|
|
|
|
MODEL TEST - ACADEMIC IELTS
(Time: 90 minutes)
|
|
Section 1
Script:
You will hear a male student talking to the Union representative about placing an advertisement to sale the laptop. Union Rep: Hi. I'm Debbie. How can I help? David: Hi. My name's David. I'm just looking to place an advertisement on the main Union notice- board to sell a laptop and a few accessories, if that's possible. Union Rep: Sure. That's not a problem. I take it you are a member of the Students' Union? David: Yes, I am. Union Rep: Right then. I'll just get a form up and as there is no one around and it looks as if it's going to be quiet for a while, I'll just type the details straight into the computer for you. David: Thanks very much. Union Rep: No problem. Shall we just title it Laptop for Sale? David: Yeah OK. Union Rep: Can you describe it generally? David: Well, it's in very good condition; in fact it's hardly been used. Union Rep: Why are you selling it, if I may ask? David: Well, I've got another one which is much lighter and I don't really need two. Union Rep: I see. What weight is the one you are selling? David: It's 3.5 kilogrammes. Union Rep: That is heavy these days. Can you give more details about the one you want to sell? David: Right. Mmm. Well, It's an Allegro and it's got all the latest programmes. Union Rep: Okay. What about the memory? David: The memory is only 0.5 Giga-bytes. Union Rep: And what about the screen size and the other features? David: Well, mmm ... the screen is ... let's see, it's ... mmm ... 37.5cm with a standard size keyboard and a touch pad, but I've got a cordless mouse that I can put in with it if necessary. Some people don't like using a touch pad. Union Rep: What about ports or holes for attaching things to the laptop? David: It's got two ports. Union Rep: Mmm. More modern laptops have more than two ports for all the extra ttachments. David: They do. Let's see what else is important? Oh yeah. The battery lasts for 2 hours, which is okay but not enough for long train journeys. But one thing is that it's not wireless. Union Rep: Right. Okay. Not wireless. Union Rep: Anything else I can put on the advertisement? David: There's a web cam built at the top of the screen and I can throw in a printer, a scanner and headphones, which I got with it in a special deal. It also comes with its own case for carrying it around. Actually the case is quite smart. I'm hoping these things will help it sell. Union Rep: They should do. Right. I think I've got all that. How much do you want for it? David: That I'm not sure about. It's worth about £900-£1000 new. Union Rep: Yeah, but you won't get that much if it's used and even if it's in good condition. David: What about £500? Union Rep: I doubt if you'd get as much as that. More like £200 or £300. If you look at the notice board there is one on there which is comparable to yours and it's not more than about £250,1 think. David: As little as that? Union Rep: I'm afraid so. Shall we say £300? David: Okay put that. Union Rep: Can I take some contact details for the advert? David: The name's David Bristow. Union Rep: B-R-I-S-T-O-W. David: Yes that's it, and a mobile or email? Union Rep: Both if you want. David: It's DIB_7791@hotmail.com Union Rep: Okay and the mobile? David: That's 09875 42 33 87. Union Rep: That's it. If you send the picture, I'll add it and print it out and stick it up for you. David: Okay, I can get that to you today. Union rep: Right. I'll type in here: Advert placed: the 22nd October. Fine, and good luck with the sale! David: Thanks. Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. | Laptop for Sale | | Condition | Almost new | | Weight | (1)…………… | | Make | Allegro | | Memory | (2)…………… | | Screen | (3)…………… | | Touch pad but with no cordless mouse | | | Number of ports | Two | | Battery lasts | 2 1/2 | | Latest programmes | Not (4)…………… | | Extras | | Web cam | | | Printer with | (5)……………… | | Smart case | | | Price | (6)……………… | | Contact details | | Name | David (7)……………… | | E-mail address | DIB_7791@hotmail.com | | Mobile number | (8)……………… | | Advert placed | (9)……………… |
1.
