Reading Passage 2
Reading Passage 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: UNDERSTANDING
MOTIVATION AND ADHERENCE
The challenge of encouraging physically active lifestyles represents one of
today's most pressing public health concerns. Despite overwhelming
evidence supporting the numerous benefits of regular exercise, global
physical activity levels continue declining across all age groups. This
troubling paradox has shifted research focus toward understanding the
psychological mechanisms that influence whether individuals initiate and
sustain active behaviours over time, rather than simply demonstrating
exercise benefits.
Self-determination theory provides an influential framework for
understanding exercise motivation. According to this perspective,
individuals are more likely to maintain physical activity when it satisfies
three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy (acting voluntarily
rather than feeling controlled), competence (feeling effective in one's
interactions with the environment), and relatedness. Research consistently
demonstrates that intrinsically motivated physical activity—pursued for
inherent enjoyment rather than external pressure or rewards—correlates
with greater persistence and psychological well-being. A comprehensive
meta-analysis found that interventions designed to enhance these
psychological needs increased long-term adherence rates by
approximately 47% compared to standard approaches focusing primarily
on health outcomes.
The concept of exercise identity has gained considerable prominence in
explaining physical activity maintenance. Individuals who incorporate
being "an exerciser" into their self-concept demonstrate markedly
different behaviour patterns compared to those who view exercise as
merely an occasional obligation. This identity integration bridges
motivation and behaviour through psychological mechanisms including
enhanced commitment to activity goals and selective attention to activity-
related information. Longitudinal research tracking university students
found that those who developed stronger exercise identities engaged in
approximately 140 more minutes of weekly physical activity than peers
with weaker exercise-related self-perceptions, even when controlling for
initial fitness levels.
Self-efficacy—one's belief in their capability to successfully engage in
physical activity despite obstacles—consistently emerges as a robust
predictor of exercise behaviour across diverse populations. Individuals
with high exercise self-efficacy approach physical challenges with
confidence, persist through discomfort, and recover more quickly from
setbacks to their routine. This psychological resource develops through
multiple pathways, including mastery experiences (successfully
completing challenging activities), vicarious experiences (observing similar
others succeed), verbal persuasion from credible sources, and
interpretation of physiological states during exertion. Interventions
targeting these specific sources have demonstrated remarkable
effectiveness in populations previously resistant to activity promotion.
The affective dimension of exercise has received increasing attention,
challenging traditional cognitive-behavioural models that largely
overlooked emotional responses. Contemporary dual-process models
suggest both deliberative reasoning and automatic affective associations
significantly influence physical activity decisions. Research using
ecological momentary assessment—measuring responses in real-time
rather than retrospectively—reveals that the pleasure or displeasure
experienced during activity predicts future behaviour more accurately
than cognitive factors like health beliefs. This finding has important
implications for exercise prescription, suggesting that activities calibrated
to produce positive affective states may prove substantially more
sustainable than those selected solely for their optimal physiological
benefits.
Individual differences in personality traits further complicate the
psychological landscape of physical activity. Conscientiousness—
characterized by self-discipline and achievement-striving—correlates
positively with exercise adherence across diverse populations, while those
high in neuroticism often experience heightened sensitivity to physical
discomfort and anxiety during exercise. The "Big Five" personality traits
collectively account for approximately 8-27% of variance in physical
activity behaviour across numerous studies. Cognitive factors such as
perfectionism can function as double-edged swords; performance-oriented
perfectionism often undermines intrinsic motivation, while more adaptive
forms of perfectionism may facilitate effective goal-setting and
persistence through challenges.
Psychological barriers to physical activity extend beyond simple
motivational deficits to encompass complex constructs like fear-avoidance
beliefs, body image concerns, and exercise-related anxiety. Among
individuals with chronic conditions, catastrophic interpretations of bodily
sensations can trigger avoidance behaviours that reinforce inactivity.
Similarly, social physique anxiety represents a significant barrier,
particularly among women and adolescents, with research indicating that
approximately 60% of young women report avoiding certain physical
activities specifically due to body image concerns. Addressing these
psychological barriers often requires integrated approaches combining
cognitive restructuring techniques, graduated exposure, and thoughtful
environmental modifications.
Environmental psychology offers valuable insights through examining how
physical and social contexts shape activity experiences and decisions. The
concept of "behaviour settings"—environmental configurations that cue
particular actions—helps explain why the same individual might adhere
consistently to workplace stair-climbing but fail to maintain a weekend
jogging routine when contextual cues differ. Research using virtual reality
environments demonstrates that manipulating contextual factors can
significantly alter both exercise performance and psychological responses
to identical physical demands. Field studies reveal approximately 30-40%
of variance in daily physical activity can be attributed to contextual factors
rather than stable individual differences, highlighting the importance of
environmental design in activity promotion.
