UNIT 5. BEING PART OF ASEAN I.

Choose A, B, C or D that best fits each blank in the sentences

1. ____ is a real health hazard.
A Stupidity B Sturdiness C Animosity D Obesity
2. The old lady was becoming increasingly affected by ____.
A senility B masculinity C virility D chivalry 2.
His ____ excuses invariably exasperated the manager.
A feeble B frail C robust D wealthy
3. I don't ____ to be a genius but I am not stupid either.
A permit B agree C compare D claim
4. Smoking can be ____ to your health.
A delightful B harmless C detrimental D indifferent
5. People ____ their spending power when prices rise.
A increase B curtail C prolong D think
6. He became an outlaw by ____ the law.
A defying B observing C sticking to D abiding by
7. ____ is a punishable offense.
A Hunting B Poaching C Jogging D Boxing
8. Marian was a beautiful ____ young lady.
A corpulent B gaunt C slender D bony
9. Don't trust him; he's cruel, ____ and unscrupulous.
A loving B slack C treacherous D trustworthy
10. Many poets have ____ the beauties of the countryside.
A extolled B feared C excited D inhibited
11. Hopes of finding the missing climbers are now beginning to ____.
A reduce B faint C dim D fade
12. The team's coach insisted on a program of ____ training before the big game.
A rigorous B slack C severe D positive
13. Prices at Greek hotels are still affordable, but in Switzerland they are ____.
A moderate B inaccessible C reasonable D exorbitant
14. The crash ____ the motorway for several hours.
A prevented B hindered C obstructed D inhibited
15. After his wife's death, he ____ drinking.
A got to B came to C held to D took to
16. The plague, otherwise known as the Black Death, was a ____ disease.
A contagious B contiguous C contingent D congenial
17. The young man felt ____ in the presence of so many young ladies.
A inhospitable B hindered C inhibited D prohibited
18. It was obvious that the child suffered from a serious speech ____.
A handicap B impediment C inhibition D hindrance
19. His heavy boots ____ him at work.
A hampered B stemmed C repelled D compelled
20. Children under the age of 16 are not ____ to enter the competition.
A eligible B enabled C legible D promised
21. The driver's attention was ____ by a child running across the road.
A deterred B disturbed C distracted D destroyed
22. He's told us so many lies that we no longer place any ____ on what he says.
A conviction B reliance C prediction D reputation
23. His driving license has been ____ on the grounds of drink driving.
A repealed B revoked C nullified D recalled
24. The Conservatives declared their intention of ____ the whole Act once they came into power.
A repulsing B repelling C impelling D repealing
25. The problem of petty crime has largely been ____.
A annihilated B exterminated C eradicated D decimated
26. Bacteria can't be seen by the ____ eye. You have to use a microscope,
A nude B naked C bare D mere
27. Mary is a(n) ____ liar. She was even arrested for lying to a police officer.
A physical B congenital C naive D abnormal
28. Fortunately, everything went off without a ____.
A hope B solution C alternative D hitch
29. The Prime Minister will decide whether to release the prisoner or not; that's his ____. A prerogative
B derogatory C abdication D humanity
30. ASEAN focuses on improving member states’ economies and maintaining regional ____.
A. stability B. regularity C. prosperity D. equality.
31. ____ is an organized group of people who have common interests, activities or purposes.
A. Group B. Bloc C. Association D. Team
32. Regional development activities have been carried out ____ ASEAN cooperation.
A. under B. for C. into D. off
33. The ASEAN charter came into ____ on 15 December 2008.
A. action B. act C. operation D. force
34. ASEAN was established ____ the five original member countries.
A. with B. from C. of D. by
35. The main principles of the ASEAN Charter include respect for the member states’ independence and ____ in their
internal affairs.
A. non-interference B. interference C. interruption D. coordination 36. The ____ is a
legal agreement among the ten ASEAN member states.
A. charter B. principle C. slogan D. policy
37. The member states will act in accordance ____ the law to set out in various ASEAN instruments.
A. for B. of C. to D. with
II. Choose A, B, or C that best fits each blank in the following sentences
1. There was little protection against the ____ wind.
a bitter b powerless c sour
2. It is sometimes very difficult to appreciate his ____ wit.
a caustic b nieve c frail
3. Josh's ____ irony is just a means of making him feel superior.
a decrepit b intrepid c cutting
4. The professor, weary and increasingly ____ in mood, walked into the auditorium.
a valiant b biting c sour
5. I'm sure that his ____ remarks and sarcasm were a result of your own hostile behavior towards him. a biting
b gentle c robust
6. I have often felt hurt by her ____ humor.
a annihilating b acid c courageous
7. Her ____ reply left us shocked at her insolent behaviour.
a hefty b delicate c tart
8. It has often been found that ____ punishment in many cases proves to be detrimental rather than beneficial. a
caustic b cutting c harsh
9. Failing their senior class was a ____ disappointment for many students.
a gallant b feeble c bitter
10. She was often reduced to tears by her tutor's ____ remarks.
a harsh b gaunt c luxuriant
III. Choose A, B, C or D that best fits each blank in the following sentences 1.
This road is _____ to floods in winter.
a fragile b sensitive c leading d unprotected
2. The new town development has begun to _____ on the surrounding green belt.
a reach b encroach c enter d intrude
3. I was informed by the police officer that he would be forced to take me into _____. a guardianship b
bail c custody d protection
4. My inquiries did not _____ any information of value.
a elicit b arouse c illicit d swell
5. Charles was not sure which profession to enter, but finally _____ for law.
a chose b opted c accepted d selected
6. His _____ sarcasm exasperated me.
a biting b decorous c benevolent d fearful
7. His _____ as a brave soldier spread throughout the country. a renovation b renown
c pilgrimage d expedition
8. He found it all but impossible to bear the _____ of a nomadic life.
a amenities b sourness c decorum d harshness
9. He _____ the illusion that he will live to be a hundred.
a grows b relishes c develops d cherishes
10. Samantha was dressed in a very _____ trouser suit.
a contemptible b decorous c stinging d becoming
11. An international hotel has recently been built on the _____ of the old school.
a expedition b landscape c site d ground
12. He was _____ manslaughter.
a indicted for b blamed for c condemned to d respected for
13. Many tax payers are _____ at what they regard as an illegal use of public funds.
a indifferent b interested c happy d indignant
14. Due to the nature of the earthquake, a much larger _____ of the population might be affected
a segment b density c totality d division
15. They continued fighting despite all the _____ they met with.
a adversities b amenities c properties d liabilities
16. He was in an extreme state of _____ when his wife left him.
a calamity b mishap c distress d trial
17. At length, it _____ him that his life wouldn't take a turn for the better unless he left his present employment.
a dawned on b assumed that c happened to d realized that 18.
Unfortunately, not all scientists are working for a good _____.
a end b aim c effect d cause
19. The media are always keen on reporting _____.
a mishaps b calamities c reverses d hardships
20. The threat of a general strike can only be _____ through government intervention.
a averted b converted c subverted d diverted
IV. Fill in each blank with the correct form of one of the provided verbs
represent ● fix ● jump ● form ● canvass ● capture ● receive ● concede ● renege ●
amend ● convene ● launch ● send ● vote ● heckle
1. The Prime Minister ________________ that it will be very difficult for him to win the next election considering that
his party’s satisfaction rating in the polls is at an all-time low.
2. He ________________ on a promise to his constituents to campaign for the closing down of the nuclear plant in
Sellafield.
3. The candidate who ________________ the hearts and minds of the voters with his passion for office and his
integrity will win this election.
4. The leader of the opposition was ________________ by members of his own party when making a speech in the
House of Commons yesterday.
5. They ________________ down the proposed amendment to the bill, which was then passed in its original form.
6. She ________________ an emergency cabinet meeting in light of the revelations that had emerged in the press.
7. The former minister surprised her ex-party colleagues by ________________ ship and running for election as a
member of the Labour Party this time around.
