Задание 16 ЕГЭ по английскому языку: страница 3
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AI and student experience
No matter what your occupation is, you have probably faced some uncertainty over the last few years as a result of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and its growing popularity. Teachers and students alike feel strongly about the upcoming changes. There are certain ways in which AI technology is altering education, both for teachers and students. Here is what lies ahead for education and the student experience in today’s AI-driven world.
If you have tried using AI tools yourself, you know how powerful they can be. With just a few clicks, these programmes can write stories, organise ideas, and even complete homework assignments. Unfortunately for educators, this potent tool is also available to students who may use it to cheat and plagiarise work. Over the last several months, teachers from elementary schools to universities have been trying to address this growing problem.
Sadly, there is, as yet, no silver-bullet solution for teachers. While some software has claimed to be able to detect the presence of AI-generated content, none of these have fully cracked the code. Teachers are now left to guess whether students are using this software to complete assignments. As a result of this change, there will likely be a shift in education that puts emphasis on in-person assessments, rather than take-home assignments. In this way, educators can be sure that students are not using AI software to generate their work.
But AI is not just causing problems – it is also creating new opportunities. Teachers are also starting to introduce AI into their processes. Instead of banning the use of AI, many educators and institutions are currently trying to figure out the best ways for students to use this technology as a helpful tool. Some teachers believe that soon, all students will learn how to use AI properly to support their learning in honest and useful ways.
Over the decades, a critique of the school system has been its one-size-fits-all approach to education. This is a model that treats every student the same way, ignoring individual needs and learning styles. Though there were some attempts to fix this issue, none have been very effective. Today, however, AI is presenting itself as an antidote to this problem. The data about students’ abilities makes it possible for teachers to use AI to personalise learning. For example, the technology can show which students need extra help, and which ones are ready for more challenging work. This means teachers can tweak their lessons to fit each student’s needs, helping everyone do their best.
Getting extra help outside of school has always been important for many students, but not everyone could afford private tutors. Now, AI is changing that. Free AI tutors are becoming available to help students with their schoolwork anytime they need it. These digital tutors can explain difficult concepts, help with homework, and give students the extra practice they need to understand tough subjects.
Thus, AI can have a wide variety of impacts on the student experience. While it is creating new problems, like cheating, it is also offering new ways to make learning more personal and accessible for every student. Now, all students have more opportunities to excel in subjects they once found challenging. This incredible innovation makes me hopeful that more students will achieve academic success. The key will be learning how to use this technology wisely – as a tool to support learning, not replace it. As teachers and students continue to adapt, one thing is clear: education will never again be the same.Tweak in paragraph 5 most probably means …
1) replace. 2) simplify. 3) adjust. 4) upgrade. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Why you need to pick up a book again
According to Pew Research Center findings from 2018, 24 percent of the population had not read a book in the past year. And for those that do read, the American Times Use Survey – conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics – found that Americans over the age of 15 spend only about sixteen minutes a day reading for personal development. However, one silver lining of the pandemic may be that we are reading more. In fact, in the past year, 35 percent of the population have been reading more than they had in previous years.
You may say, books are not the only sources of written text or, more broadly, information in our lives. We tend to spend two hours and twenty four minutes per day on social media. Interestingly, reading versus using social media have very different outcomes when it comes to our mental health. While many believe their mood will improve after checking their social media, many report that it actually worsens following a social media scroll. Yet, when people engage in reading – whether it is for self-help or for fun – reading has been shown to reduce stress. In fact, just six minutes of reading a day can reduce stress levels.
Here are just a few ways that reading can benefit you.
Reading is a form of mindfulness. Because we are often multitasking (which puts a heavy cognitive load on our brains), we often experience greater brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. When you settle down into a book, you are brought into the here and now, where you can focus presently on the story. The key is to stick with it. Especially if you are not used to reading, it can feel really uncomfortable to lean in. However, tell yourself that you are going to read at least ten pages to start. Chances are, you will want to keep going by the time you hit page 10.
Reading can improve your emotional intelligence. Citing Christensen’s article from CNN Health, she includes a quote from Keith Oatley, a cognitive psychology professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, and an award-winning novelist. He stated, “Those who read fiction may understand people better than others. A work of fiction is a piece of consciousness that can pass from one mind to another, and that reader can make it their own.”
Thus, when we take the time to really listen to another perspective, we can build our empathy in a profound way. In fact, fiction may be even more potent
at some point, as it really goes into deep character development, and we gain a better understanding of the “why” behind a character’s motives.
Reading has all kinds of cognitive benefits. Not only has reading been shown to improve sleep, but readers are also shown to have improved concentration and demonstrate greater memory retention. So, if you have been feeling cloudy, reading may be the perfect thing to sharpen your ability to recall.
Even better is if you take a highlighter or pen to the lines that stand out to you. Write in the margins and include follow-up questions for yourself to build off of the text. Add your ideas that arise when you are reading. This will help you deepen your critical thinking skills.
And one of the best parts about reading a good book? You can always pass it along to someone who will enjoy it next. Surprise them with a package in the mail or drop it off on their doorstep. I frequently do this on my social media account, where I offer to ship the books I have read to my community. I find that people love it! This is a great way to ensure that your books are bringing joy to others, rather than just gathering dust.Which advantage of reading is NOT mentioned in the text?
