IELTS READING TEST 2 science, meaning that the significance of a particular vintage often promotes much speculation and

Make That Wine! disagreement. A non-vintage wine is usually a blend from the produce of two or more years, which is
Australia is a nation of beer drinkers. Actually, make that wine. Yes, wine has now just about supplanted done, as mentioned before, for consistency and quality control.
beer as the alcoholic drink of choice, probably because of the extensive range of choices available and
the rich culture behind them. This all adds a certain depth and intimacy to the drinking process which This leads to the rich and varied world of wine assessment, and its descriptive terminology. Wine has
beer just cannot match. In addition, although wine drinkers seldom think about it, moderate such a variety of aromas, flavours, textures, and aftertastes that serious wine drinkers demand an
consumption seems to be beneficial for the health, lowering the incidence of heart disease and various agreed vocabulary so that the drinking sensations can be reliably described in writing. From bouquet to
other ailments. biscuity, mellow to musky, vivid to vegetal, the conceited connoisseur can perplex the listener with some
really purple prose. Perhaps the opportunity to posture pretentiously with all this jargon is the main
Wine is the product of the fermentation of grape juice, in which yeast (a fungus) consumes the natural reason why wine enthusiasts are so taken with this product. Cheers!
sugars within, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide as waste. Yeast grows naturally on many varieties Questions 1-4
of grapes, often visible as a white powder, and causing fermentation directly on the plant. Thus, the Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage One? Write
discovery of wine-making was inevitable at some stage in human history. The evidence shows that this TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
was at least 8,000 years ago in the Near East. From there, wine-making spread around the ancient FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
Mediterranean civilisations, where the liquid was extensively produced, drunk, and traded. To this day, NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this
the biggest drinkers of wine remain the Mediterranean countries, with France leading the way. 1. Wine is popular in Australia because it is healthy.
2. Yeast is white-coloured.
This leads to the classification of wines, which is quite complex. It often begins with the colour: red or 3. Wine is popular in the Near East.
white. Most people do not know that the colour of wine is not due to the grapes used (whose skins are 4. Blended wines are usually cheaper.
either green or purple), but to the wine-making process itself. All grape juice is clear. Red wines are Questions 5-10
produced by leaving the grape skin in contact with the juice during fermentation; white wines by not Complete the table. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
doing so. Thus, white wine can be made from dark-coloured grapes, provided that the skin is separated
early, although the resultant wine may have a pinkish tinge.

A similar wine classification is based more specifically on the grape species used, giving such well-
known names as Pinot Noir and Merlot. Chardonnay grapes remain one of the most widely planted,
producing an array of white wines, rivaling the cabernet sauvignon grape, a key ingredient in the
world’s most widely recognised, and similarly named, red wines. When one grape species is used, or is
predominant, the wine produced is called varietal, as opposed to mixing the juices of various identified
grapes, which results in blended wines. The latter process is often done when wine-makers, and the
people who drink their product, want a consistent taste, year after year. Far from being looked down
upon, it often results in some of the world’s most expensive bottles, such as the Cote Rotie wines in
France.
Questions 11-13
Increasingly, however, market recognition is based on the location of the wine production, resulting in Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
labels such as Bordeaux in France, Napa Valley in California, and the Barossa Valley in Australia.
Traditional wines made in these places carry trademarks, respected by serious wine drinkers. However, 11. Vintage wines are
an example of the blurred lines is the term ‘champagne’. This was once expected to be made from grapes A mostly better.
grown in the Champagne region of France, with all the expertise and traditions of that area, but, despite B often preferred.
legal attempts to trademark the term, it has become ‘semi-generic’, allowing it to be used for any wine of C often discussed.
this type made anywhere in the world. D more costly.

Finally, we come to the vinification method as a means of classification. One example is, in fact, 12. The author thinks that wine terminology is
champagne, known as a ‘sparkling’ wine. By allowing a secondary fermentation in a sealed container, it A unnecessary.
retains some of the waste carbon dioxide. Another variation is to stop the fermentation before all the B serious.
natural sugars are consumed, creating dessert wines, ranging from slight to extreme sweetness. Yet C good.
again, grapes can be harvested well beyond their maximum ripeness, creating ‘late harvest wines’, or D bad.
allowed to become partially dried (or ‘raisoned’), creating ‘dried grape wines’. Clearly, there are many
possibilities, all producing uniquely flavoured products. 13. Wine
One of the best-known terms relating to wine is ‘vintage’. This signifies that the product was made from A is more popular than beer, in Australia.
grapes that were grown in a single labeled year. If that year is eventually acknowledged to have B is most popular in France.
produced exceptionally fine grapes and resultant wines (‘a good vintage’), bottles from that period are C can be simply classified.
often saved for future consumption. Of course, the appreciation and assessment of wine is an inexact D is often ‘raisoned’.

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 even necessary. Some people are not driven by a determination to stridently blaze a trail through life.
That Vision Thing This may merely show a spiritual calm, and a desire to appreciate the present. It may also be a smarter
In the past, management took a minor role in influencing motivation. It was generally considered that if and more strategic approach to life’s unpredictable turns, applying equally well to the business world. In
the correct tools, training, and environment were provided, individuals would do their jobs, and that this short, a lack of vision may be better – much better.
was sufficient in itself. People in organisations were considered ‘personnel’. But look how it has now
changed. ‘Personnel’ have become ‘human resources’. and staff are now seen in terms of strategic George Bush, as with many presidents, occasionally did not articulate his thoughts clearly, but his
potential, and with appropriate development, are one of the most important assets organisations may famously dismissive comment about envisioning speaks volumes. ‘That vision thing’ is remarkable in its
have. concision. In just three words, it encapsulates the trendy, contrived, pigeon-holing, simplistic, top-down,
and often insulting and hypocritical nature of the process. Mr Bush, you have my vote.
A key aspect of this is motivation, and to achieve it, the latest buzzword is envisioning. We often hear
management gurus propounding the thesis that any leader of worth must have a vision. This can unite, Questions 14-17
inspire, and direct the energies of the staff in the right direction. In the absence of such a ‘visionary Answer the questions. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer
leader’, the organisation necessarily flounders in complete aimlessness – or at least, that is what we are 14. Broadly, what do staff need in order to most benefit a company?
led to believe. And yet I strongly disagree that this ‘vision thing’ (as famously referred to by former 15. Which people advise envisioning?
American President, George Bush Senior) is worth much at all. I’d even go further, stating that it can be 16. What do they believe a lack of vision might cause?
distinctly bad for the organisation. 17. What aspect can groups of people never have in common?
Questions 18-23
The first fact to realise is that ‘envisioning’ fails to acknowledge the true human nature of organisations. Complete the flow chart. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
These places are not composed of lemmings., all with a simplistic and single-minded dedication towards
one goal. They are most obviously composed of groups of human beings, and with their rich variety of
personalities and experiences, no such community can be homogenous and share exactly the same sat of
personal values. These people are, in fact, merely loosely-bound cohorts pursuing different objectives
(status, money, power, or individually defined agendas), in different manners. Thus a truly shared and
meaningful vision is very difficult, and often impossible, to generate.

Yet the ‘visionary’ manager attempts to do just this. The trouble is, the high-minded dictates of his fresh
MBA do not mention becoming bogged down in a long, laboured excess of word-smithing, or how, in
order to reach a consensus, the vision necessarily loses all individuality. The books do not mention the
passionless and sterile written exhortation which is ultimately produced, of working towards
‘unshakeable integrity’. As admirable in content as these may be, they are merely corporate mantras
rather than words to be lived by. Few will believe in something imposed from above, instead merely
complying at a superficial level.
Questions 24-26
The unfortunate fact is, when turning from rhetoric to reality, the contradictions can be overwhelming. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
Deep down, all staff members know that envisioning is attempted not to create a more egalitarian
company, but only as a means of enriching the company directors. But what about those staff member? 24. Most people
Few of them work merely for the love of their job. In a materialistic and consumer-driven world, they A can define what makes them want to succeed.
work for hard and tangible rewards. This can take many forms, but certainly involves the company B will discuss their personal visions with others.
giving back profit in the form of salary, overtime, TOIL, bonuses, perks and extra days off. Personal C are interested in promotions.
visions never, ever, mention these. D express their deeper feelings truthfully.
25. Personal visions
Here’s another reason why envisioning is dubious at best. Workers do not like to be treated as products A take people forward in life.
in the service of profits, or cogs in the organisational machine, yet envisioning ranks them as even worse B result in the absorption of immediate details.
– as animals in a sociological experiment. The assumption is that they lack their own personal vision and C provide defence against unexpected events.
are helplessly adrift, deficits which can only be remedied by a great leader who can herd the lost sheep D help calm people’s minds.
in the right direction. This is not a feeling likely to enhance commitment to the cause, and often make
staff feel the very opposite, a fact about which I can personally testify from my own experiences of 26. With regard to envisioning, the author feels
working in big companies where the envisioning farce was played out. A critical.
B contemptuous.
Personal visions are, in fact, necessarily complex. Almost everyone would surely have difficulties in C impartial.
articulating their deepest motivations, as well as in being honest about this to themselves. They would D suspicious.
similarly have some reluctance to openly talk on the subject, often with people who might be
competitors for that next promotion. Furthermore, envisioning begs the question of whether a vision is Destination Mars

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Mars is the closest potentially habitable planet. It has solid ground, protective surface features, a thin effects on these pioneers of permanent isolation from Barth and its community, as well as being
atmosphere, more closely mimics the gravitational and lighting conditions on Earth, and is reachable – crowded into confined Martian living quarters with the same companions, raise issues of whether such a
just. Most importantly, studies have found that this planet has vast reserves of frozen water, and there settlement is humanly feasible.
are other basic minerals as well. In contrast, the closest heavenly body – the moon – is dusty, barren,
hostile, and dark. Settlement of the moon would be much easier, but since there are no resources there, This begs the question of why undertake such missions at all. The answer, according to proponents, is
it would ultimately be more costly and of little use. If there is any extra-terrestrial site where humankind that it is our destiny. Throughout history, explorers have regularly embarked on journeys in the full
will ultimately settle, it must be Mars. knowledge that death may await them, or that even if they succeeded, their health and wellbeing would
be severely compromised. And today, people regularly practise extreme sports, or work in dangerous
Yet this planet is much more distant than the moon, making the logistics daunting. Food, water, oxygen, occupations, all of which significantly lower their life expectancy. The risks involved in being a Martian
and life-support systems for such a journey would be too heavy for current rocket science. Technological pioneer are no different, and so, it is argued, there is no reason why they should deter us now.
innovations would be necessary, and the timing of the trip absolutely critical. The different orbits of
Mars and Earth mean that they most closely approach each other every 26 months, but this event itself Questions 27-30
fluctuates on a 15-year cycle. This means that only once in that time does a launch window open. That is Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage One? Write
quite few and far between, yet missions must necessarily leave at these times. TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
The trouble is, even then, the journey to Mars and back would take over a year, and the human body NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this
suffers profoundly when left in micro-gravity for that length of time. Without the need to stand, there is 27. The greatest advantage of Mars is that it has many basic minerals.
almost no flexing or pressure on the back or the leg muscles. These gradually shrink and weaken, while 28. Settlement of the moon would be more expensive.
bones lose their density, and lungs their aerobic capacity. When left long enough in space, astronauts are 29. The magnetosphere burns up objects.
unable to function properly. Yet these people will need their full physical strength and alertness for the 30. A one-way expedition to Mars is better.
many operational duties required. These include docking in space, approaches and landing on Mars,
remote manipulation of machines, and dealing with any emergencies that arise. Questions 31-35
Complete the table. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Another hazard of such duration in a hermetically sealed spacecraft is disease. Human bodies constantly
shed waste material (sweat, skin-flakes, hair, moisture, mucus, and the products of digestion), all of
which allow microbes to breed prolifically. Coughs and sneezes spray fluids into the air, which, without
gravity to pull them down to surfaces, simply float as airborne particles in those cramped confines,
causing easy microbial exchange between crew members. Bacterial infections and fungal attacks can be
prevalent, and human immune systems are weakened in micro-gravity. Thus, a long mission to Mars
would require the best air-cleansing system available, rigorous disinfecting and hygiene procedures,
plus an excellent supply of antibiotics.

On reaching Mars, the problems only increase. Staying on the planet for any significant length of time
will be difficult. In the absence of a thick protective atmosphere or magnetosphere to burn up or deflect
objects, respectively, astronauts will be exposed, to potentially lethal UV radiation, micro-meteoroids, Questions 36-40
solar flares, and high-energy particles, all of which regularly bombard the surface. Spacecraft and land- Give TWO examples of the following categories. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for
based capsules will need special shielding, which adds to the weight and expense. Construction of living each example.
quarters will be time-consuming, difficult, and dangerous. For a longer stay on Mars, the only solution, it
seems, is to go underground.

One of the most interesting discoveries in this respect is of possible cave entrances on the side of Arsia
Mons, a large Martian volcano. Seven such entrances have been identified in satellite imagery, showing
circular holes resembling the collapse of cave ceilings. The hope is that these may lead to more extensive
cave formations, or perhaps lava tubes, offering the protection necessary in such a hostile terrain. An
additional benefit is the potential access to vital minerals, and most importantly of all, the possibility of
frozen water. These sites therefore open up the possibility of independent and permanent settlement on
this planet.

The most exciting option is to attempt that on the very first trip – in other words, making it a oneway
Task 2 –
journey. The advantage is that the duration of space travel is immediately halved, reducing the
Some people think that children under 18 years old should receive full-time education.
technological, biological, and financial challenges. This very strong argument is somewhat offset by the
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
difficulties in establishing a permanent presence, as well as the necessary ongoing commitment to it –
for example, in the delivery of food and supplies via unmanned spacecraft. Similarly, the psychological

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IELTS READING TEST 3 https://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ but they are not listed as co-authors. Dr Hunt says some amateur palaeontologists are
In Praise of Amateurs disappointed when told that they cannot take finds home with them.
Despite the specialization of scientific research, amateurs still have an important role to play. These are legitimate concerns but none seems insurmountable. Provided amateurs and
During the scientific revolution of the 17th century, scientists were largely men of private means professionals agree the terms on which they will work together beforehand, there is no reason why
who pursued their interest in natural philosophy for their own edification. Only in the past century co-operation between the two groups should not flourish. Last year Dr S. Carlson, founder of the
or two has it become possible to make a living from investigating the workings of nature. Modern Society for Amateur Scientists won an award worth $290,000 for his work in promoting such co-
science was, in other words, built on the work of amateurs. Today, science is an increasingly operation. He says that one of the main benefits of the prize is the endorsement it has given to the
specialized and compartmentalized subject, the domain of experts who know more and more about contributions of amateur scientists, which has done much to silence critics among those
less and less. Perhaps surprisingly, however, amateurs – even those without private means – are professionals who believe science should remain their exclusive preserve.
still important.
A recent poll carried out at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science At the moment, says Dr Carlson, the society is involved in several schemes including an innovative
by astronomer Dr Richard Fienberg found that, in addition to his field of astronomy, amateurs are rocket-design project and the setting up of a network of observers who will search for evidence of a
actively involved in such fields as acoustics, horticulture, ornithology, meteorology, hydrology and link between low- frequency radiation and earthquakes. The amateurs, he says, provide
palaeontology. Far from being crackpots, amateur scientists are often in close touch with enthusiasm and talent, while the professionals provide guidance ‘so that anything they do discover
professionals, some of whom rely heavily on their co-operation. will be taken seriously’. Having laid the foundations of science, amateurs will have much to
contribute to its ever – expanding edifice.
Admittedly, some fields are more open to amateurs than others. Anything that requires expensive
equipment is clearly a no-go area. And some kinds of research can be dangerous; most amateur Questions 1-8
chemists, jokes Dr Fienberg, are either locked up or have blown themselves to bits. But amateurs Complete the summary below. Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
can make valuable contributions in fields from rocketry to palaeontology and the rise of the Internet Summary
has made it easier than before to collect data and distribute results. Prior to the 19th century, professional (1)………………..did not exist and scientific research was
largely carried out by amateurs. However, while (2)…………………………today is mostly the domain
Exactly which field of study has benefited most from the contributions of amateurs is a matter of of professionals, a recent US survey highlighted the fact that amateurs play an important role in at
some dispute. Dr Fienberg makes a strong case for astronomy. There is, he points out, a long least seven (3)………………….and indeed many professionals are reliant on their
tradition of collaboration between amateur and professional sky watchers. Numerous comets, (4)……………………..In areas such as astronomy, amateurs can be invaluable when making specific
asteroids and even the planet Uranus were discovered by amateurs. Today, in addition to comet (5)……………………..on a global basis. Similarly in the area of palaeontology their involvement is
and asteroid spotting, amateurs continue to do valuable work observing the brightness of variable invaluable and helpers are easy to recruit because of the popularity of (6)…………………….Amateur
stars and detecting novae- ‘new’ stars in the Milky Way and supernovae in other galaxies. Amateur birdwatchers also play an active role and their work has led to the establishment of a
observers are helpful, says Dr Fienberg, because there are so many of them (they far outnumber (7)………………….Occasionally the term ‘amateur’ has been the source of disagreement and
professionals) and because they are distributed all over the world. This makes special kinds of alternative names have been suggested but generally speaking, as long as the professional
observations possible:’ if several observers around the world accurately record the time when a star scientists (8)………………..the work of the non-professionals, the two groups can work productively
is eclipsed by an asteroid, for example, it is possible to derive useful information about the together.
asteroid’s shape.
Questions 9-13
Another field in which amateurs have traditionally played an important role is palaeontology. Reading Passage 1 contains a number of opinions provided by four different scientists. Match each
Adrian Hunt, a palaeontologist at Mesa Technical College in New Mexico, insists that his is the field opinion (Questions 9-13) with the scientists A-D. NB You may use any of the scientists A-D more
in which amateurs have made the biggest contribution. Despite the development of high-tech than once.
equipment, he says, the best sensors for finding fossils are human eyes – lots of them. Name of scientists
Finding volunteers to look for fossils is not difficult, he says, because of the near universal interest A Dr Fienberg
in anything to do with dinosaurs. As well as helping with this research, volunteers learn about B Adrian Hunt
science, a process he calls ‘recreational education’. C Rick Bonney
D Dr Carlson
Rick Bonney of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, contends that amateurs 9. Amateur involvement can also be an instructive pastime.
have contributed the most in his field. There are, he notes, thought to be as many as 60 million 10. Amateur scientists are prone to accidents.
birdwatchers in America alone. Given their huge numbers and the wide geographical coverage they 11. Science does not belong to professional scientists alone.
provide, Mr Bonney has enlisted thousands of amateurs in a number of research projects. Over the 12. In certain areas of my work, people are a more valuable resource than technology.
past few years their observations have uncovered previously unknown trends and cycles in bird 13. It is important to give amateurs a name which reflects the value of their work.
migrations and revealed declines in the breeding populations of several species of migratory birds,
prompting a habitat conservation programme. READING THE SCREEN
Are the electronic media exacerbating illiteracy and making our children stupid? On the contrary,
Despite the successes and whatever the field of study, collaboration between amateurs and says Colin McCabe, they have the potential to make us truly literate.
professionals is not without its difficulties. Not everyone, for example is happy with the term The debate surrounding literacy is one of the most charged in education. On the one hand there is
‘amateur’. Mr Bonney has coined the term ‘citizen scientist’ because he felt that other words, such an army of people convinced that traditional skills of reading and writing are declining. On the
as ‘volunteer’ sounded disparaging. A more serious problem is the question of how professionals other, a host of progressives protest that literacy is much more complicated than a simple technical
can best acknowledge the contributions made by amateurs. Dr Fienberg says that some amateur mastery of reading and writing. This second position is supported by most of the relevant academic
astronomers are happy to provide their observations but grumble about not being reimbursed for work over the past 20 years. These studies argue that literacy can only be understood in its social
out-of-pocket expenses. Others feel let down when their observations are used in scientific papers, and technical context. In Renaissance England, for example, many more people could read than
could write, and within reading there was a distinction between those who could read print and per cent. But the new media joined to the old, through the public service tradition of British
those who could manage the more difficult task of reading manuscript. An understanding of these broadcasting, now makes our literary tradition available to all.
earlier periods helps us understand today’s ‘crisis in literacy’ debate. Questions 14-17
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
There does seem to be evidence that there has been an overall decline in some aspects of reading 14. When discussing the debate on literacy in education, the writer notes that
and writing – you only need to compare the tabloid newspapers of today with those of 50 years ago A children cannot read and write as well as they used to.
to see a clear decrease in vocabulary and simplification of syntax. But the picture is not uniform B academic work has improved over the last 20 years.
and doesn’t readily demonstrate the simple distinction between literate and illiterate which had C there is evidence that literacy is related to external factors.
been considered adequate since the middle of the 19th century. D there are opposing arguments that are equally convincing.
15. In the 4th paragraph, the writer’s main point is that
While reading a certain amount of writing is as crucial as it has ever been in industrial societies, it A the printed word is both gaining and losing power.
is doubtful whether a fully extended grasp of either is as necessary as it was 30 or 40 years ago. B all inventions bring disadvantages as well as benefits.
While print retains much of its authority as a source of topical information, television has C those who work in manual jobs no longer need to read.
increasingly usurped this role. The ability to write fluent letters has been undermined by the D the media offers the best careers for those who like writing.
telephone and research suggests that for many people the only use for writing, outside formal 16. According to the writer, the main problem that schools face today is
education, is the compilation of shopping lists. A how best to teach the skills of reading and writing.
B how best to incorporate technology into classroom teaching.
The decision of some car manufacturers to issue their instructions to mechanics as a video pack C finding the means to purchase technological equipment.
rather than as a handbook might be taken to spell the end of any automatic link between D managing the widely differing levels of literacy amongst pupils.
industrialisation and literacy. On the other hand, it is also the case that ever-increasing numbers of 17. At the end of the article, the writer is suggesting that
people make their living out of writing, which is better rewarded than ever before. Schools are A literature and culture cannot be divorced.
generally seen as institutions where the book rules – film, television and recorded sound have B the term ‘literacy’ has not been very useful.
almost no place; but it is not clear that this opposition is appropriate. While you may not need to C 10 per cent of the population never read literature.
read and write to watch television, you certainly need to be able to read and write in order to make D our exposure to cultural information is likely to increase.
programmes. Questions 18-23
Those who work in the new media are anything but illiterate. The traditional oppositions between Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 18-23
old and new media are inadequate for understanding the world which a young child now on your answer sheet write - YES, NO, NOT GIVEN
encounters. The computer has re-established a central place for the written word on the screen,
which used to be entirely devoted to the image. There is even anecdotal evidence that children are 18. It is not as easy to analyse literacy levels as it used to be.
mastering reading and writing in order to get on to the Internet. There is no reason why the new 19. Our literacy skills need to be as highly developed as they were in the past.
and old media cannot be integrated in schools to provide the skills to become economically 20. Illiteracy is on the increase.
productive and politically enfranchised. 21. Professional writers earn relatively more than they used to.
22. A good literacy level is important for those who work in television.
Nevertheless, there is a crisis in literacy and it would be foolish to ignore it. To understand that 23. Computers are having a negative impact on literacy in schools
literacy may be declining because it is less central to some aspects of everyday life is not the same Questions 24-26
as acquiescing in this state of affairs. The production of school work with the new technologies Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 2. Use NO MORE THAN
could be a significant stimulus to literacy. How should these new technologies be introduced into THREE WORDS for each answer.
the schools? It isn’t enough to call for computers, camcorders and edit suites in every classroom; In Renaissance England, the best readers were those able to read (24)…………………
unless they are properly integrated into the educational culture, they will stand unused. Evidence The writer uses the example of (25)……………………to illustrate the general fall in certain areas of
suggests that this is the fate of most information technology used in the classroom. Similarly, literacy.
although media studies are now part of the national curriculum, and more and more students are It has been shown that after leaving school, the only things that a lot of people write are
now clamouring to take these course, teachers remain uncertain about both methods and aims in (26)……………….
this area.
This is not the fault of the teachers. The entertainment and information industries must be drawn The Revolutionary Bridges of Robert Maillart
into a debate with the educational institutions to determine how best to blend these new Swiss engineer Robert Maillart built some of the greatest bridges of the 20th century. His designs
technologies into the classroom. elegantly solved a basic engineering problem: how to support enormous weights using a slender
arch.
Many people in our era are drawn to the pessimistic view that the new media are destroying old A Just as railway bridges were the great structural symbols of the 19th century, highway bridges
skills and eroding critical judgement. It may be true that past generations were more literate but – became the engineering emblems of the 20th century. The invention of the automobile created an
taking the pre-19th century meaning of the term – this was true of only a small section of the irresistible demand for paved roads and vehicular bridges throughout the developed world. The type
population. The word literacy is a 19th-century coinage to describe the divorce of reading and of bridge needed for cars and trucks, however, is fundamentally different from that needed for
writing from a full knowledge of literature. The education reforms of the 19th century produced locomotives. Most highway bridges carry lighter loads than railway bridges do, and their roadways
reading and writing as skills separable from full participation in the cultural heritage. can be sharply curved or steeply sloping. To meet these needs, many turn-of-the-century bridge
The new media now point not only to a futuristic cyber-economy, they also make our cultural past designers began working with a new building material: reinforced concrete, which has steel bars
available to the whole nation. Most children’s access to these treasures is initially through embedded in it. And the master of this new material was Swiss structural engineer, Robert Maillart.
television. It is doubtful whether our literary heritage has ever been available to or sought out by
more than about 5 per cent of the population; it has certainly not been available to more than 10
B Early in his career, Maillart developed a unique method for designing bridges, buildings and span concrete bridges in the US. In Switzerland, professors finally began to teach Maillart’s ideas,
other concrete structures. He rejected the complex mathematical analysis of loads and stresses that which then influenced a new generation of designers.
was being enthusiastically adopted by most of his contemporaries. At the same time, he also
eschewed the decorative approach taken by many bridge builders of his time. He resisted imitating Questions 27-33
architectural styles and adding design elements solely for ornamentation. Maillart’s method was a Reading Passage 3 has seven paragraphs A-G. From the list of headings below choose the most
form of creative intuition. He had a knack for conceiving new shapes to solve classic engineering suitable heading for each paragraph.
problems] And because he worked in a highly competitive field, one of his goals was economy – he List of headings
won design and construction contracts because his structures were reasonably priced, often less i The long-term impact
costly than all his rivals’ proposals. ii A celebrated achievement 27. Paragraph A
iii Early brilliance passes unrecognised 28. Paragraph B
C Maillart’s first important bridge was built in the small Swiss town of Zuoz. The local officials had iv Outdated methods retain popularity 29. Paragraph C
initially wanted a steel bridge to span the 30-metre wide Inn River, but Maillart argued that he v The basis of a new design is born 30. Paragraph D
could build a more elegant bridge made of reinforced concrete for about the same cost. His crucial vi Frustration at never getting the design right 31. Paragraph E
innovation was incorporating the bridge’s arch and roadway into a form called the hollow-box arch, vii Further refinements meet persistent 32. Paragraph F
which would substantially reduce the bridge’s expense by minimising the amount of concrete objections 33. Paragraph G
needed. In a conventional arch bridge the weight of the roadway is transferred by columns to the viii Different in all respects
arch, which must be relatively thick. In Maillart’s design, though, the roadway and arch were ix Bridge-makers look elsewhere
connected by three vertical walls, forming two hollow boxes running under the roadway (see x Transport developments spark a major change
diagram). The big advantage of this design was that because the arch would not have to bear the
load alone, it could be much thinner – as little as one-third as thick as the arch in the conventional Questions 34-36
bridge. Complete the labels on the diagrams below using ONE OR TWO WORDS from the reading passage.
Write your answers in boxes 34-36 on your answer sheet.
D His first masterpiece, however, was the 1905 Tavanasa Bridge over the Rhine river in the Swiss
Alps. In this design, Maillart removed the parts of the vertical walls which were not essential
because they carried no load. This produced a slender, lighter-looking form, which perfectly met the
bridge’s structural requirements. But the Tavanasa Bridge gained little favourable publicity in
Switzerland; on the contrary, it aroused strong aesthetic objections from public officials who were
more comfortable with old-fashioned stone-faced bridges. Maillart, who had founded his own
construction firm in 1902, was unable to win any more bridge projects, so he shifted his focus to
designing buildings, water tanks and other structures made of reinforced concrete and did not
resume his work on concrete bridges until the early 1920s.

