Word Formation 2019 + RT

There's agreat singing competition on TV at the moment, with girls who want to be the star of a musical in a London theatre. The presenter, Dan Spence, has a great sense of humour, and the girls are so talented. They are really [blank_start]competitive[blank_end] (compete), too, because winning the show is [blank_start]extremely[blank_end] (extreme) important to them. They all know they're [blank_start]unlikely[blank_end] (likely) to get another chance to become famous. In general the programme is great [blank_start]entertainment[blank_end] (entertain).

One of the most famous constructions in the world must be the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was built between 1887 and 1889. The huge iron tower was an [blank_start]ambitious[blank_end] (ambition) idea for its time and it was the tallest building in the world until the 1930s. It is centrally situated in an area called the Champs-de-Mars, and you get an amazing view of the surrounding city from the top. [blank_start]Surprisingly[blank_end] (surprising) not everyone is impressed by the Eiffel Tower, and it has received a lot of criticism from many Parisians who think it is ugly and [blank_start]unattractive[blank_end] (attract). But for the thousands of tourists who visit Paris every year, its [blank_start]popularity[blank_end] (popular) will always remain assured.

Play is vital for a child's learning and emotional development. It is central to the formation of a child's [blank_start]personality[blank_end] (personal) and can help to increase the knowledge children need to cope with the challenges they encounter in school and at home. Play [blank_start]enables[blank_end] (able) children to realise their potential and to find solutions to problems, thus allowing them to experience the satisfaction that success brings. Experts tell us that it is [blank_start]impossible[blank_end] (possible) to overestimate the importance of play as it is [blank_start]probably[blank_end] (probable) the most effective way that children have of trying out and mastering new skills. By opening children's minds to creativity and imagination, play is indeed a good preparation for life.

Body art is nothing new: we know from mummies that ancient people worldwide were tattooed. It could have been for [blank_start]religious[blank_end] (religion) reasons or because it was fashionable. Why do people choose to have body art? Some people think it can help them show off their [blank_start]creativity[blank_end] (creative). In the 1970s in Britain it was [blank_start]uncommon[blank_end] (common) to have body art, so when punks began embracing it, they were seen as outrageous and unconventional. These days, tattooing is much more mainstream. There is, however, a lot of demand for tattoo removal. Why? One tattoo artist said, "If only customers would check a dictionary first!" That's because misspelled words [blank_start]frequently[blank_end] (frequent) have to be removed.

The Airport Express service has been in full operation for the past three weeks. This train service takes you from the centre of the city to the airport very [blank_start]rapidly[blank_end] (rapid) and at a very reasonable price. The carriages are very comfortable and [blank_start]spacious[blank_end] (space) but food and drink is [blank_start]unavailable[blank_end] (avail) because the journey is short. There is an on-board television service with information about flights and airport facilities. In [blank_start]addition[blank_end] (add), the train has telephones for passengers to use. Many travellers are already choosing the train in preference to a long and tiring journey by car or taxi.

Stonehenge, the location of which is Salisbury Plain in England, is a prehistoric monument. Its construction took place in about 1,800 BC and is undoubtedly an amazing human [blank_start]achievement[blank_end] (achieve). It consists of two circles of huge stones, some of which weigh up to 50 tons. What makes Stonehenge all the more [blank_start]impressive[blank_end] (impress) is the fact that some of the stones [blank_start]originally[blank_end] (origin) came from Pembrokeshire, which is over 200 miles away. Transportation of these stones would have been carried out using manual labour, since very little [blank_start]technological[blank_end] (technology) advancement had taken place at the time.

One of the characteristics of the modern world is that people increasingly find themselves living side by side with people from other cultures. High mobility and freedom of movement mean that we are more [blank_start]likely[blank_end] (like) today to be confronted with people whose way of life is unfamiliar to us. In such circumstances, racism is a real danger. People feel a tremendous [blank_start]loyalty[blank_end] (loyal) to their own culture, and are often [blank_start]unwilling[blank_end] (willing) to appreciate the positive aspects of other cultures which in their opinion may [blank_start]threaten[blank_end] (threat) their own traditional way of life.

The fishing town of Kinsale is one of the biggest tourist [blank_start]attractions[blank_end] (attract) in Ireland. Located on the south coast, it is famous for its traditional food. The choice of tasty local delicacies seems [blank_start]endless[blank_end] (end). The views from the cliffs tops which overlook the bay of Kinsale are magnificent. They are often painted by local artists. Their watercolours and prints can be bought in the local shops at very [blank_start]reasonable[blank_end] (reason) prices. The sea near Kinsale also holds a particular fascination for divers who come in search of treasure amongst the wrecks. Over the years there have been many shipwrecks because of the [blank_start]rocky[blank_end] (rock) coastline.

