You are going to read an extract from a newspaper article. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (А, В, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Part 5

It’s a magnificent, breathtaking piece of architecture, and we’re standing on it. A group of us are 1,220 metres above the bottom of the Grand Canyon, looking down into the abyss from a viewing platform called the Skywalk. Far below us, the Colorado River flows majestically along the bottom of the gorge. The granite-grey rock is marked with green, brown, red and purple colours. I am terrified of heights. Only the incredible view gives me the courage to walk to the end of the Skywalk; that and also the fact that my editor asked me to write this article.

The new $30 million Skywalk was designed by architect Mark Johnson. It’s said to be one of the modern wonders of the world, and it’s certainly a remarkable structure in every way. It can support the weight of 71 fully loaded 747 planes, cope with winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, and survive an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. While it was being constructed, the Skywalk rested on the top of the canyon and was only moved into its final position after it had been built. The glass platform extends 21 metres out over the Grand Canyon and can hold 120 people at any one time. Visitors have to wear special covers over their shoes to avoid scratching the glass beneath their feet and, as you look down, you feel as though you are floating over the canyon. We have been told it’s safe, but still we feel quite alarmed knowing that there’s only 10 centimetres of glass beneath us.

The Skywalk is situated at Eagle Point, about 190 kilometres east of Las Vegas, in an area which is part of the Hualapai Indian Reservation. The money to build the Skywalk, however, did not come from a government initiative. It was actually raised by Las Vegas businessman David Jin. It was then given to the Hualapai tribe in exchange for a percentage of the profits, and the profits are predicted to be very high indeed. Visitors pay anything from $150 and up for a guided tour, but often that includes the fee they pay for entering the national park. In addition to going on the Skywalk, you can also choose to go on a tour of the national park. These vary tremendously in price, but the most expensive involves a helicopter ride through the gorge and a boat trip along the Colorado River.

In truth, the money is very important for the Hualapai. Of the 2,000 people in the tribe, more than a third live in poverty, and there is high unemployment. The Hualapai get most of their income from tourism, but although the Grand Canyon is visited by four million paying visitors every year, the Hualapai Reservation will have been visited by only about 300,000 by the end of this year. Now things are set to change and tourists to Las Vegas are being encouraged to visit the area. However, there are fears among the Hualapai that the site will be overdeveloped. Some opponents say that not enough is being done to protect the environment. But the work goes on. The runway at the tiny Grand Canyon West airport has been extended and other attractions are being planned. There is also a brand-new terminal building, plus a gift shop. At the Skywalk itself, there’s a visitor centre and a café, as well as a new Indian Village displaying traditional homes and customs of the Hualapai and other Native American tribes. As I think about the difficulties the Hualapai face and I look out at the gorgeous landscape before me, I ask myself a question: does such a construction belong in the setting of the Grand Canyon? It might be thought by some that it’s wrong to interrupt a natural landscape with concrete buildings and glass and steel, but everybody on my tour agrees that the views are worth it.

31 What does ‘the abyss’ in Paragraph 1 mean?
A the mountains.
B the river.
C the deep hole.
D the edge of the cliffs.

32 What does ‘that’ underlined in Paragraph 1 refer to?
A my fear of heights.
B the fantastic sight below me.
C my need to write an article.
D encouragement from my fellow tourists.

33 Why do visitors have to cover their footwear?
A to keep the walking surface clean.
B to give them a feeling of floating.
C to avoid damaging the delicate floor.
D to make them feel safer while walking.

34 How was the Skywalk financed?
A by visitor donations to the national park.
B by tourists visiting the Hualapai Reservation.
C by companies investing in the area.
D by an individual from a nearby city.

35 What point is the writer making when talking about the changes made to the area?
A The Hualapai will benefit financially.
B The lives of local people will be at risk.
C Jobs will be created for outsiders.
D Improvements will be expensive.

36 What conclusion does the writer come to in the final paragraph?
A He is convinced of the benefits of tourism to the area.
B He wonders if the Skywalk is right for the area.
C He doubts whether visitors will appreciate the improvements.
D He feels the new buildings add to the beauty of the area.

For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary