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NEC MOCK TEST Subject: ENGLISH Time allotted: 180 minutes (excluding the time for paper distribution) There are 12 pages in this paper Full name: Date: LISTENING: _/ 50 LEXICO-GRAMMAR: _/ 25 READING: _/ 65 WRITING: _/ 60 _ TOTAL SCORE: _/200 SECTION A LISTENING (50 points) Link audio: https://bom.so/qu3t4R Part For questions 1-5, listen to an interview with Julian Morris, a night club owner, and decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F) according to what you hear Your answers List of statements The main reason why Julian decided to start his own business was because all his friends persuaded him to it A nightclub seemed the ideal environment for Julian to work in because his disability was less of a problem there When Julian told people about his idea, someone once reacted with a derisive comment The club owes its good reputation mainly to the décor of the building Julian's main reason for calling the club Whispers was that it paradoxically conveys the volume of noise inside Part For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about the best recent phone trends What does the speaker say about these trends? Choose five answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-K, in the corresponding numbered boxes provided A Foldables Notch Fight Phones Wireless Charging Phones Low-light Phones 10 Cheaper Phones B A have been consistently diverse in style since their first launch B are of higher quality than flagship phones C witness a shortcoming being rectified properly D are more fad than forever devices E are a worthy successor to previous models in terms of camera quality F were initially monotonous in design G need improvements in both charging speed and compatibility with other devices H are supported by serious apps designed for average users I include cameras attached to phones J should include sophisticated applications particularly suited for advanced uses K become more available with higher quality Page of 12 pages Part For questions 11-15, listen to part of a discussion on a current affairs program between Nick Barnes and Alison Tempra about the performance of the company Facebook since it floated on the stock exchange, hosted by Emily Dunne and choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear 11 What does Alison think is cause for optimism? A the company kept its costs low B the loss generated was less than expected C there appears to be good revenue potential D the company hasn’t started to advertise yet 12 According to Nick, the increasing popularity of smaller devices A represents untapped potential for FACEBOOK B is a significant challenge to FACEBOOK increasing its revenue C puts FACEBOOK at a competitive advantage D gives the company an opportunity to advertise more 13 In what situation does Alison believe FACEBOOK users might abandon the company? A if they are given the option of watching adverts on the certain apps and sites B if a free social network becomes available on the net C if the company pushes advertisements onto users too forcefully D if sites and apps start to appear which put users of using FACEBOOK 14 What we learn about the company’s performance? A the share price has now dropped by over one-third £ B there has been a 6% improvement in the share price overnight C $38 has been wiped off the share price D it has become the biggest flop in history 15 Nick believes that Google A will inevitably prevail over FACEBOOK in time B was short-sighted to invest everything it had into one project C technology will be made redundant by what FACEBOOK offers users D will become profit-making in a matter of time Part For questions 16-25 listen to a talk on the difference between poison and venom and fill in the missing information Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the space provided If you are unfortunately bitten by a rattlesnake, the venom will be ejected from the little sacks (16) _, through its hollow fangs and into your flesh throughout your body However, between (17) of snake bites are dry bites since they want to waste their venom on you but only sending a warning message On the other hand, poison from a poisonous dart frog is no warning shot As you pick one up, the poison, which is already all over your hand, (18) your skin and travels through your blood Not only does it interfere with your nerves, but it also prevents your (19) from contracting Since both of them are chemically toxins, it can be considered that a snake bite is venomous, a poison dart frog is poisonous, (20) is venomous, and pufferfish are poisonous Tetrodotoxin, a highly lethal chemical, can be found in puffer fish as poisons but venoms in the (21) which is delivered by bite The Asian tiger snake, which is both poisonous and venomous, have venom in its fangs and, at the same time, absorbs the toxin from the poisonous toads it eats to (22) the toxins from (23) on its neck Out of 70,000 species of crustaceans, speleonectes tulumensis is the only venomous one The remipede would close in and dissolve away the exoskeleton of its prey for (24) the juice A great number of medicines is made from toxins, such as the poison from (25) _ used as a pain killer or poisonous plants for treating malaria and irregular heartbeats Page of 12 pages SECTION B LEXICO-GRAMMAR (25 points) Part For questions 26-40, choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to each of the