Vocabulary

Advantages Disadvantages

Benefits Drawbacks
Positive Aspects Negative Aspects
Strengths Weaknesses
Gains Losses
Favorable results Unfavorable effects
Good side Bad Side
Valuable Points Harms
Hazards
Risks

Types 1: Neutral

Type 2: Opinionated

Neutral Type

TOPIC: Urbanization has become a major issue in the past few years. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of this situation?

Writing the Introduction

Paragraph 1 – Introduction (rephrase the topic and state what is required)

To start the paragraph:

Ø It cannot be denied that
Ø It is an undisputable fact that
Ø In recent times, the general tendency has been that
Ø The prevalence of ________________ has been a growing concern in the past few
years
Ø It’s quite common today for
To introduce the advantages and Disadvantages (neutral)
Ø Like in everything else, there are undoubtedly two sides to this issue
Ø The pros and cons of this issue have been much debated upon
Ø There are certainly some benefits as well as drawbacks to this scenario
Ø This situation has surely carried along with it both advantages
Ø In my opinion, while there have certainly been positive consequences to this
development, the inconveniences it has brought about should not be
overlooked

218
To close the paragraph/ introduce the body:
Ø And both will be outlined below.
Ø And this essay will tackle the most important ones.
Ø And this essay aims to highlight both.

In recent times, the general tendency has been to leave the countryside and
migrate to the city. This situation has surely carried along with it both
advantages as well as disadvantages, and this essay aims to highlight both.

Writing the Body

To introduce the first advantage:

• The most obvious benefit gained from this change is

• Avery common gain of these circumstances is
• For starters, one positive outcome of this is

S1 – the most obvious benefit gained from the seemingly unstoppable trend of
migration from far-flung areas to commercial centers is the increasingly easier
access to better education and health care facilities as governments rush to cope
with the constantly growing demand.

To introduce the second advantage:

• Another valuable result of this is

• This scenario could also be favorable in terms of
• I shouldn’t forget to point out how this change could bring about the positive
consequence that

S2 – Another valuable result of this is the inevitable advancement in economy,

infrastructure, science and other such fields caused by the fact that more and more
minds from different walks of life collectively contribute to progress, each one
bringing in his own stamp of excellence.

To introduce the example:

• This could be exemplified by
• As evidence of this,
• Let me take ____________ as an example/ a proof

219
S3 – A concrete example of this would be the rapid rise in the economy of Hanoi
which in the past decade has witnessed an unprecedented boom in the population,
as millions of farmers, hoping for a better fate, send their offspring to get educated in
the best schools of the city, thus ensuring an ample supply of well-educated
professionals.

Paragraph 3 – body 2 (disadvantage 1 + disadvantage 2 + example 1)

To introduce the first disadvantage:
• Of course, the primary weakness of this suggestion is that
• On the other hand, this change could be detrimental in terms of
• Regardless of these advantages, one negative outcome that needs to be
addressed is
• However, we should not turn a blind eye to the expected undesirable
outcomes, one of which is the

To introduce the second disadvantage:

• To make matters worse, this scenario could also
• Another threat worth preparing for is
• ______________is another dangerous possibility
To introduce the example:
• A good case in point would be
• This could be proven by the fact that
• ___________________would serve as an excellent example

Example:

S1- Of course, the primary weakness of this suggestion is that

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

S2 - ________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

S3 - ________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

220
 Writing the conclusion

Paragraph 4 – conclusion
• In conclusion, it is clear that while this development has ensured several
necessary changes, it has also made society vulnerable to some unpleasant
ones.
• I would like to conclude by saying then that society needs to be aware of both
positive and negative consequences before any action that can alter the status
quo will be taken
• To sum up, it is thus imperative to thoroughly examine both strengths and
weaknesses of this suggestion before it can be applied

In conclusion, it is clear that while urbanization has ensured several necessary

changes, it has also made society vulnerable to some unpleasant conditions.

Sample Topics:

1. The costs of international travel are decreasing and tourism is growing. What
are the advantages and disadvantages of increasing tourism activity in
different countries?

2. In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year
between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the
advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

3. Many people nowadays leave their country to work abroad and take their
family with them. What are the advantages and disadvantages in terms of
family development?

