Building Bridges

Building Bridges
Six months before she died, my grandmother moved into an 1_____________ and I visited her there when I was in 2 _____________. She was sitting in the living room with about 3 _____________ other 4_____________, mostly women, half of them 5_____________. The room was clean and 6_____________, with flowers and pictures, and the care 7_____________ were kind and 8_____________. 'The Weakest Link' was on the television ('to keep their 9_____________ active' one of the assistants said), and the only other sound was 10_____________ and embarrassing digestive 11_____________. People only moved when they needed to be helped to the bathroom. It was 12_____________. Gran talked a lot about how much she missed seeing her 13_____________ (my nieces aged 7 and 5), but I knew from my sister that they 14_____________ going to visit her there, and to be perfectly 15_____________, I couldn't wait to get away myself. So I was interested to read a 16_____________ article about a new concept in old people's homes in 17_____________. The idea is simple, but revolutionary: combining a 18_____________ home for the 19_____________ with a crèche/nursery school in the same building. The children and the residents eat lunch together and share activities such as music, painting, 20_____________, and caring for the pets which the residents are 21_____________ to keep. In the afternoons, the residents enjoy reading or telling stories to the children, and if a child is feeling sad or 22_____________, there is always a kind lap to sit on and a cuddle. There are trips out and birthday parties too. The 23_____________ are 24_____________ for everyone concerned. The children are happy because they get a lot more individual 25_____________, and respond well because someone has time for them. They also learn that old people are not different or 26_____________ in any way. And of course, they see 27_____________ and 28_____________ and learn to accept them. The residents are happy because they feel useful and needed. They are more active and more interested in life when the children are around and they take more interest in their 29_____________ too. And the staff are happy because they see an 30_____________ in the physical and psychological health of the residents and have an army of assistants to help with the children. Nowadays there is less and less contact between the old and the young. There are many 31_____________ for this, including the breakdown of the extended family, working parents with no time to care for ageing relations, families that have moved away, and smaller flats with no room for grandparents. But the 32_____________ is the same: increasing numbers of children 33_____________ grandparents and old people who have no contact with children. And more old people who are 34_____________ and feel useless, along with more and more families with young children who desperately need more 35_____________. It's a major problem in many 36_____________. That's why intergenerational programmes, designed to bring the old and the young together, are growing in popularity all over the world, supported by UNESCO and other local and international 37_____________. There are examples of 38_____________ initiatives all over the world. Using young people to teach IT skills to older people is one obvious example. Using old people as volunteer assistants in schools is another, perhaps reading with children who need extra attention. There are schemes which involve older people visiting families who are having problems, maybe looking after the children for a while to give the tired mother a 39_____________. Or 'adopt a grandparent' schemes in which children write letters or visit a lonely old person in their area. There are even holiday companies that specialise in holidays for children and grandparents together. One successful scheme in London pairs young 40_____________ with old people who are losing their 41_____________. The young people help with practical things such as writing letters, reading bank statements and helping with shopping, and the older people can pass on their 42_____________ and 43_____________ to their young visitors. For example, a retired judge may be paired with a teenager who wants to study 44_____________. Lasting relationship often develop. But it isn't only the individuals concerned who gain from intergenerational activities. The advantages to society are enormous too. If older people can understand and accept the youth of today, and vice versa, there will be less conflict in a community. In a world where the number of old people is increasing, we need as much understanding and 45_____________ as possible. Modern Western society has isolated people into age groups and now we need to rediscover what 'community' really means.
True/False/Not Given
Most of the residents of old people’s home were women (when presenter visited the home).
Though the room was clean and warm, care assistants were cruel and unfriendly towards residents.
The residents in the home were very active and communicated with each other a lot.
The idea of combining old people’s home and crèche in one building started in France.
This program can be beneficial for both sides: children and old people.
However, old people can find looking after children annoying and disturbing.
This program can help to overcome the relationship breakdown between the young and the old in society.
According to one scheme in London, the young are paired with the old to help with practical things and paid money in return.
Old people can infect some illnesses to the young ones.
Bringing the young and the old is getting popular around the world and is supported by local and international organizations such as UNESCO.


