Multiple matching (reading) Banker

Read the article about rooftop gardens in Karachi, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Green roofs over a busy cityAWhen Sadia Memon moved into a fourth-floor flat in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, the only outdoor space was a flat concrete roof that the building shared. In summer it became so hot that nobody went up there. Sadia asked her neighbours if she could put a few pots of mint and chillies in one corner. Most of them laughed, but nobody said no.BWithin a year, the corner had become a small garden of tomatoes, coriander and a lemon tree in a large plastic drum. Sadia waters everything early in the morning with water left over from washing vegetables. 'Plants are not fussy about where their water comes from,' she says. She also puts a layer of dry leaves on the soil so that it does not dry out in the afternoon sun.CThe biggest surprise was the effect on the flats below. Neighbours on the top floor noticed that their rooms felt cooler, and one family switched off their air conditioner for two hours a day. Engineers say that soil and leaves absorb heat that would otherwise pass straight through the concrete into the building.DNow eleven of the sixteen families in the building help with the garden, and children come up after school to pick tomatoes. Sadia runs a free workshop on the first Sunday of every month for anyone in the area who wants to start their own roof garden. Her advice is simple: 'Start with one pot. Plants teach you the rest.'

1. (a) Which section describes how Sadia saves water? [1]
2. (b) Which section mentions a reaction from neighbours that was not very encouraging? [1]
3. (c) Which section explains why the garden lowered the temperature indoors? [1]
4. (d) Which section says Sadia shares her knowledge with other people? [1]
5. (e) Which section describes what the roof was like before the garden? [1]
6. (f) Which section mentions a family using less electricity? [1]
7. (g) Which section gives a method of stopping the soil from losing moisture? [1]

Read the article about adults learning to swim, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Never too late to swimAForty-two-year-old Farhan Ali grew up in a desert town where the nearest river was two hours away. 'There was nowhere to learn, so I never did,' he explains. When his own children started swimming lessons in Islamabad, he sat by the pool every Saturday, feeling embarrassed that he could not join them in the water.BFarhan's fear was not unusual. Swimming teachers say that adults often find it harder than children because they remember frightening moments, such as slipping under the water at a beach. Adults also tend to hold their breath and tense their muscles, which actually makes the body sink.CThe adult class Farhan joined began with no swimming at all. For the first two lessons, the six learners simply stood in shallow water, blew bubbles and practised floating while holding the side. 'Our teacher told us that the water would hold us up if we let it,' Farhan says. By the fifth week he could swim a whole width.DSix months later, Farhan swam his first length alongside his daughter. He now goes to the pool twice a week before work and says it has helped his back pain more than any medicine. He has also persuaded two colleagues to sign up for the next beginners' course.

1. (a) Which section explains why Farhan did not learn to swim as a child? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes a health benefit Farhan has noticed? [1]
3. (c) Which section mentions a habit that makes swimming more difficult for adults? [1]
4. (d) Which section describes the first activities in Farhan's class? [1]
5. (e) Which section says Farhan encouraged other people to learn? [1]
6. (f) Which section describes how Farhan felt while watching his children? [1]
7. (g) Which section says how many people were learning in Farhan's class? [1]

Read the article about a school astronomy club in northern Pakistan, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Stargazing in the mountainsAThe astronomy club at a secondary school near Gilgit started with one second-hand telescope, bought by a physics teacher with money from a school cake sale. On the first evening, only four students came. Now more than thirty meet on the school's playing field on clear nights.BMembers say the mountains are one of the best places in the country to look at the sky. There are very few street lights, and the air is dry and clean, especially in winter. 'In Lahore I could see maybe twenty stars,' says Hina, who moved to Gilgit two years ago. 'Here I can see the Milky Way with my own eyes.'CWatching the sky is not always comfortable. In January the temperature at night can fall well below zero, so students bring thick blankets and flasks of hot tea. They have also learned to use red torches, because white light makes it harder for their eyes to adjust to the dark.DLast year the club photographed the Moon through the telescope using a mobile phone, and the pictures were shown at a national science festival. The students now hope to raise money for a larger telescope so that they can see the rings of Saturn more clearly.

1. (a) Which section says the club's work was seen by people across the country? [1]
2. (b) Which section explains how the club got its first equipment? [1]
3. (c) Which section compares the night sky in two different places? [1]
4. (d) Which section mentions a piece of equipment that protects the students' night vision? [1]
5. (e) Which section describes how the club has grown? [1]
6. (f) Which section gives the club's plan for the future? [1]
7. (g) Which section mentions a difficulty caused by the weather? [1]

Read the article about a school recycling project, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.From bottles to benchesAStudents at a girls' school in Faisalabad noticed that the bins outside their canteen were full of plastic water bottles every afternoon. Their science teacher challenged them to find a use for the bottles instead of sending them to the city rubbish dump.BAfter reading about similar projects online, the students decided to make 'eco-bricks': empty bottles packed tightly with clean plastic wrappers until they are as hard as wood. Each brick took about twenty minutes to fill. Families helped by saving wrappers at home and sending them to school in bags.CIt took four months to make 600 bricks. A local builder offered to help for free, and showed the students how to join the bricks together with a mixture of clay and straw. The finished result was two long benches in the shade of the school's neem tree.DThe benches are now the most popular place to sit at break time. The project has also changed habits: many students now bring metal water bottles from home, and the canteen has started selling drinks in glasses that are washed and reused.

