Task 2 Read the text below. For questions (6—10) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

A WARMING LIFE JACKET

New liner contains a substance that helps fight heat loss in chilly water.

Sometimes the biggest threat from a boat sinking isn’t the accident itself. It’s not even the

sharks that might be swimming nearby. It’s a life-threatening loss of body heat from remaining too long in cold water. Now, a South African teen has invented a heat-producing liner for life jackets. It could help delay injuries — or death — until a rescue is possible.

Normal body temperature for people is around 37 Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit). But when the core body temperature falls below 35C (95 F), people suffer from something called hypothermia. When this occurs, the body doesn’t function quite the way it should, says Danielle Mallabone. She is a 17-year-old junior at St Teresa’s High School in Johannesburg, South Africa.

With mild hypothermia, blood vessels just beneath the skin shrink. This restricts blood flow

to help cut the loss of heat from blood. (As blood cools, it speeds the cooling of internal tissues.) Hypothermia also triggers shivering. Those muscle contractions help generate heat to somewhat boost the body’s internal temperature, she notes.

During severe hypothermia, things get much worse. People become confused and uncoordinated. They also have difficulty speaking. Eventually, major organ systems such as the heart will fail. This can lead to death.

The body’s temperature can drop to dangerous levels even in relatively warm water, explains Mallabone. That’s why she designed a heat-producing liner for life jackets. Pockets in the liner hold a powdered chemical called calcium oxide, which gives off heat when it gets wet.

That heat-producing, or exothermic, reaction warms the water between the life jacket and someone’s body. This might stave off severe hypothermia long enough for a rescue.

Mallabone tested her own invention by jumping into 10C (50F) water. Each test lasted an hour.

The first version of her life jacket liner included only 50 grams of calcium oxide, she notes. «But that amount didn’t provide enough heat, and my body temperature dropped to 35 C after just an hour», she says. So, the next version included 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the heat-producing chemical. In her test using that liner, her body temperature stayed above 36.1C.

The chemical reaction between calcium oxide and water generates heat slowly. The reaction began producing heat after 5 minutes, Mallabone found. The liner produced the most heat about 25 minutes after the life jacket was first immersed.

The teen presented her findings on May 13 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The Society for Science & the Public, which created the fair in 1950, still runs the competition. (SSP also publishes Science News for Kids.)

Overall, Mallabone’s tests suggest there’s no risk the jacket liner will explode or heat up so much that it risks causing burns. The reaction also doesn’t produce acidic byproducts. And because calcium oxide doesn’t react with humidity (water vapour in the air), the liners can be stored for long periods and still work when needed.

6 What is the most dangerous thing when you have a boat accident?

A The wreckage of the vessel.

B The sharks swimming in the water.

C The loss of body heat.

D The cold water.

7 What happens during hypothermia?

A People become more concentrated.

B People’s movements become uncoordinated.

C The body’s temperature rises.

D The blood flow stops.

8 What does a new liner contain?

A A substance that helps fight high temperature.

B Calcium dioxide which gives off heat.

C Pockets with baking powder.

D A solid substance to stop cooling.

9 How long did it take to test the invention?

A A month.

B Several hours.

C A week.

D Five minutes.

10 What are the benefits of the warming life jacket?

A It can create a heat-producing chemical.

B It can cause a hypothermic reaction.

C It can be stocked continually.

D It functions with humidity.

Task 3 Read the text below. Match choices (A—H) to (11—16). There are two choices you do not need to use.

SPECTACULAR TRIPS THAT COUPLES SHOULD TAKE

11 French Polynesia

You want to relax, he wants to stay active — but you both crave for pristine sand and azure waters. This island nation can please all. Nelson suggests spending three nights unwinding and chilling out in Bora Bora, then taking in four nights in Moorea, which offers a little more action, like tours, hiking and some nightlife. French Polynesia has some of the most crystal blue water in the world. Couple that with over-the-water bungalows, and you and your honey are in for beautiful views all day long.

12 Australia

If you believe variety is the spice of life, Down Under is where you’d want to go for some zing. World-renowned wineries and extensive arts offerings are perfect for artsy couples, while history buffs will enjoy the Penal Colony town of Port Arthur, Tasmania, along with aboriginal experiences in Queensland, Nelson says. Nature enthusiasts can pass their time at the Great Barrier Reef. Spend your trip in Port Douglas, Sydney and Hobart. Australia is a great destination for couples because it has everything.

13 Puerto Vallarta

Considered one of the best honeymoon locations in the world, this charming city in Mexico features magnificent scenery, a cobblestone-lined city centre, a sophisticated arts scene and a number of restaurants, nightclubs and lounges. Enjoy a day napping in the sunshine and the next few days golfing, jet skiing or going deep-sea fishing. The town is compact, so almost everything you’d want to do and to see is within walking distance or an inexpensive taxi ride away.

14 Montana Fly Fishing

If you crave a unique outdoor experience, give fly-fishing a try. The Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana, caters to all levels — from a pond where guides teach beginners, to a float down the Bitterroot River where experts can join the guides who engineered the mechanical fish in A River Runs Through It, says Betsy Donley, a travel specialist with Camelback Odyssey Travel in Phoenix. «I’ve planned fly fishing trips with couples. It’s always fun, as there is lots of camaraderie and light-heartedness».

15 Paris

It may sound clich é, but the City of Light lives up to its romantic reputation that goes beyond the harmonic language and champagne. Enjoy a scenic picnic at Sacre Coeur, take a ride down the Seine River, stand in awe of the Notre Dame and stroll the eclectic Latin Quarter, with its bookstores and funky restaurants fueled by the energy from the Sorbonne. See the Eiffel Tower from another perspective with a cozy dinner at Jules Verne, the luxurious restaurant on the tower’s second floor by Michelin starred chef Alain Ducasse.

16 Cape Town, South Africa

Boasting a stellar wine country and beautiful beaches, this city is known for its vino, culinary prowess and the friendliness of its people. Geographically, it’s like Napa Valley and Santa Monica somehow magically merged. From Cape Town, head to the bush for a few days on safari. The Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is stunning and the best way to see the wild.