Population in big cities

A United Nations report on world population trends has provided some interesting information for thought on the future demographics of our planet. The world’s population is currently 6.5 billion and is set (1) ________ and level off to about 9 billion people. The report says population explosions will occur in Africa and Asia, but not in the (2) _________ of the world, “Considerable diversity exists in the expected population growth of countries. The population of many countries, (3) __________ in Africa and Asia, will increase greatly in the coming decades.”  (4)___________, population levels in developed countries are expected to fall, because of decreased fertility rates caused by increased contraceptive use. The report also indicates half of the world’s population will be city (5) _________ by 2007. That is a huge jump from the figure of 30% urbanization in 1993. The five most populated cities today are Tokyo (35 million people), Mexico City (19 million), New York (18.5 million), Bombay (18.3 million) and Sao Paulo (18.3 million). In 1950 only Tokyo and New York had populations of more (6) _________ 10 million people. By 2050 there will be 22 cities of that size. The report concludes, “the current population picture is one of dynamic population changes, reflected in new and diverse patterns of childbearing, mortality, migration, urbanization and ageing. The (7) ___________ and consequences of these population trends present opportunities as well as (8) __________for all societies in the twenty-first century.”

(8) ________

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Skilling has become a way of life for many people. From the moment the first snowflake falls until the spring (1) ______ skiers put skis on their cars and (2) ______ for slopes. There are many reasons behind the (3) ______ of this winter sports. Skiing is a true family sport that can be enjoyable by all people, whether 3 or 93 years old. Being able to (4) ______ a hill, to turn at will and nature at its loveliest are (5) ______ for all age groups. Skiing is also interesting because it provides a variety of experiences. Snow conditions change hourly as the temperature and weather conditions change during the day. Moreover, every trail is different. Rarely does one pass over the same (6) ______ twice. Improvement in skis equipment, clothing, and ski areas have made the sport more pleasurable, comfortable and available. Warm and light clothing has replaced (7) ______ of heavy sweaters. Ski equipment made with modern materials has made skis and poles lighter, more flexible and suited to people of all ages. The (8) ______ of skiing had also improved by snow-making equipment. Even in areas of the countries that have (9) ______ snowfall, snow can be made (10)______ the temperature be below 30 degrees Celsius. For many people, skiing is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the out-of-doors, to challenge their physical abilities and, finally, to simply have fun. It is a sport world-wide and appears to be gaining in popularities constantly

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Polar bears are in danger of dying out. (45) _________ some other endangered animals, it‘s not hunters that are the problem, it‘s climate change. Since 1979, the ice cap at the Arctic Circle where the polar bears live has (46) _________ in size by about 30 percent. The temperature in the Arctic has slowly been (47) _________ and this is (48) _________ the sea ice to melt, endangering the polar bears‘ home. The polar bears‘ main (49) _________ of food are the different types of seal found in the Arctic. They catch them by waiting next to the air holes the seals have (50) _________in the ice. (51) _________ the bears are very strong swimmers, they could never catch seals in the water. This means that the bears (52) _________ do rely on the ice to hunt. Polar bears also need sea ice to travel. They can (53) _________ a huge territory and often swim from one part of the ice to another. They have been known to swim up to 100km, but when there is less ice, they may have to swim further and this can (54) _________ fatal to the bears. A number of bears have drowned in the last few years and scientists believe that it is because they were not able to reach more sea ice before they became too tired and couldn‘t swim any further

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The first traffic signal was invented by a railway signaling engineer. It was installed (33) ___ the Houses of Parliament in 1868. It (34)_____ like any railway signal of the time, and was operated by gas. (35) ____, it exploded and killed a policeman, and the accident discouraged further development until cars became common. (36) ____ traffic lights are an American invention. Red – green systems were installed in Cleveland in 1914. Three - color signals, operated (37) _____ hanz d from a tower in the (38) _____ of the street, were installed in New York in 1918. The first lights of this type to (39) ____ in Britain were in London, on the junction between St. James‘s Street and Piccadilly, in 1925. Automatic signals were installed (40) ____ year later. In the past, traffic lights were special. In New York, some lights had a statue on top. In Los Angeles the lights did not just change silently, but would ring bells to (41) _____ the sleeping motorists of the 1930s. These are gone and have been (42) ____ by standard models which are universally adopted