1. (a) Which section describes how the project changed what students drink from? [1]
2. (b) Which section explains what an eco-brick is? [1]
3. (c) Which section mentions a professional who gave help without payment? [1]
4. (d) Which section says where the idea for the project first came from? [1]
5. (e) Which section gives the total number of bricks made? [1]
6. (f) Which section describes a change made by the canteen? [1]
7. (g) Which section mentions how long it took to make one brick? [1]

Read the article about volunteers who protect sea turtles near Karachi, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Night shift on the beachAEvery year, from about August to December, female green turtles come out of the Arabian Sea at night to lay their eggs on the sandy beaches west of Karachi. Each turtle digs a hole with her back flippers, lays around a hundred eggs, covers them with sand and returns to the sea before sunrise.BNineteen-year-old Ayesha has volunteered with a turtle protection group for three seasons. Her job is to walk the beach between midnight and four in the morning with a dim torch and a notebook. When she finds a nest, she records the time and the exact place so that it can be watched.CThe eggs face many dangers. Stray dogs dig them up, and bright lights from beach huts can confuse baby turtles when they hatch, so they crawl towards the land instead of the sea. Volunteers sometimes move eggs to a fenced area of the beach where they are safe.DFor Ayesha, the best moment is watching the babies hatch about two months later. 'They are smaller than my hand, and they run straight for the waves,' she says. 'Only a few will survive to become adults, but every one we help gives the species a better chance.'

1. (a) Which section describes how a turtle protects her eggs after laying them? [1]
2. (b) Which section mentions why artificial light is a problem? [1]
3. (c) Which section describes the information Ayesha writes down? [1]
4. (d) Which section gives the size of a newly hatched turtle? [1]
5. (e) Which section mentions an animal that is a threat to the eggs? [1]
6. (f) Which section says how long Ayesha has been a volunteer? [1]
7. (g) Which section explains why Ayesha thinks the work matters? [1]

Read the article about teenagers and sleep, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Why teenagers can't get upAParents often complain that teenagers stay up too late and are impossible to wake in the morning. Many assume this is simply laziness or too much time on phones. Scientists who study sleep, however, say the truth is more complicated, and that the teenage brain really does work on a different timetable.BDuring adolescence, the body begins to release melatonin, the hormone that makes us feel sleepy, about two hours later in the evening than it did in childhood. A fourteen-year-old who tries to sleep at nine o'clock may simply lie awake. Yet teenagers still need roughly eight to ten hours of sleep a night, so an early start leaves many of them short of rest.CThe effects of this lost sleep are not small. Tired students find it harder to concentrate and remember new information, and they are more likely to feel irritable or low. Some studies have also linked a lack of sleep to more accidents among young drivers and cyclists.DA few schools have experimented with starting lessons later, and several reported better attendance and fewer students falling asleep in class. Not everyone is convinced: later finishing times can clash with sports practice and part-time jobs. Experts agree, though, that teenagers themselves can help by keeping screens out of the bedroom and getting morning daylight.

1. (a) Which section mentions a popular belief about teenagers that may be wrong? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes possible disadvantages of a change to the school day? [1]
3. (c) Which section explains a biological reason why teenagers go to sleep later? [1]
4. (d) Which section mentions a link between tiredness and safety? [1]
5. (e) Which section suggests something young people could do to improve their sleep? [1]
6. (f) Which section describes effects of poor sleep on mood? [1]
7. (g) Which section gives the amount of sleep teenagers require? [1]
8. (h) Which section refers to positive results from schools that tried something new? [1]

Read the article about a young chef in Lahore, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Breakfast on wheelsAAt six o'clock every morning, a bright yellow van parks outside a busy office block in Gulberg, and a queue begins to form. The van belongs to twenty-four-year-old Usman Tariq, who sells fresh parathas filled with egg, spinach or spiced potato. On a good day he sells over three hundred before ten o'clock.BUsman did not plan to become a cook. He studied accounting and spent a year working in a bank, but he hated sitting at a desk all day. His grandmother, who had run a small dhaba in Sahiwal for thirty years, had taught him to cook as a boy, and he often thought about her kitchen while he was checking spreadsheets.CStarting the business was harder than he expected. He spent most of his savings on the van, and in the first month the gas cooker broke twice. Some days it rained heavily and hardly anyone came. 'My friends told me to go back to the bank,' he admits. 'I nearly did.'DWhat kept him going was his regular customers, many of whom now send him photos on social media of their breakfasts. Usman uses the accounting skills from his old job to control costs carefully, and he hopes to buy a second van next year and employ two cooks from his neighbourhood.

1. (a) Which section explains why Usman left his previous job? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes a moment when Usman almost gave up? [1]
3. (c) Which section shows that Usman still uses what he learned in his earlier career? [1]
4. (d) Which section mentions a family member who influenced Usman? [1]
5. (e) Which section gives the number of items sold on a busy morning? [1]
6. (f) Which section refers to problems with equipment? [1]
7. (g) Which section mentions Usman's plan to create jobs for other people? [1]

Read the article about scientists studying snow leopards, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Watching the ghost of the mountainsASnow leopards are among the hardest big cats in the world to study. They live on steep, rocky slopes high in the mountains of Central and South Asia, they are mostly active at dawn and dusk, and their grey, spotted coats blend perfectly into the rocks. Many local herders have lived in snow leopard country all their lives without ever seeing one.BTo learn about them, researchers in northern Pakistan use camera traps: small cameras fixed to rocks that take a photograph whenever an animal walks past. Because every snow leopard has a unique pattern of spots, scientists can identify individual cats from the pictures and estimate how many live in an area.CThe work depends on local people. Herders often know the paths that wild animals use, and they guide researchers to the best places for cameras. In return, some conservation groups help villages to build stronger animal pens, so that leopards cannot kill sheep and goats at night. This has reduced the number of leopards killed by angry farmers.DThe photographs have produced some surprises, including images of a mother with three cubs in a valley where no snow leopards had been recorded for years. Researchers warn, though, that warmer temperatures could push the cats' prey higher up the mountains, leaving less space for both.

