‘Academic Reading Passage | 45, Academic Reading 60 minutes READING PASSAGE 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 onthe allowing pages. Questions 1-5 Reading Passage I has even paragraphs, A-G. (Choose he correct heading or paragraphs B-F ram thelist ofheadings below. List of Headings i The relationship between two qualities that rive sucess li Theneed tobe able to see any projec through tothe end TW. Strategies to develop sel mot tion fv Twoattributes that people can acquire The ability to 00 and acton possiblities before others Wi The qualities necessary for success in the modern world ‘A comparison between talent and ambition ‘The possiblity that being flexible the most important attribute ix The need for qualities other than just knowledge and skills Example Answer Paragraph A, ix 1 Paragraph B 2 Paragraph © 9 Paragraph 44 Paragraph E 5 Paragraph F Bxanple Answer Paragraph vi46 | Academic Reading Passa9¢1 rest2 Young people — what do they need for success today? {A Having knowledge and skills sooms to overshadow the debate about what young ‘People need o equip themselves for success in io, academically professionally ‘and soctally. Mach more than these two entitles, however, ow seemsto bo ‘emanded ofthe younger generation than previously. The young are often ‘unjustly measured by the media and parents against knowledge-ocused criteria that are more relavantto previous generations than tothe moder digital age. ‘Tiss not to say that knowledge and skils are unimportant they are essential, ‘Butsuccess for young people today requires a range of atributes, some of which say be possible to teach and davelop Yet many. ifnot most are innate, ‘The acquisition ofa good education may often be quotedas boing nocossary for ‘success but the business world isfull of successful people who have had an ‘average or litle education as are the arts and sports worlds. Being creative even ‘ata very basic level ran attribute thtto some people s much more important ‘than education andi is often cited as the single most important quality in success Itcan be argued that being creative isnot just an innate quality. Steve Jobs once sald" Creativity is about seeing connections’ often that other people do not ee. Just ike having good education. t seems tha thisnoticing or seeingin creativity can be taught © Other attributes such as being ambitious and having talent cannot be taught but ‘hese like being well-educeted or creative,are not enough to guarantee success ‘What probably more necessary than these qualtlesis having vision. This involves being able to ee a finished projector product such asa websit,or any business venture and seeing the various stages up to thevery end,and indeed ‘beyond, also inchides something as mundane as being tle to state clear aims ‘and objectives that can be worked back from. An idea foraprojecton ts own s ot sufficient. D Selt motivation and perseverance are further strengths which ae inextricably linked and are necessary to develop a vision’ These are essential forces that propel ‘suocessfl people they areto initiate a project. to stay te course and take ito the ‘end. Being so: motivated, for example, enables people tostart up a business web _page.or dasign an app. Perseverance then enables someone to kegp going in the face ‘of eric and obstacles. tis dificult to separate the two qualities, as both are needed to keop going even in the face of failure. However itcan be dificult fr people topick themselves up and continue when they have asetbeck and become upset ‘Being able to examine failure, and analyse tolerate and use tis an important part of ‘both self-motivation and perseverance. In fact failures usful because Itcan help sharpen people’ talents. especially once they have earnthow itcan be dealt with [Ris doubtful whether self motivation and perseverance can themselves be taught, ‘butpeople with and without these qualities try tose a range of techniques.rest? ‘Academic Reading Passage | | 47 E People can be very disciplined and organized, whichis useful in self-motivation, but sometimes itis also worth having something positive to look forward to, ‘This simple technique of bribing oneself can consist of everyday things auch as hooolate orsweets,or a relaxing activity even something as basicas going fora walk or reading a nowspaper.Sellmotivation can also be initiated by limiting the tine spent working on something for example two hoursin the morning. A golden rue sto stop working on a project when the feeling is positiv.Then there isa good Possibility thatthe work wil be approached once again with sagerness and pleasure. Conversely, work i stopped when someone is feeling negativo, ‘ogatiity may then be present when the Work started again. Sos wise to stop or tae abreak when one in good mood! F Partof seit motivation being proactive rather than reactive, that i doing things fistrather than responding to other people's actions. There