SMOKEJUMPERS RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

The National Fire Service is recruiting smokejumpers - a special type of firefighters (1) __________ help stop wildfires in remote forest areas. They are deployed by plane or helicopter to locations that are difficult to reach on foot.

Job Responsibilities: At fire sites, smokejumpers examine the land and work quickly to prevent fires from spreading. They use basic equipment and must operate with a limited (2) __________ of water.

Training and Preparation: Team members receive training (3) __________ adequately by experienced professionals to ensure safety and effectiveness in emergency situations.

Eligibility Requirements: This role is open to anyone who (4) __________ physical requirements. (5) __________ must be capable of surviving in dangerous environments and adapting to extreme conditions.

Career Opportunities: Successful recruits may (6) __________ important responsibilities and play an important role in wildfire control. For further information, contact 0123456789.

(Adapted from Reading Challenge)

EXPLORE GLOBAL CUISINE

Our Culinary Philosophy

Our restaurant is inspired by (1) __________, celebrating the diversity of international dishes and distinctive flavors. We believe a balanced lifestyle is rooted in traditional eating habits that combine lean proteins (2) __________ fresh, locally sourced ingredients. (3) __________, guests are encouraged to explore shared culinary heritage through (4) __________ thoughtfully prepared recipes that reflect cultural identity.

What Guests Will Discover

Visitors will embark on a sensory journey to experience renowned regional specialties:

- Australian Cuisine: Sample savory crocodile curry or kangaroo burgers served with white bread.

- Cambodian Cuisine: Enjoy Amok Trey, a (5) __________ dish made with fish, coconut milk, nuts, and egg.

- Arab Cuisine: Savor fragrant Kabsa or Shawarma wrapped in Pita bread with tomato and cucumber.

To maintain energy, refresh yourself with tropical fruits such as mangoes, melons, and pineapples.

Come and explore global culinary styles through (6) __________ regional flavors at Global Cuisine.

Marie Sklodowska Curie (1867–1934), one of the most distinguished members of the Curie family, (1) __________. Born in Warsaw, Poland, she received her rudimentary education and scientific training from her father and later taught at a Warsaw high school. In 1891, she relocated to Paris, (2) __________. Two years later, she married the French chemist Pierre Curie, beginning a lifelong scientific partnership.

Following A.H Becquerel's research into uranium's radioactive properties, (3) __________. In 1898, she and her husband announced the discovery of two new elements, polonium and radium, extracted from pitchblende. Despite severe financial hardship and demanding working conditions, they continued their research and eventually succeeded in isolating radium in its pure form after four years of strenuous effort. (4) __________.

In recognition of their groundbreaking work, Marie and Pierre Curie, together with Becquerel, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903. (5) __________, prioritizing scientific progress over personal profit. After Pierre Curie's death, Marie Curie attained a professorship at the Sorbonne and later received a second Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911. She went on to direct the Institute of Radium, contribute to wartime medical services, and publish influential scientific works, securing her legacy as a pioneer of modern science.

(Adapted from More Reading Power)

1. Contemporary urban landscapes are overwhelmingly shaped by the primacy of motor vehicles, often to the detriment of human accessibility and well-being. For many residents, even the most routine errands become an uphill battle, particularly for individuals with limited mobility who must navigate expansive, traffic-laden roads. This imbalance underscores the pressing need to rethink how city streets are designed and whom they are intended to serve.

2. Innovative trials in the Dutch city of Tilburg illustrate how technology can help tip the scales back in favour of pedestrians and cyclists. Smart traffic systems, including a smartphone application that automatically extends crossing times for those with reduced mobility, enable safer crossings while minimizing disruption to traffic. These systems can also prioritise cyclists at junctions and hold promise for facilitating emergency responses, while simultaneously mitigating emissions and noise by reducing stop-start driving, allowing cities to kill two birds with one stone.

3. The urgency of such reforms is amplified by the stark health and environmental costs of traffic congestion. Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to air pollution, which is responsible for thousands of premature deaths annually and inflicts long-term damage on ecosystems. Compounding these problems, many cities fall woefully short of international recommendations for green space, leaving their populations increasingly cut off from the restorative benefits of nature.

4. Against this backdrop, the concept of “superblocks” has gained traction as a radical yet pragmatic solution. By restricting vehicles to perimeter roads, cities can transform interior streets into communal spaces without throwing accessibility out of the window. When paired with enhanced public transport and intelligent traffic management, such measures could breathe new life into urban environments.

(Adapted from Booster)

1. As forests are razed at a dizzying pace and rainforests steadily shrink, the ecological importance of trees is frequently thrust into the spotlight. Yet to judge them solely by their environmental utility is to miss the forest for the trees. Far more than passive components of ecosystems, trees occupy a deep cultural and spiritual terrain, having taken firm root in the human imagination. Across ages and civilizations, they have shaped mythologies, enriched language, and anchored social values, serving as enduring symbols through which humanity has interpreted the world.

2. From the very cradle of human history, trees were indispensable to survival. They supplied early communities with tools, weapons, and shelter, and even with the advent of metal, their relevance did not fade into obscurity. Long before an axe ever met bark, trees sustained life directly: fruits, nuts, berries, and medicinal leaves provided a crucial buffer when hunting yielded slim pickings. Wood also fed the fires that transformed human existence, enabling cooking, warmth, and protection. Through these varied roles, trees came to be seen not merely as raw materials, but as steadfast benefactors and silent guardians, the backbone of early human life.

3. Given this intimacy, it is hardly surprising that trees acquired symbolic and even sacred significance. [I] Their resemblance to the human form – roots anchoring them like feet, a trunk standing like a torso, and branches reaching skyward like arms – invited anthropomorphic reverence. This bond is etched into language itself: problems have roots, families branch out, and ideas take root before bearing fruit. [II] Across cultures, individual trees embody particular virtues, while the tree as a whole often serves as a metaphor for lineage, continuity, and the fragile balance between past, present, and future.

4. [III] Trees are also closely bound up with knowledge and insight. Tales of enlightenment beneath a tree or forbidden wisdom plucked from one recur across traditions, implying that knowledge is a double-edged sword. Their longevity further burnishes this symbolism, as ancient trees appear to bottle the accumulated experience of generations. Although modern societies may no longer cloak trees in mythic reverence, emotional ties remain deeply ingrained. [IV] Rituals such as planting trees to mark life's milestones keep this enduring bond alive, and may ensure it does not quietly go by the wayside.

(Adapted from Reading and Use of English)