English C2 CPE

Until (0) RELATIVELY (RELATIVE) recently, it was thought that extreme heat and cold presented (1) ............ (MOUNT) problems to living organisms and that all life existed in a narrow range of (2) ............ (FAVOUR) temperatures. However, the discovery of extremophiles has forced a (3) ............ (ASSESS) of that view. Extremophiles are bacteria that survive, and even thrive, in (4) ............ (SEEM) impossible conditions. (5) ............ (PROBABLE) as it may seem, some exist at temperatures exceeding 80°C in geysers and hot springs, while others live in the freezing conditions of the Antarctic (6) ............ (WILD). While most species of larger animals are (7) ............ (THREAT) by global warming, even to the point of (8) ............ (EXTINCT), that kind of ecological change may actually benefit the extremophiles. These mysterious organisms may survive long after the human race.