COLLECTING
My grandmother had a beautiful 1_______2_______out of sandalwood on her 3_______which I 4_______used to 5_______I wanted it more than anything in the 6_______It was about the 7_______a football and had a cheeky smile. It was 8_______with tiny 9_______mirrors and mother of 10_______and had real ivory 11_______and 12_______One day my sister said “Oh Grandma, please can I have it?” and, to my 13_________ and 14_______she just gave it to her! I immediately made two 15_______1) never to speak to either of them ever again. 2) To find another elephant just like it. Ever since, I have been 16_______ (SEARCH CAREFULLY) the world. I have 17_______round junk shops and 18_______shops all over Europe, I have been to 19_______and flea markets in America, I have hung about in Arab souks and Indian bazaars, but I have never seen anything quite the same. Along the way, however, I have 20_______all sorts of other elephants and my collection has grown and grown. I have got black ebony elephants from Malawi, and a couple of ivory –all, I hasten to add, made a long time ago, before the ebony trees were 21_______and the 22_______was made 23_______.I also have soap 24_______elephants from Zimbabwe, and an 25_______Congolese one carved out of bright green malachite. I have a whole family of 26_______Thai elephants 27_______along the top of my piano –sometimes when I sit and play I could swear they are marching in time to the music. I have two very 28_______.long 29_______elephants which I bought in Khan el Khalili, in Cairo, which I use as 30_______,and an 31_______ fat one from the Sudan which I use as a 32_______. My 33_______ goes on, but it gets more and more difficult to find really good pieces. On 34_______ trips to Africa I have 35_______ how the 36_______ of the workmanship has 37_______. In 38_______ all over the 39_______ you can find thousands of elephants, but they are nearly all shoddily made, churned out for tourists by people who probably have never seen a 40_______ elephant in their lives. Why do people collect things? Probably many, like me, don’t set out to do so. You just acquire something, then another and another and then, once you’ve got a small collection you just keep 41_______ to it. I have an 42_______ who collects 43_______ – he has hundreds of them from 44_______ – but he can’t remember how it started. Other people collect stamps, stones, beer cans, beer mats, 45_______, all sorts of things. For some it can become a total 46_______ and they will go to any lengths to get something. One of my colleagues collects Royal 47_______, which to me is the ultimate in 48_______! Her house is crammed full of kitsch things like Coronation mugs, 49_______ with pictures of Charles and Diana, British flags, tea towels printed with Windsor Castle and even a toilet seat cover with Prince Andrew 50_______ widely up at you. What is this 51_______ to 52_______ all these things? I recently 53_______ this question with a group of students in Mozambique and what rapidly became 54_______was that few of them had such an 55_______. “Why not?” I asked. “I don’t know” said Anotonio. “It’s just not in our 56_______”. “Does that mean you’re not as 57_______ as Europeans?” Antonio laughed. “No way! We want cars and houses and fancy things just like anyone else, but we don’t collect knick knacks, things we can’t use”. “I think it’s because of our recent war” said Maria “and the state of the economy. For many years there was nothing to collect, except 58_______ off the beach perhaps”.“ I collect shoes” said Teresa, who comes from Angola. “I have over 59_______ pairs. But I buy them to wear, not just 60_______ having them”. “Oh come on!” laughed Antonio. “Anything you don’t actually need you have for the sake of having it, and you can’t possibly need seventy pairs!” “I do, I need every single pair!” she 61_______. “So you are a collector!” “No I’m not!” “Yes you are!” 62_______ the whole class. Paula 63_______ her hand. “I’m a collector” she said. “Ï am a 64_______ of Julio Iglesias and I have all his CD’s, everyone, even the latest which, I have to 65_______, isn’t very good at all”. “So why did you buy it?” I asked. “Well, because I’ve got all the others of course” she said. “And my son collects those little 66_______ you find inside cereal packets. He’s only got to get T- Rex and then he’s got 67_______.” “They are 68_______ you” said Antonio. “They 69_______ children to become collectors so that you keep buying more and more. This is something new in our country. Soon we will all be fanatically collecting things, just like everyone else in the world”. Harshill, who is of Indian 70_______, had been 71_______ all this time. He 72_______ his 73_______. “One good reason to collect things is that a collection is 74_______ more - how do you say in English? More than the sum of its parts. If you sold your elephants one by one you wouldn’t get nearly as much as if you sold the whole collection. So it is a way of saving money, a good 75_______.” 76_______ my hotel a young boy was selling a badly carved elephant by the side of the road. I didn’t want it but I bought it because I 77_______ for him. Later I thought I should just have given him some money and let him try to sell it to someone else. It would never be part of my collection, each in its own special place in a different part of my house. I 78_______ walking round looking at them all and thought about what Harshill had said – it’s a way of increasing the 79_______ of what you already have - but as usual there was that niggling 80_______ that my collection, not matter how 81_______, would never be complete. Not without my Grandmother’s elephant! What a waste for it to be with my sister when it could be, should be, with me! “Oh well, never mind, try not to be 82_______” I told myself. Ever since though, I have been lying awake at night, thinking of it standing there on a brass table in her hallway, next to the window she always leaves open for her cat. Her dogs know me, so they won’t be a problem when I 83_______ over the wall in my gloves and 84_______. The whole operation will be over in less than 85_______ minutes. The only problem is, having acquired it, what will I do when my sister comes barging in to nose around, as she 86_______ does, and sees it in 87_______ of place in my house? I’ll have to keep it hidden and then what will be the point of having it? Oh dear. Perhaps I could have a 88_______ that would only ring when my sister is on her way. No that’s 89_______. I’ll just have to move. To another country, under another name, far, far away. But even then, knowing her, she’ll 90_______. Oh – dear Reader, what would you do if you were me?
