SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG THPT CHU VĂN AN ĐỀ XUẤT ĐỀ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI KHU VỰC DUYÊN HẢI – ĐBBB 2016 Môn Tiếng Anh – Lớp 10 (Có Video kèm theo) PART 1 LISTENING COMPREHENSION I Read the sen[.]
SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG THPT CHU VĂN AN ĐỀ XUẤT ĐỀ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI KHU VỰC DUYÊN HẢI – ĐBBB 2016 Môn: Tiếng Anh – Lớp 10 (Có Video kèm theo) PART 1: LISTENING COMPREHENSION I Read the sentences below You are going to hear two women talking about a holiday in France Read the sentences, and choose the best option: A, B, or C, to complete the statements about the recording Paula's friend says that A she has been ill B Paula doesn't look very well C she's pleased to see Paula Before the trip, Paula A was enthusiastic about It B wanted to go to the Lake District C didn't tell anybody she was going Before Mark and Paula went to Paris, A Mark's boss didn't want him to go B Paula arranged for somebody to look after the hamster C Paula's sister promised to look after the children The journey across the Channel A was very smooth B was unpleasant for Paula C lasted eight hours The return trip from Paris was A disturbed by a flood B an enjoyable experience C earlier than planned II Read the statements and decide whether they are true (T) or false (F) The speaker has come from the Theosophical Society One of the main points of the talk is to save money She thinks students should more housework She argues that plastic containers won't biodegrade quickly She warns that asthma sufferers should be careful with her recipes III Part You are going to hear two separate recordings about the uses of plastics Question 1-5 Complete the sentences below Write no more than three words or number for each space 1 According to the speaker, the three factors contributing to the success of plastics today are safety, and _ and other food products are wrapped in plastic to protect them from contamination The use of plastics in major appliances ensures that they will _ corrosion Experts have calculated that a kilo of plastic packaging can lead to a reduction of _ in wasted food Plastic parts have made air conditioners as much as _ more efficient since the 1970s Question 6-10 Complete the notes Write no more than three words of numbers in each space A history of plastic bag 1957 introduction of (6) _ 1966 Around one third of packaging in (7) _ consists of plastic bags 1969 ‘New York City Experiment’: (8) collected in plastic bags (9) _ Plastic grocery bags first manufactured commercially 2002 New Irish tax of (10) per carrier bag PART 2: GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY I Choose the best word from A, B, C or D that fits each blank It isn’t that woman’s turn Don’t let her push _ A in B through C into D up We heard her _ in agony as she dropped the saucepan on her toe A boil over B cry out C let off D ring out Tom won’t buy that old car because it has too much on it A ups and downs B odds and ends C wear and tear D white lie His English teacher recommends that he _ a regular degree program A begin B begins C will begin D is beginning As a citizen, it is natural to _ to the laws and rules made by the society A conform B resist C hinder D obey The inconsiderate driver was _ for parking his vehicle in the wrong place A inflicted B condemned C harassed D fined Look, will you stop _ in and let me finish my sentence! A moving B pushing C butting D plugging It’s the of stupidity to go walking in the mountains in this weather A height B depth C source D matter Tax deprives the state of several million pounds as a year A retention B desertion C escapism D evasion 10 The university might accept you, of your disappointing exam results A irrespective B pending C expectant D dependent 11 She two miles and a half, and now she feels exhausted A has been running B run C was running D has run 12 Robert will enjoy skiing more the next time he goes to Mt Hellens _ he has had skiing lessons A now that B so that C before D and 13 Don’t blame me for what I did differently in my place? A Would you have acted B Would you act C Would you acted D Wouldn’t you act 14 The five Olympic rings are a of the five continents A emblem B symbol C logo D sign 15 “How come you didn’t tell me that you would quit the job?” – “ ” A I found the job so interesting B Because I am so bored with it C I would love to Thank you D Because I know you would make a fuss about it 16 Archeologists are constantly searching for an answer the question of what is actually the ground we walk on A of/along B to/beneath C for/to D on/for 17 The car was three years old but very much A hasn’t been used B doesn’t use C hasn’t used D hadn’t been used 18 Dreams are commonly both visual and verbal images A made of B made from C consisted of D made up of 19 He’d hardly finished doing his homework when you arrived, ? A would he B had he C didn’t you D hadn’t he 20 The incredible thing about telephone across the continents, but