Банк заданий
ЕГЭ по английскому языку

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Surviving an avalanche

Surviving an avalanche was not on Thomas’s list of things to do in life. A thrill-seeker of epic proportions, he had jumped from a helicopter to ski remote mountain slopes and traversed half of Antarctica on a cross-country skiing adventure. If only his wisdom of doing things in packs hadn’t failed him on the day of his accident.

He had ventured out alone before, and in any case, most of the ski ranges around his mountain home were littered with forest rangers whose job was to help stranded hikers. So a solo trip by an experienced skier wasn’t the most dangerous of adventures.

Every seasoned skier is aware of both the risks and the joys involved with skiing off-piste. It’s a different experience from the snow that’s been packed down into hard ice by the hundreds of other skiers who have already crossed over it. Movements occur almost in slow-motion as the skier glides in and out of the piles of powder. It’s an exhausting challenge that requires effort from the skier’s whole body, but a unique one that hooks a skier after just one run.

Thomas even had special equipment for this particular type of skiing. His well-worn pair of traditional skis wouldn’t be sufficient, so he’d expended an extra two hundred pounds on a wider set of blades especially made for skiing in powder.

And it wasn’t as if safety was the last thing on his mind. He’d brought his avalanche kit in case of emergencies. He wore an airbag that would help to keep him near the surface if he pulled the cord in time, and another device which would assist him with breathing under snow. The rescue service’s number was programmed into his mobile phone, and his avalanche transceiver – which emits an emergency signal – was equipped with fully-charged batteries.

Thomas’s run that day was in familiar territory. He had always skied with a trusted ski buddy, with never an incident to report. Perhaps he had been lulled into a false sense of security. In fact, he had intended to ski with a friend that morning. When his friend couldn’t make it, Thomas considered not going himself, but the snow on the mountain had fallen just the night before, and the lure was too intense.

His run was a wide, bare track of slope nestled between two pine forests – a real skier’s delight, and quite popular with the locals as well.

They say an avalanche is like a sleeping giant, waiting to be woken up by even the slightest of nudges. Thomas gave this giant more than a nudge – he skied right over it and before he knew it, he was skiing on top of it as it slid down the mountain along with him. And if you ski on top of the giant’s mouth, it’s likely to swallow you whole.

As Thomas sank beneath powder, through his acute panic he managed to pull the cord on his airbag. The roar of the giant fell silent seconds later, and from beneath the snow it was as if morning had turned to night. Thomas tried to reach his phone, but his arm might as well have been cast in concrete. Lying still, his panic slowly shifting to an eerie peacefulness, he did his best to keep his chin up. He even began to enjoy the dark solitude, even though he knew he might never be found. Luckily for him, the giant had caught the attention of others, and the transceiver was doing the job it was designed to do.

15. What is true about Thomas’s avalanche kit?

1) The airbag would help him breathe.

2) The airbag would inflate automatically.

3) He had an emergency number written down.

4) Some items required electric power to function.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Surviving an avalanche

Surviving an avalanche was not on Thomas’s list of things to do in life. A thrill-seeker of epic proportions, he had jumped from a helicopter to ski remote mountain slopes and traversed half of Antarctica on a cross-country skiing adventure. If only his wisdom of doing things in packs hadn’t failed him on the day of his accident.

He had ventured out alone before, and in any case, most of the ski ranges around his mountain home were littered with forest rangers whose job was to help stranded hikers. So a solo trip by an experienced skier wasn’t the most dangerous of adventures.

Every seasoned skier is aware of both the risks and the joys involved with skiing off-piste. It’s a different experience from the snow that’s been packed down into hard ice by the hundreds of other skiers who have already crossed over it. Movements occur almost in slow-motion as the skier glides in and out of the piles of powder. It’s an exhausting challenge that requires effort from the skier’s whole body, but a unique one that hooks a skier after just one run.

