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DONG NAI TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE

READING-WRITING 6
Textbook

Internal Use
EXAM PRACTICE

Using general nouns


1 Look at the photos and answer questions a-c.

a What aspects of culture do the pictures reflect?


b Do you associate the word 'culture' with the activities shown? Why/Why not?
Technique c Which factors in the box are important in making your culture different
from other people's? Give examples for each item you choose.

I I
Learn to notice and
collect general nouns as
IELTS reading questions food • sport • music • family • art • work
often contain such
words. These nouns 2 Divide the following general nouns into pairs with similar meanings.
belong to a limited set.
By identifying these, advantage • aim • benefit • consequence• difference
it is easier to find the difficulty • discrepancy • factor • hazard ■ influence
answer. outcome • problem • purpose • risk

3 General nouns are common in matching tasks. Complete each of the paragraph
headings below with a suitable word from the box.
action • reservations • role • strategies • outline • problem

a The _______ played by the individual in maintaining traditions


b The of protecting culture from outside influences
c Different _______ to combat vandalism of historical sites
d _______ about the benefits of globalization
e _______ taken to improve historical sites of international importance
f An _______ of various strategies to promote the speaking
of Chinese


4 Describe in your own words the possible paragraph contents of three headings
in exercise 3.
Culture
Matching headings (2) ■
1 Read the paragraph headings i-vi and answer questions a-d below.

i Various interpretations of culture based on meaning



ii The problem of explaining what culture means
iii A definition of culture based on shared behaviour
iv Defining a culture is not only a matter of observation
v The main reason for difficulty in investigating culture
vi The discrepancy between personal explanations and the real reasons
for cultural behaviour

a What do you think the topic of the text is?


b Which general nouns are used in the headings? Underline them .
c Based on your answers to a and b, which is the most likely heading for
paragraph A on page 48?
d What does the plural in the word interpretations indicate?

2 Skim the passage on page 48 and match each paragraph A-D with a heading
from i-vi. above. Decide why the remaining two headings are not suitable.

3 The diagram shows the plan of a paragraph. Decide which paragraph from the
passage it relates to. Underline the three examples mentioned.

Various ways of defining

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

Matching information to paragraphs (1)


1 Underline the general nouns in each phrase 1--4 below. Then decide which Technique
phrase is most likely to relate to a whole paragraph and explain why. Notice and collect geneF81
nouns in Matching
information to paragraph
1 the idea that researching a culture is not just about observation tasks. Compare these
2 the fact that countries close to each other can be dissimilar nouns to those used in
Matching headings to
3 the fact that theories about culture can take a long time to develop paragraphs and sections
in a reading passage.
4 various anthropologists' ways of looking at the concept of culture They are very similar.


Unit 6


2 Which paragraph (A-D) in the reading passage contains the information in 1-4?

The meaning of culture


A Culture is a term for which it is very
difficult to give a precise meaning.
The word means so many different
things to different people, so devising
5 a single acceptable definition is more
problematic than may be first thought.
The idea of culture as something shared
is inherently complex. Even people
neighbouring each other, or sharing a
10 common language, or possessing certain
common core values may actually have
as many differences as similarities.
B Anthropologists have proposed over one
hundred different definitions. A number
15 of these are variations on the idea that
culture consists of ' shared patterns of
behaviour' as may be observed by the widely different. The search for meaning
researcher. This is the definition put can therefore be a long and painstaking
forward by Margaret Mead, for example, process, involving long periods of 45
20 in her study of indigenous ritual in observation and interviews in order to
Samoa. This kind of definition, however, build possible theories.
does not take account of the fact that
D While there are some cultures which
studying culture is not just a question of
have remained isolated for long periods
observation. It also involves studying the
of time, many others have built up 50
25 meaning of this observed behaviour.
commercial links with other groups.
C Accordingly, other anthropologists, such as Eventually, this may lead to adopting
Max Weber, speak of culture as consisting elements of the other group's rituals
of systems of shared meaning; as he puts and behaviour which then become
it, 'man is an animal suspended in webs of integrated into those of the original 55
significance he himself has spun.' Similarly, group. Some cultures have clashed with
Claude Levi-Strauss also speaks of less powerful neighbours only to find
culture as a product of the implicit beliefs that over time their culture became
which underlie it. The problem with this heavily influenced by these subordinates,
approach is that the meaning of cultural like the Romans by the Greeks. In this
35 behaviour is not always easy to establish. way, the original meaning of an aspect of
Explanations may be offered up to a point, cultural behaviour may be lost in history
but the underlying assumptions often and may originally have been part of a
remain obscure. Indeed, they are often not belief system very different from that
understood by insiders. As Chris Argyris which prevails in the culture today. This 65
40 and Donald Schon point out, what people dynamism is, perhaps, the major reason
say to explain their cultural behaviour and why researching the meaning behind
what really drives this behaviour are often cultural behaviour is far from easy.
Culture
3 Read this additional extract from the reading passage and answer the questions.

The study of a different culture can be carried out in different ways. It can
be compared to the study of a new planet or terrain. We can study what is
immediately observable: the valleys, mountains and different geographical
features, or, in the case of a culture, the various rituals and patterns of

behaviour. Alternatively, we can ask what values and beliefs underlie these
behaviours or what past events have shaped them, just as we may ask what
geological events have shaped the landscape. This deeper level of enquiry
may often lead on to a third stage in which we not only assess the new
culture, but we also become increasingly aware of the different factors
which have created our own culture as well.

a What general noun in the first sentence means 'method'?


b What three methods are mentioned in the text?

4 Which of the phrases below relates to a part of the paragraph and which to the whole?
Use the general nouns to help you decide.

i various strategies for studying another culture


ii a comparison between the study of a planet and a new culture
iii a cause of geographical features

Matching information to names


1 The lists below are taken from a task where you have to match information to names. Scan
the previous reading passage on page 48 for the names and draw a box around each one.

1 Culture is something which is embodied in the way groups behave.


2 The reasons people give for their behaviour are often different from why
it originally developed.
3 Societies create networks of meaning within which their members live.
4 Culture is something which arises from a group's beliefs.

List of people
A Margaret Mead
B Max Weber
C Claude Levi-Strauss
D Chris Argyris and Donald Schon

2 Match each statement 1-4 with the correct person A-D.


Unit 6
■ Improve your IELTS word skills


1 Decide which general noW1S in the box below could replace the word in italics in this
paragraph heading.
The connection between body language and environment.
\ link ■ bond ■ relationship ■ correlation ■ relation ■ strategy ■ association

2 The heading can also be rewritten in the form below. Which other verbs could be used?
Use the list of nouns above to help you.
Examp/,e
How body language and environment are connected.

3 Divide the general noW1S below into five groups with similar meanings.
aim ■ analysis ■ characteristic ■ consequence ■ difficulty ■ effect ■ explanation
feature ■ goal ■ interpretation ■ objective ■ obstacle ■ outcome ■ problem

4 Change the following sentences into paragraph headings using an appropriate general
noun. Make the headings as short as you can.
Example
The paragraph exemplifies various subcultures in Brazilian society.
Various examp/,es of Brazilian subcultures.

a The paragraph describes the outcome of the research on stem cells.


b The paragraph details how hydrogen is produced from water for energy.
c The section explains how culture and wealth are linked.
d The paragraph provides a list of the different factors involved in the production
of a film.
e The paragraph sets out the part played by the United Nations in protecting cultures
under threat.

5 What synonyms can you find for the general noW1S you used in a-e in exercise 4?

6 Using the noW1S below, make headings that reflect aspects of a university student's life.
Example
Connection: The CO'Tlnection between studying and achievement

1 Benefit:
2 Aim:
3 Problems:
4 Ways:
5 Examples:
6 Factors:
7 Effect:_
Culture
Reading Passage 6 Technique
1 Survey the whole
1 You should spend 20 minutes on questions 1-13, which are based on Reading reading passage and
Passage 6. the questions.
2 Skim the title and
Questions 1-4 predict the contents
of the passage.
Reading Passage 6 has.five sections, A-E. 3 Skim the reading
passage in no more
Choose the correct heading for sections B-E from the list of
than two minutes.
headings below.
4 Skim the questions.
List of Headings Use the questions to
help you improve your
i Research into African community life understanding of the
general content of the
ii Views about intelligence in African societies reading passage.
iii The limitations of Western intelligence tests
iv The Chinese concept of intelligence Technique
v The importance of cultural context in test design 1 Do not just cross out
the example heading.
vi The disadvantages of non-verbal intelligence tests 2 Skim the relevant
paragraphs for the
vii A comparison between Eastern and Western understanding
example(s), as this can
of intelligence help you find the other
viii Words for 'intelligence' in African languages headings.
3 Skim the headings,
ix The impossibility of a universal intelligence test noticing the general
nouns such as views,
Examp/,e Section A iii
comparison, etc and
1 Section B the words which help
2 Section C you scan the text. Also
3 Section D think of synonyms.
4 Section E 4 When you have
finished, check the
order of the headings
you have chosen and
see if they are logical.

