Task One: Paragraph Headings (10 minutes)

You will read an article about gardening.

 Choose the correct heading for each paragraph.

 To match headings and paragraphs, click a heading (A-I) on the left and then click the number (1-6) above the
appropriate paragraph on the right.
 To change your answer, click the box again (now with the chosen heading) on the right.
 The first one has been done for you.
 There are two extra paragraph headings that you DO NOT need.

Gardening for beginners

...[0]...
Starting a garden is one of the most rewarding things one can do. Whether you’re planting fragrant florals or a
practical vegetable patch, anyone can benefit from getting their hands a little dirty. But it can be difficult to know
where to start. Our steps ease you into gardening and reward you for your efforts with beautiful visuals, delicious
flavors, and colorful blooms.
...[1]...

Do you want to plant a vegetable garden? A herb garden? A flower garden? If you choose vegetables and/or
herbs for their contributions to your dinner table, identify which ones your family will eat or is willing to try. If you
want flowers for their flair, color, and fragrance, decide whether you want annuals that bloom most of the summer
but need to be replanted each spring or perennials that have a shorter bloom time but return year after year.

...[2]...

Almost all vegetables and most flowers need 6-8 hours of full sun each day. So you need to observe your yard
throughout the day to figure out which areas receive full sun versus partial or full shade. Don’t despair if your lot is
largely shady. You won’t be able to grow tomatoes in shade, but many other plants love it.

...[3]...

Get rid of the sod covering the area you plan to plant. If you want quick results, cut it out. Slice under the sod with
a spade, cut the sod into sections to make it easier to remove, then put it on your compost pile to
decompose. Alternatively, it’s easier to smother the grass with newspaper, but it takes longer. Cover your future
garden with five sheets of newspaper. Spread a 3-inch layer of compost on the newspaper and wait. It’ll take
about four months for the compost and paper to decompose.

...[4]...

The more fertile and friable the soil, the better your vegetables will grow. The same holds true for other plants.
Invariably, residential soil needs a boost, especially in new construction where the topsoil may have been stripped
away. The solution is often simple: add organic matter. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost, decayed leaves, dry
grass clippings, or old manure to the soil when you dig or till a new bed.

...[5]...

Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out, so water daily. Taper off as the plants get larger. Transplants also
need frequent watering—every other day or so—until their roots become established. After that, how often you
need to water depends on your soil, humidity, and rainfall; although once a week is a good place to start.

...[6]...

To help keep weeds out and moisture in, place a couple of inches of mulch over the soil. You won’t have to water
as often, and by preventing sunlight from hitting the soil, you’ll prevent weed seeds from germinating. Choose
from a wide variety of mulches, ranging from shredded bark to river rock. If you use an organic mulch, such as
bark, compost, or cocoa bean shells, it will nourish the soil as it decomposes.
A. WE’LL BE YOUR GUIDE – EXAMPLE
B. PROTECTIVE COVERING
C. NATURAL SOURCES MEAN MORE NUTRITION
D. PICK THE CORRECT SPOT
E. DON’T RUSH NATURE
F. QUALITY IS KEY
G. WARD OFF DEHYDRATION
H. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
I. CREATING THE SPACE
Task Two: Extended Reading (20 minutes)

You will read a text about an architect.

 Below, there are 4 questions about the text.

 Each answer requires two pieces of information.
 Answer each question with as FEW words as possible.
 You can copy from the article, but don't write more than 15 words for each piece of
information.

7. In WHAT TWO ways was the start of Ron Seymore’s career assisted by other people?
For this question there are 2 pieces of information to find; and for each piece write no more than 15
words.

8. WHICH were the TWO most important projects which turned Ron Seymore into a household name?
For this question there are 2 pieces of information to find; and for each piece write no more than 15
words.

9. According to Ron, WHAT explained the longevity of his second marriage, and WHY does he feel that his
current relationship will work?
For this question there are 2 pieces of information to find; and for each piece write no more than 15
words.

10. WHAT TWO things does the author feel best represent Ron’s legacy?
For this question there are 2 pieces of information to find; and for each piece write no more than 15
words.

Ron Seymore

Born in the north of England on the 1st of February 1955, Ron Seymore recalls how, as a young lad, he used to
be fascinated by all types of shapes and structures, both man-made and natural. Growing up in a working-class
family, Ron caught the eye of his maths teacher in secondary school. His teacher, Mr. Phillips, had studied
architecture before deciding his future lay elsewhere and had ended up teaching mathematics at a small village
school in Yorkshire. He was quick to spot the evident interest and talent Ron had for buildings and structures
thanks to the conversations they had during class. It was due to Mr. Phillips’ guidance in a time when career
guidance was almost non-existent, that Ron was able to apply for a place at a well-respected art school in
London. He went on to graduate from the Architectural Society in the same city in 1979.

