B1 extra reading week 11
- 1. B1 LEVEL EXTRAREADING MATERIALS WEEK 11 1 DEADLIEST AIR ACCIDENT I. The passengers on KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 were looking forward to their Canary Island vacations. Both planned to land at Las Palmas, but terrorists had planted bombs in the Las Palmas airport, and one bomb had already exploded in the passenger terminal. All incoming planes were redirected from Grand Canary Island to the island of Tenerife. II. The Tenerife Airport had some problems, though. Located near mountains, its runway could be clear one minute and completely covered with clouds the next. The airport had no ground radar, and the center lights werent working. Taken together, they created the potential for disaster. But there was something more. Jacob van Zanten, the captain of the KLM plane, had spent the last months of his career working with pilots in a flight simulator. Pilots in flight simulators concentrate more on flying planes than communicating with ground control in airport towers. III. The deadliest accident in the history of aviation was about to happen. When the Pan Am plane landed at Tenerife, about 30 minutes after the KLM plane had arrived, the weather was clear and sunny. The pilots and passengers redirected to Tenerife hoped they would soon be on their way to Las Palmas. Soon after the Pan Am plane landed at Tenerife, the permission signal was given from Las Palmas. Many smaller aircraft were able to take off. With its passengers still on board, the Pan Am plane would also have been able to make a quick departure - except for one major problem. The KLM plane, whose passengers were out in the terminal, was blocking the runway. IV. While the KLM passengers were boarding the plane, the weather deteriorated. Visibility became so bad that no one in the tower could see planes on the runway. Captain van Zanten was concerned. His work day would notbe over when he finally arrived at Las Palmas. If his plane could not take off quickly from Tenerife, van Zanten would not be able to take the returning Las Palmas passengers to Amsterdam thatnight. Under Dutch law, flight crews who exceeded their authorized duty time could face trial. He had to leave immediately. V. Meanwhile, the Pan Am plane was waiting. Its pilots and passengers were very unhappy. As the KLM made its turn at the end of the runway, it was about 5:05 p.m. Captain van Zanten prepared to take off before he had received ATC (Air Traffic Control) permission. Then he released the brakes. The Pan Am pilots were shocked. Didnt the KLM crew see both planes were now facing each other on the fog-covered runway? VI. Taking immediate action, Captain Grubbs, the pilot of the Pan Am plane, turned left. Still not seeing the Pan Am plane, the KLM pilot approached the point of no return as the plane accelerated toward disaster. Trying to avoid a disastrous collision, Captain van Zanten got completely off the ground. But he didnt get high enough to avoid slamming into the right side of the Pan Am plane. On impact, the upstairs lounge of the Pan Am plane disappeared. As soon as the KLM plane stopped, a violentfire covered the whole wreckage. No one on the KLM plane escaped the flames. Seventy people were able to escape the Pan Am plane, although nine died later. Most made it to the left wing, and jumped to the ground from there. VII. The Tenerife crash still stands as the worlds worst aviation accident. Five hundred eighty- three people died. Seven ofthe sixteen Pan Am crew survived, including Captain Grubbs. The Spanish government found that Jacob van Zanten was responsible. The Dutch government also assigned responsibility to Tenerifes air traffic controllers.
- 2. B1 LEVEL EXTRAREADING MATERIALS WEEK 11 2 1. The two planes that were involved in the deadliestair accident ----. A) landed atLas Palmas although the explosion ruined halfofthe runway B) were being flown by two inexperienced pilots C) had left their passengers on Grand Canary Island because ofthe bomb explosion D) couldntland at their planned destination because ofa terroristthreat 2. As we understand from paragraph II, the airport of Tenerife ----. A) was not really prepared for safe landing B) had been builtfor military purposes C) was on top ofa high mountain D) did not need centre lights as it was rather small 3. As we can infer from paragraph II, working in a flight simulator for a long time ----. A) aims to improve pilots communication skills B) was something Captain van Zanten volunteered for C) can negatively affect a pilots communication skills D) is a requirementfor pilots who fly overseas 4. According to paragraph III, in spite ofthe permission signal from Las Palmas, ----. A) the Pan Am plane couldnttake off because ofthe KLM plane B) even small planes were notallowed to leave the airport C) the captain of the Pan Am plane refused to take off through the dense fog D) the passengers ofthe KLM plane did notwant to go back there 5. The word deteriorated in paragraph IV could bestbe replaced by ----. A) gotworse B) predicted C) became visible D) prevented 6. According to paragraph IV, Jacob van Zanten was under a lotof pressure ----. A) but he still managed to look calm B) although Dutch officials told him not to worry C) as he was going to be late for his next flight D) because he had notlanded at Tenerife before 7. The word slamming in paragraph VI is closestin meaning to ----. A) looking B) hitting C) searching D) escaping 8. The phrase made it to in paragraph VI could bestbe replaced by ----. A) performed B) created C) reached D) sent 9. According to the Spanish government, the accidenthappened because of ----. A) the weather conditions C) the air traffic controllers B) Captain Grubbs D) the captain of the KLM flight 10. Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the text? A) The KLM plane landed atTenerife after the Pan Am plane. B) The captain of the KLM plane tried to leave Tenerife without ATC permission. C) Some ofthe passengers on the KLM plane were able to escape. D) There were five hundred eighty-three passengers on the KLM plane.
