Reading Multi-Choice Questions

SOFL FLAIC Moscow
2023
Reading Multi-choice questions

(MCQs). Global MCQs.
Writing Task 2. Essay type 2: Discuss
both views and express your opinion
2
Exploring Reading Multi-choice questions

Single answer← MULTI-CHOICE QUESTIONS →Multiple answers Both examples mentioned above illustrate single-answer tasks. Here is an
The multiple-choice task type consists of a mix of questions and sentences to example of the task with multiple answers: Questions 10-13
complete. In both cases, there are four options to choose from. Some sets of Choose FOUR letters A-H
questions will focus on one paragraph or part of the text. Others will focus on the Which FOUR of the solutions below are recommended by the researchers to
text as a whole. The questions follow the order of the text. prevent exhibits from being damaged?
Task example referring to the specific part (paragraph) of the text: A wide space between people and exhibits
What reason is given for the increasing importance of call centers to the Indian B restrictions on visitor numbers
economy? C location of most valuable exhibits at end of route
A the availability of workers with the right accent D visitors use air showers before entry
B a change in the legal system F transparent walls between visitors and exhibits
C local familiarity with outsourcing techniques G no sudden changes of direction for visitors
D the country’s geographical position H coats and jackets to be left at entrance
Task example addressing a Reading Passage as a whole: Now we will have a closer look at various multi-choice question tasks and
Overall, the writer’s main argument in this passage is that explore a common approach to the tasks of this type.
A ICT access is a basic need for a fairer world. TIP: A useful strategy is to use the key words in the question stem – or synonyms
B the digital divide is the cause of our present inequalities. of them – to help you identify the correct part of the text. Read the sentence or
sentences carefully. Think of your own answer to the question and see which of the
C the developed world should do more to provide ICT training. options matches it the closest.
D the digital divide may never be successfully bridged. TIP: Remember that all the options will be mentioned in the text in some way but
only one will completely answer the question.
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Please read the following passage. You should spend no more than 10 minutes.
20TH CENTURY MODERN ART CHAMPIONS: RAUCHENBERG AND WARHOL
A The term ‘Modern Art’ refers to an art from the period 1860s to 1970s and encompasses the work of
D Warhol’s work was equally innovative, drawing from the world around him, but somewhat different
such well-known names as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne and Pablo Picasso. Modern Art represents
in approach. He rose to fame with his iconic Campbell’s Soup Can series, which even today is seen as
the discarding of the artistic traditions of the past in favour of a spirit of experimentation. It
one of the most definitive images of the Pop Art movement. (6) The simple red and white depictions of
conceptualised the functions of art in new ways and introduced different ideas about the nature of
an everyday item have been hanging in kitchens and cafés around the world since the 1960s. It’s a
materials. Two artists who had a huge impact on modern art in the twentieth century were Robert
similar story for his iconic series of movie star portraits – including such popular culture figures as
Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Arguably, both had an important influence on art as we know it today,
Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor. Like Rauschenberg, he didn’t limit himself to just
but whereas Warhol became a household name, Rauschenberg is remembered only by those in the
one medium. In 1964, he produced his first exhibition of sculpture, which consisted of hundreds of
artistic community.
imitation supermarket product boxes, most famously Brillo and Heinz. It was an exhibition which
B Milton Ernest Rauschenberg, who later became known as Robert Rauschenberg, was born in Port confounded critics and helped cement his credentials as an artist challenging the status quo.
Arthur, Texas in 1925, while (2) Andrew Warhola – Andy Warhol – was born in 1928 in Pittsburgh,
E Not content with subverting the conventional art forms of painting and sculpture, both Rauschenberg
Pennsylvania. Both were of European heritage, born to working class families. In Rauschenberg’s case,
and Warhol experimented beyond them. Rauschenberg collaborated with musicians, costume
his childhood environment was hardly inspiring – blue-collar town that has been described as a
designers, dancers and even scientists, never ceasing to expand the possibilities of what art could be.
‘cultural waste land with no art’. His father had no understanding of art and gave him no
He has been described as ‘the wind blowing through the art world, pollinating everything’. Warhol,
encouragement. His mother, on the other hand, supported her son as much as she could. For much of
too, dabbled in other fields, including rock music and film, and engaged in Performance Art, with his
his life, (2) Rauschenberg had been waiting for the opportunity to leave his hot sticky, industrial
multimedia show The Exploding Plastic Inevitable becoming one of the works he is best remembered
hometown and he did so in 1944, moving to California. Like Rauschenberg, Warhol was close to his
for. This show pioneered many lighting innovations which rock musicians have been using in their
mother. A sickly child, he spent a lot of time at home with her. Though he was missing a lot of school,
shows since the 1960s.
(3) he was developing his artistic skills and tastes, so it was actually an important period of his life. He
eventually enrolled in the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, where he took his first steps into the art F Both Rauschenberg and Warhol were extremely political, the former’s career spanning six decades,
world. Eventually, both artists gravitated towards New York, (4) which by the early 1950s, had taken whilst the latter is a household name whose work has been adopted by several generations. What
over from Paris as the center of Avant Garde (*). differentiates them is that Warhol courted publicity. He wrote books and co-founded a magazine,
Interview, which reported on film, fashion, and popular culture. He socialised with celebrities and had
C Artistically, what the two have in common is the willingness to innovate, take chances, and be
several TV shows, which helped spread his fame. In contrast, Rauschenberg didn’t seek the limelight.
different from everything that had gone before. Both were a new type of artist who embraced and drew
His name is not widely known outside the art world, but that does not diminish his influence upon it.
inspiration from popular culture. Both rejected orthodox views of ‘high’ and ‘low’ art. To their minds,
Given that Warhol’s work is immensely reproducible and commercial, brightly coloured and attractive
anything could be art. Rauschenberg produced paintings and sculptures and even combined them to
to buyers, it is easy to see why Rauschenberg’s productions with salvaged garbage and street signs
produce mixed media working with a variety of less conventional materials including silk, metal, and
would lack the same popular appeal. However, this great innovator still deserves to be remembered for
glass. (5) It has been said that ‘the whole world was his canvas.’ He was the ultimate scavenger,
his unique contribution to Modern Art.
prepared to use anything he could find in his artworks, even going so far as to incorporate such
disparate objects as socks, bedspreads, and car parts into his work. His 1953 piece entitled Automobile (*) Avant Garde – new and modern ideas in art
Tire Print was conceptual art as never seen before and would ensure him a place in the art history
What is the main similarity between Warhol and Rauschenberg in terms of their work?
books.
4
Now answer the following question by finding the relevant section of the text. Discuss
in your group why the other options are incorrect:
In what way are the artists’ backgrounds similar?
A Their mothers were the most important influence on them.
B They were born in America to families with ancestry in Europe.
C Their families pushed them to go to Art School.
D Their families moved to New York.

