Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Recycling is a technology that helps protect the environment and cut down on usage of raw
materials. The steel, paper and glass industries recycle a lot. The largest recycler is the steel
industry. It recovers more than 70 per cent of its original materials. For example, since 1988
they have produced the majority of new metal cans from old ones. Metal parts for cars and
planes are other examples of recycling steel. Fragments of waste glass are widely used in
construction. For producing writing paper and pens, used packing boxes are an ideal material.
They are cheap and easy to recycle. Nowadays more and more recycling centres are appearing
in our towns and cities.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Nowadays solar energy is widely used
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Do you know why it is hot in the summer and cold in the winter? Most people believe that it is
because the Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and farther from it in the winter. But it is
not like this at all! In fact, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is largest in July and
smallest in January! Scientists suggest that the reason for different summer and winter
temperatures is the angle of the Sun’s rays. In the summer, the rays reach the Earth almost at a
right angle. Due to this, the rays are not spread out and a smaller area of the planet's surface
gets the energy. In the winter, the angle changes and the Sun’s rays are spread out over a
larger area. Besides this, the long nights and short days do not give enough time for the land to
warm up.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
A robot is a machine that does work for people. The word ‘robot’ appeared in the 1920s and it
was first used in a science fiction story. In real life, the robot was invented later, in 1954. There
are different kinds of robots which are used in different industries. Most of them are operated
with the help of a computer program. Instead of humans, robots do hard and boring work in
unpleasant or dangerous environments. They usually work faster and more accurately than
people. They never get tired and do not make mistakes. Nowadays robots are often used for
domestic needs – to clean houses or to look after sick and elderly people. Scientists say that
soon robots will become a normal part of our life, like mobiles and computers today.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Nowadays people can’t imagine their kitchen without a refrigerator. The first refrigerators
appeared at the end of the 18th century. They looked different: they were just iceboxes. The
refrigerators of the past were just wooden boxes, sometimes lined inside with metal. People put
ice into the box and then placed the food inside to keep it cool. The refrigerator, similar to the
one that we have now, was produced by General Electric in 1911, in France. It was very
expensive. In those days, with the same money you could buy two cars. Today, in developed
countries almost every family has enough money to buy a refrigerator for their kitchen. It’s hard
t.me/otveti2018
to imagine how difficult and uncomfortable our lives would be without a refrigerator.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Without the energy from the Sun, the Earth would have no life at all. Nowadays everyone knows
that the Sun is a star. Like all stars, the Sun is a great burning ball of gases. To us, it seems
large and red. The other stars look white or light blue because they are much farther from us
than the Sun. In the past, many people believed that the Earth was the centre of the universe.
They thought that the Sun and the stars went round it. Only in 1543, a great Polish scientist
published a book in which he tried to prove a different point of view. According to him, the Earth
and the other planets moved round the Sun. Those people who supported the scientist were
often imprisoned and even killed.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The carrot is a root vegetable which consists mostly of water and sugar. The carrots that we eat
today originated from the wild ones which grew in Europe and Asia. The vegetable tasted sweet
and the people began to use it as food.
There are two main types of carrots. There are eastern carrots that have dark purple roots and
western carrots with orange roots. In fact, orange carrots first appeared in Europe in 1721.
Dutch farmers selected orange carrots because orange is the colour of the Dutch Royal Family.
Now orange carrots are widely grown all over the world. In modern households carrots are
cooked and eaten in different ways. The vegetable is boiled, fried, baked and eaten raw. People
also make juice from it.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Since 2007 high-speed trains have become a common type of transport in Europe. They make
it possible to cut travel times by hours. The trains travel at 350 kilometres an hour, and this is
not the limit! The only problem for the engineers is the loud noise the trains produce. People
living in the areas the trains travel through suffer from the noise greatly. For the passengers, the
situation is different. For their comfort, all the carriages are made sound-proof from the inside.
