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As the business and political elite met at the World Economic Forum, there were many references to the ‘wealthiest 1%’. That refers to wealth, not income. It is calculated as assets minus debt. The list of the wealthiest includes many people in rich countries who own their house outright or have paid off a significant chunk of their mortgage. Among them are 1.8 million people in the US, the country with more members of the 1% than any other, followed by France, the UK and Germany. Germany has the biggest economy in Europe but fewer wealthy people than France or the UK because it has lower levels of home ownership. Japan and China also have more than a million people in the top 1%. What is said about the wealthiest 1%?. They have the highest salaries. Their wealth is measured in assets. Most of them are now Asian. The majority live in Germany.

Nairobi’s minibus taxis, known as ‘matatus’, are renowned for their graffiti-style artwork, but they also play a big part in the city’s music scene. Their garish decorations and blaring music celebrate whatever is hip and current. The buses are decorated with whoever is popular. Matatus have destinations but no timetables. The privately owned minibuses compete for the same routes and only leave when they are full otherwise it’s not worth the trip. The buses that fill up the quickest are the ones with the brightest artwork, the most likeable drivers and the best tunes. Now even the Kenyan government seems to recognize the economic potential of matatu culture. Ten years ago, colorful graffiti and loud music were officially banned from matatus, although the practice carried on. The president now supports the artwork since it creates employment. What is said about the ‘matatu’ minibuses?. They are becoming popular with tourists. The Kenyan government wants to ban them. They are not bound to a specific schedule. The cheapest buses are the most popular.

This diet is the most effective way of losing body fat. Remember, if we go on a starvation diet, we lose weight but not much fat. In starvation mode, we use up our energy stores of carbohydrate first (in the form of a substance called glycogen). However, the body can store only a little glycogen, and this is used up within two days. Then we start breaking down fat and protein. But we can’t afford to lose body proteins: our muscle mass decreases, we become noticeably weaker, and our immunity is compromised because the lack of protective immunoglobulin proteins means we are subject to an increased risk of infection. Not good! What happens when you starve?. The body only stores a little glycogen. Our muscles grow. The body gains more proteins. We consume fat second.

The Philippines president has made people angry. President Duterte said he would resign if anyone can prove that God exists. He has upset people with his religious beliefs before. He recently made many people angry by calling God stupid. On Friday, he questioned the Roman Catholic Church. He challenged what the Church says about sin and why sin can only be removed from children by paying money to the Church. He said: "Where is the logic of God there?" He wants "one single witness" who has a picture or a selfie that a human was "able to talk to and see God". His opponents hit back at him by calling him "one evil man". A senator said the president's comments showed that he lied, had no heart and was ruthless. President Duterte said he did believe in God. He said: "There is a universal mind somewhere which controls the universe." Mr Duterte is very popular in the Philippines. He has spent years fighting a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have been killed. He also appeared at an event where officials crushed illegally imported luxury cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders to make relations better. What is true about the president?. He challenged the Catholic Church. He wants to talk to God. He has no intention of improving relations with religious people. He is a very kind person.

This season around 37,000 tourists will visit Antarctica-home to about 20 million pairs of breeding penguins. But is it ethically acceptable to go on holiday to such a pristine environment? Several studies have compared regularly visited penguin colonies with those rarely in touch with humankind. The results are inconclusive, showing more-visited colonies variously doing worse, the same and even better. Phil McDowell, marine biologist, says that Gentoo penguins are thriving, increasing in both number and range. Adelies penguins and the little helmeted chinstrap penguins, however, are in decline. The Antarctic Peninsula has warmed by an average of 3 degrees Celsius in the last 60 years and winds have shifted, changing the pattern of the sea ice. It is global warming that is changing the penguins’ fortunes. McDowell suggests, not tourism. There are concerns for the future, however. Tourist numbers look set to rise and tourist ships are starting to offer activities like kayaking and diving, which are potentially more invasive than simply looking. The impact isn’t clear and more monitoring is certainly needed. Which of the following is stated in the text?. Kayaking and diving are banned in Antarctica. Gentoo penguins have decreased in number. The results of the studies are inconsistent. Global warming doesn’t effect penguins.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE, Libya and Yemen have all cut ties with Qatar. They say Qatar gives money and support to terrorist groups. Saudi Arabia said it has to protect its own security. It said Qatar was home to many "terrorist groups that aim to create instability in the region". Qatar said this was not true and that there are no facts that show that terrorist groups are in Qatar. It said the other Arab countries are acting unfairly towards Qatar. It also said other Arab countries would, "not affect the normal lives of citizens and residents" in Qatar. Qatar now has a difficult future, until normal relations return. Air, land and sea links from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have closed. This will be a problem for people in Qatar. Most of its food enters from Saudi Arabia. There is now a rush to buy food in supermarkets. Qatar Airways will suffer because it has to change its routes. Many flights will take much longer. The building of stadiums for the 2022 soccer World Cup could slow down as building materials come in from Saudi. Citizens from Saudi, the UAE and Bahrain are banned from going to Qatar and have 14 days to leave. What is Qatar’s main problem?. They have to protect their security. The soccer world cup will be cancelled. There will be much less food in the country. They have too many terrorists.

