READING

Task 1

Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (1—5). There are three choices you
do not need to use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

NATURAL PET MEDICINE

Natural pet medicine is also called holistic veterinary care or alternative pet
medicine. No matter what you call it, more and more pet owners are looking into it
as an alternative to synthetic medications with harsh side effects. Natural pet
medicine is not a substitute for conventional veterinary care, but can work under
your vet’s supervision.

There are many schools of alternative medicine lumped under the term of being
«natural». With pets, the most effective schools include chiropractic treatments,
acupressure, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, herbalism, nutritional
therapy, massage and homeopathy. Other natural pet medicine that only
occasionally works with dogs is aromatherapy, because the dogs’ sensitive nose is
often so overwhelmed by the smell of essential oils that it may get them sick or
stressed. Crystal therapy, colour therapy or urine therapy should not be used on
pets.

Conventional medicine should always be tried first, especially with sudden

injuries, pregnancy problems or tumours. Natural pet medicine and therapies are
best reserved for pets with chronic problems that can’t be quickly fixed, such as
behavioural problems, skin allergies, food allergies, arthritis or asthma.

Just because a label says it is natural does not mean that it is completely safe for
your pet. Many herbs or homeopathic remedies are powerful medications with side
effects and interactions with other medicines that you need to be aware of. Also,
there isn’t any government regulation over many herbs or homeopathic remedies,
so you may not be assured of getting a consistent quality of natural pet medicines.
It is always best to talk to your vet first before giving any natural pet medicines.

Natural pet medicines or therapies can be expensive and usually are not covered
under pet health insurance. These are not quick fixes, but often need to be given
throughout the life of the pet. Your pet may need to go to several acupuncture
treatments, for example, in order to get relief from arthritis. Treatment is often
quite complicated, taking into consideration the entire life history of the pet instead
of just focusing on relieving painful signs.

Because of the demand for alternative medicines and therapies, there are more
holistic veterinarians, chiropractors, herbalists and acupuncturists than ever before.
Ask your vet for a recommendation of a professional alternative veterinary
practitioner in your area and if such alternative therapies would really have a
chance of working for your pet’s particular condition. You can also check out the
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society websites to find someone locally to
help you.

(By Rena Sherwood)

A Considerations

B Medical Information

C Types of Pets Treatment

D Finding Professional Help

E Pet Insurance

F Possible Ways to Treat Pets

G Misconceptions

H Prescription Dog Foods

Task 2

Read the text below. For questions (6—10) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or
D). Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

GREEN IGUANAS

While Hollywood likes to show iguanas crawling alongside dusty Mexican roads,
in the wild, green iguanas are typically found in the rain forest, spending most of
their time up in the forest canopy. Being tree dwellers, it’s obvious that they are
excellent climbers, but less known is the fact that iguanas are also excellent
swimmers.

Iguanas are a large family of lizards with over 700 species found through much of
the temperate and tropical regions of America. The iguanas showing up in pet
stores are typically the common green iguana and likely have been imported from
tropical iguana farms.

As we know, all reptiles are «cold-blooded» which means their activity increases
or decreases with their body temperature. Iguanas are accustomed to sleeping
during the somewhat cool nights of the tropics and coming out to warm up in the
morning sun. They then head out to look for plants to eat — and to keep a watchful
eye on territorial rivals. Next they bask in the afternoon sun, as their bodies need to
be warmed to at least 35ºC for proper digestion.

While most reptiles and amphibians have diets consisting of insects and other
small creatures, iguanas are vegetarians, eating leaves, flowers and some soft
fruits. They should not be fed anything containing animal protein, which can be
hard on their delicate digestive system. They typically get their water from the
vegetation they consume but will take an occasional drink.
Now, let’s talk about iguanas as pets. Iguanas, if raised in a healthy, friendly
environment, can become eventually quite tame, even enjoying an occasional back
or head rub. While they are not dogs (or parrots), iguanas are social animals and do
develop a (lizardly) bond with their human owners. Be warned though: they have a
mouth full of sharp teeth that can easily slice open your skin if they decide you’re
deserving of a bite. An iguana’s strong serrated tail can also lash out and cause
some damage if it catches a handler in the face.

(By Naomi J)

6 How do green iguanas enjoy spending their time?

A In the trees.

B In the holes.

C Crawling along the roads.

D In nests.

7 Iguanas protect their territories from

A people.

B other reptiles.

C enemies.

D their owners.

8 They are fond of lying in the sun in order to

A relax.

B be warm.

C be able to digest food.

D get tanned.

9 The iguana’s diet doesn’t include

A ants and bugs.

B leaves and plants.

C flowers and fruits.

D vegetarian food.

10 Iguanas as pets are

A always friendly.

B never devoted to their owners.

C sometimes dangerous.

D never tamed.

Task 3

Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (11—16). There are two choices
you do not need to use. Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

SCARY BUILDINGS

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you have to agree: some buildings possess
an eerie atmosphere. Maybe their history is filled with death and tragedy. Or,
maybe these buildings just look creepy. The buildings listed here are among the
world’s spookiest. Did we leave one out? Tell us about the spookiest building
you’ve seen.

11 Graceland Mansion in Tennessee

Ever since the sudden death of Elvis Presley, Elvis sightings have been reported all
over the world. Some people say Elvis didn’t really die. Others claim they’ve seen
his ghost. Either way, the best place to catch a glimpse is Graceland Mansion near
Memphis, Tennessee. The Colonial Revival house was Elvis Presley’s home from
1957 until he died in 1977, and his body lies in the family plot there. Elvis was
originally buried in a different cemetery, but was moved to Graceland after
someone tried to steal his corpse.

12 Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow, Russia

Stark and inhuman, Russian constructivist architecture can seem scary enough. But
go inside this red granite mausoleum and you get to see the corpse of Lenin. He
looks a little waxy inside his glass case, but our Guide to Eastern Europe Travel
says that Lenin’s hands are faintly blue and horribly life-like.

13 Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Just about any medieval Gothic cathedral can seem spooky, but a lavish cathedral
like Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris can truly make you tremble. It’s supposed to,
with all those snarling gargoyles perched on rooftops and ledges.

14 Breakers Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island

The big Gilded Age mansions in Newport, Rhode Island are popular tourist
destinations, and ghost stories have become a part of the promotional hype. Of all
the Newport mansions, the brooding Breakers Mansion has the most compelling
tale. Believers claim that the ghost of its former owner Cornelius Vanderbilt
wanders the lavish rooms. Or, maybe it’s the spirit of architect Richard Morris
Hunt, who was born on Halloween.

15 Archbishop’s Palace in Hradcany, Prague

The castle that appears so foreboding in the Tom Cruise film, Mission Impossible,
has towered over the river Vltava for a thousand years. It’s a part of the Hradcany
royal complex where Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo
facades create startling juxtapositions. Moreover, the Archbishop’s Palace is in
Prague, home to Franz Kafka, the famous author of surreal, disturbing stories.

16 The Riddle House in Palm Beach County, Florida

It was originally a funeral parlour. The Victorian house was dismantled and rebuilt
in Yesteryear Village at the South Florida fair grounds. In the 1920’s the house
became privately owned by Karl Riddle. Joseph, one of Riddle’s former
employees, committed suicide by hanging himself in the attic of the house. Joseph,
for whatever reason, hated men, and his ghost displays this hatred by attacking
those who enter the attic. One man had a lid thrown at his head, and men are now
no longer allowed in the attic. Other places in the house are haunted as well, with
furniture being frequently moved.

(By Jackie Craven)

This building you should leave out if

A you are afraid of suicide victims’ ghosts.

B you disliked the figures of beasts on its roof.

C you are afraid of dead bodies.

