1 This (corporate) _corporation__________________ has invested millions of
dollars in research and development of new products.
2 The amount of data generated by social media platforms is (mind)
mind_boggling_____________, with billions of posts, photos, and videos
shared every day.
3 Watching violent movies frequently may (sense)
_desensitize_____________ viewers, leading them to feel less disturbed by
real-life violence.
4 The manager emphasized that (compliment)
_complimenting_____________ is essential for employee motivation.
5 The sauce will beautifully (complement) __complement_________________
the dish, enhancing its flavors and providing a rich, satisfying experience
that delights the palate with every bite.
6 The bank manager called a doctor. The doctor decided she should go to
hospital.
If the bank manager hadn’t called a doctor, Tina wouldn’t have gone to
hospital
7 While Tina was waiting at the hospital, she met an old schoolfriend.
If they hadn’t been at the hospital, she wouldn’t have have met an old
schoolfriend
8 They had to wait for a long time so Tina told her friend about her business.
If they hadn’t had to wait for a long time, Tina might not/ wouldn’t have told
her friend about her business
9 Tina’s friend had just received a lot of money, and she invested in Tina’s
business
If Tina’s friend hadn’t just received a lot of money, she couldn’t have
invested in Tina’s business
10 so, because Tina hurt her shoulder, she met her old friend, and Tina’s
business is now profitable.
Tina’s business might not be profitable now if she hadn’t hurt her shoulder.
READING
Choosing House Plants
In most ways, indoor gardening is preferable to outdoor. Rain, wind, storms
and frost impede progress outside, whereas an indoor routine can be
established without worrying about what is going on outside the window.
Plants in pots are mobile, too. (1)___E__ More sun, less sun, higher or lower
levels, a group instead of an orderly row, a mixed bowl or a dish garden-all
provide fresh interest and the variety is endless. There should be no time to
spend regretting the gardens of former times.
The ways in which plants can be displayed in various settings, such as
offices, hospitals, store windows, conference rooms, commercial premises
and hotels, are limitless, but in domestic surroundings the plants are part of
the home and should share their position with the owners and with the
furniture, whether period or contemporary, to make a harmonious whole.
(2)__F_____ If there are brightly colored curtains or upholstery, however, one
should not forget to consider them when choosing a plant with colored
flowers, leaves or berries.
The choice of plants is very wide, but for the beginner it is wiser to start with
a few hardy plants, to gradually become used to their requirements, the
diseases which may attack them, the amount of water they need at various
times of the year and the feeding they may require. It is useless to choose
plants for appearance only, for choice must depend primarily on the growing
conditions required. (3) ____A___ Hardy plants have a certain tolerance for
fluctuating temperatures and can overlook neglect in matters such as
watering and feeding for short periods.
Some plants are able to thrive in shady conditions because the light that
they get indoors approximates their natural habitat, the forests of Malaysia
or tropical South America, areas from which the vast majority of house plants
originate. It is not usually possible to give plants ideal growing conditions in a
room primarily adjusted to the needs of personal living. Even well-lit rooms
are shady in comparison with open conditions in gardens and, as light enters
a room mainly through its windows, its intensity and duration depends on
their exposure. (4) __D___ Especially near windows, minimum temperature is
crucial. It should be consistently maintained at not less than 50°F, although a
number of plants can thrive in a temperature of 5° less. In apartments, in
particular, a more difficult problem may be overheating and loss of humidity.
A dry atmosphere causes moisture loss from leaves, roots and soil. This must
be offset by creating more humidity around the plants. One of the easiest
ways to increase humidity is to put the plant pot into a larger container and
to fill the extra space between outside container and inner pot with
something absorbent, such as peat moss, which can be kept permanently
moist. (5) __C____ Among them are Sansevieria, Pittosporum, Sedum,
Grevillea and Aspidistra. Plants that appreciate a dry atmosphere usually like
as much light as possible. All house plants should be removed before a room
is painted, although most are unaffected by tobacco smoke.
A. Later, choice widens with experience; skillful amateurs can deal with
almost any plant, no matter how delicate.
B. This extra effort will be repaid many times over.
C. Some plants do, however, prefer a dry atmosphere.
D. Temperatures are mainly a winter problem.
E. They can be moved around to alter the background completely.
F. This is one reason that so many popular house plants are green, for
this color blends so well with all other colors.
