A new Ice Age?

In the film The Day After Tomorrow, global warming melts the polar ice
caps overnight and huge amounts of fresh water pour into the oceans. This
disrupts the Gulf Stream (the ocean current that stabilises the Northern
Hemispheres climate) and causes a superstorm that brings a new ice age. It
may be just a film, but environmentalists believe that it is not pure science
fiction.
There is little doubt that global warming is real. In the last century, the
average temperature has gone up by about 0.6 oC around the world. Most
scientists say these higher temperatures are a result of an increase of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere, caused by burning fuels such as coal and petroleum.
Sea levels have risen 10 to 20 centimetres because of the expansion of warmer
waters. Many scientists also warn of a link between global warming and
extreme weather events, like El Nio. However, experts agree that the sudden
climate change depicted in the film could not happen.
Environmentalists see the film as an opportunity to educate and hope it will
lead to debate about environmental damage. Climate change is already
happening now, not the day after tomorrow, said Janet Sawin, director of the
energy and climate programme at the Worldwatch Institution in Washington.
Im hoping people will become more aware of this problem as a result of the
film and start taking action.
Director Roland Emmerich believes that entertainment and education can
mix. Like many other people, I have this feeling that were slowly but surely
destroying our planet, he said. This is a film that should not just entertain but
also make people think. Its not just science fiction, but something that is very
real.
1.1. Answer the following questions according to the information given in the
text. Where
possible, use your own words. (1 point)
To what extent does the film reflect reality?

1. 2. Decide if the following sentence is true (T) or false (F). Find evidence in the
text to support your answer. No marks are given for only True or False. (1
point)
The main evidence of global warning is the rise of temperatures and sea level
around the world.
1.3. Choose the correct answer. Only one choice is correct. (1 point)
What do environmentalists think about the film?
a) the film would make people think about the storms
b) the film would entertain people and not think about reality
c) the film would make people forget about climate change
d) the film would make people think and start taking action about climate
change
2. Find words and phrases in the text that mean the same as: (1 point)
a) changes from solid to liquid b) flow down c)general/ordinary
d)showed
e) blend
3. GRAMMAR (2 points) Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate
form of the words in brackets, when given. (2 points)
a) Its _____________ (logical) for companies not to spend money on research
and _____________ (develop).
b) I dont have much money, but if I _____________(have) more, I
___________(go) to study in the States.
c) I wish you _______________(stop) correcting me every time I make a
mistake!
d) My parents _____________(live) in France for a year but they came back to
England ten years ago.
4. Write a composition of 100120 words. (4 points)
What can we do to help the environment? Discuss and support your arguments.

University
The Labour government promised to increase numbers of students at
universities. However, going to university is still a distant dream for many
young people in the poorest areas of Liverpool, Alan Johnson, Minister for
Further and Higher Education, said yesterday. Some of these children might
as well go to Pluto as go to university. Their culture says get out of education
as quickly as you can.
Government measures to encourage more youngsters to stay in education
include top-up fees government grants for poorer students but this is not
seen as sufficient. Mr Johnson added that the authorities would be asking
universities in Liverpool what they were doing to attract students from the
most deprived areas.
John Moores University in Liverpool said it was already tackling the
problem. The marketing director explained that they had an excellent record
in reaching out to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and helping them
succeed in higher education. As a result, more young people can see
themselves as a student it is not an intimidating ambition, but a real
opportunity.
Liverpool University has its own widening participation team which aims
to encourage and support people who traditionally would not have considered
going to university. It is involved in a variety of projects and initiatives which
target young people. Tricia Jenkins, head of the programme, said that in the
areas where 80% of people went to university there was no indication that
they were cleverer than those in areas where only 20% attended colleges. The
problem is not that people are not as capable, but that there is no family or
community expectation that it is normal to go to university.
Adapted from The Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk 21/05/04]

1.1. Answer the following questions according to the information given in the
text. Use your own words. (1 point)
What does the government want to when dealing with young people?

1.2. Choose the best answer, according to the text. (2 points)

1. According to the article, many young people in Liverpool
a) dream about going to university in the future.
b) are very unlikely to go to university.
c) are more likely to travel than go to university.
2. John Moores University say they already
a) encourage students from poor areas to go to university.
b) pay for poor students to attend university.
c) help poor students to study successfully.
2. Find words and phrases in the text that mean the same as: (1 point)
a) far away
b)financial aids
c)trying to deal with
b)
d)targets
e)be presented at
3. GRAMMAR (2 points) Complete the following sentences. Use the
appropriate form of the words in brackets, when given. (2 points)
a) Jamie will be able to bring the book back on Friday because he
_____________ (read) it by then.
b) If he (buy) a new DVD, we (watch) it tonight.
c) I wish I ___________ (not do) that last night.
d) Join with a connector:
She gave up smoking. It was damaging her health.
4. Write a composition of 100120 words.
Should education be compulsory until the age of 18? Discuss and support your
arguments.