CONSOLIDATION 3 UNIT 15 SECTION 1 (A) Use of English B2 for all exams

 

Use of English B2 for all exams UNIT 15 SECTION 1 (A) CONSOLIDATION 3

 

PART 1 For questions 1-12, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning (O). POPULATION FACTS According to the United Nations’ population figures, the world's population will be (0) _________heading________ for 8.9 billion by the year 2050, (1) _________________________ to 6.7 billion in 2009. This figure (2)_________________________ into account that each woman on the planet will give birth to two children. Eight billion, nine hundred million people may sound ( 3 ) _________________________ an astronomical figure, yet statistics (4) _____________ that, throughout the world, the number of children being born is dropping. In Africa the birth rate has decreased from 6.6 to 5.1, in Asia from 5.1 to 2.6, in Latin America from 5.0 to 2.7 and with (5) _____________ to the European countries, the birth rate is below the replacement level. This means fewer people being born for every elderly person. For instance, by 2050, Spain risks being the oldest country in the world. The explanation (6) _________________________ for this is the fact that women have become better educated and would rather (7) _________________________ a career than enjoy motherhood. Therefore, they (8)__________________________ bringing up many children and being out of work for long periods of time. (9) _____________________ , the world's population will continue to increase (10)_________________________ the ageing population. This will happen because of an overall rise in life expectancy, especially in the developed countries. The main reason for this is that many diseases which were fatal in the past, can be (11)_____________________ nowadays. In view of these facts, experts argue that 8.9 billion people is more than our planet will be able to take. Others who have a more pessimistic outlook on life (12)_________________________ that we are already on the point of not being able to sustain the current population.   1 A combined B unlike C competed D compared 2 A brings B has C takes D gives 3 A as B alike C likewise D like 4 A reveal B give away C describe D speak out 5 A connection B view C relation D respect 6 A given B made C supported D told 7 A chase B create C pursue D advance 8 A prevent B omit C avoid D prohibit 9 A All the same B After all C All in all D once and for all 10 A whereas B although C even though D in spite of 11 A healed B cured C defeated D beaten 12 A warn B accuse C threaten D advise PART 2 For questions 13-24, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space. FLOWER POWER Flowers grow everywhere in the world but (0) _________ when_________ people think of tulips, they think of the Netherlands. The Dutch have a saying: “Flowers love people”. (13)_________________________ this is true, then flowers really love the Dutch, as flowers have been cultivated in the Netherlands for hundreds of years. In fact, the flower industry has been (14) _________________________ profitable that it has been boosting the Dutch economy since the seventeenth century. Recently, however, the Dutch flower growers have been (15) _________________________ difficulties in coping with the tough competition from abroad. The Colombians, for instance, have (16) _____________________the Dutch by surprise. Their flowers are now (17) _________________________ demand all over the world (18) _________________________ to the simple fact that they are cheaper. Within a few short years, the Colombians have brought Holland's domination of the flower industry to an end. (19)_________________________ this fact, the Netherlands is still in control of over sixty per cent of the world's flower market. In (20) _________________________ to help the Dutch growers, the European Commission has decided to promote the flower industry, as (21)_________________________ as the growers themselves are willing to cut costs and become more competitive. All this in the hope of making people buy more flowers than they used to. Today the average Dutchman buys 150 stems a year, (22) _________________________ the Germans buy 8 0 stems and the English only 50 stems. These numbers are constantly declining. (23) _________________________ this trend is reversed, many Dutch growers will soon be (24) _________________________ of business.

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ANSWER KEY

A 1 D 2 C 3 D 4 A 5 D 6 A 7 C 8 C 9 A 10 D 11 B 12 A B 13 if 14 so 15 having 16 taken 17 in 18 due 19 Despite 20 order 21 long 22 whereas/while 23 Unless 24 out