|
scanner and headphones
£300/Three hundred pounds
09875423387
Bristow
22nd October
0.5 GB/only 0.5 GB/0.5 gigabytes/only 0.5 gigabytes/nought point five GB/only nought point five GB/nought point five gigabytes/only nought point five gigabytes
3.5kg/3.5 kilogrammes/3.5 kilograms
wireless
37.5 cm
|
Section 2
Script:
You will hear a talk on local radio about a ‘short film’ festival in the town of Adbourne. Interviewer: Today we’re pleased to have on the show Fatima Johnson who is the organiser of the Adbourne Film Festival. Welcome, Fatima. Fatima: Hello. Interviewer: Can you tell us a bit about the background to the festival and what it brings to the town? Fatima: Well the festival was started in nineteen ninety six by the then Mayor of Adbourne, Joanne Smith. She wasn’t a film maker herself - she’d actually been a very energetic tourism development officer for many years - but Adbourne had run a classical music festival which had been becoming less and less popular in recent years ... Joanne was looking around for something to replace it and to use funds allocated to it to promote something which local people can enjoy. Interviewer: Great. So tell us about the festival nowadays... Fatima: Well, it’s held in the last two weeks of August every year and short films from all over the world are shown in three places - in the theatre and our two cinemas. Several films are shown in one performance and the whole thing lasts about ninety minutes. Tickets are very reasonably priced - under twelves used to get in for fifty pee but now we charge just one pound which is still very good value! One pound fifty for students and two pounds fifty for everyone else. Performances are advertised all round town and also on our website www.adbournefest.com. If you’re interested in attending any performances you can buy tickets online of course and you can also get them in the library, which is right next to the main shopping area - I’m afraid this year, tickets are no longer available from either of the two cinemas because of restricted opening times. Interviewer: I understand you also run a film competition? Fatima: Yes, for under eighteens. We have a different theme every year. Last year for example, the theme was ‘Future Planet’ and the winner was a ten minute documentary encouraging youngsters to be more aware of environmental issues, focussing on getting school kids to cycle to school instead of going by car. This year the theme is ‘Sporting Nation’ - so there’ll also be lots of ideas to choose from. Now we’re always on the look-out for new local talent so if you live in the Adbourne area and are under eighteen, you should have a go. We have an excellent prize every year, donated by local businesses - shops, hotels etc. This year you can win a hi-spec movie camera worth over eight hundred pounds. Application forms are on the website and the deadline for sending in your film to enter the competition is the last day of July. It’s May now so you’ll have the whole of June to be working on it! Choose the correct answers about “Adbourne Film Festival”
|
1. Why was the Film Festival started?
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. What is the price range for tickets?
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
3. As well as online, tickets for the films can be obtained
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
4. Last year′s winning film was about
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
5. This year the competition prize is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
6. The deadline for entering a film in the competition is the end of
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Script:
Interviewer: And what are the judges looking for? Fatima: Well, although we choose very topical issues like the environment, we’re not looking for propaganda - you know, trying to get people to do something. Instead we’re looking for a new angle ... a fresh way of looking at a theme. And of course, because it’s a short-film festival, it’s not really about a fully worked story with well-rounded characters, it’s more about good photography ... conveying things visually. Interviewer: And who judges the films? Fatima: A panel of three people who know a lot about film. We’ve used the same judges for many years and we’re very happy with their expertise. One thing we probably will change next year though is we want to add another class and another prize for older film makers. We’ll keep it at a maximum of ten minutes though ... the length works well for our festival. We also want to use different venues for the film shows ... such as community centres and at least one school. It might make performances more accessible to a wider audience. We did explore the possibility of having late-night showings but that’s unlikely to happen in the coming year. So, as I say, if anyone’s interested in submitting a film for our competition, go onto our website and you’ll be able. Choose TWO answer choices.
|
1. What TWO main criteria are used to judge the film competition?
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. What TWO changes will be made to the competition next year?