TRUE/ FALSE
The writer kept his resolution not to speak to his sister ever again.
His grandmother was unaware of how much he wanted it.
The writer’s Thai elephants actually move in time to the music.
Nowadays it is not easy to find well-made elephants in Africa.
The writer is fond of Royal memorabilia.
People often decide in advance to start a collection.
Mozambicans do not collect things because they are not materialistic.
Paula bought Julio Iglesias’ latest CD to “complete the set”.
Antonio thinks it is a good thing to collect things.
The writer firmly intends to steal his sister’s elephant.
MATCH THE WORDS WITH THEIR DEFINITIONS

Sandalwood	a. Causing a small worry
Malachite	b. A green stone used in jewellery
Rummage	c. Places where second hand and old things are sold
Flea markets	d. Decorative but thought to be ugly. Some people like this because they find it funny
Illegal	e. Against the law
Covet	f. To search for things my moving stuff around
Periodically	g. To want something very much that belongs to someone else
Niggling	h. To become worse
Kitsch	i. Every now and again
Deteriorate	j. Hard wood from a tree in Asia that has a pleasant smell

BILINGUALISM
Being the mother of two potentially 1________ children (the youngest is only three months old) and the teacher of French and English bilingual children, the subject of bilingualism is very 2________ to me. 3________ we have 4________ moved to China and are now 5________ 6________. But what are the 7________ of learning 8________ languages from an 9________? What are the dangers? What’s the best way to teach your child two or more languages 10________? I don’t suggest I have the answers here but like most mothers and teachers I 11________ have a 12________!
What is a bilingual child? The way I see it, being bilingual 13________ being able to 14________ almost 15________ in two languages and also knowing something about both 16________. If I take the 17________ of my daughter, it’s about being able to understand when someone is speaking another language and being able to 18________ automatically into speaking it with them. At two and a half she has already 19________ the 20________ of ‘Daddy speaks French and Mummy speaks English’. She has even 21________ that Bai Yuoine speaks 22________! I think it’s very important for her to know that the 23________ character Noddy is also called Oui Oui by her friends at playgroup and that Marmite and Cadburys 24________ as well as croissants. This is what makes it possible for her to communicate with the people around her 25________ of whether they are French or English.
Why encourage bilingualism? 26________ it is 27________ that with an English mother and French father our children should be able to speak both languages to communicate, not only with us, but with their grandparents and 28________. 29________, learning two or more languages helps children to 30________ cultures other than their own. If speaking their mother 31________ at home and at school is 32________ they are more likely to enjoy their 33________ and 34________ difference in general as a 35________ thing.
How do you raise a bilingual child? There may be a 36________ language and this will normally 37________ on the country you live in or the language your child uses most at school. However, it will also depend on what language is spoken in the home. We lived in France and spoke French at home but I always speak to my children in English. It’s 38________ that the child has 39________. They know that their English auntie will always speak to them in English and that for her to understand them they should speak to her in English.