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The overall outlook for the hotel and tourism industry in Vietnam is very (1)____ . Tourism is viewed as an important economic (2)____ in the future development of this country, and it is easy to see why Vietnam , among the countries in South East Asia, has become increasingly popular as a new (3)____ destination. The sublime beauty of the country‘s natural settings is very (4)____ . The sights, the sounds and the tastes of Vietnam leave a lasting memory for many foreign (5)____ . Its key destination such as Dalat, PhanThiet, Hoi An or NhaTrang are offering, indeed, great tourism (6)____ . Combine this with the friendly nature of the Vietnamese people and the current political (7)____ , and we are set for solid growth pattern for the years to come. It is therefore not a surprise that foreign (8)____ to Vietnam have steadily increased during the past few years. Also important is the increasing demand from the domestic market. It is projected that 17 million domestic (9)____ will make a short trip in 2005 within the country for leisure and (10)____

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Once upon a time, people left school or university, joined a company and stayed within until they retired. The concept of a job for life is now long (1)_______, and nowadays many employees find it hard to stay loyal to their companies for even a relatively short period of time. According to a recent survey, this is particularly (2)_______ in London, where more than half of those asked said that they constantly (3)_______ one eye on other job opportunities, (4)_______ they are fairly happy in their existing job. A high number of London workers say that they are always on the (5)_______ , although they are content and motivated in their current position. Job seekers find that the internet (6)_______ them with a quick and easy way to find out what's available, and 53 percent said that they had applied for a job or registered with an employment agency in the past 12 months. This proactive (7)_______ means that people can look for a perfect job match with the (8)_______ of effort. But while this is good for job hunters, the growing lack of company loyalty could (9)_______ up being a big problem for employers .Perhaps surprisingly, the (10)_______ factors attracting job seekers was not more money, but challenging and interesting work.

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Denmark is the smallest and most southerly of the countries of Scandinavia. (1) ____ lie in northern Europe. It is probably best (2) ____ for being home to the powerful Vikings, (3) ____ 1,000 years ago. Denmark is a small country, with limited natural (4) ____. Nevertheless, it has become one of the richest countries in the (5) ____. Denmark has its own (6) ____ culture and traditions, and a tongue−twisting language, which includes several different dialects. Although Denmark is a member (7) ____ the European Union, recently it has been reluctant to work more closely with the EU and give up (8) ____ of its independence. Wealth in Denmark is shared out more evenly than in most countries, because people pay high taxes. Many workers pay more than 50 percent of their wages in tax. The money is used to pay (9)____ a welfare system which includes health care, benefits for the unemployed and the elderly, and public services. Compared to the rest of the world, it is (10) ____ to become either very rich or very poor in Denmark

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Denmark is the smallest and most southerly of the countries of Scandinavia. (1) ____ lie in northern Europe. It is probably best (2) ____ for being home to the powerful Vikings, (3) ____ 1,000 years ago. Denmark is a small country, with limited natural (4) ____. Nevertheless, it has become one of the richest countries in the (5) ____. Denmark has its own (6) ____ culture and traditions, and a tongue−twisting language, which includes several different dialects. Although Denmark is a member (7) ____ the European Union, recently it has been reluctant to work more closely with the EU and give up (8) ____ of its independence. Wealth in Denmark is shared out more evenly than in most countries, because people pay high taxes. Many workers pay more than 50 percent of their wages in tax. The money is used to pay (9)____ a welfare system which includes health care, benefits for the unemployed and the elderly, and public services. Compared to the rest of the world, it is (10) ____ to become either very rich or very poor in Denmark

