2 species

3 resources

4???

5???

6???

7???

8???

9???

2.species

3.deforestation

4

5.consequence

6.However

9.rainforest

The Amazon is a vast biome that contains the largest remaining tropical rainforest in the world, home to at least 10% of the known species on Earth, some of which are endemic to the area. In the decade between 1999 and 2009 alone, 1200 (2) new species of plants and animals were identified. This variety of flora and fauna depend on the (3) ecosystems that exist amongst the forests of the Amazon and they are under threat just as all the forests around the planet.

The threat comes, in essence, from globalisation and its resulting effect on the exploitation of resources. In the Amazon, these resources are proving vital in the establishment of the region in the (4) global market, but at what cost? In a word, that cost is deforestation, which is very bad news. The Amazon contains between 90 and 140 billion metric tons of carbon. The exploitation of the area over the last 50 years has already led to a loss of at least 17% of the forest. Now as most of you know, we have a severe problem at the moment with CO₂ levels causing climate change and the release of even a small fraction of the carbon in the Amazon through deforestation could have devastating (5) consequences planetwide. Added to that is the loss of photosynthesis, or the conversion of existing CO₂ into oxygen, that would have been carried out by these trees.

The reasons behind current levels of deforestation are wideranging. A number of government initiatives in the region have been promoting (6) rapid development, which has led to hasty action whereby vast areas of forest have been cleared for building material and to create land for pasture or crops. These actions have been carried out in order to facilitate foreign investment in the area. However, there is a lack of sustainable development and resource protection which is a direct result of an absence of proper frameworks which need to be in place to implement such procedures. Coupled with an inability of regional institutions to impose existing regulations to protect the area, the results have been quite destructive. There is also a high level of poverty experienced by the peoples who inhabit the Amazon which has only exacerbated the issue.

The (7) financial rewards of raising cattle on the land, due to the international demand for their products, has led to many locals increasing their farmland at the expense of the forest. People have to make ends meet, which is understandable, but it must be done in a sustainable manner. In addition to the expanding farmland, new infrastructure such as roads, buildings and irrigation measures have left their mark and operations to extract (8) minerals and other resources from the land have contributed to the situation we find ourselves in today.

The effects cannot be overstated. Already we have seen a loss of biodiversity and some species are threatened with extinction. Habitats have been eroded and a number of species are in terminal decline. The loss of (9) forest cover has also had a negative impact on the water cycle of the region. Vapour from the rainforest spreads over a great distance and is relied upon by agriculture in other parts of the surrounding area. The loss of this rainforest vapour could result in drought and have major environmental ramifications. The knock-on effect of all this is that the people of the Amazon are suffering due to a reduction in natural resources. Approximately 350 different ethnic groups call the area their home and they are struggling to cope with the damage that is being done.

So, what can we do about all this? Well, firstly ...

The museum was quite (5.desert)……and very peaceful. We sat down in the main hall and listened to the rain (6. beat)…….against the windows.

Suddenly, there was a great (7. disturb)……..at the (8. enter)……… a large party of schoolboys were (9. lead) ………in by a teacher. The poor man was trying to keep them quiet and threatening to punish them, but they did not pay the (10.slight)……. attention.

A new term is rapidly gaining recognition in the American language - a 'leaf peeper' is someone who, in autumn, is on the __ (1. LOOK) for areas where the leaves of deciduous trees have changed colour. In New England, in the USA, 'leaf peeping' is big business, generating millions of dollars annually. The first report that leaves are changing colour sets off an _ _ (2. INVADE) of 'peepers' thus causing serious obstruction on some roads. Thousands of  people log on to websites in their _ (3. EAGER) to find the location of the trees that have foliage in the most _ _ (4. GLORY)colours. The popularity of 'leaf tourism' is well established in New England, and the changing colours of autumn provide an annual _ _ (5. TALK) point. The colours vary from year to year since the _ (6. INTENSE) of the colour is ____(7. DEPEND) on the chemical composition of the dying leaves. After a long dry summer, leaves often turn bright red, while cloudy autumn days will produce less spectacular yellows. If climate change leads to _ _ (8. INCREASE) hot, dry summers in the northern hemisphere, then countries in Europe can expect summers not _ _ (9. LIKE) those across the Atlantic. They will then enjoy a kaleidoscope of _ __ (10. SEASON)colour to rival the deep reds and blazing oranges seen in New England.

