Вариант 2 английский язык.

Изучив советы по выполнению заданий ЕГЭ из Раздела 2 по чтению (см. Демонстрационный вариант ЕГЭ 2016 Английский язык, Раздел 2 Чтение), выполните следующие тренировочные варианты.

Вариант 1

Задание 10

Установите соответствие между текстами A – G и заголовками 1 – 8. Занесите свои ответы в таблицу. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний.

1. Mixing styles
2. Internet sensation
3. Short lifetime
4. Money worries
5. Celebrity style
6. Cheaper to buy
7. Rebels no more
8. Shopping frenzy

Youth sub-culture isn’t what it used to be. In the 1960s, youths who were protesting against their parents or society dressed a certain way to show their anger, or to feel like they belonged to something. Nowadays, parents are more accepting of their children, and society is more accepting of different people. There is less of a need to act out, so there are fewer sub-cultures as a result.

There are still a few youth sub-cultures these days. One phenomenon is haul girls – teenage girls who shop till they drop, then come home with a big ‘haul’, usually several bags of clothes. Then they make a video of what they bought, and not just any old video, either. They put great effort into it, with editing and a storyline. It’s their way of showing off what they love to do.

In the old days, it took quite a lot of cash to get the look you desired. If you wanted to be Goth, going out and buying black boots, black clothes and black jewellery would cost a considerable amount. It’s all become more affordable now, so you can belong to one youth sub-culture one week and another the next, more or less.

There are fewer differences between youth sub-cultures than there used to be. In the old days, a hippie looked like a hippie. A punk looked like a punk, and nothing else. But it seems that the youth of today sometimes combines looks. One example is seapunk, which is punk but much more colourful and with a bit of hip-hop added. At least it’s still very creative!

A youth sub-culture is defined by many things. It’s the need to stand out, or the need to protest, or the need to belong. These days, kids are quite worried about their future. University has become very expensive, and the job market isn’t as strong as it used to be. How can anyone focus on creating a unique style when they’re facing such deep financial concerns?

Sometimes a youth sub-culture can come out of nowhere. Take Molly Soda, for example. Molly Soda is a teenage girl who posted some short films on YouTube that quickly became highly popular. Her style of dress, with her blue hair and nose piercing, is now copied by thousands of girls who find it cool. They’re called Molly Soda girls, from a youth sub-culture born overnight!

It is true that youth sub-cultures are like trends. They are born, they gain popularity, and then soon enough, everyone’s joined in. At that point, they are finished. This timeline used to be much longer than it is today. Now, with social media, trends spread much faster, which means they die a death much faster, too. A sub-culture is lucky if it lasts a whole year these days!

Задание 11

Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A–F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1–7 . Одна из частей в списке 1–7 лишняя. Занесите цифры, обозначающие соответствующие части предложений, в таблицу.

Evolution

The theory of evolution says that all living things on Earth, A ____________, come from a common ancestor by slowly changing down the generations. Darwin suggested that the way living things changed over time is through natural selection. This is the better survival and reproduction of those B ____________ . Fitting into the place where you live is called adapting. Those who fit best into the place where they live, the best adapted, have the best chance to survive and breed. Those who are less well-adapted C ____________ . If they do not survive well enough to raise young, that means they do not pass on their genes. In this way, the species gradually changes.

The first chapter of the Origin deals with domesticated animals, D ____________ . Darwin reminded readers of the huge changes mankind had made in its domestic animals, which were once wild species. The changes were brought about by selective breeding – choosing animals with desirable characters to breed from. This had been done generation after generation, E __________ . Perhaps what man had done deliberately, might happen in nature, where some would live more offspring than others.

Darwin noticed that although young plants or animals are very similar to their parents, F ___________ and there is always a range of shape, size, colour and so on. Some of these differences the plant or animal may have got from their own ancestors, but some are new and caused by mutations.

1. including plants, animals and microbes
2. tend not to survive
3. such as cattle and dogs
4. it would have a better chance to survive
5. that best fit their environment
6. no two are exactly the same
7. until our modern breeds were produced

Задания 12 – 18

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

Crash Landing

At that time the people of Britain would have been shocked to know that women were flying their most famous war plane. But the fact is that the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) had over 100 women pilots who delivered more than 300,000 air craft during the war. We had to fly the Spitfires from the factories and deliver them to airfields dotted around the south of England. Normally we would be flying in daylight with good visibility conditions. That is why we were never given instrument training as our instructors told us that with all the restrictions of war time, there was no time or money to spare for this luxury.

