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CUADERNILLO DE REFUERZO
CONTENIDOS
DE
2º BACHILLERATO
INGLÉS
BASADO EN EL MÉTODO
“TRENDS 2”
EDITORIAL BURLINGTON
NOMBRE DEL ALUMNO/A:______________________________________________
CURSO ACTUAL: ______________________________________________________
PROFESOR EN 2 º BTO: _________________________________________________
PROFESOR ACTUAL: ___________________________________________________
2º BACHILLERATO
READING PRACTICE
UNIT 1
Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
Catalytic Clothing I Ethical fashion – using both natural and recyclable materials to make clothes which don’t harm the environment – is now well-known among ecologically minded individuals. But what if you could go one step further and create items that actually enhance air quality? This dream may soon become a reality with Catalytic Clothing, which is made from specially treated fabric that reduces air pollution caused primarily by cars and industry. II Basically, any fabric can be coated with a substance containing a “photo-catalyst”. This means that when the fabric is exposed to light – either the sun or indoor fluorescent lighting – it experiences a chemical change. Eventually, the altered fabric breaks down pollutants in the air into components that aren’t harmful. III Coating fabric with Catclo, a substance containing the photo-catalyst, can be achieved in two ways. Added as the clothing is manufactured, it provides a permanent coating. It can also be introduced in an ordinary home washing machine like ordinary fabric softener, lasting for 10- 20 launderings.
IV (^) Some critics worry about potential damage to the clothes, their wearers and the environment. Although Catclo could in theory damage clothing, all experiments to date have shown that in practice it causes no harm to clothes or to the people who wear them. And while it’s true that when the pollutants broken down by the catalyst are washed off and enter the water supply, they present no greater problems than those already caused by today’s washing process. V Other critics dislike the idea of wearing clothes designed by scientists. Whereas Catalytic Clothing has been developed by chemistry professor Tony Ryan, his business partner, Professor Helen Storey, is an artist and clothing designer. Their Catalytic Clothing isn’t commercially available yet, but sample jeans have already been created.
VI So, if both fashionable clothing and a clean environment are important to you, check out the video featuring British model Erin O’Connor wearing these jeans to a soundtrack provided by Radiohead. Hopefully these items will soon be available at shops near you.
1 Choose the correct answer.
- Ethical fashion ....... a. isn’t very well known b. helps the environment by recycling used clothing c. doesn’t reduce air pollution
- Catclo ....... a. is a fabric softener b. can be permanently applied to fabric c. hasn’t been tested on clothing yet
2 Decide if the sentences are T (true) or F (false). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers. ...... 1. Catalytic Clothing has existed for the last decade. ............................................................... ...... 2. Catclo can be effective both indoors and outdoors.
UNIT 2
Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
The Mexican Wave I (^) You’ve probably seen it – maybe even taken part in it at some sporting event: spectators stand up, raise their arms and cheer as the “wave” comes towards them, and then sit down again as it moves on. The ripple moves through the crowd no matter what the sport: baseball, basketball, American football or soccer. It’s the Mexican wave, simply “the wave” in the US or La Ola in Mexico. II (^) The move – originally called the Human Wave – is thought to have started in the US in the 1970s. However, it first became internationally popular after appearing at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, which explains its current name. No one knows why it started, or even how many people are necessary to get a wave going. While some experts claim it can be done with only six people working together, most suggest that the minimum is 25. The wave generally moves at about 12 metres per second, passing approximately 20 seats, and it usually runs in a clockwise direction. Although some suggest this is because most people are right-handed, this explanation seems unlikely because the wave often moves counter-clockwise in countries in the Southern Hemisphere. III Most people are eager to participate: even Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton took part in one at a Wimbledon tennis match in 2012. The only ones to spoil the fun seem to be the VIPs at certain games, where the wave often ends at their box. But the crowd still rules – spectators boo for the entire time that the wave would take to pass through the VIP section, and then resume the cheer on the other side.
IV According to Guinness World Records, the longest wave, observed at a 2011 basketball game in Australia, lasted six minutes 54 seconds, and the largest, seen at a 2008 car-racing event in the US, involved 157,574 individuals. But true sports fans believe it doesn’t really matter how many people participate or how long a wave lasts – being part of it is what’s important.
1 Choose the correct answer.
- The Mexican wave ....... a. requires spectators to sit and wave their arms b. occurs during many different sporting events c. isn’t the same as “the wave”
- VIP occupants are known to ....... a. boo during a wave b. be the most eager to take part in a wave c. ignore the wave
2 Decide if the sentences are T (true) or F (false). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers.
...... 1. The Mexican wave originated in the US. ............................................................... ...... 2. Waves usually take one second to pass along 20 seats. ............................................................... ...... 3. The wave usually moves counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. ...............................................................