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Section 3
Script:
You will hear a student adviser talking to two students. Knock on door Adviser: Come in. Hello. It’s Anthea and Marco right? Anthea & Marco: Yes. Anthea: We have an appointment to discuss our study plans. Adviser: Yes. You both want to study science, right? Anthea & Marco: Yes. Adviser: Have you thought about what area of science-I mean do you want to do a pure science-physics, chemistry, maths? If you know that and perhaps have some idea of what area you’d like to work in eventually, it will be easier to decide which courses you should take. Anthea: I think I’d like something where I’ll be able to get a job in a laboratory or maybe an office or even outside. I’d like the sort of career that involves problem solving in an abstract way. I’d probably prefer something in chemistry, but not biological science because I don’t want a job where I’m working with people, like patients, all day. Adviser: Well there are plenty of biological science areas that don’t involve working so closely with people, so don’t ignore that side of things. Of course, whatever area you choose, you will have to work with people as colleagues, or co-workers. Marco: Oh yes, I realise that. I just don’t want to work with people like as clients, as patients, sort of. Adviser: And you Marco. What appeals to you? Marco: I also want a job involving problem solving, but quite the opposite to Anthea, I’d like to work closely with people. Adviser: Right. First then I think I’ll run through a few options for you Marco. But please remember that what I suggest now is just a sampling of the huge number of possibilities. From what you’ve said the most likely area for you to find a satisfying career will be in the health sciences. In health sciences, aside from the intellectual requirements, there are a number of personal attributes that are essential for success across the field. These include a high level of patience and empathy that come from a genuine interest in people. Marco: Yes I do. I’ve already noticed that lots of my classmates and also my sister’s friends confide in me and ask me for advice when they are having problems. Anthea: I really think that describes Marco exactly. When something’s not going right you can count on him for sympathy. Adviser: Obviously good communication skills are a must, because you often have to work with highly stressed people. Do you think you have these skills? Yes I do. Adviser: OK Marco then I’ll list a few options you might like to consider. The first and most obvious I suppose is medical practice which usually requires about six years. Marco: I think that’s a bit too ambitious at this stage. I don’t think I could put that kind of financial strain on my family. Adviser: Marco you could start with a degree in psychology. That’s normally a four-year degree program that gives you entry into work in both the private and the public sphere. Look why don’t you go to the department and pick up some of their leaflets, have a talk with someone there and go to a few lectures in fields like optometry, physiotherapy, or even acupuncture or massage therapy, to get a feel for the program. Marco: Would that be OK? I mean, I’m not enrolled in anything yet. Adviser: Absolutely. We encourage prospective students to attend some lectures to help them with their choices. Choose the correct answer for each question.
|
1. What do both Anthea and Marco want to discuss with the adviser?
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. Which of the following does Anthea NOT want?
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
3. The adviser says that Anthea will have to work with people as ................
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Script:
The advisor now goes on to discuss Anthea’s plans. Adviser: Now Anthea, let’s take a look at some programs for you. You say you don’t want to work too closely with people. Anthea: No. I’m happier with animals or plants or something. Adviser: From what you’ve told me so far, I think something like forensic science might suit you. In this field one of the prime attributes you will need is the ability to take an analytical, imaginative approach to problem solving. You must be the kind of person who is persevering. You need to be logical and methodical, paying close attention to detail. Marco: Well that sure describes Anthea. She never lets go. She’s like a dog worrying a bone till she gets every last bit of meat off it. Anthea: Fine, Marco. But it’s just as well some people are prepared to spend time on the details. Adviser: Well it sounds as if something like forensic science might be just the ticket for you. Anthea: What is that? I mean, I’ve heard the word before, but never really understood exactly what it means. Isn’t it something to do with criminals? Adviser: I suppose you could say that, though you would rarely work directly in contact with actual criminals. It’s more that you work with the outcomes of criminal activity. You need expertise in all the areas we just mentioned as well as botany, geology, metallurgy, toxicology, crime scene, firearms, fingerprint and document examination. For instance, you might apply a range of knowledge in examination of a fire or explosion scene to find the cause. Anthea: That sounds exactly right for me. I’m off to the school of science to enrol right now. Complete the summary. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
1.
|
patience / empathy / interest in people / sympathy / good communication skills
analytical / imaginative / persevering / logical / methodical
patience / empathy / interest in people / sympathy / good communication skills
analytical / imaginative / persevering / logical / methodical
highly stressed / stressed
|
Section 4
Script:
ANNOUNCER: Today’s Health Counsel is presented by Paula Clayburg, who is the chief Counsellor at Liverpool’s famous pain clinic: The Wilton Clinic. Paula ... PAULA CLAYBURG: Do you know what Prince Charles, Seve Ballesteros and Elizabeth Taylor have in common? They all suffer from chronic back pain. In fact, bad backs are one of the most common health problems today, affecting people in all walks of life. The most recent available figures show that about a quarter of a million people are incapacitated with back pain every day. And many sufferers don’t know the cause or the solution to their problem. The majority of our patients at the clinic tend to be women. They are especially vulnerable because of pregnancy but also because of osteoporosis, which I personally believe to be the major cause of problems for women. I have many women patients who say they have completely given up exercise because the pain makes them so miserable. But of course that starts up a vicious circle. Bed rest, giving up exercise and pain killers are traditional responses to back pain but, although there are many excellent drugs on the market, at our clinic we are beginning to realise the unique benefits of relaxation therapy. Other specialists in the field make a strong case for certain types of exercise, but in our experience they are easily mishandled and can lead to more harm than good. Now, let’s look at some of the reasons why back pain is developing into such a unique menace. In general, the body is pretty good at self-repair. A strain or a blow to a limb, though painful at the time, generally resolves itself. But the body’s response to back injury can be very counter-productive. When pain strikes, we attempt to keep the back as immobile as possible, which makes the muscles tense up. Research shows that they often go into spasm, which causes further twisting of the spine. A vicious circle is underway. The second mistake we often make when stricken with extreme back pain is to go to bed and stay there. Although at the clinic we recognise that a short rest in bed can be helpful ... up to two days . . . any longer makes our back muscles become weaker and unable to hold up our spine. The pain therefore becomes worse. Another problem is being overweight. Anyone a stone or more over-weight who already has back pain is not doing himself any favours: though it won’t actually set it off in the first place, the weight will increase the strain and make things worse. The British diet could be partially to blame for the increase in back pain: over the last ten years the average weight of men has risen by 11 lbs and of women by 9 lbs. So much for the causes and aggravations of pain. But what can WE do to help? Choose the correct answer choice for each question.