221
 Class Activity

READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 1-13, which are based on Reading
Passage 1 below:

English Heritage Blue Plaques Scheme 2

commemorates Napoleon III
(1867). In 1901, the plaques
scheme was taken over by
London County Council (LCC),
which erected nearly 250
plaques over the next 64 years
and gave the scheme its popular
appeal. It was under the LCC
that the blue plaque design as
we know it today was adopted,
and the selection criteria were
formalised. On the abolition of
the LCC in 1965, the plaques
scheme passed to the Greater
London Council (GLC). The scheme
A The blue plaques scheme has changed little, but the GLC was keen to
been running for over 140 years and is broaden the range of people
one of the oldest of its kind in the commemorated. The 262 plaques
world. The idea of erecting ‘memorial erected by the GLC include those to
tablets’ was first proposed by William figures such as Sylvia Pankhurst,
Eward MP in the House of Commons in campaigner for women’s rights;
1863. It had an immediate impact on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, composer of
the public imagination, and in 1866 the song of Hiawatha; and Mary
the Society of Arts (later Royal Society Seacole, the Jamaica nurse and the
of Arts) founded an official plaques heroin of Crimean war. Since 1986,
scheme. The Society erected its first English Heritage has managed the blue
plaque – to the poet Lord Byron – in plaques scheme. So far, English
1867. In all, the Society of Arts erected Heritage has erected nearly 300
35 plaques; today, less than half of plaques, bringing the total number to
them survive, the earliest of which over 800.
B English Heritage receives about 100 suggestions for blue plaques each year,
almost all of which come from members of the public. The background of each case
is very different. Each nominated person has to meet basic selection criteria before

222
they can be considered. Most importantly, they must have been dead for 20 years or
have passed the centenary of their birth, whichever is the earlier. This delay allows a
person’s reputation to mature and ensures that their fame is long-lasting.
C English Heritage’s Blue Plaques Panel – representatives of various disciplines
from across the country – considers all the suggestions which meet the basic criteria;
on average, around 1 in 3 proposals are accepted. If a figure is rejected, proposers
must wait a further 10 years before their suggestion can be considered again.
Detailed research is carried out into the surviving addresses of shortlisted
candidates, using sources such as autobiographies, electoral registers and post office
directories.
D As only one plaque is allowed per person, the house to be commemorated has
to be chosen very carefully. Factors which are considered include length of residence
and the accomplishments of a candidate during the relevant years. A significant
place of work can also be considered.
E Before a plaque can be erected, the owners and tenants of the building in
question have to give their consent. Where listed buildings are involved, Listed
Building Consent is sought from the relevant local authority. If such consents are
granted, the plaque is designed, and then produced by a specialist manufacturer. It is
normally ready within about two months. Plaques are set into the fabric of the
building, flush with the wall face. The cost of plaque manufacture and installation are
borne entirely by English Heritage. In all, it can take between 2 and 5 years from the
initial suggestion to the erection of a plaque.
F The exact form of the blue plaque, as we see it now, was a relatively late
development, though certain guiding principles had been in place from the outset.
The earliest plaques, erected in 1867, were blue. Their format, a circle with the name
of the Society of Arts worked into a pattern around the edge, was used consistently
by the Society over its 35 years of management.
G Manufacture of each plaque is undertaken by the mixing and pouring of a
thick clay slip into a casting mould. When sufficiently dry, the cast in removed and
the outline of the inscription and border is piped onto the face of the plaque and
filled with white glaze. Blue glaze is then applied to the background before firing.
This process produces gently raised characters and border, a unique feature of
English Heritage plaques. After firing, plaques usually have a thickness of 2 inches
(50mm) and a final diameter of 19.5 inches (495mm), although smaller diameter
plaques are sometimes used to meet special circumstances.
H Plaques have been found to be extremely durable and have an almost
indefinite life expectancy. Similar plaques erected by the Society of Arts have lasted,
perfectly legible, for over one hundred years. Due to the slightly domed design, they
are self-cleansing and require virtually no maintenance.

223
 Emily Cole, English Heritage
Question 1-6
Reading Passage 1 has eight paragraphs A-H
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-H in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

1. The toughness of the plaques

2. The length of time it takes to produce a plaque
3. The way the Blue Plaques Panel functions
4. The conditions which need to be met in each case
5. The reasons behind selecting a house to be honoured
6. How the Blue Plaques scheme first started

Question 7-10
Complete the diagram below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER from the passage for
each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.

224
Question 11-13
Do the following statement agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

11 The GLC did not erect as many plaques as English Heritage has.
12 Rejected proposals are given a detailed explanation of their refusal.
13 The form of the blue plaque has not changed since it was first made.

