PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks Predictions – 6–12 July 2026 Weekly Study File

It would be reassuring to think that the electorate chooses who to vote for based on the candidates' track records and future policy promises. in truth, many of us are [swayed] simply by the way that politicians look. Consider a 2009 study that asked Swiss students to look at multiple pairs of unfamiliar French political candidates and in each case to select the one who looked most competent. Most of the time, the candidate selected by students [as] looking the most competent was also the one who'd had real-life electoral success, the implication being that voters too had been swayed by the candidates' appearance (there's little evidence that appearance and competence [actually] [correlate] . Unsurprisingly, being attractive also helps win votes, especially in wartime (in peacetime, looking trustworthy is more of an advantage). Other research has shown that we're more likely to vote for male and female candidates with deeper voices. Options :

Whether you want to exercise and stay [healthy] , train professionally with like-minded people, or indulge your competitive streak, Trinity Sports and Fitness has it [covered] . We have a dedicated support development team on campus to support every student in taking part in sports. You might want to participate in sports competitions volunteer with a local sports class or simply play for [fun] with our social sport program. Trinity fitness members of our public-facing sports facility will also entitle you to discounts when you are booking a sports facility and fitness class. You will also get an opportunity to [benefit] from tailored personal training, free activity events, and lots more. Options :

An herbal is a book of plants, describing their appearance, their properties, and how they may be used for preparing ointments and medicines. The medical use of plants is [recorded] on fragments of papyrus and clay tablets from ancient Egypt, Samaria, and China that date back 5,000 years but document traditions far older still. Over 700 herbal remedies were detailed in the Papyrus Ebers, an Egyptian text written in 1500 BC. Around 65 BC, a Greek physician called Dioscorides wrote an herbal that was [translated] into Latin and Arabic. Known as 'De material medica', it became the most influential work on medicinal plants in both Christian and Islamic worlds until the late 17th century. An illustrated manuscript copy of the text made in Constantinople (modern-day [Istanbul)] [survives] from the sixth century. The first printed herbals date from the dawn of European printing in the 1480s. They provided valuable information for apothecaries, whose job it was to take the pills and potions [prescribed] by physicians. In the next century, landmark herbals were produced in England by William Turner, considered to be the father of British botany, and John Gerard, whose illustrations would [inspire] the floral fabric, wallpaper, and tile designs of William Morris four centuries later. Options :

Insects have been an important part of the human diet for thousands of years. So why has insect eating died out in the developed world' Stuart Hine, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum in London says it's a cultural [thing] insects are seen as 'dirty' and as carriers of disease. Despite this, a decade ago, insect eating seemed to be making a [comeback] with the publication of a number of insect recipe books. Edible, a London-based company, supplies Products such as chocolate-covered ants and toasted leafcutter ants. Perhaps as we become [aware] [of the] sentience of higher animals, insects will become the protein of choice in centuries to come. On April 6th, Hine will give a talk on edible insects at London's Natural History Museum and offer some unusual snacks. Options :

Pop art was a cultural [movement] that began in the mid-20th century, [turning] to everyday life as a source of inspiration. American artists often used [familiar] subjects from their surroundings, such as beer bottles, clothing, comic strips, and advertisements, to create bold and striking artworks. In the United Kingdom, however, pop art drew [heavily from] [imagery] found in magazines, [as well as] archives and mass media culture. T [ogether, these] approaches made pop art one of the most accessible and influential movements in modern art. Options :

When humans began farming some 12,000 years ago, they altered the future of our [species] [forever. Our] [ancestors were ecological] [pioneers] , discovering and cultivating the most valuable crops, scaling them up to feed entire communities, and transforming wild crops so fundamentally that they became dependent on humans for their survival. Farming, in the words of National Geographic's Genographic Project, 'sowed the seeds for the modern [age] '. Options :

Little is known about the figure that inspired the story of King Arthur. While Arthurian legends have been a part of Western literature for centuries, the historical reality of King Arthur remains shrouded in [obscurity] [. The earliest] references to a figure resembling Arthur come from various sources, including Welsh, Latin, and later medieval English texts. However, concrete evidence linking Arthur to a specific historical figure is [lacking] . One of the key figures associated with the Arthurian legend is the 6th-century Welsh bard Aweinrin( also known as Awenydd). While Aweinrin himself is an elusive historical figure, his works, particularly his poetry, suggest that he may have played a role in shaping the mythic image of Arthur. Aweinrin's poems are filled with references to heroic warriors and [battles] , which may have been inspired by real historical events or figures from the tumultuous period of post-Roman Britain. In the context of Arthur, Aweinrin's work might have contributed to the development of the legend of a warrior king who defends his people against invaders. Though Aweinrin's connection to Arthur is [speculative] [, some scholars] believe that elements of his poetry could have been woven into later tales of the Arthurian cycle. Whether or not Aweinrin directly inspired the stories of King Arthur, his legacy as a poet and historian of his time remains [influential] in understanding the origins of these enduring myths. Options :

In the framework of Bourdieu's theory, human society operates through a complex system of classifications, where social groups are defined not only by their material resources but also by their cultural capital - forms of knowledge, taste, and practise that are valued by dominant social structures. These patterns of thought shape how individuals view themselves and others, perpetuating a hierarchy of power and [status] . The dominant classes, in particular, maintain their status by controlling these classifications, defining what is considered 'legitimate' or'refined' knowledge, and thus marginalising other ways of thinking and being. Bourdieu's concept of'habitus' describes how these patterns of thought become internalised in individuals, guiding their actions and perceptions in ways that reinforce the existing social [system] . At the same time, the process of classification is not fixed but subject to contestation. Over time, the dominance of elite groups can be challenged, leading to shifts in the status of certain forms of knowledge or cultural practises. In this sense, Bourdieu suggests that the social structure is not merely a reflection of economic power, but also a reflection of the intellectual and cultural systems that [preserve] [it. The] task, therefore, is to recognise how these classifications function to legitimise power and to question the hierarchical systems that serve to [reduce] the status of those on the margins. Options :

Jennifer Harris, a researcher at the University of Connecticut's Rudd Centre for Food Policy & Obesity, has studied the impact of food advertising on children's eating [behaviors] . In one key experiment, children aged 7 to 11 watched a cartoon interspersed with either food or non-food advertisements. Afterward, they were given a bowl of cheddar cheese crackers to snack on. The results showed that children exposed to food ads consumed 45% more snacks than those who saw non-food ads. This study suggests that food advertising can significantly increase snack [consumption] among children, potentially contributing to unhealthy eating habits and obesity. Food ads, often designed with colourful packaging and appealing characters, trigger cravings in children, making them more likely to choose unhealthy, calorie-dense snacks. These advertisements create emotional associations between eating the product and feelings of enjoyment or fun, further encouraging children to [indulge] . The findings highlight the need for stricter regulations on food advertising targeting children. By reducing exposure to these ads, it may be possible to mitigate their influence and promote healthier eating [habits] . Harris's research underscores the importance of protecting children from marketing practices that could lead to long-term health issues, such as obesity. Options :

The normal novel is dying. People nowadays prefer to engage in other forms of entertainment, such as music, rather [than] reading books during their leisure time. However, [ironically] , a survey conducted by a certain organisation or website reveals that the number of potential online writers, particularly in the genre of novels, is continuously increasing. This contradiction highlights the fact that despite the decline in reading books, global literacy rates are at an all-time high. This signals a shift in how people consume and engage with literature. While [novels may be] [losing] popularity as a medium, the rise of online writers and the overall improvement in literacy rates underscore the enduring importance and value of written communication. It also challenges the notion that literature is dying and suggests that it is merely evolving to adapt to the preferences and habits of modern readers. In conclusion, the novel, like any other art form, may transform in response to changing times but is far from fading [away] . Options :

The lute, a plucked string instrument, [played] a central role in European music from the late Middle Ages through the Baroque period. Its pear-shaped body and fretted neck [made] it a versatile instrument for both solo and ensemble performances. Unlike the modern guitar, the lute typically has paired strings, which [produce] a richer, more resonant tone. During the Renaissance, the lute was highly valued by both professional musicians and amateur players. Its popularity gradually declined in the 18th century, as keyboard instruments became more fashionable. [Nevertheless] , the lute remains an important subject of study for those interested in early music performance practices, and it is frequently used in historically informed concerts today. Options :

Wind is air moving around. Some winds can move [as] fast as a racing car, over 100 miles an [hour] [. Winds can] travel around the world. Wind can make you feel cold because you lose heat from your body [faster] [when it is] windy. Weather forecasters need to [know] the speed and direction of the wind. The strength of wind is measured using the Beaufort scale from wind force when there is no wind, to wind force 12 which can damage houses and buildings and is called hurricane force. Options :

'Until now, few [sightings] of the alien lionfish Pterois miles have been reported in the Mediterranean and it was [questionable] whether the species could invade this region like it has in the western Atlantic.' Demetris Kletou, co-author of the paper, said in a statement. 'But we've found that lionfish have [recently] [increased in] abundance, and within a year have colonized almost the entire southeastern coast of Cyprus, assisted by sea surface warming.' Lionfish were originally found in the waters of the Pacific and lndian Oceans. They likely ended up in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic after [being released] from home aquariums. The invasion of the Mediterranean has different roots. The expansion of the Suez Canal has given lionfish even more [access] to the Mediterranean Sea and warming water temperatures have provided the [perfect] environment for the invasive species. Options :

What killed off the dinosaurs' The end of the Cretaceous Period saw one of the most dramatic mass extinctions the Earth has ever seen. The fossil record shows that throughout their 160-million-year [existence] [, dinosaurs took] on a huge variety of forms as the environment changed and new species evolved that were suited to these new conditions. Others that failed to adapt [went] extinct. But then 66 million years ago, over a relatively short time, [dinosaurs disappeared] [completely] (except for birds). Many other animals also died out, including pterosaurs, large marine reptiles, and other sea creatures such as ammonites. [Although] the number of dinosaur species was already declining, this suggests a sudden catastrophic event sealed their fate, causing unfavorable changes to the environment more quickly than dinosaurs and other creatures could adapt. The exact nature of this catastrophic [event is still] [open] to scientific debate. The catastrophe could have been an asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions or the effect of both, together with more [gradual] changes in the Earth's climate over millions of years. Whatever the causes, the huge extinction that ended the age of the dinosaur left gaps in the ecosystem that were subsequently filled by mammals and birds, allowing them to evolve rapidly. Options :

Following World War II, a paradigm shift in international relations led to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Formed in response to the need for a more effective global peacekeeping framework, the UN aimed to [prevent] future conflicts and promote cooperation among nations. The initial membership [comprised] [51 countries, each] committed to maintaining international security, fostering economic [development] , and upholding human rights standards. This groundbreaking institution set out to counterbalance the pre-eminence of any single global power, advocating for multilateralism and collective decision-making on critical issues. Over the decades, the UN expanded to encompass 193 member states, adapting its mission to [confront] emerging challenges like climate change, terrorism, and humanitarian crises. Despite its complexities, the UN remains a pivotal [force] [in international] affairs, mediating conflicts, delivering aid, and advocating for human dignity worldwide. The organization's ongoing evolution reflects both the enduring significance of global cooperation and the imperatives of an ever-changing geopolitical landscape. Options :

The main purpose of fieldwork is to [offer] students a chance to [apply] what they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations. By doing so, they gain experience that cannot be [obtained] from books alone. Options :

This philosopher's works are not restricted to a single aspect of knowledge but [extend] across multiple fields. [Moreover] , her writings emphasize the value of critical thinking. She developed a unique style [in which] ideas from science, ethics, and art were blended together. Options :

The Mona Lisa attracts millions of visitors per year , who come to [admire] it in the Louvre. Leonardo da Vinci, [as well as] being a painter, was considered one of the best [artists] of his era. The Mona Lisa is often described as the most famous painting in the world. Options :

The Durham University Sailing Boat Club was [founded] [decades ago and] [has grown] steadily over the years. Today, it is a thriving club, with many students actively [enjoying] sailing as both a sport and a social activity. Options :

About difference between invention and innovation. ... (specifically) ... innovation can be divided into product innovation and process innovation. For our purposes the words 'invention' and 'innovation' can be used [interchangeably. More] [specifically] , however, the term 'invention' refers to the discovery of new products or processes, while 'innovation' refers to the commercialization (bringing to the market) of new products or processes. Furthermore, we can distinguish between product innovations and process innovations. Product innovations result in the production of a new product, such as the change from a three-wheel car to a four-wheel car, or the change from LP records to CDs. Process innovations increase the ezciency of the methods of production of existing products, for [example, the] [invention] of the assembly-line technique. The inventions and innovations that form industrial revolutions are those that open new doors and create new ways of doing things, not simply those that fill gaps in existing ways of doing things (Mokyr, 1997). The core of the First Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century was a succession of technological changes that brought about material advances in three basic areas: (1) the [substitution] of mechanical devices (such as machines) for human labour, (2) the substitution of inanimate sources of power (such as steam) for animate sources of power (such as horse power), and (3) the substitution of mineral raw materials for vegetable or animal substances, and in general the use of new and more [abundant] [raw] materials. Options :

He spent a [painful] night, struggling with his health. It was [dizcult] for him to continue with his duties as usual. Despite his determination and eagerness to teach, he was not permitted to [attend] class due to his health condition. He was [happy] to attend and fulfill his responsibilities, but his illness prevented him from doing so. Options :

New B.C. Residents will only be required to provide their driver's licence history - proof of insurance is no longer required. However, their premiums will be [adjusted] for the first three years of driving in B.C. [due to] [the] increased risks associated with driving in a new area. Each year you remain crash-free, your discount increases. ICBC [will credit] you with up to 15 years of driving experience (up from eight years) upon receipt of a driver's abstract [showing] the original date that you received your licence. When obtaining your B.C. licence, you can provide your original driver's abstract in person at a driver licensing ozce. Options :

I feel [safe] about the opportunity to take on new challenges and contribute to the team. [While] [I was] working at my previous job, I gained valuable experience that I believe will be beneficial in this role. I am eager to take a [position] at your esteemed company and I am confident that my skills and experience make me a strong candidate. Please let me [know] if there are any additional steps I need to take or information I need to provide. I am looking [forward] to your response. Options :

Getting a driver's license in British Columbia involves a [graduated] licensing program. It starts with the Learner's (L) stage, where new drivers must pass a [knowledge] test and follow restrictions like having a [supervisor] while driving. After a year, they can take a [road] test to advance to the Novice (N) stage, allowing them to drive independently with some restrictions, such as a zero-Í [alcohol] Í limit. After two years of safe driving, they are eligible for a final road test to obtain a full Class 5 license. This system helps new drivers gain experience gradually, [improving road] [safety] [. T] o apply, residents must provide identification, proof of [residency] [, and pass] [vision and] [knowledge] tests. Staying informed about licensing requirements ensures legal and responsible driving. Options :

In British Columbia (BC), vehicle insurance is [mandatory] for all drivers. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is the province's public auto insurer, providing basic coverage known as Autoplan. This mandatory [insurance includes third-party] [liability] , accident benefits, and protection against [underinsured] drivers. Drivers can also purchase optional coverage, such as [collision] and comprehensive insurance, to protect their [vehicles further. T] o obtain insurance, vehicle owners must visit an authorized [broker] , where they provide vehicle details and driving history to determine their premium. The cost of insurance depends on factors like driving experience, claim history, and vehicle type. Ensuring proper insurance coverage is essential for road safety and [financial] [security] in case of accidents. Options :

Life in the UK 2012 provides a unique overview of well-being in the UK today. The report is the first snapshot of life in the UK to be [delivered] by the Measuring National Well-being program and will be [updated] [and published] annually. Well-being is discussed in terms of the economy, people and the environment. Information such as the [unemployment rate or] [number] of crimes against the person are presented alongside data on people's thoughts and feelings, for example, satisfaction with our jobs or [leisure] time and fear of crime. T ogether, a richer picture on 'how society is doing' is provided. Options :