1) Understanding others. 2) Developing the brain. 3) Switching from reality. 4) Enriching your vocabulary. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Coffee decaffeination processes
Every day it seems that medical researchers come out with a new study about coffee, how it is extremely unhealthy for you and/or full of amazing benefits. The focus of most of these studies is more particularly about the effects of caffeine on human health. As caffeine, coffee’s most potent element, is a stimulant, it can produce both positive and negative effects. It can wake you up in the morning, but it can also lead to sleeplessness, a racing heartbeat, and anxiety.
It is therefore no surprise that many people have decided to cut caffeine out of their diets. As for me, I have grown to like the taste of coffee, but to me the main purpose of drinking it is to get an extra jolt of energy. That is why I will admit to a certain prejudice against decaf, perhaps prompted by bad experiences with weak and tasteless brew, because it is true that the actual process of removing caffeine from coffee can degrade the taste beyond repair.
Early decaffeination attempts involved soaking the green beans in water and then using various solvents to separate the caffeine in the resulting water solution. The beans were then re-introduced to the caffeine-free solution in order to absorb some of the flavor they had lost. Solvents used included benzene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene, all of which were later found to have toxic effects. In the 1970s, dichloromethane came into use to replace the earlier solvents before it too was deemed possibly carcinogenic.
In response to these concerns about solvents, some coffee companies began to run the water solution through charcoal filters as a means of removing the caffeine. The so-called Swiss Water Process, developed in Switzerland in the 1930s, goes one step further. After a batch of coffee beans has been steeped in hot water, that water is filtered, and then is used to soak the next batch of beans to be processed. In this way, the beans lose caffeine as they soak, but lose less of their flavor.
Yet another method that aims to safely remove caffeine from coffee beans involves a fascinating compound procedure. The solvent used in this method is neither water nor one of the earlier toxic solvents. Instead, caffeine in the coffee beans is dissolved by means of carbon dioxide. In order to accomplish this, the carbon dioxide must become a supercritical fluid, created when it is compressed and heated to the point that it has the same density in liquid and gaseous forms.
As this supercritical CO2 is passed through the beans, it can penetrate them because of its gaseous properties, and yet is able to dissolve the caffeine they contain because of its liquid properties.
In 2004, Brazilian scientists identified a new strain of coffee beans with a naturally low level of caffeine. They found three coffee plants from Ethiopia that contain almost no caffeine as they seem lack an enzyme necessary to caffeine production. If these plants can be crossed with commercial strains of coffee plants, we may one day see more coffee on the market that is naturally low in caffeine.
With these advances, and the current methods of decaffeination, decaf junkies are sure to be able to get their fix of coffee that not only tastes great, but won’t keep them up half the night.
As for me, I do want to stay up half the night, so I’ll stick to my full-strength brew.The pronoun “its” in “… its liquid properties” (paragraph 6) refers to …
1) caffeine. 2) carbon dioxide. 3) coffee. 4) coffee bean. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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College food
Choosing a college? Well, you may want to look more closely at what’s being served. Not just in the classrooms but also the cafeterias.
What you eat and drink in college can make a big difference during college and well beyond. College may be the first time that you are away from Mommy and Daddy and are making decisions about what to put in your mouth on your own. It is when you are potentially programming some of your habits for life. You may also still be growing in college, which makes good nutrition especially important. According to a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine, overweight and obesity rates increase by more than 15% for first-year college students.
Healthy may not be the first thing you think of when you picture college eating. Instead, it may be late-night takeout, food from bags, ketchup as a vegetable, cereal for dinner and Nutella on everything. Oh, and when the cafeteria’s vegetable-of-the-day is mushroom, it may actually be “mush” served in a room. The same study found that 95% of college students fail to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and more than 60% report not getting enough physical activity.
That is why the Healthier Campus Initiative appeared. As science has shown, once your eating habits are established, changing them can be very difficult. Yes, knowledge and a diploma aren’t the only things that you can get for life from college. That means that collegiate eating and drinking could be contributing to the continuing obesity epidemic and the host of diet-related chronic diseases that keep growing in many countries.
College applicants seem to become more and more aware of this. Back when I was applying to college, the only thing I knew about college meal plans was that they involved meals and a plan. Oh, and that they could be quite costly. By contrast, a survey conducted in 2015 showed nearly 1 in 5 potential college applicants indicated that a college’s health and wellness offerings were “likely” or “extremely likely” to alter their decisions of whether to apply to that college. And 23% felt that access to such offerings would be “absolutely essential when deciding where to apply.” Among female high schoolers, 51% deemed it either absolutely essential or very important. Modern kids are smart.
Therefore, take heed, colleges and universities. They say that a way to one’s heart is through the stomach. This may apply to the brain as well and the checkbook for college tuition. If colleges want to attract the best and brightest, they may want to make sure they are serving the yummiest and the healthiest.
Of course, not all campuses around the country have joined the Initiative yet. That doesn’t mean that all other campuses are serving just hot dogs. However, you may want to be vigilant about what colleges and universities are serving. For example, ask to see their menus and accompanying nutrition information. This should include ingredients and frequency at which they are served. An apple a year will keep no doctor away. Determine what food is available off-hours or away from the cafeteria. This should include water fountains and healthy vending machines. Know who is supplying the food and from where the food comes.
Certainly, college food is not the sole cause of the epidemics of obesity and other diet related chronic diseases that certain countries are facing right now as there are a lot of other factors involved, including economics and family traditions. But it may be a contributor. After all, college years may be very important in forming habits we keep through our whole lives.The phrase take heed in “Therefore, take heed, colleges and universities” (Paragraph 6) is closest in meaning to …
1) pay attention. 2) stay back. 3) take time. 4) keep calm. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Should children be allowed to retake tests?