Travelling on high-speed trains is comfortable and pleasant. In the future, a high-speed railroad
network could cover most of Europe. For example, a trip from Paris to Rome could take onl
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Venus is one of the hottest planets in the Solar system. The temperature on its surface is 482
degrees. This unfriendly place looks much the same as the Earth 4 billion years ago. Both
planets were formed from the same gas cloud, but Venus lost most of its water and atmosphere.
This happened because the planet turns very slowly. As a result, now it has no magnetic field to
protect it from the Sun's winds. The planet has turned into a lifeless desert. Most space modules
that were sent to Venus, could not work on the planet more than two hours. The acidic clouds
and high pressure quickly made them absolutely useless.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Studies of the atmosphere first received technical support in 1912. Equipment to measure
temperature and pressure was invented in Germany. But the question was how to raise it high
into the air. In 1921, Russian engineers suggested using planes. The special equipment was
put on planes that made regular flights. Thanks to this, scientists got a lot of new information
about the structure of the atmosphere. Nowadays scientists use modern flying laboratories to
study the structure of clouds at different levels. Unlike the first planes, these laboratories can
work in any weather and are able to predict climate changes.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Wombats are exotic animals that only live in Australia. They have become an unofficial symbol
of the country. In 1974 a wombat appeared on an Australian stamp for the first time. Since then
it has been regularly used on different Australian stamps and coins. Wombats look like little
bears and prefer grass to meat. They also love eating berries, plant roots and mushrooms. Like
camels, wombats drink little water because there is enough water in fresh grass. Wombats
spend most of their life in holes under the ground. With their strong arms and long nails they are
able to dig very long and complex tunnels. Fortunately, wombats have few enemies in the
animal world. Most wombats live around 15 years.
t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The word ‘tsunami’ can be translated from Japanese as ‘big wave’. It describes a natural
process that can be dangerous for people and their homes. Most of the huge waves appear
after earthquakes. Most waves are born in the Indian and the Pacific Oceans where volcanoes
are active. The mass of water rises from the bottom of the ocean and moves to the shore. It
moves at a speed of a plane and can be up to 40 meters high. The wave is very powerful and
dangerous. In 2004, a tsunami happened in the Indian Ocean. It was one of most terrible
natural disasters in history. It hit 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Thousands of people
were killed or went missing.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales. It is located in a national park. It stands at 1085
metres above sea level, and it is often described as the busiest mountain in Great Britain.
Snowdon is very popular with tourists. If you are strong and brave enough to get to the top, you
can enjoy wonderful views from there. On a clear day, you can see as far as Ireland! During the
summer months there is a café at the top. There, tourists can get a welcome cup of tea, or soup
if the weather is cold. If you feel too tired to walk back, you can always take the train down the
mountain. The mountain railway was built in 1896. It is safe, and there have never been any
accidents on this route.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Most people enjoy watching the night sky. And the brightest object in the sky is the Moon. Every
night the Moon rises in the East and sets in the West. It takes about 27 days to go around the
Earth, and it’s an interesting fact that we always see the same side of the Moon. The Moon is
the closest object to the Earth. It would take us only 13 hours to get to the Moon by rocket. If we
were able to travel at the speed of light, it would take a bit less than two seconds.
There is a very thin atmosphere on the Moon. Life is not possible there. In spite of this, the
Moon can be used as a base for space exploration and even for space tourism. Some space
t.me/otveti2018
companies say that they will be able to take tourists to the Moon as soon as in 2020.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
People have always wanted to discover new things and new worlds. We have built spaceships
to go to other planets and are planning to visit other galaxies one day. Meanwhile, we know
very little about our own planet. The oceans, which cover 70 percent of the planet, are an
unknown world to us. The Pacific Ocean is the largest one. The lowest point on the Earth is also
there. It is called Challenger Deep and it was discovered in 1875. The Pacific Ocean stretches
from the Arctic Ocean to the coast of Antarctica, but most of its water is in the warm tropics,
which makes it warm. A lot of fish and animals live in the Pacific Ocean. The place is still waiti
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
One day a young man who lived near the lake in a small American town asked himself, “Why
can’t people ski on water if they can ski on snow?” With his brother’s help he constructed
several models of skis to test his ideas. He experimented on the local lake for a few days and
created skis suitable for the water. This happened in 1922. The young man, who was only 18 at
that time, didn’t patent his invention. However, he performed a lot of shows across the country
that made him and the sport of water skiing popular. Later, he was recognized as the creator of
a new sport – water skiing.