Views of intelligence across cultures


A In recent years, researchers have found that B For example, Richard Nesbitt of the University
people in non-Western cultures often have of Michigan concludes that East Asian and
ideas about intelligence that are considerably Western cultures have developed cognitive 15
different from those that have shaped Western styles that differ in fundamental ways, including
5 intelligence tests. This cultural bias may how intelligence is understood. People in
therefore work against certain groups of Western cultures tend to view intelligence as
people. Researchers in cultural differences in a means for individuals to devise categories
intelligence, however, face a major dilemma, and engage in rational debate, whereas 20
namely: how can the need to compai:e _peo!)le Eastern cultures see it as a way for members
10 according to a standard measure be balanced of a community to recognize contradiction
with the need to assess them in the light oftf-\eir and complexity and to play their social roles
own values and concepts? successfully. This view is backed up by

Unit 6


25 Sternberg and Shih-Ying, from the University thread and other materials drawn from the
of Taiwan, whose research shows that Chinese local environment. The research suggested that 70
conceptions of intelligence emphasize the children's development could be validly
understanding and relating to others, and compared to the progression described by
knowing when to show or not show one's Western theories of development, but only by
30 intelligence. using materials and experimental designs based
on their own culture. 75
C The distinction between East Asia and the West
is just one of many distinctions that separate E The original hope of many cognitive
different ways of thinking about intelligence. psychologists was that a test could be developed
Robert Serpell spent a number of years studying that was absent of cultural bias. However,
35 concepts of intelligence in rural African there seems to be an increasing weight of
communities. He found that people in many evidence to suggest that this is unlikely. 80
African communities, especially in those where Raven's Progressive Matrices, for example,
Western-style schooling is still uncommon, were originally advertised as 'culture free'
tend to blur the distinction between intelligence but are now recognized as culturally loaded.
40 and social competence. In rural Zambia, for Such non-verbal intelligence tests are based on
instance, the concept of nzelu includes both cultural constructs which may not appear in a 85
cleverness and responsibility. Likewise, among particular culture. It is doubtful whether cultural
the Luo people in rural Kenya, it has been comparisons of concepts of intelligence will
found that ideas about intelligence consist of ever enable us to move towards creating a test
45 four broad concepts. These are named para or which encompasses all aspects of intelligence
practical thinking, luoro, which includes social as understood by all cultures. It seems even less 90
qualities like respect and responsibility, winjo likely that such a test could be totally free of
or comprehension and rieko. Only the fourth cultural imbalance somewhere.
corresponds more or less to the Western idea of
The solution to the dilemma seems to lie
50 intelligence.
more in accepting that cultural neutrality is
95
D In another study in the same community, unattainable and that administering any valid
Sternberg and Grogorenko have found intelligence test requires a deep familiarity with
that children who score highly on a test of the relevant culture's values and practices.
knowledge about medicinal herbs, a test of
55 practical intelligence, often score poorly on
tests of academic intelligence. This suggests
that practical and academic intelligence can
develop independently of each other, and the
values of a culture may shape the direction in
which a child's intelligence develops.
60 It also tends to support a number of other studies
which suggest that people who are unable to
solve complex problems in the abstract can
often solve them when they are presented in a
familiar context. Ashley Maynard, for instance,
65 now professor of psychology at the University
of Hawaii, conducted studies of cognititt�� "
development among children in a Mayan
village in Mexico using toy looms, spools of
Culture
Questions 5-9 Technique
Matching names
Look at the following findings (Questions 5-9) and the list of reserarchers
below. 1 Scan the passage for
each name in the list.
Match each finding with the correct researcher, A-E. 2 Draw a box around
each name. This limits
List of findings where you need to
look for their findings
5 There is a clear relationship between intelligence and relationships with
(opinions, claims, etc).
others in Chinese culture.
3 Skim to see whether
6 The difference between intelligence and social competence is not distinct the person's findings
in many African communities. occur before or after
their name. Then read
7 Children frequently scoring well in practical tests score less well in the findings.
academic tests. 4 Read through the list of
statements to find the
8 In experiments to measure cognitive development, there is a link between correct match.
the materials used and the test results.
9 The way cognition is viewed in East Asian cultures differs fundamentally
from those in Western cultures.

List of researchers
A Richard Nesbitt B Robert Serpell C Ashley Maynard
D Sternberg and Shih-Ying E Sternberg and Grogorenko

Question 10-12
The list below gives statements about non-verbal intelligence tests.
Which THREE statements are mentioned by the writer of the passage?
A Raven's Progressive Matrices are widely considered to be culturally free.
B Cultural comparisons will allow the development of culturally neutral tests.
C The development of culturally neutral tests is unlikely.
D Raven's Progressive Matrices are culturally specific.
E The creation of culturally-free tests is sometimes possible.
F Many cognitive psychologists originally hoped tests could be developed free of cultural bias.

Question 13
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Which of the following is the main argument of the article?
A Intelligence tests should include tests of social skills and responsibility.
B Test takers from any culture can learn the cognitive style required by Western intelligence tests.
C Intelligence tests cannot be free of cultural bias.
D More research is needed to develop an intelligence test which is valid for all cultures.

2 Write down ways that (a) you (b) your friends (c) your family (d) people in your home
country or a country you are familiar with use to measure intelligence in other people.
Anis
and sciences
EXAM PRACTICE
a ies wittiout worcllists
ComP.leting mutti�le-clioice questions
�nal sin guestions

Completing summaries without wordlists


1 Describe the photos and say which reflects your reading habits.

2 Answer the following questions about reading.


a How often do you read?
b What have you read today so far?
c Which types of books below do you like most? Give reasons.

Romance • Crime • War ■ Historical ■ Biography ■ Travel books


Sci-fi ■ Art books ■ Science

d Some people think reading books will soon be a thing of the past.
Do you agree?

3 Decide which are the best techniques from a-g to complete a Summary
task without a wordlist.
a Skim and decide whether the missing words are adverbs, adjectives,
nouns/noun phrases or verbs.
b Avoid thinking of your own words.
c Predict the meaning of the word in the blank space.
d Skim and ignore the blank space.
e Skim and say the word 'blank' for each missing word.
f Don't check your answers in the passage.
g Skim the summary first before you look at the passage.
4 Read the summary which relates to the reading passage on page 55. Using
ONE word only from the passage, complete each space in the summary.

Most people join book clubs for 1 _______ reasons. The official
reason is to discuss books, but members principally eajoy interacting
with others in a 2 _______ atmosphere. Another reason for the
popularity of book clubs is that reading is a 3 _______ pastime
compared with cinema or theatre going. Some book clubs may
4 _______ on a particular genre, or they may decide to be
5 in their choice of reading material. It all depends on
the interest of the participants. Research suggests that the popularity of
reading has remained 6 _______ since 1996, and it seems likely
that the number of clubs will 7 in the future.
Arts and sciences
Book clubs - from strength to strength
A The proliferation of book clubs, some 50,000 in the UK alone and
who knows how many more worldwide, is quite a remarkable literary
phenomenon. Participants of different ages and backgrounds gather on
a weekly or monthly basis ostensibly to discuss books chosen by the
5 members, but the primary attraction for most people, and the factor
behind the explosion in the number of groups, is not literary, but social.
Human interaction with some added mental stimulation in a relaxed
environment is integral to their success.

B The social aspect apart, the spread of book clubs can also be attributed to the low cost and the availability
10 of books, and the fact that compared to, say, the cinema or theatre, the clubs provide cheap entertainment.
The Internet has played its part as well. Once seen as foreshadowing the end of reading, not only does
the Internet allow people even cheaper access to books, but it also acts as a conduit for readers hungry to
join a particular reading club. A further draw is the number of people who read for pleasure. With reading
being listed as the most popular major leisure activity, according to a survey carried out over a four-week
15 period in 2002 in the UK (65% constant since 1996), there is no shortage of willing participants.

C The clubs vary, ranging from cosy get-togethers in friends' houses, with or without set rules and with or
without food and drink, to more formal, official set-ups in educational-cum-literary establishments like
libraries, sometimes with literary functions with guest speakers. The overwhelming majority are of a more
unthreatening, easy-going nature. People come and go, but the cohesion of the groups seems to live on
20 with new ones springing up to replace those which have faded away.

D From the literary point of view, the focus of each group is different as it depends solely on the make-up
of the members and their predilections. There are reading clubs which specialize in football, romance,
horror, science fiction and so on. Groups can focus on one type or they can be eclectic, combining
different types of fiction like romance with, for example, cricket. Some may even dress up in the style of
25 the characters or the time that a story took place to bring a mystery or an old classic to life. With such a
variety of choice, book clubs are sure to survive and expand.

5 Complete the summary below using the comments made by a student to help you.
Technique
Use context and your
1 .................... for most people is a very relaxing 2 .................... , which own knowledge as well
as the reading passage
can, however, mean that a lot of time is spent on one's own. Yet, it does to complete summaries.
have compensations. Reading allows one to 3 .................... from the Build up your own
picture of the summary
real world, which is not a bad thing these days. There is nothing like as you skim it. This
losing yourself in a 4 .................... , whether it be a serious work like a picture building is called
'activating schemata'.
scientific article, or something like a romantic 5 .................... .

