EXAM FOLDER 3

They had a terrible row, all because Mike had got hold of the wrong end of the stick when

Sonia was explaining what had happened at the beach.

Primary education has been seriously underfunded1 in this area of the country for many years

now, and it is about time something was done about it.

Everyone quickly took their places on the stage in readiness for the curtain to go up.

The menu consisted of various starters, main courses and desserts, all, in my opinion, designed

to please the eye rather than the palate.

Pete didn’t bother to show up until nearly the end of the lesson, and then he just slouched2 into

the room and flung3 himself into a seat with no apology.

The rain trickled down4 slowly under his coat collar, making him feel thoroughly5 damp and

miserable.

Merchant@Florence

An Italian academic, Giorgio Stabile, has brought to light the fact that the ubiquitous symbol of

Internet era communication, the @ sign used in email addresses, is actually a 500-year-old

invention of Italian merchants. He claims to have stumbled on the earliest known example of

the symbol’s use, as an indication of a measure of weight or volume. He said the @ sign

represented an amphora, a measure of capacity based on the terracotta jars used to transport

grain and liquid in the ancient Mediterranean world. The first known instance of its use

occurred in a letter written by a Florentine merchant on May 4, 1536.

The ancient symbol was unearthed in the course of research for a visual history of the 20th

century. Apparently, the sign had made its way along trade routes to northern Europe, where it

took on its contemporary accountancy meaning: “at the price of”. According to Professor

Stabile, the oldest example could be of great value as it could be used for publicity purposes and

to enhance the prestige of the institution that has it in their possession.

1 Mal financiado/a2 Caminar arrastrando los pies3 Tirarse4 Filtrarse5 Completamente