into the petrol tank, he put it into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the motor home didn’t press charges, because, as he said, he hadn’t laughed so hard before in his life.

13. ___ Diana Woods from Plymouth, England, decided to buy a new car so she placed an ad in the paper to sell her old car. Unfortunately, though, she had to call the police a few days later to report the theft of her old car. She didn’t know if she would ever see it again. Luckily, she remembered to tell the police that she had left her mobile phone in the car. The detective who was investigating the case called the phone number. He told the man who answered it about the ad in the newspaper and he pretended that he wanted to buy the car. They arranged to meet and the thief was immediately arrested.

14. ___ A woman in New York was just leaving a convenience store when a man seized her handbag and ran. The accident was witnessed by an employee who quickly called the police and gave them a description. Soon the police arrested the suspect and drove him back to the store. They took him out of the car and told him to stand there for identification. The thief pointed to the woman and told the policeman: ‘Yes, Officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the handbag from.’

15. ___ In Indiana, USA, a man left his house early one morning to go grocery shopping. After picking out the items he wanted to buy, he made his way to the till. He took out his wallet to pay and while he was waiting for his change, he noticed he was the only customer in the shop. Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange desire to rob the place. Without thinking about it, he demanded all the cash from the grocery till. The cashier handed it to him and he made his getaway – leaving his wallet on the counter with all his identification.

16. ___ It seems that stress reduces one's ability to deal with new situations or ideas. This happened to a man from Illinois, USA, who kidnapped a motorist by pretending to have a gun. He forced the driver to take him to two different cashpoints, where he withdrew money – from his own account. Instead of trying to understand the new situation and behave in an appropriate way, the man continued to behave as before, out of habit.

Which criminal(s) ______

Somebody once said that crime doesn’t pay. Was he thinking of the robber who broke into a shop, only to make off with an empty cash register? Television and the Internet are full of stories about criminals who do inexplicable or simply stupid things. Why is it that so many would-be crimes end in disaster for those trying о commit them? And why do we find it so funny? There is, of course, the joy of seeing a villain punished by his or her own stupidity, if not by the law.

11. ___

Two men from Michigan, USA, were in desperate need of money and decided to turn to crime to solve their financial difficulties. After thinking about it for a while, they concluded that their best bet would be to hold up a music store as the security there would not be too tight. If everything went well, they would move on to bigger businesses like supermarkets and why not even banks. On the day of the robbery, the two men felt extremely nervous as this was going to be their first attempt at armed robbery. Nonetheless, they decided to go through with their plan. The robbers rushed into the music store and as they were waving their revolvers around, the first one shouted to the terrified assistant and customers: ‘Nobody move or we shoot!’ Unfortunately, when his nervous partner moved, the first robber immediately shot him.

12. ___

A young man in Seattle wanted to go for a nice long drive with his best friend. Unfortunately, he had no money for petrol so he decided to steal petrol from a motor home by putting a hose into the tank. The police later found a very ill man curled up next to the motor home near spilt sewage. Later, the man explained to the police that instead of putting the hose into the petrol tank, he put it into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the motor home didn’t press charges, because, as he said, he hadn’t laughed so hard before in his life.

13. ___ Diana Woods from Plymouth, England, decided to buy a new car so she placed an ad in the paper to sell her old car. Unfortunately, though, she had to call the police a few days later to report the theft of her old car. She didn’t know if she would ever see it again. Luckily, she remembered to tell the police that she had left her mobile phone in the car. The detective who was investigating the case called the phone number. He told the man who answered it about the ad in the newspaper and he pretended that he wanted to buy the car. They arranged to meet and the thief was immediately arrested.

14. ___ A woman in New York was just leaving a convenience store when a man seized her handbag and ran. The accident was witnessed by an employee who quickly called the police and gave them a description. Soon the police arrested the suspect and drove him back to the store. They took him out of the car and told him to stand there for identification. The thief pointed to the woman and told the policeman: ‘Yes, Officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the handbag from.’

15. ___ In Indiana, USA, a man left his house early one morning to go grocery shopping. After picking out the items he wanted to buy, he made his way to the till. He took out his wallet to pay and while he was waiting for his change, he noticed he was the only customer in the shop. Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange desire to rob the place. Without thinking about it, he demanded all the cash from the grocery till. The cashier handed it to him and he made his getaway – leaving his wallet on the counter with all his identification.

16. ___ It seems that stress reduces one's ability to deal with new situations or ideas. This happened to a man from Illinois, USA, who kidnapped a motorist by pretending to have a gun. He forced the driver to take him to two different cashpoints, where he withdrew money – from his own account. Instead of trying to understand the new situation and behave in an appropriate way, the man continued to behave as before, out of habit.

