Sample Reading Passage

1. To combat the consequent difficulty of access to people at a physical level, we

have now developed technological access. Computers sit on every desk and are
linked to one another, and in many cases to an external universe of other
computers so that messages can be passed to and fro. Here too, security plays a
part, since we must not be allowed access to messages destined for others. And
so the password was invented. Now correspondence between individuals goes
from desk to desk and cannot be accessed by colleagues. Library catalogues
can be searched from one’s desk.
2. Papers can be delivered to, and received from, other people at the press of a
button. And yet it seems that, just as work is isolating individuals more and more,
organizations are recognizing the advantages of ‘team-work’; perhaps to
encourage employees to talk to one another again. Yet, how can groups work in
teams if the possibilities for communication are reduced? How can they work
together if e-mail provides a convenient electronic shield behind which the
blurring of public and private can be exploited by the less scrupulous? If
voice-mail walls up messages behind a password? If I can’t leave a message on
my colleague’s desk because his office is locked?

Sample Question 1: Filling blanks with words from the passage

Complete the following summary. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the
passage for each answer. Write your answers in blank spaces next to 1-6 on your
answer sheet.
Computers sit on every desk and are linked to one another, and in many cases to an
1.………. of other computers so that messages can be passed to and fro. Now
correspondence between individuals goes from 2…..… and cannot be accessed by
colleagues. And yet it seems that, just as work is 3…….. individuals more and more,
organizations are recognizing the advantages of ‘team-work’.
Sample Question 2: Filling blanks with words from the box
 Complete the following summary. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the
box for each answer. Write your answers in blank spaces next to 1-6 on your answer
sheet.
The problem of physical access to buildings has now been
1………………………………by technology. Messages are
2………………………………with passwords not allowing 3…………………………to read
someone else’s messages. But, while individuals are becoming increasingly
4……………………………..socially by the way, they do their job, at the same time more
value is being put on 5 …………………………………. However, e-mail and voice-mail
have led to 6…………………………………opportunities for person-to-person
communication.

Reducing off computer Other people

isolating teamwork Decrease in

similar solved No different from

overcame physical protected

combat developed cut-off

Summary Completion Practice Exercise 1

Evolution Of Museums Reading Passage

Part A

The very first museums of the world were private collections of objects by

wealthy people and institutions. The objects in these museums were

displayed in Cabinets of Curiosities, also called Cabinets of Wonder or

Wonder Rooms. The word “cabinet” was then used to describe a room and

not a piece of furniture. The oldest recorded example of such was the

Ennigaldi Nanna’s museum that was located in Mesopotamia. It was founded

in 530 BC.

Before the 18th century, only elite or respectable members of society, by the

standards of that era, could visit museums with permission from the owner

and the staff. The first museums to be opened for the general public were the

British Museum in London in 1759 and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence in 1765.

However, even though they were no longer exclusive places, only people from

the middle and upper class were privileged with a written permission request.

Also, the visitations were often limited to a few hours. The first public museum

in its true sense was the Louvre in Paris which was opened in 1793 to people

of any status and age, emerging as an agent of nationalistic fervor.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, societies began to regard

museums as centers of the production of new knowledge. Historical museums

shifted focus to display scientific discoveries and artistic developments with

collections that could be useful for research also. Over the twentieth century,

as cities increased in size, wealth, and population, more museums developed.

These were shaped by the public response to education and entertainment.

Greater funding was directed towards the development of modern museums.

Study programs dedicated to the field of art and culture were created to

promote the growth of museums, and activities such as the collection and

preservation of artifacts such as paintings or sculptures had consequently

become more organized. Even wealthy industrialists such as Henry Ford and

Henry Mercer contributed their collections leading to the development of more

privately run museums.

Part B

A breeze of change was once again felt in the early 21st century. Museums

were no longer anchored to the national ideal and today’s new museums

attract intellectuals as well as tourists and students. Attitudes toward

museums have become more favorable as people no longer view them as

boring, cold places that drag you to the past.

One of the main factors that have contributed to this is technology. Modern

museums have embraced technology with considerable use of multimedia,

digital displays, touch screens as well as other interactive technologies. Some

museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, use

technology that allows visitors to see the objects, hear or read about the

collection on their smartphones by scanning the artwork. Other national

museums have also followed suit by embracing mobile interactivity. The

Smithsonian Institution, which is the world’s largest museum and research

complex containing 19 museums and galleries, provides cell phone tours,

interactive games like Pheon, which is a multimedia scavenger hunt game,

multilingual slideshows, and even augmented reality apps such as one from

the postal museum showing Owney, the mascot of the Railway Mail Service.

Additionally, there are some museums such as the National Museum of

African Art that have the Artists in Dialogue 2 app, which allows for visual calls

and responses that cut across physical and political borders. The app

facilitates a guided tour of the museum with the curator virtually, and also

allows the user to experiment with the artistic technique in a virtual

art-development game. The user can even communicate with active groups of

the museum on social media.

So far, technology has provided modern-day museums with the opportunity to

share images and works of art with more people than ever before. However,

the conclusion is that technology is enhancing and not replacing the brick and

mortar museums since technology cannot replace a live experience for the

viewer such as live interaction with the experts, emotional reactions, and the

physicality of artworks.
Questions 1 - 5

Complete the summary below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY from Part A of the passage for each answer.

