Christmas егэ ответы грамматика

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Christmas is the most important annual festival in both Britain and North America. In its origins, it combines the Christiancelebration of the birth of Christ, on 25 December, with the ancient tradition of a winter feast during the darkest period of the year.

CELEBRATION

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Christmas carols — a special kind of religious songs — are an important part of it. You may hear them countless times over the radio but it is quite different when you listen to people sing carols around you in church.

 COUNT

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At this time, too, many carol singers make door-to-door visits to people at home, collecting money for this or that charity.

 SING

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Many weeks before Christmas, shops start selling various Christmas cards and Christmas gifts.

 VARY

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Shop owners decorate their shops with holly, mistletoe, candles and colourful paper chains and lanterns.

 OWN

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All kinds of traditional Christmas food are also widely available.

 WIDE

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The first Arbor Day took place in April, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan.

 POLITICS

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When he became a member of Nebraska’s state board of agriculture, he proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees. Nebraska’s first Arbor Day was an amazing success.  More than one million trees were planted.  

 AWARE

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On April 22, 1970, Arbor Day activitieswere modified to emphasize the critical importance of the environment.

 ACTIVE

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It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Earth Day was created to remind people of their responsibility to protect the planet.      

 RESPONSIBLE

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Now Earth Day is celebrated annuallyaround the globe.

 ANNUAL

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What started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect our globalenvironment. 

 GLOBE

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Every year more than eleven million tourists visit Britain. Most visitors come in the summer months when they can expect good weather.

 VISIT

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Tourists usually spend a few days in London, then go on to other well-known cities.

 USUAL

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Perhaps the least visited places in England are old industrial towns.

 INDUSTRY

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But many people think that nineteenth-century cities show the reality of Britain.

 REAL

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The greatness of the past is to be still seen in their old streets.

 GREAT

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The cheap, concrete buildings of the 1960s look old and dirty, but for the adventuroustourists these cities are full of life and colour.

 ADVENTURE

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Australia is an island continent and the world’s sixth largest country. The continent and the island of Tasmania, off its south-eastern coast, make up the Commonwealth of Australia.

 SOUTH-EAST

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Australia is a federation of six states and two territories. The largest State, Western Australia, is about the same size as Western Europe. The country has a parliamentarysystem of administration modelled on the British one, and the state and federal structures are broadly similar.

 PARLIAMENT

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Australia’s system of administration is based on the democratic tradition.

 DEMOCRAT

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Australia is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, but although Britain’s king or queen is the Australian Head of State, Australia is fully autonomous.

 FULL

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The British sovereign is represented by the governor-general and state governors, whose nomination for the post is ratified by the monarch of the day.

 NOMINATE

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Ministers of the government are elected for a maximum of three years. Voting is by secret ballot and is compulsory for persons 18 years of age and over.

 GOVERN

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It is difficult to tell exactly how many languages there are in the world today. Scientists say there are about 2,700 languages, but no one has ever made a more definite count.

 SCIENCE

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In most countries there are at least two native languages, and in some cases — as in Cameroon — there are hundreds. The number of languages naturally changes as tribes die out or linguistic groups are absorbed.

 NATURAL

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Nowadays, globalization influences thedevelopment of languages. New words appear, existing words acquire new meanings, native words give way to international terms.

 DEVELOP

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Almost all languages change. A rare exception is written Icelandic, which has changed so little that speakers of modern Icelandic can read sagas written a thousand years ago.

 SPEAK

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If you drew a map of Europe based on languages, it would be different from a conventional map. For example, Switzerland would practically disappear, becoming part of the surrounding areas of French, Italian, and German.

 APPEAR

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Italy, too, would appear on the map not as one language, but as a whole variety of broadly related but often mutually incomprehensible dialects.

 VARY

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In the 18th century a large number of foreigners came to the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. One of the most powerfulpeople of that time, Napoleon Bonaparte, also visited the Pyramid.

 POWER

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His expedition to Egypt in 1798 was not only military but archeological as well. He took with him specialists in different spheres of science. The scientist measured, explored and made many drawings of Egyptian pyramids.

 SCIENCE

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One day Napoleon with several servantscame to the Great Pyramid of Cheops. There he wanted to be left alone.

 SERVE

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He ordered everyone to leave him and went into the darkness alone.