225
Reading Passage 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 14-27, which are based on Reading
Passage 2 on the following pages.
Questions 14-19
Reading Passage 2 has eight paragraphs A – H.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B and D-H from the list of headings
below.
Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 14 – 19 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings
i Testing acquired knowledge
ii The way future performance is forecast through testing
iii The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Intentory
iv Software tools in research explained
v The use of a five-point scale in testing
vi A test used to obtain a summary score of an individual’s intelligence
vii The method most widely used by psychologists in various situations
viii Subjective interests employed to predict future behaviour
ix The different classes of standardized tests
x The importance of prior learning in tests
xi Information gathered by self-reporting

Example Answer
Paragraph A iv

14 Paragraph B

Example Answer
Paragraph C i

15 Paragraph D
16 Paragraph E
17 Paragraph F
18 Paragraph G
19 Paragraph H

226
A The software tools of research are typically more abundant than hardware tools
in the social sciences. Software is usually thought of as meaning computer programs
that tell the hardware what to do, but any tool not related to a physical device can be
considered software. Included in this category are published tests and
questionnaires.

B Often researchers want to gather information related to a general area such as

personality or intelligence. For these instances, the use of a standardized test may be
the best choice. With already published tests you can be sure of both validity and
reliability and can save a lot of time that might otherwise be spent on test
construction. Standardized tests can be classified into five main categories:
achievement, aptitude, interest, personality, and intelligence.

C Achievement tests are designed specifically to measure an individual’s previously

learned knowledge or ability. They are available for many topic areas related to
psychology, education, business, and other fields. Achievement tests require that
prior learning to take place and that this learning be demonstrated in order to pass.

D Aptitude tests attempt to predict an individual’s performance in some activity at

some point in the future. They do not require any specific prior learning although
basic knowledge related to reading and writing is usually required and some
preparation, such as studying up on math formulas or sentence structure example of
this type is the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT), designed to predict future college
performance.

E Interest inventories also require only general knowledge but no preparation is

needed. These tests look at an individual’s subjective interests in order to make
predictions about some future behaviour or activity. Perhaps the mist used interest
inventory is the Strong Interest Inventory, which compares interests related to
specific careers in order to help guide an individual’s career path. Endorsed interest
of successful individuals in various fields and predictions are made regarding the
test-taker’s fit with the various career fields.

F Typically designed to assess and diagnose personality and mental health related
disorders, personality tests are used extensively by psychologists in clinical,

227
educational, and business related settings. By far the most widely used test of this
type is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2),
which compares an individual’s responses on a series of true-false items to those
suffering from various mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and
anxiety. The theory behind the test argues that if you endorse items similar to the
items endorsed by those with depression, for example, then the chances that you are
also depressed increases.
G Intelligence tests could be classified as aptitude tests since they are sometimes
used to predict future performance. They could also be classified as personality tests
since they can be used to diagnose disorders such as learning disabilities and mental
limited scope, we will place them in their own category. The purpose of an
intelligence quotient (IQ) of an individual’s intellectual ability. Scores are compared
to each other and can be broken down into different subcategories depending on the
intelligence test used. The most commonly used tests of this type are the Wechsler
Scales, including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS), the Wechsler
Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI).

H Self-response quetionnaires are a great way to gather large amounts of

information in a relatively short amount of time. A questionnaire, similar to a survey
you might see on a web page, allows subjects to respond, rate responses, or offer
opinions. Their responses can be compared to other subjects for data analysis. A
concern with self-report, however, is the accuracy of the responses. Unlike direct
observation, there is no way of knowing if the subject has told the truth or whether
or not the question was understood as intended. There are several different methods
for gathering information on a questionnaire or survey, including a Likert scale, the
Thurstone technique, and the semantic differential. The Likert Scale is a popular
method used in surveys because it allows the researcher to quantify opinion based
items. Questions are typically grouped together and rated or responded to base on a
five-point scale. This scale typically ranges in order from extreme to the other, such
as (1) very interested;(2) somewhat interested;(3) unsure; (4) not every interested;
and (5) not interested at all. Items that might be rated with this scale representing
the subject’s level of interest could include a list of careers or academic majors, for
example.