1 I think it's an activity related to books.


2 It's a noun to do with something you do or like.
3 I am sure it's a verb here. The real world is like a prison. So?
4 This one is clear! What are we talking about?
5 This must be another word for a book.
Unit 7


Completing multiple-choice questions
1 Look at the multiple-choice questions. Answer the hint questions next to them.

Technique
Study the structure of multiple-choice questions as you prepare for the exam.
Notice the relationship between the stem and the alternatives. Is it a cause and
effect relationship? Is it one of action and purpose? Or do the alternatives contain
an evaluation of something?

Question 1
1 The increase in book clubs has occurred mainly because they
a Is the question
A perform a social function. about reasons or
consequences'?
B fulfil an intellectual need. b Which word in the
question indicates
C cater for people from a variety of backgrounds. that you should look for
the most important
D solve the social problems of the participants. option'?

2 The nwnber of people who read for pleasure in the UK


A shows that the Internet has some benefits.
L
R:('
Question 2
a Are you looking for the
cause or the effect of
Ii

,,,
.•
the number of people
B means that the cost of books will be kept down. reading'?

Ii
b In the passage, what
C ensures there will always be a pool of readers to supply ' reason is given for the
book clubs. spread of book clubs'?
C Which option refers
D means that cinemas and theatres are losing money. to something not
-� C
mentioned in the text'?

Question 3
3 Which of the following best describes most book groups
� a What kind of words are
mentioned by the writer? options A-D'?
A restrictive b Which similar words in
paragraph C describe
B formal the different types of
groups'?
C small C Which phrase in
D informal
paragraph C indicates
most of the clubs'? II
-
-= II

Question 4
4 Books for discussion in groups are
Which options describe
A restricted to one type. who chooses the books'?
b Which options describe
B dependent on member preference. the limitations on book
choice'?
C limited to several different authors.
c Which option here is
D dependent on the chairperson's reading list. definitely false and
which two are not given'?

Arts and sciences


Question 5
5 The writer of the article thinks that
a Is the q,uestion asking
A book clubs have a certain future. about the writer's
opinion or the writer's
B book clubs will expand slowly but surely. purpose?
I, Which option accurately
C book clubs may not survive. paraphrases this
opinion?
D the variety of book clubs will increase.
c Which wrong option
is the opposite of the
Ii
11
writer's opinion, and
2 Answer the multiple-choice questions. which two are not given?

Analysing questions
1 To some extent, the language and structure in multiple-choice questions are predictable.
Match the lists of language 1-7 which may be found in multiple-choice stems with the
correct category from a-g.
a Choose the correct effect/outcome/consequence.
b Choose the cause or reason for something.
c Identify questions relating to qualifying words.
d Identify the purpose of an event or item.
e Identify the best action/tool for a particular purpose.
f Explain what general point a specific example relates to.
g Give the writer's main conclusion/purpose/opinion for the whole text.

1 mainly 5 In order to achieve/do something, ...


usually
the majority
the most
6 ... because ...
... as a result of ...
... is caused by ...
2 ... leads to ...
. . . ensures that .. .
. .. means that .. .
... causes ...
7 The writer's conclusion/opinion/purpose is
... resulting in ...
best summarized as ...
The writer concludes that ...
The writer believes that ...
3 ... is used for ... The writer's main point is that ...
The main use/purpose of ... is to ...

4 The writer refers to ... to show/ illustrate ...


... is an example of ...
Unit 7
■ Improve your IELTS word skills


1 Divide the following verbs into three groups with similar meanings.

assess • condemn ■ disapprove ■ appraise ■ censure ■ endorse ■ condone


criticize ■ appreciate

2 Write the corresponding nouns for the verbs in exercise 1.

3 Choose the most suitable noun from exercise 2 to complete the sentences below.
a The team carried out a detailed _____ of the risks involved.
b The professor has published several works of literary _____
c The results of the election are a clear _____ of the government's policies.
d At the end of the opera, the audience showed their _____ by clapping
enthusiastically.
e In his very critical article, the author expresses his strong ___ __ of reality TV.

4 Make a noun from each of the following verbs to complete the sentences below.

judge ■ perceive ■ believe ■ think ■ analyse ■ condemn ■ conceive ■ discriminate

a Public _____ of the use of money for arts promotion was very harsh.
b He carried out an in-depth _____ of the extent of progress in this area.
c There was obvious _____ in favour of funding for science.
d We need to reserve until we are in possession of all the facts.
e The general appears to be that artists are somehow superior to
scientists.
f News about current issues barely affects the public's _____ generally.
g Some artists seem to have no _____ of the way science is changing our view of
the world.

5 Contradict the verbs in italics in each sentence below. In most cases you can do this by
adding a prefix to the existing verb.
Example
The government defended the main arguments advanced. (opposed)

a The government undervalued the contribution made by various people.


b The effects of lack of light on humans are understood by most people.
c The local residents strongly approved of the building of the arts complex. Technique
d The various publications praised the contents of the book. When you record a new
e The company judged the timing of the film's release for maximum coverage. vocabulary item, check
if you can add prefixes
f It is clear that the scientific community believed the results of the research. or suffixes to it. Write the
new item together with
any other words you can
form from it. This helps you
to create 'word families',
e.g. approve/disapprove/
approvaVdisapproval.
Arts and sciences
Reading Passage 7
1 You should spend 20 minutes on questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 7.

Sciart - connections between two cultures
Sciart was originally established to fund 'visual arts projects which involved
an artist and a scientist working in collaboration to research, develop
and produce work which explored contemporary biological and medical
science'. Over time, the programme expanded to cover a wider range of
5 arts and science activity. In total, Sciart supported 118 projects with nearly
£3 million of funding to increase interest and excitement in biomedical
science among adults; to encourage collaborative creative practice between
disciplines in the arts and science; and to create a group of artists looking at
biomedical science and build capacity in this field.
10 Interview evidence from those involved in Sciart projects suggested that the
collaborations between artists and scientists had helped to raise awareness
among project participants and the wider public of connections between aspects of the arts
and of the sciences. An effect of this had been to encourage, at policy making and funding
levels, more interest to be taken and more resources to be devoted to encouraging interactions
15 between the two. As one participant who was interviewed commented:
Connecting the sensory with the conceptual is something that is fundamental
to artistic and scientific method. That awareness has got lost at a public
level. And Sciart collaborations and the publicly visible outcomes help to
demonstrate those connections, which have tended to become ignored.
20 Sciart has made the similarities between science and art more evident.

Interviews with a significant number of artists and scientists who had


participated in Sciart-funded projects revealed that the process of
collaboration and of observing each other's professional practices and
cultures had led to previously unnoticed similarities between the 'two
25 cultures' being recognized. The process of recognition provided a point of
familiarity that generally seemed to encourage or reassure those concerned.
The combination of strangeness and familiarity was perceived by some as a
basis on which to engage in collaboration across disciplines.
Scientists' testimonies:
30 It has made me think more about the coming together of art and science. At the centre of
scientific and artistic thinking there are acts of creativity, and I don't think that those acts
of creativity necessarily differ, although the content may differ. In designing an experiment,
a thought will come to you that 'something is worth looking at, and I have to be able to
recognise what the value is within that'.
35 There are surprising parallels with being a scientist. You spend a lot of time getting funding
and writing reports, and only a small proportion doing the actual science. Each grant is for
time-limited funding, so like the artists we are always thinking about where the next funding is
going to come from.

Artists' testimonies:

-
40 I was intrigued by the radical differences between the artistic process and the scientific
method, but also by the overlaps, such as the opening up of new ideas, the creative
manipulation of materials and the process of experimentation. Both science and art require

....
Unit 7
■ creative thinking in their own ways, and they both require observation of the natural world. As


an artist, as well as a scientist, you also need to pay attention to detail. There seems to be a lot
45 in common but also a lot that is very different, and that seemed like a nice basis to form new
relationships on ...
The main thing is the similarities not the differences. You spend 75 per cent of your time applying
for funding, and 20 per cent writing reports, and just 5 per cent actually doing the work. That is
the same in both fields. Also there is that commercial lure in science to make money by working
50 on cures for things like obesity, which means that if you remain within the academic research you
effectively take a pay cut to do that. That is the same in the art world as well.
It was very clear from the testimonies of interviewees from both sides of the art-science divide, and
from those particip ating in projects as well as those observing them, that a great deal of mutual
respect between the 'two cultures' had grown up as a consequence of Sciart-f unded collaborations.
55 I've seen plenty of evidence that artists and scientists now view each other's cultures differently.
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of scientists being astonished by the level of both skill and
hard labour that goes into the creation of artwork, and similarly a degree of astonishment amongst
the artists about the ability and excitement of scientists in dealing with ideas and with imaginative
concepts. So, there was I think a process of mutual eye-opening . . . (Scientist)
60 A strength is thatit has enabled people from both sides of the Sciart divide to gain access to
different ways of doing things, and that it has begun to break down some of the prejudices in the
two camps. (Arts expert)

Technique
1 Survey the whole reading passage and the questions.
2 Skim the title and predict the contents of the passage.
3 Skim the reading passage in no more than two minutes.
4 Skim the questions. Use the questions to help you improve your understanding of
the general content of the reading passage

Questions 1-6
Complete the summary.
Clwose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Background to the Sciart projects

