Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank in each of the following questions.

The pressure cooker is designed to allow faster __________ at lower temperatures.

Read the following passage about human life expectancy and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30. 

An engine is a machine that creates mechanical motion from energy. In order to do this, an engine frequently requires some type of fuel to burn. Nowadays, many engines are used to power cars and other forms of transportation. These vehicles most commonly have an internal combustion engine and rely upon gasoline for power. However, there are several types of engines that can use alternative energy sources. Many people are trying to switch to them because gasoline, which is a fossil fuel, creates pollution and is also a non-renewable resource.

These days, engines that are able to burn biofuels are somewhat common. Biofuels are fuels that are made from biological material, such as corn, soybeans, and sugarcane. These biofuels burn cleanly, so they produce much less pollution than fossil fuels. In some countries, such as Brazil, cars with biofuel engines are standard. In fact, most of the cars in Brazil have engines that can operate on either gasoline or biofuel.

A second type of alternative engine is the electric engine. Cars with electric engines have been common for decades. Most are being used in hybrid cars at the moment. These are vehicles that have both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric one. In many cases, the gasoline-powered engine is used to operate the car at high speeds on expressways. The electric engine is utilised for city driving. One benefit of hybrid cars is that as the gasoline-powered engine runs, it simultaneously recharges the electric engine.

A third type of alternative engine is the hydrogen engine. It utilises hydrogen fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity that can power the car These days, there are many cars and buses that rely upon hydrogen engines. However, there are some problems associated with this type of engine. The hydrogen used in the engine must be processed from other materials, and it is also difficult to store. As a result, vehicles that run on hydrogen are expensive.

Alternative energy sources create less pollution and are often renewable sources of energy. It is hoped that more and more innovations help the use of alternative energy sources become easier and easier.

In which paragraph does the writer mention cars running on biofuel and gasoline?

Choose the best one (A, B, C or D) to complete the sentence or replace the underlined word.

My brother writes applications for computers or smartphones – he’s a(n) _______ .

Choose the best answer.

Since the appearance of electronic devices, lessons have become more and more _____ and effective.

Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions from 34 to 40.

1. Since the birth of the car in 1886, transport in big cities has changed a lot. It is no wonder many experts think that there will be extraordinary changes in the next few decades.

2. As technology develops, highways, skylines, subways will be all transformed. Smarter roadways and highways in cities outfitted with IoT sensors will process all kinds of data in real time and inform users of the best transport options. Weather, crashes, traffic conditions will be communicated to users and smart stops will be found everywhere providing renewable energy, green hydrogen or even greener energy, ensuring efficiency and safety on every highway. Tunnels will also be a smart choice because of the reduction of traffic congestion. Underground roads will be built in 3D with a lift system which will take vehicles deep underground and will allow traffic to attain the greatest speed without intersections.

3. There will also be innovations in the sky. Air taxis are not a new idea, but in the future they will be completely environment-friendly. Aviation gasoline will be no longer used. Green energy will be in place and cost-effective air taxis will enable people to travel from one busy urban city to another in record time.

4. New technologies such as AI and the rollout of 5G will pave the way for fully autonomous innovation. Cars will not be the only thing to go autonomous. Freight trucks, cargo vehicles, air taxis will all benefit from this technology and that is why the term 'driver' will become extinct.

5. Transport will go green. Electric or hydrogen power will be mainstream. There will still be issues to solve such as safety, speed and cost, and of course governments will need to make new traffic laws.

It can be inferred from the passage that __________.

Read the text and answer the questions. Answer full sentence.

INVENTIONS THE WORLD FORGOT

The Telharmonium

The Telharmonium was the world's first electronic musical instrument. It was designed by Thaddeus Cahill in 1897. Music from the instrument was broadcast to people's homes using a telephone. Before the invention of the radio, people loved these first home concerts. After Cahill's death in 1934, his brother kept one of the three models, but in 1962 it was destroyed. No recordings of the music were kept, so the Telharmonium and its unique sound have disappeared forever.

The Writing Ball

Invented in 1865 by Rasmus Malling-Hansen from Denmark, the Writing Ball was a machine for typing onto paper. Its use of electricity made the movement faster. However, you could not see the paper as you were typing. Nevertheless, the Writing Ball was very successful. Since each model was made by hand, it was soon

replaced by other cheaper machines produced in factories. A new keyboard with a different key arrangement appeared. The once-popular Writing Ball was forgotten.

The Antikythera Mechanism

In 1901, parts of an ancient machine were discovered on a ship near the Greek island of Antikythera. It had been made about 1,900 years earlier, in 2 BCE. For many years after its discovery, nobody understood exactly what the machine was for. In the 1970s, scientists found that this ancient computer had been designed to predict the movements of the sun, the moon and the planets. It did this using more than thirty hand-made metal wheels of different sizes. The remains of the Antikythera mechanism are now kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, together with a number of reconstructions to demonstrate how it may have worked.

