WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:
Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on your children.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.

I tend to agree that young children can be negatively affected by too much time
spent on the
computer every day. This is partly because sitting in front of a screen for too long
can be damaging
to both the eyes and the physical posture of a young child, regardless of what
they are using the
computer for.
However, the main concern is about the type of computer activities that attract
children. These are
often electronic games that tend to be very intense and rather violent. The player
is usually the
‘hero’ of the game and too much exposure can encourage children to be self-
centred and
insensitive to others.
Even when children use a computer for other purposes, such as getting
information or emailing
friends, it is no substitute for human interaction. Spending time with other
children and sharing nonvirtual
experiences is an important part of a child's development that cannot be provided
by a
computer.
In spite of this, the obvious benefits of computer skills for young children cannot
be denied. Their
adult world will be changing constantly in terms of technology and the Internet is
the key to all the
knowledge and information available in the world today. Therefore it is important
that children learn
at an early age to use the equipment enthusiastically and with confidence as they
will need these
skills throughout their studies and working lives.
I think the main point is to make sure that young children do not overuse
computers. Parents must
ensure that their children learn to enjoy other kinds of activity and not simply sit at home,
learning to live in a virtual world.
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You and your family are living in rented accommodation in an English speaking country. You
are not
satisfied with the condition of some of the furniture.
Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter
• introduce yourself
• explain what is wrong with the furniture
• say what action you would like the landlord to take
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write and addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ..........,

Dear Mr Smith,
I am your tenant from Flat 3 on Riverside Street. We met each
other when I signed the rental agreement in your office.

I have lived here for 6 months now and I am writing to complain

about some of the furniture. As you may remember, the dining
table is in very poor condition and has uneven legs. It also does
not match the dining chairs as these are too low to be
comfortable for a table of that height. When I first pointed this
out to you, you agreed to provide a brand new dining set.
However, you have not done
so and I would really like to resolve this matter as soon as
possible.

If it is more convenient for you, perhaps you could simply replace

the table by finding one of a suitable height for the chairs. This
would solve the problems without too much cost, so I hope you
agree to this proposed solution.

Looking forward to hearing from you, Yours sincerely,

M.M.

2.Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change.
Others, however, think that change is always a good thing.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

Over the last half century the pace of change in the life of human beings has
increased beyond our wildest expectations. This has been driven by
technological and scientific breakthroughs that are changing the whole way we
view the world on an almost daily basis. This means that change is not
always a personal option, but an inescapable fact of life, and we need to
constantly adapt to keep pace with it.

Those people who believe they have achieved some security by doing the same,
familiar things are living in denial. Even when people believe they are resisting
change themselves, they cannot stop the world around them from changing.
Sooner or later they will find that the familiar jobs no longer exist, or that the
‘safe’ patterns of behaviour are no longer appropriate.

However, reaching the conclusion that change is inevitable is not the same as
assuming that ‘change is always for the better’. Unfortunately, it is not always the
case that new things are promoted because they have good impacts for the
majority of people. A lot of innovations are made with the aim of making money
for a few. This is because it is the rich and powerful people in our
society who are able to impose changes (such as in working conditions or
property developments) that are in their own interests.

In conclusion, I would say that change can be stimulating and energising for
individuals when they pursue it themselves, but that all change, including that
which is imposed on people, does not necessarily have good outcomes.

Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other
important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

As a result of constant media attention, sports professionals in my country have

become stars and celebrities, and those at the top are paid huge salaries. Just
like movie stars, they live extravagant lifestyles with huge houses and cars.

Many people find their rewards unfair, especially when comparing these super
salaries with those of top surgeons or research scientists, or even leading
politicians who have the responsibility of governing the country. However, sports
salaries are not determined by considering the contribution to society a person
makes, or the level of responsibility he or she holds. Instead, they reflect the
public popularity of sport in general and the level of public support that successful
stars can generate. So the notion of ‘fairness’ is not the issue.
Those who feel that sports stars’ salaries are justified might argue that the
number of professionals with real talent are very few, and the money is a
recognition of the skills and dedication a person needs to be successful.
Competition is constant and a player is tested every time they perform in
their relatively short career. The pressure from the media is intense and there is
little privacy out of the spotlight. So all of these factors may justify the huge
earnings.