|
1. According to the speaker, the main cause of back pain in women is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. As treatment for back pain the Clinic mainly recommends
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
3. The back is different from other parts of the body because
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
4. Bed rest is advised
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
5. Being overweight
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Script:
PAULA CLAYBURG: There are many ways in which simple day-to-day care can make all the difference. The first point to watch of course is weight. If you are overweight, a diet will make all the difference. Also, studies have shown that just one hour sitting in a slouched position can strain ligaments in the back which can take months to heal. At the clinic we have come to the conclusion that the major cause of the problem is not with the design of chairs, as some have suggested, but in the way WE sit in them. It can be useful to get special orthopaedic chairs, but remember the most important improvement should be in OUR posture. Another enemy of your back is, of course, your beds. If your bed doesn’t give enough support, back muscles and ligaments work all night trying to correct spinal alignment, so you wake up with a tired aching back. Try out an orthopaedic mattress or a spring slatted bed. Research shows that both can be beneficial for certain types of back pain. Another hazard for your back are the shock waves which travel up your spine when you walk, known as heel strike. A real find for our patients has been the shock-absorbing shoe insert. A cheap but very effective solution. And you might be better off avoiding shoes with heels higher than YA inches. Though absolutely flat shoes can be a solution for some, others find their posture suffers. Finally a word about the state-of-the-art relief - the TENS machine -a small battery-powered gadget which delivers subliminal electrical pulses to the skin. Our experience indicates that your money is better spent on the more old-fashioned remedies. Choose the correct answer choice for each question.
|
1. Dieting if overweight is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. Buying special orthopaedic chairs is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
3. Buying orthopaedic mattresses is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
4. Buying shock-absorbing inserts is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
5. Wearing flat shoes is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
6. Buying TENS machine is
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Passage 1
SPACE Is humanity running out of space or will we find new frontiers? As populations grow, people have to look for more innovative ways to provide space. Section A The world has changed dramatically since Thomas Malthus's work An Essay on the Principle of Population, first published in 1798, argued that by the mid-1800s the unrestricted expansion of the human population would outgrow the agricultural land available to supply humanity with food. Over 150 years have passed since this theoretical milestone, but mankind, admittedly somewhat more cramped, is still expanding and will continue to do so. Section B The impact of unfettered population growth is clear for all to see. Urbanization is now a more evident worldwide phenomenon than previously as even greater numbers of people drift from rural areas to vast cities all over the world like Tokyo, Mexico City and Mumbai (26.4 million, 18.4 million and 18.1 million inhabitants in 2000 respectively) in their quest for a better life. These mega-cities, i.e. conurbations with an estimated population of more than 10 million people, are springing up in every continent. Now teeming with humanity, they are hungry for one increasingly valuable resource: land. While developments in agricultural technology ensure humanity may be able, by and large, to feed the people flocking to these great metropolises, the expansion of the human race is fuelling an unprecedented appetite for real estate. Space, whether it be for personal or public use, corporate or national, human or flora/fauna, is now at a premium as we move into a new century. Not only is more land required for accommodation, but also for a wide range of infrastructure facilities. Transport systems including roads within and between cities need to be constructed or upgraded to create motorways; green fields are turned into airports; virgin forest is stripped to provide food and firewood. In poorer regions, this newly exposed land becomes desert, completing the cycle of destruction. Section C Hitherto, the most common practice for the utilization of expensive space for living and working has been to build upwards; hence, the demand for ever higher buildings, both apartment and commercial, in major cities like New York, Shanghai and Singapore all vying with each other for the tallest buildings. There has also been a tradition for building underground, not just for transport systems, but for the storage of waste, depositories for books etc. as in London, where The British Library housing millions of books has been built largely underground. | Recent years have seen more novel construction developments around the world. In the past, in many countries, Holland and the UK included, marshes and flood plains have been reclaimed from the sea. Like the city of Venice in Italy, housing complexes and even airports have now been constructed off-shore to amazing effect. In Japan, Kansai International Airport has been built off-shore on a man-made island at vast expense