that you can recognize the other person’s voice A is it allow people to talk instantly B is not that people can instantly talk to each other C is it provides instant talking to each other D is that people can talk instantly II The passage below contains 10 mistakes Underline the mistakes and write their correct forms in the space provided in the column on the right Crime preventing is as crucial in the workplace as it is in the home or neighborhood Reducing crime is as much a part of good management as prompt delivery, good staff relations, and other acceptable management functions Losses from shops through shoplifting are extremely high and ultimately, those losses are payment for by all of us in high prices There are many opportunities for shopkeepers themselves to reduce shoplifting As with all types of criminal, prevention is better than cure The best deterrent is the present of staff properly trained in how to identify potential shoplifters There are also many secure devices now available Video camera surveillance is a popular system, even with quite small retailers In clothes shopping, magnetic tag marking systems that set off an alarm if they are taken out of the shop have proved their worthless However, there are many simpler measures that retailers should consider Better lighting and ceiling-hung mirrors can help staff to watch all parts of the display area Similarly, simply arrangement shelves and display units to allow clear fields of visible is a good deterrent (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) _ III Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with suitable particles I wonder if this dress fits I’ll try it _ and see “Did you enjoy the concert last night with Liz?” “We didn’t go I waited an hour, but Liz didn’t turn _.” Don’t spend the money you won Why don’t you put it until you have enough to buy something you really want? I was ill for two weeks, so I’ve fallen with my work This painting can’t possibly be an original I think we’ve been taken _ I won’t be able to go out tonight because a problem has just cropped After he was knocked out, it took a long time to bring him Don’t worry The pain should wear _ fairly soon Violence flared and a lot of people were injured 10 The changes were phased gradually so that everyone could get used to them IV Write the correct form of the word given We’ve all felt anger at sometime, whether as faint (0) annoyance or blind rage Anger is a normal, sometimes useful human emotion, but uncontrolled outbursts of temper can be (1) _ “People who give free rein to their anger, (2) of the offence this may cause, haven’t learned to express themselves constructively”, says Martin Smolik, who runs weekend (3) _ courses in anger management “It is important to maintain your (4) and put your case in an assertive, not aggressive, manner without hurting others Being assertive doesn’t mean being pushy or demanding; it means being (5) of yourself and other people.” He adds that people who are (6) _ angered are intolerant of frustration, (7) _ or irritation and, not surprisingly, find (8) to other people very difficult But what causes people to behave like this? It seems there is evidence to support the idea that some children may be born (9) and prone to anger and this tendency is sometimes apparent from a very early age However, research also suggests that a person’s family (10) may have an influence Very often, people who are quick-tempered come from disorganized and disruptive families who find it difficult to express their emotions (0) ANNOY (1) DESTROY (2) REGRAD (3) RESIDENCE (4) COMPOSE (5) RESPECT (6) EASY (7) CONVENIENT (8) RELATE (9) IRRITATE (10) GROUND PART READING COMPREHENSION I Read the text below and then decide which word best fits each blank Gerard Mercator: The Man Who Mapped the Planet When Gerard Mercatorwas was born in 1512, the geography of the globe still remained a mystery It was unclear whether America was part of Asia, if there was a vast (1) of sea at the top of the world or if Australia was (2) to Antarctica Mercator's childhood was spent chiefly in Rupelmonde, a Flemish trading town on the river, and it was here that his geographical imagination was (3) by the ships which passed to and from the rest of the world Alongside imagination, he developed two very different skills The first was the ability to gather, (4) and co-ordinate the geographical information (5) explorers and sailors who frequented the margins of the known He also had to be able to imagine himself (6) from the heavens, to achieve the visionary (7) of gods in the skies, (8) down on the world The main reason why Mercator's name is (9) _ to us is because of the Mercator Projection: the solution he (10) _ to represent the spheroidal surface of the globe on a two-dimensional plane It is less well known that Mercator was the first man to conceive of mapping the (11) _ surface of the planet or that he (12) _the idea of multiple maps being presented in bound books, to which he gave the name 'Atlas' It is difficult for