EBAU Practice- Reading

TAKING OLD CARS OFF THE ROAD

Barcelona will ban cars that are older than 20 years from the road during the week to cut traffic emissions by 30% over 15 years. The measure will come into force on January 1, 2019 and will cover Barcelona and the 39 neighbouring municipalities. Under the terms of the agreement, it will be prohibited to drive private cars registered before January 1997 and vans registered before October 1994 on working days. 

Although the ban will not be fully effective for two years, those same vehicles will already be banned from the roads during periods of high pollution from 1st December this year. The aim is to first reduce emissions by 10% over the next five years to gradually reach the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation. Then the adoption of the stricter measures will be implemented in order to reach the level set by the European Union before 2020. 

Janet Saiz, the city’s deputy for the environment said, “The people of Barcelona have told us clearly in surveys that they want to fight against air pollution because it is a health problem of the first order.” The city hopes to convince people to cooperate by offering free public transport to those who give up their vehicles. 

In a similar move last January, the Norwegian city of Oslo banned diesel cars from the road for two days in one particular week to combat rising air pollution. Many motorists were angered because they had been encouraged to purchase diesel cars by the state government just a few years before, when they were considered a better environmental choice than petrol cars. Drivers who did not obey the ban were fined around €200. A city councillor said at the time, “In Oslo, we can't ask children, the elderly, and those suffering from respiratory problems to stay at home because the air is too harmful to breathe.” 

Some Norwegians, however, were happy with the idea, like Kenneth Tempel, who wrote on Facebook, “Very good measure. We should introduce a permanent ban on diesel vehicles in all big cities. The fines should also be doubled.” According to the Norwegian Institute of Public health, air pollution causes 185 premature deaths in Oslo each year. 16 January 2017 and 7 March 2017, 

The Guardian (Adapted).

Question 1: Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer. 

a) The ban will happen in Barcelona immediately. 

b) Cars registered before 1997 will not be banned at weekends. 

c) The people of Barcelona feel this is an important issue. 

d) The Barcelona authorities will not offer any incentive to make people comply with the ban. 

e) Kenneth Tempel believes the fines should be lower than they were.

Question 2: Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given. 

a) Surrounding, closest (paragraph 1) 

b) Conditions (paragraph 1) 

c) More severe (paragraph 2) 

d) Without a charge (paragraph 3) 

e) Option (paragraph 4)

Question 3: Choose the correct option, a, b or c for each question and COPY the option chosen onto your answer sheet. 

1. The people of Barcelona... 

a) were not told to give their opinion about the air pollution problem by the government. 

b) were asked their opinion about the air pollution problem by the government. 

c) were not asked their opinion about the air pollution problem by the government. 

2. Tempel believed that... 

a) a permanent ban on diesel vehicles should be introduced in all big cities. 

b) a permanent ban on all vehicles would not be beneficial in all big cities. 

c) a permanent ban on some vehicles should be beneficial in his city. 

3. A Norwegian driver caught ignoring the ban last January... 

a) had to pay a €200 fine. 

b) must not have paid a €200 fine. 

c) was paid a €200 fine. 

4. The Norwegian authorities... 

a) are used to believing that diesel cars were better for the environment. 

b) didn’t use to believe diesel cars were better for the environment. 

c) used to believe diesel cars were better for the environment. 

Question 4: Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic: – In your personal opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a car?

Food for thought

Spain is the world’s healthiest nation, according to Bloomberg index

Country takes the crown from Italy, while Japan ranks fourth, Britain comes in 19th, and the US takes 35th place, five spots below Cuba.

After climbing six rungs from 2017 and pushing Italy from first spot, Spain now ranks at the top of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, which considers several factors that contribute to overall health, such as life expectancy at birth, sanitation and health services.

Four other European countries made it into the top 10: Iceland (third), Switzerland (fifth), Sweden (sixth) and Norway (ninth). France was 12th, Britain 19th, Portugal 22nd, Germany 23rd and Belgium 28th. Japan, which ranks fourth globally, is the healthiest nation in Asia.

The index classifies nations according to variables such as life expectancy, tobacco use and obesity. Environmental factors like access to clean water and sanitation are also taken into account.

Spain has the highest life expectancy at birth among European Union nations, and trails only Japan and Switzerland globally, United Nations data show. Spain by 2040 is forecast to have the longest lifespan, at almost 86 years, followed by Japan, Singapore and Switzerland, according to the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The Bloomberg index underscores the impact of the Spanish public health system and Spanish eating habits.

Spain has the highest life expectancy at birth among European Union nations

“Primary care is essentially provided by public providers, specialized family doctors and staff nurses, who provide preventive services to children, women and elderly patients, and acute and chronic care,” according to the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 2018 review of Spain, noting a decline the past decade in cardiovascular diseases and deaths from cancer.

