Multiple-choice reading

Read the article about a young chess champion from Lahore. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The girl who beat the grandmasterWhen twelve-year-old Mehak Rizvi sat down opposite a visiting grandmaster at a Lahore hotel last March, few people in the room expected the game to last long. Two hours later, the grandmaster stood up, shook her hand and resigned.Mehak learned the game at the age of six from her grandfather, who used to play with her every evening after dinner. 'He never let me win,' she says. 'That made me angry at first, but it taught me that I had to earn every victory.' By the time she was nine, she was beating everyone in her family, and her school chess teacher suggested she join a club in the city.Her parents were not sure at first. The club met three evenings a week, and her father worried that chess would take time away from her studies. However, her marks actually improved, and her mother noticed that she had become much more patient when doing her homework.Mehak now trains for about two hours a day. She spends one hour solving puzzles and the other playing online against opponents from other countries. She says that the hardest part is not learning new openings but staying calm when she makes a mistake. 'In the past, one bad move would ruin the whole game for me, because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Now I take a deep breath and focus on the next move.'Her dream is to become Pakistan's first female grandmaster. To reach that title, she will need to play in international tournaments, which are expensive to travel to. A local company has offered to pay for her trip to a youth championship in Malaysia next year, and she is already preparing.

1. (a) Who first taught Mehak to play chess?A her school chess teacherB a coach at a city clubC her grandfather [1]
2. (b) What did Mehak learn from the way her grandfather played?A that she should not get angryB that practice every evening is necessaryC that winning has to be deserved [1]
3. (c) Why were Mehak's parents unsure about the club?A Her mother thought she was not patient enough.B Her father thought it might affect her schoolwork.C The club was too far from their home. [1]
4. (d) How does Mehak spend half of her daily training?A learning new openingsB playing opponents abroad onlineC playing her family [1]
5. (e) What does Mehak find most difficult?A remembering openingsB keeping calm after a mistakeC playing for two hours [1]
6. (f) What will happen next year?A Mehak will travel to Malaysia with a company's help.B Mehak will become a grandmaster.C A company will organise a tournament in Lahore. [1]

Read the article about a school that grows its own food. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Lessons in the vegetable patchBehind the classrooms of a girls' secondary school in Faisalabad, what used to be a dusty car park is now a thriving garden. Rows of spinach, onions and coriander grow alongside lemon trees and a small greenhouse built from recycled plastic bottles.The idea came from the biology teacher, Mrs Nasreen Akhtar, three years ago. 'I was teaching photosynthesis, and I realised many of my students had never actually grown a plant,' she says. She asked the head teacher for a corner of land, and a group of twenty students volunteered to help clear it.The first season was not a success. The soil was full of stones and the tomatoes died in the summer heat. Instead of giving up, the students asked local farmers for advice. They learned to add compost made from kitchen scraps and to plant crops that could cope with high temperatures.Today, the garden produces enough vegetables to supply the school canteen twice a week. Any extra is sold to parents at a small stall on Fridays, and the money is used to buy seeds and tools. Teachers of other subjects have started to use the garden too: maths classes measure the growth of plants, and art students sketch the flowers.For many students, the biggest change is in their attitude to food. 'I never ate spinach before,' says fifteen-year-old Hira. 'But when you've grown it yourself, you want to taste it.' Mrs Akhtar now hopes to help other schools in the city start their own gardens.

1. (a) What was the garden area used for before?A a car parkB a sports groundC a farm [1]
2. (b) Why did Mrs Akhtar start the garden?A Many students had no experience of growing plants.B The canteen needed cheaper vegetables.C The head teacher asked her to. [1]
3. (c) What went wrong in the first season?A The students lost interest.B The farmers gave poor advice.C Some crops died because of the heat. [1]
4. (d) How is the money from the Friday stall used?A to improve the canteenB to pay for seeds and toolsC to buy a greenhouse [1]
5. (e) How do maths classes use the garden?A They sketch the flowers.B They calculate the stall's profits.C They measure how plants grow. [1]
6. (f) What does Hira say about spinach?A Growing it made her want to eat it.B She has always liked it.C It is the easiest crop to grow. [1]

Read the article about a woman who runs a mobile library. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Books on wheelsEvery Tuesday morning, a brightly painted van rattles along the dirt roads outside Multan. When villagers hear its horn, children come running. The van belongs to Rubina Shah, a former schoolteacher who has turned it into a library.Rubina started the project after she retired. 'In my last school, the library had only two shelves of books, and most children had nothing to read at home,' she explains. She used her savings to buy an old delivery van, and friends helped her fit it with wooden shelves. Her first books were donated by families in the city.Today the van carries about eight hundred books in Urdu, English and Saraiki. Children can borrow two books at a time and return them the following week. Rubina keeps a notebook with every borrower's name, and she rewards regular readers with a small badge.The library has also attracted adults. Some mothers, who never had the chance to go to school, now come to Rubina's weekly reading class, which she holds under a tree next to the van. 'They want to read to their children,' she says.Running the van is not cheap. Fuel and repairs cost more each year, and the roads damage the tyres. A local business recently agreed to pay for fuel, but Rubina is still looking for someone to help with driving, as she would like to visit more villages.

1. (a) Why do children come running on Tuesdays?A They hear the van's horn.B School finishes early.C Rubina gives them sweets. [1]
2. (b) What made Rubina start the project?A She saw that children had few books.B She wanted a new job.C A school asked her to help. [1]
3. (c) Where did the first books come from?A families in the cityB Rubina's own savingsC a school library [1]
4. (d) What do regular readers receive?A a free bookB a badgeC their name in a notebook [1]
5. (e) Why do some mothers attend the reading class?A to become teachersB to borrow more booksC to read to their children [1]
6. (f) What help does Rubina still need?A money for fuelB new tyresC someone to drive [1]

Read the article about a young photographer. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Seeing the city through a lensNineteen-year-old Daniyal Ahmed never planned to become a photographer. He got his first camera, a second-hand one, as a birthday present from his uncle when he was fourteen, and for months he only took pictures of his cat.Things changed when his school organised a photography competition on the theme 'My City'. Daniyal walked around the old streets of Peshawar early one morning and photographed a tea seller pouring tea in the first rays of sunlight. The picture won first prize, and a local newspaper printed it.Since then, Daniyal has photographed markets, festivals and craftspeople across the region. He prefers taking pictures of people at work, because he believes their faces tell stories. Before he takes a photograph, he always asks permission and spends time chatting, so that people feel relaxed.He shares his photos on social media, where he now has more than fifty thousand followers. However, he says the most rewarding moment was not online. 'I printed a picture for an old shoemaker I had photographed. He had never had a photograph of himself before, and he hung it in his shop.'Daniyal is now studying journalism at university and hopes to work for a news agency in the future.

