Exercise1

Read the article about the cleanest village In Asia, Mawlynnong, and then answer the following
questions.
The cleanest village in India, Mawlynnong Village, located in the state of Meghalaya, is also
known as God’s Own Garden and for all the right reasons. In 2003, Mawlynnong was awarded the title of
the cleanest Village in Asia by Discover India. Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and is one of the most
developed cities in the northeast region. It is relatively safer and convenient place for solo travelers
traveling in India. Alongside cleanliness, the village has achieved a lot- be it 100 percent literacy rate, or
a women empowerment scenario that the rest of the world can only dream of. After attaining the title of
the cleanest Village in Asia, Mawlynnong became a popular tourist attraction.
Well-connected to major cities like Shillong and Cherrapunji, Mawlynnong can be easily reached
by road. Roads towards Mawlynnong are majorly in good condition. You can easily find buses plying
between the village and nearby leading cities. The weather in Mawlynnong is pleasant all through the
year. Still an opportune time to visit Mawlynnong, Meghalaya is monsoon. During the rainy season, the
village and its surroundings become lush green and thus turn absolutely picturesque. You can also visit
during the festive times – Behdienkhlam in July, Wangala – between September to December,
and Nongkrem Dance Festival in October or November are some of the main festivals celebrated in and
near Mawlynnong Village.
Cleanliness is a way of life in Mawlynnong Village! All houses here have functional toilets since
2007, there are bamboo dustbins all over the village, even the dry leaves fallen from the trees go straight
into the dustbin, and plastic bags are banned. The rules are strictly followed and the defaulters are
charged heavily. That’s not all, Mawlynnong gets its own manure which is converted from the garbage
dug into a pit. People not only clean their houses, they step out to sweep the roads and planting trees is
a part of their lifestyle too. Above all, smoking is prohibited.
The cleanest village in Asia, Mawlynnong is mainly inhabited by Khasi tribe, the famous tribe
which has left behind the patriarchal rule of the society. In here, the children of the family get their
mother’s surname, and the wealth is passed down from the mother to the youngest daughter of the
family. Extending warm hospitality to their guests also happens to be one of the most well-known
qualities of the natives of Mawlynnong. Guwahati is the nearest major railway station from Mawlynnong,
172 km away.
One always needs reasons to visit places and these reasons are despite not being enough, always
serve as excuses to take your loved ones on a much-awaited grand tour! The Living Root Bridges in
Mawlynnong have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hanging on a river, the bridges are
made by connecting the aerial roots of one massive rubber tree with another. Sky View is another
vantage point and a popular attraction of Mawlynnong Village. This viewing tower is 85 feet high and is
made of bamboo. Once you reach the top, you’ll be overwhelmed with the breath-taking views. And
since the village lies on the Indo-Bangladesh border, you’ll be able to see the landscape of Bangladesh
as well. Entry to this place will cost you around INR 10 per person. In addition, the silence of a jungle
here is broken by the gushing sound of Mawlynnong waterfall. This is a perfect place to unwind and
have a lovely picnic with your loved ones. A major landmark of Mawlynnong Village, the Church of
Epiphany is a 100-year-old structure that still holds an old-world charm. The premises look soothing
with a lot of greenery and patches of red and orange flowers blossoming around it.
The best part about the food you eat in Mawlynnong is that all of it is prepared using organically
grown vegetables. Even the meat comes from in-house bred birds and animal. There is a wide variety to
vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes to savor; pick from pork tossed in bell peppers and greens,
freshly-cut and smoked banana-flower, Jadoh – a meat and rice based delight), and Tungrymbai – a
sumptuous mesh of fermented soybeans, bamboo leaves, and local spices.In Mawlynnong, you’ll find
some nice homestays that allow you to stay close to nature and have a lovely time with the locals. Some
homestays are traditionally-built huts, while a few are built from concrete. In Mawlynnong
accommodation is simple, and come with basic facilities. Nearest airport from Mawlynnong located in
Shillong, at a distance of 78 km. There are direct flights from Kolkata to Shillong. However, if you’re
coming from other cities like Delhi, you’ll have to go for a connecting flight.
1. Apart from having cent percent literates, give a reason the clean city is proud of. [1]

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2. What time of the year/ Which season gives you the most strikingly expressive view of the village?