The Peruvian authorities have announced a state of emergency in a town which was hit by an avalanche of mud and rocks on Monday. A torrent of mud and water sent car-sized boulders crashing through the town of Chosica, 47 km from the capital, Lima. At least seven people were killed and 65 houses destroyed. The country’s main east-west highway was blocked and residents are asking for equipment to clear up debris. The boulders were loosened by two hours of heavy rain on Monday. Floodwaters smashed through brick walls and carried cars, animals and furniture through Chosica’s streets. The state of emergency was called for 60 days to give powers to the local authorities to re-establish power and water supplies, and initiate a clean-up operation. Residents in the town have asked the authorities for diggers and heavy equipment. A 1967 mudslide in Chosica killed 64 people. What is stated in the report?. The mudslide has caused over 60 deaths. The rain caused large rocks to become unstable. The clean-up operation has been completed. The mudslide is the worst in the region’s history.

Doctors are advising people with coughs to drink or eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore instead of visiting a doctor. In most cases, honey will work better than antibiotics. Most of the time, a cough gets better on its own in a few weeks, even without medicine. Many of us go to see a doctor if we have a cough. Doctors in England say this can be a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little to make a cough go away. We use antibiotics too much. This can be bad because antibiotics are getting weaker against viruses, so medicines are working less. This is creating superbugs, which are dangerous to our health. Honey can help to soothe a sore throat. A hot drink with honey is a traditional remedy for coughs. People sometimes add lemon to it. Honey may be good for children because they dislike medicine but love honey. Also, children do not like visiting a doctor. What is true in the text?. Honey is not very effective for coughs. Lemon is more effective for sore throats. Antibiotics are less effective the more you use them. It's important for children to visit the doctor.

Computers can be better at predicting our personality than our friends and family, an experiment with tens of thousands of volunteers has indicated. By analyzing the ‘likes’ on Facebook, a computer model deduced a person’s character better than brothers, mothers and even some partners. The Cambridge team acknowledged that personality is more complex than this. But they say the results show computers can outpace humans. The average Facebook user had about 227 ‘likes’ on their profile and this proved to be ample for the computer to go on. Facebook fans of ‘Dr. Who’ tend to be shy, while fans of ‘Big Brother’ are conservative or conventional. The study ran the data of 70,520 willing Facebook users through their computer system, which linked ‘likes’ to different personality traits. The Facebook users completed a questionnaire and were asked to get their colleagues, friends and family to act as character witnesses by filling out a survey. The computers came closer to a person’s self-reported personality than even their closest allies. What is said about the results of tests which used a computer to predict personality?. The users’ questionnaire and the computer model results differed. Facebook users provide enough information for the computer. A computer can’t equal a family member at this task. The results showed T.V. reality show watchers to be eccentric.

Dear Mr. Lehman: My name is Josh Tobin. Two weeks ago, I saw the announcement for the volunteer positions posted in the weekly community newsletter. I apologise for the delay in contacting you. I understand that the completed application was due two days ago; however, I have been out of town on vacation. I will return in two days, on May 21 and will be able to attend the orientation. Please note that all necessary documents are attached. My time this summer is limited, but I’ll be available every Tuesday. Unfortunately, I’m not available on Saturdays and Sundays due to my restaurant job. I’ll wait to hear from you prior to the orientation and training next week. Thank you for your time, Josh On what date were applications due for summer volunteer positions?. May 22. May 21. May 17. May 15.