Occasionally we had to fly other aircraft – without any kind of additional training at all. Probably some high ranking, non-flying military official somewhere said that all aircraft were exactly the same to fly. Well – I can assure you that this is not true. With unfamiliar aircraft we had ten minutes to read an instruction booklet called the “Ferry Pilot Notes”. And that was it. We had to climb in, fire up, taxi and then take off in completely unknown flying machines.

That particular day, the day I came so close to death, was my twenty-first birthday. I had no cake or candles that day and my two friends and myself shared some chocolate – the only luxury available in those days. We drank apple juice, and ate the apples and cheese. We entertained ourselves with silly stories. But at one solemn moment we also made a toast to absent friends and remembered the girls who had died delivering aircraft.

In the morning we were driven to the factory and my worst fears were realised. Instead of a lovely new and familiar Spitfire I had a bulky Torpedo bomber. We all hated these as several had crashed without any clear reason why. I was able to take the Ferry Pilot Notes into the canteen and studied them over breakfast. I had a very uneasy feeling in my stomach which had nothing to do with the breakfast I was consuming. I had birthday kisses from the other girls but it only made me feel worse.

At about 11 I was given my flight plan and it was time to go. I looked at the sky. There was a strange quality to the light that I didn’t like and I was worried. With no instrument training, fog or mist made flying incredibly dangerous and absolutely terrifying. With a heavy heart I fired up the engine.

Within 20 minutes I was approaching the river Forth. But I couldn’t see the river as clouds thickened up around me. I took the aircraft lower looking for a glimpse of the ground. At one point I was sure that I was virtually at ground level but I couldn’t see a thing. It was too dangerous to continue. I could hear my heart beating even over the roar of the engine.

When it happened – it happened really quickly. The plane hit water. I didn’t see anything. I was thrown against my straps – and then a flood of cold seawater in my eyes and mouth. I was a mile out to sea!

I was certain I was going to die. Funnily enough – I was perfectly calm. I even thought that my ATA insurance payment would really be a big help to my Mother. But then survival instinct kicked in. I was still alive – and close to shore. I had no life jacket or any survival gear but I was a good swimmer. I was certain there were no bones broken and I didn’t have to swim far. I was picked up by a fishing boat that I had narrowly missed in the fog. And in the end I got a real birthday drink after all – a cup of spiced, dark rum.

12. Women pilots from ATA had no instrument training because

1) it was an auxiliary air force.

2) they were not supposed to fly in low visibility.

3) their main job was to deliver Spitfires to airdromes.

4) there was no money for this during the war.

13. The Ferry Pilot Notes were instruction booklets written to

1) help women pilots.

2) explain how to fly the plane.

3) ensure further training.

4) explain how to behave in dangerous situations.

14. The narrator and her friends had no cake because

1) it was still the day before her birthday.

2) they preferred apples and cheese.

3) it was hard to obtain one in wartime.

4) it was a tradition to eat it in the pilot canteen.

15. The narrator was unhappy to take a Torpedo bomber because

1) it was a bulky aircraft.

2) she preferred to fly Spitfires.

3) she didn’t know how to fly it.

4) the plane was notorious.

16. The narrator flew with a heavy heart because she

1) didn’t feel healthy.

2) found her flying plan incredibly dangerous.

3) was worried there might be poor visibility.

4) was in a blue mood.

17. The narrator’s words “It was too dangerous to continue” refer to her decision to

What people wear says a lot about who they are and what they do, and it is not surprising that teenagers are so concerned about their clothes. Nevertheless, their parents think that following fashion is a waste of time.

From my point of view, it is important to look smart and attractive because we cannot go through life with the same hairstyle or make-up. I also believe it is necessary for teenagers to follow fashion. When you are up with fashion, you feel confident. What is more, everyone should find their own style to express their individuality. I hate when people dress alike. Personally, I prefer hand-made or designer clothes and try to look stylish.

However, many parents do not understand why teens spend so much time and money on their clothes. Quite a lot of adults are old-fashioned and do not accept modern trends in clothing. They say that fashion comes and goes but classical style remains.

