Reading: Intermediate 1

1. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents.

French and English are the only languages that are spoken on five continents.

Unlike French, English is spoken on five continents

French and English are spoken widely in official and commercial circles

Before English, French was the only language spoken on five continents

Worldwide, French is the most widely taught second language after English.

2. Sometimes what is best for society is not always good for an individual living in that society.

Individuals not always seek for the best of the society they live in

It is impossible for an individual to accept the rules of the society he or she lives in

What is best for individuals is always suitable for the society they live in.

If everyone acted in his or her own best interest, there wouldn't be any conflict within the society.

3. Large cigars have been smoked in Cuba since the sixteenth century, but only a few are manufactured for export.

Although large cigars have been smoked since the sixteenth century in Cuba, not many of them are produced for export.

Cuba has been producing large cigars since the sixteenth century however they are not sold in export.

In the sixteenth century large cigars were produced in Cuba not only for inland use but also for export.

4. Large cigars have been smoked in Cuba since the sixteenth century, but only a few are manufactured for export.

Although large cigars have been smoked since the sixteenth century in Cuba, not many of them are produced for export.

In the sixteenth century large cigars were produced in Cuba not only for inland use but also for export.

Cuba has been producing large cigars since the sixteenth century however they are not sold in export.

5. After failing a doping test at the Seoul Olympics, Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal.

At the Seoul Olympics Ben Johnson and many others were disqualified after failing a doping test.

If Ben Johnson hadn't been tested positive for doping at the Seoul Olympics, he wouldn't have lost his gold medal.

Since Ben Johnson confessed having used doping his gold medal was taken back

As Ben Johnson failed the doping test again at the Seoul Olympics, he was stripped of his gold medal.

Although Ben Johnson failed the doping test he wasn't disqualified from the Seoul Olympics.

6. From time to time there are things we do even though we think they are wrong.

Sometimes we might do things that are considered wrong.

We often do things because we think they are the right things to do at the time

It is not possible to do everything right in life

We can never be sure if all the things we do are right

Although we feel that the things we sometimes do are not right, we nevertheless do them.

7. Today there is hardly any time for storytelling in homes, whereas it was a life style in the past."

Today hardly anyone knows how important storytelling was in the past since everybody is busy with their own lives

Nowadays, storytelling has become a very important practice since it gives us ideas about the life in the past.

8. Due to the fact that the demand for tea was very high in the 19th century, its price was astronomical.

It was not until the 19th century that the demand for tea started to increase.

In the 19th century the price for tea didn't increase despite the demand

It was its astronomical price which decreased the demand for tea in the 19th century.

In the 19th century, even though the demand for tea was enormous its price remained cheap.

The demand for tea was so high in the 19th century that its price was enormous

9. From time to time there are things we do even though we think they are wrong.

Sometimes we might do things that are considered wrong.

We often do things because we think they are the right things to do at the time

It is not possible to do everything right in life.

We can never be sure if all the things we do are right

Although we feel that the things we sometimes do are not right, we nevertheless do them.

10. Adults laugh less than children, probably because they play less.

Unlike adults children laugh more while playing games

No matter how much adults play, they can't laugh more than children

It seems that adults, who don't laugh much, didn't play much with other children when they were young.

Since adults have less time playing games; they don't laugh as much as children

The reason why adults laugh less than children might be that they play less.

11. After failing a doping test at the Seoul Olympics, Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal.

At the Seoul Olympics Ben Johnson and many others were disqualified after failing a doping test.

If Ben Johnson hadn't been tested positive for doping at the Seoul Olympics, he wouldn't have lost his gold medal

Since Ben Johnson confessed having used doping his gold medal was taken back.

As Ben Johnson failed the doping test again at the Seoul Olympics, he was stripped of his gold medal.

Although Ben Johnson failed the doping test he wasn't disqualified from the Seoul Olympics.

12.

only members of the cat family that can roar are lions, leopards, tigers, and jaguars but lions are by far the loudest.

Like leopards, tigers, and jaguars, lions are among the members of the cat family that can roar

The roar of a lion is enough to make other animals, such as leopards, feel frightened.

13. with the dolphins was something that only a few could ever experience in their lifetime.

Unlike adults children laugh more while playing games.

Since adults have less time playing games; they don't laugh as much as childre

No matter how much adults play, they can't laugh more than children

It seems that adults, who don't laugh much, didn't play much with other children when they were young.

The reason why adults laugh less than children might be that they play less.

14. We must remember what happened in the past so that it will never happen again.

If we could remember the past, it would not happen again.

Since we all tend to forget what happened in the past we do the same mistakes again

We couldn't remember what happened in the past so we did it again

In order not to repeat the past, we should certainly not forget what happened then

Those who couldn't remember what happened in the past were more likely to repeat it.

15. We must remember what happened in the past so that it will never happen again.

If we could remember the past, it would not happen again

Since we all tend to forget what happened in the past we do the same mistakes again

We couldn't remember what happened in the past so we did it again

In order not to repeat the past, we should certainly not forget what happened then

Those who couldn't remember what happened in the past were more likely to repeat it.

16. Even though many of us don't suffer from a mental disorder, it is clear that some of us are mentally healthier than others.

Many people who are diagnosed as having mental disorder are mentally healthier than we are.

Compared to the number of mentally healthy, the number of people with a mental disorder is increasing

It is not clear how many people suffer from a mental disorder since many of them seem mentally healthy.

17. The twins resemble each other so much that I can never tell which is which.

Although the twins do not look like each other I cannot name them easily.

I cannot tell the twins apart because I don’t know them well enough

It is impossible for me to identify the twins because they look very much like one another

I can never tell the twins anything as they like each other so much

The twins are similar to each other but I can easily name them

18. I have to say that I have never been as comfortable as my brother when telling people what I think.

I have never tried to be as comfortable as my brother in telling people what I think.

Both my brother and I are comfortable with frankly telling people what they need to know

My brother is less comfortable than me in expressing himself and saying what he feels.

My brother has always been more comfortable than me telling people what he thinks about them.

I have noticed that my brother has never been comfortable when telling people what he thinks.

19. I have to say that I have never been as comfortable as my brother when telling people what I think.

I have never tried to be as comfortable as my brother in telling people what I think.

Both my brother and I are comfortable with frankly telling people what they need to know.

My brother is less comfortable than me in expressing himself and saying what he feels.

My brother has always been more comfortable than me telling people what he thinks about them.

I have noticed that my brother has never been comfortable when telling people what he thinks.

20. She didn't eat anything but small pieces of bread and butter.

She ate small pieces of bread and butter but didn't like them.

She only ate some small pieces of bread and butter

She didn't eat anything, not even the bread and butter

She didn't touch the bread and butter, but she ate other things

She ate neither bread nor butter.