1. (a) Who gave Daniyal his first camera?A his fatherB his uncleC his school [1]
2. (b) What did Daniyal photograph at first?A old streetsB his catC his friends [1]
3. (c) What happened to his competition photo?A It was sold.B It was shown at an exhibition.C A newspaper published it. [1]
4. (d) Why does he talk to people before photographing them?A to help them feel relaxedB to learn about their jobsC to ask for money [1]
5. (e) What was Daniyal's most rewarding moment?A reaching fifty thousand followersB giving a printed photo to a shoemakerC winning the competition [1]
6. (f) What does Daniyal want to do in the future?A work for a news agencyB open a photography shopC teach photography [1]

Read the article about a family-run sweet shop. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Sweet traditionsIn a narrow lane in old Hyderabad, Sindh, a small sweet shop has been open for more than ninety years. It was started by Abdul Ghani in 1934, and today it is run by his great-grandson, Faisal.The shop is famous for its sohan halwa, a rich sweet made from milk, sugar, wheat and plenty of ghee, topped with almonds and pistachios. Faisal still uses his great-grandfather's recipe, which has never been written down. 'My father taught me by letting me watch him for years before I was allowed to cook it myself,' he says.Making the halwa is hard work. The mixture must be stirred for several hours over a fire in large metal pans, and if the cook stops even for a minute, it can burn. Faisal starts at four in the morning so that the halwa is ready when the shop opens at ten.Customers come from all over the country, especially before weddings and religious festivals. Some people living abroad ask relatives to bring tins of halwa back with them. Recently, Faisal started selling online, and he now sends orders to customers in other cities.Faisal's son is only eight, but he already likes helping in the shop. 'I hope he will continue,' Faisal says. 'But I won't force him. He must choose for himself.'

1. (a) Who started the shop?A Faisal's great-grandfatherB Faisal's fatherC Faisal [1]
2. (b) How did Faisal learn the recipe?A from a written recipeB at a cookery schoolC by watching his father for years [1]
3. (c) Why must the mixture be stirred constantly?A to add the nutsB so that it does not burnC to make it cool quickly [1]
4. (d) When does Faisal start work?A at four in the morningB at ten in the morningC after the shop closes [1]
5. (e) What has Faisal started doing recently?A opening a second shopB exporting tins abroadC selling online [1]
6. (f) What does Faisal say about his son?A His son should decide his own future.B His son must take over the shop.C His son is too young to help. [1]

Read the article about a school robotics team. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The robot buildersWhen a group of six students from a school in Quetta entered a national robotics competition last year, they had never built a robot before. They had just three months to prepare, a small budget and an old classroom as their workshop.The competition task was to build a robot that could pick up plastic bottles and drop them into a recycling bin. The team began by watching online videos and asking their physics teacher for advice. Their first robot moved well but kept dropping the bottles, so they redesigned its arm three times.Money was a problem. Some parts were expensive, so the students used materials from old toys and broken printers. Team captain Sana Baloch says this made the project more creative. 'We had to think about what we already had, not what we could buy.'At the competition in Islamabad, the team finished fourth out of forty schools. They did not win a medal, but the judges gave them a special award for the best use of recycled materials.Since then, more than thirty students have joined the school's new robotics club, and the team is already planning a robot for next year's competition.

1. (a) How long did the team have to prepare?A one monthB three monthsC a year [1]
2. (b) What did the robot have to do?A sort different types of rubbishB clean the classroomC put bottles into a bin [1]
3. (c) Why did the team redesign the arm?A It was too expensive.B It moved too slowly.C It kept dropping the bottles. [1]
4. (d) Where did some parts come from?A old toys and printersB their physics teacherC a shop in Islamabad [1]
5. (e) What did the team win?A a special award for using recycled materialsB a medal for fourth placeC first prize [1]
6. (f) What has happened at the school since the competition?A The team has won another competition.B A robotics club has started.C The school has bought new equipment. [1]

Read the article about a girls' football team. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Kicking offThree years ago, there was no girls' football team in the small town of Chitral. Today, the Chitral Eagles have twenty-two players aged between twelve and seventeen and train three times a week.The team was started by Gul Bibi, a sports teacher who had played football at university. At first, it was hard to find players. Some parents were worried that the girls would get hurt, and others thought football was only for boys. Gul Bibi visited families at home to explain what the training involved and invited parents to watch.The team had no proper pitch, so they practised on a rocky field near the river. A local businessman later paid for the field to be levelled and for two goals to be put up. Boots and kits were donated by a sports charity in Islamabad.Last summer, the Eagles played their first match outside Chitral, against a team from Gilgit. They lost 3–1, but the players say it was the best day of their lives. 'Just being on a real pitch with a crowd watching was amazing,' says fourteen-year-old Zarmina.Gul Bibi says the biggest change is in the girls' confidence. 'They walk differently now,' she says. 'They speak up in class and believe they can achieve things.'

1. (a) How often does the team train?A three times a weekB once a weekC every day [1]
2. (b) Why were some parents worried at first?A Training was too far away.B It was too expensive.C They thought the girls might be injured. [1]
3. (c) How did Gul Bibi persuade parents?A She offered free kits.B She asked the businessman to help.C She visited them at home. [1]
4. (d) Who provided the boots and kits?A a sports charityB a local businessmanC the girls' parents [1]
5. (e) What does Zarmina say about the match in Gilgit?A She was disappointed to lose.B The crowd was very small.C Playing on a real pitch was wonderful. [1]
6. (f) What change does Gul Bibi notice most in the players?A Their football skills have improved.B They get better marks.C They are more confident. [1]

Read the article about a city's tree-planting campaign. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.A greener KarachiKarachi is one of the largest cities in the world, but it has very few trees. In recent summers, heatwaves have made life difficult for millions of people. Now, a group of volunteers is trying to change this.The campaign, called 'Shade for All', began when three university students noticed how hot their bus stop was. They planted two neem trees beside it and watered them every day. Neighbours saw what they were doing and asked to help.Today, the group has planted more than ten thousand trees across the city. They choose local species, such as neem and peepal, because these need less water and provide homes for birds. Each tree is given to a 'guardian' – a family, a shopkeeper or a school – who promises to water it for the first two years.Not every tree survives. Some are damaged by goats or cut down for building work. But the volunteers say that most trees with a guardian grow well.The group now plans to plant trees in school playgrounds, where children have little shade during break time.

1. (a) What problem has affected Karachi in recent summers?A floodsB water shortagesC heatwaves [1]
2. (b) What gave the students the idea for the campaign?A a hot bus stopB a school projectC a newspaper article [1]
3. (c) Why does the group choose local trees?A They need less water.B They grow faster.C They are cheaper to buy. [1]
4. (d) What does a 'guardian' promise to do?A pay for the treeB protect the tree from goatsC water the tree for two years [1]
5. (e) Where does the group plan to plant trees next?A at bus stopsB in school playgroundsC beside shops [1]
6. (f) Why do some trees not survive?A Their guardians forget to water them.B They are damaged by goats or cut down for building.C The summer heat is too strong for them. [1]

Read the article about a visit to a science museum. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.A day at the science centreLast month, Class 9 from a school in Rawalpindi visited the new science centre in Islamabad. For many students, it was their first visit to a museum of this kind.The day began in the space gallery, where students saw a model of the solar system hanging from the ceiling. A guide explained how far apart the planets really are. Next, they visited the 'Human Body' room, where they could listen to their own heartbeat through special headphones.The most popular part of the visit was the earthquake simulator, a small room that shakes to show what different earthquakes feel like. Several students screamed, but everyone wanted another turn.After lunch in the park outside, the class watched a show in the planetarium about the life of stars. Some students found it hard to stay awake in the dark, comfortable seats!Back at school, the students wrote reports on what they had learned. Their teacher, Mr Javed, says the visit has made them much more interested in science lessons.

