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MODEL TEST - ACADEMIC IELTS
(Time: 90 minutes)

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Section 1

Script:

Listen to the telephone conversation between a student and the owner of a paragliding school and answer the questions below.

Man: Hello 'Paragliders' Paradise'. How can I help you?

Maria: Oh hi. I'm interested in doing a course in paragliding.

Man: Which course are you interested in?

Maria: Well, I'm not sure. What's available?

Man: Well ... we've got the introductory course which lasts for two days.

Maria: OK.

Man: Or there's the 4-dav beginners' course which is what most people do first. I'd tend to recommend that one. And there's also the elementary pilot course which takes five to six days depending on conditions.

Maria: We might try the beginner's course. What sort of prices are we looking at?

Man: The introductory is $190; the beginner's course, which is what you'd probably be looking at, is $320 - no, sorry 330 - it's just gone up - and the pilot course is $430. Maria: Right.

Man: And you also have to become a member of our club so that you're insured. That'll cost you $12 a day. Everyone has to take out insurance, you see.

Maria: Does that cover me if I break a leg?

Man: No, I'm afraid not - it's only 3rd party and covers you against damage to other people or their belongings, but not theft or injury, You would need to take out your own personal accident insurance.

Maria: I see! And what's the best way to get to your place? By public transport or could we come by bike? We're pretty keen cyclists.

Man: It's difficult by public transport although there is a bus from Newcastle; most people get here by car, though, 'cos we're a little off the beaten track. But you could ride here OK. I'll send you a map. Just let me take down a few details. What's your name?

Maria: Maria Gentle.

Man: And your address, Maria?

Maria: Well, I'm a student staying with a family in Newcastle.

Man: So it's care of ...

Maria: Care of Mr and Mrs. McDonald.

Man: Like the hamburgers!

Maria: Yes, exactly.

Man: McDonald ...

Maria: The post office box address is probably best. It's PO Box 676. Newcastle.

Man: Is there a fax number there, because I could fax you the information?

Maria: Yes, actually, there is. It's 0249 that's for Newcastle and then double seven five four three one.

Man: OK. Now if you decide to do one of our courses, you'll need to book in advance and to pay when you book. How would you be paying?

Maria: By credit card, if that's OK. Do you take Visa?

Man: Yes, fine. We take all major cards, including Visa.

Maria: OK then. Thanks very much.

Complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

TELEPHONE MEMO

Name: Maria Gentle

Address: C/o Mr & Mr (1)…………

(2)………… Newcastle

Fax no: 0249 (3)…………

Type of Card : (4)…………

credit card/Visa 775431 McDonald/Macdonald/MacDonald Post Office Box/PO Box 676

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Section 2

Script:

OK - so hi everybody and welcome to the Sea Life Centre. Before you start on your tour I'd just like to give you some information about things to look out for as you go. Well first of all, I guess some of you may have been here before and may be surprised to see the name has changed. We are not called World of Water any more - since the beginning of this summer we've been renamed, and we've also made a few other changes. However, the main attractions like the aquarium, the crocodiles, the penguins and so on are still here. But we have a new restaurant and picnic area and the latest thing that we have - and it was only finished last week - is the splash ride. This is an exciting new area of the centre and is pretty scary and of course you do get a bit wet so make sure you're not wearing your best clothes!

As I said, the main attractions are still here and the most popular thing that everyone wants to see is feeding time, especially for the crocodiles and the seals. We used to have the main feeding time in the afternoon at around 3 pm but we found that some of the animals got a bit hungry waiting until then and so we now have it at noon. They seem much happier with the new time - although it's a bit difficult to know what they’re thinking!

Now - I'd like to mention something new that we've introduced this year that we're very excited about. It's called a VIP ticket. The VIP ticket costs an extra £2 per person and you will be amazed at what it allows you to do. With this you'll be allowed to feed the sharks. Now I know that for some people this might be quite a frightening thing to do, but it is perfectly safe. For those of you who are a bit unsure, we do have a video you can watch to see what happens. It's a great experience and your friends will be very impressed!