Give reason. [1]

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3. According to the passage, name an act which they pursue to show that they care for nature. [1]

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4. What is the contradictory factor regarding the tribal locals mentioned in the passage. [1]

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5. Name the rootage/ original source by which the construction of the bridges is made possible. [1]

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6. Why can one enjoy an expanse of scenery of another country by being in Mawlynnong? [1]

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7. Name the antique architecture in the locality. [1]

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8. Write down two modes of transportation, with closest destinations, towards the village [2]

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9. How do the villagers show diligence in keeping their city neat and tidy? [4]

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 Exercise 2

You are going to read an article in which five people (A-E) talk about what they have done to raise
money for charity. (A-E). Then answer Question 10(a)–(j)

A Housewife and grandmother

I abseiled off a cliff to raise money for charity. It was an enormous challenge as I’m actually
quite afraid of heights. It was only really the moment of going over the edge that was difficult; after
that it was very easy. You just have to get into the rhythm and not go too fast. My son is very into
climbing and things like that and he and some of his friends from his university climbing club set
everything up and organised the whole event. There were about twenty of us who did it and
between us we raised well over the target amount. It was a great success but I don’t think I’ll be
doing anything like that again. Once was enough!
B Lawyer
I ran a triathlon and managed to get over 50 people to sponsor me. I had to train for months
and it was really hard work but well worth it. I actually enjoyed the training more than the final event
because on the day the weather was terrible. In the months running up to the event I followed a very
strict regime and it felt good to be working towards such a specific goal. I would often get up at 5
o’clock in the morning so I could train before going to work. Knowing that I was going to be able to
give a large donation to charity made me even more determined to do it. It wasn’t compulsory to get
sponsorship and giving money to charity wasn’t my main motivation when I first signed up to do it
but I wanted to make the most of the opportunity and all my friends and family were really
supportive and wanted to help and give money. It was such a positive experience I’m going to do it
again next year.
C Environmental consultant
I cycled from L.A. to Quito last spring. All my family thought I was mad but I love cycling and I
knew it would be an amazing way to see lots of really interesting places that most people never see.
I managed to raise quite a bit of money for charity through sponsorship although that wasn't my
main objective. I turned 30 in March and I really wanted to be doing something totally different
rather than just sitting at my desk in the office. I wanted it to be different and something I could look
back on when I am older and feel proud of. It is something I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren about
and the fact that I was able to do something to help those less well off than me at the same time,
well that made it even better.
D Theatre manager
When I was a child I took part in a lot of sponsored walks. Each year my school would
organise the walks and although it wasn’t compulsory my friends and I would always take part. It
was fun. Each walk was about 15 km long so it took quite a long time but it was a nice way to spend
a day. The first year I did it I was only 11 years old and my father came with us to keep an eye on
us but once we were older we went by ourselves; there were about 8 or 9 of us that all walked
together. We managed to get quite a bit of money between us; in fact it became our challenge to
raise more money than the year before, which we always achieved, so there was a great sense of
satisfaction.
E Retired primary school head teacher
We used to make a big effort to get the children involved in charity events as I think it helps
raise their awareness of world events and the fact that in many places there are people, particularly
children like themselves, who live in very different circumstances to them. I think they get a great
sense of satisfaction too from knowing that they are able to do something to help. Each year we had
a mufti day; where all the children paid a small amount of money and then came to school for one
day in their own clothes and not in school uniform. We also regularly held school fetes where the
children were encouraged to donate old toys and books and things which we then sold. The children
got involved in running the stalls too and all the money we made went to our chosen charity.
10 For each question, write the correct letter A, B, C, D or E on the line.