The earliest museums displayed personal 1______ belonging to rich people,

and until the eighteenth century, only the elite class could visit these places. In

the latter half of the century, the British Museum and the Uffizi Gallery opened

their doors for the 2 _______, but not without restrictions. Finally, in 1793, the

Louvre in Paris allowed access irrespective of class and 3 _______ and

became a key factor in promoting nationalistic emotions.

By the early twentieth century, museums had started gaining recognition as

centers of knowledge. The 4 ______ had moved from history to art and

science. During this century, with urbanization and more funds coming in,

museums were modified to provide learning as well as 5 _______.

Questions 6 - 9

Complete the summary based on Part B of the passage using the list of

words, A- G, below.

Museums of 21st century

Modern museums have become 6 ________ places to visit with the adoption

of various interactive technologies. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New

York, visitors can get 7________ about any artwork by scanning it through

their smartphones. The National Museum of African Art provides the

opportunity for a virtual 8 ________ with the curator, artists, and social media

groups through an app. Thus, the latest technology is 9 _______ the existing

museums by giving an enriched experience to the visitors.

A - dull

B - communication

C - information

D - tour

E - interesting

F - complementing

G - replacing

Summary Completion Practice Exercise 2

The Origin Of The Earth And The Universe -

Different Theories Reading Passage
When we talk of evolution, we generally refer to the biological evolution of

living beings. However, evolution also refers to the processes by which

galaxies, stars, planets, and the universe come into existence and change.
Though these processes are quite different, the common fact is the change

over time. But for centuries scientists held the belief that the universe always

remained the same.

In 1929, Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer, made an interesting

observation that distant galaxies and stars are moving away from the Earth in

all directions. This led to Hubble’s hypothesis that the universe is not static but

is expanding. He also discovered that the speeds with which galaxies are

racing away from each other increase with the increasing distances between

them and this has been proved now by various repeated measurements.

Certain deductions can be made from Hubble’s hypothesis of an expanding

universe. One of them is that in a previous era the universe was more

condensed. This suggests that all the matter and energy in the universe were

earlier condensed in a tiny and extremely hot mass. A massive explosion,

called the Big Bang, occurred around 13.8 billion years ago and it sent energy

and matter expanding in every direction at a very high speed.

As the universe continued to expand, matter gathered into clouds that started

to condense and then rotate, forming the predecessors of the galaxies. Due to

the changes in pressure inside galaxies, including our own Milky Way, dust

and gas formed distinct clouds. Further, some of these clouds collapsed due

to the gravitational attraction as there was enough mass, and the correct
forces were at play. When the cloud material mass was adequately

compressed, nuclear reactions took place leading to the birth of a star. Our

sun, for example, formed in the center of a flattened spinning disk of matter.

After the formation of the sun, the remaining dust and gas present in this disk

collided and clumped into grains which further combined to form very small

planets called planetesimals. Some of these were several hundred kilometers

in diameter. These planetesimals then coalesced into nine planets with many

satellites. The rocky planets like Earth were formed near the sun, while

gaseous planets were located in distant orbits.

According to another theory, which is propounded by some religions as well

as scientists, the universe was created by God. This theory also termed

‘theistic evolution, claims that God is the driving force behind the physical and

biological evolution that created the solar system and life on Earth. The

proponents of this creationist theory have various viewpoints. Some feel that

the Earth and universe are comparatively young - around 6,000 to 10,000

years old. These people also believe that the existing form of Earth is due to

‘catastrophism’ which included a worldwide flood, and there was miraculous

creation of humans and all living things as they are today.

There are other advocates of creationist theory who accept the fact that the

Earth, the stars, and the planets could have been in existence a million years
ago. However, they argue that the presence of living organisms, especially

humans, is due to the intervention of supernatural powers as creation shows

‘intelligent design.’ Even though such theories abound, there is no valid

scientific information that suggests that Earth came into being only a few

thousand years ago.

It is not surprising that there are so many theories trying to explain the origins

of the Earth and the universe, as the vastness of space has always fascinated

mankind. However, one has to ask, will researchers ever be able to prove

what led to the creation of the universe and our wonderful planet or will we

have to satisfy ourselves with various theories and conjectures? Only time will

tell.

Questions 1 - 7

Complete the summary below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

The belief regarding the permanence of the universe was contradicted when

in 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered that the various celestial bodies are

receding from 1 _______ in every direction and the speeds of recession are

directly related to growing 2 _______. It gave the theory of a 3 _________

universe. It can be inferred from Hubble’s hypothesis that initially, the universe
was extremely hot and highly 4________ and a huge explosion resulted in its

continuing expansion. Gradually, the matter combined to form clouds that

started rotating, resulting in galaxies. In the presence of the right forces,

physical and chemical interactions took place within the galaxies.

Consequently, stars and other celestial bodies evolved from the gas and 5

______.

On the other hand, according to ‘theistic evolution’ theory, God has created

the universe. Though the supporters of this view are divided over the age of

the Earth, and a group believes that the Earth evolved in its present form due

to 6 _______, they all agree that all life forms especially humans are the

creation of God due to their 7 ________.