Read the following short texts and then show that you have understood them by marking the most suitable alternative: A, B, C, or D.
Top Athletes
Top athletes require truckloads of calories and proteins, but David Zabriskie plans to perform the Tour de France without eating meat, eggs or dairy products, after converting to veganism last year. However, twice a week he will be ‘cheating’ by tucking into a portion of salmon which will increase his ability to absorb iron.
E-books
E-books could threaten the careers of aspiring authors not paid enough to make ends meet, since digital royalties tend to be lower than for hardbacks. Booker Prize winner Graham Swift says: “It’s a serious prospect, because potentially great stories may be left unwritten.” Despite concerns, an independent novelist recently was given a six-figure deal after rising to fame digitally.
Consumers
Consumers tired of picking those tiny stickers off pears, peaches, and plums can take heart: Fruit with edible “tattoos” is on the way. A new technology uses lasers to etch fruits and vegetables with their names, identifying numbers, countries of origin, and other information. The stickerless technology is part of the produce industry’s effort to identify and track everything Americans eat. Since 2001, the industry has been encouraged to develop a “track and trace” technology to allow protection of the food supply at various stages of distribution. The tattoos will also help consumers and cashiers distinguish among the different varieties of fruits and vegetables. “When there was only one kind of apple at the supermarket, it was easy,” says Don Harris, a vice president at Wild Oats, a national market chain. “But now at some supermarkets, you will have twelve different kinds of apples.” Will some consumers shy away from tattooed produce for aesthetic reasons? “Anything that permanently changes the fruit is going to be a hard sell,” says Harris, “especially to buyers of organic produce.”
- Read the text first before you attempt to answer any questions.
- Find the part of the text which answers the question. The answers to the questions will generally follow in the same order in the text.
- Make sure there is evidence for your answer in the text and that it is not just an answer you think is right.
- Don’t choose an answer simply because a word in the question appears in the text. Sometimes specific words are used to trick you.
- Check that your chosen option is correct by trying to find out why the other options are incorrect.