THE ARTICLEFrom http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1302/130223-talkativeness.html

Word formation

Researchers in the USA have found that a protein in the brain might explain why women are more _____________________(TALK) than men - three times more _______________(CHAT) , in fact. The research team at the University of Maryland say a "language protein" that goes by the name of Foxp2 is a lot more prevalent in women's brains. The protein was first discovered a decade ago and was deemed to be a key ___________________(NEUROLOGY) component of speech. The scientists say it is a lot more abundant in girls than boys. They believe the protein is the reason why girls start speaking _________________(EARLY) and more quickly than boys. It also supports claims that women speak about 20,000 words a day, compared to just 7,000 words for the average man. Research team leader professor Margaret McCarthy said: "This study is one of the first to report a sex _____________________(DIFFERENT) in the expression of a language associated protein in humans or animals." She added: "The findings raise the ____________________(POSSIBLE) that sex differences in brain and _______________________(BEHAVE) are more [widespread], and established earlier than _______________________(PREVIOUS) [thought]." Other scientists have said there is more than one protein __________________(RESPONSE) for speech and that the research is in its ___________________(INFANT) . Readers of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper offered some interesting insights into the chattiness of women. One said women have to talk more because, "men are not good listeners and women must repeat __________________(THEY) to be heard".

TENSES

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1302/130221-city_living.html

A new report says living in a city makes it harder for people ___________________(CONCETRATE) . The research found that people who live in rural areas can focus better than people in urban areas. The study is from Goldsmiths College, which is part of the University of London. Head researcher Dr Karina Linnell and her team ___________________(STUDY) how two groups of people did the same "thinking tasks". The team went to a remote part of Namibia, southwest Africa, to study the Himba tribe. Himba people _______________(LIVE) a very basic life in the desert, ________________(DO) traditional farming. The team also studied members of the same tribe who ____________________(MOVE) to the nearest town. Dr Linnell said the tribe who lived in the desert ________________(DO)much better on the tests than those in the town. Dr Linnell's research may change the way companies operate. In the future, workers may relocate from cities to live and work in the countryside. Linnell said there are too many things around us in the city that stop us from ________________(THINK) about one thing for a long time. This means we do not work at our best. She asked: "What if, for example, companies realised certain tasks ___________________(BE) better carried out by employees based outside of the urban environment where their concentration ability is better?" The past century __________________(SEE) billions of people move from the countryside to big cities. If Dr Linnell's research is true, this century _________________(SEE) many of those people return to the great outdoors.

Finish the sentences with a clause in the correct conditional: 1: If it is sunny tomorrow _______________________________________________ 2: If you sit in the sun too long __________________________________________ 3: If I were you _______________________________________________________ 4: If I were the Prime Minister ___________________________________________ 5: If she had studied harder _____________________________________________ 6: If I won the lottery __________________________________________________ 7: If I hadn’t gone to bed so late _________________________________________ 8: If I hadn’t come to London ___________________________________________ 9: If you mix water and electricity ________________________________________ 10: If she hadn’t stayed at home __________________________________________ 11: If I go out tonight___________________________________________________ 12: If I were on holiday today ____________________________________________ 13: If I had listened to my mother _________________________________________ 14: If I hadn’t eaten so much _____________________________________________ 15: If it rains later ______________________________________________________ 16: If I were British ____________________________________________________ 17: If I were the opposite sex ____________________________________________ 18: If I have enough money ______________________________________________ 19: If you don’t wear a coat in the winter ___________________________________ 20: If I weren’t studying English __________________________________________