us now to be surprised by maps, so many are there, and of such detail and coverage, but we should (13) _ in mind that Mercator lived at a time when such knowledge was far from (14) He was the man who (15) our worldview forever A territory B distance C range D expanse A connected B coupled C united D integrated A raise B reared C supplied D nourished A congregate B amass C assimilate D construct A granted B conferred C contributed D provided A suspended B located C situated D attached A inspection B observation C perspective D assessment A glimpsing B scrutinizing C watching D gazing A familiar B famous C memorable D recognizable 10 A invented B contrived C devised D schemed 11 A sheer B full C entire D utter 12 A pioneered B initiated C lead D prepared 13 A carry B hold C take D bear 14 A typical B common C routine D normal 15 A converted B substituted C distorted D altered II Supply the most suitable word for each blank I was reading an article last week in which the writer described _(1) _ her children has changed as they grow up When they were small she had to _(2) up with noisy games in the house or join in interminable games of football in the garden which wore her out If the house went quiet, she wondered what the monsters were getting up to, or what crisis she would have to (3) _ with next She dreaded the fact that they might (4) after her husband, who admitted having _(5) an uncontrollable child who (6) _ most of time showing off to his friends by breaking things or getting into fights What was worse was that everyone else thought he was _ (7) sweet child, and he got away with the most terrible things However, she had experienced an even greater shocked with her children They had _(8) out as chess and playing the piano They never did anything _(9) talking it over first, and coming to a serious decision She had to face up to the fact that they made her feel rather childish as they got _(10) , and that in some ways she preferred them when they were young and noisy III Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each question No longer is asthma considered a condition with isolated, acute episodes of bronchospasm Rather, asthma is now understood to be a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways—that is, inflammation makes the iirways chronically sensitive When these hyperresponsive airways are irritated, airflow is limited, and attacks of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathing difficulty occur Asthma involves complex interactions among inflammatory cells, mediators, and the cells and tissues in the airways The interactions result in airflow limitation from acute bronchoconstriction, swelling of the airway wall, increased mucus secretion, and airway remodeling The inflammation also causes an increase in airway responsiveness During an asthma attack, the patient attempts to compensate by breathing at a higher lung volume in order to keep the air flowing through the constricted airways, and the greater the airway limitation, the higher the lung volume must be to keep airways open The morphologic changes that occur in asthma include bronchial infiltration by inflammatory cells Key effector cells in the inflammatory response are the mast cells, T lymphocytes, and eosinophils Mast cells and eosinophils are also significant participants in allergic responses, hence the similarities between allergic reactions and asthma attacks Other changes include mucus plugging of the airways, interstitial edema, and microvascular leakage Destruction of bronchial epithelium and thickening of the subbasement membrane is also characteristic In addition, there may be hypertrophy and hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle, increase in goblet cell number, and enlargement of submucous glands Although causes of the initial tendency toward inflammation in the airways of patients with asthma are not yet certain to date the strongest identified risk factor is atopy This inherited familial tendency to have allergic reactions includes increased sensitivity to allergens that are risk factors for developing asthma Some of these allergens include domestic dust mites, animals with fur, cockroaches, pollens, and molds Additionally, asthma may be triggered by viral respiratory infections, especially in children By avoiding these allergens and triggers, a person with asthma lowers his or her risk of irritating sensitive airways A few avoidance techniques include: keeping the home clean and well ventilated, using an air conditioner in the summer months when pollen and mold counts are high, and getting an annual influenza vaccination Of course, asthma sufferers should avoid tobacco smoke altogether Cigar, cigarette, or pipe smoke is a trigger whether the patient smokes or inhales the smoke from others Smoke increases the risk of allergic sensitization in children, increases the severity of symptoms, and may be fatal in children who already have asthma Many of the risk factors for developing asthma may also provoke asthma attacks, and people