The Sciart programme was basically launched to encourage 1 .................... between


scientists and artists, eventually covering 118 projects that were not just involved
in art and biomedical science. When participants were interviewed about the Sciart
projects, they felt the project increased 2 .................... of the connections between the
3 .................... and .................... among themselves and the general public. The result
of this was that attempts were made to increase 4 .................... between both cultures.
One interview comment was that Sciart had made the 5 .................... between science
and art 6 ....................
Arts and sciences
Questions 7-10 Technique
Multiple-choice questions
Classify the following comments about Sciart according to whether they
1 Predict the likely location
were made by:
of the answer in the
A Scientists passage.
2 Predict answers by using
B Artists what you know from
previous questions.
C Both scientists and artists
3 Identify the relationship
7 between the options and
Detail is important in both art and science.
the stem (e.g. cause and
8 The funding of projects takes up a lot of time. effect).
4 Identify scan words in the
9 Making money is attractive to both artists and scientists. stem and use them to
locate the correct section.
10 While the content may be different, the creative process isn't.
5 Read around this section
and match the meaning
in the text with the correct
Questions 11-13 paraphrase from the
options.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
11 In both the artistic and scientific fields
A a majority of the time is devoted to work.
B only a small amount of time is spent working.
C funding applications require less time than writing reports.
D networking takes up a lot of valuable time.
12 The programmes funded by Sciart have resulted in
A a fall in respect between artists and scientists.
B government funding for similar collaborative projects.
C an increase in the divide between artists and scientists.
D an increase in respect between artists and scientists.
13 The amount of work involved in creating a piece of art
A made little impression on scientists.
B made scientists a little surprised.
C surprised scientists a lot.
D only impressed imaginative scientists.

2 Answer these questions.


a Should more arts than science subjects be taught in schools? Why/Why not?
b Do you think people should be worried about future developments in science? Should
the work of scientists be controlled and restricted by governments? Why/Why not?
c Do people have the knowledge to understand scientific developments? Why/Why not?
READING SKILLS EXAM PRACTICE

Com�letin or.t ans er; guest1ons


atie Im it1a am 2)
Class mg 1nformat1on

Labelling a map
1 Complete each paragraph with the name of the correct civilization and answer
the questions below.

Inca Norse

1 .................... mythology provides a typical 2 The .................... mythology personified


example of how natural processes are a number of natural forces, the most
dramatized in early cultures. People important of which was Inti, the sun god.
believed that Thor, son of the god Odin, The .................... emperors were believed
rode across the sky in a chariot. When he to be descended from him.
swung his hammer, it made thunder and
lightning, and of course also rain which
was necessary for growing crops.

a People today often prefer to find scientific rather than divine explanations
for natural processes. What have we gained or lost by this?
b What lessons could modern society learn from our ancestors in order to
improve our relationship with the environment?

I intihuatana I steps
J... North
2 Study the map of Machu Picchu.
Answer the questions about the
map.

EJ
a Where is the main reference

12 . . . . . . . .1
point for the map?
Main b What lies north of the Quarry?
c What types of words are
missing in each blank space?
11 ...............1
7 ...............
d What type of place do you think
7 is?
e How would you describe the
Quarry 15 ..............., location of each place 1-6 in
You are here relation to 7?
��'3 ...............J

4 .............. .
Nature
3 Skim the extract below from an article on the nature reserve around Machu Picchu and label the
map in exercise 2. ■
Nature, gods and man in harmony
Discovered in 1914 by Hiram Bingham with partial backing from T he US Geographic Society,

Machu Picchu is situated in a natural reserve famed as much for its spectacular flora and fauna
as the majesty of its buildings in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings.

The complex stands more than two thousand metres above sea level, 120 kilometres from
5 Cuzco, in Peru. On the terraces above and to the west of the Main Lawn stand three temples.
On the left, just north of the Quarry, stands the Temple of the Three Windows. This three-walled
structure commands a spectacular view down across the Main Lawn to the mountain peaks in the
east. Just north-west of this building is situated the Principal Temple with lntihuatana (the Sun's
hitching stone) at the top of a flight of steps beyond the Temple. The purpose of this stone was
10 principally astronomical. East of the Lawn and on the same level are the ruins of the Common
District where the workers who looked after the complex for the Emperor lived. Other notable
locations at Machu Picchu are the Royal Sector, which is situated on the same level as the Main
Lawn to the south and just east of the Quarry. Just south of this sector stands the Temple of
the Sun, Machu Picchu's only circular building. Inside there is an altar and a trapezoidal window
15 known as the Serpent Window. At the south-east corner of the Main Lawn, just south of the
Common District, is the Temple of the Condor, with a prison complex directly behind it.

4 Which of the following techniques do you think are useful to help you label the map?
a Reading the whole passage first and underlining all the names and directions and then
looking at the map.
b Numbering the names in the text according to the map.
c Underlining the directions: north, etc.
d Putting boxes around the names.
e Trying to complete several items in the map at the same time.

Unit 8


Completing short answer questions Technique
1 Answer the short answer questions about the reading passage on page 63. Use the same technique
for completing sentences
Use no more than THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. to complete short answer
questions. Think of the
words or synonyms you
1 What kind of purpose did Intihuatana serve? _______ have to scan for. Think of
2 Which area is found on the east side of the Main Lawn? the grammatical form of the
words that is required in the
answer. Underline or circle
the word limit in the rubric.
3 What shape is the Temple of the Sun? ______
4 How many walls does the Temple of the Three Wmdows have?

5 What lies behind the Temple of the Condor? ______


6 What is the name of the window in the Temple of the Sun?

2 Complete questions 1-5 about the reading passage on page 63 using no more
than TWO WORDS. Then find the correct answers in the passage.
1 ______ shape is the window in the Temple of the Sun?
2 ______ did the complex of Machu Picchu belong to?
3 ______ is the scene across the lawn described?
4 ______ helped fund Hiram Bingham?
5 ______ is Machu Picchu from Cuzco?

Technique
Labelling a diagram (2) Use the same techniques
for labelling maps to
1 Study the diagram and predict the answers. Use the information in the label diagrams.
diagram and your general knowledge.

deep 2 .....................

temperature: up to 5 .....................

2 Scan paragraph one in the reading passage on page 65 and using no more than TWO words or a
nwnber from the passage, label the diagram.


Nature
Geothermal energy ■
Since heat naturally moves from hotter regions co cooler ones, the heat from the Earth's centre ( over
7000 ° Fahrenheit) flows outwards cowards the surface. In this way, it transfers to the next layer of
rock or mantle. If the temperature is high enough, some of this mantle rock melts and forms magma.
The magma ascends in its turn towards the Earth's crust. At times it forces itself up to the actual

5 surface where it builds volcanoes. More often it remains well below the Earth's crust, creating vast
subterranean areas of hot rock. In such regions, there are deep cracks, which allow rainwater to percolate
underground. This water is heated by the hot rock to a high temperature. Some of this water travels back
up co the Earth's surface where it will appear as a hot spring or a geyser. However, if this ascending hot
water reaches a layer of impermeable rock, it remains trapped, forming a geothermal reservoir. Much
10 hotter than surface hot springs, such reservoirs can reach temperatures of700 ° Fahrenheit and are a
rich source of energy. If geothermal reservoirs are close enough to the surface, they can be reached by
drilling wells. Hot water and steam shoot up the wells naturally, and can be used to produce electricity in
geothermal power plants. Unlike fossil fuels, geothermal energy produces relatively little greenhouse gas.
A few geothermal power plants depend on dry-steam reservoirs which produce steam but little or no water. In
15 these cases, the steam is piped up directly co provide the power to spin a turbine generator. The first geothermal
power plant, constructed at Lardarello in Italy, was of this type, and is still producing electricity today.
Most currently operating geothermal power plants are either 'flash' steam plants or binary plants. Flash
plants produce mainly hot water ranging in temperature from 300 ° to700 ° Fahrenheit. This water is
passed through one or two separators where, released from the pressure of the underground reservoir,
20 it 'flashes' or explosively boils into steam. Again, the force of this steam provides the energy to spin the
turbine and produce electricity. The geothermal water and steam are then re-injected directly back down
into the Earth to maintain the volume and pressure of the reservoir. Gradually they will be reheated and
can then be used again.
A reservoir with temperatures below 300 ° Fahrenheit is not hot enough to flash steam but it can still be used to
25 generate electricity in a binary plant. In these plants, the heat of the geothermal water is transferred to a second
or binary fluid, such as isopentane, which boils at a lower temperature than water. The steam from this is used
to power the turbines. As in the flash steam plant, the geothermal water is recycled back into the reservoir.

Classifying information
1 Using the reading passage above, classify the features in sentences 1-5
according to which type of geothermal plant they characterize.

