Curiosidades del Inglés: Coches sin Conductor, Verdeando el Sahara, Año de la Papa, Terapia Musical, Mitos sobre Osos, Economía India, Halloween, Encuestas Políticas, El Everest y Nombres de Bebé

Ejercicios de comprensión lectora en inglés

Self-driving Google cars

Self-driving Google cars:

1: a) False. With someone... interventions. b) True. Because the... consumption.

2: a) Google self-driving cars have a small size, and if you see them from above and outside, you will notice that this new Google device has a cylindrical object which holds diverse technical devices to record and see other cars.

3: a) harder b) eventually c) reducing d) proof

4: a) bought... has been complaining b) than... are lost c) are... driving d) by... an

Greening the Sahara

Greening the Sahara:

1: a) True. Egypt's population... get worse. b) False. Crowded... 10 years.

2: a) Because he is a farmer whose job consists of growing fruits in a place that in the past was totally part of the Sahara desert. b) On one hand, because they think that agriculture might not give as many benefits as the government wants, and on the other hand, because it might destroy the touristic wild environment in Egypt.

3: a) vast b) likely c) because d) rather than

4: a) as... as b) travelling... most ancient... was built c) on d) which... to promote

The International Year of the Potato

The International Year of the Potato:

1: a) False. Only... nor consumed. b) False. Over the... a year.

2: a) The objective is to raise people's awareness about the importance of having this tuber in our daily diets. b) For them, it is a crucial part of their diets. They even select the best potatoes based on their flavour and on their ability to adapt to the adverse climate conditions of the area.

3: a) goal b) flavour c) abundant d) surely

4: a) which... in/of b) stronger... more productive c) was introduced... to solve d) Politicians asked if the new food policy would be successful.

Music therapy can help children with communication problems

Music therapy can help children with communication problems:

1: a) False. But, after operation... speak. b) False. The toddlers undergoing... introverted.

2: a) Since music has very particular features which make it very appropriate. Music is a good communicative way and it is non-verbal, which is perfect for children who are not yet able to speak. b) They have some musical activities and, on the other hand, they play with games but without any kind of music to increasingly improve their communicative skills.

3: a) undergoes b) toddlers c) suitable d) researchers

4: a) which... between b) are videotaped... to c) so much... by d) The mother said that her son had improved his communication with music therapy.

The Truth About Bears

The Truth About Bears:

1: a) True. The wildlife... on maps. b) False. He abandoned... animals.

2: a) The biologist has discovered that they prefer larvae to honey, berries and nuts. b) He thinks that humans are dangerous because they kill more people than bears.

3: a) creatures b) trust c) detachment d) wave

4: a) believes... eating b) about... shall c) don't need to dissect an animal to know a lot about it d) the bear not to worry when he went near him.

India's Economic Revival

India's Economic Revival:

1: a) True. Historically... dust. b) True. By 1870... deprivation.

2: a) The Chinese emperors of the Ming dynasty are mentioned in the text because they were only enemies of the Indian Mughal dynasty. b) The Portuguese, Dutch and British had a bad economic influence on India.

3: a) jewels b) weak c) peak d) famine

4: a) which... longest b) from... meant c) long... takes d) its... defeating

Trick or Treat! It's Halloween

Trick or Treat! It's Halloween:

1: a) False. Halloween originated... festival. b) False. Irish began... treat tradition.

2: a) Halloween is such a big business day because American people spend a huge amount of money on Halloween products, such as going to theme parks and buying stunning costumes to attend Halloween parades. b) The Celts dressed up in costumes to frighten evil souls and gave food to wandering good ones, and at that moment it became a tradition for children to dress up in costumes to ask for sweets.

3: a) sweets b) stunning c) actually d) fleeing

4: a) if... from b) so... a c) although... in d) Two million people celebrate New York's Village Halloween Parade in the streets.

Political Polls

Political Polls:

1: a) False. The more... results. b) False. They are... vote.

2: a) They can be more accurate if they find people from the same socioeconomic status and from the same area as the voters. Secondly, the polls also try to find out who is supporting a candidate. b) Political campaigns use survey results to highlight important information for making voters go to elections and vote for the candidate with higher support. They also try to help voters understand a little better what their campaign ideas are, besides being able to use this information to concentrate on a particular voter.

3: a) meaningful b) accurate c) tendency d) to stress

4: a) have been used... to b) larger... more accurate c) it... before d) who... than

Should Everest Be Closed?

Should Everest Be Closed?:

1: a) False. Warnings... years. b) True. There are... starve.

2: a) Ecologists find that there are serious reasons to close Mount Everest. First of all, they think that tourism is not helping the good development of the area, because tourists also use the basic resources of Everest, as well as the small communities of the area. On the other hand, there is the struggle of indigenous people to survive, because climbers don't spend enough money. b) In fact, Nepalese officials don't want to close Mount Everest because of the economic benefits they obtain from the money tourists spend when they want to climb Everest.

3: a) providing b) perilous c) reduction d) summit

4: a) visiting... to destroy b) found... significantly c) if... to save d) is being done

What's in a Name?

What's in a Name?:

1: a) False. In Britain... words. b) True. Some parents... and films.

2: a) A couple living in New Zealand wanted to register a name for their son starting with a number, but in this country there is a rule which does not allow names to begin with a number. After this rejection from the New Zealand authorities, they chose a fictional name for the baby. b) There are several countries with different regulations regarding the naming of children. New Zealand does not allow parents to choose a name that may start with a number. Britain has only one regulation on this theme: parents can't name their babies with rude words. A group of countries such as Germany, Denmark, Japan and Argentina only allow parents to name their children with names that are on an official list. Finally, China has a rule regarding the naming of babies, and because of it you won't see names including symbols or letters that are not part of their alphabet.

3: a) fashion b) choose c) equally d) such as

4: a) the most important... for b) if... searching c) likes... mispronounced d) baby's... whose