 DARK

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When he came out he was pale. ‘Are you all right, sir?’ asked the guide. Napoleon was silent. Then he said sadly, ‘Never mention this matter again. Ever!’

 SAD

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Years later, his friend Tomblier asked him what he had seen in the Great Pyramid. Napoleon stared at Tomblier for a while, then said only two words, Something impossible!’ He never spoke about it again.

 POSSIBLE

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Some of the greatest and most prominent inventions in the quest to explore space have a Russian connection. The father of theoretical astronautics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, was a Soviet. His works have been an inspiration toleading Russian rocket engineers Valentin Glushko and Sergev Korolyov.

 LEAD

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Soviet scientists paved the way to the well-known success of the Russian space program. Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite orbiting the Earth, was launched in 1957.

 SCIENCE

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On April 12, 1961, Yury Gagarin successfullymade the first human trip to space.

 SUCCESS

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Since then, many other Russian and Soviet records in space exploration followed.

 EXPLORE

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Even now, Russia continues to be the leaderin satellite launching.

 LEAD

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It is also the sole transport provider for spacetourism/tourists. Other Soviet contributions to the development of space flights include the invention of space food, space suits, human spaceflight, and human space orbit.

 TOUR

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Do you know how the refrigerator was invented? It is one of the most importantcontributions of the Scots to the world.

 CONTRIBUTE

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If James Harrison (1816-1893), a Scottish immigrant to Australia, didn’t accidentallypush ether gas into a metal tube, people might still be using boxes filled with blocks of ice to cool their food.

 ACCIDENTAL

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The main problem was how to overcome the need for ice in the refrigeration process.

 REFRIGERATE

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Ice had to be cut fresh from frozen lakes and stored inside an underground house until it was ready to be used as a cooler.

 COOL

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Australians had difficulty gaining access tonatural ice since Australia does not enjoy that many lakes.

 NATURE

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Harrison’s discovery was beneficial the world over, but especially important for Australia because now it could export frozen meat to Europe. He even tried one such journey to Europe, but the ether had leaked during the voyage and ruined the entire cargo. Harrison went bankrupt but his legacy meant a huge difference to the Australian economy.

 DIFFER

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Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Its numerous high-rise buildings, heavy traffic congestion, intense heat and naughty nightlife may not immediately give you the best impression.

 BUILD

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Don’t let that mislead you.

 LEAD

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It is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities with impressive temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.

 IMPRESS

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The heart of Bangkok is probably its magnificent Grand Palace, which is one of the architectural wonders of the world.

 PROBABLE

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It is a collection of highly decorated holy temples and monuments.

 COLLECT

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Its asymmetry and eclectic styles are due to its organic development, with additions and rebuilding being made by successive reigning kings over 200 years of history. It is worth spending at least a full morning or afternoon there. At night the palace is lit up and glows in vivid colour.

 DEVELOP

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Water is a vital element in each of our lives. Not only is it essential to our health, but we also use it for various household tasks. Every day we use water for cooking, bathing, and cleaning, and drinking; but how often do we think about its source?

 VARY

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Consumers receive their water from one of two sources: a private well, or a community water system.

 CONSUME

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Approximately 15 percent of the U.S. population relies on individually owned and operated sources of drinking water, such as wells, cisterns, and springs. The majority of household wells are found in rural areas.

 INDIVIDUAL

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Those who receive their water from a private well are solely responsible for the safety of the water.

 RESPONSE

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Private wells are not subject to different federal regulations and are generally regulated on a very limited basis by states.

 REGULATE

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Local health departments may assist well owners with periodic/periodical testing for bacteria or nitrates, but the bulk of the responsibility for caring for the well falls on the well owner.

 PERIOD

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In his quarters at the University of Arizona, Alex is commenting on all that he sees. “Hot!” he warns as a visitor picks up a mug of tea. Alex spots a plateful of fruit and announces his choice: “Grape.” Alex is an African grey parrot.

 VISIT

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For the last 16 years, biologist Irene Pepperberg has been exploring the degree to which the bird understands what he is saying.

 BIOLOGY

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Alex also communicates what appear to bevarious feelings.

 VARY

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Are the parrot’s words merely a collection of sounds he emits when frustrated, or does this one-pound bird know what he is saying?

