Variant 1 You could have come first and won the race if you … faster

25. According to the passage, which of the following statements is widely accepted by scientists?
A) The present decline in the number of species is caused by the activities of mankind.
B) The present climatic change known as global warming is probably a natural phenomenon.
C) We are experiencing the fifth period of species dying out.
D) The Earth is in danger of being struck by an asteroid.
26. Which of the following statements clarifies the term HOMO SAPIENS?
A) An irreplaceable ecosystem which is being destroyed.
B) A hostile environment in which many species die.
C) A way of referring to a large number of species of flora and fauna.
D) Another term which is used to call the human race.
27. What future expectation is stated by the author?
A) There will be no harmful effects from so many species dying.
B) The world might be turned upside down by colliding with an asteroid.
C) The human population will soon reach six billion.
D) More species may die out this time than ever before.


An average child of 5 years old uses only 1500 of the 150000 "dictionary" words that a modern language contains. But this small treasury is used very intensively by him during the years of learning, at the rate of about 1000 words an hour, or from 7000 to 15000 words each day for an active child. School quickly increases his vocabulary, but leaves him with less opportunity for using it. At 10 years old, his treasury amounts to 7000 words, of which about 30% are used actively – the remainder is seldom or never used – and in an hour he will use about 700 words. By the time he enters university, his word inventory will have grown to 20000, and on graduation to 60000, but of these only 10%-20% will be in active use.
28. The passage informs us that, in general, a 5-year old-child ...
A) can learn 1000 words in an hour. B) uses only one percent of available words.
C) knows, but doesn’t use, about 150000 words. D) learns about 7000 to 15000 words each day.