My daughter texted me from school, upset that she’d failed a physics test she thought she’d been prepared for. She was worried it would bring down her overall grade at the end of the first marking period. A half-hour later, she texted to say all was good. Her teacher allowed her to make corrections – she got all the problems right this time, and her grade was no longer under threat.
On the one hand, I was pleased that she’d taken the initiative to fix what she viewed as a problem. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this infinite redo approach.
When I heard that my daughter was allowed to go back and correct her mistakes, my mind instantly went to all the professionals in the real world – surgeons, firefighters, death-row case trial lawyers, pilots, paramedics, cops and more – who really, really needed to get their jobs right the first time. With some jobs, “later” isn’t an option. Heck, in the realm of less life-and-death professions, I spent years working as a live TV show producer. There were no second takes there, either.
As with all education research, both pros and cons have been tallied and reported.
Some of the pros include the assertion that letting kids retake tests reduces cheating, makes them responsible for their own grades and helps them better evaluate their own learning.
Cons have been listed as: low motivation; students procrastinating until they’ve fallen too far behind, leading to stress; and teachers needing to teach separate lessons to different class members during the same period.
Then I turned to my focus group of one: my husband, a middle school math and physics teacher who has, for years, allowed his students to redo their homework and in-class work as many times as they wish in order to get to 100% mastery.
I asked him why he believes his technique is beneficial.
He stressed that, “Homework and in-class work is formative assessment, which is the key here. Homework and in-class work is practice. Doing the work correctly over and over again is the only way to improve. Tests are summative assessments. They measure performance after practice. I allow redos only on homework and in-class work. I don’t allow resitting tests, because tests measure what they’ve learned after all that practice. If you are a performing artist, it’s the performance that matters. For athletes, it’s the game. Homework versus tests is the same thing.”
That brings us back to those surgeons, firefighters, death-row case trial lawyers, pilots, paramedics, cops and more who, in real life, I would really like to get their tasks right the first time.
Their jobs can be considered the ultimate in summative assessment. But that assessment didn’t come on the first day of training. It came after many, many years of formative assessments in the form of arguing mock trials, practicing approaches on flight simulators, and conducting rescue drills – not to mention taking paper-and-pencil tests as well.
So much education policy debate these days seems to be driven by a zero-sum game mindset. If we do things one way, we shouldn’t be doing them another. As the late Stephen Sondheim wrote, “Is it always “or?” Is it never “and?”
Just as students benefit from a cross-section of classmates, they should also benefit from a cross-section of opinions on how best to teach. It would better prepare them for living and working with a variety of people for the rest of their lives, and help them figure out how they learn best, so they can adapt accordingly.
That said, I would still prefer that my daughter got her physics equations right the first time.Which technique does the author’s husband believe is the best?
1) Students should be allowed to retake everything. 2) No retakes are allowed. 3) Homework can be retaken, but important tests cannot. 4) Important tests can be retaken, but homework cannot. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Are tours really so bad?
I’ve always been all for independent travel and my friends often ask me: if tours are really so bad, why so many people do them?
Well, I wouldn’t be so straightforward. First of all, tours provide higher quality at better value. I’ve always been trying to break down costs for independent travel in different cities around the world, so it might seem strange when I say that tours are actually a better value. The reality is that in most places, the absolute cheapest way to travel is independently, but that means hostel bunks and street food instead of hotels and restaurants. And in a country like China, the tours are much cheaper than independent travel at any standard.
Of course, the reason for this is that a tour provider can book 20 hotel rooms every week with one phone call, so they get amazing hotel rates that independent travellers couldn’t dream of. The same is true with restaurants and even attractions, where large groups are much cheaper per person than singles. Even with a tour provider mark-up, you still get a better deal in most cases.
Another important thing for many of us is that there is little or no stress with language or culture barriers. Even in an English-speaking country, it can be confusing on your first visit, and things like finding hotels and even museums can be headaches. When in countries with other languages, the level of confusion gets multiplied, often further compounded by touts and other illegal sellers who make a living trying to steer you somewhere else. On a tour you’ll always have an English speaker who knows the local area well between you and the potential obstacles. It’s almost like having an old friend living in the area, who can tell you exactly where to go and whom to ignore.
That leads us to the next point. Tours provide security and accountability. No method of travel is 100% safe and secure, but at least when you are on a tour you know that people who know the risks are working on your behalf. Travelling on your own, if your hotel says it’s fully booked, then you are out on the street. But with a tour, it’s up to them to find you a new room nearby, which would be far easier even if it did happen.
If you get sick or injured on your own, you are on your own, while on a tour there will be an experienced person there to help get medicine or look after you. I had a large backpack stolen off a train because the luggage area works on the honour system. Had I been on a tour, someone would likely have put everything in a secure place because their reputation depends on clients making it home with all their gear.
And last but not least, itineraries on tours are designed by professionals. Everyone obviously has different tastes when sightseeing, but that doesn’t mean that independent travellers always make the right decisions. The typical first-time visitor to a big city will try to schedule 18 hours worth of sightseeing into every day, which obviously doesn’t work once you get there. These tour companies that have been around for a long time tend to do a great job maximising sightseeing time but also adding in leisure time, meal time, and sleep time. In the era of ubiquitous reviews not to mention social media, these tour companies can only survive if they provide a product that people feel good about when it’s done. Not only can they get you between sights more quickly, but they also know when clients prefer to relax and slow down.