with asthma may have one or more triggers, which vary from individual to individual The risk can be further reduced by taking medications that decrease airway inflammation Most exacerbations can be prevented by the combination of avoiding triggers and taking anti-inflammatory medications An exception is physical activity, which is a common trigger of exacerbations in asthma patients However, asthma patients should not necessarily avoid all physical exertion, because some types of activity have been proven to reduce symptoms Rather, they should work in conjunction with a doctor to design a proper training regimen, which includes the use of medication In order to diagnose asthma, a healthcare professional must appreciate the underlying disorder that leads to asthma symptoms and understand how to recognize the condition through information gathered from the patient's history, physical examination, measurements of lung function, and allergic status Because asthma symptoms vary throughout the day, the respiratory system may appear normal during physical examination Clinical signs are more likely to be present when a patient is experiencing symptoms; however, the absence of symptoms upon examination does not exclude the diagnosis of asthma According to the passage, what is the name for the familial inclination to have hypersensitivity to certain allergens? A interstitial edema B hyperplasia C hypertrophy D atopy Why does a person suffering from an asthma attack attempt to inhale more air? A to prevent the loss of consciousness B to keep air flowing through shrunken air passageways C to prevent hyperplasia D to compensate for weakened mast cells, T lymphocytes, and eosinophils The word triggered is closest in meaning to A caused B taken place C eliminated D cured The passage suggests that in the past, asthma was regarded as which of the following? A a result of the overuse of tobacco products B a hysterical condition C mysterious, unrelated attacks affecting the lungs D a chronic condition Which of the following would be the best replacement for the underlined word exacerbations in this passage? A allergies B attacks C triggers D allergens The passage mentions all of the following bodily changes during an asthma attack except A Severe cramping in the chest B Heavy breathing C Airways blocked by fluids D constricted airways Although it is surprising, which of the following triggers is mentioned in the passage as possibly reducing the symptoms of asthma in some patients? A using a fan instead of an air conditioner in summer months B exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke C the love of a family pet D performing physical exercise Why might a patient with asthma have an apparently normal respiratory system during an examination by a doctor? A Asthma symptoms come and go throughout the day B Severe asthma occurs only after strenuous physical exertion C Doctor's offices are smoke free and very clean D The pollen and mold count may be low that day Who might be the most logical audience for this passage? A Researchers studying the respiratory system B healthcare professionals C A mother whose child has been diagnosed with asthma D An antismoking activist 10 What is the reason given in this article for why passive smoke should be avoided by children? A A smoke-filled room is a breeding ground for viral respiratory B Smoke can stunt an asthmatic child's growth C Smoke can heighten the intensity of asthma symptoms D Smoke can lead to a fatal asthma attack IV Read the text and answer the following questions The Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H From the list of headings below, choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph List of headings i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xi Example: Paragraph A: x Paragraph B Paragraph C Paragraph D Paragraph E Paragraph F Paragraph G Paragraph H Obesity in animals Hidden dangers Proof of the truth New perspective on the horizon No known treatment Rodent research leads the way Expert explains energy requirements of obese people A very uncommon complaint Nature or nurture Shifting the blame Lifestyle change required despite new findings _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Tackling Obesity in the Western World A Obesity is a huge problem in many western countries and one which now attracts considerable medical interest as researchers take up the challenge to find a ‘cure’ for the common condition of being seriously overweight However, rather than take responsibility for their weight, obese people have often sought solace in the excuse that they have a slow metabolism, a genetic hiccup which sentences more than half the Australian population B C D E F G H (63% of men and 47% of women) to a life of battling with their weight The argument goes like this: it doesn’t matter how little they eat, they gain weight because their bodies break down food and turn it into energy more slowly than those with a so-called normal metabolic rate ‘This is nonsense,’ says Dr Susan Jebb from the Dunn Nutrition Unit at Cambridge in England Despite the persistence of the metabolism myth, science has known for several years that the exact opposite is in fact true Fat people have faster metabolisms than thin people “What is very clear,’ says Dr Jebb, ‘is that overweight people actually burn off more energy They have more cells, bigger hearts, bigger lungs and they all need more energy just to keep going.’ It took only one night, spent in a sealed room at the Dunn Unit to disabuse one of their patients of the beliefs of a lifetime: her metabolism was fast, not slow By sealing the room and measuring the exact amount of oxygen she used, researchers were able to show her that her metabolism was not the culprit It wasn’t the answer she expected and probably not the one she wanted but she took the news philosophically Although the metabolism myth has been completely disproved, science has far from discounted our genes as responsible for making us whatever weight we are, fat or thin One of the world’s leading obesity researchers, geneticist Professor Stephen O’Rahilly, goes so far as to say we are on the threshold of a complete change in the way we view not only morbid obesity, but also everyday overweight Prof O’Rahilly’s groundbreaking work in Cambridge has proven that obesity can be caused by our genes ‘These people are not weak-willed, slothful or lazy’, says Prof O’Rahilly, ‘They have a medical condition due to a genetic defect and that causes them to be obese.’ In Australia, the University of Sydney’s Professor Ian Caterson says while major genetic defects may be rare, many people probably have minor genetic variations that combine to dictate weight and are responsible for things such as how much we eat, the amount of exercise we and the amount of energy we need When you add up all these little variations, the result is that some people are genetically predisposed to putting on weight He says while the fast/slow metabolism debate may have been settled, that doesn’t mean some other subtle change in the metabolism gene won’t be found in overweight people He is confident that science will, eventually, be able to ‘cure’ some forms of obesity but the only effective way for the vast majority of overweight and obese people to lose weight is a change of diet and an increase in exercise Despite the $500 million a year Australians spend trying to lose weight and the $830 million it costs the community in health care, obesity is at epidemic proportions here, as it is in all Western nations Until recently, research and treatment for obesity had concentrated on behavior modification, drugs to decrease appetite and surgery How the drugs worked was often not understood and many caused severe side effects and even death in some patients Surgery for obesity has also claimed many lives It has long been known that a part of the brain called the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating hunger, among other things But it wasn’t until 1994 that Professor Jeffery Friedman from Rockerfeller University in the US sent science in a new direction by studying an obese mouse Prof Friedman found that unlike its thin brothers, the fat mouse did not produce a hitherto unknown hormone called leptin Manufactured by the fat cells, leptin acts as a messenger, sending signals to the hypothalamus to turn off the appetite Previously, the fat cells were thought to be responsible simply for storing fat Prof Friedman gave the fat mouse leptin and it lost 30% of its body weight in two weeks On the other side of the Atlantic, Prof O’Rahilly read about this research with great excitement For many months two blood samples had lain in the bottom of his freezer, taken from two extremely obese young cousins He hired a doctor to develop a test for leptin in human blood, which eventually resulted in the discovery that neither of the children’s blood contained the hormone When one cousin was given leptin, she lost a stone in weight and Prof O’Rahilly made medical history Here was the first proof that a genetic defect could cause obesity in humans But leptin deficiency turned out to be an extremely rare condition and there is a lot more research to be done before the ‘magic’ cure for obesity is ever found Complete the summary of the Reading Passage using words from the box at the bottom of the page OBESITY People with a _weight_ problem often try to deny responsibility They this by seeking to blame their (8) _ for the fact that they are overweight and erroneously believe that they use less energy than thin people to stay alive However, recent research has shown that a (9) _ problem can be responsible for obesity as some people seem programmed to consume more than others The new research points to a shift from trying to change people’s (10) _to seeking answer to the problem in the laboratory weight mind more physical List of words exercise sleep bodies metabolism genetic less consume behavior use mental PART WRITING A Sentence transformation I Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given