is atendency generally forpeople to waitfor someone else to intite something new, whereas successful people are able to see opportunities, and seize them before anyone else realizes they are there. They are independent and start things on their own, 6 ‘Education, knowledge and skllsmay play an important part in helping people to ‘succeed, but itis clear that other atributes such az having a vision self-motivation ‘and being proactive, which are ess tangible and therefore dlificltto quanti, ae {nportantforsuccess.Yot,porhaps, an atribute thats more crical than any other {she ability tobe flexible, as young people shit from one atrbute to another, ‘without thinking ‘tossary: innate: having something) from birth Questions 6-10 Do the llowing statements agree with the views ofthe writer in Reading Passage 1? Write ves Ifthe statement agrees with the views ofthe writer xo ‘the statement contradicts the views ofthe writer NOTGIVEN ifitisimposibleto say what the writer thinks about this 6 Theyouthoftoday are unfally judged against outdated standards. 7 Thenecessary attributes for being successfulcan be learnt. {8 Belrgcreativeisa much ess important factor in success than education, 9 Talentisaninvaluable quality that can be nourished. 10 Failere cen help people improve ther talents. Questions 11-13, Complete the sentences Below. (Choose WO WORDS from the passage foreach answer 11 Accardingto Steve Jobs, being creatives related to. 12 Havngthe ability ois an essential aspect of self-motivation and perseverance. 18 People should top working when they rein .....-rather than when they re feeling negative. Before you check your answers o Reading Passage 1, got pages 40-89,Further Practice are Tips Questions 1-5: Matching headings to paragraphs ‘Youmay beasked tomatch headings o paragraphs orto sectons which contain more than one paragraph, Rememberthat the heading mustbe asummary or overview f the whole paragraph or section, + Lookat the title of hereading passage. ‘* Thinkaboutpossblesynonymsof words in ‘+ Read any examples (note thatexamplesarenot theheedings. always given). ‘Thon skim the passage. (Alternatively, you can skim ‘+ Donotcross outtheexamplesastheyhelpyoufind _thetitleofthe passage and the passage first.) ‘the other headings. Write theletterfor the ‘+ When you have fnised the tak, ead through the paragraph nextto the relevant headingin the list headings andthe tide and check the order of your and makesureyou ead them, headings makes sense, + Skimalltheheadings.Ciclethegeneralnouns,eg. © Asyouanswer the questions inthe following tasks, ‘relationship, effect, and underline the key wordsin use the headingsto hep you locate information therestofeach heading. You can also use theother quesosto confirm your choice ofheadings. | | | ‘inheadings, learn to see patterns such as the use of noun phrases which are created around a) ‘general noun such as relationship, effect, solution and 50 on, Keep alist of these words, a3 ‘they occur in the exam again and again. Think ofsynonyms for them and thinkhow they are | paraphrased, e.g, measures may be expressed as. clause beginning‘how... ‘Which other general nouns can be used for the following exariplesin the headings on age 452 relationship: need: strategies: abi: - "Now answer the following question abou the paragraphs themselves Paragraph «1 Aretwo atuibutes mentionedin the paragraph? Iso, what re they? ’b Look back at paragraph A. Does the end ofthe paragraph make distinction between ‘aughtand innate attributes? Ifso, which words show this? © Does the order ofthe words aught and ianateindlcate that taught ateibutes willbe looked at frst? 4 Does the last sentence of paragraph B indicate thatereaivyycan be acquired ikea ood education?Paragraph C ‘8 Doesthe first sentence or the second sentence contain the topic ofthe paragraph? 'b Whica words inthe wo sentences indicate thist ‘© Whatis the purpose othe third sentence in the paragraph? 4 Doesthe fourth sentence have the same purpose asthe third sentence? Which words show you this? Paragraph D «4 Doesthe first sentence of paragraph D lik his paragraph with paragraph C? How? bb Whattwo qualities are mentioned? Where are they frstmentioned? ¢ Arette wo qualities inked with each other? 