What are the dangers? It can be very difficult for people around you to 40________ what you do. Grandparents can be 41________ if they don’t understand what you’re saying to their grandchild and 42________ that they will never be able to communicate with them. This is of course highly 43________ and you should 44________. Another problem we have 45________ was when our daughter 46________ to listen to either of us. A psychologist 47________ us that as there wasn’t a 48________ language at home between the parents and child and so I should stop speaking English and spend the weekend speaking only in French. 49________ I decided to 50________ this piece of advice and 51________ with my English! I also know of one child who had problems at school because his friends 52________ him. His parents eventually gave up speaking English to him. Unfortunately children can be 53________ and differences whatever they may be are often a 54________ of 55________. Differences need to be 56________ and 57________ and 58________ such as the International Mother Language Day help to do just that.
International Mother Language Day: 21st February 2000 saw the first Mother Language Day celebrated internationally. However the 59________ of this date 60________ in Bangladesh where in 1952 a handful of students, now known as language martyrs, were killed in 61________ Bangla, their mother language. In 1999 UNESCO decided to take this cause onto an international scale in order to encourage cultural 62________ and worldwide 63________.
The Themes: Each year the celebration is 64________ to a different 65________ of language. This has ranged from how children learn their 66________ at school to how to 67________ some of the 68________ languages that exist 69________. One year was about developing the teaching of mother languages and in 2002 the 70________ helped 71________ linguistic and cultural traditions around the world. Yet another year the International Mother Language Day was 72________ to 73________ and 74________ Language, two non-verbal languages that are an 75________ source of communication for many people around the world.
A Multilingual Community: It’s 76________ that we 77________ alienation throughout the world. By speaking other languages as well as your own, or having two or more mother languages, you can contribute to the 78________ of a global 79________. My contribution to this multilingual community is 80________ my children to varied cultures and languages, 81________ their mother language, while trying to learn the language of the people around me. Although with my ten or so words of 82________ I am far from being multilingual!
True/ False
Recently she has moved to Japan where they have come across multilingualism.
Being bilingual means to know two languages and cultures equally.
Her husband speaks French.
Her children need to be bilingual in order to be able to communicate with their grandparents.
One drawback of bilingualism is that it teaches children to accept differences as a positive thing.
Dominant language is the one that the child most encounters at school or even at home.
There is a possibility that a child can refuse to communicate in either of the languages.
Children usually promote difference and value it among themselves.
Every year celebration of IMLD is dedicated to different aspect of language.
The speaker considers herself being a multilingual.
CALENDARS
Are you 1________ summer? Here in Saint Petersburg, a day can be less than 2________ long in the 3________ of winter and nearly 4________ in summer. At this time of year, you can easily see in people’s 5________ that they are 6______ for 7______, sunnier days to come round again.
Months from the moon and years from the sun: To the first people it was 8________ that time went in 9________. The sun 10________ (comes up in the morning) and 11________ (goes down in the evening). The 12________ (gets fatter or wider) and 13________ (gets thinner or narrower). The seasons 14________ each other 15________. These things happen because we are all going round in circles…the earth 16________ round in 17________, the moon goes around the Earth, and the Earth goes round the Sun in about 18________ and a 19________ days. The most 20________ kind of calendar comes from the 21________ and the 22________. You can 23________ the number of days and nights in the moon’s cycle from 24________ (when it is all dark) to 25________ (a bright disk), and back again: 29 and a half. The 26________ problem for calendar makers is how to get the months (which come from the moon) to stay in synch with the years. The years all have a bit more than 12 New Moons in them. 27________ you read about the Chinese New Year in Claire Powell’s 28________ in January. If you did, you already know that some years, the Chinese calendar has an 29________ month, so they have exactly 30________ months in every period of 31________ years. This article is about how the western world 32________ the same problem by 33________ an extra day in 34________ (and having longer months the rest of the time.)
Days and weeks from the planets: You can’t find any cycles of seven days by looking at the sky. However, the 35________ world knew five planets apart from the sun and moon: Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. They probably made the week seven days long to give one day for each. In English, the first days of the week clearly come from The Sun (Sunday) and The Moon (Monday). The last day comes from Saturn (36________). Just like the rest of our language, an English week is a 37________ of Latin and words from other places … Germanic gods: Tiw (an Anglo-Saxon god of the sun and war) and Wodin (the head of Anglo-Saxon gods) for Tuesday and Wednesday and Scandinavian gods Thor (another god of war) and Frigg (goddess of love) for Thursday and Friday.
