sardine room

At the art fair: Before the public are allowed to step through the heavy plastic butcher's curtains that line the art fair's entrance, most of Frieze's business is already done. Even in economically inactive Europe, the stands of the blue chip commercial galleries have been swarmed by record numbers of buyers on the opening day, prior to the arrival of the press and public, and artworks have been changing hands fast for six-figure (and the occasional seven-figure) sum. But thankfully for the casual wanderer, there's stuff to see here too: some surprising bedrooms, an art fair for rabbits, an artist who will sketch your breasts and a lot more. What can be inferred from the text?. The premiere was the busiest day for business. A casual buyer bought a whole bedroom. The public is not allowed into the art gallery. Only wealthy clients are allowed in to buy.

The U.S. Navy and the sinking of El Faro. The U.S. Navy is hoping some of the high-tech equipment it used in the search for MH370 aircraft will have better luck in its next mission: finding the American cargo ship El Faro. The Jacksonville, Florida-based El Faro and its 33 crew members disappeared October 1 after encountering Hurricane Joaquin while en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship is believed to have sunk some 35 miles northeast of Crooked Island, in the Bahamas. The National Transportation Safety Board, the agency heading up the investigation into what happened, announced last week that the U.S. Navy's Salvage and Diving division would be brought in to find the voyage data recorder (VDR), the ship's so-called "black box." What can be said about the ship El Faro?. People believed it had been hijacked. People believe it sank in the Bahamas. It has been found by a U.S. Navy team in Bahamas. Its black box was destroyed by a hurricane.

Economic growth and its effects Since the dawn of the industrial age, the world has been steadily getting wealthier, despite setbacks such as the Great Depression and the more recent global financial crisis. We make more, sell more and consume more than ever before. Yet, according to the United Nations, nearly three billion people still live on less than $2.50 (£1.70) per day. So, how can we raise living standards for those who still live in poverty? The answer, according to most governments, is rapid economic growth. Growth is seen as a panacea for a great many ills. It creates jobs, erodes debts and raises living standards. For politicians, it also generates votes. It is almost universally seen as a Good Thing. Which sentence is correct according to the text?. Although we are richer many are poor. Gradually people are getting poorer. Growth brings about more debts. The world’s population is getting healthier.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is not having a great year. The chief of the agency stepped down in April under a cloud of scandal. The acting administrator since then has courted ridicule for saying pot is "probably not" as dangerous as heroin, and more recently he provoked 100,000 petition-signers and seven members of Congress to call for his head after he called medical marijuana "a joke." This fall, the administration earned a cruel reprimand from a federal judge over its creative interpretation of a law intended to keep it from intimidating medical marijuana providers. Then, the Brookings Institution issued a strongly worded report outlining the administration's role in "suppress medical research" into medical uses of pot. What is said about the Drug Enforcement Administration?. The current administrator is causing more trouble. Its boss was arrested on drug charges. It ranks marijuana as dangerous as heroin. It is waging an all-out war on marijuana.

New ways of energy production The most obvious response to climate change should be to transform the way the world generates energy. Living standards have risen 40 times over the last 250 years in the west, driven neither by the small state beloved of conservatives nor the large state favoured by socialists. Rather, the growth has resulted from a complicated interaction between capitalism and science and technology, of necessity publicly funded, creating wave after wave of transformations in the character of our economic base and the quality and quantity of what it produces. The same now has to be done for the world's energy production. It needs to be technologically transformed to become as near carbon-free as possible, which will only work if there is a substantive global research and development effort led by governments, matching those of conquering space or winning a war, to explore the necessary technologies Which of the following statements is true?. Technology is not good for climate change. Governments work tirelessly on climate change. Climate change is at the centre of modern politics. Politics has done little to raise living standards.

Self-driving technology. Car enthusiasts, after hearing industry executives discussing the self-driving technology being built into their vehicles, might be forgiven for thinking robotic cars will soon drive themselves out of auto showrooms. Carlos Ghosn, the chairman and chief executive of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, announced during a news media event on Jan. 7 at the company’s research laboratory in Silicon Valley that Nissan would introduce 10 new autonomous vehicles in the next four years. Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, upped the initial proposal. In a conference call with reporters last week, he asserted that the so-called Autopilot feature introduced in the Tesla Model S last fall was “probably better than a person right now.” What is said about Elon Musk?. He is not hopeful about driverless car technology. He disagrees with Carlos Ghosn about the future of cars. He believes cars are ready to be driverless. He is unhappy with the direction the industry is taking.