Personally, I think that the amount of money such sports stars make is more
justified than the huge earnings of movie stars, but at the same time, it indicates
that our society places more value on sport than on more essential professions
and achievements.

Even though globalization affects the world�s economies in a positive way, its
negative side should not be forgotten. Discuss.

In the present age, globalization is playing increasingly important role in our lives. But in
the meantime whether it is a blessing or a curse has sparked much debate. Some people
argue the globalization has fundamentally beneficial influence on our lives while many
others contend that it has detrimental effect as well.

Convincing argument can be made that globalization not only plays a pivotal role in the
development of technology and economy, but also promotes the exchange of cultures
between different countries. To start with, it is the globalization that impelled many
corporations to become an international group, thereby making contribution to local
technology and employment. Specifically, when a multinational group establishes a
factory in a developing country, the new equipment, the new management skill and the
job vacancies are all in the best interest of local society. Moreover, people worldwide can
know each other better through globalization. It is easy to see that more and more
Hollywood blockbusters shows the cultures different from American, some recent
examples are Kungfu Panda and Mummy.

Admittedly, profit driven globalization severely affected the young people. Today, in the
metropolises in different countries, it is very common sight that teenagers are wearing
NIKE T-shirt and Adidas footwear, playing Hi-pop music with Apple ipod and having
KFC. The culture that took thousand years to form is just seems similar in these cities; it
is looks like you can only distinguish them by their language. Meanwhile, in some
developing countries, sweat workshop is always the issue that concerned by WHO. For
instance, some report shows that some teenagers who employed by NIKE�s contractor
always stay in the factory that is fulfilled by smell over 14 hours a day, but they only
work for fifty cents per hour.

In summary, I would concede that globalization do come with some adverse effects.
Despite that the benefits created by it far outweigh the disadvantages. Overall, I
convinced that we should further promote globalization and meanwhile the local
government should take some measures to combat culture assimilation and sweat
workshop.

As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role
for teachers in the classroom.

There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the
introduction of computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing,
and connectivity has expedited the data availability. Though experts systems have made
computers more intelligent, they have not yet become a substitute of the human
interaction in the learning process. In my opinion; what can be expected, is a change of
the teachers? role but not their disappearance from the classroom.

Nobody can argue that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with
computers. The mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an
enjoyable task for a kid. This, accompanied with the relaxing attitude and software
interactivity, usually conduce to a better grasping of new knowledge. At a higher
educational level; the availability of digital books, simulator and other academic
materials, provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that
otherwise would not be at hand.

But, besides the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is
usually embedded in the academic digital material, the need of human interaction in the
learning process will always be present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the
necessity for a human being to be able to determine what the specific needs of each
individual are. The expertise of a teacher in how to explain and adapt complex concepts
to different individuals can hardly be mimicked by a computer, no matter how
sophisticated its software is.

As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching, teachers should be more aware
of their role as guides in the acquisition of knowledge rather than transmitters of facts.
They have to be open minded to the changes that are taking place, keep updated and
serve as a problem solvers in the learning process, thus allowing students to discover the
facts for themselves.

To summarize, in my personal view, teachers play and will() play an important role in the
classroom, especially at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become,
there will be no replacement for the human interaction, but in the way this interaction
takes place.
Popular events like the football World Cup and other international sporting
occasions are essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic
emotions in a safe way.

Every four years, the whole world stops to watch international sporting events such as the
Olympics and the Football World Cup in which athletes show their best performance to
make their country proud of them. These sporting occasions have proved to be helpful in
easing international tensions in difficult times when powerful leaders were trying to
control the world?s economy and other governments were fighting over land.