E His most important breakthrough during this period was the development of the deck-stiffened
arch, the first example of which was the Flienglibach Bridge, built in 1923. An arch bridge is
somewhat like an inverted cable. A cable curves downward when a weight is hung from it, an arch
bridge curves upward to support the roadway and the compression in the arch balances the dead
load of the traffic. For aesthetic reasons, Maillart wanted a thinner arch and his solution was to
connect the arch to the roadway with transverse walls. In this way, Maillart justified making the
arch as thin as he could reasonably build it. His analysis accurately predicted the behaviour of the
bridge but the leading authorities of Swiss engineering would argue against his methods for the
next quarter of a century.

F Over the next 10 years, Maillart concentrated on refining the visual appearance of the deck- Questions 37-40
stiffened arch. His best-known structure is the Salginatobel Bridge, completed in 1930. He won the Complete each of the following statements (Questions 37-40) with the best ending (A-G) from the
competition for the contract because his design was the least expensive of the 19 submitted – the box below.
bridge and road were built for only 700,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to some $3.5 million today. 37. Maillart designed the hollow-box arch in order to
Salginatobel was also Maillart’s longest span, at 90 metres and it had the most dramatic setting of 38. Following the construction of the Tavanasa Bridge, Maillart failed to
all his structures, vaulting 80 metres above the ravine of the Salgina brook. In 1991 it became the 39. The transverse walls of the Flienglibach Bridge allowed Maillart to
first concrete bridge to be designated an international historic landmark. 40. Of all his bridges, the Salginatobel enabled Maillart to
A prove that local people were wrong.
G Before his death in 1940, Maillart completed other remarkable bridges and continued to refine B find work in Switzerland.
his designs. However, architects often recognised the high quality of Maillart’s structures before his C win more building commissions.
fellow engineers did and in 1947 the architectural section of the Museum of Modern Art in New D reduce the amount of raw material required.
York City devoted a major exhibition entirely to his works. In contrast, very few American structural E recognise his technical skills.
engineers at that time had even heard of Maillart. In the following years, however, engineers F capitalise on the spectacular terrain.
realised that Maillart’s bridges were more than just aesthetically pleasing – they were technically G improve the appearance of his bridges.
unsurpassed. Maillart’s hollow-box arch became the dominant design form for medium and long-
IELTS READING TEST 4 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ the drugs worked was often not understood and many caused severe side effects and
even death in some patients. Surgery for obesity has also claimed many lives.
Tackling Obesity in the Western World
A Obesity is a huge problem in many Western countries and one which now attracts G It has long been known that a part of the brain called the hypothalamus is
considerable medical interest as researchers take up the challenge to find a ‘cure’ for responsible for regulating hunger, among other things. But it wasn’t until 1994 that
the common condition of being seriously overweight. However, rather than take Professor Jeffery Friedman from Rockerfeller University in the US sent science in a new
responsibility for their weight, obese people have often sought solace in the excuse that direction by studying an obese mouse. Prof. Friedman found that unlike its thin
they have a slow metabolism, a genetic hiccup which sentences more than half the brothers, the fat mouse did not produce a hitherto unknown hormone called leptin.
Australian population (63% of men and 47% of women) to a life of battling with their Manufactured by the fat cells, leptin acts as a messenger, sending signals to the
weight. The argument goes like this: it doesn’t matter how little they eat, they gain hypothalamus to turn off the appetite. Previously, the fat cells were thought to be
weight because their bodies break down food and turn it into energy more slowly than responsible simply for storing fat. Prof. Friedman gave the fat mouse leptin and it lost
those with a so-called normal metabolic rate. 30% of its body weight in two weeks.

B ‘This is nonsense,’ says Dr Susan Jebb from the Dunn Nutrition Unit at Cambridge in H On the other side of the Atlantic, Prof. O’Rahilly read about this research with great
England. Despite the persistence of this metabolism myth, science has known for excitement. For many months two blood samples had lain in the bottom of his freezer,
several years that the exact opposite is in fact true. Fat people have faster metabolisms taken from two extremely obese young cousins. He hired a doctor to develop a test for
than thin people. ‘What is very clear,’ says Dr Jebb, ‘is that overweight people actually leptin in human blood, which eventually resulted in the discovery that neither of the
burn off more energy. They have more cells, bigger hearts, bigger lungs and they all children’s blood contained the hormone. When one cousin was given leptin, she lost a
need more energy just to keep going.’ stone in weight and Prof. O’Rahilly made medical history. Here was the first proof that a
genetic defect could cause obesity in humans. But leptin deficiency turned out to be an
C It took only one night, spent in a sealed room at the Dunn Unit to disabuse one of extremely rare condition and there is a lot more research to be done before the ‘magic’
their patients of the beliefs of a lifetime: her metabolism was fast, not slow. By sealing cure for obesity is ever found.
the room and measuring the exact amount of oxygen she used, researchers were able to
show her that her metabolism was not the culprit. It wasn’t the answer she expected Questions 1-8
and probably not the one she wanted but she took the news philosophically. Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-H. From the list of headings below choose
the most suitable heading for each paragraph.
D Although the metabolism myth has been completely disproved, science has far from
discounted our genes as responsible for making us whatever weight we are, fat or thin. List of Headings
One of the world’s leading obesity researchers, geneticist Professor Stephen O’Rahilly, i Obesity in animals
goes so far as to say we are on the threshold of a complete change in the way we view ii Hidden dangers
not only morbid obesity, but also everyday overweight. Prof. O’Rahilly’s groundbreaking iii Proof of the truth
work in Cambridge has proven that obesity can be caused by our genes. ‘These people iv New perspective on the horizon
are not weak- willed, slothful or lazy,’ says Prof. O’Rahilly, ‘They have a medical v No known treatment
condition due to a genetic defect and that causes them to be obese.’ vi Rodent research leads the way
vii Expert explains energy requirements of obese people
E In Australia, the University of Sydney’s Professor Ian Caterson says while major viii A very uncommon complaint
genetic defects may be rare, many people probably have minor genetic variations that ix Nature or nurture
combine to dictate weight and are responsible for things such as how much we eat, the x Shifting the blame
amount of exercise we do and the amount of energy we need. When you add up all xi Lifestyle change required despite new findings
these little variations, the result is that some people are genetically predisposed to 1. Paragraph A
putting on weight. He says while the fast/slow metabolism debate may have been 2. Paragraph B
settled, that doesn’t mean some other subtle change in the metabolism gene won’t be 3. Paragraph C
found in overweight people. He is confident that science will, eventually, be able to 4. Paragraph D
‘cure’ some forms of obesity but the only effective way for the vast majority of overweight 5. Paragraph E
and obese people to lose weight is a change of diet and an increase in exercise. 6. Paragraph F
7. Paragraph G
F Despite the $500 million a year Australians spend trying to lose weight and the $830 8. Paragraph H
million it costs the community in health care, obesity is at epidemic proportions here, Questions 9-13
as it is in all Western nations. Until recently, research and treatment for obesity had Complete the summary of Reading Passage 1 (Questions 9-13) using words from the
concentrated on behaviour modification, drugs to decrease appetite and surgery. How box.

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 movie studios, the radio companies and the television broadcasters have been
swallowed up. These days, the grand old names of entertainment have more resonance
than power. Paramount is part of Viacom, a cable company; Universal, part of Seagram,
a drinks-and-entertainment company; MGM, once the roaring lion of Hollywood, has
been reduced to a whisper because it is not part of one of the giants. And RCA, once the
most important broadcasting company in the world, is now a recording label belonging
to Bertelsmann, a large German entertainment company.
They do this by seeking to blame their (9)……………………..for the fact that they are
overweight and erroneously believe that they use (10)…………………..energy than thin F Part of the reason why incumbents got pushed aside was that they did not see what
people to stay alive. However, recent research has shown that a was coming. But they also faced a tighter regulatory environment than the present one.
(11)………………………problem can be responsible for obesity as some people seem In America, laws preventing television broadcasters from owning programme companies
programmed to (12)……………………….more than others. The new research points to a were repealed earlier this decade, allowing the creation of vertically integrated
shift from trying to change people’s (13)…………………..to seeking an answer to the businesses. Greater freedom, combined with a sense of history, prompted the smarter
problem in the laboratory. companies in the entertainment business to re-invent themselves. They saw what
happened to those of their predecessors who were stuck with one form of distribution.
Wheel of Fortune
A Since moving pictures were invented a century ago, a new way of distributing So, these days, the powers in the entertainment business are no longer movie studios,
entertainment to consumers has emerged about once every generation. Each such or television broadcasters, or publishers; all those businesses have become part of
innovation has changed the industry irreversibly; each has been accompanied by a bigger businesses still, companies that can both create content and distribute it in a
period of fear mixed with exhilaration. The arrival of digital technology, which translates range of different ways.
music, pictures and text into the zeros and ones of computer language, marks one of G Out of all this, seven huge entertainment companies have emerged – Time Warner,
those periods. Walt Disney, Bertelsmann, Viacom, News Corp, Seagram and Sony. They cover pretty
well every bit of the entertainment business except pornography. Three are American,
B This may sound familiar, because the digital revolution, and the explosion of choice one is Australian, one Canadian, one German and one Japanese. ‘What you are seeing’,
that would go with it, has been heralded for some time. In 1992, John Malone, chief says Christopher Dixon, managing director of media research at PaineWebber, a
executive of TCI, an American cable giant, welcomed the ‘500-channel universe’. Digital stockbroker, ‘is the creation of a global oligopoly. It happened to the oil and automotive
television was about to deliver everything except pizzas to people’s living rooms. When businesses earlier this century; now it is happening to the entertainment business.’ It
the entertainment companies tried out the technology, it worked fine – but not at a remains to be seen whether the latest technology will weaken those great companies, or
price that people were prepared to pay. make them stronger than ever.

C Those 500 channels eventually arrived but via the Internet and the PC rather than Questions 14-21
through television. The digital revolution was starting to affect the entertainment Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs A-G. Which paragraph mentions the following
business in unexpected ways. Eventually it will change every aspect of it, from the way (Questions 14-21)? NB Some of the paragraphs will be used more than once.
cartoons are made to the way films are screened to the way people buy music. That 14. the contrasting effects that new technology can have on existing business
much is clear. What nobody is sure of is how it will affect the economics of the 15. the fact that a total transformation is going to take place in the future in the
business. delivery of all forms of entertainment
16. the confused feelings that people are known to have experienced in response to
D New technologies always contain within them both threats and opportunities. They technological innovation
have the potential both to make the companies in the business a great deal richer, and 17. the fact that some companies have learnt from the mistakes of others
to sweep them away. Old companies always fear new technology. Hollywood was hostile 18. the high cost to the consumer of new ways of distributing entertainment
to television, television terrified by the VCR. Go back far enough, points out Hal Varian, 19. uncertainty regarding the financial impact of wider media access
an economist at the University of California at Berkeley, and you find publishers 20. the fact that some companies were the victims of strict government policy
complaining that ‘circulating libraries’ would cannibalise their sales. Yet whenever a 21. the fact that the digital revolution could undermine the giant entertainment
new technology has come in, it has made more money for existing entertainment companies
companies. The proliferation of the means of distribution results, gratifyingly, in the
proliferation of dollars, pounds, pesetas and the rest to pay for it. Questions 22-25
The writer refers to various individuals and companies in the reading passage. Match
E All the same, there is something in the old companies’ fears. New technologies may the people or companies (A-E) with the points made in Questions 22-25 about the
not threaten their lives, but they usually change their role. Once television became introduction of new technology.
widespread, film and radio stopped being the staple form of entertainment. Cable
television has undermined the power of the broadcasters. And as power has shifted the

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A John Malone through a maze to reach a food goal, the ‘bright’ strain make far fewer wrong turns that
B Hal Valarian the ‘dull’ ones. But if the environment is made dull and boring the number of errors
C MGM becomes equal. Return the rats to an exciting maze and the discrepancy returns as
D Walt Disney before – but is much smaller. In other words, a dull rat in a stimulating environment
E Christopher Dixon will almost do as well as a bright rat who is bored in a normal one. This principle
22. Historically, new forms of distributing entertainment have alarmed those well- applies to humans too – someone may be born with innate intelligence, but their
established in the business. environment probably has the final say over whether they become creative or even a
23. The merger of entertainment companies follows a pattern evident in other genius.
industries.
24. Major entertainment bodies that have remained independent have lost their Evidence now exists that most young children, if given enough opportunities and
influence. encouragement, are able to achieve significant and sustainable levels of academic or
25. News of the most recent technological development was published some years ago. sporting prowess. Bright or creative children are often physically very active at the same
time, and so may receive more parental attention as a result – almost by default – in
Questions 26-27 order to ensure their safety. They may also talk earlier, and this, in turn, breeds
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 26-27 on your answer parental interest. This can sometimes cause problems with other siblings who may feel
sheet. jealous even though they themselves may be bright. Their creative talents may be
26. How does the writer put across his views on the digital revolution? undervalued and so never come to fruition. Two themes seem to run through famously
A by examining the forms of media that will be affected by it creative families as a result. The first is that the parents were able to identify the talents
B by analysing the way entertainment companies have reacted to it of each child, and nurture and encourage these accordingly but in an even-handed
C by giving a personal definition of technological innovation manner. Individual differences were encouraged, and friendly sibling rivalry was not
D by drawing comparisons with other periods of technological innovation seen as a particular problem. If the father is, say, a famous actor, there is no undue
27. Which of the following best summarises the writer’s views in Reading Passage pressure for his children to follow him onto the boards, but instead their chosen
2? interests are encouraged. There need not even by any obvious talent in such a family
A The public should cease resisting the introduction of new technology. since there always needs to be someone who sets the family career in motion, as in the
B Digital technology will increase profits in the entertainment business. case of the Sheen acting dynasty.
C Entertainment companies should adapt to technological innovation.
D Technological change only benefits big entertainment companies. Martin Sheen was the seventh of ten children born to a Spanish immigrant father and
an Irish mother. Despite intense parental disapproval he turned his back on entrance
Reading Passage 3 exams to university and borrowed cash from a local priest to start a fledgling acting
What do we mean by being ‘talented’ or ‘gifted’? The most obvious way is to look at the career. His acting successes in films such as Badlands and Apocalypse Now made him
work someone does and if they are capable of significant success, label them as one of the most highly-regarded actors of the 1970s. Three sons – Emilio Estevez,
talented. The purely quantitative route – ‘percentage definition’ – looks not at Ramon Estevez and Charlie Sheen – have followed him into the profession as a
individuals, but at simple percentages, such as the top five per cent of the population, consequence of being inspired by his motivation and enthusiasm.
and labels them – by definition – as gifted. This definition has fallen from favour,
eclipsed by the advent of IQ tests, favoured by luminaries such as Professor Hans A stream seems to run through creative families. Such children are not necessarily
Eysenck, where a series of written or verbal tests of general intelligence leads to a score smothered with love by their parents. They feel loved and wanted, and are secure in
of intelligence. their home, but are often more surrounded by an atmosphere of work and where
following a calling appears to be important. They may see from their parents that it
The IQ test has been eclipsed in turn. Most people studying intelligence and creativity takes time and dedication to be master of a craft, and so are in less of a hurry to
in the new millennium now prefer a broader definition, using a multifaceted approach achieve for themselves once they start to work.
where talents in many areas are recognised rather than purely concentrating on
academic achievement. If we are therefore assuming that talented, creative or gifted The generation of creativity is complex: it is a mixture of genetics, the environment,
individuals may need to be assessed across a range of abilities, does this mean parental teaching and luck that determines how successful or talented family members
intelligence can run in families as a genetic or inherited tendency? Mental dysfunction – are. This last point – luck – is often not mentioned where talent is concerned but plays
such as schizophrenia – can, so is an efficient mental capacity passed on from parent to an undoubted part. Mozart, considered by many to be the finest composer of all time,
child? was lucky to be living in an age that encouraged the writing of music. He was brought
up surrounded by it, his father was a musician who encouraged him to the point of
Animal experiments throw some light on this question, and on the whole area of giving up his job to promote his child genius, and he learnt musical composition with
whether it is genetics, the environment or a combination of the two that allows for frightening speed – the speed of a genius. Mozart himself simply wanted to create the
intelligence and creative ability. Different strains of rats show great differences in finest music ever written but did not necessarily view himself as a genius – he could
intelligence or ‘rat reasoning’. If these are brought up in normal conditions and then

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write sublime music at will, and so often preferred to lead a hedonistic lifestyle that he 38. Mozart was acutely aware of his own remarkable talent.
found more exciting than writing music to order. 39. Einstein and Gates would have achieved success in any era.