All said and done, I am not writing this to put you off independent travel but rather to make you look before you leap.The author’s backpack was stolen because …
1) his luggage was unwatched. 2) he had to buy some medicine. 3) it was left at the train station. 4) he was on a tour. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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My experience with ChatGPT
A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.
I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.
After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.
It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.
Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.
Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”
The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?
I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?
Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?
Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?
We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?What does “this ability” in paragraph 7 (“… why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?”) refer to?
1) To tell which information is true and which is not. 2) To live in the present. 3) To train AI models. 4) To solve specific problems. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Life hacks for visiting Russia
Planning a holiday in Russia and don’t want to break the bank? Here are a few hacks to help your journey around the world’s biggest country on a shoestring.
Like people from all over the world, many Russians are open to volunteering in exchange for food, accommodation, and new experiences. There is, for example, the Help Exchange advertising service. Foreigners are invited as volunteers by small companies, families, children’s camps, and even the Academy of Sciences. The conditions depend on the host but be sure that for interesting offers there will be stiff competition: you have to monitor the offers and respond quickly. It helps if you have recommendations. Last year, on a competitive basis, me and my friends managed to go to Ferapontovo (an ancient monastery on the UNESCO World Heritage list), to Kamchatka and Siberia, and to a summer camp on Lake Baikal. The “hottest” time is the summer season. The obvious plus – apart from the fact that you pay almost nothing – is that many hosts provide help with visas and pay for your journey. And the minus is that you will really have to work.
Big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg offer the Russian tourist the CityPass, which entitles you to free museum admissions and excursions, admission without queuing, river cruises, discounts for taxis and restaurants, unlimited calls within Russia, and many other benefits. It may seem a bit costly but it will save you much more. You can also save money without a tourist pass. If you are not too shy, remember: in Russia, you can enter many museums and parks at the exits but I wouldn’t go for it.
Another life hack is to check on free admission days. Every museum has free admission days. At the Hermitage in St. Petersburg the first Thursday of each month is a free day, while at the New Tretyakov Gallery in the Russian capital it is every Wednesday.
As a rule, tickets to museums and art galleries cost more for foreign nationals than locals. Tourists who don’t want to pay extra can ask a Russian to buy tickets for them. And don’t waste money on an audio guide. To be honest, you won’t need it. You can download audio guides in English for many popular museums in Russia from the App Store.
As for eating out while travelling in Russia, there are a number of pretty cheap options. You can find special offers in Russian cafés and restaurants at any time of the day. Canteens (cheap restaurants that serve homemade dishes) are a win-win option. Here, a soup, main course, drink, and dessert will cost you just 250-300 rubles or cheaper.
I had the following routine when travelling around Russia. In the morning I had breakfast in canteens attached to institutes or ordinary public canteens, which you can find on 2Gis (a multilingual digital service that has city maps and tells you how much the average bill in different eateries will be). For lunch I would go to any place serving business lunches (many restaurants offer them between 12:00 and 17:00), giving preference to places with a high rating. And for dinner I would use coupons from special websites available only in Russian – a sushi selection at a 50-percent discount is very filling and very tasty. Or on some evenings I cooked my own dinner buying food in a supermarket.
Not many people know how to save while travelling but if you prepare yourself in advance by reading tips from experienced travellers, you may visit more places and spend less money while enjoying it none the less.The author says canteens are “a win-win option” because they …
1) often have special offers. 2) serve delicious meals. 3) offer inexpensive dishes. 4) are open at any time of the day. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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How Harry Potter saved one small town
Mallaig is far from the prettiest of Highland settlements, even when the weather is fine. Several rows of what could be prewar council houses stretch across the hill beyond the harbour. A mishmash of car parks, jetties and workaday buildings squats close to the railway terminus. When I last stayed in Mallaig, it was known as the biggest herring port in Europe.
Today, the herring have vanished, and yet Mallaig remains a busy place. Ferries come and go and fishing boats land shellfish, which is driven away in lorries to the markets of France and Spain. None of this activity, however, explains the hundreds of people who can be seen roaming Mallaig’s few streets every afternoon between the beginning of May and the end of October, or the presence of so many restaurants. What do explain them are two enthusiasms, one for low fact and the other for high fiction, which are kindled in childhood and among many adults never entirely disappear.
The railway reached Mallaig from Fort William and the south in 1901. It was among the last big lines to be built in Britain, late enough to have its viaducts built of concrete. It traversed one of Europe’s most spectacular and emptiest landscapes, with hardly anything large enough to be called a village along its 40-mile length.
The construction needed a large government subsidy, but the traffic never grew much beyond the two or three trains a day that carried fish boxes and a few dozen travellers to and from the Hebrides. It made little economic sense. Only 60 years after the line opened, it began to be threatened with closure. Few people would have guessed then that its commercial salvation would be owed to a novel and a film, and first of all, to a hobby.
Railways became an amateur pastime as well as a means of transport during the last decades of the 19th century. Then professional men such as vicars and lawyers began to see the large variety of trains and their technical progress as a hobby offering a similar kind of pleasure to philately and butterfly-hunting. By the end of the century they had their own magazine and their own club, the Railway Club, the world’s first society for railway enthusiasts. It was founded in London in 1899 and had its own premises with a library and leather armchairs. It was from these elite beginnings that the 20th century’s great cult of trainspotting spread, reinforcing a more general fondness for steam locomotives that many people had without knowing quite why. So a sense of loss ran through Britain when, in the 1960s, it became clear that their day was nearly done.
