نتیجه آزمون

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 1 - Reading Correspondence

Reading Passage

To: Senior Managers, Prairie West Credit Union

From: Richard Poole, President and CEO

Subject: MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL: Monitoring computer use

Dear Senior Managers,

Like all banks, Prairie West thinks that data security is absolutely necessary. As a result, last month we improved our computer network by dividing it into separate, secure sub-networks for each department. This will ensure that if there is a cyberattack, it will not affect the entire system. We have a very experienced Information Technology (IT) team that knows what to do if a cyberattack happens. However, we will be doing more in the upcoming months.

Studies show that over 64% of employees visit non-work-related websites and over 84% read and send personal emails while they are at work. When employees use our company’s computer network for personal activities, they can negatively impact not only their productivity but also their personal security. Visiting certain websites or downloading attachments can lead to identity theft and put our network at risk. Our system could be infected by harmful programs such as spyware and viruses. The creators of these programs would then have access to sensitive information, such as customers’ credit card and bank account numbers. As you know, our customers depend on that information not becoming public.

Like many organizations, we block certain websites, and we have rules against personal emailing. However, staff do not always follow these policies, and new websites appear more quickly than we can block them. Therefore, starting next month, we will monitor all employees’ internet use. We hope that this will discourage employees from inappropriate online behaviour that puts our company’s data at risk.

We know that monitoring employees can lead to low staff morale and feelings of distrust, especially if the company doesn’t let the staff know about it first. Therefore, we have decided to inform employees that we will be doing this, even though it would be possible for us to monitor them secretly. Thus, I am asking all senior managers to present the new policy, in detail, to their staff at their next department meeting.

If any of you would like to speak with me about this request, please contact me. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Regards,

Richard

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 2 - Reading to Apply a Diagram

Subject: Contest Entry

To: Valley Bicycles valleybicycles@contestentry.ca

From: Mark Timmons mtimmons@email.com

Dear Valley Bicycles,

Please enter my name 1. ___ (for your bike contest | in the lottery draw | in your bike race | beside the photograph). As requested, I have attached a photo of 2. ___ (my family at the Rockies | my daughter's new bike | me climbing a mountain | me biking with a friend). I cycle to work daily on an old Conner bike. I bike all year round, except in heavy snow. I'm not that brave! If I win, I’d choose the mountain bike. With it, I would take a vacation biking through the mountains and along the coastal roads. I’m hoping the 3. ___ (new products | biking accessories | mountain bike | road bike) will include a bicycle tire pump, which would be very useful on such a trip.

I really hope I win. I made a bet with my wife that, if I do, she has to come with me on the trip. She said she's not packing her bags any time soon! Could you tell me how the winners are chosen? Is it a random draw or will the best 4. ___ (new product idea | written response | bicycle review | photograph title) be chosen? Also, is it really necessary to 5. ___ (print my name | publish my email | share my phone number | give out my address) on your website if I win? I’m quite a private person.

Best,

Mark Timmons

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 3 - Reading for Information

Reading Passage

A. In 1951, a report commissioned by Canada’s federal government indicated that professional theatre was moribund, music was present only in churches and schools, and English Canada produced only 14 works of fiction per year. Artists—whether writers, composers, or actors—couldn’t make enough money from their art to support themselves. This famous Massey Report recommended that the government create the Canada Council for the Encouragement of the Arts, Letters, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which was established in 1957. Twenty-one years later, the government divided the Council, making the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council a separate entity to take over funding for research in the social sciences and humanities.

B. Using the name Canada Council for the Arts, or Canada Council, the organization provides funding for the arts in Canada: dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing, and aboriginal arts. In addition, the Canada Council may provide funds to publishers, concert presenters, and theatres. Writers may apply for a grant to support themselves while they finish a novel; dancers and composers similarly may be awarded subsistence funds for a period of time devoted to the creation of new work. The Canada Council also awards several annual prizes to artists. Perhaps the most well-known are the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Decisions about grants and prizes are made by juries comprised of artists and arts professionals from across the country, about 750 of whom serve on the Canada Council juries each year.

C. In 1986, the Canada Council established the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC). Public Lending Right ensures that authors receive financial compensation when their books are borrowed through a public library system. The program is intended to offset the injustice of library patrons accessing books for free—that is, without a portion of equivalent purchase price going to the author. Close to $10 billion per year is now paid to about 17,000 Canadian writers. Although similar programs exist in over 30 other countries, the Canadian program is unique in that its focus is solely on Canadian authors.

D. The Canada Council also selectively collects contemporary Canadian art. Currently it has over 17,000 works of art by approximately 3,000 artists in its Art Bank. More than one-third of these paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures are on exhibit in private and public spaces throughout Canada. The works can also be seen on the Canada Council Art Bank website and the Google Art Project website.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”

Part 4 - Reading for Viewpoints

Reading Passage

As Metro Vancouver continues to struggle through a prolonged drought, water reservoirs are so low

that officials have banned all lawn watering. Formerly lush neighbourhoods are now brown wastelands, except where residents either illegally water their lawn (as westside gardening enthusiast Darius Smith admits to doing) or replace them with the increasingly popular synthetic ones.

Vancouver homeowner, Annette Basi, recently installed artificial grass on her property and, except

for the steep price tag, couldn’t be happier. “It’s nylon, it’s fake, but it rocks! It looks like the real deal, it’s always green, and it’s super low maintenance. It’s totally eco-friendly. No sprinkling, no pesticides. Just a bit of vacuuming.”

Across the border, homeowners in drought-ravaged California have begun installing artificial lawns as officials are now offering them cost rebates as a financial incentive for their installation. But in Vancouver, Nick Lorimer, a city engineer, recommends that a bylaw be passed requiring residents to purchase a permit before installing an artificial lawn or face a hefty fine. “This is already the case in Toronto, and rightly so. Artificial grass has many advantages, but the fibre it’s made from isn’t highly permeable. It doesn’t drain rainwater efficiently, especially if it’s plastic rather than nylon. With heavy rains, these lawns could contribute to flooding,” states Lorimer. The other issue is front lawn encroachments. “On front yards, fake turf often encroaches on city-owned property, hampering street cleaning and snow removal,” says Lorimer.

Ottawa resident Joanne Persky would prefer an outright ban on artificial lawns. “They disrupt the ecosystem,” she argues. “Ground vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen, which is essential for life. It also helps regulate atmospheric temperatures. Natural fibres breathe, synthetics don’t. Also, grass is food, and soil is home to earthworms, insects, and other things birds eat. As for humans, we don’t know, yet, if synthetic lawns are safe. Along with spray-on lawn dyes, artificial grass may prove carcinogenic,” continues Persky.

The water-conscious alternative, says Persky, is neither artificial nor real grass. “What you need is diverse and hardy natural ground cover,” she insists. “I’ve planted my whole yard with mosses, herbs, and perennial wildflowers. I never water it, and it’s always thriving.”