As for me, I cannot agree with them because teenage fashion is quite specific. Nobody likes to dress in styles that are too old for them, and it is no fun being teased because of it. Moreover, clothes will be especially important in our future career, so learning to choose the right clothes is worth spending time and money.

1. Раскройте скобки и употребите правильную форму глагола
2. Выберите правильный артикль
3. Выберите правильный предлог
4. Раскройте скобки, употребляя нужное неопределенное местоимение
5. Переведите текст, поставьте к его содержанию общий, специальный и альтернативный вопросы

I. Раскройте скобки и употребите правильную форму глагола (The Present Simple), Present Continuous, Past Simple, Future Simple):

1. What you (to do) now? - I (to wash) the dishes.
2. Listen! Somebody (to play) the piano.
3. Nina (to celebrate) her birthday yesterday.
4. You (to go) to the south next summer?
5. We (to cook) our meals on a fire last summer.
6. Our football team always (to win) all games.
7. When I (to be) 15 years old, I (to enjoy) playing tennis.

1) What are you doing now? - I’m washing the dishes. (Present Continuous)

2) Listen! Somebody plays the piano. (Present Simple)

3) Nina celebrated her birthday yesterday. (Past Simple)

4) Will you go to the south next summer? (Future Simple)

5) We cooked our meats on a fire last summer. (Past Simple)

6) Our football team always wins all games. (Present Simple)

7) When I was 15 years old, I enjoyed playing tennis. (Past Simple)

II. Выберите правильный артикль:

1. She is ... most honest person of all I know.
2. ... air was fresh and clean.
3. I want ... breakfast at ... quarter to nine.
4. My younger sister is still ... teenager. She is ... beautiful girl with ... fair hair and ... pleasant smile.

1) She is the most honest person of all I know.

2) The air was fresh and clean.

3) I want breakfast at a quarter to nine.

4) My younger sister is still a teenager. She is a beautiful girl with a fair hair and a pleasant smile.

III. Выберите правильный предлог:

1. (At, in, on) Saturday I am (in, at) home (at, in) 3.
2. What do you usually do (on, in, at) your English lessons?
3. We went (to, in, at) Moscow (on, with, by) train.
4. I like to listen (-, to, on) radio.
5. (On, in, at) twelve thirty we have a break (for, of, at0 lunch.

1) On Saturday I am at home at 3.

2) What do you usually do on your English lessons?

3) We went to Moscow by train.

4) I like to listen to radio.

5) At twelve thirty we have a break for lunch.

IV. Раскройте скобки, употребляя нужное неопределенное местоимение:

1. Is there (some, any) snow in the street this morning?

2. There are (some, any) letters for you on the table.

3. My brother doesn’t like (some, any) carrots.

4. Do you want (some, any) milk in your coffee?

5. They brought (some, any) good books from the library.

1) Is there any snow in the street this morning?

2) There are some letters for you on the table.

3) My brother doesn’t like any carrots.

4) Do you want some milk in your coffee?

5) They brought some good books from the library.

V. Прочитайте и письменно переведите текст. Поставьте к его содержанию общий, специальный и альтернативный вопросы:

In Pakistan most people travel by bus to get from one town to another. In the less populated parts of the country many journeys take a day and there is a bus only once or twice a week. It is a dangerous means of transport and the buses sometimes break down. The roads are often in bad condition and the journeys are very slow and uncomfortable. It is a good idea to take food and drink because there are not always restaurants or shops on the route. The buses are usually very crowded with whole families traveling together. Many people sit on the roof where it is very hot in the summer and cold in winter. The only advantage of this means of transport is the cost. It is very cheap. But you only pay for what you get!

Перевод:

В Пакистане большинство людей для того чтоб добраться из одного города в другой ездят на автобусах. В менее населённых районы страны много маршрутов занимают день, причём автобус есть один или два раза в неделю. Это опасное положение с транспортом, и автобусы иногда ломаются. Дороги часто в плохом состоянии, и рейсы очень медленные и неудобные. Хорошая идея взять с собой еду и напитки, потому что не всегда по пути встречаются рестораны и магазины. Автобусы обычно сильно переполнены целыми семьями, едущими вместе. Много людей сидит на крыше, где очень жарко летом и холодно зимой. Единственное преимущество этого положения с транспортом - это стоимость. Она очень низкая. Но вы платите только за то, что получаете.