Which criminal(s) ______

Somebody once said that crime doesn’t pay. Was he thinking of the robber who broke into a shop, only to make off with an empty cash register? Television and the Internet are full of stories about criminals who do inexplicable or simply stupid things. Why is it that so many would-be crimes end in disaster for those trying о commit them? And why do we find it so funny? There is, of course, the joy of seeing a villain punished by his or her own stupidity, if not by the law.

11. ___

Two men from Michigan, USA, were in desperate need of money and decided to turn to crime to solve their financial difficulties. After thinking about it for a while, they concluded that their best bet would be to hold up a music store as the security there would not be too tight. If everything went well, they would move on to bigger businesses like supermarkets and why not even banks. On the day of the robbery, the two men felt extremely nervous as this was going to be their first attempt at armed robbery. Nonetheless, they decided to go through with their plan. The robbers rushed into the music store and as they were waving their revolvers around, the first one shouted to the terrified assistant and customers: ‘Nobody move or we shoot!’ Unfortunately, when his nervous partner moved, the first robber immediately shot him.

12. ___

A young man in Seattle wanted to go for a nice long drive with his best friend. Unfortunately, he had no money for petrol so he decided to steal petrol from a motor home by putting a hose into the tank. The police later found a very ill man curled up next to the motor home near spilt sewage. Later, the man explained to the police that instead of putting the hose into the petrol tank, he put it into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the motor home didn’t press charges, because, as he said, he hadn’t laughed so hard before in his life.

13. ___

Diana Woods from Plymouth, England, decided to buy a new car so she placed an ad in the paper to sell her old car. Unfortunately, though, she had to call the police a few days later to report the theft of her old car. She didn’t know if she would ever see it again. Luckily, she remembered to tell the police that she had left her mobile phone in the car. The detective who was investigating the case called the phone number. He told the man who answered it about the ad in the newspaper and he pretended that he wanted to buy the car. They arranged to meet and the thief was immediately arrested.

14. ___ A woman in New York was just leaving a convenience store when a man seized her handbag and ran. The accident was witnessed by an employee who quickly called the police and gave them a description. Soon the police arrested the suspect and drove him back to the store. They took him out of the car and told him to stand there for identification. The thief pointed to the woman and told the policeman: ‘Yes, Officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the handbag from.’

15. ___ In Indiana, USA, a man left his house early one morning to go grocery shopping. After picking out the items he wanted to buy, he made his way to the till. He took out his wallet to pay and while he was waiting for his change, he noticed he was the only customer in the shop. Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange desire to rob the place. Without thinking about it, he demanded all the cash from the grocery till. The cashier handed it to him and he made his getaway – leaving his wallet on the counter with all his identification.

16. ___ It seems that stress reduces one's ability to deal with new situations or ideas. This happened to a man from Illinois, USA, who kidnapped a motorist by pretending to have a gun. He forced the driver to take him to two different cashpoints, where he withdrew money – from his own account. Instead of trying to understand the new situation and behave in an appropriate way, the man continued to behave as before, out of habit.

Which criminal(s) ______

Somebody once said that crime doesn’t pay. Was he thinking of the robber who broke into a shop, only to make off with an empty cash register? Television and the Internet are full of stories about criminals who do inexplicable or simply stupid things. Why is it that so many would-be crimes end in disaster for those trying о commit them? And why do we find it so funny? There is, of course, the joy of seeing a villain punished by his or her own stupidity, if not by the law.

11. ___

Two men from Michigan, USA, were in desperate need of money and decided to turn to crime to solve their financial difficulties. After thinking about it for a while, they concluded that their best bet would be to hold up a music store as the security there would not be too tight. If everything went well, they would move on to bigger businesses like supermarkets and why not even banks. On the day of the robbery, the two men felt extremely nervous as this was going to be their first attempt at armed robbery. Nonetheless, they decided to go through with their plan. The robbers rushed into the music store and as they were waving their revolvers around, the first one shouted to the terrified assistant and customers: ‘Nobody move or we shoot!’ Unfortunately, when his nervous partner moved, the first robber immediately shot him.

12. ___

A young man in Seattle wanted to go for a nice long drive with his best friend. Unfortunately, he had no money for petrol so he decided to steal petrol from a motor home by putting a hose into the tank. The police later found a very ill man curled up next to the motor home near spilt sewage. Later, the man explained to the police that instead of putting the hose into the petrol tank, he put it into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the motor home didn’t press charges, because, as he said, he hadn’t laughed so hard before in his life.

