Hidden for decades from public view, the artist's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer has (1) ........... Why is it so valuable?

A mysterious and (2) .............. by Gustav Klimt is now the most expensive work of modern art ever to sell at auction and the most (3) .................. The teasingly complex canvas, a full-length portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, the daughter of the Austrian artist's most committed patrons, fetched $236.4m (£180m) in New York on 18 November, far outpacing the price paid two years ago for Klimt's Lady with a Fan, 1917-18, which broke records when it sold for $108m (£82m) in London in 2023, making it the most expensive painting ever sold at auction in Europe.

The sale saw Klimt's canvas pass Andy Warhol's portrait of Marilyn Monroe, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 1964 (which sold at Christie's in New York in 2022 for $195m), to become the second priciest work of art ever to go (4) ............., behind Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World), c 1500, which sold in 2017 for $450.3m (£343m). But what is it about this nearly 2m-tall likeness of a 20 year-old heiress, (5) ............. figure seems to chrysalise in a cocoon-like gown of shimmering white silk, that commands such a jaw-dropping price tag?

On its surface, Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer (Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer), 1914-16, may seem to lack the overt opulence (6) ............ from Klimt's so-called "Golden Period", the era in which he produced such glimmering works as his Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, 1907, and The Kiss, 1907-8. Where those sumptuous masterpieces glisten with the glamour of the Vienna Secession (the influential movement emphasising (7) .................... Klimt helped found), the lyrical likeness of Lederer, created in the last years of the artist's life (Klimt died in 1918, aged 55), pulses with a more psychologically teasing intensity. The canvas's aesthetic riches are copious, if more concealed.

A. of better-known paintings

B. relatively little-known painting

C. under the hammer

D. now sold at auction for a record sum

E. artistic freedom that

F. whose eerily elongated

H. expensive ever to be sold by Sotheby's

(source: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20251118-why-klimts-portrait-of-elisabeth-lederer-painting-sold-for-150-million-dollars)

A surreal scene took place on a playground in Prague, where an unknown man (1) ........................, threw a bundle of banknotes worth 120,000 CZK, uttered “No one will know,” and walked away without another word.

The man immediately contacted the police, who later confirmed what had happened. 

According to the Prague City Police, the incident (2) ............... playground. The man who threw the money appeared to be under the influence of multiple substances.

“When officers arrived, they divided tasks — (3) .................... who reported the case, while the others began searching for the individual who threw the money,” police said on Facebook. Based on the witness’s description, officers (4) ................... on Veslařský ostrov.

The 38-year-old man admitted that he (5) .................away and didn’t care what became of it. Police (6) ...................... the presence of amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, and alcohol in his system.

After verifying the origin of the cash, (7) ..................... the money did not come from criminal activity.

“The patrol returned the money to the man against a signature. He put it in his pocket — next to another 50,000 crowns — lit a cigarette, and walked away without saying a word,” police concluded.

The case (8) .......................... Czech social media, where users debated whether it was a stroke of luck, an act of madness, or both.

had indeed given the money 

took place near a workout

administered a drug test, which revealed

approached a passerby

tracked down the mysterious donor

quickly drew attention on

one stayed with the man

officers determined that

Instructions:
Read the article below carefully. Ten parts of sentences have been removed. Decide where each piece (A–J) fits best in the blanks.

For over two months, Paramjit Singh, 48, a US green card holder battling a brain tumour and a heart condition, has been held in a detention centre by US immigration authorities.

Mr Singh, an Indian passport holder, has lived in the US on a green card since 1994. He lives in Indiana with his family, [ ___ 1 ___ ].

But Mr Singh now faces the threat of deportation.

On 30 July, he was detained by immigration authorities at Chicago O'Hare International Airport [ ___ 2 ___ ].

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities have cited two decades-old cases as reasons for his detention, [ ___ 3 ___ ].

They accuse immigration authorities of using old cases to delay his release and allege he lacks proper medical care despite a brain tumour and heart condition.