8. The test-firing of the rocket was interpreted as a less than subtle message ________________ in the direction of
neighbouring countries to back off or face full-scale conflict.
9. Mary Malden ________________ the constituency of Bath for twenty-five consecutive years.
10. They were unable to ________________ any sort of government on account of the election resulting in a hung
parliament.
11. They broke away from the Conservatives and ________________ a new political party called the NeoConservative
Party.
12. To ________________ a law, the bill proposing to do so must be passed by both houses of parliament.
13. He _______________ fewer first-preference votes than his opponent but still managed to win the seat on transfers.
14. I’ve been out _______________ for the party door-to-door every evening so far this week and I’m exhausted.
15. The embattled Prime Minister faced accusations that the result of the no-confidence vote had been
_________________.

adopt ● shift ● hold ● extend ● question ● pledge ● turn ● run ● spin ● polarise ● call ● defeat ● nominate ●
withdraw ● ratify ● reject ● hold ● veto ● suffer ● pursue
1. He _______________ from the presidential race for personal reasons and appealed for privacy.
2. The treaty was formally _______________ this afternoon and will pass into law once signed by the President later
tonight.
3. They _______________ a candidate for the vacant leadership position and he was elected unopposed.
4. Since forming a government three months ago, the party has been accused of _______________ an extremely
liberal agenda.
5. She has confirmed that she will _______________ for political office again in the September by-election.
6. Max Dalton has confirmed that he fully intends to be the leader of the party next March when the election is due to
be _______________.
7. The motion _______________ a comprehensive defeat in the lower house.
8. The Prime Minister refused to be drawn on whether the recent press leak would make him _______________ the
loyalty of some of the members of cabinet.
9. No matter what way the Prime Minister’s press office choses to try to _______________ this, it looks very bad
indeed. This will be a damage-limitation exercise at best.
10. The government _______________ to reform the voting system if re-elected.
11. A snap election has been _______________ for the 25th June.
12. A referendum will be _______________ on the 30th May to settle the issue once and for all.
13. Fewer people _______________ out at the polls to vote in this election than ever before.
14. Public opinion has _______________ seismically in the wake of these new revelations about the Prime Minister’s
private life.
15. The motion was narrowly _______________ in what will be a major embarrassment for the Prime Minister who had
proposed it in the first place.
16. He _______________ his term of office by another five years.
17. The debate is becoming _______________ and there appears to be little in the way of middle ground between the
two sides.
18. The government has the power to _______________ this proposal at the next meeting of the UN Security Council
should it deem it necessary to do so.
19. The opposition party has been accused of _______________ dirty tactics in an effort to boost its popularity by
launching a very personal attack on the Prime Minister.
20. The electorate has emphatically _______________ the outgoing government and clearly thinks there is a need for
urgent change.
V. Fill in each blank with one of the provided words
intangible gagging nest learning labour insider golden passing sleeping
inheritance
hyper pyramid majority hush stamp
1. It is a steep _______________ curve, but you are expected to climb it without someone having to hold your hand
all the way; you must be quick to catch on to succeed in this company.
2. The job was quite _______________ intensive, which is what brought the cost up from the original estimate.
3. He was paid some _______________ money in return for his public silence on the issue of who the child’s mother
was.
4. He invested in the company as a _______________ partner, leaving the running of the business entirely in the
hands of the other owners.
5. It was exposed as a _______________ scheme and he was arrested on the charge of misappropriating some £6
million in total.
6. The _______________ trade in this area is quite strong, which is just as well because there is not enough local
business to sustain a service station round here.
7. He had built up a considerable _______________ egg for himself by the time of his retirement.
8. The couple were exempt from paying _______________ duty on their house purchase as the home’s value did not
exceed the threshold of £250,000.
9. He strongly refutes the charge of _______________ trading and claims that he is a victim of his own success.
10. The judge issued a _______________ order to prevent the witness releasing a statement to the press.
11. He secured a ______________ interest in the company when his brother died as the latter’s shares passed to him.
12. He was given a _______________ handshake to ensure that he would leave his post without incident.
13. Naturally, you will be liable for _______________ tax if you stand to gain to the tune of £ I million or more from the
proceeds of your father’s will.
14. The phenomenon of _______________ inflation is seldom an issue outside of wartime, during which it is nearly
impossible to avoid.
15. Goodwill is one of the most significant _______________ assets found on this company’s balance sheet.

apathy raucous booth old bureaucratic gambit

disaffected rhetoric boys' spin
ovation bipartisan whistle- swing
appetite incumbent stop lame
partisan gerrymandering budget
catalyst
unanimous
1. Her clever opening ___________________ gave her the edge in the presidential race.
2. His election may prove a(n) ____________________ for real and meaningful change.
3. The candidates embarked on a(n) ___________________ tour of the southern states.
4. This election looks set to be decided by a handful of ___________________ voters.
5. His _________________ doctors were hard at work this morning trying to put a positive slant on the latest opinion
poll figures.
6. He is just the breath of fresh air that needed to be injected into this political system which has been for far too long
dominated by members of the elite _______________ club.
7. He is looking more and more like the _______________ -duck candidate of this presidential election and cuts a
sorry figure on the campaign trial - he will surely pull out of the race before long.
8. The polling _______________s are set to open one hour earlier than normal at 7 a.m.
9. Voter _______________ is the real talking point of this election; politicians on both sides of the political divide
have failed to engage the electorate.
10. He claims to retain the _______________ support of the cabinet despite the fact that the murmurings of discontent
are growing louder.
11. The party’s only hope of success is for it to attract _______________ voters.
12. The investigation confirmed that the boundary changes were tantamount to _______________.
13. This looks set to be the most eagerly anticipated _______________ in living memory with speculation rife that a
significant tax cut is on the cards for low-income earners.
14. The civil service in this country is very _______________ in nature and there is a needless amount of paperwork
necessary to get even the simplest of things done.
15. He received a standing _________________ after making his final speech to the house.
16. The president faces a huge challenge in translating his campaign _______________ into action.
17. This is the first genuinely _______________ government to be formed since the war; the house stands united in
the face of the daunting task that lies ahead in trying to rebuild the nation’s crumbling economy following a triple-dip
recession.
18. A _______________ crowd gathered in support of the candidate and he was greeted with a rousing reception as
he made his way to the stage.
19. _______________ laughter broke out in the audience as the unpopular leader made his speech; the extent of the
mocking and level of disrespect was frankly disturbing.
20. There is a growing _______________ for change amongst the electorate.
VI. Give the correct forms of provided words to complete the sentences
1. The level of market _____________________ (penetrate) has not been as high as desired. That said, we are
confident of making steady inroads and growing our market share significantly over the next two quarters.
2. The ________________________ (orient) of the product appears to be towards women in their mid- to late-forties.
3. There were _________________ (mitigate) factors at play and I do not think the product’s failure was down to it
simply having been poorly conceived.
4. The bank has been accused of ________________ (predator) lending and its loan book is to be closely examined
by the financial ombudsman, government sources have claimed.
5. This business is a ____________________ (merit); we are led by and reward our best and most talented staff
members; who you know counts for very little here.
6. _________________ (protect) and the notion of free trade are two _________________ (idea) opposed economic
philosophies.
7. He was awarded __________________ (punish) damages over and above the amount of compensation he was
due for loss of profits as the judge felt the defendant needed to be taught a lesson.
8. Our boss is a _________________ (nepotic) of the highest order; he just hired his niece for the newly-vacant
position of Financial Officer despite the fact that she has only recently graduated and has no relevant work
experience.