following questions Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided 26 The employees are _ a rally in the city centre to demand higher wages A making B performing C staging D presenting 27 Although usually quite compassionate, the receptionist made a remark that took her colleagues by surprise A crooked B cautious C corrupt D callous 28 Once Steven and Jill starting earning good salaries, they moved to a(n) _ suburb A flourishing B plush C affluent D emergent 29 I tried to get the singer's autograph, but I couldn't get past her massive _ A horde B posse C entourage D cast 30 Pavlos, having lived in Greece all his life, decided to _ to the UK for a change A immigrate B emigrate C migrate D evacuate 31 Susan’s kids _ their great displeasure whenever I came round to see her, which made me feel ill at ease A had forever shown B forever showed C were forever showing D had forever been showing 32 Julie felt unfairly when she spoke out against a company proposal and the entire staff team turned against her A prosecuted B persecuted C oppressed D suppressed 33 It would be considered a massive _ on democracy if we couldn't vote for a president A raid B assault C strike D battery 34 Lisa made a _ over government plans to build on a national park A break B mess C fuss D noise 35 Having lost her home, Lucy got _ a gang of people who hang around causing trouble A in with B up to C on with D by on 36 I've been trying Ralph all day, but his phone must be off because I can't get _ of him A catch B grasp C grip D hold 37 The _ ruler was mourned by the whole country on his passing A benevolent B draconian C malicious D cutthroat 38 Good luck! - I'm for you! A seating B basing C stemming D rooting 39 Icebreakers will be used to a path to the remote terminal during the winter A etch B carve C incise D lacerate 40 His success depended on a(n) _ combination of circumstances A eventful B incidental C fortuitous D opportune Part For questions 41-50, write the correct form of each word in capital in the space provided DICKENS AND HIS WORLD a It was with the circulation of Pickwick Papers in 1836 that young Dickens began to enjoy a truly (41) _ ascent into the favour of the British reading public He magnificently (42) a theory that his fame would disappear just as quickly as it had come He remained until his death 34 years later (43) the most popular novelist the English-speaking world had ever known The public displayed a(n) (44) appetite for his works, and there was also a great diffusion of them through (45) _ dramatic adaptations (nearly all completely (46) , the copyright laws being much weaker in those days) His immense popularity was based on the widespread perception of him as a great champion of the poor and the (47) against all forms of (48) and abuse of power In his personal life, however, he was (49) of achieving the level of fulfilment he enjoyed with the public, and all his close emotional relationships with women (50) ended in failure Yet, he created an extraordinary range and variety of female characters who live on in our minds and culture unlike any others created by Victorian novelists Page of 12 pages PRECEDENT PROVE DENY SATISFY NUMBER AUTHORITY POSSESS JUST CAPACITY VARY SECTION C READING (65 points) Part For questions 51-75, read the texts below and the tasks that follow For questions 51-60, decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE DEVOLOPING WORLD The issues for (51) _ economies are little more straightforward The desire to build on undeveloped land is not (52) _ out of desperation or necessity, but is a result of the relentless march of the progress Cheap labour and a relatively highlyskilled workforce make these countries highly competitive and there is a flood of inward investment, particularly from (53) _ looking to take advantage of the low wages before the cost and standard of living begin to rise It is factors such as these that are making many Asian economies extremely attractive when viewed as investment opportunities at the moment Similarly, in Africa, the relative (54) _ of precious metals and natural resources tends to attract a lot of (55) _ companies and a whole sub-industry develops around and is completely dependent on this foreign-direct investment It is understandable that countries that are the focus of this sort of attention can lose sight of the environmental implications of large-scale industrial development, and this can have devastating consequences for the natural world And it is a (56) _ cycle because the more industrially active a nation becomes, the greater the demand for and harvesting of natural resources For some, the environment issues, though they can hardly be ignored, are viewed as a (57) _ concern Indeed, having an environmental conscience or taking environmental matters into consideration when it comes to decisions on whether or not to build rubber-tree (58) _ or grow biofuel crops would be quite (59) _ indeed For those involved in such schemes it is a pretty black-and-white issue And, for vast (60) _ of land in Latin America, for example, it is clear that the welfare of the rainforests matters little to local government when vast sums of money can be made from cultivating the land 51 A emerging B emergent C convergent D resurgent 52 A grown B born C bred D arisen 53 A multinationals B migrants C continentals D intercontinentals 54 A premonition B abundance C amplitude D accumulation 55 A exploitation B