Reading II

Read the text and questions below. For each question mark the correct letter: A, B, C, or D.

Is a huge asteroid going to hit the Earth in February 2019? Probably not, according to scientists but it’s going to be close. The asteroid was discovered in July 2002. Since then, astronomers have been working hard to calculate its exact path. If it collides with Earth, it will almost certainly destroy an area the size of Europe and cause global climate changes.

But before you start panicking, we’ll have plenty of time to prepare for the collision and prevent it from happening. Unlike in the movies, though, this probably won’t be done by destroying it with nuclear weapons. There will be two simpler options. The first will involve landing a small rocket on the asteroid and “driving” it slightly off course so it misses the Earth. The second option will be to use “a solar sail”, which is a bit like the sail on a ship, to change the asteroid’s course.

This is how scientific progress will help the mankind to survive.

9. What is the main purpose in writing the text?

1. to tell readers about the nature and origin of asteroids

2. to describe ways of studying asteroids

3. to explain how modern technologies can protect us from “outer space invaders”

4. to claim that nuclear weapons can completely destroy an asteroid of any size

10. Since the asteroid was discovered

1. astronomers have got sure that it’s going to collide with the Earth

2. it has started to influence the Earth’s climate

3. scientists have started panicking

4. astronomers have calculated that there is a possibility of its colliding with the Earth

11. The author believes that

1. the destruction of the asteroid can’t be done with nuclear weapons

2. we have enough time to prevent the collision

3. the chance that the collision will happen is very low

4. people are fond of movies about natural disasters

12. The author claims that

1. there is at least a couple of possible ways of changing the asteroid’s orbit

2. that a small rocket will considerably change the asteroid’s orbit

3. that the form of “a solar sail” doesn’t look like a sail on a ship

4. we need to build a specially designed rocket for landing it on the asteroid

13. Choose the best title for the text

1. Danger from outer space

2. The rocket race

3. Dangerous profession

4. Importance of investigating space

Use of English

For each question complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

1. The castle opened to the public last year.

The castle has ______ opened to the public since last year.

2. I find doing the same things every day boring.

I’m bored ____ doing the same things every day.

3. I can’t bear the noise coming from upstairs.

The noise coming from upstairs is quite ______ .

4. I think that history books are more interesting than novels.

I think that novels are not so interesting _______ history books.

5. I have a plan to visit my grandmother tonight.

I’m ______ my grandmother tonight.

6. My sister has always had good relationship with her executive manager.

My sister always manages to get _____ with her executive manager.

7. Why don’t you borrow a book from the library?

If I were you, I ______ borrow a book from the library.

8. “What time did you get home last night?” my parents asked.

My parents asked me what time I had _____ home the night before.

9. His neighbour is sure that the cat is somewhere in the house.

The cat _____ be somewhere in the house.