13. ___

Diana Woods from Plymouth, England, decided to buy a new car so she placed an ad in the paper to sell her old car. Unfortunately, though, she had to call the police a few days later to report the theft of her old car. She didn’t know if she would ever see it again. Luckily, she remembered to tell the police that she had left her mobile phone in the car. The detective who was investigating the case called the phone number. He told the man who answered it about the ad in the newspaper and he pretended that he wanted to buy the car. They arranged to meet and the thief was immediately arrested.

14. ___

A woman in New York was just leaving a convenience store when a man seized her handbag and ran. The accident was witnessed by an employee who quickly called the police and gave them a description. Soon the police arrested the suspect and drove him back to the store. They took him out of the car and told him to stand there for identification. The thief pointed to the woman and told the policeman: ‘Yes, Officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the handbag from.’

15. ___

In Indiana, USA, a man left his house early one morning to go grocery shopping. After picking out the items he wanted to buy, he made his way to the till. He took out his wallet to pay and while he was waiting for his change, he noticed he was the only customer in the shop. Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange desire to rob the place. Without thinking about it, he demanded all the cash from the grocery till. The cashier handed it to him and he made his getaway – leaving his wallet on the counter with all his identification.

16. ___

It seems that stress reduces one's ability to deal with new situations or ideas. This happened to a man from Illinois, USA, who kidnapped a motorist by pretending to have a gun. He forced the driver to take him to two different cashpoints, where he withdrew money – from his own account. Instead of trying to understand the new situation and behave in an appropriate way, the man continued to behave as before, out of habit.

Which criminal(s) ______

Somebody once said that crime doesn’t pay. Was he thinking of the robber who broke into a shop, only to make off with an empty cash register? Television and the Internet are full of stories about criminals who do inexplicable or simply stupid things. Why is it that so many would-be crimes end in disaster for those trying о commit them? And why do we find it so funny? There is, of course, the joy of seeing a villain punished by his or her own stupidity, if not by the law.

11. ___

Two men from Michigan, USA, were in desperate need of money and decided to turn to crime to solve their financial difficulties. After thinking about it for a while, they concluded that their best bet would be to hold up a music store as the security there would not be too tight. If everything went well, they would move on to bigger businesses like supermarkets and why not even banks. On the day of the robbery, the two men felt extremely nervous as this was going to be their first attempt at armed robbery. Nonetheless, they decided to go through with their plan. The robbers rushed into the music store and as they were waving their revolvers around, the first one shouted to the terrified assistant and customers: ‘Nobody move or we shoot!’ Unfortunately, when his nervous partner moved, the first robber immediately shot him.

12. ___

A young man in Seattle wanted to go for a nice long drive with his best friend. Unfortunately, he had no money for petrol so he decided to steal petrol from a motor home by putting a hose into the tank. The police later found a very ill man curled up next to the motor home near spilt sewage. Later, the man explained to the police that instead of putting the hose into the petrol tank, he put it into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the motor home didn’t press charges, because, as he said, he hadn’t laughed so hard before in his life.

13. ___

Diana Woods from Plymouth, England, decided to buy a new car so she placed an ad in the paper to sell her old car. Unfortunately, though, she had to call the police a few days later to report the theft of her old car. She didn’t know if she would ever see it again. Luckily, she remembered to tell the police that she had left her mobile phone in the car. The detective who was investigating the case called the phone number. He told the man who answered it about the ad in the newspaper and he pretended that he wanted to buy the car. They arranged to meet and the thief was immediately arrested.

14. ___

A woman in New York was just leaving a convenience store when a man seized her handbag and ran. The accident was witnessed by an employee who quickly called the police and gave them a description. Soon the police arrested the suspect and drove him back to the store. They took him out of the car and told him to stand there for identification. The thief pointed to the woman and told the policeman: ‘Yes, Officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the handbag from.’

15. ___

In Indiana, USA, a man left his house early one morning to go grocery shopping. After picking out the items he wanted to buy, he made his way to the till. He took out his wallet to pay and while he was waiting for his change, he noticed he was the only customer in the shop. Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange desire to rob the place. Without thinking about it, he demanded all the cash from the grocery till. The cashier handed it to him and he made his getaway – leaving his wallet on the counter with all his identification.

16. ___

It seems that stress reduces one's ability to deal with new situations or ideas. This happened to a man from Illinois, USA, who kidnapped a motorist by pretending to have a gun. He forced the driver to take him to two different cashpoints, where he withdrew money – from his own account. Instead of trying to understand the new situation and behave in an appropriate way, the man continued to behave as before, out of habit.

