Reading Comprehension - Advance

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READING COMPREHENSION
EXCERCISE
2
1. This story is mainly about Hurricane Katrina
and the Exxon Valdez disaster.
2. The oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico
belongs to BP.
3. It can be inferred that, at rst, it looked like
the spill would be relatively easy to contain.
4. The ve-billion dollar bill to clean up the spill
is a worst-case estimate.
5. Louisiana has fully recovered from the effects
of Hurricane Katrina.
6. What do you think hit hard (underlined)
means?
7. Before this disaster, the governor of Louisiana
and President Obama disagreed on most
things.
8. What do you think the phrasal verb head off
in the last sentence means?
True False
EXERCISE
01
T E X T
1
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could turn out to be Obamas Katrina and BPs Exxon Valdez. Already
Obama is being criticized by some on the right for not having been on the scene on the same day of the
oil rig explosion, though White House sources are quick to point out that initially, no one had any idea
that the spill would grow to such proportions. As for BP, it has said in its defense that it doesnt run the
oil rig, that it simply buys the oil from the rig operator. All this has led many to wonder who will end up
covering the estimated ve-billion dollars it will take to clean up the spill. And that price tag assumes
things dont get any worse. The worst-case scenarios indicate that the entire Gulf coast, from Florida
to Texas, could be awash in black sludge if efforts to contain the spill at the source arent successful.
Its virtually guaranteed that Louisiana, which has yet to fully recover from Hurricane Katrina and is
still heavily dependent on seafood caught in the Gulf for much of its economy, will be hit hard by this
disaster. The Republican governor of Louisiana and longtime Obama critic, Bobby Jindal, has, for the
time being at least, put aside his differences with President Obama as they try to come up with a speedy
solution in an effort to head off a potential environmental catastrophe.
True False
True False
True False
True False
True False
1 COMPRENSIN ESCRITA NIVEL AVANZADO
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EXCERCISE
2
1. How long has this routine been in place?
2. Drawing up specications probably requires
someone who can draw well with pencil and
paper.
3. Who has to approve the new specications?
4. Whats the rst thing that has to be gured
out?
5. This is one of many products made at the
factory.
6. This product is made on the same assembly
line as other products.
7. Why is it important that the new
manufacturing process be done right the rst
time?
8. What do you think the word recall
(underlined) means?
9. Explain the last sentence in your own words.
True False
EXERCISE
02
T E X T
1
It took us ve years to get used to this routine and now its all going to be changed. Now Im going to
have to draw up an entirely new set of specications and present them to the Board, and who knows
what theyll say? I wish somebody had asked for my opinion a week ago, since Im the one whos going
to be doing all the work. Well need to gure out the manufacturing tolerances rst, and then come up
with a way to reorganize the assembly process so as to minimize the impact on other operations. Lets
not forget this isnt the only item we make over at the factory. If we pull too many resources from other
assembly lines, those products will suffer. On the other hand, this is our best-selling product, so we
have to make sure we get it right the rst time. It would be disastrous if we had to recall products once
theyre shipped out to retailers due to some kind of mass manufacturing defect. Things like that have
brought down bigger companies than ours.
True False
True False
EXERCISE
03
1. a) Deadly spiders in the United States,
b) Treating the bite of the brown recluse,
c) How to recognize a black widow,
d) Symptoms of spider bites.
2.
3. a) female spiders are generally larger than
males,
b) only spiders with a color in their names are
poisonous,
c) the bite of the black widow should not be
deadly to an average healthy adult,
d) all spiders will bite if threatened.
4.
5. a) is a painkiller,
b) is only given to victims of black widow bites,
c) is a controlled substance,
d) is highly addictive.
6. ..............................................................................
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7.
8. a) extreme pain,
b) swelling,
c) necrosis,
d) a wound at the site of the bite.
9. a) 1,
b) 2,
c) 3,
d) 4.
Of the estimated 700 species of spiders found in the continental United States, only two are known to be
deadly to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse. The former is found throughout the lower 48
states, though it is more common to the milder climate of the south and west. The black widow is easily
recognized by the red hourglass-shaped mark on its lower abdomen. This mark is more prevalent in
females than in the smaller males, which usually just have a light stripe. The bite of the black widow is
described as being incredibly painful, so much so that not even morphine is 100% effective in treating
the pain. But despite its painful bite, the black widow is seldom deadly, though it can be fatal to small
children or the elderly. The brown recluses bite, on the other hand, has no known treatment. This
spider is found along the south and west of the country, and it is a fearsome arachnid indeed. Though, in
keeping with its name, the species is rarely seen, it will bite if pressed against the skin, as might happen
if the spider finds its way inside clothing or bedding. The brown recluses bite is frequently not felt, and it
may only be after the appearance of a large wound (up to 25 centimeters in some cases) that the victim
will even realize he or she was bitten. The wound will become painful within a few hours, with necrosis
developing over the next few days.
EXCERCISE
2
1. A suitable title for this passage might be:
2. The brown recluse is found throughout the
lower 48 states.
3. It can be inferred from the paragraph that
4. The bite of the black widow is more painful
than that of the brown recluse.
morphine
6. What do you think the expression in keeping
with its name means?
7. The brown recluse will bite at the slightest
provocation.
8. What is the first indication that someone has
been bitten by a brown recluse?
9. How many symptoms of a brown recluse bite
does the article list?
T E X T
1
True False
True False
True False
EXERCISE
04
1. a) set a new record,
b) were less than the amount lost in the fire,
c) were probably higher than sales in the
previous quarter,
d) increased thanks to the companys
performance in Turkey.