Which person:

(a) would not repeat what they did to raise money? ……..[ ]

(b) tried to encourage others to do things to raise money for charity? ……..[ ]

(c) spent a long time preparing for what they did? ……..[ ]

(d) was frightened? ……..[ ]

(e) says the experience was unique and memorable? ……..[ ]

(f) says the hardest part was the beginning of the activity? ……..[ ]

(g) mentions more than one type of charity event? ……..[ ]

(h) sees taking part in charity events as a way of learning about people in need? ……..[ ]

(i) took part in the same event many times? ……..[ ]

(j) didn’t enjoy the event as much as the preparation? ……..[ ]

[Total: 10]
 Exercise 3
Read the article about long distance flights, and then complete the notes on the following
page.

Long distances on air Long-haul flights have just got longer, with a non-stop flights in operation to
connect major cities of the world. But long hours in the air create its own challenges. Such an ultra-long-
haul flight journey can be exhausting, if needed preparations are not taken. Normally, the aircraft is
specifically designed for the journey with more space and extensive entertainment services. The flight
crew are also specially trained by giving sessions of instructions on specific exercises.
From this side of the matter, the seasoned traveller is also more aware of the health risks
associated with a flight that covers more than 15000 kilometres in distance. Doctors believe prevention
is better than cure when it comes to in-flight health. Being confined in a narrow space in the air with
lower oxygen levels for up to continuous 18 or 20 hours is abnormal for the human body. For those who
suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) the problem really starts occurring after 12 hours in-flight. This
could lead to an increase in chances of heart attacks. For thinning the blood ,if necessary, tablets are
served alongside the lowering and increase of the cabin pressure.
However, there is still a question of whether longer non-stop flights will become passenger
friendly. "They will certainly have a role in the future of aviation; there is no doubt about it. People will
prefer to fly non-stop if it is available," says Chris Johnson, an airline analyst. "But we are reaching the
limits."
Passengers on ultra-long range flights need to be provided with flight socks. It is not just the
health and vitality of the passenger that is at stake on a flight of this length, but also that of the flight
crew. With this purpose, crew are trained on fatigue management and how to adjust to the local time at
different countries. Generally, the companies which run long haul flights take care of the diet of the crew
and keep them eat lightly inflight.
Nonetheless, passengers are trading in health concerns for convenience. An extra- long flight
means passengers do not need to break up their journey and change planes. Various market surveys
show that they like to board once, de-plane once. It is saving time. "From Los Angeles to Singapore,
passengers are saving two and a half hours. And to New York passengers are saving up to four hours in
flying time." Thai Airways is also launching a non-stop service to New York from Bangkok in near future
to compete with Singapore Airlines. Its planning a similar service to Chicago.
Problems like possible infections, especially for people who smoke, also stand on the way of its
success. At the same time, many are there who hope long-haul flights will flourish in coming years.
Passengers enjoy the comfort of avoiding formalities at various airports. Christopher Douglas, a
customer relations expert, points out that if passengers can plan and do their own activities, such as
online business conferences, there won’t be the need of frequent break. Another scope of the long
journey is the scope of an ad-hoc flight community for passengers, providing them with more time-pass
or entertainments.
You are going to give a talk about long distance flights to your class at school.

Prepare some notes to use as the basis for your talk.

Make short notes under each heading.

Precautions taken

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Reasons why long-haul flights can become popular

