You are going to read an article about a man and his island dream. For questions 31-35, choose the answer
(A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Who would have known and, more importantly, who would have thought
it possible? A man named Reishee Sowa, that’s who. This island is his
inspiration, his baby, his dream. With the help of friends he met along the
way and a lot of hard work, his dream has become a reality. It is an
amazing sight. You see a house on the island and you think how lucky
that person is to be able to live out there.
Reishee has always had a passion for a better world, a desire to create a
self-sufficient paradise. The dream ended up being made with all recycled
materials. Everything from plastic bottles to wood and bags of leaves go
into making up his island, house and yard. This island took approximately
250, 000 bottles to make.
Reishee, originally from England, is a musician and an artist, and as it
turns out, a visionary. He spent so much time talking about his dream that
his family finally pushed him to go out and do it. It took Reishee 6 years
to create this island. For the first year, he lived on it in a tent then he built
his first house and it fell apart in a storm so he tried again, and once again
it fell apart in a storm. Never a quitter, as you might have guessed, he
built it a third time. ‘Things all seem to come in threes for me’. Reishee
says ‘this is actually my third try at an island and my house fell twice
before I got it right.’ Now his little house stands strong and it is complete
with a guest room and a deck on top where he still pursues his love of
painting. The plants, once very small, have grown and matured over time,
as has his cat population. He now lives with eight cats and a dog. They
show up and don’t want to leave.
Were there challenges building here in Puerto Aventuras? ‘Oh yes,’
replies Reishee. ‘You see not even the president is allowed his own island
in Mexico –but technically I don’t have an island, I have a ship –I can
move it after all. The local people have been very understanding and
helpful. If there is a storm or a large wave most of the wave goes under
the island. Only about 10% comes on top. The part of the wave going
under actually makes it flip down again and stay level.’
We are being faced with a population explosion and maybe building
islands is the answer. This island is an example of something that could
be built worldwide. You could be totally self-sufficient with it. Everything is
as natural as possible. I catch rain water for showers, the toilet naturally
composts, and you can grow your own produce,’ adds Reishee. His desire
is for a simple life and to share his environmentally friendly, planet-saving
ideas with others. The door is always open for you on Reishee’s little
tropical paradise.
What does the future hold for Reishee and his island? ‘Wave powered
flippers and sails, and a journey through the Panama Canal,’ says a very
enthusiastic Reishee. Want to find a way to become involved? Raishee
will gladly accept donations of old plywood, solar panels to run a fridge,
money for solar panels or anything else that will make the island more
beautiful and more self-sufficient.
31. We understand, from the first
paragraph, that Reishee’s
house
A) a great place to live.
B) a luxurious place.
C) similar to other houses.
D) small, but comfortable.
32. What do we learn about
Reishee’s personality?
A) He is talkative.
B) He is sociable
C) He is perseverant.
D) He is skillful.
33. What does Reishee say about
the local inhabitants?
A) They are not happy with his
presence.
B) He doesn’t talk to them very
often.
C) They warned him about the
weather.
D) They have not been a problem
at all.
34. One advantage about Reishee’s
life style is that
A) it will remain unique forever.
B) you can depend on yourself.
C) it resembles modern city life.
D) you meet interesting people.
35. At the end of the article, it is said
that
A) Reishee does not really have
plans for the future.
B) people can do some things to
help Reishee.
C) the island is not as beautiful as
Reishee wants.
D) living in an island is not as
easy as we might think.
ADVANCED 06 – BRITANICO GOLD – READING TASK – SEP OCT 2023