9. This sets a __________________ (precede) of sorts by sending out the message that the mere act of calling a
lightning strike is sufficient to get you exactly what you want from the owners. I have never seen a more immediate
__________________ (capitulate) by those in authority, have you?
10. The decision was made ________________ (lateral) ; he did not consult his partners prior to the announcement.
11. The _________________ (viable) of the proposal must now be called into question on the basis that the estimated
cost of the build alone is now three times greater than the original figure quoted.
12. The business is ___________________ (solve) as it can no longer meet the repayments on its debt.
13. The company was put into _________________ (receive) by the court after it was declared bankrupt on Monday.
14. The army issued a ______________________ (require) order for 50 new tank units.
15. There is a strong likelihood that your home will be _________________ (possess) if you continue to miss your
repayments.
VII. Choose A, B, C or D that best fits each blank in the passage
Slavery was not the only (1) ____ of life in New Orleans that would have been unfamiliar to men like Captain Amos
Stoddard, a New Englander who became one of the (2) ____ of the new lands. Stoddard might have been (3) ____ by
the odd cultural mix that New Orleans represented, and which it still (4) ____ in some forms, to this day. After the
Spanish ceded Louisiana to the French, much of the Spanish population In New Orleans departed for Cuba. As they
left and French Immigrants came in from Francophone (5) ____ like San Domingue, New Orleans took on a Gallic
tinge. At the same time, traces of Spanish occupation remained strong, with luxurious homes. In the city built in
Spanish style, around courtyards and with stucco walls. As a further (6) ____ of the territory's past governments, the
Louisiana State Legislature met in the former palace of the Spanish governors, until it burned down in 1827. In what
might (7) ____ readers today as a particularly chilling reminder of the city's previous masters, two pillories stood on
Chartres Street. The Spanish authorities had locked prisoners in those stocks and sometimes publicly humiliated and
abused them.
Thomas Jefferson, the American President, in purchasing Louisiana and bringing about the (8) ____ of control that
occurred on December 20, opened a new (9) ____ in American history and closed the old one, of which he had been a
principal author. Only a few years before, he had rejected Alexander Hamilton's proposal for a national bank by (10)
____ that the Constitution didn't empower the U.S. government to create such an institution. By 1803 he seems to
have changed his feelings about the problem of "implied powers" - or at least been excited enough about the possible
uses of 828,000 square miles of property to set aside any legal qualms.
1. A. aspect B. position C. view D. look
2. A. slave traders B. numbers C. governors D. many
3. A. interested B. frightened C. perplexed D. humoured
4. A. refrains B. retains C. relinquishes D. replaces
5. A. continents B. industries C. colonies D. pasts
6. A. examination B. reference C. plunder D. reminder
7. A. present B. strike C. inspire D. instill
8. A. hand-over B. transaction C. ownership D. transfer
9. A. chapter B. book C. piece D. paragraph
10. A. registering B. arguing C. bickering D. demanding

Now, nearly 40 years later, the Cold War is over, but Churchill's ideals - (1) ____ democracy, freedom - are just as
relevant. So Westminster decided to give its galleries "on the lion of the twentieth century" a twenty-first-century (2)
____. In the museum's new permanent collection, multimedia (3) ____ trace Churchill's life, philosophy, and writing,
concentrating heavily on World War II and the "Sinews of Peace" speech; a "leadership corridor" compares him with
other British and American (4) ____. The rededication (5) ____ tonight with a talk by Churchill's daughter and
granddaughter and continues over the weekend with a community luncheon, black-tie gala, and a keynote address by
the TV news (6) ____ Chris Matthews.
Another exhibit, (7) ____ to the Cold War itself, shows how true Churchill's predictions proved to be. Of course his (8)
____ was a long time coming. When he arrived in Richmond three days after his Westminster speech to address the
Virginia General Assembly, he (9) ____ the controversy he had created. "You have not asked to see beforehand what I
am going to say," he remarked to the legislators. "I might easily (10) ____ a lot of things people know in their hearts are
true but are a bit shy of saying in public."
1. A. persistence B. vigilance C. power D. fussiness
2. A. refresh B. instigation C. update D. renew
3. A. exhibits B. demonstrations C. evidence D. gadgets
4. A. governments B. politics C. tyrants D. rulers
5. A. is B. kicks off C. ends D. continues
6. A. celebrity B. mogul C. anchor D. hot shot
7. A. geared B. denouncing C. commiserating D. dedicated
8. A. vindication B. conviction C. prediction D. pessimism
9. A. accepted B. declined C. acknowledged D. greeted
10. A. conceal B. blurt out C. lie about D. assume

A solution to (1) _____ desires and expectations perhaps lies in the recognition that wealth does not involve having
many things. It involves having what we long for. Wealth is not an absolute. It is relative to desire. Every time we seek
something we cannot afford, we grow poorer, whatever our resources. And every time we feel satisfied with what we
have, we can be (2) _____ as rich, however little we may actually own. There are two ways to make people richer: to
give them more money or to (3) _____ their desires. Modern societies have succeeded spectacularly at the first option
but, by continuously inflaming appetites, they have at the same time helped to negate a share of their most impressive
achievements.
The most effective way to feel wealthy may not be to try to make more money. It can be to (4) _____ ourselves -
practically and emotionally - from anyone we both consider to be our equal and who has become richer than us. Rather
than trying to become bigger fish, we should concentrate our energies on (5) _____ around us smaller companions
next to whom our own size will not (6) _____ us. In so far as advanced societies provide us with historically elevated
incomes, they appear to make us richer. But, in truth, the net effect of these societies may be to (7) _____ us because,
by fostering unlimited expectations, they keep open a permanent gap between what we want and what we can afford,
who we are and who we might be. The (8) _____ we have paid for expecting to be so much more than our ancestors is
the permanent feeling that we are far from being all we might be. We should be careful what we read in the papers and
what programmes we watch. No matter what the media (9) _____ at us, we must remain realistic in our goals and
expectations and not allow ourselves to be (10) _____ into a life of materialism.
1. A. coiling B. curving C. spiralling D. revolving
2. A. counted B. added C. thought D. accounted
3. A. refer B. reassure C. recline D. restrain
4. A. dispute B. vary C. single D. distance
5. A. gathering B. heaping C. loading D. distributing
6. A. brood B. fret C. trouble D. console
7. A. redeem B. impoverish C. enrich D. augment
8. A. fee B. price C. fund D. charge
9. A. sends B. delivers C. exploits D. throws
10. A. liberated B. quarantined C. brainwashed D. investigated
VIII. Fill in each blank with a suitable word to complete the passage Young People and Technology
Danah Boyd is a specialist researcher looking at how young people use technology
If there's one cliche that really grates (1) _______ Danah Boyd, who has (2) _______ a career from studying the way
younger people use the web, it's (3) ______ of the digital native. There's (4) _______ native about young people's
engagement with technology she says, adamantly. She has little time for the widely (5) ________ assumption that kids
are innately more adept at coping with the web or negotiating the hurdles of digital life. 'Young people are learning
about the social world around them’ she says. 'Today that world has computer-mediated communications. (6)
___________, in order to learn about their social world, they're learning about those things too. And they're leveraging
that to work out the stuff that kids (7) ________ always worked out: peer sociality, status, etc.'
It's no surprise she takes exception, really: as one of the first digital anthropologists to dig (8) _______ the way people
use social networking sites, Boyd has a track (9) ________ of exposing the truths that underpin many of our
assumptions about the online world. (10) ________ the way, she's gained insights into the social web - not just by
conducting studies of how many kids were using social-networking sites, (11) ________ by taking a closer look at (12)
________ was going on.
IX. You are going to read an article about work-life balance. Choose from the sections (A-D) for each question.
The sections may be chosen more than once.
Which section mentions the following?