The Olympic Games are one of the best examples which prove how sporting events can
bring nations together, at least temporarily. From ancient History, when Greeks and
Romans would interrupt battles to participate in the games, to the more recent
international disputes, when athletes from Palestine and Israel would forget their
differences, compete pacifically and even embrace each other after an event. Moreover,
these popular events have called the world?s attention to the terrible consequences of
wars; thus some leaders have tried to accept agreements to end their dispute and live
peacefully.

Similarly, international sporting events show benefits in some developing countries

which live in a daily internal civil war. For example, Brazil has a high rate of
unemployment, lack of education, hunger, crime, poverty and corruption which leads to
an immense embarrassment of being Brazilian and a low self-esteem. However, when the
Football World Cup starts, the Brazilian squad, which is considered the best team in the
world, provokes an amazing feeling of pride in their country. Most people seem to forget
all their problems and even the criminal activity decreases. They paint roads with the
national colors, use wear the Brazilian team shirt and buy national flags. Moreover, the
competition brings families and neighbors together and even rival gangs watch the games
and celebrate peacefully.

In conclusion, popular sporting events play an important role in decreasing international

tensions and liberating patriotic feelings as History has shown.

Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of
poorer nations. However, the governments of richer nations should take more
responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas.

Today’s world has been divided into developing and industrialised countries where the
main difference between them is the amount of money that governments apply in
important sectors such as education, health and commerce. Most of the poorer nations are
buried in debts as a result of their unbalanced finances which are reflected in a poor
health care, an unstructured education system and a weak international trade. This vicious
cycle will continue indefinitely unless wealthier nations show interest in minimizing the
worldwide economic differences, as well as taking more responsibility for assisting
unfortunate countries.

Most of the African countries live in inhuman conditions because of the extreme poverty,
upheaval, hunger, disease, unemployment, lack of education and both inexperienced and
corrupt administrations. The devastating consequences of the AIDS epidemic in those
countries could improve if the infected populations receive free drugs to control the
disease, have access to health professionals and get information on how to prevent its
spread. But this can only be achieved through international help programs in which
leaders of the world?s richest countries donate medicine and also send doctors and nurses
to treat and educate those in need.

Moreover, most of the poor countries rely on selling agricultural products and raw
material to rich nations and buying industrialized products from them which result in a
huge financial deficit. Consequently,
they borrow a significant amount of money from the World Bank to try to improve their
broken economies, but sometimes the money disappears with no significant changes and
they cannot even pay the interest to the bank. Regarding this issue, last year the G8,
which is comprised of leaders of the eight richest nations, decided to forgive billions of
dollars worth of debt owed by the world?s poorest nations. In addition, they developed
adequate loan programs to financially assist those countries.

In conclusion, leaders of the industrialized countries play an indispensable role in

assisting developing nations deal with essential areas such as health, education and trade.
Also, their aid is the key to breaking the vicious cycle, which results in poverty and
death.

Financial education should be mandatory component of the school program. To

what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is an obvious fact that financial aspects are a major part of daily life, as an adult and
even as a young individual. Each and every one of us has to make financial decisions
concerning recreation, health, education and more. The question is whether to start with
financial education as part of school program or postpone it for a later stage in life.

To being with, being able to understand the value of money, the way the economic
system works and interpret financial news and its implications is a virtue. Without this
virtue, an individual, and even a young one, might suffer, to some extent. For example, a
child who doesn’t understand the concept of money might find it more difficult to accept
choosing only one present out of more possible ones.

In addition, many adults are lacking financial analysis capabilities. Quite often, the
reason can be a shaky basis or insecurity when it comes to financial terms and concepts.
Starting from an early age, building a strong background, can very likely prevent such a
situation.

However, financial education necessarily involves quantifying and setting prices and
value for services and goods. It can be easily turn young people into cynical and cold-
hearted human beings. Furthermore, a tendency to self-concentration and egoism might
rise when one starts measuring everything from a profit making perspective.