Hundreds of them were saved from the scrapyards and restored to working order; dozens of branch lines repaired and reopened so that in the holidays Britain could be charmed by how it once was. It’s hard to think that anywhere in the world has seen a more popular or successful preservation movement, or at least one run and largely funded by volunteers. Out of this business grew the West Coast Railway Company, which hires out engines, coaches and crew for steam excursions.
A film producer looking to shoot a fantastical train in a dramatic location would naturally turn to such a company, and so in three Harry Potter films the train to Hogwarts is seen crossing Glenfinnan’s viaduct.
Today, the Jacobite Express fills with Potter fans from all parts of the globe and always stops for a photo opportunity at Glenfinnan, which is where the real Bonnie Prince Charlie really raised his standard in '45 and marked as such by a real memorial. All of which reality is cast into shadow by the film of a modern fairytale.The author mentions a library and leather armchairs in order to illustrate …
1) how important trains were for the country. 2) how successful the Railway Club became. 3) the amount of corruption at the club. 4) the number of members it had. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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What can help you to live a better life
There are lots of things that can help you to live a better life, but one of them is not that clear – boundaries. Boundaries are how we care and give support to those we love – without sacrificing our own health and happiness in the process. They are not necessarily about our relationships with people, as many might think. In the modern world, we sometimes need to set boundaries to using technology. Here are a few tricks I’ve found particularly useful.
My number one must-have is treating the news like a snack. I am ready to stop scrolling through negative news or social media content, and you would probably benefit from doing the same. Many therapists recognise that constantly refreshing the headlines takes a toll on you; during the workday, it makes you think less about the work, and it causes unnecessary stress. “There’s a lot of pressure to keep up, like it’s what’s expected of me or the right thing to do, and I need to redefine what the actual limit is for me,” says Mike, who has a consulting agency in San Francisco. “What I would love to do is go back to the days before cable news, when the newspaper arrived once or twice a day.”
If you don’t like your compulsive news-seeking habit either, join him in checking the headlines just twice a day. If that still feels like too much, I suggest subscribing to a weekly newsletter that summarizes recent events, and catching up in one condensed session. You’ll probably end up feeling more focused and optimistic.
Another important thing is to banish tech from the bedroom. In 2026, change the relationship with your phone – at least for nights. Mike is going to start keeping his phone in another room, and he encourages others to set the same boundary. “Nobody has told me I need to have my phone next to me all the time, but for a long time I used to do it. I thought, “What if somebody calls in the middle of the night, or there’s an emergency?” “But I also can't think of a time when that happened,” Mike adds.
If you, too, operate under the assumption that other people expect you to be available 24/7, reevaluate that notion, he suggests. You might find that if you keep your phone in another room overnight – after letting your friends know about your new boundary – you’ll sleep better and feel more refreshed in the morning.
Last, but not least – trade virtual time for face time. Katy Mith’s days often pass in a virtual haze. The New York-based psychologist sees clients online during the day, and then hops back on a virtual call in the evening to meet with fellow leaders in the organizations she’s involved with. Then there’s even more tech when it’s time to catch up with long-distance friends and family. “I’ve had to think about how much of my life I want to spend in that medium,” says Mith, author of many books about well-being. “I’m trying to be very thoughtful about how much of my week is on virtual calls.”
If that makes sense for you, she says, make it a point to say “no” to opportunities that are not part of your usual course of work and involve online meetings, or let the organizers know that you can’t commit to lots of virtual time. Then, they can choose to proceed with or without you, if you’re not going to be virtual with them a lot of the time.
She also recommends seeking out community-based opportunities that prioritize getting together in person. “All those side conversations that happen when you get together with people are really good for your mental health and will help brighten your year.”
These boundaries help create a balance between online and offline life, ensuring that technology use enriches rather than detracts from personal well-being and real-world interactions.Which is NOT mentioned as a suggestion for a better sleep?
1) Notify others you are not available at a late time. 2) Turn off technology at a certain time before sleep. 3) Stop assuming others may need you day and night. 4) Avoid leaving your phone in your bedroom for a night. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Edible Gold
I like to think of myself as an open-minded person, someone who is tolerant to those with different beliefs, however wacky they may seem to me. Every rule has its exceptions, though.
A few years ago while traveling in England, I met a woman who asked me if I’d heard of edible gold. I replied that I had, as I’d seen a TV show about chefs using gold leaves as a decorative but edible garnish on dishes. I assumed that’s what she was talking about. But she seemed very surprised and in a hushed, conspiratorial tone, began excitedly talking about how the ancient Egyptians had discovered that by eating powdered gold, one could become immortal. Very clearly, she believed this too. OK. I felt that all my good intentions of open-mindedness went out the window – that was just way too strange for me.
Later, when I consulted Google to see if I could learn more about this outrageous claim, I was shocked and dismayed to find thousands of Web pages describing, with great seriousness, a miraculous substance usually referred to as white powder gold. Even though I can’t claim the slightest expertise in this esoteric field, I thought I’d make an attempt to distil the essence of these claims for your consideration.