2. a) was paid mostly by the company,
b) was paid about equally by the company and
the insurance,
c) was greater than the amount made in sales,
d) totaled 10 million dollars.
3. a) does not expect the insurance company to
pay the rest of the claim,
b) expects a quick settlement from the
insurance company,
c) has already rebuilt the plant in Turkey,
d) still managed to make a profit in the last year.
4. a) forcing the company to cut prices,
b) is proving to be difficult for the competition,
c) forcing the company to lay off (despedir)
workers,
d) not having an effect on the industry.
5. a) in equal circumstances,
b) in good conditions,
c) in difficult conditions,
d) out of business.
6. a) from an employee at the company to his wife,
b) from the manager of the plant in Turkey to his staff,
c) read at the companys annual shareholder
meeting,
d) from the companys president to the
employees.
Unfortunately, the significant increase we saw in sales in the last quarter was offset by the expenses
stemming from charges for the fire at our Turkey plant. Although the plant was insured, so far the
insurance company has only paid 20% of our claim. They are disputing the remaining 80%, though we
are confident that in the long run theyll fully reimburse us for the cost of repairing the damage, though
the final settlement (pago de deudas) may take a few years. So far, weve had to pay some 10 million
dollars in repairs. As a result of this fiasco, our bottom-line profit rose only by only 5% despite record
sales in the last year. We are confident sales will continue to grow this year despite the widespread
stagnation in the industry that has seen the profits of our competitors tumble. That we can boast such
good results while the rest of the industry is in such dire straits is a testament to the hard work of each
and every one of you. You all deserve to be congratulated.
EXCERCISE
2
1. Sales in the last quarter
2. The cost of the fire
3. The company
4. The financial situation is
5. The expression dire straits in the
next-to-last sentence probably means
6. This message was probably
T E X T
1
1. a) likes doing his taxes,
b) has trouble understanding Spanish,
c) feels like an idiot when he has to speak
Spanish,
d) believes the tax form should be simplied.
2. a) hes a naturally organized person,
b) he has a tax preparer keep his records for him,
c) its a requirement for freelancers,
d) its easier to prepare your taxes if you have
organized records.
3.
4. a) its a protable line of work,
b) tax forms are so complicated,
c) they are required by law,
d) 50% of all tax forms in Spain are prepared
by professionals.
5.
6. a) because he didnt speak Spanish then,
b) because he didnt understand the
instructions,
c) because he didnt want to pay more than he
owed,
d) and has used the same preparer ever since.
7.
8. a) the author will probably continue doing his own
taxes as long as his situation doesnt change,
b) the author doesnt want to buy a house
because it would complicate his taxes,
c) the author will probably go to a tax preparer
next year,
d) the author would not go to a tax preparer if
he got married next year.
I just nished doing my tax return (declaracin de renta) for this year. That is denitely one activity I do
not look forward to doing, although if you have your records in order, which, as a freelancer (autnomo),
is an absolute must for me, I suppose its not too bad. What frustrates me the most is the unnecessarily
complex language used in the form. I would say that I am 98% uent in Spanish, but when I do my taxes
and I read some of the item descriptions, I feel like an idiot, and I have to wonder, Does the average
Spaniard really know what all of these things mean? To which I can only conclude that the honest
answer must be a resounding No! Why else would there be so many tax preparers in Spain? And what
are the odds that those who do their own taxes are lling out the form 100% correctly? If I had to guess,
I would say that at least 50% of all tax forms led in Spain that are not prepared by professionals have at
least one mistake thats costing either the taxpayers or the government money. In my own case, I went
to a professional three years ago after realizing that the instructions for lling out the form were just
as complicated as the forms themselves. Ive been using that tax return as a model ever since, hoping
that I havent made any mistakes and that if I have, they havent, or wont, cost me too much money.
Of course theres also the possibility that Ive paid too much, although my nancial situation is fairly
straightforward since Im not married and I dont own a home.
EXCERCISE
2
1. The author probably
2. The author keeps good records because
3. The author understands that tax forms have to
be complex
4. The author thinks there are so many tax
preparers in Spain because
5. The author thinks that close to 100% of all tax
forms that are not prepared by professionals
are incorrect
6. The author went to a tax preparer three years ago.
7. The author is condent he hasnt made any
mistakes in his tax returns in the last two years.
8. You can probably infer from the story that
True False
EXERCISE
05
T E X T
1
True False
True False
EXERCISE
06
1. a) the link between malaria and chimpanzees,
b) the effect of malaria on the history of man,
c) showing that malaria is the deadliest
disease in the world,
d) the effect of malaria on the outcome of wars.
2. a) 800 thousand,
b) two million,
c) four million,
d) half a million.
3. a) was more widespread than it is now,
b) killed more people than it does now,
c) was limited to sub-tropical areas,
d) was used as a weapon by armies.
4. a) Alexander the Great would have conquered
India if not for malaria,
b) poverty in Africa is the result of diseases
like malaria,
c) Darius III was unable to defeat Alexander
the Great because of malaria,
d) malaria had an effect on the course of
human history.
5.
6. a) this is talking about an area of Africa where
baskets are made,
b) it refers to Africas food-producing regions,
c) these are stores where bread is made,
d) it is a generic term used to refer to any area
that is close to water.
7.
8. a) academic,
b) somber,
c) optimistic,
d) literary.