1. (a) Which section explains how scientists can tell one leopard from another? [1]
2. (b) Which section mentions an unexpected discovery? [1]
3. (c) Which section describes how a conflict between people and leopards has been reduced? [1]
4. (d) Which section gives reasons why snow leopards are rarely seen? [1]
5. (e) Which section describes a possible future threat to snow leopards? [1]
6. (f) Which section explains how a piece of equipment works? [1]
7. (g) Which section shows that researchers benefit from local knowledge? [1]
8. (h) Which section mentions the times of day when the animals are most active? [1]

Read the article about learning a traditional instrument online, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.A sitar lesson across the oceanAEvery Tuesday evening in Toronto, sixteen-year-old Zara Qureshi sets up her laptop on the living-room floor and tunes her sitar. Thousands of kilometres away, her teacher, Ustad Rashid, is just finishing his breakfast in Lahore. The time difference means that one of them is always a little tired, but neither has missed a lesson in two years.BOnline lessons have obvious limits. When the internet connection is slow, the sound reaches Zara a second late, which makes playing together impossible. Her teacher cannot reach over and move her fingers into the correct position, so he has to describe exactly what he wants. 'At first I found that frustrating,' Zara admits, 'but now I listen far more carefully.'CThere are advantages, too. Each lesson is recorded, so Zara can watch difficult passages again during the week. Ustad Rashid also teaches students in Dubai, Manchester and Karachi, and once a term they all join one video call to perform for each other. 'It feels like a little international family,' he says.DZara's parents first suggested the sitar because they wanted her to stay connected to the music her grandparents loved. She was not keen at first, preferring the guitar. Now she plans to perform at her school's cultural evening next spring, and she hopes to visit Lahore to meet her teacher in person for the first time.

1. (a) Which section describes how a technical problem affects lessons? [1]
2. (b) Which section mentions an opportunity to perform for other learners? [1]
3. (c) Which section shows that Zara's attitude to the sitar has changed? [1]
4. (d) Which section explains how Zara can practise difficult parts between lessons? [1]
5. (e) Which section says that the lessons have been very regular? [1]
6. (f) Which section describes a skill Zara has developed because of a disadvantage? [1]
7. (g) Which section gives the reason why Zara started learning? [1]

Read the article about planting small forests in cities, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Tiny forests, big differenceAOn a strip of wasteland beside a motorway in Lahore, where rubbish used to pile up, there is now a dense thicket of trees taller than a person. It was planted less than three years ago using a method developed by a Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki, in which dozens of native species are planted very close together.BBecause the young trees are so crowded, they compete for light and grow upwards quickly. Supporters say these 'tiny forests' can become established in a few years, rather than the decades a normal woodland needs. After the first two or three years of watering and weeding, they are expected to look after themselves.CCity planners are interested because trees cool the air around them. On summer afternoons, paved streets and buildings in large cities can be several degrees hotter than the surrounding countryside, an effect known as the 'urban heat island'. Shade and water released from leaves both help to lower the temperature.DCritics point out that tiny forests are expensive to plant, because of the large number of saplings and the preparation of the soil. Others worry that too many fast-growing trees in a small space may not all survive. Supporters reply that even if some die, the forest as a whole still provides shelter for birds and insects in places where there was nothing before.

1. (a) Which section explains why the trees in this method grow so fast? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes what a site looked like before planting? [1]
3. (c) Which section mentions a concern about the cost? [1]
4. (d) Which section explains why cities are hotter than the countryside around them? [1]
5. (e) Which section says when the forests should no longer need care? [1]
6. (f) Which section gives a response to people who doubt the method? [1]
7. (g) Which section names the person who created the planting method? [1]
8. (h) Which section describes two ways in which trees reduce temperature? [1]

Read the article about an unusual museum, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.The museum of ordinary thingsAMost museums display treasures: gold jewellery, ancient swords, paintings by famous artists. A small museum in Peshawar does the opposite. Its glass cases hold a broken transistor radio, a school satchel from the 1970s, a set of tin cups and a bicycle bell. The founder, retired schoolteacher Gul Rehman, calls it 'a museum of everyday life'.BGul began collecting thirty years ago, when he noticed that his neighbours were throwing away things their parents had used for decades. 'Nobody thought these objects mattered,' he says. 'But once they are gone, our grandchildren will have no idea how we lived.' Every item has a label explaining who owned it and how it was used.CVisitors react in surprising ways. Older people often stand in front of a cabinet for a long time, then start telling strangers about their own childhood. Gul now records these stories on his phone and has collected more than two hundred of them. Young visitors, meanwhile, are amazed that people once listened to cricket matches on the radio instead of watching them.DThe museum survives on donations, and the building badly needs a new roof before the next monsoon. A university in the city has offered to help digitise the collection and the recorded stories, so that people around the world can explore them online. Gul is pleased, but insists that 'nothing replaces holding the real thing in your hands.'

1. (a) Which section explains what motivated Gul to start his collection? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes the museum's financial situation? [1]
3. (c) Which section contrasts this museum with typical museums? [1]
4. (d) Which section mentions a reaction from younger visitors? [1]
5. (e) Which section refers to a plan to make the collection available more widely? [1]
6. (f) Which section describes the information given with each object? [1]
7. (g) Which section shows that the museum is collecting more than objects? [1]
8. (h) Which section expresses a reservation about a new development? [1]

Read the article about saving water at home, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Every drop countsAIn many cities, people only think about water when the taps run dry. Yet engineers warn that demand is growing faster than supply in much of South Asia, as populations rise and underground water levels fall. In some neighbourhoods, families already depend on water tankers for part of the year, paying far more per litre than those connected to the mains.BThe good news, according to researchers who measured water use in two hundred homes, is that households waste far more than they realise. A single dripping tap can lose thousands of litres a year, and a leaking toilet cistern even more, often silently. 'Most families we visited had no idea they had a leak,' said one of the team. Simple repairs cost very little compared with the water saved.CHabits matter too, although changing them is harder. Washing a car with a bucket instead of a hose, or turning off the tap while brushing teeth, may seem trivial. But the researchers found that when families saw a weekly chart of their own water use, many cut their consumption without being asked, apparently motivated by comparing themselves with their neighbours.DSome experts argue that individual efforts, while welcome, cannot solve the problem on their own. Agriculture uses by far the largest share of water in the region, and old city pipes lose a large proportion of their supply before it reaches anyone's home. Real progress, they say, will need investment by governments as well as care from citizens.

