Earth's Treasures, Probiotics, Humor, and Ice Skating

Treasures of the Earth

1. This text talks about an exhibition where you can see a model house in which you can locate materials. There is also an animated film where you can see the different geological periods. You can also see different minerals. You can also experience earthquakes and learn the history of the planet in a video.
2. Keywords: Exhibition, tools, lent, fractures.
3. • a) Samples from the collection are used to study the minerals.
   • b) "You ought to see the beautiful animated [film]," they said to us.
   • c) The exhibition contains a model house.
   • d) You can see a large model of a modern gold mine.
4. • a) This text comes from a leaflet about the exhibition. It was written by the person who organized the exhibition to tell people what the exhibition is about.
   • b) Minerals are used in many objects that we use in our lives every day, such as talc, building materials, and jewelry.

Professor Chris Wiseman

1. This text talks about a joke competition to choose the most popular in the world. They found that the culture of a country influences the type of jokes its citizens prefer. The joke that came second was about Sherlock Holmes. It also says that telling a joke well is more important than the joke itself.
2. Keywords: Experiment, variations, tent, universal.
3. • a) "I have found the funniest jokes in the world," said Wiseman.
   • b) People enjoyed jokes about the relationship between men and women.
   • c) Americans' and Canadians' favorite jokes are about making somebody look stupid.
   • d) To find the world's most popular joke, Chris Wiseman conducted an experiment.
4. • a) Yes, because there are national and regional differences in humor, as well as variations between the sexes.
   • b) I know the experiment was popular because people contributed many jokes, and almost 2 million people voted for their favorite. Also, the television program where he gave the result was watched by millions of people.

Probiotic Products

1. This text discusses probiotic products. First of all, they are very beneficial and can help combat diseases such as asthma. Besides, they also increase the body's defenses. They are more effective when combined with vitamins. However, their effects don't seem beneficial for eczema and cholesterol, but they are good for digestive health.
2. Keywords: Digest, super-clean, improve, illnesses.
3. • a) If we introduce these "friendly" bacteria into our system, we can fight the bad bacteria.
   • b) Your immune system can be helped by probiotics.
   • c) We may not enjoy eating them so much.
   • d) Unless we eat them, our digestive health may be affected.
4. • a) Some conditions helped by probiotics are bad digestion, a poor immune system, asthma, and psoriasis. Probiotics introduce good bacteria, which fight the bad bacteria and improve the immune system.
   • b) I always eat healthy food because I'm a sportsman. My favorite is fish and chips.

Skating

1. This text talks about skating, which started in Northern Europe as a means of transport to carry things. In 1908, it became an Olympic sport. There are different events: singles, pairs, and ice dancing. Each event has two sections: the short program and free skating. However, ice dancing consists of compulsory, original, and free dances.
2. Keywords: Frozen, waterways, perform, couple.
3. • a) Goods were being transported across frozen waterways.
   • b) Six years after the International Skating Union was founded, the first official event was celebrated.
   • c) If judges didn't deduct points, a balanced program would not be important.
   • d) There are three sections in ice dancing.
4. • a) They were able to include figure skating in the 1908 Olympic Games because the International Skating Union, which had been founded in 1892, worked hard for a decade.
   • b) Free skating and free dancing differ from the rest because they are more original: in these, the skaters can choose the music and their interpretation of it.