Magy's English Edu. Club
Cambridge 17 Academic Reading Test One Passage Two
Stadiums: past, present, future
Which section contains the following information?
14- a mention of negative attitudes towards stadium building projects
The answer is A.
In paragraph one, today, however, stadiums are regarded with growing skepticism. Construction costs can soar above one billion pounds, and stadiums finished for major events such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup have notably fallen into disuse and disrepair.
15- figures demonstrating the environmental benefits of a certain stadium
The answer is F.
In paragraph thirteen, Freiburg Mage Solar Stadium in Germany is the first of a new wave of stadiums as power plants, which also includes the Amsterdam Arena and the Kaohsiung Stadium. The latter, integrated in 2009, has 8,844 photovoltaic panels producing up to 1.14 GWh of electricity annually.
16- examples of the wide range of facilities available at some new stadiums
The answer is E.
In paragraph nine, there’s a growing trend for stadiums to be equipped with public spaces and services that serve a function beyond sport, such as hotels, retail outlets, conference centers, restaurants and bars, children’s playgrounds, and green spaces.
17- reference to the disadvantages of the stadiums built during a certain era
The answer is D.
In paragraph seven, but some of the flexibility was lost at the beginning of the 20th century, as stadiums were developed using new products such as steel and reinforced concrete, and made use of bright lights for night-time matches.
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Roman amphitheaters
18:19. The amphitheater of Arles, for example, was converted first into a …………, then into a residential area, and finally into an arena where spectators could watch …………..
18. The answer is FORTRESS
19. The answer is BULLFIGHTS.
18. In paragraph three, built by the Romans in 90 AD, it became a fortress with four towers after the fifth century and was then transformed into a village containing more than 200 houses.
19. In paragraph three, with the growing interest in conservation during the 19th century, it was converted back into an arena for the staging of bullfights, thereby returning the structure to its original use as a venue for public spectacles.
20. Meanwhile, the arena in Verona, one of the oldest Roman amphitheaters, is famous today as a venue where …… is performed.
The answer is OPERA.
In paragraph six, it has endured the centuries and is currently considered one of the world’s prime sites for opera, thanks to its outstanding acoustics.
21. The site of Lucca’s amphitheater has been used for many purposes over centuries, including the storage of ……….
The answer is SALT.
In paragraph six, the site evolved in a similar way to Arles and was progressively filled with buildings from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, variously used as houses, a salt depot, and a prison.
21. It is now a market square with …. and homes incorporated into the remains of the Roman amphitheater.
The answer is SHOPS.
In paragraph six, but rather than reverting to an arena, it became a market square, designed by Romanticist architect Lorenzo Nottolini. Today, the ruins of the amphitheater remain embedded in the various shops and residences surrounding the public spquare.
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Roman amphitheaters
23:24. When comparing twentieth-century stadiums to ancient amphitheaters in section D, which TWO negative features does the writer mention?
23. The answer is C. > They are in less convenient locations.
24. The answer is D. > They are less versatile.
23. In paragraph eight, many such stadiums are situated in suburban areas, designed for sporting use only, and surrounded by parking lots. These factors mean that they may not be as accessible to the general public, require more energy to run, and contribute to urban heat.
23. In paragraph seven, but some flexibility was lost at the beginning of the 20th century, as stadiums were developed using new products such as steel and reinforced concrete, and made use of bright lights for night-time matches.
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
25:26. Which TWO advantages of modern stadium design does the writer mention?
25. The answer is B. > bringing community life back into the city environment
26. The answer is E. > providing a suitable site for the installation of renewable power generators
25. In paragraph eleven, this opened the space up to families and a wider cross-section of society, instead of catering only to sportspeople and supporters.
26. In paragraph twelve, the phenomenon of stadiums as power stations has risen from the idea that energy problems can be overcome by integrating interconnected buildings by means of a smart grid, which is an electricity supply network that uses digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage, without significant energy losses.