5
Now answer the following question by finding the relevant section of the text. Discuss
in your group why the other options are incorrect:
In what way are the artists’ backgrounds similar?
A Their mothers were the most important influence on them.
B They were born in America to families with ancestry in Europe.
C Their families pushed them to go to Art School.
D Their families moved to New York.

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IDENTIFYING MAIN AND SUPPORTING IDEAS
Some multiple-choice questions test your ability to identify the main idea of a paragraph as opposed to the supporting ideas. The main idea is the message the writer
wants to communicate through the paragraph, and the supporting ideas are facts, examples, etc. which back up the main idea.
TIP: Typically, the main idea is at the start of a paragraph in the opening sentences, but this is not always the case, so skim read the whole paragraph to form an
opinion of the general message it is trying to communicate, and then look at the options to see which one paraphrases your opinion. The incorrect options are often
mentioned in the paragraph as supporting ideas.
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Answer the two questions. Explain how you decided on your answers.
1 The purpose of Paragraph D is...
A to illustrate Warhol’s love of fame.
B to highlight the differences between Warhol and Rauschenberg.
C to suggest Warhol’s work was better than Rauschenberg’s.
D to give an overview of Warhol’s early groundbreaking work.
2 What is the main idea of Paragraph E?
A Both artists worked outside of traditional artistic genres.
B Warhol’s work influenced rock music
C Both artists engaged in performance art.
D The Exploding Plastic Inevitable is a well-known piece of work.

