2a. Read the texts and the statements that follow them. Write YES if the opinion is expressed in
the text (=the writer agrees) and NO if the writer disagrees.
Britain never used to have armed police, but when major events are being held, such as the recent
London Olympics, there is a visible presence of armed police in train stations. Do people using public
transport feel reassured when they see armed police? Possibly. But most of them, especially visitors
to the UK, may feel that there is something to worry about, especially as they would expect British
police not to be armed. And if we think about it, the police, armed or not, cannot protect us from
bombers. But what the police can, and sometimes does do, is make mistakes, and these are always
worse when there are firearms involved. So in the end, arming police may do more harm than good.
1. Most travellers feel protected when they see armed police in train stations.
(people feel reassured. . . ? Possibly. But
most ofthem, especially visitors to the UK,
may feel that there is something to worry
about. . .)
2. Even police with guns cannot protect us from bombers.
(the police, armed or not, cannot
protect us from bombers)
3. The police might shoot somebody by accident.
(... police . . . sometimes . . . make
mistakes . . . worse when there are firearms
involved)
4. It is better not to have armed police in Britain.
(armingpolice may do more harm than
good)
Instead of complaining about roadworks, the cost of petrol, the price of cars, etc. we need to think
about other options. And I don't mean car sharing or building more motorways. I say we try to
save our environment by campaigning for better bus and train networks and for different types of
transport, such as trams.
5. We should complain about car-related problems.
(instead ofcomplaining . . .)
6. The environment is not really in danger.
(try to save our environment)
7. Public transport needs to be improved.
( try. . . campaigning for better bus and
train networks and ... trams)
The rise in fuel prices is a very worrying trend. Here are just some examples of the consequences.
Elderly people cannot afford to heat their houses, people lose their jobs because they can no longer
afford to commute to work, or because they are made redundant from their jobs in transport-based
businesses such as airlines. Self-employed people often rely on their own transport for work, e.g.
delivery people, florists and taxi drivers, so they may be forced to close their business. The prices of
some food and raw materials also increase as a direct result of the cost of oil, e.g. the prices of beef
and cotton. Against all of that, there is one possible advantage: car manufacturers are employing
more people to design fuel-efficient cars, which will benefit the environment. But surely, this is not
enough. What we need is international cooperation and political goodwill, to reduce fuel prices and/
or financially support those who are being affected.
8. We need to be concerned about the increase in the price of fuel.
( the rise in fuel prices is a very
worrying trend)
9. There are more problems caused by increasing fuel prices than the ones mentioned in the passage.
( the rise in fuel prices is a very
worrying trend)
10. The price of beef is closely related to the price of oil.
(the rise in fuel prices is a very
worrying trend)
11. The rise of fuel prices is not a big problem as the environment is benefitting from it.
(it is true that the environment may
benefit: there is one possible advantage . . .
but . . . surely, this is not enough)
12. If we cannot lower the price of fuel then we need more money so that people can cope with it.
(What we need is . . . to reduce fuel prices and/or financially support those who
are being affected)
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