Researchers say eating habits may provide clues to health levels enjoyed by Spain and Italy, as a “Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, had a lower rate of major cardiovascular events than those assigned to a reduced-fat diet,” according to a study led by the University of Navarre Medical School.

Meanwhile in North America, Canada’s 16th-place ranking far surpassed the US and Mexico, which both dropped slightly to 35th and 53rd position respectively.

Cuba placed five spots above the US, making it the only nation not classified as “high income” by the World Bank to be ranked that high. Sub-Saharan economies accounted for 27 of the 30 unhealthiest nations in the ranking. Haiti, Afghanistan and Yemen were the others.

EBAU practice

Brain scans to unlock mystery of shoppers' behaviour

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10458359/Brain-scans-to-unlock-mystery-of-shoppers-behaviour.html

Shoppers will have their brains scanned in an attempt to discover whether spending too long in a supermarket really does lead you to make bad and impulsive decisions. Researchers will scan people's brains to examine how they react to promotions and special offers, and how their behaviour changes as they browse the aisles.

The mystery of consumers' behaviour, and how it can be influenced by anything from the layout of a shop's shelves to the music piped through its tannoys, is of crucial importance to retailers who spend millions trying to gain a competitive edge.

According to previous research there appears to be a point about 23 minutes after a customer begins shopping that they cease making decisions rationally and begin acting more on impulse.

Researchers from Bangor University and the shopping behaviour specialists SBXL will ask retailers to simulate a normal £80 grocery shop while having their brain imaged by an MRI scanner.

Because the participants need to be inside the 20-tonne machine, they will choose items from a list of products rather than browsing the shop on foot.

Experts will analyse changes in blood flow brain activity as the participants go through the shopping process, to identify any changes in attention span, and their ability to ignore brands surrounding those on offer.

Their theory is that after about 23 minutes of shopping customers will begin to tire and will start making decisions with the emotional part of their brain, which cannot accurately calculate value for money, rather than the cognitive part which governs logical decision-making.

Some studies have shown that a fifth of shoppers will buy items on special offer even if they are more expensive than the usual product, while nearly half ignore buy-one-get-one free labels and only take one item.

Dr Paul Mullins, a psychologist at Bangor University, said: "We are really excited about this new research opportunity. Using advanced brain-imaging techniques we hope to get a better understanding of how shoppers respond to special offers."

Question 1- Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. The result of this study is decisive for shopkeepers.

a) True. The mystery of consumers' behavior …. is of crucial importance to retailers who spend millions trying to gain a competitive edge

b. When people start their shopping, they often act logically.

b) True. Their theory is that after about 23 minutes of shopping customers will begin to tire and will start making decisions with the emotional part of their brain, which cannot accurately calculate value for money, rather than the cognitive part which governs logical decision-making.

c. More than half of the shoppers buy buy-one-get-one free labels

c) False. Some studies have shown that a fifth of shoppers will buy items on special offer even if they are more expensive than the usual product, while nearly half ignore buy-one-get-one free labels and only take one item.

Question 2-Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What is the purpose of the study?

 a) The purpose of the study is to find out if shoppers change their way to decide about their shopping once they have been at the shop for a long time.

b. How will the research be carried out?

b) There will be a virtual grocery shop where customers will choose products from a list. While they are doing this, their brains will be examined by a scanner and later researchers will study the changes in the blood flow in their brains.

Question 3 - Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. look around (par.1)                      a)  To browse

b. sellers (par.2)                               b)  retailers

c.  pretend (par. 4)                           c)  simulate

d. exactly (par.7)                             d)  accurately

Question 4 - Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

• Supposing the participants went through the shopping process, experts would analyse changes in in blood flood brain activity.
• If shoppers didn´t stay longer than 23m, they wouldn´t stop making rational decisions.  If shoppers stay longer than 23m, they will stop making rational decisions. (stayed/would stop making/wouldn´t make rational decisions)
• Unless items are on special offer, 1/5 of shoppers won´t buy them.
• Provided that customers had a list of items, they would choose products from the list

Online shoppers splash out
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/537m-total-expected-online-shopping-1888497

Online shoppers are set to spend a total of £537m today in what is predicted to be the busiest internet shopping day of the year. Total spending on the day called Manic Monday is forecast to hit £22.4m an hour, according to shopping comparison website Kelkoo. The cold weather and a strike by London Underground workers are also expected to boost the number of shoppers choosing to buy online.

Visa Europe said the busiest online shopping day in the previous two years had been on the last Monday in November. It predicted transactions would peak in the lunch hour between 1pm and 2pm and again at around 7pm as shoppers go online after returning home from work.