There’s no more colourful way to shop in London than by sampling its many markets. For those that take food seriously, all corners of the capital boast their own farmers’ markets, bringing locally grown produce to the table, while specialised markets like Columbia Road’s famous flower market packs a Victorian cobbled street with bargain blooms every Sunday. As well as these more fashionable fairs, the capital has stubbornly retained many of its authentic ‘Albert Square’ style markets, selling no nonsense fruit and veg, bric-à-brac and cheap clothing. What is said about London’s markets?. They are a combination of old and new. The old ones are better than the new ones. Traditional ones are hard to find. All traditional ones have been renovated.

British people will soon vote on 'Brexit' - whether or not to stay in or leave the European Union (EU). 'Brexit' means Britain's, or British, exit. It is a big issue for Europe. People have strong feelings about leaving and staying. A group of 13 scientists has come together in support of staying. They are all Nobel Prize winners. The group says leaving the EU would be a "key risk" to British science. A spokesman said it was important for science that Britain stayed in Europe. He said: "Inside the EU, Britain helps steer the biggest scientific powerhouse in the world." Why is Brexit a problem according to the text?. It is detrimental to British science. Because it is big problem for Europe. People have strong feelings for staying. It will affect the Nobel Prize awards.

Small children want to do a lot of things that get them dirty, and they are good for children, too. They love to dig in earth and sand, wade in mud puddles, splash water in the washstand. They want to roll in the grass, squeeze mud in their hands. When they have chances to do these delightful things, it enriches their spirit, makes them warmer people, just the way beautiful music or falling in love improves adults. The text suggests that…. children should listen to music. getting dirty is not good for adults. getting dirty can be good for children. getting dirty improves adults.

A two-year-old boy from Poland was sleepwalking and wandered into the woods. It was really cold outside. The temperature was down to -7 degrees. The boy wore only socks and a pyjama top. His body temperature fell to 12°C and his heart beat very slowly. However, this story has a happy ending. People found the little boy and he is now in hospital. Doctors say that he will make a full recovery. A doctor said that it is a miracle that the boy is alive. What can be deduced from the text?. The boy’s body temperature rose by 12°C. The event took place on a very hot Sunday morning. The boy died at the same day in the woods. The boy was found and transported to a hospital.

A tissue company is changing the name of one of its Kleenex "Mansize" tissues. This is because people complained that the name "Mansize" was sexist. The name started over 60 years ago, in 1956. The tissues were an alternative to cotton handkerchiefs. Adverts said they "stayed strong when wet". The tissues will be renamed "Extra Large". Companies are now looking at the name of their products to make sure there are no gender issues. The company said the Mansize tissues did not suggest that only men were soft and strong. The company said: "We remain committed to developing the best possible products for our consumers and we take any feedback extremely seriously." The name change started an online debate on brand names and sexism. A radio presenter said the store Mothercare should change its name because many fathers also look after babies. Why were tissues invented?. To avoid sexism. They are a replacement for handkerchiefs. To make the best products possible. Because people needed "mansize" handkerchiefs.

A man tried to steal a bank’s money. He waited for the bank’s armoured van to arrive. Two men left the van and walked towards the bank. When they were walking through the revolving door, the robber suddenly attacked them. He sprayed petrol in the face of one man and kicked the other one to the ground. He shot him in the leg. He took the bag of cash, which weighed more than 85 kilograms, but another man from the van shot him. Police arrived and arrested the robber. Which sentence is true about the robber?. He was shot in the left leg. He attacked using fuel and a gun. He took the money and escaped. He attacked the police but he was shot.

The sign Taurus is ruled by Venus. Physically it is related to the throat. It is said to have a feminine nature, and is therefore more passive and receptive in its energy expression. Taurus is an Earth sign and as such is connected with fruitfulness and stability. A planet placed in this sign will be a stabilizing influence and manifest its energy in a steadfast and determined manner. Taurus is also a fixed sign, and this means that once a course is embarked on, it is rarely deviated from. Maintenance and care of existing conditions over long periods of time, and a reluctance to initiate change, are qualities of this sign. Which of these statements is true about a Taurus person?. He/she has a masculine nature. He/she is firm. He/she changes plans easily. He/she is domineering.