Immediately after graduation, young Ron was lucky enough to work in the offices of many respected architects of
the time, gaining valuable experience in the field which propelled his early professional development. By 1988, he
was able to set up his own company and his work was inspired by classical architecture from continental Europe.
Indeed, he dedicated the front room of his London office to such work in the form of an art gallery which was free
for the public. Soon, Ron had great success in London designing store interiors, which led to commissions in
Paris, New York and then Tokyo. It was in Japan where Ron’s work really seemed to resonate. His commissions
became ever bigger and more complex, designing and project managing the construction of a private museum
and then, as the lead architect, designing the ultra-modern headquarters of an automobile company which
ensured he was the architect everyone was talking about worldwide. Such was the demand for his work, that he
opened a Tokyo office in 1993.
By the mid 1990s, Ron’s reputation in his field of work was such that he was invited to front a new TV series
championing self-built houses in the UK. The series had an immediate impact and solidified Ron’s status, now as
a TV celebrity architect. The series would follow members of the public as they set out to design and build their
dream homes from scratch. The personal stories, the trials and tribulations, the sweat and tears, the
perseverance and the ultimate sense of accomplishment caught the imagination of TV audiences. Such was its
success that the show soon had spin-offs in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. While all of this was going on,
Ron continued to find time to oversee award-winning architectural projects in restaurants, galleries, museums,
retail outlets and other public buildings in Spain, Mexico, USA, Germany and of course in Japan and the UK.

While Ron’s professional life became ever more successful and prosperous, the same cannot be said of his
personal life. Ron married childhood sweetheart Pamela in 1975 and they had two children together. The match
was not to last though, and the pair went their separate ways after 13 years together, following Ron’s move to
Japan in the late 1980s. There, Ron was to find a love that would last him over a quarter of a century and bear
him another two children, with Japanese interior designer Aiko Nakamura. Aiko and their two children lived
predominantly in Osaka, Japan while Ron continued to move around the world due to his work and TV
commitments. Ron has been reported as saying that that was the reason the marriage lasted so long. In 2019, a
British newspaper published a story about Ron and Aiko’s separation. Both say that they are still on amicable
terms and plan to remain very much part of each other’s lives for the foreseeable future.

Now, just over the age of retirement, Ron shows no signs of slowing down. On the personal front, he has been
recently photographed with new, estate agent girlfriend, Jessica Thomas in Bali. Ron believes that their mutual
passion for the property industry far outweighs any issues related to the substantial age gap between them.
Professionally, he is currently heavily involved in the production of the latest anniversary series of his TV show
and is the lead architect on the design phase of a new international airport terminal in Mexico City. When asked
about his plans for retirement, Ron scoffed at the idea, saying that he would keep working until he was no longer
physically able to do so. He believes that while it might be a dream for some people to retire to some desert
island, it would be some kind of nightmare for him not to be able to carry on doing the work that he loves.
Therefore, we can expect to see a few more projects added to his list of accomplishments before his time is done.
When I last spoke to him over the phone, he was finalising a plan to preserve two ancient temples on a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in Sudan.

Ron’s work has not been without criticism over the years. For example, one reporter labelled one of his galleries
as being a kind of concrete ‘bunker’ while another felt that his design of law courts in Germany resembled a
prison complex. The reporter quipped that it was as if defendants were guilty until proven innocent. On the whole
though, clients and the architectural community around the world have been very complimentary of Ron’s work,
stating that many of his bigger projects have striven to reflect cities’ modern visions of themselves while at the
same time paying tribute to their rich history. Indeed, such projects as the German law courts go a long way to
defining the lasting essence of Ron’s contribution in my opinion.

Often architects do not receive the praise and recognition that they deserve during their lifetimes. Many of us take
buildings for granted and do not take time to marvel at the effort that has gone into the design, planning,
construction and maintenance. Given that, I think it is fitting that Ron has been honoured with so many awards
during his career. Furthermore, I believe he will be long remembered for his TV work helping the public to better
appreciate his art and that of others.
Task Three: Multiple-Choice Reading (20 minutes)

Read the following two texts about medical tourism.

 You can switch between the texts and the questions by clicking Page 1 or Page 2 above.
 Answer the questions for each text by clicking the correct answers.

What is medical tourism?