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GLOBAL MCQs
This task asks you to reflect on or summarise the text as a whole. Typically, this task will ask you to identify the main idea of the passage (a sentence which
summarises the writer’s position), its purpose (why the author wrote it), or the most suitable title (a simple statement that summarises the content of the text for the
reader).
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You have 10 minutes to read the following passage.
THE FINANCIAL CRASH – WHO WAS TO BLAME? 5 Insurance companies commonly offer protection against personal debt (for example, when somebody
1 There was once a widely held belief that people who were in debt, but who could not afford to pay back takes out a mortgage but wants to make sure that, if they suffer an unexpected accident and cannot work, the
the debt, should be punished severely. At the of the 19th century, those unable to repay what they owed debt will be paid not by themselves, but by the company). However, in the early part of the 21st century,
were arrested, taken to court, and ultimately sent to ‘debtors’ prisons’, locked away until they had worked people suddenly became able to buy insurance for properties they didn’t even own. In other words, when a
off what they owed. To be in debt, in the eyes of society, was unacceptable. And yet, by the time we reached family could no longer afford the repayments on their home and had to leave, another person – who they
the first years of the 21st century, the idea that owning debt was something positive, even productive, had had never met, maybe even living on the other side of the country – could claim a huge amount of money
become commonplace in many parts of the world. So much so, that the global financial crash of 2008, in from the insurance company, simply because they had bought a policy for that particular property. In The
the eyes of many observers, was entirely inevitable. Crash: Reasons and Repercussions, Dr Alfred Moran writes, ‘The AAA rating gave everyone a dishonest
guarantee that the system could not collapse. Unfortunately for the world’s economy, the insurance
2 At the end of the 20th century, the general financial climate was stable and healthy. Commercial banks
companies followed those ratings blindly’. Eventually, in 2008, the system did indeed collapse, on a
and investment banks for a number of years had mostly functioned separately from one another. When
devastating scale.
people put their income or savings into an investment, it was often done without a great deal of risk, and
they tended not to make an astonishing amount of money. But this was soon to change in a disastrous way, 6 Despite this, he emphasises, it should not be overlooked that it was actually the investment banks who
writes Alicia Pillory in The Great Deception. In the early 2000s, ‘investment bankers devised an paid the rankings agencies in the first place, and so the AAA rating was essentially funded by those who
opportunity to make huge profits by buying mortgage (*) loans from commercial banks and mortgage would exploit it – it is they who are most to blame. Pillory contends, however, that we should vent our
lenders.’ She explains how investment banks then created ‘packages’ of these loans and sold them to strongest anger towards the dangerously ‘hands-off’ approach of western governments at the time, while
individual investors. ‘The grand, misguided theory was that any repayments would have to be made to the Vane avoids placing the entire blame at the feet of either the banks, or their governments and regulators. He
companies or people who now owned the mortgages, and everyone would get rich.’ maintains that, in the western world, the attitude towards debt is careless. ‘Chinese people, for example,
often put 30% of their income into saving; this sensible attitude to money is commonly seen in Asian
3 Huge numbers of investors brought their money to the table. They were given confidence by the fact that
countries. In comparison, in Europe and the US, you rarely see anyone putting aside more than 5% of their
the packages being offered to them had apparently been assessed and passed by the credit rating agencies.
earnings. This is extremely unwise.’ By extension, those people who borrowed money to buy a house,
The main purpose of these organisations is to evaluate in a neutral way the amount of risk an individual or
knowing that they could never afford to pay that money back in their entire lifetime, must take the major
company might face in a potential investment. The fundamental problem, as Charles Vane sets out in The
share of the blame.
End of innocence, was that these credit rating agencies were actually paid by investment banks themselves,
and the agencies were happy to provide the first-class AAA ratings which did so much to convince the 7 As Alicia Pillory laments, ‘We are living through the worst recession for 80 years, all because a
potential investors to part with their money: ‘which is actually very far from being neutral.’ It seems comparatively small number of people working in the financial sector could not control their greed.’
unthinkable now that this was the case, but it was not uncommon at the time. ‘We have to take that into Whatever the root causes of this highly devastating period of our history, the one thing that experts seem to
consideration before isolating and criticising the investment banks too harshly.’ agree on is that our shamed financial wellbeing is unlikely to return to full health at any point soon. Perhaps
it is even time to reconsider some 19th century notions of how we are supposed to feel about debt.
4 The investment banks, now free to offer home loans to anyone, regardless of how much that person
earned or was even likely to earn, began offering mortgages to new borrowers: people who were in low- (*) mortgage – a loan given by a bank that enables someone to buy a place to live (e.g., house, flat)
paid employment, and who had no savings at all. Huge levels of debt were provided to those who, within
two or three years, would have no way of meeting the monthly repayments. ‘So many people were taken
advantage of,’ writes Pillory, and ‘this irresponsible lending behaviour was never made to stop, with no
ultimate consequences for the bankers, who simply became very, very rich.’ She maintains that the
authorities could, and should, have put a stop to it earlier. Instead, ‘at this point, another industry saw the
potential for profit and greedily stepped in.’
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Use the hints given below the options to help you answer this question:
What is the writer’s main idea in the Reading passage? Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
A The global financial crisis would not have happened if people were still imprisoned for being in debt.
B Certain nationalities should follow the lead of others in order to become financially stable.
C The global financial crisis was created by a number of groups and has had only negative effects.
D Worldwide attitudes to financial responsibility are to blame for the global crisis.
HINTS:
A Which parts of the text mention debtor’s prisons? Why are they mentioned?
B Who exactly is suggesting that certain nationalities are failing to take care of their finances adequately?
C How many different groups of people are said to have been involved in the financial crisis? Does the writer put forward any positive effects of the crisis?
D Which attitudes to financial responsibility are described in a negative way? Are there any people in modern society whose approach to financial responsibility is
mentioned in a positive light?
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Use the hints given below the options to help you answer this question:
What is the writer’s main idea in the Reading passage? Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
A The global financial crisis would not have happened if people were still imprisoned for being in debt.
B Certain nationalities should follow the lead of others in order to become financially stable.
C The global financial crisis was created by a number of groups and has had only negative effects.
D Worldwide attitudes to financial responsibility are to blame for the global crisis.
HINTS:
A Which parts of the text mention debtor’s prisons? Why are they mentioned?
B Who exactly is suggesting that certain nationalities are failing to take care of their finances adequately?
C How many different groups of people are said to have been involved in the financial crisis? Does the writer put forward any positive effects of the crisis?
D Which attitudes to financial responsibility are described in a negative way? Are there any people in modern society whose approach to financial responsibility is
mentioned in a positive light?
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TIPS
• For ‘purpose’ questions, make sure that both parts of the option are correct.
• For ‘choose a title’ questions, ask yourself: 1) if I saw this title, what would I expect to read in the passage? What arguments or evidence might be given? How
much does the passage differ from these predictions? 2) Does the option give the main idea of the whole passage, or just a section/paragraph from it? 3) Is the
option too general or abstract to be correct?
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Look at options A-D and answer the global multiple-choice questions. Check that the
information in both parts of the sentence (green or purple) is correct to help you decide.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
What is the writer’s purpose in the Reading passage?
A. To compare approaches to savings and investment in the 19th and the 21st centuries
B. To summarise different interpretations of the main causes of the global financial crisis
C. To criticise investment banks’ unhealthy concept of debt
D. To detail which processes caused the global financial crisis to happen

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Look at options A-D and answer the global multiple-choice questions. Check that the
information in both parts of the sentence (green or purple) is correct to help you decide.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
What is the writer’s purpose in the Reading passage?
A. To compare approaches to savings and investment in the 19th and the 21st centuries
B. To summarise different interpretations of the main causes of the global financial crisis
C. To criticise investment banks’ unhealthy concept of debt
D. To detail which processes caused the global financial crisis to happen

17
Answer the question using the underlined key words to help you.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D. What is the best title for this Reading passage?
A The History of Debt in the Modern Era
B How Banks Created a Global Recession
C Disasters in Finance and Investment
D The Crash: Is There Anyone to Blame?