Thomas even had special equipment for this particular type of skiing. His well-worn pair of traditional skis wouldn’t be sufficient, so he’d expended an extra two hundred pounds on a wider set of blades especially made for skiing in powder.

And it wasn’t as if safety was the last thing on his mind. He’d brought his avalanche kit in case of emergencies. He wore an airbag that would help to keep him near the surface if he pulled the cord in time, and another device which would assist him with breathing under snow. The rescue service’s number was programmed into his mobile phone, and his avalanche transceiver – which emits an emergency signal – was equipped with fully-charged batteries.

Thomas’s run that day was in familiar territory. He had always skied with a trusted ski buddy, with never an incident to report. Perhaps he had been lulled into a false sense of security. In fact, he had intended to ski with a friend that morning. When his friend couldn’t make it, Thomas considered not going himself, but the snow on the mountain had fallen just the night before, and the lure was too intense.

His run was a wide, bare track of slope nestled between two pine forests – a real skier’s delight, and quite popular with the locals as well.

They say an avalanche is like a sleeping giant, waiting to be woken up by even the slightest of nudges. Thomas gave this giant more than a nudge – he skied right over it and before he knew it, he was skiing on top of it as it slid down the mountain along with him. And if you ski on top of the giant’s mouth, it’s likely to swallow you whole.

As Thomas sank beneath powder, through his acute panic he managed to pull the cord on his airbag. The roar of the giant fell silent seconds later, and from beneath the snow it was as if morning had turned to night. Thomas tried to reach his phone, but his arm might as well have been cast in concrete. Lying still, his panic slowly shifting to an eerie peacefulness, he did his best to keep his chin up. He even began to enjoy the dark solitude, even though he knew he might never be found. Luckily for him, the giant had caught the attention of others, and the transceiver was doing the job it was designed to do.

16. Why did Thomas particularly want to ski that day?

1) It was pre-arranged with his friend.

2) He wanted to ski alone.

3) The area was beautiful.

4) The weather conditions were ideal.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Surviving an avalanche

Surviving an avalanche was not on Thomas’s list of things to do in life. A thrill-seeker of epic proportions, he had jumped from a helicopter to ski remote mountain slopes and traversed half of Antarctica on a cross-country skiing adventure. If only his wisdom of doing things in packs hadn’t failed him on the day of his accident.

He had ventured out alone before, and in any case, most of the ski ranges around his mountain home were littered with forest rangers whose job was to help stranded hikers. So a solo trip by an experienced skier wasn’t the most dangerous of adventures.

Every seasoned skier is aware of both the risks and the joys involved with skiing off-piste. It’s a different experience from the snow that’s been packed down into hard ice by the hundreds of other skiers who have already crossed over it. Movements occur almost in slow-motion as the skier glides in and out of the piles of powder. It’s an exhausting challenge that requires effort from the skier’s whole body, but a unique one that hooks a skier after just one run.

Thomas even had special equipment for this particular type of skiing. His well-worn pair of traditional skis wouldn’t be sufficient, so he’d expended an extra two hundred pounds on a wider set of blades especially made for skiing in powder.

And it wasn’t as if safety was the last thing on his mind. He’d brought his avalanche kit in case of emergencies. He wore an airbag that would help to keep him near the surface if he pulled the cord in time, and another device which would assist him with breathing under snow. The rescue service’s number was programmed into his mobile phone, and his avalanche transceiver – which emits an emergency signal – was equipped with fully-charged batteries.

Thomas’s run that day was in familiar territory. He had always skied with a trusted ski buddy, with never an incident to report. Perhaps he had been lulled into a false sense of security. In fact, he had intended to ski with a friend that morning. When his friend couldn’t make it, Thomas considered not going himself, but the snow on the mountain had fallen just the night before, and the lure was too intense.

His run was a wide, bare track of slope nestled between two pine forests – a real skier’s delight, and quite popular with the locals as well.