What was the name of world's first electronic musical instrument?

Complete the sentences with correct form of words in the brackets.

Mobile phone technology has improved _______ in recent years. (DRAMA)

Listen to an interview about a competition for young inventors. Are the sentences TRUE or FALSE? Question 33 to 36.

When people first enter the competition, they don’t have to build their inventions. 

Choose the best one (A, B, C or D) to complete the sentence or replace the underlined word.

Maybe the robot was the best _______ of the 20th century.

Read the following passage about Marcel Bich and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

Marcel Bich, a French manufacturer of traditional ink pens, was the man turning the ballpoint pen into an item that today almost anyone can afford. Bich was shocked at the poor quality of the ballpoint pens that were available, and also at their high cost. However, he recognised that the ballpoint was a firmly established invention, and he decided to design a cheap pen that worked well and would be commercially successful.

          Bich went to the Biro brothers and asked them if he could use the design of their original invention in one of his own pens. In return, he offered to pay them every time he sold a pen. Then, for two years, Bich studied the detailed construction of every ballpoint pen that was being sold, often working with a microscope.

          By 1950, he was ready to introduce his new wonder: a plastic pen with a clear barrel that wrote smoothly, did not leak and only cost a few cents. He called it the 'Bic Cristal'. The ballpoint pen had finally become a practical writing instrument. The public liked it immediately, and today it is as common as the pencil. In Britain, they are still called Biros, and many Bic models also say 'Biro' on the side of the pen, to remind people of their original inventors.

          Bich became extremely wealthy thanks to his invention, which had worldwide appeal. Over the next 60 years his company, Société Bic, opened factories all over the world and expanded its range of inexpensive products. Today, Bic is as famous for its lighters and razors as it is for its pens, and you can even buy a Bic mobile phone.

In which paragraph does the writer inform the success of Bic company?

Read the following passage about human life expectancy and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30. 

An engine is a machine that creates mechanical motion from energy. In order to do this, an engine frequently requires some type of fuel to burn. Nowadays, many engines are used to power cars and other forms of transportation. These vehicles most commonly have an internal combustion engine and rely upon gasoline for power. However, there are several types of engines that can use alternative energy sources. Many people are trying to switch to them because gasoline, which is a fossil fuel, creates pollution and is also a non-renewable resource.

These days, engines that are able to burn biofuels are somewhat common. Biofuels are fuels that are made from biological material, such as corn, soybeans, and sugarcane. These biofuels burn cleanly, so they produce much less pollution than fossil fuels. In some countries, such as Brazil, cars with biofuel engines are standard. In fact, most of the cars in Brazil have engines that can operate on either gasoline or biofuel.

A second type of alternative engine is the electric engine. Cars with electric engines have been common for decades. Most are being used in hybrid cars at the moment. These are vehicles that have both a gasoline-powered engine and an electric one. In many cases, the gasoline-powered engine is used to operate the car at high speeds on expressways. The electric engine is utilised for city driving. One benefit of hybrid cars is that as the gasoline-powered engine runs, it simultaneously recharges the electric engine.

A third type of alternative engine is the hydrogen engine. It utilises hydrogen fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity that can power the car These days, there are many cars and buses that rely upon hydrogen engines. However, there are some problems associated with this type of engine. The hydrogen used in the engine must be processed from other materials, and it is also difficult to store. As a result, vehicles that run on hydrogen are expensive.

Alternative energy sources create less pollution and are often renewable sources of energy. It is hoped that more and more innovations help the use of alternative energy sources become easier and easier.

In which paragraph does the writer mention the engines running on H2.

Write a complete sentence using the words and phrases given in each of the following questions. 

The internet / enable / people / connect / globally / since / its invention.

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

THE UMBRELLA

Evidence of ancient umbrellas (21) _________ in Egypt, Greece and China and from this, we know that the umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. However, the first umbrella (22) _________ in the rain, but in the sun.

The Chinese were the first people to make umbrellas waterproof and it is this kind of umbrella that (23) _________ by millions of people around the world today.

The design for the umbrella hasn’t been changed much in thousands of years. So, will it be replaced by something more modern in the future? A Chinese inventor called Chuan Wang hopes it will. He has invented a new type of umbrella. With this one, air (24) _________ instead of nylon to keep the rain off your head. However, at the moment, the battery only lasts for a short time so your traditional umbrella (25) _________ just yet!

Rewrite the sentences without changing their meanings. Write no more than FOUR words in each blank.

We can communicate over long distances thanks to the invention of the telephone.

The invention of the telephone enables __________ over long distances.