and in Dubai a very imaginative and expensive housing complex in the shape of a palm tree is being built just off the coast on land created by a construction company. However, these and other developments are at risk from rising sea levels as a consequence of global warming. Section D But where will the human race go when planet earth is full? There have been many theories put forward about the human population moving to outer space. Marshall Savage (1992, 1994), for example, has projected that the human population will reach five quintillion throughout the solar system by the year 3000, with the majority living in the asteroid belt. Arthur C Clarke, a fervent supporter of Savage, now argues that by the year 2057 there will be humans on the Moon, Mars, Europa, Ganymede, Titan and in orbit around Venus, Neptune and Pluto. Feeman Dyson (1999) favours the Kuiper belt as the future home of humanity, suggesting this could happen within a few centuries. Section E Habitation in outer space in huge stations is no longer just a dream, but a reality. A permanent international space station now orbits the earth. The first commercial tourist recently went into outer space with more trips planned for the near future. This is only a beginning, but the development of space hotels is not far-off. There is no knowing where mankind may end up. But the ideas about off-world habitation are not fanciful and I am sure I am not alone in fantasizing about summer holidays spent watching the moons rising in some far-flung planet or on a floating hotel somewhere on the Andromeda nebula. |
The reading passage has five sections A-E. Choose the correct heading for sections B-E from the list of headings below.
|
1. Section B
|
|
|
Explain:
The answer is in the first line of the section: impact. Look at the heading for the word that shows you the organization of the section: effects. Then look at the type of effects: “population growth”. This is connected with the problem in section A: “expansion of the human population”. The relationship is cause and effect. Look for other effect words: impact, ensure, fuelling, turned into, becomes. Also notice the words “Urbanization is now; more evident than previously, drift from; springing up”. These and other words indicate change. Heading “A description of a mega-city” is not possible, as there is no description. |
|
2. Section C
|
|
|
Explain:
The section contains solutions up to the present time (hitherto; has been; most common practice; build upwards; build downwards) to the effects described in the previous section. You can recognise the solution heading as it begins with “how”. Heading “The importance of the new British Library” is only an example, which could be removed without affecting the meaning of the section. |
|
3. Section D
|
|
|
Explain:
Look at the heading for the word that shows you the organization of the section: predictions... future solutions. The word “theories” in the second sentence is associated with the word “predictions”. The dates give you a clear link with the heading. Note the connection between this section and the last: past/future solutions. |
|
4. Section E
|
|
|
Explain:
Look at the words:...no longer just a dream, but a reality in the first sentence;... planned for the near future;... are not fanciful. They give the writer's belief. Heading “The importance of having an international space station” is not possible, because without the example the section still has its original meaning. |
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the reading passage? YES - if the statement reflects the claims of the writer NO - if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer NOT GIVEN - if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
|
1. The destruction of land for food and firewood is linked to desertification.
|
|
|
Explain:
The answer is at the end of paragraph in Section B. Note the statement says that there is a link, but not what the link is. You have to check whether the two pieces of information are linked. In the text the link is one of cause and effect. |
|
2. Shortage of space has also led to underground building construction.
|
|
|
Explain:
Look at heading: the example of building underground. Scan for “underground building”: the end of the first paragraph, Section C. The question is a cause and effect statement: see “led to”. |
|
3. The building of the airport in Japan cost much more than that of the housing complex in Dubai.
|
|
|
Explain:
Scan for Japan and Dubai. You have two pieces of information: the airport and the housing complex. You have to check if the cost is compared. However, there is no comparison of cost, so you do not know the answer. |
|
4. Arthur C Clarke was the only person to predict that mankind will inhabit other parts of the solar system.
|
|
|
Explain:
Look at Section D. Other people predict the future habitation of the solar system. So Arthur C Clarke is not the only one. Note the connection with heading “Various predictions about future solutions to a lack of space”. The word “only” is common in this type of question. When you see the word only always check if there are other people etc. involved. |
|
5. The concept of the habitation of outer space by mankind is unimaginable.
|
|
|
Explain:
The answer is in Section E. As you know the questions are in order, then you can expect the answer somewhere after number 12. Scan for habitation in outer space; the first line. The word “unimaginable” is the opposite of the meaning in the text. Look at the words: no longer just a dream, but a reality; are not far-off; I am sure I am not alone in fantasizing. |
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
1.