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Answer the question using the underlined key words to help you.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D. What is the best title for this Reading passage?
A The History of Debt in the Modern Era
B How Banks Created a Global Recession
C Disasters in Finance and Investment
D The Crash: Is There Anyone to Blame?

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Discuss both views and express your opinion essay
With some question types in Task 2, you need to discuss more than one type of evidence, argument, or point of view before reaching your conclusion. This is called the
argument-led approach.
Essay type: GIVING OPPOSING VIEWS AND YOUR OWN OPINION
For this kind of essay, you need to discuss two positions on a question and then give your own. Your own opinion can be to take one side or the other, to partly agree
with one or both, or even to disagree with both positions and offer an alternative view. The key is to make sure that your opinion is clear and, as with all Task 2 essays,
support your arguments with examples, reasons, explanations, etc.
Example: Some people believe that a person’s culture is defined by their country of origin (opinion A), while others believe that has only a minor influence (opinion
B). Discuss both these views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
ESSAY STRUCTURE
If you share one of the viewpoints: If you tend to support both viewpoints (balanced essay) Task: Some people think
§1. Introduction: Paraphrase the task + my opinion: which view do I support? (2 that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others,
sentences) however, believe that school is the place to teach this. Discuss both views and give
§2 The first view (why do people think so?) + Explanation + Example your own opinion.
§3 The second view (why do people think so?) + Explanation + Example OR Result §1 Introduction: People hold different views about whether parents or schools
§4 Conclusion: sum up the two views + my opinion: the view I support (2-4 should bear the responsibility of helping children to become good citizens. In my
sentences) view, this responsibility should be shared. (Paraphrase the task + my opinion, 2
sentences)
§2 The first view (why do people think so?) On the one hand, parents certainly have
a vital role to play in the upbringing of their children. + Explanation + Example.
§3 The second view (why do people think so?) On the other hand, schoolteachers
may contribute almost as much as parents to the development of a child. +
Explanation + Example or Result
§4 In conclusion, both parents and schools should work together to ensure that
young people become polite and productive members of society. (My opinion: I
support both views + why, 2-4 Sentences).
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Look at the Task 2 essay question. Then read the extracts (1-6) from candidates’
answers. Label them A (opinion A) or B (opinion B).
Some people believe that a person’s culture is defined by their country of origin (opinion A), while others believe that has only a minor influence (opinion B). Discuss
both these views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
1 In my experience, it depends on which cultural background someone is from. Some people are able to discard their national identities more readily than others.
2 Although many people believe a person’s country no longer has a great influence on their culture, what I believe is that, under the surface, the impact of where a
person is from is enormous.
3 It is evident to me that we can never truly escape our origins. They are with us from birth and are present during our formative years.
4 Some people are of the opinion that, for example, because the same fast-food chains exist in every country, everyone likes the same food. However, the reality is that
in most parts of the world people eat the same food, typical to their own country of origin, almost every day.
5 While it may be true that certain aspects of culture are shared by people from all over the world, we cannot deny that our beliefs and behaviour are shaped by the
national environment in which we grow up.
6 While I admit that the country of origin is a major factor in determining one’s culture, I strongly believe that anyone who moves overseas for work or study can be
equally influenced by the culture of this host country.
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1 In my experience, it depends on which cultural background someone is from. Some people are able to discard their national identities more readily than others. B
person is from is enormous.
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person is from is enormous. A
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3 It is evident to me that we can never truly escape our origins. They are with us from birth and are present during our formative years. A
24
in most parts of the world people eat the same food, typical to their own country of origin, almost every day. A
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national environment in which we grow up. A
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equally influenced by the culture of this host country. B
Look again at the extracts. Identify the expressions which are used to introduce an opinion.
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4 Some people are of the opinion that, for example, because the same fast-food chains exist in every country, everyone likes the same food. However, the reality is
that in most parts of the world people eat the same food, typical to their own country of origin, almost every day. A
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Complete the sentences with your own ideas then compare them with ideas of your
peers:
1 Some people believe that you can learn a language without knowing the culture. My own view is...
2 There is a widespread belief that the world is a global village. However, it seems to be that...
3 On the one hand, it is possible to argue that our country of origin defines us. On the other hand,...
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Reread the essay task. Read a sample answer below then discuss in your group the
questions following the text:
If we define culture as shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviour, it stands to reason that a person’s country of origin impacts their culture. The question is, to what
degree. Is nationality the defining influence or is it just one of many factors involved? Personally speaking, I would say both arguments have validity, but I would lean
towards the latter.
It is easy to understand the ‘defining influence’ argument. If someone is born and raised in a place, they will be heavily influenced by it. Psychologists refer to this as
the ‘nurture argument’ – you are a product of your environment. For example, if your country’s cuisine uses certain ingredients, your palate gets accustomed to those
ingredients, but may struggle with other less familiar flavours. If your country has a traditional style of music, say, reggae or rock, all citizens will be exposed to it and,
as a result, are more likely to enjoy it.
On the other side of the argument, we need to consider the effects of globalisation. Most people have daily access and exposure to other countries. The evidence is all
around us – restaurants, films and foreign businesses are ubiquitous. One of the benefits of globalisation is that it offers us a selection of cultural possibilities to choose
from. It is unlikely that you will find any citizen of a certain country who does not have likes or preferences that come from outside of their country of origin. In
addition, more and more people work, study, or travel extensively away from their home country. Inevitably, these people will be subject to new influences.
My own view is that while we are influenced by our nationality, in this globalised world, one’s country of origin is only one aspect of our collective culture. We all
adopt elements from other cultures on a daily basis, unconsciously or according to our preferences and experiences. To my mind, this is what makes the world such an
interesting place.
1 Does paragraph 1 (Introduction) clearly explain what the essay will be about?
2 Where does the candidate make their position/opinion clear in this essay?
3 Which opinion from the question does the candidate discuss in Paragraph 2? Underline the topic sentence that expresses it. How many reasons/examples are given to
support it?
4 Which opinion does Paragraph 3 discuss? Underline the topic sentence that expresses it. Why do you think the candidate chose to discuss this here?
5 Make a list of opinion phrases used in this essay.
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Homework
Reading exercises
Bullying: from crisis management to prevention
Three factors are involved in this change. First is an awareness of the severity of the problem. Second, a number of resources to help tackle bullying have become
available in Britain. For example, the Scottish Council for Research in Education produced a package of materials, Action Against Bullying, which gets circulated to all
the schools in England and Wales, as well as in Scotland in Summer 1992, with a second pack, Supporting Schools Against Bullying, produced the following year. In
Ireland, Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Post-Primary Schools was published in 1993. Third, there is evidence that these materials work, and that
schools can achieve something. This comes from carefully conducted ‘before and after’ evaluations of interventions in schools, monitored by a research team. In
Norway, after an intervention campaign was introduced nationally, an evaluation of forty-two schools suggested that, over a two-year period, bullying was halved. The
Sheffield investigation, which involved sixteen primary schools and seven secondary schools, found out most schools succeeded in reducing bullying.
Questions: What were the research findings acquired in Norway?
A Bullying declined by 50% after an anti-bullying campaign.
B Twenty-one schools reduced bullying as a result of an anti-bullying campaign.
C Two years is the optimum length for an anti-bullying campaign.
D Bullying is a less serious problem in Norway than in the UK.