Albert Einstein and Bill Gates are two more examples of people whose talents have Question 40
40. From the list below choose the most suitable title for the whole of Reading Passage 3.
blossomed by virtue of the times they were living in. Einstein was a solitary, somewhat
A Geniuses in their time
slow child who had affection at home but whose phenomenal intelligence emerged B Education for the gifted
without any obvious parental input. This may have been partly due to the fact that at C Revising the definition of intelligence
the start of the 20th Century a lot of the Newtonian laws of physics were being D Nurturing talent within the family
questioned, leaving a fertile ground for ideas such as his to be developed. Bill Gates Task 1
may have had the creative vision to develop Microsoft, but without the new computer
age dawning at the same time he may never have achieved the position on the world The charts below show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and
stage he now occupies. amount of time spent doing housework in households in one country between 1920
and 2019.
Questions 28-29
Complete the notes, which show how the approaches to defining ‘talent*have changed. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. comparisons where relevant.
• ‘percentage definition’
• (28)……………………
• (29)……………………
Questions 30-32
Which THREE of the following does the writer regard as a feature of creative families?
A a higher than average level of parental affection
B competition between brothers and sisters
C parents who demonstrate vocational commitment
D strong motivation to take exams and attend university
E a patient approach to achieving success
F the identification of the most talented child in the family

Questions 33-34
Choose the appropriate letters A—D and write them in boxes 33-34 on your answer sheet.

33. The rat experiment was conducted to show that

A certain species of rat are more intelligent than others.
B intelligent rats are more motivated than ‘dull’ rats.
C a rat’s surroundings can influence its behaviour.
D a boring environment has little impact on a ‘bright’ rat.

34. The writer cites the story of Martin Sheen to show that
A he was the first in a creative line.
B his parents did not have his creative flair.
C became an actor without proper training.
D his sons were able to benefit from his talents.

Questions 35-39
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3? In boxes
35-39 on your answer sheet write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
35. Intelligence tests have now been proved to be unreliable.
36. The brother or sister of a gifted older child may fail to fulfil their own potential.
37. The importance of luck in the genius equation tends to be ignored.

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IELTS READING TEST 5 https://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ there is as much or more cause for concern indoors, right under people’s noses. Using gas cookers or
Indoor Pollution burning candles, for example, both result in indoor levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter
Since the early eighties we have been only too aware of the devastating effects of large-scale that are just as high as those to be found outside, amid heavy traffic.
environmental pollution. Such pollution is generally the result of poor government planning in many
developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialised countries which Overcrowded classrooms whose ventilation systems were designed for smaller numbers of children
encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources. frequently contain levels of carbon dioxide that would be regarded as unacceptable on board a
submarine. ‘New car smell’ is the result of high levels of toxic chemicals, not cleanliness. Laser printers,
While events such as the deforestation of the Amazon jungle or the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl computers, carpets and paints all contribute to the noxious indoor mix.
continue to receive high media exposure, as do acts of environmental sabotage, it must be remembered
that not all pollution is on this grand scale. A large proportion of the world’s pollution has its source The implications of indoor pollution for health are unclear. But before worrying about the problems
much closer to home. The recent spillage of crude oil from an oil tanker accidentally discharging its caused by large-scale industry, it makes sense to consider the small-scale pollution at home and
cargo straight into Sydney Harbour not only caused serious damage to the harbour foreshores but also welcome international debate about this. Scientists investigating indoor pollution will gather next
created severely toxic fumes which hung over the suburbs for days and left the angry residents month in Edinburgh at the Indoor Air conference to discuss the problem. Perhaps unwisely, the meeting
wondering how such a disaster could have been allowed to happen. is being held indoors.

Avoiding pollution can be a fulltime job. Try not to inhale traffic fumes; keep away from chemical plants Questions 1-6
and building-sites; wear a mask when cycling. It is enough to make you want to stay at home. But that, Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
according to a growing body of scientific evidence, would also be a bad idea. Research shows that levels
of pollutants such as hazardous gases, particulate matter and other chemical ‘nasties’ are usually higher 1. In the first paragraph, the writer argues that pollution
indoors than out, even in the most polluted cities. Since the average American spends 18 hours indoors A has increased since the eighties.
for every hour outside, it looks as though many environmentalists may be attacking the wrong target. B is at its worst in industrialised countries.
C results from poor relations between nations.
The latest study, conducted by two environmental engineers, Richard Corsi and Cynthia Howard-Reed, D is caused by human self-interest.
of the University of Texas in Austin, and published in Environmental Science and Technology, suggests
that it is the process of keeping clean that may be making indoor pollution worse. The researchers found 2. The Sydney Harbour oil spill was the result of a
that baths, showers, dishwashers and washing machines can all be significant sources of indoor A ship refuelling in the harbour.
pollution, because they extract trace amounts of chemicals from the water that they use and transfer B tanker pumping oil into the sea.
them to the air. C collision between two oil tankers.
D deliberate act of sabotage.
Nearly all public water supplies contain very low concentrations of toxic chemicals, most of them left
over from the otherwise beneficial process of chlorination. Dr. Corsi wondered whether they stay there 3. In the 3rd paragraph the writer suggests that
when water is used, or whether they end up in the air that people breathe. The team conducted a series A people should avoid working in cities.
of experiments in which known quantities of five such chemicals were mixed with water and passed B Americans spend too little time outdoors.
through a dishwasher, a washing machine, a shower head inside a shower stall or a tap in a bath, all C hazardous gases are concentrated in industrial suburbs.
inside a specially designed chamber. The levels of chemicals in the effluent water and in the air extracted D there are several ways to avoid city pollution.
from the chamber were then measured to see how much of each chemical had been transferred from the
water into the air. 4. The Corsi research team hypothesised that
A toxic chemicals can pass from air to water.
The degree to which the most volatile elements could be removed from the water, a process known as B pollution is caused by dishwashers and baths.
chemical stripping, depended on a wide range of factors, including the volatility of the chemical, the C city water contains insufficient chlorine.
temperature of the water and the surface area available for transfer. Dishwashers were found to be D household appliances are poorly designed
particularly effective: the high-temperature spray, splashing against the crockery and cutlery, results in
a nasty plume of toxic chemicals that escapes when the door is opened at the end of the cycle. 5. As a result of their experiments, Dr Corsi’s team found that
In fact, in many cases, the degree of exposure to toxic chemicals in tap water by inhalation is comparable A dishwashers are very efficient machines.
to the exposure that would result from drinking the stuff. This is significant because many people are so B tap water is as polluted as bottled water.
concerned about water-borne pollutants that they drink only bottled water, worldwide sales of which C indoor pollution rivals outdoor pollution.
are forecast to reach $72 billion by next year. D. Corsi’s results suggest that they are being exposed to D gas masks are a useful protective device.
such pollutants anyway simply by breathing at home.
6. Regarding the dangers of pollution, the writer believes that
The aim of such research is not, however, to encourage the use of gas masks when unloading the A there is a need for rational discussion.
washing. Instead, it is to bring a sense of perspective to the debate about pollution. According to Dr B indoor pollution is a recent phenomenon.
Corsi, disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution, when
C people should worry most about their work environment. C But if robots are to reach the next stage of labour-saving utility, they will have to operate with less
D industrial pollution causes specific diseases. human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves – goals that pose a
formidable challenge. ‘While we know how to tell a robot to handle a specific error,’ says one expert, ‘we
Questions 7-13 can’t yet give a robot enough common sense to reliably interact with a dynamic world.’ Indeed the quest
Reading Passage 1 describes a number of cause and effect relationships. Match each Cause (Questions 7- for true artificial intelligence (Al) has produced very mixed results. Despite a spasm of initial optimism
13) in List A with its Effect (A-J) in List B. in the 1960s and 1970s, when it appeared that transistor circuits and microprocessors might be able to
perform in the same way as the human brain by the 21st century, researchers lately have extended their
List A: CAUSES forecasts by decades if not centuries.
7. Industrialised nations use a lot of energy.
8. Oil spills into the sea. D What they found, in attempting to model thought, is that the human brain’s roughly one hundred
9. The researchers publish their findings. billion neurons are much more talented – and human perception far more complicated – than previously
10. Water is brought to a high temperature. imagined. They have built robots that can recognise the misalignment of a machine panel by a fraction of
11. People fear pollutants in tap water. a millimeter in a controlled factory environment. But the human mind can glimpse a rapidly changing
12. Air conditioning systems are inadequate. scene and immediately disregard the 98 per cent that is irrelevant, instantaneously focusing on the
13. Toxic chemicals are abundant in new cars. woodchuck at the side of a winding forest road or the single suspicious face in a tumultuous crowd. The
List B: EFFECTS most advanced computer systems on Earth can’t approach that kind of ability, and neuroscientists still
A The focus of pollution moves to the home. don’t know quite how we do it.
B The levels of carbon monoxide rise.
C The world’s natural resources are unequally shared. E Nonetheless, as information theorists, neuroscientists, and computer experts pool their talents, they
D People demand an explanation. are finding ways to get some lifelike intelligence from robots. One method renounces the linear, logical
E Environmentalists look elsewhere for an explanation. structure of conventional electronic circuits in favour of the messy, ad hoc arrangement of a real brain’s
F Chemicals are effectively stripped from the water. neurons. These ‘neural networks’ do not have to be programmed. They can ‘teach’ themselves by a
G A clean odour is produced. system of feedback signals that reinforce electrical pathways that produced correct responses and,
H Sales of bottled water increase. conversely, wipe out connections that produced errors. Eventually the net wires itself into a system that
I The levels of carbon dioxide rise. can pronounce certain words or distinguish certain shapes.
J The chlorine content of drinking water increased
F In other areas researchers are struggling to fashion a more natural relationship between people and
ROBOTS robots in the expectation that some day machines will take on some tasks now done by humans in, say,
Since the dawn of human ingenuity, people have devised ever more cunning tools to cope with work that nursing homes. This is particularly important in Japan, where the percentage of elderly citizens is
is dangerous, boring, onerous, or just plain nasty. That compulsion has culminated in robotics – the rapidly increasing. So experiments at the Science University of Tokyo have created a ‘face robot’ – a life-
science of conferring various human capabilities on machines. size, soft plastic model of a female head with a video camera imbedded in the left eye – as a prototype.
The researchers’ goal is to create robots that people feel comfortable around. They are concentrating on
A The modern world is increasingly populated by quasi-intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely the face because they believe facial expressions are the most important way to transfer emotional
notice but whose creeping ubiquity has removed much human drudgery. Our factories hum to the messages. We read those messages by interpreting expressions to decide whether a person is happy,
rhythm of robot assembly arms. Our banking is done at automated teller terminals that thank us with frightened, angry, or nervous. Thus the Japanese robot is designed to detect emotions in the person it is
rote politeness for the transaction. Our subway trains are controlled by tireless robo-drivers. Our mine ‘looking at’ by sensing changes in the spatial arrangement of the person’s eyes, nose, eyebrows, and
shafts are dug by automated moles, and our nuclear accidents – such as those at Three Mile Island and mouth. It compares those configurations with a database of standard facial expressions and guesses the
Chernobyl – are cleaned up by robotic muckers fit to withstand radiation. emotion. The robot then uses an ensemble of tiny pressure pads to adjust its plastic face into an
Such is the scope of uses envisioned by Karel Capek, the Czech playwright who coined the term ‘robot’ in appropriate emotional response.
1920 (the word ‘robota’ means ‘forced labor’ in Czech). As progress accelerates, the experimental
becomes the exploitable at record pace. G Other labs are taking a different approach, one that doesn’t try to mimic human intelligence or
emotions. Just as computer design has moved away from one central mainframe in favour of myriad
B Other innovations promise to extend the abilities of human operators. Thanks to the incessant individual workstations – and single processors have been replaced by arrays of smaller units that break
miniaturisation of electronics and micromechanics, there are already robot systems that can perform a big problem into parts that are solved simultaneously – many experts are now investigating whether
some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy – far greater precision than highly swarms of semi-smart robots can generate a collective intelligence that is greater than the sum of its
skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone. At the same time, techniques of long-distance parts. That’s what beehives and ant colonies do, and several teams are betting that legions of mini-
control will keep people even farther from hazard. In 1994 a ten- foot-tall NASA robotic explorer called critters working together like an ant colony could be sent to explore the climate of planets or to inspect
Dante, with video-camera eyes and with spiderlike legs, scrambled over the menacing rim of an Alaskan pipes in dangerous industrial situations.
volcano while technicians 2,000 miles away in California watched the scene by satellite and controlled
Dante’s descent. Questions 14-19
Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs A-G. From the list of headings below choose the most suitable
heading for each paragraph.
List of Headings to pass the language on to the children, they conclude that language is bound to die out soon. And we
i Some success has resulted from observing how the brain functions. have to draw the same conclusion if a language has less than 100 speakers. It is not likely to last very
ii Are we expecting too much from one robot? long. A 1999 survey shows that 97 per cent of the world’s languages are spoken by just four per cent of
iii Scientists are examining the humanistic possibilities. the people.
iv There are judgements that robots cannot make.
v Has the power of robots become too great? It is too late to do anything to help many languages, where the speakers are too few or too old, and
vi Human skills have been heightened with the help of robotics. where the community is too busy just trying to survive to care about their language. But many languages
vii There are some things we prefer the brain to control. are not in such a serious position. Often, where languages are seriously endangered, there are things
viii Robots have quietly infiltrated our lives. that can be done to give new life to them. It is called revitalisation.
ix Original predictions have been revised.
x Another approach meets the same result. Once a community realises that its language is in danger, it can start to introduce measures which can
genuinely revitalise. The community itself must want to save its language. The culture of which it is a
14. Paragraph A part must need to have a respect for minority languages. There needs to be funding, to support courses,
15. Paragraph B materials, and teachers. And there need to be linguists, to get on with the basic task of putting the
16. Paragraph C language down on paper. That’s the bottom line: getting the language documented – recorded, analysed,
17. Paragraph D written down. People must be able to read and write if they and their language are to have a future in an
18. Paragraph E increasingly computer- literate civilisation.
19. Paragraph F
But can we save a few thousand languages, just like that? Yes, if the will and funding were available. It is
Questions 20-24 not cheap, getting linguists into the field, training local analysts, supporting the community with
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 20-24 on language resources and teachers, compiling grammars and dictionaries, writing materials for use in
your answer sheet write schools. It takes time, lots of it, to revitalise an endangered language. Conditions vary so much that it is
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer difficult to generalise, but a figure of $ 100,000 a year per language cannot be far from the truth. If we
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer devoted that amount of effort over three years for each of 3,000 languages, we would be talking about
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this some $900 million.

20. Karel Capek successfully predicted our current uses for robots. There are some famous cases which illustrate what can be done. Welsh, alone among the Celtic
21. Lives were saved by the NASA robot, Dante. languages, is not only stopping its steady decline towards extinction but showing signs of real growth.
22. Robots are able to make fine visual judgements. Two Language Acts protect the status of Welsh now, and its presence is increasingly in evidence
23. The internal workings of the brain can be replicated by robots. wherever you travel in Wales.
24. The Japanese have the most advanced robot systems.
On the other side of the world, Maori in New Zealand has been maintained by a system of so- called
Questions 25-27 ‘language nests’, first introduced in 1982. These are organisations which provide children under five
Complete the summary below with words taken from paragraph F. Use NO MORE THAN THREE with a domestic setting in which they are intensively exposed to the language. The staff are all Maori
WORDS for each answer. speakers from the local community. The hope is that the children will keep their Maori skills alive after
The prototype of the Japanese ‘face robot’ observes humans through a (25)……………………which is leaving the nests, and that as they grow older they will in turn become role models to a new generation
planted in its head. It then refers to a (26)……………………of typical ‘looks’ that the human face can have, of young children. There are cases like this all over the world. And when the reviving language is
to decide what emotion the person is feeling. To respond to this expression, the robot alters it’s own associated with a degree of political autonomy, the growth can be especially striking, as shown by
expression using a number of (27)……………………….. Faroese, spoken in the Faroe Islands, after the islanders received a measure of autonomy from Denmark.

SAVING LANGUAGE In Switzerland, Romansch was facing a difficult situation, spoken in five very different dialects, with
For the first time, linguists have put a price on language. To save a language from extinction isn’t cheap – small and diminishing numbers, as young people left their community for work in the German-speaking
but more and more people are arguing that the alternative is the death of communities cities. The solution here was the creation in the 1980s of a unified written language for all these dialects.
There is nothing unusual about a single language dying. Communities have come and gone throughout Romansch Grischun, as it is now called, has official status in parts of Switzerland, and is being
history, and with them their language. But what is happening today is extraordinary, judged by the increasingly used in spoken form on radio and television.
standards of the past. It is language extinction on a massive scale. According to the best estimates, there
are some 6,000 languages in the world. Of these, about half are going to die out in the course of the next A language can be brought back from the very brink of extinction. The Ainu language of Japan, after
century: that’s 3,000 languages in 1,200 months. On average, there is a language dying out somewhere in many years of neglect and repression, had reached a stage where there were only eight fluent speakers
the world every two weeks or so. left, all elderly. However, new government policies brought fresh attitudes and a positive interest in
survival. Several ‘semispeakers’ – people who had become unwilling to speak Ainu because of the
How do we know? In the course of the past two or three decades, linguists all over the world have been negative attitudes by Japanese speakers – were prompted to become active speakers again. There is
gathering comparative data. If they find a language with just a few speakers left, and nobody is bothering fresh interest now and the language is more publicly available than it has been for years.
 39. A merger of different varieties of the language took place.
If good descriptions and materials are available, even extinct languages can be resurrected. Kaurna, from 40. Written samples of the language permitted its revitalisation.
South Australia, is an example. This language had been extinct for about a century, but had been quite
well documented. So, when a strong movement grew for its revival, it was possible to reconstruct it. The
revised language is not the same as the original, of course. It lacks the range that the original had, and Task 2
much of the old vocabulary. But it can nonetheless act as a badge of present-day identity for its people.
And as long as people continue to value it as a true marker of their identity, and are prepared to keep In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles
using it, it will develop new functions and new vocabulary, as any other living language would do. will be passengers.

It is too soon to predict the future of these revived languages, but in some parts of the world they are Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
attracting precisely the range of positive attitudes and grass roots support which are the preconditions
for language survival. In such unexpected but heart-warming ways might we see the grand total of Task 1
languages in the world minimally increased.
Questions 28-32 The chart below shows the average daily minimum and maximum levels of two air pollutants in four big
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 28-32 on cities in 2000. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting key features, and make
your answer sheet write comparisons if necessary.
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
28. The rate at which languages are becoming extinct has increased.
29. Research on the subject of language extinction began in the 1990s.
30. In order to survive, a language needs to be spoken by more than 100 people.
31. Certain parts of the world are more vulnerable than others to language extinction.
32. Saving language should be the major concern of any small community whose language is under
threat.

Questions 33-35
The list below gives some of the factors that are necessary to assist the revitalisation of a language
within a community.
Which THREE of the factors are mentioned by the writer of the text?

A the existence of related languages

B support from the indigenous population
C books tracing the historical development of the language
D on the spot help from language experts
E a range of speakers of different ages
F formal education procedures
G a common purpose for which the language is required

Questions 36-40
Match the languages A-F with the statements below (Questions 36-40) which describe how a language
was saved.
A Welsh
B Maori
C Faroese
D Romansch
E Ainu
F Kaurna

36. The region in which the language was spoken gained increased independence.
37. People were encouraged to view the language with less prejudice.
38. Language immersion programmes were set up for sectors of the population.
IELTS READING TEST 6 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ that since sheep arrived in Australia, dingo numbers have increased a hundredfold. Though dingoes have
The Great Australian Fence been eradicated from parts of Australia, an educated guess puts the population at more than a million.