Good sense appears to have [prevailed] at last. With a fresh set of draught rules to replace last year's poorly conceived ones, the center has sought to withdraw the ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets. The draught rules are now open for comments and suggestions. When the Union Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change notified the rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act on May 23, 2017, there was [concern] that in the name of preventing cruelty to animals and regulating livestock markets, the government was surreptitiously throttling the cattle trade and furthering the BJP's cow protection agenda. The rules were criticized for restricting legitimate animal trade and interfering with [dietary] habits. Options :

Governments also frequently subsidize local industries to help them compete in the global market. Subsidies come [in the form] of tax credits or direct payments. The most commonly used are farm subsidies. That allows producers to lower the price of local goods and services. This makes the products cheaper even when shipped overseas. Subsidies work even better than tariffs. This method works best for countries that rely mainly on exports. But sometimes subsidies can have the opposite effect. The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 [allowed] [the] government to pay farmers [not] to grow crops or livestock, which let their fields rest and regain nutrients. It helped the agriculture industry but [raised] food costs during the Depression. Options :

Victorians were avid readers. Just as we bury our faces in our mobile devices on the morning commute, [so too] did Victorians with the latest penny fiction. Perhaps the best know serialized novels were the 'Penny Dreadfuls'. [Costing] just one old penny, they focused on the exploits of detectives, criminals, or supernatural entities. The price of new books-often only available as a set of three-was out of reach for most working-class people, so they borrowed from circulating libraries [such as] Mudie's (founded 1842), which dispatched books all over Britain for a modest subscription fee. For the wealthier classes who [could afford] first editions, reading from their own collection would be an everyday occurrence. Options :

The six gases: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon have a myriad of modern uses. When they were first discovered, their strangely stand-ozsh properties were a mystery. Uniquely stable, they [seemed] [to participate] in no chemical reactions. But by understanding the stability of the noble gases, physicists discovered the key to [chemical bonding] [itself] . Dmitri Mendeleev added the noble gases to his periodic table in 1902, where he arranged the elements in rows and columns [according] to their atomic weight. Mendeleev was able to see repeating (or periodic) patterns in their properties. The noble gases appeared [regularly] in the periodic table, occurring in every eighth position, at least amongst the lighter elements. Options :

Scientists have discovered the cause of a mass extinction of sea-floor marine organisms 800,000 years ago - which also provides insight into how climate change can impact [on] deep ocean biota. In a new study [published] in the journal Nature Communications, scientists from the universities of Nottingham and Durham and the British Geological Survey (BGS), have discovered the cause of a mass extinction within marine organisms called foraminifera. Foraminifera are an important group in relation to biomass in the deep ocean and the cause of their extinction was [previously] unknown. Scientists tested various possible [causes] for the mass extinction and were able to discount others such as ocean cooling. [Instead] , they discovered that the extinction was caused by a global change in plankton at the surface of the ocean. Options :

People in parts of western Africa and southwestern Asia were the first to realize that the dark-silvery rocks poking out of the earth could be worked into tools and weapons, sometime around 1500 B.C., evidence shows. The metal was [probably discovered there] [by] accident when some ore was dropped into a fire and cooled into wrought iron, historians think. The eureka moment didn't reach Europe for [another] 500 years, traveling slowly north and west through Greece, Italy, central Europe and finally to the British Isles [with] the spread of the famous Celtic tribes. The Celts diffused iron technology over much of the continent through warfare, where their victory was assured due to the strength of iron weapons. Perhaps not the most peaceful of cultural exchanges, but where the technology did travel, it caught on fast. Iron [made] life a lot easier in those days, when just living to the age of 45 was a feat. By that time, much of Europe had settled into small village life, [toiling] the soil with bronze and stone tools. Iron farming tools, such as sickles and plough tips, made the process more ezcient and allowed farmers to [exploit] tougher soils, try new crops and have more time for other activities. Options :

Clean water was very important to the Romans. Cities, towns and forts were built near springs. However, as Roman cities and towns grew, they needed to bring in water from [further afield] . As the population grew, [so] [did] the need for clean water. Trying to shift [large volumes] of water underground in pipes was not possible as lead pipes would be too weak and bronze pipes would be too expensive. The Romans could not make cast iron pipes as the [techniques] for doing this were not known to them. If water could not be brought via pipes, the Romans decided to bring it overland in what were conduits. When the water got to the city, it was fed off into smaller bronze or ceramic [pipes. T] o get the water to flow at an even (and slow) pace, conduits were built on a slight slope. Valleys were crossed by using aqueducts. One of the most famous of these is the Pont du Gard aqueduct at Nimes in southern France. Where possible, the Romans did take water through tunnels but the hills needed to be [relatively] small for this to be successful. Options :

Early humans were hunter-gatherers, roaming from place to place, but their movements were controlled by the need for water. When humans [started] to grow food and established permanent settlements, water was needed for crops and animals as well as for people, [so] settlements have always grown up near reliable sources of water. Most major towns lie on the banks of rivers, or, where there are no streams or rivers, settlements exist where underground water can be reached by digging wells. The management of water resources has a [long history] . The oldest known dam in the world was constructed in Egypt about 5000 years ago, and was used for storing drinking and irrigation water. Farmers in Arabia at this time used the craters of extinct volcanoes as storage tanks for irrigation water and dug deep wells for their drinking water. Excavated ruins in India of similar antiquity retain the remains of water supply and drainage systems, [which] included baths and swimming pools. Options :

In the UK, it is recommended that drivers should turn off their car engines when they expect to be stationary for more than 1 minute. T o encourage drivers to [turn off] their engines while waiting at rail crossings, Kent City Council placed a permanent sign at the crossing asking drivers to 'please switch off your engine when barriers are down to help improve air quality.' [On average] , drivers had to wait between 2 and 3 minutes to cross after the barrier had gone down. However, the sign didn't seem to convince the [majority] of drivers to switch off their engines. 'Although some research suggests that signs [alone] can change behaviour, the message on this sign was designed simply to be an informational request and was not guided by any particular behavioural theory,' the researchers explain. So the research team, led by Rose Mellady of the University of East Anglia, designed an intervention study. Options :

Emerging in the mid-1950s in Britain and late 1950s in America, pop art reached its peak in the 1960s. It began as a [revolt] [against] the dominant approaches to art, culture, and traditional views on what art [should be] . Young artists felt that what they were taught at art school and what they saw in museums did not have anything [to] [do with] their lives or the things they saw around them every day. Instead, they [turned to] sources such as Hollywood movies, advertising, product packaging, pop music, and comic books for their imagery. Options :

By the 1820s Bentham had become a well-known figure, both in Britain and in other parts of the world. His ideas were [to] [influence] the reforms of public administration made during the nineteenth century, and his writings are still at the centre of academic debate, especially regarding social policy, legal positivism, and welfare economics. Bentham died on 6 June 1832, a day before the first Reform Act was given Royal Assent. As per the [directions] [in] his will, Bentham's body was dissected by his friend, the surgeon Thomas Southwood Smith, and his skeleton was preserved as the Auto-Icon. Research into Bentham's thoughts and life continues today at UCL 's Bentham Project, set up in the early 1960s with the aim [of] producing the first scholarly edition of his work and correspondence. This edition is projected to [run] to some eighty volumes. Members of the public are invited to assist in this massive editorial task by helping to transcribe Bentham's manuscripts via Transcribe Bentham. Options :

Willful blindness had started life as a legal concept in the nineteenth century. A judge in Regina v. Sleep ruled that an accused could not be convicted for possession of government property [unless] the jury found that he either knew the goods came from government stores or had willfully shut his eyes to the fact. Thereafter, English judicial authorities referred to the state of mind that accompanied one who willfully shut his eyes as connivance or constructive knowledge. Over time, lots of other phrases came into play deliberate or willful ignorance, conscious avoidance, and deliberate indifference. What they all have in [common] is the idea that there is an opportunity for knowledge and a responsibility to be informed, but it is shirked. Nowadays, the law is [most] [often applied in] cases of money laundering and dug trazcking: if you've been paid a large amount of money to carry a suitcase, then you are being willfully blind if you don't check what is inside. Options :

In 1922, the world witnessed one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century - the unearthing of King Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. This event marked a [pivotal] [moment in] our understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization. The young pharaoh, Tutankhamun, who [reigned] during the 18th dynasty, had been somewhat obscure until British archaeologist Howard Carter's remarkable discovery. Carter's quest for Tutankhamun's tomb was fueled by years of meticulous research and [exploration] . When he finally came upon the nearly intact tomb, it was a historical triumph. The tomb's contents, [preserved] [for over 3,000] years, were astonishing. They included the iconic gold mask of Tutankhamun, a [plethora] of gold artefacts, and beautifully preserved wall paintings depicting the young king's life and journey to the afterlife. This discovery offered unprecedented insights into the art, culture, and daily life of ancient Egypt. Options :

The six programs represented here report that word of mouth is by far their most effective recruitment tool, particularly because it typically yields candidates who are similar to previously successful candidates. Moreover, satisfied candidates and school systems are likely to [spread] the word without any special [effort] [on the] part of their program. Other, less personal advertising approaches, such as radio and television spots and local newspaper advertisements, have also proven fruitful, especially for newer programs. New York uses a print advertising campaign to inspire dissatisfied professionals to become teachers. Subway posters send provocative [messages] to burned-out or disillusioned professionals .'Tired of diminishing returns' Invest in NYC kids' was just one of many Madison Avenue-inspired invitations. News coverage has also proven to be a [boon] [to alternative] programs. When the New York Times, for example, ran a story about the district's alternative route program, 2,100 applications flooded in over the next six weeks. Options :

Spanish is spoken by more than 300 million people in over 20 countries and is rapidly becoming one of the most [popular] [choices] for language learners around the world. A popular course for beginners, Suenos World Spanish [is designed to] [meet] the varied needs of adult learners, [whether] learning at home or in a class. From the very beginning it encourages you to develop your listening and speaking skills with confidence and provides many opportunities to practice reading in Spanish. Using the extensive [range] of media available, from the course book to the audio CDs or cassettes, to the popular accompanying television series and free online activities, Suenos World Spanish can help you reach the [equivalent] level of a first qualification, such as GCSE. Options :

Bhutan used to be one of the most isolated nations in the world. Developments including direct international flights, the Internet, mobile phone networks, and cable television have increasingly [modernized] the urban areas of the [country. Bhutan has] [balanced] modernisation with its ancient culture and traditions under the guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Rampant [destruction] of the environment has been avoided. The government takes great measures to preserve the nation's traditional culture, identity, and the environment. In 2006, Business Week magazine rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, [citing] a global survey conducted by the University of Leicester in 2006 called the 'World Map of Happiness'. Options :

Coral reefs [support] more marine life than any other ocean ecosystem and are, not [surprisingly] [, a favorite] pursuit for many divers. But as well as being physically and biologically spectacular, coral reefs also sustain the livelihoods of over half a billion people. What's more, this number is expected to [double] in coming decades while the area of high-quality reef is expected to halve. In combination with the very real threat of climate change, which could lead to increased seawater temperatures and ocean acidification, we start to arrive at some quite frightening scenarios. Options :

An important corollary of this focus on language as the window to legal epistemology is the central role of [discourse] to law and other sociocultural processes. In particular, the [ideas] that people hold about how language works combine with [linguistic] structuring to create powerful, often unconscious effects. In recent years, linguistic anthropologists have made much progress in developing more precisely analytic tools for tracking those effects. Options :

The widespread use of artificial light in modern societies means that light pollution is an increasingly common feature of the environments humans inhabit. This type of pollution is [exceptionally] high in coastal regions of tropical and temperate zones, as these are areas of high rates of human population growth and settlement. Light pollution is a threat for many species that inhabit these locations, particularly those whose ecology or behavior depends, [in] [some way] , on natural cycles of light and dark. Artificial light is known to have detrimental effects on the ecology of sea turtles, particularly at the hatchling stage when they emerge from nests on natal beaches and head towards the sea. Under natural conditions, turtles hatch predominantly at night (although some early morning and late afternoon emergences occur) and show an innate and well-directed orientation to the water, [relying] mostly on light cues that attract them toward the brighter horizon above the sea surface. Artificial lighting on beaches is strongly attractive to hatchlings and can cause them [to move] away from the sea and interfere with their ability to orient in a constant direction. Ultimately, this disorientation due to light pollution can lead to death of hatchlings from exhaustion, dehydration and predation. Options :

Kathryn Mewes does not meet bohemian, hippy parents in her line of work. Typically one, or both, of the parents she sees work in the City of London. 'Professionals seek professionals,' she says. Originally a nanny, Mewes is now a parenting consultant, advising couples privately on changing their child's behavior, [as well as] [doing corporate] seminars for working parents. Her clients find they are unprepared for the chaos and unpredictability that having a child can entail.'Parents are getting older, they have been in [control] their whole lives and been successful. Suddenly a baby turns up and life turns on its head.' Nicknamed the 'Three-Day Nanny ' because of her [pledge] to fix behavioral problems in children under the age of 12 within three days, she is filming a new Channel 4 television series demonstrating her techniques. The [role] of the parenting consultant - distinct from that of a nanny - has developed, she says, as people are used to buying in expertise, such as personal trainers or, in her case, parenting advice. Options :

A smart brain might help you do well in tests, but there are many other ways it can affect your life, both positively and negatively. Exams are not the only [route] to success, as billionaire businessmen Richard Branson and Alan Sugar – who left school aged 15 and 16 – will attest. Nevertheless, good grades can open doors, and intelligence certainly helps when it comes to educational [attainment] . IQ test performance accounts for roughly two-thirds of the variance in people's school exam scores – other factors including motivation and mental and physical health also influence how well children do. But intelligence isn't just useful in school. IQ predicts how people will respond to workplace training and how well they will do their job, even in non-academic [professions] such as being a car mechanic or carpenter. This is, perhaps, because general intelligence reflects people's ability to handle complexity in everyday affairs. Many tasks, from supermarket shopping to juggling our diaries, require us to deal with unexpected [situations, to] [reason] and make judgements and to identify and solve problems. This is true of our social interactions too. Options :

Language is used in our everyday lives. If psychology is a science of behavior, scientific investigation of language use must be one of the most central topics - this is because language use is [ubiquitous] . Every human group has a language, human infants (except those who have disabilities) learn at least one language without being taught [explicitly] .Even when children, who don't have many languages to begin with, are brought together, they can begin to develop and use their own language. There is at least one known instance where children, who had had little language, were brought together and developed their own language spontaneously with minimum [input] [from] adults. In Nicaragua in 1980s, deaf children who were separately raised in various locations were brought together to schools for the first time. T eachers tried to teach them Spanish with little success. However, they began to notice that the children were using their hands and [gestures] , apparently to communicate with each other. Linguists were brought in to find out what was happening ; it turned out the children had developed their own sign language by themselves. Options :

Dance has played an important role in many musicals. In some [cases] , dance numbers are included as an excuse to add to the color and spectacle of the show, but dance is more effective when it forms an integral part of the [plot] . An early example is Richard Rodgers On Your T oes(1936) in which the story about classical ballet meeting the world of jazz enabled dance to be introduced in a way that [enhances] , rather than interrupts the drama. Options :

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." This [nugget] of wisdom, often attributed to Mark Twain, has been turned into many an [inspirational] internet meme over the years. As a 51-year-old who is starting to feel the gathering momentum of the inevitable slide, it strikes me as little more than a platitude that makes people feel better about getting old. But according to a growing body of research, there is more to it than that. Subjective age – how old we feel – has a very real impact on health and [longevity] . People who feel younger than their years often actually are, in terms of how long they have left to live. The question of what controls our subjective age, and whether we can change it, has always been tricky to [address] scientifically. Options :

High-involvement decisions are those that are important to the buyer. These decisions are closely [tied] [to the] consumer's ego and self-image. They also involve some risk to the consumer. This may include financial risk (highly priced items), social risk (products that are important to the peer group), or [psychological] [risk (the wrong] decision may cause the consumer some concern and anxiety). In making these decisions, consumers generally feel it is worth the time and energy needed to do research and consider solution [alternatives] carefully. The full, six- stage, complex process of consumer decision making is more likely to happen with high-involvement product purchases. In these cases, a buyer gathers [extensive] information from multiple sources, evaluates many alternatives, and invests substantial effort in making the best decision. Options :