They say an avalanche is like a sleeping giant, waiting to be woken up by even the slightest of nudges. Thomas gave this giant more than a nudge – he skied right over it and before he knew it, he was skiing on top of it as it slid down the mountain along with him. And if you ski on top of the giant’s mouth, it’s likely to swallow you whole.

As Thomas sank beneath powder, through his acute panic he managed to pull the cord on his airbag. The roar of the giant fell silent seconds later, and from beneath the snow it was as if morning had turned to night. Thomas tried to reach his phone, but his arm might as well have been cast in concrete. Lying still, his panic slowly shifting to an eerie peacefulness, he did his best to keep his chin up. He even began to enjoy the dark solitude, even though he knew he might never be found. Luckily for him, the giant had caught the attention of others, and the transceiver was doing the job it was designed to do.

17. An avalanche is compared to a sleeping giant because …

1) it’s not usually dangerous.

2) it can quickly spring into life.

3) it’s a huge spectacle.

4) it can easily kill people.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Surviving an avalanche

Surviving an avalanche was not on Thomas’s list of things to do in life. A thrill-seeker of epic proportions, he had jumped from a helicopter to ski remote mountain slopes and traversed half of Antarctica on a cross-country skiing adventure. If only his wisdom of doing things in packs hadn’t failed him on the day of his accident.

He had ventured out alone before, and in any case, most of the ski ranges around his mountain home were littered with forest rangers whose job was to help stranded hikers. So a solo trip by an experienced skier wasn’t the most dangerous of adventures.

Every seasoned skier is aware of both the risks and the joys involved with skiing off-piste. It’s a different experience from the snow that’s been packed down into hard ice by the hundreds of other skiers who have already crossed over it. Movements occur almost in slow-motion as the skier glides in and out of the piles of powder. It’s an exhausting challenge that requires effort from the skier’s whole body, but a unique one that hooks a skier after just one run.

Thomas even had special equipment for this particular type of skiing. His well-worn pair of traditional skis wouldn’t be sufficient, so he’d expended an extra two hundred pounds on a wider set of blades especially made for skiing in powder.

And it wasn’t as if safety was the last thing on his mind. He’d brought his avalanche kit in case of emergencies. He wore an airbag that would help to keep him near the surface if he pulled the cord in time, and another device which would assist him with breathing under snow. The rescue service’s number was programmed into his mobile phone, and his avalanche transceiver – which emits an emergency signal – was equipped with fully-charged batteries.

Thomas’s run that day was in familiar territory. He had always skied with a trusted ski buddy, with never an incident to report. Perhaps he had been lulled into a false sense of security. In fact, he had intended to ski with a friend that morning. When his friend couldn’t make it, Thomas considered not going himself, but the snow on the mountain had fallen just the night before, and the lure was too intense.

His run was a wide, bare track of slope nestled between two pine forests – a real skier’s delight, and quite popular with the locals as well.

They say an avalanche is like a sleeping giant, waiting to be woken up by even the slightest of nudges. Thomas gave this giant more than a nudge – he skied right over it and before he knew it, he was skiing on top of it as it slid down the mountain along with him. And if you ski on top of the giant’s mouth, it’s likely to swallow you whole.

As Thomas sank beneath powder, through his acute panic he managed to pull the cord on his airbag. The roar of the giant fell silent seconds later, and from beneath the snow it was as if morning had turned to night. Thomas tried to reach his phone, but his arm might as well have been cast in concrete. Lying still, his panic slowly shifting to an eerie peacefulness, he did his best to keep his chin up. He even began to enjoy the dark solitude, even though he knew he might never be found. Luckily for him, the giant had caught the attention of others, and the transceiver was doing the job it was designed to do.

18. The expression ‘keep his chin up’ in the last paragraph means …

1) stay positive.

2) keep breathing.

3) raise his head.

4) avoid making movements.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

12. According to the text, attendance at university …

1) is similar to that in college or school.

2) can greatly influence your final result.

3) depends mainly on your preferences.

4) is not obligatory for the majority of universities.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

13. Which is NOT mentioned about university attendance in the text?

1) Attendance is considered to be connected with achievement.