1. (a) Which section suggests that people may change their behaviour because of competition? [1]
2. (b) Which section points out that some people pay more for water than others? [1]
3. (c) Which section argues that household savings are only part of the solution? [1]
4. (d) Which section mentions a problem that people are often unaware of? [1]
5. (e) Which section compares the cost of a solution with its benefit? [1]
6. (f) Which section identifies the sector that consumes the most water? [1]
7. (g) Which section admits that some advice may appear unimportant? [1]
8. (h) Which section explains why water is becoming scarcer? [1]
9. (i) Which section mentions waste that happens before water reaches homes? [1]

Read the article about a runner with asthma, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Breathing roomAAs a child in Quetta, Mahnoor Baloch was the girl who sat on the bench during sports lessons. Cold, dry air brought on her asthma attacks, and her teachers, worried about her safety, rarely let her run. 'Everyone was very kind,' she remembers, 'but kindness can also keep you very small.'BThings changed when she was fifteen and saw a new doctor, who adjusted her medicine and explained that, for most people, asthma that is well controlled need not stop them exercising. He suggested she start with short, gentle runs and always warm up slowly. Mahnoor was sceptical. 'I'd spent ten years being told the opposite,' she says.CThe early months were discouraging. She could barely jog for five minutes, and on windy days she had to stop completely. She kept a diary of every run, noting the weather and how her breathing felt, and gradually noticed patterns: early mornings in winter were the worst, while warm, humid evenings were easiest.DEight years later, Mahnoor has completed three marathons and now coaches a running group for teenagers with breathing conditions. She is careful not to promise too much. 'Asthma is different for everyone,' she tells them, 'and you must work with your doctor. But don't let other people decide what your body can do.'

1. (a) Which section suggests that well-meant behaviour by others held Mahnoor back? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes Mahnoor's doubts about professional advice? [1]
3. (c) Which section shows Mahnoor using a methodical approach to understand her condition? [1]
4. (d) Which section includes a warning that her experience may not apply to everyone? [1]
5. (e) Which section identifies which conditions made running easiest? [1]
6. (f) Which section mentions a change in treatment? [1]
7. (g) Which section describes Mahnoor now helping others? [1]
8. (h) Which section explains what caused Mahnoor's breathing problems as a child? [1]

Read the article about restoring coral reefs in the Maldives, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Gardeners under the seaACoral reefs cover a tiny fraction of the ocean floor, yet they shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species. In the Maldives, a nation of low-lying islands, reefs also act as natural sea walls, breaking up waves before they reach the shore. Fishing and tourism, the country's two biggest industries, both depend on healthy reefs.BWhen sea temperatures stay unusually high for several weeks, corals expel the tiny algae living inside them, which give them both their colour and most of their food. The corals turn white, a process called bleaching. If the water cools in time, they can recover; if not, they starve and die.COn one island, marine biologist Aminath Shareef leads a team that grows young corals on metal frames in the lagoon. Small fragments broken from healthy corals are tied to the frames, where they grow for a year or two before being attached to damaged parts of the reef. Hotel guests can sponsor a frame and receive photographs of its progress.DAminath is honest about the limits of her work. 'We can restore a few football pitches of reef,' she says, 'but the oceans are warming over millions of square kilometres. If we don't reduce emissions, we are only buying time.' Even so, she believes the frames help train a new generation of local divers who care about the sea.

1. (a) Which section explains why reefs matter to people living on the islands? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes a way in which tourists can contribute? [1]
3. (c) Which section says that damaged coral can sometimes survive? [1]
4. (d) Which section suggests that restoration alone will not solve the problem? [1]
5. (e) Which section describes the process of transplanting coral? [1]
6. (f) Which section explains where coral gets most of its nutrition? [1]
7. (g) Which section mentions an educational benefit of a project? [1]
8. (h) Which section gives a statistic about the variety of life reefs support? [1]

Read the article about why people hate waiting, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.The science of the queueAWhether at a bank, a petrol station or a hospital, most of us spend many hours of our lives waiting in line. Psychologists who study queues have found something curious: how annoyed we feel often has little to do with how long we actually wait. A ten-minute wait can feel unbearable in one situation and perfectly acceptable in another.BOne reason is uncertainty. People become much more anxious when they do not know how long a wait will last. This is why some airports and theme parks display estimated waiting times, and why many people prefer a slow queue that moves steadily to a fast one that keeps stopping. Unexplained delays are tolerated far less than those whose cause is known.CFairness matters even more. Customers become angry if someone who arrived later is served first, even if their own wait is not affected. For this reason, some banks have replaced several separate lines with a single queue that feeds all the counters. Each person may not be served any faster, but nobody can feel that they chose the wrong line.DBusinesses have also discovered that occupied time feels shorter than empty time. Mirrors beside lifts, music on telephone lines and television screens in waiting rooms are all designed to distract us. Critics argue that these tricks simply hide poor service, and that the real solution is to employ more staff. The psychologists' reply is that both approaches have a place.