4 Doesthe beginning of the paragraph mention anything about forcesthat drive successful ‘people forward? If so, which words? € Isthediscussion about failure the main ideain the paragraph orjust additonal information? Paragraph E ‘2 Do thefirsttwo sentences mention the words echniqueand self motivation? » Isanethertechnique mentioned in the paragraph Iso, which words indi techniques being described? «© Doaty ofthe headings -x contain a) word(s) related to techniques? Ifso, which ones? ParagrephE «8 Doesthe frst sentence introduce aqualityand explain i? 1b Whatqualiyismentioned? « Doesthe second sentence contrast what other people do with the actions of successful ‘peop? Ifso, which words show this? "Now check your answers to these exercises, When youhave doneso, decide whether you ‘leh tochange any of your answers to Questions 1-5. Then check your answers o Reading Passage Inthe Key.50 | Academic Reading Passage? vest READING PASSAGE 2 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-27, which are based on Reading Passage? below. Are children consuming too much digital technology? ] The popularity of apps, social networking and pleying gemes among young ‘people could lead to childhood development problems How much time should children spend online or playing apps and games? ‘That question is one of the principal parenting challenges of our modern digital, and social age. The facts about children’s digital consumption are eye-opening. ‘8 2010 Kaiser Foundation study found that US youths spent more than seven and a half hours day using a smartphone, computer, elevsion or ather «electronic device. In another study conducted that yearby the Joan Ganz Cooney Centre, which specializes in children's media, two thes of children aged four to seven had already used a smartphone, And how did these kids get hooked on digital? The Centre's own research suggests that most of the smartphones used by kids had been lent to them by a family member. As recent Atlantic Monthly article putt: The Centre's researchers labelled this the “pass-back effect”, name that captures well the reluctant zone between denying and giving.” ‘Are children addicted to digital? ‘A mere 20 years after the internet was founded, people donot yet knowhow the explosion in digital connectivity is shaping society. Ever since Gutenberg's breakthrough with the movable press, each new discovery in communication technology ~the telegraph, the radio, the TV and now the internet —has both been called a benefit and curse for society. Looking back in history, the benefits of all these technologies have outweighed the problems they have caused, Could itbe that the world isin a new period of technolagical adaptation and that whats considered digital overload, or too much cigital information,vest? ‘Academic Reading Passage? | 51 ‘or exildren, ie simply the education they need to prepare for a connected society? Perhaps. But that doesn't mean digital addiction isan issue we can just lamiss. At present there isn'ta fem medical consensus on digital addiction. ‘There are plenty of stories detailing how the internet and gaming have ruined people’ lives. n South Korea, one of the most digitally advanced nations inthe ‘world, the government estimates 2.55 million people are addicted to smartphones (using them for more than eight hours a day). ‘While we don’t know exactly the effect information overload has on people, ‘we do know that children, especialy the under-10s, are going to use digital ‘technologies more than any generation before, Consider the apps industry that isonly a few years ld. According tothe Children's Technology Review, an Independent publication that monitors children’s interactive media, there are ‘more than 40,000 kids’ games available on download sites on the internet ‘There have been cases of children running up enormous billson their parents’ credit cards due tothe costs of collecting rewards in some app-based games. How far does a company’s responsibility go? Yet even if children aren't being financially manipulated inthe garnes, do ‘garning and app makers have a corporate and social responsiblity to manage the impact their products have? Some companies already include warnings on thelr electronic games about spending too much time on thelr systems because lof cencems about over-exertion or about the effect 3D playing has on the vision of the young. So could this principe of responsible gaming be expanded to cover digital overload as @ whole? As each child and situation is unique, some feel thatthe decision is ultimately the responsibilty of the parent, who should have a dialogue with thei children on healthy digital behaviour and—as 2 amity ~set some clear rules regarding digital activity All of which makes sense. Whet about education? Parents realy should take the lead on regulating their children’s digital activity {and you can see why technology companies are reluctant to self-regulate againsta digital affliction that has still yet to be fully understood or defined, But ‘ot all children can count on having parents who care or at this point understand the importance of managing digital health. So what role will {government -or to be more exact, education ~need to play inthis evolving debate? Primary age schoolkids in the UK already get some lessons in internet safety and protecting their privacy. In South Korea, however, the state education system is prefaring to meet the challenge it has identified in digital obesity Starting next year, children from ages three to five will be taught to avoid spending too much time.on the internet and digital devices. Utimately though, how