Speaking of friends, I'd just like to remind you that the Sea Life Centre will be more than happy to organise a birthday party for you and your family and friends. If you need more details you can speak to me afterwards and there are also forms at the entrance that you can fill in.

I'd also like to bring your attention to the good work that the Sea Life Centre is doing in support of animal conservation.

I am sure you're all aware of the worrying situation with a large number of species facing extinction. Here at the Sea Life Centre we're taking action by asking as many people as possible to sign a petition. Once we have over 5,000 signatures we are planning to send it to the government in the hope that more people will begin to take it seriously.

Right - well there's obviously a lot going on at the Centre, and a lot of things to discover. At all the attractions there is helpful information so please read as much as you can and, if you want to see what you've remembered, please do the quiz after your visit. There are no prizes of course, but I'm sure you'll be surprised by how much you've learnt.

Answer the questions below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

world of water/World of Water quiz/ the quiz/ a quiz a birthday party/ birthday party the splash ride/ splash ride feed the sharks/ feed sharks at noon/midday/ 12 o'clock/ 12 pm/ noon/ at midday/ at 12 o'clock/ at 12 pm the government/ government

Sea Life Centre – information

What was the Sea Life Centre previously called?
What is the newest attraction called?
When is the main feeding time?
What can you do with a VIP ticket?
What special event will the Sea Life Centre arrange for you?
Where will the petition for animal conservation be sent to?
What can you use to test what you have learnt?

Section 3

Script:

Student: I’m interested in entering your Business Administration program, and I’d like some information on how to apply. I’m a little concerned because I’ve been out of school for a number of years.

Advisor: That could actually work to your advantage. It’s possible to get academic credit for work experience, if that experience is related to courses in our program.

Student: I’ve been working in business for several years. How would I get academic credit for that?

Advisor: First, you’ll need to read the university catalog to see if any of the course descriptions match your specific job experience. For example, if you’ve worked in accounting, you may be able to get credit for an accounting course.

Student: So then what would I do?

Advisor: You would write a summary of your work experience, relating it to specific courses we offer. Submit that to the Admissions Office with a letter from your work supervisor confirming your experience.

Complete the information below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

How to get academic credit for work experience

First, read the (1)......... Find courses that match your work experience. Then write (2)......... of your work experience. Submit that together with a letter from your (3)......... to the university admissions office.

university catalog a summary work supervisor

(1)
(2)
(3)

Section 4

Script:

LECTURER Good afternoon everyone, and welcome lo this short talk on the subject of fireworks. Now, fireworks, as I’m sure many of you know, were invented in China, though there has long been disagreement as to exactly when, or even in which century. The consensus nowadays, though, is that it was in the sixth, as there is considerable evidence of war rockets being made then. We also know that fireworks were in use by the seventh century in Arabia, where they were called ‘Chinese Arrows’, reflecting their military potential. It then took a long time for them to spread to Europe: in fact it wasn’t until the twelve hundreds that fireworks made their appearance there.

Complete the sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

sixth/ 6th Europe Chinese Arrows

Fireworks were first used in China, probably in the century.

By the following century, they were known in Arabia as

Fireworks first appeared in in the thirteenth century.

Script:

LECTURER The basic ingredients of fireworks have changed little to this day. Their explosive capacity comes mainly from black powder, also known as gunpowder, which is produced from a mixture of charcoal, sulphur and potassium nitrate. A modern aerial firework - the kind used nowadays in big public displays, not the small rocket type that you might remember from your childhood - is normally made in the form of a shell, often a sphere about the side of a peach. Inside the shell are a number of stars surrounded by black powder, and running through the centre of the round shell is a charge that makes the firework explode when it reaches the desired altitude. This is known as the bursting charge. When this explodes, it ignites the outside of the stars, which begin to burn with bright showers of sparks. Since the explosion throws the stars in all directions, you get the huge sphere of sparkling light that is so familiar at firework displays. A shell of this kind is launched from a 75 millimetre-diameter mortar, which in some ways resembles the type used by the military. The mortar is a steel or - increasingly, for safety reasons — shatterproof plastic pipe. This is likely to be 500 millimetres long and sealed at one