Psychological approaches to physical activity must accommodate
developmental differences across the lifespan. During childhood,
enjoyment drives activity participation, with perceived fun explaining
approximately 30% of variance in children's physical activity levels.
Adolescents become increasingly influenced by self-presentational
concerns and peer evaluation, while young adulthood brings competing
priorities that frequently disrupt established activity patterns. Middle-aged
adults often struggle with time constraints, while older adults must
navigate changing physical capabilities and increased concerns about
injury risks.
Recent innovations in physical activity psychology have integrated
insights from behavioural economics, recognising that humans often make
decisions based on cognitive shortcuts rather than rational analysis.
Concepts such as present bias help explain why individuals consistently
postpone exercise despite genuine intentions to be active. Commitment
devices, which impose immediate costs on failure to follow through with
intended behaviour, have shown considerable promise in addressing this
tendency. One workplace intervention that simply changed meeting
defaults from seated to standing increased standing time by 59% over six
months, illustrating how leveraging cognitive biases can produce
significant behavioural shifts.
Looking toward future directions, acceptance-based models emphasizing
willingness to experience discomfort while engaging in valued activities
have demonstrated superior outcomes compared to traditional
approaches in multiple trials. Dual-process interventions targeting both
reflective decision-making and automatic motivational systems show
potential for creating more sustainable behaviour change. As research
continues to elucidate the complex psychology of physical activity, these
emerging insights offer promising new possibilities for addressing the
global physical inactivity crisis.
Questions 1 - 7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading
Passage 1?
In boxes 1 - 7, tick
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE If the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1
True
B
False
C
Not Given
2
True
B
False
C
Not Given
3
True
B
False
C
Not Given
4
True
B
False
C
Not Given
5
False
C
Not Given
6
True
B
False
C
Not Given
7
True
B
False
C
Not Given
Questions 8-13.
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each
answer.
Select answer
15
Question 15. examples of how technological advances are likely to impact
personal styling in coming years
Select answer
16
Question 16. description of how commercial venues served an educational
purpose about fashion
Select answer
17
Question 17. reference to concerns about data privacy in beauty
technology
Select answer
18
Question 18. reference to how changing hemlines reflected developments
in women's rights
Select answer
Questions 19-22
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Question 19. In ancient Egypt, kohl was applied around the eyes partly as
a form of 19
from environmental conditions. Question 20. During medieval times, 20
skin was considered beautiful as it indicated a person's high social
position. Question 21. The invention of 21
dyes during the Industrial Revolution allowed for previously unavailable
colors in clothing. Question 22. The 22
style of the 1920s represented women breaking free from traditional
constraints.
Questions 23-24
Tick the correct letters in boxes 23 and 24.
Which TWO innovations mentioned in the passage helped democratize
fashion during the Industrial Revolution?
23
24
A
Questions 25-26
Tick the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26.
Which TWO concerns about modern beauty standards are mentioned in
the passage?
25
26
A
The continued existence of subtle exclusion despite apparent inclusivity
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
THE QUANTUM REVOLUTION: COMPUTING AT THE EDGE OF
PHYSICS
The history of computing has been marked by successive waves of
innovation, from mechanical calculators to electronic computers to today's
sophisticated microprocessors. However, we now stand at the threshold of
what may be the most revolutionary development in computing history:
the advent of quantum computers. While conventional computers operate
on the principles of classical physics, quantum computers harness the
bizarre and counterintuitive properties of quantum mechanics, potentially
offering exponential increases in computing power for certain types of
problems. This paradigm shift represents not merely an incremental
improvement in processing capabilities, but rather a fundamental
reconceptualization of how information can be manipulated and processed
at the most elementary level of physical reality. The transition to quantum
computing may prove as significant as the shift from vacuum tubes to
transistors, or from single-processor to multi-core architectures.
At its core, conventional computing relies on bits, which can exist in one of
two states: 0 or 1. Every calculation, from sending an email to rendering
complex graphics, is ultimately reduced to manipulating these binary
digits. Quantum computing, by contrast, employs quantum bits, or qubits.
What makes qubits extraordinary is their ability to exist in multiple states
simultaneously, a phenomenon known as superposition. This means that
while a conventional bit can only be either 0 or 1, a qubit can be 0, 1, or
any quantum superposition of these states. The computational
implications of this property are profound, as it enables quantum systems
to explore multiple solutions to a problem concurrently, rather than
sequentially testing each possibility as classical computers must do.
Furthermore, qubits can be entangled, a quantum mechanical property
that Albert Einstein famously described as "spooky action at a distance."
When qubits become entangled, the state of one qubit becomes correlated
with the state of another, regardless of the distance separating them. The
combination of superposition and entanglement allows quantum
computers to process vast amounts of information simultaneously, giving
them the potential to solve certain complex problems far more efficiently
than classical computers.
Quantum computing holds significant promise in the realm of
cryptography. Modern encryption techniques often depend on the
computational difficulty of breaking down large numbers into prime factors
—a task that is extremely time-consuming for traditional computers.