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 Exercise 4
Read the article about Colombian emeralds and Zambian emeralds.
Write a summary about why Zambian emeralds are in the global spotlight .
Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should use
your own words as far as possible.
You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of your summary, and up to 8 marks for the style and accuracy
of your language.
Known for their high quality and beautiful bright colour, Colombian emeralds have always
been known to be in steady demand. The novelty of Colombian emeralds is their origin and that
their value has been constant with time. Most people know of only Colombian emeralds because of
their perennial monopoly on the market, but there is more to emeralds than that, and they can be
found in other places like Brazil, Ethiopia, or Zambia. Today, Zambian emeralds are catching the
eye of the top tier of designers.
Zambian emeralds, one of the oldest emeralds on earth, have a brilliant bluish-green colour.
They are made up of beryllium, chromium, and vanadium. This emerald goes back to being formed
over 500 million years ago. Today, Zambian emeralds are slowly accounting for more sales in the
emerald world; and one of the main reasons is their ethical sourcing.
Over time, people have increasingly become more cautious and conscious of what their
emerald’s origin is and what its environmental impact is. Being transparent about how sustainable
the mine-to-market supply chain is, has become a priority. When buying Zambian emeralds, be it
loose Zambian emeralds for sale or a Zambian emerald ring, their sustainable origins, starting from
when it was dug up to how it was handled after that with ethical business practices, is made
transparently traceable.
One of the key differences to note when comparing Zambian emeralds vs Colombian
emeralds is the colour. Zambian emeralds have a bluish tint that adds a depth to them. It’s the iron
in it that makes it possible. Chromium, iron, and beryllium make the unique green possible. The iron
content in Zambian emeralds also makes the gemstone have a stronger structure. Since Zambian
emeralds have fewer inclusions, their clarity is higher in comparison to Colombian emeralds.
While Zambian emeralds vs Colombian emeralds comes down green to personal preference, many
gravitate towards the darker shade and higher lustre in Zambian emeralds. The lesser number of
inclusions helps in reflecting light better thus enhancing the bluish-green hue. One can go for loose
Zambian emeralds if the preference is to finely examine the emerald gemstone in its glory, or one
can opt for a Zambian.
Zambian emeralds are increasingly getting popular with celebrities, for example, in 2016’s
Golden Globe Awards, Taraji P. Henson dazzled in a 107-carat Zambian emerald gemstone
earrings, and in 2019, Mahershala Ali wore a Zambian emerald signet ring. In 2020, at the Green
Carpet Fashion Awards, Ellie Goulding wore a dress that featured over 150 Zambian emeralds.
With more and more designers embracing Zambian emeralds, be it for their stunning colour or
ethical sourcing, it is important to note that, not just white diamond alternatives are picking on the
market. The wide color array available with colored gemstones is increasingly becoming popular
with today’s buyer.
The curiosity behind “why are Zambian emeralds so cheap” is understandable. While one of
the reasons why Colombian emeralds are the highest in demand is because of their rich history, it is
because of that same reason why Colombian emerald prices are high. They go back to 300 AD
whereas Zambian emeralds were not commercially mined until the 1970s.
In today’s rapidly changing market, it is important to keep our options open. While Colombian
emeralds have worked well, it is important to find, alternative, sustainable sources that can meet
future demands, without creating conflict and/or irreversibly damaging the local environment,
economy, and culture. With Zambian emeralds, this is not the only advantage but also the fact that
they are genuinely beautiful. It is advised to wholesalers and jewellers to tap into its potential now
than when it becomes a rarity, making it more expensive.
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 Exercise 5

13 You decided to try something that you have not done in your life before.

Write an email to a friend explaining about this.

In your email, you should:

• describe what are you trying to do and why

• explain the preparations you have done already

• say whether or not you will succeed.

The pictures above may give you some ideas, and you can also use some ideas of your own.

Your email should be between 150 and 200 words long.

You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of your email, and up to 8 marks for the language

used.
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 Exercise 6

A Super Specialty Hospital was inaugurated in your town by the Minister of Health. As a member of the
Health Club, the school gave you an opportunity to attend the function.
Your teacher has asked you to write a report, giving details of the function, for publishing in the local
newspaper.
In your report, say how the new development will assist the community, and suggest how the (ambience)
atmosphere (of the place) could (can?) be enhanced.
Here are two comments from the public:

“The main corridor is too

“I cannot ignore the role of technology narrow.”
here.”

Write a report for the newspaper, giving your views.

The comments above may give you some ideas, and you can also use some ideas of your own.
Your report should be between 150 and 200 words long.
You will receive up to 8 marks for the content of your report, and up to 8 marks for the language used.
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