The speed of sound (otherwise known as Mach 1) varies with temperature. At sea level on a 'standard day', the temperature is 59°F , and Mach 1 is approximately 761 mph. As the altitude increases, the temperature and speed of [sound] [both] decrease until about 36,000 feet, after which the temperature remains steady until about 60,000 feet. Within that 36,000 - 60,000 foot range, Mach 1 is about 661 mph. Because of the [variation] , it is possible for an airplane flying supersonic at high altitude to be slower than a subsonic flight at sea level. The transonic band (the ['sound barrier') extends] [from] around Mach 0.8 - when the first supersonic [shock] waves form on the wing - to Mach 1.2, when the entire wing has gone supersonic. Options :

First, the scientific community that studies climate change is quietly panic-stricken, because things are moving much faster than they expected. Greenhouse gas emissions are going up faster than [predicted] [both from] industrialising countries in Asia and from melting permafrost in Siberia and Canada. The Arctic Sea ice is melting so fast that the whole ocean may be ice-free in late summer in five years' time. Most climate scientists now see last year's report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose forecasts are used by most governments for planning purposes, as a [purely] historical document. Second, the biggest early impact of global warming will be on the food supply, both locally and globally. When the global average temperature hits one and a half degrees hotter - and it will, the carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere [commits] us to that much warming - some countries will no longer be able to feed their people. Others, further from the equator, will still have enough food for themselves, [but none to] [spare] . Options :

Soil is the earth's fragile skin that anchors all life on Earth. It is comprised of countless species that create a [dynamic] and complex ecosystem and is among the most precious resources to humans. Increased demand for agriculture commodities generates incentives to convert forests and grasslands to farm fields and pastures. The [transition] to agriculture from natural vegetation often cannot hold onto the soil and many of these plants, such as coffee, cotton, palm oil, soybean and wheat, can actually increase soil erosion beyond the soil's ability to maintain itself. The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of [fertile] land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other [species] . And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding. Sustainable land use can help to reduce the impacts of agriculture and livestock, preventing soil degradation and erosion and the loss of valuable land to desertification. Options :

Team Lab's digital mural at the entrance to T okyo's Skytree, one of the world's monster skyscrapers, is 400 metres long and immensely detailed. But [however] massive this form of digital art becomes - and it's a form subject to rampant inflation - Inoko's theories about seeing are based on more modest and often pre-digital sources. An early devotee of comic books and cartoons (no surprises there), then computer games, he recognised when he started to look at traditional Japanese art that all those forms had something in [common] : something about the way they captured space. In his discipline of physics, Inoko had been taught that photographic lenses, [along with] [the] conventions of western art, were the logical way of transforming three dimensions into two, conveying the real world onto a flat surface. [But] Japanese traditions employed 'a different spatial logic', as he said in an interview last year with j-collabo.org, that is 'uniquely Japanese'. Options :

Some birds of prey have learned to control fire, a [skill] previously thought to be unique to humans. The birds appear to deliberately spread wildfires in order to [flush] out prey. The finding suggests that birds may have [beaten] us to the use of fire. Options :

In any given population, about ten percent of the people are left-handed and this figure remains [relatively] stable over time. So-called "handedness" runs in families, but what causes it and why the proportion of left-handed to right-handed people is a constant are still a mystery. One thing we do know is that hand [dominance] [is related to] brain asymmetry, and it seems to be generally agreed that the human brain is profoundly asymmetric, and that understanding how this works will tell us much about who we are and how our brains work. Brain (function) is [distributed] into the left and right hemispheres, and this is crucial for understanding language, thought, memory, and perhaps even creativity. For right-handed people, language activity is mainly on the left side. Many left-handers also have left-side language dominance, but a significant number may have language either more [evenly] distributed in both hemispheres or else predominantly on the right side of the brain. Because left-handedness is seen as a key to the complex anatomy of the brain, scientists are searching for links to other [conditions] , including immune disorders, learning disabilities, and reduced life expectancy. Options :

The logic of the scientific method was set out by John Stuart Mill in 1843 and was [named] [the method of] difference. A simple example of what he meant by this is to take two glasses of water which are identical in every [respect] . Introduce a few drops of ink into one of these glasses. The water changes colour. [According] to Mill's method of difference it is safe to [assume] that the change in the colour of the water is due to the introduction of a new factor - the independent variable - in this case, the ink. Options :

Many people today think of culture in the way that it was thought of in Europe during the 18th and early 19th centuries. [This] [concept] of culture reflected inequalities within European societies and their colonies around the world. This understanding of culture equates culture with civilization and contrasts both with nature or non-civilization. According to this understanding of culture, some countries are more civilised than others, and some people are more cultured than others. Anything that doesn't [fit] into this category is labelled as chaos or anarchy. From this perspective, culture is closely tied to cultivation, which is the progressive refinement of human [behaviour] . In practice, culture referred to elite goods and activities such as haute cuisine, high fashion or haute couture, museum-caliber art and classical music. The word cultured referred to people who knew about and took part in these activities. For example, someone who used culture in this sense might [argue] that classical music is more refined than music by working-class people, such as jazz or the indigenous music traditions of aboriginal peoples. Options :

Giant exoplanets, like the so-called 'hot Jupiters' that are similar in [characteristics] to the solar system's biggest [planet] and orbit very close to their host stars, are excellent targets for [astronomers] in their search for their extrasolar worlds. The size and proximity of these planets is easy to [detect] as they create a large decrease in brightness when passing in front of their parent stars. Options :

With about one and a half billion non-native speakers, English has become the world's own language. Such [dominance] has its downside, of course. There are now about 6,800 languages left in the world, compared with [perhaps] [twice] that number back at the dawn of agriculture. Thanks in [part] to the rise of pber-languages, most importantly English, the remaining languages are now dying at the [rate] of about one a fortnight. Want to learn Busuu, anyone' Then you'd better head to Cameroon fast before one of the language's last eight speakers kicks the bucket (as the Busuu-nese presumably doesn't say). Options :

To better understand selfies and how people form their identities online, the researchers combed through 2.5 million [selfie posts] [on] Instagram to determine what kinds of identity statements people make by taking and sharing the photos. Nearly 52 percent of all selfies fell into the appearance category: pictures of people showing off their make- up, clothes, lips, etc. Pics about looks were two times more popular than the other 14 categories [combined] . After appearances, social selfies with friends, loved ones, and pets were the most common (14 percent). Then came ethnicity pics (13 percent), travel (7 percent), and health and fitness (5 percent). The researchers noted that the prevalence of ethnicity selfies (selfies about a person's ethnicity, nationality or country of origin) is an indication that people are proud of their backgrounds. They also found that most selfies are solo pictures, rather than taken with a group. [Overall] , an overwhelming 57 percent of selfies on Instagram were posted by the 18-35-year-old crowd, something the researchers say isn't too surprising considering the demographics of the social media platform. The under-18 age group posted about 30 percent of selfies. The older crowd (35ô) [shared] them far less frequently (13 percent). Appearance was most popular among all age groups. Lead author Julia Deeb-Swihart says selfies are an identity performance meaning that users carefully craft the way they appear online and that selfies are an extension of that. This evokes William Shakespeare's famous line: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women [merely] players." Options :

Over the past two decades, around a third of the world's mangrove swamps have been converted for human use, with many turned into valuable shrimp farms. In 2007 an economic study of such shrimp farms in Thailand [showed] that the commercial profits per hectare were $9,632. If that were the only factor, conversion would seem an excellent idea. However, proper accounting shows that for each hectare government subsidies formed $8,412 of this figure and there were costs, too :$1,000 for pollution and $12,392 for losses to ecosystem services. These [comprised] [damage to] the supply of food and medicine that people had taken from the forest, the loss of habitats for fish, and less buffering against storms. And because a given shrimp farm only [stays] productive for three or four years, there was the additional cost of restoring them afterwards. Options :

Green spaces contribute significantly to a [reduction] in soil and aerial temperatures during spells of hot weather, so contributing to human wellbeing. In the garden [context] , there is, however, little information as to what extent various types of plants [differ] in their cooling potential and how certain planting combinations may maximize cooling under a scenario of [low] rainfall and minimal water inputs. Options :

In order to [address] the widespread problem of low literacy, educators and policymakers must first understand why so many students struggle to read. One reason is undiagnosed reading disabilities such as dyslexia or other brain-based learning dizculties, which are more effectively addressed when identified in children as early as kindergarten and ideally before the second grade. Environmental factors such as low [exposure] [to literature or] language barriers can also limit reading success. Many experts also argue that a major [contributing] [factor is] the lack of training teachers receive in identifying children who are at risk of reading failure and in building oral language and linguistic skills. Additionally, teachers may not receive explicit instruction on how to teach reading skills, and existing reading curricula often do not [align] with the current science on how students learn. Studies [suggest that] [incorporating] the science of reading practices studied by psychologists, linguists, and neurobiologists into the classroom will dramatically reduce the number of children who are on track to become functionally illiterate adults. Options :

The prospect of learning something from history is what makes sociologists tick. It is through [developing] [a] systematic understanding of the forces which shape our lives that we [can] exercise control over them. The founding thinkers of sociology, who [came] to prominence during the development of what we are pleased to call modernity, thought so. It is the intimate relationship between the development of sociology and the development of modernity that the course begins with. This relationship is an intimate one because it is [only] with the social change instituted in the development of the modern world that a discipline such as sociology and social science, in general, could either exist or have anything to study. Options :

Research has suggested that major stressors in our lives are life [changes] , for example, moving house, marriage, or relationship breakdown. Work-related factors, [including] unemployment, and boredom, are also [common] [causes] of stress. Differences in personality may also [play] a part. A stress reaction is a response to a perceived threat. Different people perceive things in different ways, so a situation that one person [finds] very stressful might not be to someone else. Options :

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded $2.49 million to cover a [portion] of the cost of a collaborative project led by the Australian Maritime College at the University of T [asmania, in] [partnership] with The University of Queensland and CSIRO. The $5.85 million 'Tidal Energy in Australia . Assessing Resource and Feasibility to Australia's Future Energy Mix' project will map the country's tidal energy in [unprecedented] [detail before] assessing its ability to contribute to Australia's energy needs. Options :

Although not written about extensively, a few individuals have considered the concept and act of cheating in history [as well as] [contemporary] culture. J. Barton Bowyer writes that cheating is the advantageous [distortion] [of] perceived reality. The advantage falls to the cheater because the cheated person misperceives what is assumed to be the real world'. The cheater is taking advantage of a person, a situation, or both. Cheating also [involves] the 'reality' or what others call 'deception'. Deception can involve hiding the 'true' reality or 'showing' reality in a way intended to deceive others. Options :

A renewed interest in well-being, especially among baby boomers, as [well] as rising personal incomes, led to more spending on health and fitness in 2005. This prompted an [expansion] in the number of fitness and recreation centers across the country. Golf courses also [enjoyed] renewed success, as the sport increased in popularity, possibly the result of retiring baby boomers [heading] to the links. In 2005, households spent an average of $3,918 on recreation, up slightly from $3,678 in 2004. Items included in the 2005 figure are: an average of $166 on sports and athletic equipment, $665 to buy and operate recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, bicycles, and trailers, and $299 for the use of sports and recreation facilities. Options :

The teaching of languages could be revolutionised following ground-breaking research by Victoria University, New :ealand, PhD graduate Paul Sulzberger. Dr Sulzberger has [found] that the best way to learn a language is through frequent exposure to its sound patterns--even if you haven't a [clue] what it all means. 'However crazy it might sound, just listening to the language, even though you don't [understand] it, is critical. A lot of language teachers may not accept that,' he says.'Our ability to learn new words is directly related to how often we have been exposed to the particular combinations of the sounds which make up the words. If you want to learn Spanish, for example, frequently listening to a Spanish language radio station on the internet will dramatically boost your ability to pick up the language and learn new words.' Dr Sulzberger's research challenges existing language learning theory. His main hypothesis is that simply listening to a new language sets up the structures in the brain required to [learn] [the] words. 'Neural tissue required to learn and understand a new language will develop automatically from simple exposure to the language which is how babies learn their first language,' Dr Sulzberger says. Options :

Even after thousands of years exploring Earth, we're still uncovering new things like an ancient 'superhighway' in the Guatemalan rain forest. Hidden beneath a thick layer of vegetation, the [network] of roads stretches over 150 miles and was most likely built by the Mayan empire some 2,000 years ago. The newly mapped roads are connected to the ruins of El Mirador (sometimes called the Kan Kingdom) in northern Guatemala. Archaeologists believe El Mirador was [founded] around the 6th century BCE and was at its most powerful around the early first century CE. At that time, it had a population of as many as a quarter of a million, a quarter the size of Rome itself at the time. It also has some of the largest pyramids in the world. It was the heart of the Mayan civilization and naturally needed some major roadways. The roads of El Mirador have been known about since 1967, but scientists had no idea [how] [extensive they were] until now. The thick jungle obscured the remnants of the road, making it dizcult to see from the air. Researchers got around that using plane-mounted lidar, which can penetrate the forest canopy. It bounces laser pulses off the Earth, then the reflections are received by the plane and the distance readings are interpreted as a topographical map. The system is capable of how [mapping] 560,000 dots per second, providing an accurate topographical map of the land surrounding El Mirador. Options :

The universality of story Feature films are narratives – they tell stories. Even films based on [true] [events will] fictionalize them in order to produce drama, to telescope time, to avoid being filled up with too many [minor] characters, or simply to be more entertaining. Even in the current welter of special-effect movies, feature films are usually summarized by their plots – in their first 'treatment' (or outline of the script idea), in the advance publicity, in the TV guide, in reviews, and in conversations. Films may differ from other [kinds] of narrative-literary fiction or television drama, for instance – in the medium used and the representational conventions. They do, however, [share] with literary fiction and television drama the basic structure and functions of narrative. Much work has been done by researchers in the field known as narratology' on exactly what constitutes the structure and function of the narrative. Their conclusions are of great use to students of the feature film. Options :

No matter whether you speak English or Urdu, Walloon or Waziri, Portuguese or Persian, the roots of your language are the same. Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the mother tongue – shared by several hundred contemporary languages, as well as many now extinct, and spoken by people who lived from about 6,000 to 3,500 BC on the steppes to the north of the Caspian Sea. They left no written texts and [although] historical linguists have, since the 19th century, painstakingly reconstructed the language from daughter languages, the question of how it actually sounded was assumed to be permanently out of reach. Now, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have developed a sound-based method to move back through the family tree of languages that stem from PIE. They can simulate how certain words [would have sounded] when they were spoken 8,000 years ago. Remarkably, at the [heart] of the technology is the statistics of shape. "Sounds have shape," explains Professor John Aston, from Cambridge's Statistical Laboratory. "As a word is uttered it vibrates the air, and the shape of this soundwave can be measured and turned into a series of numbers. Once we have these stats, and the stats of another spoken word, we can start asking how similar they are and what it would take to shift from one to another." Options :

We now know through the work of neuroscientists that the human brain is wired to mimic other people, and this mimicry involves actual involuntary, [physiological] experience in the observer. Human beings tend to [imitate] actions that they see. Physiologically, our brains include mirror neurons, which [react] [to actions] that are seen as if we are doing the action ourselves. It is largely an unconscious and automatic experience. When we hear people speak, observe their vocal nuances, watch their posture, gestures, and facial expressions, etc., neural networks in our brains are stimulated by the "shared representations," generating feelings within us that [reflect] the experience of those we are observing. Options :

Another way to looking at personality is the behaviorist approach according to the behaviorists, the inner [facts] of the consciousness are not important. Instead, they believed that our [behaviors] , and therefore our personalities are learned primarily [through] our experiences. The theories of behaviorism arose through experiments largely on animals in which behaviors were learned through carefully controlled stimuli. Options :