A study found 74% of consumers planned to buy presents online this Christmas, with 30% looking to do more shopping on the internet than last year. Visa Europe commercial director Steve Perry said: "Shopping online is now a natural part of the gift-buying process for consumers and a key part of Christmas sales strategy for retailers.

The combination of monthly salaries being paid and people taking delivery times into consideration should combine to deliver a record day for internet shopping."
Retailer Argos also said it was predicting today to be the busiest for online delivery orders, falling after the last pay day before Christmas but still allowing time for delivery and wrapping before December 25. The busiest day on the high street is expected to be December 18.

Question 1 (3 points). Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) More money is usually spent on buying items online on the last Monday in November.

True …… the busiest online shopping day in the previous two years had been on the last Monday in November
b) The number of people shopping for Christmas presents online will grow by 30% this year.

False. 74% of consumers planned to buy presents online this Christmas, with 30% looking to do more shopping on the internet than last year.
c) If you buy something online today, it will arrive before Christmas.

True. (…) still allowing time for delivery and wrapping before December 25.

Question 2 (3 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why will there be even more people shopping online this year?

 The freezing temperatures and the fact that the people who work in the London Underground will be taking industrial action today as well as the fact that people have just received their monthly salaries will mean that there will be an increase in the number of people shopping online this year on this day.

b) What times of the day will most people buy things online today?

There will be two busiest times today: when people stop to have lunch between 1 and 2pm and later in the evening when workers arrive home.

Question 3 (2 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) to increase (Paragraph 1)       to boost 
b) predict (paragraph1)  (to) forecast

c) reach the highest point (Paragraph 2)  (to) peak 
d) important, crucial (Paragraph 3)   key 

Question 4 (2 points). Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Cold weather and the underground strike will boost total spending.

Total spending wouldn´t boost/be boosted if the weather was good/if there was no strike.

b) People have just been paid and they will want their gifts to be delivered in time for Christmas.

If people hadn´t been paid, they wouldn´t have wanted/have got their gifts delivered.

Speaking Tests

The speaking test will take about 5 minutes to complete. There are three sections in total. These are as follows:

• Part 1 – Introduction and interview. This lasts for about 1 or 2 minutes. In this section, you will introduce yourself and the topic of the presentation. 
• Part 2 – Individual presentation lasts for about three to four minutes. In this section, you will be asked to prepare and give a short talks on a given subject. 
• Part 3 – Two-way discussion. Part 3 lasts for 1minute. In this section, you will be asked to have a short discussion linked to the subject you spoke about in part 

Assessment overall: you will be assessed on your: 

• fluency and coherence 
• vocabulary
• range of grammar and accuracy 
• pronunciation.

Common Topics:

1. Advertising 

2. Animal Rights: testing on animals, vegetarianism, zoos 

3. Cities: urbanisation, problems of city life 

4. Crime: police, punishments/prisons, rehabilitation, capital punishment 

5. Education: studying abroad, technology in education, education in developing countries, higher education, home-schooling, bad behaviour, corporal punishment, single sex education, streaming (grouping children according to ability) 

6. Environment: global warming, impact of humans on the environment, solutions to environment problems, waste/rubbish, litter, recycling, nuclear power 

7. Family: family size, working parents, negative effects on children, divorce, care for old people

 8. Gender: gender and education, gender and work, women’s and men’s role in the family 

9. Genetic Engineering: positives, negatives, genetically modified foods 

10. Global Issues: problems in developing countries, how to help developing countries, immigration, multicultural societies, globalisation 

11. Government and Society: what governments can do, public services, censorship, video cameras in public places 

12. Guns and Weapons: gun ownership and possession, police and guns, nuclear weapons, armed forces 

13. Health: diet, exercise, state health systems, private healthcare, alternative medicine, stress 

14. Housing and Architecture: state housing, old buildings, modern/green buildings 

15. International Language: English as an international language 

16. Money: money and society, consumerism 

17. Personal Development: happiness, success, nature or nurture 

18. Sport and Leisure: professional/competitive sport, sport salaries, sport and politics 

19. Tourism: positives, negative effects on environment, future of tourism 

20. Traditions and Modern Life: losing traditional skills, traditional customs 

21. Transport: traffic problems and solutions, public transport, road safety 

22. Television, Internet and Mobile Phones: positives and negatives, Internet compared to newspapers and books 

23. Water: importance of clean water, water supply, water should be free, bottled water 

24. Work: same job for life, self-employment, unemployment, work/life balance, technology and work, child labour

For more you can check on : http://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-part-2-topics/

For further information and topics: http://elibrary.bsu.az/books_250/N_163.pdf