|
worldwide phenomenon
valuable resource
infrastructure facilities
agricultural technology
|
Passage 2
THE RISE OF THE AGRIBOTS The use of robots and automation in the farming industry The next time you stand at the supermarket checkout, spare a thought for the farmers who helped fill your shopping basket as life is hard for them right now. This, in turn, inevitably means bigger grocery bills for consumers, and greater hardship for the millions in countries where food shortages are a matter of life and death. Worse, studies suggest that the world will need twice as much food by 2050. Yet while farmers must squeeze more out of the land, they must also address the necessity of reducing their impact on the soil, waterways and atmosphere. All this means rethinking how agriculture is practiced, and taking automation to a whole new level. On the new model farms of the future, precision will be key. Why dose a whole field with chemicals if you can spray only where they are needed? Each plant could get exactly the right amount of everything, no more or less, an approach that could slash chemical use and improve yields in one move. But this is easier said than done; the largest farms in Europe and the U.S. can cover thousands of acres. That’s why automation is key to precision farming. Specifically, say agricultural engineers, precision farming needs robot farmers. One day, we might see fields with ‘agribots’ (agricultural robots) that can identify individual seedlings and encourage them along with drops of fertilizer. Other machines would distinguish problem weeds from crops and eliminate them with shots from high-power lasers or a microdot of pesticide. These machines will also be able to identify and harvest all kinds of vegetables. More than a century of mechanization has already turned farming into an industrial-scale activity in much of the world, with farms that grow cereals being the most heavily automated. But a variety of other crops, including oranges and tomatoes destined to become processed foods, are also picked mechanically, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. Yet the next wave of autonomous farm machinery is already at work. You probably haven’t even noticed, for these robots are disguised as tractors. Many are self-steering, use GPS to cross a field, and can even ‘talk’ to their implements - a plough or sprayer, for example. And the implements can talk back, telling the tractor that it’s going too fast or needs to move to the left. This kind of communication is also being developed in other farm vehicles. A new system allows a combine harvester, say, to send a call over to a tractor- trailer so the driver can unload the grain as and when necessary. However, when fully autonomous systems take to the field, they’ll look nothing like tractors. With their enormous size and weight, today’s farm machines have significant downsides: they compact the soil, reducing porosity and killing beneficial life, meaning crops don’t grow so well. Simon Blackmore, who researches agricultural technology at Harper Adams University College in England believes that fleets of lightweight autonomous robots have the potential to solve this problem and that replacing brute force with precision is key. ‘A seed only needs one cubic centimeter of soil to grow. If we cultivate just that we only put tiny amounts of energy in and the plants still grow nicely.’ There is another reason why automation may be the way forward according to Eldert van Henten, a robotics researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. ‘While the population is growing and needs to be fed, a rapidly shrinking number of people are willing to work in agriculture,’ he points out. Other researchers such as Linda Calvin, an economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Philip Martin at the University of California, Davis, have studied trends in mechanization to predict how US farms might fare. Calvin and Martin have observed how rising employment costs have led to the adoption of labour-saving farm technology in the past, citing the raisin industry as an example. In 2000, a bumper harvest crashed prices and, with profits squeezed, farmers looked for a solution. With labour one of their biggest costs - 42 percent of production expenses on U.S. farms, on average - they started using a mechanical harvester adapted from a machine used by wine makers. By 2007, almost half of California’s raisins were mechanically harvested and a labour force once numbering 50,000 had shrunk to 30,000. As well as having an impact on the job market, the widespread adoption of agribots might bring changes at the supermarket. Lewis Holloway, who studies agriculture at the University of Hull, UK, says that robotic milking is likely to influence the genetics of dairy herds as farmers opt for ‘robot-friendly’ cows, with udder shape, and even attitudes, suited to automated milking. Similarly, he says, it’s conceivable that agribots could influence what fruit or vegetable varieties get to the shops, since farmers may prefer to grow those with, say, leaf shapes that are easier for their robots to discriminate from weeds. Almost inevitably, these machines will eventually alter the landscape, too. The real tipping point for robot agriculture will come when farms are being designed with agribots in mind, says Salah Sukkarieh, a robotics researcher at the Australian Center for Field Robotics, Sydney. This could mean a return to smaller fields, with crops planted in grids rather than rows and fruit trees pruned into two- dimensional shapes to make harvesting easier. This alien terrain tended by robots is still a while away, he says ‘but it will happen.’