Upsurge in flights to different destinations. A massive injection of capacity on Asian air routes will open the floodgates to more international visitors heading to Australia. From this month, thousands of extra seats will become available as a result of new or additional services to Japan and China. Melbourne, Cairns and Sydney are the biggest winners from the capacity surge, which will see airlines such as Hong Kong, Xiamen and All Nippon Airways make their debut or return to the Australian market. Another nine airlines are adding new services or more seats to predominantly Asian routes, including Philippine Airlines, Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Scoot, and Silk. By early next year, an additional 12,000 seats a week will be available between Australia and Chinese destinations, and another 6000+ between Australia and Singapore. What can be inferred from the text?. Asian airlines are flying more to Australia. Asian air routes are on the decline. Australia is home to many Asians. Australia has won a huge contract.

François Hollande and the problem of unemployment. In his New Year message, President François Hollande declared a double state of emergency in France: one to fight terrorism, the other to tackle unemployment. The image was a stretch, but the self-criticism appropriate. In 2012 Mr. Hollande was elected on a pledge to curb joblessness and make “youth” his priority. Yet unemployment has since climbed from 9.7% to 10.1%; youth unemployment is more than twice this, and still rising. On January 18th the government will unveil new plans to train young job-seekers and encourage job creation. But it looks likely to be too little, too late. What can be understood from the text?. Hollande spent part of his youth unemployed. Unemployment and terrorism are related in France. It’s not too late to save the French unemployment problem. Out-of-work youths are a real concern in France.

Reactions on female rape attacks in India. Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep has called for a documentary chronicling the rape of a young student on a bus in Delhi to win an Academy Award. India's Daughter tells the story of Jyoti Singh, 23, whose rape and violent death in India's capital in 2012 caused a public outcry. Streep said at the New York premiere she was on the "campaign" for it to be nominated for best documentary. "When I first saw the film I couldn't speak afterwards," Streep said. The nominations for the 88th Academy Awards will be announced next 14 January. The hour-long film is made by the BBC and directed by British-based actress and film-maker Leslee Udwin. She also produced the film “East” but India's Daughter marks her debut as a movie director. Udwin said she had found hope in the protests following Singh's rape but was upset at the relatively weak outcry after a four-year-old girl was raped and beaten with stones in Delhi earlier this month. What is expressed in the text?. The movie has been awarded by film Academy. There was a lack of interest in a 4 year old’s attack. “East” was the first film directed by Leslee Udwin. Streep shows her brilliant talent in her performance.

Faithless Band and its music. Faithless Band have scored the third number one of their career, with the remix album Faithless 2.0. It features new versions of the band's most famous tracks, including “God is a DJ” and “Insomnia”, reworked by producers like Avicii and Tiesto. Formed 20 years ago, Faithless are pioneers of stadium dance music, racking up 17 UK Top 40 singles and seven Top 40 albums over the course of their career. They disbanded in 2011, but reunited earlier this year to play festivals around Europe. Although their latest chart-topper is a retrospective, founding member Sister Bliss said the group was currently discussing the possibility of new material. What can be said about Faithless?. The members have changed since they began. The band has re-released some old songs. The band has produced a brand new number 1. The band is considering coming back together.

Chinese New Year travellers stuck at railway station. Poor weather left at least 100,000 travellers stranded in a train station in southern China on Monday as they battled to return home ahead of Chinese New Year's celebrations next week. Vast crowds of migrant workers surged into Guangzhou's main railway station hoping to make it back to their family homes ahead of Lunar New Year festivities on 8 February that will usher in the Year of the Monkey. However, a bout of freezing weather and snow across eastern and central China saw at least 23 trains delayed, leaving many trapped in and around the station. Why are there more than 100,000 passengers unable to travel from the station?. Chinese New Year's celebrations. Fighting among migrant workers. The Year of the Monkey. Bad weather in other parts of China.