Вопросы:

Общий: Is it a good idea to take food and drink when you travel in Pakistan by bus?
Специальный: Often in what condition are the roads in Pakistan?
Альтернативный: Are the buses in Pakistan very crowded or usually empty?

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Предлагаем попробовать свои силы и выполнить полное аудирование в формате ЕГЭ. Ответы и полные тексты к аудио даны в спойлерах. Здесь представлен вариант 2.

Задание 1

Вы услышите 6 высказываний. Установите соответствие между высказываниями каждого говорящего А-F и утверждениями, данными в списке 1-7. Используйте каждое утверждение, обозначенное соответствующей цифрой, только один раз. В задании есть одно лишнее утверждение. Вы услышите запись дважды.

Play Задание 1

1. It’s good to have a part-time job when you’re a university student.
2. Problems with time-keeping are not always the student’s fault.
3. University students have lots of new expenses to cope with.
4. Learning to do chores is part of university life.
5. Asking your parents for money while at university can be difficult.
6. Your class schedule can vary significantly at university.
7. Managing your freedom is a responsibility you learn at university.

A – 4
B – 7
C – 1
D – 6
E – 3
F – 2

Speaker A : I wasn’t a lazy kid at all. I studied hard and got good marks in my exams. I never missed football practice and participated in extra-curricular activities. But now that I’m at university, there’s one thing I realise I never learnt how to do – wash my clothes! Now that Mums not here to do it, I’ve had to sort of work it out on my own. Needless to say, a few of my white T-shirts now look pink!

Speaker B : At university, no one’s around to tell you that you need to stay at home and study That’s something you have to learn to do yourself. There’s lots of temptation to go out and say to yourself, “I’ll study” later. But take it from me, that’s a bad mistake to make. You’ve got to stay on top of your priorities. It’s just as important to put your free time into a specific schedule as it is your study time.

Speaker С : I never seem to have enough money as a university student. My parents send me a few pounds here and there, but I’ve largely been left to fend for myself Luckily, I’ve been able to manage my studying and take on a few hours at a local cafe. It’s a good way to make some extra cash, and it keeps me from going out too much, which is how I would spend most of my money anyway!

Speaker D : As a high school student, life was fairly simple. I can say that now, looking back on it! You went to school at 9 am, left at around 4 pm, and that was the end of it. Now, at the beginning of every term at university, I have to sort through a list of classes that occur at all different times of the day. On the one hand, it’s very flexible, but it makes sticking to a routine a bit more difficult.

Speaker E : Money can be a real problem for university students. That’s certainly no big secret! You’ve got to pay for expensive books for every subject. And what about your meals? Mum and Dad aren’t there to pick up the tab. And if you have your own flat, there will be rent and all sorts of bills. I live in a hall of residence, so having my own place is another year away for me yet. I’d better start saving up!

Speaker F : I’m lucky that I have all of my lectures in the afternoon. It means I’ve got the mornings to do my studying and my chores. But sometimes it’s a bit difficult to get from one class to another. My last two Friday lectures are at opposite ends of the university. I’ve only got 10 minutes to get from one to the other, so you I’ll see me running down the street on occasion! I’m often late, but I can’t help it!

Задание 2

Вы услышите диалог. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений A-G соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Play Задание 2

A) Amy is on her way to do some studying.
B) Amy had to knock on her brother’s door more than once.
C) Amy’s brother refused to turn down his music when she asked him to.
D) Amy didn’t like the kind of music her brother was playing.
E) Amy’s mum is always home when Amy gets home from school.
F) Amy’s parents don’t do anything to help the situation.
G) There’s only one bathroom in George’s home.

A – 2
B – 1
C – 2
D – 3
E – 2
F – 2
G – 2

George : Amy, what’s the matter? You look very upset. Is everything OK?

Amy : Hi, George. No, everything’s not OK. I’ve just had a horrible argument with my brother. I should be studying right now, but I decided I’d go for a walk and let off some steam.

George : Oh, dear! What happened? Do you want to talk about it?

Amy : Well, I was trying to do my maths homework when Jeff decided it was time to play some really loud music. I went to his room to tell him to turn it down, and he ignored me when I knocked on his door.

George : Oh, how rude! What did you do?

