Gorge yourself
A
After a long, hard week crunching numbers, writing up reports, doing assignments or whatever it is you do, don't you sometimes feel like chucking yourself off a cliff? Well, you're not alone. There's even a name for people with such impulses: they're called canyoneers. Canyoning, which was established as a sport around 15 years ago by a few fearless thrill-seekers in France and Spain, is being adopted as the latest way for stressed-out high achievers to purge themselves of the pressures of work or study – for the simple reason that nothing clears the mind better than the prospect of leaping off the side of a gorge into a pool of limpid, mountain-fresh water which can be as much as 20 metres beneath your feet. There is, however, more to canyoning than that: it's a true adventure sport that regularly embraces the disciplines of hiking, climbing, abseiling and swimming, and it's certainly not for the faint of heart or weak of limb.
В
A typical canyoneers outfit costs around £1,250 and comprises a high-quality wet suit, neoprene socks and gloves, a safety helmet fitted with a waterproof headlight and a perforated canyoning backpack designed to let out all the weighty water that accumulates on the way down. You'll also need a decent first aid kit (just in case) and top-notch climbing equipment including ropes and a harness, and last but not least, a few equally adventurous friends. Because if there's one thing canyoning isn't, it's a sport for the lone wolf. Although it's difficult to define precisely, canyoning basically involves making your way to the top of an extremely long and high gorge and then traversing your way down to the bottom by the best means possible - which usually involves a combination of abseiling, climbing, jumping, sliding and swimming. One thing it always requires, however, is commitment - because once you're halfway down a creek it's often far more difficult to turn back and try to reach the safety of flat terrain than it is to keep on going. Even though going on might involve an abseil down a sheer rock face or a seemingly interminable creep around a ledge barely 15 centimetres wide.
C
In the early days it was very much a voyage of discovery, with pioneering canyoneers seeking out interesting looking gorges and simply going for it to see if there was a navigable route from top to bottom. Since then, however, many of those gorges have been opened up by professional guides who have established safer, but still exciting, routes and have also equipped the rocks with climbing bolts, hooks and rings to which visiting canyoneers can rope up. Typical of the type of people who are becoming hooked on the sport is Christine Pasquier, who works in the luxury goods industry. 'When I started about fifteen years ago it didn't have a name and it wasn't regarded as a sport,' she says. 'It just involved people walking through fairly shallow canyons, usually without any protective clothing. About eight years ago, however, it really began to develop, particularly in France and Spain, where everyone now recognises the word "canyoning".'
D
Pierre-Yves Commanay, the UK operations director for a leading IT consultancy, agrees that it's a thrilling thing for people weighed down by responsibilities to do: 'Having something to do at weekends and during vacations that requires total focus is a great way of clearing your head; he says. 'In Europe, canyoning is largely a spring and early summer activity because many of the canyons in southern France and Spain have dried out later on. However, there are established canyoning centres as far afield as Madagascar and Guadeloupe, so it can be quite wide-ranging, depending on what you enjoy. You can use canyoning as a reason to have a weekend away or as a way of seeing the world.'
E
If the thought of spending an entire day getting exhausted and soaking wet and frightening yourself silly appeals, the first step into canyoning is to get some expert training. Firms such as Espace Evasion will not only guide you through some of Europe's most breathtakingly beautiful canyons, they'll also provide you with all the gear, and teach you all the essential roping, abseiling and descent techniques to get you started. If you're UK-based, however, there are various organisations that offer the opportunity to have a go at canyoning and a similar activity called gorge walking, which is a drier version of canyoning. In neither case will the experience be as dramatic or thrilling as you will find at a location such as Sierra de Guara in Spain, but at least you’ll have a chance to discover that canyoning is not for you – or, more likely, that you think it's simply gorgeous.
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Topic 2.3
ARE YOU READY TO GO INTERNATIONAL?
CLASS 2
1
2. Read the description of the examination format and say what you think might make it so very popular all over the world.
IELTS
International English Language Testing System is an international standardized test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and the British Council and was established in 1989. There are two versions of the IELTS. The Academic Version is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practice in an English-speaking country. The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions, over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and various professional organizations. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all candidates with a score from 1 (no knowledge) to 9 (expert user) and each institution sets a different threshold. Institutions are advised not to consider valid a report older than two years, unless the user proves that he has worked to maintain his level. In 2007, IELTS tested over a million candidates in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration. In 2009, 1.4 million candidates took the IELTS test in over 130 countries, in 2011 — 1.7 million candidates.
