I. Read. Fill in the gaps with the sentences below.
The race is on as to which country will be the first to inhabit the Moon. Apart from the United
States, Russia and recently India, now China, Japan and Europe plan on sending astronauts to the
Moon in the next twenty years. So, a station on the Moon might soon be possible! (1)… The
most obvious include the questions of power, water, air and shelter.
At this time scientists feel that the best place to establish a station would be either at the North or
South Pole. Here the temperature does not change as much throughout the day as it does near the
equator. (2)…
At present, NASA is in the process of sending a spacecraft to the Moon. Their high-tech
computers will be able to analyse the signals sent back to Earth, providing useful knowledge for
the researchers. (3)… The search is based on the theory that the comets which have been hitting
the Moon over the last two billion years have left ice in its craters. (4)…
Once this is done, the water could be separated into hydrogen and oxygen, providing an
atmosphere that can support life.
As for the question of material to build shelters, it would be best to get as many resources as
possible from the Moon, since the cost of transport is extremely high. (5)… Luckily, the Earth’s
satellite is rich in minerals that could be used to build a future station and even for rocket fuel.
(6)… after inhabiting the Moon. Who knows?
a) Just think, $400,000 is needed to send an object that weighs around four kilos to the
Moon.
b) All the same, we have not found any evidence that the Moon has water.
c) Perhaps, the human race may be able to live on Mars.
d) Yet, we must face the fact that before this can happen we have a few problems to deal
with.
e) With this information they will be able to finally know if there is water on the Moon.
f) Moreover, the poles see much more sunlight, which can be used for solar energy.
g) If this is the case, astronauts can use solar energy to melt the ice into water.
II. Match the words.
1. establish a) press
2. sweep b) truth
3. broadcast c) coverage
4. hit d) contact
5. gutter e) flash
6. live f) the skies
7. news g) a message
8. shred of h) the headlines
III. Paraphrase the sentences. Use idioms.
1. You are not listening to me. Who am I talking to?
2. Unfortunately, in this country rich people have more power and influence.
3. I’d never let my children answer adults in such a rude way.
4. She’s very direct; she always tells people what she thinks of them.
5. He said a lot of pleasant things to her in order to persuade her to drive him home.

IV. Change the sentences into the reported speech. Use different reporting verbs:
deny promise suggest complain ask
admit advise beg remind explain
1. “No, I didn’t break that vase,” the boy said.
2. “I’ve taken your umbrella,” he said to me.
3. “Tim always takes my things,” she said.
4. “Don’t forget to switch off the light,” she said to her brother.
5. “Please, please, buy this doll to me”, the girl said to her mother.
6. “I’ll write to you tomorrow,” she said to her friend.
7. “What are you going to prepare for the festive dinner?” Tom said to his mother.
8. “If I were you I’d avoid eating fatty food”, she said to her friend.
9. “How about going to the theatre today?” Nick said.
10. “This is how we use the present perfect”, the teacher said.
V. Correct mistakes in the sentences.
1. I’m afraid you’ve done a lot of mistakes.
2. He asked me what language courses did I attend last summer.
3. First she learnt French, then she has started learning German.
4. I’m thinking you should read more books.
5. Are there some mistakes in my essay?
6. She speaks accurately and fastly.
7. From this book you can get a lot of useful knowledges.