Задание 58 на тексты и заголовки

1. Future Rescuers
2. Origin of the Superstition
3. Risky Sport
4. Oldest Creatures
5. Discredited Myth
6. Distress Call
7. Visible Obstacle
8. Significant Difference

A. ‘When men first flew in space, they were amazed to discover that the only men-made object visible from orbit was the Great Wall of China.’ This is a nice idea, but it’s not true. The Great Wall is mostly grey stone in a grey landscape and, in fact, is very difficult to see even from an aeroplane flying at a mere 15 kilometres above. What can be seen when orbiting the earth are the fires of African desert people and the lights of fishing boats off Japan.

B. The term ‘Mayday’ is an internationally recognized radio signal which is only used when a ship is in great danger and needs help immediately. The signal is transmitted on a wavelength of 2.182 kHz, which is permanently monitored by rescue services on the shore. The use of this expression has a very straightforward explanation. It came from the French phrase ‘m’aidez’, which means ‘help me’.

C. In 1700, Henri Misson, a Frenchman visiting Britain, asked villagers why they had horseshoes nailed above their doors. They said it was to keep witches away. Horseshoes are made of iron and the strength of the iron was thought to protect from evil. Still today they are thought to bring good luck and many brides carry silver ones at their weddings. The position of the horseshoe is very important. It must point upwards like a cup so that the luck cannot fall out.

D. Women generally live about six years longer than men. Evidence suggests that boys are the weaker sex at birth, which means that more die in infancy. Also women do not have as much heart disease as men. In terms of lifestyle, men smoke more than women and thus more die of smoking-relat-ed diseases. Also, they generally have more dangerous occupations, such as building work.

F. Scientists say that rats can help look for earthquake survivors buried in the ruined buildings. Dogs are already used to search for people, but rats can be even more useful. Like dogs they’ve got a great sense of smell, but scientists still need to train rats to sniff out people and to carry special radio transmitters to let them know when the survivor is found. Rats may also be trained to find bombs or explosives.

G. Dinosaurs roared for about 150 million years before they disappeared. We humans have only been around for about 2 million years. But cockroaches are 350 million years old and still going strong! Cockroaches can survive in extreme conditions. They can be frozen, then thawed, and walk away as if nothing had happened. They can go for an incredibly long time without eating anything. And that is the secret of their success!

H. Founded in 1980, BASE jumping grew out of skydiving. But BASE jumping is much more dangerous than skydiving that is why it is banned in many countries. Legal jumps now happen on specific days and from approved structures. However, like other extreme sports, it’s the risk of disaster that makes BASE jumping so exciting.

A – 5
B – 6
C – 2
D – 8
E – 1
F – 4
G – 3