Months of the Year: Our names of months all come from 38________. Janus a god with two faces, the god of doors and gates gives us January; and February comes from a Roman festival of spring cleaning. Mars, who didn’t get a day of the week in English, got the whole month of March. Jupiter, well his wife was Juno – which makes the month of June. Most of the later months just come from the Latin words for numbers 7, 8, 9 and 10 septem, octo, nove, decem. But why isn’t September month number seven? It was for the 39________, because they started the year with March.
The Emperors’ calendars: July is occupied by Julius Caesar, who also 40________ part of Britain. And August by Augustus Caesar who was the next Roman 41________. These two men both played an 42________ role in creating the 43________ calendar. The Julian calendar (which Julius introduced in 46 BC) had a leap year every four years, when one day was added onto the end of the year (as it was then) on February 29th. Julius’ calendar was much simpler than the old one, and it was pretty 44________, although not as good as the Chinese one. It was only 11 45________ and 46________ seconds a year too slow. Somehow, the people 47________ the calendars in Rome didn’t understand their 48________ and added an extra day every three years. Augustus, the next emperor, 49________ that mistake but left the leap years as they were, so the calendar went on being 11 minutes a year too slow for 50________. Russia only introduced the Julian calendar in 51________ and changed to the Gregorian one after the 52________.
Behind the times: Over the centuries those 11 extra minutes in the Julian calendar added up to quite a lot. Our modern"Gregorian" calendar goes more quickly because we don’t have leap years at the end of most centuries – only 53________ and 54________. When 55________ Gregory brought it in in 56________, they had to take out 57________ to 58________. The year jumped directly from 4th to 15th October. In the same year, William Shakespeare got married in Stratford-upon-Avon, but Britain went on for another 59________ years with the old calendar. By 1752, when Britain changed to the new Gregorian calendar, they needed to 60________ 11 days to catch up. This caused 61________ protests … people thought the government was making their lives 11 days 62________, or even worse, 63________ their 64________ for the 11 missing days. Here in Russia, the years 65________ being a bit too long right into the twentieth century. On the 66________ October 67________, when the Bolsheviks pushed their way into the Winter Palace it was already 7th November across the rest of Europe…a 68________ of 13 days. 69________, in 1918 Russia missed the whole 70________ of February: going directly from 31st January to 14th February. Maybe they were 71________ to get closer to the summer.


TRUE/ FALSE
In St. Petersburg day time can be extremely short or long depending on the season.
The most natural calendar comes from the sun and the moon.
The fact that the year has a bit more than 12 new moons causes problems for calendar makers.
The Chinese calendar has exactly 235 months in every period of 90 years.
An English week is a mixture of Greek and words from other languages.
All names of the months come from Latin, and named after different Roman gods.
Julies’ calendar was very simple and accurate and much better than the Chinese one.
Gregorian calendar goes more quickly as it doesn’t have leap year at the end of most centuries.
Britain immediately changed to Gregorian calendar.
Changing to Gregorian calendar caused some countries to miss some days to catch up with it and was followed by massive protests in some places.
FLEA CIRCUS
A good 1_______ has always built its 2_______ on its ability to 3_______ and 4_______ and what could be more amazing than a flea circus? But does such a thing really 5_______ and can fleas really be taught to 6_______ circus 7_______? Many British people of my 8_______ probably remember watching their first flea circus on Michael Bentine's Potty Time. Potty Time was a children's TV programme which featured 9_______ Michael Bentine and a group of 10_______. Even as a child I never once thought that the flea circus which was featured on his show 11_______ real fleas, and quite probably it didn't, so 12_______ my surprise when I read an article in a British 13_______ about a group of performing fleas being 14_______ entry to the UK by 15_______. The fleas and their 16_______, Professor Maria Fernanda Cordoso, had been 17_______ to perform at the Edinburgh Festival, one of Scotland's most 18_______ arts festivals, when customs officials 19_______ that the Australian fleas in her 20_______ were 21_______ and would have to be sent back. According to the article, the trainer then had to find other 22_______ fleas and train them to perform the 23_______ act. On reading the article I decided to 24_______ more and 25_______ that flea circuses have a long history 26_______ in England in the 27_______ century. They had something of a 28_______ in the 29_______ when L. Bertolotto 30_______ his flea 31_______ in London. His exhibitions featured a flea orchestra playing flea music, fleas playing card games, fleas dancing in dresses and even fleas that could pull 32_______ coaches! Flea circuses later became a regular feature of 33_______ and circus side shows in the U.S. and as late as the 34_______-1950s there was still a flea circus near Times Square in New York. Training fleas can be very 35_______, but there are a few methods that have proven 36_______. You can 37_______ the 38_______ of their jump, if you put a glass 39_______ above them, as they don't like to 40_______ their heads. There are also 41_______ that they don't like. These can be put on a small ball and put among a group of fleas. The fleas will push the ball away with their legs and give the 42_______ that they are playing football. Fleas are also very 43_______ to 44_______ and 45_______ and this can be used to 46_______ the fleas to give the appearance that they are well trained 47_______. It's also believed that the flea orchestras of the past were in fact 48_______ fleas that were 49_______ to their 50_______. The majority of fleas in the flea circus are, however, dead. They can be 51_______ to their circus equipment and 52_______ with the use of 53_______. This has the added benefit that fleas, which have a very short life, then don't need to be continuously trained and replaced. So how did something as unlikely as a flea circus become a major event at one of Britain's most 54_______ performing arts festivals? Well Cordoso's flea act sounds truly 55_______, even by circus standards. Her fleas perform in miniature 56_______ created with the help of Philadelphia's Fabric Workshop and Museum. They tango, walk 57_______, perform trapeze acts and Brutus the strongest flea on earth is even shown pulling a 58_______. The 59_______ of the performance is the projection of a film which was made using 60_______ lenses to magnify the fleas' feats to huge 61_______ and features a tribute to the Fearless Alfredo who is shown diving from a great height into a thimble of water and tragically missing. Perhaps even more incredible is the trainer herself. The exotically beautiful Colombian born Maria Fernanda Cordoso is a 62_______, installation artist and 63_______ of Yale University. She spent four years researching the lost art of flea training and is now regarded as a world 64_______. She appears at the performances in a brightly coloured shimmering costume with a magnifying visor and fires flea cannon balls into a tiny flea net. The performance also features the fleas 65_______ from her 66_______ arm. Well, if this article has left you itching to find out more, here are some little known facts about fleas:
There is a flea in a Kiev museum that wears horseshoes made of real gold.
A flea can pull up to 160,000 times its own weight.
A flea can jump over 150 times its own size. If a man had the same strength, he could jump over St Paul's Cathedral.
When jumping, the flea accelerates 50 times faster than the space shuttle.
A flea can jump 30,000 times without a break.
Dead fleas dressed as wedding couples were popular collectors' items in the 1920s.
Fleas are attracted by carbon dioxide.


TRUE/ FALSE
Australian fleas were denied entry to Britain as they were considered illegal immigrants.
As a result, the trainer gave up the idea of participating in the Edinburgh festival.
Flea circuses have a long history originating in Australia.
Training fleas is not difficult as there are some successful techniques.
You can limit the height of their jump if you put glass ceiling above them
Fleas can play football and they like pushing the ball.
A flea can jump over 150 times its own size.
Some of the performances with the fleas are acted with dead ones.
Brutus is the strongest flea on earth.
Flea can jump 30000 times without a break.
IGUANA FARMING
When you think of animal farming, cows, sheep, 1________, horses, pigs, chickens and ducks probably 2________. Most people are 3________ that nowadays many types of fish are also 4_______ - in Europe at least 5________ types. 6________, so-called "7________ farming" has come to a lot of people's notice, and a quick search on the Internet can come up with sites about the farming of 8_______, llamas, deer, kangaroos, bison and even 9______. But what about farming 10_______? And not only for their skins, to make into shoes or handbags, but for food?
The green iguana: Physical 11________: Full-grown green iguanas are usually between four and six feet, although they have been known to 12________ to seven feet long. This 13________ the 14________, however, which can make up about half the 15________ and, in addition to its green colour, has black 16________. Green iguanas, not surprisingly, are green in colour, but can be found in many different 17________ ranging from bright green, to a 18________, greyish-green. Their 19________ is 20________, with a set of pointy 21________ along the iguana's back. Green iguanas have long fingers and 22________ to help them climb and 23_______.
Geographic Range: The green iguana is found over a large 24________, from Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay, as well as on the Caribbean Islands.
Habitat: Iguanas live in tropical rainforest areas, generally in lower 25________ in areas near 26________, such as rivers or 27________. They spend most of their time high in the forest 28________, about 29________ feet above the ground.