- 3. B1 LEVEL EXTRAREADING MATERIALS WEEK 11 3 HANDWRITING AND PERSONALITY I At first glance, the myth that our personalities might be hidden in our handwriting is attractive. The way each of us writes is personal in just the same way as our personalities are individual. Handwriting is also a mode ofpersonal expression, a creative act we develop through our lives. II Its true that people can guess the author's gender from a handwriting sample about 60% to 70% of the time, bearing in mind that 50% is pure chance. People also perform well at guessing an author's socioeconomic status from his handwriting. But can you really deduce any deep psychological truths in a person's handwriting? Maybe people who have fast handwriting are impulsive. Maybe untidy handwriting means depression. However, graphologists, who examine handwriting to discover personality characteristics, have gone much further in interpreting handwriting. They have made all sorts of claims, including that graphology can help you select your perfect marriage partner, find out whether your partner is cheating on you, identify which potential employees will become violent on the job, and decide which applicants for a loan are credit-worthy. III There have been many studies into whether graphology can tell us anything about personality. These studies have shown that graphology has very little accuracy. As a result, the respectability of graphology within the scientific community has been wiped out. That's not to say that some of the plentiful studies on graphology don't find positive results. Some of them do, but they're very few. Unsurprisingly, mostofthese studies are published by graphologists themselves in journals that are not considered trustworthy. The studies published in journals that use precise scientific methodologies show graphology is notreliable. However, this hasn'tstopped graphologists from continuing to make all sorts of claims for their 'science'. IV Perhaps one of the most widespread, and potentially damaging uses of graphology, is in recruitment. It is thought between 5% and 10% of businesses in both the US and the UK use graphology as part of the recruitment process. In other parts of the world, the figure is even higher. Astonishingly, between 38% and 43% of businesses in France use graphology, probably because one of graphology's pioneers, Jean Hyppolyte Michon, was French. Still, it's difficult to know exactly how many companies still use it because many deny it, despite probably using it. They're right to keep it secret: it's embarrassing. V A recent review ofthe literature on the use of graphology specifically in recruitment was carried out by the British Psychological Society. They found that graphology has exactly the same power in personnel selection as astrology, that is, none. VI We have to bow to the weight of evidence against graphology. This evidence keeps telling us that it doesn'twork. However, people do not think too critically about graphology. The probable reason for this is that it seems so natural. Indeed, studies have shown that people believe they know how to change their handwriting to affect other people's impression of them. In other words, we share some beliefs about what handwriting indicates, although these connections are completely illusory. VII Consequently, people who believe in graphology should rightly be treated with the same suspicion as those who believe in astrology.Make fun of them if you wish, educate them if you can, but don't take them seriously.
- 4. B1 LEVEL EXTRAREADING MATERIALS WEEK 11 ITU SFL / Exam Texts 1. The word deduce in paragraph II could be replaced by______. A) improve B) put off C) discover D) refuse 2. Which ofthe following is NOT mentioned in paragraph II as a claim made by graphologists? A) Helping to choose a wife or husband B) Telling when someone will getmarried C) Finding out if a spouse is loyal D) Determining whether a person is eligible for a loan 3. The word this in paragraph III refers to the fact that ______. A) no studies on graphology have been published in serious journals B) graphology can tell us everything aboutpersonality C) scientific studies show graphology has no reliability D) graphologists earn a lot ofmoney by interpreting handwriting 4. According to paragraph III, studies on graphology that show positive results _____. A) have added to its respectability B) will probably increase in the near future C) are more than one would expect D) are usually published by unreliable journals 5. Based on the information in paragraph III, we can infer that the writer of the passage ______. A) used to be a graphologist C) has wiped outmany scientific claims B) thinks graphology is nota science D) is the publisher ofseveral scientific journals 6. The word figure in paragraph IV is closestin meaning to ______. A) number B) shape C) employment D) outline 7. According to paragraphs IV & V, itis difficult to know how many companies use graphology as partof their recruitment strategy because ______. A) a lot of companies do notadmitusing it B) American companies do notuse itas much as French companies C) only a few businesses use it D) astrology is also used in recruitment 8. The word illusory in paragraph VI could be replaced by ______. A) persuasive B) correct C) exhausting D) misleading 9. Which ofthe following statements is TRUE according to the text? A) No one believes thatour personalities mightbe hidden in our handwriting. B) The British Psychological Society has approved that astrology is a reliable science. C) It is impossible for an adult to change his or her handwriting. D) Jean Hyppolyte Michon examined handwriting to find out personality features.