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Parents whose children show a special interest in a particular sport have a difficult decision to (47) ______ about their children‘s career. Should they allow their children to train to become top sportsmen and women? For many children it (48) ______starting very young and school work, going out with friends and other (49) ______ have to take second place. It‘s very difficult to explain to a young child why he or she has to train for five hours a day, even at the weekend, when (50) _______ of his or her friends are playing. Another problem is of course money. In many countries money for training is (51) ______ from the government for the very best young sportsmen and women. If this help cannot be given, it means that it is the parents (52) ______ have to find the time and the money to support their child‘s development- and sports clothes, transport to competitions, special equipment etc. can all be very expensive. Many parents are understandably (53) _______ that it is dangerous to start serious training in a sport at an early age. Some doctors agree that young (54) _______ may be damaged by training before they are properly developed. Professional trainers, however, believe that it is only by starting young that you can reach the top as a successful sports person. What is clear is that very (55) _______ people reach the top and both parents and children should be prepared for failure even after many years of training

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Reference books are not designed to be read from the first page to the last but rather to be consulted to answer the questions and provide both general and specific pieces of information. One of the most (1) _______-used reference books is a dictionary, which provides information about words. It lists meanings and spellings, (2) _______ how a word is pronounced, gives (3) _______of how it is used, may reveal its origins and also lists synonyms and (4) _______. To help you find the words faster, there are guide words at the top of each page showing the first and last words on that page and of course it (5) _______ to know the alphabet! There may be numerous special sections at the back with (6) _______ about famous people and places, lists of dates and scientific names, etc. There is usually a section at the front (7) _______ how to use the dictionary, which includes the special abbreviations or signs. An atlas is also a reference book and (8) _______ charts, tables and geographical facts, as well as maps. Political maps locate countries and cities, physical maps show the formation of the land with its mountains and valleys, and economic maps show industries and agriculture. To find a specific place, you need to look in the (9) _______ at the back of the atlas and the exact position on the map. There are numerous map (10) _______ that you need to know in order to be able to read a map-almost like a special language-and these are explained at the front of the atlas

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Looking for an unforgettable way to celebrate that special occasion? Well, the (1)__ of options open today‘s youngster – or even ― oldster‖ for that matter, is a far cry from the traditional party or restaurant visit. No longer is it (2)__sufficient to invite your friends round, buy some food and get a barker to produce a cake. No, today‘s birthday boy or girl is looking for something out of the ordinary, ranging from the (3)__ expensive to the downright dangerous. Anything goes, as long as it is unusual and impressive. Top of this year ‗s popular (4)__are as follows: taking some friends rally driving, helicopter lessons, plane trip and parachuting, and hot air ballooning . Then there is always group bungee jumping or taking your buddies on a stomach – churning, while water rafting (5)__down rapids. The desire of adventurous celebration is not restricted to the (6)__. I recently met an octogenarian who celebrated (7)__the milestone of eighty by having a fly lesson. Of course, if you have money the world is your oyster. A very rich relation of mine flew fifty of his friends to a Caribbean islandto mark the passing of his half century. Unfortunately I was only a (8)__relation. Undoubtedly, the more traditional forms of celebration do continue to (9)__the less extravagant or less adventurous among us. However, with my own half century looming on the horizon I would not say no to a weekend in Paris and a meal at the Eiffel Tower. I can (10)__dream. Perhaps by the time I‘m eighty I‘ll be able to afford it.

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The reality of an interview is never as bad as your fears. For some reasons, people imagine the interview is going to jump on every tiny mistake they (1) _____. In truth, the interviewer is as keen for the meeting to go well (2) _____ you are. It is what makes his or her job (3) ______. The secret of a good interview is preparing for it.What you wear is always important as it creates the first impression. So (4) _____ neatly, but comfortably. Make (5)______ that you can deal with anything you are asked. Prepare for questions that are certain to come up, for example: Why do you want to become anurse? What is the most important (6) ______ a good nurse should have? Apart from nursing, what other careers have you (7) ______? What are your interests and hobbies? Answer the questions fully and precise. For instance, if one of your interests is reading, be prepared to talk about the sort of books you like. (8)_____, do not learn all the answers off by heart. The interviewer wants to meet a human (9) ____, not a robot. Remember, the interviewer is genuinely interested in you, so the more you relax and are yourself, the more (10) ____you are to succeed.