kids use digital devices and games will be dictated by ‘the example parents st at home. Ths is worth considering the next time parents download an app to keep the kids quiet52 | AcademicReading Passage? vest2 Questions 14-18 Compete thesummary. (Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS rom the passage foreach answer ‘A problem for parents ‘Theamount oftime children should spend online, playing appsand games is problem for parents and the details about digital 14... arequite revealing, One study showed that ‘young peoplein the Unitod States devoted nearly third ofeach day to using somekind of _--- According to another study by an organization, which focuses 09 1B ens two thirds ofall4-7 year-olds hadused asmariphone. Theieesearch showed thatthis could bea. resultofa 17... lending he child the phone, aptly named the 18, bya recentartile 1B. Questions 19-23 othe following statements gree with the views ofthe writerin Reading Passage? Write ves ‘fhe statement agres with the views ofthe writer No {the statement contradicts the views ofthe writer. NOTGIVEN fitisimpossbleto say what thewriter thinks alout this 19 Itis deeply worrying that people are unaware of the impac: digital connectivity ihaving consociey. 20 People have viewed past technologies as mainly positive 21 Itspossible that digital overload isjustpartof the education ofchildren nowadays. 22. Digital addiction should not bea cause for concern. 28 The quality ofapps for childrens improving rapidly. Questions 24-27, Answer the questions below, (Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for eachanswer 24 Which nation is considered more digitally advanced in theway children are taught? 25 Whataresomecompanies adding‘ thelr electronic games? 26 Whatshould parents have with their children to ensure a healthy atude towards digi activi? 27 Inthe UK, whatarechildven taught o keepsafe? Before you check your answers o Reading Passage, goto page 52.Sd lemic Reading as5a9 Questions 14-18: Summary completion (without a wordlist) 1 Which statement below about summaries snot true? Asummary ean oceur witha wordlist. Asummary ean occur with or without tite, Asummary witha ttlewsuallyreferstopartofatext. james and key words at the beginning and the end ofthe summary can help you to locate the information youneed, “The information in the summary isalwaysin thesame orde f Theanswersin summaries re often, butnot always, nouns and noun phrases 5 Summaries with and withowta itlecan cover the whole ofa text. b ' isin thetext, ‘The exact words in the reading passage noed to be used in the answers, ‘The word and number limit in rubrles vars. |) Words inthe reading passage are never repeated inthe summary. 2 tis useful to read through the summary thinking about the gratnmatical form ofthe answer and possible answers. Youcan then ty to match your predictions with the words inthereading passage. Use the hints below to thinkof the missing words asyou check your answers for Questions 14-18, (Question 14 somethingto do with use/usage/utlization or consuming, (Question 15 tems tha are“digtal’ or are electronic (Question 16somethingrelatedto children that adults also use, eg. newspapers (plural word) ‘Question 17a general word orphrase fora person ina family other group of people (Question 1 aname ofsome kind ofprocess 3 Alltheanswersfor Questions 14-18 are nouns ornoun phrases From the hints in Exerdse2, can you predict thenumber of words nthe answers; one word, one ot ‘wo words, or two words? Oris itdificultto prediet? “ ia 15 16 — 18 [Now check your answers to these exercises, When youhave done so, decide whether you ‘ish o change any of your answers o Questions 14-18.Then check your answers to Reading Pastage2in the Key.58 | Academic Reading assage3 vest READING PASSAGE 3 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28-40, whichare based on Reading Passage S belo. BRIDGES OBJECTS OF BEAUTY OR USEFULNESS? ‘What is the purpose of bridges? Are they just functional pieces of infrastructure, or are they objects of delight? Bridges are among the most beautiful structures in the world, and the most ‘useful. The latter is thelr main aitribute as they have served mankind through ‘the millennia bridging natural obstacles, streams, rivers, valleys, rulfsand even ‘bays such as Hangzhou Bay Bridge in China. They serve ag a testament to the ingenuity of the human race by the elegance of thelr structure, the materials ‘thay uso, the distance they span and the purpose they serve connecting space, ‘And architects continue to delight and astonish us wita their prowess, Roman civilization might not have spread quite 90 far had it not been for the Romans' ability to build not just roads, but solid bridges to carry water and ‘armies that endure to this day. The Roman bridge wass farcry from the wooden or stone structures of the past made by our ancestors, who must have created simple bridges over streams, marshy