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the reading passage? YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
|
1. Governments should do more to ensure that food is generally affordable.
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. Farmers need to reduce the harm they do to the environment.
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
3. In the future, farmers are likely to increase their dependency on chemicals.
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
4. Farms in Europe and the US may find it hard to adapt to precision farming.
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Match each researcher with the correct statement.
|
1. Simon Blackmore
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
2. Eldert van Henten
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
3. Linda Calvin and Philip Martin
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
4. Lewis Holloway
|
|
|
Explain:
|
|
5. Salah Sukkarieh
|
|
|
Explain:
|
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
1.
|
Communication
cereals
lasers
fertilizer/ fertilizer
|
Passage 3
Volunteering: enriching others and helping oneself (A) Volunteering, some might mistakenly think, embraces a plethora of people from all walks of life as well as activities, but data from the other side of the world suggest otherwise. A 2001 survey on who participated in volunteering by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that people in higher income households are more likely than others to volunteer. In England and Wales, 57 per cent of adults with gross annual household incomes of £75,000 or more, have volunteered formally (such as raising or handling money for a charity or being a member of a committee) in the 12 months prior to the survey date. They were almost twice as likely to have done so than those living in households with an annual income under £10,000. (B) As well as having high household incomes, volunteers also tend to have higher academic qualifications, be in higher socio-economic groups and be in employment. Among people with a degree or postgraduate qualification, 79 per cent had volunteered informally and 57 per cent had volunteered formally in the previous 12 months. For people with no qualifications the corresponding proportions were 52 per cent and 23 per cent. But voluntary work is certainly not the exclusive preserve of the rich, nor should it be. Does the answer not lie perhaps in the fact that the rich tend to have money to allow them the time to become involved in voluntary work compared to less well-off people? (C) A breakdown in the year 2000 of the range of volunteering activities taken from The Australian Bureau of Statistics gives an idea of the scale of activities in which people are typically involved. Eleven sectors are given ranging from Community and Welfare, which accounted for just over a quarter of the total hours volunteered in Australia, to Law/justice/politics with 1.2 percent at the other end of the scale. Other fields included sport/recreation, religious activities and education, following at 21.2 per cent, 16.9 and 14.3 per cent respectively. Foreign/international volunteer work accounted for 2.4 per cent of the total hours. The data here also seem to point to a cohort of volunteers with expertise and experience. (D) The knock-on effect of volunteering on the lives of individuals can be profound. Voluntary work helps foster independence and imparts the ability to deal with different situations, often simultaneously, thus teaching people how to work their way through different systems. It therefore brings people into touch with the real world; and, hence, equips them for the future. | (E) Initially, young adults in their late teens might not seem to have the expertise or knowledge to impart to others that say a teacher or agriculturalist or nurse would have, but they do have many skills that can help others. And in the absence of any particular talent, their energy and enthusiasm can be harnessed for the benefit of their fellow human beings, and ultimately themselves. From all this, the gain to any community no matter how many volunteers are involved is immeasurable. (F) Employers will generally look favourably on people who have shown an ability to work as part of a team. It demonstrates a willingness to learn and an independent spirit, which would be desirable qualities in any employee. So to satisfy employers' demands for experience when applying for work, volunteering can act as a means of gaining experience that might otherwise elude would-be workers and can ultimately lead to paid employment in the desired field. (G) But what are the prerequisites for becoming a volunteer? One might immediately think of attributes like kindness, selflessness, strength of character, ability to deal with others, determination, adaptability and flexibility and a capacity to comprehend the ways of other people. While offering oneself selflessly, working as a volunteer makes further demands on the individual. It requires a strength of will, a sense of moral responsibility for one's fellow human beings, and an ability to fit into the ethos of an organization or community. But it also requires something which in no way detracts from the valuable work done by volunteers and which may seem at first glance both contradictory and surprising: self-interest. (H) Organizations involved in any voluntary work have to be realistic about this. If someone, whatever the age, is going to volunteer and devote their time without money, they do need to receive something from it for themselves. People who are unemployed can use volunteer work as a stepping-stone to employment or as a means of finding out whether they really like the field they plan to enter or as a way to help them find themselves. (I) It is tempting to use some form of community work as an alternative to national service or as punishment for petty criminals by making the latter for example clean up parks, wash away graffiti, work with victims of their own or of other people. This may be acceptable, but it does not constitute volunteer work, two cardinal rules of which are the willingness to volunteer without coercion and working unpaid. |
The reading passage has nine paragraphs A-I. Which paragraph contains the following information?
