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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015

SESSION I

SECTION I – LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION (15 x 1 = 15 points)

Which of the following sentences best expresses the meaning in the given sentence?

1. Most people assume that possessing superior intelligence and confidence in your abilities guarantees success.
A) The belief that exceptional intelligence and trust in your abilities ensures high achievement is common.
B) People generally think anyone who has high self-esteem can develop themselves mentally and attain wealth.
C) Whether or not you have an above-average intellect and a positive opinion of your abilities determines your chance
of success.
D) It is thought that you can certainly achieve considerable success if you are determined to raise your intellectual level
and the amount of confidence you have in your skills.

2. Children who constantly feel afraid or who are often hungry or sick have so little energy that they cannot develop
their cognitive abilities.
A) A lack of energy in a child resulting from fear, hunger or illness can bring about mental capacities which fail to
progress.
B) Children with poor mental skills generally grew up in abusive homes where they were mistreated and inadequately
fed and cared for.
C) Unsafe environments for children usually result in too little food and a great deal of illness, and these factors affect
their academic development.
D) If children spend a great deal of time feeling frightened or are generally ill or poorly fed, they will have to work
harder than their peers to increase their mental abilities.

3. While American children prefer tasks they choose for themselves, Asian kids show more motivation when their
choices are made for them by an authority.
A) Children in Asia accept people in authority telling them what to do, but kids in America rarely do what authorities tell
them to do.
B) American children, who are highly-motivated self-learners, have less respect for those in positions of authority than
Asian kids do.
C) Asian children who have strong motivation listen to suggestions made by people who lead them, but high achieving
American children make their own decisions.
D) Unlike American children, who like to decide what they will do for themselves, Asian kids are more excited about
something if someone in charge tells them what to do.

4. Disapproving of childhood fear or anger does not stop kids from having those feelings but may cause them to hide
how they feel.
A) Not wanting to make kids cover up their emotions, adults hesitate to push them to quit being afraid or annoyed.
B) Children are sensitive to criticism about their fears or rage because they cannot control their reactions to many
events.
C) If people tell children not to be afraid or angry, they might not show how they feel even though they continue to
experience these emotions.
D) Being encouraged not to feel frightened or upset enables children to overcome these emotions although they may
still struggle with them.

5. On account of children spending an increasingly greater amount of time in the digital world, it’s crucial for adults to
enter it.
A) Becoming familiar with technology is vital for adults due to the growing amount of time kids engage with it.
B) It’s essential for not only children but also adults to stay up to date with what’s happening in the world of technology.
C) Adults have kept up with the latest technology; otherwise, children, who use it continuously, would be far ahead of
them.
D) Although new technology is extremely difficult for adults, they need to spend as much time with it as kids do if they
hope to understand today’s children.
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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

6. Inventing their own games, children of the past created their own fun without any costly equipment.
A) Long ago, children were forced to invent games that didn’t make use of anything that involved any expense.
B) Over the years, children have gotten used to coming up with simple, low-cost activities that are really creative.
C) Children used to make up unique, creative activities that did not need any expensive supplies.
D) At one time, children’s games were not as enjoyable because kids did not have the chance to buy the things they
wanted.

7. Rather than play their own games, children now rely on technology for the majority of their activities, limiting
challenges to both their imaginations and their bodies.
A) Due to a lack of mental and physical determination in today’s children, their activities are almost all done on the
computer instead of the real world.
B) Not allowed to have fun as children did in the past, modern kids make great use of technology, but it does not fully
develop their bodies or their minds.
C) Technology, not their own creativity, is the basis for most of the games kids play these days, and this results in
fewer chances to develop their creativity and physical strength.
D) Children of today are so dependent on technology for entertainment that they rarely play traditional games, which
were much better at developing their strength and coordination.

8. Video games offer ways for kids to collaborate and to learn basic principles of teamwork while boosting their logical
thinking skills.
A) Having a positive impact on critical thinking, video games are useful for kids because they enable them to better
compete against others.
B) As children playing video games sharpen their ability to think, they acquire knowledge which will help them succeed
in the real world.
C) Video games are marketed to children despite harming their cognitive abilities, but they may help them learn to
cooperate and to be successful team members.
D) Children’s video games provide opportunities to work together with other kids and discover how to be part of a team
as well as to improve their ability to think logically.