A dry steam plants 1 There are examples which are in use today. Technique
B flash steam plants 2 They use geothermal reservoirs with Locate the different
temperatures over 300° F. categories or classes in
the reading pass age and
C binary plants 3 They use steam from the Earth and not water. put a box around them.
D all of them 4 The vapour which spins the turbines is not Read the sentences to
produced from water. be classified. Scan the
text around the boxed
6 They are relatively easy on the environment.
categories to locate
the information in the
sentences. Note in the
2 Answer the following questions about the techniques you used in exercise 1. IELTS exam the information
a Is it better to scan the passage for the pl�nts or for the features? to be classified may also
b Is it better to put a box around the plant names and label them A, B, etc. be in phrases, i.e. noun
or to underline the words? phrases or clauses.
c Is it better to try to answer 1-5 simultaneously or one at a time?
Unit 8
■ Improve your IELTS word skills


1 Which words in the box mean the same as feature?
Technique
article • characteristic ■ trait ■ attribute ■ character ■ quality Build a bank of words
and phrases that relate
to classification. It is a
2 What synonyms do you know for group?
common text feature in
IELTS reading passages
3 Match each phrase a-h with a suitable noun 1-8. and questions.
a a make of 1 car
b a species of 2 writing
C a genre of 3 horse
d a class of 4 medicine
e a field of 5 study
a branch of 6 virus
g a breed of 7 mammal
h a strain of 8 animal

4 Which of these words can be used as synonyms of the nouns in exercise 3?


j brand ■ variety ■ sort ■ type I

5 Complete the following table with the correct form of the word.
Noun Verb Adjective
character characterize
distinction distinguish
example
feature
illustration illustrate illustrative
indication indicate
type

6 Complete the sentences below using one of the verbs in the box.
classified ■ differentiated ■ satisfied ■ defined ■ catalogued ■ related

a The library books are _______ meticulously and given a barcode reference.
b Chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans are all closely _______ species.
c Several specific criteria must be _______ before any member is included in
the group.
d A marsupial can be _______ as any mammal which gives birth to
underdeveloped young and rears them in a pouch.
e Fungi may be _______ into three broad groups: yeasts, moulds and others.
f Sometimes members of a subspecies of mammal can only be _______ by
experts with specialist knowledge.
Nature
Reading Passage 8 ■
1 You should spend 20 minutes on questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 8.

Technique ■
1 Survey the whole reading passage and the questions.
2 Skim the title and predict the contents of the passage.
3 Skim the reading passage in no more than two minutes.
4 Skim the questions. Use the questions to help you improve your understanding of the general content
of the reading passage.
5 Use the questions to help you think of the text features in the reading passage, e.g. classification.

The beauty of cats


For most people, a domestic cat is a more or less beautiful,
usually affectionate but rarely useful member of the family.
However, for the people who breed, show or simply admire
them, the pedigree aristocrats of the cat world can easily
5 become an obsession. As yet, there is a very much smaller
range in the sizes and shapes of cats compared with dogs,
which is not surprising when we consider that dogs have been
selectively bred for hundreds, if not thousands, of years to
develop physical and temperamental characteristics that can
10 be put to work for man as well as admired. By contrast, all
breeding of pedigree cats is for purely aesthetic reasons.
Only a few pedigree cat breeds date back beyond the late nineteenth century, and most have been
developed since the l 950s. To achieve acceptance, any new breed must be officially recognized
by the national and international organizations of 'cat fanciers' that regulate the breeding and
15 showing of pedigree cats. To date, official recognition has been given worldwide to more than 100
different breeds. A fairly small number of these are what might be called 'natural' breeds, with
distinctive characteristics that appeared spontaneously, and then became established in the cat
population of a particular country or region. Examples include what is popularly known as the
Persian, with its long-haired coat; the Russian Blue, with its plush grey 'double' coat; the Siamese,
20 with its slender body, long, narrow face and distinctive colouring; and the Manx cat, with either
no tail (a 'rumpy') or a small stump of a tail (a 'stumpy').
More usually, new pedigree cat breeds are the result of meticulously planned breeding programmes
designed to establish or enhance attractive or unusual features occurring in non-pedigree cats.
Without the intervention of the cat breeder, many of these features would occur only rarely or
25 would have simply disappeared through natural selection. Even the so-called natural breeds have
been considerably modified over the years by professional cat breeders striving to match or improve
on the breed 'standard', a detailed description of the various points (length and colour of coat, body
and head shape, etc) according to which a particular breed is judged in competition.
The majority of cats, both wild and domestic, have fur that is of short or medium length. Long fur in
30 cats can occur either as the result of a 'one-off' genetic mutation, or through the inheritance of the
recessive gene for long hair. Long-haired cats were well-established in Persia (now Iran) and Turkey
Unit 8
■ long before the ancestors of most modem long-haired show cats were taken to Europe and America


towards the end of the nineteenth century. Today's peiligree longhairs of Persian type have a cobby
(sturdy and rounded) body, a very luxuriant long coat, short, thick legs, a round head, round face,
35 very short nose and large, round, orange or blue eyes. There are separate show classes for Persians
of ilifferent colours. Also shown in their own classes are various non-Persian longhairs, incluiling
Chinchillas, Himalayans (also called Colourpoint Longhairs) and the Turkish Van.
Short-haired pedigree cats can be divided into three main categories: the British Shorthair,
the American Shorthair and the Foreign or Oriental Shorthair. To the uninitiated, British and
40 American Shorthairs appear to be no more than particularly fine examples of the non-pedigree
family cat. The reality is that selective breeding programmes have achieved a consistency of
conformation and coat characteristics in the different pedigree lines that could never be achieved
by chance. Pedigree British Shorthairs have a cobby body, a dense, plush coat of a specified
colour, short legs, round head, a somewhat short nose and large round eyes of a designated
45 colour. By comparison, pedigree American Shorthairs have larger and less rounded bodies,
slightly longer legs and a less round head with a square muzzle and medium-length nose.
The third main group of pedigree cats are the Foreign or Oriental Shonhairs. Some of these
breeds, notably the Siamese, Korat and Burmese, did indeed originate in the East, but today these
terms are used to describe any breed, of whatever origin, that ilisplays a range of certain specified
50 physical characteristics. Foreign and Oriental cats have a slim, supple body, a fine, short coat, long
legs, a wedge-shaped head, long nose, large, pointed ears and slanting eyes. Finally, also included
within the pedigree short-hairs, are various miscellaneous breeds which have been developed
to satisfy a perhaps misplaced delight in the unusual. Examples include the Scottish Fold, with
its forward-folded ears, the Munchkin, with its short, Dachshund-like legs and the apparently
55 hairless Sphynx.

Questions 1-6
Complete the t,able below
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the reading passage for each answer.

Features Coat Body Legs Head Nose Eyes


Persian luxuriant cobby 1 ................ round very short round
longhairs and long orange or
blue
British dense and 2 ··········•····· short round rather short large and
shorthairs plush round,
designated
colour
American dense and larger slightly less round 3 ................
shorthairs plush and less longer
rounded
Foreign 4 ................ slim and long 5 ················ long 6 ................
shorthairs supple
Nature
Questions 7-11 Technique
Short answer questions
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
from the passage for each answer.
1 Look for a scan word
in each question.
7 What name does the writer give to breeds such as the Persian, Russian 2 Locate where the
Blue and Siamese? answers begin and end
in the reading passage
8 What is the name given to the description of physical features by which using the scanning words.
a pedigree cat is judged? Look at the names in
questions 7 and 11 .
9 In which century were long-haired cats first exported from Persia?
3 In the passage, put a box
10 What class of cat does the Chinchilla belong to? around all the names from
the questions.
11 What remarkable characteristic do Scottish Fold cats have? 4 Number the names in
the text according to the
question.
Questions 12 and 13 5 Read around the names
to find the answers. Try to
Clwose the correct letters, A, B, C or D. complete several items at
the same time.
12 The distinctive features of most pedigree cats are the result of
A enhancing characteristics that appear naturally in cats from a
particular region.
B using breeding schemes to promote features which are found in
non-pedigree cats.
C genetic changes which occurred spontaneously in some cats in
the late nineteenth century.
D a misplaced pleasure in producing unusual looking cats.
13 The writer's main purpose in this article is
A to outline the history of breeding pedigree cats.
B to criticize the practice of producing odd characteristics in cats.
C to classify the different breeds of pedigree cats.
D to compare the respective practices of cat and dog breeders.

2 Answer these questions.


a Are cats and other animals common pets in your family? Why/Why not?
b What other kinds of pets are popular in your country?
c What are the benefits of keeping pets for young people? For old people?
READING SKIUS EXAM PRACTICE

Scanning for meaning


1 Read the table which gives the average lifespan
for humans in different periods of history. Then
answer questions a--c.