228
Question 20-30
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D
Write the answers in boxes 20-23 on your answer sheet
20. Tests that are already on the market
A need some form of reconstruction
B fail to ensure validity and reliability.
C guarantee validity and reliability.
D waste large amounts of time.
21. Some knowledge of reading and writing
A is commonly not necessary I aptitude tests.
B is normally a requirement in aptitude tests.
C is less important in aptitude tests than other-tests.
D is as important as prior learning in aptitude tests.
22. With interest inventories, subjective interests are examined to
A test people’s general knowledge.
B help people change their career.
C compare individual’s backgrounds.
D forecast future behavior or activity.
23 Intelligence tests could come under aptitude tests
A because they can be used to forecast future performance.
B since they are not used every widely.
C as they can be broken down into different sub-groups.
D because they are sometimes used to diagnose learning disabilities.

Question 24-26
Do the following statement agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement reflects the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it impossible to say what the writer thinks of this
24 The Wechsler Scales are the only type of intelligence test now used.
25 Where large quantities of data need to be collected fairly quickly self-response
questionnaires work well.
26 The Likert Scale ensures greater accuracy than other techniques.

Question 27
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
Write your answer in box 27 on your answer sheet.
27 Which of the following is the most suitable heading for Reading Passage 2?
A Different types of intelligence test
B How personality can be tested
C The importance of aptitude tests.
D The various software tools of research

229
Reading Passage 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 28-40, which are based on Reading
passage 3 below:

The public outcry over genetically modified foods over several lessons for
those working and investing in nanotechnology.

1
“THE time for discussion of the rights and wrongs og GM crops has passed. Intense and
consistent economic sabotage and intimidation are what will make the
commercialisation of Gm crops an unattractive option.”
2
Words like these, from an article in the current edition of Earth First!, a radical
environmental journal, send shivers down the spines of those involved in
commercialising biotechnology. The strength of public disapproval of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) was a shock and a surprise to most of those involved.
Now, some people are wondering whether nanotechnology – a term that covers the
manipulation of matter at scales of a millionth of a millimetre – could be in for
similar treatment and, if so, whether there are lessons that its protagonists can learn
from the public backlash against biotechnology.
Profit of doom
3
In a neglected corner, amid thousands of participants at a Nanotech conference held
in Boston last week, Jeffrey Matsuura, a law professor at the University of Dayton, in
Ohio, stood next to his unprepossesing poster of his work. His warning, however,
was pertinent to everyone there – especially the investors who were scouring the
conference for opportunities. And this is that several of the factors that created a
public backlash against biotechnology are already at work within nanotechnology.
Dr Matsuura says that biotechnologists assumed that the public would quickly
recognise and appreciate biotech’s potential for improving the quality of life. Instead,

230
the risks captured the attention of the media and much of the general public. Well-
fed European consumers met the suggestion of cheaper food, in particular, with
scepticism. Many felt that the gains would accrue to the companies which had
developed GMOs, while the risks of growing and consuming the crops would be
taken on by the public.
4
Dr Matsuura believes that public perception of nanotechnology is developing along a
similar track. Like those of biotechnology, the first applications of nanotechnology
will bring little obvious benefit to consumers. Better, cheaper materials, and hidden
manufacturing efficiences that benefit producers first, are redolent of the
‘advantages’ of biotech – namely reduced applications of agricultural chemicals,
which help to keep the cost down while raising yields. Obvious consumer benefits,
such as improvements in medicine, are further away.
5
This should not matter – consumers do benefit eventually, even from cost savings.
And yet, in alliance with a feeling that there are hazards involved, an absence of
immediate benefits could turn public opinion against nanotech quite rapidly. And
potential hazards there are. Concerns over out-of-control, self-replicating ‘nanobots’
that would eventually consume and transform the entire planet into a ‘grey goo’ are
absurd. And yet, it is true that novel ‘nanoparticles’ might have real toxicological
risks.
6
Nanoparticles are so small that, if inhaled, they could become lodged in the lungs. In
theory, they are small enough to enter living cells and accumulate there. And in
January Ken Donaldson, a professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of
Edinburgh, told a Royal Institution seminar in London that, once inhaled, ultrafine
carbon particles can move to the brain and blood.
7
There are already several products that use nanoparticles already on the market,
such as subscreen and car parts. Though all this may sound alarming, people are
already exposed to nanoparticles of many different kinds, and have been throughout
history. Soot, for example, is composed of carbon nanoparticles. Nevertheless,
nanoparticles from sources such as diesel soot, welding fumes and photocopier
toner are already associated with ill-health. The prospect of more such particles is
likely to worry many. No wonder that several people at the conference in Boston
mention the need to address public fears over nanotechnology “aggressively’.
8
One of these was Clayton Teague, the director of America’s National Nanotechnology
Coordination Office. He says the American government is as sensitive to any
indication of true health risk as any member of the public. Several large and well-
funded studies on the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology are now
under way.