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Homework
Reading exercises
The psychology of innovation
Cialdini believes that this ‘follow the leader’ syndrome is dangerous not least because it encourages bosses to go it alone. ‘It’s been scientifically proven that three
people will be better than one at solving problems, even if that one person is the smartest person in the field.’
To prove his point, Cialdini cites an interview with molecular biologist James Watson. Watson, together with Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA, the
genetic information carrier of all living organisms. ‘When asked how they had cracked the code ahead of an array of highly accomplished rival investigators, he said
something that stunned me. He said he and Crick had succeeded because they were aware that they weren’t the most intelligent of the scientists pursuing the answer.
The smartest scientist was called Rosalind Franklin who, Watson said, ‘was so intelligent she rarely sought advice’.
Question: James Watson suggests that he and Francis Crick won the race to discover the DNA code because they:
A were conscious of their own limitations.
B brought complementary skills to the partnership.
C were determined to outperform their brighter rivals.
D encouraged each other to realise their joint ambition.

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Homework
Reading exercises
Organic food: why?
Unlike conventional farming, the organic approach means farming with natural, rather than man-made fertilisers and pesticides. Techniques such as crop rotation
improve soil quality and help organic farmers compensate for the absence of man-made chemicals. As a method of food production, organic is, however, inefficient in
its use of labour and land; there are severe limits to how much food can be produced. Also, the environmental benefits of not using artificial fertilizer are tiny compared
with the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by transporting food (a great deal of Britain’s organic produce is shipped in from other countries and transported from shop
to home by car).
Question: Which TWO of the following points does the writer mention in connection with organic farming?
A the occasional use of pesticides
B using the same field for different crops
C testing soil quality
D reducing the number of farm workers
E the production of greenhouse gases

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Homework
Reading exercises
Organic food: why?
The simplistic claim that organic food is more nutritious than conventional food was always likely to be misleading. Food is a natural product, and the health value of
different foods will vary for a number of reasons, including freshness, the way the food is cooked, the type of soil it is grown in, the amount of sunlight and rain that
crops have received, and so on. Likewise, the flavour of a carrot has less to do with whether it was fertilised with manure or something out of a plastic sack than with
the type of carrot and how long ago it was dug up. The differences created by these things are likely to be greater than any differences brought about by using an
organic or nonorganic system of production. Indeed, even some ‘organic’ farms are quite different from one another.
Question: According to the writer, which TWO factors affect the nutritional content of food?
A who the food is prepared by
B the weather conditions during growth
C where the food has been stored
D when the plants were removed from the earth
E the type of farm the food was grown on

