1) Установите соответствие между заголовками 1 — 8 и текстами A — G. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний.

1. Still a mystery
2. Size doesn’t matter
3. Food for the brain
4. Losing to a computer
5. Brain myths
6. Glimpses of history
7. A computer in your head
8. Basic facts

A. The human brain is a very mysterious organ which has interested various scientists all over the world throughout the history of mankind. It is grayish-white in colour and is shaped like a mushroom. The brain is encased in a hard bony structure, called the skull, and weighs about 1.4–1.5 kilograms on average. The brain is comprised of about one hundred billion neurons. These neurons carry and transmit signals through electrochemical processes for our body to function though we don’t feel these processes.

B. This is a stunning human brain fact that it is faster than any computer processor and is quite capable of solving problems more efficiently than gadgets. According to some reports, the master organ can execute up to 10,000,000,000,000,000 tasks per second. In 2015 it took the world’s fourth most powerful supercomputer 40 minutes to perform the functions which the human brain can perform within just one second. This proves that no computer can ever substitute human scientists – at least in the near future.

C. According to some studies, the most beneficial diet for the brain is seafood. It contains fatty acids which can considerably increase brain performance up to 15 percent. Oily fish, for instance, is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help build membranes around each cell in the body, including the brain cells, and increase blood flow in the brain. They can, therefore, improve the structure of brain cells called neurons and boost brain function. So, mind what you eat to be clever!

D. The brain is still not fully understood, and its research is ongoing. Neuroscientists, along with researchers from allied disciplines, have been studying how the human brain works for a long time. The boundaries between the specialties of neuroscience, neurology and other disciplines such as psychiatry have faded as they are all influenced by basic research in neuroscience. Still, there are more questions than answers despite all the advances in modern science and scientists’ collective efforts.

E. You may be surprised to find it out, but in fact, the size of the brain and a person’s intelligence are not strongly related. Studies tend to indicate small to moderate correlations (averaging around 0.3 to 0.4) between brain volume and IQ. The most consistent associations have been observed within the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, but these only account for a relatively small amount of variance in IQ, which itself has only a partial relationship to general intelligence and real-world performance.

F. Research has disproved some common misconceptions about the brain. These include both ancient and modern ones. For instance, it is not true that neurons are not replaced after the age of two; nor that only 10% of the brain is used. Popular culture has also oversimplified the lateralization of the brain, suggesting that functions are completely specific to one side of the brain or the other. Science fiction books offer even more false stories about the brain.

G. The earliest recorded reference to the brain refers to Egyptian manuscripts of the 17th century BC. The hieroglyph for the brain, occurring eight times in this papyrus, describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis of two traumatic injuries to the head. In the 5th century BC, the brain was first considered to be the seat of the mind and intelligence. In the Roman Empire scientists studied the brain of monkeys, sheep and other animals and made some important conclusions for that time.

A	B	C	D	E	F	G

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2) Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A — F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1 — 7. Одна из частей в списке 1—7 лишняя.

Bandy Have you ever heard of such a sport as bandy? It is the “elder brother” of hockey, and Russia ___ (A). Folk amusements resembling bandy were known in Russia already before the Middle Ages. Some historians even say that Emperor Peter I, ___ (B), was a fan of this sport. Yet, bandy became popular only at the end of the XIX century.

By that time, certain rules had already been settled. In 1888 a sports club appeared in Saint Petersburg, which was founded by one of the students. And in 1897 Petr Moskvin, ___ (C), developed single bandy rules for Russia. Next year, on March 8, 1898 the first match was played. This date is called the “birthday” of Russian bandy.

At the beginning of the XX century, bandy ___ (D). As a result, it was often called “Russian hockey”. And hockey with a puck really came into being largely because of the great popularity of bandy. Therefore, many rules of the games are similar. Yet, the differences between these two sports are quite significant. The most important ones are about inventory and a team. Bandy uses a rubber ball, ___ (E), instead of a puck. As for the team, ___ (F), there can be no more than six hockey players from one team on the field. While in bandy, eleven players including a goalkeeper make the same team on the field.

1. was very popular all over Russia
2. while Russia kept bandy traditions
3. played a big role in its development
4. when it comes to hockey with a puck
5. who brought skates from the Netherlands
6. an enthusiastic sportsman and the founder of the circle
7. which weighs 60 grams and is 6.3 centimetres in diameter

A	B	C	D	E	F

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3) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

Which reason to prefer online courses to traditional college classes is NOT mentioned in Paragraph 1?
1) Individual attention.
2) Accessibility of course materials.
3) Financial benefits.
4) Flexibility of schedule.

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4) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

Juggle in Paragraph 2 ("… to successfully juggle their job responsibilities …") most probably means …
1) manage.
2) ignore.
3) enjoy.
4) shift.

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5) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

Self-discipline is necessary because …
1) you do not attend offline classes.
2) you are not guided all the time.
3) you have numerous tasks to complete.
4) you are pressed for time.

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6) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

That in Paragraph 4 ("… I would never let that happen again …") refers to …
1) completing many tasks in a short period of time.
2) postponing the completion of assignments.
3) taking a demanding online course.
4) being expelled from an online course.

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7) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

Which statement about the author’s online learning experience is FALSE?
1) Some students and instructors were uncooperative.
2) Once he barely managed to complete tasks on time.
3) Online courses made him more organised.
4) He kept contact with the instructor and other students.

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8) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

What is the main benefit of online group discussions?
1) Criticism of peers’ works.
2) Development of writing skills.
3) Exchange of perspectives.
4) Learning new information.

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9) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

The author of the text aims to persuade the reader that online learning is …
1) convenient and manageable.
2) better than traditional instruction.
3) only suitable for working professionals.
4) good for reducing stress.