1. (a) Which section explains why some organisations tell customers how long they will wait? [1]
2. (b) Which section describes a change that does not reduce waiting time but improves satisfaction? [1]
3. (c) Which section presents a criticism of the methods businesses use? [1]
4. (d) Which section states that annoyance is not mainly connected to the length of a wait? [1]
5. (e) Which section suggests that people prefer consistent progress to speed? [1]
6. (f) Which section mentions an emotion caused by someone being served out of turn? [1]
7. (g) Which section gives examples of ways to keep people busy while they wait? [1]
8. (h) Which section says that understanding why there is a delay makes it easier to accept? [1]
9. (i) Which section gives the view that more than one solution can be useful? [1]

Read the article about a school's 'digital detox' week, in which four sections are labelled A–D, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Seven days offlineAWhen the head teacher of a boarding school in Murree announced that students would hand in their phones for a whole week, the reaction was close to panic. Several parents emailed to object, arguing that they needed to contact their children. The school agreed that a landline in the office would be available every evening, and the experiment went ahead.BThe first two days were difficult. Students described feeling restless and repeatedly reaching into empty pockets. 'I kept thinking I was missing something important,' said one Year 11 boy. Teachers noticed that conversations at meals were awkward at first, as if students had forgotten how to talk without a screen to look at.CBy midweek, the mood had changed. The library, usually quiet, was full in the evenings, and a group of girls organised a chess tournament that attracted sixty players. Many students reported falling asleep earlier and waking up feeling more refreshed. Some admitted, slightly reluctantly, that they had enjoyed the week more than they expected.DNot everyone was won over. A few students argued that phones were essential for schoolwork, and that the week had simply made revision harder. Others pointed out that a single week proved very little, since everyone knew their phones would come back. The school now plans one phone-free evening every week, a compromise that most students seem willing to accept.

1. (a) Which section describes students' initial physical habits when they lacked their phones? [1]
2. (b) Which section mentions an arrangement made in response to objections? [1]
3. (c) Which section suggests the experiment may not show what people would really do in the long term? [1]
4. (d) Which section refers to students being unwilling to admit a positive experience? [1]
5. (e) Which section describes a social activity that students set up themselves? [1]
6. (f) Which section states a practical disadvantage of the experiment? [1]
7. (g) Which section describes a fear of losing touch with events? [1]
8. (h) Which section gives the long-term outcome of the experiment? [1]
9. (i) Which section mentions improvements in rest? [1]

Read what four teenagers say about their first part-time job, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.My first jobA Hamza, 17I help in my uncle's mobile phone shop in Rawalpindi on Saturdays. Mostly I put protective screens on phones and explain prices to customers. At first I was too shy to speak to adults, but now I enjoy it. The pay is small, but my uncle gives me a bonus if the shop has a good month.B Mariam, 16I tutor two younger girls in maths after school, three evenings a week. Explaining fractions to a nine-year-old is much harder than doing them myself! I'm saving everything I earn for a laptop, and I've already reached half the price. The best part is when something suddenly makes sense to them.C Daniel, 17I deliver newspapers in my town in England before school. I have to get up at half past five, which is terrible in winter when it's dark and raining. But I'm paid every Friday, and cycling the route has made me much fitter. I've learned to plan my time better because I can't be late for school.D Sana, 16I work at a bakery counter in Karachi during the school holidays. On my first day I dropped a whole tray of cupcakes, and I nearly cried. The owner just laughed and said everyone does it once. Now I'm trusted with the till, and I'm learning to decorate cakes, which I'd like to do as a career.

1. (a) Which person is saving up to buy something? [1]
2. (b) Which person has become more confident talking to people? [1]
3. (c) Which person mentions an improvement in their health? [1]
4. (d) Which person describes a mistake they made? [1]
5. (e) Which person only works during school breaks? [1]
6. (f) Which person finds teaching a skill harder than using it? [1]
7. (g) Which person can sometimes earn extra money? [1]
8. (h) Which person dislikes the time of day they start work? [1]

Read what four people say about how they travel to school or work, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Getting thereA Imran, LahoreI take the Metro bus to college every day. It's air-conditioned, which makes a huge difference in June, and it's much cheaper than a rickshaw. The only problem is that it's very crowded at eight o'clock, so I usually have to stand for the whole journey.B Leila, AmsterdamLike most people here, I cycle to work. There are separate bike lanes almost everywhere, so I feel safe. It takes twenty minutes and I arrive feeling awake. When there's ice on the roads in winter, though, I sometimes take the tram instead.C Nimra, HyderabadMy father drops me at school on his motorbike on his way to the office. I like it because we talk on the way, and it's the only time we spend alone together on weekdays. On rainy days we both arrive soaking wet, so I keep spare socks in my bag!D Kenji, TokyoI walk ten minutes to the station and then take two trains. The trains are always exactly on time, so I can plan my morning to the minute. I use the journey to read or study vocabulary. It's long — about an hour each way — but I don't mind.

1. (a) Which person changes how they travel when the weather is bad? [1]
2. (b) Which person values the time spent with a family member? [1]
3. (c) Which person uses the journey to learn? [1]
4. (d) Which person mentions that their transport saves money? [1]
5. (e) Which person says their transport is very reliable? [1]
6. (f) Which person rarely gets a seat? [1]
7. (g) Which person has a solution to a problem caused by rain? [1]
8. (h) Which person feels safe because of the road design? [1]

Read what four young people say about a hobby they started during the holidays, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.A new hobbyA FatimaI started calligraphy because my grandfather does beautiful Arabic lettering. He lent me his pens and I practised for an hour every afternoon. My letters still look shaky, but he says it took him twenty years to be happy with his. I'm going to make a framed piece for my mother's birthday.B AliMy cousin and I built a small vegetable patch on my grandmother's land in the village. We grew okra and pumpkins. Lots of things went wrong — goats ate half the plants — but we still cooked a meal with what was left, and it was the best food I'd ever tasted.C PriyaI joined an online coding course for beginners and made a simple game where a cat catches falling fish. It took me three weeks. My younger brother plays it all the time, which is the best compliment. Next I want to learn to make phone apps.D TomI tried rock climbing at an indoor wall near my home in Wales. I was scared of heights, so the first time I only got halfway up before asking to come down. By the end of the holiday I'd reached the top of the hardest wall for beginners. It's taught me that fear isn't a reason to stop.