Water skiing equipment has been greatly improved since that time, and the number of people
who enjoy this sport is growing in many countries.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The ninth planet of the solar system was discovered not long ago. It happened in 1930.
Scientists had been hunting for the planet for a long time. They had calculated its probable
position, but there was no proof that the planet really existed. It was too far away for the
telescopes of that time to find it. It’s worth mentioning that the first photos of the planet were
taken by a very young researcher. He was only twenty-four and had no formal education in
astronomy. However he was deeply involved in the search for the ninth planet. The planet at the
edge of the solar system was called Pluto, after the Roman god. The name for the planet was
suggested by an 11-year-old British girl.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The first vacuum cleaner was designed in 1869. Since then, vacuum cleaners have changed a
lot. Nowadays the robot vacuum cleaner is getting more and more popular. This device cleans a
house automatically. Following a programme, the robot drives slowly around the house and
makes it cleaner. It operates with brushes and a tube. The robot is so flexible that it can get
under a table or sofa or reach dust in corners. Some advanced models can also wash floors of
all kinds. These functions are provided by a complicated electronic system and sensors inside.
The vacuum cleaner looks like a plate and can be kept in the corner. It is friendly to children and
animals and works on electricity.
t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
It's hard to find a more popular Russian symbol than the traditional Russian doll, or Matryoshka.
It is well-known all over the world. The first set of dolls appeared in Moscow in 1890. It consisted
of eight dolls. All of them were children: seven girls, one boy, and a baby. In those times,
Matryoshkas were not meant as toys for children as their price was very high. Mostly, adults
bought them as presents or home decorations. There was a belief that if you put a note with a
wish into Matryoshka, it would come true. At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia started to
export their national dolls abroad.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Global warming is a result of human activity. In 1985 there was a big conference in Austria
where 89 climate researchers from different countries took part. After long discussions the
scientists declared that the climate of the planet had changed. Indeed, it is warmer now than it
was years ago. It can be clearly seen in the north. In the Arctic some places are ice-free now
and polar bears have lost the place where they lived. The sea level has risen as well. The
situation is getting more and more serious. Global warming is a great problem which needs to
be solved in the near future.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
English is the third most-spoken language in the world after Chinese and Spanish. Over 840
million people speak English as a first or second language. It is an official language of 67
countries. 80 percent of information stored on all computers in the world is in English. The
vocabulary of the English language is the biggest in the world. A new word is added into English
almost every two hours. The English language is said to be one of the happiest languages in
the world. The word happy is used more often than the word sad! That's a good reason to learn
this language, isn’t it?
t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The human brain is the most complex and remarkable organ of the body. It controls everything
we do – thinking, learning, and even heart rate. Though the brain makes up only 2 percent of
the body's weight, it uses around 20 percent of its energy. It works 24 hours a day. Even when a
person is sleeping, the brain is working hard to keep other organs functioning. Most people think
that our brain is more active during the daytime because it needs to deal with a great amount of
information. In fact, that’s not true. The brain is far more active when a person is sleeping!