 MERE

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For centuries, philosophers argued thatthinking and language separate humans from other species. Later, scientists had reason to be critical of claims concerning animal intelligence.

 THINK

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Today innovative probes of animal intelligence have convinced most scientists that other species really share with humans some higher mental abilities.

 ABLE

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Going for a walk is the most popular leisure activity in Britain. Despite its high populationdensity, the UK has many unspoilt rural and coastal areas.

POPULATE

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Twelve National Parks are freely accessible to the public and were created to conserve thenaturalbeauty, wildlife and cultural heritage they contain.

 NATURE

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Most of the land in National Parks is privately owned, but administered by an independent National Park Authority which works to balance the expectations of visitors with the need to conserve these open spaces for future generations.

 VISIT

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The UK also works to improve the global environment and has taken global warmingseriously ever since specialists discovered the hole in the ozone layer.

 SERIOUS

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In 1997, the UK subscribed to the Kyoto Protocol binding developed countries to reduce emissions of the six main greenhouse gases. The Protocol declares environmentalprotection.

 PROTECT

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Nowadays British scientists are taking part in one of the largest international projects that is undertaken to protect endangered species.

 SCIENCE

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Following a recent renovation, the new Hancock Observatory invites you to enjoy Chicago’s best views from the city’s highest open-air Skywalk. It has quickly gainedpopularity with both Chicagoans and visitors of the city.

 POPULAR

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Skywalk is Chicago’s highest open-air viewing area. It is 1,000 feet in the air! Everyone here can feel the strong wind and hear the dynamic buzz of the city below. The friendly staff willcertainly tell the real story behind Chicago’s “Windy City” nickname.

 CERTAIN

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For those who feel uncomfortable about such a great height there are more relaxing indoor audio Sky Tours.

 COMFORT

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These 30-minute personal audio tours give a unique “overview” of Chicago’s wonderful sights and remarkable history! Sky Tours are available in English, Spanish and German.

 REMARK

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History Wall is another popular attraction. More than 100 photos on a great 80-foot display show Chicago’s rise from a small settlement to a great city.

 ATTRACT

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As a tour guide I have been to the Skywalkcountless times and still I can’t help admiring it.

 COUNT

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Ray Douglas Bradbury is a US writer of fantasy, horror, science fiction and mystery. He is widely considered to be one of the 20thcentury’s greatest and most popular writers of science fiction.

 WIDE

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His works have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold tens of millions of copies in different countries. His popularitycontinues in the 21st century.

 POPULAR

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During his long writing career, Bradbury has written almost 600 short stories, eleven novels, as well as various poems and plays.

 VARY

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He first became famous for his Martian Chronicles, a collection of short stories concerning colonization of the planet Mars. In it, Bradbury portrayed the strengths andweaknesses of human beings as they encountered a new world.

 WEAK

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Bradbury won countless literary awards, the most important of them coming from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

 COUNT

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Millions of science fiction readers all over the world are grateful to Ray Bradbury for his outstanding achievement / achievements in the field of fantasy and science fiction.

 ACHIEVE

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The importance of animals in British life is reflected in many ways. In the past, landowners liked to be portrayed with their dogs and horses. Countless pictures of this kind can be seen in art galleries and private residences.

 COUNT

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Animals are widely used in advertising in magazines and on television.

 WIDE

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The Royal Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is one of the largest charities in Britain.

 PREVENT

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RSPCA is a part of a more generalmovementin support of animal rights that has emerged recently in Britain and the USA.

 MOVE

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Animal rights organizations use varioustactics: picketing stores that sell furs, harassing hunters in the wild, or breaking into laboratories to free animals.

 VARY

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Their main aim is to ban the cruel treatment and killing of animals both in laboratory experiments and in factory farming. The irresponsible and neglectful treatment of animals by some zoo and pet owners is also their concern.

 OWN

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A recent study may have an answer to one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in science — what is the purpose of sleep? The work suggests it’s really about making animals function more efficiently in their environments.

 REAL

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Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted a study of the sleep times of a broad range of animals. They discovered much variation.

 SCIENCE

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You may think it impossible but some migrating birds canfly non-stop for up to 90 hours.

 POSSIBLE

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Pythons and bats are among the longestsleepers at over 18 hours a day.