231
9
Dr Teague adds that any decisions about nanotechnology will be made carefully and
based on solid scientific data. But even if science gives the go-ahead, another one Dr
Matsuura’s lessons is that this might not necessarily win the day, and that fear over
potential abuses and accidents may dominate the debate.
10
One piece of advice Dr Matsuura gives is that everyone involved should have a
consistent message. If investors are told a technology will change the world,
someone who is concerned about the risks cannot then be told that the same
technology is no big deal. It strikes a false note to say that something can be both
revolutionary and nothing to worry about, he says. Such inconsistencies will breed
public mistrust and fear.

Product placement
11
Donald Reed is a senior consultant with Ecos, a business-advisory firm based in
Sydney, Australia, that acts as an intermediary between corporations and activists.
Mr Reed goes as far as to recommend that companies think about the early products
they choose to pursue – in particular, whether they can demonstrate the “societal
value” of these products. For example, it might be worth emphasising that one of the
early products of nanotechnology could be cheap and efficient photovoltaic
materials, which are used to generate electricity from sunlight.

Questions 28-31
Look at the following people and the list of statements below.
Match each person with the correct statement.
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 28-31 on your answer sheet.
28 Clayton Teague
29 Ken Donaldson
30 Donald Reed
31 Jeffrey Matsuura

List of Statements
A Nanotechnology is being affected by factors that created opposition to
biotechnology.
B Europeans have the most to gain from nanotechnology development.
C Sound scientific data will be the basis of any decisions about nanotechnology.
D Governments cannot shape the development of nanotechnology.
E Nanotechnology is not a cause for concern.
F Carbon nanoparticles can be breathed in and then moved to the brain and blood.
G Companies should show ho their early nanotechnology products can benefit
society.

232
Questions 32-35
Complete the sentences.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet.
32 Strong public disapproval of ____________ came as a shock to those working in the
area.
33 Europeans reacted to the suggestion of cheaper food with ____________.
34 Anxiety about ‘nanobots’ that would in time change the planet is ____________.
35 Nanoparticles from photocopier toner are already linked to ____________.

Questions 36-40
Complete the summary using the list of words A-L below.
Write your answers in boxes 36-40 in your answer sheet.
Some people believe that nanotechnology could face a 36____________ fate to
biotechnology. Rather than welcoming the 37____________, the media and much of the
general public focused their attention on the 38____________ of biotechnology. So it is
important to emohasize the immediate 39____________ of nanotechnology; otherwise,
the public could adopt a negative 40____________ towards nanotech. It is therefore
important for everyone involved to be consistent.

A worse D particles G dangers J former

B greater E costs H thoughts K attitude
C devices F latter I advantages L comparable

233
 Homework

READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 1-13, which are based on Reading
Passage 1 below:
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 forever. 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

234
were then introduced: including fillers, such as woodflour, 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 in 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

Questions 1-3

Complete the summary.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

Some plastics behave in a similar way to 1 ......................... 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 2 ........................ 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 3 ........................ and the search for alternatives to natural resources like
Questions
ivory. 4-8
Complete the flow-chart.

235
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 4-8 on your answer sheet.

236
Questions 9-10
Write your answers in boxes 9 and 10 on your answer sheet.
NB. Your answers may be given in either order.

Which TWO of the following factors influencing the design of Bakelite objects are
mentioned in the text?

A. the function which the object would serve

B. the ease with which the resin could fill the mould
C. the facility with which the object could be removed from the mould
D. the limitations of the materials used to manufacture the mould
E. the fashionable styles of the period

Questions 11-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

11. Modern-day plastic preparation is based on the same principles as that patented
in 1907.
12. Bakelite was immediately welcomed as a practical and versatile material.
13. Bakelite was only available in a limited range of colours.