In conclusion, financial education has both pros and cons. In my opinion, the advantages
are stronger than the disadvantages, making financial education an advisable component
of school program. The disadvantages should be thought of as a certain price that young
people have to pay due to the characteristics of the world that we live in.

Even though globalization affects the world�s economies in a very positive way, its
negative side should not be forgotten. Discuss.

Globalization is such a commonly used term in the twenty first century. It simply means
that the world has become integrated economically, socially, politically and culturally
through the advances of technology, transportation and communication. It is undeniable
to say that globalization has resulted in both positive and negative effects which must be
addressed accordingly.

To begin with, globalization has contributed to the world�s economies in many

beneficial ways. The advances in science and technology have allowed businesses to
easily cross over territorial boundary lines. Consequently, companies tend to become
more productive, competitive thereby raising quality of goods, services and the world�s
living standard.

Secondly, several companies from the more developed countries have already ventured to
establish foreign operations or branches to take advantage of the low cost of labor in the
poorer countries. This kind of business activity will provide more influx of cash or
investment funds into the less developed countries.

However, one cannot deny the negative effects which were derived from globalization.
One crucial social aspect is the risk and danger of epidemic diseases which can easily be
spread as the mode transportation is easier and faster in today�s advance society. This is
evidenced in the recent bird�s flu disease which has infected most Asian countries over
a short time frame.

As large corporations invest or take over many off shore businesses, a modern form of
colonization will also evolve which may pose certain power pressure on the local
governments of the less developed countries. Unemployment rates in the more developed
regions like Europe may also escalate as corporations choose to outsource cheaper work
force from Asian countries.

In conclusion. I would like to reiterate that globalization is inevitable and we must urge
individuals, companies and governments to use a more balanced approach by taking
appropriate steps to deal with matters relating to the financial or economical gains verses
the social, political or ecological concerns of the world.

In some countries children have very strict rules of behavior, in other countries they
are allowed to do almost anything they want. To what extent should children have to
follow rules?

The extent to which children have to follow rules is in itself a very complex issue, since
children across the world grow up in very different cultures. In India, for example, the
level of morality is very high and children are to be very submissive to their parents as
well as other adults around them. This, however, is not the case for the Western countries
of the world where children follow the motto �Thou shalt do what thou wilt� as
promoted by celebrities and rock stars. I believe that following strict rules has both
advantages and serious drawbacks as discussed below.

Firstly, strict rules of behavior create responsible and respectful children who in turn
mature into respectful adults. This forms a stable society which is virtually free from
vices such as prostitution and drug abuse. Secondly, if children do not follow strict rules
of behavior, they will get out of hand and become work- shy and indolent. This will then
create a burden on society since the government has to find ways to cater for these social
ills.

However, forcing children to follow strict rules of behavior doesn�t always yield
positive results as discussed above, most of the time it backfires and works against
society. For example, teenagers are more likely to do the opposite of what they�re told
to do simply because they want to be independent. Children should also have rights to
exercise their free will and develop their own pattern of behaviors. Strict rules simply
destroy the individuality of children if they�re imposed on them.

At the end of the day, it is clear that children should be guided by rules, but these rules
should not be imposed on them because as human beings, they need to have room to
develop their own traits of character and adopt a behavioral pattern of their own.
Reading
Questions 1-5
Look at the information about Camberwell College’s swimming pools. Then answer the
questions below.

Camberwell College Swimming Pools

Camberwell College has one 50m (Olympic sized) pool with a constant depth of 2m
throughout, and one 25m pool with a 1m shallow end and a 4m deep end. Both pools may
be used by the general public at certain times.

50m Pool

The pool is often used for classes, but the general public may use two lanes for lane
swimming at the following times.
Monday: 0630 -1130 and 1900 - 2100
Tuesday: 0630 -1130 and 1800 - 2100
Wednesday: 0630 -1330 and 1730 - 2130
Thursday: 0630 -1330
Friday: 0630 -1330
Weekends: 0900 - 1700

Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please note that during College holidays, these times will vary. Contact the swimming pool
on 04837 393560 for up-to-date information.