Do not change the word given You must use between three to eight words, including the word given Adrian was the only person who didn’t enjoy the party WITH Everyone enjoyed the party _ Adrian Sam said that the situation at work was like a family argument LIKENED Sam a family argument I always find chess problems like that quite impossible DEFEAT Chess problems me I thought I could count on your support at the meeting UP I had hoped at the meeting Please read the instructions carefully before you use this appliance MAKING Before , please read the instructions carefully Only the usual, everyday things happen here OUT Nothing _ here He did everything possible to save his marriage POWER He did save his marriage I promised her that the situation would not be repeated in the future WORD I no repetition of the situation in the future 10 No matter what happens, Jane will never forgive Mark for what he did EVER Under _ Mark for what he did 10 They were never aware at any moment that something was wrong TIME At that something was wrong II Rewrite the sentences, using the words given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence He really disappointed me when breaking the promise to help me out (TEETH) _ He died, having nothing of his own (NAME) _ Have a look at this picture It may help you to remember something (JOG) _ Motorists are jamming the streets as they slow down to see the wall paintings (HOLD UPS) _ He is becoming quite famous as an interviewer (NAME) _ B Composition Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved Write a paragraph, using specific reasons and examples to support your opinion (150 words) - THE END - 11 SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HÀ NỘI TRƯỜNG THPT CHU VĂN AN HƯỚNG DẪN CHẤM ĐỀ THI ĐỀ XUẤT Môn: Tiếng Anh – Lớp 10 ANSWER KEY PART 1: LISTENING COMPREHENSION I Read the sentences below You are going to hear two women talking about a holiday in France Read the sentences, and choose the best option: a, b, or c, to complete the statements about the recording C A B B C II Read the statements and decide whether they are true (T) or false (F) F T F T F III You are going to hear two separate recordings about the uses of plastics performance (and) value Meat resist 3.74 kilos fifty percent (the) sandwich bag (the) bread industry garbage/trash/refuse or rubbish 1973 10 15 cents PART 2: GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY V Choose the best word from A, B, C or D that fits each blank A B C A A D C A D 10 A 11 D 12 A 13 B 14 B 15 D 16 B 17 D 18 D 19 B 20 B VI The passage below contains 10 mistakes Underline the mistakes and write their correct forms in the space provided in the column on the right preventing prevention acceptable accepted payment paid criminal crime present presence secure security shopping shops 12 worthless worth arrangement arranging 10 visible vision/visibility VII Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with suitable particles on up aside behind in up round off up 10 in VIII Write the correct form of the word given destructive regardless residential composure respectful easily inconvenience relating irritable 10 background PART READING COMPREHENSION I Read the text below and then decide which word best fits each blank D A D C D A C D A 10 C 11 C 12 A 13 D 14 B 15 D II Supply the most suitable word for each blank how put deal spent a grown take without been 10 older 13 III Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each question D B A C B A D A B 10 D IV Read the text and answer the following questions 11 vii 12 iii 13 iv 14 xi 15 ii 16 vi 17 viii 18 metabolism 19 genetic 20 behavior PART WRITING C Sentence transformation III Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given Do not change the word given You must use between three to eight words, including the word given with the exception of likened the situation at work to like that (always) defeat you would back me up making use of this appliance out of the ordinary (ever) happens everything in his power to gave her my word (that) there would be no circumstances will Jane ever forgive 10 no time were they (ever) aware II Rewrite the sentences, using the words given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence He really kicked me in the teeth when breaking the promise to help me out He died with nothing to his name/having nothing to his name/without anything to his name Have a look at this picture It may help to jog your memory Motorists are causing/cause hold ups as they slow down to see the wall paintings He is making (quite) a name for himself as an interviewer 14 D Composition - Content: 50% of total mark a provision of all main ideas and details as appreciate - Language: 30% total mark a variety vocabulary and structures appropriate to the level of English language gifted school students - Presentation: 20% of total mark coherence, cohesion and style appropriate to the level of English language gifted school students Tapescripts: I Paula Hi Meg! Meg Paula! It's great to see