skills TEST 2 B units 3–4
Name: _________________________________________
READING SKILLS
1 Read the text and decide whether statements 1–8 are true (T), false (F) or there is no information (NI). (8 points)
Climate Change – an alternative view
Over the past few years, we have featured a number of
articles on the global warming phenomena and the
dangers faced by all of us as a result. However, we have
received several criticisms that we do not allow
opposing opinions to be aired. Never liking to be
thought of as either dictators or cowards, we invited
leading climate change sceptic, Professor Henrik
Johansson, to write an article for us on the subject. As
always, your views are very welcome on the topic.
First, let us look at the undisputed facts. The hottest
year on record was 1998. In that year, the influence of
the El Nino currents in the Pacific was a major factor in
the temperature rise. Since then, despite increased
emissions of CO2 and the massive growth in China and
India’s industrialisation, temperatures have never
reached the same heights. Surely, were human influence
the only cause of climate change, temperatures would
have continued to rise?
Secondly, in the same way that there have always been
some religious fanatics who have believed that the end
of the world would occur in their lifetimes, as if their
existence somehow made this tiny period of history the
most important one, we now have environmental
fanatics who seem to want disaster to strike now for the
same reason. This is ironic as most environmentalists
believe in the power of nature rather than a God. They
will go down in history as being a part of the generation
destroyed by man’s stupidity and greed and they can all
cry ‘I was there.’
However, this is not an exceptional period of climatic
extremes. Consider that, in 1868, it was so warm in
Britain that there was a harvest of strawberries in
December. The temperature in the Medieval Warm
Period of the 10th–13th centuries was believed to have
been about 1.5°C higher than the average for the 20th
century. Grapes could be grown in the north of England
and the great Viking emigrations to Iceland and
Greenland were possible because of the good
grasslands for grazing animals and the lack of sea ice in
the northern Atlantic Ocean. Had temperatures been
colder, they would have had to have ventured
southwards in order to find new lands they could
cultivate. Then came the little ice age of the early 1300s
with cold temperatures and massive flooding all over
Europe on a scale unimaginable today.
58 © Pearson Education Limited 2009
Score: ____________ / 20 points
The fact is that, however influential human behaviour is
on climate, and I’m not denying that it may have some
influence, it is far less important than natural
phenomena such as sun spots and solar flares, which
produce massive amounts of heat, volcanic activity and
the movement of ocean currents. Studies show that
solar activity is currently at its highest rate, or one of its
highest rates for 8,000 years. I understand that certain
scientists have stated that the changes in temperature
recorded in recent years cannot be attributed to this
solar activity but I would disagree with them and I am
not alone.
Having questioned scientific beliefs, one then has to ask
why this belief is not only accepted but actively
encouraged. At first glance, those in positions of power,
the politicians, would appear to have little to gain from
the green movement. However, think for a moment
about the government’s most disliked activity, taxation.
If governments raise taxes there is outcry and, at the
earliest opportunity, the electorate vote them out of
office. However, by claiming that every extra penny
charged for petrol for our cars is to save the
environment and every extra percentage charged to
factories is to stop pollution, the government is able to
steal billions from us, with our total agreement. In fact
we may even beg them to take more.
The scary thing is that those of us who challenge the
accepted viewpoint are labelled dangerously deluded
sceptics. Scientists have, throughout history, argued and
theorised. Where disagreements occurred, great minds
were stimulated to prove their own theory correct. The
climate change believers have substituted ridicule and
contempt for scientific proof and that, to my mind, is
both a shame and a reason to treat their views with
healthy scepticism.
The real problem is that such disagreements deflect us
from the real issues. Pollution is growing and can kill.
Fossil fuels are running out and will need to be replaced
whether or not they influence global temperatures. And
the ozone layer is being depleted with serious
consequences for radiation levels and skin cancer rates.
There is so much we agree on, let’s agree to disagree on
climate change in a more considerate and civilised
manner.
PHOTOCOPIABLE

1 The paper has not published an article arguing
against global warming theories before.
2 The temperature has been going down
steadily every year since 1998.
3 Most environmental fanatics have strong
religious beliefs.
4 1868 was the warmest year on record before
1998.
5 The writer is sure that human activity has no
effect on climate change.
6 Some scientists reject the idea that solar
activity is at a very high level at
the moment.  .
7 Before the global warming crisis, governments
didn’t raise as much money through taxation
as they do now.
8 The writer’s only disagreement with
environmentalists is on the causes of global
warming.
2 For questions 9 and 10, choose the correct answers
a–d. (2 points)
  9 The writer is less likely to believe people if
a they use insults in place of reasoning.
b they disagree with him.
c they are religious or environmental
fanatics.
d they work for the government.
10 The writer says that
a disagreements between scientists are
a shame as they make progress more
difficult.
b despite scientific proof put forward by
environmentalists, he refuses to believe
them.
c there have never been such big extremes
in climate as there are now.
d human activity may have an effect on
climate change although not a very great
one.
PHOTOCOPIABLE © Pearson Education Limited 2009
skills TEST 2 B units 3–4
LISTENING SKILLS
1 CD Track 3 Listen to the interview between an
employer and a student. Complete the information
with a word or phrase. (10 points)
  1 The student doesn’t yet know whether he has
succeeded in getting a place at
.
  2 The student’s application won’t be affected
by his .
  3 The university he has applied to knows that
he wants to wait a year before starting his
  4 One of the subjects he studied was the
History .
  5 One problem with a safari would be the high
.
  6 Being on an overland adventure tour would
not enable him to discover how people
.
  7 Living in a village would entail not only
having to eat the same food as the locals but
also using the same
facilities.
  8 The TV in the village is used by
.
  9 On holiday last year he had no Internet or
mobile phone for almost
.
10 Building work is probably unpopular because
not many students have worked with
.
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