However, scientists don’t yet have any explanation for this fact.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
We don’t realize how lucky we are to have clean water whenever we want. A lot of people
around the world do not have such an opportunity. Did you know that more than 750 million
people on the Earth do not have clean water to drink? Meanwhile, a lot of water is wasted and
polluted. In 1993 the United Nations decided to celebrate the World Day for Water. Nowadays a
lot of special events are organized in different countries. Their aim is to make people
understand how important clean water is for their health, environment and agriculture. Water is
essential for our life. We should think about saving it, as the fresh water supplies are limited. We
need to keep it clean for ourselves and for future generations.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Earth Hour is an event that encourages people around the world to switch off electricity at the
same time for one hour. Of course, switching off the lights for an hour makes a small difference
to the amount of energy we use. But the aim of the event is not to save energy but to get people
to think about the planet they live on. Earth Hour started in Australia in 2007. More and more
countries join the ecological movement every year. Now, millions of people from 178 countries
switch off their lights for 60 minutes at the end of March. People in Russia participate in this
event too – large office buildings and small private houses go dark for Earth Hour.
t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Our planet is the only planet in the Solar System where rainbows are possible. They are not
visible in big cities, due to pollution and smog. But if you are travelling after rain has fallen in the
countryside or walking on the beach, you have a good chance to see a rainbow. The rainbow is
a multi-coloured arc which appears in the sky. When you see a rainbow, the sun is always
behind you and it is raining in front of you. It is impossible to get to the end of the rainbow and to
touch it. When you move, the rainbow moves too. We have always learned that rainbows have
7 colours. However, until the 17th century, people used to think there were only 5 colours in the
rainbow.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Though most people believe that the tomato is a vegetable, this plant is actually a fruit. Tomato
is a fruit because it has seeds inside like apples, oranges, lemons, and all other types of fruit.
The tomato comes from Central and South America. When tomatoes were brought to England
in the 17th century, people thought that they were poisonous and refused to eat them. Only in
1820, Robert Johnson proved that tomatoes were absolutely safe and would not affect people’s
health. He ate a basket of tomatoes in public. Nowadays, the tomato is widely used in all types
of food. There are many different kinds of tomatoes – over 7,500! They differ in size, shape,
colour and taste.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The Channel Tunnel is a rail tunnel beneath the English Channel which links Great Britain and
France. It is considered to be one of the most amazing engineering constructions in Europe.
The second longest undersea tunnel in the world was opened in 1994. It is said that 13,000
workers and engineers participated in the construction project. The Channel Tunnel contains
three tunnels. The south tunnel is for people who are travelling from France to the UK, the north
tunnel takes passengers from the UK to France. Nowadays it takes 35 minutes to go from Paris
to London in the Channel Tunnel. The third tunnel is a service tunnel. It is not used by
t.me/otveti2018
passengers.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The construction of the longest and the deepest railroad tunnel was finished in Europe. The
tunnel runs through the Alps and links the north and south of Europe. The length of the tunnel is
57 kilometres. It runs straight from beginning to end. It will allow passenger trains to travel more
quickly through the mountains. Modern technologies ensure safety and security when the trains
go through the tunnel. The great project started in 2009 and it took 17 years to complete. It is
considered to be one of the most amazing engineering constructions in Europe.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Bicycles or bikes are an important means of transportation in many parts of the world. The first
bicycles turned up in Europe in the first half of the19th century but the word ‘bicycle’ only
appeared later, in 1868. There are more bicycles in the world than cars. About 100 million
bicycles are produced worldwide each year. A lot of people have realized that cycling is an easy
way to get around and a great way to cut down on pollution. More and more cities have special
places where people can borrow a bike and ride around the city. Over the past few years, a
bicycle infrastructure has been created in Moscow. Cycling in the centre of Moscow in summer
is one of the most pleasant and quickest ways of seeing the city.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Great Britain is home to the world’s oldest school. The King’s School was established in 1567
and it is still open. It has a long history. Many famous people have been educated at this old
school. Nowadays The King’s School is an independent secondary school for boys and girls
from 13 to 18. More than 800 pupils study at the school. Though The King’s School is located in
old buildings, it has up-to-date technical equipment and provides a full modern education. The
King’s School is also famous for its festival of music, drama and arts. It is held during the last
week of the summer term and attracts a lot of people from different parts of the country.
t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Human activity creates waste. The problem isn’t new and space is no exception to the rule.
