Чтение в формате ЕГЭ — вариант 2

1. Tastes from abroad
2. Out of style
3. Musical tastes
4. Lifting weights
5. Trendy styles
6. Dining out
7. Exercise routine
8. Musical exercise

A. Forming a band, even if only as a hobby, can be good fun. Of course, it can go beyond that if you get really good. You can play at festivals, and if the crowd loves you, it’s an amazing experience. It’s even a great way to get a workout, especially if you’re playing the drums. It takes a lot of energy, and it can actually help you get fit.

B. Rugby players need strength to push the other guys round the field. That’s why it’s essential for them to build muscle mass, and there’s only one way to do that. They’ve got to hit the gym and start pumping iron. It’s incredibly hard work and it’s not for everyone. They’ve also got to take it slowly, because it’s not a good idea to lift too much too soon.

C. It’s important to try new things. In fact, it’s almost necessary, because we get bored with doing the same thing day in, day out. Luckily we live in a multicultural world. Take food, for example. No matter where you are, it seems that someone from far away has opened a restaurant featuring cuisine from their homeland. That’s something different for a change.

D. In order to get in shape, you have to do more than just go to the gym once a month. You need to go at least three times a week. You must set up a schedule and stick to it. Even when you work forty hours a week, you have to arrange to head off after work for gym time. And you should exercise for a set amount of time with every visit.

E. Eating at home has its benefits. It’s certainly nutritious — that is, if you’re cooking healthily. But eating in restaurants is such a great, social experience. It’s something we should do at least once a week. You can do a lot of people-watching in restaurants, too, so it’s great fun. Not to mention that you don’t have to cook, and if you want something, someone will fetch it!

F. Some people don’t dress like other kids from their school because they simply don’t feel like keeping up with all the latest trends. Trends change every year anyway, if not more often. For some, second-hand shops are their favourite shopping experience. You can find all sorts of funky clothing there, and who cares if it’s something most people wouldn’t wear?

G. The style of music we listen to says a lot about who we are. People who prefer classical music have refined tastes and an appreciation for the arts. Those who like heavy metal enjoy being energetic when they listen to music. Fans of pop music enjoy staying up-to-date with trends. And those who like old music like to imagine what life was like in a different era.

A — 8
B — 4
C — 1
D — 7
E — 6
F — 2
G — 3

Holiday rental properties

Changes occur in most industries, and travel is no exception. A new trend in temporary accommodation has gained popularity recently. Its appeal is rooted in people’s desire to find a smart place to stay A ________ .

Traditionally, the most common options were hotels, which came with many amenities, such as room service, daily room cleaning, and so forth. These days, hotels charge a hefty price for a night’s stay. With so many people on a budget, there is a need В _______ .

The trend of renting out a property, whereby someone owns a home or apartment but has another residence as their primary home, began to rise in popularity just a few years back. In its earliest phase, property owners were reluctant to try it out because they were skeptical of a variety of factors, С _______ .

But it seems that phase has run its course for the most part, and more and more people are taking
advantage of the service. It is a positive experience for everyone; property owners make extra money and renters enjoy more space for less expense. For renters, the experience is not unlike staying in your very own holiday home D ________ .

Most recently, a website has emerged as one of the leading places for people to either list or locate rental properties. Known as Airbnb, the company’s profits have skyrocketed since its founding. It’s free to list a property, and E ________ . Owners can publish several photos of their property and communicate with potential renters through the site.

Security does remain an issue, and recent events have prompted F ________ . Despite this, Airbnb has earned praise for its creativity and the affordable service it provides.

1. the company generates revenues by taking a percentage of the rental fee
2. such as the risk of renting the property to people who might damage it
3. that is within a price range they can comfortably afford
4. such as a house that someone has inherited but doesn’t live in
5. to provide stylish accommodation without the excessive price tag
6. the company to begin guaranteeing properties against damages
7. that you keep hidden away for a weekend retreat

A — 3
B — 5
C — 2
D — 7
E — 1
F — 6

Surviving an avalanche

Surviving an avalanche was not on Thomas’s list of things to do in life. A thrill-seeker of epic proportions, he had jumped from a helicopter to ski remote mountain slopes and traversed half of Antarctica on a cross-country skiing adventure. If only his wisdom of doing things in packs hadn’t failed him on the day of his accident.