2) Teachers use a special document to mark students’ attendance.

3) Failure to attend all lectures may result in dropping out of school.

4) There is usually a minimum number of classes students must attend.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

14. The verb coast through in “you can’t coast through your career” (paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to …

1) succeeding without much effort.

2) working hard.

3) planning your next steps.

4) making a choice.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

15. According to the text, many people think that class attendance is a must because…

1) students get used to the requirements of adult life.

2) higher education is rather expensive.

3) it is what employers often check.

4) one is punished for missing classes.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

16. It is implied that attending classes helps you …

1) get answers to tests beforehand.

2) pay your education fee faster.

3) become more involved in the community.

4) learn about volunteer opportunities.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

17. The author needs to skip classes most often because he …

1) dislikes studying in the mornings.

2) has some health problems.

3) combines work and studies.

4) has to finish his other academic tasks.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Attendance requirements

Studying at university can be very different from school, sixth form or college. Your term time will be different, as will your classes. Whether attendance is mandatory or not will also vary. Your classes will be divided into lectures and seminars. You will also have study sessions and inductions each year. Failure to attend mandatory sessions could have implications on your progression towards your degree, so it is important to understand what is mandatory and what is not.

Most universities do care about attendance. Universities generally associate good attendance with good academic performance, and therefore strongly encourage students to attend all of their seminars and lectures. Many universities will have an attendance threshold which students must reach. Likewise, module tutors may use a register to log and monitor the attendance of students for each seminar and lecture.

The real world has attendance requirements, too. If you don’t meet those expectations, you will get penalized. Jobs, for example, have required attendance. If you skip a day of work because you’re not up to it, you will probably face consequences. You have to be actively present to achieve your career goals, you can’t coast through your career like you may in college. College prepares you for the real world, so class attendance benefits your education and your future. That’s why many people think class attendance should be mandatory – to ensure students are engaged in their academic studies.

But, even without required attendance, it is your job to show up. Tests often reflect lectures, so being in class can help you more easily answer test questions. Most classes use participation to discuss topics in class, which goes beyond just needing to know it for tests. Attendance also makes it easier to work with fellow students and professors, so as to better understand the topics.

Active participation is not just for jobs and school. It can help you in life as well. Attending class would help emphasize that people need to be active in their role in society. This includes participating in things like elections, community service, and volunteering.

Most notably, we must pay for the classes we take, so missing a class means we hurt ourselves by wasting money, time, and educational opportunities. Not everyone gets to attend a uni, so why not take advantage of this opportunity?

On the other hand, if attendance is not required, you can choose whether or not to get out of bed in the morning and make your way to class. I must admit that there are days I may really want to choose not to go to class. But it is required, so I feel as though I have no choice at all. Maybe I feel a cold coming on but can’t make it to a doctor for a sick note, or I had to work extra late at my part-time job the night before. Most frequently I need some extra time to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework I have been assigned in all of my classes.

Regardless of the reason, the choice should be mine. I understand that going to class is beneficial in many ways. But burnout is real. Many full-time students work just to make ends meet, and you can’t always predict illnesses well enough to get a university approved absence.

The requirement to attend classes can negatively affect grades and cause a great deal of stress for students that are under enough stress already. Many students who are not able to attend every single class still deserve a decent grade, and they work very hard to maintain one. We are adults. We are choosing to further our education. Therefore, we should also be given the choice to attend class or not – without it being detrimental to our grades.

18. What is the author’s overall attitude to attendance requirements?

1) Absence should be approved by university or by responsible adults.

2) It is up to students to decide whether they must attend each class.

3) Serious cases like illnesses shouldn’t influence your attendance grade.

4) Attendance requirements have more positive than negative consequences.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

12. What does the author think of the article written by ChatGPT?

1) Its quality was a pleasant surprise for him.

2) It was worse than he’d thought.

3) ChatGPT should not have used headlines.