9. Rising university costs are causing students to insist on greater openness about the way universities spend money.
A) As universities force students to pay more, students are more likely to protest university policies.
B) As university students are being asked to pay more, they expect their schools to provide higher quality education.
C) Students should be allowed to find out how universities are using the rising amount they are required to pay for
fees.
D) Students are paying higher universities fees, so they are demanding more information about how their money is
spent.

10. Scientists have developed a solar cell which is able to absorb one photon of light and generate two electrons, unlike
older models that were only able to produce one.
A) In contrast to solar cells which take in one photon of light and produce one electron, a model coming out soon may
use up two electrons.
B) While previous versions of solar cells could put out just one electron for each photon of light they took in, a recent
version can produce two.
C) A solar cell that receives one photon and gives out two electrons could have been developed by scientists who have
been trying to improve on the cell making just one.
D) Contrary to the results of earlier research, recent research points to the possibility of a solar cell which creates two
electrons for every photon of light that comes in rather than only one.

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

11. Not having improved their efficiency for decades, traditional fossil-fueled power plants only make use of one-third of
the heat they produce.
A) If traditional power plants could make use of even a third of the fossil fuels they burn, that would be an improvement
over their poor performance in past decades.
B) Traditional power plants continue to burn fossil fuels, and, just like decades ago, they fail to use two-thirds of the
heat they produce as they have not made use of technological advances.
C) The fact that traditional power plants are only able to use one-third of the heat from the fossil fuels they burn shows
that their performance has declined in recent decades.
D) The efficiency of traditional fossil-fueled power plants has remained constant for a considerable length of time
although some plants can now utilize a third of the heat they produce.

12. By using waste heat recovery technology to capture a significant proportion of wasted heat, the new generation of
power plants can now achieve much higher energy outputs than older plants.
A) Compared to the efficient power plants that have recently emerged, older ones waste a great deal of heat despite
their use of heat recovery technology.
B) A new type of power plant with the latest technology has been able to produce considerably more heat than the
older type, which has far lower energy production.
C) The newest power plants would be able to obtain a large boost in power production if the heat recovery technology
that recently came out were included in them.
D) Modern power plants manage to produce more energy than traditional ones due to better waste heat recovery
systems, which use much of the heat that used to escape.

13.Already by the end of the 15th century, there were printing presses in more than 250 cities across Europe.
A) The printing presses in over 250 cities throughout Europe arrived there in the late 1400s.
B) Printing presses could already be found in more than 250 European cities in the late 1400s.
C) The printing press, which had already become common by the end of the 1400s, spread to over 250 European
cities.
D) Many of the more than 250 European cities that had printing presses had already obtained them by the end of the
1400s.

14. The printing press was successful in Europe because paper had been introduced to Spain by Muslims and then
expanded throughout the continent.
A) The printing press, which had spread to Europe through Muslims in Spain, was a great invention that became very
successful.
B) It was Muslims who first brought paper to Spain and then took it all over Europe before the amazing invention of the
printing press.
C) Paper had been brought to Spain by Muslims and then spread to many other European countries in order to bring
about the success of the printing press.
D) After Muslims brought paper to Spain, it became common all over Europe, which is why the printing press was able
to become a successful invention there.

15. It might have taken many more years for e-publishing to gain popularity if Stephen King had not published one of his
novels exclusively on the Internet.
A) Stephen King has published a novel that is only available on the Internet, so it is likely that e-publishing cannot do
much to increase its popularity.
B) A reason for the slow increase in popularity of e-publishing is because Stephen King refused to have one of his
novels published only online.
C) Stephen King’s decision to publish a novel that could only be accessed via the Internet probably led to a much
quicker rise in the popularity of e-publishing.
D) Even though e-publishing had not managed to become very popular, Stephen King decided that he would have one
of his novels published just on the Internet.
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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

SECTION II – READING COMPREHENSION (30 x 1.5 = 45 points)

Read each text and choose the best alternative that answers each question.