"Paramjit Singh is not getting the medical help he needs. He is only getting medical check-ups," his lawyer, Louis Angeles, told the BBC.

The BBC has asked ICE for a response to these allegations. Mr Singh has regularly visited India without immigration issues, his niece Kiran Virk told the BBC. [ ___ 4 ___ ].

Ms Virk says immigration officials told them Mr Singh was detained over a 1999 case. He was held at the airport for five days despite family appeals, before being moved to a Clay County detention centre in Indiana.

The case involves Mr Singh using a public phone without paying. [ ___ 5 ___ ]. The conviction has blocked his US citizenship.

Ms Virk alleges immigration authorities said at a court hearing that Mr Singh still faced a one-and-a-half-year sentence, [ ___ 6 ___ ].

Immigration authorities also say that Mr Singh was convicted of a forgery offence in Illinois in 2008, but his family contends that there are no such charges against him.

Ms Virk said that the authorities cited the forgery case to stay Mr Singh's release on a $10,000 bond granted by an immigration judge.

She said a private detective hired by the family found no criminal records for a person named Paramjit Singh in the state, [ ___ 7 ___ ].

The BBC has asked ICE for a response to the family's claim that there is no forgery case against Mr Singh in Illinois. Mr Singh's lawyer told the BBC he plans to challenge the detention, [ ___ 8 ___ ].

"We are also taking legal steps to block him from being deported from the US," Mr Angeles told the BBC.

Meanwhile, Mr Singh's family is increasingly worried about his health, [ ___ 9 ___ ].

She says the family struggles to contact Mr Singh at the detention centre, where limited phones and his poor health make communication difficult.

Mr Singh's case is set to be heard on 14 October.

His detention comes amid a wider crackdown by US President Donald Trump's administration on immigration, [ ___ 10 ___ ].

Trump has said he wants to deport the "worst of the worst", but critics say immigrants without criminal records who follow due process have also been targeted.

Missing Pieces

A. This time, his family waited seven hours at Chicago airport for his arrival.

B. and especially illegal immigrants in the US.

C. but Mr Singh's family and lawyer say there are no active cases against him.

D. who own a chain of gas stations.

E. Court records show he served 10 days in prison and paid a $4,137.50 fine.

F. suggesting authorities may have mistaken him for someone else.

G. with only 10 days dismissed.

H. calling it "unethical."

I. as his second brain tumour surgery has been delayed due to detention.

J. when he was returning from a trip to India

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2z7gkd87lo

Hidden deep in the Rockies and only visible by boat, Spirit Island is one of Canada's most iconic places – and a sacred site for those who have sealed it off from the world.

On my seventh day in the Canadian Rockies, all the mountains disappeared. The previous afternoon, I had paddled for hours through Maligne Lake's turquoise-coloured waters, past glaciers spilling off the serrated teeth of the Queen Elizabeth Range and towards the towering pinnacles of an alpine cathedral known as the "Hall of the Gods". But when I woke up and unzipped the flap of my tent, everything was gone, blanketed in a wall of fog so dense it felt like a dream.

After wiping my eyes in disbelief and stuffing my gear back into the hatches of my kayak, I set out blindly into the void. The world soon melded into an ethereal haze beyond the bow of my boat. There was no clear sense of earth and sky, water and land or where I was.

Somewhere to my left, the heavy strides of a bull elk suggested I was being watched. High above, a 7,000-year-old glacier creaked and groaned as its meltwater tumbled into the lake. Up ahead, the murky silhouettes of evergreen trees appeared and vanished in the vapour like ghosts.

Still, I knew that if I kept paddling and peering through the mist, I'd eventually see it: Spirit Island, the world's most famous isle you can't visit.

Often called the "jewel" of Jasper National Park, Spirit Island is a tiny, uninhabited strip of land with a near-mythical allure. For much of the year, the island isn't actually an island, but a peninsula connected by a narrow isthmus to Maligne Lake's eastern shore. But despite being located 14km from the nearest road or hiking trail, and 49km from the closest town, this far-flung landmark has become one of the most iconic sites in Canada.