Behaviour: Iguanas are 30________, meaning that they are awake during the day. They are also 31________, which means they do not 32________ their own body heat. 33________, if it is cold, the iguana is cold too. So to stay warm, green iguanas bask in the sun, lying on warm rocks as they soak up the sun's 34________.
Source: The Wild Ones Animal Index Iguanas or cattle? The green iguana, also known as "bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the tree", has been used as a source of food in Central and South America for up to 35________ years. However, in many of the 36________ where they are 37________, a combination of factors has meant that they are now listed as an 38________ species. Firstly, the iguanas' 39________ does not help their cause. When an iguana feels 40________, its natural reaction is to drop out of a tree and into water below, where it will wait for the threat to 41________. But humans are more intelligent than other 42________, and will go into the water, where it is easy to catch the iguanas. Secondly, the best catch for a hunter is a pregnant female. Consequently, the number of 43________ iguanas that are of reproductive age has been greatly 44________. Added to these factors is the problem of 45________. In some parts of Central and South America, such as the 46________ pampas of Argentina, the natural 47________ is ideal for farming cattle. However, in many other areas, forest must be cleared to provide pastures for the cattle to 48________. Cutting down forests, as environmentalists are well aware, can have devastating 49________, such as erosion, reduced water resources and a decrease in soil 50________. It has also contributed decisively to the sharp fall in the iguana 51________. If estimates are true that iguanas can yield as much protein per unit area as cattle, then it seems to make good sense to 52________ on the 53________ and 54________ of tropical forests for food and 55________, and farm the native iguanas rather than the intruding cattle.
How to farm iguanas: "The key elements of iguana farming are reproduction 56________, controlled incubation, and raising 57________ in captivity. Once the hatchlings are seven months old, they are released into forested areas on farms, where they grow to harvestable size in two additional years. To create the farms, enclosures are 58________ using sheet-metal walls sunk 59________ cm into the ground. Inside, the animals sleep in 60________ made of bamboo and other vegetation. Each shelter has an adjustable 61________ slit through which young lizards can 62________, but predators, which are usually larger, cannot. Most enclosures are set on stilts and food is served in the shade 63________. With this system, 20 to 60 young iguanas are kept in a 10 square metre area. The iguana farms also include an 64________ nest consisting of a "tunnel" leading to a 65________, egg-laying chamber. Both 66________ and chamber are made of 67________ material and are easily accessible by the farmer. Artificial nests increase the number of hatched eggs and their survival rate to 90%, versus 50% in the wild. Using food supplements (iguana chow), it is estimated that the population can be maintained at 6 to 10 times the level possible in a 68________, or around 69________ adult iguanas per hectare. Iguana chow is a mixture of broken rice, meat, bone, and fish meal, papayas, mangos, bananas, avocados, as well as a variety of leaves and flowers. Smallholders can erect simple feeding stations and keep them stocked with table scraps or weedy vegetation. This makes for low-cost production before the iguanas reach harvesting size." source: Iguana Farming - A Source of Food and a Method of Tropical Forest Preservation Where are iguanas being farmed? The 70________ of iguana farming is Dr Dagmar Werner, a German herpetologist, who 71________ the Pro Iguana Verde Foundation. She is 72________ working with six Panamanian 73________, and is involving others in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. Countries that have expressed interest in her program include El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela. The Foundation has set up "Iguana Park" near Orotina in Costa Rica, which is both an eco-tourism 74________ and a place to 75________ and undertake further research on the sustainable use of forests. In Belize, the Belize Zoo started its Iguana Breeding Program, designed so the typical Belizean could raise iguanas for food. And in the La Mosquitia rainforest in Honduras, there is an Iguana Vigilantes group, whose 76________ is "The iguana is our 77________, our future. We have to take care of it." With 78________ like these, we can only hope that the future of iguana farming is assured.


True/False
The term “alternative farming” is used to refer to farming sheep, cows, pigs, goats and chickens.
Iguana’s tail can make up about half of its body length.
The green iguana is found over only a little geographic area.
Iguanas’ long fingers and claws help them to climb and grasp.
They spend most of their time underwater.
Iguanas usually fool people by pretending to be dead when they feel the threat.
Pregnant iguanas are easy to catch; as a result female iguanas of reproductive age have greatly reduced.