1. (a) Where did the visit begin?A in the space galleryB in the Human Body roomC in the planetarium [1]
2. (b) What could students do in the 'Human Body' room?A watch a show about starsB listen to their heartbeatC see a model of the planets [1]
3. (c) What was the most popular part of the visit?A the earthquake simulatorB the planetarium showC lunch in the park [1]
4. (d) Why did some students find the planetarium show difficult?A It was too loud.B It was too short.C The seats made them sleepy. [1]
5. (e) What has Mr Javed noticed since the visit?A Students are more interested in science.B Students want to visit again.C Students write better reports. [1]
6. (f) Where did the class eat lunch?A in the planetariumB in the park outsideC back at school [1]

Read the article about a boy who learned to swim in a river. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The river swimmerBilawal is thirteen and lives in a village beside the River Swat. Last year, after a boy from a nearby village was swept away by the current, Bilawal's parents decided that he must learn to swim properly.There was no swimming pool in the area, so his uncle, a fisherman, offered to teach him in a calm part of the river. Every morning before school, they practised for half an hour. At first Bilawal was frightened of putting his face in the cold water, but his uncle was patient.After two months, Bilawal could swim across the calm bay. His uncle also taught him important safety rules: never swim alone, stay away from fast-flowing water after rain, and never jump in to rescue someone – throw them a rope or a branch instead.This summer, Bilawal helped his uncle teach five younger children from the village. 'I want everyone here to be safe in the water,' he says.

1. (a) Why did Bilawal's parents want him to learn to swim?A He wanted to join a swimming club.B His uncle needed help fishing.C A boy nearby had been swept away. [1]
2. (b) Where did Bilawal learn?A in a poolB in a calm part of the riverC in a lake [1]
3. (c) What frightened Bilawal at first?A the fast currentB putting his face in the waterC his uncle [1]
4. (d) What should you do if someone is in trouble in the water, according to his uncle?A jump in quicklyB call a fishermanC throw them a rope or branch [1]
5. (e) What did Bilawal do this summer?A swam across the riverB joined a competitionC helped teach younger children [1]
6. (f) How long did it take Bilawal to be able to swim across the calm bay?A half an hourB two monthsC a year [1]

Read the article about a scientist who studies snow leopards. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Tracking the ghost of the mountainsSnow leopards are so rarely seen that people in the mountains call them 'ghost cats'. Dr Imran Qadir has spent more than fifteen years trying to understand them, and in that time he has seen one with his own eyes only a handful of times.Instead of searching for the animals directly, his team relies on camera traps – small cameras fixed to rocks along mountain paths that take a photograph whenever something moves in front of them. Each leopard has a unique pattern of spots, so researchers can identify individuals and estimate how many live in an area. The team also collects droppings, which contain DNA and reveal what the cats have been eating.The biggest threat to snow leopards in northern Pakistan, Dr Qadir explains, is not hunting for their fur, which has become much less common, but conflict with herders. When a leopard kills goats or sheep, a family may lose a large part of its income in a single night, and some herders take revenge by poisoning or shooting the cat.To reduce these losses, the team has helped villages build stronger animal pens with wire-mesh roofs, which leopards cannot climb into. They have also set up a livestock insurance scheme: each family pays a small amount every year, and if an animal is killed by a leopard, the family receives compensation. Villagers themselves manage the scheme, deciding together whether a claim is genuine.The results have been encouraging. In villages taking part, revenge killings have almost stopped. Dr Qadir believes the key has been listening to herders rather than lecturing them. 'Local people know these mountains far better than we do,' he says. 'Without their support, no conservation plan will ever work.'

1. (a) How often has Dr Qadir seen a snow leopard himself?A neverB every yearC only a few times [1]
2. (b) How do researchers tell individual leopards apart?A by the pattern of their spotsB by their DNA in droppingsC by the paths they use [1]
3. (c) According to Dr Qadir, the main danger to snow leopards isA being hunted for their fur.B herders killing them after losing animals.C a shortage of wild prey. [1]
4. (d) What is special about the new animal pens?A They are built from stone.B They are guarded at night.C They have roofs that leopards cannot get through. [1]
5. (e) Who decides whether an insurance claim should be paid?A Dr Qadir's teamB an insurance companyC the villagers [1]
6. (f) What does Dr Qadir think has made the project successful?A paying herders large amounts of moneyB paying attention to local people's knowledgeC teaching villagers about conservation [1]

Read the article about a bicycle-sharing scheme in a European city. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Two wheels for everyoneWhen the city of Lyon in France launched one of Europe's first large bicycle-sharing schemes, many people predicted it would fail. The bikes, they said, would be stolen, broken or simply ignored. Nearly twenty years later, the scheme has hundreds of stations and the bikes are used tens of thousands of times a day.The system is simple. Users register online or at a machine, unlock a bike with a card or a phone app, and return it to any station in the city. The first half-hour of each journey is free for subscribers, which encourages people to use the bikes for short trips rather than keeping them all day.One unexpected problem was that bikes tended to collect at stations at the bottom of hills. People were happy to ride downhill but not to cycle back up. The operators now use vans to move bikes back to the higher stations each night, and some cities have added a small reward for users who return bikes to stations that are running low.Supporters say the scheme has changed the way people think about cycling. Many users who started on shared bikes went on to buy their own. The city has also built more cycle lanes, partly because there are now so many cyclists asking for them.Critics, however, point out that the scheme is expensive to run, mainly because of repairs and the cost of moving bikes. Some also argue that shared bikes mostly replace walking or bus journeys rather than car trips, so the benefit to air quality may be smaller than claimed. Despite these concerns, more than a thousand cities around the world now have similar schemes.

1. (a) What did people predict when the scheme began?A It would be too expensive.B It would cause accidents.C It would not succeed. [1]
2. (b) Why is the first half-hour free?A to attract touristsB so that people make short journeysC to compete with buses [1]
3. (c) What was the problem with hills?A Bikes were damaged on steep roads.B Riders refused to cycle downhill.C Bikes built up at lower stations. [1]
4. (d) How do some cities deal with stations that have few bikes?A They reward users who return bikes there.B They close them at night.C They charge extra to use them. [1]
5. (e) Why has Lyon built more cycle lanes?A to reduce car trafficB because many cyclists have demanded themC because the scheme made a profit [1]
6. (f) Some critics believe that shared bikesA are often stolen.B are mainly used instead of walking or buses.C are too slow for city journeys. [1]

Read the article about the history of the pencil. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The humble pencilIt is cheap, light and almost unbreakable, and it works in freezing cold, underwater and upside down. Yet few people think twice about the pencil.Its story begins in the sixteenth century, when a large deposit of pure graphite was discovered in northern England. Local shepherds used the soft black mineral to mark their sheep. At first, people thought it was a kind of lead, which is why we still talk about pencil 'lead' today, even though pencils have never contained any.The graphite was so valuable that the mine was guarded, and stealing from it became a serious crime. Pure graphite was rare elsewhere, so in the 1790s, during a war that stopped supplies from England, a French engineer named Nicolas-Jacques Conté found a solution. He mixed powdered graphite with clay and baked it. By changing the amount of clay, he could make pencils harder or softer – the basis of the grading system still used today.Encasing the graphite in wood was another important step. Early users wrapped sticks of graphite in string or sheepskin. Later, craftsmen cut a groove in a strip of wood, laid the graphite inside and glued a second strip on top. This method, with some improvements, is still how most pencils are made.The pencil has survived the arrival of the pen, the typewriter and the computer. Artists value it for its range of shades, and engineers like the fact that its marks can be erased. Some people also claim that writing by hand with a pencil helps them think more clearly than typing.