end. The other end is aimed at the sky and at the bottom of the pipe, below the shell, is placed a cylinder containing black powder. This has a long fuse which projects out of the tube. When this is lit, it quickly burns down to the lifting charge, which explodes to launch the shell. In so doing, it also lights the shell’s fuse. The shell's fuse burns while the shell rises to its correct altitude, and then ignites the bursting charge so it explodes. More complicated shells are divided into sections and burst in two or three phases. Shells like this are called multibreak shells. They may contain stars of different colours and compositions to create softer or brighter light, more or less sparks, etc. Some shells contain explosives designed to crackle in the sky, or whistles that explode outwards with the stars. The sections of multibreak shell are ignited by different fuses and the bursting of one section ignites the next. The shells must be assembled in such a way that each section explodes in sequence to produce a distinct separate effect. The pattern that an aerial shell paints in the sky depends on the arrangement of stars inside the shell. For example, if the stars are equally spaced in a circle, with black powder inside the shell, you will see an aerial display of smaller star explosions equally spaced in a circle. To create a specific figure in the sky, for instance a heart shape, you create an outline of the figure in stars inside the shell. You then place explosive charges inside those stars to blow them outward into the shape of a large heart. Each charge has to be ignited at exactly the right time or the whole thing is spoiled. Many other shapes have particular names, like the Willow. This is formed by stars that fall in the shape of willow tree branches spreading a little to the side and then downwards. The high charcoal composition of the stars makes them long-burning, so they may even stay visible until they hit the ground. The Ring Shell is fairly basic. It is produced by stars exploding outwards to produce a symmetrical ring of coloured lights. More complex is the pattern created by the Paha, which contains large comets, or charges in the shape of a solid cylinder. These travel outwards, explode and then curve downwards like the limbs of a palm tree. The Serpentine, the last one for now, is different again. When this one bursts, it sends small tubes of incendiaries scattering outwards in random paths, which may culminate in exploding stars. It can be quite spectacular.

Label the diagram. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

500 mm/ 500 millimetres/five hundred mm/ five hundred millimetres lifting 75 mm/75 millimetres/seventy-five mm/ seventy-five millimetres shell

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Passage 1

BAKELITE

The birth of modern plastics

In 1907, Leo Hendrick Baekeland, a Belgian scientist working in New York, discovered and patented a revolutionary new synthetic material. His invention, which he named 'Bakelite', was of enormous technological importance, and effectively launched the modern plastics industry.

The term 'plastic' comes from the Greek plassein, meaning ‘to mould’. Some plastics are derived from natural sources, some are semi-synthetic (the result of chemical action on a natural substance), and some are entirely synthetic, that is, chemically engineered from the constituents of coal or oil. Some are 'thermoplastic', which means that, like candlewax, they melt when heated and can then be reshaped. Others are 'thermosetting': like eggs, they cannot revert to their original viscous state, and their shape is thus fixed for ever. Bakelite had the distinction of being the first totally synthetic thermosetting plastic.

The history of today's plastics begins with the discovery of a series of semi-synthetic thermoplastic materials in the mid-nineteenth century. The impetus behind the development of these early plastics was generated by a number of factors - immense technological progress in the domain of chemistry, coupled with wider cultural changes, and the pragmatic need to find acceptable substitutes for dwindling supplies of ‘luxury’ materials such as tortoiseshell and ivory.

Baekeland's interest in plastics began in 1885 when, as a young chemistry student in Belgium, he embarked on research into phenolic resins, the group of sticky substances produced when phenol (carbolic acid) combines with an aldehyde (a volatile fluid similar to alcohol). He soon abandoned the subject, however, only returning to it some years later. By 1905 he was a wealthy New Yorker, having recently made his fortune with the invention of a new photographic paper. While Baekeland had been busily amassing dollars, some advances had been made in the development of plastics. The years 1899 and 1900 had seen the patenting of the first semi-synthetic thermosetting material that could be manufactured on an industrial scale. In purely scientific terms, Baekeland's major contribution to the field is not so much the actual discovery of the material to which he gave his name, but rather the method by which a reaction between phenol and formaldehyde could be controlled, thus making possible its preparation on a commercial basis. On 13 July 1907, Baekeland took out his famous patent describing this preparation, the essential features of which are still in use today.