Which criminal(s) ______

Somebody once said that crime doesn’t pay. Was he thinking of the robber who broke into a shop, only to make off with an empty cash register? Television and the Internet are full of stories about criminals who do inexplicable or simply stupid things. Why is it that so many would-be crimes end in disaster for those trying о commit them? And why do we find it so funny? There is, of course, the joy of seeing a villain punished by his or her own stupidity, if not by the law.

11. ___

Two men from Michigan, USA, were in desperate need of money and decided to turn to crime to solve their financial difficulties. After thinking about it for a while, they concluded that their best bet would be to hold up a music store as the security there would not be too tight. If everything went well, they would move on to bigger businesses like supermarkets and why not even banks. On the day of the robbery, the two men felt extremely nervous as this was going to be their first attempt at armed robbery. Nonetheless, they decided to go through with their plan. The robbers rushed into the music store and as they were waving their revolvers around, the first one shouted to the terrified assistant and customers: ‘Nobody move or we shoot!’ Unfortunately, when his nervous partner moved, the first robber immediately shot him.

12. ___

A young man in Seattle wanted to go for a nice long drive with his best friend. Unfortunately, he had no money for petrol so he decided to steal petrol from a motor home by putting a hose into the tank. The police later found a very ill man curled up next to the motor home near spilt sewage. Later, the man explained to the police that instead of putting the hose into the petrol tank, he put it into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the motor home didn’t press charges, because, as he said, he hadn’t laughed so hard before in his life.

13. ___

Diana Woods from Plymouth, England, decided to buy a new car so she placed an ad in the paper to sell her old car. Unfortunately, though, she had to call the police a few days later to report the theft of her old car. She didn’t know if she would ever see it again. Luckily, she remembered to tell the police that she had left her mobile phone in the car. The detective who was investigating the case called the phone number. He told the man who answered it about the ad in the newspaper and he pretended that he wanted to buy the car. They arranged to meet and the thief was immediately arrested.

14. ___

A woman in New York was just leaving a convenience store when a man seized her handbag and ran. The accident was witnessed by an employee who quickly called the police and gave them a description. Soon the police arrested the suspect and drove him back to the store. They took him out of the car and told him to stand there for identification. The thief pointed to the woman and told the policeman: ‘Yes, Officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the handbag from.’

15. ___

In Indiana, USA, a man left his house early one morning to go grocery shopping. After picking out the items he wanted to buy, he made his way to the till. He took out his wallet to pay and while he was waiting for his change, he noticed he was the only customer in the shop. Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange desire to rob the place. Without thinking about it, he demanded all the cash from the grocery till. The cashier handed it to him and he made his getaway – leaving his wallet on the counter with all his identification.

16. ___

It seems that stress reduces one's ability to deal with new situations or ideas. This happened to a man from Illinois, USA, who kidnapped a motorist by pretending to have a gun. He forced the driver to take him to two different cashpoints, where he withdrew money – from his own account. Instead of trying to understand the new situation and behave in an appropriate way, the man continued to behave as before, out of habit.

Task 4

Read the text below. Choose from (A–H) the one which best fits each space

(17–22). There are two choices you do not need to use.

Why swimming is the best form of exercise

Many of our childhood memories centre around swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the great fun we had splashing around in them. What we probably didn’t realise at the time is how good all that diving and racing was – we were just having a good time! You’ve heard it before, of course: swimming is considered (17) ____. It’s more effective than running or going to the gym, they say, and there’s less risk of injury in water than there is doing competitive sports like football or tennis. Because there’s no impact on your joints, such as knees, ankles and wrists, you can still get a great cardio workout.

Swimming up and down repetitively might seem a little boring to some, but it can be fun and is an important life skill. And unlike many other forms of exercise, it works your whole body. Athletes who have injured themselves doing other activities (18) ____. This is because it allows them to build strength without causing more damage.

Swimming uses more of the body’s major muscle groups than any other cardio workout. This includes strengthening the legs, back and arms, and depending on which swimming stroke you employ, you gain additional strength in different core areas. And that’s not (19) ____. For example, when you do a workout in the pool, your lungs get a workout at the same time. Studies have shown that swimmers have stronger lungs on average than other kinds of athletes.

As with many things, there’s a drawback. Those who swim competitively, and therefore spend a considerable amount of time training in a chlorinated indoor pool, could be affected by the chemicals in the water. (20) ____ which asthma sufferers endure. Fortunately, there is a solution: train outdoors. Or if that isn’t possible, try doing a variety of training exercises instead of focusing solely on being in the pool.