Let’s begin with culinary gold. If you walk into your nearest gourmet supply store, you can probably find, for about US$20, a box of gold leaf manufactured expressly to enable you to impress your friends at your next dinner party. These unbelievably thin pieces of nearly pure gold add an impressive touch to chocolates, soups, sushi, or just about anything else you can think of. Because the quantity of gold is so small, the price is reasonable; yet these gold highlights make a meal appear to be extravagant and give restaurants an excuse to charge exorbitant prices.
Some purveyors of mineral supplements sell a gold colloid: a suspension of extremely tiny particles of metallic gold in water. In a gold colloid, each particle contains nine atoms of gold. Its daily dose is enough to provide a wide range of health benefits. Here, at least, there is some research behind it. A few studies found the product to be effective in managing rheumatoid arthritis and also, intriguingly, increasing I.Q. scores. These claims are at least plausible.
Our next step is one decidedly outside the realm of scientific certainty. David Hudson, a farmer living in Arizona, was trying to extract gold and silver from the tailings of an abandoned mine in the mid-1970s. In the process, he found a mysterious substance that defied analysis, despite years of experimentation by reputable laboratories, undertaken at great personal expense. Hudson eventually concluded the white powder was gold in a monatomic state and it has some amazing properties: when heated it can levitate and has a long list of incredible health benefits.
Hudson even received patents in Britain and Australia, though not in the USA. I should interject that the awarding of a patent does not mean that a government agency has successfully reproduced the invention in question, or even that they have validated it as being scientifically sound. Interested in alchemy Hudson became convinced that his white powder gold was the stuff of many legends. He equated it with “the philosopher’s stone”, and “the food of the gods”, among other things. Hudson believed he had rediscovered an ancient alchemical formula. And, naturally, numerous companies sell solid or liquid forms of “white powder gold” supposedly created using variants of Hudson’s recipe.The author refers to the substance found by David Hudson as “mysterious” because …
1) it has unusual properties. 2) its health benefits are magnificent. 3) it was discovered by chance. 4) it can be used for any human need. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Forming a habit
Waking up at the crack of dawn and going for a run might feel intimidating when you start trying to make it a habit. Weaving a significant new activity such as this into your regular routine obviously takes determination and time – but how much time is really needed to make that habit stick?
One popular idea suggests that it takes 21 days to solidify a habit. A three-week time frame might sound easily reachable to someone making a resolution on New Year’s Day. Then people tend to feel extra motivated to start a new habit or kick an old one. Yet every January 21 very few people can boast that they have kept their resolutions. One survey showed that only 9 percent stuck to their goals in 2023.
Recent research has shown that this idea is actually a myth. A hallmark 2009 study on habit creation found that habits developed in a range of 18 to 254 days; participants reported taking an average of about 66 days to reliably incorporate one of three new daily activities – eating a piece of fruit with lunch, drinking a bottle of water, or running for 15 minutes before dinner. Consistent daily repetition was the biggest factor influencing whether it would become part of an automatic daily routine.
The type of activity is also a factor. Teaching yourself a completely new skill or process obviously takes longer than remembering to drink more water in the morning. A 2015 study found that new gym-goers had to exercise at least four times a week for six weeks in order to develop an exercise habit. And last year, machine-learning models analysed vast amounts of data on repeated observations of a behaviour and evaluated different variables that may influence a person’s decision to continue that behaviour. The results showed that creating a handwashing habit took a few weeks, compared with the half year it took for people to develop an exercise habit. Handwashing, the study noted, is less complex than exercising and offers more opportunities to practise. The researchers also suggested that habit formation depends on the effort that a person puts into practising an activity, and on the presence of environmental cues that would remind them to carry out the behaviour.
When it comes to keeping a resolution, it can be hard to stay motivated once the initial excitement of a “new year, new me” subsides. This can easily lead to lapsing or even dropping the activity completely after a couple of weeks. Creating a specific plan to perform an activity (for example, “study Spanish grammar for 20 minutes, three times a week”) and having some type of accountability (an app tracker or a like-minded friend) can help monitor progress and push you to keep going. Additionally, people are more inclined to keep a resolution that they are interested in doing, rather than one that they simply believe they should do.
Rewards are great motivators, but people often make the mistake of delaying gratification. For example, they treat themselves to a shopping trip on Saturday after going to the gym all week. A reward is far more effective if received during the task. For instance, a person with an exercise goal could watch a newly released movie while running on the treadmill instead of waiting until the end of the week. Researchers in 2014 had people listen to popular audiobooks that could only be accessed at the gym during the experiment and they found that the participants initially went 51 percent more frequently than the control group.
So don’t kick yourself if you didn’t reach your goal by the 21st of this month, or even by the end of February. As long as you keep at an activity, you will get better at it – no matter how long it takes.Which aspect of habit formation is NOT mentioned in the text?
1) Some people around you might influence the process of habit formation. 2) Behaviours require varied amounts of time to set in. 3) The more complicated a type of behavior is, the faster it becomes a habit. 4) Signals to prompt the behaviour should be present. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Stress at college
Stress among college students can negatively affect academic performance, personal relationships, and overall well-being. However, stress can have positive effects if managed properly.
We all encounter the stresses of daily life, and college students in particular struggle with the adjustment to busy schedules and deadlines related to overwhelming courses and exams. The continuous pressure to achieve quick results during our early years of adulthood leads to college student stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges.
Many college students ignore signs of stress and as a result experience a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Increased heart rate or blood pressure, headaches, or fatigue, for example, commonly strain our physical states. The psychological perception of pressure, on the other hand, influences our emotional reactions to unexpected situations.