Dead satellites, rocket stages and other things are littering our planet’s orbit. They are getting
dangerously close to space stations and there is a great possibility of an accident. Space
stations could be completely destroyed by the rubbish. In 1983, a tiny piece of paint from a
satellite made a big hole in the side window of a spaceship. There is a great need to “clean up”
space and to take away 3,000 tons of space rubbish. To solve the problem, scientists and
engineers are designing special spaceships that will collect and recycle space rubbish.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The mobile phone has become an important part of our everyday life. We can’t imagine our lives
without it now. Thanks to the mobile phone we can keep in contact with our relatives and friends
at any time. We use them to text and to send emails, to share photos and videos. We can use
the Internet and listen to music and do lots of other things. However, according to surveys,
mobile phone users mostly spend their time on games and social networking. Around 80
percent of the world’s population has a mobile phone. The mobile phone industry is the fastest
growing industry in the world. From 1983 to 2016, worldwide mobile phone subscriptions grew
to over 7 billion.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Netball is played by over 20 million people in more than 70 countries of the world. It was
invented in 1892 as women’s basketball. However, netball is different from basketball in many
ways. For example, the ball and the basket are smaller and the court is bigger. The players
cannot run with the ball. They are not allowed to touch the players who they are playing with.
Netball has seven players in each team (not five as in basketball). During the 20th century, the
game became very popular in English-speaking countries. Traditionally, only girls and women
have played netball. Nowadays, netball is the number one women’s sport in the world but boys
and men are starting to play it too. t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Table tennis is the third most played sport in the world after football and cricket. It is considered
to be an indoor version of Lawn Tennis. However, they have a lot of differences. Table tennis
has a different scoring system, a smaller ball, smaller rackets, and a smaller playing area.
Modern table tennis was invented at the end of the 19th century in England. Very soon the new
sport became popular all over the world. In 1901, competitions with over 300 participants were
already being held. According to numerous studies, table tennis has great effects on human
health. It keeps the brain sharp and improves the player’s coordination. Since 1988, table tennis
has been an Olympic sport.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
A zoo, also known as a zoological park or a zoological garden, gives people the opportunity to
watch animals from different continents. There are hundreds of zoos all over the world.
However, most of them are located in major cities. The first zoo in Russia was opened in 1864,
in Moscow. It was a small zoological garden. On the opening day, only 287 animals were on
display. Nowadays, the Moscow Zoo is one of the largest in Europe. The unique collection of
the Zoo includes over 8000 kinds of animals and birds. Scientists study the animals’ behavior
and reproduction. They also breed rare animals there to stop them dying out.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is also the second
oldest university in the world. The University of Oxford is believed to have started in 1133. It is
located in Oxford City on the Thames River, not far from London. Oxford University is one of the
world’s most impressive centres of education. There are students from different countries there.
In fact, there is no building in Oxford called Oxford University. The University includes 38
colleges and related buildings. Over 22,000 students study English language and literature,
geography, history, law, modern languages and other subjects there.
t.me/otveti2018
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The rainforest can be described as a thick and very tall jungle. The term rain comes from the
great quantity of water that these forests get throughout the year. The rainforests are the world's
greatest natural resources. They are called the lungs of our planet. Half of all the kinds of plants
and animals that exist on the planet live in the rainforests. Unfortunately, the area with
rainforests is being reduced due to global warming. 100 years ago, the rainforests covered 14
per cent of the earth’s surface. Now, it is only 6 per cent. Scientists say that if the process
continues at this rate, the rainforests will have disappeared in 40 years.
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have 01.5 minutes to read the text
silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2
minutes for reading aloud.
The Caspian Sea is one of the world’s natural wonders. It shares the characteristics of both a
sea and a lake. In the past it was called a sea because of its great size and salty water.
However, the Caspian Sea is listed as the largest lake in the world. There are about 130 rivers
which bring their water to the Caspian Sea. But it is not a freshwater lake – its water is very
salty. The Caspian Sea is famous for its wildlife. More than 850 kinds of animals and 500
different plants can be found in this unique sea. The Caspian Sea region is also one of the
oldest oil-producing areas in the world. It is also rich in other natural resources.