Text 1 Tell Me Another One, Daddy

1 Most parents know about the benefits of reading stories from books with their young children. Parents are given this
message in pediatricians’ offices, on TV, and even through billboards on city
buses. Reading books to young children on a daily basis advances their
language skills, extends their learning about the world, and boosts their own
reading later in school. Reading books with children is clearly a good idea, yet
what most parents aren’t aware of is that most of the benefits which result
from reading good books can be gained through telling family stories. There
are also some others which are unique to verbal storytelling.

2 Over the last 25 years, a great deal of research on family storytelling has shown that when parents share more
family stories with their children, especially when they tell those stories in a detailed and responsive way, their children
profit in many ways. For instance, experimental studies show that when parents discuss everyday events with their
preschool children in detail, their children tell richer, more complete stories earlier than children whose parents don’t
interact in this way. Children of these parents also demonstrate better understanding of other people’s thoughts and
emotions. These skills serve children well in their school years, both when reading complex material and while learning
to get along with others. In the preteen years, children whose families collaboratively discuss everyday events and
family history more often have higher self-esteem. Those with a stronger knowledge of family history through stories told
by their families also have better coping skills and lower rates of depression. Family storytelling can help children grow
into teens who feel connected to the important people in their lives.

3 Best of all, unlike stories from books, family stories are always free and completely portable. You don’t need to go to
a library or use the Internet to share a story about your day, about their day, about your childhood or their grandma’s. In
research on family storytelling, each one of these kinds of stories is linked to benefits for your child. Furthermore, family
stories often continue to be part of a parent’s daily interactions with their children into adolescence, which is past the
age of parents reading a bedtime story.

4 All families have stories to tell, regardless of their culture or their circumstances. Of course, not all of these stories
are idyllic ones. In fact, stories of life’s more difficult moments can teach children and adolescents a great deal
according to recent research, if these stories are told in a way that is sensitive to the child’s level of understanding.
Telling the story about the time your house caught fire is fine, but look for the good that came out of it. For example,
your family ended up at a neighbor’s house who you hardly knew, and a close friendship resulted.

5 Holidays are a perfect time for family storytelling. While having your holiday meal, share a story with your children
about past holidays. Leave in the funny bits, the sad bits, and the unpleasant parts because kids can understand when
a story has been changed for them. Then invite everyone else to tell a story, too. Don’t forget the youngest and the
oldest storytellers in the group. Their stories may not be as coherent, but they can be the truest, and the most revealing.
But do not limit your storytelling to special occasions. Family stories can be told nearly anywhere. They only need your
time and creativity. They will inspire, protect, and bind your family together. Finally, be generous with your stories,
remembering that your children will probably keep them for a lifetime.

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

16. The passage mainly discusses ----.

A) the similar and contrasting benefits of reading books and telling stories to children
B) the factors that have led to the increase of verbal story telling in recent years
C) methods that parents can use to make sure their stories are appropriate for children of different ages
D) reasons why families should share verbal stories with children of all ages

17. The word others in paragraph 1 refers to ----.

A) parents
B) benefits
C) good books
D) family stories

18. In paragraph 2, the author mentions all the following benefits of storytelling EXCEPT ----.
A) an increased ability to comprehend what others are feeling
B) higher grades in a wide variety of subjects in later school years
C) a stronger sense of confidence in themselves
D) less chance of suffering from a serious emotional problem

19. In paragraph 3, the author points out that stories from books and family stories differ in that ----.
A) family stories are easier to access than stories from books but they lack the variety that books have
B) family stories are nearly unlimited in number but the number of age-appropriate books is limited
C) sharing family stories still appeals to young people at an age when being read to no longer appeals to them
D) young people no longer want a family story before going to bed but might read a book before sleeping

20. The word idyllic in paragraph 4 could best be replaced by ----.

A) pleasant
B) accurate
C) emotional
D) long

21. In paragraph 4, the author mainly wants to stress that ----.

A) the stories that families tell vary greatly from one culture to another
B) emotional children may be deeply impacted by stories, so consider carefully which stories you share
C) we should teach children that every negative event always is followed by a positive event
D) children can deal with stories with sad events if they see positive things which resulted from them