1. (a) Which person overcame a fear? [1]
2. (b) Which person was inspired by a family member's skill? [1]
3. (c) Which person had a problem caused by animals? [1]
4. (d) Which person is pleased that someone enjoys what they made? [1]
5. (e) Which person plans to give something they make as a present? [1]
6. (f) Which person wants to develop their skill in a new direction? [1]
7. (g) Which person did their hobby with a relative of the same generation? [1]
8. (h) Which person admits they are not very good yet? [1]

Read what four students say about a school trip they went on, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Our school tripA Zainab — Mohenjo-daroWalking through streets that people built over four thousand years ago was amazing. Our guide showed us the drains and the Great Bath, and explained how carefully the city was planned. It was extremely hot, though, and I wish we had gone in winter instead of April.B Owais — Khewra Salt MineWe went deep inside the mine and saw a small mosque made entirely of pink salt bricks. The air is supposed to be good for your lungs. I loved the coloured lights, but some of my classmates felt nervous in the narrow tunnels.C Hira — a science museum in IslamabadMy favourite part was a room where you could make your hair stand on end using static electricity. Everything was hands-on, so even students who normally find science boring were busy. I've persuaded my parents to take my little sister there.D Bilal — Fairy MeadowsThis was a three-day camping trip, the first time I had slept in a tent. The views of Nanga Parbat in the early morning were unforgettable. The walk up was really tiring and my boots gave me blisters, but the teachers made sure nobody was left behind.

1. (a) Which person went on a trip that lasted more than one day? [1]
2. (b) Which person would have preferred to go at a different time of year? [1]
3. (c) Which person says that some classmates felt uneasy in the place they visited? [1]
4. (d) Which person enjoyed being able to try things out? [1]
5. (e) Which person praises the adults who looked after them? [1]
6. (f) Which person mentions a building made of an unusual material? [1]
7. (g) Which person recommended the place to their family? [1]
8. (h) Which person was impressed by how a place was designed? [1]

Read four short reviews of guesthouses written by visitors to the Swat valley, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Where we stayedA River View LodgeThe rooms were simple but very clean, and we fell asleep to the sound of the river. Breakfast was the highlight: fresh trout and hot parathas. The only disappointment was the Wi-Fi, which only worked in the reception area.B Apple Tree GuesthouseA family-run place in the middle of an orchard. The owner's children showed our kids how to pick apples, and they still talk about it. It is a long walk from the main road, so it is not ideal if you have heavy luggage.C Snowline HotelComfortable beds, hot water all the time and heating that actually works — important in December! It's more expensive than other places nearby, but we felt it was worth it. Staff booked a jeep for us to visit Malam Jabba.D Green Valley Rest HouseThe cheapest place we found, and good value. The building is old and the bathroom was a bit small, but the manager was incredibly helpful and gave us a hand-drawn map of local walking routes. We'd happily stay again.

1. (a) Which guesthouse is difficult to reach on foot with bags? [1]
2. (b) Which guesthouse had a problem with internet access? [1]
3. (c) Which guesthouse costs more than its neighbours? [1]
4. (d) Which guesthouse offered an activity that was popular with children? [1]
5. (e) Which guesthouse has excellent food in the morning? [1]
6. (f) Which guesthouse helped guests to plan walks? [1]
7. (g) Which guesthouse is well prepared for cold weather? [1]
8. (h) Which guesthouse has small facilities but was still recommended? [1]

Read what four students say about their science-fair projects, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Young scientistsA AhmedI tested whether the colour of a roof affects the temperature inside a model house. I built four identical cardboard houses and painted the roofs white, red, green and black, then left them in the sun with thermometers inside. The white one stayed coolest by several degrees. Now my family is thinking of painting our own roof.B MehwishMy project was about filtering muddy water using sand, gravel and charcoal in a plastic bottle. The water came out clear, but my teacher pointed out that clear water isn't necessarily safe to drink, because germs are invisible. That was an important lesson, and I added boiling as a final step in my display.C RohanI compared how fast cress seeds grew when watered with tap water, rainwater and water that had been used to wash rice. I expected the rice water to win because it contains starch, but there was almost no difference. I was disappointed at first, but the judges said an unexpected result is still a valid result.D AishaI built a simple alarm that sounds when a water tank is about to overflow, using two wires, a battery and a buzzer. When the water touches both wires, it completes the circuit. It cost less than five hundred rupees. Our neighbour has already asked me to make one for him.

1. (a) Which student found that their prediction was wrong? [1]
2. (b) Which student received a warning about a possible misunderstanding? [1]
3. (c) Which student made something that someone else wants to use? [1]
4. (d) Which student used equipment that was the same except for one feature? [1]
5. (e) Which student improved their project after feedback? [1]
6. (f) Which student mentions how cheap their invention was? [1]
7. (g) Which student was reassured by the people judging the projects? [1]
8. (h) Which student may cause a change at home? [1]

Read what four people say about moving to a new country, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Starting again abroadA Saima, from Multan to TorontoThe cold was the first shock. I had never seen snow, and in my first winter I didn't own proper boots. What helped most was a neighbour, an elderly woman from Portugal, who invited us for dinner in our first week. Her kindness made me feel I could belong here.B Javier, from Mexico to DubaiI came for a job in engineering. Work was easy to adjust to, because everyone spoke English in the office, but it took me a long time to make friends outside work. Joining a weekend football team changed that. Now I have friends from about ten different countries.C Usman, from Peshawar to BerlinLearning German was much harder than I imagined. For months I avoided phoning anyone because I was afraid of making mistakes. In the end I found a language exchange partner: I help her with Urdu and she helps me with German. Mistakes don't embarrass me any more.D Grace, from Nigeria to LahoreI moved here to study medicine. People warned me I might feel isolated, but the opposite happened — classmates invited me to weddings and taught me to cook daal. The thing I still miss is my mother's cooking, especially jollof rice, which I can't make as well as she does.

