1) Установите соответствие между заголовками 1 — 8 и текстами A — G. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний. 1. Activities for all tastes
2. Geographical features
3. Unstable and still growing
4. In order to protect
5. On the Red List
6. Scientific input
7. The people of the islands
8. Unique wildlife
A. The Galapagos Islands are situated to the north-west of South America, six thousand kilometers from the continent. The islands occupy the territory of about forty five thousand square kilometers. They consist of thirteen main islands and a great number of smaller ones. The largest island is Isabela. The Galapagos Islands belong to Ecuador.
B. The relief of the islands is constantly changing because of volcanic activity. In geological terms, the territory is quite ‘young’. Fields of lava still create rocks and form new islands. That is why the Galapagos Islands are called ‘a place born of fire’ and the region is still developing. Probably soon it will look different on the maps.
C. The Galapagos Islands are one of the few places in the world without a native population. The first documented trip by humans to the Galapagos Islands was in the 16th century. Another theory says that representatives of ancient Indian cultures had also made journeys there long before. For centuries, the land remained attractive for pirates. People only settled there on a permanent basis, as official residents, in the 19th century.
D. Due to its rich wildlife, the Galapagos Islands have always been attractive for visitors. Among them was the famous British scientist, Charles Darwin. He formulated his Theory of Evolution after his observations of Galapagos’ flora and fauna. Those observations helped him to explain the origin of species in other parts of the world and describe their evolution. In his memory, the Darwin Research Station was opened in the Galapagos in the 1950s.
E. The Galapagos are rich in exotic fauna. Most species of birds, the sea lion, the sea iguana and gigantic tortoises, that live over a hundred years, are not found anywhere else in the world but there. The Galapagos tortoise can weigh up to 250 kg and tourists come to the islands specially to see them. No wonder that the tortoise became the symbol of the islands. And the name of Galapagos comes from the Spanish word ‘tortoise’.
F. Tourism in the Galapagos is a fast developing industry. The number of people who come here for diving, animal watching, and exploring lava tunnels is growing each year. It is obvious that uncontrolled human activity could spoil the unique natural features. Because of this risk, the islands were declared a national park and the flow of tourists is limited.
G. The Galapagos Islands offer a kind of vacation and entertainment everyone would find unforgettable. While parents can enjoy the boat rides and beaches, children would be absolutely happy to see the blue-footed birds and amazing tortoises or to find out about pirates and hidden treasure. Hotels and sports facilities are of a high quality, though they are rather expensive.