4) It made him think about his own future.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

13. What does the expression “made such big headlines” in paragraph 2 (“…there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines”) mean?

1) Wrote good headlines for articles.

2) Was widely discussed in the media.

3) Was better than other models.

4) Was used by many people.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

14. Why are humans creative in unique ways?

1) Their lives and thoughts are different.

2) They do not use the information that already exists.

3) They are never given the same set of keywords.

4) Their brain cells work all at the same time.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

15. Why did AI become racist very fast?

1) The information it used for training was racist.

2) Social network users taught it to be intolerant.

3) It had not been designed properly.

4) It knew little about the current values.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

16. What does “this ability” in paragraph 7 (“… why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?”) refer to?

1) To tell which information is true and which is not.

2) To live in the present.

3) To train AI models.

4) To solve specific problems.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

17. Which statement is TRUE?

1) Robo-dogs are better than living service dogs.

2) Living dogs are cheaper than robo-dogs.

3) The resources used to develop robo-dogs should be used differently.

4) It is a global problem that many people have issues with eyesight.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

My experience with ChatGPT

A few weeks ago, I asked ChatGPT to write an article and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. Not only did ChatGPT write a comprehensive article, but it also included helpful headlines for each section. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for the future world.

I’ve been keeping up with news about AI developments, but ChatGPT really stood out to me. While there are other models out there doing similar things, there must be a reason why ChatGPT made such big headlines. I think it’s because people like me started using AI models for the first time and got very tangible results. However, as useful and unique it can be, I do have some concerns.

After receiving the article from ChatGPT, I requested another one using similar keywords. ChatGPT delivered, but the resulting article was 62% similar to the first one. I doubt this would happen if I asked two people to write an article using the same keywords. As humans, we all have unique minds and experiences that shape our thoughts and words. Each person’s creativity is unique because it requires unique brain networks to fire simultaneously.

It’s no surprise that ChatGPT lacks originality, since it’s trained on millions of pieces of information from various sources. AI relies on pre-existing information to produce content. In contrast, humans learn in various ways and may draw different conclusions from similar experiences.

Another challenge with AI is intolerance. AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which can lead to intolerant results. Microsoft experienced this firsthand in 2016 when their AI chatbot on social networks became racist and misogynistic within 24 hours.

Even OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledges the limitations of AI. They warn that it “may occasionally generate incorrect information,” “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content,” and has “limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021.”

The last limitation is telling. Is it possible for an AI chatbot to “live in the present?” Today’s reality is so fragmented and dependent on individual perspectives that even humans struggle to identify the truth. How can scientists train an AI model to differentiate truth from falsehood? If this were possible (let alone easy), why haven’t humans mastered this ability yet?

I wonder to what extent technological innovation occurs for the sake of innovation itself, rather than to address and solve a specific problem. Are we using AI to solve significant global issues, or are we merely using it to fix inconveniences?

Recently, I read news about a robo-dog for people with visual impairment. Equipped with AI, it talks and aids them in navigating cities. Why were living service dogs not good enough?

Apparently, they are expensive to train and maintain, so the answer technology offered was – what else? – robots. That would be quite reasonable, but 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable with spectacles or eye surgery. Millions of people have visual impairment because they don’t have access to such treatments, making it a significant and global problem. Shouldn’t we use our resources to prevent and treat vision loss in the first place?

We have built a world so dependent on technology and so obsessed with growth that we are now willing to put a price on the only thing that makes us unique in this world: our brain. While we have not fully comprehended its capabilities, we are trying to make a digital copy of it. Are we sure we know what this means?

18. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

1) Our society is ready to buy and sell anything.

2) We are too dependent on technology.

3) It is our brain that makes us unique.

4) We should not toy with what we do not fully understand.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

12. The author started making hand-made things because she …

1) spends too much annually.

2) lives in an expensive district.

3) slowed down her pace of life.

4) wishes to reduce her purchases.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

13. The word frivolous in “buy something frivolous” (paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to …

1) unplanned.