A war has been going on for almost a hundred years between the sheep farmers of Australia and the Eventually government officials and graziers agreed that one well-maintained fence, placed on the outer
dingo, Australia’s wild dog. To protect their livelihood, the farmers built a wire fence, 3,307 miles of rim of sheep country and paid for by taxes levied on woolgrowers, should supplant the maze of private
continuous wire mesh, reaching from the coast of South Australia all the way to the cotton fields of netting. By 1960, three states joined their barriers to form a single dog fence.
eastern Queensland, just short of the Pacific Ocean. The intense private battles between woolgrowers and dingoes have usually served to define the Fence
only in economic terms. It marks the difference between profit and loss. Yet the Fence casts a much
The Fence is Australia’s version of the Great Wall of China, but even longer, erected to keep out hostile broader ecological shadow for it has become a kind of terrestrial dam, deflecting the flow of animals
invaders, in this case hordes of yellow dogs. The empire it preserves is that of the woolgrowers, inside and out. The ecological side effects appear most vividly at Sturt National Park. In 1845, explorer
sovereigns of the world’s second largest sheep flock, after China’s – some 123 million head – and keepers Charles Sturt led an expedition through these parts on a futile search for an inland sea. For Sturt and
of a wool export business worth four billion dollars. Never mind that more and more people – other early explorers, it was a rare event to see a kangaroo. Now they are ubiquitous for without a native
conservationists, politicians, taxpayers and animal lovers – say that such a barrier would never be allowed predator the kangaroo population has exploded inside the Fence.
today on ecological grounds. With sections of it almost a hundred years old, the dog fence has become, as
conservationist Lindsay Fairweather ruefully admits, ‘an icon of Australian frontier ingenuity’. Kangaroos are now cursed more than dingoes. They have become the rivals of sheep, competing for
water and grass. In response state governments cull* more than three million kangaroos a year to keep
To appreciate this unusual outback monument and to meet the people whose livelihoods depend on it, I Australia’s national symbol from overrunning the pastoral lands. Park officials, who recognise that the
spent part of an Australian autumn travelling the wire. It’s known by different names in different states: fence is to blame, respond to the excess of kangaroos by saying The fence is there, and we have to live
the Dog Fence in South Australia, the Border Fence in New South Wales and the Barrier Fence in with it.
Queensland. I would call it simply the Fence.
Questions 1-4
For most of its prodigious length, this epic fence winds like a river across a landscape that, unless a big Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.
rain has fallen, scarcely has rivers. The eccentric route, prescribed mostly by property lines, provides a 1. Why was the fence built?
sampler of outback topography: the Fence goes over sand dunes, past salt lakes, up and down rock- A to separate the sheep from the cattle
strewn hills, through dense scrub and across barren plains. B to stop the dingoes from being slaughtered by farmers
C to act as a boundary between properties
The Fence stays away from towns. Where it passes near a town, it has actually become a tourist attraction D to protect the Australian wool industry
visited on bus tours. It marks the traditional dividing line between cattle and sheep. Inside, where the 2. On what point do the conservationists and politicians agree?
dingoes are legally classified as vermin, they are shot, poisoned and trapped. Sheep and dingoes do not A Wool exports are vital to the economy.
mix and the Fence sends that message mile after mile. B The fence poses a threat to the environment.
C The fence acts as a useful frontier between states.
What is this creature that by itself threatens an entire industry, inflicting several millions of dollars of D The number of dogs needs to be reduced.
damage a year despite the presence of the world’s most obsessive fence? Cousin to the coyote and the 3. Why did the author visit Australia?
jackal, descended from the Asian wolf, Cam’s lupus dingo is an introduced species of wild dog. Skeletal A to study Australian farming methods
remains indicate that the dingo was introduced to Australia more than 3,500 years ago probably with B to investigate how the fence was constructed
Asian seafarers who landed on the north coast. The adaptable dingo spread rapidly and in a short time C because he was interested in life around the fence
became the top predator, killing off all its marsupial competitors. The dingo looks like a small wolf with a D because he wanted to learn more about the wool industry
long nose, short pointed ears and a bushy tail. Dingoes rarely bark; they yelp and howl. Standing about 22 4. How does the author feel about the fence?
inches at the shoulder – slightly taller than a coyote – the dingo is Australia’s largest land carnivore. A impressed
B delighted
The woolgrowers’ war against dingoes, which is similar to the sheep ranchers’ rage against coyotes in the C shocked
US, started not long after the first European settlers disembarked in 1788, bringing with them a cargo of D annoyed
sheep. Dingoes officially became outlaws in 1830 when governments placed a bounty on their heads.
Today bounties for problem dogs killing sheep inside the Fence can reach $500. As pioneers penetrated Questions 5-11
the interior with their flocks of sheep, fences replaced shepherds until, by the end of the 19th century, Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? In boxes 5-11 on
thousands of miles of barrier fencing crisscrossed the vast grazing lands. your answer sheet write
The dingo started out as a quiet observer,’ writes Roland Breckwoldt, in A Very Elegant Animal: The Dingo, YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
‘but soon came to represent everything that was dark and dangerous on the continent.’ It is estimated NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

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 to build its tourist properties? Do they pay fair wages to all employees? Do they offer training to
5. The fence serves a different purpose in each state. employees? It is common for city entrepreneurs to own tour companies in country areas, which can mean
6. The fence is only partially successful. the money you pay ends up in the city rather than in the community being visited. By taking a little extra
7. The dingo is indigenous to Australia. time to investigate the ecotourism options, it is not only possible to guide your custom to worthy
8. Dingoes have flourished as a result of the sheep industry. operators but you will often find that the experience they offer is far more rewarding.
9. Dingoes are known to attack humans.
10. Kangaroos have increased in number because of the fence. The ecotourism business is still very much in need of a shake-up and a standardised approach. There are a
11. The author does not agree with the culling of kangaroos. few organisations that have sprung up in the last ten years or so that endeavour to educate travellers and
operators about the benefits of responsible ecotourism. Founded in 1990, the Ecotourism Society (TES) is
Questions 12-13 a non-profit organisation of travel industry, conservation and ecological professionals, which aims to
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 12-13 on your answer sheet. make ecotourism a genuine tool for conservation and sustainable development. Helping to create
12. When did the authorities first acknowledge the dingo problem? inherent economic value in wilderness environments and threatened cultures has undoubtedly been one
A 1788 of the ecotourism movement’s most notable achievements. TES organises an annual initiative to further
B 1830 aid development of the ecotourism industry. This year it is launching ‘Your Travel Choice Makes a
C 1845 Difference’, an educational campaign aimed at helping consumers understand the potential positive and
D 1960 negative impacts of their travel decisions. TES also offers guidance on the choice of ecotour and has
13. How do the park officials feel about the fence? established a register of approved ecotourism operators around the world.
A philosophical
B angry A leading ecotourism operator in the United Kingdom is Tribes, which won the 1999 Tourism Concern and
C pleased Independent Traveller’s World ‘Award for Most Responsible Tour Operator’. Amanda Marks, owner and
D proud director of Tribes, believes that the ecotourism industry still has some way to go to get its house in order.
Until now, no ecotourism accreditation scheme has really worked, principally because there has been no
IT’S ECO-LOGICAL systematic way of checking that accredited companies actually comply with the code of practice. Amanda
If there were awards for tourism phrases that have been hijacked, diluted and misused then ‘ecotourism’ believes that the most promising system is the recently re-launched Green Globe 21 scheme. The Green
would earn top prize. The term first surfaced in the early 1980s reflecting a surge in environmental Globe 21 award is based on the sustainable development standards contained in Agenda 21 from the
awareness and a realisation by tour operators that many travellers wanted to believe their presence 1992 Earth Summit and was originally coordinated by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The
abroad would not have a negative impact. It rapidly became the hottest marketing tag a holiday could scheme is now an independent concern, though the WTTC still supports it. Until recently, tour companies
carry. became affiliates and could use the Green Globe logo merely on payment of an annual fee, hardly a
suitable qualifying standard. However, in November 1999 Green Globe 21 introduced an annual,
These days the ecotourism label is used to cover anything from a two-week tour living with remote independent check on operators wishing to use the logo.
Indonesian tribes, to a one-hour motorboat trip through an Australian gorge. In fact, any tour that
involves cultural interaction, natural beauty spots, wildlife or a dash of soft adventure is likely to be Miriam Cain, from the Green Globe 21 marketing development, explains that current and new affiliates
included in the overflowing ecotourism folder. There is no doubt the original motives behind the will now have one year to ensure that their operations comply with Agenda 21 standards. If they fail the
movement were honourable attempts to provide a way for those who cared to make informed choices, first inspection, they can only reapply once. The inspection process is not a cheap option, especially for
but the lack of regulations and a standard industry definition left many travellers lost in an ecotourism large companies, but the benefits of having Green Globe status and the potential operational cost savings
jungle. that complying with the standards can bring should be significant. ‘We have joint ventures with
organisations around the world, including Australia and the Caribbean, that will allow us to effectively
It is easier to understand why the ecotourism market has become so overcrowded when we look at its check all affiliate operators,’ says Miriam. The scheme also allows destination communities to become
wider role in the world economy. According to World Tourism Organisation figures, ecotourism is worth Green Globe 21 approved.
US$20 billion a year and makes up one-fifth of all international tourism. Add to this an annual growth rate
of around five per cent and the pressure for many operators, both in developed and developing countries, For a relatively new industry it is not surprising that ecotourism has undergone teething pains. However,
to jump on the accelerating bandwagon is compelling. Without any widely recognised accreditation there are signs that things are changing for the better. With a committed and unified approach by the
system, the consumer has been left to investigate the credentials of an operator themselves. This is a travel industry, local communities, travellers and environmental experts could make ecotourism a tag to
time-consuming process and many travellers usually take an operator’s claims at face value, only adding be proud of and trusted.
to the proliferation of fake ecotours. Questions 14-19
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 14-19 on
However, there are several simple questions that will provide qualifying evidence of a company’s your answer sheet write
commitment to minimise its impact on the environment and maximise the benefits to the tourism area’s
local community. For example, does the company use recycled or sustainable, locally harvested materials

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YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer speech experiments to brain scans, are now suggesting that a knack for absolute pitch may be far more
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer common, and more varied, than previously thought. ‘Absolute pitch is not an all or nothing feature,’ says
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this Marvin, a music theorist at the University of Rochester in New York state. Some researchers even claim
14. The term ‘ecotourism’ has become an advertising gimmick. that we could all develop the skill, regardless of our musical talent. And their work may finally settle a
15. The intentions of those who coined the term ‘ecotourism’ were sincere. decades-old debate about whether absolute pitch depends on melodious genes – or early music lessons.
16. Ecotourism is growing at a faster rate than any other type of travel.
17. It is surprising that so many tour organisations decided to become involved in ecotourism. Music psychologist Diana Deutsch at the University of California in San Diego is the leading voice. Last
18. Tourists have learnt to make investigations about tour operators before using them. month at the Acoustical Society of America meeting in Columbus, Ohio, Deutsch reported a study that
19. Tourists have had bad experiences on ecotour holidays. suggests we all have the potential to acquire absolute pitch – and that speakers of tone languages use it
every day. A third of the world’s population – chiefly people in Asia and Africa – speak tone languages, in
Questions 20-22 which a word’s meaning can vary depending on the pitch a speaker uses.
According to the information given in the reading passage, which THREE of the following are true of the Deutsch and her colleagues asked seven native Vietnamese speakers and 15 native Mandarin speakers to
Ecotourism Society (TES)? read out lists of words on different days. The chosen words spanned a range of pitches, to force the
A it has monitored the growth in ecotourism speakers to raise and lower their voices considerably. By recording these recited lists and taking the
B it involves a range of specialists in the field average pitch for each whole word, the researchers compared the pitches used by each person to say
C it has received public recognition for the role it performs each word on different days.
D it sets up regular ecotour promotions
E it offers information on ecotours at an international level Both groups showed strikingly consistent pitch for any given word – often less than a quarter-tone
F it consults with people working in tourist destinations difference between days. ‘The similarity,’ Deutsch says, ‘is mind-boggling.’ It’s also, she says, a real
example of absolute pitch. As babies, the speakers learnt to associate certain pitches with meaningful
Questions 23-24 words – just as a musician labels one tone A and another B – and they demonstrate this precise use of
According to the information given in the reading passage, which TWO of the following are true of the pitch regardless of whether or not they have had any musical training, she adds.
Green Globe 21 award? Deutsch isn’t the only researcher turning up everyday evidence of absolute pitch. At least three other
A the scheme is self regulating experiments have found that people can launch into familiar songs at or very near the correct pitches.
B Amanda Marks was recruited to develop the award Some researchers have nicknamed this ability ‘absolute memory’, and they say it pops up on other senses,
C prior to 1999 companies were not required to pay for membership too. Given studies like these, the real mystery is why we don’t all have absolute pitch, says cognitive
D both tour operators and tour sites can apply for affiliation psychologist Daniel Levitin of McGill University in Montreal.
E it intends to reduce the number of ecotour operators
Over the past decade, researchers have confirmed that absolute pitch often runs in families. Nelson
Questions 25-27 Freimer of the University of California in San Francisco, for example, is just completing a study that he
Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS, answer the following questions. says strongly suggests the right genes help create this brand of musical genius. Freimer gave tone tests to
people with absolute pitch and to their relatives. He also tested several hundred other people who had
25. Which body provides information on global tourist numbers? taken early music lessons. He found that relatives of people with absolute pitch were far more likely to
26. Who often gains financially from tourism in rural environments? develop the skill than people who simply had the music lessons. There is clearly a familial aggregation of
27. Which meeting provided the principles behind the Green Globe 21 regulations? absolute pitch,’ Freimer says.

Striking the right note Freimer says some children are probably genetically predisposed toward absolute pitch – and this innate
The uncanny, if sometimes distracting, ability to name a solitary note out of the blue, without any other inclination blossoms during childhood music lessons. Indeed, many researchers now point to this
notes for reference, is a prized musical talent – and a scientific mystery. Musicians with perfect pitch – or, harmony of nature and nurture to explain why musicians with absolute pitch show different levels of the
as many researchers prefer to call it, absolute pitch – can often play pieces by ear, and many can talent.
transcribe music brilliantly. That’s because they perceive the position of a note in the musical stave – its
pitch – as clearly as the fact that they heard it. Hearing and naming the pitch go hand in hand. Indeed, researchers are finding more and more evidence suggesting music lessons are critical to the
development of absolute pitch. In a survey of 2,700 students in American music conservatories and
By contrast, most musicians follow not the notes, but the relationship between them. They may easily college programmes, New York University geneticist Peter Gregersen and his colleagues found that a
recognise two notes as being a certain number of tones apart, but could name the higher note as an E whopping 32 per cent of the Asian students reported having absolute pitch, compared with just 7 per cent
only if they are told the lower one is a C, for example. This is relative pitch. Useful, but much less of non-Asian students. While that might suggest a genetic tendency towards absolute pitch in the Asian
mysterious. population, Gregersen says that the type and timing of music lessons probably explains much of the
For centuries, absolute pitch has been thought of as the preserve of the musical elite. Some estimates difference.
suggest that maybe fewer than 1 in 2,000 people possess it. But a growing number of studies, from

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For one thing, those with absolute pitch started lessons, on average, when they were five years old, while 36. Absolute pitch is not a clear-cut issue.
those without absolute pitch started around the age of eight. Moreover, adds Gregersen, the type of 37. Anyone can learn how to acquire perfect pitch.
music lessons favoured in Asia, and by many of the Asian families in his study, such as the Suzuki method, 38. It’s actually surprising that not everyone has absolute pitch.
often focus on playing by ear and learning the names of musical notes, while those more commonly used 39. The perfect pitch ability is genetic.
in the US tend to emphasise learning scales in a relative pitch way. In Japanese pre-school music 40. The important thing is the age at which music lessons are started.
programmes, he says, children often have to listen to notes played on a piano and hold up a coloured flag
to signal the pitch. ‘There’s a distinct cultural difference,’ he says. Task 1
Deutsch predicts that further studies will reveal absolute pitch – in its imperfect, latent form – inside all of
us. The Western emphasis on relative pitch simply obscures it, she contends. ‘It’s very likely that scientists
will end up concluding that we’re all born with the potential to acquire very fine-grained absolute pitch.
It’s really just a matter of life getting in the way.’

Questions 28-35
Complete the notes below using words from the box. Write your answers in boxes 28-35 on your answer
sheet.
NOTES
Research is being conducted into the mysterious musical (28)……………….some people possess known as
perfect pitch. Musicians with this talent are able to name and sing a (29)……………….without reference to
another and it is this that separates them from the majority who have only (30)………………….pitch. The
research aims to find out whether this skill is the product of genetic inheritance or early exposure to
(31)…………………or, as some researchers believe, a combination of both. One research team sought a link
between perfect pitch and (32)…………………..languages in order to explain the high number of Asian
speakers with perfect pitch. Speakers of Vietnamese and Mandarin were asked to recite
(33)……………………on different occasions and the results were then compared in terms of
(34)………………………A separate study found that the approach to teaching music in many Asian
(35)…………………….
emphasised playing by ear whereas the US method was based on the relative pitch approach.

List of words
ability
music lessons
pitch
words
tone
relative
cultures
note

Questions 36-40
Reading Passage 3 contains a number of opinions provided by five different scientists. Match each opinion
(Questions 36-40) with one of the scientists (A-E).

A Levitin
B Deutsch
C Gregersen TASK 2
D Marvin
E Freimer In many countries, crimes rates amongst younger people has been rising.

Discuss the causes and solutions for this problem.

You may use any of the people A-E more than once.

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IELTS READING TEST 7 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ J At the moment, the race is on to find the next Harry Potter. The bidding for new books at Bologna this year – the
Twist in the Tale children’s equivalent of the Frankfurt Book Fair – was as fierce as anything anyone has ever seen. All of which bodes
A Less than three years ago, doom merchants were predicting that the growth in video games and the rise of the well for the long-term future of the market – and for children’s authors, who have traditionally suffered the lowest
Internet would sound the death knell for children’s literature. But contrary to popular myth, children are reading profile in literature, despite the responsibility of their role.
more books than ever. A recent survey by Books Marketing found that children up to the age of 11 read on average
for four hours a week, particularly girls. Questions 1-7
Look at the following list of people A-E and the list of statements (Questions 1-7). Match each statement with one of
B Moreover, the children’s book market, which traditionally was seen as a poor cousin to the more lucrative and the people listed.
successful adult market, has come into its own. Publishing houses are now making considerable profits on the back A Wendy Cooling
of new children’s books and children’s authors can now command significant advances. ‘Children’s books are going B David Almond
through an incredibly fertile period,’ says Wendy Cooling, a children’s literature consultant. ‘There’s a real buzz C Julia Eccleshare
around them. Book clubs are happening, sales are good, and people are much more willing to listen to children’s D Jacqueline Wilson
authors.’ E Anne Fine
1. Children take pleasure in giving books to each other.
C The main growth area has been the market for eight to fourteen-year-olds, and there is little doubt that the boom 2. Reading in public is an activity that children have not always felt comfortable about doing.
has been fuelled by the bespectacled apprentice, Harry Potter. So influential has J. K. Rowling’s series of books been 3. Some well-known writers of adult literature regret that they earn less than popular children’s writers.
that they have helped to make reading fashionable for pre-teens. ‘Harry made it OK to be seen on a bus reading a 4. Children are quick to decide whether they like or dislike a book.
book,’ says Cooling. ‘To a child, that is important.’ The current buzz around the publication of the fourth Harry Potter 5. Children will read many books by an author that they like.
beats anything in the world of adult literature. 6. The public do not realise how much children read today.
7. We are experiencing a rise in the popularity of children’s literature.
D ‘People still tell me, “Children don’t read nowadays”,’ says David Almond, the award-winning author of children’s
books such as Skellig. The truth is that they are skilled, creative readers. When 1 do classroom visits, they ask me Questions 8-10
very sophisticated questions about use of language, story structure, chapters and dialogue.’ No one is denying that Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the reading passage, answer the following questions.
books are competing with other forms of entertainment for children’s attention but it seems as though children find 8. For which age group have sales of books risen the most?
a special kind of mental nourishment within the printed page. 9. Which company has just invested heavily in an unpublished children’s book?
10. Who is currently the best-selling children’s writer?
E ‘A few years ago, publishers lost confidence and wanted to make books more like television, the medium that
frightened them most,’ says children’s book critic Julia Eccleshare. ‘But books aren’t TV, and you will find that Questions 11-14
children always say that the good thing about books is that you can see them in your head. Children are demanding Reading Passage 1 has ten paragraphs A-J. Which paragraph mentions the following (Questions 11-14)?
readers,’ she says. ‘If they don’t get it in two pages, they’ll drop it.’ 11. the fact that children are able to identify and discuss the important elements of fiction
12. the undervaluing of children’s society
F No more are children’s authors considered mere sentimentalists or failed adult writers. ‘Some feted adult writers 13. the impact of a particular fictional character on the sales of children’s books
would kill for the sales,’ says Almond, who sold 42,392 copies of Skellig in 1999 alone. And advances seem to be 14. an inaccurate forecast regarding the reading habits of children
growing too: UK publishing outfit Orion recently negotiated a six-figure sum from US company Scholastic for The
Seeing Stone, a children’s novel by Kevin Crossley-Holland, the majority of which will go to the author.