exploration C surveyance D research 56 A vacuous B viscous C vexatious D vicious 57 A parallel B extrinsic C peripheral D exponential 58 A plantations B homesteads C ranches D holdings 59 A proscriptive B prohibitive C prospective D imperative 60 A regions B plots C tracts D sectors For questions 61-75, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space provided Urban Sparrows During the last 25 years, Britain's urban sparrow population has declined (61) _ as much as two-thirds, and the bird has almost disappeared from many of its former haunts The decline has been (62) _ on everything from cats to garden pesticides Moreover, modern buildings have far (63) few nooks and crannies where the birds can nest Factors (64) _ these may well be involved, but alone they (65) to explain the severity of the decline, or the (66) _ that other urban birds have been less affected Denis Summers-Smith is the world's leading expert on sparrows, so when he (67) up with a theory to explain their decline, it has to be (68) _ listening to He suggests that the culprit is a chemical added to unleaded petrol It would be deeply ironic if a policy that was (69) _ to improve the nation's health (70) to prove responsible for the decline of (71) of its favourite species (72) _ to Summers-Smith, social species such as the sparrow require a minimum population in a specific area to breed successfully If, (73) _ whatever reason, number drop (74) this threshold, the stimulus to breed disappears The most dramatic example is the passenger pigeon, which in the late nineteenth century went from (75) the world's most common bird to total extinction within 50 years Page of 12 pages Part For questions 76-88, read the following passage and the tasks that follow The First Antigravity Machine? It was one of the biggest science stories of the 1990s Even now, the facts behind it remain hotly disputed And small wonder, for if the claims made for the small disc, the focus of the controversy, are true, it may be possible to break through one of the great barriers in the scientific world and control the most potent of cosmic forces: gravity Huge innovations in flight and space travel could arise from that The first gravity-blocking system to be taken seriously by scientists appeared in a laboratory in Tampere University of Technology, Finland A Russian scientist named Dr Evgeny Podkletnov created a disc 275mm across, made from a substance which combined copper, barium and the ‘rare Earth metal’ called yttrium, which is known to be a high-temperature superconductor (a substance that conducts electricity without resistance) When chilled with liquid nitrogen at -196° C (a high temperature compared with other superconductors), this material loses all its electrical resistance and can levitate (lift) in a magnetic field That may seem amazing for a ceramic-like material – and it won a Nobel Prize for the scientists Karl Muller and Johannes Bednorz, who first demonstrated it in the 1980s But according to Podkletnov, the disc had another far more astounding property In 1992, while experimenting with rotating superconductors, Podkletnov noticed that pipe-smoke from a nearby researcher was drifting into a vertical column above the spinning disc Intrigued by this phenomenon, he decided to devise an experiment to investigate further A superconductive disc, surrounded by liquid nitrogen was magnetically levitated and rotated at high speed – up to 5,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) in a magnetic field An object was suspended from a sensitive balance above the disc It was enclosed in a glass tube to shield it from any effects of air currents During the course of a series of tests, Podkletnov was able to observe that the object lost a variable amount of weight from less than 0.5 percent to percent of its total weight The effect was noted with a range of materials from ceramics to wood The effect was slight, yet the implications were revolutionary: the disc appeared to be partly shielding the object from the gravitational pull of the earth This was just the start, claimed Podkletnov While far short of the 100 percent reduction in weight needed to send astronauts into space, for example, it was infinitely greater than the amount predicted by the best theory of gravity currently in existence Einstein’s theory of general relativity (GR), published in 1905 According to Einstien, gravity is not some kind of ‘force field’ like magnetism, which can – in principle at least – be screened out Instead, GR views gravity as a distortion in the very fabric of space and time that permeates the whole cosmos As such, any claim to have shielded objects from gravity is to defy Einstein himself Podkletnov’s claims were subjected to intense scrutiny when he submitted them for publication The UK Institute of Physics had Podkletnov’s paper checked by three independent referees, but none could find a fatal flaw His research was set to appear in the respected Journal of Physics D when events took an unexpected turn The claims were leaked to the media, sparking worldwide coverage of his apparent breakthrough Then Podkletnov suddenly withdrew the paper from publication and refused to talk to the press Rumors began to circulate of unknown backers, demanding silence until the device had been fully patented But for many scientists, the strange events were all too familiar Podkletnov was just the latest in a long line of people to have made claims about defying gravity Most of these have come from madcap inventors, with bizarre devices, often with some kind of spinning disc But occasionally respectable academics have made such claims as well One instance of this occurred in the late 198Os when scientists at Tohoku University, Japan, made headlines with research suggesting that apparatus known as the gyroscope, lost 0.01 percent of its weight when spinning at up to 13,000 rpm Oddly the effect only appeared if the gyroscope was spinning anticlockwise – raising suspicions that some mechanical peculiarity was to blame Attempts by scientists at the University of Colorado to replicate the effect failed Then Professor Giovanni Modanese, an Italian theoretical physicist, became interested He had read an earlier paper by Podkletnov, hinting at a connection between superconductivity and gravity shielding Modenese wondered if the magnetic field surrounding the superconductive disc might somehow assimilate part of the gravitational field under it He published some calculations based on his idea in 1995 – and soon discovered that taking ‘antigravity’ seriously was a career-limiting move The revelations about Podkletnov’s antigravity research led to reports of major corporations setting up their own studies In 2000, the UK defense contractor BAE systems were said to have launched “Project Greenglow” to investigate Podkletnov’s gravity shield effect Then it emerged that the US aircraft builder Boeing was also investigating, suggesting it too had an interest in the effect Groups in other countries were also rumored to be carrying out studies Yet not one of the teams had reported confirmation of the original findings Some projects have been wound up without producing results either way So for the time being, it seems that the dream of controlling gravity will remain precisely that Page of 12 pages For questions 76-79, label the diagram below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER Write your answers in the corresponding space provided a 76 79 78 77 For questions 80-83, match each statement with one of the people listed (A, B or C) Write your answers in the corresponding space provided List of People A B C Podkletnov Tohoku University Modenese Your answers 80 The experiment only works if the equipment moves in a particular direction 81 Gravity could be absorbed by a magnetic field 82 Superconductive material seems to scan an object from gravity 83 Weight loss occurs when the equipment rotates at speeds reaching 13,000 rpm For questions 84-88, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F), or Not Given (NG) Write your answers in the numbered boxes provided List of statements Your answers Podkletnov won a prize for his initial work on superconductive substances 84 A chance observation led Podkletnov to experiment with gravity blocking 85 Einstein challenged earlier experiments on antigravity 86 Modenese suffered professionally after following up Podkletnov’s findings 87 An aircraft company announced that it had replicated Podkletnov’s results 88 Page of 12 pages Part In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed For questions 89-95, read the passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap There is ONE extra paragraph which you not need to use Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided COACH CARTER: Having the Courage to Make a Stand "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us." (Marianne Williamson) This powerful message from author Marianne Williamson rings true in an incredible story about a group of young men and their struggle against adversity It is a story so astonishing that it seems like it should come straight from a Hollywood film In this case, however, it was a series of remarkable real life events that provided the story for the Hollywood blockbuster Coach Carter 89…………………………………………………………… The reason, while unorthodox, was simple enough Although the team were having huge success on the court, they weren't having the same level of success off the court academically In a bold move at the start of the season, Ken Carter had taken the unusual decision to make his players sign a contract, one which set them clear targets for improvement in their studies, for their behaviour in and out of class, and for meeting their obligations as role models to other students 90…………………………………………………………… To Coach Carter there was more to life than trophies or medals Being a graduate of Richmond High School himself, and coming from a poor family of nine, he knew first-hand the difficulties and social inequalities faced by young people in the area: crime, delinquency, low income and a troubling lack of opportunities for higher education Ken Carter understood that he had a duty to help these young men break through those socioeconomic barriers, and so he set an ambitious goal for his players to play sports at college 91…………………………………………………………… It was against this backdrop of opposition and fear, a fear of taking a stand and saying no, a fear of reaching out and seizing one's inner potential and realizing one's power, that Coach Carter fought for the sake of his students Never giving up, never writing them off, and never ceasing to believe in them and their ability to better themselves, despite the objections and outcry What's more, despite the initial hostility, Carter found himself flooded by notes and letters of support, from all over the country for his