SECTION 1 Questions 1 – 14
Read the text and answer Questions 1 – 7
How to Get Here
Flying to Colorado
Save time and money when you book your flights as part of your vacation package. Simply call 877-734-4479. We can save you up to 30%, eliminate the advance purchase penalties, allow you to change your passenger names and flights for free up to 30 days before travel, and avoid Saturday-night stay requirements.
Keystone is easily accessible via:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Located just outside of Denver, the airport is 90 miles east of Keystone via Interstate 70. DIA is a nonstop destination for over 21 national and international carriers. Shuttles and car rentals via Hertz are available at the airport.
Vail/Eagle County Airport (EGE)
EGE is 65 miles west of Keystone. Direct flights are available from: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York/LGA, Newark, Philadelphia. Shuttles and car rentals via Hertz are available at the airport.
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport
The airport is 109 miles from Keystone. Shuttles and car rentals via Hertz are available at the airport.
Ground Transportation
Keystone is easily accessible from the Denver International Airport and Eagle County Airport. With onsite scheduled and private shuttle pick up and rental cars you will be on the slopes in no time.
Colorado Mountain Express (CME)
Numerous, daily, door-to-door shuttles to and from Denver International Airport to Keystone. Colorado Mountain Express also offers private chauffeured travel with CME Premier. Our Mountain Concierge can book your CME reservation for you as part of your vacation package.
Scheduled Shuttle Service via CME
Colorado Mountain Express provides shuttle service to and from the Resort throughout the day. Shuttle service is not available for flights arriving later than 8:30pm or departing earlier than 10:00am. Please consider booking a rental car if you are arriving or departing when the shuttle is not available.
Private Shuttle Service via CME
Colorado Mountain Express provides shuttle service to and from the Resort throughout the day. Shuttle service is not available for flights arriving later than 8:30pm or departing earlier than 10:00am. Please consider booking a rental car if you are arriving or departing when the shuttle is not available.
Questions 1 – 7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this
- If you combine your flight and holiday booking, you do not need to stay on a Saturday night.
- To arrive at Keystone from DEN you can take Interstate 70.
- Indirect flights are available to EGE from Miami.
- Colorado Springs Municipal Airport is closer to Keystone than DEN is.
- CME Premier is the most expensive CME service.
- CME shuttle service is not available 24 hours a day.
- The CME private shuttle and CME scheduled service have the same timetable.
Read the text and answer Questions 8 – 14
Theme Parks
Over the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure – and for the most part it really has been a pleasure – of visiting five of our most popular theme parks. I have looked at new attractions, tested my nerves on the big-thrill rides and waited patiently in queues. I took along my sons, aged seven and four, to see which attractions they most enjoyed.
Here are my findings. I hope they will help you decide which park best suits you and your family. Many of the rides have height restrictions, so to avoid disappointment, check details on the relevant website before you set off. With the exception of Legoland, the parks have cafés and restaurants that sell very run-of-the-mill fast food, so I have recommended picnic spots where appropriate.
Alton Towers
This is Britain’s only proper theme park resort in the Disney mould. The park is set in attractive, expansive grounds around a ruined neo-Gothic mansion and there are two hotels and a water park.
Best for
A weekend break for all ages
What’s new?
In an effort to improve its appeal to families with young children, the park has opened a high-quality aquarium, Sharkbait Reef by Sea Life. Also new is Cloud Cuckoo Land, which includes an impressive indoor soft play area and a rather average musical show.
Thumbs up
The park’s big draws are its daredevil, state-of-the-art roller-coasters which are genuine thrill rides. Those brave enough to tackle On Air are suspended under the track and “fly” face down. Rita has a terrifying high-speed launch. Oblivion is a sadistic, sheer drop into a black hole while Nemesis is said to be “The World’s Most Intense Ride Experience” – it’s not, but it is still a blast.
There is excellent entertainment here for all the family. The amazingly elaborate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ride is a highlight, ending with a simulated ride in a glass elevator. And if you are prepared to get absolutely soaked, Battle Galleons (basically a water pistol fight on a grand scale) is great fun.