Chris Shaw’s rough time at college. Chris Shaw began taking photographs on the Sandy Hill housing estate near Aldershot in 1987 just after, as he puts it: “I got in a bit of trouble at college for my attitude and they tried to chuck me out.” When pressed on what kind of trouble exactly, he says matter-of-factly: “I was causing trouble on the campus, turning up to classes intoxicated.”. Now a long time sober, he recalls his younger self in a clear-eyed, if unrepentant, way. “I had moved from Toxteth to Farnham to study photography, but I didn’t really get on with the people at college. There was just one northerner and one black person in the year. It was like I was suddenly confronted with the class system head-on. I felt alienated and I was drinking heavily. It was all a bit of a mess, really.” Which statement is true about Chris Shaw?. He got along with people at university. He was alienated in his early school years. He still struggles with alcohol. He would attend classes drunk.

Facts and opinions on the National Health Service. The NHS (National Health Service) is the world’s fifth largest employer, an operation so vast that it occupies one in 20 British workers. But that is just one of an almost endless list of superlatives that apply to the National Health Service. They are often forgotten in the daily scream of claim and counterclaim about its performance. Maligned for long waiting times and disrupted by endless reorganization, the NHS may not sound like an international benchmark. But the respected US Commonwealth Fund health top members ranked the UK first in its most recent study of healthcare in 11 rich countries (June 2014). What is said about the NHS?. It is admired in countries like the US. Many of its patients get lost in the system. It is popular amongst most Britons. It has become smaller in recent times.

The key to a happy marriage. Researchers have found the key to a happy marriage. This secret ingredient could be a difference in height between the two partners. South Korea's professor Kitae Sohn said the taller the husband is, the happier the wife is. Mr. Sohn said: "A greater height difference in a couple was positively related to the wife's happiness." He added that the attraction of a tall husband does not last forever. He said it disappears after 18 years or so of marriage. Which sentence is true about the research?. People fall more in love after 18 years of marriage. After 18 years, tall men lose their attraction. Women are happier when they are taller than men. The researcher said being tall helps to keep a husband forever.

Hack the Pentagon. In an unexpected turn of events, the Pentagon is inviting Americans to hack its websites. Provided you are American and can pass a background check, you can go right ahead and hack, the Pentagon said today. The US Department of Defense is inviting vetted hackers to test its cybersecurity under a pilot program that is the first of its kind in the federal government. Called Hack the Pentagon, the so-called bug bounty program will give cash awards and other recognition to participants who can identify weaknesses on the Pentagon’s public web pages. What can be inferred from the text?. The Pentagon will reward its best websites hackers. The hackers do not need background checks. Non-Americans can also enter the bug bounty contest. This is not the first time the pentagon has run a program like this.

People presumably attacked on a political basis. Henriette Reker - an independent candidate supported by Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) party - was seriously injured along with an aide. Three others suffered minor injuries. Local police said Ms. Reker, 58, was "stable, but not out of the woods". Police have arrested a 44-year-old German national and Cologne resident. The attacker told the police he stabbed Ms. Reker "because of anti-foreigner motives," senior police investigator Norbert Wagner said. The suspect appeared to have acted alone and had no police record, Mr. Wagner added. Ralf Jager, a regional interior minister, said: "The first signs speak for a politically motivated act." What can be deduced from this new report?. One person was seriously injured and three slightly. Ms. Reker was attacked in a forest. Ms. Reker attacked a 44-year-old foreigner. Two people were seriously injured and three slightly.

New developments in the technology industry and its consequences Some of the most prominent executives in the technology industry including the Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk are backing a non-profit artificial intelligence research company with funding of $1bn. The effort announced on Friday, known as OpenAI, joins a number of other initiatives by prominent companies like Google, Apple and IBM to tap advanced computer technology to solve problems such as recognizing faces or translating languages. “Our goal is to advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return,” a blog post on OpenAI’s website said. What is the purpose of OpenAI?. To make the world a better place. To help people speak languajes. To help people speak with Googe and Apple. To reduce the impact of artificial intelligence.