Posting too many selfies on social media may cause a rise in narcissism, say researchers. Narcissism is selfishness and the belief you are very talented and beautiful. You need attention from others and think you are better than everyone else. Researchers found that big users of social media sites like Facebook showed a 25 per cent rise in narcissism in just four months. The researchers studied how people aged 18 to 34 used social media and looked at how their personality changed. Nowadays, posting selfies seems to increase levels of narcissism in a way that text messages do not. Professor Phil Reed, from Swansea University, said: "There have been suggestions of links between narcissism and the use of [selfies] on social media...but until this study, it was not known if...[this] is associated with the...growth in narcissism. The results of this study suggest that...posting selfies can increase narcissism." He said that "about 20 per cent of people may be at risk of developing" narcissism. They want attention and likes from other people after they post a selfie. They also want to show others how their life is better or how they are more attractive. What isn’t a cause for the increase in narcissism lately?. Showing how attractive you are. Facebook usage. The usage of text messages. Posting selfies online.

A sushi restaurant in Germany banned a customer because he ate too much. The customer was an ironman athlete. He paid $18.50 for an all-you-can-eat meal and ate nearly 100 plates of sushi. When he paid, the owner asked him not to return because he ate too much. The customer told a local newspaper: "I'm banned...because I ate too much." He added that he was a regular customer at the restaurant. The customer's ironman diet means he does not eat for 20 hours and then he eats until he is full. He never had problems at the restaurant before. This time, the owner said the customer ate enough "for five people" and that was "not normal". A waiter did not accept a tip from the customer when he went to pay after his meal. The customer must now find another restaurant that provides delicious and good value meals. What is true about the customer?. He ate 100 plates of sushi. He ate often in this restaurant. He got banned for not paying. He practices a lot of sport.

In 1929 he took over the post of golf professional at the Boca Raton Club, Florida, a position he held for more than 25 years while building a reputation as this country's outstanding teaching pro. In 1953 he wrote his famous How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time which brought his unique, effective and expensive lessons into the hands of hundreds of thousands of golfers. Now in its seven year it still sells many thousands of copies each year. The text describes…. a famous golf course. an instructor and writer. a new book. a novelist.

2018 is over. For some people, it was a great year; for others, it wasn't. Japanese people have chosen the kanji (Chinese character) they thought described 2018. The winning kanji means "disaster". This was because of the many natural disasters in Japan in 2018. Japan was hit by typhoons, earthquakes, heavy rains, and a killer heatwave. Hundreds of people died in these disasters. Many roads and housess were destroyed. The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation has declared a "kanji of the year" since 1995. This year, 193,214 people voted. The second most popular kanji was "peace". Last year, "north" was the winner, because of North Korea's nuclear tests. The world was also hit by natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes and tsunami. There were wars in Syria and Yemen. There was suffering because of immigration. People hope next year's kanji will be "happiness". What is true according to the text?. The kanji for "disaster" won in 2018. Over 200,000 people voted for kanji of the year. The kanji for "peace" won last year. The kanji for "north" won second place in 2018.

Have you ever thought about what the Sun sounds like? Scientists from the European Space Agency and NASA studied 20 years of data to try to listen to the Sun. They say the Sun produces a sound like a low, deep "heartbeat". The scientists used a special observatory to measure vibrations from the Sun. They then changed these vibrations into different sounds. The scientists will use these to find out what is happening inside the Sun. They will understand more about solar flares, chemical reactions and other things that happen inside the Sun. The scientists explained how they created the sounds. Researchers turned data from space agencies into a "song". Dr Alex Young said: "We don't have straightforward ways to look inside the Sun...so using a star or the Sun's vibrations allows us to see inside of it." Dr Young continued: "Waves are travelling and bouncing around inside the Sun, and if your eyes were sensitive enough, they could actually see this." He added: "We are finally starting to understand the layers of the Sun and the complexity. That simple sound is giving us a probe inside a star. I think that's a pretty cool thing." How do scientists measure the vibrations from the Sun?. Understanding more about solar flares. By measuring the Sun’s layers. With chemical reactions. Capturing the waves that bounce inside the Sun.

Last week, thieves stole five hundred pounds from a post office in Lancashire. The police know that the robbers escaped in a red Ford Cortina. This information came from an eleven-year-old boy named Charlie Carrick, who witnessed the event. However, the police do not have a description of the two men What is said in the report?. Charlie Carrick saw the robbery. Charlie Carrick robbed a post office. The robbers were captured. The police know what the robbers look like.

