Comprehension - Discover Seychelles - Exercise 1

Exercise 1

Read the following information about Seychelles and then answer the questions on the opposite page.

Discover Seychelles

The Republic of Seychelles is a group of 115 islands of truly striking beauty, lying in the Indian Ocean 1800 km east of Kenya. Popular with tourists, Seychelles is also a natural sanctuary for an amazing diversity of bird and animal life, such as the world’s smallest frog, the heaviest land tortoise and the only flightless bird of the Indian Ocean.

Culture and cuisine
The Seychellois, numbering around 80,000 people, are a colorful and harmonious blend of different races. People from almost every race on earth have at one time or another contributed something of their own customs and cultures to the islands. This diversity is clearly reflected in Seychellois cooking. From Asian influences come delicious stir fries and fiery curries, while the European influence, especially French, is apparent in the use of herbs and garlic. Some of the best fish in the world can be found here-the popular red snapper or ‘bourzwa’ is a favorite with both locals and tourists.

Environment
Unique plants and animals have evolved in Seychelles to produce some of the rarest examples of flora and fauna in the world. Seychelles also boasts two world Heritage Sites: Aldabra Atoll and the Vallee de Mai, where the magnificent coco demer palm grows. The government has declared 46% of the total land mass (452 sq km) as national parks, nature reserves or protected areas. A further 228 sq km have been designated as Marine National Park to safeguard marine creatures and habitat. As land is scarce, waste disposal can be a problem. Where possible, therefore, rubbish such as toothpaste cartons and empty shampoo bottles should be taken back to the visitor’s country of origin.

The weather
Seychelles enjoys a pleasant tropical climate with an average humidity of 75%. The islands lie outside the cyclone belt and there are no extremes of weather. When the south-east trade winds blow between May and September, there is generally less rainfall, but rougher seas. The north-west trade winds, which blow from March to May and September to November, the seas are calmest, with the best visibility and conditions.

Average maximum temperature (°C)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
30 30 31 31 30 29 29 28 29 29 30 30
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
379 271 169 178 101 51 6 101 117 210 217 283

Regulations for tourists
For immigration clearance, tourists need a valid passport, a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation, and sufficient funds for the duration of their stay. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is also required from travellers who have recently come from an infected area.
1. What unique specimens of wildlife can be found on the islands?
Give two examples.

............................................................................................................. [1]

2. Why is the food eaten in Seychelles so varied?

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3. What action has been taken to protect sea life?

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4. What are visitors asked to do to avoid pollution on the islands?

............................................................................................................. .[1]

5. What is the main influence on the climate?

.............................................................................................................. [1]

6. What are good times of the year for visitors interested in diving and other water sports?

............................................................................................................. [1]

7. Which are the two driest months of the year in Seychelles?

............................................................................................................. [1]

8. What evidence is required to prove that visitors from certain areas are not infected by disease?

.............................................................................................................. [1]


[Total: 8]

Comprehension - Royale Hotel Anse - Exercise 1

Here is a notice from a hotel. Study the notice carefully and answer the questions which follow.

Royale Hotel Anse

Dear Guests

The Royale Hotel Anse in Seychelles is an environmentally-conscious hotel, and is dedicated to the protection of the environment within the travel and tourism industry.

Water – did you know?

• 97% of the earth’s water supply is contained in oceans, and 2% is frozen. This leaves 1% of drinkable water. Wherever you are in the world, it is easy to see that this represents a very limited water supply.
• Showers use 20-30 litres of water per minute.
• Each toilet flush uses about 15 litres of water.
• After drinking a glass of water, we use up to two more glasses of water to wash it.
• Even a small, slow drip from a tap can waste more than 70 litres in 24 hours.
• A running tap uses up to 20 litres per minute. Letting a tap run while brushing your teeth wastes more water than one person needs to drink in a week.

The Royale Hotel Anse is a water-conscious hotel. How?

• Our chefs wash all vegetables with the plug in the sink.
• All water used in the hotel for cleaning and washing is recycled through our water-treatment equipment.
• The hotel gardens are watered using recycled water from the water-treatment equipment.
• All the hotel’s taps, pipes, toilets, showers and baths are regularly checked for leaks by our engineers, and immediately repaired if necessary.
• In order to save electricity and water, dishwashing machines are switched on when they are full.
• Our staff undergo regular training in environmental issues.










1. How limited is the world’s water supply?

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

2. Which uses more water per minute: a shower or a running tap?

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

3. What is the result of letting a tap run while you brush your teeth?

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

4. How do the hotel’s chefs save water?

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5. When would the hotel’s pipes or taps need to be repaired by the engineers?