25m Pool

The 25 metre pool is available for recreational (non-lane) swimming from 0700-0900 and
1230-1330 on weekdays, and 1000 – 1600 on Saturdays.

Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied.

We regret that the 25m pool will be closed for refurbishment between 21st July and 18th
August. The men’s changing rooms will be closed for the week beginning 18th August, and
the women’s changing rooms will be closed the following week. Alternative changing
facilities will be made available. We apologise for any disruption this may cause.

For questions 1-5 select:

True if the statement is true
False if the statement is false
Not Given if the information is not given in the passage
1. The general public can only use the 50m pool for lane swimming.
2. The general public cannot use the 50m pool on Sundays.
3. Men will be able to use the 25m pool on the 18th August.
4. The whole of the 25m pool is available to the public during recreational swimming hours.

5. The 50m pool is open during college holidays.

Questions 6-13
Look at the information about swimming classes. Then answer the questions below.

Camberwell College Swimming Classes

It’s an essential life skill, it can make you fit and it provides fun for all the family. Camberwell
College’s offers swimming classes whatever for your needs, whether you want to swim
competitively, you are trying to stay healthy or you want to learn.
We offer separate classes for adults and children, following the National Plan for Teaching
Swimming (NPTS). We will guide you from your first splash and help you develop your
confidence in the water.

Swim-A-Long
This class is suitable for parents with children aged up to the age of 1.5 years. This class
allows very young children to gain confidence in the water, by way of songs and music.

Tadpole to Frog Classes

This series of classes is suitable for children aged 1.5 upwards. There are six levels in the
series. The first level is suitable for non-swimmers and teaches basic techniques and safety,
using aids and floats. By the time students reach the sixth level, they will be able to swim
independently and will be eligible to join the Swim Star classes.

Swim Star
An opportunity for able swimmers to earn the Bronze, Silver and Gold swimming awards.
These classes teach children the ability to swim for prolonged periods of time, and teach
skills such as diving, turning and different strokes. Children who successfully complete the
Swim Star programme will be invited to join the Youth Squad and learn competitive
swimming techniques.

Swim School
The swim school offers classes for adults. There are three levels, beginner, intermediate
and advanced. The beginner’s class is suitable for people who are new to swimming; the
intermediate level is designed for swimmers who want to brush up on their swimming style,
and the advanced level offers in-depth advice on stamina, breathing and technique.

Aqua Health
We offer a range of levels of fitness classes for able swimmers who wish to keep fit, socialise
and have fun to music. Aqua-Light offers gentle exercise and is suitable for the elderly.
Aqua-Pump is a high energy class which builds your strength and tones your body.
Questions 6-13
Select a suitable swimming class for the people below.

6. A 5 year-old who is unable to swim

7. A mother who wants to introduce her baby to the water
8. A middle-aged person who can swim quite well but wants to improve his techniques

9. A teenager who is interested in swimming in competitions

10. An old man who wants to keep fit and meet people
11. A child who wants to be able to swim longer distances
12. A strong adult swimmer who wishes to learn complex skills

13. A woman who wants to learn to swim by using music

Questions 14-21
Read the Information about Gateway Academy’s Pre-Sessional Courses. Then complete
the sentences below

Gateway Academy Pre-Sessional Courses

Our pre-sessional courses are ideal for students who have a conditional place at a British
university, but who need to achieve a certain level of English in order to be accepted. The
course aims to provide students with the English language and study skills that they need in
order to be successful at university or another academic establishment. It is important to
note that completion of the course does not guarantee students entrance into a university. It
is necessary for students to show during the course that they have understood the
information and skills that they have been taught, and can incorporate it into their work.