Significant life events often lead to increased stress levels. However, among college students the causes are often much more subtle. A heavy workload, public speaking, or long work or study hours can lead to hostile behavior and tense reactions to unexpected situations.
By understanding the individual causes of stress, students can better prepare themselves for the academic challenges that lay ahead. College students should consider these tips in effort to reduce stress.
Improve your time management. Instead of focusing on your to-do list each day, focus on the free hour you have before your next class, or the time you can gain from completing a task ahead of schedule. We often push things off until the last minute under the perception that our busy schedules don’t leave us enough time. However, what you can do to counter this procrastination is to make things bite size, break up tasks into more manageable sections. Make a designated space for work that isn’t your bed. Use a planner to block sections of time throughout your day, but make sure to leave time for yourself to socialize and relax.
Try to think positively. What if you actually scored an A on the exam you thought you failed? Just as easily as your mind imagines the worst-case scenario, it can be trained to imagine the positive. When we experience stress, we tend to interpret situations negatively. Pay attention to these reactions and avoid the unexpected by getting an early start to your day. If you still notice yourself thinking negatively, pause for a second, and try not to engage in those thoughts.
Daily or weekly exercise routines will help balance your mental and physical reactions to life’s stresses. According to one study, 85% of college students reported feeling overwhelmed at some point in the previous year by everything they had to do; and 41.6% stated anxiety as the most pressing concern among college students. Regular exercise can mitigate those concerns by promoting better sleep, improving your mood, and boosting your energy. Try 60 minutes of light walking, or 30 minutes of high intensity exercise. Sign up for yoga, join a gym, go climbing. Keep the routines interesting by combining different variations of cardio with muscle-building throughout the week. Take good care of your body each day. Eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep help your body handle stress much better.
By understanding the symptoms of stress we can learn to detect when the stress is a positive boost and when it is weighing us down. Managing your stress and your health will prepare you for the unknown situations and reward you with an exciting and engaging college experience!Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the author’s advice to cope with stress?
1) Planning time for socializing and rest. 2) Dividing work into smaller parts. 3) Getting rid of pessimistic thoughts. 4) Giving somebody tasks you can’t do. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Philanthropy
Philanthropy is defined as the love of humanity. A modern definition is “private initiatives, for the public good, focusing on quality of life”, which combines an original humanistic tradition with a social aspect developed in the 20th century.
Growing up in this state, I dreamed of attending a college one day. On fall Saturdays at the stadium, I caught a glimpse of the brick buildings and tree-lined walkways. I knew they led to information, knowledge, and a whole tribe of new minds to connect with. When the day finally came to unpack my few belongings in the residence hall, I knew I was finally where I had always wanted to be. My years on campus certainly lived up to the anticipation. The classes, professors, friends, and opportunities created a life-changing experience.
Philanthropy is a critical part of the life and success of the whole local community, and college in particular. As a board member of the Center for Advancement, I have seen firsthand the joy of our alumni and friends as they make a difference in the life of this institution. They are delighted to pay it forward as they understand what college means to them. As a student, one does not always value how much the path was paved by those who have gone before, those who have an ability to give back. Now that my friend and I have made this community our family’s home, we have a much better understanding of how vital the long-term success of the college is for our entire state.
Through my involvement with the Center for Advancement, I truly witness the breadth of areas one can support. This institution is doing incredible researching, educating, and programming in so many areas. And our donors can discover their passion and connect in a meaningful way that goes beyond the dollars given. Whether it is the joy of the written word, the connection to first-generation college students, the atmosphere of a football Saturday, or a desire to support the cure for a hereditary medical condition, our donors become a part of the life of the college.
I have also seen philanthropy directly affect the life of the college from my experience in the Department of Finance. I work with students who have the opportunity to attend college because of the financial assistance they receive from our donors. Continued support has fostered the enhanced facility we work in today which has been reconfigured to remain relevant to today’s needs. The educational experience is much richer because of the generosity of others. Our new auditorium is one shining example that we are proud to support. Not only is this facility a marvel of world-class architecture and programming, it also strives to make the arts accessible to all citizens. These experiences spark curiosity and imagination in audiences, young and old, to remind us what it means to be alive in this era of technology and separation.
Different funds provide a real-life working experience that is as relevant as any internship. Through philanthropy, students and faculty are able to use technology that could not be supported with tuition dollars. Private gifts also allow us to assist our faculty, who are the life of the institution, and provide our students a top-notch education.
Every dollar of support to the university today replays itself over and over as successive generations of learners have an opportunity to develop the skills they need to save lives, shape minds, and transform our future. One of the values we hope to instill in our children is the understanding of the value of giving back.It is implied that the new auditorium supports an education program in …
1) programming. 2) architecture. 3) arts. 4) technology. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Study habits
Effective studying is a skill. As such, it’s possible to break down your habits into ineffective study habits versus effective study habits. In an effort to optimize my academic performance, I’ve created a list of bad study habits of college students so as to avoid them.
Number one all-time favourite is cramming. Cramming goes hand-in-hand with procrastination. If you wait until the last minute to study for a test, then you’ll likely find yourself memorizing facts and information without understanding them. While this could work in the short term, you have to keep in mind that most subject matter is cumulative and builds upon what you’ve previously learned. So, in the long run, you’re doing yourself a disservice by memorizing information at the last minute because what goes in quickly is also likely to be forgotten quickly. Instead, start by studying a bit every night after class. This way, you can absorb information over time and actually remember what you learn better.