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

6. Why are the hotel staff water-conscious?

…………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

[Total 6]

Comprehension - Email sends coded warning to English teachers

Exercise 2

Read the following article on the changing language and answer the questions that follow.
Email sends coded warning to English teachers

Children are inventing a new lexicon for electronic communication with a range of jargon and symbols that adults find hard to understand. Although educators and politicians were once concerned about sloppy pronunciation, it seems that ‘email English’ poses a greater threat to the language.

For example, the symbol : -( represents a sad face (if you turn your head and look at it sideways) and is widely used to signify sympathy, disappointment or bad news. The symbols have evolved to keep down the cost of mobile phone text messages and emailing, speed up the response time and inject emotion into concise missives.

Teachers say that the new shorthand style associated with emails is making their job of improving literacy skills even harder. Researchers from the McCann-Erikson advertising agency, who interviewed more than 100 children aged 5-11, concluded that traditional letter-writing will be of no more use later in life than the history lessons pupils learn in schools.

Robin Laufer, who led the research, said that symbols used in text messages represented new ways of expressing emotions. ‘You need intonation if you are going down to the shortest possible form of communication. So if you put a smiley face next to a sarcastic comment, it shows you are joking and not being nasty. We are witnessing a communications revolution which children have adapted to very quickly. Our language is changing in front of our eyes.’

More than half a billion text messages are sent by mobile phone every month. The growing trend coincides with concern over standards in formal writing. Just 54 per cent of 11-year olds achieved the expected level in writing in last summer’s national tests compared to 78 per cent in reading.

Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union, said that we should now be far more concerned about the influence of email than any failings of teaching. ‘Dropping grammar and replacing sentences with abbreviations will damage the language,’ he said.

Ms Laufer added: Kids have always had some coded language of their own which separated them from grown-ups, but the internet and mobile phones have given them the ability to do this much more. Writing a longhand letter is going to have to be something that is taught at school and, while they will know how to do this, the question is, will they want to?”


1. What do adults find difficult to understand in the new lexicon?

……………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

2. What worried people in education before the arrival of ‘email English’?

……………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

3. What three reasons are given for the development of email symbols?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[3 marks]
4. According to teachers, what is making their job harder?

……………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

5. Why is it suggested that, in the future, traditional letter-writing will no longer be of any use?

……………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

6. Why are symbols so important in electronic communication?

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1 mark]

7. What does a smiley face symbol represent, according to the text?

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1 mark]

8. How many text messages are sent each year?

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1 mark]

9. What percentage of 11-year old children failed to reach the expected level in writing?

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1 mark]

10. According to Nigel de Gruchy, what is going to harm the English language?

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1 mark]

11. What does Ms Laufer say that the internet and mobile phones have given children?

…………………………………………………………………………………….[1 mark]

Exercise 1 - Are you a poor talker

Read the text ‘Are you a poor talker?’ and answer the questions that follow.

Are you a poor talker?



A simple technique for acquiring a swift mastery of everyday conversation and writing has been announced. It can pay you real dividends in both social and professional advancement. It works like magic to give you added poise, self-confidence and greater popularity. The details of this method are described in a fascinating book, Adventures in Speaking and Writing, sent free on request.

Many people do not realize how much they could influence others simply by what they say and how they say it. Those who realize this radiate enthusiasm, hold the attention of those listeners with bright, sparkling conversation that attracts friends and opportunities wherever they go. Whether in business, at social functions, or even in casual conversation with new acquaintances, there are ways in which you can make a good impression every time you talk.

After all, conversation has certain fundamental rules and principles – just like any other art. The good talkers and whom you admire know those rules and apply them whenever they converse. Learn the rules and you can make your conversation brighter, more entertaining and impressive. Then you could find yourself becoming more popular and winning new friendships in the business and social worlds.

To acquaint all readers of this newspaper with the easy-to-follow rules for developing skill in everyday conversation and writing, we, the publishers, have printed full details of this interesting self-training method in a fascinating book, Adventures in Speaking and Writing, sent free on request. No obligation. Just telephone 0800 298 7070 free, or fill in and return the coupon on page 13 (no stamp needed). Or write to: Effective Speaking Programme, Dept MGS10T, FREEPOST 246, London WC1A 1BR.


1. In what situation can the new technique improve your conversation skills?

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

2. Where can you get more details about the method for improving your speaking and writing skills?

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3. In what two ways does the text say that you can influence others?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[2]

4. In what ways is conversation like any other art?

………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

5. Why have the publishers printed details of the training methods in a book?

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6. How can you obtain more information? Give three ways.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[3]

[Total 9]