The original patent outlined a three-stage process, in which phenol and formaldehyde (from wood or coal) were initially combined under vacuum inside a large egg-shaped kettle. The result was a resin known as Novalak, which became soluble and malleable when heated. The resin was allowed to cool in shallow trays until it hardened, and then broken up and ground into powder. Other substances were then introduced: including fillers, such as wood flour, asbestos or cotton, which increase strength and moisture resistance, catalysts (substances to speed up the reaction between two chemicals without joining to either) and hexa, a compound of ammonia and formaldehyde which supplied the additional formaldehyde necessary to form a thermosetting resin. This resin was then left to cool and harden, and ground up a second time. The resulting granular powder was raw Bakelite, ready to be made into a vast range of manufactured objects. In the last stage, the heated Bakelite was poured into a hollow mould of the required shape and subjected to extreme heat and pressure, thereby 'setting' its form for life.

The design of Bakelite objects, everything from earrings to television sets, was governed to a large extent by the technical requirements of the moulding process. The object could not be designed so that it was locked into the mould and therefore difficult to extract. A common general rule was that objects should taper towards the deepest part of the mould, and if necessary the product was moulded in separate pieces. Moulds had to be carefully designed so that the molten Bakelite would flow evenly and completely into the mould. Sharp corners proved impractical and were thus avoided, giving rise to the smooth, 'streamlined' style popular in the 1930s. The thickness of the walls of the mould was also crucial- thick walls took longer to cool and harden, a factor which had to be considered by the designer in order to make the most efficient use of machines.

Baekeland's invention, although treated with disdain m its early years, went on to enjoy an unparalleled popularity which lasted throughout the first half of the twentieth century. It became the wonder product of the new world of industrial expansion - 'the material of a thousand uses'. Being both non-porous and heat-resistant, Bakelite kitchen goods were promoted as being germ-free and sterilisable. Electrical manufacturers seized on its insulating properties, and consumers everywhere relished its dazzling array of shades, delighted that they were now, at last, no longer restricted to the wood tones and drab browns of the pre-plastic era. It then fell from favour again during the 1950s, and was despised and destroyed in vast quantities. Recently, however, it has been experiencing something of a renaissance, with renewed demand for original Bakelite objects in the collectors' marketplace, and museums, societies and dedicated individuals once again appreciating the style and originality of this innovative material.

Complete the summary. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

chemistry synthetic candlewax

Some plastics behave in a similar way to in that they melt under heat and can be moulded into new forms. Bakelite was unique because it was the first material to be both entirely in origin, and thermosetting.

There were several reasons for the research into plastics in the nineteenth century, among them the great advances that had been made in the field of and the search for alternatives to natural resources like ivory.

Complete the flow-chart. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

fillers Novalak raw pressure hexa

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(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

Passage 2

GREYING POPULATION STAYS IN THE PINK

Elderly people are growing healthier, happier and more independent, say American scientist. The result of a 14-year study to be announced later this month reveal that the diseases associated with old age are afflicting fewer and fewer people and when they do strike, it is much later in life.

In the last 14 years, the National Long-term Health Care Survey has gathered data on the health and lifestyles of more than 20,000 men and women over 65. Researchers, now analysing the results of data gathered in 1994, say arthritis, high blood pressure and circulation problems - the major medical complaints in this age group - are troubling a smaller proportion every year. And the data confirms that the rate at which these diseases are declining continues to accelerate. Other diseases of old age - dementia, stroke, arteriosclerosis and emphysema - are also troubling fewer and fewer people.

'It really raises the question of what should be considered normal ageing,' says Kenneth Manton, a demographer from Duke University in North Carolina. He says the problems doctors accepted as normal in a 65-year-old in 1982 are often not appearing until people are 70 or 75.