courageous act, congratulating him for his youth mentoring advocacy and social work News networks also rushed to Richmond High Requests came for interviews from magazines and newspapers such as Sports Illustrated, People magazine, the Los Angeles Times and USA Today And most incredibly, permission was sought to turn the team's story into a major motion picture starring actor Samuel L Jackson 93………………………………………………………… People took to heart that success in life depends on academic and social success and not just sporting skill alone This was especially true for students at Richmond High, whose success was solid proof of Carter's methods During his time as coach from 1997 to 2002 every single one of his athletes graduated, with many going on to college 94………………………………………………………… This approach to mentoring unquestionably helped change his students' lives, and his methods and charisma are perfectly portrayed by Jackson, who plays his part on the silver screen to perfection Ultimately however, it is Ken Carter the real person who makes the story so powerful and moving 95………………………………………………………… Coach Carter's inspirational character traits are an example to us all His story is a reminder to never give up in the face of overwhelming odds, to always stand by our convictions, and to never lose faith in the goodness of people and their ability to break free from the restrictions that circumstance places on them 92…………………………………………………………… Page of 12 pages The missing paragraphs: A Carter never anticipated so much publicity from his stance, and was quick to point out that things were about his students and not himself The power of his message, that young people have to take responsibility for their actions and shape their own place in society, struck a chord across the nation, however B Ken Carter was just an ordinary basketball coach trying to help students in his local high school, Richmond High, when one single action turned his life upside down and made him and his players the focus of national media attention That act was his decision to pull chains across the doors of the school gym and lock out his team of young sports stars The lockout came as a total shock to the boys, who were undefeated Why would their coach cancel training on the cusp of such great success? C And they were significant Not only did he face verbal abuse and threats, he also risked losing his job as coach when parents rallied against him and demanded he be replaced On top of this, his decision cost the team two forfeits and the chance for an unbeaten season Yet, Coach Carter's athletes stood by him, fueled by the desire to break social stereotypes and get away from their inner-city lives Together the boys made the decision to take responsibility for themselves and devote the time that they needed to their studies so that they could have a brighter future D The catalyst for Carter denying access to the gym was discovering that 15 of his 45 athletes were not honouring these contracts, which they had signed in good faith Carter knew full well that his rules were strict and was under no illusions fact many of the school's best athletes refused to play for him as a result However, that didn't faze Ken Carter, or make him back down from his principles one bit E His clarity of purpose, tenacity and compassion made him a true hero One who ceaselessly campaigned for more and refused to write anyone off Few other people could have been as good a custodian for these troubled young men as Ken Carter was F In order to so however, they would have to become student athletes and earn the grades needed for a sports scholarship Here, the brave sports coach faced unexpected opposition when his actions prompted resistance not only from reluctant students, but also from a faculty that had seemingly given up and a body of parents who didn't believe their kids could go professional and were furious with his decision to take high school sport away from their boys G When asked about the secret to his success Carter explained his belief in three crucial elements that are required to change person for the better He motivated students by putting a contract in their hand, providing knowledge to expand their mind and connecting with them emotionally These simple things he believes can change peoples' way of thinking and alter their vision of the world forever H Following the lockout college scouts attended the state championship to watch Richmond High Many stated that while the Richmond story was remarkable, the really amazing thing was the respect and affection that the players held for their coach Part For questions 96-105, read the following passage and choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text A SYMBOL OF MEDICINE, A TRIUMPH OF SIMPLICITY “I rolled a quire of paper into a sort of cylinder and applied one end of it to the region of the heart and the other to my ear, and was surprised and pleased to find that I could thereby perceive the action of the heart in a manner much more clear and distinct than I had ever been able to by the immediate application of the ear " RENÉ-THEOPHILE-HYACINTHE LAËNNEC (1781-1826) Despite the trend toward the use of hi-tech diagnostic equipment, the simple stethoscope remains the tool most closely identified with medical care Even those doctors in specialties other an internal medicine who not routinely examine patients’ hearts and lungs tend to keep a stethoscope close at hand More than just