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

THE UMBRELLA

Evidence of ancient umbrellas (21) _________ in Egypt, Greece and China and from this, we know that the umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. However, the first umbrella (22) _________ in the rain, but in the sun.

The Chinese were the first people to make umbrellas waterproof and it is this kind of umbrella that (23) _________ by millions of people around the world today.

The design for the umbrella hasn’t been changed much in thousands of years. So, will it be replaced by something more modern in the future? A Chinese inventor called Chuan Wang hopes it will. He has invented a new type of umbrella. With this one, air (24) _________ instead of nylon to keep the rain off your head. However, at the moment, the battery only lasts for a short time so your traditional umbrella (25) _________ just yet!

Listen to an interview about a competition for young inventors. Are the sentences TRUE or FALSE? Question 33 to 36.

Inventions can be original ideas or ways to make an old product better. 

Choose the answer that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word/phrase in each of the following questions.

He learned how to mend a flat bicycle tire by watching a tutorial online.

Read the text and answer the questions. Answer full sentence.

INVENTIONS THE WORLD FORGOT

The Telharmonium

The Telharmonium was the world's first electronic musical instrument. It was designed by Thaddeus Cahill in 1897. Music from the instrument was broadcast to people's homes using a telephone. Before the invention of the radio, people loved these first home concerts. After Cahill's death in 1934, his brother kept one of the three models, but in 1962 it was destroyed. No recordings of the music were kept, so the Telharmonium and its unique sound have disappeared forever.

The Writing Ball

Invented in 1865 by Rasmus Malling-Hansen from Denmark, the Writing Ball was a machine for typing onto paper. Its use of electricity made the movement faster. However, you could not see the paper as you were typing. Nevertheless, the Writing Ball was very successful. Since each model was made by hand, it was soon

replaced by other cheaper machines produced in factories. A new keyboard with a different key arrangement appeared. The once-popular Writing Ball was forgotten.

The Antikythera Mechanism

In 1901, parts of an ancient machine were discovered on a ship near the Greek island of Antikythera. It had been made about 1,900 years earlier, in 2 BCE. For many years after its discovery, nobody understood exactly what the machine was for. In the 1970s, scientists found that this ancient computer had been designed to predict the movements of the sun, the moon and the planets. It did this using more than thirty hand-made metal wheels of different sizes. The remains of the Antikythera mechanism are now kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, together with a number of reconstructions to demonstrate how it may have worked.

What happened to the device in 1962?

Complete the sentences with correct form of words in the brackets.

It’s very difficult to decide which _______ has changed human life the most. (INVENT)

Read the passage and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.

1. Imagine this: Your little brother's favourite toy car has a broken wheel, and he's about to cry. You're not worried, though. You take some pictures of the broken part and use your 3D printer to make a new one.

2. 3D printers are amazing machines that can create objects from digital designs. Surprisingly, people first thought of this idea way back in 1984, and by 1993, they started a company to make it happen! Since 2004, 3D printers have become small and affordable, so almost anyone can have one at home. In 2018, they sold more than half a million of them around the world.

3. How do they work? Well, instead of using ink like regular printers, 3D printers use materials like plastic or metal. They put these materials layer by layer to build a 3D shape.

4. People are using 3D printers to make all sorts of things, like jewelry and decorations. Even sports companies are using them to make shoes that fit perfectly. And doctors use 3D printers to make things like replacement bones. It makes surgeries easier and helps people get better faster.

5. 3D printers are developing all the time, and are becoming the piece of technology every home should have. And you might be able to print one soon, who knows yourself.

(30) What does the passage imply about the future of 3D printers?

Read the following passage. For each of the questions, Decide the statement is TRUE or FALSE.

INVENTOR’S CIRCLE

With the progression of technology and the development of existing inventions, it is becoming more difficult for inventors to make money. It feels like people are running out of new ideas. However, there is hope! While becoming a successful inventor is increasingly more difficult, the community of inventors is growing, helping each other to reach their goals.

What makes the inventors’ community so strong? Well, the main reason that people choose to become an inventor is to help others or to make the world a better place to live. With such a goal, why wouldn’t they want to help each other? Inventors often work together, create their own businesses and give opportunities to those in need.

Social media such as Facebook and YouTube have also helped the inventors’ community. They have made it easier for inventors from across the globe to speak with each other and learn from each other through videos. Now that the internet is growing rapidly, there is endless information for inventors aspiring to get what they need.                              

Still, becoming an inventor is not getting easier with all this extra information. There is more competition, there are more people wanting to make the world better, to make people’s lives easier. This is because they now have all the information they need to make their dreams come true. On the plus side, with all the information and support, it has become easier for anyone to try. So, what’s stopping you? Start inventing!

It’s difficult to find information to assist learning.