1. (a) Why do people say pencil 'lead'?A Pencils used to contain lead.B Lead was added to make pencils harder.C Graphite was once thought to be lead. [1]
2. (b) What did shepherds use graphite for?A making pencilsB selling to minersC marking their animals [1]
3. (c) Why did Conté need to find a new way of making pencils?A French graphite was too hard.B The English mine had closed.C English graphite was unavailable during a war. [1]
4. (d) What did adding more or less clay allow Conté to do?A produce pencils more cheaplyB make pencils last longerC vary the hardness of pencils [1]
5. (e) How were the graphite sticks first protected?A by a groove in a strip of woodB with string or sheepskinC by a metal case [1]
6. (f) Why do engineers like pencils, according to the article?A They produce many shades.B They help people think clearly.C Their marks can be rubbed out. [1]

Read the article about an unusual fish. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The fish that walks on landIn the muddy mangrove swamps of Asia, Africa and Australia lives a fish that seems to break all the rules. The mudskipper spends much of its life out of the water, hopping across the mud on its strong front fins and even climbing up tree roots.How can a fish survive in the air? Most fish take oxygen from water through their gills, which collapse when they are removed from the water. Mudskippers solve this problem in two ways. They keep a supply of water in large chambers around their gills, rather like a diver carrying an air tank. They can also absorb oxygen directly through their skin and the lining of their mouth, as long as they stay damp. This is why they often roll in puddles.Mudskippers come onto land mainly to feed, as the mud at low tide is full of tiny worms, crabs and insects. Being on land also means there are fewer predators, although herons and snakes do hunt them. Males use the open mud for another purpose: to attract a partner, they jump high into the air and show off brightly coloured fins.Each male digs a burrow in the mud. When the tide comes in, the fish retreat into these burrows, which fill with water. Remarkably, the male swims up to the surface again and again, gulping air and carrying it down to a small chamber where the eggs are laid, so that they have enough oxygen.Scientists study mudskippers to understand how animals first moved from water onto land millions of years ago. Although mudskippers are not the ancestors of land animals, they show how such a change could have taken place.

1. (a) How do mudskippers move across the mud?A by swimming through puddlesB by hopping on their front finsC by sliding on their stomachs [1]
2. (b) Why do mudskippers roll in puddles?A to keep their skin damp so they can take in oxygenB to escape from predatorsC to clean their fins [1]
3. (c) What is the main reason mudskippers come onto land?A to avoid predatorsB to find foodC to dig burrows [1]
4. (d) Why do males jump into the air?A to attract a femaleB to catch insectsC to watch for herons [1]
5. (e) Why does the male carry air into the burrow?A so that he can breathe during high tideB to keep the burrow dryC so that the eggs get oxygen [1]
6. (f) Why are scientists interested in mudskippers?A They may show how animals moved onto land.B They are the ancestors of land animals.C They can live without oxygen. [1]

Read the article about a scheme to bring clean water to schools. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.A drink of clean waterIn many schools across rural Sindh, the only source of drinking water used to be a hand pump in the playground. Tests showed that in several villages the water contained bacteria and high levels of arsenic, a poisonous chemical that occurs naturally in some underground rocks.A charity started by a group of engineering graduates decided to tackle the problem. Rather than shipping in expensive equipment from abroad, they designed a simple filter using sand, gravel and a special clay that removes arsenic. The filters are built locally by trained workers, which keeps costs low and creates jobs.Each school that joins the scheme chooses two 'water monitors', usually older students, who check the filter every day and record the results in a logbook. If something seems wrong, they phone a local technician. Teachers say the responsibility has made the monitors more confident, and other students take the rules about clean water more seriously when they hear them from classmates.The effects have been striking. In schools with filters, the number of students absent because of stomach illnesses has fallen sharply. Some parents have also begun bringing containers to fill at the school, as their home supply is not safe.The charity's biggest challenge is maintenance. A filter needs cleaning every three months and replacing every five years, and a few schools stopped using theirs when the original monitors left. The charity now trains new monitors every year, and it is asking local councils to include filter repair in their budgets.

1. (a) What was found in some village water supplies?A only bacteriaB chemicals from factoriesC bacteria and arsenic [1]
2. (b) Why did the charity design its own filter?A Foreign filters did not remove bacteria.B Imported equipment was too expensive.C The government asked them to. [1]
3. (c) What is one job of the water monitors?A recording checks in a logbookB repairing filtersC training technicians [1]
4. (d) According to teachers, why do students follow the clean-water rules more carefully?A They hear them from other students.B The rules are written on the filter.C Parents remind them at home. [1]
5. (e) Why do some parents bring containers to the schools?A They work at the school.B Their water at home is unsafe.C The charity asked them to. [1]
6. (f) Why did some schools stop using their filters?A Monitors who knew how to look after them had left.B The filters were too expensive.C Local councils removed them. [1]

Read the article about a famous desert festival. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Music in the sandEvery February, the dunes of the Cholistan desert come alive for the Cholistan Jeep Rally, one of Pakistan's best-known motorsport events. Drivers race across hundreds of kilometres of sand, but for many of the thousands of visitors, the rally is only part of the attraction.Around the race camp near Derawar Fort, a festival grows up each year. Local musicians play traditional instruments late into the night, and craftspeople sell embroidered fabrics, leather sandals and pottery. Camel races and dances are held during the day, when the drivers are out on the course.For the people of the desert, the festival is an important source of income. Many families depend on raising animals, and the dry climate makes life difficult. During rally week, they earn money from selling food, renting out tents and guiding visitors. One craftswoman told reporters that she sells more in those few days than in the rest of the year.The event has its critics. Environmental groups warn that hundreds of vehicles damage the fragile desert plants, which take years to recover. Local people also complain that rubbish is left behind after the visitors go home. In response, the organisers have started a clean-up campaign and limited where spectators' cars can drive.Despite these concerns, most local people want the event to continue. They hope, however, that more of the money spent by visitors will stay in the area rather than going to large companies from the cities.

1. (a) According to the article, for many visitors the rallyA is the only reason to come.B is too dangerous to watch.C is just one of the attractions. [1]
2. (b) When are camel races held?A during the dayB late at nightC after the rally finishes [1]
3. (c) Why is the festival important to local families?A It brings them new animals.B It helps them earn money.C It helps them learn to drive. [1]
4. (d) What did one craftswoman say?A She cannot sell enough to visitors.B She prefers selling in the cities.C She makes most of her yearly sales during the festival. [1]
5. (e) What is one way the organisers have responded to criticism?A They have banned vehicles.B They have restricted where spectators can drive.C They have moved the rally. [1]
6. (f) What do local people hope for?A that the event will stopB that large companies will investC that more visitor spending stays local [1]

Read the article about the return of a rare bird. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The return of the vultureThirty years ago, vultures were a common sight across South Asia, circling high above towns and villages. Then, within a decade, their numbers fell by more than ninety-five per cent. Scientists were puzzled at first, suspecting a disease, until they discovered the real cause: a medicine called diclofenac.Diclofenac was widely given to cattle to treat pain and fever. When an animal died, vultures fed on the body and swallowed traces of the drug, which caused their kidneys to fail. Because vultures eat in large groups, a single carcass could poison dozens of birds.The loss of vultures had unexpected effects on people. Dead animals were left to rot, and the number of stray dogs feeding on them rose sharply. This in turn led to more dog bites and more cases of rabies. In some communities, traditional practices that relied on vultures to dispose of the dead also became difficult to continue.In 2006, Pakistan, India and Nepal banned diclofenac for animals. Conservation groups also set up 'vulture restaurants' – feeding sites where birds are given meat known to be free of harmful drugs. In addition, birds bred in captivity have been released into the wild.Recent surveys show that numbers have stopped falling and, in some areas, have started to rise slowly. However, experts warn that the recovery is fragile. Some other animal medicines that are still legal may also be harmful to vultures, and campaigners want these to be tested and, if necessary, banned too.