a helpful device, it has become a fully-fledged symbol of medicine The 18th-century doctor attempting to diagnose diseases of the heart and lungs had to rely almost completely on the patient’s verbal inscription of symptoms – the ‘history’ Although the then novel practice of anatomical dissection was leading to revelations about the physical basis of many diseases, doctors had few means of gathering objective data that might point to a specific condition such as a leaky heart valve) before the patient reached the autopsy table In trying to hear the sounds coming from the thoracic organs, the doctor would press an ear directly against the patient’s chest – a manoeuvre known as "direct auscultation", from the Latin auscultare, to listen carefully Apart Page of 12 pages from being unrewarding from a diagnostic standpoint, this technique was considered undignified and sometimes imprudent Since it required close physical contact between doctor and patient, it inevitably increased the incidence of contagious diseases spreading Such transmission may have contributed to the death of one proponent of this approach, the French doctor Robert Bayle, who died of tuberculosis Laënnec solved the problem by recalling an acoustic phenomenon he had experimented with as a child in Brittany By scratching one end of a wooden plank, he could send coded messages to his friends at the other end When he applied this principle to the problem at hand, Laënnec literally transformed the practice of medicine Tightly rolling up the pages of his notebook, he placed one end of the makeshift cylinder on his patient’s chest and put the other to his ear: the heart sounds could be heard more distinctly Laënnec later replaced the rolled-up paper tube with a slim wooden one resembling a child’s horn [A] With this simple instrument he was able to hear and describe the sounds associated with diseases that were the scourges of his time [B] Continuing to study patients from hospital ward to autopsy table, the dedicated doctor tried to match the sounds he had heard in the clinic to the physical signs of disease found after death [C] For example, the large cavities noted in lungs ravaged by tuberculosis produced one type of sound, while the solidified lung tissues of pneumonia yielded another [D] The stethoscope did not remain a stiff unwieldy tube for long To make it more compact, Laënnec divided the cylinder into sections that could be carried more easily in an inside pocket Other European doctors later developed flexible versions, and in 1855 an American doctor named George Cammann devisee a binaural stethoscope that had two ivory-tipped earpieces connected to an ebony chest plate by cloth-covered, spiral-wire tubes This version, which cost about £2, allowed doctors to listen to a patient's chest with both ears Since then, the stethoscope has changed only modestly Today it is a precision-engineered instrument (often costing £80 or more), with two plastic earpieces attached by rubber tubes to a chest piece with interchangeable ‘heads’: a flat diaphragm, used to hear distinct, high-frequency sounds such as the clicks characteristic of mitral valve prolapse, and a domelike bell, which allows the listener to detect soft, low-frequency noises such as the rumbling murmur of blood flowing through a narrowed mitral valve To hear these various heart sounds, doctors will often use the diaphragm to listen to several areas of the chest and then apply the bell to the same areas Beyond providing insights into heart and lung diseases, Laënnec’s invention encouraged doctors to pursue objective data investigating these and other conditions, instead of relying solely on a patient’s often misleading account of his or her complaints Doctors not only attended more carefully to sounds emitted by the chest, but – in the interest of correlating their findings on physical examination with what they had learned at autopsy – they also began what has been referred to as "laying on of hands": probing more deeply, palpating the abdomen and other areas of the body, and using the sense of touch to detect abnormalities such as tumours Laënnec’s discovery reflected the impact of the French Revolution on the field of medicine As the Old Regime was driven out, new ideas could be explored that emphasized observation rather than reason alone These philosophical shifts helped make Paris the centre of medical science in the early 1800s Whether Laënnec started a revolution or simply rode on the wave of change, the trend toward collecting information by more objective means and correlating physical findings with laboratory data continues today with the widespread use of x-rays, echocardiography, and other diagnostic tests With his invention, medicine moved closer to becoming a science 96 In the first paragraph, the writer mentions "hi-tech diagnostic equipment" in order to A emphasise the simplicity of the stethoscope B stress the usefulness of the stethoscope C show the symbolic role of the stethoscope D explain why doctors use the stethoscope 97 In the past, lack of adequate diagnostic equipment meant that A many patients died unnecessarily from heart disease B cause of illness was often discovered only after death C diagnosis was based solely on subjective hypothesis D many contagious diseases were never detected 98 The advent of the stethoscope meant doctors A were less likely to catch something from patients C were facilitated in detecting