UTUBE READING TEST
READING PASSAGE – 1
Read the following text and then answer Q u e stio n s 1-6.
Buckingham Palace is the London residence of H er M ajesty The Queen, as well as the
adm inistrative head q u arters of the Royal Household. It is one of the few working royal
palaces rem aining in the world today. Today the S tate Rooms are used extensively by The
Queen and M embers of the Royal Fam ily to receive and en tertain their guests on S tate,
ceremonial and official occasions. D uring A ugust and Septem ber when The Queen m akes
h er annual visit to Scotland, the Palace's nineteen S tate Rooms are open to visitors. You
can find out more about the history of Buckingham Palace and how it is used today on the B
ritish Monarchy website. The S tate Rooms form the h e a rt of the working palace and are
lavishly furnished w ith some of the greatest treasu res from the Royal Collection-paintings
by Rem brandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto; sculpture by Canova; exquisite examples of
Sevres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture. Open 28 Ju ly - 25
Septem ber 2007, 9:45-18:00 (last adm ission 15:45) Admission is by tim ed ticket w ith entry
every 15 m inutes throughout the day. Tickets are valid only on the date and at the entrance
time specified on the ticket. Regrettably, late-comers cannot be adm itted. A visit lasts
between 2 and 2M hours. Admission prices to the S tate Rooms of Buckingham Palace
(including audio guide) Adult: £15.00 Over 60/ S tu d en t (with valid ID): £13.50 U nder 17:
£8.50 U nder 5: Free Fam ily: £38.50 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)
Writing I 157
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uestions 7-6
Do the following statem ents agree w ith the information given in the p assage? In boxes 1-6
on your answer sheet write TRU E
if the information in the text supports the statem ent
FALSE
if the information in the text does riot support the statement
N O T G IV E N if there is no information about the statem ent in the text
Buckingham Palace is the only Royal Palace in London open to tourists.
Buckingham Palace's State Rooms are open when the Queen goes to visit Scotland.
The State Rooms contain many works of art.
4
People are admitted until 2 hours before closing.
If you are late for your tour, you will not get your ticket money back.
Children between the ages of 5 and 17 get tickets for half price.
158 I Reading
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Q uestions 7-13
Read the descriptions o f 7 film s and match each description with the type of film being
described. A n example has been done for you. Each type of film can only be used once and
one type of film will rem ain unused. Types of film :
Action
Animation
Comedy
Documentary
Drama
Mystery
Romance
Science Fiction
Wildlife
Example: This is a film about teenagers with special powers. They can communicate with
each other using telepathy. Together with their talking computer, they do battle with people
and creatures from earth and space. (Science Fiction) 7
A modern adaptation of the classic story set in the nineteenth century about the fiery and
passionate relationship between a young working-class woman and her mysterious upper-
class employer.
8
This film was made by having no less than a dozen cameras follow the great footballer
throughout a single match. The man himself then recorded a voice-over onto the footage,
with comments from friends and other players added later.
A group of top investigators is given the job of reopening an old case to see if they, using
modern technology, can solve it and capture a murderer who escaped capture ten years
ago.
10
The stars of this critically-acclaimed series return in this feature length film version. Many
things have changed, but not the hilarity with which the characters deal with the unlikely
series of events thrown at them.
11
The mix of humour and dealing with serious issues makes this film both entertaining and
thought-provoking to watch. The computer-generated " almost human " characters and the
graphics are incredible.
12
Politics is a serious business. Mistakes are pounced upon by opponents and successes are
often credited to others. See how the fictional-but entirely plausible-characters from the
White House deal with a series of apparently unconnected incidents in this thought-
provoking film.
13
This film follows the migration route of one of the world's most incredible beasts. This film
took over two years to make and conditions for the film makers were often dangerous. The
result is a film that will shock, surprise and delight.
Writing I 159
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SECTION 2
Questions 14-27
Q uestions 14-20
Read the following information about 6 residential compounds that offer flats for purchase.
For which residential compounds are the following statem ents true'! Remember that
between 1 and 3 residential compounds may match each statement.
A. The F o u r Seasons Price to buy: $ 1 ,000 per square metre Flat size: 70-260 square
metres (1-5 bedroom flats) Facilities; 24-hour security, gym, indoor swimming pool, tennis
and squash courts, bar and restaurant Almost, half of the development area is devoted to
greenery, providing residents with scenic surroundings all year round. The blocks of flats are
at least 200 metres apart, allowing adequate sunlight into each flat,. All flats come with high-
end interior fittings designed by international designers. Shopping centres and supermarkets
are within walking distance.