Clearly, certain diseases are beating a retreat in the face of medical advances. But there may be other contributing factors. Improvements in childhood nutrition in the first quarter of the twentieth century, for example, gave today's elderly people a better start in life than their predecessors.

On the downside, the data also reveals failures in public health that have caused surges in some illnesses. An increase in some cancers and bronchitis may reflect changing smoking habits and poorer air quality, say the researchers. 'These may be subtle influences,' says Manton, 'but our subjects have been exposed to worse and worse pollution for over 60 years. It's not surprising we see some effect.'

One interesting correlation Manton uncovered is that better-educated people are likely to live longer. For example, 65-year-old women with fewer than eight years of schooling are expected, on average, to live to 82. Those who continued their education live an extra seven years. Although some of this can be attributed to a higher income, Manton believes it is mainly because educated people seek more medical attention.

The survey also assessed how independent people over 65 were, and again found a striking trend. Almost 80% of those in the 1994 survey could complete everyday activities ranging from eating and dressing unaided to complex tasks such as cooking and managing their finances. That represents a significant drop in the number of disabled old people in the population. If the trends apparent in the United States 14 years ago had continued, researchers calculate there would be an additional one million disabled elderly people in today's population. According to Manton, slowing the trend has saved the United States government's Medicare system more than $200 billion, suggesting that the greying of America's population may prove less of a financial burden than expected.

The increasing self-reliance of many elderly people is probably linked to a massive increase in the use of simple home medical aids. For instance, the use of raised toilet seats has more than doubled since the start of the study, and the use of bath seats has grown by more than 50%. These developments also bring some health benefits, according to a report from the MacArthur Foundation's research group on successful ageing. The group found that those elderly people who were able to retain a sense of independence were more likely to stay healthy in old age.

Maintaining a level of daily physical activity may help mental functioning, says Carl Cotman, a neuroscientist at the University of California at Irvine. He found that rats that exercise on a treadmill have raised levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor coursing through their brains. Cotman believes this hormone, which keeps neurons functioning, may prevent the brains of active humans from deteriorating.

As part of the same study, Teresa Seeman, a social epidemiologist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, found a connection between self-esteem and stress in people over 70. In laboratory simulations of challenging activities such as driving, those who felt in control of their lives pumped out lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. Chronically high levels of these hormones have been linked to heart disease.

But independence can have drawbacks. Seeman found that elderly people who felt emotionally isolated maintained higher levels of stress hormones even when asleep. The research suggests that older people fare best when they feel independent but know they can get help when they need it.

'Like much research into ageing, these results support common sense,' says Seeman. They also show that we may be underestimating the impact of these simple factors. 'The sort of thing that your grandmother always told you turns out to be right on target,' she says.

Complete the summary using the list of words below.

cost	falling	technology	undernourished
earlier	later	disabled	more
increasing	nutrition	education	constant
medicine	pollution	environmental	health
independent

increasing disabled pollution later cost education nutrition falling medicine

Research carried out by scientists in the United States has shown that the proportion of people over 65 suffering from the most common age-related medical problems is and that the speed of this change is . It also seems that these diseases are affecting people in life than they did in the past. This is largely due to developments in , but other factors such as improved may also be playing a part. Increases in some other illnesses may be due to changes in personal habits and to . The research establishes a link between levels of and life expectancy. It also shows that there has been a considerable reduction in the number of elderly people who are , which means that the involved in supporting this section of the population may be less than previously predicted.

Passage 3

The First Antigravity Machine?

It was one of the biggest science stories of the 1990s. Even now, the facts behind it remain hotly disputed. And small wonder, for if the claims made for the small disc, the focus of the controversy, are true, it may be possible to break through one of the great barriers in the scientific world and control the most potent of cosmic forces: gravity. Huge innovations in flight and space travel could arise from that.