It would be no exaggeration to say that no disease has had a more devastating impact on the history of
mankind than malaria. Consider the numbers: an estimated one to three million people are killed each
year by the mosquito-borne illness, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa. It is likely that
the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria has been with mankind throughout its entire development
as a species, especially since a close relative of the parasite that causes malaria in humans is common
in chimpanzees. In ancient times, malaria was not limited to sub-tropical areas. It was common in Rome,
and it may in fact have contributed to the decline of the mighty Roman Empire. The great armies of the
Persian king Darius III could not defeat Alexander the Great, but malaria managed to stop his armies upon
his arrival in India. There is even speculation that malaria may have ended the life of the great Macedonian
ruler, who died under mysterious circumstances in 323 BC. But one need not turn the clock back so far to
see the effects of malaria on the worlds events. As recently as World War II, malaria was responsible for
the deaths of sixty thousand American soldiers in the Pacific campaigns, and American troops were still
dying from the disease as they waged battle in Vietnam in the early 70s. But the most important effect is
in Africa, where the disease continues to devastate entire villages that, due to their proximity to sources
of water, serve an important function as the bread basket of Africa. By killing entire families of farmers,
malaria is perpetuating the circle of poverty that makes eradicating the disease so hard in the first place.
EXCERCISE
2
1. This article is mainly about
2. According to the article, which of the following
might represent the number of people killed
by malaria each year?
3. In ancient times, malaria
4. The article implies that
5. The article establishes a link between malaria
and the outcome of World War II.
6. What do you think the term bread basket of
Africa (underlined) means?
7. The last sentence implies that poverty
perpetuates malaria and vice versa.
8. The mood of the article is
T E X T
1
True False
True False
EXERCISE
07
1. a) cancer,
b) aging,
c) cell division,
d) medical research.
2.
3. a) one,
b) two,
c) three,
d) four.
4. a) divide longer than normal cells and then
die,
b) cause aging,
c) have a well-understood reproductive
process,
d) can divide indefinitely.
5. a) the limited ability of healthy cells to divide,
b) mutations,
c) cancer,
d) the breakdown of the bodys systems
6. a) to cure cancer,
b) to stop cells from dividing indefinitely,
c) to extend reproductive cell processes,
d) to stimulate the bodys defenses to stop
unlimited cell division.
7. a) optimistic,
b) neutral,
c) indifferent,
d) puzzled.
8. a) both affect the bodys internal organs,
b) both involve a cells ability to reproduce,
c) since cancer is a leading cause of death, then
by stopping cancer we can extend peoples
lives,
d) research into aging might lead to a cure for
cancer.
Despite the many medical advances made in recent times, there is still no widely accepted theory
on why we age. One hypothesis is that as we age, our internal organs gradually lose their ability to
function effectively. Therefore, if our immune or nervous system degrades, the result could produce
characteristics that we normally associate with aging. A related theory considers cell division, and states
that our cells can only divide a limited number of times before dying. This has been proven with certain
cells grown in culture in laboratories. Thus, it may be that as cells reach their reproductive limit and die,
the body ages. This limit can also be affected by genetic mutations which can shorten the cells lifespan.
The only exception to this is, unfortunately, cancer cells, which seem to be able to reproduce indefinitely.
There is exciting research being conducted now that looks at how cancer cells reproduce. The aim, of
course, is to find a cure for cancer, but if we could find a way to stimulate the bodys healthy cells to
reproduce indefinitely, or at least extend the number of times they divide, then a side benefit of such
research could be much longer, and healthier, lives.
EXCERCISE
2
1. This article is mainly about:
2. One theory is that aging occurs when the
immune system attacks the body.
3. How many theories on aging does the author
present?
4. Cancer cells:
5. Which of the following is NOT a probable
cause of aging?
6. The primary focus of cancer research is
7. How do you think the author feels about the link
between cancer research and aging?
8. What is the link between cancer research and
aging?
T E X T
1
True False
EXERCISE
08
1. a) the Bruins was the first team to be founded,
b) the Bruins would have been an even better
team if it had been founded later,
c) there was very little competition in the league,
d) there were other teams already in existence
when the Bruins was founded.
2. a) 1931,
b) 1935,
c) 1937,
d) 1939.
3. a) the mid 30s,
b) the late 30s,
c) the early 40s,
d) the mid 40s.
4. a) first,
b) second,
c) third,
d) fourth.
5.
6. a) have two teams from each division,
b) have four rounds,
c) involve playing seven games,
d) are won by the first team to win four games in a row.
7. a) 2,
b) 3,
c) 4,
d) 5.
8.
9. a) 1,
b) 2,
c) 3,
d) 4.
10.
11. a) were from the other side of the country,
b) played worse than the Bruins,
c) had won the championship the year before,
d) were from the same city as the Bruins.
12.
The Bruins was one of the best teams of the last century, despite having been founded in the early 30s. In
only their second year in existence they made it to the third round of the playoffs (torneo final para decidir el
campen), only to be defeated by the eventual champions, who ended up winning their third title in a row. The
following year, they made it one more round, to the final, but injuries to two of their key players in the first
game kept what many felt was the best team from winning, and even then they took the opposing team to the
seventh and deciding game. The next year, to no ones surprise, they went all the way, vanquishing all of their
opponents in an effortless display of skill and athleticism to claim the Calder Cup. That would be the first
Bruin dynasty, and it lasted a further three years. The 40s would have been their best decade if not for the war
years, which interrupted the season on four different occasions. The teams fortune changed in the 50s, as
many expansion teams were brought into the league, which not only increased competition but also drained
the talent pool available to existing teams. In a rebuilding process that lasted over a decade, the team didnt
make it to their next final until 1962, which they lost in a heated and controversial affair to their cross-town
rivals. They got the revenge the next year, taking back the championship trophy for the first time since 1949.
In recent decades, the team has had highs and lows as it continues to build on a rich heritage of tradition.