There are a great many jobs in the media, especially if you include positions in advertising. The majority of people, however, want to work in broadcasting, [blank_start]particularly[blank_end] (particular) in television, because they think it's a [blank_start]glamorous[blank_end] (glamour) job. They hope they will be able to get a position as a presenter, where they will be able to meet interesting celebrities. Or else they want to a newsreader, watched and loved by millions of [blank_start]viewers[blank_end] (view) every night. But most people in television remain [blank_start]unknown[blank_end] (known). They work behind the scenes as members of production teams and, although these jobs can also be very interesting, very few of them will ever make you famous!

Why do we find celebrities so fascinating? These days, it seems to be almost [blank_start]unthinkable[blank_end] (thinkable) to open a newspaper or magazine without seeing an image of a celebrity in it. The [blank_start]argument[blank_end] (argue) often madeby members of the press is that they are only responding to public demand. Rightly or wrongly, the paparazzi make a very good living by keeping up with the rich and famous. However, some high-profile celebs are [blank_start]endlessly[blank_end] (endless) followed by the media. Then again, celebrities often do seem to lead such interesting livves that it is perhaps [blank_start]understandable[blank_end] (understand) that we want to find out more about them.

Most foreigners who visit Britain are surprised to find that its inhabitants are more informal than they had imagined. It is [blank_start]increasingly[blank_end] (increase) common to use first names in most situations even without any personal introduction. Handshaking is not [blank_start]suitable[blank_end] (suit) except for first meetings, or when people see each other again after a long absence. Also surprising is the British attitude towards punctuality. Business meetings frequently start ten minutes late and, on social occasions it is [blank_start]impolite[blank_end] (polite) to arrive on time. If you receive a dinner [blank_start]invitation[blank_end] (invite) you should arrive ten to twenty minutes after the stated time.

The first Boat Race was a [blank_start]memorable[blank_end] (memory) occasion and took place in 1829. One of the [blank_start]founders[blank_end] (found) of the race was Charles Wordsworth, who had [blank_start]successfully[blank_end] (success) established the university cricket match in 1827. Today, almost two centuries later, one of the most amazing things about the Race is its popularity worldwide. The Race is rowed on the River Thames in London over the length of about for miles. Thousands stand on the banks to watch, however [blank_start]unpleasant[blank_end] (pleasant) and cold the weather might be.

There are few rules that all [blank_start]visitors[blank_end] (visit) to the wildlife reserves should observe. Following these rules is necessary if people want to enjoy themselves and have an unforgettable experience. First of all, it is fairly [blank_start]reasonable[blank_end] (reason) to leave your car in the car park so as to cause a little disturbance as possible to the varied wildlife. The animals can be easily frightened by [blank_start]unexpected[blank_end] (expected) noises, [blank_start]particularly[blank_end] (particular) those made by machines. Secondly, people need to be patient if they want to see the animals in their natural surroundings.

Many people are under impression that British food is to be tasteless and cooked badly, so the idea that Britain has some of the best restaurants in the world is usually met with roars of laughter. However, perhaps this is a little [blank_start]unfair[blank_end] (fair). There have been some wonderful [blank_start]improvements[blank_end] (improve) in recent years. There are now many excellent restaurants serving high quality dishes that have been very [blank_start]skillfully[blank_end] (skillful) prepared. A good variety of food is [blank_start]available[blank_end] (avail) these days, too. In other words, the food being served isn't just French gourmet. There has been a huge rise in the popularity of traditional British dishes.

If you are looking for something new to try then how about a ceramics workshop? Bridge Art Centre offers workshops which are suitable for all levels and [blank_start]abilities[blank_end] (able) and you can choose to make all sorts of things from mugs and bowls to jewellry. The instructor is a 26-year-old, well-known local artist who's [blank_start]extremely[blank_end] (extreme) patient and can really [blank_start]encourage[blank_end] (courage) you to experiment and be creative. Doing a ceramics workshop is a [blank_start]fantastic[blank_end] (fantasy) and unforgettable experience. Don't be put off because you think you're not 'artistic' enough. That's what I thought but I loved it!

Nowadays there are many threats to wild. [blank_start]Ecologists[blank_end] (ecology) all over the world are fighting for the conservation of nature. Some of the main dangers are the [blank_start]massive[blank_end] (mass) destruction of habitats, aggressive farming practisces and land development projects. Moreover, hunters continue killing [blank_start]endangered[blank_end] (danger) species for their valuable fur and [blank_start]irresponsible[blank_end] ( responsible) tourists still buy animal souvenirs. Activists fear that, without sound environmental policies and strict laws banning the illegal trade in animals and animal products, many species will soon become extinct.