Objective Proficiency p 37. Keys and Vocabulary

Idiom spot
Vocabulary

High and dry: in a difficult situation, without help or money. E.g. I'm only working for one company. If they closed down, I'd be left high and dry.

-wise: concerning. E.g. Things aren't too good businesswise.

Confront somebody: to face somebody so that they cannot avoid seeing and hearing you, especially in an unfriendly or dangerous situation. E.g. This was the first time he had confronted an armed robber. Confronted by an angry crowd, the police retreated.

Ex 5
Vocabulary
air miles: a unit for measuring how far a plane travels. E.g. the supermarkets that sell green beans that have been grown in Egypt incur air miles.

incur something: if you incur costs, you have to pay them. Sp. asumir, acarrear con. E.g. You risk incurring bank charges if you exceed your overdraft limit. She may have to meet any costs incurred as a result of the delay.

shrink-wrapped: wrapped tightly in a thin plastic covering. E.g. cheese in a shrink-wrapped pack. Shrink-wrapped software.
 
Sample answer
 The two photos illustrate different aspects of food consumption that are somewhat problematic. The green beans in Picture A have been grown in Egypt but are being sold in the UK, so the supermarket concerned has incurred air miles. The buying power of large supermarkets is such that they can afford to pay these transport costs and they know that people will buy them when they are not in season in the UK. It would be much better for the environment if shoppers restricted their buying of fruit and vegetables to local seasonal produce. All the bananas for sale in Picture B have been shrink-wrapped, which is just so unnecessary! Excessive packaging like this causes so many issues, including rubbish disposal – the landfill sites cannot cope with the quantity of rubbish that is generated. Some shrink-wrapping has health implications too – take the way meat is packaged for example, with chemical treatment to extend the sell-by dates.