London's National Portrait Gallery is currently celebrating the fifty-year career of the photographer Sandra Louisiana. Twenty-one portraits on display depict key [figures] in literature, film, and fashion from the early 1960s. [Subsequent] to the acquisition of forty portraits by Louisiana, the display at the National Portrait Gallery [highlights shots] [taken] between 1960 and 1964, many of which feature in Louisiana's book Public [faces] private places (2008). Formal commissioned portraits are shown alongside behind-the-scenes photographs taken on film sets and unguarded portraits of sitters captured at home. Options :

Bees and flowers [have] evolved together for millions of years. It is a [mutual] relationship where the bee is provided with food (nectar or pollen) and the stationary plant gets to disperse its pollen (sperm cells) to other plants of the same species. For the plant, this is much more ezcient than using wind to disperse its pollen. Consequently, over millions of years plants have developed flowers with increasingly specialized features to attract visiting bees who, in turn, would [distribute] pollen grains and optimize the plant's reproductive capabilities. Simultaneously, bees underwent physiological, behavioral, and structural adaptations to take [advantage] [of the nutritional] benefits offered by flowering plants. This is an example of a co-evolutionary relationship. Honey bees are considered generalist pollinators which means they will collect nectar and pollen from a variety of different plant species. However, this does not mean they pollinate all plants. Honey bees are considered the most important pollinators and animals on Earth. Options :

Participating regularly in physical activity has been shown to benefit an individual's health and [wellbeing] . Regular physical activity is important in reducing the risk of [chronic] diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, obesity, diabetes, and some [forms] of cancer. The National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, preferably every day of the week, to obtain health benefits. The national guidelines do not prescribe what kinds of physical activities may be most beneficial for improving health. Health-related campaigns [tend] to focus on promoting activities such as walking, as this is likely to be of benefit across all age groups, and has minimal risk of injury. People participate in a wide range of sports and physical recreation, all of which may be important for general fitness. Participation in sports and physical recreation also provides important leisure and social [activities] for many people. Options :

It is important to [emphasize] the need for hard work as an essential part of studying law, because far too many students are tempted to think that they can succeed by relying on what they imagine to be their natural ability, without bothering to add the expenditure of effort. T o take an analogy, some people prefer the more or less instant [gratification] which comes from watching a television adaption of a classic novel to the rather more [laborious] process of reading the novel itself. Those who [prefer] watching television to reading a book are less likely to study law successfully unless they rapidly acquire a [taste] for text-based materials. Options :

Gauss was a child prodigy. There are many [anecdotes] concerning his precocity as a child, and he made his first [ground-breaking mathematical] [discoveries] while still a teenager. At just three years old, he corrected an error in his father's payroll [calculations] , and he was looking after his father's accounts on a regular basis by the age of 5. At the age of 7, he is reported to have amazed his teachers by summing the integers from 1 to 100 almost instantly (having quickly spotted that the sum was actually 50 pairs of numbers, with each pair summing to 101, total 5,050). By the age of 12, he was [already] attending gymnasium and criticizing Euclid's geometry. Options :

More than simply putting flowers in a [container] , Ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Contrary to the [idea] of a particolored or multicolored arrangement of blossoms, Ikebana often emphasizes other areas of the [plant] , such as its stems and leaves, and puts emphasis on shape, line, and form. Though Ikebana is an expression of creativity, certain rules govern its form. The artist's intention behind each arrangement is shown through a piece's color combinations, natural shapes, graceful lines, and the implied meaning [of the] [arrangement] . Options :

The morality of the welfare state [depends] on contribution and responsibility. Since some people don't [contribute] and many are irresponsible, the choice of those who do contribute and are responsible is either to tolerate the free riders, refuse to pay for the [effects] of their irresponsibility, or trust the state to educate them. Hence the government campaigns [against] smoking, alcoholism, obesity, and gas-guzzling - the first two solidly in place, the other two ramping up. But the British state now goes further: it acts in favor of sexual and racial minorities. In the case of gay men and women, this means progressively removing the legal disadvantages under which they have lived, and ensuring that society as a whole [observes] the new order. Options :

Two decades ago, Kashmiri houseboat-owners rubbed their hands every spring at the prospect of the annual [influx] of tourists. From May to October, the hyacinth-choked [waters] of Dal Lake saw flotillas of vividly painted shikaras carrying Indian families, boho westerners, young travelers and wide-eyed Japanese. Carpet-sellers [honed] their skills, as did purveyors of anything remotely embroidered while the houseboats initiated by the British Raj provided unusual accommodation. Then, in 1989, separatist and Islamist militancy [attacked] [and] everything changed. Hindus and countless Kashmiri business people bolted, at least 35,000 people were killed in a decade, the lake stagnated, and the houseboats rotted. Any foreigners venturing there risked their [lives] , proved in 1995 when five young Europeans were kidnapped and murdered. Options :

In these distant times, the sun was seen to make its daily [journey] across the sky. At night the moon appeared. Every new night the moon waxed or waned a little and on a few nights, it did not appear at all. At night the great dome of the heavens was dotted with tiny specks of light. They [became] known as the stars. It was thought that every star in the heavens had its own purpose and that the [secrets] of the universe could be discovered by making a study of them. It was well known that there were wandering stars, they appeared in different nightly positions against their neighbors and they became known as planets. It took centuries, in fact, it took millennia, for man to [determine] the true nature of these wandering stars and to evolve a model of the world to accommodate them [and to] [predict] their positions in the sky. Options :

At the end of the colonial era, as many new nations gained independence, relative levels of economic development became an important criterion by which to distinguish between countries. The former colonial powers and [wealthier] parts of the world generally became known as advanced industrial, or developed, countries, [while] former colonies and poorer nations became known as less developed, or more positively, developing countries. Critics of the [uneven] distribution of wealth across the globe highlighted the role which wealth creation in some places had played in impoverishing poorer nations and, rather, described them as actively underdeveloped. The question as to [whether] economic change is developing or underdeveloping countries remains a vital issue, as the debate over sweatshops highlights. Options :

But look beyond fossil fuels for the most intriguing trends. One is that the energy intensity of the world economy - the amount of energy it takes to produce one dollar's [worth] of income - keeps falling, at a rate of about 2 percent. What this means is that even without any change in the [relative] shares of fossil-based and fossil-free sources in the world's energy mix, we could have 2 percent annual economic growth without increasing carbon emissions from energy use. Of course, that is not enough to [address] climate change and we need more economic growth than that. It is [nonetheless] a stunning number, which refutes the claim by some environmentalists that permanent economic growth is fundamentally incompatible [with] finite physical resources. Options :

Paraphrasing is often defined as [putting] a passage from an author into your own words. However, what are your own words' How different must your paraphrase be from the original' The answer is it should be considerably different. The whole point of paraphrasing is to [show] you have read and understood another person's ideas and can summarise them in your own writing style rather than borrowing their phrases. If you just change a few words or add some bits of your own to an otherwise reproduced passage, you will probably be [penalised] for plagiarism. You should aim to condense and simplify a writer's ideas and describe them using different sentence structures and expressions. It is also important to [credit] the original writer by referencing. Options :

An abstract is a concise summary of a research paper or an entire thesis. It is an original work, not an excerpted passage. An abstract must be fully self-contained and [make] sense by itself, without further reference to outside sources or to the actual paper. It highlights key [content] areas, your research purpose, the relevance or importance of your work, and the main outcomes. It is a well-developed single paragraph of approximately 250 words [in] length, which is indented and single-spaced. The function of the abstract is to outline [briefly] [all parts of] the paper. Although it is placed at the beginning of your paper, immediately following the title page, the abstract should be the last thing that you write, once you are sure of the conclusions you will reach. Options :

Some students say that they need complete quiet to read and study. Others study best in a crowded, noisy room because the noise actually [helps] them concentrate. Some students like quiet music playing, others do not. The point is, you should know the level of noise that is optimal for your own studying. However, one general rule for all students is that the television seems to be more of a distraction than music or other background noise, so [leave] the TV off when you are reading or studying. [Also] , don't let yourself become distracted by computer games, email, or Internet surfing. Options :

Uniquely stable, they seemed to participate in no chemical reactions. But by understanding the stability of the noble gases, physicists discovered the key to chemical [bonding] itself. Dmitri Mendeleev added the noble gases to his periodic table in 1902, where he arranged the elements in rows and columns according to their [atomic] weight. Mendeleev was able to see repeating (or periodic) patterns in their properties. The noble gases appeared regularly in [the] [periodic] table, occurring in every eighth position, at least amongst the lighter elements. Physicists struggled to find a model that would explain this curious observation. Options :

Mechanical engineering was at the heart of T aylor's theorizing, [providing] the context for its development, the world view by which it was sustained, and, finally, the justification for its widespread application. Scientific management aimed to analyze and control the activities of people in the [same] way that engineers analyzed and controlled machines. Central to T aylor's system was the desire to [rationalize] [and standardize production] techniques in the interests of economy, ezciency, and mutual prosperity. His primary point of interest was the individual worker pursuing individual goals and motivated by incentive payments. Undoubtedly [Taylor's view of] human motivation was somewhat simplistic and his apprehension of the significance of groups was limited and generally negative. Options :

The International Journal of Design is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal [devoted] [to publishing research] papers in all fields of design, including industrial design, visual communication design, interface design, animation and game design, architectural design, urban design, and other design related fields. It aims [to] [provide an] international forum for the exchange of ideas and findings from researchers across different cultures and encourages research on the impact of cultural factors on design theory and practice. It also seeks to promote the [transfer of knowledge] [between] professionals in academia and industry by emphasizing research in [which] results are of interest or applicable to design practices. Options :

Small lakes with a surface area of less than 100 square meters represent the majority of global freshwater ecosystems. Many of these lakes are found in [remote] , often mountainous areas with no inflow and outflow. Yet in most of these lakes, there are fish. So how do fish reach lakes and ponds that are not connected to other bodies of water' This question was already addressed by some of the leading natural scientists of the 19th century such as Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Lyell, who all came to the same conclusion . water birds must be [responsible for fish] [dispersal] . And they had a plausible explanation for this: fish eggs of some species are sticky and can survive for some time out of water. The theory is thus that the fish eggs stick to water birds' [feathers] or feet, the birds then fly from one body of water to the next, where the fish [hatch] [from their] eggs. Options :

The presentation will [cover] copyright's position as one of the intellectual property rights and how it [differs] from other intellectual property rights. It will give an overview of what copyright protects as well as what may be done with copyright protected works without permission under permitted acts (sometimes or so-called exceptions). It is by manipulating the restricted acts through licensing arrangements that rights owners establish and [exploit] commercial markets. In contrast to commercial markets, the growth of open source and open content licensing models has challenged established business models. The presentation gives a brief commentary on two of [the more] [prominent] open licensing frameworks: the GNU Creative Commons licences. Options :

Buying a house can seem like a [daunting] process -- First you need to work out how much you can borrow. This is where our services will really help you. Make sure you have an accurate and detailed budget that takes into account all associated with purchasing a property, including stamp duty, council rates, and other fees. We can help you identify these extra costs. Ask us for our budget planner if you don't already have one. Interest rates move constantly, so you will need to allow room in your budget for interest rate increases and for other unforeseen [events] [. All] purchase funds are paid at settlement. In the [ordinary] course of events, settlement takes place, the purchase price is paid in full and the deposit bond simply lapses group [certificates] for the past two years. Options :

When it comes to low-cost housing, architects are hardly ever involved. About 98% of the market is built [without] architects and the result is usually rows of clones of a building, regardless of whether they are [practical] [for an] area or not. Developers alone, without the input of an architect, do not see the big picture needed to make housing part of a safe, vibrant community. A little more thought could instantly improve [community] safety as well as lead to building houses that are both comfortable and cheap. Options :

The Department of Fine Arts is a vibrant department comprising active art professionals housed in a modern, well- equipped facility. The faculty enjoys [collaborative] relationships with local museums, numerous galleries and a variety of other art organizations. Fine Arts students benefit from studying with artistically [active] [mentors who] exhibit and research regionally, nationally and internationally. The department provides students with many opportunities for artistic and personal [growth] through daily contact with full -time faculty members who are noted artists and researchers. Classes are small to allow for personalised feedback and guidance. Well-appointed [studios on campus] [facilitate] the daily practice of art in combination with the study of liberal arts. During their studies, students gain exposure to world -class visiting artists and exhibitions, and also have local and international [travel] [opportunities] . Options :

The discovery of a set of what look like ancient hominin footprints on the island of Crete could throw our understanding of human evolution into disarray. Received wisdom is that after [splitting] from the chimp lineage, our hominin ancestors were confined to Africa until around 1.5 million years ago. The prints found in Crete, however, [belonged] to a creature that appears to have lived 5.7 million years ago – suggesting a more complex story. More research is needed to confirm what kind of animal made them. However, the prints seem to have been [made] [by] a creature that walked upright, on the soles of clawless feet (rather than on its toes), with a big toe positioned like our own, rather than sticking out sideways like an ape's. It may yet turn out to have been a [previously] [unknown] non-hominin that had evolved with a human-like foot, but the explanatory paper, in the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, is not the first to suggest that hominins could have originated in Europe. A few months ago, a team put forward evidence, gleaned from fossils found in Greece and Bulgaria, that a 7.2 million-year old ape known as Graecopithecus was in [fact] a hominin. Options :

Cultural studies is a new way of engaging in the study of [culture] . In the past, many academic subjects - including anthropology, history, literary studies, human geography, and sociology - have brought their own disciplinary concerns to the study of culture. However, in recent decades there has been a [renewed] [interest in] the study of culture that has crossed disciplinary [boundaries] . The resulting activity, cultural studies, has emerged as an intriguing and exciting area of intellectual inquiry that has already shed important new life on the character of human cultures and which promises to continue to do so. While there is little doubt that cultural studies is coming to be widely recognized as an important and distinctive field of study, it does seem to encompass a potentially enormous area. This is because the term 'culture' has a complex history and range of usages, which have [provided a] [legitimate] focus of inquiry for several academic disciplines. Options :

Since biological systems with signs of [complex] engineering are unlikely to have arisen from accidents or [coincidences, their] [organization] must come from natural selection and hence should have [functions] useful for survival and reproduction in the environments in which humans evolved. Options :

The general perception is that children are surrounded by a [variety] of musical experiences. There are often fewer and fewer opportunities for children to actively engage in music-making themselves. They are inundated with music emitting from a wide [array] of electronic devices, toys, and computers offering a limitless number of musical selections. However, much of the music in children's lives are "unchosen," in other words they are [passive] recipients in much of the music in their lives, and not actively engaged in its selection. They experience background music in computer games, cartoons, TV shows, films, on iPads, radios, and ringtones. They listen to music choices of their parents or siblings, and even the schools they attend often play music before the school day begins or in classrooms while students are working. Studies are being [conducted] on the effects of the ubiquitous pre-recorded music they encounter and whether or not it is [intruding] on their desire to make their own music or interact with each other on the playground. Options :

One of the Supreme Court's most important [responsibilities] is to decide cases that raise questions of constitutional interpretation. The Court decides if a law or government [action] violates the Constitution. This is known as judicial review and enables the Court to invalidate both federal and state laws when they [conflict] with the Constitution. Since the Supreme Court stands as the ultimate authority in constitutional interpretation, its [decisions can be] [changed] only by another Supreme Court decision or by a constitutional amendment. Options :

The amount of sleep you need depends on many [factors] , especially your age. Newborns sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day and preschool children should sleep between 10 and 12 hours. Older children and teens need at least nine hours to be well-rested. For most adults, seven to eight hours a night appears to the best amount of sleep. However, for some people 'enough sleep' may be as few as five hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep. As you get older, your sleeping [pattern] change. Older adults tend to sleep more lightly and awaken more frequently in the night than younger adults. This can have many causes, including medical conditions and medications used to treat them. But there's no evidence that older adults need less sleep than younger adults. Getting enough sleep is [important] to your health because it boosts your [immune] [system, which makes] your body better able to fight disease. Sleep is necessary for your nervous system to work properly. T [oo little sleep] makes you drowsy and unable to concentrate. It also impairs memory and physical performance. So how many hours of sleep are enough for you' Experts say that if you feel drowsy during the day - even during boring activities - you are not getting enough sleep. Also, the quality of sleep is just as important as quantity. People whose sleep is frequently interrupted or cut short are not getting quality sleep. If you experience frequent daytime sleepiness, even after increasing the amount of quality sleep you get, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to [identify] the cause of sleep problems and offer advice on how to get a better night's sleep. Options :

