6. THE DEATH OF LANGUAGESThe death of languages has been repeated many times in history. Localised disasters such as great floods or warfare have (1) …… a part, but in the modern era the increased international movement of people has greatly (2) …… the destruction. Local languages may be overpowered by a metropolitan language, thus increasing the pressure to neglect ancestral tongues in (3) …… of the new one, which is seen as the key to prospering in the (4) …… culture. Children may be forbidden to use their mother tongue in the classroom, as has occurred to many groups, including the Welsh and Aboriginal Australians. The death of a language is not only a tragedy for those directly affected, but also an (5) …… cultural loss for the world. Through language, each culture expresses a unique worldview. Thus, any effort to (6) …… linguistic variety implies a deep respect for the positive values of other cultures.

1 A done B made C adopted D played

2 A speeded B accelerated

C urged D hurried

3 A favour B preference C supported

D choice

4 A foremost B major C leading D dominant

5 A invaluable

B irretrievable

C inimitable

D irrepressible

6 A champion

B hold C preserve D collaborate

7.OLD FRIENDS‘Dear Davina and Simon,’ began the letter from Debbie, ‘A visit from your family

wouldn’t be complete without a subsequent visit to the Post Office. I’m pleased to say that that this time you’ve left only a minor item that didn’t (1) …… me in fretting over who wasn’t going to be able to clean their teeth or explain to a teacher about a missing homework book. ‘(2) …… of how often I entreat the kids to pack up their own stuff, or how (3) …… I search the bedrooms and bathroom, we always leave something behind.We’ve known Debbie and Andrew since before any of our children were born. Debbie and I had our first babies at around the same time, and lent each other lots of moral and practical support. What you (4) …… then, I suggest, bonds you to those you (5) …… the experience with. When we lived round the corner from each other, all this leaving behind

of possessions never (6) …… but since they moved 70 kilometres away the leavings have had to be posted back.

1 A entail B involve C imply D oblige

2 A Despite B Considering C Provided D Regardless

3 A diligently

B disconcertingly

C despicably

D dependably

4 A put up B get by C go through

D stand for

5 A cope B share C deal D bear

6 A bothered

B minded C fussed D mattered

8. BEAUTY FROM THE BEASTOur cashmere sweaters are made (1) …… of the purest, whitest cashmere in the

world. It comes from the rugged goats that (2) …… the dry, barren, windswept plains of Inner Mongolia. Grazing is (3) …… even in the summer months, and winter temperatures drop down to 30 degrees below freezing with the (4) …… that the goats grow a unique protect fleece. A fraction of the width of a human hair, it’s the rarer downy underhairs growing closest to the goat’s body that are the most (5) …… – and the only fibres used in our sweaters. Why? Well, for a start, they’re the longest, and longer fibres yield softer, stronger, more consistent yarns which can be knit tighter to aid longevity. And (6) …… even the finest cashmere grows in several natural shades, we use only white. White fibres hold dyes better to give our sweaters a rich, natural hue.

1 A especially

B extensively

C effectively

D exclusively

2 A roam B ramble C trample

D trek

3 A slim B scanty C sparse D skimpy

4 A recour B reward C result D respons

se e

5 A honoured

B prized C gifted D awarded

6 A unless B whilst C providing

D despite

6 A abject B obsolete

C arcane D obtuse

9. THE ELEPHANT ORCHESTRASome of the forty-six elephants living at the Elephant Conservation Centre near Lampang in Thailand have (1) …… a new life in music. Six of the centre’s elephants (2) …… the Thai Elephant Orchestra by playing a variety of percussion instruments. Those familiar with Thai instruments will recognise the slit drums, the gong and the thundersheel. The only difference is that the elephant (3) …… are a bit sturdier. When they play, the elephants are given a (4) …… to tell them when to start; after that, they improvise. They clearly have a (5) …… sense of rhythm. They flap their ears to the beat and some add to the melody with their own trumpeting. Elephant mood-music, it seems, could have a commercial future. A thirteen-track CD has been produced and anyone not knowing who the players were would simply (6) …… them to be human. All profits from the sales of the CD are helping to keep the centre going.

1 A found B settled C taken D opted

2 A put together

B make up C play out D lead off

3 A types B replicas C versions D sorts

4 A twitch B tip C cue D hint

5 A quick B stark C high D keen

6 A assume B attribute C allocate D appraise

10. NEW ADVENTUREIt was normal that I should feel some anxiety about my departure. Not only was I setting out to a place I had never been before, I was also (1) …… on a kind of life about which I knew nothing and, what is more, striping myself of all that was familiar to me into the (2)

…… . We are all, in our journey through life, navigating towards some special, dreamed-of place; and if for some reason we are (3) …… off course, then we must strike out, at whatever risk, to (4) …… things right. Not all of these forays need have the drastic flavour of my own leap into the unknown; some are such subtle turnings that it is only afterwards that one looks back and sees what is was all (5) …… to. But to drift, blown this way and that or for that (6) …… to pursue a wrong course for the sake of fear or pride, costs time; and we none of us have too much of that.

1 A escaping B exploring C emigrating

D embarking

2 A deal B arrangement

C bargain D negotiation

3 A spun B kicked C thrown D headed

4 A set B establish C sort D have

5 A approaching

B steering C going D leading

6 A end B matter C point D sense