22. In paragraph 5, the author implies that ----.

A) children will probably not be interested in a story if they think it is not accurate
B) kids do not enjoy long stories, so keep stories brief at special events like holiday meals
C) the stories of very young and very old people are often boring, but they are still important for families
D) adults may not remember the stories their parents told, but they will have happy memories of listening to them

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

Text 2 Why Taiwan Is Right to Ban iPads for Kids

1 Being a parent has suddenly become more stressful if you live in

Taiwan. Parents who fail to follow the new "Child and Youth Welfare Protection
Act" may be fined $1500. As much as I dislike governments which interfere in
our private lives, I was happy when I learned of this law, which penalizes
parents for allowing children under the age of two to use iPads and other
electronic gadgets. It’s true that the measure seems to infringe on personal
privacy. Dealing with a mother-in-law’s advice was difficult enough, but now
politicians are also restricting how parents raise kids. Nevertheless, I believe
that the new Taiwanese legislation will cause parents to think twice before giving their iPad to their young child.

2 The fact is that although doctors' advice on screen-time has been clear for years, it has been completely
ignored by most parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that "entertainment media should be
avoided for children under age two because a child's brain develops rapidly during this time, and they learn best by
interacting with people, not screens." For older children, they recommend limiting screen-time to two hours per day.
And, despite what ads say, online videos aimed at very young children do not improve their development. While most
parents are aware of experts’ advice and doubtful of advertisers’ claims, they simply disregard the viewing guidelines.
Research has shown that most American children have between five and seven hours of screen-time a day, roughly
triple the AAP's maximum. British psychologist Aric Sigman says that the average seven-year-old in his country has
spent the equivalent of an entire year of his/her life in front of a screen. Australia was no better; a study there found that
80% of 16-year-olds exceed the recommended screen-time allowance.

3 The AAP guidelines are vitally important. Dismissing them, researchers believe, can cause children to
have impaired brain development, an increased risk of attention problems, behavioral difficulties, obesity and sleep loss,
leading to poor bodily development and lack of success in school. Yet many parents continue to let their kids use
devices extensively because the option of a digital babysitter is simply too tempting. In addition, there is a misperception
that electronic media can be educational for children. As a result, for most parents the practical advantages and
perceived educational benefits of entertaining children with screen media outweigh the long-term harm they refuse to
consider.

4 It’s true that there are some reasons to question the guidelines. Every new medium, from novels to TV, has
been accused of ruining the young, and there could be some exaggeration in the opposition to digital media. Since
technology is increasingly dominating our lives, children who are able to write code or use Photoshop have a significant
advantage as adults. Furthermore, a number of academics make a distinction between harmful and beneficial screen-
time. They argue that harm is reduced if parents make screen-time a shared experience and if children still have lots of
time to play in the real world. Similarly, the Harvard Family Research Project says that "young children may benefit from
computer use" if the software is sufficiently interactive.

5 However, such positive studies can also be exaggerated. It is worth noting, for instance, that even the Harvard
study emphasizes that "excessive screen time harms healthy growth and development, regardless of content". The AAP
decided their guidelines were still valid and parents should continue following them when it carefully reviewed them in
2011. The alternative to this is to risk their child's well-being. Unfortunately, most children have double or triple the
accepted healthy level of screen-time. Even an educational app is unlikely to make a meaningful difference in that case.
As a result, I praise the Taiwanese government’s boldness even if they are interfering in parents’ lives.