Yet another advantage of swimming is its low cost. While many sports require a financial layout in terms of equipment and other resources, swimming requires relatively little to get started. All you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you’re off! Most local pools offer great deals on membership, too, (21) ____.

And what if you missed out on swimming training as a young child? The prospect of jumping in a pool and trying to stay afloat can be daunting. Join a group and keep it simple, building up from shorter distances to longer ones. Breathing and stroke techniques are important. And, as in any other sport, the best way to succeed is (22) ____ to stick to them. You’ll be burning calories and having fun before you know it!

Why swimming is the best form of exercise

Many of our childhood memories centre around swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the great fun we had splashing around in them. What we probably didn’t realise at the time is how good all that diving and racing was – we were just having a good time! You’ve heard it before, of course: swimming is considered (17) ____. It’s more effective than running or going to the gym, they say, and there’s less risk of injury in water than there is doing competitive sports like football or tennis. Because there’s no impact on your joints, such as knees, ankles and wrists, you can still get a great cardio workout.

Swimming up and down repetitively might seem a little boring to some, but it can be fun and is an important life skill. And unlike many other forms of exercise, it works your whole body. Athletes who have injured themselves doing other activities (18) ____. This is because it allows them to build strength without causing more damage.

Swimming uses more of the body’s major muscle groups than any other cardio workout. This includes strengthening the legs, back and arms, and depending on which swimming stroke you employ, you gain additional strength in different core areas. And that’s not (19) ____. For example, when you do a workout in the pool, your lungs get a workout at the same time. Studies have shown that swimmers have stronger lungs on average than other kinds of athletes.

As with many things, there’s a drawback. Those who swim competitively, and therefore spend a considerable amount of time training in a chlorinated indoor pool, could be affected by the chemicals in the water. (20) ____ which asthma sufferers endure. Fortunately, there is a solution: train outdoors. Or if that isn’t possible, try doing a variety of training exercises instead of focusing solely on being in the pool.

Yet another advantage of swimming is its low cost. While many sports require a financial layout in terms of equipment and other resources, swimming requires relatively little to get started. All you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you’re off! Most local pools offer great deals on membership, too, (21) ____.

And what if you missed out on swimming training as a young child? The prospect of jumping in a pool and trying to stay afloat can be daunting. Join a group and keep it simple, building up from shorter distances to longer ones. Breathing and stroke techniques are important. And, as in any other sport, the best way to succeed is (22) ____ to stick to them. You’ll be burning calories and having fun before you know it!

Why swimming is the best form of exercise

Many of our childhood memories centre around swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the great fun we had splashing around in them. What we probably didn’t realise at the time is how good all that diving and racing was – we were just having a good time! You’ve heard it before, of course: swimming is considered (17) ____. It’s more effective than running or going to the gym, they say, and there’s less risk of injury in water than there is doing competitive sports like football or tennis. Because there’s no impact on your joints, such as knees, ankles and wrists, you can still get a great cardio workout.

Swimming up and down repetitively might seem a little boring to some, but it can be fun and is an important life skill. And unlike many other forms of exercise, it works your whole body. Athletes who have injured themselves doing other activities (18) ____. This is because it allows them to build strength without causing more damage.

Swimming uses more of the body’s major muscle groups than any other cardio workout. This includes strengthening the legs, back and arms, and depending on which swimming stroke you employ, you gain additional strength in different core areas. And that’s not (19) ____. For example, when you do a workout in the pool, your lungs get a workout at the same time. Studies have shown that swimmers have stronger lungs on average than other kinds of athletes.

As with many things, there’s a drawback. Those who swim competitively, and therefore spend a considerable amount of time training in a chlorinated indoor pool, could be affected by the chemicals in the water. (20) ____ which asthma sufferers endure. Fortunately, there is a solution: train outdoors. Or if that isn’t possible, try doing a variety of training exercises instead of focusing solely on being in the pool.

Yet another advantage of swimming is its low cost. While many sports require a financial layout in terms of equipment and other resources, swimming requires relatively little to get started. All you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you’re off! Most local pools offer great deals on membership, too, (21) ____.

And what if you missed out on swimming training as a young child? The prospect of jumping in a pool and trying to stay afloat can be daunting. Join a group and keep it simple, building up from shorter distances to longer ones. Breathing and stroke techniques are important. And, as in any other sport, the best way to succeed is (22) ____ to stick to them. You’ll be burning calories and having fun before you know it!

