Exam practice

London, the capital of the United Kingdom (the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Thames), and Paris, the capital of France (the Eiffel Tower).

London: Big Ben and Parliament, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, its museums, red buses and the Underground, and its football clubs.
Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum (home of the Mona Lisa), Notre-Dame cathedral, fashion, art, cafés and its bread and pastries.

a. ii (very extensive) b. iii (240; 380 is libraries) c. i (its restaurants have more Michelin stars, and its bread and pastries) d. iv (London has many more libraries) e. ii (only London’s mild weather is good all year; Paris is best from June to August)

• a.False. They accept a handshake, but a kiss on the cheek is the usual greeting.
• b.False. Londoners tend to stay in closed cliques; it is easier to get to know people in Paris.
• c.True. City people meet friends at a café over espresso.
• d.True. 1,572 km² ÷ 105 km² ≈ 15.
• e.False. London is more expensive.
• f.False. Paris is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe.

The Thames in London and the Seine in Paris.

Because London has six major football clubs in England’s top league, while Paris has only one major club, Paris Saint-Germain.

London. It had the second-highest number of visitors in the world, after Bangkok; Paris was third.

Autumn: the temperatures are pleasant, and many British events and festivals take place then. (Its mild weather means you can go at any time.)

Paris: its local transport and bills are cheaper than London’s, so your money lasts longer.

In London, I think, because it has more registered taxis, about 22,500 against Paris’s 17,000. (You could also argue for Paris: it is about fifteen times smaller, so its 17,000 taxis are much closer together.)

I would like to visit Paris. First, it is cheaper, so with the same money I could stay longer. Second, I love art, and I want to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and climb the Eiffel Tower. Third, the blog says Parisians are friendly once you try a few words of French, and I would enjoy learning bonjour and merci. And I want to taste a real baguette from a Paris bakery. London has more museums and football, but for me, Paris has more charm.

a. Falling ↘ (a polite invitation; a fall-rise makes it warmer) b. falling ↘ (a wish) c. falling ↘ (wh- question) d. falling ↘ (thanks) e. falling ↘ (statement) f. falling ↘ (wh- question) g. rising ↗ (yes/no question) h. rising ↗ (yes/no question) i. falling ↘ (statement; the voice may rise a little on test, then fall at the end) j. falling ↘ (introducing someone)

a. Hari: Look at the Karnali Bridge, with its one tall tower and its fan of cables. It’s more attractive to look at than the Koshi Bridge.
Mina: True, but the Koshi Bridge is much longer: it runs over the whole barrage, more than a kilometer. It is not as wide as the Karnali Bridge, though: it has only one lane, so vehicles have to take turns.
b. Asha: The Leonberger is much bigger and hairier than the Bull Terrier. It looks like a lion!
Bikash: Yes, and Leonbergers are said to be gentle, so they may be easier to tame. The Bull Terrier is not as big, but it is very strong for its size.
c. Sagar: An electric heater is cleaner than a coal fire: no smoke, no ash.
Prabha: I agree. A coal fire might be cheaper at first, but in the long run a heater is often more economical to run, and much safer for your lungs.
d. Nisha: I find the corner shop more pleasant to shop at; the owner knows my name.
Rabin: Maybe, but the supermarket has a much wider range of goods, and the prices are often lower.

a. poor (describes family) b. poorly (how she performed) c. calm (after is) d. patiently e. loudly (loud is also heard in everyday speech: speak loud; loudly is the safe answer) f. quietly g. quiet (describes children) h. softly i. timidly

a. more complicated b. heavier c. heavy d. more quickly (faster is the more common word) e. intelligent (no comparison: an needs a vowel, and nothing is compared) f. better g. as fast h. more beautifully i. as gracefully j. longer

Paragraph 1: how the two are alike, and the main differences in size, setting and history. Paragraph 2: life there: weather, transport, cost, what to see. Finish with your own preference. Use -er/more … than, as … as, while, whereas, however, on the other hand.

Kathmandu and Pokhara

Kathmandu and Pokhara are two of Nepal’s best-known cities, and both welcome thousands of tourists every year. However, they are very different. Kathmandu is the capital and the biggest city in the country, crowded with offices, schools and traffic, while Pokhara is smaller and calmer. Kathmandu is older, with centuries-old Durbar Squares, temples and stupas built by the Malla kings, whereas Pokhara is famous for its natural beauty: Phewa Lake, and Machhapuchhre so close that it seems to rise from the city.

Life in the two cities differs too. Pokhara lies lower than Kathmandu, so its winters are warmer, but it is much rainier in the monsoon. Kathmandu’s air is often more polluted, especially in winter, and its traffic jams are longer. On the other hand, Kathmandu has more hospitals, universities and jobs, which is why so many people move there. Pokhara is not as busy as Kathmandu, but it is a center for adventure sports such as paragliding and trekking. If I had to choose a place to study, I would pick Kathmandu; to spend a holiday, I would choose Pokhara every time.