1. (a) What did scientists first think was killing vultures?A a medicineB a diseaseC lack of food [1]
2. (b) Why could one dead animal kill many vultures?A Vultures feed in large groups.B The drug spread through the air.C Cattle were given large doses. [1]
3. (c) What was one result of the loss of vultures?A more stray dogsB fewer cattleC more diseases in cattle [1]
4. (d) What are 'vulture restaurants'?A places where vultures are bredB markets selling meatC sites with safe food for vultures [1]
5. (e) What do recent surveys show?A Numbers are no longer falling.B Vultures have fully recovered.C Numbers are still falling quickly. [1]
6. (f) What do campaigners want now?A more vulture restaurantsB testing of other animal medicinesC a ban on keeping cattle [1]

Read the article about a young woman who became a pilot. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Reaching for the skyAs a child in Mardan, Ayesha Khan used to climb onto the roof of her house whenever a plane flew over. Today, at twenty-six, she is a first officer with a national airline, flying passenger jets across the Middle East.Her path was not easy. Flight training is expensive, and her father, a schoolteacher, could not afford the fees. Ayesha studied physics at university first and worked as a tutor for two years, saving every rupee. She then won a scholarship from a foundation that supports women entering aviation, which paid for most of her training.Training involved more than learning to fly. She had to pass exams in navigation, weather, aircraft engines and air law, and spent hundreds of hours in a flight simulator practising emergencies such as engine failures. 'The simulator was harder than real flying,' she says, 'because the instructors kept giving us one problem after another.'Ayesha admits that some people were surprised when she said she wanted to be a pilot. A relative told her it was not a job for women. However, her parents supported her completely, and her mother still keeps a photograph of her first solo flight on the wall.She now visits schools to talk about careers in aviation. Her message is simple: 'Don't let anyone decide your dream for you. Work hard, ask for help, and be patient.'

1. (a) What did Ayesha do as a child when planes flew over?A She drew pictures of them.B She asked her father about them.C She climbed onto the roof. [1]
2. (b) How did Ayesha pay for most of her flight training?A with her savings from tutoringB with help from her fatherC with a scholarship [1]
3. (c) Why did Ayesha find the simulator difficult?A It was very different from a real plane.B Instructors gave her many problems in a row.C She had to use it for hundreds of hours. [1]
4. (d) How did Ayesha's parents react to her plan?A They were surprised.B They asked a relative for advice.C They supported her fully. [1]
5. (e) What does Ayesha's mother keep?A a photo of Ayesha's first solo flightB Ayesha's pilot certificateC a model plane [1]
6. (f) What is Ayesha's main message to students?A Follow your own dream and work hard.B Aviation is the best career.C Study physics before training. [1]

Read the article about a teenager who started a recycling business. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Turning plastic into profitWhen sixteen-year-old Hamid Raza saw plastic bags blocking the drains outside his home in Rawalpindi, he decided to do something about it. Two years later, his small business turns waste plastic into paving tiles.Hamid got the idea from a video about a project in Kenya, where plastic was mixed with sand and heated to make building materials. He experimented in his family's backyard with an old oven, testing different amounts of plastic and sand. 'The first tiles cracked or smelled terrible,' he laughs. After many attempts, and advice from a chemistry teacher, he found a mixture that produced strong, smooth tiles.Hamid buys plastic waste from local collectors, who previously had few buyers for bags and wrappers. This gives them a regular income. His tiles are cheaper than concrete ones and do not crack in cold weather, which has made them popular for garden paths and school playgrounds.The business has faced challenges. Melting plastic produces fumes, so Hamid had to invest in a proper machine with a filter to protect workers' health. He also had to persuade customers that tiles made from rubbish were safe and long-lasting. Showing them tiles that had been outside for a year helped.Hamid now employs four people and hopes to expand to other cities. He says the most important lesson he has learned is that failure is part of the process.

1. (a) What made Hamid want to act?A a school projectB plastic blocking local drainsC a business competition [1]
2. (b) Where did Hamid get the idea for the tiles?A from a video about KenyaB from a chemistry teacherC from local collectors [1]
3. (c) How does Hamid's business help waste collectors?A It trains them to make tiles.B It gives them a regular buyer for plastic.C It provides them with machines. [1]
4. (d) Why have the tiles become popular?A They are made by students.B They are cheaper and don't crack in the cold.C They come in many colours. [1]
5. (e) Why did Hamid buy a machine with a filter?A to make tiles fasterB to protect workers from fumesC to reduce the smell for customers [1]
6. (f) How did Hamid convince customers?A by showing tiles that had been outside for a yearB by lowering his pricesC by getting a teacher's recommendation [1]

Read the article about an ancient city. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.The city of the IndusAround 4,500 years ago, Mohenjo-daro, in what is now Sindh, was one of the largest cities in the world. It may have been home to as many as 40,000 people. Yet for thousands of years it lay forgotten under layers of earth, until archaeologists began excavating it in the 1920s.What amazes visitors most is how well planned the city was. Streets were laid out in a grid pattern, crossing each other at right angles. Houses were built of baked bricks of standard sizes, and many had their own wells and bathrooms. A system of covered drains ran along the streets, carrying waste water away from homes – something many cities did not have until much later.One of the most famous buildings is the Great Bath, a large waterproof pool surrounded by rooms. Archaeologists believe it was not used for swimming but for religious ceremonies. Finds from the city include small carved seals with images of animals and a writing system that no one has yet been able to read.Why the city was eventually abandoned remains a mystery. Some experts think the River Indus changed its course, while others believe a change in climate made farming difficult. There is little evidence of war.Today, Mohenjo-daro is a World Heritage Site, but it faces a serious threat. Salt in the soil is rising through the bricks and causing them to crumble. Conservation teams are working to protect the walls, but experts warn that without more funding, parts of the city could be lost.