The island's striking position set against a ring of snowcapped peaks first captured global attention in 1960, when Kodak displayed a 18m-wide image of it inside New York City's Grand Central Station.

In the decades since, Apple has used a photo of the island to showcase the camera quality of its new iPads, it's appeared in American films and TV shows and been plastered on roadside billboards across Canada. Today, tens of thousands of travellers every year head out on Maligne Lake to photograph the island's pine trees stretching skyward towards the Hall of the Gods.

"When you see a picture of Spirit Island, it's hard to understand that places like this exist in real life," said Tyler Riopel, the CEO of Tourism Jasper. "It's one of the most awe-inspiring places in the world."

Riopel explained that since private, gas-powered boats are prohibited in the national park, there are only two ways to see the island: by boarding a public cruise, which stops at a nearby viewpoint for a 15-minute photo-op, or by embarking on a 28km round-trip canoe or kayak journey from the lake's northern tip. "The [cruise] is a great way to see it in a shorter period, but paddling it is an unreal experience," Riopel said. "The whole majesty of it is best seen from that perspective."

• Spirit Island is located in the Canadian Rockies.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• The writer first saw Spirit Island on the first day of their trip.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• The author travelled across Maligne Lake by kayak.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• Spirit Island is always surrounded by water throughout the year.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• The island became internationally famous because of a photo displayed by Kodak in New York City.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• Visitors are allowed to camp on Spirit Island.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• Spirit Island is about 14 kilometres from the nearest road.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• Private, gas-powered boats are banned in Jasper National Park.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• Apple used a picture of Spirit Island to advertise a new iPhone model.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

• Tourists can reach the island either by cruise or by paddling.
  ☐ True  ☐ False  ☐ Not stated

Futon salesman Jason Padgett cared little (2) .......... anything beyond partying and chasing girls, then one fateful night changed him forever.

This article was inspired  (3) ............ an episode of The Outlook Podcast, where you can hear more about Jason Padgett's experience (4) ..........  his own words.

Jason Padgett sees maths everywhere. Even something as ordinary as brushing his teeth is governed by mathematics – he turns the tap (5) .......  and dips his toothbrush into the water 16 times.

“I don’t know why I like perfect squares,” he says. “It’s not just a perfect square, it’s two to the power of four or four squared but I just like perfect squares… I automatically do that stuff (6) ....... everything.”

Padgett is so obsessed with maths and understands such complex concepts, he's been called a genius. He certainly has a rare talent (7) ......  drawing repeating geometric patterns – known as fractals – by hand.

But the former futon salesman from Alaska hasn't always had a way (8) .......numbers. Just under 17 years ago he was living a very different life in Tacoma, Washington. Maths wasn't on his radar whatsoever. 'I used to say maths was stupid, how can you use that in the real world?

And I thought that was like a smart statement. I really believed it.” But (9) .....  the night of Friday 13 September 2002 everything changed. 

While out with friends, Padgett was attacked and robbed by two men (10) ...........  a karaoke bar. They took his already torn leather jacket. 

“I heard as much as felt this deep, low-pitched thud as the first guy ran (11) ....... behind me and smashed me in the back of the head,” he recalls. “And I saw this puff of white light just like someone took a picture. The next thing I knew I was on my knees and everything was spinning and I did not know where I was or how I got there.

Padgett staggered to a hospital across the street where he was told he had concussion and a bleeding kidney thanks (12) ........  a punch to the gut. “They gave me a shot of pain medication and sent me home,” he remembers.

But once home, Padgett’s behaviour changed quickly and dramatically. He had sustained a traumatic brain injury, which can bring (13) .......  obsessive compulsive disorder - OCD. In Jason's case, he became increasingly afraid of the outside world and would only leave his house to stock up on food.