A town mouse visits his cousin in the country and laughs at her simple food. He invites her to the town, where they feast on fine leftovers in a rich house. Suddenly a dog (or a cat, or the servants) bursts in, and the mice run for their lives. The country mouse goes home, saying she prefers plain food in peace to a feast in fear. It is one of Aesop’s fables, told in Greece about 2,500 years ago, and retold by the Roman poet Horace and many others since.

a – iv, b – ix, c – i, d – x, e – ii, f – iii, g – v, h – vii, i – vi, j – viii
Regale has two meanings: to entertain someone with stories (he regaled us with jokes), and, as in the poem, to feast on good food (they were nicely regaling).

• a.True. She was content with plain food.
• b.False. She ate simple food: cheese, bacon and peas.
• c.True. He frowned at the bacon and peas.
• d.True.
• e.True. Custard, trifle, cheesecakes and more (though nobody served it: they crept in and helped themselves).
• f.True. The dog, the cat and the maid burst in.

She lived simply and peacefully in a snug little cottage, free to run about the house undisturbed, content with plain food: cheese, bacon and grey peas.

To pay a short visit to his friend, the country mouse.

She couldn’t refuse such a kind invitation, but she left reluctantly: she was sad to leave her fields, trees and simple food. So she was tempted, but not really happy.

The dog, the cat and the maid with a broom came into the room. The frightened mice jumped into a custard up to their knees.

To get her safely away, back home, because she could no longer stay in the city with such dangers; she wanted her bacon and peas in peace.

I live in Bhaktapur, a town. Advantages: my school, the hospital and shops are a short walk away; there are buses to Kathmandu every few minutes; there is always a festival, and the old squares are beautiful. Disadvantages: the streets are crowded and noisy, the air is dusty in winter, land is expensive, and there is little open space to play. My grandparents in the village have fresh air, fresh vegetables from their own field and quiet nights, but they must walk an hour to the health post. Like the country mouse, I sometimes miss the peace; like the town mouse, I would miss the convenience.

• a.Pokhara (Gandaki Province) and Janakpur (Madhesh Province). The others: Biratnagar (Koshi), Hetauda (Bagmati), Deukhuri (Lumbini), Birendranagar (Karnali) and Godawari (Sudurpashchim).
• b.Both are provincial capitals and busy market centers. Pokhara is in the hills, famous for Phewa Lake and the Annapurnas, and it is cooler; Janakpur is in the flat, hot Terai, famous for the Janaki Mandir and Mithila painting.

Montreal: a, c, d. Quebec City: b, e.

a. True. b. True (mostly French; the street signs are in French). c. False. About four days. d. False. e. False. He will visit a friend from college.

a. Although b. However c. but d. Despite / In spite of e. Although f. Because g. because h. because of i. Despite / In spite of j. although

Lamidanda: A Hidden Charm of Khotang

Tucked among the green hills of Khotang district in eastern Nepal, Lamidanda is a village that seems untouched by time. It is known as the gateway to Halesi Mahadev, the sacred cave temple, and it has a small airport that brings pilgrims and visitors from Kathmandu.

The village is blessed with gorgeous landscapes. Terraced fields of maize and millet step down the slopes, and dense forests cover the ridges. On a clear day, a line of snow-capped mountains glows on the northern horizon. Most families are Rai, and their traditional houses of stone and wood, with neat yards, stand close together along the ridge.

As you walk up the stone-paved path, you meet humble villagers carrying loads of firewood from the forest, and children grazing goats and cattle, who stop to smile and say namaste. The mornings are chilly, with mist in the valleys, but the days are warm and bright.

Lamidanda has no shopping malls or busy roads, and that is its charm. Anyone who wants to see the simple beauty of rural Nepal should visit it at least once.

a. Although Paris is smaller (although) b. because it was raining (because) c. unless you study (unless) d. as soon as she could (as soon as)

Any two: London is about fifteen times bigger in area, but Paris is more densely populated; London is more expensive; Londoners greet with a handshake, Parisians often with a kiss; London has more libraries, museums and football clubs; Paris has more Michelin-starred restaurants; London has six airports, Paris three; it is easier to make friends in Paris.

a. more beautiful b. big c. warmer d. calmer (or calm: both make sense) e. silently

• a.Although it was raining, we went to Sarangkot.
• b.Despite being tired, she finished her homework. (or Despite her tiredness, …)
• c.The road was blocked because of a landslide.
• d.The tickets were cheap. However, the hall was empty.

A village and a town are both good places to grow up, in different ways. A village is quieter and cleaner than a town; children play in open fields and learn to farm and care for animals. However, schools and hospitals are often farther away, and there are fewer jobs. A town is busier and noisier, but it offers better schools, more books and the internet, and more chances to meet people from different places. In my view, a village gives a healthier childhood, while a town gives more opportunities, so the best is a childhood in the village and studies in the town.

The country mouse learns that peace and contentment are worth more than rich food. In the town she eats custard and cheesecakes, but the dog, the cat and the maid frighten her, and she realizes that the city mouse lives in constant fear. She goes home to her plain bacon and peas, happy. I agree with her: comfort and luxury mean little without peace of mind. But I think the city also offers things worth some trouble, like education and work, so the choice depends on what we value most.