Why swimming is the best form of exercise

Many of our childhood memories centre around swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the great fun we had splashing around in them. What we probably didn’t realise at the time is how good all that diving and racing was – we were just having a good time! You’ve heard it before, of course: swimming is considered (17) ____. It’s more effective than running or going to the gym, they say, and there’s less risk of injury in water than there is doing competitive sports like football or tennis. Because there’s no impact on your joints, such as knees, ankles and wrists, you can still get a great cardio workout.

Swimming up and down repetitively might seem a little boring to some, but it can be fun and is an important life skill. And unlike many other forms of exercise, it works your whole body. Athletes who have injured themselves doing other activities (18) ____. This is because it allows them to build strength without causing more damage.

Swimming uses more of the body’s major muscle groups than any other cardio workout. This includes strengthening the legs, back and arms, and depending on which swimming stroke you employ, you gain additional strength in different core areas. And that’s not (19) ____. For example, when you do a workout in the pool, your lungs get a workout at the same time. Studies have shown that swimmers have stronger lungs on average than other kinds of athletes.

As with many things, there’s a drawback. Those who swim competitively, and therefore spend a considerable amount of time training in a chlorinated indoor pool, could be affected by the chemicals in the water. (20) ____ which asthma sufferers endure. Fortunately, there is a solution: train outdoors. Or if that isn’t possible, try doing a variety of training exercises instead of focusing solely on being in the pool.

Yet another advantage of swimming is its low cost. While many sports require a financial layout in terms of equipment and other resources, swimming requires relatively little to get started. All you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you’re off! Most local pools offer great deals on membership, too, (21) ____.

And what if you missed out on swimming training as a young child? The prospect of jumping in a pool and trying to stay afloat can be daunting. Join a group and keep it simple, building up from shorter distances to longer ones. Breathing and stroke techniques are important. And, as in any other sport, the best way to succeed is (22) ____ to stick to them. You’ll be burning calories and having fun before you know it!

Why swimming is the best form of exercise

Many of our childhood memories centre around swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the great fun we had splashing around in them. What we probably didn’t realise at the time is how good all that diving and racing was – we were just having a good time! You’ve heard it before, of course: swimming is considered (17) ____. It’s more effective than running or going to the gym, they say, and there’s less risk of injury in water than there is doing competitive sports like football or tennis. Because there’s no impact on your joints, such as knees, ankles and wrists, you can still get a great cardio workout.

Swimming up and down repetitively might seem a little boring to some, but it can be fun and is an important life skill. And unlike many other forms of exercise, it works your whole body. Athletes who have injured themselves doing other activities (18) ____. This is because it allows them to build strength without causing more damage.

Swimming uses more of the body’s major muscle groups than any other cardio workout. This includes strengthening the legs, back and arms, and depending on which swimming stroke you employ, you gain additional strength in different core areas. And that’s not (19) ____. For example, when you do a workout in the pool, your lungs get a workout at the same time. Studies have shown that swimmers have stronger lungs on average than other kinds of athletes.

As with many things, there’s a drawback. Those who swim competitively, and therefore spend a considerable amount of time training in a chlorinated indoor pool, could be affected by the chemicals in the water. (20) ____ which asthma sufferers endure. Fortunately, there is a solution: train outdoors. Or if that isn’t possible, try doing a variety of training exercises instead of focusing solely on being in the pool.

Yet another advantage of swimming is its low cost. While many sports require a financial layout in terms of equipment and other resources, swimming requires relatively little to get started. All you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you’re off! Most local pools offer great deals on membership, too, (21) ____.

And what if you missed out on swimming training as a young child? The prospect of jumping in a pool and trying to stay afloat can be daunting. Join a group and keep it simple, building up from shorter distances to longer ones. Breathing and stroke techniques are important. And, as in any other sport, the best way to succeed is (22) ____ to stick to them. You’ll be burning calories and having fun before you know it!

Why swimming is the best form of exercise

Many of our childhood memories centre around swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the great fun we had splashing around in them. What we probably didn’t realise at the time is how good all that diving and racing was – we were just having a good time! You’ve heard it before, of course: swimming is considered (17) ____. It’s more effective than running or going to the gym, they say, and there’s less risk of injury in water than there is doing competitive sports like football or tennis. Because there’s no impact on your joints, such as knees, ankles and wrists, you can still get a great cardio workout.

Swimming up and down repetitively might seem a little boring to some, but it can be fun and is an important life skill. And unlike many other forms of exercise, it works your whole body. Athletes who have injured themselves doing other activities (18) ____. This is because it allows them to build strength without causing more damage.

Swimming uses more of the body’s major muscle groups than any other cardio workout. This includes strengthening the legs, back and arms, and depending on which swimming stroke you employ, you gain additional strength in different core areas. And that’s not (19) ____. For example, when you do a workout in the pool, your lungs get a workout at the same time. Studies have shown that swimmers have stronger lungs on average than other kinds of athletes.