1. involvement in decision-making leading to increased worker satisfaction
2. a term that was once used to refer to an inadequate work-life balance A
3. a reduction in one business’s expenditure caused by improved staff retention D
4. a recognition among some employees of the necessity for longer working hours D
5. changes in the world of work leading to competition between established and emerging companies B
6. the statutory regulation of work-life balance ideasD
7. certain staff benefits no longer being seen as adequate by potential employees A
8. a change in how work-life balance developments are generated B
9. a way of defining what work-life balance involves A
10. a theory as to what people require out of life B
Issues arising out of the continuing work-life balance debate in the UK
A. Here in the UK, the continuous pressure of work and the relentless pace of change is impacting on people.
Hard. And some people have reached the point where they want their lives back or at least are questioning how they
can balance their work obligations with their domestic responsibilities. This includes new recruits - employers also
recognise that in the battle to attract talented people the tried and tested incentives of high salar y, a medical plan and
use of a company car will not pull in the high fliers any more. But what exactly does work-life balance cover? In the
recent past, 'stress' was the word that best seemed to represent this general concern about too much work, too little
life. Everyone understood it, since they experienced it at a personal level, but work-life balance has larger parameters .
According to the Work Foundation, it is only achieved when an individual's right to a fulfilled life inside and outside paid
work is respected as the norm. So, for example, work-life balance also takes into account the contribution that people
want to make to the world in which they live. It includes the recognition that people have to manage family life and it
considers the impact that an excessive workload has on people's health.
B. We can point to the psychologist, Abraham Maslow, as the inspiration behind the work-life balance
phenomenon. Maslow's 'hierarchy of needs' model posits five ascending levels of need, each stage of which has to be
satisfied in turn before the individual can move onwards and upwards. So, at the base of the triangular model,
individuals first have to satisfy their physical survival needs, while at the apex of the triangle, is the 'self-actualised'
individual whose priorities are personal growth and fulfilment. Maslow's work fused with a trend that also affected the
concerns about work-life balance. Having a job for life, which had been part of the bedrock values of traditional
companies, simply could not be sustained by the dynamic marketplace of the 1990s and beyond. The old certainties
evaporated, and employers realised that the new imperative was to ensure their employees became as innovative as
the young entrepreneurs who were creating exciting new businesses of their own.
C. The idea of a work-life balance has evolved over time. In the UK, there has been a long tradition of
governmentbased initiatives that were its forerunners. However, with work-life balance as it exists today, the influence
of some corporate role models has had the most impact. Consider Ben & Jerry's, the US ice-cream company. Since
the 1980s, this firm has recognised that people wanted a different sort of work experience. It made a virtue out of
donating 7.5 per cent of its pre-tax profits to philanthropy - an employee-led initiative . Engaging employees in such a
way has helped both to improve motivation and drive innovation and productivity, making Ben & Jerry's into an
extremely lucrative brand. A recent survey identified more than 100 varieties of similar work-life initiatives. However, it
is clear that the most important variable in work-life balance is the nature of the job itself. People want jobs with
autonomy, flexibility, meaning, managerial support as well as a chance for advancement.
D. So, do work-life balance policies work? In the UK there has been little doubt that they have had a positive
impact. British Telecom, for instance, used work-life balance initiatives both to draw more women into the workforce
and to address the significant problem of losing staff. As a result, a staggering 98 per cent of women returned after
maternity leave, saving the organisation a tidy sum in recruitment and training. Work-life balance is already a catch-all
term for many different new policy developments and the list is still growing. Many employees know from direct
experience that the world of work is changing. In a 24/7 society, they recognise that their customers expect service
round-the-clock. And they also know that they have to juggle their home responsibilities while stretching their
schedules to meet customer expectations. Employers know this too. Indeed, there is a raft of legal provisions
governing work-life balance being driven by the European Union. And what the individual employee wants and the
employer is set to deliver need not be in opposition.
X. Read the text and complete the tasks below it The risks agriculture faces in developing countries
A . Two things distinguish food production from all other productive activities: first, every single person needs food each
day and has a right to it; and second, it is hugely dependent on nature. These two unique aspects, one political, the
other natural, make food production highly vulnerable and different from any other business. At the same time, cultural
values are highly entrenched in food and agricultural systems worldwide.
B. Farmers everywhere face major risks; including extreme weather, long-term climate change, and price volatility
in input and product markets. However, smallholder farmers in developing countries must in addition deal with adverse
environments, both natural, in terms of soil quality, rainfall, etc. and human, in terms of infrastructure, financial
systems, markets, knowledge and technology. Counter-intuitively, hunger is prevalent among many smallholder
farmers in the developing world.
C. Participants in the online debate argued that our biggest challenge is to address the underlying causes of the
agricultural system’s inability to ensure sufficient food for all, and they identified as drivers of this problem our
dependency on fossil fuels and unsupportive government policies.
D. On the question of mitigating the risks farmers face, most essayists called for greater state intervention. In his
essay, Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, argued that governments
can significantly reduce risks for farmers by providing basic services like roads to get produce more efficiently to
markets, or water and food storage facilities to reduce losses. Sophia Murphy, senior advisor to the Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy, suggested that the procurement and holding of stocks by governments can also help
mitigate wild swings in food prices by alleviating uncertainties about market supply.
E. Shenggen Fan, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute, held up social safety nets
and public welfare programmes in Ethiopia, Brazil and Mexico as valuable ways to address poverty among farming
families and reduce their vulnerability to agriculture shocks. However, some commentators responded that cash
transfers to poor families do not necessarily translate into increased food security, as these programmes do not always
strengthen food production or raise incomes.
Regarding state subsidies for agriculture, Rokeya Kabir, Executive Director of Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha,
commented in her essay that these ‘have not compensated for the stranglehold exercised by private traders. In fact,
studies show that sixty percent of beneficiaries of subsidies are not poor, but rich landowners and non-farmer traders.
F. Nwanze, Murphy and Fan argued that private risk management tools, like private insurance, commodity
futures markets, and rural finance can help small-scale producers mitigate risk and allow for investment in
improvements. Kabir warned that financial support schemes often encourage the adoption of high-input agricultural
practices, which in the medium term may raise production costs beyond the value of their harvests.
Murphy noted that when futures markets become excessively financialised they can contribute to short-term price
volatility, which increases farmers’ food insecurity. Many participants and commentators emphasised that greater
transparency in markets is needed to mitigate the impact of volatility, and make evident whether adequate stocks and
supplies are available. Others contended that agribusiness companies should be held responsible for paying for
negative side effects.
G. Many essayists mentioned climate change and its consequences for small-scale agriculture. Fan explained
that in addition to reducing crop yields, climate change increases the magnitude and the frequency of extreme weather
events, which increase smallholder vulnerability. The growing unpredictability of weather patterns increases farmers’
difficulty in managing weather-related risks.
According to this author, one solution would be to develop crop varieties that are more resilient to new climate trends
and extreme weather patterns. Accordingly, Pat Mooney, co-founder and executive director of the ETC Group,
suggested that ‘if we are to survive climate change, we must adopt policies that let peasants diversify the plant and
animal species and varieties/breeds that make up our menus.
H. Some participating authors and commentators argued in favour of community-based and autonomous risk
management strategies through collective action groups, co-operatives or producers’ groups. Such groups enhance
market opportunities for small-scale producers, reduce marketing costs and synchronise buying and selling with
seasonal price conditions.
According to Murphy, ‘collective action offers an important way for farmers to strengthen their political and economic
bargaining power, and to reduce their business risks. One commentator, Giel Ton, warned that collective action does
not come as a free good. It takes time, effort and money to organise, build trust and to experiment. Others, like Marcel
Vernooij and Marcel Beukeboom, suggested that in order to ‘apply what we already know’, all stakeholders, including
business, government, scientists and civil society, must work together, starting at the beginning of the value chain.
I. Some participants explained that market price volatility is often worsened by the presence of intermediary
purchasers who, taking advantage of farmers’ vulnerability, dictate prices. One commentator suggested farmers can
gain greater control over prices and minimise price volatility by selling directly to consumers.