However, with the use of Shor’s algorithm, introduced by mathematician
Peter Shor in 1994, quantum computers may be able to perform this
factoring process much more efficiently, potentially posing a major
challenge to current cryptographic systems. This capability poses both
opportunities and challenges: while it could revolutionize secure
communications, it also threatens existing cryptographic systems that
protect sensitive data worldwide. This potential vulnerability has prompted
considerable research into "post-quantum cryptography" – encryption
methods designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers –
demonstrating how technological advances often necessitate preemptive
countermeasures against their own disruptive capabilities.
Quantum computing also holds tremendous promise for simulating
complex quantum systems in chemistry and materials science. Classical
computers struggle to model the quantum behavior of molecules
accurately, limiting our ability to design new drugs, catalysts, and
materials from first principles. Quantum computers, however, are
inherently suited to simulating quantum systems, as they operate
according to the same physical laws. Quantum computing could greatly
speed up breakthroughs in areas such as drug development, advanced
solar energy technologies, and the creation of novel materials with
unprecedented properties. In medicine alone, it holds the promise of
transforming how we treat illnesses through highly precise molecular
targeting.
However, realizing this potential won’t be easy. Quantum systems are
incredibly sensitive, and their states can easily be disrupted by even minor
environmental interference—a challenge known as decoherence.
Maintaining the quantum state of a qubit requires isolation from external
influences, often necessitating temperatures approaching absolute zero (-
273.15°C). As the number of qubits increases, so does the difficulty of
maintaining their quantum states. This challenge of "quantum error
correction" remains one of the primary obstacles to building large-scale,
practical quantum computers.
Current quantum computers exist in what researchers call the "Noisy
Intermediate-Scale Quantum" (NISQ) era. These machines contain dozens
to hundreds of qubits but suffer from high error rates that limit their
practical applications. Google's 2019 demonstration of "quantum
supremacy," where their 53-qubit Sycamore processor performed a
specific calculation faster than the world's most powerful supercomputers,
marked a significant milestone. However, this achievement, while
impressive, represented a narrowly defined task rather than a general-
purpose quantum advantage.
The race to develop practical quantum computers has attracted massive
investments from technology giants, startups, and governments
worldwide. IBM, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and numerous specialized
companies are pursuing different approaches to quantum computing
hardware. These include superconducting circuits, trapped ions,
topological qubits, and photonic systems, each with distinct advantages
and challenges. This diversity of approaches reflects both the nascent
state of the field and the recognition of quantum computing's
transformative potential. The competition has intensified as nations
recognize the geopolitical significance of quantum technologies, with
several countries launching billion-dollar national quantum initiatives to
secure leadership in what many consider a crucial emerging technology.
Beyond the technical challenges, quantum computing raises profound
questions about the nature of computation itself. Computer scientists have
traditionally classified problems according to their computational
complexity, with certain problems considered "intractable" for classical
computers. Quantum computers may redraw these boundaries, making
previously insurmountable computational challenges tractable. The
societal implications of quantum computing extend far beyond technical
considerations. Breakthrough capabilities in fields like materials discovery,
financial modeling, and artificial intelligence could reshape industries and
economies. The ability to break current encryption systems raises urgent
questions about cybersecurity and data privacy.
For all the excitement surrounding quantum computing, it remains an
emerging technology with an uncertain timeline for widespread practical
application. Some skeptics argue that the technical challenges may prove
insurmountable, while optimists predict transformative quantum
applications within a decade. The reality likely lies somewhere in between,
with quantum computers gradually finding applications in specific domains
where they offer decisive advantages over classical systems. One thing is
clear: quantum computing introduces a radically different approach to
processing information. By leveraging the unique properties of quantum
mechanics, these systems handle computation in ways that challenge
conventional thinking. Regardless of whether quantum computers achieve
their most ambitious goals, the effort to utilize quantum effects for
computing has already expanded our knowledge of both physics and
computer science, opening up new possibilities in how we interact with the
physical world and its embedded information.
Questions 27-32
Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 27 to 32
A. advanced B. molecular C. isolation D. undermine E. unreliable
J. manipulation
F.
G. connected H. instantaneous I. vulnerable
superposition
The Revolutionary Potential of Quantum Computing Traditional computers
process data using bits that function in binary states, whereas quantum
33
Yes
B
No
C
Not Given
34
Yes
B
No
C
Not Given
35
Yes
B
No
C
Not Given
36
Yes
B
No
C
Not Given
37
Yes
B
No
C
Not Given
Questions 38-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
38
Question 38. The author's description of Google's quantum achievement
suggests that:
A
39
40
Birds
Do you meet new people more often than the past
Do you enjoy talking to new people
How often do you talk to your new friends
P3
What is the most useful invention at home
Why helpful appliances make us lazy
Do you think artificial intelligence will replace human teachers? Why?