3. Read the information about another international-level test called TOEFL. Is there any difference between CAE, IELTS, and TOEFL formats?
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL is a test of an individual's ability to use and understand English in an academic setting. It was developed to address the problem on ensuring English language proficiency for non-native speakers wishing to study at American universities. It has become an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many English-speaking colleges and universities. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then will no longer be officially reported. The test was originally developed at the Center for Applied Linguistics under the direction of Stanford University applied linguistics professor Dr. Charles A. Ferguson. The TOEFL was first administered in 1964 by the Modern Language Association. In late 2005, the Internet-based Test (iBT) has progressively replaced both the computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-based tests (PBT), although paper-based testing is still used in select areas. The iBT has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly. Although initially, the demand for test seats was higher than availability, and candidates had to wait for months, it is now possible to take the test within one to four weeks in most countries. The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills (while some tasks require integrating multiple skills) and all tasks focus on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed during the iBT.
4. Watch the educational video which might inform you about the differences between the two exam formats – IELTS and TOEFL. List the most relevant differences that are critical for success in both exams.
5. As practice makes perfect, let’s do Listening Section A – C of a sample TOEFL examination test. You’ve got no more than 40 minutes to do it. Mind that what you are going to do is the TOEFL paper-based Test (PBT) which is being phased out beginning in mid-2012. So, it is TOEFL listening tasks what they used to be. The Listening section used to consist of 3 parts. The first one contained 30 questions about short conversations. The second had 8 questions about longer conversations. The last part asked 12 questions about lectures or talks. Let’s begin then.
PART A
1. (A) Drive the woman to the store.
Move the woman's car.
Get his car out of the woman's way.
(D) Park his car in the driveway.
2. (A) He agrees with the woman's choice.
He doesn't want spicy food.
He wants the salad to be fresh.
(D) Garlic is his favorite flavor.
3. (A) He's not the one to blame.
Somebody just left.
He has been looking for the key.
(D) Somebody is knocking at the door.
4. (A) Wipe the snow off his boots.
Turn on the radio.
Unpack his suitcase.
Take his boots with him.
5. (A) She doesn't think the news is bad.
(B) She heard the news quite recently.
(C) She is the only one who has heard the news.
(D) She found the newspaper article earlier.
6. (A) She took a lot of photographs.
(B) She'd like to take many more vacations.
(C) She missed taking many of the pictures she wanted.
(D) She spent too much money on her vacation.
7. (A) Driving would be cheaper than taking the train.
(B) The train is faster than traveling by car.
They should cancel the trip.
It would be a good idea to start driving early.
8. (A) She's studying for an accounting exam.
(B) She's been working in the library a lot.
(C) She'll be going to the library after her exams.
(D) She has more exams than he does.
9. (A) He's already too hot.
(B) He hasn't received a fuel bill yet.
(C) He can't afford to turn the heat up.
(D) He has no more sweaters.
10. (A) Drive to work.
Go to the golf course.
Try to fix the car.
Take care of himself.
11. (A) She probably won't go to the dinner.
(B) She doesn't know what time the dinner is.
(C) The dinner won't last too long.
(D) It's time that Arthur retired.
12. (A) He'll telephone again at lunchtime.
He didn't have time for lunch.
He had wanted to ask the woman out.
(D) He didn't have the woman's phone number.
13. (A) He lives near the woman.
(B) The woman should come to his house.
(C) The woman should take today off.
(D) He can't keep their appointment.
14.(A) The bookshelf won't fit in the kitchen.
(B) The man will give the woman some books.
(C) The woman will help the man soon.
(D) The man doesn't know where to put the bookshelf.
15. (A) Put a stamp on his letter.
Make his letter shorter.
Keep working on the letter.
Send the letter as it is.
16.(A) He's very hungry.
He doesn't like fish.
He doesn't have much appetite.
(D) He likes to eat most things.
17.(A) Find a part-time job as a tutor.
Meet him after work to study.
Use her salary to pay the tuition.
(D) Allow herself plenty of time for studying.
18.(A) She wanted the man to read the book.
(B) She no longer needed the book.
(C) She had been looking for the book.
(D) She thought the man's book was wonderful.
19.(A) She had a hard day yesterday.
(B) She needs to make more coffee.
She drinks too much coffee.
She wasn't able to see him yesterday.
20. (A) He used insect spray to control the mosquitoes.
(B) He was wearing short sleeves when he got bitten.
(C) He finds working in the garden relaxing.