Similarly, Sonali Bisht, founder and advisor to the Institute of Himalayan Environmental Research and Education
(INHERE), India, wrote that copipunity-supported agriculture, where consumers invest in local farmers by subscription
and guarantee producers a fair price, is a risk-sharing model worth more attention. Direct food distribution systems not
only encourage small-scale agriculture but also give consumers more control over the food they consume, she wrote.
Questions 1-3
Which paragraph contains the following information?
1. a reference to characteristics that only apply to food production
2. a reference to challenges faced only by farmers in certain parts of the world 3. a reference to
difficulties in bringing about co-operation between farmers Questions 4-9
Look at the following statements (Questions 4-9) and the list of people below. Match each statement with the
correct person, A-G. NB You may use any letter more than once. List of People
A Kanayo F. Nwanze B Sophia Murphy C Shenggen Fan
D Rokeya Kabir E Pat Mooney F Giel Ton G Sonali Bisht
4. Financial assistance from the government does not always go to the farmers who most need it.
5. Farmers can benefit from collaborating as a group.
6. Financial assistance from the government can improve the standard of living of farmers. 7. Farmers may be helped if
there is financial input by the same individuals who buy 8. Governments can help to reduce variation in prices.
9. Improvements to infrastructure can have a major impact on risk for farmers from them
Questions 10-11
Which TWO problems are mentioned which affect farmers with small farms in developing countries?
A lack of demand for locally produced food B lack of irrigation programmes
C being unable to get insurance D the effects of changing weather patterns
E having to sell their goods to intermediary buyers
Questions 12-13
Which TWO actions are recommended for improving conditions for farmers?
A reducing the size of food stocks
B attempting to ensure that prices rise at certain times of the year
C organising co-operation between a wide range of interested parties
D encouraging consumers to take a financial stake in farming
E making customers aware of the reasons for changing food prices
XI. Read the text and complete the tasks
Choose the correct heading for each section
List of Headings
i. Disputes over financial arrangements regarding senior managers ii.
The impact on companies of being subjected to close examination iii.
The possible need for fundamental change in every area of business
iv. Many external bodies being held responsible for problems
v. The falling number of board members with broad enough experience
vi. A risk that not all directors take part in solving major problems
vii. Boards not looking far enough ahead
viii. A proposal to change the way the board operates
UK companies need more effective boards of directors A. _____
After a number of serious failures of governance (that is, how they are managed at the highest level), companies in
Britain, as well as elsewhere, should consider radical changes to their directors’ roles. It is clear that the role of a board
director today is not an easy one. Following the 2008 financial meltdown, which resulted in a deeper and more
prolonged period of economic downturn than anyone expected, the search for explanations in the many post-mortems
of the crisis has meant blame has been spread far and wide. Governments, regulators, central banks and auditors
have all been in the frame. The role of bank directors and management and their widely publicised failures have been
extensively picked over and examined in reports, inquiries and commentaries.
B. _____
The knock-on effect of this scrutiny has been to make the governance of companies in general an issue of intense
public debate and has significantly increased the pressures on, and the responsibilities of, directors. At the simplest
and most practical level, the time involved in fulfilling the demands of a board directorship has increased significantly,
calling into question the effectiveness of the classic model of corporate governance by part-time, independent
nonexecutive directors. Where once a board schedule may have consisted of between eight and ten meetings a year,
in many companies the number of events requiring board input and decisions has dramatically risen. Furthermore, the
amount of reading and preparation required for each meeting is increasing. Agendas can become overloaded and this
can mean the time for constructive debate must necessarily be restricted in favour of getting through the business.
C. _____
Often, board business is devolved to committees in order to cope with the workload, which may be more efficient but
can mean that the board as a whole is less involved in fully addressing some of the most important issues. It is not
uncommon for the audit committee meeting to last longer than the main board meeting itself. Process may take the
place of discussion and be at the expense of real collaboration, so that boxes are ticked rather than issues tackled.
D. _____
A radical solution, which may work for some very large companies whose businesses are extensive and complex, is
the professional board, whose members would work up to three or four days a week, supported by their own dedicated
staff and advisers. There are obvious risks to this and it would be important to establish clear guidelines for such a
board to ensure that it did not step on the toes of management by becoming too engaged in the day-to-day running of
the company. Problems of recruitment, remuneration and independence could also arise and this structure would not
be appropriate for all companies. However, more professional and better-informed boards would have been particularly
appropriate for banks where the executives had access to information that part-time non-executive directors lacked,
leaving the latter unable to comprehend or anticipate the 2008 crash.
E. _____
One of the main criticisms of boards and their directors is that they do not focus sufficiently on longer-term matters of
strategy, sustainability and governance, but instead concentrate too much on short-term financial metrics. Regulatory
requirements and the structure of the market encourage this behaviour. The tyranny of quarterly reporting can distort
board decision-making, as directors have to ‘make the numbers’ every four months to meet the insatiable appetite of
the market for more data. This serves to encourage the trading methodology of a certain kind of investor who moves in
and out of a stock without engaging in constructive dialogue with the company about strategy or performance, and is
simply seeking a short-term financial gain. This effect has been made worse by the changing profile of investors due to
the globalisation of capital and the increasing use of automated trading systems. Corporate culture adapts and
management teams are largely incentivised to meet financial goals.
F. _____
Compensation for chief executives has become a combat zone where pitched battles between investors, management
and board members are fought, often behind closed doors but increasingly frequently in the full glare of press attention.
Many would argue that this is in the interest of transparency and good governance as shareholders use their muscle in
the area of pay to pressure boards to remove underperforming chief executives. Their powers to vote down executive
remuneration policies increased when binding votes came into force. The chair of the remuneration committee can be
an exposed and lonely role, as Alison Carnwath, chair of Barclays Bank’s remuneration committee, found when she
had to resign, having been roundly criticised for trying to defend the enormous bonus to be paid to the chief executive;
the irony being that she was widely understood to have spoken out against it in the privacy of the committee. G. _____
The financial crisis stimulated a debate about the role and purpose of the company and a heightened awareness of
corporate ethics. Trust in the corporation has been eroded and academics such as Michael Sandel, in his thoughtful
and bestselling book What Money Can’t Buy, are questioning the morality of capitalism and the market economy.
Boards of companies in all sectors will need to widen their perspective to encompass these issues and this may
involve a realignment of corporate goals. We live in challenging times.
Question 8-11: YES/ NO/ NOT GIVEN
8. Close scrutiny of the behaviour of boards has increased since the economic downturn.
9. Banks have been mismanaged to a greater extent than other businesses.
10. Board meetings normally continue for as long as necessary to debate matters in full.
11. Using a committee structure would ensure that board members are fully informed about significant issues.
Questions 12-14
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
12. Before 2008, non-executive directors were at a disadvantage because of their lack of __________________.
13. Boards tend to place too much emphasis on _____________ considerations that are only of short-term relevance.
14. On certain matters, such as pay, the board may have to accept the views of _____________________.
XII. You are going to read an extract from a newspaper article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the
extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap. On a wing and a woof
Michael Cassell’s close encounter with a paragliding puppy inspires a desire to try out the sport
I love dogs, but a dog’s place is at your feet, not flying above your head. I was holidaying on the Cote d’Azure in
France, and I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. I think it was some form of terrier, although it was hard to tell
because it wore goggles and a little bandana and was moving at some speed as it passed over the house.
(1) _______
I kept my eye on the pair and saw them land on the beach, where they received warm applause from early bathers. I’m
sure they were breaking every rule in the book and if the police had intervened I imagine the dog at least could have
lost his licence.