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

23. The writer mainly argues that ----.

A) despite evidence of its dangers, parents still allow their children excessive screen time
B) there is an ongoing debate about whether using technological devices is useful or harmful for kids
C) families and politicians must continue to cooperate to protect kids from the harm that technology can lead to
D) the Taiwanese government is concerned about its citizens and has passed a law which will improve their lives

24. The phrase infringe on in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ----.

A) deceive
B) debate
C) reduce
D) restore

25. In paragraph 1, it can be inferred that the writer thinks ----.

A) the new law should be changed since it puts too much pressure on parents
B) paying a $1500 fine is a reasonable punishment for giving an iPad to a young child
C) the new law should also include older children
D) the new law will increase tensions between parents and grandparents

26. When discussing the AAP guidelines in paragraph 2, the writer points out that ----.
A) the AAP has not done an effective job at publicizing their guidelines
B) interacting with devices for up to two hours a day is acceptable for kids under two
C) a few computer programs have succeeded in improving brain development in children under two
D) most parents do not follow these guidelines even though they have been informed of them

27. From the writer’s discussion of the amount of screen time for children in paragraph 2, the reader can conclude that
----.
A) screen time use for children in all three countries mentioned was not controlled nearly enough
B) American parents are much less strict about limiting screen time than British and Australian parents are
C) British parents are more aware of the psychological effects of screen time than American or Australian parents
D) Australian parents limit screen time use for younger children but not older ones

28. Which of the following is NOT included in paragraph 3?

A) Effects on learning if parents fail to follow the AAP guidelines
B) Negative physical results of not following the AAP guidelines
C) Reasons that parents have for ignoring the AAP guidelines
D) Reasons why the writer thinks it is acceptable not to obey the AAP guidelines

29. The main idea of paragraph 4 is that ----.

A) today’s children need to be competent at using technology
B) critics of the AAP guidelines have some support for their opinions
C) technology is not harmful if parents carefully direct their children’s use of it
D) today’s children interact with screens similar to the way kids used to interact with novels and TVs

30. The word this in paragraph 5 refers to ----.

A) the AAP’s decision
B) the AAP guidelines still being valid
C) parents’ following the AAP guidelines
D) carefully reviewing the AAP guidelines in 2011

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

Text 3 Upgrading the Megacity

1 Istanbul is renowned as a bridge between East and West. Because most technical innovations in Turkey first
see the light of day here, the city is a bright spot for the growing country. Siemens technology supports this journey into
the future with upgrades for the city’s power and infrastructure.

2 Bringing the infrastructure up to the latest standards and making life in Istanbul even more attractive are
Siemens’ main objectives. That begins with the morning "intercontinental" ferry crossing. The Bosphorus ferries, in spite
of travelling at a modest 25 km/h, are one of the fastest means of getting around in Istanbul. They are used every day
by approximately 250,000 travelers, and each vessel has a capacity of about 1,800 people.

3 For decades the Bosphorus ferries have served as one of the main components in Istanbul’s traffic
infrastructure and as one of its tourist attractions. Yet, many of the ferries are showing their age. In these ferries, the
propellers are turned directly by heavy diesel engines. "The poor efficiency of this outdated technology is bad for the
environment and harmful for the engines," explains Emre Goren, a sales specialist at Siemens’ Drive Technologies
Division. "With conventional drive engineering, variable adjustment of the engine speed isn’t possible, so the engines
wear out faster. That also means they must be serviced more frequently." Siemens technology allows Bosphorus ferries
to use much less fuel. That’s why IDO, the company that operates the ferries, has chosen diesel-electric drive systems
from Siemens for the latest generation of Bosphorus ferries. These systems convert the power of four diesel engines
into electrical energy, which is then finely adjusted to serve the needs of each propeller. Individual diesel engines can
thus be shut off, such as while maneuvering to moor at a landing. It means maximum efficiency with less dirty
emissions, better fuel efficiency, and cost savings. And thanks to the reduced level of engine vibration, passengers
enjoy a more comfortable trip. "Some of our captains were doubtful when Siemens delivered the first diesel-electric
drives for ferries in Turkey to us," says Nejdet Oguz, Chief Engineer on the Kadıköy, one of the new Bosphorus ferries.
“However, we can maneuver the ferries with greater certainty now and save on diesel fuel, and the ferries need less
maintenance work than before, which means we can go home earlier to our families," says Oguz.