Medical tourism is the process of travelling to a foreign country to obtain treatment. The services sought by the
patients travelling generally comprise elective procedures or specialised surgeries such as cardiac surgery, dental
surgery, joint replacement and cosmetic surgeries. However, the treatments sought are not limited to this list and
medical tourists may also travel abroad to gain access to other healthcare services such as psychiatry and
convalescent care. Medical tourism has become an attractive option for potential economic growth in many
countries across the world. Global competition is emerging in the health care industry and growing numbers of
patients are travelling from developed countries to areas of the world once characterised as less developed.

The primary motivator to travel abroad for medical treatment is cost. The availability of affordable healthcare is
something that particularly appeals to patients who are without medical insurance in their home countries. The
savings achieved by the patient will depend on the destination country and the procedure. High labour costs in
developed countries such as the United States drive up the cost of operating hospitals - and this in turn is
reflected in the amount charged to the patient. Conversely, the lower operating costs and doctors’ salaries in
countries such as India mean that treatment can be offered at more affordable rates.

The cost, in turn, has an impact on quality. It is a common misconception that medical treatment in developing
countries is not as good as that found in the developed world. In fact, foreign hospitals and clinics that cater to the
tourist market are often some of the best in the world. Many foreign hospitals have state-of-the-art facilities, highly
skilled doctors and nurses, and high quality care. Some of these countries have also invested heavily in
developing research infrastructures that lead to important new developments in healthcare. Countries such as
India and South Korea are two of the world’s leaders in biotechnology and stem cell research.

That is not to say that the quality of treatment is the same everywhere. It is important for patients intending to
travel abroad for a procedure to ensure that the foreign medical institution is internationally accredited. Many
hospitals around the world seek to obtain these accreditations in order to attract patients. The International
Standards Organisation also accredits hospitals that meet internationally agreed standards, but various countries
have adopted their own accreditation standards. For example, the Indian Healthcare Federation has developed its
own standards to attract international patients and to inform them of the country’s healthcare services.

11. What is true about medical tourism?

a) It’s been a popular trend for more than two decades.

b) There are certain prerequisites for such treatment.
c) It proves to be a financial asset for some countries.
d) Patients are carefully selected through medical protocols.

12. What is true about the cost of treatment in medical tourism?

a) It is a secondary factor in patients’ decisions.

b) It benefits mostly patients who are not medically covered.
c) It provides wealthy patients priority in waiting lists.
d) It is unexpectedly exorbitant in some places.

13. According to the writer, quality in medical tourism...

a) is identical in all the countries.

b) gets secured by health organisations.
c) needs to come under patients’ scrutiny.
d) is higher when providing plastic surgeries.
 Medical tourism: My own experience

Having read a thought-provoking and informative article about medical tourism, I decided to look into the available
options for a minor surgery I wished to have. After extensive research and advice from my GP, I decided to take
the plunge and have my surgery in one of the hospitals in Eastern Europe, details of which I include below.
Arriving at the centre, I was greeted by a smiley receptionist and an even friendlier surgeon and
anaesthesiologist.

However not everything went according to plan. Although the surgery went well and without any complications, I
was utterly gutted by the overall experience. To start with, I had been told that there would be no waiting list, but
the procedure was postponed twice without any reasonable justification. Even worse, it took me several emails
and phone calls with different receptionists until I finally managed to reach the medical team for post-surgery
advice. This was unacceptable bearing in mind that I already knew that the procedure was not going to be an
economical one.

The above experience certainly taught me a useful lesson. Following my experience above, I would definitely
think twice before I made up my mind again. I am not implying that medical tourism is an abysmal idea, but I
would weigh the balance between benefits and drawbacks more meticulously next time. I had read so many
reviews on different websites, but I now know that this is clearly not enough. And writing this review is not my final
step. I could log on different medical websites and produce a list with endless disparaging comments about the
specific hospital, but this would not protect future patients. Unfortunately, I already know that I will not be offered
compensation, as this was one of the terms in small print in the agreement I had been asked to sign. However, I
am planning to write to the Ministry of Health and enlighten them as to the situation. I will ask them to set
standards by which patients will be assured high quality treatment. Hopefully, the specific hospital as well as
respective medical centres will prioritise exceptional customer service.

14. What was the main problem in the writer’s experience?

a) She received lower quality treatment than she had been promised.
b) She returned back home without having undergone her surgery.
c) She felt discontent with the conduct of the medical team.
d) She got an invoice with various additional costs.

15. Regarding medical tourism, her advice to potential patients is to…

a) avoid such a dreadful experience at all costs.

b) be sceptical about some reviews found online.
c) get medical advice first from doctors in their home country.
d) contemplate all the aspects before they reach a final decision.

16. Which word best describes the writer’s attitude?

a) Unconcerned.
b) Indifferent.
c) Dissatisfied.
d) Overbearing.