(2) _______
Paragliding, by contrast, relies entirely on thermic air and the skill of its pilot; to take to the skies on such a lightweight
contraption is to soar free and silently in the arms of mother nature. The sport has spawned more than 650 clubs
across France, and fans travel from across Europe to enjoy the mix of wild scenery and placid weather that the country
offers. The most popular regions are the Alps, the Pyrenees and Corsica, and there are plenty of paragliding schools in
those regions that will get beginners off the ground in two or three days.
(3) _______
The Cote d’Azure, however, is not in itself natural paragliding country, and we have found ourselves under the flight
path of a growing number of enthusiasts simply because of the jagged ridge of red rock that towers three hundred
metres above sea level behind our house - the best jumping-off spot for miles around.
(4) _______
It’s a forty-five-minute climb from the beach to this ridge-top and although the gliders weigh around 7kg, there are a
harness and helmet and boots and other bits and pieces to carry as well. I calculate that each flight lasts about four
minutes and some of the keenest fans trudge past my gate three or four times a day. I tucked in behind one group to
watch them get ready for the jump.
(5) _______
The reality, of course, is that with proper training and preparation paragliding is a very safe sport; there are accidents,
but most are rarely that serious and usually occur on launching or landing. This group, however, knew their stuff. To
forsake a long run and lift off for a virtual leap into space takes experience and supreme confidence.
(6) _______
I’m not a natural-born daredevil and wouldn’t myself have found that experience thrilling. But I am nevertheless sorely
tempted to have a go - maybe on a gently sloping hillside. ‘You’ll need a medical certificate at your age,’ declared one
of the group, instantly extinguishing the flame of adventure. But then if puppies can paraglide, why shouldn’t an old dog
like me?
A. But this is no place for beginners. There are no gentle, grass-covered slopes to run down — the rocks are
vertical and unyielding and anyone who leaps off them could easily get into difficulties unless they know what they are
doing.
B. For the more courageous, the pleasures of advanced thermalling await, but if you are of a more timid
disposition and want to hold someone’s hand, you can take a tandem course; if you are a dog, the experience must be
like sticking your head out of the car window and letting the wind beat your ears round the back of your head.
C. Not all of these untrained novices reach the beach, however. In recent days, one paraglider has landed on a
neighbours pool terrace, wrecking several terracotta pots and a previously unblemished flight record.
D. Despite such unexpected intrusions on my privacy, I’ve decided that paragliding, with or without the canine
companion, is immensely superior to microlight flying, in which the airborne are propelled by a motor so clamorous and
noisy that any idea of soaring serenely through the heavens is soon lost.
E. The biggest surprise was that they were not all strong, strapping young men, intent upon ticking off another
item on some checklist of ‘dangerous things to do before I die’. Of the six preparing to jump, three were women and
the average age appeared to be somewhere in the mid-thirties.
F. The puppy was paragliding - a tiny, intrepid recruit to the sport that has taken off big time across the country.
The creature was not on its own, thank goodness, but on a machine piloted by a young man who greeted me cheerily
as they swooped beyond the end of the terrace and dived down the hillside.
G. There was one nasty moment when one of the women leapt and, instead of instantly catching the air beneath
her canopy, plunged alarmingly down the face of the cliff; but within seconds she had caught an updraft, was whooping
gleefully and on her way.
XIII. You are going to read an article about photographers. Choose from the photographers (A-E) for each
question. The people may be chosen more than once.
Which photographer...
1. says there's a need to be flexible at a shoot?
2. admits to relying on instinctive decisions during a shoot?
3. consciously adopts a particular type of behaviour during a shoot?
4. criticises the attitude of certain other photographers?
5. feels that aspects of a photographer’s skill cannot be taught?
6. welcomes suggestions for shots from the subjects themselves?
7. is critical of recent developments on photography courses?
8. is keen to introduce new ideas in one branch of photography?
9. likes to keep the photography focussed on social interaction?
10. prefers not to take shots of people in a photographic studio?
11. tends to work to a set routine?
12. prefers not to do research about a subject before doing the shoot?
13. believes in investing in the time needed to get the best shots?
14, 15. feels that the identity of the photographer should be apparent from the shot?
The critical moment
Some of the world's greatest photographers tell us how they get their extraordinary images
A. Mary Elton Mark
I loved photography from the moment I first picked up a camera and knew my life would be devoted to it. I don’t think
you can develop or learn a ‘way of seeing’ or a ‘point of view’. It’s something that’s inside you. It’s how you look at the
world. I want my photographs not only to be real but to portray the essence of my subjects, too. To do that, you have to
be patient - it can’t be rushed. I prefer doing portraiture on location. On a subject’s home ground you pick up certain
hints that tell you personal things and they come up with ideas. During a session with an animal trainer who had a
massive ego, he took the trunk of his beloved elephant Shyama and wrapped it around his neck like a necklace, and of
course that was my picture. I’d never have thought of something that clever.
B. Tina Barney
I don’t know how my brain works, but I do know that I work really fast. My shoots don’t vary: an hour to set up, an hour
to take the shots. And the minute I walk into a room I know what I’m going to shoot, although what that is only becomes
clear to me after seeing the result. So it’s a subconscious process. You couldn’t get those pictures in a million years if
you took your time. I started taking pictures in the 1970s for all the beautiful reasons photography was known for. Then
all of a sudden digital technology booms and darkrooms get annihilated from photography schools. But I really believe
in the classical way. It all comes down to looking at a piece of art and dissecting it and understanding how it’s put
together. I think the most important thing is to go out in the world and see.
C. Rankin
I think if you aren’t fascinated by people, you’ll never succeed as a portrait photographer, because your pictures will
look cold. You don’t have to know anything about the people in advance of the session, you just tap into them - it’s a
skill. Every shoot is different and you have to alter your approach accordingly. You have to try to get into people’s
heads, so that they can open up to you and give you something. Sometimes we chat first, but sometimes it’s good for
everyone to be fresh and tense when you start out. I use the technique of being cheeky and rude or asking my subjects
to do ridiculous things, but I don’t set out to upset anyone. I hope the viewer sees what I see. I think two words that
would describe my work well are: humour and honesty.
D. Mario Sorrenti
I’ve always tried to push the boundaries of fashion photography. After all, why should a fashion photograph only talk
about clothes? Why can’t it talk about something else? I want my pictures to ask questions: I want people to think. You
don’t need to be technically great, because if you have a strong philosophy people will be moved by your pictures
regardless. The most important thing is to figure out what you want to try and say. To make your name as a
photographer, you have to have a unique point of view that the viewer can recognise as yours, otherwise you’ll get lost
in the mix. For me, photography is about exploring - either myself or another place.
E. Sebastiao Salgado
It’s difficult to explain why we’re more attracted to certain images than others. For me, black and white photography
has a certain kind of power.
I’m not talking about conceptual photography but instantaneous photography, the kind that happens in a fraction of a
second. A great picture is one that transmits a lot of emotion and where you can see who took it; who that person is. I
come from a Latin American world, where you believe in things and you form a relationship with your surroundings. I
also grew up with a sense of mysticism and belonging. The cynicism that exists in certain kinds of photography, and
that pleasure of seeing oneself as a deep individualist, that’s not for me. We’re a gregarious species made to live
together. That’s the point of view of my photography and the starting point of all my work.
XIV. Read the text and choose A, B, C or D to answer the questions below it “THIRD WORLD" EXPERTS HELP
LOCAL COMMUNITY FIND ITS FEET
For the first time in the five years since the closure of the notorious Millburgh Munitions Factory, smiles are to be seen
on the faces of residents of the Grange, Millburgh's most rundown inner city district. New businesses are becoming
established and unemployment, which until recently affected a staggering 45% of the working population, is now
approaching the national average of 5%. But the most amazing aspect of this remarkable recovery is, according to
some analysts, the fact that the initial boost for it came from the community development expertise of a village in what
many readers will have been brought up to know as the Third World.