(D) Some plants in the garden irritated his skin.
21.(A) The audience seemed to like the concert.
(B) She was satisfied with her seat.
(C) More people attended the concert than expected.
(D) She was pleased to be asked to perform.
22.(A) She got caught in the rain.
She took the wrong bus.
Some tea spilled on her.
Her laundry didn't dry.
23.(A) The tutor wasn't seriously hurt.
(B) She could tutor the man in math.
It's a good idea to get a tutor.
She's sure Professor Anderson is a good tutor.
24.(A) He doesn't like the newspaper job.
(B) He isn't enthusiastic about his job.
(C) He will leave his job if he's not promoted.
(D) His job is going well.
25.(A) Laura probably spoke with Donald.
(B) He'll give the message to Laura.
He took a message for Laura.
Laura wasn't able to reach Donald.
26.(A) She promises to help the man learn physics.
(B) She can't find the article she has to read.
(C) She found the conclusions to be very promising.
(D) She disagrees with the article's logic.
27.(A) She doesn't know much about painting.
(B) She should have started sooner.
(C) She ought to know when the class begins.
(D) She worries too much.
28.(A) Learn more about caring for cats before bringing one home.
(B) Choose a good name for the kitten.
(C) Give the cat away since he can't keep it.
(D) Keep the kitten in his dorm room.
29.(A) They don't usually get much mail.
(B) They just moved to a new address.
(C) They pick up their mail at the post office.
(D) They are looking forward to receiving the letter.
30.(A) He goes to every movie that comes out.
(B) He would go with her to the movie.
(C) He had already seen the movie.
(D) He wasn't going to go to the movie.
6. Check on your progress in Part A. Do Parts B and C of the Listening Section.
PART B
31.(A) The students needed off-campus jobs.
(B) The theater department needed more talented students.
(C) The opera company was looking for volunteers.
(D) The new dean thought it would provide good experience for the students.
32.(A) Work with an opera troupe.
Work part-time for the dean.
Perform on the radio.
Submit their suggestions to the dean.
33.(A) A good singing voice.
(B) A commitment to the project for two semesters.
(C) An academic concentration in theater arts.
(D) A certain grade point average.
34.(A) To choose a topic for a term paper.
(B) To type some research materials.
(C) To find material not available at the main library.
(D) To learn to use the computers there.
35.(A) An analysis of early presidential elections.
(B) A comparison of political journals.
(C) The use of computers in calculating election results.
(D) The impact of television on recent presidential elections.
36.(A) It is quite general.
(B) Most of the information he needs will be found in newspapers.
(C) She thinks he should change it.
(D) It should take a very short time to find material on it.
37.(A) Travel to that library to get it.
Pay to use it.
Read it in the graduate school library.
(D) Order the material from the publisher.
PART C
38.(A) Advice about landscaping.
(B) Hints about saving to buy a house.
(C) Photographs of the homes of famous people.
(D) Plans for houses.
39.(A) Nineteenth-century American painting.
(B) American architectural history.
Introduction to economics.
Eighteenth-century American society.
40.(A) There was a shortage of architects.
(B) They included plans for elaborate houses.
(C) Builders could not work without one.
(D) They were relatively inexpensive.
41. (A) People who restore old houses.
People who sell houses.
People who design new houses.
(D) People who want to buy a house.
42.(A) To study its geography.
(B) To help at an archaeological dig.
(C) To take a vacation with friends.
(D) To do research for a physics project.
43.(A) Its shape.
Its size.
Its location.
Its brightness.
44.(A) Smaller circles.
Bands of color.
A large white disc.
Curved legs of light.
45. (A) It had never been seen before.
(B) It was in the student's imagination.
It would stay there for days.
It was fairly common.
46. (A) A halo.
A sunspot.
A sun dog.
A rainbow.
47. (A) Nursing students.
(B) Undergraduate college students.
(C) The graduating class at a medical school.
(D) First-year medical students.
48.(A) More people would apply to medical school.
(B) Understaffed areas would gain more physicians.
(C) Students would finish medical school in three years.
(D) More students would enter specialty areas.
49.(A) Practical experience.
Extra income.
Course credit.
Tuition reduction.
50.(A) It's difficult to get to know one's patients.
(B) Income tends to be relatively low.
(C) It's difficult to gain the respect of the community.
(D) There is very little business for specialists
7. Analyze the results of your performance in the Listening Section of the TOEFL test. Share opinions on your strengths and weaknesses reflected in the test scores.