G It helps that once smitten, children are loyal and even fanatical consumers. Author Jacqueline Wilson says that Fun for the Masses
children spread news of her books like a bushfire. ‘My average reader is a girl of ten,’ she explains. ‘They’re sociable A Are you better off than you used to be? Even after six years of sustained economic growth, Americans worry about
and acquisitive. They collect. They have parties – where books are a good present. If they like something, they have that question. Economists who plumb government income statistics agree that Americans’ incomes, as measured in
to pass it on.’ After Rowling, Wilson is currently the best-selling children’s writer, and her sales have boomed over inflation-adjusted dollars, have risen more slowly in the past two decades than in earlier times, and that some
the past three years. She has sold more than three million books, but remains virtually invisible to adults, although workers’ real incomes have actually fallen. They also agree that by almost any measure, income is distributed less
most ten- year-old girls know about her. equally than it used to be. Neither of those claims, however, sheds much light on whether living standards are rising
or falling. This is because ‘living standard’ is a highly amorphous concept. Measuring how much people earn is
H Children’s books are surprisingly relevant to contemporary life. Provided they are handled with care, few topics relatively easy, at least compared with measuring how well they live.
are considered off-limits for children. One senses that children’s writers relish the chance to discuss the whole area
of topics and language. But Anne Fine, author of many award winning children’s books is concerned that the British B A recent paper by Dora Costa, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, looks at the living-
literati still ignore children’s culture. ‘It’s considered worthy but boring,’ she says. standards debate from an unusual direction. Rather than worrying about cash incomes, Ms Costa investigates
Americans’ recreational habits over the past century. She finds that people of all income levels have steadily
I T think there’s still a way to go,’ says Almond, who wishes that children’s books were taken more seriously as increased the amount of time and money they devote to having fun. The distribution of dollar incomes may have
literature. Nonetheless, he derives great satisfaction from his child readers. ‘They have a powerful literary culture,’ become more skewed in recent years, but leisure is more evenly spread than ever.
he says. ‘It feels as if you’re able to step into the store of mythology and ancient stories that run through all societies
and encounter the great themes: love and loss and death and redemption.’ C Ms Costa bases her research on consumption surveys dating back as far as 1888. The industrial workers surveyed
in that year spent, on average, three-quarters of their incomes on food, shelter and clothing. Less than 2% of the
average family’s income was spent on leisure but that average hid large disparities. The share of a family’s budget

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that was spent on having fun rose sharply with its income: the lowest-income families in this working-class sample 18. Paragraph D iii More personal income and time influence leisure
spent barely 1% of their budgets on recreation, while higher earners spent more than 3%. Only the latter group 19. Paragraph F activities
could afford such extravagances as theatre and concert performances, which were relatively much more expensive 20. Paragraph G iv Investigating the lifestyle problem from a new angle
than they are today. 21. Paragraph H v Increased incomes fail to benefit everyone
vi A controversial development offers cheaper leisure
D Since those days, leisure has steadily become less of a luxury. By 1991, the average household needed to devote activities
only 38% of its income to the basic necessities, and was able to spend 6% on recreation. Moreover, Ms Costa finds vii Technology heightens differences in living standards
that the share of the family budget spent on leisure now rises much less sharply with income than it used to. At the viii The gap between income and leisure spending
beginning of this century a family’s recreational spending tended to rise by 20% for every 10% rise in income. By closes
1972-73, a 10% income gain led to roughly a 15% rise in recreational spending, and the increase fell to only 13% in ix Two factors have led to a broader range of options
1991. What this implies is that Americans of all income levels are now able to spend much more of their money on for all
having fun. x Have people’s lifestyles improved?
xi High earners spend less on leisure
E One obvious cause is that real income overall has risen. If Americans in general are richer, their consumption of
entertainment goods is less likely to be affected by changes in their income. But Ms Costa reckons that rising
incomes are responsible for, at most, half of the changing structure of leisure spending. Much of the rest may be due Questions 22-26
to the fact that poorer Americans have more time off than they used to. In earlier years, low-wage workers faced Complete each of the following statements (Questions 22-26) using words from the box.
extremely long hours and enjoyed few days off. But since the 1940s, the less skilled (and lower paid) have worked List of words
ever-fewer hours, giving them more time to enjoy leisure pursuits. holiday time
recreational activities
F Conveniently, Americans have had an increasing number of recreational possibilities to choose from. Public income levels
investment in sports complexes, parks and golf courses has made leisure cheaper and more accessible. So too has non-luxury spending
technological innovation. Where listening to music used to imply paying for concert tickets or owning a piano, the computer technology
invention of the radio made music accessible to everyone and virtually free. Compact discs, videos and other cash incomes
paraphernalia have widened the choice even further. It is easier to determine (22)……………………….than living standards.
A decrease in (23)………………………during the 20th century led to a bigger investment in leisure.
G At a time when many economists are pointing accusing fingers at technology for causing a widening inequality in According to Ms Costa, how much Americans spend on leisure has been directly affected by salaries and
the wages of skilled and unskilled workers, Ms Costa’s research gives it a much more egalitarian face. High earners (24)………………..
have always been able to afford amusement. By lowering the price of entertainment, technology has improved the The writer notes both positive and negative influences of (25)…………………….
standard of living of those in the lower end of the income distribution. The implication of her results is that once According to the writer, the way Ms Costa defined (26)……………………..may have been misleading.
recreation is taken into account, the differences in Americans’ living standards may not have widened so much after
all. Question 27
Choose the appropriate letter A-D and write it in box 27 on your answer sheet.
H These findings are not water-tight. Ms Costa’s results depend heavily upon what exactly is classed as a recreational 27. The writer thinks that Ms Costa
expenditure. Reading is an example. This was the most popular leisure activity for working men in 1888, accounting A provides strong evidence to support her theory.
for one-quarter of all recreational spending. In 1991, reading took only 16% of the entertainment dollar. But the B displays serious flaws in her research methods.
American Department of Labour’s expenditure surveys do not distinguish between the purchase of a mathematics C attempts to answer too many questions.
tome and that of a best-selling novel. Both are classified as recreational expenses. If more money is being spent on D has a useful overall point to make
textbooks and professional books now than in earlier years, this could make ‘recreational’ spending appear stronger
than it really is. THE ART OF HEALING
As with so much, the medicine of the Tang dynasty left its European counterpart in the shade. It boasted its own
I Although Ms Costa tries to address this problem by showing that her results still hold even when tricky categories, ‘national health service’, and left behind the teachings of the incomparable Sun Simiao.
such as books, are removed from the sample, the difficulty is not entirely eliminated. Nonetheless, her broad If no further evidence was available of the sophistication of China in the Tang era, then a look at Chinese medicine
conclusion seems fair. Recreation is more available to all and less dependent on income. On this measure at least, would be sufficient. At the Western end of the Eurasian continent the Roman empire had vanished, and there was
inequality of living standards has fallen. nowhere new to claim the status of the cultural and political centre of the world. In fact, for a few centuries, this
centre happened to be the capital of the Tang empire, and Chinese medicine under the Tang was far ahead of its
Questions 15-21 European counterpart. The organisational context of health and healing was structured to a degree that had no
Reading Passage 2 has nine paragraphs A-I. From the list of headings below choose the most suitable heading for precedence in Chinese history and found no parallel elsewhere.
each paragraph. Write the appropriate numbers (i-xi) in boxes 15-21 on your
An Imperial Medical Office had been inherited from previous dynasties: it was immediately restructured and staffed
answer sheet. List of Headings with directors and deputy directors, chief and assistant medical directors, pharmacists and curators of medicinal
15. Paragraph A i Wide differences in leisure activities according to herb gardens and further personnel. Within the first two decades after consolidating its rule, the Tang
16. Paragraph B income administration set up one central and several provincial medical colleges with professors, lecturers, clinical
17. Paragraph C ii Possible inconsistencies in Ms Costa’s data

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practitioners and pharmacists to train students in one or all of the four departments of medicine, acupuncture, 28. In the first paragraph, the writer draws particular attention to
physical therapy and exorcism. A the lack of medical knowledge in China prior to the Tang era.
Physicians were given positions in governmental medical service only after passing qualifying examinations. They B the Western interest in Chinese medicine during the Tang era.
were remunerated in accordance with the number of cures they had effected during the past year. C the systematic approach taken to medical issues during the Tang era.

In 723 Emperor Xuanzong personally composed a general formulary of prescriptions recommended to him by one of 29. During the Tang era, a government doctor’s annual salary depended upon
his imperial pharmacists and sent it to all the provincial medical schools. An Arabic traveller, who visited China in A the effectiveness of his treatment.
851, noted with surprise that prescriptions from the emperor’s formulary were publicised on notice boards at B the extent of his medical experience.
crossroads to enhance the welfare of the population. C the number of people he had successfully trained.
The government took care to protect the general populace from potentially harmful medical practice. The Tang legal D the breadth of his medical expertise.
code was the first in China to include laws concerned with harmful and heterodox medical practices. For example, to
treat patients for money without adhering to standard procedures was defined as fraud combined with theft and 30. Which of the following contravened the law during the Tang era?
had to be tried in accordance with the legal statutes on theft. If such therapies resulted in the death of a patient, the A a qualified doctor’s refusal to practise
healer was to be banished for two and a half years. In case a physician purposely failed to practice according to the B the use of unorthodox medical practices
standards, he was to be tried in accordance with the statutes on premeditated homicide. Even if no harm resulted, C patient dying under medical treatment
he was to be sentenced to sixty strokes with a heavy cane. D the receipt of money for medical treatment

In fact, physicians practising during the Tang era had access to a wealth of pharmaceutical and medical texts, their Questions 31-37
contents ranging from purely pragmatic advice to highly sophisticated theoretical considerations. Concise Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 31-37 on your answer
descriptions of the position, morphology, and functions of the organs of the human body stood side by side in sheet write
libraries with books enabling readers to calculate the daily, seasonal and annual climatic conditions of cycles of sixty YES, NO, NOT GIVEN
years and to understand and predict their effects on health.
31. Academic staff sometimes taught a range of medical subjects during the Tang era.
Several Tang authors wrote large collections of prescriptions, continuing a literary tradition documented since the 32. The medical knowledge available during the Tang era only benefited the wealthy.
2nd century BC. The two most outstanding works to be named here were those by Sun Simiao (581-682?) and Wang 33. Tang citizens were encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Tao (c.670-755). The latter was a librarian who copied more than six thousand formulas, categorised in 1,104 34. Doctors who behaved in a fraudulent manner were treated in the same way as ordinary criminals during the
sections, from sixty-five older works and published them under the title Wciitai miyao. Twenty-four sections, for Tang era.
example, were devoted to ophthalmology. They reflect the Indian origin of much Chinese knowledge on ailments of 35. Medical reference books published during the Tang era covered practical and academic issues.
the eye and, in particular, of cataract surgery. 36. Waitai miyao contained medical data from the Tang era.
37. Chinese medical authors are known to have influenced Indian writing.
Sun Simiao was the most eminent physician and author not only of the Tang dynasty, but of the entire first
millennium AD. He was a broadly educated intellectual and physician; his world view integrated notions of all three Questions 38-40
of the major currents competing at his time – Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Sun Simiao gained fame during Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 3. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for
his lifetime as a clinician (he was summoned to the imperial court at least once) and as author of the Prescriptions each answer.
Worth Thousands in Gold (Qianjinfang) and its sequel. In contrast to developments in the 12th century, physicians The first known medical writing in China dates back to the (38)………………………
relied on prescriptions and single substances to treat their patients’ illnesses. The theories of systematic During the Tang era, doctors depended most on (39)……………………and single substances to treat their patients.
correspondences, characteristic of the acupuncture tradition, had not been extended to cover pharmacology yet. (40)………………………..is famous for producing a set of medical rules for Chinese physicians.

Sun Simiao rose to the pantheon of Chinese popular Buddhism in about the 13th century. He was revered as Task 1 The table below shows the percentage of adults in urban and rural areas who took part in four free time
paramount Medicine God. He gained this extraordinary position in Chinese collective memory not only because he activities in 1990 and 2010. Summarize the information and compare where relevant, by selecting and reporting
was an outstanding clinician and writer, but also for his ethical concerns. Sun Simiao was the first Chinese author the key features
known to compose an elaborate medical ethical code. Even though based on Buddhist and Confucian values, his
deontology is comparable to the Hippocratic Oath. It initiated a debate on the task of medicine, its professional
obligations, social position and moral justification that continued until the arrival of Western medicine in the 19th
century.

Despite or – more likely – because of its long- lasting affluence and political stability, the Tang dynasty did not add
any significantly new ideas to the interpretation of illness, health and healing. Medical thought reflects human
anxieties; changes in medical thought always occur in the context of new existential fears or of fundamentally
changed social circumstances. Nevertheless, medicine was a most fascinating ingredient of Tang civilisation and it
left a rich legacy to subsequent centuries.

Questions 28-30
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 28-30 on your answer sheet.

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IELTS READING TEST 8 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ Questions 1-5
{Snow-makers} Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the
A In the early to mid twentieth century, with the growing popularity of skiing, ski slopes became list of headings below.
extremely profitable businesses. But ski resort owners were completely dependent on the weather: if it List of Headings
didn‟t snow, or didn‟t snow enough, they had to close everything down. Fortunately, a device called the i Considering ecological costs
snow gun can now provide snow whenever it is needed. These days such machines are standard ii Modifications to the design of the snow gun
equipment in the vast majority of ski resorts around the world, making it possible for many resorts to iii The need for different varieties of snow
stay open for months or more a year. iv Local concern over environmental issues
v A problem and a solution
B Snow formed by natural weather systems comes from water vapour in the atmosphere. The water vi Applications beyond the ski slopes
vapour condenses into droplets, forming clouds. If the temperature is sufficiently low, the water vii Converting wet snow to dry snow
droplets freeze into tiny ice crystals. More water particles then condense onto the crystal and join with it viii New method for calculating modifications
to form a snowflake. As the snow flake grows heavier, it falls towards the Earth. ix Artificial process, natural product
x Snow formation in nature
C The snow gun works very differently from a natural weather system, but it accomplishes exactly the
same thing. The device basically works by combining water and air. Two different hoses are attached to 1. Paragraph C
the gun. one leading from a water pumping station which pumps water up from a lake or reservoir, and 2. Paragraph D
the other leading from an air compressor. When the compressed air passes through the hose into the 3. Paragraph E
gun. it atomises the water – that is, it disrupts the stream so that the water splits up into tiny droplets. 4. Paragraph F
The droplets are then blown out of the gun and if the outside temperature is below 0°C, ice crystals will 5. Paragraph G
form, and will then make snowflakes in the same way as natural snow. Questions 6-8
Label the diagram below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
D Snow-makers often talk about dry snow and wet snow. Dry snow has a relatively low amount of water,
so it is very light and powdery. This type of snow is excellent for skiing because skis glide over it easily
without getting stuck in wet slush. One of the advantages of using a snow-maker is that this powdery
snow can be produced to give the ski slopes a level surface. However, on slopes which receive heavy use,
resort owners also use denser, wet snow underneath the dry snow. Many resorts build up the snow
depth this way once or twice a year, and then regularly coat the trails with a layer of dry snow
throughout the winter.

E The wetness of snow is dependent on the temperature and humidity outside, as well as the size of the
water droplets launched by the gun. Snow-makers have to adjust the proportions of water and air in
their snow guns to get the perfect snow consistency for the outdoor weather conditions. Many ski slopes
now do this with a central computer system that is connected to weather-reading stations all over the
slope.

F But man-made snow makes heavy demands on the environment. It takes about 275,000 litres of water
to create a blanket of snow covering a 60×60 metre area. Most resorts pump water from one or more
reservoirs located in low-lying areas. The run-off water from the slopes feeds back into these reservoirs,
so the resort can actually use the same water over and over again. However, considerable amounts of
energy are needed to run the large air-compressing pumps, and the diesel engines which run them also
cause air pollution.

G Because of the expense of making snow, ski resorts have to balance the cost of running the machines
with the benefits of extending the ski season, making sure they only make snow when it is really needed
and when it will bring the maximum amount of profit in return for the investment. But man-made snow
has a number of other uses as well. A layer of snow keeps a lot of the Earth‟s heat from escaping into the
atmosphere, so farmers often use man-made snow to provide insulation for winter crops. Snow-making
machines have played a big part in many movie productions. Movie producers often take several
months to shoot scenes that cover just a few days. If the movie takes place in a snowy setting, the set
decorators have to get the right amount of snow for each day of shooting either by adding man-made Questions 9-13
snow or melting natural snow. And another important application of man-made snow is its use in the Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each
tests that aircraft must undergo in order to ensure that they can function safely in extreme conditions. answer.
Dry snow is used to give slopes a level surface, while wet snow is used to increase the
(9)……………………on busy slopes.

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To calculate the required snow consistency, the (10)…………………of the atmosphere must first be
measured. Questions 14-18
The machinery used in the process of making the snow consumes a lot of (11)…………………..which is Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs labelled A-G. Which paragraph contains the following
damaging to the environment. information?
Artificial snow is used in agriculture as a type of (12)…………………..for plants in cold conditions. 14. a rejected explanation of why tiger attacks on humans are rare
Artificial snow may also be used in carrying out safety checks on (13)………………. 15. a reason why tiger attacks on humans might be expected to happen more often than they do
16. examples of situations in which humans are more likely to be attacked by tigers
Why are so few tigers man-eaters? 17. a claim about the relative frequency of tiger attacks on humans
A As you leave the Bandhavgarh National Park in central India, there is a notice which shows a huge, 18. an explanation of tiger behaviour based on the principles of ethology
placid tiger. The notice says, „You may not have seen me, but I have seen you.‟ There are more than a Questions 19-23
billion people In India and Indian tigers probably see humans every single day of their lives. Tigers can Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 19-23 on
and do kill almost everything they meet in the jungle, they will kill even attack elephants and rhino. your answer sheet write
Surely, then, it is a little strange that attacks on humans are not more frequent. TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
B Some people might argue that these attacks were in fact common in the past. British writers of FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
adventure stories, such as Jim Corbett, gave the impression that village life in India in the early years of NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this
the twentieth century involved a stage of constant siege by man-eating tigers. But they may have 19. Tigers in the Bandhavgarh National Park are a protected species.
overstated the terror spread by tigers. There were also far more tigers around in those days (probably 20. Some writers of fiction have exaggerated the danger of tigers to man.
60.000 in the subcontinent compared to just 3000 today). So in proportion, attacks appear to have 21. The fear of humans may be passed down in a tiger‟s genes.
been as rare then as they are today. 22. Konrad Lorenz claimed that some animals are more intelligent than humans.
23. Ethology involves applying principles of human behaviour to animals.
C It is widely assumed that the constraint is fear; but what exactly are tigers afraid of? Can they really
know that we may be even better armed than they are? Surely not. Has the species programmed the Questions 24-26
experiences of all tigers with humans its genes to be inherited as instinct? Perhaps. But I think the Choose the correct answer, A. B C or D
explanation may be more simple and, in a way, more intriguing. 24. Why do tigers rarely attack people in cars?
A They have learned that cars are not dangerous.
D Since the growth of ethology in the 1950s. we have tried to understand animal behaviour from the B They realise that people in cars cannot be harmed.
animal‟s point of view. Until the first elegant experiments by pioneers in the field such as Konrad C They do not think people in cars are living creatures.
Lorenz, naturalists wrote about animals as if they were slightly less intelligent humans. Jim Corbett‟s D They do not want to put their cubs at risk
breathless accounts of his duels with a an-eaters in truth tell us more about Jim Corbett than they do
about the animals. The principle of ethology, on the other hand, requires us to attempt to think in the 25. The writer says that tigers rarely attack a man who is standing up because
same way as the animal we are studying thinks, and to observe every tiny detail of its behaviour without A they are afraid of the man s height.
imposing our own human significances on its actions. B they are confused by the man‟s shape.
C they are puzzled by the man s lack of movement.
E I suspect that a tiger‟s afraid of humans lies not in some preprogramed ancestral logic but in the way D they are unable to look at the man directly.
he actually perceives us visually. If you think like a tiger, a human in a car might appear just to be a part
of the car, and because tigers don‟t eat cars the human is safe-unless the car is menacing the tiger or its 26. A human is more vulnerable to tiger attack when squatting because
cubs, in which case a brave or enraged tiger may charge. A human on foot is a different sort of puzzle. A he may be unaware of the tiger‟s approach.
Imagine a tiger sees a man who is 1.8m tall. A tiger is less than 1m tall but they may be up to 3m long B he cannot easily move his head to see behind him.
from head to tail. So when a tiger sees the man face on, it might not be unreasonable for him to assume C his head becomes a better target for the tiger.
that the man is 6m long. If he meet a deer of this size, he might attack the animal by leaping on its back, D his back appears longer in relation to his height
but when he looks behind the mind he can‟t see a back. From the front the man is huge, but looked at
from the side he all but disappears. This must be very disconcerting. A hunter has to be confident that it Keep taking the tablets
can tackle its prey, and no one is confident when they are disconcerted. This is especially true of a The history of aspirin is a product of a rollercoaster ride through time, of accidental discoveries,
solitary hunter such as the tiger and may explain why lions-particularly young lionesses who tend to intuitive reasoning and intense corporate rivalry.
encourage one another to take risks are more dangerous than tigers. In the opening pages of Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug, Diarmuid Jeffreys describes
this little white pill as „one of the most amazing creations in medical history, a drug so astonishingly
F If the theory that a tiger is disconcerted to find that a standing human is both very big and yet versatile that it can relieve headache, ease your aching limbs, lower your temperature and treat some of
somehow invisible is correct, the opposite should be true of a squatting human. A squatting human is the deadliest human diseases‟.
half he size and presents twice the spread of back, and more closely resembles a medium-sized deer. If
tigers were simply frightened of all humans, then a squatting person would be no more attractive as a Its properties have been known for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian physicians used extracts from
target than a standing one. This, however appears not to be the case. Many incidents of attacks on the willow tree as an analgesic, or pain killer. Centuries later the Greek physician Hippocrates
people involving villagers squatting or bending over to cut grass for fodder or building material. recommended the bark of the willow tree as a remedy for the pains of childbirth and as a fever reducer.
G The fact that humans stand upright may therefore not just be something that distinguishes them from But it wasn‟t until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that salicylates the chemical found in the
nearly all other species, but also a factor that helped them to survive in a dangerous and unpredictable willow tree became the subject of serious scientific investigation. The race was on to identify the active
environment. ingredient and to replicate it synthetically. At the end of the nineteenth century a German company,

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Friedrich Bayer & Co. succeeded in creating a relatively safe and very effective chemical compound, G the chemical found in the willow tree.
acetylsalicylic acid, which was renamed aspirin. H commercial advertising campaigns.
The late nineteenth century was a fertile period for experimentation, partly because of the hunger
among scientists to answer some of the great scientific questions, but also because those questions were 27. Ancient Egyptian and Greek doctors were aware of
within their means to answer. One scientist in a laboratory with some chemicals and a test tube could 28. Frederick Bayer & Co were able to reproduce
make significant breakthroughs whereas today, in order to map the human genome for instance, one 29. The development of aspirin was partly due to the effects of
needs „an army of researchers, a bank of computers and millions and millions of dollars‟. 30. The creation of a market for aspirin as a painkiller was achieved through
31. Aspirin might have become unavailable without
But an understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry is not enough on its own to explain 32. The way in which aspirin actually worked was not investigated by
how society innovates. In the nineteenth century, scientific advance was closely linked to the industrial
revolution. This was a period when people frequently had the means, motive and determination to take Questions 33-37
an idea and turn it into reality. In the case of aspirin that happened piecemeal – a series of minor, often Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 33-37 on
unrelated advances, fertilised by the century‟s broader economic, medical and scientific developments, your answer sheet write
that led to one big final breakthrough. YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
The link between big money and pharmaceutical innovation is also a significant one. Aspirin is NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
continued shelf life was ensured because for the first 70 years of its life, huge amounts of money were 33. For nineteenth-century scientists, small-scale research was enough to make important discoveries.
put into promoting it as an ordinary everyday analgesic. In the 1070s other analgesics, such as 34. The nineteenth-century industrial revolution caused a change in the focus of scientific research.
ibuprofen and paracetamol, were entering the market, and the pharmaceutical companies then focused 35. The development of aspirin in the nineteenth century followed a structured pattern of development.
on publicising these new drugs. But just at the same time, discoveries were made regarding the 36. In the 1970s sales of new analgesic drugs overtook sales of aspirin.
beneficial role of aspirin in preventing heart attacks, strokes and other afflictions. Had it not been for 37. Commercial companies may have both good and bad effects on the availability of pharmaceutical
these findings, this pharmaceutical marvel may well have disappeared. products.