you! You look fantastic! Paula Oh I? That's strange I should be looking awful Meg Why? Have you been ill? Paula No Not that It's just that trip to Paris It was a nightmare' Meg Really? You must be joking! Don't tell me you didn't have a good time When you told me you were going I was green with envy Paula No wonder, I was so excited I just couldn't wait to go Now I wish we'd gone to the Lake District or even just stayed at home Meg But what was so bad about it? Paula Well, in the beginning everything looked all right Mark's boss gave him two weeks off without too much trouble, the children went to stay with Mark's mother, and Sheila - you know, my younger sister-promised to come over to our place to feed the hamster So we packed our suitcases and set off Meg Sounds all right so far Paula Yes, but in Dover it turned out that the ferry terminal workers had gone on strike, and we had to wait over eight hours before we could board a ferry Meg Oh no! Paula And that was just the beg inning During the passage the weather turned stormy, and I was terribly sea-sick all the way across the Channel Meg Oh, poor you! Paula Yeah, it was horrid Then, when we arrived in Calais, it was so late that we had to look for somewhere to spend the night Meg Oh dear! Paula Yes, but that's not all! On the way to Paris the next day we had a puncture, so Mark had to change the tyre, the hotel where we'd booked a room turned out to be terribly noisy, it was pouring with rain most of the time, and some of the galleries I wanted to visit were closed Meg Oh no! So what did you do, then? 15 Paula Well, I ended up shopping for clothes That's about the only thing I can't complain about, but, obviously, it wasn't cheap, so Mark go t furious Meg No surprise there! Paula Hmmm so in the end we decided to shorten our stay and left after just ten days You can imagine our return trip - I was unhappy Mark was mad at me because of the money, and," when we got home, the flat was flooded Meg Flooded? Paula Yes, we couldn't believe it! When we were away, Sheila let the hamster out of the cage for a while, and the horrid creature bit through the fridge cable Of course, she didn't even notice, but when we got back, there was water all over the kitchen floor and all the food in the fridge had gone off Meg What a nightmare! II A talk from a member of the conservation Society about 'green cleaning' Good morning everyone It's a pleasure to be here as a representative of the Conservation Society, to talk to you about "Green Cleaning", in other words about ways you can help to save the environment at the same time as saving money I'll start with saving money - as we're all interested in that, especially students who are living on a tight budget Probably none of you has sat down and calculated how much you spend on cleaning products each year everything from dishwashing detergent, window cleaners and so on through to shampoos and conditioners for your hair, and then those disasters products to get stains out of carpets, or to rescue burnt saucepans I can see some nods of agreement, even if you don't spend a lot of time on housework you'd end up spending quite a lot of money over a period of time, wouldn't you? We can save money on products and also use products which are cheap, biodegradable and harmless to the environment - these I will call 'green' products Unfortunately most cleaning products on sale commercially are none of these, and many of our waterways and oceans are polluted with bleach, dioxins, phosphates and artificial colourings and perfumes Also think how many plastic bottles each household throws away over a year they'll still be around in land-fill when you are grandparents! So we often feel there's nothing we can to make a difference, but we can The actual 'recipes' are on handouts you can take at the end of the talk: The sorts of ingredients I'm referring to are things like bicarbonate of soda, eucalyptus oil, ammonia, vinegar, lemons, pure soap Lastly many people find they're allergic to modem products, so for all you asthma sufferers keep listening Nothing in these recipes should cause you any problems, an end to itching and wheezing! So let’s start with spills and stains Soda water is wonderful as an immediate stain remover: mop up the excess spill don't rub but apply soda water immediately - it's great for tea coffee wine beer and milk - as is salt or bicarbonate of soda, which will absorb the stain - then vacuum when dry and shampoo if necessary While we are talking about disasters lets quickly look at some others that can be avoided Bicarbonate of soda is wonderful for removing smells, especially in the fridge - an open box in the fridge will eliminate smells for up to three months And those terrible burnt saucepans? Either sprinkle with our good friend bicarb again and leave it to stand, or cover with vinegar and a layer of cooking salt Bring it to the boil and simmer for ten minutes, then wash when cool Much cheaper than a new saucepan! Then there are heat rings on wooden furniture Simply rub