TENSES

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1302/130219-kidnapping.html

Armed attackers kidnapped eight foreign workers in northern Nigeria on Sunday. The abductees ___________________(TAKE) from the residential compound of a Lebanese construction company. A security guard was killed as he tried _____________(PREVENT) the assailants from entering the camp. The kidnapped workers ____________________(BELIEVE) to be from Britain, Greece, Italy and Lebanon. A woman and her daughter are among them. A local government official, Adamu Aliyu, said the attack _____________________(OCCUR) at 2:15am. The gunmen also attacked a police station and a prison on their way to the compound. A police chief said: "We repelled the attack...but they _________________(BURN) two vehicles." This attack is the worst ever case of foreigners being kidnapped in the north of Nigeria. Kidnappings for ransom occasionally occur in the south, especially in the areas that support the country's oil industry. Violence in the north has largely been of the nature of _________________(ATTACK) churches and police stations, and kidnapping locals. No one __________________(YET/TAKE) responsibility for yesterday's raid, but security experts believe one of northern Nigeria's Islamist groups is behind it. The Al Qaeda splinter group Ansaru ___________________(BE) active in recent months. The larger group Boko Haram, which means 'Western education is forbidden,' has been the most active in the area. It_______________(BE) reportedly responsible for hundreds of deaths, and church bombings.

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

Armed attackers kidnapped eight foreign workers in (1) ____ Nigeria on Sunday. The abductees were taken from the residential (2) ____ of a Lebanese construction company. A security guard was killed as he tried to prevent the (3) ____ from entering the camp. The kidnapped workers are (4) ____ to be from Britain, Greece, Italy and Lebanon. A woman and her daughter are among them. A local government official, Adamu Aliyu, said the attack (5) ____ at 2:15am. The gunmen also attacked a police station and a prison on their way to the compound. A police chief said: "We (6) ____ the attack...but they burnt two vehicles." This attack is the worst ever (7) ____ of foreigners being kidnapped in the north of Nigeria. Kidnappings for (8) ____ occasionally occur in the south, especially in the areas that support the country's oil industry. Violence in the north has (9) ____ been of the nature of attacking churches and police stations, and kidnapping locals. No one has yet (10) ____ responsibility for yesterday's raid, but security experts believe one of northern Nigeria's Islamist groups is (11) ____ it. The Al Qaeda splinter group Ansaru has been active in recent months. The larger group Boko Haram, which means 'Western education is forbidden,' has been the most active in the area. It is reportedly responsible (12) ____ hundreds of deaths, and church bombings.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.1. (a) northerly (b) northern (c) northernmost (d) north2. (a) constant (b) compound (c) composite (d) compost3. (a) guarantors (b) auditors (c) descendants (d) assailants4. (a) believers (b) believed (c) beliefs (d) believes5. (a) occult (b) occurred (c) occidental (d) occasioned6. (a) repellant (b) repel (c) repelled (d) repelling7. (a) bag (b) brief (c) case (d) carton8. (a) dividends (b) windfall (c) ransom (d) perjury9. (a) deeply (b) hugely (c) awesomely (d) largely10. (a) confessed (b) attacked (c) done (d) taken11. (a) behind (b) rear (c) back (d) beyond12. (a) of (b) from (c) for (d) by

Word formation

Detroit is renowned for the………………………….. of cars. PRODUCE

If you make a good ………………………….at the interview, you will get the job IMPRESS

Teaching and medicine are more than……………………………., they're professions. OCCUPY

My history teacher has a vast………………………….. of past events. KNOW

You are never too old to go to college and gain some……………………………….. QUALIFY

My greatest………………………….. was graduating from the university. ACHIEVE

The weatherman said there is a strong…………………………of rain today. POSSIBLE

Some old laws are no longer………………………………….. EFFECT

Athens is……………………………. for its ancient buildings. FAME

He was caught shoplifting so now he has a………………………………….. record. CRIME

Despite her severe………………………………, she fulfilled her goals in life. DISABLE

Being……………………………………is the worst thing that can happen to someone. EMPLOY

If you buy presents in the summer your…………………………. can be very high. SAVE

Due to the pilot's……………………………., the copilot managed to land safely. GUIDE

It's important to also see the less…………………………. sides of the job. DESIRE

I was surprised at his………………………… to give up. REFUSE

Children are by nature………………………….. of danger. AWARE

She is always……………………………. towards her parents. RESPECT

the hospital has the best medical………………………………. and fast ambulances. EQUIP

You can relax in the comfortable……………………………… of the hotel. SURROUND

The……………………………. looked dark and there were hardly any other guests. ENTER