EXCERCISE
2
1. The first line of this article implies that
2. The team was probably founded in
3. The Bruins probably first made it to the
playoffs in
4. The team won the championship in their
............... year of existence:
5. When they finally won the championship, the
Bruins made it look easy.
6. The playoffs in this league
7. In their first string of championship wins, the
Bruins won the Calder Cup ............... times in a
row:
8. The 40s was the best decade in Bruins history.
9. How many reasons are given for the decline of
the Bruins in the 50s?
10. The Bruins didnt win any championships in the 50s.
11. The Bruins rivals in the 1962 championship
12. The Bruins won the championship in 1963.
T E X T
1
True False
True False
True False
True False
EXERCISE
09
When I first came to Spain, I didnt speak a word of Spanish, I mean not one. Well, I suppose thats not
entirely true. I did know the basic greetings, but that was it. I didnt even know how to conjugate the
simplest of verbs. Whenever I went to a bar, I would always just use nouns, like cerveza, and use my
fingers to indicate quantities, and I followed every sentence with gracias, and that was the extent of
my knowledge. Well, that and whatever I found of use in my well-worn dictionary. When it was time to
pay, Id simply put a few euro coins on the table and hope that would be enough to cover the cost. And
if not, it wasnt difficult to interpret the bartenders demands for more money! Needless to say, I didnt
make many friends at first despite my outgoing personality. I made a lot acquaintances with foreigners
who spoke English natively or at least well enough to converse with, but most of those were just people
traveling through Spain on their way to what, to my young mind, seemed like far-flung destinations Id
heard of but couldnt find on a map. The only Spaniards I knew were those whose English was better
than my Spanish. It was impossible to keep down a steady job without knowing the language, so I drifted
from place to place, living off the kindness of strangers and occasionally, Im a little ashamed to admit,
by stealing fruit from open-air markets. I say a little because it really was a matter of survival. I got no
thrill from doing it, and I did it as little as possible. So why, you may well ask, did I ever come to Spain in
the first place if I had no job prospects and no money? Funny you should ask!
T E X T
1
1.
2.
3. a) the writer asked for a bill to see what he owed,
b) the writer used a phrase book to ask how
much the bill was,
c) the bartender used his fingers to indicate how
much the writer owed,
d) the writer paid what he thought would be
enough to pay for his consumption.
4.
5.
6.
7. a) find,
b) do well in,
c) maintain,
d) get training for.
8.
9. a) got a thrill out of stealing,
b) stole to survive,
c) was probably a menace to society,
d) had no moral problems with stealing.
10. a) how the writer learned Spanish,
b) how the writer found a job,
c) why the writer came to Spain,
d) why the writer left Spain.
EXCERCISE
2
1. In the first sentence, the writer is
exaggerating.
2. When he first came to Spain, the writer would
have been to say deme una cerveza por favor.
3. In a bar,
4. If the writer didnt pay enough, he probably
ran out without paying.
5. The writer didnt make friends at first because
he was shy.
6. Most of the people the writer talked to at first
were foreigners living in Spain.
7. The phrasal verb keep down (underlined)
probably means
8. The writer lived in the same general area for
long periods of time.
9. The writer
10. The next paragraph in this story will probably be
about
True False
True False
True False
True False
True False
True False
EXERCISE
10
Every day starts off with a production meeting, which is not quite what the name might lead you to
believe. Its more of an update-on-everything meeting, but that doesnt sound quite as catchy. Anyway,
the production meeting is attended by all of the department heads. They talk about any problems that
may have come up during the night, but more importantly, they lay out the schedule for that days work.
Work assignments are made and the supervisors are given the work packages for that days schedule.
Meetings on Mondays usually go over one hour, so we try to start a little bit earlier so that people can get
to their offices at a reasonable hour. The meeting is also held on weekends, though only emergency work
goes on during weekends and supervisors only come in if theres a serious problem, so the meetings
tend to last just a few minutes. Sometimes they are a mere formality, little more than a social gathering
for the night and day crews. A similar meeting is held at 4 pm for the day and swing crews, but its not
attended by the department heads. Only the work crews go to that meeting, and they all know whats
going on, so it just lasts a few minutes.
T E X T
1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. a) so that the supervisors can make the work
assignments,
b) because emergency work is still in progress,
c) between the day and swing crews,
d) but usually lasts a few minutes.
6. a) exactly,
b) fairly,
c) simply,
d) only.
7. ..............................................................................
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8. a) those in attendance already know whats going
on,
b) its not attended by the night crew,
c) no emergency work is done on the afternoon
shift,
d) the work assignments were already made at
the morning meeting.
9. a) a university,
b) a power plant,
c) a supermarket,
d) a hotel.
EXCERCISE
2
1. The production meeting deals with production
issues only.
2. The department heads attend the morning
meeting but not the afternoon one.
3. The meeting is only held from Monday to
Friday.
4. The work crews know what they are going
to be working on before the days production
meeting.
5. The meeting is held on weekends
6. The word just (underlined) means, in this
context,
7. Whats the name of the crew that works in the
afternoons, between the day and night crews?
8. The 4 pm meeting only lasts a few minutes
because
9. Which of the following work environments might
this article apply to?
True False
True False
True False
True False
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. ..........................................................................
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7.
8. ..........................................................................
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EXCERCISE
2
1. This story is mainly about Hurricane Katrina
and the Exxon Valdez disaster.
2. The oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico
belongs to BP.
3. It can be inferred that, at rst, it looked like
the spill would be relatively easy to contain.
4. The ve-billion dollar bill to clean up the spill
is a worst-case estimate.