1. (a) Which person found that others' predictions about their experience were wrong? [1]
2. (b) Which person was not prepared for the climate? [1]
3. (c) Which person made friends through a sport? [1]
4. (d) Which person helps someone else in return for help? [1]
5. (e) Which person found their working life easier than their social life? [1]
6. (f) Which person misses a particular dish from home? [1]
7. (g) Which person was helped by someone who was also from another country? [1]
8. (h) Which person used to avoid a situation because of anxiety? [1]

Read what four volunteers say about helping at community kitchens, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Feeding the cityA KamranI help at a free kitchen near a hospital in Lahore, where relatives of patients come to eat. Many of them have travelled from villages and can't afford restaurant food for weeks. I started volunteering after my own father was in hospital and a stranger paid for our meals.B NadiaI'm in charge of collecting unsold bread and fruit from shops at closing time. Before we started, most of it was thrown away. The hardest part is persuading shop owners that the food will be handled safely — some still refuse — but the number of shops taking part has doubled this year.C Mrs PerveenI'm seventy-one, and I peel vegetables every morning with three other women my age. People think we are helping others, but honestly the kitchen helps us too. Since my husband died, it has given me a reason to get up and a group of friends to talk to.D BenI'm a student in Manchester and volunteer at a food bank twice a month. What surprised me was that many people who use it have jobs; their wages simply don't cover rent and food. It has completely changed my idea of who needs help.

1. (a) Which volunteer started because of a personal experience of being helped? [1]
2. (b) Which volunteer says volunteering has improved their own well-being? [1]
3. (c) Which volunteer has had to overcome other people's doubts? [1]
4. (d) Which volunteer changed an assumption about the people being helped? [1]
5. (e) Which volunteer helps reduce waste? [1]
6. (f) Which volunteer mentions people who are away from home for a long period? [1]
7. (g) Which volunteer volunteers with people of a similar age? [1]
8. (h) Which volunteer describes growth in a scheme? [1]

Read what four athletes say about how they train, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Training secretsA Shahid, squash playerPeople imagine squash is all about hitting the ball hard, but most of my training is footwork. I spend an hour a day on 'ghosting' — moving around the court without a ball, practising the steps. My coach says that if your feet are in the right place, the shot is easy.B Elena, swimmerI train in the pool at five in the morning, six days a week. But the part people don't see is sleep. I'm in bed by nine every night, even at weekends. My friends think I'm boring, but without enough rest my times get slower and I pick up colds.C Rizwan, cricketer (fast bowler)Fast bowling puts huge stress on the back, so I do a lot of strength work in the gym, especially for my core muscles. I also video my bowling action every week and compare it with older videos, because tiny changes can lead to injury.D Amna, long-distance runnerI used to run hard every day and kept getting injured. Now I follow a plan where most of my runs are slow and easy, with only two hard sessions a week. It felt strange to slow down to get faster, but my race times have improved a lot since I changed.

1. (a) Which athlete uses recordings to check their technique? [1]
2. (b) Which athlete says other people misunderstand what their sport requires? [1]
3. (c) Which athlete makes social sacrifices for their training? [1]
4. (d) Which athlete improved by training less intensely? [1]
5. (e) Which athlete practises without the equipment normally used in their sport? [1]
6. (f) Which athlete mentions getting ill when they do not rest? [1]
7. (g) Which athlete trains to protect one part of the body? [1]
8. (h) Which athlete found a new approach surprising at first? [1]

Read what four people say about learning a new language as an adult, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Learning a language later in lifeA Naveed, learning ChineseI started Mandarin at thirty-five because my company trades with Chinese suppliers. The tones were a nightmare: the same sound can mean 'mother' or 'horse' depending on how you say it. What finally worked was singing along to Chinese pop songs in the car, which trained my ear.B Claire, learning UrduI married into a Pakistani family and wanted to talk to my mother-in-law, who speaks little English. I took a formal course, but I learned far more at family dinners, where nobody would translate for me. Now we chat on the phone every week, which means a lot to both of us.C Tariq, learning FrenchI'm a retired teacher and learning French purely for pleasure. I use an app for fifteen minutes every day; I've kept going for over four hundred days without a break. I'm still nervous about speaking, though, so next year I'm going on a two-week course in France to push myself.D Mei, learning ArabicI studied Arabic at university, then forgot most of it during ten years of not using it. When I moved to Jordan for work, it came back surprisingly quickly. I think the words were still somewhere in my memory, waiting. I'd tell anyone: nothing you learn is ever completely wasted.

1. (a) Which person learns a language for enjoyment rather than need? [1]
2. (b) Which person found that knowledge they thought was lost returned? [1]
3. (c) Which person learned more from real situations than from lessons? [1]
4. (d) Which person used music to improve their listening? [1]
5. (e) Which person has studied very consistently? [1]
6. (f) Which person is planning to overcome a lack of confidence? [1]
7. (g) Which person learned in order to communicate with a relative? [1]
8. (h) Which person started learning because of their employer's business? [1]
9. (i) Which person gives a general piece of advice to other learners? [1]

Read what four writers say about dealing with periods when they cannot write, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.When the words won't comeA Sameer, novelistI don't really believe in 'writer's block'. Plumbers don't get plumber's block. When I'm stuck, it's usually because I'm trying to write the perfect sentence, so I give myself permission to write badly. A terrible page can be fixed; an empty one can't.B Hannah, poetFor me, the silence is part of the process. I might write nothing for two months and then three poems in a week. I used to panic during those gaps, but I've learned they're when ideas are quietly forming. I read a lot and go for long walks, and I try not to force anything.C Farah, journalistIn journalism you can't wait for inspiration — the deadline is at six o'clock whether you feel creative or not. So I rely on structure: I start with the facts, then the quotes, and only then worry about style. Having a routine takes the pressure off feeling inspired.D Osman, screenwriterWhen I'm stuck, I talk the story through with my sister, who isn't a writer at all. Explaining it to her forces me to see where the plot doesn't make sense. Half the time she doesn't even need to say anything — just having someone listen helps me find the answer.