Amy : I banged on the door again, really loudly this time. I thought I was going to punch a hole in the door! He finally answered, so I calmly requested for him to lower the volume.

George : And did he?

Amy : Yes, he did. Very nice of him, wasn’t it? So, I went back to my bedroom, but two minutes later, the volume returned. It’s so unfair, he always does things like this when Mum and Dad aren’t home, and he does it to annoy me.

George : Are your parents out a lot? My parents hardly ever leave home it seems.

Amy : My dad works late, so we don I see him until supper. Usually when I get home from school, my mum’s home, but occasionally she’s out late too. Really, my brother and I don’t fight that often, but it tends to happen when he knows he can get away with it.

George : Do you tell your parents about it when he does things like that?

Amy : Every single time! They warn him not to do it anymore, but he doesn’t really get punished. Usually he’s just told to be nice to me, and he says he’s sorry, but I know he doesn’t mean it!

George : My sister and I fight over the bathroom. Well, it’s because she spends so much time in there getting ready every morning, or when she wants to go out. I end up having to use my parents’ bathroom sometimes. I wish I had my own!
Amy: It sounds like we’ve both got difficult siblings! Well, I’m going to continue my walk. Thanks for listening to my complaints!

George : Good luck with your brother!

Задание 3

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях выберите правильный вариант ответа. Вы услышите запись дважды.

Play Задание 3

Rhonda says with a raw food diet,…
1) food must remain completely cold.
2) chicken can’t be included.
3) the concepts are difficult to understand.

What was Rhonda’s diet routine like before she switched to a raw food diet?
1) Very similar to now.
2) Extremely unhealthy.
3) Much more traditional.

Including beans in a raw food diet…
1) requires certain preparation.
2) is impossible.
3) is not advisable.

What difficulty does Rhonda mention with preparing raw foods?
1) The length of time required.
2) The lack of recipe choice.
3) The difficulty in obtaining good flavour.

Rhonda says freezing foods …
1) changes the nutritional value.
2) ruins the food.
3) is a necessary step.

What is true about Rhonda as a result of her raw food diet?
1) She feels better mentally.
2) She regrets her decision.
3) She feels more active.

Rhonda thinks it’s terrible that …
1) so few people follow a raw food diet.
2) it’s so difficult to follow a raw food diet.
3) some people eat only cooked foods.

1 – 2
2 – 3
3 – 1
4 – 1
5 – 1
6 – 3
7 – 3

Presenter : Hi everyone and welcome to our programme, Healthy Living. With us today is Rhonda McShane, a nutritionist and healthy living adviser. Rhonda, thanks for joining us.

Speaker : I’m happy to be here.

Presenter : To begin with, I’d like to talk about the dieting phenomenon known as a raw food diet, which you follow yourself Can you tell me about that?

Speaker : Certainly. A raw food diet is fairly self- explanatory; basically, you don’t cook anything you eat. This of course means there are certain things you really can’t eat, such as chicken. But the main idea is that no food is heated above 40 degrees Celsius.

Presenter : I see. And how long have you been following this diet?

Speaker : I started a couple of years ago, and I really enjoy it now» although it was quite challenging in the beginning. I was so used to cooking my food, you know, normal things like sautéing veggies in oil, baking casseroles in the oven, and boiling rice and pasta. You can’t do any of those things on a raw food diet. It’s quite a lifestyle adjustment.

Presenter : I’m sure it’s not just eating raw fruit and vegetables, is it?

Speaker : No, it’s not. Actually, I’m not a vegetarian, as I do eat sushi. I also consume dairy products such as milk and eggs, and I eat grains, some beans, nuts and seeds. Now, I know what you’re thinking – raw beans, aren’t they poisonous? Well, yes, the actual bean often is, but we do a process called ‘sprouting’, where we soak the beans and let them start to grow. The new growth is safe and nutritious to eat.

Presenter : Honestly, I would think your options are really limited. Do you prepare a lot of different recipes?

Speaker : Yes. Actually, there are many cookbooks on the market with a variety of raw food recipes. It takes a bit of preparation to make certain things, sometimes half a day. For example, I have a recipe for vegetarian burgers. I make the burgers, then instead of cooking them, I put them in a dehydrator for a few hours, which dries them out. It works on a very low heat, so it doesn’t cook them. Believe it or not, they turn out like real veggie burgers, and are very tasty.

Presenter : What other devices do you use?

