Unit 8: Time To Spare (Reading)

​​Unit 8: Time To Spare (Reading)

​

What people do during their free time...

​

​Storm chasing

​parkour

​Here are some examples of what people do during their free time..

​Exam Close Up

Reading around the gap

• Remember to read the text quickly first to get the general meaning.

• Before you look at the answer options, read the sentences with gaps again and try to think of a word that would fit.

 • Then read the answer options. Eliminate the obviously wrong answers before looking at the answers that are left.

• Sometimes, two options seem possible. Make sure you read 'around' the gap so you understand the whole sentence.​

Deep Into DARKNESS

​Deep underground, darkness

surrounds you. Where are you?

​You're inside one of Earth's millions of caves. Why are you there? You're a caver and you want to explore its twisting tunnels, study its strange rock formations and look for the animals that live in it.

​

​MEET A CAVER

​Stephen Alvarez is a caver. He travels the world exploring and photographing caves. He (1) ____________  to climb mountains to reach some caves or dive deep down to search for underwater caves. He has photographed some impressive caves including the longest in the world, Mammoth Cave in the USA, (2) _____________ has 580 kilometres of tunnels.

UNDERGROUND DANGER

People sometimes ask Alvarez (3) ___________ caving is dangerous. It is. “Caves are dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing,”he says. Staying safe is important.

Alvarez goes into caves with other cavers, never by himself. That way, team members can look out for each other

Cavers carry the right (4) __________ for all situations. Knee pads and gloves are important, and they must wear a (5) __________ to protect the head. Most cavers use headlamps to provide light. This leaves their hands free to climb and crawl. They also carry extra torches and they know how to use ropes.​

DECORATIONS

There are fantastic shapes to see in caves. These shapes are called decorations and they form when rainwater drips onto stone. Examples of these are stalactites, which hang down form a cave ceiling, and stalagmites, which grow upwards from the cave floor. But Alvarez says there are many (6) _________ , including some that look like popcorn and some that look like a nest of eggs.​

CAVE CREATURES

Beautiful cave decorations are not all that youll see in caves. Animals live in caves, too. Many of (7) __________ are eyeless. They don’t need eyes because there is no light in the cave. Alvarez has seen fish and spiders without eyes. Because they can’t see, these creatures can hear, touch or smell very well. They can move around and they know what’s nearby. They can capture their food without ever seeing the victim!​

CAVE THREATS

​Explorers like Alvarez know how important it is to (8) _________ caves. Pollution is one threat. Polluted water from farms or businesses can flow into caves, destroying decorations and killing animals. Human visitors can also be a threat. A (9) _________ caver can destroy in minutes what took thousands of years to form. That’s (10) ________ responsible cavers say, “Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time!”

​EXAM TASK

Read the text again and choose the correct word for each space.

Multiple Choice

He (1) ____________  to climb mountains to reach some caves or dive deep down to search for underwater caves.

• used

• has

• is

• was

Multiple Choice

He has photographed some impressive caves including the longest in the world, Mammoth Cave in the USA, (2) _____________ has 580 kilometres of tunnels.

• which

• where

• who

• when

Multiple Choice

People sometimes ask Alvarez (3) ___________ caving is dangerous. It is.

• as

• if

• even

• though

Multiple Choice

Cavers carry the right (4) __________ for all situations.

• dress

• costume

• equipment

• outfit

Multiple Choice

Knee pads and gloves are important, and they must wear a (5) __________ to protect the head.

• cap

• scarf

• hoodie

• helmet

Multiple Choice

But Alvarez says there are many (6) _________ , including some that look like popcorn and some that look like a nest of eggs.

• amounts

• other

• also

• others 

Multiple Choice

Beautiful cave decorations are not all that you'll see in caves. Animals live in caves, too. Many of (7) __________ are eyeless.

• them

• this

• their

• that  

Multiple Choice

Explorers like Alvarez know how important it is to (8) _________ caves. Pollution is one threat.

• save

• protect

• rescue

• defend

Multiple Choice

A (9) _________ caver can destroy in minutes what took thousands of years to form.

• casual

• messy

• fast

• careless

Multiple Choice

That’s (10) ________ responsible cavers say, “Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time!”

• how

• because

• why

• so

WORD ENRICH​

​ These words are taken from the reading text "DEEP INTO THE DARKNESS" .

​

​capture, crawl, destroy, explore, flow, surround

​

​Complete the definitions below by matching the correct words.

Fill in the Blanks

capture/  crawl/ destroy/ explore/ flow/ surround

​1. To

>> means to be all around something or someone

Fill in the Blanks

capture/  crawl/ destroy/ explore/ flow/ surround

2. To

>> means to damage something completely.

Fill in the Blanks

capture/  crawl/ destroy/ explore/ flow/ surround

3. To

>> means to catch someone or something.

Fill in the Blanks

capture/  crawl/ destroy/ explore/ flow/ surround

4. To

>> means to travel around an area to learn about it.

Fill in the Blanks

capture/  crawl/ destroy/ explore/ flow/ surround

5. To

>> means to move slowly along the ground on hands and knees.

Fill in the Blanks

capture/  crawl/ destroy/ explore/ flow/ surround

6. To

>> means to move easily in one direction.

CONGRATULATIONS​

if your mark is below 10 do try again...​