1. Thunderstorm

2. Raincoat

3. Shopping

4. Pleasure

5. Deserted

6. Beating

7. Disturbance

8. Entrance

9. Led

10. Slightest

SIMPLE)_______ , meditation offers powerful help in the battle against stress. Hundreds of studies have

shown that meditation, when undertaken in a principled way, can (3. REDUCTION)__________ hypertension

which is related to stress in the body. Research has proved that certain types of meditation can (4.
SUBSTANCE)_______ decrease key stress symptoms such as (5. ANXIOUS)___________ and irritability.In

fact, those who practise meditation with any (6. REGULAR)_________ see their doctors less and spend, on

average, seventy per cent fewer days in hospital. They are said to have more stamina, a happier (7.
DISPOSE)______ and even enjoy better relationships.

When you learn to meditate, your teacher will give you a personal 'mantra' or word which you use every
time you practise the technique and which is (8. SUPPOSE)_________ chosen according to your needs. Initial

classes are taught (9. INDIVIDUAL)_______ but subsequent classes usually consist of a group of students

and take place over a period of about four days. The aim is to learn how to slip into a deeper state of
(10.CONSCIOUS)______ for twenty minutes a day. The rewards speak for themselves.

age. He was born March 4, 1678, in Venice, and was trained by his father, a violinist at Sa Mark’s
Cathedral. (2)___ (ORDAIN) a priest in 1703, Vivaldi began teaching that year at the Ospedaledella

Pietà, a (3)______ (CONSERVE) for orphaned girls. He was associated with the Pietà, usually as music

(4)_____ (DIRECT), until 1740, training the students, composing concertos and oratorios for (5)_______

(WEEK) concerts, and meanwhile establishing an international reputation. From 1713 on, Vivaldi was
also (6)____ (ACT) as an opera composer and producer in Venice and traveled to Rome, Mantua, and

(7)_____ (ELSE) to oversee performances of his operas. In about 1740 he accepted a position at the

court of Empire Charles VI in Vienna. He died in Vienna on July 28, 1741.

jVivaldi’s concertos provided a model for this genre throughout Europe, affecting the style even of
his older contemporaries. Vivaldi was the first composer who (8) _________  (CONSISTENT) used the

ritornello form that became standard for the fast movements of concertos. The ritornello was a section
that recurred in (9)_______ (DIFFER) keys and was played by the full orchestra. It alternated with

soloist-dominated sections (episodes) that in his works were often virtuosic in character. He virtually
established the three-movement format for the concerto and was among the first to introduce cadenzas
for soloists. His opus 8 concertos entitled The Four Seasonsare early examples of (10) _______________

(ORCHESTRA) program music. Like much of his music, they are marked by vigorous rhythms and
strong contrasts.

1, thunderstorm

2, raincoat

3, shopping

4, pleasure

5, deserted

6, beating

7, disturbance

8, entrance

9, led

10,slightest

1, thunderstorm

2, raincoat

3, shopping

4, pleasure

5, deserted

6, beating

7, disturbance

8, entrance

9, led

10, slightest

2, cultural

3, locally

4, vandalism

5, unpaid

6, opposing

7, handle

8, thieves

9, neighborhood

10, punishment

2. Leaves

3. Weather

4. Soap

6. Size

7. Scissors

   Part 2

   1. G

   2. C

   3. F

   4. H

   5. E

      Part 3

      1. D

      2. D

      3. B

      4. C

      5. A

      6. C