Speaker : Anything that doesn’t actually cook the food. You can use blenders and juicers, and you can store food in the fridge, of course. You can even freeze meals, although that tends to lower the nutritional value, and nutrition is one of the reasons I’ve chosen this diet.

Presenter : I was just about to ask … why would someone choose a raw food diet?

Speaker : Well, foods lose a lot of their goodness when you cook them, so I’ve chosen this diet because I think it’s the healthiest way of eating. I can say that I have more energy and am in better shape than I used to be. I admit, though, a raw food diet isn’t for everyone.

Presenter : So what do you recommend people do with their diets?

Speaker : Well, there are some people who never eat raw foods. That means no fresh fruit or vegetables at all. That’s terrible! I urge people to include as much raw food as they can into their diet. People should eat plenty of raw foods every single day. Go ahead and cook your burgers, just don’t forget the fresh lettuce and tomato!

Прочитайте тексты и установите соответствие между текстами и их заголовками: к каждому тексту, обозначенному буквами А–G, подберите соответствующий заголовок, обозначенный цифрами 1–8. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании есть один лишний заголовок.

1. Meaningful name

2. Times and associations

3. Still the first in the list of destruction

4. Severe and powerful

5. Unique in many ways

6. Too much to remain pure

7. Natural flow preserved

8. Center of development

A. The fifth longest river in the world is the Yenisei which flows north from Mongolia through Russia to the Arctic Ocean. Originally, nomadic tribes - the Kit and Yugh people - lived along the banks of the Yenisei. Russian explorers first reached its shores in 1605. Much of the Yenisei is ice-bound six or more months in the year. Explosives are used to keep the water flowing, thereby avoiding serious flooding. A series of massive hydroelectric dams provide energy to support Russian industry.

B. Known as the “cradle of Chinese civilization”, the Yellow River in China is the 6th longest river in the world. It’s been a major center of Chinese population and culture since the 3rd century B.C. However, the Yellow River has another name - “China’s Sorrow”. For thousands of years, the river has regularly flooded, destroying the surrounding countryside and populations. Today over a dozen dams control the flooding and also provide electricity for millions.

C. Every year schoolchildren everywhere learn the names of the world’s great rivers. Everyone knows the longest river is the Nile. Or is it? Brazilian and Peruvian scientists now argue that the Amazon should be considered the longest (using complicated measurements only scientists can understand). But for now, the Nile still wins the title of “longest river” in textbooks. The Nile has always been the lifeline of Egyptian civilization. The annual flooding of the river creates rich agricultural soil, ideal for growing wheat and flax and other crops.

D. When people think of the Mississippi River, their first thought is usually of Mark Twain and the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. They may not recall from their childhood geography lessons that the Mississippi is the fourth longest river in the world. For thousands of years, Native Americans lived along the Mississippi, mostly living as hunter-gatherers and herders. That life changed forever when Europeans first arrived in the 16th century; today the Mississippi plays a crucial role in the economic life of dozens of cities and small towns situated along its shores.

E. The third longest river is the Yangtze River in China. The river plays a very important role in China’s history, culture and economy. Nearly one-third of China’s huge population lives along the Yangtze river. The Yangtze is one of the world’s busiest waterways. Everything is transported along the Yangtze: coal, cars, produce and people. The river also attracts many tourists who take cruises through the famous Three Gorges area. Sadly, because of the heavy traffic on the river and industry along its, banks the Yangtze is very polluted.

F. The Nile may still earn the title for longest river, but the Amazon - the second longest - has the greatest volume by far. The Amazon contains approximately one-fifth of the water flowing in the world’s rivers. Uniquely, there are no bridges crossing the Amazon anywhere along its long route. Most of the Amazon flows through tropical rainforests, where there are few roads or cities - and therefore no need for bridges. The Amazon Rainforest is the home of more than one-third of all animal and plant species in the world.

G. From its origins in the Altay Mountains in China, the Irtysh flows north-west through Kazakhstan, and finally merges with the Ob, in western Siberia, Russia. The Ob is 7th longest river in the world. In the 1960s and 1970s proposals to reverse the flow of the Irtysh among other Northern rivers were seriously and widely discussed. These gigantic water management schemes meant to supply water to central Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Thanks to Kazakh and Russian environmentalists and lack of money they were not implemented.