5. Louisiana has fully recovered from the effects
of Hurricane Katrina.
6. What do you think hit hard (underlined)
means?
7. Before this disaster, the governor of Louisiana
and President Obama disagreed on most
things.
8. What do you think the phrasal verb head off
in the last sentence means?
True False
EXERCISE
01
T E X T
1
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could turn out to be Obamas Katrina and BPs Exxon Valdez. Already
Obama is being criticized by some on the right for not having been on the scene on the same day of the
oil rig explosion, though White House sources are quick to point out that initially, no one had any idea
that the spill would grow to such proportions. As for BP, it has said in its defense that it doesnt run the
oil rig, that it simply buys the oil from the rig operator. All this has led many to wonder who will end up
covering the estimated ve-billion dollars it will take to clean up the spill. And that price tag assumes
things dont get any worse. The worst-case scenarios indicate that the entire Gulf coast, from Florida
to Texas, could be awash in black sludge if efforts to contain the spill at the source arent successful.
Its virtually guaranteed that Louisiana, which has yet to fully recover from Hurricane Katrina and is
still heavily dependent on seafood caught in the Gulf for much of its economy, will be hit hard by this
disaster. The Republican governor of Louisiana and longtime Obama critic, Bobby Jindal, has, for the
time being at least, put aside his differences with President Obama as they try to come up with a speedy
solution in an effort to head off a potential environmental catastrophe.
True False
True False
True False
True False
True False

X

X

X

X

X
Severely affected.

X
To prevent or avoid.
1. ..........................................................................
..........................................................................
2.
3. ..........................................................................
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4. ..........................................................................
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5.
6.
7. ..........................................................................
..........................................................................
8. ..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
9. ..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
EXCERCISE
2
1. How long has this routine been in place?
2. Drawing up specications probably requires
someone who can draw well with pencil and
paper.
3. Who has to approve the new specications?
4. Whats the rst thing that has to be gured
out?
5. This is one of many products made at the
factory.
6. This product is made on the same assembly
line as other products.
7. Why is it important that the new
manufacturing process be done right the rst
time?
8. What do you think the word recall
(underlined) means?
9. Explain the last sentence in your own words.
True False
EXERCISE
02
T E X T
1
It took us ve years to get used to this routine and now its all going to be changed. Now Im going to
have to draw up an entirely new set of specications and present them to the Board, and who knows
what theyll say? I wish somebody had asked for my opinion a week ago, since Im the one whos going
to be doing all the work. Well need to gure out the manufacturing tolerances rst, and then come up
with a way to reorganize the assembly process so as to minimize the impact on other operations. Lets
not forget this isnt the only item we make over at the factory. If we pull too many resources from other
assembly lines, those products will suffer. On the other hand, this is our best-selling product, so we
have to make sure we get it right the rst time. It would be disastrous if we had to recall products once
theyre shipped out to retailers due to some kind of mass manufacturing defect. Things like that have
brought down bigger companies than ours.
True False
True False
Five years.

X
The Board.
The manufacturing tolerances.

X

X
Because its the best-selling product.
To bring a product back to the
factory to fix a manufacturing
defect.
Other companies have had to recall
products, which is a very expensive
process. If you have enough recalls,
then not only does that cost a lot of
money but consumer confidence in
your product suffers, which can lead
to bankruptcy.
EXERCISE
03
1. a) Deadly spiders in the United States,
b) Treating the bite of the brown recluse,
c) How to recognize a black widow,
d) Symptoms of spider bites.
2.
3. a) female spiders are generally larger than
males,
b) only spiders with a color in their names are
poisonous,
c) the bite of the black widow should not be
deadly to an average healthy adult,
d) all spiders will bite if threatened.
4.
5. a) is a painkiller,
b) is only given to victims of black widow bites,
c) is a controlled substance,
d) is highly addictive.
6. ..............................................................................
..............................................................................
..............................................................................

7.
8. a) extreme pain,
b) swelling,
c) necrosis,
d) a wound at the site of the bite.
9. a) 1,
b) 2,
c) 3,
d) 4.
Of the estimated 700 species of spiders found in the continental United States, only two are known to be
deadly to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse. The former is found throughout the lower 48
states, though it is more common to the milder climate of the south and west. The black widow is easily
recognized by the red hourglass-shaped mark on its lower abdomen. This mark is more prevalent in
females than in the smaller males, which usually just have a light stripe. The bite of the black widow is
described as being incredibly painful, so much so that not even morphine is 100% effective in treating
the pain. But despite its painful bite, the black widow is seldom deadly, though it can be fatal to small
children or the elderly. The brown recluses bite, on the other hand, has no known treatment. This
spider is found along the south and west of the country, and it is a fearsome arachnid indeed. Though, in
keeping with its name, the species is rarely seen, it will bite if pressed against the skin, as might happen
if the spider finds its way inside clothing or bedding. The brown recluses bite is frequently not felt, and it
may only be after the appearance of a large wound (up to 25 centimeters in some cases) that the victim
will even realize he or she was bitten. The wound will become painful within a few hours, with necrosis
developing over the next few days.
EXCERCISE
2
1. A suitable title for this passage might be:
2. The brown recluse is found throughout the
lower 48 states.
4. The bite of the black widow is more painful
than that of the brown recluse.
morphine
6. What do you think the expression in keeping
with its name means?
7. The brown recluse will bite at the slightest
provocation.
8. What is the first indication that someone has
been bitten by a brown recluse?
9. How many symptoms of a brown recluse bite
does the article list?
T E X T
1
True False
True False
True False
X
X
X
Lincz lkz brawn rzc|asz is sz|Ja+
szzn, lkzn lkz n+z rzc|asz is
ggragrilz [ar lkis sgiJzr.