A music student at the University of Salford who wrote a song in two weeks is celebrating [after] [being featured] on a compilation album produced by Metropolis Studios. Pop mega-stars including Adele, Michael Jackson, and Sir Elton John have all recorded music at the world-famous Metropolis Studios. Last year, the recording studios [set] [about] compiling an album called 'Lost Songs', which features songs from relatively unknown musicians. First-year [student :ak T] aylor Fray decided to submit his song demo to be included in Volume Two of the Lost Songs album which was released this year after he saw [how] successful Volume One had been. :ak, 24, said: 'I found this [competition when simply] [searching] the internet for songwriting competitions one day, and was lucky that there was still time to [enter] . It amazes me that people who have worked with huge pop stars thought my song was good and worth something. Options :

At the end of the last ice age, the melting ice disrupted the ocean currents in the North Atlantic and [caused] [a] drop in temperature of almost 5 degrees. [Even though] the rest of the planet was warming [up] , the North Atlantic region remained in a cold period for 1300 years. The same thing happened [around] 8000 years ago, when the cooling lasted about a hundred years, and it [could] happen again today. Even a short period of cooling in the North Atlantic could have a dramatic effect on the wildlife, and the human populations, living there. Options :

In the developed world, home appliances have greatly reduced the need for physical labor. Fewer people need to be involved in tasks that once left them little time to do much else. For example, the word processor and email have, to [a great] [extent] , replaced the dedicated secretarial staff that briefly flourished with the rise of the typewriter. [Atone] time all copies were made with manual scribes, carefully duplicating what they read. Then we had carbon paper. Then photocopiers. Then printers. Then the requirement for a physical copy reduced. An entire stream of labor appeared and disappeared as technology advanced. We freed ourselves from one kind of work, we just [replaced it] [with] another. Options :

Managing performance is about getting people into action so that they achieve planned and agreed results. It focuses on what has to be done, how it should be done, and what is to be achieved. But it is equally concerned with [developing] people helping them to learn - and providing them with the support they need to do well, now and in the future. The framework for performance management, provided by the performance agreement, [which] [is] the outcome of performance planning. The agreement provides the basis for managing performance throughout the [year and for] [guiding] improvement and development activities. It is used as a reference point when reviewing performance and the achievement of improvement and development plans. Options :

While workers worry about whether robots will take their jobs, teachers are wondering how to use education to insulate the next generation from such a fate. This [has worked] before. When the last wave of automation swept the developed world at the start of the 20th century, policymakers decided education was the answer. If machines were going to substitute for brawn, they [reasoned] , more people would need to use their brains. The US [invested] [heavily] in education, with good results. Workers reaped the benefits through better jobs and higher wages. Economists Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson summed it up like this: 'The industrial revolution [started] a race between technology and education and, for most of the 20th century, humans won that race.' Options :

Affordable early year's education and childcare potentially enable parents, particularly mothers, to be in paid employment. International studies have [found] that countries with greater enrolment rates in publicly funded or provided childcare also have higher maternal employment rates, although untangling causal relationships are complex. From the point of view of the household, additional income, especially for the less well-off, is itself associated with better outcomes for children, as child poverty has been [shown] to be a key independent determinant of children's outcomes. From the point of view of the public purse, as mothers [enter] [employment] they are likely to claim fewer benefits and to generate extra revenues [through] income tax. Options :

Decision making is central to the management of an enterprise. The manager of a profit-making business has to decide on the manner of implementation of the objectives of the business, at least one of which may [well] relate to allocating resources so as to maximize profit. A non-profit-making enterprise (such as a department of central or local government) will be making decisions on resource allocation so as to be economical, ezcient, and [effective in its] [use] of finance. All organizations, whether in the private sector or the public sector, [take] decisions that have financial implications. Decisions will be about resources, which may be people, products, services, or longterm and short-term investment. Decisions will also be about activities, including whether and how to undertake them. Most decisions will at some stage involve consideration of financial matters, [particularly] cost. Options :

The exponential growth of the internet was [heralded] , in the 1990s, as revolutionizing the production and [dissemination] of information. Some people saw the internet as a means of [democratizing] [access to] [knowledge. For people] [concerned] with African development, it seemed to offer the possibility of leapfrogging over the technology gap that separates Africa from advanced industrialized countries. Options :

With the increase in women's [participation] in the labour force, many mothers have less time available to undertake domestic activities. At the same time, there has been increasing [recognition] that the father's role and relationship with a child is important. A father can have many [roles] in the family, ranging from income provider to teacher, carer, playmate and role model. Therefore, balancing paid work and family responsibilities can be an important issue for both fathers and mothers in families. Options :

The environmental impact of the global textile industry is hard to overstate. One-third of the water used worldwide is spent fashioning fabrics. For every ton of cloth [produced] 200 tons of water is polluted with chemicals and [heavy metals. An] [estimated] 1 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity powers the factories that card and comb, spin and weave, and cut and stitch materials into everything from T -shirts to towels, [leaving] [behind mountains of] solid waste and a massive carbon footprint. "Where the industry is today is not really sustainable for the long term," says Shreyaskar Chaudhary, chief executive of Pratibha Syntex, a textile manufacturer based outside Indore, India. With something of an "if you build it, they will come" attitude, Mr Chaudhary has steered Pratibha [toward] [the] leading edge of eco-friendly textile production. Under his direction, Pratibha began making clothes with organic cotton in 1999. Initially, the company couldn't find enough organic farms growing cotton in central India to [supply] [its factories. T] o meet production demands, Chaudhary's team had to convince conventional cotton farmers to change their growing methods. Pratibha provided seeds, cultivation instruction, and a guarantee of fair- [trade prices for] [their] [crops. T] oday, Pratibha has a network of 28,000 organic cotton growers across the central states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Orissa. Options :

Nature is no longer an [alien enigma] [but] something immediately beautiful, and exuberant opus [with] space for us to join in. Bird melodies have always been called songs for a reason. As long as we have been listening, [people] [have] presumed there is music coming out of those scissoring beaks. Options :

Daniel Harris, a scholar of consumption and style, has observed that until photography finally [supplanted] illustration as the "primary means of advertising clothing" in the 1950s, glamour inhered less in the face of the drawing, which was by necessity schematic and generalized, than in the sketch's attitude, posture, and gestures, especially in the strangely dainty positions of the hands. Glamour once resided so emphatically in the stance of the model that the faces in the [illustrations] cannot really be said to have [expressions] at all, but angles or tilts. Illustrations cannot really be said to have expressions at all, but angles or tilts. The chin raised upwards in a haughty look, the eyes lowered in an attitude of introspection, the head cocked at an inquisitive or coquettish angle, or the profile presented in sharp outline, emanating power the severity like an emperor's bust [embossed] on a Roman coin. Options :

Bones are extremely strong. One of their [main] functions is to protect organs. For example, the skull protects the brain, ribs protect [the] heart and lungs. There are three types of joints, including fixed joints, slightly moveable joints, and freely [moving] joints. Options :

Music is an important part of our lives. We connect and interact with it daily and use it as a way of projecting our self- identities to the people around us. The music we enjoy – whether it's country or classical, rock n' roll or rap – [reflects] who we are. But where did music, at its core, first come from' It's a puzzling question that may not have a definitive answer. One [leading] researcher, however, has proposed that the key to understanding the origin of music is nestled snugly in the loving bond between mother and child. In a lecture at the University of Melbourne, Richard Parncutt, an Australian-born professor of systematic musicology, endorsed the idea that music originally spawned from 'motherese' – the playful voices mothers [adopt] [when] [speaking to] [infants] and toddlers. As the theory goes, increased human brain sizes caused by evolutionary changes occurring between one and 2,000,000 years ago resulted in earlier births, more fragile infants, and a [critical] need for stronger relationships between mothers and their newborn babies. According to Parncutt, who is based at the University of Graz in Austria, 'motherese' arose as a way to strengthen this maternal bond and to help [ensure] an infant's survival. Options :

In the fast-changing world of modern healthcare, the job of a doctor is more and more like the job of a chief executive. The people who run hospitals and physicians' [practices] don't just need to know [medicine] . They must also be [able] to balance budgets, motivate a large and diverse [staff] , and make dizcult [marketing and legal] [decisions] . Options :

To qualify as a conservancy, a committee must define the conservancy's boundaries, elect a [representative] conservancy committee, negotiate a legal constitution, prove the committee's ability to [manage] [funds and] produce an acceptable plan for [equitable] distribution of wildlife-related benefits. Once approved, [registered] [conservancies acquire the] [rights] to a sustainable wildlife quota, set by the ministry. Options :

Climate is the word we [use] for weather over a long period of time. The desert has a dry climate because there [is very] [little] rain. The UK has a 'temperate climate', [which] means winters are, overall, mild and, [summers] generally, don't get too hot. Options :

About 10,000 years ago, people learned how to make cloth. Wool, cotton, flax, or hemp was first spun into a thin thread using a spindle. The thread was then woven into a fabric. The earliest weaving machines [probably] consisted of little more than a per of sticks that held a set of parallel threads, called the wrap, while the cross- thread, called the weft, was inserted. Later machines called looms had roads that separated the threads to allow the west to be inserted more [easily] . A piece of wood, called the shuttle, holding a spool of thread, was passed between the separated threads. The basic [principles] of spinning and weaving have stayed the same until the present day, though during the industrial revolution of the 18th century many ways were found of [automating] the processes. With new machines such as the spinning mule, many threads could be spun at the same time, and, with the help of devices like the flying shuttle, broad pieces of cloth could be woven at great speed. Options :

At the moment, there are between six and seven thousand languages in the world. According to linguists, fifty percent of these are in danger [of becoming] extinct. The speed of language loss has accelerated over the past few decades because businesses that need to communicate with a range of people from other cultures [prefer] to employ more widely used languages, such as English, Chinese, or Spanish. This attitude is understandable, but it means that many local languages are dying out before anyone [has had] [the opportunity] to study them. According to linguists, some of these languages could reveal a great [deal] [of useful information] about language learning and cognitive development. In addition, a local language that has been built on the local culture contains words and phrases that express that culture, lose the language and you arguably may lose the culture, too. And finally, historians will [argue] that a language contains evidence of a region's history and should, for that reason alone, be preserved. Options :

Victoria University of Wellington has conferred an honorary degree on a distinguished astrophysicist in a recent graduation ceremony. Professor Warrick Couch [received] the honorary degree of Doctor of Science for his remarkable contribution to our knowledge of galaxies and dark energy. Professor Couch is a distinguished [astrophysicist who has] [played] a crucial role in the discovery that the Universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, a finding which led to the lead scientists being awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011, which he attended in recognition of his contribution. In his research, Professor Couch uses large ground-based and space-based telescopes to observe galaxy clusters, [which] are the Largest Structures in the Universe. He is also involved in a number of national and international committees overseeing the management of these telescopes. [In addition] [to] his own research activities, Professor Couch has worked to support young researchers and provide public comment on astronomy internationally. Options :

You've probably noticed that [synthetic] t-shirts stink more after a workout, compared to cotton. But hey, it's not the fabric's fault. It's the microbes that hang out on synthetics that create that [characteristic] [stench. That's] according to a study in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Twenty-six volunteers;half men, half women worked out on spinning bikes for an hour. They did so outfitted with shirts of cotton, [polyester] , or a cotton!synthetic blend. The researchers then stuffed the sweaty shirts into plastic bags. The next day, a trained panel sniffed them, rating their funk. Unlucky job. Because yes, the polyester shirts were indeed more musty, sour, and ammonia-like than the cotton. DNA analysis revealed that Micrococcus [bacteria] was to blame. They aren't actually all that common in the armpit itself. And they don't flock to cotton. But researchers say they thrive on the open-air lattice of synthetic fibres where they sit chomping on the long-chain fatty acids in our sweat, turning them into shorter, stinkier molecules. These findings might just explain one of the most vexing questions of adolescence: why do stinky shirts smell so unpleasantly different from the body odour in [the armpits] [themselves] ' It could be because your favourite shirt has a microbiome of its own. Options :

Drive down any highway, and you'll see a proliferation of chain restaurants -- most likely if you travel long and far enough, you'll see McDonald's golden arches as well as signs for Burger King, Hardee's and Wendy's, the "big four" of burgers. Despite its name, though, Burger King has fallen short of [claiming] the burger crown, unable to surpass market leader McDonald's No. 1 sales status. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, Burger King remains No. 2.worse yet, Burger King has experienced a six-year 22 percent decline in customer trazc, with its overall quality rating dropping while ratings for the other three [contenders] have increased. The decline has been [attributed] to inconsistent product quality and poor customer service. Although the chain tends to throw advertising dollars at the problem, an understanding of Integrated Marketing Communication theory would suggest that internal management problems (nineteen CEOs in fifty years) need to be [rectified] before a unified, long- term strategy can be put in place. The [importance] [of] [consistency] in brand image and messages, at all levels of communication, has become a basic tenet of IMC theory and practice. The person who takes the customer's order must communicate the same message as Burger King's famous tagline, 'Have it your way," or the customer will just buzz up the highway to a chain restaurant that seems more consistent and, therefore, more [reliable] . Options :

In an often-cited study about counterfactuals, Medvec, Madey, and Gilovich (1995) found that bronze medalists appeared happier than silver medalists in television coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics. Medvec et al. [argued] that bronze medalists compared themselves to 4th place finishers, [whereas] [silver medalists] compared themselves to gold medalists. These counterfactuals were the most [salient] [because they were] either qualitatively different (gold vs. silver) or categorically different (medal vs. no medal) from what [actually] occurred. Drawing on archival data and experimental studies, we show that Olympic athletes (among others) are more likely to make counterfactual comparisons based on their [prior] expectations, consistent with decision affect theory. Silver medalists are more likely to be disappointed because their personal expectations are higher [than] [those] of bronze medalists. Options :

It is important to [emphasize] the need for hard work as an essential part of studying law, because far too many students are tempted to think that they can succeed by relying on what they imagine to be their natural ability, without bothering to add the [expenditure] [of effort. T] o take an analogy some people prefer the more or less [instant] [gratification] which comes from watching television adaptation of a classic novel to the rather more [laborious] process of reading the novel itself. Those who [prefer] watching television to read the book are less likely to study law successfully unless they rapidly acquire a [taste] for text-based materials. Options :

The financing of Australian higher education has undergone dramatic changes since the early 1970s. Although the Australian Government provided regular funding for universities from the late 1950s, in 1974 it [assumed] [full] responsibility for funding higher education - [abolishing] tuition fees with the intention of making university [accessible] to all Australians who had the [ability] and who wished to participate in higher education. Since the late 1980s, there has been a move towards greater private contributions, [particularly] student fees. In 1989, the Australian Government introduced the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) which included a loan scheme to help students finance their contributions. This enabled university to remain accessible to students by delaying their payments until they could afford to pay off their loans. In 2002, the Australian Government [introduced] a scheme similar to HECS for postgraduate students - the Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme (PELS). Funding for higher education comes from various sources. This article examines the three main sources - Australian Government funding, student fees and charges, and HECS. While the proportion of total [revenue] raised through HECS is relatively small, HECS payments are a significant component of student university costs, with many students carrying a HECS debt for several years after leaving university. This article also focuses on the characteristics of university students based on their HECS liability status, and the level of accumulated HECS debt. Options :