237
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 14-27, which are based on Reading
Passage 1 below:

WHAT’S SO FUNNY
John McCrone reviews recent research on humour

The joke comes over the headphones: ' Which side of a dog has the most hair? The
left.' No, not funny. Try again. ‘Which side of a dog has the most hair? The outside.'
Hah! The punchline is silly yet fitting, tempting a smile, even a laugh. Laughter has
always struck people as deeply mysterious, perhaps pointless. The writer Arthur
Koestler dubbed it the luxury reflex: 'unique in that it serves no apparent biological
purpose'.
Theories about humour have an ancient pedigree. Plato expressed the idea that
humour is simply a delighted feeling of superiority over others. Kant and Freud felt
that joke-telling relies on building up a psychic tension which is safely punctured by
the ludicrousness of the punchline. But most modern humour theorists have settled
on some version of Aristotle's belief that jokes are based on a reaction to or
resolution of incongruity, when the punchline is either nonsense or, though
appearing silly, has a clever second meaning.
Graeme Ritchie, a computational linguist in Edinburgh, studies the linguistic
structure of jokes in order to understand not only humour but language
understanding and reasoning in machines. He says that while there is no single
format for jokes, many revolve around a sudden and surprising conceptual shift. A
comedian will present a situation followed by an unexpected interpretation that is
also apt.
So even if a punchline sounds silly, the listener can see there is a clever semantic fit
and that sudden mental 'Aha!' is the buzz that makes us laugh. Viewed from this
angle, humour is just a form of creative insight, a sudden leap to a new perspective.
However, there is another type of laughter, the laughter of social appeasement and it is
important to understand this too. Play is a crucial part of development in most young
mammals. Rats produce ultrasonic squeaks to prevent their scuffles turning nasty.
Chimpanzees have a 'play-face' - a gaping expression accompanied by a panting 'ah,
ah' noise. In humans, these signals have mutated into smiles and laughs. Researchers
believe social situations, rather than cognitive events such as jokes, trigger these
instinctual markers of play or appeasement. People laugh on fairground rides or when
tickled to flag a play situation, whether they feel amused or not.
Both social and cognitive types of laughter tap into the same expressive machinery
in our brains, the emotion and motor circuits that produce smiles and excited
vocalisations. However, if cognitive laughter is the product of more general thought
processes, it should result from more expansive brain activity.
Psychologist Vinod Goel investigated humour using the new technique of 'single
event' functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRl). An MRI scanner uses magnetic
fields and radio waves to track the changes in oxygenated blood that accompany
mental activity. Until recently, MRI scanners needed several minutes of activity and

238
so could not be used to track rapid thought processes such as comprehending a joke.
New developments now allow half-second 'snapshots' of all sorts of reasoning and
problem-solving activities.
Although Goel felt being inside a brain scanner was hardly the ideal place for
appreciating a joke, he found evidence that understanding a joke involves a
widespread mental shift. His scans showed that at the beginning of a joke the
listener's prefrontal cortex lit up, particularly the right prefrontal believed to be
critical for problem solving. But there was also activity in the temporal lobes at the
side of the head (consistent with attempts to rouse stored knowledge) and in many
other brain areas. Then when the punchline arrived, a new area sprang to life -the
orbital prefrontal cortex. This patch of brain tucked behind the orbits of the eyes is
associated with evaluating information.
Making a rapid emotional assessment of the events of the moment is an extremely
demanding job for the brain, animal or human. Energy and arousal levels may need,
to be retuned in the blink of an eye. These abrupt changes will produce either
positive or negative feelings. The orbital cortex, the region that becomes active in
Goel's experiment, seems the best candidate for the site that feeds such feelings into
higher-level thought processes, with its close connections to the brain's sub-cortical
arousal apparatus and centres of metabolic control.
All warm-blooded animals make constant tiny adjustments in arousal in response to
external events, but humans, who have developed a much more complicated internal
life as a result of language, respond emotionally not only to their surroundings, but
to their own thoughts. Whenever a sought-for answer snaps into place, there is a
shudder of pleased recognition. Creative discovery being pleasurable, humans have
learned to find ways of milking this natural response. The fact that jokes tap into our
general evaluative machinery explains why the line between funny and disgusting,
or funny and frightening, can be so fine. Whether a joke gives pleasure or pain
depends on a person's outlook.
Humour may be a luxury, but the mechanism behind it is no evolutionary accident.
As Peter Derks, a psychologist at William and Mary College in Virginia, says: 'I like to
think of humour as the distorted mirror of the mind. It's creative, perceptual,
analytical and lingual. If we can figure out how the mind processes humour, then
we'll have a pretty good handle on how it works in general.