EXERCISE
04
1. a) set a new record,
b) were less than the amount lost in the fire,
c) were probably higher than sales in the
previous quarter,
d) increased thanks to the companys
performance in Turkey.
2. a) was paid mostly by the company,
b) was paid about equally by the company and
the insurance,
c) was greater than the amount made in sales,
d) totaled 10 million dollars.
3. a) does not expect the insurance company to
pay the rest of the claim,
b) expects a quick settlement from the
insurance company,
c) has already rebuilt the plant in Turkey,
d) still managed to make a profit in the last year.
4. a) forcing the company to cut prices,
b) is proving to be difficult for the competition,
c) forcing the company to lay off (despedir)
workers,
d) not having an effect on the industry.
5. a) in equal circumstances,
b) in good conditions,
c) in difficult conditions,
d) out of business.
6. a) from an employee at the company to his wife,
b) from the manager of the plant in Turkey to his staff,
c) read at the companys annual shareholder
meeting,
d) from the companys president to the
employees.
Unfortunately, the significant increase we saw in sales in the last quarter was offset by the expenses
stemming from charges for the fire at our Turkey plant. Although the plant was insured, so far the
insurance company has only paid 20% of our claim. They are disputing the remaining 80%, though we
are confident that in the long run theyll fully reimburse us for the cost of repairing the damage, though
the final settlement (pago de deudas) may take a few years. So far, weve had to pay some 10 million
dollars in repairs. As a result of this fiasco, our bottom-line profit rose only by only 5% despite record
sales in the last year. We are confident sales will continue to grow this year despite the widespread
stagnation in the industry that has seen the profits of our competitors tumble. That we can boast such
good results while the rest of the industry is in such dire straits is a testament to the hard work of each
and every one of you. You all deserve to be congratulated.
EXCERCISE
2
1. Sales in the last quarter
2. The cost of the fire
3. The company
4. The financial situation is
5. The expression dire straits in the
next-to-last sentence probably means
6. This message was probably
T E X T
1
1. a) likes doing his taxes,
b) has trouble understanding Spanish,
c) feels like an idiot when he has to speak
Spanish,
d) believes the tax form should be simplied.
2. a) hes a naturally organized person,
b) he has a tax preparer keep his records for him,
c) its a requirement for freelancers,
d) its easier to prepare your taxes if you have
organized records.
3.
4. a) its a protable line of work,
b) tax forms are so complicated,
c) they are required by law,
d) 50% of all tax forms in Spain are prepared
by professionals.
5.
6. a) because he didnt speak Spanish then,
b) because he didnt understand the
instructions,
c) because he didnt want to pay more than he
owed,
d) and has used the same preparer ever since.
7.
8. a) the author will probably continue doing his own
taxes as long as his situation doesnt change,
b) the author doesnt want to buy a house
because it would complicate his taxes,
c) the author will probably go to a tax preparer
next year,
d) the author would not go to a tax preparer if
he got married next year.
I just nished doing my tax return (declaracin de renta) for this year. That is denitely one activity I do
not look forward to doing, although if you have your records in order, which, as a freelancer (autnomo),
is an absolute must for me, I suppose its not too bad. What frustrates me the most is the unnecessarily
complex language used in the form. I would say that I am 98% uent in Spanish, but when I do my taxes
and I read some of the item descriptions, I feel like an idiot, and I have to wonder, Does the average
Spaniard really know what all of these things mean? To which I can only conclude that the honest
answer must be a resounding No! Why else would there be so many tax preparers in Spain? And what
are the odds that those who do their own taxes are lling out the form 100% correctly? If I had to guess,
I would say that at least 50% of all tax forms led in Spain that are not prepared by professionals have at
least one mistake thats costing either the taxpayers or the government money. In my own case, I went
to a professional three years ago after realizing that the instructions for lling out the form were just
as complicated as the forms themselves. Ive been using that tax return as a model ever since, hoping
that I havent made any mistakes and that if I have, they havent, or wont, cost me too much money.
Of course theres also the possibility that Ive paid too much, although my nancial situation is fairly
straightforward since Im not married and I dont own a home.
EXCERCISE
2
1. The author probably
2. The author keeps good records because
3. The author understands that tax forms have to
be complex
4. The author thinks there are so many tax
preparers in Spain because
5. The author thinks that close to 100% of all tax
forms that are not prepared by professionals
are incorrect
6. The author went to a tax preparer three years ago.
7. The author is condent he hasnt made any
mistakes in his tax returns in the last two years.
8. You can probably infer from the story that
True False
EXERCISE
05
T E X T
1
True False
True False
X
X
X
EXERCISE
06
1. a) the link between malaria and chimpanzees,
b) the effect of malaria on the history of man,
c) showing that malaria is the deadliest
disease in the world,
d) the effect of malaria on the outcome of wars.
2. a) 800 thousand,
b) two million,
c) four million,
d) half a million.
3. a) was more widespread than it is now,
b) killed more people than it does now,
c) was limited to sub-tropical areas,
d) was used as a weapon by armies.
4. a) Alexander the Great would have conquered
India if not for malaria,
b) poverty in Africa is the result of diseases
like malaria,
c) Darius III was unable to defeat Alexander
the Great because of malaria,
d) malaria had an effect on the course of
human history.
5.
6. a) this is talking about an area of Africa where
baskets are made,
b) it refers to Africas food-producing regions,
c) these are stores where bread is made,
d) it is a generic term used to refer to any area
that is close to water.
7.
8. a) academic,
b) somber,
c) optimistic,
d) literary.