He had ventured out alone before, and in any case, most of the ski ranges around his mountain home were littered with forest rangers whose job was to help stranded hikers. So a solo trip by an experienced skier wasn’t the most dangerous of adventures.

Every seasoned skier is aware of both the risks and the joys involved with skiing off-piste. It’s a different experience from the snow that’s been packed down into hard ice by the hundreds of other skiers who have already crossed over it. Movements occur almost in slow-motion as the skier glides in and out of the piles of powder. It’s an exhausting challenge that requires effort from the skier’s whole body, but a unique one that hooks a skier after just one run.

Thomas even had special equipment for this particular type of skiing. His well-worn pair of traditional skis wouldn’t be sufficient, so he’d expended an extra two hundred pounds on a wider set of blades especially made for skiing in powder.

And it wasn’t as if safety was the last thing on his mind. He’d brought his avalanche kit in case of emergencies. He wore an airbag that would help to keep him near the surface if he pulled the cord in time, and another device which would assist him with breathing under snow. The rescue service’s number was programmed into his mobile phone, and his avalanche transceiver — which emits an emergency signal — was equipped with fully-charged batteries.

Thomas’s run that day was in familiar territory. He had always skied with a trusted ski buddy, with never an incident to report. Perhaps he had been lulled into a false sense of security. In fact, he had intended to ski with a friend that morning. When his friend couldn’t make it, Thomas considered not going himself, but the snow on the mountain had fallen just the night before, and the lure was too intense.

His run was a wide, bare track of slope nestled between two pine forests — a real skier’s delight, and quite popular with the locals as well.

They say an avalanche is like a sleeping giant, waiting to be woken up by even the slightest of nudges. Thomas gave this giant more than a nudge — he skied right over it and before he knew it, he was skiing on top of it as it slid down the mountain along with him. And if you ski on top of the giant’s mouth, it’s likely to swallow you whole.

As Thomas sank beneath powder, through his acute panic he managed to pull the cord on his airbag. The roar of the giant fell silent seconds later, and from beneath the snow it was as if morning had turned to night. Thomas tried to reach his phone, but his arm might as well have been cast in concrete. Lying still, his panic slowly shifting to an eerie peacefulness, he did his best to keep his chin up. He even began to enjoy the dark solitude, even though he knew he might never be found. Luckily for him, the giant had caught the attention of others, and the transceiver was doing the job it was designed to do.

1. What are the ‘packs’ that the author refers to in the first paragraph?
1) Types of snow.
2) Regions or areas.
3) Groups of people.
4) Ski manoeuvres.

2. Why didn’t Thomas think his solo ski run would be very risky?
1) There were personnel to help in case of trouble.
2) He wasn’t aware of the potential dangers.
3) He had been on more dangerous ski adventures.
4) He believed powder to be easier to ski on than packed ice.

3. Skiers who ski on powder for the first time …
1) often never do it again.
2) find it to be relaxing.
3) fall in love with the experience.
4) often get stuck in the snow.

4. What is true about Thomas’s avalanche kit?
1) The airbag would help him breathe.
2) The airbag would inflate automatically.
3) He had an emergency number written down.
4) Some items required electric power to function.

5. Why did Thomas particularly want to ski that day?
1) It was pre-arranged with his friend.
2) He wanted to ski alone.
3) The area was beautiful.
4) The weather conditions were ideal.

6. An avalanche is compared to a sleeping giant because …
1) it’s not usually dangerous.
2) it can quickly spring into life.
3) it’s a huge spectacle.
4) it can easily kill people.

7. The expression ‘keep his chin up’ in the last paragraph means …
1) stay positive.
2) keep breathing.
3) raise his head.
4) avoid making movements.

1 — 3
2 — 1
3 — 3
4 — 4
5 — 4
6 — 2
7 — 1