But while Padgett was experiencing all these negative consequences (14) ..........  his attack, something incredible was happening too. The way Jason was seeing things changed.

“Everything that was curved looked like it was slightly pixelated. I was surprised and confused. It was beautiful but it was also scary (15) .........the same time.”

Because of these visions, Padgett began to think about huge questions in relation to mathematics and physics. Given his hermit-like existence at that time, the internet became a valuable source (16) ...........  information to him as he read extensively about mathematics online.

Then, after three and a half years of living like a virtual hermit, he went back to school, which changed everything for Padgett. “I’m a completely different person,” says Simmons. “When I look back the abysmal person that I was in the past, I just don’t see how I existed on that level.”

Missing words: about, at, by, for, from, in, into, of, on, on, on, outside, to, up, with, with

(source: bbc)

A woman diagnosed with dementia in 2016 is still living an independent life (1) .................. .

Mary, 86, said it was "very important" for her to stay in her own home and she believed staying busy and sticking (2) ............ .

She has three visits a day from carers, (3) ........... .

Her advice to other people diagnosed with the condition was to "try not (4) ..............., and hope for the best".

1. What is the best way to experience nature?

If you ask me, the best way to experience nature is to spend time in nature. How can we spend more time in nature? We can go for a walk, we can ride a bike with friends or walk the dog. Nature can be a forest or a park in the city. 

2. Have you ever visited a national park? If yes, what did you do there?

I have visited Duna-Dráva National Park with my friend, who lives there near River Drava. We went cycling then went boating. I really enjoyed the peace and quiet there. As far as I know there are many beautiful national parks in Croatia, I probably will visit the Plitvice Lakes or Krka National Park.

3. When did you last experience extreme weather conditions?

I remember that some years ago we had a 'White Easter', it snowed at the end of March. We built a snowman in the garden on Easter Sunday, which I think was really extreme.

4. What is your favourite season? Why?

My favourite season is summer. We don't have to go to school and the weather is wonderful. Sometimes it gets too hot, but we can turn on the air conditioner or chill in the outdoor pool. When I go to the city I just wear light clothes and wear my hair in a ponytail. Days are really long and we can spend a lot of time outside.

5. What are the most terryfying and dangerous natural disasters? Which do you think is the worst? Why?

I think the most terryfying natural disasters are earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados, volcanic eruptions and bushfires. They can injure or kill people and destroy home. I believe that floods are the worst because there is not much that you can do to stop them. 

6. Do you think people should recycle?

I strongly believe that people should recycle everything that they can: plastic bottles, paper, glass bottles. We can make new things from old plastic bottles. I think everybody should select waste separately. We can compost vegetables and fruit and we can put plastic bottles and paper in the recycling bin.

7. What can you do to prevent pollution?

We shouldn't use old and dirty cars and we shouldn't burn harmful materials. We shouldn't use chemicals in the garden and of course we should close old and dirty factories.

8. What can we do to protect the environment?

There are many things that we can do:

we can reduce the amount of water or electricity that we use. Instead of long showers we can take shorter showers. We should turn off the lights when we leave the room. Instead of turning up the heating, we should put on a warm pullover. Instead of going to school by car, we should use public transport. 

We can reuse old things: we can give old clothes to charity so other people can use the things that we don't need.

And last but not least: teach the next generation to learn from our mistakes.

Do you prefer summer or winter holidays? Why?

I prefer summer holidays. The weather is much better. We don't have to go to school, we don't have to do homework and we can spend a lot of time with friends. We usually go on holiday to the seaside. I'm fond of Croatia. When we are on holiday we go to the beach every day. We can swim, sunbathe, find shells, sea stars or go on a boat trip. 

Last summer I went to a fantastic summer folk dance festival in Zagreb. There were people from all over the world. We stayed in a large dorm and had a great time.

We are not very keen on winter holidays. We usually don't go on long trips, we just visit relatives, cousins in nearby villages.

Which is the most beautiful/interesting place you have ever visited?