 SLEEP

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Human babies need 16 hours and their health and intellectual development depend on sleeping properly.

 DEVELOP

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Most of us probably feel we need around eight hours sleep to function well. Some people have difficulty/difficulties in getting enough sleep and this may lead to serious health problems.

DIFFICULT

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The United Nations (UN) has published its prediction about the size and age of the world’s population three hundred years from now. This report can help environmentalscientists and policy-makers to understand dramatic changes in the world’s population in the future.

 SCIENCE

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The report suggests that if the birth rates stay the same, there’ll be a huge expansion of theglobal population.

 GLOBE

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You may think it isimpossible but three centuries from now there may be over one hundred and thirty trillion people.

 POSSIBLE

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The report says that the world’s population is likely to be significantly older. The average age will be fifty while today it is twenty six.

SIGNIFICANT

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Almost a quarter of all the inhabitants of the planet will live in Africa.

 INHABIT

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Researchers think that India, China and the United States will continue to be countries with the biggest population.

 RESEARCH

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The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum who was a chef at a restaurant in New York. Fried potatoes were popular at the restaurant because they were ratherinexpensive, but one day a visitor complained that the slices were too thick.

EXPENSIVE

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Crum made thinner slices, but the nervouscustomer was still dissatisfied.

NERVE

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Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy theextremely difficult customer.

EXTREME

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But the customer was happy — and that was the invention of potato chips!

INVENT

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Industrial manufacturing of potato chips began in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1895.

INDUSTRY

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The chips gained even more popularity in 1926 when a wax paper potato chip bag was invented that helped to keep them fresh and crisp.

POPULAR

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The growth of tourism infrastructure related to the base of Ayers Rock, or Uluru began in the 1950s. Soon it started to produce adverse environmental impacts.

ENVIRONMENT

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It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres of land beyond the park’s northern boundary was chosen as the site for a new resort.

RESERVE

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A year or two later, the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara started.

DEVELOP

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The camp ground within the park was closed in 1983 and the motels closed in late 1984, coinciding with the opening of the luxurious resort. In 1992, the majority interest in the Yulara resort held by the Northern Territory government/governorwas sold and the resort was renamed Ayers Rock Resort.

GOVERN

B15

Since listing the park as a World Heritage Site, the annual number of visitors rose to over 400,000 people by the year 2000.

VISIT

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Increased tourism provides regional and national economic benefits. It also presents an ongoing challenge to balance conservation of cultural values and tourists’ needs.

CULTURE

B11

The English language is famous for the richness of its vocabulary. Webster’s New International Dictionary lists 450,000 words, and the new Oxford English Dictionary has 615,000, but that is only part of the total. Technical and scientists terms would add millions more.

SCIENCE

B12

The wealth of existing synonyms means thatspeakers of English have two words for something denoted by one word in a different language. The French, for instance, do not distinguish between house and home, between mind and brain. The Spanish cannot differentiate a chairman from a president.

SPEAK

B13

In Russia, there are no native words for efficiency, challenge and engagement ring. Of course, every language has areas in which it needs, for practical purposes, to be more expressive than others.

PRACTICE

B14

The Eskimos have fifty words for types of snow, though there is no word for just plain snow. Naturally, African languages have no native word for snow.

NATURAL

B15

Nowadays, globalization influences thedevelopment of languages.

DEVELOP

B16

Some native words disappear, giving way to international terms.

APPEAR

B11

The most usual way to entertain friends at home is to invite them for a meal, either in the evening or at lunch-time on a Sunday. When guests are invited for a meal, they often sit and chat while they have a drink before the meal, and coffee is usually served afterwards.

USUAL

B12

Several close friends are sometimes invited at once to make a small party to celebrate a birthday, a child’s coming of age or some special achievement/achievements.

ACHIEVE

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These parties are almost always informal, there is no dress code and in summer, when the weather is fine, people may hold a barbecue in the garden.

FORMAL

B14

Formal occasions, official receptions for foreign visitors, when written invitations are sent, rarely take place in people’s homes, although they did in the past.

INVITE

B15

The host often provides various kinds of entertainment, or at least entertains guests with interesting stories and merry jokes.

VARY

B16

The tasty meal is often followed by party games or dances which are intended to amuse or interest people in a way that gives them pleasure and make them enjoy the party.

TASTE