Period Average lifespan

Bronze age 18
Classical Greece 28
Medieval England 33
Late nineteenth century 37
Early twentieth century 50
Early twenty-first century 68

a What reasons can you think of for the


increase in lifespan?
b Some people in Classical Greece lived to a
ripe old age. For example, Sophocles, the
writer, died at the age of 91. Why do you think
the average was so low?
c What are the disadvantages of the average
person living so much longer than in the past?
Technique 2 Look at phrases a-f and think of your own synonyms or phrases with
Practise scanning for synonyms similar meaning. Then match each one with a phrase 1--6.
of words and phrases. Nways a negative consequence 1 vital role
think of possible synonyms and
b non-conventional medicine 2 unfortunate outcome
paraphrases in exam questions.
This will also help you build your c indispensable part 3 good mental health
vocabulary. You can, for example, d psychological well-being 4 pleasant environment
keep lists of words and structures e congenial surroundings 5 considerable improvement
to reflect cause and effect, e.g. f enormous progress 6 alternative therapy
impact, influence, cause, as a
result of, etc. Also record words 3 Look at phrases a-e and think of a noun with a similar meaning for
and phrases with examples and each. Then scan paragraph A on page 71 for nouns with a similar
practise transforming them into meaning and underline them.
different word types. a best period of their life
b period
c highest point
d difficulty
e benefits
Health
Prime time rules ■
A People were not that long ago considered as
entering their prime at 40. This was the age
at which the peak of their wisdom and power
challenged. There are already TV programmes,
for example, about people in their seventies
and eighties involved in sports like sky-diving

was likely to be reached. Not any more. For an more often associated with the young. Some
5 increasing number of people, it is now much adverts are pushing the boundaries further by 35
later, between 50 and 65, which is effectively using older models to target beauty products
when people are thinking of retiring. And so, at older sections of the population. After all,
far from being the major problem that has who has the accumulated wealth?
been exercising politicians and individuals in
C Before looking at what, if anything, can be
10 recent years, the increasing numbers of active
done to make sure that people can enjoy their 40
over fifties with a later and longer prime should
prime and feel they can make a contribution
be seen as assets to society, economically and
to society, we should look at the causes of
socially. Provided, that is, that they are allowed
longevity. Technological advances primarily
to contribute to the community.
in medical science are often held up as
the principal cause. However, education, 45
wealth and the wide range of leisure pursuits
available, along with a host of other factors,
have led to a marked improvement in living
standards throughout the world. People
are, as a result, arriving at the threshold 50
of retirement more active, physically and
mentally, than any previous generations and
in greater numbers, challenging the view that
being 50 or even 60 is old.

D And the magic recipe to enhance our prime? 55


It's all very basic stuff and not really magic at
all. It does not need government committees
15 B Anxiety about funding 'older people' in general
or armies of bureaucrats to devise training
is based on a view of the over fifties and sixties
packages. People are enhancing their 'prime'
living a life of decrepitude with costly nursing
time without unnecessary interference. 60
home care, and being a drain on the country's
Government and planners should seek to
wealth. Stereotypical images of senior citizens
inform themselves of what is happening rather
20 haunt the general population. Perception
than imposing some clumsy 'innovation'.
tests in studies have shown that people who
Research has shown that physical exercise
expect the so-called age-related illnesses like
causes changes in the structure of the brain. 65
deafness and mental decline to happen in
MRI scans on a cohort of patients aged 58 to
their old age conform to the stereotype and
77 have shown increases in the substance of
25 fulfil the prophecy. Thus, it is not surprising
the brain itself are brought about by exercise.
that negative images permeate society. More
There is evidence that the areas of the brain
positive images of people in their prime or
involved in memory and attention benefit from 70
older in the media, etc would be a good
exercise - the areas that show the greatest
start. There are encouraging signs that the
age-related decline in humans.
30 boundaries of this stereotype are already being
Unit 9
■ 4 Look at phrases a---e and think of a word or phrase with a similar meaning for each. Then scan
paragraphs B-D in the passage for phrases with a similar meaning and underline them.

■ a a waste of the nation's money


b main factor
c questioning the notion
d secret formula
e introducing an unwanted new measure

5 Think of synonyms for the key words in the sentences below.

a People in general are surrounded by conventional images of old people.


b Makers of beauty products could launch cheaper cosmetics aimed at older people.
c Research indicates that those who expect to be hard of hearing or senile when
they grow old actually go on to become so.
d Administrative workers or government bodies have no need to put together
guidelines to educate people.
e Studies have revealed that the brain continues to develop well into old age,
regardless of how much exercise is taken.

6 Three of the sentences in exercise 5 match sentences in the passage on page 71. Scan to
find the three sentences and underline them.

Identifying sentence function


1 Paragraph A on page 71 contains a suggestion made by the author and a sentence with a
conditional meaning. Answer questions a---e below. Then scan to find the sentences.

a Are the words suggestion and condition likely to be in the text?


b Will you scan the passage for meaning or words?
c Which words do you associate with suggestion?
d Which words do you associate with a condition?
e Is it efficient to read the whole paragraph?

2 Scan the passage to find examples of functions a---e below, using the same techniques as
you did for exercise 1.

a a claim (paragraph A) d a recommendation (paragraph B)


b a problem (paragraph B) e examples (paragraph B)
c a conclusion (paragraph B)

3 Are the ideas in paragraph C organized around problem and solution, or cause and effect?
Which phrases indicate this?

4 Make a checklist of techniques of your own to scan for meaning for revision purposes.
Revise the list as you prepare for the IELTS exam.
1 Think of words with the same meaning as those in a question.
,______
2
3

4
5

Health


Matching information to paragraphs (2)
1 Think of at least three strategies you have used before to match information to paragraphs
and note them in your checklist.

2 Scan the previous passage and match phrases 1-5 to paragraphs A-D.

1 the fact that skydiving is more often seen as a pursuit for the young
2 a reference to research on exercise and brain function
3 the belief that being elderly means being infirm
4 the reasons why people live longer
5 the idea that the over fifties can be of use to society

3 Do the phrases 1-5 match whole paragraphs or parts of paragraphs?

4 Paragraphs E-G below in note form are a continuation of the reading passage on page 71.
Match phrases 1-5 below with the relevant paragraph E-G.

E The benefits of diet - as well as exercise - crossword puzzles, mental arithmetic, 15


healthy diet - avoiding junk perhaps also subtracting backwards seven at a time from
staves off mental decline - studies in children 1,000 to zero, showering with your eyes
learning difficulties - so-called Durham trial closed - some connection with left brain
5 - fish oil beneficial - effective on sizeable function as opposed to right brain - latter
proportion of children - improves attention, concerned with the creative side. Maybe more 20
etc, so not old wives' tale - sale of foods/ research needed: how opening up use of right
supplements containing Omega 3 increased brain might enhance mental ability.
intelligence attention span - not sure if
G A conclusion - irony - general population
10 benefit adults.
30 per cent obese - young people especially
F How people can keep mentally active - - older people now more active - interest in 25
greater interest now in mental stimulus to third age long may it continue - older people
combat/slow down dementia - exercises show young people the way.
- 'brain food' puzzles like sudoku, chess,

1 various methods to improve mental ability


2 the fact that fish oil supplements may not benefit adults
3 a comparison between older people and less active young people
4 how diet helps improve mental activity in children
5 a recommendation that research into right-brain function should be carried out
Unit 9
■ Improve your IELTS word skills


1 Match the words below with their function from the box.
Technique
a Because
Remember to think of
b Consequently the meaning of whole
c For instance sentences, not just words,
as you read.
d Thus
e Moreover
f Yet
g Although
h In order to
Provided that

condition ■ concession ■ example ■ additional information ■ conclusion ■ reason


contrast ■ purpose ■ result

2 Which is the odd one out in the following sequences and why?
a furthermore/in addition/similarly/therefore/also
b meanwhile/ but/ however/though/even so
c firstly/secondly/finally/at first/first of all
d initially/at the beginning/firstly/at first
e consequently/as a result/subsequently/as a consequence
f recently/some time ago/lately/not long ago/a short time ago
g when/before/once/after/as soon as

3 To help you find your way around a passage, you can look out for linking words and phrases.
In the following sentences, find and underline examples of the functions in the box.
EJ.wnple
Although I agree with the proposed increase in time, it is more important for the course to be
updated. (concession)

result ■ reason ■ condition ■ concession ■ alternative ■ comparison ■ purpose

a Unless more funds are put into the health service soon, people will suffer.
b Because a record number of heart operations were successful, the programme
was expanded.
c The funding dried up, which then led to a major crisis at the health clinic.
d More administrative staff could be employed or more nursing posts created.
e The first drug was pronounced safe to use whereas the second caused a number of
serious side effects.
f The government opened three new hospitals so that they would be able to meet
their targets.
g Although they may need to slow down a little, people continue to benefit from physical
exercise well into old age.
Health
Reading Passage 9 ■