In the dark days when unemployment and poverty characterised the Grange, one thing that Sddrt became abundantly
clear was that the amount of government support for such a badly-hit community was woefully inadequate. Yet,
surprisingly to some, the ideas that set Betty Bridges, one of the founding members of the Grange Revitalisation
Initiative, on the path to success came from Winnie, a pen-friend she has who was born and bred in a rural community
in Africa. "Winnie's ideas seemed rather alien to the ideas I'd been brought up with, but I was aware of how successful
they'd proved to be in her own community, and it didn't take much to convince me that they were worth trying,’
explained Ms Bridges.
Following Winnie's advice, Ms Bridges was able to convince many of her friends and neighbours to pool most of their
pitifully modest redundancy payments to set up a women's credit union. With their pooled resources, the women had
enough capital in their credit union to afford them some bargaining power. Each member was issued with a not-forprofit
credit card, with which they are entitled to obtain small amounts of credit at a low interest rate.
Initially, the main benefits of the scheme were the low interest and the fact that the loans were collateral-free. Soon,
however, the credit union had persuaded most local shops to accept the credit card and also managed to negotiate
substantial discounts on bulk purchases. Thus, by coordinating their shopping requirements, the women were able to
obtain the best quality for much lower prices than they would have obtained as individuals. This strategy not only
enabled them to make some savings, but reduced their anxiety while boosting their self-esteem. 'In fact," commented
Ms Bridges, I hadn't planned to set up a women's union, but on the one hand I didn't have many male acquaintances
and, on the other, the men we spoke to were too sceptical of the idea to give it a go."
While the credit union members were making ends meet more successfully than other residents of the Grange, they
could not remain oblivious to the straitened circumstances of their more disadvantaged neighbours. Accordingly, with
their credit union experience and by further recourse to the community development expertise available. In some parts
of the 'developing world', Ms Bridges and like-minded acquaintances set up the Grange Revitalisation Initiative.
According to Ms Bridges, 'similar Initiatives had already proven their worth in other communities and, indeed, by the
time I contacted Winnie about the success of the credit union, her own community had set up the same sort of
initiative."
Founded with the aim of embracing a wider section of the community and injecting a spirit of optimism and activity into
the Grange, the Initiative united a great many residents with the goal of determining their own future. Drawing on the
expertise of communities in Africa and Asia, the Initiative not only enabled people to pool their meagre savings, but
also permitted the most hard up to contribute their skills and labour.
Using the interest on the money of those who had contributed their savings, and more of the skills and energy of those
who had no savings, the Initiative quickly began to make a difference. Flats and homes were properly insulated,
making them warmer and drier while reducing heating bills. Starting with the homes of the elderly, solar heating is
being installed. Co-operative businesses have been established and, despite the cynicism of observers from the
business community at large, they are confounding critics by their disciplined success. Not only do the employees have
a say in these enterprises, but the wider community has a stake in them too. However, the most impressive headway
has been made in the field of vocational training provided and supported by the Initiative, whose aim is to make every
resident both employable and employed.
Judging by its activities to date, the Initiative epitomises well-thought-out democratic decision-making and has already
resulted in many new jobs as well as a marked improvement in local amenities and facilities. Perhaps the most vital
element, even if it is not amenable to scientific measurement, is the community's new-found confidence in itself. The
people of the Grange now have a vision of their future: they know where they are going and have plans for how they
will get there.

1. What does the writer imply about the expression "Third World"?
A. It is synonymous with unemployment. B. It is synonymous with recovery.
C. It is an insulting term. D. It is a term that is no longer appropriate.
2. We learn in the second paragraph that Betty Bridges
A. got help from a friend who had moved to a rural community in Africa.
B. wrote to an African friend to ask for help.
C. was initially uneasy about taking advantage of her friend.
D. was unacquainted with the type of proposal her friend had made.
3. What appears to have been the main strength of the credit union?
A. It provided a good source of easy credit. B. It enabled members to negotiate better deals.
C. It was a not-for-profit arrangement. D. It was run by women for women.
4. What point does Ms Bridges make about men with regard to the credit union? A.
Their lack of faith prevented them from taking advantage of it.
B. They felt that they had been left out.
C. They thought hard about joining.
D. They were dissuaded by the fact that the idea originated in the developing world. 5. The founding of the Grange
Revitalisation Initiative was prompted by A. the jealousy of residents who weren't in the credit union.
B. the success that a similar initiative had enjoyed in Winnie's community.
C. the continuing plight of residents of the area.
D. the credit union's inability to succeed without guidance from overseas.
6. The writer regards the activities of the Initiative as being
A. somewhat exploitative of those who had no savings. B. instrumental in creating employment.
C. rather confounded by a lack of business experience. D. too disciplinarian despite their obvious success.
7. What point is the writer making when referring to scientific measurement? A.
There is little proof that the Initiative has achieved much.
B. The Initiative's main success is not easy to quantify.
C. There is no scientific basis for confidence in the Initiative.
D. Despite their success, the people behind the Initiative have not acted very logically. XV. Fill in each blank with a
correct preposition or particle
1. I don’t think his statement bears ______ this case.
2. You can’t change your mind now. It’s too late to back ______ ______ the deal.
3. The plant manager answers directly ______ the head of the company.
4. I was prepared to back ______ her story because I knew it was the truth.
5. The baby has been acting ______ all day. I think she must be teething.
6. The murderer will answer ______ his crimes in the highest court in the land.
7. Faced with such formidable opposition to his plans, he had no choice but to back ______.
8. The teacher accused him of answering her ______ when he attempted to explain what he had been doing.
9. If you can bear ______ me a little longer, I’ll tell you the rest of the story.
10. After a violent attack in the press on their welfare policies, the Conservatives answered ______ with a statement of
their reforms since taking office.
11. Susan gets all the perks because she’s ______ ______ the administration.
12. She feels it is ______ her to socialise with uneducated people.
13. As an ex-smoker, Paul is ______ ______ people who smoke.
14. He’ll be ______ ______it when his parents discover he took the money.
15. Half the staff are ______ ______ the flu this week.
16. She doesn’t eat crisps or chocolate; she’s ______ health foods.
17. Our dog has been ______ its food for days now.
18. Do you know what’s ______ at the cinema tonight?
19. I don’t know what he’s been ______ _____ but he looks very embarassed.
20. The roses have been ______ for a few days now.
21. The cinema which was adjacent ______ the bank was damaged when a bomb exploded in the bank.
22. What you’re saying amounts ______ blackmail.
23. Mr Parker was arrested ______ driving while under the influence of alcohol.
24. She finds it difficult adjusting ______ the climate.
25. Your calculations do not accord ______ mine.
26. She was very appreciative ______ all the support she got from her friends.
27. I was totally abashed ______ his rude manner.
28. His abstinence ______ alcohol lasted only two months.
29. I have an aversion ______ spiders.
30. The child showed no animosity ______ her new stepbrother.
31. The recommendations are based ______ a recent report by the Home Office.
32. My little sister still believes ______ Father Christmas.
33. Beware ______ strong currents when swimming in this area.
34. I bumped ______ an old school friend in town last week.
35. The tourists bartered ______ their souvenirs at the local market.
36. The children arrived at the fair and made a beeline ______ the ghost train.
37. There’s a ban ______ using hose-pipes because of the drought.
38. The cat basked ______ the warm sunshine.
39. He continually boasts ______ his fantastic job.
40. The man begged his wife ______ forgiveness.
XVI. Fill in each blank with a suitable preposition or particle
1. The children were late and had to make a dash 1. We sold our house _____ a profit; we made
_____ the school bus. £2,000.
2. We’ll have to economise _____ heating or we 2. She’s working as a waitress _____ the time being,
won’t be able to pay the bill. but her ambition is to become an actress.
