EXAM PRACTICE READING You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-10, which are based on the Reading Passage below. Is this REALLY Proof that People can see into the Future? Do some of us avoid tragedy by foreseeing it? Some scientists now believe that the brain really can predict events before they happen. A. Professor Dick Bierman sits hunched over his computer. In the next room, a patient sips inside a hospital brain scanner. If it wasn't for the strange smiles that flicker across the woman'sface, you could be forgiven for thinking this was just a normal health check. But this scanner is engaged in one of the most profound paranormal experiments of all ime, one that may well prove whether it is possible to predict the future. For the results suggest that ordinary people really do have a sixth sense that can help. them ‘see’ the future. Such amazing studies ~ if verified ~ might help explain the predictive powers of mediums and {a range of other psychic phenomena such as extrasensory perception, déja vuand clairvoyance. On a more mundane level, it may account for ‘gut feelings’ and instinct. B The man behind the experiments is certainly convinced, We're satisfied that people can sense the future before it happens; says Professor Bierman, a psychologist ‘at the University of Amsterdam. Bierman is not alone: his, findings mirror the data gathered by other scientists and paranormal researchers. Professor Brian Josephson, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist from Cambridge University, says: 'So far, the evidence seems compelling. What seems to be happening is that information is coming from the future’ The scientist Ed Cox found that trains ‘destined’ to crash carried fewer people than they did normally. Dr Jessica Utts, ‘a statistician at the University of California, found exactly the same bizare effect. © The military has long been fascinated by such phenomena. For many years the US military funded programme knownas Stargate, which set outtoinvestigate premonitions. Dr Dean Radin worked on the programme ‘and became fascinated by the ability of lucky’ soldiers to forecast the future, Radin became convinced that thoughts and feelings could flow backwards in time to guide them. It helped them make life-saving decisions, often on the basis of a hunch, D> Radin devised an experiment to test these ideas. He showed violent or soothing images to volunteers if a random sequence. He soon discovered that people began reacting to the pictures before they actually 5a¥ them. Professor Dick Bierman decided to take this work further, by looking inside the brains of volunteers using an MRI" scanner while repeating Dr Radin's experiments. The results suggest that seemingly ordinary people are capable of sensing the future on a fairly consistent basis Bierman emphasises that people are receiving feelings from the future rather than specific ‘visions: E Butif we can sense what is going to happen, doesn't that mean we can change the future and make the ‘prediction’ obsolete? Such paradoxes provide material for films such as Minority Report, in which a special police department is able to foresee and prevent crimes before they have taken place. Could such science fiction have a ‘grain of truth in it after al? Professor Bierman responds: “This phenomenon allows you to make a decision an the basis of what will happen in the future. Does that restrain ‘our free will) That's up tothe philosophers! F There are plenty of instances where people wished they had listened to their premonitions. In 1966, a coal tip collapsed and swept through a Welsh school, killing 144 people. turned out that 24 people had had premonitions of the tragedy. One involved a gil who was killed. She told her mother shortly before she was taken to school +1 dreamt | went to school and there was no school there Something black had come down all over it? G Soshould we listen to our instincts? Or Utts believes we are constantly sampling the future and using the knowledge to help us make better decisions. 1 think we're doing ital the time: she says. Pethops the Queen in Lewis Carrols Through The Looking Glass was right: t's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards’ * Magnetic Resonance Imaging (used for dangnoste purpores)Questions 1-6 ‘The Readi g Passage has seven paragraphs, A-G Choose the correct heading fi hoose the correct heading for paragraphs B-G from the lst of headings below Skim the whole text toget agenerat List of Headings 1 Knowing what you are about to view | Example Paragraph A understanding of Not an unusual situation 1 Paragraph Bo sre consent In widespread agreement 2 Paragraph Find which headings iv Questioning the results 3 Paragraph D used as the example ¥ Predictions in the armed forces 4 aphE and cross it out so Vi Raising complex questions 5 Paragraph youdon' use it Vii Not an ordinary medical test 6 —_ by mistahe Nill_A tragic example Shim the fist paragraph and Questions 7-10 gnineang it youre not sure ose the correct letter, A.B, Cor D. of the heeding 7 How does Dick Biermanis patient differ from a typical patient? meneraa ra paragraph Do the A. She is being treated in a different kind of hospital B She is being tested with different equipment. © She reacts and expresses emotions in a different way D_ She has had several paranormal experiences. ‘easiest ones first © Once you've chosen heading, cross it out lett wi otf you one (or two paragraphs 8 Ed Cox’ findings are used to demonstrate that and you're really not A people don't get on trains they think will crash, on B_ train crashes will happen less often in the future, we ~ ee we cannot prevent some trains from crashing. ee gins -~ guess Dont leave D lighter trains crash much more frequently. any answers bar 9 How docs Professor Bierman’ experiment differ from Dr Radin's? A. Only Dr Radin pictures are in random order. B_ Only Dr Radin found that people can predict the future. C_ Only Professor Bierman’ voluntects predict the future D_ Only Professor yerman used medical equipment ed tn paragraph F? 10. What is Professor Bierman’ response to the paradox ment A. He says that humans still have complete B_ He doesnt provide a solution to the prob C Heck esse isn't a paradox at all D_ He denies that humans have free will anywayQuestions 1-5 Choose the correct letter, A, B, Cor D. 1 Eating manners developed as A. food became more important socially. B_ people began to eat more. C people took more time over meals. D_ people became dissatisfied with some dishes. ‘9 If you are having difficulty with a multiple-choice question, goon to the next one, When youhave answered 2 What dictated how A. practical problems B the shape of utensils © changing fashions D developments in cooking 1g manners developed? the questions you are sure of, go back to any that are causing, you difficulty, With those questions, identity 3 In many societies, cating together therelevant part A isseen as more healthy. B isa sign of civil of the text. Readit C gives people a responsibility. cocatully and wort D_ improves people’ social rank. backwards coms ‘out the options that are definitely not correct ion. 4 People everywhere are offended when a guest ‘A. doesnt eat or drink anything. B offers food or drink to the host. wants to eat or drink too much. D_ doesn't like eating bread. 5 Inanancient Greek home, guests were expected to ‘A symbolically wash a servant's hands and feet. B let the host wash their hands and feet. wash each other's hands and feet. D_ wash their hands and feet more than once. Questions 6-10 Complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. 6 The modern custom of providing for guests is similar to an ancient Roman custom. 7 Egyptian families had 8 People were more likely to be invited for. in ancient Rome. 9 Ancient Romans would wear a as they ate. 10. The before a meal in ancient Rome followed a strict order. to deal with guests