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1. Read the following text to answer the question.

There is clearly no denying that meteorologists are still at a very early stage in understanding weather. The effects of variables such as rainfall, cloud formation, the seas and oceans, gases, including methane and ozone, or even solar energy use are still not really understood. Therefore it must be stressed that the predictions being made today cannot be completely relied on.

Our understanding of the weather ________________________

2. Read the following text to answer the question.

We crave for and are fed a daily diet of fear. Horror films and disaster movies have an increasing appeal. Nostradamus pops his head up now and again, And other would-be prophets make a brief appearance, predicting the demise of humanity. Perhaps this is all just a vestige of the hardships of early man – our attempt to recreate the struggles of a past age, as life becomes ever more comfortable.

The writer believes that Nostradamus and other prophets are right about their predictions for the end of humankind.

3. Listen to the following audio to answer the question.

Shuttle departure time:

4. Oil is set to run out soon if we continue to ____________ it at the current rate.

5. Complete the sentence using the correct passive form of the verb "see". "The plastic bag often seems _______________ as a symbol of an unsustainable way of life."

6. Read the following text to answer the question.

A raft of forecasts were made two decades ago, predicting a decline in the number of working hours coupled with a consequent increase in leisure time. It was estimated that the leisure revolution would take place by the turn of the last century with hours devoted to work predicted to fall to an average of 25 per week. While this reduction failed to materialise, the revolution has, nonetheless, arrived.

At the turn of the last century, weekly working hours dropped to 25.

7. Listen to the following audio to answer the question.

Dr Holman has samples from every __________

8. A ridge of sand formed by the wind, especially found on the coast or in a desert.

9. Read the following text to answer the question.

Day after day we hear about how unstoppable anthropogenic development is causing global warming. According to an increasingly vocal minority, however, we should be asking ourselves how much of this is media hype and, how much is based on real evidence. It seems, as so often is the case, that it depends on which expert you listen to and on how you chew the statistics.

The author ________________________

10. Listen to the following audio to answer the question.

The research is vital for the understanding of ___________

11. As is usually the case with emigrants, __________ who went away were the most active and ambitious.

12. Listen to the following audio to answer the question.

What time does the TGV train leave Paris?

13. Could you ___________ on whether people will change their attitudes towards borrowing money?

14. Although it is first described as a county in 1065, its southern boundaries at, before and ______________ are uncertain.

15. The launch was planned for 2003 _____________.

16. Read the following text to answer the question.

Among the professional and managerial strata, working hours have increased and record numbers of people are in employment overall. As people work more, their appetite for leisure activities has grown to compensate for the greater stress in life. The past four years alone have seen the leisure and tourism business expand by 35% with a change in emphasis to short weekend breaks in Europe and long-haul short breaks to exotic destinations in place of longer domestic holidays.

Long domestic holidays have taken the place of long-haul short breaks.

17. Complete the sentence with the verb "enable" in the correct form. "The success of the experiment _____________ the student to complete her assignment."

18. Listen to the following audio to answer the question.

Which aspect of roof garden design is mentioned?

19. Which of the following adverbs is the most informal?

20. _________________________ we observed students in the lab on almost 100 separate occasions.