The first gravity-blocking system to be taken seriously by scientists appeared in a laboratory in Tampere University of Technology, Finland. A Russian scientist named Dr Evgeny Podkletnov created a disc 275mm across, made from a substance which combined copper, barium and the ‘rare Earth metal’ called yttrium, which is known to be a high-temperature superconductor (a substance that conducts electricity without resistance). When chilled with liquid nitrogen at -196° C (a high temperature compared with other superconductors), this material loses all its electrical resistance, and can levitate (lift) in a magnetic field. That may seem amazing for a ceramic-like material - and it won a Nobel Prize for the scientists, Karl Muller and Johannes Bednorz, who first demonstrated it in the 1980s. But according to Podkletnov, the disc had another far more astounding property.

In 1992, while experimenting with rotating superconductors, Podkletnov noticed that pipe-smoke from a nearby researcher was drifting into a vertical column above the spinning disc. Intrigued by this phenomenon, he decided to devise an experiment to investigate further. A superconductive disc, surrounded by liquid nitrogen was magnetically levitated and rotated at high speed - up to 5,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) in a magnetic field. An object was suspended from a sensitive balance above the disc. It was enclosed in a glass tube to shield it from any effects of air currents. During the course of a series of tests, Podkletnov was able to observe that the object lost a variable amount of weight from less than 0.5 percent to 2 percent of its total weight. This effect was noted with a range of materials from ceramics to wood. The effect was slight, yet the implications were revolutionary: the disc appeared to be partly shielding the object from the gravitational pull of the Earth.

This was just the start, claimed Podkletnov. While far short of the 100 percent reduction in weight needed to send astronauts into space, for example, it was infinitely greater than the amount predicted by the best theory of gravity currently in existence: Einstein’s theory of general relativity (GR), published in 1905. According to Einstein, gravity is not some kind of ‘force field’, like magnetism, which can - in principle at least - be screened out. Instead, GR views gravity as a distortion in the very fabric of space and time, that permeates the whole cosmos. As such, any claim to have shielded objects from gravity is to defy Einstein himself.

Podkletnov’s claims were subjected to intense scrutiny when he submitted them for publication. The UK Institute of Physics had Podkletnov’s paper checked by three independent referees, but none could find a fatal flaw. His research was set to appear in the respected Journal of Physics D when events took an unexpected turn. The claims were leaked to the media, sparking world-wide coverage of his apparent breakthrough. Then Podkletnov suddenly withdrew the paper from publication and refused to talk to the press.

Rumours began to circulate of unknown backers demanding silence until the device had been fully patented. But for many scientists the strange events were all too familiar. Podkletnov was just the latest in a long line of people to have made claims about defying gravity. Most of these have come from madcap inventors, with bizarre devices - often with some kind of spinning disc. But occasionally, respectable academics have made such claims as well.

One instance of this occurred in the late 1980s when scientists at Tohoku University, Japan, made headlines with research suggesting that apparatus, known as a gyroscope, lost 0.01 percent of its weight when spinning at up to 13,000 rpm. Oddly the effect only appeared if the gyroscope was spinning anticlockwise - raising suspicions that some mechanical peculiarity was to blame. Attempts by scientists at the University of Colorado to replicate the effect failed.

Then Professor Giovanni Modanese, an Italian theoretical physicist, became interested. He had read an earlier paper by Podkletnov, hinting at a connection between superconductivity and gravity shielding. Modanese wondered if the magnetic fields surrounding the superconductive disc might somehow assimilate part of the gravitational field under it. He published some calculations based on his idea in 1995 - and soon discovered that taking ‘antigravity’ seriously was a career-limiting move.

The revelations about Podkletnov’s antigravity research led to reports of major corporations setting up their own studies. In 2000, the UK defence contractor BAE Systems was said to have launched ‘Project Greenglow’ to investigate Podkletnov’s gravity shield effect. Then it emerged that the US aircraft builder Boeing was also investigating, suggesting it too had an interest in the effect. Groups in other countries were also rumoured to be carrying out studies. Yet not one of the teams has reported confirmation of the original findings. Some projects have been wound up without producing results either way. So for the time being, it seems that the dream of controlling gravity will remain precisely that.

Label the diagram below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

5,000 rpm / five thousand rpm /5,000 revolutions per minute / five revolutions per minute liquid nitrogen glass tube sensitive balance / balance

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

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