B. High Class Price to buy: $ 1,300 per square metre Flat size; 5 bedroom flats)
160-250 square metres (3-
Facilities; 24-hour security, swimming pool, tennis court, children's playroom, bar and
restaurant The large size of the flats in this development means th at this is a low-density
community. All flats come with high-end interior fittings. The surrounding land on three sides
is naturally hilly, providing privacy for residents.
c. Five S tar Price to buy; s 820 per square metre Flat size; 70-150 square metres (1-3
bedrooms) Facilities; 24-hour security, running track, tennis court, basketball court, gym bar
and restaurant
Nearby, there is a famous international kindergarten. Wireless Internet access is available
throughout the compound. A large cinema is under construction nearby. Many international
companies are located in nearby offices.
D. Live Well Price to buy; $ 860 per square metre Flat size; 90-150 square metres (1-3
bedroom s) Facilities; 24-hour security, gym, bar and restaurant Many of the flats here are
owned by people working in the IT industry. The blocks of flats are at least 90 metres apart,
allowing decent views and privacy. Apartments come without interior fixtures, so th at
owners can design their flats according to their own tastes and requirements.
E. High S p irit Price to buy: $ 1050 per square metre Flat size; 80-240 square metres (1-5
bedroom s) Facilities; 24-hour security, running track This development has large gardens
and green areas between blocks of flats and is located in the embassy area of the city.
There is a shopping centre within walking distance and many international companies have
offices nearby.
F. C entral Place Price to buy; $ 1100 per square metre Flat size; 60-160 square metres (1-3
bedroom s) Facilities; 24-hour security Big departm ent stores, supermarkets, offices, fitness
centres and bars and restaurants are all located within a few minutes' walk of this
development right in the city centre. All flats come fitted with high-end interior fittings. Many
of the owners work in the nearby offices.
Writing I 161
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14 This residential compound offers the most expensive flats. 15 This residential compound
offers the biggest flats. 16 This residential compound has no sports facilities. 17 Many
residents work near the residential compound in which they live. 18 This residential
compound has facilities for children in it or nearby. 19 There are shopping facilities near this
residential compound.
20
Flats in this residential compound have fittings included.
162 I Reading
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uestions 21-27
Read the following text and then answer Questions 21-27
Inform is a private charitable institution th a t serves as a resource for innovative people and
institutions worldwide. We currently have an opportunity available in our Communications D
epartm ent. Reporting to and working with the Communications Director, you will help
develop editorial content, including policy essays, a magazine, the website, m ultim edia
products, and more. The selected candidate will also m anage a team of staff and consultant
w riters to produce m aterial for an influential and knowledgeable audience of policy-makers,
academics, and leaders in a wide variety of fields related to our mission. Requirem ents
include a minimum of 12 years experience with progressive responsibility for conceiving,
writing, editing and m anaging w ritten content across m ultiple platforms, with em phasis on
inventive policy essays and original thinking; a Bachelor's in English, History, or the H um
anities and experience m anaging the ; I complete editorial process and working effectively
with senior m anagem ent. A M aster's degree is preferred. We offer a competitive salary
and generous benefits package. To apply please send resum e and cover letter, with salary
inform ation, to: Mrs. Smith, Inform, II 100 E ast 3rd Street, New York, NY 10017 or visit
www.inform.org/employment. Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are
fundam ental principles of Inform.
Writing I 163
Do the following statem ents agree w ith the iiiformation given in the passage? In boxes 21 -
27 on your answer sheet write TRU E
if the information in the text supports the statem ent
FALSE
if the information in the text does not support the statement
N O T G IV E N if there is no information about the statem ent in the text
21
Inform is a private company.
22
The duties include helping to prepare material for the Inform websiteệ
23
The duties include meeting important professors and government advisors.
24
This job is probably suitable for people under the age of 30.
25
The successful applicant will probably have a post-graduate degree.
26
The salary will be higher than average for this position.
27
Mrs. Smith will be selecting the successful applicant.
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164 I Reading
SECTION 3
Questions 28-40
Read the following text and answer Questions 28-40.