239
Questions 14-20
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

14 Arthur Koestler considered laughter biologically important in several ways.

15 Plato believed humour to be a sign of above-average intelligence.
16 Kant believed that a successful joke involves the controlled release of nervous
energy.
17 Current thinking on humour has largely ignored Aristotle's view on the subject.
18 Graeme Ritchie's work links jokes to artificial intelligence.
19 Most comedians use personal situations as a source of humour.
20 Chimpanzees make particular noises when they are playing.

Questions 21-23
The diagram below shows the areas of the brain activated by jokes.
Label the diagram.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 11-23 on your answer sheet.

240
Questions 24-27
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-G below.
Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 24-27 on your answer sheet.

24 One of the brain's most difficult tasks is to

25 Because of the language they have developed, humans
26 Individual responses to humour
27 Peter Derks believes that humour

A react to their own thoughts.

B helped create language in humans.
C respond instantly to whatever is happening.
D may provide valuable information about the operation of the brain.
E cope with difficult situations.
F relate to a person's subjective views.
G led our ancestors to smile and then laugh.

241
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 28-40, which are based on
Reading Passage 1 below:
THE BIRTH OF SCIENTIFIC ENGLISH
World science is dominated today by a small number of languages, including
Japanese, German and French, but it is English which is probably the most popular
global language of science. This is not just because of the importance of English-
speaking countries such as the USA in scientific research; the scientists of many non-
English-speaking countries find that they need to write their research papers in
English to reach a wide international audience. Given the prominence of scientific
English today, it may seem surprising that no one really knew how to write science
in English before the 17th century. Before that, Latin was regarded as the lingua
franca for European intellectuals.
The European Renaissance (c. 14th-16th century) is sometimes called the 'revival of
learning', a time of renewed interest in the 'lost knowledge' of classical times. At the
same time, however, scholars also began to test and extend this knowledge. The
emergent nation states of Europe developed competitive interests in world
exploration and the development of trade. Such expansion, which was to take the
English language west to America and east to India, was supported by scientific
developments such as the discovery of magnetism (and hence the invention of the
compass), improvements in cartography and - perhaps the most important scientific
revolution of them all - the new theories of astronomy and the movement of the
Earth in relation to the planets and stars, developed by Copernicus (1473-1543).
England was one of the first countries where scientists adopted and publicised
Copernican ideas with enthusiasm. Some of these scholars, including two with
interests in language -John Wall's and John Wilkins - helped Found the Royal Society
in 1660 in order to promote empirical scientific research.
Across Europe similar academies and societies arose, creating new national
traditions of science. In the initial stages of the scientific revolution, most
publications in the national languages were popular works, encyclopaedias,
educational textbooks and translations. Original science was not done in English
until the second half of the 17th century. For example, Newton published his
mathematical treatise, known as the Principia, in Latin, but published his later work
on the properties of light - Opticks - in English.
There were several reasons why original science continued to be written in Latin.
The first was simply a matter of audience. Latin was suitable for an international
audience of scholars, whereas English reached a socially wider, but more local,
audience. Hence, popular science was written in English.
A second reason for writing in Latin may, perversely, have been a concern for secrecy.
Open publication had dangers in putting into the public domain preliminary ideas

242
which had not yet been fully exploited by their 'author'. This growing concern about
intellectual property rights was a feature of the period - it reflected both the humanist
notion of the individual, rational scientist who invents and discovers through private
intellectual labour, and the growing connection between original science and
commercial exploitation. There was something of a social distinction between
'scholars and gentlemen' who understood Latin, and men of trade who lacked a
classical education. And in the mid-17th century it was common practice for
mathematicians to keep their discoveries and proofs secret, by writing them in cipher,
in obscure languages, or in private messages deposited in a sealed box with the Royal
Society. Some scientists might have felt more comfortable with Latin precisely because
its audience, though international, was socially restricted. Doctors clung the most
keenly to Latin as an 'insider language'.
A third reason why the writing of original science in English was delayed may have
been to do with the linguistic inadequacy of English in the early modern period.
English was not well equipped to deal with scientific argument. First, it lacked the
necessary technical vocabulary. Second, it lacked the grammatical resources
required to represent the world in an objective and impersonal way, and to discuss
the relations, such as cause and effect, that might hold between complex and
hypothetical entities.
Fortunately, several members of the Royal Society possessed an interest in language
and became engaged in various linguistic projects. Although a proposal in 1664 to
establish a committee for improving the English language came to little, the society's
members did a great deal to foster the publication of science in English and to
encourage the development of a suitable writing style. Many members of the Royal
Society also published monographs in English. One of the first was by Robert Hooke,
the society's first curator of experiments, who described his experiments with
microscopes in Micrographia (1665). This work is largely narrative in style, based on
a transcript of oral demonstrations and lectures.
In 1665 a new scientific journal, Philosophical Transactions, was inaugurated.
Perhaps the first international English-language scientific journal, it encouraged a
new genre of scientific writing, that of short, focused accounts of particular
experiments.
The 17th century was thus a formative period in the establishment of scientific
English. In the following century much of this momentum was lost as German
established itself as the leading European language of science. It is estimated that by
the end of the 18th century 401 German scientific journals had been established as
opposed to 96 in France and 50 in England. However, in the 19th century scientific
English again enjoyed substantial lexical growth as the industrial revolution created
the need for new technical vocabulary, and new, specialised, professional societies
were instituted to promote and publish in the new disciplines.