If you’re a crammer, then chances are high that you’ve pulled an all-nighter. As the term implies, it means you stay up all night to study. This is a lose-lose because not only are you stuck with memorizing over understanding, but you are also lacking sleep, while sleep is crucial for the brain’s functioning and ability to recall information.
The next thing that does more harm than good is multitasking. While multitasking might seem like a good idea because you feel like you can get several things done in less time, the truth is that you aren’t actually focused. People who focus on one thing at a time absorb more information and are more productive. When your brain is constantly switching between tasks, you are less likely to recall information. You can also wear yourself out more quickly. To avoid multitasking, make a plan and prioritize what you will do, and study first. Only once you’ve finished the first thing on your list should you move on to the next.
Studying takes time, so you have to make time to do it. As such, you’ll want to understand time management to allocate the right amount of time to study each subject. Some time management tips include prioritizing tasks, setting a schedule, breaking up big tasks, creating rewards, and waking up earlier to give yourself more time in a day.
And finally, I can’t but mention missing classes. Attending will end up boosting what you learn. Since you study the material that is first introduced to you during class, you will already have the foundational knowledge you need to understand the material deeply. When you miss a class, you’ll also have to spend a lot of time making up for what you missed by copying notes or asking your peers about what you missed. The time you spend doing that could be better spent studying and reviewing what you’ve already learned.
The only way to avoid missing class is to go to class! Make note of your schedule in advance so that you can fit in everything around your class schedule. And, if you choose to learn at an online institution, then the great news is you can be more flexible with your schedule. This is especially true if you enroll at an institution where classes are recorded, so you can choose when and where you want to study and learn.
Studying is integral to academic life. And doing it effectively is essential for one’s success because often, just earning a degree isn’t enough. Over time, you’ll start to recognize what works for you and what doesn’t. I shared these examples so you can assess whether or not you take part in them. If you do, it’s time to drop them so that you can earn better results from your studying efforts!What does the author think about attending classes?
1) You can spend this time on studying by yourself. 2) It is the foundation of successful learning. 3) The schedule of classes should be more flexible. 4) Classes must be recorded for students’ convenience. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Part-time work while studying
Oxbridge students are actively discouraged from working during term time, but others have no choice. More than two thirds of students rely on loans, but they don’t cover all the living expenses, which means that those who don’t have financial support from their parents are forced to take on work. For many, wages from part-time work are the only way they can make ends meet. It’s tough and it’s often the students’ academic work that loses out.
This year, many freshers will be asking a familiar question: how much can they work during term time before it impacts their degree – and what kind of jobs are most suitable?
The best and most understanding employers tend to be universities themselves. Many students have part-time jobs in cafés, bars and shops on campus. You can also work on an ad-hoc basis as a guide on open days and during freshers’ week. These will be at least minimum wage and are likely to offer a healthy number of hours to fit easily around studies.
Longer term part-time jobs tend to provide a steady, though lower income. However, you may need to consider how flexible your hours will be. My friend who worked part-time as a waitress says that although she liked meeting people in the city, the work was often unreliable. “Once I didn’t get a shift for two months and it was too late in the year to get a new job. I was really short of money,” she says.
However, be careful what you sign up for. Hannah Brown runs Manchester University’s “job shop”, which offers advice to students and advertises posts. She says more and more students are looking to work at university, but they should be careful. Her team don’t advertise anything over 20 hours a week and their advice is not to work more than 15. “We always advertise flexible jobs and avoid anything commission-based,” she says.
Before you commit to a job, make employers aware of your timetable. “There have been numerous times where I’ve been put on a shift at the same time as a lecture or seminar,” says Josh Chapman, a third-year journalism student at Sheffield Hallam. “That can be difficult, because you miss out on information and teaching.”
Meanwhile, jobs in retail and childcare – such as school pick-ups – offer more sociable hours. My other friend says studying before shifts is better than being too tired to do it at the end of the day. “I had less time to play with, so if I had work at 1 p.m., I’d get up at 8 a.m. and get four hours of studying in before I went.”
Prioritise your health. Remember that you’re paying to be at university and get a degree, so don’t let your job make you weary. If you are exhausted, you will not have the energy to study. Night club and bar work can mess with sleeping patterns.
Students from wealthier backgrounds can use their time to do relevant voluntary work and get involved in extracurricular activities. This is one reason why socioeconomic background is such a big predictor of job market success. However, Juan Garcia, employability and development adviser at Queen Margaret University, thinks part-time work that complements study can greatly enhance students’ employability after they graduate, and they should seek paid internships.
For those who achieve this, working is one way to get ahead. Onwa Wonci worked 20 hours a week while studying at university. She says it wasn’t easy, but she was committed. The employer offered her a full-time job in her final year. She wouldn’t have a job now if she hadn’t gone through those struggles. You work hard for some time, but then your efforts are rewarded.Which statement summarising the advice given in the text is FALSE?
1) Avoid jobs that take up most of your time. 2) Inform your boss of your timetable. 3) Study before you work and get tired. 4) Work at night to study during the day. Источник: ФИПИ (по данным открытых источников).
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Проверено . Источники: ФИПИ — открытый банк заданий ЕГЭ · ФИПИ — спецификации и демоверсии ЕГЭ. Официальные решения публикуют Рособрнадзор, ФИПИ и Минпросвещения — при расхождении верны они.