Artificial nests increase the number of hatched eggs and their survival rate to 90%.
It takes around 2 years and 7 months for iguanas to reach their fully grown harvestable size.
Fully grown iguanas attack people when they feel the threat.
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
News in the age of information: We are often told that the 1________ of the “information 2________” has arrived. The idea is that 3________ work is becoming a more 4________ source of 5________ than 6________. There are already too many 7________ for the number of people who want to buy 8________, so the 9________ in the 10________ need to have a lead 11________ fashion, or technology to 12________ the 13________. You can easily see this 14________ at work in important industries like cars and clothing and computers where big companies prefer to 15________ their 16________ and let 17________ do the less 18________ work of manufacturing the products. But there is a problem with information as an organising principle in 19________. It only counts if people pay 20________ to it. Together with inventors and designers, the information economy needs Public Relations 21________ to make sure 22________ are getting the right 23________. So, faced with the 24________ claims on our attention, organisations in other 25________ have to do more to get their share of it too. So PR people may work for 26________ (then we call them “27________”) or they may work for artists (then we call them “28________” or “pluggers”.) A lot of our news is actually compiled from press releases and reports of events 29________ for journalists. Journalists spend their time, not investigating, but 30________ the words of a spokesperson, publicist or other 31________ propagandist.
Quoting from Evelyn Waugh: The 32________ of news is most clearly 33________ in times of war. A BBC journalist speaking about the present war in Iraq compared his situation with that of the reporters in Scoop, Waugh’s satirical 34________ on the press. In the book, everyone was sure that the real story was happening somewhere else…but they weren’t exactly sure how to get there. Nowadays, the journalist who arrives in the 35________ at the 36________ is almost 37________ a world exclusive. 38________ with 39________ cameras and satellite phones, they can file their story 40________. Which is why the 41________ control the movements of journalists ever more closely.
Don’t believe everything you read in the papers: The best joke in Scoop is about the newspaper’s owner, Lord Copper. The editors can never 42________ with him. When he’s right about something they answer “definitely”, and when he’s wrong they say “up to a point, Lord Copper.” It seems 43________ to suppose that, in the real world, the opinions of such 44________ tycoons still 45________ the journalists and editors who work for them.
Info-attainment: In countries where the news is not officially 46________, it is likely to be provided by 47________ organisations which 48________ on advertising. The news has to 49________ viewers and 50________ its audience ratings. I 51________ that some stories get air-time just because there happen to be exciting pictures to show. In Britain, we have the 52________ newspapers which millions of people read simply for 53________, without even expecting to get any important information from them. I think this is why 54________ nowadays have to include a “sound bite” the small segment that seems to give a powerful message. There is progressively less room for 55________ background, or 56________, which are harder to 57________ as a 58________ story. The arrival of CNN, the 24-hour all- news 59________, has not 60________ the amount of real news reporting because the format of the channel is 61________ so that people who want to get the 62________ will not have to wait long. It tends to 63________ on the main story and repeat it.
Alternative reporters: There is an 64________ that with spreading access to the internet and cheap technology for recording sound and images we will all be able to find exactly the information we want. People around the world will be able to 65________ their own 66________ accounts and 67________ with the established news-gatherers on something like equal terms. I think this is true, 68________. But what it will mean also is that we’ll be subjected to a still greater amount of 69________ and lies. Any web log may 70________ the scoop of the year, or equally, a 71________ story that you will never be able to check.
Have you ever wished you were better informed? Maybe the time has come to do something about it, and I don’t just mean changing your choice of TV channel or newspaper. In a world where everyone wants you to listen to their version, you only have two choices: switch off altogether or start looking for 72________ you can trust. The investigative journalist of the future is everyone who wants to know the 73________.
TRUE/ FALSE/ NOT GIVEN
In the age of Information Economy intellectual work is more important source of wealth than manufacturing.
The problem with the information is that it only counts if people pay attention to it.
PR people who work for the artists are called spin doctors.
Journalists carry guns when they go to places at war.
The arrival of CNN, the 24-hour all- news channel, has not increased the amount of real news reporting
Presenter said that journalists and editors are never influenced by the powerful people.
Public Relations executives are needed to make sure customers are getting the right message
PR specialists can be given different names depending on who they are working with.
Inventors, designers and PR executives are three most important parts of information Economy.
The presenter works for BBC.