243
Questions 28-34
Complete the summary.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 28-34 on your answer sheet.

In Europe, modern science emerged at the same time as the nation state. At first,
the scientific language of choice remained 28 ......................... It allowed scientists to
communicate with other socially privileged thinkers while protecting their work
from unwanted exploitation. Sometimes the desire to protect ideas seems to have
been stronger than the desire to communicate them, particularly in the case of
mathematicians and 29 ......................... In Britain, moreover, scientists worried that
English had neither the 30 ......................... nor the 31 ......................... to express their
ideas.This situation only changed after 1660 when scientists associated with the
32 ......................... set about developing English. An early scientific journal fostered a
new kind of writing based on short descriptions of specific experiments. Although
English was then overtaken by 33 ......................... it developed again in the 19th
century. as a direct result of the 34 ..........................

Questions 35-37

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 35-37 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the writer's claims

FALSE if the statement contradicts the writer's claims

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

35. There was strong competition between scientists in Renaissance Europe.

36. The most important scientific development of the Renaissance period was the
discovery of magnetism.
37. In 17th-century Britain, leading thinkers combined their interest in science with
an interest in how to express ideas.

244
Questions 38-40
Complete the table.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.

Science written in the first half of the 17th century

Language used Latin English

Type of science Original 38 ......................

Examples 39 ...................... Encyclopaedias

Target audience International scholars 40 ......................, but socially wider

245
 Lesson 12

Writing Task 2
Advantages and Disadvantages-
(Opinionated)

And

Listening Practice

246
 Opinionated Type

TOPIC: Technology has brought so many changes that modern lifestyles are
completely different from the way people lived in the past.
Do you think the positive effects of technology outweigh its disadvantages?

INTRODUCTION – restate topic + state one’s stand

It is an indisputable fact that changes caused by technological advancements over the
years have been so significant that the lifestyles of today’s generation are completely
unrecognizable from those of its predecessors. Although I admit there have been a few
harmful effects of technology, I suppose the changes have been, by and large, beneficial.

BODY 1 – (Advantage 1 + Advantage 2 + Example)

S1 – To begin with, modern life offers convenience that was heretofore unseen as
technology has made it possible to finish anything more efficiently, go anywhere faster
and talk with anyone more easily.

S2 – Furthermore, leisure pursuits offered by technology are so varied that rarely do

people nowadays experience the boredom that previous generations have grown so
accustomed to.

S3 – I, for one, would never trade away the privilege of being able to use my internet-
connected laptop and take advantage of the communication, information and
entertainment benefits it offers.

BODY 2 – (Disadvantage 1 + Disadvantage 2 + Example + Rebuttal)

S1 – Of course, technology has also brought so many complications not only in how to
operate them, but more importantly, in what to do if these gadgets which are now
practically our lifelines suddenly, for whatever reason, shut down.

S2 – Another threat that we should not ignore is technology’s negative effect on social
interaction because it has effectively lured us into a virtual world, making us forget the
importance of real face-to-face social interaction.

S3 – For instance, my mother is getting worried about my brother who often chooses
web-surfing over eating dinner with the family.

S4 – Thankfully, the possibility of such shut-down cases is rare and the loss of personal
communication is easily prevented.

247
CONCLUSION
In short, though aware of the potential dangers it may cause, I firmly believe, technology
has, in general, positively shaped our modern lifestyle.

Sample Topics:

1. In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather
than paper books.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

2. Some people think it would be better for large companies and big
industries to move to regional areas outside large urban centers.

Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

248