contagious illnesses B could distance themselves from those under their care D could now hear a patient's heart beating 99 What exactly does the phrase “such transmission” describe? A the brainwaves from the brain B the passing of an infectious disease from patient to doctor C the pumping of blood in the body D the evolution of a widespread disease 100 The word “makeshift” in the paragraph is closest in meaning to A interchangeable B stereotypical C cryptic D provisional 101 Which of the square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph the sentence “The names he applied to these distinctive sounds – rales, bruits, and egophony – are still used.” can be inserted? A [A] B [B] C [C] D [D] Page of 12 pages 102 How many versions of the stethoscope did Laennec devise? A one B two C more than two 103 The modern stethoscope A is meticulously crafted D more than three B closely resembles the original C consists of two moveable parts D was developed by an American 104 Although simple in design, Laennec's invention A forced doctors to use reason with their patients C caused a revolution in philosophical thought B brought about great change in medical procedure D has yet to be bettered as a diagnostic tool 105 The last sentence of the article implies that A medicine would not have been a science if the stethoscope hadn't been invented B Laennec was one of the few 18th-century doctors who practiced medicine scientifically C without Laennec, medicine might have progressed at a much slower pace D the invention of the stethoscope helped medical practice become more systematic Part The passage below consists of six paragraphs marked A-F For questions 106-115, read the passage and the task that follows Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided A cultural history of chocolate A Chocolate – that delicious, dark brown, mood-altering delight – for more than 000 years was consumed primarily as a drink While our modern conception of chocolate as a solid bar differs from its earliest mode of culinary delivery, the cultural significance has stayed relatively constant across the centuries; it is a currency of pleasure, luxury and ritual Cacao and its seeds, or cocoa beans, have historical significance with the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec peoples – significance that depends upon the context each culture provides An Olmec site has yielded at least one ceramic container that evidences the preparation of cacao as a beverage dating to roughly 900 BC The Olmec were the first major civilisation in Mesoamerica Unfortunately, they did not use written language, so we know very little besides what their abandoned sites can tell us, but it is generally agreed that they were the first to domesticate the cacao tree, that the beverages they made from cacao were used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes, and that their cultural lineage extended through the Maya and Aztec Empires B The Maya, in contrast, left behind a rich record of data regarding their fondness for cacao drinks, which they associated with the gods Incidentally, Carl Linnaeus, founder of taxonomy, clearly has this legend in mind when he named the plant Theobroma cacao, in the eighteenth century – Theobroma from the Greek for ‘food of the gods’ and ‘cacao’ being a European derivative of the indigenous Mayan kakau The Maya also had a hieroglyph representing cacao in their art, and left behind depictions of rudimentary recipes for production For the Maya, the cacao beverage was a treasured drink of the ruling class, and a treat for families who cultivated cacao in their home gardens For the drink, the beans were fermented, dried and roasted, much like today, then ground and mixed with a variety of spices to form a paste that was heated and poured from vessel to vessel to produce a frothy foam C For the Aztecs, cacao beans were both a valuable commodity and a major form of currency and tribute payment in their empire The neighboring towns of Tenochtitlán and Tlatelolco each had large, well-organised markets that were visited by all the surrounding townspeople Watched over by special government officials who ensured the weights, measures and prices matched the quality of goods, the Aztec market included both vendors of prepared chocolate and dealers of raw beans The honest cacao seller would divide the beans into separate piles according to their origin Dishonest dealers, meanwhile, used various ruses to sell counterfeit beans, artificially colouring inferior lots of cacao, or even disguising worthless, avocado seeds with cacao hulls to fool customers The Aztecs also used cacao ritually, both to be drunk during ceremonies and even symbolically in acts of human sacrifice In this context, the cacao pod would symbolize the human heart D There are competing theories on the etymology of the word ‘chocolate’, but most have at least some connection to the Aztec language of Nahuatl Some attribute the word to the Nahuatl word xocolatl meaning ‘bitter Page 10 of 12 pages water’ – and it was indeed bitter, being sweetened with honey for those who preferred it that way Another theory suggests the word is a hybrid of a Mayan word chokol, which means ‘hot’ and the Nahuatl word atl meaning water; thus ‘hot water’ It could also be a combination of kakau and atl, simply ‘cacao water’ Any way you look at it, the word ‘chocolate’ itself represents a combination of Maya and Aztec cultures; an