1 You should spend 20 minutes on questions 1-14, which are based on Reading Passage 9.

Professional strangers: medical anthropology in action


A Back in the 1970s, I was an anthropology student
sitting in the library doggedly reading books and
articles about the social lives of people in Africa,
Asia, and the South Pacific. Why doggedly? The
5 scholarly reading matter covered kinship systems,
clan alliances, land tenure and farming and political
systems. Rarely did the reader of these texts catch
a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of the people
written about or what it was like to live amongst
10 them. However, some books started with a preface
describing how the anthropologist arrived in the
distant village or town of study, found somewhere to
live, and started engaging with local people. These
accounts were often the most interesting part of the
15 book and whetted my flagging appetite for medical
anthropological research.
B Since graduating, I have applied my anthropological training to health-related projects across Africa and
Asia. Some contracts have lasted two years and some two weeks. The short-term research I have done is
sometimes called 'quick and dirty'. 'Quick' means that surveys are carried out and people interviewed in
20 a matter of weeks rather than years; 'dirty' means that the findings are analysed rapidly without too much
concern for 'cleaning' the data so that exact percentages can be calculated and any inconsistencies in what
people said can be accounted for. Quick and dirty research elicits the voices of the people for whom a
development project is intended. The approach provides facts and figures that guide project design, but
may not satisfy purist academics.
25 C A lot of books discuss the ethics and methods of research in more detail than in the past. Such accounts
of fieldwork contain useful ideas and guidance, usually in the introductory chapters. There are a number
of particularly sensitive areas that people interviewed may be reticent about, notably personal finance,
sex and illegal activities. Yet, research of sensitive topics with people considered 'hard to reach' can be
interesting and rewarding. There are some basic rules and approaches that should keep the researcher,
30 especially in the medical field, safe and the data collection ethical and effective.
D Anybody going to do fieldwork should dress carefully. It is important to try and wear clothes that do not
draw attention to yourself. You do not want to be more conspicuous than you need by being more smartly
or formally attired than the people you are going to talk to. Equally, it may be inappropriate to copy the
dress code of interviewees, as you risk looking ridiculous.
35 E It is always useful to work with local guides or gatekeepers who can help you reach people who are not
part of mainstream society. For example, if you want to study the world of illegal drug users it is best
to work with an insider. If you already know any drug users, ask one of them to introduce you to other
people in his or her network and to vouch for you. Alternatively, you could approach drug or social
service agency workers and ask them to make introductions.
Unit 9
■ 40 F When you interview people, it is important that they are not worried about confidentiality. Often people


will not tell you anything of great interest unless they receive assurances that you will not reveal their
private business or their full names. When you ask sensitive questions, interviewees may want you
to answer similar questions in return, so researchers should be prepared to disclose some personal
information. It is important that you do not lie about yourself and what you are doing: this is unethical
45 and you risk being caught out and losing credibility.
G Sensitive questions should be asked in a matter-of-fact manner because, if you appear embarrassed,
the respondent will also be embarrassed and will 'clam up'. Do not be, or appear to be,judgemental
or shocked, no matter what you hear, as the interviewee will sense your reaction and stop talking.
In addition, you should not contradict people even if they have said something that you know to be
50 incorrect. You are there to listen and collect data, not to enter into argument or discussion. When the
interview is over you can correct any potentially harmful misconceptions that the interviewee holds. But
the most important rule to remember is: if you get nervous or scared, leave the situation.
H Recently, I have started saying to colleagues that there are three qualities required in the anthropologist
working in 'the field': liking people; respecting people; curiosity about people's lives. If you cultivate
55 these qualities, the tips I have outlined will come naturally to your work.

Technique
1 Survey the whole reading passage and the questions.
2 Skim the title and predict the contents of the passage.
3 Skim the reading passage in no more than two minutes.
4 Skim the questions. Use the questions to help you improve your understanding of the general content of the
reading passage.
5 Use the questions to help you think of the text features in the reading passage, e.g. classification.

Questions 1-6
Which paragraph, (A-HJ contains the information in 1-6 beww?
NB You may use any paragraph more than once.
1 ways to make contacts with interviewees
2 the fact that the interviewer should appear not to react to what the interviewee says
3 how to dress when talking to interviewees
4 how a deep interest in anthropological research commenced
5 the fact that the interviewer should not argue with the interviewee
6 research that is a rough estimate of a situation

Technique
Matching phrases
1 Identify which phrases refer to a part or the whole of a paragraph, where possible.
2 Decide where the information is likely to be: the beginning, middle or end.
3 Scan for the words in the phrases or synonyms of them.

Health


Questions 7-13
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in
Reading Passage 9?
Write
YES if the statement agrees with the opinion of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the opinion of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossib/,e to say what the writer thinks about this
7 Accounts of anthropologists arriving in distant villages were frequently more
interesting than any other book contents.
8 More research should be carried out in the field.
9 'Quick and dirty' research is necessary for planned development projects.
10 Contacts with people who are on the fringes of society should only be made through
local guides or gatekeepers.
11 Researchers should never answer questions about themselves when they are
interviewing.
12 It is better for researchers to continue with an interview even if they are frightened.
13 Researchers need to elicit information without making any apparent judgement on it.

Questions 14
Choose the correct /,etter, A, B, C or D.
14 Which of the following statements best summarizes the
writer's conclusion?
A Anthropologists who cultivate certain traits will find that good practice becomes
instinctive.
B Anthropologists working in the field will acquire certain interpersonal skills
naturally.
C Anthropologists' acquisition of the advice given depends on the cultivation of a
wide range of qualities.
D Anthropologists working in the field can easily acquire good habits.

2 Answer these q\lestions.


a Do you think research into people's behaviour is useful? How?
b Who would benefit most from such research, e.g. medical professionals?
c Are we too concerned about research into people's behaviour nowadays,
e.g. doing surveys about people's eating and exercise habits?
individual and society
READING SKIUS EXAM PRACTICE

�nswering tt'es/NoZNot Given statements


(wnter;'s OP.tmon)

Dealing with opinion


1 Describe the photos and answer the questions below.

a Which people are likely to form a group? How do you know?


b Which person is alone?
c Which people are probably not part of a group?
d Is it becoming easier or more difficult to find places to be alone in the
modern world? Is privacy becoming impossible to achieve?
e What factors in the modern world are having an impact on our private
lives? Can these developments be stopped?

2 Match statements 1 and 2 with descriptions a and b.


1 Governments could do more to help vulnerable people in society.
2 Governments help vulnerable people in society.
a The statement is reporting a fact.
b The statement is giving an opinion.

3 Read the pairs of sentences below. Decide which is a fact and which states
an opinion.
1 a The government spent less money last year on vulnerable people in
society.
b Governments should do more to help vulnerable people in society.
2 a The encroachment of digital control in all people's lives is inevitable.
b The survey revealed that sales of digital tech nology are increasing.
3 a Practical skilJs in many traditional societies are under threat because
technology is making them redundant.
b The research showed a range of practical skills were practised in
ancient Greek society.
4 a Foolishly, some employees choose not to be a member of a trade union.
b Some employees choose not to be a member of a trade union.
The individual and society
4 Find examples of structures a-<l in the sentences in exercise 3 on page 78.
Why are these structures used in the sentences? ■
a a qualifying adverb
b a qualifying adjective
c a cause and effect relationship
d a modal verb

5 Read statements a-g and decide whether they are opinions or not.
a A minimum of two players are required to play tennis.
b The results of the social survey are clearly mistaken.
c Unfortunately, the tendency to seek fame for its own sake seems to be growing in
our society.
d Sports like football, netball, rugby, etc are taught in schools.
e It would, I feel, be a good idea to make citizenship classes compulsory in schools.
f If young people engaged in different activities after school, unsociable behaviour
would certainly decline.
g Formal education fails miserably to meet the needs of the business world and society
in general.
6 Underline the words in the statements in exercise 5 which show that they are opinions.
Example
It is bette r to spend money on social housing tha II new theatres.

Answering Yes/No/Not Given statements


(writer's opinion)
1 Statements 1--6 below relate to paragraph A of the reading passage on page 80. For each
statement below, decide if it agrees (Yes) or contradicts (No) the writer's opinion. Write
'Not Given' if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

1 Having more choice is good because it helps the economy to grow.


2 Making decisions about minor issues is irritating.
3 People should seek the help of professionals when making a decision
which can have adverse consequences.
4 If people in poor countries had the same range of choices as those in
rich countries, their lives would be easier.
5 Only people in poor countries do not have any real choices.
6 Advertisers encourage the mistaken idea that more choice is beneficial.

2 To check your answers to the questions in exercise 1, ask yourself the


following questions about the passage. Does the writer
1 mention a reason why having more choice is good?
2 describe the effect of making decisions about minor issues?
3 say when people need to consult professionals?
4 state a comparison between poor and rich countries?
5 state a restriction about people in poor countries?
6 .give an opinion about what advertisers do?

Unit 10

■ Spoilt for choice


A Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. In
daily life, people have come to expect endless
situations about which they are required to
make decisions one way or another. In the main,
5 these are just irksome moments at work which C It is not just their availability that is the
·demand some extra energy or brainpower, or problem, but the speed with which new
during lunch breaks like choosing which type of versions of products come on the market.
coffee to order or indeed which coffee shop to Advances in design and production mean that
go to. But sometimes selecting one option as new items are almost ready by the time that 40
10 opposed to another can have serious or lifelong goods hit the shelves. Products also need to
repercussions. More complex decision-making have a short lifespan so that the public can
is then either avoided, postponed or put into be persuaded to replace them within a short
the hands of the army of professionals, lifestyle time. The classic example is computers, which
coaches, lawyers, advisors, and the like, waiting are almost obsolete once they are bought. 45
15 to lighten the emotional burden for a fee. But At first, there were only one or two available
for a good many people in the world, in rich and from a limited number of manufacturers, but
poor countries, choice is a luxury, not a right. now there are many companies all with not
And for those who think they are exercising only their own excellent products but different
their right to make choices, the whole system is versions of the same machine. This makes 50
20 merely an illusion, created by companies and selection a problem. Gone are the days when
advertisers wanting to sell their wares. one could just walk with ease into a shop and
buy one thing; no choice, no anxiety.
B The main impact of endless choice in people's
lives is anxiety. Buying something as basic as D The plethora of choice is not limited to
a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access consumer items. With the greater mobility of 55
25 to a wide range of consumer goods induces people around the world, people have more
a sense of powerlessness, even paralysis, in choice about where they want to live and work -
many people, ending in the shopper giving up a fairly recent phenomenon. In the past, nations
and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable migrated across huge swathes of the Earth in
item that is not really wanted in order to solve search of food, adventure and more hospitable
60
30 the problem and reduce the unease. Recent environments. Whole nations crossed continents
surveys in the United Kingdom have shown and changed the face of history. So the mobility
that a sizeable proportion of electrical goods of people is nothing new. The creation of nation
bought per household are not really needed. states and borders effectively slowed this process
The advertisers and the shareholders of the down. But what is different now is the speed at
65
35 manufacturers are, nonetheless, satisfied. which migration is happening.

