Exercises
Match the words in the left and right columns to restore the collocations from the text. Give the context where they are used.
irreversible
body of literature
criterion
of creativity
save
calm
heartbreaking
listings
go
at one’s fingertips
selection
indefinitely
humanitarian
with despair
fare
value
cathedral
into non-existence
arbitrary
in order
lie
fraction
conscious
capacity
negligible
of wisdom
play
of choice
overwhelmed
the heritage
condensed
panels
wealth
premature encouragement
disagree
from chaff
by deliberate
novelists
injection
task
men
changes
be
of one’s inadequacy
abandon
issues
permanent
selection
immense
to the flames
store
well/better
addle
of genius
storage
god
supreme
passions
inhibit
in principle
destructive
minds
sort the wheat
cultural and scientific growth
give
design
Answer the questions on the text.
Where and when is the story set?
What is the origin of the human colony on the planet of Thalassa?
What kind of visitors is the community hosting?
Why did Moses Kaldor have mixed feelings about the treasure of human knowledge?
Why couldn’t he find his favourite pieces of literature and art at the Lassan library?
Why had an immense body of classical literature been condensed or wholly purged from the local lists?
What was the dilemma that had haunted Moses Kaldor for years?
What was stopping Moses from being “generous”?
What prompted him to think that terrans should share the fruits of the now non-existent civilisation?