Comparing the intelligence of animals of different species is dizcult, how do you compare a dolphin and a horse' Psychologists have a technique for looking at intelligence that [does] not require the cooperation of the animals involved. The relative size of an individual's brain is a reasonable indication of intelligence. Comparing [across] species is not as simple as an elephant will have a larger brain than a human simply because it is a large beast, [instead] we use the Cephalization index, which compares the size of an animal's brain to the size of its body. Based on the Cephalization index, the brightest animals on the planet are humans, [followed] by great apes, porpoises, and elephants. As a general [rule] , animals that hunt for a living (like canines) are smarter than strict vegetarians (you don't need much intelligence to outsmart a leaf of lettuce). Animals that live in social groups are always smarter and have larger EQs than solitary animals. Options :

People move to a new region for many different reasons. The [motivation] for moving can come from a combination of what researchers sometimes call 'push and pull factors' - those that encourage people to leave a region, and those that attract people to a region. Some of the factors that motivate people to move [include] seeking a better climate, finding more affordable housing, looking for work or retiring from work, leaving the congestion of city living, wanting a more pleasant environment, and wanting to be near to family and friends. In [reality, many complex] [factors] and personal reasons may [interact] to motivate a person or family to move. Options :

Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop says she has seen no evidence that international students are graduating from Australian universities with poor English skills. Research by Monash University academic Bob Birrell has found a third of international students are graduating without a competent level of English. But Ms. Bishop says Australian universities only enroll international students once they have achieved international standards of language [proficiency] ."This has been an extraordinary attack by Professor Birrell on our universities,'' she said. 'International students must meet international [benchmarks] in the English language in order to get a place at a university in Australia, and they can't get into university [without] reaching that international standard." University of Canberra vice-chancellor Roger Dean also says international students are required to sit an English test before being admitted to nearly all Australian universities. 'There are, of course, intercultural dizculties as well as language dizculties," he said. 'There are, of course, also many Australian students who don't speak such [fantastically] good English either.' "So we're trying to push the standard even higher than a present, but it's a very useful one already." Ms. Bishop says Australia's university system has high standards. "I've seen no evidence to suggest that students are not able to complete their courses because they're failing in English yet they're being passed by the universities," she said. "I've not seen any [evidence] to back that up.' 'International education is one of our largest exports, it's our fourth-largest export, and it's in the interest of our universities to maintain very high standards because their standard fame recognition achievement is at stake." Options :

In a sequence of bestsellers, including The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works, Pinker has argued the swathes of our mental, social and emotional lives may have [originated] as evolutionary adaptations, well suited to the lives our ancestors eked out on the Pleistocene savannah. Sometimes it seems as if nothing is [immune] [from] being explained this way. Road rage, adultery, marriage, altruism, our tendency to reward senior executives with corner ozces on the top floor, and the smaller number of women who become mechanical engineers all may have [their] [roots] in natural selection, Pinker claims. The controversial implications are obvious: that men and women [might] [differ] in their inborn abilities at performing certain tasks, for example, or that parenting may have [little] influence on personality. Options :

Impressionism was a nineteenth-century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists who started publicly exhibiting their art in the 1860s. Characteristics of Impressionist paintings include visible brush strokes, light colours, open composition, [emphasis] on the light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, and unusual visual angles. The name of the movement is [derived] from Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise (Impression, Soleil Levant). Critic Louis Leroy inadvertently coined the term in a satiric review published in Le Charivari. Radicals in their time, early Impressionists broke the rules of academic painting. They began by giving colours, freely brushed, primacy over the line, drawing [inspiration] from the work of painters such as Eugene Delacroix. They also took the [act] of painting out of the studio and into the world. Previously, not only still-lives and portraits, but also landscapes had been painted indoors, but the Impressionists found that they could [capture] the momentary and transient effects of sunlight by painting air (in plain air). Options :

Measuring poverty on a global scale [requires] establishing a uniform poverty level across extremely divergent economies, which can result in only rough comparisons. The World Bank has defined the international poverty line as U.S. $1 and $2 per day in 1993 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), which adjusts for differences in the [prices] [of goods] and services between countries. The $1 per day level is generally used for the [least] developed countries, primarily African, the $2-per-day level is used for [middle-income] economies such as those of East Asia and Latin America. Options :

The ocean floor is home to many unique communities of plants and animals. Most of these marine ecosystems are near the water surface, such as the Great Barrier Reef, a 2,000-km long coral [formation] [off the northeastern] coast of Australia. Coral reefs, like nearly all complex living communities, depend on solar energy for growth (photosynthesis). The sun's energy, however, penetrates at most only about 300 m below the surface of the water. The relatively shallow penetration of solar energy and the sinking of cold, subpolar water combine to make most of the deep ocean floor a [frigid] environment with few life forms. In 1977, scientists discovered hot springs at a depth of 2.5 km, on the Galapagos Rift (spreading ridge) off the coast of Ecuador. This exciting discovery was not really a [surprise] . Since the early 1970s, scientists had predicted that hot springs (geothermal vents) should be found at the active spreading centers along the mid-oceanic ridges, where magma, at temperatures over 1,000° Presumably was being erupted to form new oceanic crust. More exciting, because it was totally [unexpected] , was the discovery of abundant and unusual sea life - giant tube worms, huge clams, and mussels - that [thrived] around the hot springs. Options :

What is a country, and how is a country defined' When people ask how many countries there are in the world, they expect a simple answer. After all, we've explored the [whole] planet, we have international travel, satellite navigation and plenty of global organizations like the United Nations, so we should really know how many countries there are. However, the answer to the question varies according to whom you ask. [Most] people say there are 192 countries, but others point out that there could be more like 260 of them. Sowhy isn't there a straightforward answer' The problem arises because there isn't a universally agreed definition of 'country' and because, for political reasons, some countries find it convenient to recognize or not recognize [other] countries. Options :

Founded after World War II by 51 'peace-loving states' combined to oppose future aggression, the United Nations now counts 192 member nations, [including] its newest members, Nauru, Kiribati, and T onga in 1999, Tuvalu and Yugoslavia in 2000, Switzerland and East Timor in 2002, and Montenegro in 2006. United Nations Day has been [observed] on October 24 since 1948 and celebrates the objectives and accomplishments of the organization, which was established on October 24, 1945. The UN [engages] in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions across the globe. Though some say its [influence] has declined in recent decades, the United Nations still plays a tremendous role in world politics. In 2001 the United Nations and Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General of the UN, won the Nobel Peace Prize 'for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world.' Since 1948 there have been 63 UN peacekeeping operations, 16 are currently underway. Thus far, close to 130 nations have contributed personnel at various times, 119 are currently providing peacekeepers. As of August 31, 2008, there were 16 peacekeeping operations underway with a total of 88,230 personnel. The small island nation of Fiji has taken part in virtually every UN peacekeeping operation, as has Canada. Options :

Egg eating snakes are a small group of snakes whose [diet] consists only of eggs. Some eat only small eggs, which they have to swallow [whole] , as the snake has no teeth. Instead, some other snakes eat bigger eggs, but [it requires special] [treatment] . These snakes have spines that stick [out] from the backbone. The spines [crack] [open] the egg as it passes through the throat. Options :

Never has the carbon footprint of multi-national corporations been under such intense scrutiny. Inter-city train journeys and long-haul flights to [conduct] face-to-face business meetings contribute significantly to greenhouse gases and the resulting [strain] on the environment. The Anglo-US company T [eliris has] introduced new video-conferencing technology and partnered with the Carbon Neutral Company, enabling corporate outfits to become more environmentally responsible. The innovation allows simulated face-to-face meetings to be held across continents without the time [pressure] or environmental burden of international travel. Previous designs have enabled video-conferencing on a point-to-point, dual-location basis. The firm's VirtuaLive technology, however, can bring people together from up to five [separate] locations anywhere in the world - with [unrivaled] transmission quality. Options :

Capital has often been thought of narrowly as physical capital the machines, tools, and equipment used in the production of other goods, but our wealth and wellbeing also [relies] on natural capital. If we forget this, we risk [degrading] the services that natural ecosystems provide, which support our economies and sustain our lives. These services include purifying our water, [regulating] our climate, reducing flood risk, and pollinating our crops. The Natural Capital Project, a partnership between WWF , the Nature Conservancy, University of Minnesota, and Stanford University, works to provide decision-makers with [reliable] ways to assess the true value of the services that ecosystems provide. An essential element of the Natural Capital Project is developing tools that help decision-makers protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. Options :

Teens write for a variety of reasons as part of a school assignment, to [get] a good grade, to stay in touch with friends, to share their artistic creations with others, or simply to put their thoughts to paper (whether virtual or otherwise). In our focus groups, teens said they are motivated to write when they can [select] [topics that are] relevant to their lives and interests, and report greater enjoyment of school writing when they have the opportunity to write creatively. Having teachers or other adults who challenge them, [present] [them with interesting] curricula and give them detailed feedback also serves as a motivator for teens. T [eens also] [report] [writing for an] audience motivates them to write and write well. Options :

One thing is certain. Most people do not get enough exercise in their [daily] routines. All of the advances of modem technology - from [electric] can openers to power steering have made life easier, more comfortable, and much less physically [demanding] Yet our bodies need activity, especially if they are carrying around too [much] fat. Satisfying this need requires a sustainable plan and a commitment. Options :

Organizations need to integrate their sales activities more both internally and with customers' needs according to a new book co-authored by an academic at the University of East Anglia. The book [addresses] how sales can help organizations to become more customer-oriented and consider how they are responding to challenges such as [increasing competition, more] [demanding] customers, and a more complex selling environment. Many organizations are facing escalating costs and a growth in customer power, [which] makes it necessary to allocate resources more strategically. The sales function can provide critical customer and market knowledge to help inform both innovation and marketing. However, the authors say that within the industry [there] [is still] uncertainty about the shape a future sales team should take, how it should be managed, and how it [fits] [into] their organization's business model. Options :

A dog may be man's best friend. But man is not always a dog's. Over the centuries [selective] [breeding has pulled] at the canine body shape to produce what is often a grotesque distortion of the underlying wolf. Indeed, some of these distortions are, when found in people, regarded as [pathologies] . Dog breeding does, though, offer a chance to those who would like to understand how body shape is controlled. The ancestry of pedigree pooches is well recorded, their generation time is short and their [litter] size reasonably large, so there is plenty of material to work with. [Moreover] , breeds are, by definition, inbred, and this simplifies genetic analysis. Those such as Elaine Ostrander, of America's National Human Genome Research Institute, who wish to identify the genetic basis of the features of particular pedigrees thus have an [ideal] experimental animal. Options :

Complementary therapies - such as those [practiced] by naturopaths, chiropractors, and acupuncturists - have become increasingly popular in Australia over the last few [decades] . Interest initially coincided with [enthusiasm] for alternative lifestyles, while immigration and increased contact and trade with China have also [had an] [influence] . The status of complementary therapies is being revisited in a number of areas: legal regulation, the stances of doctors' associations, their inclusion in medical education, and scientific research into [their] [ezcacy] . Options :

She transformed beauty into big business by cultivating classy sales methods and giving away samples. Leonard Lauder, chief executive of the company his mother founded, said she always thought she 'was growing a nice little business.' And that is it. A little business that [controls] 45% of the cosmetics market in U.S. department stores. A little business that sells in 118 countries and last year grew to be $3.6 billion big in sales. The Lauder family's shares are worth more than $6 billion. But early on, there wasn't a burgeoning business, there weren't houses in New York, Palm Beach, Fla., or the south of France. It is said that at one point there was one person to answer the telephones [who] [changed] her voice to become the shipping or billing department as needed. You more or less know the Estfe Lauder story because it's a chapter from the book of American business folklore. In short, Josephine Esther Mentzer, daughter of immigrants, lived above her father's hardware store in Corona, a section of Queens in New York City. She started her [enterprise] by selling skin creams concocted by her uncle, a chemist, in beauty shops, beach clubs, and resorts. No doubt the portions were good Estfe Lauder was a quality fanatic but the saleslady was better. Much better. And she simply outworked everyone else in the cosmetics industry. She [stalked] [the] bosses of New York City department stores until she got some counter space at Saks Fifth Avenue in 1948. And once in that space, she utilized a personal selling approach that proved as [potent] as the promise of her skin [regimens] and perfumes. Options :

Researchers already know that spending long periods of time in a zero-gravity [environment] -- such as that inside the International Space Station (ISS) - result in loss of bone density and [damage] [to the body's] [muscles] That's partly why stays aboard the ISS are [limited] at six months. And now, a number of NASA astronauts are reporting that their 20!30 vision [faded] after spending time in space, with many needing glasses once they returned to Earth. Options :

This summer, 41 UBC alumni and friends participated in expeditions to the Canadian Arctic and the legendary Northwest Passage. Presentations, conversations, and learning accompanied their exploration of the great [outdoors] aboard the Russian-flagged Akademik Ioffe, designed and built-in Finland as a scientific research vessel in 1989. Her bridge was open to passengers virtually 24 hours a day. Experts on [board] [presented on] topics including climate change, wildlife, Inuit culture and history, and early European explorers. UBC professor Michael Byers presented on the issue of Arctic sovereignty, a [growing] cause of debate as the ice melts, new shipping routes open, and natural resources [become] accessible. Recommended pre-trip reading was late UBC alumnus Pierre Briton's book, The Arctic Grail. Options :

If you see a movie, or a TV advertisement, that involves a fluid behaving in an unusual way, it was probably made using technology based on the work of a Monash researcher. Professor Joseph Monaghan who [pioneered] [an] [influential] [method] for interpreting the behavior of liquids that underlies most special effects involving water [has been] [honored] with election to the Australian Academy of Sciences. Professor Monaghan, one of only 17 members elected in 2011, was recognized for developing the method of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) which has applications in the fields of astrophysics, engineering, and physiology, as well as movie special effects. His research started in 1977 when he tried to use computer [simulation] to describe the formation of stars and stellar systems. The algorithms available at the time were [incapable] of describing the complicated systems that evolve out of chaotic clouds of gas in the galaxy. Professor Monaghan and his colleague Bob Gingold took the novel and effective approach of replacing the fluid or gas in the simulation with large numbers of particles with properties that [mimicked] those of the fluid. SPH has become a central tool in astrophysics, where it is currently used to simulate the evolution of the universe after the Big Bang, the formation of stars, and the processes of planet building. Options :

A herbal is a book of plants, describing their appearance, their properties, and how they may be used for preparing ointments and medicines. The medical use of plants is [recorded] on fragments of papyrus and clay tablets from ancient Egypt, Samaria, and China that date back 5,000 years but document traditions far older still. Over 700 herbal remedies were detailed in the Papyrus Ebers, an Egyptian text written in 1500 BC. Around 65 BC, a Greek physician called Dioscorides wrote a herbal that was [translated] into Latin and Arabic. Known as 'De materia medica', it became the most influential work on medicinal plants in both Christian and Islamic worlds until the late 17th century. An illustrated manuscript copy of the text made in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) [survives] [from the] sixth century. The first printed herbals date from the dawn of European printing in the 1480s. They provided valuable information for apothecaries, whose job it was to take the pills and potions [prescribed] by physicians. In the next century, landmark herbals were produced in England by William Turner, considered to be the father of British botany, and John Gerard, whose illustrations would [inspire] the floral fabric, wallpaper and tile designs of William Morris four centuries later. Options :

Fingerprints can [prove] that a suspect was actually at the scene of a crime. As long as a human entered a crime scene, there will be traces of DNA. DNA can help the police to [identify] an individual to crack a case. An institute in London can help [reserve] DNA and be used to match with the [samples] taken from the crime scenes. Options :

You have about 30 minutes to answer each question. You must take [account] of how many marks are [available] for each part when you answer it. Even if you think you can write more, don't spend 15 minutes [answering] a part worth only 5 marks. Leave space at the end of your answer and come back to it if you have [time] [to] [spare] later. And if you can't think of an answer to some part, leave a space and move on to the next part. Don't write about something else if you don't know the correct answer -- this is just a waste of your [valuable] [time (and the] examiner's). Options :

