The whale in the Amazon

A whale, which is said to weigh about 12 tons and is 5 and a half metres long, has been seen more than 1600 km from the Atlantic Ocean, deep inside the Amazon rain forest.
The whale ran aground on a sandbar deep inside the Amazon earlier this week but after being freed with the help of vets and biologists it disappeared shortly afterwards. Helicopters and boats were involved in a search of the area but nothing was found.
Local people had been splashing water on the whale's back and fin while it was exposed to the hot Amazon sun.
Reports of a mysterious animal in the area had been causing alarm among locals near to the Tapajos river, a tributary of the Amazon. Experts say the animal could have been in the area for a couple of months.
A biologist said it was thought the animal became separated from its group and swam upstream, until it ran aground near Santarem in Para state. While it is not unprecedented, it is unusual for whales to venture so far into fresh water.
The whale is not the only animal to get lost in Brazil this week, however. It is the second time that a lost animal has been seen in an unexpected location.
On Thursday, a young reptile - which was 1.5m long - turned up at a popular beach in Rio de Janeiro and had to be rescued by firemen.
They had been searching for the alligator for some time and had closed Barra beach, but despite this, some swimmers insisted on entering the water. The caiman, or yellow stomach alligator as it is known in Brazil, was taken to a local zoo for treatment for a broken leg.
This endangered species is normally found in freshwater swamps and marshes, and the fire service in Rio said it was the first time they had rescued one from the sea.

BBC News -17/11/ 07

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text:
a) Residents in the area kept the whale hydrated.
b) Whales had never appeared in fresh water before.
c) The alligator was injured when it was found.
d) The yellow stomach alligator is in danger of extinction.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words:
a) How did the whale get to the Tapajos river?
b) What did the authorities do to protect the local people from the alligator?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:
a) par.2 soon
b) par.5 up the river
c) par.7 To appear

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) It was thought the animal became separated from its group and swam upstream.
The animal…………………………………………………………….
b) The fire service in Rio said it was the first time they had rescued one from the sea.
The fire service in Rio said, “It………………………………………………………..
c) Despite the closure of Barra Beach, some swimmers insisted on entering the water.
Although………………………………………………………………………

Question 5 Write a short essay (120 to 150 words) on the following topic:

Why are so many animals in danger?

Self-Access Group. CEP Santander

French and German strike

French and German rail strikes continue

Commuters in both France and Germany have today made their third journey into work without railways.

In France, union members voted yesterday afternoon to extend the two day strikes, while in Germany an agreement between unions and rail bosses over train driver pay seemed further off.

"My God, I really would like this to stop" said one Parisian commuter. "The first day I lost one day's work. Today I'm coming to my work but I'm really tired. I woke up at 4.15 this morning."
France's SNCF railway company said less than half its staff were on strike yesterday, against more than 60% on Wednesday, but workers from several rail unions voted to keep up the strike until today, at least. French rail unions said they had sent a letter to the government seeking a meeting today, but they said they were still not ready to hold direct negotiations. French Government Minister Xavier Bertrand said it was not possible to hold talks with unions while the stoppages continued. Although slightly more trains, buses and metro trains were operating today, many workers struggled for a third day to reach their office and traffic jams clogged roads leading into Paris from well before dawn.

The strike in France is the biggest test yet for French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected on a pledge to do away with the special pension regimes, which allow some state sector employees to retire after 37.5 years of work against 40 years for everyone else.

In Germany, the GDL train drivers staged a 62-hour walk out. The strike has paralysed goods transport in much of the country and raised fears the dispute may have a lasting impact on the economy if no solution is reached soon. National rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, said yesterday that goods transport in eastern Germany had nearly come to a standstill and that carmakers in particular were alarmed because supplies of parts were not getting through.

A poll for top-selling Bild newspaper showed sympathy for the strikers at just over 40%, down from just over 50% at the beginning of October. Another poll showed support is still strong.
Schoolchildren piled into taxis in Berlin and buses were unusually full as commuters tried to avoid the disruption on the trains.

Question 1 (2 POINTS) indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) There were more French rail workers on strike on the second day of the strike than on the first day.
b) The French rail union wants to meet the government to discuss the strike.
c) People who work in private companies have to work for 40 years in France.
d) Car factories are worried about the strike.
Question 2 (2 POINTS) Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) How have people in France and Germany been travelling to work and school during the strike?
b) How much are German people in favour of the strike?
Question 3 (1,5 POINTS) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) to block (paragraph 4) b)a promise (paragraph 5) c)to increase (paragraph 6)
Question 4 (1,5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) One Parisian commuter said “The first day I lost one day’s work and today I’m coming into work but I’m really tired”:
One Parisian commuter complained that he …..
b) “It is not possible to hold talks with unions while the stoppages continue.” said the French Minister.
The French Minister said “If the stoppages ……………….it………………………
c) Just over 40% of the German population supported the strike.
The strike…………………………
Question 5 (5 POINTS)
Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:
Do you think strikes are a good way of solving problems?
Self-Access Group. CEP Santander

Texting

CLASSIFICATION: Vocabulary
LANGUAGE FOCUS: Texting
ACTIVITY TYPE: Multiple choice
LEVEL: 3


1: What does the following mobile text (cell phone SMS) abbreviation mean? cul8r

a) See you at 8 o'clock
b) Looking forward to seeing you soon
c) See you soon
d) See you later

2: What does the following mobile text (cell phone SMS) abbreviation mean? cu2nite

a) See you later
b) See you tonight
c) See you soon
d) See you at 2 o'clock

3: What emotion does the following mobile text (cell phone SMS) abbreviation mean? :-)

a) angry
b) confused
c) happy
d) sad

4: What does the following mobile text (cell phone SMS) abbreviation mean? gonna bl8

a) I'm going to be late
b) I'll be there at 8 o'clock
c) I'll see you soon
d) I love you


5: What does the following mobile text (cell phone SMS) abbreviation mean? ru@school?

a) I hate school
b) I failed my exam
c) I'm late for school
d) Are you at school?


6: What does the following mobile text (cell phone SMS) abbreviation mean? LOL

a) Laughing out loud
b) I'm crying
c) I'm going to be late
d) I love you lots

Self-Access Group Ciefp Santander 2007-2008



Key
1. D
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. D
6. A