For security reasons, large bags, food, and drinks are not permitted inside the exhibition rooms.
Lockers are provided near the entrance at no additional cost.

Why are lockers mentioned in the notice?

Hi Mark,

My train has been delayed again, so I won’t be there at the scheduled start time.
Please go ahead without me — I’ll join as soon as I arrive.

Laura

What does Laura expect Mark to do?

Due to essential maintenance work, the city library will be closed on Monday, 18 March.
Online services, including e-books and renewals, will remain available during this time.
Visitors may return items using the external drop box. Normal opening hours will resume on Tuesday.

What can library users still do on Monday?

For these questions, choose the correct answer.

Greenfield Park: visitor review

I visited Greenfield Park with my family last weekend. The park’s website was helpful and gave us lots of details about opening hours and activities. However, it didn’t provide any information about parking, so I had to call the park office for clarification, which took some time.

When we arrived, I noticed the car park was very spacious, but there weren’t enough signs showing the way to the entrance. Fortunately, a staff member noticed us looking around and kindly pointed us in the right direction.

The park itself was beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and clean picnic areas. The walking paths were easy to follow, and there were signs along the way explaining the history of the park. However, some of the benches were broken, which was disappointing.

At lunchtime, we decided to eat at the café near the lake. We had to wait a while for someone to take our order, but once the food arrived, it was delicious. The staff were polite and even recommended a dessert, which turned out to be excellent.

Before leaving, we stopped by the gift shop. It was well-stocked, but the cashier didn’t ask if we found everything we needed, although she did thank us for visiting and wished us a good day.

What does the visitor say about the park’s website?

For these questions, choose the correct answer.

Greenfield Park: visitor review

I visited Greenfield Park with my family last weekend. The park’s website was helpful and gave us lots of details about opening hours and activities. However, it didn’t provide any information about parking, so I had to call the park office for clarification, which took some time.

When we arrived, I noticed the car park was very spacious, but there weren’t enough signs showing the way to the entrance. Fortunately, a staff member noticed us looking around and kindly pointed us in the right direction.

The park itself was beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and clean picnic areas. The walking paths were easy to follow, and there were signs along the way explaining the history of the park. However, some of the benches were broken, which was disappointing.

At lunchtime, we decided to eat at the café near the lake. We had to wait a while for someone to take our order, but once the food arrived, it was delicious. The staff were polite and even recommended a dessert, which turned out to be excellent.

Before leaving, we stopped by the gift shop. It was well-stocked, but the cashier didn’t ask if we found everything we needed, although she did thank us for visiting and wished us a good day.

When the visitor arrived:

For these questions, choose the correct answer.

Greenfield Park: visitor review

I visited Greenfield Park with my family last weekend. The park’s website was helpful and gave us lots of details about opening hours and activities. However, it didn’t provide any information about parking, so I had to call the park office for clarification, which took some time.

When we arrived, I noticed the car park was very spacious, but there weren’t enough signs showing the way to the entrance. Fortunately, a staff member noticed us looking around and kindly pointed us in the right direction.

The park itself was beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and clean picnic areas. The walking paths were easy to follow, and there were signs along the way explaining the history of the park. However, some of the benches were broken, which was disappointing.

At lunchtime, we decided to eat at the café near the lake. We had to wait a while for someone to take our order, but once the food arrived, it was delicious. The staff were polite and even recommended a dessert, which turned out to be excellent.

Before leaving, we stopped by the gift shop. It was well-stocked, but the cashier didn’t ask if we found everything we needed, although she did thank us for visiting and wished us a good day.

What disappointed the visitor about the park?

The park was generally well organised; however, some visitors expressed concerns about the lack of clear signage.

What is the function of the word however in this sentence?

Several visitors expressed concerns about the safety of the walking paths after dark.

What does expressed concerns most nearly mean in this context?

Many companies have adopted remote working policies in recent years.
Employees often report increased flexibility and improved work-life balance.
However, managers have raised concerns about reduced collaboration and team cohesion.

What is the main purpose of the final sentence in the text?

What is the writer’s main purpose in this text?

The Future of Urban Commuting

The rise of electric scooters in major cities has sparked a fierce debate. Proponents argue they provide a "last-mile" solution, filling the gap between public transport hubs and final destinations. They are eco-friendly, reducing the carbon footprint of daily commuters. However, critics point to the "sidewalk clutter" and the safety risks posed to pedestrians. Urban planners are now faced with the challenge of integrating these devices into a landscape originally designed for cars and foot traffic, without alienating either group.

The proposal was presented as a bold step toward innovation.
In practice, it recycled several ideas that had previously failed to gain support,
raising questions about whether the initiative truly deserved its enthusiastic reception.

What does the writer imply about the proposal?

What does the author imply about having a wide range of products to choose from?

The Illusion of Choice

In the digital age, the paradox of choice has become a defining feature of the consumer experience. While we are told that more options lead to greater freedom, the reality is often "decision paralysis." In a recent study, participants presented with thirty varieties of gourmet jam were significantly less likely to make a purchase than those shown only six. The sheer volume of information to process leads to a cognitive overload that dampens the satisfaction of the eventual choice, as the consumer remains haunted by the "path not taken."

Choose the word that best fits the gap based on the nuance of the sentence.

The architect’s design was criticized for being too ___________, lacking the warmth and human scale required for a residential building.

Choose the word that best fits the gap based on the nuance of the sentence.

After hours of circular debate, the committee finally ___________ a decision that satisfied both parties.

Choose the word that best fits the gap based on the nuance of the sentence.

The research findings ___________ the theory that social media usage directly correlates with a decline in deep-reading capabilities.

"The rapid expansion of renewable energy has been hailed as a triumph for environmental policy. _____________________. Despite the falling costs of solar panels, the infrastructure required to store that energy remains prohibitively expensive for many developing nations."

Which sentence fits gap?

"The city’s new 'Smart Traffic' system is a masterpiece of over-engineering. It meticulously tracks every bicycle and pedestrian, ensuring that the commute is optimized to the millisecond, even if it strips the neighborhood of the spontaneous charm that once defined our streets."

What is the writer’s attitude toward the 'Smart Traffic' system?

Which statement best summarizes the "tragedy" described in the passage?

The Ephemerality of the Avant-Garde

The inherent contradiction of the avant-garde lies in its inevitable march toward the status quo. To be truly at the "forefront" is to occupy a space of radical resistance against established norms. Yet, as soon as these radical forms are parsed by the academy or commodified by the market, they lose their subversive potency. They become the very "tradition" they once sought to dismantle. Thus, the successful avant-garde artist is a tragic figure: their triumph is simultaneously the moment of their creative obsolescence.