Descendants of the Maya living in Mexico still sometimes refer to themselves as "the corn people." The phrase is not intended as a metaphor. Rather, it's meant to [acknowledge] their abiding dependence on this miraculous grass, [the] [staple] of their diet for almost 9,000 years. Forty percent of the calories a Mexican eats in a day comes directly from corn, most of it in the form of tortillas. So when a Mexican says I am maize or corn walking, it is simply a statement of fact: The very substance of the Mexican body is to a considerable extent a [manifestation] [of this] plant. Options :

What are allergies' Allergies are abnormal immune system reactions to things that are typically harmless to most people. When you're allergic to something, your immune system [mistakenly] believes that this substance is harmful to your body. Substances that cause allergic reactions - such as certain foods, dust, plant pollen, or medicines - are known as allergens In an attempt to [protect] the body, the immune system produces IgE antibodies to that allergen. Those antibodies then cause certain cells in the body to [release] [chemicals into] the bloodstream, one of which is histamine (pronounced: HIS-tuh-meen). The histamine then [acts] on the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract and causes the symptoms of allergic reactions. Future exposure to that same allergen will trigger this [antibody] response again. This means that every time you come into contact with that allergen, you'll have some form of allergy symptoms. Options :

The film is where art meets commerce. As Orson Welles said::'A painter just needs a brush and the writer just needs a pen, but the producer needs an army.' And an army needs money. A producer is just like an entrepreneur, we [raise] money to make films. First, we need to find an original idea or a book or a play and purchase the rights, then we need money to develop that idea often a reasonably small sum. [Besides] , to commission a writer for the screenplay isn't something you would want to gamble your own money on, so you find a partner. We are lucky here in the UK, [as] we have Film 4, BBC Films, and the UK Film Council, all of [which] are good places to develop an idea. Producing in Britain is very different from producing in America or [even] Europe because the economic dynamic is different. Options :

Distance learning can be highly beneficial to a large variety of people from young students wanting to expand their horizons to adults looking for more job security, with programs that allow learners of all ages to take courses for fun, personal advancement, and degrees, distance learning can [meet] the needs of a diverse population. Perhaps one of the most notable and often talked about [advantages] of distance learning is the flexibility the majority of programs allow students to learn when and where it's convenient for them. For [those] who are struggling to balance their distance learning goals with working a fulltime job and taking care of a family, this kind of flexibility can allow many people to pursue education who would not otherwise be able to do so. [Since] there are no on- campus courses to attend, students can learn from their own homes, at work on their lunch breaks, and from virtually anywhere with internet access. For some, it can even be a big source of savings on the fuel costs and time required to commute to classes. Options :

One distinguishing feature of the business is its economic character. In the world of business, we interact with each other not as family members, friends, or neighbors, but as [buyers] [and] [sellers] , employers and employees, and the like. Trading, for example, is often [accompanied] by hard bargaining, in which both sides conceal their full hand and perhaps [engage] in some bluzng. And a [skilled] salesperson is well-versed in the art of arousing a customer's attention (sometimes by a bit of puffery) to [clinch] the sale. Still, there is an 'ethics of trading' that prohibits the use of false or deceptive claims and tricks such as 'bait-and-switch' advertising. Options :

In the literary world, it was an accepted assumption that the 1970s was a time of unprecedented growth in homegrown Australian fiction. And everybody was reading and talking about books by young Australian women. But it [was] [not until] recently that a researcher was able to measure just how many novels were published in that decade, and she found that there had been a decline in novels by Australian writers overall, but confirmed an increase in women's novels. It is this sort of research - testing ideas about literary history - that [is becoming] possible with the spread of 'Digital Humanities.' The intersection of humanities and digital technologies [is opening] [up] opportunities in the fields of literature, linguistics, history, and language that [were not possible] [without] computational methods and digitized resources to bring information together in an accessible way. Transcription software is being developed for turning scans of books and documents into text, as the field of digital humanities [really takes] [off] . Options :

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the exciting disciplines of politics and international relations and commerce. Students will learn about the [workings] of political institutions in countries around the world and explore the complex field of relations between nations. T opics in governance, public policy, public administration, national security, border control, and commerce ensure that students receive a [broad] [and] current education in the range of issues that are covered under the label of politics and international relations and commerce. In addition to acquiring specialist [knowledge] and competencies in Politics and International Relations and Commerce, students will graduate with a range of generic skills such as critical thinking, enhanced communication abilities, problem-solving and strong capacities to work with others. They will also develop ethically [based and socially] [responsible] attitudes and behaviors. Options :

Children have [sound] sleep patterns. They can [successfully] sleep for 8-9 hours and get up at a fixed time. But teenagers don't. Their need for an early start to schools or other schedules can [influence] [. their sleep] patterns. [Despite] of these factors, they actually need longer sleep. So, parents should try and speak to their [children, who are] [suitable] to help them understand that night of sound sleep is always helpful. Options :

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the organization can take [action] on a wide range of issues and provide a forum for its 193 Member States to [express] their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees. The work of the United Nations reaches every [corner] of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict [prevention] [, and] humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its system (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. Options :

What history books tell us about the past is not everything that happened, but what historians [have selected] . They cannot put in everything: choices have to be made. Choices must similarly be made about which aspects of the past should be formally taught to the next generation in the shape of school history lessons. So, [for example] , when a national school curriculum for England and Wales was first discussed at the end of the 1980s, the history curriculum was the subject of considerable public and media [interest] . Politicians argued about it, people wrote letters to the press about it, the Prime Minister of the time, Margaret Thatcher, [intervened] in the debate. Let us think first about the question of content. There were two main camps on this issue those who thought the history of Britain should take pride in [place] , and those who favored what was referred to as 'world history'. Options :

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Friday at 1845 GMT (1445 EDT), reaching orbit 9 minutes later. The rocket lofted an unscrewed [mockup] of SpaceX's Dragon capsule, which is designed to one day carry both crew and cargo to orbit. 'This has been a good day for SpaceX and a [promising] [development for] the US human space flight program,' said Robyn Ringuette of SpaceX in a webcast of the launch. In a teleconference with the media on Thursday, SpaceX's CEO, Paypal co-founder Elon Musk, said he would consider the flight 100 percent successful if it reached [orbit] . ' Even if we just proved out that the first stage functions correctly, I'd still say that's a good day for a test,' he said. ' It's a great day if both stages work correctly.' SpaceX hopes to win a NASA [contract] to launch astronauts to the International Space Station using the Falcon 9. US government space shuttles, which currently make these trips, are scheduled to [retire] for safety reasons at the end of 2010. Options :

Snails are not traditionally known for quick thinking, but new research shows they can make complex decisions using just two brain cells in [findings] that could help engineers design more ezcient robots. Scientists at the University of Sussex attached electrodes to the [heads] of freshwater snails as they searched for lettuce. They found that just one cell was used by the mollusk to tell if it was [hungry] or not, while another let it know when food was present. Food searching is an example of goal-directed behavior, during which an animal must integrate information about both its external environment and internal state while using as little energy as possible. Lead researcher Professor George Kemenes, said: 'This will eventually help us design the 'brain' of robots based on the principle of using the fewest possible components necessary to perform complex tasks.' What goes on in our brains when we make complex behavioral decisions and carry them out is poorly understood.' Our study reveals for the first time how just two neurons can create a mechanism in an animal's brain which drives and optimizes complex decision-making tasks. Options :

The Classic era of Mayan [civilisation] came to an end around 900 AD. Why this happened is unclear, the cities were probably over-farming the land so that a [period] of drought led to famine. Recent geological [research] supports this, as there appears to have been a 200-year drought around this time. Options :

Progressive enhancement is a design practice based on the idea that instead of [designing] [for the least] capable browser, or mangling our code to make a site look the same in every browser, we should provide a core set of functionality and information to all users, and then [progressively] enhance the appearance and behavior of the site for users of more capable browsers. It's a very productive development practice. Instead of [spending] hours working out how to add drop shadows to the borders of an element in every browser, we simply use the standard-based approach for browsers that support it and don't even attempt to implement it in browsers that don't. After all, the users of older and less capable browsers won't know what they are missing. The biggest [challenge] to progressive enhancement is the belief among developers and clients that websites should look the same in every browser. As a developer, you can simplify your life and dedicate your time to more interesting challenges if you let go of this outdated notion and embrace progressive enhancement. Options :

Bones also protect the organs in our bodies. The skull protects the brain and forms the shape of the face. The spinal cord, a pathway for messages [between] the brain and the body, is protected by the backbone, or spinal column. The ribs form a cage that [shelters] the heart and lungs, and the pelvis helps protect the bladder, part of the intestines, and in women, the reproductive organs. Bones are made up of a framework of a protein called collagen, with a mineral called calcium phosphate that makes the framework hard and strong. Bones store calcium and release some into the bloodstream when it's needed by other parts of the body. The amounts of certain vitamins and minerals that you eat, especially vitamin D and calcium, directly affect how much calcium is stored in the bones. [Joints are where] [two] bones meet. They make the skeleton flexible -- without them, the movement would be impossible. Joints allow our bodies to move in many ways. Some joints open and close like a [hinge] [(such as] knees and elbows), whereas others allow for more complicated movement -- a shoulder or hip joint, for example, allows for backward, forward, sideways, and rotating movement. Joints are classified by their range of movement: Immovable, or fibrous, joints don't move. The dome of the skull, for example, is made of bony plates, which move slightly during birth and then fuse together as the skull finishes growing. Between the edges of these plates are links, or joints, of fibrous tissue. Fibrous joints also hold the teeth in the jawbone. Partially movable, or cartilaginous, joints move a little. They are linked by cartilage, as in the spine. Each of the vertebrae in the spine moves in relation to the one above and below it, and together these movements give the spine its flexibility. [Freely] movable, or synovial (pronounced: sih-no-vee-ul), joints move in many directions. The main joints of the body -- such as those found at the hip, shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles -- are freely movable. They are filled with synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant to help the joints move easily. [Three] kinds of freely movable joints play a big part in voluntary movement: Hinge joints allow movement in one direction, as seen in the knees and elbows. Pivot joints allow a rotating or twisting motion, like that of the head moving from side to side. Ball-and-socket joints allow the greatest freedom of movement. The hips and shoulders have this type of joint, in which the round end of a long bone fits into the hollow of another bone. Options :

Populations can change through three processes: fertility, mortality, and migration. Fertility involves the number of children that women have and differs from fecundity (a woman's childbearing potential). Mortality [is] [the study] of the causes, consequences, and measurements of processes affecting death in a population. Demographers most commonly study mortality using the Life T [able, a statistical] [device] which provides information about the mortality conditions (most notably the life expectancy) in the population. Migration refers to the movement of persons from an origin place to a destination place across some pre-defined political boundary. Migration researchers do not designate movements as migrations' [unless] they are somewhat permanent. Thus demographers do not consider tourists and travellers to be migrating. While demographers who study migration typically do so through census data on place of [residence] , indirect sources of data include tax forms and labor force surveys. Options :

The writer-or, for that matter, the speaker conceives his thought whole, as a unity, but must express it in a line of words, the reader- or listener-must take this line of symbols and from it [reconstruct] the original wholeness of [thought. There is] [little] dizculty in conversation because the listener receives innumerable cues from the physical expressions of the speaker, there is a dialogue, and the listener can [cut] in at any time. The advantage of group discussion is that people can overcome linear sequence of words by [converging] [on ideas from] different directions, which makes for the wholeness of thought. But the reader is confronted by line upon line of printed symbols, without benefits of physical [tone] and emphasis or the possibility of dialogue or discussion. Options :

Understanding the number of species we have in our marine environment is a [basic] need if we are to protect and conserve our biodiversity. This is [vital] in today's rapidly changing world, not just here in Hong Kong, but [especially] in Southeast Asia which holds the world's most diverse marine habitats. SWIMS is playing a [major] role in trying to measure and conserve these important resources, both within Hong Kong but also, together with its regional collaborators, in Southeast Asia.' said Professor Grey A. Williams, the leader of this study and the Director of HKU SWIMS. [The enormous] [array] of marine life in Hong Kong, however, has yet to receive its desired level of conservation as currently only less than 2% of Hong Kong's marine area is protected as marine parks or reserve as compared with approximately 40 % of our terrestrial area. The Government has committed to designate more new marine parks in the coming years. The Brothers Marine Park in the northern Lantau waters [will be launched] soon, which will bring Hong Kong's total protected marine area to more than 2%. The research team welcomed the initiative of the new [marine park] [while] also urging the Hong Kong government to move towards the global target of at least 10% marine protected area by the year 2020 under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Options :

Part of the fun of experimenting with granular materials, says Stephen W . Morris, is the showmanship. In one stunt that he has demonstrated in settings ranging from high school classrooms to television studios, the University of [Toronto] [physicist] load clear plastic tubes with white table salt and black sand and start them rotating. What transpires in the tubes usually knocks the socks off of any [unsuspecting] bystander. Instead of mixing into a drab grey sameness, the sand particles slowly separate into crisp black bands, cutting across a long, narrow field of salt. As the spinning continues, some bands disappear and new ones arise. 'It's a parlor trick,' Morris says. Not to deny its entertainment value, this [demonstration] of how strangely granular materials can behave is also an authentic experiment in a field both rich in fundamental physics and major practical consequences. Options :

Over sixty years after Amelia Earhart vanished mysteriously in the Pacific during her attempt to become the first person to circumnavigate the world along the equator, Linda Finch, a San Antonio businesswoman, accomplished pilot, and aviation historian, recreated and completed her idol's last flight as a [tribute] to the aviation pioneer's spirit and vision. On March 17, 1997, Ms. Finch and a navigator took off from Oakland International Airport, California, in a restored Lockheed Electra 10E, the same make and model aircraft that Earhart used on her last journey. The mission to fulfill Amelia Earhart's dream was called "World Flight 1997." Although Ms. Finch was not the first to attempt Earhart's around-the-world journey, she was the first to do it in a historic aeroplane. Linda Finch closely followed the same route that Earhart flew, stopping in 18 countries before finishing the trip two and a half months later when she [landed] back at the Oakland Airport on May 28. Over a million school children and others were able to follow the flight daily through an [interactive] web site part of a free multimedia educational program called "You Can Soar," provided by the project's sponsor. Options :

Men and women are making different [choices] about their retirement savings, which could lead to very different investment outcomes, according to Dr. Claire Matthews, Director of Financial Planning at Massey University's Centre for Banking Studies. Speaking at the 2012 New :ealand Finance Colloquium, held at Massey University's Albany campus last week, Dr. Matthews said demographic characteristics had a substantial impact on the choices people made about KiwiSaver funds and retirement savings more generally. When it came to fund selection, she found there were significant differences based on gender. Men are more likely to invest in aggressive and growth funds, while women are more likely to choose conservative funds. "Males are risk-takers, [whether] it's in their choice of car or their investment fund," she says. "But when it comes to long-term savings, risk-taking can actually be an advantage." Dr. Matthews also found that men are more likely than women to have prior savings when joining KiwiSaver. Just over half of male respondents said they had savings already, while only 38% of women did. "These figures reflect and confirm, quite disappointingly, the difference between males and females and the level of interest they take in financial planning," Dr. Matthews says. "It's important for all New :ealanders to be better educated about their personal finances, but this is particularly so for women." Other demographic factors, including age, ethnicity, education, and income, can also influence the choices [being] made about retirement savings. Dr. Matthews found that those with bachelor and higher degrees, and those in households with a pre-tax income of $100,000 or more, were more likely to choose aggressive and growth funds. On the other hand , both the youngest and oldest age groups were more likely to be invested in conservative funds. While this might be appropriate for the life-cycle stage of older investors, it might not be so appropriate for younger, longer-term investors. Options :

Australia and New :ealand have many common links. Both countries were recently settled by Europeans, are predominantly English speaking and in that sense, share a common cultural [heritage] . Although in close proximity to one another, both countries are geographically isolated and have small populations by world [standards] . They have similar histories and enjoy close relations on many fronts. In terms of population [characteristics] , Australia and New :ealand have much in common. Both countries have minority indigenous populations, and during the latter half of the 20th century have seen a steady stream of migrants from a variety of regions throughout the world. Both countries have [experienced] similar declines in fertility since the high levels recorded during the baby boom, and alongside this have enjoyed the benefits of continually improving life expectancy. One consequence of these trends is that both countries are faced with an aging population and the [associated] challenge of providing appropriate care and support for this growing group within the community. Options :

