(Copy and paste this page to an empty word file where you can solve the exercises. Then click here for the key.)

1. Choose the best answer to the questions.

When was paper invented?

                                                 In 100 B.C.

                                                 Around 1000 A.D.

                                                 About 2000 years ago.

                                                 About 1000 years ago.

What do wasps use to make paper?

                                                  Flowers.

                                                  Honey.

                                                  Newspapers.

                                                  Wood.

Why didn't humans make paper from wood in the second part of the eighteen century?

                                                 They were lazy.

                                                 They didn't have the right technology.

                                                 They had too many linen rags.

                                                 They didn't know it was possible.

What is Eric Joisel's masterpiece?

                                                 An origami house.

                                                 An origami horse.

                                                 An origami jazz band.

                                                 An opera.

How long is the journey of the 'space-paper-airplanes' going to be?

                                                Several hours.

                                                Several days.

                                                Several months.

                                                Less than a month.

How will the scientists track the airplanes launched from space?

                                                By radar.

                                                By GPS.

                                                They haven't decided, yet.

                                                They won't track them.

2. The following adjectives were used in the text about paper:

feasible, fragile, incredible, available, fascinating, elaborate, conventional, temporary

Complete the sentences with these adjectives. Use every word only once.

Example: His plan looked interesting but it wasn't ( feasible ). In practice it wouldn't work at all.

We wanted to buy tickets for the concert but they were no longer(                          ).

His picture was very (                             ). It showed all the little details.

Another word for usual or well-established is (                            ).

He doesn't always live here just now. It's his (                           ) residence.

The story was absolutely (                            ). Things like that happen extremely rarely or maybe never at all. I was not sure whether to believe it or not.

Handle this package with care. The contents are (                         ).

Exciting? Much more than that. That film was so (                            ) we couldn't stop watching it.

3. Match the opposites.

feasible                         impossible (to make or accomplish)

fragile                             believable

incredible                       unbreakable   

available                         revolutionary

fascinating                      permanent

elaborate                        dull (boring)

conventional                    unavailable

temporary                       rough (not detailed)

4. The following nouns were in the text:

wasp, earthquake, architect, masterpiece, cardboard, launch, heat

Fill the gaps in the sentences with one of these nouns.

An ( architect ) designs buildings.

In 1755 Lisbon was completely destroyed by an                          .

Mona Lisa, Leonardo's                           , is kept in the Louvre.

I like warm weather but I can't stand this (                       ). It's too much.

The astronauts survived the (                          ) despite the extreme acceleration.

He was stung by a (                            ) on his arm.

Those brown boxes are made from (                             ).

Grammar note:

Look at the following sentences from the text:

Paper is not only made by humans.
The idea was stolen from wasps.
His paper and cardboard structures are known and loved all over the world.
You will be taught how to make an inflatable paper cube.

All these sentences contain passive structures.

Here you can read an explanation about the passive voice.
Here you can do some exercises to practice it. (Note: Do not use shortened forms such as isn't or hasn't because these won't be accepted by the stupid machine:_)