1. (a) When did excavation of Mohenjo-daro begin?A 4,500 years agoB in the 1920sC recently [1]
2. (b) What feature of the city amazes visitors most?A its careful planningB its sizeC its temples [1]
3. (c) What was the purpose of the covered drains?A to bring drinking waterB to water cropsC to carry waste water away [1]
4. (d) What do archaeologists believe the Great Bath was used for?A swimmingB storing waterC religious ceremonies [1]
5. (e) What is known about why the city was abandoned?A It was destroyed in a war.B The reason is still uncertain.C A flood destroyed it. [1]
6. (f) What is the main danger to the site today?A too many touristsB salt damaging the bricksC the river flooding [1]

Read the article about the science of forgetting. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Why forgetting is good for youWe tend to think of forgetting as a failure – the frustrating moment when a name or a fact refuses to come back. But a growing number of neuroscientists argue that forgetting is not a weakness of memory at all. Instead, it may be one of the brain's most useful tools.Every day, we take in a vast amount of information, most of which is of no lasting value: the colour of a stranger's coat, the number of a bus we will never catch again. If the brain stored all of this permanently, finding the memories that matter would be like searching for one book in a library where nothing was ever thrown away. By letting unimportant details fade, the brain makes it easier to retrieve what is useful.Forgetting also helps us to adapt. Imagine you move house: for a while, you may find yourself walking towards your old front door. Gradually, the old route weakens and the new one takes over. Researchers studying mice have found that the brain actively removes some connections between nerve cells, a process that appears to be just as deliberate as forming new ones.This does not mean that every lapse of memory is healthy. Sudden or severe memory loss can be a sign of illness and should be checked by a doctor. Lack of sleep, too, interferes with the brain's ability to sort memories, which may explain why students who stay up all night revising often remember less in the exam.So how can we make sure we keep what we need? The research suggests that the brain treats information as important when we use it repeatedly. Testing yourself on a topic, rather than simply re-reading your notes, sends a strong signal that the memory should be kept. Spacing out practice over several days works better still.

1. (a) What is the writer's main point in the first paragraph?A Forgetting is frustrating for everyone.B Scientists cannot explain why we forget.C Forgetting may be useful rather than a fault. [1]
2. (b) The library comparison is used to show thatA the brain stores memories like books.B a memory that keeps everything would be hard to search.C unimportant memories take up space in the brain. [1]
3. (c) What does the example of moving house illustrate?A how difficult it is to learn a new routeB how forgetting allows new habits to replace old onesC why people forget their new address [1]
4. (d) What have studies of mice shown?A The brain deliberately breaks some connections.B Mice forget routes more quickly than humans.C New nerve cells form when old ones die. [1]
5. (e) According to the article, staying up all night to reviseA is a sign of illness.B helps the brain sort memories.C may make students remember less. [1]
6. (f) Which revision method does the research support most strongly?A re-reading notes carefullyB self-testing spread over several daysC testing yourself on one long day [1]

Read the article about a debate over tourism in a mountain valley. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Too many visitors?Ten years ago, the Hunza valley in northern Pakistan welcomed a few thousand foreign trekkers each summer. Today, improved roads and social media have made it one of the country's most popular destinations, and on holiday weekends traffic jams stretch along the Karakoram Highway.For many local families, the boom has been welcome. Guest houses, restaurants and jeep services have created jobs that allow young people to earn a living without moving to the cities. Shopkeeper Karim Baig says his income has tripled. 'My father had to go to Karachi for work,' he says. 'My son can stay here.'Others are less enthusiastic. Hotels are being built at great speed, sometimes on land that was used for growing apricots. Water is becoming scarce in summer, when visitor numbers peak, because the same glacial streams supply both homes and hotels. Rubbish is a growing problem too: the valley has no proper system for dealing with the plastic bottles and food packaging that visitors leave behind.Some residents also worry about their culture. Teacher Shireen Hayat notes that traditional houses are being replaced by concrete buildings designed to look modern. 'Visitors come here because the valley is different,' she says. 'If it becomes like everywhere else, why will they come?'Community groups have begun to take action. One village has set up a fee for visitors, which pays for rubbish collection and the repair of footpaths. Volunteers run workshops for guest-house owners on saving water. However, the local government has yet to introduce building rules, and many fear that without them the valley's problems will only increase.

1. (a) What has caused the increase in visitors?A better roads and social mediaB a campaign by the governmentC lower hotel prices [1]
2. (b) What point does Karim Baig make about his family?A His father ran a shop in Karachi.B His son wants to work in tourism.C His son will not have to leave the valley for work. [1]
3. (c) Why is water becoming scarce?A Homes and hotels use the same streams.B The glaciers are disappearing.C Apricot farms use too much water. [1]
4. (d) What is Shireen Hayat's main concern?A Visitors do not respect local traditions.B The valley may lose what makes it attractive.C Concrete buildings are unsafe. [1]
5. (e) What is the visitor fee used for?A building rulesB water-saving workshopsC rubbish collection and repairing paths [1]
6. (f) What does the writer suggest in the final paragraph?A Government action is still needed.B The problems have now been solved.C Community groups are making things worse. [1]

Read the article about a debate over school start times. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Should school start later?In many countries, secondary school lessons begin before eight in the morning. A growing body of research suggests that this may be too early for teenage students, and some education authorities are beginning to listen.The argument rests on biology. During adolescence, the body clock shifts so that teenagers naturally feel sleepy later at night and wake later in the morning. A teenager who has to get up at six may therefore be losing up to two hours of the sleep they need. Studies in the United States found that when schools moved their start time to around 8.30, students slept longer, arrived late less often and were involved in fewer car accidents on the way to school.Not everyone is convinced. Some head teachers say that a later start would mean finishing later, which would leave less time for sport, part-time jobs and homework. Parents who drop their children off on the way to work also worry about how the change would fit with their own timetables. Bus companies point out that they often use the same vehicles for primary and secondary schools at staggered times, so changing one timetable affects the other.There is also a question about whether students would actually use the extra time to sleep. Critics suggest that many teenagers would simply stay up later on their phones. However, the research so far shows that, on average, students do get more sleep when school starts later, although the gain is often smaller than two hours.For now, most schools keep their traditional times. But as evidence builds, the writer believes the question is no longer whether a later start is better for teenagers, but whether communities are willing to reorganise around it.

1. (a) According to the article, teenagers feel sleepy late at night becauseA their body clock changes during adolescence.B they use phones in the evening.C they have too much homework. [1]
2. (b) Which result of later starts in the US is mentioned?A higher exam marksB fewer car accidentsC more students doing sport [1]
3. (c) Why are some head teachers against a later start?A Students would finish school later.B Teachers would have to work longer hours.C Buses would cost more. [1]
4. (d) What problem do bus companies mention?A Primary and secondary timetables are linked.B Drivers would refuse to work later.C Roads are busier later in the morning. [1]
5. (e) What does the research show about extra sleep?A Students gain a full two hours.B Students do sleep more, but often less than two hours more.C Students spend the time on their phones. [1]
6. (f) What is the writer's view in the final paragraph?A Schools should keep their traditional times.B The real question is whether communities will make the change.C More research is needed before deciding. [1]

Read the article about a man who has spent years restoring old buildings. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Saving the havelisWalking through the old walled city of Lahore, it is easy to miss the havelis – grand family houses built around shaded courtyards, some of them over two hundred years old. Many are hidden behind shop fronts, and others are falling apart. Architect Hamid Rauf has spent much of his career trying to save them.Hamid first became interested as a student, when he was asked to draw the plan of a haveli for a university project. 'I expected a dusty old house,' he says. 'Instead, I found a building perfectly designed for the climate. The thick walls kept rooms cool in summer, and the courtyard drew breezes through the house long before air conditioning existed.'Restoring a haveli is slow and costly. Original materials, such as small, thin bricks and lime plaster, are hard to find, and only a few elderly craftsmen still know the traditional techniques. Hamid has therefore set up training programmes where these craftsmen teach young builders, so that the skills are not lost.Ownership is another obstacle. Many havelis are now divided between dozens of descendants of the original family, and it can take years to get all of them to agree to any work. Some owners would rather sell the land to developers, who can make more money by building shops.Hamid accepts that not every haveli can be turned into a museum. In his view, the best way to protect them is to give them a new use that brings in income – a guest house, a café or a cultural centre – while keeping their original features. 'A building that people use is a building that survives,' he says.