3 Complete the sentences according to the information in the text.
- In Mexico, the move ........................................ .......................................................................
- Most experts believe that at least 25 people .... .......................................................................
- Over 157,000 people ...................................... .......................................................................
4 Find words in the text that mean the OPPOSITE of the following:
- lower (paragraph I) ...................................
- previous (paragraph II) ...................................
- probable (paragraph II) ...................................
- unenthusiastic (paragraph III) ...................................
- terminate (paragraph III) ...................................
5 Write a composition of 100-150 words. Choose ONE option.
- Do you prefer watching a sporting event on television or attending a game? Give reasons for your answers.
- In your opinion, do sporting events benefit from the Mexican wave? Explain your answer.
3 Answer the questions.
- The Svalbard International Seed Vault has also been called the Doomsday Vault. What do you think “doomsday” means? ........................................................................
- What measures are taken to ensure maximum protection of the Vault? ........................................................................
4 Find words or expressions in the text that mean the following:
- suffer or die from hunger (paragraph I) ..................................
- protect (paragraph II) ..................................
- stopped or disabled (paragraph III) ..................................
- remove (paragraph IV) ..................................
- strange (paragraph V) ..................................
5 Write a composition of 100-150 words. Choose ONE option.
Which man-made disaster do you think is the most destructive? What measures can be taken to prevent it?
What other items should be stored in a Doomsday Vault? Explain your choices.
CUADERNILLO DE REFUERZO DE INGLÉS: 2º BACHILLERATO
UNIT 4
Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
An Alternative to School Suspensions I (^) Out-of-school suspension has been one of the most common disciplinary methods used in North American secondary schools. Students who are suspended are forbidden to be on school grounds for a period ranging from one day to a number of weeks, depending on the severity of the offence. II In recent years, even though it’s still prevalent, this form of punishment has become increasingly controversial. Critics of the method argue that suspension makes students feel disconnected from their school and increases their chances of dropping out of school altogether. III What’s more, in most cases, the suspended students are unsupervised since their parents are usually at work. As a result, it becomes increasingly likely that they will get into trouble or associate with people who will have a bad influence on them.
IV In an attempt to find a better alternative to suspensions, some schools have begun to use restorative disciplinary methods to try to deal with conflicts that have occurred. Instead of suspending the offenders, all the students who were involved in a particular incident must discuss what happened, how it affected them and how to move forward. Offenders are also obligated to listen to how their actions affected others and are given an opportunity to try to repair the harm they have done. V Supporters of this kind of approach claim that it’s extremely effective. Participants learn to be more empathetic to others and to be more self-critical. Consequently, they are less likely to engage in anti-social behaviours in the future. In addition, the process provides them with guidance on how they can improve their behaviour and gives them a real opportunity to make a change.
VI (^) Although the attempt to transform school violations into learning opportunities is without a doubt admirable, there is still very little evidence to confirm that restorative discipline in schools does indeed work. What’s more, it’s important to keep in mind that restorative methods can never completely replace traditional disciplinary methods like suspension. If an individual student poses a threat to the safety of others, there is no alternative but to remove him or her from school, whatever the long-term ramifications may be.
1 Decide if the sentences are T (true) or F (false). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers. ...... 1. Out-of-school suspension lasts for a few days. ............................................................... ...... 2. Restorative discipline doesn’t just involve the perpetrators. ...............................................................
2 Complete the sentences according to the information in the text.
- Out-of-school suspensions cause students ......... .........................................................................
- Students who are suspended from school are less likely to ....................................................... .........................................................................
- Restorative discipline makes offenders ............... .........................................................................
• UNIT 5
Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
Video Games and their Benefits I For years, scientists and researchers have been focusing on the potential negative effects of video games. These games have been accused of causing obesity in young people and have even been blamed for inciting violence. While these concerns remain legitimate ones, and continue to be researched, scientists are increasingly examining the potential benefits of video games. In particular, some researchers are suggesting that video games may in fact be good for the brain. They note the fact that many video games are mentally challenging. As a result, they argue, players who become proficient at these games tend to improve their mental functioning. II (^) One study at the University of California demonstrated a significant change in the brain activity of a group of teenage girls who had been playing a video game for a period of three months. The scientists showed that after continued practice at the game, the parts of the girls’ brains that were responsible for visual and spatial abilities were visibly thicker than they had been before. III Researchers argue that playing video games trains the brain to work more effectively. They also suggest that video games are particularly effective learning tools, since they are built in a way that encourages players to keep at it until they have mastered a challenging task. Players have a clear incentive to continue practising a particular task, because they are rewarded for getting better.