Are you setting up a small business? Worried about the costs of renting office space and employing the right people? Rebus Virtual Office World can help you. With our Basic Office Deal, we can set up a virtual office for you practically overnight. We will give your business a professional image and our polite, friendly staff will handle your calls and present your business in the best possible way. We can provide you with a professional business address, a local phone number and we will also handle mail. For a more personal approach, with the option of forwarding mail and messages to your home address, don’t hesitate to ask us about our Premier Office Deals. What does the service provide?. Temporary staff for local businesses. Off-site staff to perform general office duties. Advice on how to make your business more professional. A site where several businesses can locate their offices.

Squid is all about speed: like scallops and shrimp, it's almost impossible to undercook. Old-timers used to say, “Cook it for two minutes or two hours,” and that's about right. The author of this text expresses the idea that…. it's best to cook squid a lot. cooking squid is difficult. squid is best uncooked. you don't have to cook squid a lot.

Kopi luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee. The main factor of it’s high price is the uncommon method of producing such a coffee. It has been produced from the coffee beans which have been digested by a certain Indonesian cat-like animal called then palm civet or also civet cat. This is the reason kopi luwak is also called cat poop coffee or civet cat coffee. The faeces of this cat will be collected, finished and sold as kopi luwak. On this website you will find all relevant information about the production process, the cat, certified kopi luwak producers, the kopi luwak coffee itself and it’s unique properties and taste. The short supply, in comparison with the high demand, the different taste and the uncommon production methods define the value of kopi luwak – the most expensive coffee in the world. Kopi Luwak coffee is made using: Donations from wealthy coffee drinkers. Civet cat scat. Trained civet cats. The insides of Civet Cats.

An airplane passenger was asked to leave a flight after she complained about a crying baby. The woman told cabin crew she would not sit down because a crying baby was in the seat next to hers. The woman was very rude to the baby's mother. The mother, Marissa Rundell, was with her 8-month-old baby son. They were flying home from New York's JFK airport. Even though it was a short flight, the angry woman was very unhappy. She said it was terrible that she had to sit at the back of the plane. The flight was full, so she could not get a different seat. Why did the woman complain?. She found the seat too uncomfortable. Because she had to sit at the back of the plane. Because of a crying baby. Another person was rude with her.

The rock star Prince has died at his home in Minneapolis, aged 57. Last week, he went to hospital with dehydration and the flu. His death has shocked the entertainment world. Madonna wrote online: "He changed the world. A true visionary." Barack Obama called him, "one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time". He said: "Prince…was a virtuoso instrumentalist…and an electrifying performer." Prince Rogers Nelson was the son of a jazz pianist. He became famous in the 1970s. His singing, songs, guitar playing, and performances changed the music world for four decades. What is true about Prince?. Obama said he was “a true visionary”. He died of dehydration. Prince was only a vocalist. Madonna has a high opinion of him.

China’s state press agency has unveiled a virtual anchorman designed to deliver headlines 24 hours a day. Xinhua’s “artificial intelligence news reader” is a lifelike digitised reporter which can read out text by mimicking the appearance and voice of a real human presenter. The agency claims the virtual presenter – a realistic-looking man, sharply dressed in a suit – “can read texts as naturally as a professional news anchor”. The development was motivated by a desire to cut down on costs. However, the AI newsreader’s debut report on Thursday seemed robotic voice and awkward delivery. “Hello, you are watching English news programme. I’m AI anchor in Beijing,” the presenter said at the beginning of its first English-language broadcast. The AI anchor has been modelled on Zhang Zhao, a human Xinhua presenter, and will read out scripts fed to it by writer. China has: Created software to gather news stories. Created a programme to edit news stories. Created a robot to read the news. Created software to read the news.

China is putting a limit on movie star pay. Actors getting high salaries is bad for society. The government wants to stop "money worship". It said money is not the most important thing in life. Many young people are "blindly chasing celebrities" and turning them into heroes. This gives people a false idea about what real life is like. The government said movies should help society, not movie stars. The government made rules for movie companies. Actors' salaries will be less than 40 per cent of the cost of the movie. Leading actors will get less than 70 per cent of the total wages for all actors. Chinese people support this. They say "greedy" actors show off their wealth and "Hollywood lifestyles". One person wrote: "Society has given them too much and they give nothing back. They do not teach young people about the...importance of community in China." The government is limiting salary on movie stars because... Because movies help society. Actors do not give anything back. Because they want to lessen the importance of money in life. Because actors are greedy.