with a mixture of salt and olive oil, or for scratched furniture use olive oil and vinegar 16 Now let's look at general cleaning - first the floors If your floor covering is made of slate, cork or ceramic tiles or lino it probably only needs a mop or a scrub with vinegar in a bucket of water Carpets can be shampooed using a combination of pure soap washing soda, cloudy ammonia and some boiling water You put a small amount of this mixture onto the mark on the carpet, rub with a cloth until it lathers and then wipe off the excess A smelly carpet can be deodorized by sprinkling bicarbonate of soda on the surface, leaving overnight and vacuuming off the next day Cleaning in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet is the next section III Part There are so many different types of plastic, and it’s such a versatile material, that it’s now used in thousands of ways, and we find it difficult to imagine living without it Plastics are the choice for many products featuring in different areas of our lives at the moment, from car parts to toy parts, from soft drink bottles to the refrigerators they’re stored in I believe that there are three main reasons why plastics have scored over other materials in satisfying customer’s needs These are - safety, performance and, last but not least, value Just consider the changes we have seen in food retail business in recent years The introduction of plastic bottles has meant that even an economy-size bottle of juice can easily be lifted - glass is much heavier, of course And should you accidentally drop that bottle, it’s far less likely to break Plastic wrap helps keep food fresh and free from contamination, which is particularly important with meat In each case, plastics help to make your life easier, healthier, and of course, safer Plastics also help you get maximum value from some of the high-cost items you need to buy They ensure that cellphones and laptop computers really are light and easy to carry They help to make sure that major appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers will resist the corrosive effects of moisture and certain chemicals, which guarantees they’ll last longer These appliances also operate more efficiently thanks to the use of plastics Food safety is of key importance to the consumer, and packaging such as heart-scaled plastic pouches and wraps means the resources that went into producing the food in the first place aren’t wasted It’s the same thing once you get the food home, where releasable plastic containers keep your leftovers protected In fact packaging experts have estimated that every kilo of plastic packaging can cut food waste by 3,74 kilos That’s a statistic that very few people are aware of Plastics also help to conserve energy in your home, lowering your heating - and cooling - bills by cutting electricity consumption Indeed, plastic parts and insulation have helped to improve the energy efficiency of air conditioners by up to 50 per cent in the 1970s And these appliances run more quietly than earlier using other materials In short, I believe plastics are a very good thing for the human race! Part In the opinion of a growing number of environmental campaigners, the plastic bag is an unnecessary and damaging item that we should get rid of at all costs This simple innovation, which was welcomed in the 1950s as an attractive modern material with many practical applications, is now seen by many as a major source of pollution 17 1957 saw the launch of the sandwich bag, first produced and promoted in the USE as a good way to keep lunchtime snacks fresh and clean American companies quickly recognized the value of plastic bags, and, by 1966, the bread industry, for instance, used them for about one third of packaging But it wasn’t just in the area of food packaging that the plastic bag was beginning to enjoy success In 1969, the New York City Sanitation Department’s “New York City Experiment” showed how much cleaner, safer, and quieter it was to use plastic bags in garbage collection, and the public soon started to line their metal trash cans with specially produced bags However, even in the late 1960s, people were still bringing home their shopping in baskets or brown paper sacks The commercial production of plastic grocery bags didn’t start until 1973, with the opening of the first manufacturing plant The plastic carrier bag soon became an indispensable part of everyone’s life, something that governments and campaigners worldwide are now trying to reserve In 2002, for example, the Irish government introduced a new tax payable by consumers of fifteen cents a bag, which, in two year following its introduction, raised 23 million euros for environmental projects In the same year, the government of another country, Bangladesh, had to take a more drastic approach, banning the production of plastic bags and introducing an on-the-spot fine for using one Since then, many governments have introduced similar measures and it now seems that the days of plastic bag may indeed be numbered 18