I.Read the text.
(1) I often think about the decreasing importance of the printed word, over the past decades, in favour of visual and hyper-concise forms of media, from TV to TikTok. Televised debates require fast reaction times, whereas scientists are used to studying issues at length and only talking about them after thinking. In addition, a successful visual performance is not just about being correct but evoking sympathy in the viewer – about performing. This doesn’t always come easy to scientists.
(2) We are entering a period of pessimism about the future that has its origin in crises of various kinds. Faith in progress – in the magnificent and progressive fortunes of humans – has been eroded. Many fear that future generations will be worse off than the present ones. And just as science used to get the credit for progress, so now it receives the blame for decline.
(3) In a nutshell, scientists are thought to be part of the elite and, therefore, not trustworthy. And the increasing interest by a fraction of scientists in patenting knowledge and making individual financial gains from discoveries reinforces this identification with the elite. But expanded links between science and industry or episodes of scientific fraud do not alter a fundamental reality: science makes fair predictions that become reliable after the gradual formation of a scientific consensus.
(4) But how to restore and promote trust in scientists? A part of the human and financial resources devoted to the advancement of science must be used to discuss with citizens, through education and media and outreach programmes, what science really is: the most reliable and honest tool for understanding the world and predicting the future.
(5) It is also important that we scientists talk about not just our successes, but our mistakes. Often there is no trace, in the public scientific discourse, of the toil of the scientific process and the doubts that accompany it. If scientists are seen as part of the elite, perhaps the first step to restoring trust is to show we are just as human as those who distrust us.
1) Mark the correct answer
1. The main idea of the text is…
2. What does the sentence “This doesn’t always come easy to scientists” in paragraph (1) mean?
3. The last sentence in paragraph (2) reads: “And just as science used to get the credit for progress, so now it receives the blame for decline”. What does “used to get the credit for progress” mean here?
4. What’s the idea of “hyper-concise” in paragraph (1)?
5. According to the author…
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2) Mark the following statements as TRUE or FALSE.
6. According to the text, the author of the text is a scientist.
7. The author proves that people will dispose of money and property in future.
8. Paragraph (3) ends with a conclusion that scientists are not really good at predictions and do their work unreasonably slowly.
9. According to the author, it is through a two-way conversation with members of the public that public trust in science can be regained.
10. The author claims that scientists should disclose the hardships of their work to look like normal people.
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II. For questions 11 – 25, read the text below and decide which answer a), b), c) or d) best fits each space.
The National Trust was founded in 1895 to
(11) .
and protect the countryside; later it started taking responsibility for some of the fine
(12)
houses and other buildings which are
(13)
over our land but which their owners could no longer afford to keep up. Through the National Trust this
(14)
countryside is open to all. Most of the houses are large country houses and
(15)
homes that contain collections of pictures, furniture, books, metalwork, ceramics and textiles.
This enthusiasm for
(16)
beautiful buildings and landscaped parks is not just the enthusiasm of a small elite. By the time of its
(17)
in 1995, membership of the Trust reached two million people. Currently about three and a half million people are members of the National Trust, which makes it the largest non-commercial membership organization
(18) .
The Trust is one of the largest landowners in the UK.
Its
(19)
include more than 500 houses, castles, archaeological and industrial monuments, gardens, parks, and nature
(20) .
The Trust has an annual income of £680 million, largely from membership
(21) ,
donations and legacies. The Trust also receives grants from various funds and the
(22)
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The first country house to be acquired by the Trust, the Elizabethan manor house Barrington Court in Somerset, was bought in 1907 and came in a
(23)
state and devoid of contents. The Trust acquired the majority of its country houses in the mid 20th century, when death
(24)
were at their highest and many country houses were being
(25) .
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III. Choose the correct word/words to complete the sentence:
26. Alice _______________ to the theatre society since she moved to the city with her parents.
27. (station announcement) The next train to Manchester _____________ from platform 2 at 9:15.
28. – I have an appointment with Dr. House this afternoon.
– That _____________ be right. He is on holiday this week.
29. When I asked what was wrong in my test, ____________.
I was explained the ruleshe explained me the rulethe rule was explained to meI was explained to the rule
30. Her parents wouldn’t _______________ alone.
31. The mayor _______________ postponed a decision on the new hospital, and many members of the Republican party _______________ criticized the delay.
32. I’m at work now, but I’ll call you back in _______________.
one quarter of an houra quarter of an houra quarter of one houra quarter of hour
33. ______________ the furniture for my new flat ______________ been delivered yet.
34. If he ______________ a car, he ______________ to Sochi rather than go by train.
would have … would drivehad … had drivenhad … would drivewould have had … would drive
35. Read your essay one more time before you ______________ it in.
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IV. Read the sentences with underlined words and phrases and find the wrong word or phrase (a, b, c or d) which needs correction.
36. Readers who prefer
37. It is often difficult to
38. The
39. The mother travelled to
40. On the other hand, the risk
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V. Mark the correct pronunciation of the word:
41. luxurious
lʌɡˈʒʊəriəsˈlʌkʃərəs
42. antique
ˈæntɪkænˈtiːk
43. canal
kəˈnælˈkænəl
44. exuberant
eɡzəˈberəntɪɡˈzjuːbərənt
45. chateau
ˈʃætəʊˈ tʃa:təʊ
46. minutely
maɪˈnjuːtliˈmɪnɪtli
47. the Thames
ðəˈtemzðəˈθæmz
48. skier
ˈskaɪə(r)ˈskiːə(r)
49. heiress
ˈeərəsˈheərɪs
50. ballet
ˈbælətˈbæleɪ
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