Part B

Text 1

Ashley wasreading a magazine when she came across an article about antibiotics and otherdrugs discovered in European rivers and tap water. If such drugs were presentthere, she reasoned, they might also be found near her home in West Virginia.

Ashley fearedthat antibiotics in the waters could lead to resistant bacteria, or supergerms,which can kill untold numbers of people.

The girl,then 16, began testing her area's river -- the Ohio. With a simple device sheherself had designed, she collected 350 water samples from the Ohio and itstributaries over ten weeks. Reading scientific journals, she taught herself toanalyze the samples. It was the most scientifically sound project for someoneher age.

Herexperiment, one of the first of its kind in the United States, showed that lowlevels of three antibiotics are indeed present in local waters. Ashley's studywon the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize, a virtual Nobel Prize forteenagers. She received a $5,000 scholarship and an audience with Sweden'sCrown Princess Victoria.

Herinterest in science was sparked by walks in the woods with her mother. But itwas the day-to-day stuff -- how water comes to the tap, how rain sticks toglass, that most fascinated her. "Science is not a dead thing," she says."It's happening all around us."

By thesixth grade, she was winning at science fairs. She has won $70,000 in prizemoney, which she has put aside for college. She plans to attend HarvardUniversity. "I want to make my own discoveries, and not just read aboutwhat others have done," she said. Her teachers predict that she will oneday win a Nobel Prize.

Statements:

1. Ashleylives in the state of Virginia.

2.Antibiotics in streams and rivers can lead to the emergence of supergerms.

3.Bacteria found in European local waters and tap water have killed countlesspeople.

4. Usingsimple equipment designed by herself, Ashley collected 350 water samples in tenweeks.

5.Ashley's experiment proved that antibiotics did exist in the Ohio River.

6. Ashleydeveloped a strong interest in science when she was in her sixth grade.

7. Ashleywants to make discoveries by herself and knows how to make use of what she hasread.

8. TheInternational Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a Nobel Prize for teenagers.

9. Ashleygot a $5,000 scholarship from Harvard University.

10. Ashleycan be regarded as a role model for young people.

Text 2

YoungPeople Say No to Smoking

OnFebruary 16, 2001, the teens from a youth group called REBEL launched theiradvertising campaign at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. By now justabout everybody has heard the "Not for Sale" commercial on televisionand the radio against tobacco companies. What many people don't know is thatteenagers from West New York and across New Jersey worked on various aspects ofthe campaign, and even appeared in some of the advertisements. The campaignorganizer thought it would be better than using actors if actual REBEL memberswere in the commercials.

REBEL,which stands for Reaching Everybody by Exposing Lies, is a statewide youthinitiative against tobacco companies. The movement, which began in Novemberlast year, carries the message that teens no longer want to be targeted bytobacco companies in their advertisements. Knowing that peer pressure on teensto smoke or do drugs is one of the biggest problems that teens face, the groupis working hard to ensure that their message reaches all teenagers at NewJersey schools.

When thegroup was first formed, there were only five members, all eighth gradestudents. But by this summer the group had grown to close to 90 members. At arecent recruiting party, a pizza and pool party, at the West New York swimmingpool, more than 50 new members were attracted to the group.

"Wedon't think that too many people would be interested," said Jackie, one ofits founding members. "But everyone knows our message. They know who weare now."

Questions:

1. Whendid REBEL launch their advertising campaign?

2. Howmany members did REBEL have by the summer of 2001?

3. Who arethe members of REBEL?

4. Whatdid REBEL do for their campaign against tobacco companies?

5. Whatdid REBEL do recently?

Part C

Skatescooters

In HongKong these days, you will often see people riding skatescooters in the streets.Depending on which way you look at them, they can be great for performingtricks or are just the latest fashionable commodity. Fung is one of the moreexperienced skatescooter riders, as he has been practising his technique forabout a year. His curly hair and baggy jeans show his devotion to streetfashion and being comfortable. He has a deep passion for and understanding ofthis sport.

"Istarted riding skatescooter a year ago, but at that time there was no one toshare the experience with or learn new tricks from," he explained."Now that it has caught on and more people take part in it, it is moreenjoyable."

Most ofthe best brands of skatescooters are made in Switzerland and began to beimported to Hong Kong in 1999. No one took much notice of them, however, untilthey became popular in Japan. When people saw skatescooters in Japanesemagazines they were soon trying to buy them in Hong Kong. Very quickly Hong Konghad its own group of skatescooter riders and the number is still growing.

However,not all who enjoy skatescooters regard riding them as a sport. For some peoplethey are simply a quick way to get from home to the underground or from a busstop to the office. As they can be folded up without difficulty and are easy tocarry about, they have become popular with a variety of people from schoolstudents to business executives.

Statements:

1.Skatescooters are very popular in Hong Kong. You'll find riders performingtricks on skatescooters in the streets.

2. Fung isthe person who introduced skatescooters to Hong Kong.

3. Fung isa devoted performer and the most skillful rider of skatescooters in Hong Kong.

4. It tookFung about a year to practise and became one of the more experiencedskatescooter riders in Hong Kong.

5.Magazines play an important role in popularizing skatescooters in Japan.

6. Nowskatescooters has been listed as one of the competitive sports around theworld.

7. Peoplelike to ride skatescooters as a sport as well as a convenient means oftransportation.

Part D

SheDoesn't Seem Ready for College

Hi, Jenny,you don't look happy. What's wrong?

Jenny:Well, Roger, I've got a problem.

Roger:What is it?

Jenny: Youknow my daughter Jane is 16 years old now. And we've begun talking aboutcollege. She says she wants to go, but she's let her grades slip and no matterhow I urge her to study, all she seems interested in are clothes and boys.We're not wealthy, you know. And it won't be easy for us to afford the tuitionif she can't get a scholarship. Is going to college the best choice for herright now?

Roger: Doyou mean that she doesn't seem ready for college?

Jenny:You're right.

Roger:Then you'd better have a serious talk with Jane about college.

Jenny: Aserious talk with her?

Roger:Yes, to my mind it's quite normal for girls her age to be wrapped up in fashionand dating, but as a mother you have a right to expect her to pay attention toher studies too.

Jenny:Yes, but how?

Roger: Askher how serious she is about college and how hard she's willing to work for it.Jane may be more committed than you realize. But if not, tell her she shouldthink about putting college off for a while. That could give her the push sheneeds to take her education seriously.

Jenny:Sounds like a good idea.

Roger: Andif you decide she should wait, she can get a job, take classes at a communitycollege or do an internship to get experience. She may be just one of those whoneed to see a bit of real life before they settle down.

Questions:

1. What isJenny worried about?

2. What isJenny's daughter interested in?

3. Whatdoes Roger recommend Jenny do with her daughter now?

4. Whichof the following is not a suggestion given by Roger?

5. Whatcan you infer about the relationship between Roger and Jenny?