As with many things, there’s a drawback. Those who swim competitively, and therefore spend a considerable amount of time training in a chlorinated indoor pool, could be affected by the chemicals in the water. (20) ____ which asthma sufferers endure. Fortunately, there is a solution: train outdoors. Or if that isn’t possible, try doing a variety of training exercises instead of focusing solely on being in the pool.

Yet another advantage of swimming is its low cost. While many sports require a financial layout in terms of equipment and other resources, swimming requires relatively little to get started. All you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you’re off! Most local pools offer great deals on membership, too, (21) ____.

And what if you missed out on swimming training as a young child? The prospect of jumping in a pool and trying to stay afloat can be daunting. Join a group and keep it simple, building up from shorter distances to longer ones. Breathing and stroke techniques are important. And, as in any other sport, the best way to succeed is (22) ____ to stick to them. You’ll be burning calories and having fun before you know it!

Task 5

Read the text below. For questions (23–27) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

Exchanging your home with another person’s home for a holiday is a trend that experts (23) ____ will become more and more popular in the future. Doing this has a number of (24) ____. The most obvious one is that it is free.

Additionally, by doing your research, which may be a little time-consuming, you will be able to get exactly what you want – a flat in a lively city centre or a large house close to open countryside on the (25) ____ of a city. (26) ____ in mind, too, that living in another person’s home means that there is a social network of friends and family waiting to help you. There might be a few drawbacks, such as having to (27) ____ that your house is tidy and absolutely clean. However, on the whole, it seems like a wonderful, alternative option to package holidays. What’s more, as the cost of living will probably continue to rise, the only way many families will be able to afford a holiday is by swapping homes with another family.

Exchanging your home with another person’s home for a holiday is a trend that experts (23) ____ will become more and more popular in the future. Doing this has a number of (24) ____. The most obvious one is that it is free.

Additionally, by doing your research, which may be a little time-consuming, you will be able to get exactly what you want – a flat in a lively city centre or a large house close to open countryside on the (25) ____ of a city. (26) ____ in mind, too, that living in another person’s home means that there is a social network of friends and family waiting to help you. There might be a few drawbacks, such as having to (27) ____ that your house is tidy and absolutely clean. However, on the whole, it seems like a wonderful, alternative option to package holidays. What’s more, as the cost of living will probably continue to rise, the only way many families will be able to afford a holiday is by swapping homes with another family.

Exchanging your home with another person’s home for a holiday is a trend that experts (23) ____ will become more and more popular in the future. Doing this has a number of (24) ____. The most obvious one is that it is free.

Additionally, by doing your research, which may be a little time-consuming, you will be able to get exactly what you want – a flat in a lively city centre or a large house close to open countryside on the (25) ____ of a city. (26) ____ in mind, too, that living in another person’s home means that there is a social network of friends and family waiting to help you. There might be a few drawbacks, such as having to (27) ____ that your house is tidy and absolutely clean. However, on the whole, it seems like a wonderful, alternative option to package holidays. What’s more, as the cost of living will probably continue to rise, the only way many families will be able to afford a holiday is by swapping homes with another family.

Exchanging your home with another person’s home for a holiday is a trend that experts (23) ____ will become more and more popular in the future. Doing this has a number of (24) ____. The most obvious one is that it is free.

Additionally, by doing your research, which may be a little time-consuming, you will be able to get exactly what you want – a flat in a lively city centre or a large house close to open countryside on the (25) ____ of a city. (26) ____ in mind, too, that living in another person’s home means that there is a social network of friends and family waiting to help you. There might be a few drawbacks, such as having to (27) ____ that your house is tidy and absolutely clean. However, on the whole, it seems like a wonderful, alternative option to package holidays. What’s more, as the cost of living will probably continue to rise, the only way many families will be able to afford a holiday is by swapping homes with another family.

Exchanging your home with another person’s home for a holiday is a trend that experts (23) ____ will become more and more popular in the future. Doing this has a number of (24) ____. The most obvious one is that it is free.

Additionally, by doing your research, which may be a little time-consuming, you will be able to get exactly what you want – a flat in a lively city centre or a large house close to open countryside on the (25) ____ of a city. (26) ____ in mind, too, that living in another person’s home means that there is a social network of friends and family waiting to help you. There might be a few drawbacks, such as having to (27) ____ that your house is tidy and absolutely clean. However, on the whole, it seems like a wonderful, alternative option to package holidays. What’s more, as the cost of living will probably continue to rise, the only way many families will be able to afford a holiday is by swapping homes with another family.