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Homework
Reading exercises
What is an ASBO? A person faced with an ASBO can argue in their defence that their behaviour was
Ask somebody to make a list of crimes and they will probably come up with the reasonable and unthreatening. This too is subjective, and both sides’ claims are
usual suspects that you or I would: murder, robbery, assault, burglary, and so on. open to wide interpretation. Something else that has to be taken into account here is
They might even include acts which are merely ‘against the law’, like parking on a that ASBOs are made on an individual basis even if that person is part of a group of
double yellow line. But if you ask them to make a list of anti-social behaviours, youpeople committing anti-social behaviour. If a case reaches the magistrates’ court,
are getting into an area where there is going to be considerable disagreement. This witnesses can be called to provide further evidence for or against the defendant.
didn’t stop the UK government, which introduced Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, or However, the magistrate, as well as considering the complaints made against the
AS805, in 1998 as part of the Crime and Disorder Act – legislation designed to deal defendant, will take into account his or her family situation, welfare issues, and
with practically all the aspects of criminal activity and disorderly behaviour. whether or not he or she has been victimised or discriminated against.
A subjective definition of anti-social behaviour permits you to cast your net wide Questions 1-3: Which THREE of the following statements on Anti-Social
and include anything you find personally disagreeable; the legal definition is also Behaviour Orders (ASBO) are true, according to the text?
widely inclusive to quote the Crime and Disorder Act, it is behaviour which ‘causes A They were introduced to deal with specific crimes.
or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people who are
not in the same household as the perpetrator’. This includes, among many other B Parking on a double yellow line could get you served with an ASBO.
things, foul and abusive language, threatening behaviour, shouting, disorderly C Swearing is one of the offences referred to in the Crime and Disorder Act.
conduct, vandalism, intimidation, behaviour which results from drug or alcohol
D As a private householder, you can apply for an ASBO against a noisy neighbour.
misuse, graffiti, and noise which is excessive, particularly at night.
In fact, young people merely hanging out in public places, however boisterous their E It is not illegal for young people to gather in groups in public places.
behaviour might seem to some people, is not automatically seen as anti-social F An ASBO cannot be served to a group of people behaving in a disorderly manner.
behaviour. However, there is a proviso. Such behaviour in its own right is not
considered anti-social unless it is believed to be conducted with other, more G A large proportion of those served with ASBOs are over the age of 21.
serious, behavioural attitudes involved. This, of course, can be very subjective. H Most people agree that ASBOs have been effective all over the country.
40
Homework
Reading exercises
f. The history of the biro would do both.
One chilly autumn morning in 1945, five thousand shoppers crowded the The first Biro pen, like the designs that had gone before it, relied on gravity for the
pavements outside Gimbels Department Store in New York City. The day before, ink to flow to the ball bearing at the tip. This meant that the pens only worked
Gimbels had taken out a full-page newspaper advertisement in The New York when they were held straight up, and even then, the ink flow was sometimes too
Times, announcing the sale of the first ballpoint pen in the United States. The new heavy, leaving big smudges of ink on the paper.
writing instrument was heralded as ‘fantastic..., miraculous...guaranteed to write forQuestions: Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
two years without refilling!’ Within six hours, Gimbels had sold its entire stock of
ten thousand ballpoints at $12.50 each – approximately $130 at today’s prices. 1 The problem with the ballpoint pens invented between 1888 and 1935 was that
In fact, this ‘new’ pen was not new after all and was just the latest development in a A they cost a great deal of money to manufacture
long search for the best way to deliver ink to paper. In 1884, Lewis Waterman had B the technology to manufacture them didn’t exist
patented the fountain pen, giving him the sole rights to manufacture it. This marked
C they could not write on ordinary paper
a significant leap forward in writing technology, but fountain pens soon became
notorious for leaking. In 1888, a leather tanner named John Loud devised and D they were unreliable
patented the first ‘rolling-pointed marker pen’ for marking leather. Loud’s design 2 The design of the first Biro pen
contained a reservoir of ink in a cartridge and a rotating ball point that was
constantly bathed on one side with ink. A was similar to the previous pens
Loud’s pen was never manufactured, however, and over the next five decades, 350 B was based on capillary action
additional patents were issued for similar ball-type pens, though none advanced
C worked with heavy or light inks
beyond the design stage. Each had their own faults, but the major difficulty was the
ink: if the ink was thin, the pens leaked, and if it was too thick, they clogged. D worked when slanted slightly
Depending on the climate or air temperature, sometimes the pens
41
Homework
Reading exercises
Implementing the cycle of success: a case study The majority of the positions at the hotel (30 management and 40 shift leader
Within Australia, Australian Hotels Inc (AHI) operates nine hotels and employs positions) were predominantly filled by transfers from other AHI properties.
over 2000 permanent full-time staff, 300 permanent part-time employees, and 100 Questions: Choose the appropriate letters A-D
casual staff. One of its latest ventures, the Sydney Airport Hotel (SAH), opened in 1 The high costs of running an AHI’s hotel are related to their...
March 1995. The hotel is the closest to Sydney Airport and is designed to provide
the best available accommodation, food and beverage and meeting facilities in A management
Sydney’s southern suburbs. Similar to many international hotel chains, however, B size
AHI has experienced difficulties in Australia in providing long-term profits for
C staff
hotel owners, as a result of the country’s high labour cost structure. In order to
develop an economically viable hotel organisational model, AHI decided to D policies
implement some new policies and practices at SAH. 2 SAH’s new organisational structure requires...
The first of the initiatives was an organisational structure with only three levels of
management – compared to the traditional seven. Partly as a result of this change, A 75% of the old management positions
there are 25 per cent fewer management positions enabling a significant saving. B 25% of the old management positions
This change also has other implications. Communication, both up and down the
C 25% more management positions
organisation, has greatly improved. Decision-making has been forced down in
many cases to frontline employees. As a result, guest requests are usually met D 5% fewer management positions
without reference to a supervisor, improving both customer and employee 3 The SAH’s approach to an organisational structure required changing practices
satisfaction. in...
The hotel also recognised that it would need a different approach to selecting
employees who would fit in with its new policies. In its advertisements, the hotel A industrial relations
stated a preference for people with some ‘service’ experience in order to minimise B firing staff
traditional work practices being introduced in the hotel. Over 7000 applicants filled C hiring staff
an application forms for the 120 jobs initially offered at SAH.
D marketing
42
Homework
Reading task to be submitted for marking
Biological control of pests
