Eiken Pre 2+ Reading 2

​Eiken Pre 2+ Reading 2

By Darren Walshe

​The Decreasing Number of Frogs

Many animals around the world are now facing the danger of disappearing from the planet. And frogs are one of these animals. It has been known for a long time that a large number of frog species are in danger worldwide. According to experts, the animal faces three major problems. They are climate change, diseases, and the loss of their homes. These problems are very much connected to (18). This is why scientists are worried about people’s impact on frogs and are trying to draw people’s attention to them.

Today, climate change is the biggest challenge for frogs. Temperatures are rising year after year, and periods without rain are becoming longer. Although water is necessary for frogs to survive, this change in weather makes it harder for them to find it. In addition, climate change can create new diseases that can be very dangerous for frogs. (19), one problem can lead to more problems and make the situation even worse for the animal.

In response, some people are trying to increase the number of frogs. In an area in Switzerland, the population of a certain species of frog was decreasing quickly. It was because they were losing their homes for several reasons. In order to handle the situation, organizations spent many years (20) in the area. As a result, the species’ population increased greatly. For this success, scientists believe that such simple actions could make a difference in saving animals.

Multiple Choice

Question 18

• human activities

• water pollution

• natural disasters

• the development of medicine

Multiple Choice

Question 19

• Besides

• In other words

• At first

• On the contrary

Multiple Choice

Question 19

• building new ponds

• catching their food

• watching them closely

• wasting more water

A Special Name for New York City

There are many large cities in America. While they have official names, many of them also have nicknames. One such city is New York City. It has not one but several nicknames. These nicknames describe what the city is like. One of the most famous nicknames of New York City is “The Big Apple.” It is believed that people (21) about a hundred years ago. There are several different stories to explain why this nickname was born.

According to one story, the name came from some horse racing tracks in New York City in the 1920s. Originally, the prize money at the races was called “big apples.” And a newspaper writer then heard someone call the horse racing tracks “The Big Apple.” He liked the name, so he used it in an article. Then, (22) helped the name spread widely. Soon after the nickname was born, New York musicians began using the name in their songs.

The nickname is not just a phrase. It also influenced the city’s economy. In the late 1900s, New York City developed an image of being a dark and dangerous place with a lot of crime. (23), a campaign was started to improve the image and to encourage tourists to visit the city. It used a drawing of a large apple along with the nickname to create a positive image. In this way, the name helped bring back the city’s good image.

Multiple Choice

Question 21

• worked as farmers

• came to live in the city

• started using the name

• moved to another city

Multiple Choice

Question 22

• a large amount of money

• the influence of music

• some famous restaurants

• rich horse racers

Multiple Choice

Question 23

• Even so

• In the same way

• Despite the fact

• Therefore

​Email: About Your Stay at Our Hotel

From: Ryan Knight
To: Bella Patterson
Date: April 20
Subject: About your stay at our hotel

Dear Bella,

My name is Ryan Knight. I am from the Twin Riverside Hotel. Thank you for choosing us, and we are happy to tell you that your reservation has been made successfully. We believe that this is your first time staying with us. Since you are staying for your university test and interviews, we will do our best to make your important trip as comfortable as possible.

The hotel is located on a quiet street, but there are many restaurants and cafés nearby. Transportation is within a few minutes’ walking distance for single travelers. We also try to meet the special needs of students and business travelers. Each room has a desk and chair, and there is a space in the hotel for guests to use for study or work.

Payment was not required when you booked our hotel, so you will need to pay when you arrive at the hotel. Also, if you cancel your reservation on the day of your stay, the full amount must be paid. Please remember that it is not possible to cancel through the website, and it is only accepted by phone or e-mail.

Thank you.
Ryan Knight

Multiple Choice

(24) Why is Bella Patterson staying at the Twin Riverside Hotel?

• Because she will have an interview at a place near the hotel.

• Because she liked her last stay at the hotel very much.

• Because she read a book that recommended the hotel.

• Because she will meet her relatives near the hotel.

Multiple Choice

(25) What is true about the Twin Riverside Hotel?

• It is on a busy street with many restaurants and cafés.

• It is designed to attract younger people rather than elderly people.

• It has a space where guests can concentrate on their tasks.

• It has rooms for several single guests to share together.

Multiple Choice

(26) If Bella wants to cancel her reservation,

• she may get back half of the amount she paid

• she can avoid paying whenever she cancels it

• she should go to the hotel’s website first

• she must call the hotel or send an e-mail

A New Type of Coffee

Today, coffee culture continues to expand further. One American company is working hard to make coffee in a way that is different from traditional coffee production. What makes the coffee unique is that the company makes it without using any actual coffee beans. This type of coffee, often known as beanless coffee, is not only made by this company. For example, some companies in countries like Singapore and the Netherlands also produce beanless coffee, and the industry is getting bigger and bigger.

There are a couple of methods to make beanless coffee. One of them, which the American company uses, is to create traditional coffee flavors with a variety of plant seeds and other raw materials. Another method to make beanless coffee is to use the power of science. That means scientists use certain scientific technology to produce beanless coffee in a research room. This way, they can create something similar to the taste of real coffee beans.

These methods of making beanless coffee have some positive benefits. According to one organization, nowadays many trees are cut down for traditional coffee production. In fact, the industry is a big reason for this problem. On the other hand, less water is used, and fewer forests are cut down for beanless coffee production. In addition, while the price of traditional coffee is going up today, beanless coffee is likely to be available at a lower price than traditional coffee as beanless coffee expands.

However, there are challenges to the coffee industry. One of them is whether people will recognize and accept this type of drink as coffee. A study showed that about 70 percent of Canadians would not drink beanless coffee. Moreover, if beanless coffee replaces traditional coffee, traditional coffee production will be reduced in the future. In that case, coffee farmers might receive less money. In these ways, as the coffee industry faces several challenges, it is entering an important period of change today.

Multiple Choice

(27) What is true about the American coffee company?

• It makes coffee from special coffee beans using a unique method.

• It leads the coffee industry in America as a popular coffee producer.

• It is one of several companies in the beanless coffee industry.

• It has offices not only in America but also in two other countries.

Multiple Choice

(28) To create a taste similar to real coffee beans,

• companies making beanless coffee receive help from other coffee producers.

• the American company takes advantage of many kinds of plant seeds.

• a small amount of oil needs to be added during the production of beanless coffee.

• only the use of scientific technology has been successful until today.

Multiple Choice

(29) One of the positive features of beanless coffee is that

• it can make water cleaner during its production.

• it helps trees grow faster by adding a powder to water.

• it costs almost nothing for a company to produce.

• it can be more eco-friendly than traditional coffee.

Multiple Choice

(30) What is one of the challenges that the coffee industry faces?

• The taste of beanless coffee is worse than traditional coffee.

• Coffee farmers’ businesses could get badly damaged.

• Global beanless coffee production might decrease.

• It will take time for traditional coffee to become more popular.

Multiple Choice

(31) What do we learn from the passage?

• It will be possible to get beanless coffee at a lower price than traditional coffee.

• Most people in Canada are likely to choose beanless coffee over traditional coffee.

• Beanless coffee made from raw materials will replace beanless coffee made by scientists.

• Companies producing traditional coffee are trying to make beanless coffee.