4 Siemens has also set standards in Istanbul’s business district, where its advanced building technology ensures
an uninterrupted power supply. An example is the Tekfen Tower, which is home to the trading operations of several
international banks. A power failure in such a setting, where millions of dollars in shares are traded every second, would
be a disaster. That’s why Siemens is present. During a period of dangerous grid fluctuations, which unfortunately still
happen now and then in Istanbul, generators and batteries that are independent of the grid can supply the building with
power. The system is monitored by digital systems, meaning that fewer people are needed than originally planned.
Instead of a team of eight people continuously monitoring the electric infrastructure, only two people are required.

5 When everything runs smoothly, most of the power for Istanbul comes from a nearby plant in Ambarli, where
gas turbines and steam turbines deliver reliable energy. In 2006, Siemens succeeded in increasing the output of two of
the plant’s gas turbines by almost 5% by optimizing design. During the modernization phase, the overall lifespan of the
gas turbines was extended together with their maintenance intervals, which has reduced operational costs. At plants of
this scale, even small improvements have significant effects. By 2020, however, Turkey’s energy requirements will likely
double, as Devrim Aslan, Sales and Marketing Manager at Siemens Energy explains. That means more capacity is
needed, which is why some major users like Tekfen Tower have made themselves energy independent.

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

31. The phrase at a modest in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ---.

A) at a slow pace of
B) at a distance of
C) at the risky speed of
D) for hours at

32. In paragraph 3, it is stated that ferries that use conventional diesel engines without Siemens technology --- than
ferries that use diesel-electric drive systems from Siemens.
A) need repair more often
B) have more propellers
C) are heavier
D) attract more tourists

33. From paragraph 3, it can be understood that Siemens engine technology ---.
A) causes a ferry to vibrate forcefully
B) has been installed in the oldest generation of Bosphorus ferries as well the latest ones
C) allows the engine speed of a ferry to be varied
D) does not require diesel fuel to be used in a ferry

34. According to paragraph 4, Tekfen Tower ---.

A) suffered millions of dollars of losses due to a recent power failure
B) signed an agreement with Siemens after a dangerous grid fluctuation
C) always generates and uses its own electricity rather than depending on the city’s power plant
D) is provided with electricity by its own systems in case of a power failure

35. From paragraph 4, it can be understood that in Tekfen Tower, ---.

A) a team of eight people constantly monitors the electric infrastructure
B) monitoring the electric infrastructure by digital systems has reduced the number of people needed for constant
monitoring
C) a team of two people continuously monitors the electric infrastructure despite the need for a team of eight
D) two people out of eight have been fired since only six people are needed to monitor the electric infrastructure

36. In paragraph 5, it is stated that in the Ambarli plant, ---.

A) there are only two gas turbines that operate
B) two gas turbines improved by Siemens do not need maintenance until 2020
C) steam turbines are no longer used due to the presence of improved gas turbines
D) the duration between maintenance times of two gas turbines improved by Siemens used to be shorter

37. From the text, we CANNOT understand that ---.

A) diesel power can be turned into electrical energy
B) Siemens type engines make captains’ jobs easier
C) Devrim Aslan is doubtful whether Turkey’s energy requirements will double by 2020
D) Siemens’ presence in Tekfen Tower helps prevent financial loss

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

Text 4 Paper versus Pixel

1 A well-educated, studious young man, living in the Chinese imperial court of
the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai invented fiber-plant based paper in 105 A.D. At the
time, writing and drawing were done primarily on silk, which was elegant but
expensive, or on bamboo, which was convenient but not durable. Seeking a more
practical alternative, Cai came up with the idea of mashing bits of tree bark and
hemp fiber together in a little water and then letting it dry into sheets in the sun. The
experiment was a success. Except for a few industrial tweaks, Cai’s method is still
pretty much the way paper gets made today.

2 Cai killed himself some years later, having been involved in a scandal from which he saw no exit. However, his
invention took on a life of its own. The craft of papermaking spread quickly throughout China and made its way through
the Middle East into Europe. Within a few centuries, paper had replaced animal skins and wooden tablets as the world’s
preferred medium for writing and reading. With his creation of the printing press around 1450, the goldsmith Gutenberg
mechanized the work of the scribe, a person who made copies of written documents, replacing inky fingers with inky
machines. But it was Cai who gave us our reading material and, some would say, our world.