Pre-sessional students at Gateway Academy will benefit from:

• Small class sizes (no more than 10 students per class)

• Twenty three hours of tuition per week
• Individual support and tutorials
• Regular guest lecturers
• The use of the Academy’s study and recreational facilities, including the Language
Library, the computer suite, and the academy’s sports facilities.
• A varied social programme including evening entertainments and weekend
excursions to popular tourist attractions and cities such as Stonehenge, Oxford and
Stratford-on-Avon.

The course offers a holistic approach to learning, and covers reading, writing, speaking and
listening skills. During the course, students will receive instruction on important techniques
such as summary-writing, analysing essay titles, organising writing, note-taking in lectures,
giving seminars and making presentations. Students will gain experience in working both
individually and in groups. As part of the course, all students will work towards a 5000 word
project in their own field of study. Students will receive guidance from their tutors on how
best to conduct research and write it up effectively. Students will also work towards a
presentation on the same subject.

There is no final examination. Students are assessed continuously, taking into account their
attendance, successful completion of assignments and participation in class. Students will
be given a full report on their progress at the end of the course. Students need to be aware
that the course involves a great deal of coursework, which will require students to manage
their time effectively.

Gateway Academy offers three pre-sessional courses. A five-week course beginning in

August is available for advanced level students; a ten-week course beginning in July is
available for upper-intermediate students. Intermediate level students should take our
twenty week course beginning in May. Intermediate level students get a two-week break in
July.

For questions 14-21 Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

14. The Pre-Sessional course is suitable for students whose place at British university is
.

15. During the course, students needs to show that they can understand and
new skills.

16. Students will be able to use many of the Academy’s while they
are studying.

17. Students will have the opportunity to visit on Saturdays and

Sundays.

18. Students will work both alone and .

19. Students will have to research and write up a related to their

subject area.

20. In order to successfully complete their assignments, students will have to

well.

21. students should start their course in July .

Questions 22-27
Choose the correct title for the courses from the list of titles below.
Gateway Academy In-Sessional Courses
If you are currently studying for an undergraduate or post-graduate degree, you may wish to
take one of our in-sessional courses, which run during the academic year. You may take up
to three hours of classes per semester. Please choose your courses from the list below,
complete an application form and hand it in at the Gateway Office.

Writing up experiments
This course is particularly suitable for science students, particularly those in engineering. It
outlines the conventions of lab reports, including how they need to be structured and what
content is required. This class is suitable for both native and non-native speakers.

22
Particularly useful for science students, but of interest to all, this course is an introduction to
statistics. It shows how numbers can be manipulated to suggest different results, and how
public opinion can be altered by clever statistical methods. It will provide an introduction into
useful statistical methods, but is unsuitable for students who requiring advanced statistical
skills for a thesis or dissertation.

23
This course teaches advanced mathematical and statistical skills, and is suitable for students
working on projects which involve a great deal of quantitative data. The course outlines how
to gather data, how to draw conclusions from it, and how best to present it diagrammatically.

24
This course concentrates on the skills needed to write academic essays. Students will learn
how to develop essay titles, structure essays correctly, avoid plagiarism and reference their
work. There will also be the opportunity to work on other elements of writing, including
grammar and punctuation. The course is most suitable for non-native speaker and native
speakers at undergraduate level.

25
A course especially designed for PhD students working on a long term project. As well as
looking at conventions of PhD theses and improving research and study skills, the course
also serves as a social group where PhD students, who often work alone, can share their
experiences and offer each other encouragement and advice.

26
A course to iron out those typical mistakes in English essay writing. Common grammar
mistakes, spelling errors and that dreaded apostrophe will be covered in detail. The course is
designed for native speakers who lack confidence in writing, particularly those who have
been away from academic environments for some time.

27
This course is suitable for non-native students at undergraduate or post-graduate level who
wish to focus on grammar and language. Students will look at which tenses are used in
which situations, look at passive structures and relative clauses. Suitable ‘chunks’ of
language for academic situations will also be presented. Students will also have the chance
to focus on individual grammar needs. Unsuitable for native speakers of English.
Questions 28–40
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

The Shock of the Truth

A Throughout history, there have been instances in which people have been unwilling to
accept new theories, despite startling evidence. This was certainly the case when
Copernicus published his theory – that the earth was not the centre of the universe.