It would be no exaggeration to say that no disease has had a more devastating impact on the history of
mankind than malaria. Consider the numbers: an estimated one to three million people are killed each
year by the mosquito-borne illness, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa. It is likely that
the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria has been with mankind throughout its entire development
as a species, especially since a close relative of the parasite that causes malaria in humans is common
in chimpanzees. In ancient times, malaria was not limited to sub-tropical areas. It was common in Rome,
and it may in fact have contributed to the decline of the mighty Roman Empire. The great armies of the
Persian king Darius III could not defeat Alexander the Great, but malaria managed to stop his armies upon
his arrival in India. There is even speculation that malaria may have ended the life of the great Macedonian
ruler, who died under mysterious circumstances in 323 BC. But one need not turn the clock back so far to
see the effects of malaria on the worlds events. As recently as World War II, malaria was responsible for
the deaths of sixty thousand American soldiers in the Pacific campaigns, and American troops were still
dying from the disease as they waged battle in Vietnam in the early 70s. But the most important effect is
in Africa, where the disease continues to devastate entire villages that, due to their proximity to sources
of water, serve an important function as the bread basket of Africa. By killing entire families of farmers,
malaria is perpetuating the circle of poverty that makes eradicating the disease so hard in the first place.
EXCERCISE
2
1. This article is mainly about
2. According to the article, which of the following
might represent the number of people killed
by malaria each year?
3. In ancient times, malaria
4. The article implies that
5. The article establishes a link between malaria
and the outcome of World War II.
6. What do you think the term bread basket of
Africa (underlined) means?
7. The last sentence implies that poverty
perpetuates malaria and vice versa.
8. The mood of the article is
T E X T
1
True False
True False
!
!
EXERCISE
07
1. a) cancer,
b) aging,
c) cell division,
d) medical research.
2.
3. a) one,
b) two,
c) three,
d) four.
4. a) divide longer than normal cells and then
die,
b) cause aging,
c) have a well-understood reproductive
process,
d) can divide indefinitely.
5. a) the limited ability of healthy cells to divide,
b) mutations,
c) cancer,
d) the breakdown of the bodys systems
6. a) to cure cancer,
b) to stop cells from dividing indefinitely,
c) to extend reproductive cell processes,
d) to stimulate the bodys defenses to stop
unlimited cell division.
7. a) optimistic,
b) neutral,
c) indifferent,
d) puzzled.
8. a) both affect the bodys internal organs,
b) both involve a cells ability to reproduce,
c) since cancer is a leading cause of death, then
by stopping cancer we can extend peoples
lives,
d) research into aging might lead to a cure for
cancer.
Despite the many medical advances made in recent times, there is still no widely accepted theory
on why we age. One hypothesis is that as we age, our internal organs gradually lose their ability to
function effectively. Therefore, if our immune or nervous system degrades, the result could produce
characteristics that we normally associate with aging. A related theory considers cell division, and states
that our cells can only divide a limited number of times before dying. This has been proven with certain
cells grown in culture in laboratories. Thus, it may be that as cells reach their reproductive limit and die,
the body ages. This limit can also be affected by genetic mutations which can shorten the cells lifespan.
The only exception to this is, unfortunately, cancer cells, which seem to be able to reproduce indefinitely.
There is exciting research being conducted now that looks at how cancer cells reproduce. The aim, of
course, is to find a cure for cancer, but if we could find a way to stimulate the bodys healthy cells to
reproduce indefinitely, or at least extend the number of times they divide, then a side benefit of such
research could be much longer, and healthier, lives.
EXCERCISE
2
1. This article is mainly about:
2. One theory is that aging occurs when the
immune system attacks the body.
3. How many theories on aging does the author
present?
4. Cancer cells:
5. Which of the following is NOT a probable
cause of aging?
6. The primary focus of cancer research is
7. How do you think the author feels about the link
between cancer research and aging?
8. What is the link between cancer research and
aging?
T E X T
1
True False
EXERCISE
08
1. a) the Bruins was the first team to be founded,
b) the Bruins would have been an even better
team if it had been founded later,
c) there was very little competition in the league,
d) there were other teams already in existence
when the Bruins was founded.
2. a) 1931,
b) 1935,
c) 1937,
d) 1939.
3. a) the mid 30s,
b) the late 30s,
c) the early 40s,
d) the mid 40s.
4. a) first,
b) second,
c) third,
d) fourth.
5.
6. a) have two teams from each division,
b) have four rounds,
c) involve playing seven games,
d) are won by the first team to win four games in a row.
7. a) 2,
b) 3,
c) 4,
d) 5.
8.
9. a) 1,
b) 2,
c) 3,
d) 4.
10.
11. a) were from the other side of the country,
b) played worse than the Bruins,
c) had won the championship the year before,
d) were from the same city as the Bruins.
12.
The Bruins was one of the best teams of the last century, despite having been founded in the early 30s. In
only their second year in existence they made it to the third round of the playoffs (torneo final para decidir el
campen), only to be defeated by the eventual champions, who ended up winning their third title in a row. The
following year, they made it one more round, to the final, but injuries to two of their key players in the first
game kept what many felt was the best team from winning, and even then they took the opposing team to the
seventh and deciding game. The next year, to no ones surprise, they went all the way, vanquishing all of their
opponents in an effortless display of skill and athleticism to claim the Calder Cup. That would be the first
Bruin dynasty, and it lasted a further three years. The 40s would have been their best decade if not for the war
years, which interrupted the season on four different occasions. The teams fortune changed in the 50s, as
many expansion teams were brought into the league, which not only increased competition but also drained
the talent pool available to existing teams. In a rebuilding process that lasted over a decade, the team didnt
make it to their next final until 1962, which they lost in a heated and controversial affair to their cross-town
rivals. They got the revenge the next year, taking back the championship trophy for the first time since 1949.