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Language is commonly believed to be a system of communication that consists of sounds and written symbols. We can also communicate in other ways by using our facial expressions, our tone of voice and even our (1)______ body. Actually, in many situations, non-verbal communication can (2)_____ more accurately what a person is feeling. Body language always speaks the truth, (3)_____ words may often be (4)_______. For successful communication both at the office and at home, an understanding of body language is important. At work, non-verbal communication is (5)______ to power. For example, people (6)______ charge tend to lean back in their chairs, fold their hands behind their heads and put their feet up on the desk or table. They often (7)_____ conversations, both talking and interrupting more than others. Those who (8)_____ orders, on the other hand, are much less relaxed and tend to sit on the (9)_____ of their chairs with their arms tightly folded. Body language plays an equally important role at home. The interesting thing is that children are particularly quick to pick up on non-verbal signals and can distinguish (10)_____ what is said and what is really meant

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Horace Pippin, as an African-American soldier during World War I, was wounded in his right arm. He discovered, however, that by keeping his right wrist steady with his left hand, he could paint and draw. Pippin was not trained, but his artistic sensitivity and intuitive feel for two- dimensional design and the arrangement of colour and patterns made him one of the finest Primitive artists America has produced.
Pippin did a series of paintings on the abolitionist John Brown and one on his war experiences, but he shied away from social issues for the most part and achieved his greatest success with scenes of the people and places of his hometown of West Chester, Pennsylvania. His Domino Players, featuring four women gathered around a wooden table in a simple kitchen setting, is an excellent example of his rural domestic scenes.

Where in the passage is the name of Pippin’s hometown mentioned?

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Because writing has become so important in our culture, we sometimes think of it as more real than speech. A little thought, however, will show w hy speech is primary and writing secondary to language. Human beings have been writing (as far as we can tell from surviving evidence) for at least 5000 years; but they have been talking for much longer, doubtless ever since there have been human beings.
When writing did develop, it was derived from and represented speech, although imperfectly. Even today there are spoken languages that have no written form. Furthermore, we all learn to talk well before we learn to write; any human child who is not severely handicapped physically or mentally will learn to talk: a normal human being cannot be prevented from doing so. On the other hand, it takes a special effort to learn to write. In the past many intelligent and useful members of society did not acquire the skill, and even today many who speak languages with writing systems never learn to read or write, while some who learn the rudiments of those skills do so only imperfectly.
To affirm the primacy of speech over writing is not, however, to disparage the latter. One advantage writing has over speech is that it is more permanent and makes possible the records that any civilization must have. Thus, if speaking makes us human, writing makes us civilized.

In the author’s judgment,     .

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Nearly 200 of the 1500 native plant species in Hawaii are at risk of going extinct in the near future because they have been (33)_______ to such low numbers. Approximately 90 percent of Hawaii's plants are found nowhere else in the world but they are (34)_______ by alien invasive species such as feral goats, pigs, rodents and (35)_______ plants. The Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group is striving to (36)_______ the extinction of the 182 rare Hawaiian plants with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the (37)_______ . Since 1990, (38)_______ a result of their "Plant Extinction Prevention Program", sixteen species have been brought into (39)_______ and three species have been reintroduced. Invasive weeds have been removed in key areas and fencing put up in order to (40)_______ plants in the wild. In the future the Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Program aims (41)_______ collecting genetic material from the remaining plants in the wild for storage as a  safety net for the future. They also aim to manage wild populations and where possible reintroduce species into (42)_______

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Beatrix Potter was a story writer chose books about animals have been translated into many languages and read by both children and adult. (1) ________ being an author, she was also regarded as a very successful farmer. Born in London in 1866, Beatrix was (2) ________ for at home by various servants. Every year she (3) ________ the days to her annual holiday in the countryside. She would (4) ________ to her London home small animals which she (5) _____ and drew. As she grew up, she entertained other children with drawings and stories about these animals. In 1901, she printed a book at her own (6) ________ called ‗The Tale of Peter Rabbit‘. So many (7) ________ were sold that she bought a farm, where over the next eight years she wrote many other stories. They all sold very well and readers liked their detailed color drawings. With her growing (8) _______ , Beatrix started buying more farmland, animals and property. After her marriage, at the age of 47, Beatrix stopped writting, (9) _______ that she had run out of (10) ________. She became a farmer and spent the rest of her life working with her sheep and awarding prizes at sheep fairs

