Task 1.1

My Favourite Season
My favourite season is autumn. I love it because the weather starts to get cooler, but it’s not too cold yet. The leaves on the trees change colour to beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows, and then they fall to the ground. It’s lovely to walk in the park and kick through the piles of leaves. Autumn is also the time for warm drinks like hot chocolate and pumpkin spice lattes. And of course, Halloween is in autumn, which is a lot of fun with costumes and sweets!

1. What colour do the leaves change to in autumn?

2. What holiday is mentioned as being in autumn?

Task 1.2

The History of Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but its origins are quite ancient. Legend says that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder named Kaldi. He noticed his goats became very energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. Kaldi tried the berries himself and felt a similar boost. He shared his discovery with a local monastery, where the monks initially disapproved but later found that the berries helped them stay awake during long prayers. From Ethiopia, coffee spread to the Arabian Peninsula, where it became widely cultivated and traded. By the 17th century, coffee had reached Europe and quickly became a popular beverage, leading to the opening of many coffee houses which became centres for social and intellectual exchange.

3. Who is believed to have discovered coffee?

4. What did coffee houses become in Europe?

Task 1.3 (B2 Level)

The Rise of Remote Work

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of remote work, transforming traditional office environments into distributed teams. What was once a niche arrangement for a few industries has become a widespread practice, with many companies now offering flexible work-from-home policies. This shift has brought numerous benefits, including increased employee autonomy, reduced commuting time and costs, and access to a wider talent pool for employers. However, it also presents challenges. Maintaining team cohesion and company culture can be difficult when interactions are primarily virtual. Concerns about work-life balance, potential for overwork, and the blurring of professional and personal boundaries have also emerged. Furthermore, not all jobs are suitable for remote work, creating a divide between those who can work remotely and those who cannot. As we move forward, the hybrid model – a combination of office and remote work – appears to be a popular compromise, aiming to leverage the advantages of both approaches.

5. What was a key factor in the rapid adoption of remote work?

6. Which of the following is mentioned as a challenge of remote work?

Task 1.4 (C1 Level)

The Ethics of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

The development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) – hypothetical AI with human-level cognitive abilities across a wide range of tasks – poses profound ethical questions that extend far beyond those raised by current narrow AI systems. Unlike AI designed for specific functions, AGI could learn, adapt, and potentially self-improve, leading to capabilities that are difficult to predict or control. The primary ethical concern revolves around existential risk: ensuring that AGI, if achieved, aligns with human values and goals, rather than pursuing objectives that could inadvertently harm humanity. Issues of consciousness, rights for sentient AI, and the societal impact of widespread automation (including job displacement and wealth distribution) also demand rigorous consideration. Furthermore, the concentration of AGI development in the hands of a few entities raises questions of power dynamics and equitable access. Addressing these complex dilemmas proactively, rather than reactively, is crucial to navigating the transformative potential of AGI responsibly.

7. What is the main difference between AGI and current narrow AI systems?

8. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an ethical concern related to AGI?

1. She _________ to the gym three times a week.

2. How many brothers and sisters _________ you have?

3. I haven’t seen him _________ last year.

4. If I had known you were coming, I _________ have baked a cake.

5. You _________ have finished your work by now, it’s very late.

6. If he __ harder, he __ the exam.

7. __ fluent in three languages, she found it easy to __ with people from different countries./b>

8. I wish I _________ learn to play the guitar.

1. Dogs, cats, and birds are common _________.

2. He works in a school, so he’s a _________.

3. I need to _________ up early tomorrow for my flight.

4. She always wears very _________ clothes; she loves fashion.

5. The film was so _________ that I cried at the end./b>

6. It’s an interesting idea, but it’s not very _________ to implement.

7. big –> huge; cold –> freezing; hungry –> _________

8. Could you please _________ me a favour and help me with this box?