IV These findings are of particular interest for researchers, who are looking for ways to reduce or reverse cognitive decline in elderly people. Yet, unfortunately, there is little evidence to suggest that any improvements in brain functioning observed in these studies occur outside the game- playing context or that they last over time. In addition, many of the studies investigating the effects of video games are funded by the video game companies themselves, who are eager to promote their products. As a result, there is a tendency not to publicise studies with negative outcomes. V Experts continue to maintain that video games are not the answer to reduced cognitive functioning among the elderly. They claim that the best way to prevent cognitive decline in later life is to be cognitively and physically active throughout your life. There are, it appears, no quick-fix solutions.
1 Decide if the sentences are T (true) or F (false). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers. ...... 1. Scientists are no longer interested in the negative effects of video games. ............................................................... ...... 2. The results of most video game studies are negative. ...............................................................
2 Choose the correct answer. The study at the University of California demonstrated that playing video games ....... a. can affect our brains b. is beneficial in the long-term c. can reverse cognitive decline
3 Complete the sentences according to the information in the text.
- According to the scientists at the University of California, the girls’ brains .................................. .........................................................................
- The published research into the benefits of
playing computer games is problematic because .........................................................................
4 Answer the questions.
- Why are computer games effective learning tools? ........................................................................ ........................................................................
- According to experts, how can cognitive decline amongst the elderly be prevented? ........................................................................ ........................................................................
5 Find words or expressions in the text that mean the following.
- skilled (paragraph I) ...............................
- not give up (paragraph III) ...............................
- remain (paragraph IV) ...............................
- results (paragraph IV) ...............................
6 Write a composition of 100-150 words. Choose ONE option.
- Describe your favourite video game. Why do you like playing it?
- In your opinion, is playing video games a waste of time? Why or why not?
4 Answer the question.
What is the connection between the level of English in China and the Chinese economy? ................................................................................ ................................................................................
5 Find words in the text that mean the following:
- harmful (paragraph I) ..................................
- threaten (paragraph II) ..................................
- move (paragraph III) ..................................
- given (paragraph IV) ..................................
- have bad results (paragraph V) ..................................
6 Write a composition of 100-150 words. Choose ONE option.
- Write a letter to a friend explaining why you have enrolled to study a foreign language.
- In your opinion, should the Chinese government continue to protect the purity of the Chinese language at the expense of English? Why or why not?
ANSWER KEY
1 EXTRA PRACTICE
1 1. c 2. b
2 1. F – This dream may soon become a reality with Catalytic Clothing ….
2. T – This means that when the fabric is exposed to light – either the sun or indoor fluorescent
lighting – it experiences a chemical change.
3 1. it lasts for 10-20 launderings
2. are worn by British model Erin O’Connor
4 They’ve said that Catclo could damage clothing and that the pollutants it breaks down will wash
off and pollute the water supply. The writer claims that in all experiments to date, Catclo hasn’t
caused any damage to clothes and presents no greater threat than those chemicals in the
current washing system.
5 1. enhance
2. coated
3. to date
4. check out
6 Accept all logical and grammatically correct answers.
2 EXTRA PRACTICE
1 1. b 2. c
2 1. T – The move – originally called the Human Wave – is thought to have started in the US in
the 1970s.
2. T – The wave generally moves at about 12 metres per second, passing approximately 20
seats …
3. F – … the wave often moves counter-clockwise in countries in the Southern Hemisphere.
3 1. is called La Ola / became internationally popular at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
2. are needed to start a Mexican wave
3. took part in the largest Mexican wave at a car-racing event in the US in 2008
4 1. raise
2. current
3. unlikely
4. eager
5. resume
5 Accept all logical and grammatically correct answers.
3 EXTRA PRACTICE
1 1. c 2. a
2 1. F – … the Vault is built into a mountainside …
2. F – To ensure their freshness, seeds are stored … with minimum exposure to oxygen.
3. F – The “Fort Knox” of seed banks, as the Vault has been called in comparison to the
famous facility holding US gold …
3 1. “Doomsday” means the end of the world caused by some catastrophic event.
2. The Vault is built into a mountainside on a remote island about 1,300 kilometres from the
North Pole. It will require only one inspection every year.
4 1. starve
6 EXTRA PRACTICE
1 1. F – … Chinese media were told to start using a list of official Chinese translations for English
abbreviations.
2. F – … Chinese-language tutoring schools … in addition to the normal curriculum, these
schools introduce children to classic Chinese literature and traditional culture.
2 a
3 1. less emphasis will be placed on English / more emphasis will be placed on Chinese
2. China is developing as an economic superpower
4 A lower level of English can effect international business and the Chinese economy in a negative way.
5 1. detrimental
2. endanger
3. shift
4. allotted
5. backfire
6 Accept all logical and grammatically correct answers.