So the relationship between big money and drugs is an odd one. Commercial markets are necessary for Questions 38-40
developing new products and ensuring that they remain around long enough for scientists to carry out Complete the summary below using the list of words A-l below.
research on them. But the commercial markets are just as likely to kill off‟ certain products when Research into aspirin
something more attractive comes along. In the case of aspirin, a potential „wonder drug* was around for Jeffreys argues that the reason why (38)……………….did not find out about new uses of aspirin is that
over 70 years without anybody investigating the way in which it achieved its effects, because they were aspirin is no longer a (39)…………………drug. He therefore suggests that there should be
making more than enough money out of it as it was. If ibuprofen or paracetamol had entered the market (40)……………….support for further research into the possible applications of the drug.
just a decade earlier, aspirin might then not be here today. It would be just another forgotten drug that A useful
people hadn‟t bothered to explore. B cheap
C state
None of the recent discoveries of aspirin‟s benefits were made by the big pharmaceutical companies; D international
they were made by scientists working in the public sector. „The reason for that is very simple and E major drug companies
straightforward,‟ Jeffreys says in his book. „Drug companies will only pursue research that is going to F profitable
deliver financial benefits. There‟s no profit in aspirin any more. It is incredibly inexpensive with tiny G commercial
profit margins and it has no patent any more, so anyone can produce it.‟ In fact, there‟s almost a H public sector scientists
disincentive for drug companies to further boost the drug, he argues, as it could possibly put them out of I health officials
business by stopping them from selling their more expensive brands.
So what is the solution to a lack of commercial interest in further exploring the therapeutic benefits of
aspirin? More public money going into clinical trials, says Jeffreys. „If I were the Department of Health.
I would say “this is a very inexpensive drug. There may be a lot of other things we could do with it.” We
should put a lot more money into trying to find out.‟ Jeffreys‟ book which not only tells the tale of a
„wonder drug‟ but also explores the nature of innovation and the role of big business, public money and
regulation reminds us why such research is so important.

Questions 27-32
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-H from the list below.
A the discovery of new medical applications.
B the negative effects of publicity.
C the large pharmaceutical companies.
D the industrial revolution.
E the medical uses of a particular tree
F the limited availability of new drugs.

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IELTS READING TEST 9 https://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ invest far too heavily in the shares of their home countries. They would be much better off
spreading their risks more widely.
Why Risks Can Go Wrong
A People make terrible decisions about the future. The evidence is all around, from their G More information is helpful in making any decision but, says Kahneman, people spend
investments in the stock markets to the way they run their businesses. In fact, people are proportionally too much time on small decisions and not enough on big ones. They need to
consistently bad at dealing with uncertainty, underestimating some kinds of risk and adjust the balance. During the boom years, some companies put as much effort into planning
overestimating others. Surely there must be a better way than using intuition? their office party as into considering strategic mergers.
H Finally, crying over spilled milk is not just a waste of time; it also often colours people’s
B In the 1960s a young American research psychologist, Daniel Kahneman, became interested in perceptions of the future. Some stock market investors trade far too frequently because they are
people’s inability to make logical decisions. That launched him on a career to show just how chasing the returns on shares they wish they had bought earlier.
irrationally people behave in practice. When Kahneman and his colleagues first started work,
the idea of applying psychological insights to economics and business decisions was seen as I Kahneman reckons that some types of businesses are much better than others at dealing with
rather bizarre. But in the past decade the fields of behavioural finance and behavioural risk. Pharmaceutical companies, which are accustomed to many failures and a few big successes
economics have blossomed, and in 2002 Kahneman shared a Nobel prize in economics for his in their drug-discovery programmes, are fairly rational about their risk-taking. But banks, he
work. Today he is in demand by business organizations and international banking companies. says, have a long way to go. They may take big risks on a few huge loans, but are extremely
But, he says, there are plenty of institutions that still fail to understand the roots of their poor cautious about their much more numerous loans to small businesses, many of which may be less
decisions. He claims that, far from being random, these mistakes are systematic and predictable. risky than the big ones. And the research has implications for governments too. They face a
whole range of sometimes conflicting political pressures, which means they are even more likely
C One common cause of problems in decision-making is over-optimism. Ask most people about to take irrational decisions.
the future, and they will see too much blue sky ahead, even if past experience suggests
otherwise. Surveys have shown that people’s forecasts of future stock market movements are far Questions 1-6
more optimistic than past long-term returns would justify. The same goes for their hopes of Reading Passage 1 has nine paragraphs A-I. Choose the correct heading for Paragraphs B and D-
ever-rising prices for their homes or doing well in games of chance. Such optimism can be useful H from the list of headings below.
for managers or sportsmen, and sometimes turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy. But most of the 1. Paragraph B
time it results in wasted effort and dashed hopes. Kahneman’s work points to three types of 2. Paragraph D
over-confidence. First, people tend to exaggerate their own skill and prowess; in polls, far fewer 3. Paragraph E
than half the respondents admit to having below-average skills in, say, driving. Second, they 4. Paragraph F
overestimate the amount of control they have over the future, forgetting about luck and chalking 5. Paragraph G
up success solely to skill. And third, in competitive pursuits such as dealing on shares, they 6. Paragraph H
forget that they have to judge their skills against those of the competition. List of headings

D Another source of wrong decisions is related to the decisive effect of the initial meeting, i Not identifying the correct priorities
particularly in negotiations over money. This is referred to as the ‘anchor effect’. Once a figure ii A solution for the long term
has been mentioned, it takes a strange hold over the human mind. The asking price quoted in a iii The difficulty of changing your mind
house sale, for example, tends to become accepted by all parties as the ‘anchor’ around which iv Why looking back is unhelpful
negotiations take place. Much the same goes for salary negotiations or mergers and acquisitions. v Strengthening inner resources
If nobody has much information to go on, a figure can provide comfort – even though it may vi A successful approach to the study of decision-making
lead to a terrible mistake. vii The danger of trusting a global market
viii Reluctance to go beyond the familiar
E In addition, mistakes may arise due to stubbornness. No one likes to abandon a cherished ix The power of the first number
belief, and the earlier a decision has been taken, the harder it is to abandon it. Drug companies x The need for more effective risk assessment
must decide early to cancel a failing research project to avoid wasting money, but may find it xi Underestimating the difficulties ahead
difficult to admit they have made a mistake. In the same way, analysts may have become wedded Questions 7-10
early to a single explanation that coloured their perception. A fresh eye always helps. Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D

F People also tend to put a lot of emphasis on things they have seen and experienced themselves, 7. People initially found Kahneman’s work unusual because he
which may not be the best guide to decision-making. For example, somebody may buy an A saw mistakes as following predictable patterns.
overvalued share because a relative has made thousands on it, only to get his fingers burned. In B was unaware of behavioural approaches.
finance, too much emphasis on information close at hand helps to explain the tendency by most C dealt with irrational types of practice.
investors to invest only within the country they live in. Even though they know that D applied psychology to finance and economics
diversification is good for their portfolio, a large majority of both Americans and Europeans

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8. The writer mentions house-owners attitudes towards the value of their homes to encompassing realism and escapist dance within individual sequences, and they were often
illustrate that three hours long rather than Hollywood’s 90 minutes. The cost of such productions resulted in a
A past failures may destroy an optimistic attitude. distinctive national style of cinema. They were often made in Bombay, the centre of what is now
B people tend to exaggerate their chances of success. known as ‘Bollywood’. Performed in Hindi (rather than any of the numerous regional
C optimism may be justified in certain circumstances. languages), they addressed social and peasant themes in an optimistic and romantic way and
D people are influenced by the success of others. found markets in the Middle East, Africa and the Soviet Union.
9. Stubbornness and inflexibility can cause problems when people
A think their financial difficulties are just due to bad luck. In Japan, the film industry did not rival India’s in size but was unusual in other ways. Whereas
B avoid seeking advice from experts and analysts. in Hollywood the producer was the central figure, in Tokyo the director chose the stories and
C refuse to invest in the early stages of a project. hired the producer and actors. The model was that of an artist and his studio of apprentices.
D are unwilling to give up unsuccessful activities or beliefs. Employed by a studio as an assistant, a future director worked with senior figures, learned his
10. Why do many Americans and Europeans fail to spread their financial risks craft, gained authority, until promoted to director with the power to select screenplays and
when investing? performers. In the 1930s and 40s, this freedom of the director led to the production of some of
A They feel safer dealing in a context which is close to home. Asia’s finest films.
B They do not understand the benefits of diversification.
C They are over-influenced by the successes of their relatives. The films of Kenji Mizoguchi were among the greatest of these. Mizoguchi’s films were usually
D They do not have sufficient knowledge of one another’s countries. set in the nineteenth century and analysed the way in which the lives of the female characters
whom he chose as his focus were constrained by the society of the time. From Osaka Elegy
Questions 11-13 (1936) to Ugetsu Monogatari (1953) and beyond, he evolved a sinuous way of moving his camera
Answer the questions below, using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. in and around a scene, advancing towards significant details but often retreating at moments of
11. Which two occupations may benefit from being over-optimistic? confrontation or strong feeling. No one had used the camera with such finesse before.
12. Which practical skill are many people over-confident about?
13. Which type of business has a generally good attitude to dealing with uncertainty? Even more important for film history, however, is the work of the great Ozu. Where Hollywood
cranked up drama, Ozu avoided it. His camera seldom moved. It nestled at seated height,
Reading Passage 2 framing people square on, listening quietly to their words. Ozu rejected the conventions of
There has always been a sense in which America and Europe owned film. They invented it at the editing, cutting not on action, as is usually done in the west, but for visual balance. Even more
end of the nineteenth century in unfashionable places like New Jersey, Leeds and the suburbs of strikingly, Ozu regularly cut away from his action to a shot of a tree or a kettle or clouds, not to
Lyons. At first, they saw their clumsy new camera-projectors merely as more profitable versions establish a new location but as a moment of repose. Many historians now compare such ‘pillow
of Victorian lantern shows, mechanical curiosities which might have a use as a sideshow at a shots’ to the Buddhist idea that mu – empty space or nothing – is itself an element of
funfair. Then the best of the pioneers looked beyond the fairground properties of their composition.
invention. A few directors, now mostly forgotten, saw that the flickering new medium was more
than just a diversion. This crass commercial invention gradually began to evolve as an art. D W As the art form most swayed by money and market, cinema would appear to be too busy to
Griffith in California glimpsed its grace, German directors used it as an analogue to the human bother with questions of philosophy. The Asian nations proved and are still proving that this is
mind and the modernising city, Soviets emphasised its agitational and intellectual properties, not the case. Just as deep ideas about individual freedom have led to the aspirational cinema of
and the Italians reconfigured it on an operatic scale. Hollywood, so it is the beliefs which underlie cultures such as those of China and Japan that
explain the distinctiveness of Asian cinema at its best. Yes, these films are visually striking, but it
So heady were these first decades of cinema that America and Europe can be forgiven for is their different sense of what a person is, and what space and action are, which makes them
assuming that they were the only game in town. In less than twenty years western cinema had new to western eye.
grown out of all recognition; its unknowns became the most famous people in the world; it made
millions. It never occurred to its financial backers that another continent might borrow their Questions 14-18
magic box and make it its own. But film industries were emerging in Shanghai, Bombay and Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes
Tokyo, some of which would outgrow those in the west. 14-18 on your answer sheet write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
Between 1930 and 1935, China produced more than 500 films, mostly conventionally made in FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
studios in Shanghai, without soundtracks. China’s best directors – Bu Wancang and Yuan Muzhi NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this
– introduced elements of realism to their stories. The Peach Girl (1931) and Street Angel (1937) 14. The inventors of cinema regarded it as a minor attraction.
are regularly voted among the best ever made in the country. 15. Some directors were aware of cinema’s artistic possibilities from the very beginning.
16. The development of cinema’s artistic potential depended on technology.
India followed a different course. In the west, the arrival of talkies gave birth to a new genre – 17. Cinema’s possibilities were developed in varied ways in different western countries.
the musical – but in India, every one of the 5000 films made between 1931 and the mid-1950s 18. Western businessmen were concerned about the emergence of film industries in other parts
had musical interludes. The films were stylistically more wide ranging than the western musical, of the world.

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Questions 19-25 decibels overall. Dutch mechanical engineer Ard Kuijpers has come up with one of the most
Complete the notes below using the list of words (A-K) from the list below. promising, and radical, ideas. He set out to tackle the three most important factors: surface
Chinese cinema texture, hardness and ability to absorb sound.
large number of (19)……………………films produced in 1930s some early films still generally
regarded as (20)……………….. D The rougher the surface, the more likely it is that a tyre will vibrate and create noise. Road
Indian cinema builders usually eliminate bumps on freshly laid asphalt with heavy rollers, but Kuijpers has
• films included musical interludes developed a method of road building that he thinks can create the ultimate quiet road. His secret
• films avoided (21)……………..topics is a special mould 3 metres wide and 50 metres long. Hot asphalt, mixed with small stones, is
Japanese cinema spread into the mould by a railmounted machine which flattens the asphalt mix with a roller.
• unusual because film director was very (22)…………………….. When it sets, the 10-millimetre-thick sheet has a surface smoother than anything that can be
• two important directors: achieved by conventional methods.
Mizoguchi – focused on the (23)……………restrictions faced by women
– camera movement related to (24)…………………content of film E To optimise the performance of his road surface – to make it hard wearing yet soft enough to
Ozu – (25)…………………..camera movement snuff out vibrations – he then adds another layer below the asphalt. This consists of a 30-
millimetre-thick layer of rubber, mixed with stones which are larger than those in the layer
A emotional above. ‘It’s like a giant mouse mat, making the road softer,’ says Kuijpers.
B negative
C expensive F The size of the stones used in the two layers is important, since they create pores of a specific
D silent size in the road surface. Those used in the top layer are just 4 or 5 millimetres across, while the
E social ones below are approximately twice that size – about 9 millimetres. Kuijpers says the surface
F outstanding can absorb any air that is passing through a tyre’s tread (the indentations or ridges on the
G little surface of a tyre), damping oscillations that would otherwise create noise. And in addition they
H powerful make it easier for the water to drain away, which can make the road safer in wet weather.
I realistic
J stylistic G Compared with the complex manufacturing process, laying the surface is quite simple. It
K economic emerges from the factory rolled, like a carpet, onto a drum 1.5 metres in diameter. On site, it is
Question 26 unrolled and stuck onto its foundation with bitumen. Even the white lines are applied in the
26. Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage 2? factory.
A Blind to change: how is it that the west has ignored Asian cinema for so long? H The foundation itself uses an even more sophisticated technique to reduce noise further. It
B A different basis: how has the cinema of Asian countries been shaped by their cultures and consists of a sound-absorbing concrete base containing flask-shaped slots up to 10 millimetres
beliefs? wide and 30 millimetres deep that are open at the top and sealed at the lower end. These cavities
C Outside Asia: how did the origins of cinema affect its development worldwide? act like Helmholtz resonators – when sound waves of specific frequencies enter the top of a
D Two cultures: how has western cinema tried to come to terms with the challenge of the Asian flask, they set up resonances inside and the energy of the sound dissipates into the concrete as
market? heat. The cavities play another important role: they help to drain water that seeps through from
the upper surface. This flow will help flush out waste material and keep the pores in the outer
Quiet roads ahead layers clear.
A The noise produced by busy roads is a growing problem. While vehicle designers have worked
hard to quieten engines, they have been less successful elsewhere. The sound created by the I Kuijpers can even control the sounds that his resonators absorb, simply by altering their
tyres on the surface of the road now accounts for more than half the noise that vehicles create, dimensions. This could prove especially useful since different vehicles produce noise at different
and as road building and car sales continue to boom – particularly in Asia and the US – this is frequencies. Car tyres peak at around 1000 hertz, for example, but trucks generate lower-
turning into a global issue. frequency noise at around 600 hertz. By varying the size of the Kuijpers resonators, it is possible
to control which frequencies the concrete absorbs. On large highways, trucks tend to use the
B According to the World Health Organization, exposure to noise from road traffic over long inside lane, so resonators here could be tuned to absorb sounds at around 600 hertz while those
periods can lead to stress-related health problems. And where traffic noise exceeds a certain in other lanes could deal with higher frequency noise from cars.
threshold, road builders have to spend money erecting sound barriers and installing double
glazing in blighted homes. Houses become harder to sell where environmental noise is high, and J Kuijpers believes he can cut noise by five decibels compared to the quietest of today’s roads.
people are not as efficient or productive at work. He has already tested a l00-metre-long section of his road on a motorway near Apeldoorn, and
Dutch construction company Heijmans is discussing the location of the next roll-out road with
C Already, researchers in the Netherlands – one of the most densely populated countries in the the country’s government. The success of Kuijpers’ design will depend on how much it
world – are working to develop techniques for silencing the roads. In the next five years the eventually costs. But for those affected by traffic noise there is hope of quieter times ahead.
Dutch government aims to have reduced noise levels from the country’s road surfaces by six

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Questions 27-32 F dissipation
Reading Passage 3 has ten paragraphs labelled A-J. Which paragraph contains the following G sound energy
information? H pores
27. a description of the form in which Kuijpers’ road surface is taken to its destination I lanes
28. an explanation of how Kuijpers makes a smooth road surface J drainage
29. something that has to be considered when evaluating Kuijpers’ proposal K sources
30. various economic reasons for reducing road noise
31. a generalisation about the patterns of use of vehicles on major roads
32. a summary of the different things affecting levels of noise on roads
Task 1
Questions 33-35
Label the diagram below. Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the
passage for each answer.

Task 2

Some feel that schools should be mixed with both girls and boys attending while others feel the
Questions 36-40 genders ought to be separated.
Complete the table below using the list of words (A-K) from the box below.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

A frequencies
B the engine
C rubbish
D resonators
E air flow

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IELTS READING TEST 10 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ Questions 1-3
A song on the brain Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D
A Everyone knows the situation where you can’t get a song out of your head. You hear a pop song on the radio – 1. The writer says that song-in-head syndrome’ may occur because the brain
or even just read the song’s title and it haunts you for hours, playing over and over in your mind until you’re A confuses two different types of memory.
heartily sick of it. The condition now even has a medical name ‘song-in-head syndrome’. B cannot decide what information it needs to retain.
C has been damaged by harmful input.
В But why does the mind annoy us like this? No one knows for sure, but it’s probably because the brain is better D cannot hold onto all the information it processes.
at holding onto information than it is at knowing what information is important. Roger Chaffin, a psychologist at 2. A tune is more likely to stay in your head if
the University of Connecticut says, ‘It’s a manifestation of an aspect of memory which is normally an asset to us, A it is simple and unoriginal.
but in this instance it can be a nuisance.’ B you have musical training.
C it is part of your culture.
С This eager acquisitiveness of the brain may have helped our ancestors remember important information in the D you have a good memory.
past. Today, students use it to learn new material, and musicians rely on it to memorise complicated pieces. But 3. Robert Zatorre found that a part of the auditory cortex was activated when volunteers
when this useful function goes awry it can get you stuck on a tune. Unfortunately, superficial, repetitive pop A listened to certain types of music.
tunes are, by their very nature, more likely to stick than something more inventive. B learned to play a tune on an instrument.
C replayed a piece of music after several years.
D The annoying playback probably originates in the auditory cortex. Located at the front of the brain, this region D remembered a tune they had heard previously
handles both listening and playback of music and other sounds. Neuroscientist Robert Zatorre of McGill
University in Montreal proved this some years ago when he asked volunteers to replay the theme from the TV Questions 4-7
show Dallas in their heads. Brain imaging studies showed that this activated the same region of the auditory Look at the following theories (Questions 4-7) and the list of people below. Match each theory with the person it
cortex as when the people actually heard the song. is credited to.
4. The memorable nature of some tunes can help other learning processes.
E Not every stored musical memory emerges into consciousness, however. The frontal lobe of the brain gets to 5. Music may not always be stored in the memory in the form of separate notes.
decide which thoughts become conscious and which ones are simply stored away. But it can become fatigued or 6. People may have started to make music because of their need to remember things.
depressed, which is when people most commonly suffer from song-in-head syndrome and other intrusive 7. Having a song going round your head may happen to you more often when one part of the brain is tired.
thoughts, says Susan Ball, a clinical psychologist at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. And A Roger Chaffin
once the unwanted song surfaces, it’s hard to stuff it back down into the subconscious. ‘The more you try to B Susan Ball
suppress a thought, the more you get it,’ says Ball. ‘We call this the pink elephant phenomenon. Tell the brain not C Steven Brown
to think about pink elephants, and it’s guaranteed to do so,’ she says. D Caroline Palmer
E Sandra Calvert
F For those not severely afflicted, simply avoiding certain kinds of music can help. ‘I know certain pieces that are F Leon James
kind of “sticky” to me, so I will not play them in the early morning for fear that they will run around in my head Questions 8-13
all day,’ says Steven Brown, who trained as a classical pianist but is now a neuroscientist at the University of Reading Passage 1 has nine paragraphs labelled A-l. Which paragraph contains the following information? NB
Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He says he always has a song in his head and, even more annoying, You may use any letter more than once.
his mind never seems to make it all the way through. ‘It tends to involve short fragments between, say, 5 or 15 8. a claim that music strengthens social bonds
seconds. They seem to get looped, for hours sometimes,’ he says. 9. two reasons why some bits of music tend to stick in your mind more than others
10. an example of how the brain may respond in opposition to your wishes
G Brown’s experience of repeated musical loops may represent a phenomenon called ‘chunking’, in which people 11. the name of the part of the brain where song-in-head syndrome begins
remember musical phrases as a single unit of memory, says Caroline Palmer, a psychologist at Ohio State 12. examples of two everyday events that can set off song-m-head syndrome
University in Columbus. Most listeners have little choice about what chunks they remember. Particular chunks 13. a description of what one person does to prevent song-in-head syndrome
may be especially ‘sticky’ if you hear them often or if they follow certain predictable patterns, such as the chord
progression of rock ‘n’ roll music. Palmer’s research shows that the more a piece of music conforms to these Worldly Wealth
patterns, the easier it is to remember. That’s why you’re more likely to be haunted by the tunes of pop music The world’s population is expected to stablize at around nine billion. Will it be possible for nine billion people to
than by those of a classical composer such as J. S. Bach. have the lifestyle enjoyed today only by the wealthy? One school of thought says no: not only should the majority
of the world’s people resign themselves to poverty forever, but rich nations must also revert to simpler lifestyles
H But this ability can be used for good as well as annoyance. Teachers can tap into memory reinforcement by in order to save the planet.
setting their lessons to music. For example, in one experiment students who heard a history text set as the lyrics
to a catchy song remembered the words better than those who simply read them, says Sandra Calvert, a Admittedly, there may be political or social barriers to achieving a rich world. But in fact there seems to be no
psychologist at Georgetown University in Washington DC. insuperable physical or ecological reason why nine billion people should not achieve a comfortable lifestyle,
using technology only slightly more advanced than that which we now possess. In thinking about the future of
I This sort of memory enhancement may even explain the origin of music. Before the written word could be used civilization, we ought to start by asking what people want. The evidence demonstrates that as people get richer
to record history, people memorised it in songs, says Leon James, a psychologist at the University of Hawaii. And they w ant a greater range of personal technology, they want lots of room (preferably near or in natural
music may have had an even more important role. ‘All music has a message.’ he says. ‘This message functions to surroundings) and they w ant greater speed in travel. More possessions, more space, more mobility.
unite society and to standardise the thought processes of people in society.’
In the developed world, the personal technologies of the wealthy, including telephones, washing machines and
ears, have become necessities within a generation or two. Increasing productivity that results m decreasing costs

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for such goods has been responsible for the greatest gains in the standard of living, and there is every reason to 18. It may be possible to find new types of raw materials for use in the production of machinery.
believe that this will continue. 19. The rising prices of fossil fuels may bring some benefits.