B Until the early 16th century, western thinkers believed the theory put forward by Ptolemy,
an Egyptian living in Alexandria in about 150 A.D. His theory, which was formulated by
gathering and organizing the thoughts of the earlier thinkers, proposed that the universe was
a closed space bounded by a spherical envelope beyond which there was nothing. The
earth, according to Ptolemy, was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre of the
universe. The sun and the stars, revolved around it.

C The theory appealed to human nature. Someone making casual observations as they
looked into the sky might come to a similar conclusion. It also fed the human ego. Humans
could believe that they were at the centre of God’s universe, and the sun and stars were
created for their benefit.

D Ptolemy’s theory, was of course, incorrect, but at the time nobody contested it. European
astronomers were more inclined to save face. Instead of proposing new ideas, they
attempted to patch up and refine Ptolemy’s flawed model. Students were taught using a
book called The Sphere which had been written two hundred years previously. In short,
astronomy failed to advance.

E In 1530, however, Mikolaj Kopernik, more commonly known as Copernicus, made an

assertion which shook the world. He proposed that the earth turned on its axis once per day,
and travelled around the sun once per year. Even when he made his discovery, he was
reluctant to make it public, knowing how much his shocking revelations would disturb the
church. However, George Rheticus, a German mathematics professor who had become
Copernicus’s student, convinced Copernicus to publish his ideas, even though Copernicus, a
perfectionist, was never satisfied that his observations were complete.

F Copernicus’s ideas went against all the political and religious beliefs of the time. Humans,
it was believed, were made in God’s image, and were superior to all creatures. The natural
world had been created for humans to exploit. Copernicus’s theories contradicted the ideas
of all the powerful churchmen of the time. Even the famous playwright William Shakespeare
feared the new theory, pronouncing that it would destroy social order and bring chaos to the
world. However, Copernicus never had to suffer at the hands of those who disagreed with
his theories. He died just after the work was published in 1543.

G However, the scientists who followed in Copernicus’s footsteps bore the brunt of the
church’s anger. Two other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, agreed
wholeheartedly with the Copernican theory. Bruno even dared to say that space was
endless and contained many other suns, each with its own planets. For this, Bruno was
sentenced to death by burning in 1600. Galileo, famous for his construction of the telescope,
was forced to deny his belief in the Copernican theories. He escaped capital punishment,
but was imprisoned for the rest of his life.

H In time however, Copernicus’s work became more accepted. Subsequent scientists and
mathematicians such as Brahe, Kepler and Newton took Copernicus’s work as a starting
point and used it to glean further truths about the laws of celestial mechanics.

I The most important aspect of Copernicus' work is that it forever changed the place of man
in the cosmos. With Copernicus' work, man could no longer take that premier position which
the theologians had immodestly assigned him. This was the first, but certainly not the last
time in which man would have to accept his position as a mere part of the universe, not at
the centre of it.

Questions 28 – 34
The text has nine paragraphs, A-I.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

28. the public’s reaction to the new theory
29. an ancient belief about the position of the earth
30. Copernicus’s legacy to the future of science
31. How academics built on Copernican ideas
32. An idea which is attractive to humans
33. Out-dated teaching and defective research
34. Scientists suffer for their beliefs

Questions 35 – 40
Look at the following statements and the list of people below.
Match each statement with the correct person.

35. He, among others, used Copernicus’s theories to advance scientific knowledge.

36. He proposed an inaccurate theory based on the work of early philosophers.

37. His attitude to the new theory was similar to that of the Church.

38. He was killed because of his belief in the new theory.

39. He was responsible for Copernicus’s ideas being made public.

40. He had to go to jail because he believed in the new theory.