- 5. B1 LEVEL EXTRAREADING MATERIALS WEEK 11 ITU SFL / Exam Texts BIRD STRIKES I. US Airways flight 1549 collided with a flock of geese seconds after taking off from LaGuardia Airport last Monday. All 155 passengers and the crew survived the event, due to the skillful maneuvering of the pilot. This event highlights at least three risk factors for bird strikes that should receive more attention in the future. Questions that may be asked include: Do flight paths at particular airports cross bird migratory paths? Can improved technologies prevent birds from being sucked into engines? Does the airport have a trained biologist present to help alleviate any problems? II. "If you look outside your plane window before takeoff and see an individual in a vehicle scanning the runway, there's a good chance he's a biologist monitoring the airport for birds," says federal official Larry Hawkins. His team performs assessment management plans for airports and then, if necessary, helps them employ a biologistand support staff. "Our prevention tactics include modifying habitat, removing wildlife, and scaring them away", he says, explaining that scaring involves setting off a firecracker a small rocket whenever flocks of birds are spotted in the flight path. III. Planes are at greatestrisk of a bird strike during takeoffs and landings, since above this risk zone they fly higher than birds. An airport's location can also increase the chances of a bird strike, Hawkins suggests, with airports near water being at greater risk, along with airports that intersect bird flyways. "These are flight paths followed by migrating birds," he explains. "Some California airports, for example, cross the Pacific Flyway." IV. According to Bird Strike Committee USA, an organization that strives to reduce bird and other wildlife hazards to aircraft, three types of birds represent 75 per cent of all reported bird strikes. These are waterfowl, gulls and raptors. "Imagine driving your car and a bee hits your windshield. You may not even notice," Hawkins says. "If a pigeon collides with your windshield, you may suffer cracked glass. But if you hit a dog, the entire front grill of your car could be destroyed." Bird collisions with aircraft are similar because minor strikes occur on a regular basis but are not reported. It is only when the strike affects passengers, or leads to costly damage, that such events come to light. "In 2008, a single bird was sucked into an airplane engine at Los Angeles International Airport," Hawkins says. "The aircraft landed safely and there were no fatalities, but the damage cost US$1.9 million." V. Hawkins says that even smaller birds, such as starlings, can damage planes, especially if the aircraft collides with a flock. Bird Strike Committee USA refers to starlings as "feathered bullets," since they say these birds possess a body density 30 per cent higher than many other birds. Better technologies are being sought to make plane engines less vulnerable to bird air strikes, but airplane improvements ironically may now be increasing these collisions. "Fan jets are quieter," Hawkins says, "but birds can't hear them as well, so newer planes are less of a deterrent." 1. As we learn from the text, what saved the lives ofthe people in US Airways flight 1549 was ----. A) a flock ofgeese thatappeared unexpectedly B) the planes being ata very high altitude C) a newly invented device in the cockpit D) the pilots ability to control the plane 2. The word alleviate in paragraph I is closestin meaning to ----. A) reduce B) worsen C) renew D) alternate
- 6. B1 LEVEL EXTRAREADING MATERIALS WEEK 11 ITU SFL / Exam Texts 3. According to Larry Hawkins, one ofthe tactics to preventbird strikes is to ----. A) look outside the plane window carefully B) frighten birds near airplane flight paths C) discourage airports from employing a biologist D) supportthe wildlife near major airports 4. Which ofthe following is NOT mentioned in the text as a factor that affects the risk ofa bird strike? A) the altitude ofthe plane B) closeness to a body ofwater C) closeness to flightpaths followed by migrating birds D) the frequency oftakeoffs and landings 5. The word strives in paragraph IV is closestin meaning to ----. A) struggles B) purifies C) increases D) refuses 6. It is stated in the text that waterfowl, gulls and raptors ----. A) are responsible for mostbird strikes B) do not actually pose a serious threatto aircraft C) often hit automobile windshields D) have recently changed their flyways because ofthe air traffic 7. The word fatalities in paragraph IV could bestbe replaced by ----. A) passengers B) reporters C) deaths D) expenses 8. Based on the information in paragraph V, we can say that ----. A) starlings are the mostserious threat to planes B) new technology does notalways reduce risks C) new plane engines are less expensive D) it is safer to drive a car than fly a plane ANSWER KEY: DEADLIEST AIR ACCIDENT 1. D 2. A 3. C 4. A 5. A 6. C 7. B 8. C 9. D 10.B HANDWRITINGAND PERSONALITY 1.C 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.B 6.A 7.A 8.D 9.D BIRD STRIKES 1.D 2.A 3.B 4.D 5.A 6.A 7.C 8.B