1. (a) What surprised Hamid when he first studied a haveli?A how old it wasB how well it suited the climateC how dusty it was [1]
2. (b) Why has Hamid set up training programmes?A to pass traditional skills to young buildersB to make restoration cheaperC to find original materials [1]
3. (c) What makes ownership a problem?A Many havelis belong to the government.B The original families cannot be found.C Many people share the ownership of a single haveli. [1]
4. (d) Why do some owners want to sell to developers?A The buildings are unsafe.B They can earn more money that way.C They live abroad. [1]
5. (e) What does Hamid think about turning havelis into museums?A It is not possible for every haveli.B It is the best solution for all of them.C It destroys their original features. [1]
6. (f) What does Hamid mean by 'A building that people use is a building that survives'?A Giving havelis a useful purpose helps protect them.B Havelis should be lived in by their owners.C People should visit havelis as tourists. [1]

Read the article about a scientist who studies the sounds of the ocean. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Listening to the seaFor most people, the ocean seems a silent world. But marine biologist Dr Sara Malik spends her working life listening to it, and she describes it as one of the noisiest places on the planet.Using underwater microphones called hydrophones, Dr Malik records the sounds of fish, whales and shrimps off the coast of Balochistan. Some fish grunt or drum by vibrating muscles against an air-filled bag inside their bodies. Tiny snapping shrimps produce a loud crackle by closing their claws so quickly that they create a bubble which bursts with a sharp crack. 'A healthy reef sounds like frying food,' she says.These sounds are not just interesting; they are useful. Young fish, drifting in open water, use the noise of a healthy reef to find somewhere to settle. In one experiment, researchers played recordings of healthy reef sounds through speakers placed on damaged reefs. More young fish arrived at these reefs than at silent ones, suggesting that sound could help damaged areas recover.However, the ocean is becoming louder for the wrong reasons. Ship engines, oil exploration and construction produce noise that can travel hundreds of kilometres underwater. Whales, which rely on sound to communicate and find food, may have to call more loudly, or may stop calling altogether when ships pass. Some fish appear to become confused and less able to escape predators.Dr Malik believes that noise pollution should be treated as seriously as chemical pollution. Some solutions already exist: ships can be designed with quieter propellers, and simply reducing their speed in sensitive areas can cut noise considerably. 'Unlike oil spills,' she points out, 'noise disappears the moment it stops. That gives us real reason for hope.'

1. (a) How does Dr Malik describe the ocean?A as a silent worldB as very noisyC as becoming quieter [1]
2. (b) How do snapping shrimps make their sound?A by vibrating muscles against an air bagB by rubbing their claws togetherC by creating a bubble that bursts [1]
3. (c) What did the speaker experiment show?A Reef sounds attracted more young fish to damaged reefs.B Damaged reefs are naturally noisier.C Young fish avoid loud noises. [1]
4. (d) According to the article, whales may react to ship noise byA moving to shallower water.B calling more loudly or not at all.C following the ships. [1]
5. (e) Which solution to ship noise is mentioned?A banning ships from the coastB using hydrophones on shipsC slowing ships down in sensitive areas [1]
6. (f) Why does Dr Malik feel hopeful?A Chemical pollution is decreasing.B Whales are adapting to noise.C Noise ends as soon as its source stops. [1]

Read the article about the 'slow food' movement. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Taking time over dinnerIn 1986, when a fast-food restaurant was planned near the Spanish Steps in Rome, a group of Italians protested. Their campaign grew into an international organisation known as Slow Food, which now has supporters in more than 150 countries.Despite its name, the movement is not mainly about eating slowly. Its central idea is that food should be 'good, clean and fair': good-tasting, produced without harming the environment, and paid for at prices that give farmers a decent living. Members encourage people to buy local, seasonal produce and to learn where their food comes from.One of the movement's best-known projects is the 'Ark of Taste', a list of foods in danger of disappearing, such as rare varieties of rice, fruit and cheese. When large supermarkets prefer a few types of crop that are easy to transport and store, traditional varieties can vanish within a generation, taking with them local knowledge and flavours.Critics argue that Slow Food is a movement for the wealthy. Local, organic food is often more expensive, and families on low incomes may not have time to cook complicated meals from fresh ingredients. Supporters reply that many traditional diets were, in fact, the food of poor people, built around beans, grains and vegetables, and that cooking simply at home can be cheaper than buying processed food.Whatever its critics say, the movement has influenced how many restaurants and schools think about food. School gardens, farmers' markets and menus that name the farm where ingredients were grown have all become more common – trends that would have seemed unusual forty years ago.

1. (a) What started the Slow Food movement?A a protest against a planned fast-food restaurantB a campaign by Italian farmersC a festival in Rome [1]
2. (b) According to the article, the movement's main idea is thatA people should eat their meals slowly.B food should be tasty, environmentally friendly and fairly paid for.C people should only eat Italian food. [1]
3. (c) Why are some traditional food varieties disappearing?A They are too expensive to grow.B Supermarkets prefer crops that are easy to transport and store.C Young people dislike their taste. [1]
4. (d) What is the critics' main point?A Slow food tastes no better than fast food.B Local food is harmful to the environment.C The movement suits people with more money. [1]
5. (e) How do supporters answer the critics?A by saying many traditional diets were cheap foods of the poorB by offering free cookery classesC by lowering the price of organic food [1]
6. (f) What does the final paragraph suggest?A The movement has failed to change schools.B Farmers' markets have become less popular.C The movement has had a visible influence. [1]

Read the article about how scientists predict earthquakes. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Can we predict earthquakes?Few natural events are as frightening as an earthquake. Unlike storms, which can be tracked for days, earthquakes strike without obvious warning. For decades scientists have searched for a reliable way to predict them, and the honest answer is that they still cannot – at least not in the way people hope.What seismologists can do is estimate the long-term risk. By studying the history of earthquakes along a fault, the crack in the Earth's crust where movement occurs, they can calculate the probability that a large quake will happen there within, say, the next thirty years. Such forecasts help governments decide where to enforce strict building rules. However, they cannot tell anyone which day to leave town.Over the years, many possible warning signs have been investigated: changes in water levels in wells, unusual animal behaviour, and small tremors before a big quake. Some of these have occurred before particular earthquakes, but none has appeared consistently enough to be useful. Small tremors, for example, are common and usually are not followed by anything larger.A more practical approach is early warning. When an earthquake begins, it sends out two kinds of wave. The first is faster but causes little damage; the second, slower wave causes most of the shaking. Sensors that detect the first wave can send an alert by phone or radio before the damaging waves arrive. The warning may be only a few seconds to a minute, but that is enough to stop trains, shut off gas supplies and allow people to take cover under a table.Experts agree that the best protection is still preparation: buildings designed to bend without collapsing, and people who know exactly what to do when the ground starts to move.

