TEXT A — CLOTHES WASHING LINKED TO PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE ARCTIC. A1. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each) a. Why do researchers think most microplastics come from clothes? b. Do microplastics affect people's health?

A2. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5 each) a. Plastic debris can be found in the deepest and the highest places on the globe. b. The Atlantic contains fewer amounts of plastic fibres than the Pacific, although they are longer. c. North America is solely responsible for Arctic plastic fibre pollution.

A3. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. All words are underlined in the text (1 point: 0.25 each). Options: comprehensive, width, litter, injure, dominance, throughout. a. damage b. complete c. waste d. thickness

A4. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each) 1. In the polar region, most microplastics in sea water… a) are found in marine life. b) have the same width and colour. c) are made of polyester. 2. Our health might be in danger because… a) we have polluted the whole Earth. b) of the samples taken below the surface. c) of the width of fibres. 3. According to the new study, important amounts of microplastic fibres are driven towards… a) Europe and North America. b) the Arctic. c) Europe, North America and the Arctic.

Part II. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points). A5. How can we reduce microplastic pollution?

TEXT B — DO WE HAVE TO AGE? B1. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each) a. What would the benefits of medicine against age be? b. Have there been efforts to stop getting old in history?

B2. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5 each) a. Steele accepts people's opinion that ageing is unavoidable. b. Young mice had their lives extended in a study last year. c. Treating ageing will probably be a fact in the next 10 years.

B3. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. All words are underlined in the text (1 point: 0.25 each). Options: disease, skeptical, countless, lengthy, thrilling, currently. a. innumerable b. incredulous c. nowadays d. extensive

B4. Choose a, b, or c in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each) 1. Anti-ageing medicine may make people live… a) longer without losing hair. b) longer and healthy. c) for thousands of years. 2. A study prolonged the life of mice… a) but their hair fell out. b) with no side-effects. c) only in 10% of them. 3. What Steele finds most exciting is the… a) rejuvenation of some organs. b) beginning of trials with humans. c) chance of immortality.

Part II. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points). B5. Do you think that today's diseases, for example cancer, will disappear in the near future?