Crime is an integral part of everyday life. It is a prominent [feature] in the news and is a popular subject for frictional portrayal. Most students commencing legal studies will have some [experience] [of crime, whether] directly, as a victim of a crime or indirectly through exposure to media coverage. This means that most offenses [covered] on the syllabus, such as murder, theft, and rape will be familiar terms. This tends to give students the impression that they know more about criminal law than they do about other subjects on the syllabus. This can be a [real disadvantage in] [terms] of the academic study of criminal law because it tends to lead students to rely on [preconceived] [notions] of the nature and scope of the offenses and to reach instinctive, but often legally inaccurate, conclusions. It is absolutely [essential] to succeed in criminal law that you put aside any prior knowledge of the offenses and focus on the principles of law derived from statutes and cases. Bydoing this, you will soon appreciate just how much difference there is between everyday conceptions of crime and its actuality. Options :

Formed two million years ago when low-density salt was pushed up through the much harder materials surrounding it, the Cardona Salt Mountain is one of the largest domes of its kind in the world, and unique in Europe. While small amounts of other minerals pervade the savory hill, the salt pile [would have] a near translucent quality if not for the thin layer of reddish clay coating the exterior. The [significance] of the mountain was recognized as early as the middle ages when Romans began exploiting the mountain for its salt, which began to bolster the young Cardonian [economy] . With the invention of industrial mining techniques, a mine was built into the side of the mountain and a thriving facility formed at its base as excavators dragged enormous amounts of potash (water-soluble) salt from the innards of the hill. [In addition] to the mineral export, the locals of Cardona began making salt sculptures to sell and invented a number of hard, salty pastries unique to the area. Options :

The platypus looks like no other creature on Earth. Physically, it appears to be a hybrid blend of a bird, beaver, reptile, and otter, with additional characteristics not contained in any of these four. On cursory examination, the platypus has a bill that most [resembles] that of a waterfowl, not the mouth of any known mammal. Yet it is not an ordinary bill. It is actually a well-designed sensory organ. Not a nose, but a highly sensitive electro-location sensor, detecting minuscule electrical impulses generated by its food source of small crustaceans and worms. No other mammal has a sensor so highly [developed] -- in fact, only one other mammal has this ability at all. Then [there] are the webbed feet, similar to those found on otters. Unlike an otter, however, the webbing is far more pronounced on the front feet of the platypus, which it uses like paddles for swimming. [While] in the water, the back feet are tucked into its body and hardly used at all. Options :

The foreign policy of a state, it is often argued, begins, and ends with the border. No doubt an exaggeration, this aphorism nevertheless has an [element] of truth. A state's relationship with its neighbors, at least in the [formative] years, are greatly influenced by its frontier policy, especially when there are no [settled] borders. Empire builders in the past sought to extend imperial frontiers for a variety of reasons, the subjugation of kings and princes to gain their [allegiance] (as well as handsome tributes or the coffers of the state), and, the security of the 'core' of the empire from external attacks by establishing a string of buffer states in areas adjoining the frontiers. The history of the British Empire in India was no different. It is important to note in this connection that the concept of international boundaries (between two sovereign states), demarcated and [delineated] [, was yet] to emerge in India under the Mughal rule. Options :

The narrative of law and order is located fundamentally at the [level] of individual guilt and responsibility. Criminal acts are seen as individual issues of personal responsibility and [culpability] , to which the state responds by way of policing, [prosecution] , adjudication, and punishment. This is but one level at which crime and criminal justice can be analyzed. The problem is that so often analysis ends there, at the level of individual action, [characterized] in terms of responsibility, guilt, evil. In few other areas of social life does individualism have this hold. T o take but one [instance] , it would be absurd to restrict the analysis of obesity, to individual greed. It should similarly be widely seen as absurd to restrict analysis of criminal justice issues to the culpability of individuals. Options :

Interior design is a professionally conducted, practice-based process of planning and realization of interior spaces and the elements within. Interior design is [concerned] with the function and operation of the aesthetics and its [sustainability] . The work of an interior designer draws upon many other [disciplines] [, such as] environmental psychology, architecture, product design and aesthetics, in relation to a wide range of building spaces including hotels corporate and public spaces, schools, hospitals, private residences, shopping malls, restaurants, theatres, and airport terminals. Options :

To learn the speech of alchemy, an early form of chemistry in which people attempted to turn metals into gold, it helps to think back to a time when there was no science: no atomic number or weight, no periodic chart no list of [elements. T] o the alchemists, the [universe] was not made of leptons, bosons, gluons, and quarks. Instead, it was made of substances, and one substance-say, walnut oil-could be just as [pure] [as another-say, silver-even] [though modern] [scientists] would say one is heterogeneous and the other homogeneous. Without knowledge of atomic structure how would it be [possible] to tell elements from compounds' Options :

Timing is important for revision. Have you noticed that during the school day you get times when you just don't care any longer' I don't mean the lessons you don t like, but the ones you find usually find OK, but on some occasions, you just can't be bothered with it. You [may] have other things on your mind, be tired, restless, or looking forward to what comes next. Whatever the reason, that particular lesson doesn't get 100 percent [effort] from you. The same is true of revision. Your mental and physical attitude is [important] . If you try to revise when you are tired or totally occupied with something else, your revision will be inezcient and just about worthless. If you approach it feeling fresh, alert, and happy, it will be so much easier, and you will learn more, faster. However, if you make no plans and just slip in a little bit of revision when you feel like it, you probably won't do much revision. You need a revision timetable, so you don't keep [putting it off] . Options :

The rest of the universe appears to be made of a mysterious, invisible [substance] called dark matter (25 percent) and a force that repels gravity known as dark energy (70 percent). Scientists have not yet [observed] dark matter directly. It doesn't interact with baryonic matter and it's completely invisible to light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, making dark matter impossible to detect with current instruments. But scientists are confident it exists because of the gravitational effects it [appears to] have on galaxies and galaxy clusters. The visible universe, including Earth, the sun, other stars, and galaxies, is made of protons, neutrons, and electrons bundled together into atoms. Perhaps one of the most surprising [discoveries] of the 20th century was that this ordinary, or baryonic, matter makes up less than 5 percent of the mass of the universe revelation... [This lecture will] [summarize] . Options :

Leadership is all about being granted permission by others to lead their thinking. It is a bestowed moral authority that gives the right to organize and direct the efforts of others. But moral authority does not come from simply managing people effectively or communicating better or being able to motivate. It comes from many [sources] [, including] being authentic and genuine, having integrity and showing a real and deep understanding of the business in [question. All these] [factors] build confidence. Leaders lose moral authority for three reasons: they behave [unethically] , they become plagued by self-doubt and lose their conviction, or they are blinded by power, lose self-awareness and thus lose [connection] [with] those they lead as the context around them changes. Having said all this, it has to be assumed that if someone becomes a leader, at some point they understood the difference between right and wrong it is up to them to [abide by] a moral code and up to us to ensure that the moment we suspect they do not, we fire them or vote them out. Options :

Recently, research into embryonic development has given us an even better insight into how major structural changes might occur in a given population of organisms. We now understand that there are two major types of genes: developmental and "housekeeping" genes. Developmental genes are those that are expressed during embryonic development, and their proteins [control] the symmetry, skeletal development, organ placement, and the overall form of the developing animal. [In contrast] , "housekeeping" genes are expressed during the animal's daily life to generate proteins that keep the cells, tissues, and organs in the body functioning properly. as you might suspect, mutations in developmental genes can have radical consequences for body form and function, whereas mutations in "housekeeping" genes tend to [affect] the health and reproductive success of the post- embryonic animal. Options :

Most important of all is the fact that for each new ballet-pantomime created at the Paris Opera during the July Monarchy, a new score was produced. The reason for this is simple: this ballet -pantomimes told stories -elaborate ones -and the music was considered an indispensable tool in getting them across to the audience. [Therefore] , music had to be newly created to fit each story Music tailor-made for each new ballet-pantomime, however, was only one weapon in the Opera's explanatory arsenal. [Another] was the ballet-pantomime libretto, a printed booklet of fifteen to forty pages in length, which was sold in the Operas lobby (like the opera libretto), and which laid out the plot in painstaking detail, scene by scene. Critics also took it upon themselves to recount the plots (of both ballet- pantomimes and operas) in their [reviews] of premieres. So did the publishers of souvenir albums, which also featured pictures of famous [performers] and of scenes from favorite ballet-pantomimes and operas. Options :

The recipe for making any creature is written in its DNA. So last November when geneticists published the near- complete DNA sequence of the long-extinct woolly mammoth, there was much speculation about whether we could bring this behemoth back to life. Creating a living, breathing creature from a genome sequence that exists only in a computer's memory is not possible right now. But someone someday is sure to try it, [predicts] Stephan [Schuster, a] [molecular] biologist at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and a [driving] [force] behind the mammoth genome project. Options :

Great engineers have a passion to improve life, a burning conviction that they can make life better for everyone. Engineers need to have a talent for invention and innovation, but what [drives] them is the conviction that they can find a better way to do things, a cheaper and more ezcient solution to the problems of human existence on this [planet of] [limited] resources that we call Earth. [Many of us] [spend] a lot of time complaining about the dizculties and problems of life. It is easy to find fault with things that make daily life arduous. For an engineer, these dizculties can be opportunities. How can this be made to work better' How can that process be made more ezcient' How can [components] be made more cheaply, more accurately, and more fit-for-purpose' Great engineers are convinced that everything can be [improved] . Instead of complaining, they think of ways to make things better Options :

Paris is very old, there has been a settlement there for at least 6000 years and its shape has been determined in part by the River Seine, and in part by the edicts of France's rulers. But the great boulevards we admire today are relatively new, and were constructed to prevent any more barricades [being created] by the rebellious population, that work was carried out in the middle 19th century. The earlier Paris had been [in part] a maze of narrow streets and alleyways. But you can imagine that the work was not only highly expensive, but caused great distress among the half a million or so residents whose houses were [simply] razed, and whose neighborhoods disappeared. What is done cannot usually be undone, especially when buildings are torn [down] . Options :

Over the last ten thousand years, there seem to have been two separate and conflicting building sentiments throughout the history of towns and cities. [One] is the desire to start again, for a variety of reasons: an earthquake or a tidal wave may have demolished the settlement, or fire destroyed it, or the new city [marks] [a] new political beginning. The other can be likened to the effect of a magnet: established settlements attract people, [who] [tend to] come whether or not there is any planning for their arrival. The clash between these two sentiments is evident in every established city [unless] its development has been almost completely accidental or is lost in history. Incidentally, many settlements have been planned from the beginning but, for a variety of reasons, no settlement followed the plan. A good example is Currowan, on the Clyde River in New South Wales, which [was surveyed] in the second half of the 19th century, in the expectation that people would come to establish agriculture and a small port. But no one came. Most country towns in New South Wales started with an original survey whose grid lines are still there today in the pattern of the original streets. Options :

Tokyo Tatemono En #12000083 Prediction The Edo- [Tokyo T] atemono En is an open-air architectural museum but could be better thought of as a park. Thirty buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries from [all] [around T] okyo were restored and relocated to space, where they can be explored by future generations to come. The buildings are a collection of houses and businesses, shops, and bathhouses, all of which would have been present on a typical middle-class street from Edoera to Showa- [era T] okyo. The west section is [residential] , with traditional thatched roof bungalows of the 19th century. Meiji- era houses are also on view, constructed in a more Western-style after Japan opened its borders in 1868. The Musashino Sabo Caff occupies the [ground] floor of one such house, where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea. Grand residences like that of Korekiyo T akahashi, an early 20th-century politician assassinated over his controversial policies, demonstrate how the upper class lived during that time period. The eastern section is primarily businesses from the 1920s and '30s, preserved with their wares on display. Visitors are free [to wander] [through a] kitchenware shop, a florist's, an umbrella store, a bar, a soy sauce shop, a tailor's, a cosmetics shop, and an inn complete with an operational noodle shop. Options :

The last tourists may have been leaving the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank in Luxor but the area in front of the tomb of Tutankhamen remained far from deserted. Instead of the [tranquility] that usually descends on the area in the evening, it was a hive of activity. The TV crew trailed masses of equipment, journalists milled and photographers held their cameras at the ready. The reason' For the first time since Howard Carter [discovered] the tomb in 1922, the mummy of Tutankhamen was being prepared for public display. Inside the subterranean burial chamber Egypt's archaeology supreme :ahi Hawass, [accompanied] by four Egyptologists, two restorers, and three workmen, were slowly lifting the mummy from the golden sarcophagus where it has been rested -- mostly undisturbed -- for more than 3,000 years. The body was then placed on a wooden [stretcher and] [transported] to its new home, a high-tech, climate-controlled plexiglass showcase located in the outer chamber of the tomb where, covered in linen, with only the face and feet exposed, it now greets visitors. Options :

Fancy locusts for lunch' Probably not, if you live in the west, but elsewhere it's a different story. Edible insects – termites, stick insects, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and giant water bugs are on the menu for an [estimated] [80] percent of the world's population. More than 1000 species of insects are [served] up around the world. For example, "kungfu cakes" made from [midges are a] [delicacy] in parts of Africa. Mexico is an insect-eating and entomophagous hotspot where more than 200 insect species are consumed. [Demand] is so high that 40 species are now under [threat] , including white agave worms. These caterpillars of the tequila giant-skipper butterfly fetch around $250 a kilogram. [Eating insects makes] [nutritional] sense. Some contain more [protein] than meat or fish. Female gypsy moths, for instance, is about 80 percent protein. Insects can be a good [source] of vitamins and minerals too: a type of caterpillar (Usta T erpsichore) eaten in Angola is rich in iron, zinc, and thiamine. What do they taste like' Ants have a lemon tang, apparently, whereas giant water bugs taste of mint and fire ant pupae of watermelon. You have probably, inadvertently, already tasted some of these things, as insects are often accidental tourists in other types of food. The US Food and Drug Administration even issues guidelines for the number of insect parts allowed in certain foods. For example, it is [acceptable] for 225 grams of macaroni to contain up to 225 insect fragments. Options :

ignored [weighed] purposed

Note: The re-orders provided in this file are in the correct order.

• A. Big Country Snake Removal responded to a home in Albany, T exas, after a man who was trying to restore his cable, climbed under the house and saw some snakes.
• B. He saw a 'few' snakes and quickly crawled out, said a post on Big Country Snake Removal's Facebook page.
• C. 'We arrived around lunchtime and as soon as I crawled under I could immediately see that there was far more than a few,; the post said.
• D. The company ended up removing 45 rattlesnakes from beneath the house.

• A. The 'Festival in The Desert' is a celebration of the musical heritage of the T ouareg, a fiercely independent nomadic people.
• B. It is held annually near Essakane, an oasis some 40 miles north-west of Timbuktu, the ancient city on the Niger River.
• C. Reaching it tests endurance, with miles of impermanent sand tracks to negotiate.
• D. The reward of navigating this rough terrain comes in the form of a three-day feast of music and dance.

• A. Why do people like to travel abroad'
• B. Some TV programs will show tourist attractions.
• C. People can see the outside world through satellites.

• A. There are many kinds of loans available, but people should be careful not to over-borrow.
• B. If loans are not managed properly, they can create long-term financial pressure and limit future financial freedom.
• C. In their early life, many people are constantly repaying loans and spending most of their income every month.
• D. Some people have student loans that require them to spend a large portion of their earnings during their twenties and thirties.

• A. Fibers suitable for clothing have been made for the first time from the wheat protein gluten.
• B. The fibers are as strong and soft as wool or silk.
• C. However, they are 30 times cheaper.
• D. Reddy and Yang, who produced the fibers, say that in In addition, because they are biodegradable they might be used in biomedical applications.