The continuous and reckless use of synthetic chemicals for the control of pests which pose a threat to agricultural crops and human health is proving to be counter-productive. Apart from
engendering widespread ecological disorders, pesticides have contributed to the emergence of a new breed of chemical-resistant, highly lethal superbugs.
According to a recent study by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), more than 300 species of agricultural pests have developed resistance to a wide range of potent chemicals. Not too far
behind are the disease-spreading pests, about 100 species of which have become immune to a variety of insecticides now in use. One glaring disadvantage of pesticides’ application is that, while
destroying harmful pests, they also wipe out many useful non-targeted organisms, which keep the growth of the pest population in check. This results in what agroecologists call the 'treadmill
syndrome'. Because of their tremendous breeding potential and genetic diversity, many pests are known to withstand synthetic chemicals and bear offspring with a built-in resistance to pesticides.
The havoc that the ‘treadmill syndrome’ can bring about is well illustrated by what happened to cotton farmers in Central America. In the early 1940s, basking in the glory of chemical-based
intensive agriculture, the farmers avidly took to pesticides as a sure measure to boost crop yield. The insecticide was applied eight times a year in the mid-1940s, rising to 28 in a season in the mid-
1950s, following the sudden proliferation of three new varieties of chemical-resistant pests.
By the mid-1960s, the situation took an alarming turn with the outbreak of four more new pests, necessitating pesticide spraying to such an extent that 50% of the financial outlay on cotton
production was accounted by pesticides. In the early 1970s, the spraying frequently reaches 70 times a season as the farmers were pushed to the brink by the invasion of generically stronger insect
species.
Most of the pesticides on the market today remain inadequately tested for properties that cause cancer and mutations as well as for other adverse effects on health, says a study by US
environmental agencies. The United States National Resource Defense Council has found that DDT was the most popular of a long list of dangerous chemicals in use.
In the face of the escalating perils from indiscriminate applications of pesticides, a more effective and ecologically sound strategy of biological control, involving selective use of natural enemies
of the pest population, is fast gaining popularity – though, as yet, it is a new field with limited potential. The advantage of biological control in contrast to other methods is that it provides a
relatively low-cost, perpetual control system with minimal detrimental side-effects. When handled by experts, biocontrol is safe, non-polluting and self-dispersing.
The Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (CIBC) in Bangalore, with its global network of research laboratories and field stations, is one of the most active, non-commercial research
agencies engaged in pest control by setting natural predators against parasites. CIBC also serves as a clearing house for the export and import of biological agents for pest control worldwide.
CIBC successfully used a seed-feeding weevil, native to Mexico, to control the obnoxious parthenium weed, known to exert a devious influence of agriculture and human health in both India and
Australia. Similarly the Hyderabad-based Regional Research Laboratory (RRL), supported by CIBC, is now trying out an Argentinian weevil for the eradication of water hyacinth, another
dangerous weed, which has become a nuisance in many parts of the world. According to Mrs. Kaiser Jamil of RRL, ‘The Argentinian weevil does not attack any other plant and a pair of adult bugs
could destroy the weed in 4-5 days.’ CIBC is also perfecting the technique for breeding parasites that prey on ‘disapene scale’ insects – notorious defoliants of fruit trees in the US and India.
How effectively biological control can be pressed into service is proved by the following examples. In the late 1960s, when Sri Lanka’s flourishing coconut groves were plagued by leaf-mining
hispides, a larval parasite imported from Singapore brought the pest under control. A natural predator indigenous to India, Neodumetia sangawani, was found useful in controlling the Rhodes
grass-scale insect that was devouring forage grass in many parts of the US. By using Neochetina bruci, a beetle native to Brazil, scientists at Kerala Agricultural University freed a 12-kilometre-
long canal from the clutches of the weed Salvinia molesta, popularly called ‘African Payal’ in Kerala. About 30,000 hectares of rice fields in Kerala are infested by this weed.
43
Homework
Reading task to be submitted for marking
Questions: 14-17. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D. Questions: 18-21. Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the
Reading Passage?
14 The use of pesticides has contributed to
Write:
A a change in the way ecology is classified by agroecologists
Yes / No / Not given
B an imbalance in many ecological systems around the world
18 Disease-spreading pests respond more quickly to pesticides than agricultural pests do.
C the prevention of ecological disasters in some parts of the world
19 Some pests are now born with an innate immunity to some pesticides.
D an increase in the range of ecological systems which can be usefully farmed
20 Biological control entails using synthetic chemicals to try and change the genetic make-up of
15 The Food and Agriculture Organisation has counted more than 300 agricultural pests which the pests’ offspring.
A are no longer responding to most pesticides in use 21 Biocontrol is not dangerous under certain circumstances.
B can be easily controlled through the use of pesticides Questions: 22-26. Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-I, below.
C continue to spread disease in a wide range of crops 22 Disapene scale insects feed on
D may be used as part of biocontrol’s replacement of pesticides 23 Neodumetia sangawani ate
16 Cotton farmers in Central America began to use pesticides 24 Leaf-mining hispides blighted
A because of an intensive government advertising campaign 25 An Argentinian weevil may be successful in wiping out
B in response to the appearance of new varieties of pests 26 Salvinia molesta plagues
C as a result of changes in the seasons and the climate A forage grass
D to ensure more cotton was harvested from each crop B rice fields
C coconut trees
17 By the mid-1960s, cotton farmers in Central America found that pesticides D fruit trees
A were wiping out 50% of the pests plaguing the crops E water hyacinth
F parthenium weed
B were destroying 50% of the crops they were meant to protect G Brazilian beetles
C were causing a 50% increase in the number of new pests reported H grass-scale insects
I larval parasites
D were costing 50% of the total amount they spent on their crops.
44
Homework
Complete the checklist on writing a Task 2 essay using the words from the box:
conclusion cohesive examples plan topic sentence
paragraphs highlight opposing outline proof-read
1 Read the question carefully and _______________ any key words. Circle any instructional words.
2 Make a brief ______________ of the structure of your essay. Decide how many ___________ you will need. Note down some key vocabulary.
3 In your introduction and overview, paraphrase the question, include your opinion, if appropriate, and an ________ of what you intend to argue.
4 When writing your body paragraphs, ensure each one contains a clear ____________ (usually the first sentence). Remember to give specific ____________or
explanations to support each main point.
5 If you are arguing in favour of one opinion, make sure you discuss at least one or two points representing the ___________ view.
6 As you write, keep in mind the need for a variety of grammatical structures and a wide range of ______________ devices.
7 Include a _____________ as a separate paragraph.
8 Finally, ____________ your essay for errors, such as spelling mistakes.