In recent decades, the team has had highs and lows as it continues to build on a rich heritage of tradition.
EXCERCISE
2
1. The first line of this article implies that
2. The team was probably founded in
3. The Bruins probably first made it to the
playoffs in
4. The team won the championship in their
............... year of existence:
5. When they finally won the championship, the
Bruins made it look easy.
6. The playoffs in this league
7. In their first string of championship wins, the
Bruins won the Calder Cup ............... times in a
row:
8. The 40s was the best decade in Bruins history.
9. How many reasons are given for the decline of
the Bruins in the 50s?
10. The Bruins didnt win any championships in the 50s.
11. The Bruins rivals in the 1962 championship
12. The Bruins won the championship in 1963.
T E X T
1
True False
True False
True False
True False
EXERCISE
09
When I first came to Spain, I didnt speak a word of Spanish, I mean not one. Well, I suppose thats not
entirely true. I did know the basic greetings, but that was it. I didnt even know how to conjugate the
simplest of verbs. Whenever I went to a bar, I would always just use nouns, like cerveza, and use my
fingers to indicate quantities, and I followed every sentence with gracias, and that was the extent of
my knowledge. Well, that and whatever I found of use in my well-worn dictionary. When it was time to
pay, Id simply put a few euro coins on the table and hope that would be enough to cover the cost. And
if not, it wasnt difficult to interpret the bartenders demands for more money! Needless to say, I didnt
make many friends at first despite my outgoing personality. I made a lot acquaintances with foreigners
who spoke English natively or at least well enough to converse with, but most of those were just people
traveling through Spain on their way to what, to my young mind, seemed like far-flung destinations Id
heard of but couldnt find on a map. The only Spaniards I knew were those whose English was better
than my Spanish. It was impossible to keep down a steady job without knowing the language, so I drifted
from place to place, living off the kindness of strangers and occasionally, Im a little ashamed to admit,
by stealing fruit from open-air markets. I say a little because it really was a matter of survival. I got no
thrill from doing it, and I did it as little as possible. So why, you may well ask, did I ever come to Spain in
the first place if I had no job prospects and no money? Funny you should ask!
T E X T
1
1.
2.
3. a) the writer asked for a bill to see what he owed,
b) the writer used a phrase book to ask how
much the bill was,
c) the bartender used his fingers to indicate how
much the writer owed,
d) the writer paid what he thought would be
enough to pay for his consumption.
4.
5.
6.
7. a) find,
b) do well in,
c) maintain,
d) get training for.
8.
9. a) got a thrill out of stealing,
b) stole to survive,
c) was probably a menace to society,
d) had no moral problems with stealing.
10. a) how the writer learned Spanish,
b) how the writer found a job,
c) why the writer came to Spain,
d) why the writer left Spain.
EXCERCISE
2
1. In the first sentence, the writer is
exaggerating.
2. When he first came to Spain, the writer would
have been to say deme una cerveza por favor.
3. In a bar,
4. If the writer didnt pay enough, he probably
ran out without paying.
5. The writer didnt make friends at first because
he was shy.
6. Most of the people the writer talked to at first
were foreigners living in Spain.
7. The phrasal verb keep down (underlined)
probably means
8. The writer lived in the same general area for
long periods of time.
9. The writer
10. The next paragraph in this story will probably be
about
True False
True False
True False
True False
True False
True False
EXERCISE
10
Every day starts off with a production meeting, which is not quite what the name might lead you to
believe. Its more of an update-on-everything meeting, but that doesnt sound quite as catchy. Anyway,
the production meeting is attended by all of the department heads. They talk about any problems that
may have come up during the night, but more importantly, they lay out the schedule for that days work.
Work assignments are made and the supervisors are given the work packages for that days schedule.
Meetings on Mondays usually go over one hour, so we try to start a little bit earlier so that people can get
to their offices at a reasonable hour. The meeting is also held on weekends, though only emergency work
goes on during weekends and supervisors only come in if theres a serious problem, so the meetings
tend to last just a few minutes. Sometimes they are a mere formality, little more than a social gathering
for the night and day crews. A similar meeting is held at 4 pm for the day and swing crews, but its not
attended by the department heads. Only the work crews go to that meeting, and they all know whats
going on, so it just lasts a few minutes.
T E X T
1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. a) so that the supervisors can make the work
assignments,
b) because emergency work is still in progress,
c) between the day and swing crews,
d) but usually lasts a few minutes.
6. a) exactly,
b) fairly,
c) simply,
d) only.
7. ..............................................................................
..............................................................................
8. a) those in attendance already know whats going
on,
b) its not attended by the night crew,
c) no emergency work is done on the afternoon
shift,
d) the work assignments were already made at
the morning meeting.
9. a) a university,
b) a power plant,
c) a supermarket,
d) a hotel.
EXCERCISE
2
1. The production meeting deals with production
issues only.
2. The department heads attend the morning
meeting but not the afternoon one.
3. The meeting is only held from Monday to
Friday.
4. The work crews know what they are going
to be working on before the days production
meeting.
5. The meeting is held on weekends
6. The word just (underlined) means, in this
context,
7. Whats the name of the crew that works in the
afternoons, between the day and night crews?
8. The 4 pm meeting only lasts a few minutes
because
9. Which of the following work environments might
this article apply to?
True False
True False
True False
True False
X
X
X
X
lkz swing crzw.

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