8 EXTRA EXAM PRACTICE

Name

Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

Petworking
I “Hello! My favourite food is lettuce and I am soft and furry. My name is Snowball and I am a female rabbit.” This
may not be the average profile found on social networking sites, but it is not unusual on the numerous “petworking”
sites now popular in the United States and Europe.
II For example, YummyPets, which started in January 2012, already includes over 150,000 members in its native
France. It offers pets (and their owners) a chance to connect with others in their area, and exchange information
about forthcoming events, pet-friendly locations and general pet-related advice. Owners may also publish
information on missing animals and commemorate pets which have died. A veterinarian offers owners holistic
health care advice, and there are interviews with pets (through their owners), as well as a section on VIP animals.
III Psychologists, however, claim that social networking through a pet may have other advantages. First, shy humans
sometimes find it less difficult to reveal personal information in this way, and so make contact more easily with
similarly minded people. Second, following an animal’s profile may help young children accept a new pet into their
lives. Finally, one mother claims to operate an account for the family pet in the hopes that her children will “invite”
the cat to become a friend; in this way, she plans to monitor the youngsters’ activities to protect them from any
potentially harmful online influences.
IV However, with over 600 brands and businesses on the site, some users are worried that it may eventually become
too commercial. Meanwhile, others complain that the site is not being used to its full potential. Although the UK
version, launched in May 2013, quickly attracted over 20,000 members, it seems that few are active, perhaps having
lost interest after joining.
V But this can easily be remedied by the participation of a few enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to enrol
your pet, just set up a profile. It’s easy to do on the site itself – all you have to give is your pet’s name, species and
gender.

1 Choose the correct answer.

1. The YummyPets site ...... .
3 Decide if the sentences are T (true) or F (false).
Find evidence in the text to justify your answers.
a. helps owners buy and sell pets ...... 1. YummyPets was launched in France at the
b. updates vets on holistic care beginning of 2012.
c. interviews celebrities about their pets .........................................................................
2. Critics claim that ...... . ...... 2. YummyPets publishes a list of venues that
welcome pets.
a. YummyPets needs more input from
commercial companies .........................................................................
b. too many people joined the YummyPets site 4 Answer the question.
at the same time How can owners set up a YummyPets profile for
c. many of the 20,000 YummyPets UK members their pet?
are inactive .......................................................................................

2 Rewrite the sentences without changing the original

5 Find words or expressions in the text that mean the
following:
meaning.
1. future (paragraph II) ....................................
1. She plans to monitor her children’s activities in 2. places (paragraph II) ....................................
order to protect them. 3. lost (paragraph II) ....................................
She plans to protect her children by .................... 4. started (paragraph IV) ....................................
............................................................................. . 5. eager (paragraph V) ....................................
2. This can easily be remedied by the participation 6 Write a composition of 100-150 words. Choose ONE
of a few enthusiastic individuals. option.
The participation of a few enthusiastic individuals 1. Write a description of a pet you have now or
............................................................................. . have had in the past and explain what you
particularly like/d about this animal.
 8 EXTRA EXAM PRACTICE

2. Social networking sites are taking over our lives.

Do you agree or disagree? Give your reasons.