45
Homework
Complete the table below using the words in the box:
argued argue argument believe belief
Chunks for introducing opinion Chunks for adding more

Many people It is their view/4______ that ...
1_______________/say/feel/think/believe They claim/argue/feel that...
that... This is because they say it is...
A growing number of people 2________ Another common belief about [smth] is
that... that...
It is 3______________by some that... There is also an 5_____________that...
There is a common belief that...
Some say/argue/feel/believe that...
Many people hold the view that...
46
Homework
Turn each of the sets of essay notes below into two sentences. Use a chunk to introduce the opinion and another
chunk to develop the paragraph:
Example: 1 television/good for children/educational/helps/learn-> Many people believe that television is actually a good thing for children. They claim that it is
educational and that, in fact, it helps them learn.
2 robots / replace teachers / future / more efficient
3 sports in school / waste of time / concentrate on key subjects / sport / outside school
4 teachers / able /physical discipline / reduce / misbehaviour
5 take gap year / waste of time / people / become lazy / not want to work / return
47
Homework
Correct one word in each chunk:
1 Some people argument...
2 A climbing number of people feel that...
3 Another common believe is that...
4 Many people grab the view that...

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Reading Multi-choice questions

Exploring Reading Multi-choice questions

A Their mothers were the most important influence on them.

B They were born in America to families with ancestry in Europe.

C Their families pushed them to go to Art School.

D Their families moved to New York.

A Their mothers were the most important influence on them.

B They were born in America to families with ancestry in Europe.

C Their families pushed them to go to Art School.

D Their families moved to New York.

IDENTIFYING MAIN AND SUPPORTING IDEAS

1 The purpose of Paragraph D is...

A to illustrate Warhol’s love of fame.

B to highlight the differences between Warhol and Rauschenberg.

C to suggest Warhol’s work was better than Rauschenberg’s.

D to give an overview of Warhol’s early groundbreaking work.

2 What is the main idea of Paragraph E?

A Both artists worked outside of traditional artistic genres.

B Warhol’s work influenced rock music

C Both artists engaged in performance art.

D The Exploding Plastic Inevitable is a well-known piece of work.

1 The purpose of Paragraph D is...

A to illustrate Warhol’s love of fame.

B to highlight the differences between Warhol and Rauschenberg.

C to suggest Warhol’s work was better than Rauschenberg’s.

D to give an overview of Warhol’s early groundbreaking work.

2 What is the main idea of Paragraph E?

A Both artists worked outside of traditional artistic genres.

B Warhol’s work influenced rock music

C Both artists engaged in performance art.

D The Exploding Plastic Inevitable is a well-known piece of work.

1 The purpose of Paragraph D is...

A to illustrate Warhol’s love of fame.

B to highlight the differences between Warhol and Rauschenberg.

C to suggest Warhol’s work was better than Rauschenberg’s.

D to give an overview of Warhol’s early groundbreaking work.

2 What is the main idea of Paragraph E?

A Both artists worked outside of traditional artistic genres.

B Warhol’s work influenced rock music

C Both artists engaged in performance art.

D The Exploding Plastic Inevitable is a well-known piece of work.

C. To criticise investment banks’ unhealthy concept of debt

D. To detail which processes caused the global financial crisis to happen

C. To criticise investment banks’ unhealthy concept of debt

D. To detail which processes caused the global financial crisis to happen

A The History of Debt in the Modern Era

B How Banks Created a Global Recession

C Disasters in Finance and Investment

D The Crash: Is There Anyone to Blame?

A The History of Debt in the Modern Era

B How Banks Created a Global Recession

C Disasters in Finance and Investment

D The Crash: Is There Anyone to Blame?

Questions: What were the research findings acquired in Norway?

A Bullying declined by 50% after an anti-bullying campaign.

B Twenty-one schools reduced bullying as a result of an anti-bullying campaign.

C Two years is the optimum length for an anti-bullying campaign.

D Bullying is a less serious problem in Norway than in the UK.