Women at the labour market. Japan now has a higher proportion of working women than we do. I’m trying to get my head around this fact. “Everyone else is continuing to rise and we’ve declined, and now we’re basically tied with Japan. And Japan’s on the upswing and we’re still going down,” said Jason Furman, chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. He was pointing to a chart that shows women in the labor force in 24 countries. These are the usual suspects when we’re comparing ourselves to other societies – Australia, Belgium, Canada, etc. “When it came to women in the workplace, the United States used to be seventh. And now we’re 20th,” said Furman in a phone interview. “You’ll be happy to know that while Ireland also seems to be closing in on us, it’ll be a hell of a long time before we fall below Turkey”. What is clear from this text?. The Americans are happy with the results. The Americans are behind Turkey in the ranking. The gap between Japan and the US is widening. The gap between Japan and the US is closing.

Fear to the dentist Here is hope for people who are afraid of going to the dentist. New research says counselling can help to overcome the fear of the dentist. The research from King's College in London focused on the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating dental phobia. The biggest fears patients have are of pain-relieving injections and the dentist's drill. Doctors believe that up to ten sessions of CBT can result in stress-free visits to the dentist and cure this phobia. Which of the following is true?. The number of people scared of dentists is increasing. Most patients are not afraid of dentists’ drills. Injections are needed to overcome dental phobia. It is possible to overcome anxiety over dentists.

School issues A teacher in the USA has been allowed to keep her pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom. Maths teacher Catherine Gordon was told to remove it from her classroom last week. The school head said it was an "inappropriate" decoration that did not fit with the way the school celebrated Christmas holiday season. Which of the following is true?. The principal ordered a student to remove the tree. The principal said the tree had to be green. The tree did not match the religious events policy. The tree had small crosses and angels on it.

Problems of pets at home An English couple could lose their home because of their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners warned that they must move out of the house or get rid of the guinea pigs. Mr. Restall said his guinea pigs helped him fight cancer. He bought the guinea pigs to help him forget about it. They made him happy. He said the guinea pigs are mystic - they have special powers to help people. What can be inferred from the text?. The couple has to choose between their pets or their house. It is proven that guinea pigs have special powers. Guinea pigs helped Mr. Restall to overcome his lifelong depression. Mr. Restall refuses to let anyone touch his pets.

TV news about shootings My mother lives near Roseburg, Ore. Her part of the world isn’t often in the news in France. But when I woke up last Friday morning, the mass shooting on the Umpqua Community College campus in Roseburg had made the French morning television news. There was video of a landscape I know well, of distressed local citizens, and of President Obama delivering his solemn remarks. Viewed from France, everything about the United States looms large. Still, the numbers the newscasters ticked off — more than 300 million guns in circulation, mass shootings occurring at a rate of nearly one per day, thousands of victims of gun-related deaths — were shocking in their magnitude. Guns are highly regulated in France. Hunting is a popular sport, but a hunting license is required before a rifle can be purchased. Guns can be bought for use at firing ranges, but only after an application has been filed and approved by the police. What can be inferred from the text?. The writer is an admirer of the USA. France is very strict in its gun control. The USA will adopt France’s controls. All in the US seems unimportant to French people.

Health problems As a mother to three children under 12, I expect to feel totally exhausted at the end of the day. What I didn't realise, though, was that a lack of an essential vitamin could be to blame for my paltry physical stamina. A while ago, during a series of blood tests for some imaginary ailment (no doubt tiredness-related), my levels of vitamin D - essential for the absorption of calcium - were found to be very low. The doctor didn't seem to think this was significant but, as my mother, aged 78, has osteoporosis, I thought perhaps I should take a supplement. The condition, where bones become fragile, has been linked to a lack of vitamin D, although there are strong genetic factors as well. What can we infer from the text?. The writer had a vitamin deficiency. The writer is fit and healthy for her age. The writer has brittle bones. The writer’s kids really run her down.

Problems with Isis As Europe gears up for a full-scale military Response to the Paris attacks of 13 November, it is crucial to remember that Isis has an Achilles heel that cannot be hurt with bombs: finance. Isis is funded by a wide range of funding streams, from oil to diversified criminal activity to individual donations. Resolution 2199 of the UN security council, adopted in February 2015, identified at least a dozen types of crime that support the terrorist group, including not only oil sales but kidnapping, metals and antiquities trade, and human trafficking. To understand Islamic State budget flowcharts, it helps to distinguish between big-budget Isis in the Middle East and low-budget Isis in Europe. Isis in Iraq and Syria has significant expenses as it governs a territory with approximately 8 to 10 million people in addition to supporting a large standing military force and fomenting terrorism. What can we assume from the text?. The best way to attack Isis is to hit its purse. Isis is economically weak at the moment. Isis’s incomes are from limited sources. Isis’s European arm is an economic success.

Workers’ salaries on the decrease. Months after thousands of people were made redundant from highly-paid resource sector jobs, many are living with ongoing financial stress that has pushed them into the ranks of the working poor. It is a brutal adjustment from the "champagne lifestyle" afforded by six-figure salaries to little, or no, income. The high debts many people accrued during the days of the mining boom are forcing people to sell cars and homes, and to decide which bills they can afford to pay week-by-week. Compounding the problem is that, while rents have eased slightly, the overall cost of living in Western Australia remains stubbornly high. What is stated in the text?. The mining boom is far from over in Western Australia. It is not expensive to live in Western Australia. Car sales are on the rise in Western Australia. Many former resource workers struggle to make ends meet.

Finnish Prime Minister drops promise to let refugees use his home. Finland’s Prime Minister, Juha Sipila, has said he will not be able to fulfil a promise to put up a family of asylum seekers. Sipila, a former telecoms executive, prompted controversy in September by saying he would open his second home in northern Finland to refugees. But on Sunday he told public YLE radio that he had had to put the plan on hold because of security concerns, though he would support a refugee family in other ways until the situation changed. “I asked security experts to evaluate whether it would be safe for a family with children to move in,” he said. “Due to the heavy publicity, the situation is such that it would not be reasonable right now. ” Why has the Finnish Prime Minister taken back his promise?. Because he now works as a telecoms executive. Because his children would not be safe. Because it is now considered unsafe. Because of the controversy he caused.

Regulations for French DJs French DJs are angry about a new government rule. They are already unhappy because 40 per cent of the songs they play at radio stations must be in French. Now the government wants them to make sure the French songs are not the same hits, or get a fine. Many French artists, such as Daft Punk, already sing in English so they can be popular around the world. The new law is to protect French culture and language from the English language. Which of the following statements is true?. Radio stations are happy with the new government rule. Draft Punk is the only French group that sings in English. Radio stations could be fined for playing English songs. France is happy that its language is using more English words.

The Pope vs Trump Pope Francis said today that Donald Trump is “not Christian” if he wants to build a wall along the US-Mexican border. Trump immediately fired back, saying it is “disgraceful” for a religious leader to question a person’s faith. Trump, a leading Republican presidential TEXTO INCOMPLETO.... Where did the Pope make the comments?. At the border between California and Mexico. In Texas. On the way home from Mexico. In California.

Amazon and its complaints. The US online retail giant Amazon has filed a lawsuit in Seattle, Washington. It says its brand reputation is being damaged by "false, misleading and inauthentic" reviews paid for by sellers seeking to improve the appeal of their products. It comes after Amazon sued a number of websites in April for selling fake reviews. Amazon says the 1,114 defendants, termed "John Does" as the company does not yet know their real names, offer a false review service for as little as $5 on the website Fiverr.com, with most promising five-star reviews for a seller's products. "While small in number, these reviews can significantly undermine the trust that consumers and the vast majority of sellers and manufacturers place in Amazon, which in turn stains Amazon's brand," the technology giant said in its complaint, which was filed on Friday. Why is Amazon taking legal action?. People are writing fake critiques. People are using false names. Companies are hacking their webs. Companies are copying their ideas.

Mummified Man. A German man whose mummified body was found on a yacht adrift off the southern Philippines had died of a heart attack about a week earlier, according to an autopsy report. Police earlier named the victim based on documents found on the yacht on Friday as Manfred Fritz Bajorat of Germany, but they have yet to establish where he had sailed from or where he was heading. What can be inferred from the text?. The man sailed from Germany. The man was going to the Philippines. Police do not know where the man was going. The man was sailing to Germany.