3 Paper, whose uses extend from the artistic to the bureaucratic to the hygienic, may be the single most versatile
invention in history. However, we rarely give it its credit. The wide availability of the stuff has led us to take it for granted.
Even with the arrival of digital technology, paper use continued going up. However, recently it has plummeted with more
global use of digital technology. As a result, in 2011 Scottish novelist Ewan Morrison declared that within 25 years the
digital revolution would bring about the end of paper books and that the future of books and periodicals lay in “e-
publishing”. However, new facts suggest that words will continue to appear on sheets of paper for a good long while. E-
book sales, which skyrocketed after the launch of Amazon’s e-book reader in late 2007, have fallen back to earth in
recent months while sales of paperbacks have remained surprisingly resilient. Printed books still account for about
three-quarters of overall book sales in the United States, and if sales of used books, which have been booming, are
taken into account, that percentage likely rises higher.

4 The differences between page and screen go beyond the simple pleasure of touching good paper stock. To the
human mind, a sequence of pages bound together into a physical object is very different from a flat screen that displays
only a single “page” of information at a time. The physical presence of the printed pages, and the ability to flip back and
forth through them, turns out to be important to the mind’s ability to navigate written works. We quickly develop a mental
map of the contents of a printed text.

5 However, many people choose e-books because of their numerous

advantages. When your eyes feel strained after reading a paper book too long, you
have little choice but to stop reading. With an e-book, you can just change the font
size and keep going. Those who own a lot of books know how much space they
can fill up, but with an e-reader, your whole bookshelf is located on a small device.
E-books normally include multi-lingual dictionaries which allow the user to get the
meaning of words while reading. This is particularly valuable while reading a text in
a non-native tongue.

6 We were probably mistaken to think of words on screens as substitutes for words on paper. They seem to be
different things, suited to different kinds of reading and providing different sorts of aesthetic and intellectual experiences
allowing for differing preferences. This year in the U.S., 2 billion books and 350 million magazines will roll off the
presses, which tells us Cai is not turning in his grave just yet.

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ITU/SFL PROFICIENCY EXAM July 21, 2015
SESSION I

38. The word tweaks in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ----.

A) modifications
B) relations
C) incidents
D) products

39. Based on the information in paragraph 2, it can be understood that ----.

A) the mechanization of bookmaking made no great change in the appearance of the book
B) the invention of paper enabled China to develop their civilization and spread their culture quickly
C) the production of documents required intensive physical labor before Gutenberg’s invention
D) the invention of the printing press surpassed that of paper, which took Cai by surprise

40. The word versatile in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ----.

A) acceptable
B) offensive
C) identical
D) functional

41. According to paragraph 3, when digital technology first came out ----.
A) people started to write on paper less in general
B) people got less dependent on paper
C) paper consumption did not decrease
D) it increased worker productivity and reduced costs

42. One can infer from paragraph 3 that ----.

A) recent facts have so far proven Ewan Morrison wrong
B) more people prefer used books rather than new or electronic books
C) e-publishing may soon bring an end to the publication of paperbacks
D) Amazon’s e-reader is one of the factors leading to the increase in sales of printed books

43. What is the main idea of paragraph 4?

A) There is not a lot to distinguish e-books from physical books besides the physical bulk and feel.
B) Unlike traditional books, e-books offer a variety of features.
C) No current technology can give the pleasure of the printed page in terms of touch.
D) When we hold a physical publication in our hands, it makes it easier to understand how it is organized.

44. In paragraph 5, the author mentions all of the following benefits of e-books EXCEPT ----.
A) reading foreign books
B) storage
C) benefits to the environment
D) font adjustments

45. Which of these statements is NOT MENTIONED in the text?

A) Cai committed suicide after being involved in a scandal.
B) Gutenberg received help from scribes when he was developing the printing press.
C) People often undervalue paper as it is very common and can be found everywhere.
D) Digital or printed reading is a matter of personal taste and preference.

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