Darmowe konto pozwoli wrócić do niego później.

British expatriate Richart Sowa on the Mexican coast, with the approval of the state

government. Sowa is extremely concerned about the problem of cleaning up the rubbish that is

currently flooding the world in the form of a vast number of plastic bottles, which often end up

in landfills instead of in recycling centres. Richart found a way to use some of these water

bottles as building material. He took about 250,000 bottles and other recycled materials and in

1998 began to craft a place for his new home.

How does it work? Empty discarded plastic bottles are placed inside sacks, which are attached

to some boards and a bamboo frame. The bottles give it enough buoyancy to stay afloat. Richart

poured a lot of beach sand and some soil on top of the boards and also planted some bushes,

including mangroves to make an island.

On this island he built a three-storey house which boasts two bedrooms, a bath, three showers,

a kitchen and working Internet. It even has a solar-powered waterfall and a wave-powered

washing machine. The place is connected to the shore by a cable, which also provides

solar-generated electricity.

This is not Richart’s first bottle-built construction. Back in 2005, the original Spiral Island was

taken out by the force of hurricane ‘Emily’. Luckily, it was brought back to life shortly after.

Richart decided he should relocate the island to a lagoon where it would be protected from

the worst of the weather. It took some time to get the reconstruction underway, but with

the help of volunteers, some donations, and plenty of dedication, Richart was able to gather

the 100,000 water bottles necessary to rebuild his homemade island masterpiece. Since fewer

water bottles were used to craft the latest island retreat, it is slightly smaller than the original

one. Now, it is around 20 metres in diameter, but that is expected to change. With time

the island will continue to grow and the owner considers it an “eco-work-in-progress”.

The island is regularly visited by tourists. They can reach the place by calling out to the owner

from the shore and taking a boat ride with him. Richart is willing to entertain his guests by

serenading them with songs when sailing to the island and back. If you want to set foot on

the island, you are supposed to make a small donation, which is currently the main source of

Richart’s income. Then, the owner will show you around, explaining how the whole place

functions.

adapted from www.environment-ecology.com; www.earthporm.com

6.1. The first paragraph describes

A. an environmental initiative taken by the Mexican government.

B. the idea behind the construction of a man-made island.

C. the process of cleaning up plastic bottles from the ocean.

D. a state-funded campaign promoting new building materials.

6.2. Which is TRUE about Spiral Island?

A. It rests on a structure supported by plastic bottles.

B. It was reconstructed on the same site after a hurricane.

C. It is powered by solar panels installed on the house roof.

D. Its construction has already been completed.

6.3. To visit the island, you

A. are expected to pay.

B. need to book a tour in advance.

C. are supposed to phone for a boat.

D. should learn how it functions beforehand.

Tekst 2.

CONNIE THE CLEANER

Connie, the caretaker of the Staff Development Centre, was a down-to-earth Yorkshire woman

with a sharp wit and a habit of using the most inventive yet incorrect phrases. She had no respect

for rank, felt altogether superior to anyone who crossed paths with her and treated every

employee at the Centre the same – with bluntness bordering on rudeness. If a head of state or

another famous or important person were to pay a visit to the Staff Development Centre and

make use of the conference room, for example, Connie would no doubt detain them as they

departed, with the words: “I hope you’ve left the room as you found it!”

To an outsider, she could even be seen as frightening, but the regular staff didn’t experience

discomfort having each step they made supervised by Connie. During the coffee break, teachers

attending courses at the Centre would find a chubby woman surveying them with a mean

expression. At lunchtime, they would sense those small, sharp eyes watching from a distance,

making certain that not a crumb fell on the ideally-vacuumed carpet. And, at the end of the day,

Connie would stride around her empire, holding a duster as if she were carrying a crown, to

make sure that everything was neat.

The Staff Development Centre was a tribute to Connie’s hard work and dedication. Not a speck

of dust was to be seen anywhere and the building always smelt of lavender and soap. Everyone

who knew her was prepared to tolerate her abrupt manner and sharp tongue – for everyone

knew that deep down she had a heart of gold – everyone, that is, except Sidney. Sidney – noisy,

unpredictable, untidy, and madly creative – always found a way to tease Connie.

adapted from Head over Heels in the Dales by G. Phinn

6.4. From the text we learn that

A. Sidney is the most obedient member of the staff.

B. the Centre is frequently visited by very important people.

C. the staff at the Centre openly criticize the caretaker’s behaviour.

D. the standard of cleanliness in the Centre is carefully maintained.

6.5. The text is about a woman who

A. avoids confrontation at all costs.

B. likes socializing with visitors at coffee breaks.

C. can seem offensive to some people.

D. triggers conflicts between visitors to the Centre.

PRZENIEŚ ROZWIĄZANIA NA KARTĘ ODPOWIEDZI!

informacje.

D

6.5.

3.1. Zdający określa główną myśl tekstu.

(może raczej kontekst???)

C