|
1. a description of what does not satisfy the criteria for volunteer work
|
|
|
Explain:
You scan for information that is presented as negative. |
|
2. the impact of voluntary work on the development of individuals
|
|
|
Explain:
Scan for words that relate to impact: effect. Remember the structure 'cause- effect- solution'. In this particular passage, you can expect effect to come after volunteering has been described. The word individual also helps you to scan. |
|
3. the requirement for both selflessness and self-interest in volunteers
|
|
|
Explain:
Scan for requirement or a synonym: prerequisites; selflessness and self-interest. Even if you do not know the word prerequisites, you can scan for a paragraph which contains personal qualities. |
|
4. various areas in which people volunteer
|
|
|
Explain:
You scan for the type of volunteer work that people do. You can predict that in many cases this will be somewhere at the beginning rather than the end. Scan for nouns like sectors, activities, fields; verbs like involved, worked in, participated in; names of different fields like community, international/foreign etc. |
|
5. the benefit of voluntary work for the young
|
|
|
Explain:
The key scan words here are benefit and young. |
|
6. a mistaken view of volunteering
|
|
|
Explain:
Scan for an opinion about volunteering. You can predict this is at the beginning, because the writer is saying what people wrongly believe about volunteering. Then he says what it is. |
Choose the correct letters A, B, C or D.
|
1. The ONS survey was done to find out
|
|
|
Explain:
The answer is in paragraph A. The abbreviation helps you find the answer. It is towards the beginning, because the questions are in order. The survey was about which people participated /were involved in volunteering. It was not about why (choice “why people undertook volunteering”); nor about how many (choice “how many people participated in volunteering”); nor about how many rich people (choice “how many rich people did volunteer work”). The results, however, revealed that rich people tend to volunteer more, but that was a result of the survey, not the reason for doing it. . |
|
2. The ONS survey found that people with university qualifications were
|
|
|
Explain:
The answer is in paragraph B. Scan for the phrase qualifications: Among people with a degree or postgraduate qualification, 79 per cent had volunteered informally and 57 per cent had volunteered formally in the previous 12 months; For people with no qualifications the corresponding proportions were 52 per cent and 23 per cent. So choices “as likely to volunteer as those with no qualifications” and “less likely to volunteer than those with no qualifications” contradict the answer. Choice “the only group likely to do formal volunteer work” is incorrect, because qualified people are not the only ones. . |
|
3. It is suggested that rich people volunteer as a result of having
|
|
|
Explain:
The previous question helps you find the answer. Scan for rich people, goals, children, time and guilt or their synonyms. The reason comes at the end of paragraph B after the results of the survey have been revealed.The writer uses a question to suggest the relationship between time and money. No information about the other three alternatives is given. . |
|
4. Volunteer work benefits people by teaching them how to
|
|
|
Explain:
Scan for benefit to people in general. Note the link between volunteers, situations and systems. This comes in paragraph D before the more specific benefit to young people in paragraph E. |
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F below.
|
1. One of the requirements of being a volunteer is being able to
|
|
|
Explain:
Ask yourself: What ability of being a volunteer is required? The word requirements helps you find the paragraph G. Look at the sentence endings A-F. The only one dealing with a quality is choice “understand how people behave”. |
|
2. Volunteering can be used as a way for the unemployed to
|
|
|
Explain:
Ask yourself: What can the unemployed use volunteering as? Scan for unemployed and use of volunteering as a way/means etc. Find the word stepping-stone in paragraph H. You can match unemployed with work/ job/employment. |
|
3. Employers in general tend to
|
|
|
Explain:
Ask yourself: What do employers tend to do? Scan for the word employers. The answer is in paragraph F:... generally look favourably on people;... to satisfy employers' demands... |
| No. | Date | Right Score | Total Score |
|
|
|
PARTNERS |
|
|
NEWS |
|
|
|
|
|
|