2) unusual.

3) unlimited.

4) unnecessary.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

14. According to the author, writing down what you buy helps to …

1) analyse your real motivation.

2) stop social media influence.

3) cope with depressive state.

4) protect you from criminals.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

15. It in “we can make steps to meaningfully address it" (paragraph 3) most probably refers to …

1) buying.

2) rushing.

3) emotion.

4) action.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

16. It is implied in the text that one of the ways to avoid buying is to …

1) spend more time cleaning up your home.

2) replace online shopping with traditional.

3) find out shopping motives and replace them.

4) be busy all the time.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

17. What advice does the author give to prevent impulse buying?

1) Never buy expensive items.

2) Introduce a purchase day once a week.

3) Delete your bookmarks in online shops.

4) Discuss what you want to buy at work.

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12–18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Пример ответа: 1

Stop buying stuff

Did you know that spending 1,000 rubles a day adds up to spending more than 365,000 a year? And I don’t know about you, but hardly anything costs under 1,000 where we live. So thoughtless spending can add up very quickly. As I try to live more simply, I have been trying to mend what we have and make what we need. I recently made linen napkins with some fabric we had. This way of living has required me to slow down and question whether what I want to buy is truly essential. If you also want to live more simply and stop buying stuff you don’t need, here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

First, you need to identify your motivation. Take a few minutes to think about why you want to buy less stuff. Your goal is to buy less, but why are you chasing that goal. Some reasons might be to save money, to reduce clutter, to live more sustainably, to get out of debt, or to live a more handmade and simple life. Once you have your motivation identified, you can refer back to it when you are tempted to buy something frivolous.

Next, it’s very useful to record your expenses. Don’t worry about setting up a fancy budget right now. Just write down everything you buy and how much you spend for one week. This is to make you more conscious of your spending habits and help you to stop buying stuff you don’t need. Also for one week, write down what prompted you to buy something. For example, imagine you bought a new
T-shirt. Write it down and think about what made you want to buy it. Did you see someone you follow on social media wearing it? Did you buy it late at night after a date went badly? The goal is to make your invisible purchasing habits more visible. As you write down what prompted you to buy something, think about whether the spending was emotional or not. Did you get a rush when you pushed ‘buy now’? That’s probably an emotional purchase. Try to identify which emotion you’re avoiding. Do you feel self-conscious? Or depressed? Once we can name what we’re trying to avoid, then we can take steps to meaningfully address it.

Have you heard about the One-Year Test? Look around your space. Do you see anything you haven’t used in a year? Strongly consider selling or donating it. Once you have an understanding of how much you spend and what your spending triggers are, it’s time to clean the slate. Unsubscribe from brands on social media and from email newsletters from companies or influencers. You want to set yourself up for success and protect yourself from being bombarded with emails promising ‘irresistible’ sales. Once you know when you are triggered to buy things, you can pre-empt the urge by filling the time with something else. For example, if you browse and buy late at night on your phone, you can do yoga or meditate or read a good book before bed. You don’t need to do this forever – just try to do it once to begin with, and see how you feel.

Another very good tip can be summed up as ‘cost versus work.’ Before you buy something, calculate how much you will need to work to cover the cost. If you get paid 300 rubles/hour and something costs 2,500, that’s more than 8 hours of work. Is it worth it to you?

Before buying something, wait 24 hours. This is a good way to weed out impulse buying. Instead of buying things every day, choose one day a week. Bookmark everything you want to buy and on the buying day, review all of your bookmarks. This is a good way to remove emotional or impulse buying, too.

So, buying stuff you don’t need is a major problem for a lot of people. The material possessions that you’ve desired and eventually purchased will lose their sparkle, and you’ll return to your happiness set point. Things can’t make you happy, but people can.

18. Which is the best summary of the article?

1) There are many ways to reduce purchases.

2) Buy only what makes you happy.

3) Buying less stuff is a way to happiness.

4) People tend to spend more than they can afford.