D Vincent Price held his creepy dinner party there.

E the rock’n’roll idol’s spirit visited you.

F the spook of its owner haunted you.

G the people of the famous film gathered there.

H you detested the mix of architectural styles.

Task 4

Read the text below. Choose from (A—H) the one which best fits each space (17—
22). There are two choices you do not need to use. Write your answers on the
separate answer sheet.

SO WHAT CAN YOUR MANAGERS DO TO GET READY FOR

GENERATION «Y» EMPLOYEES?

Generation Y (why) employees want to be heard and valued (17) when they start
with your company. They place a high value on family and flexibility and will
volunteer their time to causes they feel are important. They are fearless and not
intimidated by titles or corporate organizational charts.

They love variety and are (18) . If they think they have a good suggestion they will

take ownership of the idea. And, they will not be afraid to take the idea up the
corporate ladder (19) .

Successful companies must find ways to harness the new employee’s talents,
integrate them into the company and turn ideas (20) . Progressive companies
understand that learning is a two-way street. Generation Y employees will
revolutionize internal and external communications.

Companies have a lot to teach the Gen Y’s, but they have a lot to learn from them
also. That will be difficult in rigid, highly structured companies.

Successful companies today must develop a culture of learning, sharing and

embracing change. They will employ two-way mentoring, blogging, new training
platforms, and new ways of (21) .

Training Generation Y employees will change. Boring, all-day seminars will

become less frequent.

Generation Y employees will text-message their friends during those seminars.

They need the information in the seminar, but companies will have the training
available in different platforms and in smaller «bite-sized» portions. These training
modules will be downloadable to an employees’ Blackberry, iPod or computer.
The employee will view the sessions at home, or on a plane or listen to them in
(22) .

A proportional to age and rank

B not afraid of change

C the hallmark of successful companies

D into a competitive advantage

E hiring and promoting people

F to be heard

G the car driving to an appointment

H by their company

USE OF ENGLISH

Task 5

Read the text below. For questions (23—32) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or
D). Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Madeira is a gorgeous island situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of
Portugal and Africa. It is a perfect vacation destination, with mountains, a
wonderful climate, and beautiful views.

Madeira is located in the eastern Atlantic Ocean southwest of Portugal and off the
coast of Africa. The island is (23) beautiful with spectacular views and something
for everyone.

About the only things lacking on Madeira are land and sandy beaches. The
Madeirans use terraces and bridges to (24) the flat land and (25) a short trip to the
neighbouring island of Porto Santo to sit on sandy beaches.

Portugal has controlled Madeira for over 500 years, and many British citizens (as
well as other nationalities) have (26) there for the past 200 years. The island is a
very popular European tourist destination, and cruise ships (27) port in the capital
of Funchal on repositioning cruises between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean,
or on cruises from the Mediterranean to northern Europe. About 90,000 of the
250,000 people on Madeira live in Funchal, the capital city.

If you arrive (28) Funchal via cruise ship, your ship will dock near the centre of the

capital city. Since some ships embark or disembark from transatlantic (29) in
Funchal, you might (30) to spend more time on Madeira as part of a pre- or post-
cruise extension. We visited Madeira for only one day near the end of a wonderful
cruise on the luxury cruise ship the Silversea Silver Whisper from Barcelona to
Lisbon.

The island certainly has (31) natural beauty to spend longer than just one day! Its

deeply gouged cliffs and lush, steep valleys (32) the visitors of Kauai. At 36 miles
(58 km) long and 15 miles (23 km) wide, the island is not very large, but because it
is so mountainous, travel is slow.

A B C D

23 breath breathingly thrilling breathtakingly

24 compensate for compensate with compensate about compensate

at

25 put give bring take

26 emigrated immigrated settled invaded

27 frequent repeated often sometimes

28 on in at off

29 voyages tours journeys walks

30 can could will be able

31 enough too quantity variety

32 remember remind respond recollect