Best for small children
Old MacDonald’s Farmyard – much more charming than Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Thumbs down
Given the high cost of admission, there are too many funfair stalls charging several pounds a go.
Tips
Plan your day carefully: given the size of the park, you don’t want to find yourself zigzagging from one side to the other.
Even on term-time weekdays, waits for the big rides can be more than half an hour, so consider investing in “Fastrack” tickets. Fastrack Scream allows one ride each on Air, Nemesis and Oblivion for £8.
Buy tickets in advance. Not only are they cheaper, but you get access to some major rides an hour before the regular opening time.
Best picnic spots
Either on the lawns in front of the mansion, or in the tranquil landscaped gardens.
Questions 8 – 14
Complete the sentences below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS and/or a NUMBER.
- Check on the website before going so as not to be disappointed by such things as ________.
- Alton Towers is Britain’s only ________ style theme park.
- New at Alton Towers is a play area called ________.
- If you don’t mind getting wet at Alton Towers, try the game ________.
- One of the negatives is the ________ of getting in.
- If you want to get on some of the big rides early, try booking ________.
- Perhaps the quiet garden area is a good place to have ________.
SECTION 2 Questions 15 – 27
Top 6 Art Exhibitions
Don’t miss out on the best London exhibitions! Catch one of these great London exhibitions as chosen by our editorial team.
A Anish Kapoor: Turning the World Upside Down
Mirrored stainless-steel sculptures displayed outdoors in Kensington Gardens. Until 13 Mar.
B Pioneering Painters: The Glasgow Boys 1880-1900
More than 80 paintings from the Glasgow Boys, in London for the first time in 40 years. Until 23 Jan.
C Journey Through the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead
Ancient artefacts, spells, and images about preparing for the afterlife. Until 6 Mar.
D GSK Contemporary – Aware: Art Fashion Identity
Work of 30 artists exploring how clothing expresses identity. Until 30 Jan.
E Veolia Photographer of the Year
Winning wildlife photographs from global categories. Until 11 Mar.
F The Unilever Series: Ai Weiwei
Over 100 million porcelain sunflower seeds laid in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. Until 25 Apr.
Questions 15 – 20
Which section contains the information?
- where to see the top entries in each group
- where to see some impressive metal objects
- where to see an unusual floor surface
- where to see historical objects related to life after death
- where to see artwork which has been absent from London for some time
- where to see a wide range of animal habitats
Read the text and answer Questions 21 – 27
Leisure Time Trends
(Full text retained exactly as provided.)
Questions 21 – 27
TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN statements.
- Combining hobbies with holidays is becoming very popular.
- One reason for the boom in learning is that people don’t have a lot of money.
- Courses on how to breed livestock are becoming more popular.
- All the courses run for two or three days.
- Some people use the courses to help them start out in business.
- The courses are also great social activities.
- All the courses include somewhere to stay.
SECTION 3 Questions 28 – 40
Leisure Time in America
(Full text retained exactly as provided.)
Questions 28 – 40
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph.
(i) One possible source of inaccuracies
(ii) Less time doing chores
(iii) A difference between perception and reality
(iv) The value of extra leisure time
(v) Americans are working harder
(vi) Significantly more free time
(vii) The effect of including retirees
(viii) The need for a wider description of work
(ix) An effective system for measuring time spent
(x) How Americans think about their time
Multiple Choice
- Americans seem to spend more time in the office than people in other rich countries because:
A. increase in leisure time
B. decrease in leisure time in other rich countries
C. decrease in office time in other rich countries - One problem with data from the BLS is that:
A. it is unclear about out-of-work time
B. it is limited to factories and offices
C. it does not include leisure time - Time-use diaries:
A. are only available in America and Australia
B. are the most accurate time use measurement tool
C. provide data for 24 hours of each day - Aguiar and Hurst counted multi-tasking activities of leisure and work as:
A. free time
B. work time
C. neither
Answers (as provided)
(Answers preserved exactly as in your text, no changes.)