3 Decide why the following statements about the passage are Not Given.

1 Increased choice makes customers more anxious about overspending.


2 It is important for customers to complain when they are dissatisfied with the
electrical goods that they buy.
3 More unnecessary goods tend to be bought in the UK than in the rest of Europe.
4 There should be restrictions on the range of products that can be advertised.
The individual and society
4 Read paragraph C and underline the parts of the passage which the following sentences
contradict. ■
1 It is a good thing that new products are so widely available.
2 Products can be kept and used for longer than in the past.

3 People don't need to replace computers very often nowadays.
4 There has always been too much choice for the consumer.

5 Read the following pairs of statements. Decide which one agrees with the writer's opinion
in paragraph D.
1 a The phenomenon of migration barely changed the course of history.
b The phenomenon of migration changed the course of history.
2 a People migrated less after the establishment of frontiers between countries.
b People migrated more after the establishment of frontiers between countries.
3 a Migration is happening more rapidly than in the past due to modern aviation.
b Migration is happening more rapidly than in the past.

6 A class of students studying for IELTS were asked to choose four more techniques for
Yes/No/Not Given tasks. Which four techniques from a-f do you think they added to the
list below?
1 Identify cause and effect statements, then scan for this relationship in the passage.
2 Identify qualifying adverbs such as always and adjectives such as important, crucial,
well suited. Then scan the passage for words with similar/opposite meaning.

3
4 _____________
5
6

a Check that comparisons in the statements are actually made in the text.
b Try to predict answers before you check the text.
c Look for words that you know in the statements and underline them.
d Check that the statements are in the same order as in the passage.
e Identify modal verbs like must, should, can, could and look for similar expressions in
the passage.
f Notice phrases such as It is important, It is easier to, It is possible to, etc.
Unit 10
■ Improve your IELTS word skills


1 Decide if the expression in italics means that the item is part of the larger group or an
exception to it.
a All members of the board were in agreement, apart from Mr Blake.
b Some people, myself included, believe that school exams are too easy.
c All of the books-were translated into Spanish, with the exception of the last.
d Many gifted musicians have come from musical families, and Mozart and Beethoven
were no exception.
e All societies, including technologically advanced ones, retain certain taboos.
f All employees took part in the strike, save the director's PA.
g All of the furniture was designed specially, bar the lecturer's desk.
h These essays can be subsumed under the wider category of existentialist tracts.

2 Write the noun forms of these adjectives.

lonely ■ solitary ■ remote ■ distant ■ isolated ■ secluded

3 Which two of the three adjectives can combine with the given noun to make common
collocations?
a remote/solitary/secluded area
b lonely/solitary/distant existence
c isolated/remote/distant past
d lonely/solitary/secluded person
e remote/solitary/isolated community

4 Complete sentences a-h with the adjectives in exercise 2 above or with a corresponding
noun form.
a There is a _______ chance that the hurricane could wipe out the village.
b The new manager was disliked for his cold and _______ manner.
c Unlike wolves, bears are _______ animals and do their hunting alone.
d He experienced feelings of great after the death of his wife.
e There were a few _______ incidents last night but no serious rioting.
f There is a possibility that he has managed to escape the country.
g After their refusal to withdraw their troops from the area, the country was left
diplomatically _______
h These days, many universities offer _______ }earning programmes.

5 Which of the collocations below imply something usual and which imply something unusual?

popular opinion ■ standard formula ■ peculiar idea ■ eccentric behaviour


odd characteristic ■ conventional wisdom ■ orthodox theory ■ deviant personality

6 Think of other adjectives which can collocate with the nouns in exercise 5 to give a similar
meaning. You can recombine some of the ones above.
The individual and society
Reading passage 10 ■

1 You should spend 20 minutes on questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 10.

Animal personalities

A Any cat or dog owner will tell you that their pet has an individual personality, different from
other people's pets. But recent research has indicated that different types of personalities are
found amongst a far wider range of species than was previously supposed, including not only
mammals, but also birds and fish.
5 B It was formerly believed that if behaviour varied between members of the same species,
this was the result of adaption to different circumstances. Different animals within the same
species might show different degrees of readiness to explore unknown territory, but this was
just a response to the availability of food or potential mates. If an animal was lucky enough
to be in a place where food was plentiful, it would not venture far, whereas in a different
10 environment, it would develop a bolder personality. One early piece of research to question
this was published by Huntingford in 1976. She noticed that sticklebacks* often displayed the
same degree of aggression or sociability towards others in their group at all stages in their
life cycle. Such factors as whether they were seeking mates did not affect their behaviour.
This seemed to imply that some sticklebacks were more bold and others less so, not because
15 of their circumstances or a predictable stage in their life but because of something more
mysterious called 'personality'; they were simply made like that.
C Of course, there can be other reasons besides personality or environment which cause
members of the same species to act differently. In the case of ants, individuals follow different
developmental paths so that they take on different roles within the colony, such as soldiers or
20 workers. In some species of insects, an individual may even change its function over time, as
in bees, some of whom start out as workers and later become food hunters. But these kinds of
roles are not the same as personality. They exist within a large social organism so that it runs
smoothly. Personality, on the other hand, is not aimed at maintaining any kind of larger whole.
D Personality differences are difficult to explain from an evolutionary point of view. Different
25 traits have both good and bad consequences, so there is no reason why evolution should
favour one over another. Bolder individuals do better when it comes·to searching for food but
they are also more likely to be eaten by a predator. They may have more success in attracting
mates but they are also more likely to fight with rivals and be injured.
Unit 10
■ E The presence of one trait will often go hand in hand with another, creating clusters of traits


30 known in psychology as behavioural syndromes. For example, studies show that in the case
of birds, adventurous individuals are also likely to be less effective at parenting and that their
offspring are less likely to reach maturity, a further instance of how personality traits may work
against the preservation of the species. In one study of sheep by Denis Reale, it was found
that the male· animals who showed more aggression reproduced earlier in life whereas the less
35 aggressive ones bred later. At the same time, the first group tended to die at a younger age.
The more docile rams did not start breeding until later, but they generally lived longer, so in
the end they produced the same number of young as their more aggressive peers.
F How exactly these complex syndromes come about is difficult to determine. One theory is that all
personality traits arise from a choice between a small number of fundamental preferences, such as
40 whether an animal tends to seek or avoid risk. It is an open question, too, as to what extent these
choices might be the same for human personalities. The two types of ram as outlined in Reale's
study could be said to reflect two different lifestyles that we also see in humans, something like
'live fast and die young' versus 'slow but sure wins the race'. Certainly the idea that personality is
based on a limited number of basic preferences seems to be supported by many psychologists.
45 It is an interesting possibility that these oppositions may be the same across much of the animal
kingdom, and only vary in the way they manifest themselves.
*stickleback: a type of small fish

Technique
Read the title and skim the reading passa ge and questions. Remember you can use the
information from the questions to help you predict the content of the reading passa ge.

Questions 1-5
Which paragraph, (A-F) contains the following information?
NB You may use any letter more than once.
1 Examples of creatures which carry out specific jobs in a social structure
2 A link between personality and average lifespan
3 The claim that one personality trait will imply certain others
4 A reference to the theory that personality traits are the result of differences
in environment
5 Possible dangers associated with boldness as a personality trait
The individual and society
Questions 6-11 ■

Compete the sentences below. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for
each answer.
6 Huntingford's study showed that the sticklebacks' personalities remained the same
throughout their .......................... .
7 Ants become soldiers or workers as a result of the .......................... that they take.
8 The roles within an ant colony are aimed at maintaining a complete .......................... .
9 In Reale's study of rams, a tendency to start breeding earlier was linked with
greater .......................... .
10 One basic choice in determining personality may involve an animal's attitude
to .......................... .
11 It is possible that the same basic preferences create personalities throughout
the .......................... .

Questions 12 and 13
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
12 According to the writer, a personality trait
A is usually the result of either good or bad parenting.
B can work both for and against an animal's chance of survival.
C can help an animal to live effectively in a large social group.
D is probably the result of a process of natural selection.
13 Which is the writer's main idea in this text?
A Animal personality traits develop as a response to their environment.
B Individual personalities are not found in animals who live in social groups.
C Animals can have individual personality traits rather like humans do.
D Individual personality traits are a uniquely human phenomenon.

2 Answer these questions.


a Do you think personality is mainly the result of your environment or is it
mainly something you are born with?
b Do you ertjoy doing personality tests? In what fields of work could
personality tests be useful?
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