Vocabulary

Choose one variant (a, b, c or d) which could be used in place of the word or phrase underlined without changing the meaning of the sentence

1. We cannot view this problem in terms of current concepts.

a) on the basis of c) because of

b) in spite of d) along with

2. The great advantage of the so-called graphic computers is in solving design problems.

a) weakness c) strength

b) illustration d) discomfort

3. It is usually more economical to buy large quantities of a product than small quantities.

a) cheaper c) easier

b) more common d) more expensive

4. Human labour has the capacity to make use of the equipment and techniques available.

a) out-dated c) existing

b) reliable d) new

5. People seem to realize the potential dangers of some scientific discoveries.

a) want c) can

b) appear d) try

6. Properties of any region of space depend considerably on the presence and form of matter nearby.

a) slightly c) in fact

b) generally d) greatly

7. The weakening of the ozone layer is believed to be caused by the increasing amount of harmful chemicals in the atmosphere.

a) to result from c) to be followed by

b) to influence d) to lead to

8. Both reports predict that the temperature change will be greater in the Polar Regions than near the equator.

a) object c) undergo

b) forecast d) compare

9. Inequality is low in unchanging, ‘traditional’ society, but rises as economic growth accelerates.

a) speeds up c) arranges

b) dates back d) begins

10. Statistics may be defined as the branch of mathematics which is concerned with the use of collected numbers representing facts or measurements.

a) cooperates with c) increases

b) is opposed to d) deals with

Reading Comprehension

Read each passage and choose the best answer (a, b, c or d) to each question

Text 1

The first people who arrived in America from Holland built a town that they named New Amsterdam, in honour of the capital of their country in Europe. But forty years later, when Holland was at war with England, an English fleet under the command of the Duke of York appeared before New Amsterdam. The town had no army; the English occupied the town and renamed it New York. And this, as we know, is the name that has remained to this day.

The first people who came to America did not try to think about new names for the towns they built, but often gave the same name as the place they had come from. Along the east coast of the United States, we find such English names as Plymouth, Cambridge, London, and Boston. English names often appear with the word ‘new’ as a prefix: New England, New York, New Britain.

When the first English inhabitants left their homes on the east coast and moved to the west, they gave the new places the same names as those they had left behind. As a result, there are twenty-two towns in the United States that are called London, eighteen towns named Bristol, many named Chester, Windsor or New Windsor. This, of course, created a lot of difficulties for the postal service. There are towns named Philadelphia in four states besides the Philadelphia that is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania. This explains the American tradition of writing the name of the state as well as the name of the city when addressing letters. If the sender does not do this, he can never be sure that his letter will go to the right address.