1. (a) Which writer thinks that unproductive periods are valuable? [1]
2. (b) Which writer questions whether the problem really exists? [1]
3. (c) Which writer works under time pressure that leaves no choice? [1]
4. (d) Which writer finds a solution by explaining their work to someone else? [1]
5. (e) Which writer believes that aiming too high can stop progress? [1]
6. (f) Which writer has changed their emotional reaction over time? [1]
7. (g) Which writer says the other person's contribution is often unnecessary? [1]
8. (h) Which writer follows a fixed sequence of steps? [1]
9. (i) Which writer turns to other activities while waiting for ideas? [1]

Read what four farmers say about adapting to a changing climate, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Farming in a warmer worldA Ghulam Hussain, SindhThe heat in May now comes earlier and stays longer, and my wheat used to ripen before it was fully grown. Two years ago I switched to a variety that matures faster, and I sow a couple of weeks earlier. The harvest is a little smaller, but at least it is reliable.B Rukhsana Bibi, PunjabOur canal water arrives less often than it did when my father farmed, so every drop matters. We have levelled our fields with a laser so that water spreads evenly instead of collecting in low corners. It was expensive, and I was against it at first, but we now use far less water for the same crop.C Maria Santos, BrazilInstead of clearing all the trees, I grow coffee under the shade of taller trees. Coffee plants hate extreme heat, and the shade keeps them cooler. The trees also hold the soil together in heavy rain. My neighbours thought I was old-fashioned, but now some are copying me.D Arif Khan, Gilgit-BaltistanOur streams depend on melting glaciers. For now there is more water than ever in summer, as the ice melts faster, but the old people warn that one day it could suddenly decrease. We are building small stone tanks to store water, and some families are planting cherries, which sell for good prices in the cities.

1. (a) Which farmer accepted a lower yield in return for greater security? [1]
2. (b) Which farmer was initially opposed to a change that proved successful? [1]
3. (c) Which farmer describes a short-term benefit that may hide a long-term risk? [1]
4. (d) Which farmer uses a method that others first considered outdated? [1]
5. (e) Which farmer mentions a change that protects against erosion? [1]
6. (f) Which farmer has changed the timing of their work? [1]
7. (g) Which farmer is preparing to store a resource for the future? [1]
8. (h) Which farmer compares conditions now with those in a previous generation? [1]
9. (i) Which farmer is moving into a crop for its commercial value? [1]

Read what four designers say about their plans for a new public library, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Designing tomorrow's libraryA Saira, architectLibraries used to be built like temples, with grand steps and heavy doors that said 'be quiet and behave'. I want the entrance to feel like a shop on a busy street: glass walls, so people passing can see children reading and families chatting inside. If people can't see in, many will never come in.B Matteo, interior designerNot every visitor wants the same thing. Some need silence to study; others want to talk, play games or use computers. I'd divide the building into zones, with the noisiest areas near the entrance and the quietest at the top, so the sound naturally fades as you go higher.C Bushra, engineerIn our climate, the biggest cost of any public building is cooling. I'd use thick walls, small windows on the sunny side and a central courtyard with plants and a water feature, as traditional houses did. Some people call these ideas old-fashioned, but they cut electricity bills dramatically.D Jonas, librarianEveryone is excited about technology, but I'd warn against filling the building with screens that will be out of date in five years. The most important thing a library offers is free space where anyone can stay as long as they like without buying anything. That, not gadgets, is what we must protect.

1. (a) Which designer believes that visibility will attract new users? [1]
2. (b) Which designer is cautious about a popular trend? [1]
3. (c) Which designer defends ideas from the past against criticism? [1]
4. (d) Which designer organises space according to different needs? [1]
5. (e) Which designer criticises the message given by traditional library buildings? [1]
6. (f) Which designer considers the long-term running costs of the building? [1]
7. (g) Which designer emphasises that using a library should cost nothing? [1]
8. (h) Which designer uses the building's height to solve a problem? [1]

Read what four people say about homework, and then answer the questions. For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C or D. Each letter may be used more than once, and every letter is used at least once.Is homework worth it?A Mr Asghar, maths teacherIn maths, practice is everything. A student can follow an example in class and still be unable to do the next question alone. Homework shows me who has really understood. That said, I'd rather set ten well-chosen questions than forty repetitive ones.B Mrs Lodhi, parentMy son spends three hours a night on homework and still has tuition at weekends. He hasn't played outside in months. I'm not against homework, but when it takes over a child's entire life, something has gone wrong. Schools need to talk to each other about how much they set.C Dr Rahman, education researcherThe evidence is mixed. For secondary students, moderate amounts of homework are linked to better results, but beyond a certain point the benefit disappears. For young children, there's very little evidence that it helps academically, although reading with parents clearly does.D Sara, Year 10 studentHonestly, some homework is pointless — copying notes or colouring in a poster teaches me nothing. But projects where I have to find things out for myself are different; I've learned more from those than from some lessons. It's not the amount that matters, it's whether it makes you think.

1. (a) Which person refers to research that shows different results for different age groups? [1]
2. (b) Which person values homework as a way of checking understanding? [1]
3. (c) Which person is concerned about the effect of homework on a child's free time? [1]
4. (d) Which person distinguishes between useful and useless tasks? [1]
5. (e) Which person prefers a smaller quantity of better tasks? [1]
6. (f) Which person suggests better coordination is needed? [1]
7. (g) Which person says there is a limit beyond which homework stops helping? [1]
8. (h) Which person compares homework favourably with some classroom teaching? [1]
9. (i) Which person describes the total amount of study a child does outside school? [1]