terrain or posssly oven rivers using the ‘material that waa at hand such as rocks, stones or fain trees, It was not until the Romans introduced the arch that building bridgesand aqueducts that were ‘wider and longer became a reality, such as the Roman bridge at Aleéntara in Spain that spans the River Tagus with its two massive oentral arohes. It was ‘only in 1779 that Darby's Tron Bridge across the River Severn in the United ‘Kingdom, wel known for being the first ofits kind inthe world, achieved what the Romane had hundreds of years before [Bridges were and are built to be elogant architectural masterpicoas as well a8 functional parts of transport infrastructure. While any seletion of bridges in any country can only be subjective, few would deny taat the Zhaozhou Bridge {in Hebei Province in north-east China, the oldest standing bridge in China, is ‘one of the most elegant in the world with its famous main arch and intricate ‘engravings. Built during the Sui Dynasty (681-618 AD), the construction of the bridge took ten years, and although old it is surprisingly solid as well as ‘supremely elogant and is surely a match for the Charles Bridgein Prague'n the (Czech Republic. ‘Modern bridges do not have to be long or lange to 2e appealing to the eye, Aoross the Thames, in London, there is the Millennium Bridge, or Wobbly’ Bridge, ast was first known when it swayed after alarge number of people crossed it at one time, There is also the Swing Bridge in Gateshead and a very elegant rolling bridge, which is a feotbridge spanning an inlet of the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Basin, London, designed by Thomas Heatherwick. These are all modern bridges with great appeal,rest? ‘Academic Reading Passage} | 55 Bridges were built with buildings on them such as old London Bridge across ‘the Fiver Thames, begun in thelate 11th century AD. It stood for six hundred, years before it was demolished and a fairly conventional fivearch stone bridge, designed by Rennie and opened in 1831, was put ints place. This later bridge was sold to an American Robert MeCulloch and reconstructed again, at Leke Havasu City, Arizona. It was then replaced once more with a modern, structure, which opened in 1972. Another famous bridge with commercial units still along its length today is the Ponte Vecchio across the River Arno in Florence, Italy, amedioval masterpiece which has come to symbolize Florence ‘ag much aa its other arvhiteotural gems, ‘Many other bridges around the world have become instantly recognizable constructions. Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, which opened in 1932, ‘has grown to symbolize the city of Sydney just as Brooklyn Bridge across the ‘Bat River has come to represent New Yor. In London, to the east of London, Bridze, stands Tower Bridge, built after an open competition in the mid-1870s, ‘which attracted over 50 design responses. Between 1886-1804, thebridge was consiructod using five major contractorsand an army of over 400 construction, ‘workers, The construction of the bridge's famous towers and the walkways Detueen them was supported by two immense piors that were sunk into the river bed. The framework for the towers, which rested on the plens, and the ‘walloways employed more than 11,000 tons of steel. The steel framework itself ‘waa then proteoted by covering it in Cornish granite and Portland stone, which ‘aloo enhanoed its appearance, Ihe bridge is not only famous for its towers, but {oritscontral span, which even today splits into twoand risas toan angleot 56° ‘wallow river traffic such aa tall ips to pasa through, ‘Newion said, (We build too many walls and not enough bridges.’ So let us, ‘build more bridges, toconnect and delight the world.56 | Academic Reading Passage3 vest? Questions 28-34 Complete each sentence ith thecorrectending, AL below. 28 Longor and wider Roman bridges were 28 Darby/sbridgewas 30 TheZhaozhou Bridge was 31 Therolling bridge was 32 The old London Bridge was 8 Thebridge overtheArnoin Forenceis £34. Numerous bridges around the globe are ‘A designed for pedestrians. B replaced by standard arched bridge. rebuileina different county. D madepossibleby the use ofthearch. covered with shops F constructed 2s part ofacompetition G decorated with delicate carvings. Hi made famousby being the firstmade ofizon. 1 considered as ieoniclandmarks, Questions 35-40 Complete the lw chart below (Choose ONE WORD OR A NUMBER ONLY from the pascage foreach answer ‘The construction of Tower Bridge ‘Open competition forbridge design - over Sosubmissions L Built over eight yeas by an 85. oflabouters ‘Towersbullton huges6. - with foundations deepinthes7. ofthervor Onthe foundations a38__.._made ofstelwas constructed L ‘This was then encased in two types ofstone protecting the stel and improving the 99... Central road span with two sections cach going upin themiddleto 20. degrees Now checkyour answers o Reading Passage.