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The overall outlook for the hotel and tourism industry in Vietnam is very (1)____ . Tourism is viewed as an important economic (2)____ in the future development of this country, and it is easy to see why Vietnam , among the countries in South East Asia, has become increasingly popular as a new (3)____ destination. The sublime beauty of the country‘s natural settings is very (4)____ . The sights, the sounds and the tastes of Vietnam leave a lasting memory for many foreign (5)____ . Its key destination such as Dalat, PhanThiet, Hoi An or NhaTrang are offering, indeed, great tourism (6)____ . Combine this with the friendly nature of the Vietnamese people and the current political (7)____ , and we are set for solid growth pattern for the years to come. It is therefore not a surprise that foreign (8)____ to Vietnam have steadily increased during the past few years. Also important is the increasing demand from the domestic market. It is projected that 17 million domestic (9)____ will make a short trip in 2005 within the country for leisure and (10)____

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate thecorrect word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks
There is usually one important (1)............. missing from most school. Very few students are taught how to organize their learning, and how to (2)............ the best use of their time. Let’s take some simple examples. Do you know how to look up words in a dictionary, and do you understand all the information the dictionary contains? Can you (3)............ notes quickly, and can you understand them afterwards? For some reasons, many schools give learners no (4)..........with these matters. Teachers ask students to memorize pages from books, or tell them to write ten pages, but don’t explain (5)............to do it.
Learning by heart can be useful, but it is important to have genuine understanding of a subject. You can waste a lot of time memorizing books, without understanding anything about the subject.

(1)...................

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It's called 42 - the name taken from the answer to the meaning of life, from the science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 42 was founded by French technology billionaire Xavier Niel, whose backing means there are no tuition fees and accommodation is free. Mr Niel and his co-founders come from the world of technology and start-ups, and they are trying to do to education what Facebook did to communication and Airbnb to accommodation.
Students at 42 are given a choice of projects that they might be set in a job as a software engineer - perhaps to design a website or a computer game. They complete a project using resources freely available on the Internet and by seeking help from their fellow students, who work alongside them in a large open- plan room full of computers. Another student will then be randomly assigned to mark their work.
The founders claim this method of learning makes up for shortcomings in the traditional education system, which they say encourages students to be passive recipients of knowledge. "Peer-to-peer learning develops students with the confidence to search for solutions by themselves, often in quite creative and ingenious ways."
Like in computer games, the students are asked to design and they go up a level by completing a project. They graduate when they reach level 21, which usually takes three to five years. And at the end, there is a certificate but no formal degree. Recent graduates are now working at companies including IBM, Amazon, and Tesla, as well as starting their own firms.
"The feedback we have had from employers is that our graduates are more apt to go off and find out information for themselves, rather than asking their supervisors what to do next," says Brittany Bir, chief operating officer of 42 in California and a graduate of its sister school in Paris. Ms Bir says 42's graduates will be better able to work with others and discuss and defend their ideas - an important skill in the "real world" of work. "This is particularly important in computer programming, where individuals are notorious for lacking certain human skills," she says.
But could 42's model of teacherless learning work in mainstream universities? Brittany Bir admits 42's methods do not suit all students. "It suits individuals who are very disciplined and self- motivated, and who are not scared by having the freedom to work at their own pace," she says.

It can be inferred from the passage that     .

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Mr. Faugel was convinced that students’ nervousness had affected their scores; to reduce the anxiety of these students who had already been tested, he gave 22 of them a beta blocker before readministration of the test. Their scores improved significantly. The other 8 students (who did not receive the beta blockers) improved only slightly. Second-time test-takers nationwide had average improvements which were similar to those in Faugel's non-beta blocker group.
Beta blockers are prescription drugs which have been around for 25 years. These medications, which interfere with the effects of adrenalin, have been used for heart conditions and for minor stress such as stage fright. Now they are used for test anxiety. These drugs seem to help test-takers who have low scores because of test fright, but not those who do not know the material. Since there can be side effects from these beta blockers, physicians are not ready to prescribe them routinely for all test-takers.

Beta blockers work on some physical and emotional symptoms because they