1. (a) What does the writer say in the first paragraph?A Earthquakes can be tracked like storms.B Scientists have stopped trying to predict earthquakes.C Scientists still cannot predict earthquakes as people would like. [1]
2. (b) Long-term risk forecasts are useful because theyA tell people when to leave a city.B show exactly where a fault is.C help governments decide where building rules are needed. [1]
3. (c) What is true of the warning signs that have been studied?A Animal behaviour is the most reliable.B Small tremors are usually followed by large quakes.C None appears regularly enough to be relied on. [1]
4. (d) Early warning systems work becauseA the first wave travels faster than the damaging wave.B the damaging wave arrives first.C earthquakes can be predicted a day ahead. [1]
5. (e) Which action is NOT mentioned as possible during an early warning?A stopping trainsB evacuating whole citiesC turning off gas supplies [1]
6. (f) According to experts, what offers the best protection?A good preparation of buildings and peopleB better prediction methodsC early warning by phone [1]

Read the article about the four-day working week. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.Work less, achieve more?For most of the last century, the five-day working week has been the standard in many countries. Now, a series of experiments in Europe, New Zealand and elsewhere is testing a radical idea: that employees could work four days a week for the same pay without any loss in output.The largest trial so far, involving dozens of companies in the United Kingdom, ran for six months. At the end, most companies chose to continue with the shorter week. Managers reported that staff took fewer days off sick and that it became easier to recruit new employees. Workers said they felt less tired and had more time for family and exercise.How can people do the same work in less time? Part of the answer, according to researchers, is that many offices waste a lot of time. Long meetings, unnecessary emails and constant interruptions reduce concentration. When companies knew they had to fit the work into four days, they cut meetings short and protected periods of quiet working time.However, the approach does not suit every job. In hospitals, schools and shops, staff need to be present at fixed times, and a shorter week may simply mean hiring more people, which increases costs. Some workers in the trials also reported that their four days had become more intense and stressful.Supporters admit that a four-day week is not a simple solution for every workplace. But they argue that the experiments have already changed the conversation: instead of asking how many hours people work, employers are beginning to ask what those hours actually achieve.

1. (a) What idea are the experiments testing?A that people should work longer daysB that a shorter week need not reduce outputC that workers should earn less [1]
2. (b) What happened at the end of the UK trial?A Most companies returned to five days.B Companies reduced staff pay.C Most companies kept the four-day week. [1]
3. (c) Which benefit did managers report?A Staff took fewer sick days.B Profits doubled.C Meetings became longer. [1]
4. (d) According to researchers, why can work be done in fewer days?A Offices waste a lot of time that can be cut.B Workers stay later each day.C Companies hire more staff. [1]
5. (e) Why may a four-day week be harder for hospitals and schools?A Their staff dislike change.B They have fewer meetings.C Staff must be there at fixed times, so more people may be needed. [1]
6. (f) What is the writer's conclusion?A The trials have shifted attention to what work achieves.B Every company should adopt a four-day week.C The trials have shown the idea does not work. [1]

Read the article about the history and science of tea. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.A leaf that conquered the worldAfter water, tea is the most widely drunk beverage on Earth. In Pakistan, where it arrived in large quantities only in the twentieth century, it has become so central to daily life that it is hard to imagine a guest being welcomed without a cup of doodh patti.Every true tea, whether green, black or oolong, comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference lies in what happens after the leaves are picked. For green tea, the leaves are heated soon after harvesting, which stops the natural chemical changes that darken them. For black tea, the leaves are rolled and left exposed to air, so they turn dark and develop a stronger flavour. Herbal drinks such as mint or chamomile, though often called tea, contain no leaves from this plant at all.Tea spread from China along trade routes over many centuries, but its global popularity owes much to the British Empire. In the nineteenth century, British companies set up enormous plantations in India and Sri Lanka to reduce their dependence on Chinese supplies. Life for plantation workers was often extremely hard, with long hours and very low pay – a history that is rarely mentioned on the colourful packets in supermarkets.Today, scientists are interested in tea's effects on health. It contains caffeine, though usually less than coffee, and substances called antioxidants. Some studies have linked regular tea drinking with a lower risk of heart disease. However, researchers caution that tea drinkers may also differ from non-drinkers in other ways, such as diet and exercise, so it is difficult to be sure that tea itself is responsible. Adding large amounts of sugar, as many people do, is likely to cancel out any benefit.Meanwhile, climate change threatens the plantations themselves. Tea grows best within a narrow range of temperature and rainfall, and growers in several countries are already reporting smaller harvests after droughts and unusually heavy rain.

1. (a) What does the writer suggest about tea in Pakistan?A It has been drunk there for many centuries.B It is less popular than water.C It became central to hospitality although it arrived fairly recently. [1]
2. (b) What makes black tea different from green tea?A The leaves are exposed to air so they darken.B It comes from a different plant.C The leaves are heated immediately after picking. [1]
3. (c) What does the article say about mint 'tea'?A It is a type of green tea.B It contains more caffeine than black tea.C It is not made from the tea plant. [1]
4. (d) Why did British companies create plantations in India and Sri Lanka?A to provide jobs for local peopleB to rely less on tea from ChinaC because tea grew better there than in China [1]
5. (e) Why are researchers careful about claims that tea protects the heart?A Tea contains caffeine.B Tea drinkers may have other healthy habits.C Too few studies have been done. [1]
6. (f) What point is made in the final paragraph?A Changing weather is already affecting harvests.B Tea plants can grow in almost any climate.C Growers are moving to new countries. [1]

Read the article about a man who walked across Pakistan. For each question, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.One step at a timeWhen Omar Saleem set off from the shore of the Arabian Sea at Keti Bandar last October, he carried a rucksack, a notebook and a simple aim: to walk to the Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border, a journey of almost 2,500 kilometres. Five months later, frostbitten but smiling, he arrived.Omar, a forty-two-year-old geography teacher from Karachi, insists that the walk was not about breaking records. 'Plenty of people have done harder journeys,' he says. 'I wanted to see my own country slowly, at the speed of a person rather than a car.' He averaged around twenty kilometres a day, taking rest days whenever he felt unwell or was invited to stay longer in a village.Those invitations turned out to be the heart of the journey. He had planned to camp most nights, but in the end he used his tent fewer than twenty times. Farmers in Sindh, truck drivers in Punjab and shepherds in the mountains insisted on giving him a meal and a place to sleep. 'People who had very little offered me everything,' he says. 'I'll spend the rest of my life trying to repay that.'The walk was not without danger. In southern Punjab he was caught in a dust storm and had to shelter in a roadside mosque. Near Chilas, a landslide blocked the road for three days. The final stretch, through snow at over 4,000 metres, was the hardest; he lost feeling in two toes, which have since recovered.Omar recorded conversations with the people he met, and he is now turning them into a book. He has also used his notes to create lessons for his students, who followed his progress on a map in the classroom. 'Textbooks tell you about rivers and mountains,' he says. 'They rarely tell you about the people who live beside them.'

1. (a) What was Omar's main reason for the walk?A to set a new recordB to experience Pakistan slowlyC to raise money for his school [1]
2. (b) Why did Omar sometimes take rest days?A The roads were closed.B He was ill or invited to stay.C He needed to write his book. [1]
3. (c) What does the writer mean by 'the heart of the journey'?A the middle part of the routeB the hospitality he receivedC the nights he spent camping [1]
4. (d) How does Omar feel about the people who helped him?A surprised that they asked for paymentB worried that he took too much from themC deeply grateful and wanting to give something back [1]
5. (e) Which part of the journey does Omar describe as the most difficult?A the dust storm in PunjabB the landslide near ChilasC the snowy section at high altitude [1]
6. (f) What does Omar's final comment suggest?A Textbooks contain too many facts about rivers.B Students should walk across the country.C Learning about people is missing from textbooks. [1]