DELIGHTS OF MASS TOURISM REACH GALAPAGOS
Never has the discovery of a ra t provoked so much alarm . It was only a single creature, but
it had no business being on the island of S anta Fe in the isolated Galapagos archipelago,
where conservationists now strive to keep foreign wildlife at bay as effectively as hundreds
of miles of open ocean did for millions of years. The ra t is alleged to have arrived on the MV
Discovery, a giant B ritish cruise liner th a t visited the islands in April. Today, the ship is due
to retu rn to the Galapagos, and arriving w ith it are 460 paving passengers, protests and a
cam paign to protect the islands from such m ass tourism . D raw n by the unique wildlife
and mystique, annual visitors to the archipelago have soared from about 40.000 in the late
1980s to more th a n 100,000 now. Voyages of Discovery, the cruise company, promises
visitors to the islands th a t The enigmas, secrets and charm s of this spectacular and rich
landscape are. like a dream, an unequalled adventure ju st w aiting to be discovered. But to
environm ental cam paigners, the ship's arrival is a nightm are. Conservationists on the
Galapagos have also found sw arm s of foreign insects on the islands since the liner's la st
visit and fear its re tu rn today could introduce more alien species th a t m ight fu rth er
disrupt the sensitive eco-systems. The Discovery, the first large cruise ship to have visited
the islands, is scheduled to re tu rn again this April and twice each year thereafter. P erm its
recently granted by the Ecuadorian governm ent-the islands are owned bv the South
American country-could see one cruise ship stop there a month. Leonor Stjepic, director of
the Galdpagos Conservation Trust, warned th at such an acceleration in visitor numbers
would overwhelm efforts to keep out pests and disease. The more people th at come, the
greater the risk of invasive species and the less effective the quarantine system is going to
be. With the best will in the world it's virtually impossible to search a boat that size
thoroughly. Ju st sheer numbers means it's much easier for something to slip through. And if
we can't protect the GalGpagos then what does it say
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Writing I 165
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the other natural spaces in the world? The Galapagos are not suitable for this land of mass
tourism. The islands just don't have the infrastructure for th at number of people. Tourism
has got to be high-value, lowAvolume tourism, Stjepic claims. Before the Discovery's
stopover, almost all visitors to the islands flew direct from the mainland. However, this cruise
ship has travelled all the way down the coast of South America and could bring all sorts of
things with it. As well as the rat, and the insects, environm entalists say the Discovery's
previous visit left the islands covered in litter, dropped by w ealthy tourists who have no idea
w here they are or the im pact their visit may have. Graffiti was scrawled at th e visitor centre
and one passenger reportedly asked where the local Starbucks was. The study of the im
pact of the liner's first visit was carried out by the local Charles D arw in Foundation and the
Galapagos N ational P ark Service. As well as the foreign wildlife, it found th a t sales for
local businesses increased by 5% , a th ird of w hat was expected. In frastru c tu re was
overwhelmed, they said, and local tour operators, who tak e visitors around the different
islands, were forced to lan d large boats on fragile shorelines because elderly cruise
passengers were unable to scram ble in and out of rubber dinghies. However, David Yellow,
m anaging director of Voyages of Discovery, said the cam paigners were speaking from
ignorance. He said th e firm operated under strict restrictions and carried out an in-depth
environm ental im pact study before it was granted a licence to operate in the Galapagos. He
claims th a t Voyages of Discovery is experienced at operating in environm entally sensitive
areas and knows w hat to do. All passengers are given a lecture before they go ashore and
Yellow says they adhere to it. The Discovery anchored at th e islan d of San Cristobal during
its stay, he said, a good 25 m iles (40 km) from S an ta Fe where the ra t was found. M r
Yellow said there was no proof th a t the graffiti and litte r were left by Discovery tourists. "
Local people create litter. They are not as sensitive to the environm ent as th e people we
take there. There are local people who smoke a cigarette and throw it into the street. "
166 I Reading
Q u e s t io n s 2 8 -3 4
Do the following statem ents agree with the information given in the passage? In boxes 28-
34 on your answer sheet write TRUE
if the information in the text supports the statem ent
FALSE
if the information in the text does not support the statement
N O T G IV E N if there is no information in the text about the statem ent
28
A rat was found on the ship MV Discovery.
29
Environmentalists are unhappy with the idea of cruise ships visiting the Galapagos Islands.
30
Leonor Stjepic believes that the quarantine system on the Galapagos Islands was
completely effective before large cruise ships began to arrive.
31
Leonor Stjepic thinks that the Galapagos Islands should focus on tourists who have more
money to spend.
32
There is a Starbucks on the Galapagos Islands.
33
Local businesspeople are very happy with the arrival of the cruise ship.
34
David Yellow gives lectures on environmental protection to passengers on the MV
Discovery.
Writing I 167
Questions 35-40
Fill the gaps in the following sentences using N O M O R E T H A N T H R E E W O RD S
from the text. 35
Alien species have been kept away from the Galapagos Islands by_
36
About____________visit the Galapagos each year.
37
Cruise ships visiting the Galapagos Islands need a____________ .
38
Leonor Stjepic thinks that the islands'____________ cannot handle large numbers of
tourists.
39
Many of the people visiting the islands are__________ and cannot use small boats.
40
Leonor Stjepic and David Yellow disagree over who caused the discovered after the first visit
by the MV Discovery.