As affluence grows, the amount of energy and raw- materials used for production of machinery w ill therefore Questions 20-25
escalate. But this need not mean an end to the machine age. Rather than being throw n away, materials from old Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
machinery can be recycled by manufacturers. And long before all fossil fuels are exhausted, their rising prices Space for an increased population
may compel industrial society not only to become more energy efficient but also to find alternative energy According to the writer, the use of land for (20)…………………is the most serious threat to the environment.
sources sufficient for the demands of an advanced technological civilization nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, solar However, in the US. there has already been an increase in the amount of land used for (21)…………………..and
energy, chemical photosynthesis, geothermal, biomass or some yet unknown source of energy. forests. Far less land would be required to feed the world’s population if the (22)……………………of the land could
be improved worldwide. It has also been claimed that the industrial production of animal foods could allow
The growth of cities and suburbs is often seen as a threat to the environment. However, in fact the increasing greater access to animal (23)…………………………by the entire world’s population.
amount of land consumed by agriculture is a far greater danger than urban sprawl. Stopping the growth of farms Scientists could use (24)……………………from domesticated animals to help produce meat by tissue cloning, and
is the best way to preserve many of the world’s remaining wild areas. But is a dramatic downsizing of farmland these species could then be allowed to die out. In addition to this type of meat. (25)……………………will also be
possible? Thanks to the growth of agricultural productivity, reforestation and ‘re-wilding’ has been under way in widely available.
the industrial countries for generations. Since 1950 more land in the US has been set aside in parks than has Questions 26-27
been occupied by urban and suburban growth. And much of what was farmland in the nineteenth century is now Choose the correct answer, A. B, C or D
forest again. Taking the best Iowa maize growers as the norm for world food productivity, it has been calculated 26. Greater mobility may be a feature of the future because of changes in
that less than a tenth of present cropland could support a population of 10 billion. A the location of housing.
B patterns of employment.
In The Environment Game, a vision of a utopia that would be at once high-tech and environmentalist. Nigel C centres of transport.
Calder suggested that ‘nourishing but unpalatable primary food produced by industrial techniques – like yeast D the distribution of wealth.
from petroleum may be fed to animals, so that we can continue to eat our customary meat, eggs. milk, butter, and 27. Air transport will be safe because of
cheese and so that people in underdeveloped countries can have adequate supplies of animal protein for the first A new types of aircraft.
time.’ B better training methods.
In the long run. tissue-cloning techniques could be used to grow desired portions of meat by themselves. Once C three-dimensional models.
their DNA has been extracted to create cow less steaks and chicken less drumsticks, domesticated species of D improved technology.
livestock, bred for millennia to be stupid or to have grotesquely enhanced traits, should be allowed to become
extinct, except for a few specimens in zoos. However, game such as wild deer, rabbits and wild ducks will be ever Space: The Final Archaeological Frontier
more abundant as farms revert to wilderness, so this could supplement the laboratory-grown meat in the diets of In 1993, University of Hawaii’s anthropologist Ben Finney, who for much of his career has studied the technology
tomorrow’s affluent. once used by Polynesians to colonize islands in the Pacific, suggested that it would not be premature to begin
thinking about the archaeology of Russian and American aerospace sites on the Moon and Mars. Finney pointed
With rising personal incomes come rising expectations of mobility. This is another luxury of today’s rich that out that just as todays scholars use archaeological records to investigate how Polynesians diverged culturally as
could become a necessity of tomorrow’s global population – particularly if its members choose to live widely they explored the Pacific, archaeologists will someday study off-Earth sites to trace the development of humans
dispersed in a post-agrarian wilderness. In his recent book Free Flight. James Fallows, a pilot as well as a writer, in space. He realized that it was unlikely anyone would be able to conduct fieldwork in the near future, but he
describes serious attempts by both state and private entrepreneurs in the USA to promote an ‘air taxi’ system was convinced that one day such work would be done.
within the price range of today’s middle class and perhaps tomorrow’s global population.
Two of the chief obstacles to the science fiction fantasy of the personal plane or hover car are price and danger. There is a growing awareness, however, that it won’t be long before both corporate adventurers and space
While technological improvements are driving prices down, piloting an aircraft in three dimensions is still more tourists reach the Moon and Mars. There is a wealth of important archaeological sites from the history of space
difficult than driving a car in two. and pilot error causes more fatalities than driver error. But before long our exploration on the Moon and Mars and measures need to be taken to protect these sites. In addition to the threat
aircraft and cars will be piloted by computers which arc never tired or stressed. from profit- seeking corporations, scholars cite other potentially destructive forces such as souvenir hunting and
unmonitored scientific sampling, as has already occurred in explorations of remote polar regions. Already in
So perhaps there are some grounds for optimism when viewing the future of civilization. With the help of 1999 one company was proposing a robotic lunar rover mission beginning at the site of Tranquility Base and
technology, and without putting serious strains on the global environment, possessions, space and mobility can rumbling across the Moon from one archaeological site to another, from the wreck of the Ranger S probe to
be achieved for all the projected population of the world. Apollo 17 s landing site. The mission, which would leave vehicle tyre- marks all over some of the most famous
sites on the Moon, was promoted as a form of theme-park entertainment.
Questions 14-19
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 14-19 on your answer According to the vaguely worded United Motions Outer Space Treaty of 1967. what it terms ‘space junk’ remains
sheet write the property of the country that sent the craft or probe into space. But the treaty doesn’t explicitly address
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer protection of sites like Tranquility Base, and equating the remains of human exploration of the heavens with
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer ‘space junk’ leaves them vulnerable to scavengers. Another problem arises through other international treaties
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this proclaiming that land in space cannot be owned by any country or individual. This presents some interesting
14. Today’s wealthy people ignore the fact that millions are living in poverty. dilemmas for the aspiring manager of extraterrestrial cultural resources. Does the US own Neil Armstrong’s
15. There are reasons why the future population of the world may not enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. famous first footprints on the Moon but not the lunar dust in which they were recorded? Surely those footprints
16. The first thing to consider when planning for the future is environmental protection. are as important in the story of human development as those left by hominids at Laetoli, Tanzania. But unlike the
17. As manufactured goods get cheaper, people will benefit more from them. Laetoli prints, which have survived for 3.5 million years encased in cement-like ash. those at Tranquility Base
could be swept away with a casual brush of a space tourist’s hand. To deal with problems like these, it may be

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time to look to innovative international administrative structures for the preservation of historic remains on the • The theory that this suggested there was (38)…………………on the Moon was rejected.
new frontier. • Scientists concluded that the bacteria can survive lunar conditions.

The Moon, with its wealth of sites, will surely be the first destination of archaeologists trained to work in space. Questions 39-40
But any young scholars hoping to claim the mantle of history’s first lunar archaeologist will be disappointed. That Choose TWO letters A-E
distinction is already taken. On November 19. 1969. astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean made a difficult The TWO main purposes of the writer of this text are to explain
manual landing of the Apollo 12 lunar module in the Moon’s Ocean of Storms, just a few hundred feet from an A the reasons why space archaeology is not possible
unmanned probe. Surveyor J. that had landed in a crater on April 19. 1967. Unrecognized at the time, this was an B the dangers that could follow from contamination of objects from space
important moment in the history of science. Bean and Conrad were about to conduct the first archaeological C the need to set up careful controls over space tourism
studies on the Moon. D the need to preserve historic sites and objects in space
E the possible cultural effects of space travel
After the obligatory planting of the American flag and some geological sampling, Conrad and Bean made their
way to Surveyor 3. They observed that the probe had bounced after touchdown and carefully photographed the Task 2
impressions made by its footpads. The whole spacecraft was covered in dust, perhaps kicked up by the landing.
The astronaut-archaeologists carefully removed the probes television camera, remote sampling arm. and pieces Large companies use sports events to promote their products. Some people think this has a negative impact on
of tubing. They bagged and labelled these artefacts, and stowed them on board their lunar module. On their sports. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
return to Earth, they passed them on to the Daveson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and the Hughes Air and Task 1
Space Corporation in bl Segundo, California. There, scientists analyzed the changes in these aerospace artefacts. Oil production capacity
One result of the analysis astonished them. A fragment of the television camera revealed evidence of the bacteria Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Streptococcus mitis. I or a moment it was thought Conrad and Bean had discovered evidence for life on the Moon,
but after further research the real explanation became apparent. While the camera was being installed in the Write at least 150 words.
probe prior to the launch, someone sneezed on it. The resulting bacteria had travelled to the Moon, remained in
an alternating freezing.’ boiling vacuum for more than two years, and returned promptly to life upon reaching
the safety of a laboratory back on Earth.

The finding that not even the vastness of space can stop humans from spreading a sore throat was an unexpected
spin-off. But the artefacts brought back by Rean and Conrad have a broader significance. Simple as they may
seem, they provide the first example of extraterrestrial archaeology and perhaps more significant for the history
of the discipline formational archaeology, the study of environmental and cultural forces upon the life history of
human artefacts in space.

Questions 28-33
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-H from the box below.
A activities of tourists and scientists have harmed the environment.
B some sites in space could be important in the history of space exploration.
C vehicles used for tourism have polluted the environment.
D it may be unclear who has responsibility for historic human footprints.
E past explorers used technology in order to find new places to live.
F man-made objects left in space are regarded as rubbish.
G astronauts may need to work more closely with archaeologists.
H important sites on the Moon may be under threat.
28. Ben Finney’s main academic work investigates the way that
29. Ben Finney thought that in the long term
30. Commercial pressures mean that in the immediate future
31. Academics are concerned by the fact that in isolated regions on Earth.
32. One problem with the 1967 UN treaty is that
33. The wording of legal agreements over ownership of land in space means that

Questions 34-38
Complete the flow chart below. Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
• During the assembly of the Surveyor 3 probe, someone (34)……………………..on a TV camera
• The TV Camera was carried to the Moon on Surveyor 3
• The TV Camera remained on the Moon for over (35)………………….years
• Apollo 12 astronauts (36)……………………the TV camera
• The TV camera was returned to Earth for (37)……………………….
• The Streptococcus mitis bacteria were found.

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IELTS READING TEST 11 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ costs $670 a tonne, about four times as much as good quality sand. ‘Hut that is because we haven’t got
large-scale production. Obviously, when we get going it will cost a lot less, and be competitive with sand in
Green virtues of green sand price as well.’ Mr Dryden said. ‘I believe it performs better and lasts longer than sand, so it is going to be
A For the past 100 years special high grade white sand dug from the ground at Leighton Buzzard in the UK. better value too.’
has been used to filter tap water to remove bacteria and impurities but this may no longer be necessary. A
new factory that turns used wine bottles into green sand could revolutionise the recycling industry and H If AFM takes off as a product it will be a big boost for the government agency which is charged with
help to filter Britain’s drinking water. Backed by $1.6m from the European Union and the Department for finding a market for recycled products. Crushed glass is already being used in road surfacing and in making
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), a company based in Scotland is building the factory, which tiles and bricks. Similarly. AFM could prove to have a widespread use and give green glass a cash value.
will turn beverage bottles back into the sand from which they were made in the first place. The green sand Questions 1-10
has already been successfully tested by water companies and is being used in 50 swimming pools in Reading Passage 1 has 8 paragraphs labelled A-H Which paragraph contains the following information? NB
Scotland to keep the water clean. You may use any letter more than once.
1. a description of plans to expand production of AFM
B The idea is not only to avoid using up an increasingly scarce natural resource, sand but also to solve a 2. the identification of a potential danger in the raw material for AFM
crisis in the recycling industry. Britain uses 5.5m tonnes of glass a year, but recycles only 750,000 tonnes of 3. an example of AFM use in the export market
it. The problem is that half the green bottle glass in Britain is originally from imported wine and beer 4. a comparison of the value of green glass and other types of glass
bottles. Because there is so much of it, and it is used less in domestic production than other types, green 5. a list of potential applications of AFM in the domestic market
glass is worth only $25 a tonne. Clear glass, which is melted down and used for whisky bottles, mainly for 6. the conclusions drawn from laboratory checks on the process of AFM production
export, is worth double that amount. 7. identification of current funding for the production of green sand
8. an explanation of the chosen brand name for crushed green glass
C Howard Drvden. a scientist and managing director of the company. Drvden Aqua, of Bonnyrigg, near 9. a description of plans for exporting AFM
Edinburgh, has spent six years working on the product he calls Active Filtration Media, or AFM. He 10. a description of what has to happen before AFM is accepted for general use
concedes that he has given what is basically recycled glass a ‘fancy name’ to remove the stigma of what Questions 11-14
most people would regard as an inferior product. He says he needs bottles that have already contained Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
drinkable liquids to be sure that drinking water filtered through the AFM would not be contaminated. Green sand
Crushed down beverage glass has fewer impurities than real sand and it performed better in trials. *The The use of crushed green glass (AFM) may have two significant impacts: it may help to save a diminishing
fact is that tests show that AFM does the job better than sand, it is easier to clean and reuse and has all sorts (11)…………………….while at the same time solving a major problem for the (12)…………………..in the UK.
of properties that make it ideal for other applications.’ he claimed. However, according to Howard Dryden, only glass from bottles that have been used for
(13)……………………..can be used in the production process. AFM is more effective than (14)…………………….as
D The factory is designed to produce 100 tonnes of AFM a day, although Mr Dryden regards this as a large- a water filter, and also has other uses.
scale pilot project rather than full production. Current estimates of the UK market for this glass for filtering
drinking water, sewage, industrial water, swimming pools and fish farming are between 175.000 to
217.000 tonnes a year, which will use up most of the glass available near the factory. So he intends to build NATURAL CHOICE Coffee and chocolate
five or six factories in cities where there are large quantities of bottles, in order to cut down on transport When scientists from London’s Natural History Museum descended on the coffee farms of the tiny Central
costs. American republic of El Salvador, they were astonished to find such diversity of insect and plant species.
During 18 months’ work on 12 farms, they found a third more species of parasitic wasp than are known to
E The current factory will be completed this month and is expected to go into full production on January exist in the whole country of Costa Rica. They described four new species and are aware of a fifth. On 24
14th next year. Once it is providing a ‘regular’ product, the government’s drinking water inspectorate will farms, they found nearly 300 species of tree when they had expected to find about 100.
be asked to perform tests and approve it for widespread use by water companies. A Defra spokesman said
it was hoped that AFM could meet approval within six months. The only problem that they could foresee El Salvador has lost much of its natural forest, with coffee farms covering nearly 10% of the country. Most
was possible contamination if some glass came from sources other than beverage bottles. of them use the ‘shade-grown’ method of production, which utilises a semi-natural forest ecosystem. Alex
Munro, the museum’s botanist on the expedition, says: ‘Our findings amazed our insect specialist. There’s a
F Among those who have tested the glass already is Caroline Fitzpatrick of the civil and environmental very sophisticated food web present. The wasps, for instance, may depend on specific species of tree.’
engineering department of University College London. ‘We have looked at a number of batches and it
appears to do the job.’ she said. ‘Basically, sand is made of glass and Mr Dryden is turning bottles back into It’s the same the world over. Species diversity is much higher where coffee is grown in shade conditions. In
sand. It seems a straightforward idea and there is no reason we can think of why it would not work. Since addition, coffee (and chocolate) is usually grown in tropical rainforest – regions that are biodiversity
glass from wine bottles and other beverages has no impurities and clearly did not leach any substances into hotspots. ‘These habitats support up to 70% of the planets plant and animal species, and so the production
the contents of the bottles, there was no reason to believe there would be a problem,’ Dr Fitzpatrick added. methods of cocoa and coffee can have a hugely significant impact,’ explains Dr Paul Donald of the Royal
Society for the. Protection of Birds.
G Mr Dryden has set up a network of agents round the world to sell AFM. It is already in use in central
America to filter water on banana plantations where the fruit has to be washed before being despatched to So what does ‘shade-grown’ mean, and why is it good for wildlife? Most of the world’s coffee is produced by
European markets. It is also in use in sewage works to filter water before it is returned to rivers, something poor farmers in the developing world. Traditionally they have grown coffee (and cocoa) under the shade of
which is becoming legally necessary across the European Union because of tighter regulations on sewage selectively thinned tracts of rain forest in a genuinely sustainable form of farming. Leaf fall from the canopy
works. So there are a great number of applications involving cleaning up water. Currently, however, AFM provides a supply of nutrients and acts as a mulch that suppresses weeds. The insects that live in the

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canopy pollinate the cocoa and coffee and prey on pests. The trees also provide farmers with fruit and wood Questions 20-23
for fuel. Look at the following opinions (Questions 20-23) and the list of people below. Match each opinion to the
person credited with it. NB You can write any letter more than once.
Bird diversity in shade-grown coffee plantations rivals that found in natural forests in the same region.’ 20. Encouraging shade growing may lead to farmers using the natural forest for their plantations.
says Robert Rice from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. In Ghana, West Africa – one of the world’s 21. If shade-coffee farms match the right criteria, they can be good for wildlife.
biggest producers of cocoa – 90% of the cocoa is grown under shade, and these forest plantations are a vital 22. There may be as many species of bird found on shade farms in a particular area, as in natural habitats
habitat for wintering European migrant birds. In the same way, the coffee forests of Central and South there.
America are a refuge for wintering North American migrants. 23. Currently, many shade-coffee farmers earn very little.
More recently, a combination of the collapse in the world market for coffee and cocoa and a drive to
increase yields by producer countries has led to huge swathes of shade-grown coffee and cocoa being A Alex Munroe
cleared to make way for a highly intensive, monoculture pattern of production known as ‘full sun’. But this B Paul Donald
system not only reduces the diversity of flora and fauna, it also requires huge amounts of pesticides and C Robert Rice
fertilisers. In Cote d’Ivoire, which produces more than half the world’s cocoa, more than a third of the crop D John Rappole
is now grown in full-sun conditions. E Stacey Philpott
Questions 24-27
The loggers have been busy in the Americas too, where nearly 70% of all Colombian coffee is now produced Classify the features described below as applying to
using full-sun production. One study carried out in Colombia and Mexico found that, compared with shade 24. can be used on either coffee or cocoa plantations
coffee, full-sun plantations have 95% fewer species of birds. 25. is expected to produce bigger crops
In El Salvador, Alex Munro says shade-coffee farms have a cultural as well as ecological significance and 26. documentation may be used to encourage sales
people are not happy to see them go. But the financial pressures are great, and few of these coffee farms 27. can reduce wildlife diversity
make much money. ‘One farm we studied, a cooperative of 100 families, made just $10,000 a year, $100 per
family and that’s not taking labour costs into account.’ A the shade-grown method
B the full-sun method
The loss of shade-coffee forests has so alarmed a number of North American wildlife organisations that they C both shade-grown and full-sun methods
are now harnessing consumer power to help save these threatened habitats. They are promoting a
‘certification’ system that can indicate to consumers that the beans have been grown on shade plantations. Painters of time
Bird-friendly coffee, for instance, is marketed by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. The idea is that the A The works of Aboriginal artists are now much in demand throughout the world, and not just in Australia,
small extra cost is passed directly on to the coffee farmers as a financial incentive to maintain their shade- where they are already fully recognised: the National Museum of Australia, which opened in Canberra in
coffee farms. 2001, designated 40% of its exhibition space to works by Aborigines. In Europe their art is being exhibited
Not all conservationists agree with such measures, however. Some say certification could be leading to the at a museum in Lyon, France, while the future Quai Branly museum in Paris, which will be devoted to arts
loss not preservation of natural forests. John Rappole of the Smithsonian Conservation and Research and civilisations of Africa. Asia, Oceania and the Americas, plans to commission frescoes by artists from
Center, for example, argues that shade-grown marketing provides ‘an incentive to convert existing areas of Australia.
primary forest that are too remote or steep to be converted profitably to other forms of cultivation into
shade-coffee plantations’. B Their artistic movement began about 30 years ago. but its roots go back to time immemorial. All the
works refer to the founding myth of the Aboriginal culture, ‘the Dreaming’. That internal geography, which
Other conservationists, such as Stacey Philpott and colleagues, argue the case for shade coffee. But there are is rendered with a brush and colours, is also the expression of the Aborigines’ long quest to regain the land
different types of shade growing. Those used by subsistence farmers are virtually identical to natural forest which was stolen from them when Europeans arrived in the nineteenth century. ‘Painting is nothing
(and have a corresponding diversity), while systems that use coffee plants as the understorey and cacao or without history.’ says one such artist. Michael Nelson Tjakamarra.
citrus trees as the overstorey may be no more diverse than full-sun farms. Certification procedures need to
distinguish between the two. and Ms.Philpott argues that as long as the process is rigorous and offers C There are now fewer than 400.000 Aborigines living in Australia. They have been swamped by the
financial gains to the producers, shade growing does benefit the environment. country’s 17.5 million immigrants. These original ‘natives’ have been living in Australia for 50.000 years,
Questions 15-19 but they were undoubtedly maltreated by the newcomers. Driven back to the most barren lands or
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 15-19 on your crammed into slums on the outskirts of cities, the Aborigines were subjected to a policy of ‘assimilation’,
answer sheet write which involved kidnapping children to make them better ‘integrated’ into European society, and herding
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information the nomadic Aborigines by force into settled communities.
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this D It was in one such community, Papunya, near Alice Springs, in the central desert, that Aboriginal painting
15. More species survive on the farms studied by the researchers than in the natural El Salvador forests. first came into its own. In 1971, a white schoolteacher. Geoffrey Bardon, suggested to a group of Aborigines
16. Nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s wildlife species can be found in shade- coffee plantations. that they should decorate the school walls with ritual motifs. so as to pass on to the younger generation the
17. Farmers in El Salvador who have tried both methods prefer shade-grown plantations. myths that were starting to fade from their collective memory, the gave them brushes. colours and surfaces
to paint on cardboard and canvases. He was astounded by the result. But their art did not come like a bolt
18. Shade plantations are important for migrating birds in both Africa and the Americas.
from the blue: for thousands of years Aborigines had been ‘painting’ on the ground using sands of different
19. Full-sun cultivation can increase the costs of farming.