Task 6

Read the texts below. For questions (28–32) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

(28) ____ being born in Germany, Albert Einstein did some of his most astonishing work in Switzerland. Working in Zurich University, he came up with his theory of relativity, (29) ____ explores our experience of space and time, and also a scientific rule. Most would agree that there is nothing in physics quite as famous (30) ____ E = mc2.

In the early 1920s, Einstein was at the height of his career. He was also on tour, because institutions around the world offered to put on his lectures. In 1922, Einstein was in a hotel when he found out that he had won the Nobel Prize. If the messenger who delivered the news had expected a tip, he (31) ___ surprised. Instead, Einstein gave him two signed, handwritten notes. Nearly 100 years later, the messenger’s nephew would sell both notes at auction, one for $1.56m and the other for $240,000. You may ask what (32) ___ on them. Well, both notes highlighted Einstein’s advice on how to live. He suggested a calm and modest life would bring more happiness than one where you were constantly looking for success.

(28) ____ being born in Germany, Albert Einstein did some of his most astonishing work in Switzerland. Working in Zurich University, he came up with his theory of relativity, (29) ____ explores our experience of space and time, and also a scientific rule. Most would agree that there is nothing in physics quite as famous (30) ____ E = mc2.

In the early 1920s, Einstein was at the height of his career. He was also on tour, because institutions around the world offered to put on his lectures. In 1922, Einstein was in a hotel when he found out that he had won the Nobel Prize. If the messenger who delivered the news had expected a tip, he (31) ___ surprised. Instead, Einstein gave him two signed, handwritten notes. Nearly 100 years later, the messenger’s nephew would sell both notes at auction, one for $1.56m and the other for $240,000. You may ask what (32) ___ on them. Well, both notes highlighted Einstein’s advice on how to live. He suggested a calm and modest life would bring more happiness than one where you were constantly looking for success.

(28) ____ being born in Germany, Albert Einstein did some of his most astonishing work in Switzerland. Working in Zurich University, he came up with his theory of relativity, (29) ____ explores our experience of space and time, and also a scientific rule. Most would agree that there is nothing in physics quite as famous (30) ____ E = mc2.

In the early 1920s, Einstein was at the height of his career. He was also on tour, because institutions around the world offered to put on his lectures. In 1922, Einstein was in a hotel when he found out that he had won the Nobel Prize. If the messenger who delivered the news had expected a tip, he (31) ___ surprised. Instead, Einstein gave him two signed, handwritten notes. Nearly 100 years later, the messenger’s nephew would sell both notes at auction, one for $1.56m and the other for $240,000. You may ask what (32) ___ on them. Well, both notes highlighted Einstein’s advice on how to live. He suggested a calm and modest life would bring more happiness than one where you were constantly looking for success.

(28) ____ being born in Germany, Albert Einstein did some of his most astonishing work in Switzerland. Working in Zurich University, he came up with his theory of relativity, (29) ____ explores our experience of space and time, and also a scientific rule. Most would agree that there is nothing in physics quite as famous (30) ____ E = mc2.

In the early 1920s, Einstein was at the height of his career. He was also on tour, because institutions around the world offered to put on his lectures. In 1922, Einstein was in a hotel when he found out that he had won the Nobel Prize. If the messenger who delivered the news had expected a tip, he (31) ___ surprised. Instead, Einstein gave him two signed, handwritten notes. Nearly 100 years later, the messenger’s nephew would sell both notes at auction, one for $1.56m and the other for $240,000. You may ask what (32) ___ on them. Well, both notes highlighted Einstein’s advice on how to live. He suggested a calm and modest life would bring more happiness than one where you were constantly looking for success.

(28) ____ being born in Germany, Albert Einstein did some of his most astonishing work in Switzerland. Working in Zurich University, he came up with his theory of relativity, (29) ____ explores our experience of space and time, and also a scientific rule. Most would agree that there is nothing in physics quite as famous (30) ____ E = mc2.

In the early 1920s, Einstein was at the height of his career. He was also on tour, because institutions around the world offered to put on his lectures. In 1922, Einstein was in a hotel when he found out that he had won the Nobel Prize. If the messenger who delivered the news had expected a tip, he (31) ___ surprised. Instead, Einstein gave him two signed, handwritten notes. Nearly 100 years later, the messenger’s nephew would sell both notes at auction, one for $1.56m and the other for $240,000. You may ask what (32) ___ on them. Well, both notes highlighted Einstein’s advice on how to live. He suggested a calm and modest life would bring more happiness than one where you were constantly looking for success.