The most beautiful place I have ever been to is ROGOZNICA. It's situated near Trogir in Croatia. It's a popular tourist village with sights like the Dragon's Eye Lake, the Promenade  or the port.

Which do you think is the most popular/dangerous/expensive sport in your country?

Many people agree that football is the most popular sport. People like to watch it, play it or just play football on the computer. If you ask me, the most dangerous sport is wrestling. You can get injured easily. In my opinion the most expensive sport is horseriding because you have to buy the equipment and maybe a horse.

How do you feel about extreme sports? Would you try any?

I'm not into extreme sports like skydiving, rock climbing, downhill biking or rafting. To tell you the truth, they are extremely dangerous and I don't want to get injured or die. If I had to choose one extreme sport, I would try high diving. I would jump from the Mostar Bridge. 

Have you ever had a sports accident? If yes, what happened?

Fortunately, I have never had a sports accident so I cannot say too much about this topic. I am always very careful when I do sports, I do not want to break my leg, sprain my ankle or have a concussion.

What are the benefits of participation in sports/playing sports on the computer/watching sports on television?

Let me start with the benefits of doing/playing sports. Physical activity makes you fitter, healthier, it improves your immune system and helps you lose weight - especially if you follow a healthy diet. Playing sports on the computer helps you kill time, spend your free time, have fun. If you enjoy playing sports in real life, maybe you want to play sports on the computer. If you ask me, it is much better than shooting games. Watching sports on TV is a good way to spend your free time. It can be a family activity or you can invite friends. You can watch real events, real results. It can be very motivating. Maybe you start watching sports on TV, then start doing sports.

What can help avoid sports injury?

I believe that a good, healthy diet, warm up, the right equipment (shoes for example) and focusing can help avoid sports injury. You should also avoid extreme sports.

In your opinion, what could be the worst thing that can happen on a holiday?

If you ask me, dying on a holiday, especially on the first day is the worst thing that can happen. You can drown in the sea, have a heart attack on a roller coaster or have food poisoning.

Of course, most people survive, but many tourists get their bag stolen or lost. You can also have a sunstroke or sunburn or lose your passport. 

What do you like about your neighbourhood?

I live in a quiet and peaceful village. I think it's very liveable, very calm and the people are really friendly. The air is clean and it is a safe area. Summers are really beautiful, there is a lake and Pécs is very close. However, we don't have a good supermarket, some roads are really bad and buses don't run frequently.

Would you describe your house? Do you like it? Why?

We live in a detached, two-storey house. I really like it because it's big enough for us and we have a lovely garden. I have my own room, which used to be the hall. My room overlooks the garden.

Who do you live with?

I share the house with my parents, my brother and my grandmother, who has her own space: she has her own kitchen, bathroom and living room.

Which is your favourite room?

I have two favourite rooms: my own bedroom and my grandmother's living room, where I spent a lot of time when I was a child.

How is your room furnished?

I have a bed and shelves behind it. There's a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a bookcase and a mirror on the wall.

Who pays the bills in your house?

My parents pay the bills in our house. We have to pay for utilities: electricity, gas and water. They transfer the money from their bank account.

What would your dream house be like?

I really like our house, so my dream house is very similar to our house. I wouldn't like to live in a very big or very small house. Maybe I would like to add a swimming pool to our garden.

What is the difference between a house and a home?

A house is just a building, but home is where the heart is. Your home is more than a building because it is where you have your memories. 

What would you miss if you had to move to a much smaller house?

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't like to move to a tiny house because I need more space. I would miss the privacy, maybe I would have to share a room with my brother if we had to move to a smaller house.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a very large house?

If you live in a very large house, you have more space and privacy, you can have a lot of different rooms: a laundry room, a TV room, a gym. However, a big house is more expensive, bills are highher and you have to clean more. Or you have to hire a cleaner and a gardener. Overall, living in a very large house is not a good idea because it costs a lot of money and you can feel very lonely.