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colours, and on rock faces. They had also been decorating their bodies for ceremonial purposes. So there vii Belief in continuity
existed a formal vocabulary. viii Oppression of a minority people
Questions 34-37
E This had already been noted by Europeans. In the early twentieth century. Aboriginal communities Complete the flow chart below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
brought together by missionaries in northern Australia had been encouraged to reproduce on tree bark the • For (34)…………………….Aborigines produced ground and rock paintings.
motifs found on rock faces. Artists turned out a steady stream of works, supported by the churches, which • Early twentieth century: churches first promoted the use of (35)………………for paintings.
helped to sell them to the public, and between 1950 and I960 Aboriginal paintings began to reach overseas • Mid-twentieth century: Aboriginal paintings were seen in (36)……………………
museums. Painting on bark persisted in the north, whereas the communities in the central desert • Early 1970s: Aboriginal painted traditional patterns on (37)…………………..in one commodity
increasingly used acrylic paint, and elsewhere in Western Australia women explored the possibilities of
wax painting and dyeing processes, known as ‘batik’. Questions 38-40
Choose the correct answer, A, B, C or D
F What Aborigines depict are always elements of the Dreaming, the collective history that each community 38. In Paragraph G, the writer suggests that an important feature of Aboriginal art is
is both part of and guardian of. The Dreaming is the story of their origins, of their ‘Great Ancestors’, who A its historical context.
passed on their knowledge, their art and their skills (hunting, medicine, painting, music and dance) to man. B its significance to the group.
‘The Dreaming is not synonymous with the moment when the world was created.’ says Stephane Jacob, one C its religious content.
of the organisers of the Lyon exhibition. ‘For Aborigines, that moment has never ceased to exist. It is D its message about the environment.
perpetuated by the cycle of the seasons and the religious ceremonies which the Aborigines organise. Indeed
the aim of those ceremonies is also to ensure the permanence of that golden age. The central function of 39. In Aboriginal beliefs, there is a significant relationship between
Aboriginal painting, even in its contemporary manifestations, is to guarantee the survival of this world. The A communities and lifestyles.
Dreaming is both past, present and future.’ B images and techniques.
C culture and form.
G Each work is created individually, with a form peculiar to each artist, but it is created within and on D ancestors and territory.
behalf of a community who must approve it. An artist cannot use a ‘dream’ that does not belong to his or
her community, since each community is the owner of its dreams, just as it is anchored to a territory 40. In Paragraph I. the writer suggests that Aboriginal art invites Westerners to engage with
marked out by its ancestors, so each painting can be interpreted as a kind of spiritual road map for that A the Australian land.
community. B their own art.
C Aboriginal culture.
H Nowadays, each community is organised as a cooperative and draws on the services of an art adviser, a D their own history.
government-employed agent who provides the artists with materials, deals with galleries and museums
and redistributes the proceeds from sales among the artists. Today, Aboriginal painting has become a great The bar chart below shows the percentage participation of men in senior development in three
success. Some works sell for more than $25,000, and exceptional items may fetch as much as $180,000 in companies between 1980 and the year 2010.
Australia. ‘By exporting their paintings as though they were surfaces of their territory, by accompanying Summarise the information by selecting and report in the main features, and make
them to the temples of western art. the Aborigines have redrawn the map of their country, into whose comparisons where relevant.
depths they were exiled, says Yves Le Fur. of the Quai Branlv museum. ‘Masterpieces have been created.
Their undeniable power prompts a dialogue that has proved all too rare in the history of contacts between
the two cultures’.

Questions 28-33
Reading Passage 3 has nine paragraphs A-l. Choose the most suitable heading for paragraphs A-F from the
list of headings below.
28. Paragraph A
29. Paragraph B
30. Paragraph C
31. Paragraph D
32. Paragraph E
33. Paragraph F
List of Headings
i Amazing results from a project
ii New religious ceremonies
iii Community art centres
iv Early painting techniques and marketing systems
v Mythology and history combined
vi The increasing acclaim for Aboriginal art

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IELTS READING TEST 12 http://ieltscuecard.trendinggyan.com/ 1. Why do termite mounds have a system of vents?
Sustainable architecture – lessons from the ant A to allow the termites to escape from predators
Africa owes its termite mounds a lot. Trees and shrubs take root in them. Prospectors mine them, looking for B to enable the termites to produce food
specks of gold carried up by termites from hundreds of metres below. And of course, they are a special treat to C to allow the termites to work efficiently
aardvarks and other insectivores. Now, Africa is paying an offbeat tribute to these towers of mud. The D to enable the termites to survive at night
extraordinary Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, is said to be the only one in the world to 2. Why was Eastgate cheaper to build than a conventional building?
use the same cooling and heating principles as the termite mound. A Very few materials were imported.
B Its energy consumption was so low.
Termites in Zimbabwe build gigantic mounds inside which they farm a fungus that is their primary food C Its tenants contributed to the costs.
source. This must be kept at exactly 30.5°C, while the temperatures on the African veld outside can range from D No air conditioners were needed.
1.5°C at night only just above freezing to a baking hot 40°C during the day. The termites achieve this 3. Why would a building like Eastgate not work efficiently in New York?
remarkable feat by building a system of vents in the mound. Those at the base lead down into chambers cooled A Temperature change occurs seasonally rather than daily.
by wet mud carried up from water tables far below, and others lead up through a flue to the peak of the B Pollution affects the storage of heat in the atmosphere.
mound. By constantly opening and closing these heating and cooling vents over the course of the day the C Summer and winter temperatures are too extreme.
termites succeed in keeping the temperature constant in spite of the wide fluctuations outside. D Levels of humidity affect cloud coverage.
4. What does Ove Arup’s data suggest about Eastgate’s temperature control system?
Architect Mick Pearce used precisely the same strategy when designing the Eastgate Building, which has no air A It allows a relatively wide range of temperatures.
conditioning and virtually no heating. The building the country’s largest commercial and shopping complex B The only problems are due to human error.
uses less than 10% of the energy of a conventional building ns size. These efficiencies translated directly to the C It functions well for most of the year.
bottom line: the Eastgate’s owners saved $3.5 million on a $36 million building because an air- conditioning D The temperature in the atrium may fall too low
plant didn’t have to be imported. These savings were also passed on to tenants: rents are 20% lower than in a 5. Pearce believes that his building would be improved by
new building next door. The complex is actually two buildings linked by bridges across a shady, glass-roofed A becoming more of a habitat for wildlife.
atrium open to the breezes. Fans suck fresh air in from the atrium, blow it upstairs through hollow spaces B even closer links with the history of Zimbabwe.
under the floors and from there into each office through baseboard vents. As it rises and warms, it is drawn out C giving people more space to interact with nature.
via ceiling vents and finally exits through forty- eight brick chimneys. To keep the harsh, highveld sun from D better protection from harmful organisms.
heating the interior, no more than 25% of the outside is glass, and all the windows are screened by cement
arches that just out more than a metre. Questions 6-10
Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 1. Use NO MORE THAN THREE
During summer’s cool nights, big fans flush air through the building seven times an hour to chill the hollow WORDS for each answer.
floors. By day, smaller fans blow two changes of air an hour through the building, to circulate the air which has
been in contact with the cool floors. For winter days, there are small heaters in the vents. This is all possible Warm air leaves the offices through (6)……………………….
only because Harare is 1600 feet above sea level, has cloudless skies, little humidity and rapid temperature The warm air leaves the building through (7)……………….
swings days as warm as 31°C commonly drop to 14°C at night. ‘You couldn’t do this in New York, with its Heat from the sun is prevented from reaching the windows by (8)…………………..
fantastically hot summers and fantastically cold winters,’ Pearce said. But then his eyes lit up at the challenge.’ When the outside temperature drops (9)……………….bring air in from outside.
Perhaps you could store the summer’s heat in water somehow. On cold days (10)……………………raise the temperature in the offices.

The engineering firm of Ove Amp & Partners, which worked with him on the design, monitors daily Questions 11-13
temperatures outside, under the floors and at knee, desk and ceiling level. Ove Arup’s graphs show that the Answer the question below, using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
temperature of the building has generally stayed between 23″C and 25°C. with the exception of the annual hot Which three parts of the Eastgate Building reflect important features of Zimbabwe’s history and culture?
spell just before the summer rains in October, and three days in November, when a janitor accidentally A entrances
switched off the fans at night. The atrium, which funnels the winds through, can be much cooler. And the air is B quill
fresh far more so than in air-conditioned buildings, where up to 30% of the air is recycled. C cages
Pearce, disdaining smooth glass skins as ‘igloos in the Sahara’, calls his building, with its exposed girders and D elevators
pipes, ‘spiky’. The design of the entrances is based on the porcupine-quill headdresses of the local Shona tribe. E fan covers
Elevators are designed to look like the mineshaft cages used in Zimbabwe’s diamond mines. The shape of the F stone
fan covers, and the stone used in their construction, are echoes of Great Zimbabwe, the ruins that give the
country its name. Standing on a roof catwalk, peering down inside at people as small as termites below. Pearce Inside the mind of the consumer
said he hoped plants would grow wild in the atrium and pigeons and bats would move into it. like that termite A MARKETING people are no longer prepared to take your word for it that you favour one product over
fungus, further extending the whole ‘organic machine’ metaphor. The architecture, he says, is a regionalised another. They want to scan your brain to see which one you really prefer. Using the tools of neuroscientists,
style that responds to the biosphere, to the ancient traditional stone architecture of Zimbabwe’s past, and to such as electroencephalogram (EEG) mapping and functional magnetic-resonance imaging (fMRI), they are
local human resources. trying to learn more about the mental processes behind purchasing decisions. The resulting fusion of
neuroscience and marketing is inevitably, being called ‘neuromarketing’.
Questions 1-5
Choose the correct answer, A, B, C or D.
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B The first person to apply brain-imaging technology in this way was Gerry Zaltman of Harvard University, in J Another worry is that brain-scanning is an invasion of privacy and that information on the preferences of
the late 1990s. The idea remained in obscurity until 2001, when BrightHouse, a marketing consultancy based specific individuals will be misused. But neuromarketing studies rely on small numbers of volunteer subjects,
in Atlanta, Georgia, set up a dedicated neuromarketing arm, BrightHouse Neurostrategies Group. (BrightHouse so that seems implausible. Critics also object to the use of medical equipment for frivolous rather than medical
lists Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and Home Depot among its clients.) But the company’s name may itself simply be purposes. But as Tim Ambler, a neuromarketing researcher at the London Business School, says: ‘A tool is a
an example of clever marketing. BrightHouse does not scan people while showing them specific products or tool, and if the owner of the tool gets a decent rent for hiring it out, then that subsidises the cost of the
campaign ideas, but bases its work on the results of more general fMRI-based research into consumer equipment, and everybody wins.’ Perhaps more brain-scanning will some day explain why some people like
preferences and decision-making carried out at Emory University in Atlanta. the idea of neuromarketing, but others do not.

C Can brain scanning really be applied to marketing? The basic principle is not that different from focus groups Questions 14-19
and other traditional forms of market research. A volunteer lies in an fMRI machine and is shown images or Reading Passage 2 has ten paragraphs A-J. Choose the correct heading for Paragraphs B-G from the list of
video clips. In place of an interview or questionnaire, the subject’s response is evaluated by monitoring brain headings below.
activity. fMRI provides real-time images of brain activity, in which different areas “light up” depending on the 14. Paragraph B
level of blood flow. This provides clues to the subject’s subconscious thought patterns. Neuroscientists know, 15. Paragraph C
for example, that the sense of self is associated with an area of the brain known as the medial prefrontal cortex. 16. Paragraph D
A flow of blood to that area while the subject is looking at a particular logo suggests that he or she identifies 17. Paragraph E
with that brand. 18. Paragraph F
19. Paragraph G
D At first, it seemed that only companies in Europe were prepared to admit that they used neuromarketing. List of Headings
Two carmakers, DaimlerChrysler in Germany and Ford’s European arm, ran pilot studies in 2003. But more i A description of the procedure
recently, American companies have become more open about their use of neuromarketing. Lieberman ii An international research project
Research Worldwide, a marketing firm based in Los Angeles, is collaborating with the California Institute of iii An experiment to investigate consumer responses
Technology (Caltech) to enable movie studios to market-test film trailers. More controversially, the New York iv Marketing an alternative name
Times recently reported that a political consultancy, FKF Research, has been studying the effectiveness of v A misleading name
campaign commercials using neuromarketing techniques. vi A potentially profitable line of research
vii Medical dangers of the technique
E Whether all this is any more than a modern-day version of phrenology, the Victorian obsession with linking viii Drawbacks to marketing tools
lumps and bumps in the skull to personality traits, is unclear. There have been no large-scale studies, so scans ix Broadening applications
of a handful of subjects may not be a reliable guide to consumer behaviour in general. Of course, focus groups x What is neuromarketing?
and surveys are flawed too: strong personalities can steer the outcomes of focus groups, and people do not
always tell opinion pollsters the truth. And even honest people cannot always explain their preferences. Questions 20-22
Look at the following people (Questions 20-22) and the list of opinions below. Match each person with the
F That is perhaps where neuromarketing has the most potential. When asked about cola drinks, most people opinion credited to him.
claim to have a favourite brand, but cannot say why they prefer that brand’s taste. An unpublished study of 20. Steven Quartz
attitudes towards two well- known cola drinks. Brand A and Brand 13. carried out last year in a college of 21. Gary Ruskin
medicine in the US found that most subjects preferred Brand B in a blind tasting fMRI scanning showed that 22. Tim Ambler
drinking Brand B lit up a region called the ventral putamen, which is one of the brain s ‘reward centres’, far List of opinions
more brightly than Brand A. But when told which drink was which, most subjects said they preferred Brand A, A Neuromarketing could be used lo contribute towards the cost of medical technology.
which suggests that its stronger brand outweighs the more pleasant taste of the other drink. B Neuromarketing could use introspection as a tool in marketing research.
C Neuromarketing could be a means of treating medical problems.
G “People form many unconscious attitudes that are obviously beyond traditional methods that utilise D Neuromarketing could make an existing problem worse.
introspection,” says Steven Quartz, a neuroscientist at Caltech who is collaborating with Lieberman Research. E Neuromarketing could lead to the misuse of medical equipment.
With over $100 billion spent each year on marketing in America alone, any firm that can more accurately F Neuromarketing could be used to prevent the exploitation of consumers.
analyse how customers respond to products, brands and advertising could make a fortune.
Questions 23-26
H Consumer advocates are wary. Gary Ruskin of Commercial Alert, a lobby group, thinks existing marketing Complete the summary below using words from the passage. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for
techniques are powerful enough. “Already, marketing is deeply implicated in many serious pathologies,” he each answer.
says. “That is especially true of children, who are suffering from an epidemic of marketing- related diseases, Neuromarketing can provide valuable information on attitudes to particular (23)…………………It may be more
including obesity and type-2 diabetes. Neuromarketing is a tool to amplify these trends.” reliable than surveys, where people can be (24)……………………..or focus groups, where they may be influenced
I Dr Quartz counters that neuromarketing techniques could equally be used for benign purposes. “There are by others. It also allows researchers to identify the subject’s (25)…………………thought patterns. However, some
ways to utilise these technologies to create more responsible advertising,” he says. Brain-scanning could, for people are concerned that it could lead to problems such as an increase in disease among (26)………………..
example, be used to determine when people are capable of making free choices, to ensure that advertising falls
within those bounds. The accidental rainforest

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When PeterOsbeck. a Swedish priest, stopped off at the mid-Atlantic island of Ascension in 1752 on his way
home from China, he wrote of ‘a heap of ruinous rocks’ with a bare, white mountain in the middle. All it ‘As you walk through the forest, you see lots of leaves that have had chunks taken out of them by various
boasted was a couple of dozen species of plant, most of them ferns and some of them unique to the island. insects. There are caterpillars and beetles around.’ says Wilkinson. ‘But where did they come from? Are they
And so it might have remained. But in 1843 British plant collector Joseph Hooker made a brief call on his endemic or alien? If alien, did they come with the plant on which they feed or discover it on arrival?’ Such
return from Antarctica. Surveying the bare earth, he concluded that the island had suffered some natural questions go to the heart of how- rainforests happen. The Green Mountain forest holds many secrets. And the
calamity that had denuded it of vegetation and triggered a decline in rainfall that was turning the place into a irony is that the most artificial rainforest in the world could tell us more about rainforest ecology than any
desert. The British Navy, which by then maintained a garrison on the island, was keen to improve the place and number of natural forests.
asked Hooker’s advice. He suggested an ambitious scheme for planting trees and shrubs that would revive
rainfall and stimulate a wider ecological recovery. And, perhaps lacking anything else to do, the sailors set to Questions 27-32
with a will. Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 27-32 on your
In 1845, a naval transport ship from Argentina delivered a batch of seedlings. In the following years, more than answer sheet write
200 species of plant arrived from South Africa, from England came 700 packets of seeds, including those of two TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN
species that especially liked the place: bamboo and prickly pear. With sailors planting several thousand trees a 27. When Peter Osbeck visited Ascension, he found no inhabitants on the island.
year, the bare white mountain was soon cloaked in green and renamed Green Mountain, and by the early 28. The natural vegetation on the island contained some species which were found nowhere else.
twentieth century the mountain’s slopes were covered with a variety of trees and shrubs from all over the 29. Joseph Hooker assumed that human activity had caused the decline in the island’s plant life.
world. 30. British sailors on the island took part in a major tree planting project.
31. Hooker sent details of his planting scheme to a number of different countries.
Modern ecologists throw up their hands in horror at what they see as Hookers environmental anarchy. The 32, The bamboo and prickly pear seeds sent from England were unsuitable for Ascension.
exotic species wrecked the indigenous ecosystem, squeezing out the islands endemic plants. In fact. Hooker Questions 33-37
knew well enough what might happen. However, he saw greater benefit in improving rainfall and encouraging Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-G from the list below.
more prolific vegetation on the island. 33. The reason for modern conservationists’ concern over Hooker’s tree planting programme is that
34. David Wilkinson says the creation of the rainforest in Ascension is important because it shows that
But there is a much deeper issue here than the relative benefits of sparse endemic species versus luxuriant 35. Wilkinson says the existence of Ascension’s rainforest challenges the theory that
imported ones. And as botanist David Wilkinson of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK pointed out 36. Alan Gray questions Wilkinson’s theory, claiming that
after a recent visit to the island, it goes to the heart of some of the most dearly held tenets of ecology. 37. Additional support for Wilkinson’s theory comes from findings that
Conservationists’ understandable concern for the fate of Ascension’s handful of unique species has, he says,
blinded them to something quite astonishing the fact that the introduced species have been a roaring success. A other rainforests may have originally been planted by man.
B many of the island’s original species were threatened with destruction.
Today’s Green Mountain, says Wilkinson, is ‘a fully functioning man-made tropical cloud forest’ that has grown C the species in the original rainforest were more successful than the newer arrivals.
from scratch from a ragbag of species collected more or less at random from all over the planet. But how could D rainforests can only develop through a process of slow and complex evolution.
it have happened? Conventional ecological theory says that complex ecosystems such as cloud forests can E steps should be taken to prevent the destruction of the original ecosystem.
emerge only through evolutionary processes in which each organism develops in concert with others to fill F randomly introduced species can coexist together.
particular niches. Plants evolve with their pollinators and seed dispersers, while microbes in the soil evolve to G the introduced species may have less ecological significance than the original ones.
deal with the leaf litter. But that’s not what happened on Green Mountain. And the experience suggests that Questions 38-40
perhaps natural rainforests are constructed far more by chance than by evolution. Species, say some ecologists, Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D
don’t so much evolve to create ecosystems as make the best of what they have. ‘The Green Mountain system is
a man-made system that has produced a tropical rainforest without any co-evolution between its constituent 38. Wilkinson suggests that conservationists’ concern about the island is misguided because
species,’ says Wilkinson. A it is based on economic rather than environmental principles.
B it is not focusing on the most important question.
Not everyone agrees. Alan Gray, an ecologist at the University of Edinburgh in the UK. argues that the surviving C it is encouraging the destruction of endemic species.
endemic species on Green Mountain, though small in number, may still form the framework of the new’ D it is not supported by the local authorities.
ecosystem. The new arrivals may just be an adornment, with little structural importance for the ecosystem. But 39. According to Wilkinson, studies of insects on the island could demonstrate
to Wilkinson this sounds like clutching at straws. And the idea of the instant formation of rainforests sounds A the possibility of new ecological relationships.
increasingly plausible as research reveals that supposedly pristine tropical rainforests from the Amazon to B a future threat to the ecosystem of the island.
south-east Asia may in places be little more titan the overgrown gardens of past rainforest civilisations. C the existence of previously unknown species.
D a chance for the survival of rainforest ecology.
The most surprising thing of all is that no ecologists have thought to conduct proper research into this human- 40. Overall, what feature of the Ascension rainforest does the writer stress?
made rainforest ecosystem. A survey of the island’s flora conducted six years ago by the University of A the conflict of natural and artificial systems
Edinburgh was concerned only with endemic species. They characterised everything else as a threat. And the B the unusual nature of its ecological structure
Ascension authorities are currently turning Green Mountain into a national park where introduced species, at C the harm done by interfering with nature
least the invasive ones, are earmarked for culling rather than conservation. Conservationists have D the speed and success of its development
understandable concerns, Wilkinson says. At least four endemic species have gone extinct on Ascension since
the exotics started arriving. But in their urgency to protect endemics, ecologists are missing out on the study of
a great enigma.
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