3. I dream _____ becoming a millionaire and buying 3. I’ve met Elizabeth Taylor _____ the flesh. I even
a big yacht. shook her hand.
4. The student was eligible _____ a full grant from 4. She’s been _____ a diet for weeks, but she hasn’t
the authority. lost much weight.
5. The employee showed total disregard _____ the 5. We have a car _____ loan until ours has been
company rules and was dismissed. repaired.
6. The man was distracted _____ a commotion and 6. Strictly _____ the record, his work is below
didn’t notice the pick-pocket taking his wallet. standard.
7. John was so engrossed _____ the film that he 7. The workers have been _____ strike for three
burnt the dinner. weeks.
8. We were totally entranced _____ the prima 8. That performance was really _____ _____ the
ballerina’s dancing. ordinary. 9. We were shocked when she called him an
9. The doctor told me I was deficient _____ iron and idiot _____ his face.
would have to take supplements. 10. He was _____ pain after the operation.
10. My brother eloped _____ his girlfriend because 11. _____ times he wishes he had never become a
her parents had forbidden them to marry. doctor.
11. The woman exulted _____ her son’s success as a 12. _____ all accounts, he is the best basketball
writer. player in the Association.
13. He put the car _____ gear and drove off.
XVII. Fill in each blank with one of the idioms all but ● all in ● all told ● for all ● of all people ● all along ● all the
same ● all in all ● for all I know ● for all I care
1. I’ve ____________ finished; just give me a few minutes.
2. He’s promised to come to the party on Friday; _______________ I don’t believe him.
3. _______________ his hard work he didn’t get a promotion.
4. I don’t know how they found out, but they’ve known about it _______________.
5. I’ve been reading the newspapers and _______________ I think the government will win the election.
6. She told me her name was Joan but _______________ she could be lying.
7. I don’t think I’ll go out tonight. I’m _______________.
8. I never expected you, _______________ to say such a thing!
9. Of course you can’t live with us! _______________ you can live in the street!
10. _______________ there were 50 people at the party, but not everyone stayed the whole evening.

to take sth into account ● on account of ● on no account ● on this/that account ● on the air ● in the air ● to clear the air
● to be up in arms ● on the alert
1. Instead of bottling up your feelings, let’s have a good talk and __________________.
2. There’s talk __________________ of a possible stock-market crash.
3. The villagers are __________________ about the proposed motorway.
4. I haven’t been able to travel much lately __________________ my car having broken down.
5. His future is still up __________________; he can’t decide whether to become a surgeon or a psychiatrist.
6. You must __________________ his educational back ground when deciding what work to give him.
7. The meeting tomorrow is very important; __________________ must you be late.
8. There’s been a storm in Manila, so __________________ we won’t be going there on holiday.
9. You can’t go into the studio just yet as the programme is still __________________
10. The police are always __________________ for terrorists, particularly at airports. XVIII. Fill in each blank
with one of the idioms
show one’s true colours ● lost cause ● chair a meeting ● off colour ● have the cheek ● get a bit hot under the collar ●
keep one’s chin up ● with flying colours ● get a problem off one’s chest● different as chalk and cheese ● call sb
names ● a close shave ● play one’s cards right
1. Trying to make them understand is a _____________________. They are so conservative.
2. Laura passed her exam _____________________. She came top of the class.
3. He __________________________ when he started making rude jokes about women.
4. I don’t know how he _____________________ to moan about my spelling when his is even worse.
5. You look _____________________. Would you like me to call a doctor for you?
6. John managed to _____________________ despite his illness.
7. If you _____________________ and speak nicely to your father, he might take you to the fair this afternoon.
8. Bert and Tom are as different as _____________________. It’s hard to believe that they are brothers!
9. Those boys are very rude to me. They are always _____________________.
10. The two cars just avoided having a head-on collision. It was a very _____________________.
11. Instead of just sitting there feeling bad, why not talk about it and _____________________.?
12. She ___________________________ when a colleague started criticising her work.
13. Paul was asked to _____________________ as the director was away on business.

a wild-goose chase ● be caught red-handed ● crocodile tears ● a piece of cake ● down the drain ● down in the dumps
● on the dole ● go to the dogs ● a red-letter day ● let sleeping dogs lie
1. Fred thought the test was a piece of cake; he has no doubt that he has passed it.
2. Kate is feeling _____________________________ because her boyfriend has left her.
3. 12 June is a _______________________ for my sister. It’s the day she launched her own business.
4. Looking for Susan in New York is simply ___________________________. She could be anywhere.
5. You can’t fool me with your _______________________; I know you’re not really upset.
6. Please don’t bring up that old argument with Joe when you see him. Just _______________________.
7. While some people claim the country is _______________________, others think the new government will be able
to improve matters.
8. The thief _______________________ as he was leaving the bank with the money.
9. All the money I’d invested went _______________________ when the company failed.
10. I have plenty of spare time but very little money because I am _______________________. XIX. Rewrite the
following sentences using provided words
1. Once the loan is promised, we ensure the investors don’t go back on it. hold
Our role is ________________________________________________ they have promised.
2. Being bilingual means you can express yourself equally well in both the languages you speak. message
People who are bilingual can _________________________________________ in both the languages they speak.
3. The moment Carla enters a room, everybody notices her. presence
Carla makes _________________________________________ as she enters a room.
4. All the construction work stopped because the company's economic situation changed. brought
A change in the company's economic situation _________________________________________ halt.
5. The police are investigating the disappearance of a five-year-old boy. missing
The case of the five-year-old boy _________________________________________ is still being investigated. 6.
Sara hadn't expected her fiancé to propose so soon. took
The sudden _________________________________________ surprise.
7. Who did you think was the most suitable candidate for the job? cut
Which candidate _________________________________________ in your opinion?
8. The general public are not allowed to enter the study. bounds
The study _________________________________________ the general public.
9. It wasn't his fault that he delivered the wrong parcel. own
Through _________________________________________, he delivered the wrong parcel.
10. It's unfortunate that we came all the way to the museum to find it closed. going
Had _________________________________________ closed, we wouldn't have come all the way to the museum.
11. He ought to have had the house painted before trying to sell it. better
It _________________________________________ had the house painted before trying to sell it.
12. They are rumoured to be about to sell their company. verge
Rumour has _________________________________________ selling their company.
13. Much as I like his Scottish accent, I find it impossible to understand what he says. single I like his Scottish accent
_________________________________________ he says.
14. When you work with other people, you have to tolerate their idiosyncrasies. put
When you work with other people, you have no choice _________________________________ their idiosyncrasies.

1. Developed countries PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN TACKLING GLOBAL ISSUES

- Manpower: WELL-QUALIFIED + Financial power:
=> investments in research, experiments, developments and distributions of solutions to global issues
Eg: USA, RUSSIA: research => developed vaccines, medicines for COVID -19, with their capability, provided
vaccines for undeveloped countries in Africa or Asia to deal with the uprising spread of the pandemic.
=> With the kindness of such countries like America, global problems will soon be diminished or even disappeared
once and for all
- Investments in infrastructures, facilities necessary for developing alternative energy
- Developing countries should be pioneers in addressing global problems/ paying more attention to them because
they WERE also the main cause of global problems/ do great damage to the world.
E.g. global warming: Industrialisation in those countries LED to the mass production and release of carbon
emissions & greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, masses of pollution, which are the factors put down to global
warming more than that in developing countries.

2. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PLAY AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT ROLE

- Some problems need the collaboration between both developed and developing countries
Eg: During Covid, vaccinated or not will mean no difference if local people do not conform to regulations that
minimize the transmission of the virus
Eg: In order for global warming to be tackled completely, every nation has to join hand. If some nations keep on
polluting the environment, all the efforts of developed countries would go to waste.
- Developing countries are going through the same stages of industrialisation => take actions => reduce effects in
the future (learn from developed countries)