appropriate blend considering the historical transmission of knowledge through the cacao trade When enthusiasm for chocolate spread across Europe, European colonies in Africa and Malaysia began to raise ‘cocoa’, as the cacao bean came to be called in Europe E It was not until 1828 that chocolate changed from a sacred drink to the solid bar we know today, through the addition of cocoa butter Not only did Coenraad Johannes van Houten of the Netherlands create the process of manufacturing cocoa butter, but he also discovered how to treat chocolate with alkalisto to remove the bitter taste that had until that point been characteristic of chocolate While the addition of chilli had long since been dropped from the recipes by Europeans, vanilla was often retained, along with milk and sugar, the latter being unavailable to the Aztecs Thus, chocolate as we know it came into existence after several thousand years of being consumed in liquid form with a pungent, bitter taste These days, producers of chocolate are experimenting even further, by adding not just sugar and milk, but chilli, lavender mint and other flavours, giving us new forms, new uses and new tastes, all continually inspired by its divine origins In which section are the following mentioned? Your answers the modern classification system of all living things 106 the commercial applications available for the cacao crop 107 the derivation of the word chocolate in different cultures 108 a process that made chocolate more palatable to other cultures 109 the ability of chocolate to influence human feelings and emotions 110 the cultivation of the beans outside of their native environment 111 the ingredient that had initially been rejected by European chocolate makers 112 archaeological evidence in support of the consumption of liquid chocolate 113 instances of fraudulent commercial practices in the cacao trade 114 the steps required to prepare the raw beans for use as chocolate 115 SECTION D WRITING (60 points) Part Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it Your summary should be 100 to 120 words Very few people in the modern world obtain their food supply by hunting and gathering in the natural environment surrounding their homes This method of harvesting from nature’s provision, however, is not only the oldest known subsistence strategy but also the one that has been practiced continuously in some parts of the world for at least the last two million years It was, indeed, the only way to obtain food until rudimentary farming and very crude methods for the domestication of animals were introduced about 10,000 years ago Because hunter-gatherers have fared poorly in comparison with their agricultural cousins, their numbers have dwindled, and they have been forced to live in the marginal wastelands In higher latitudes, the shorter growing season has restricted the availability of plant life Such conditions have caused a greater dependence on hunting and, along the coasts and waterways, on fishing The abundance of vegetation in the lower latitudes of the tropics, on the other hand, has provided a greater opportunity for gathering a variety of plants In short, the environmental differences have restricted the diet and have limited possibilities for the development of subsistence societies Contemporary hunter-gatherers may help us understand our prehistoric ancestors We know from observation of modern hunter-gatherers in both Africa and Alaska that a society based on hunting and gathering must be very Page 11 of 12 pages mobile Following the food supply can be a way of life If a particular kind of wild herding animal is the basis of the food for a group of people, those people must move to stay within reach of those animals For many of the native people of the great central plains of North America, following the buffalo, who were in turn following the growth of grazing foods, determined their way of life For gathering societies, seasonal changes mean a great deal While the entire community camps in a central location, a smaller party harvests the food within a reasonable distance from the camp When the food in the area is exhausted, the community moves on to exploit another site We also notice a seasonal migration pattern evolving for most hunter-gatherers, along with a strict division of labor between the sexes These patterns of behavior may be similar to those practiced by humankind during the Paleolithic Period Part The charts below give information about the way in which water was used in different countries in 2000 Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant Write at least 150 words Part Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic: Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities Discuss both view and give your own opinion Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience Present argumentation to highlight your opinion on this matter Give reasons and specific examples to support your opinion(s) -THE END- Page 12 of 12 pages ANSWER KEY SECTION A LISTENING (50 points) Part 1 FALSE TRUE TRUE FALSE TRUE Part J F C E 10 K Part 11 C 12 B 13 C 14 A 15 A Part 16 behind its eyes 18 seeps into 20 brown recluse spider 22 secrete 24 sucking out 17 20 and 80% 19 muscles 21 (deadly) blue-ringed octopus 23 special glands 25 cone snails SECTION B LEXICO-GRAMMAR (25 points) Part 26 C 34 C 27 D 35 A Part 41 unprecedented 46 unauthorized 28 C 36 D 29 C 37 A 42 disproved 47 dispossessed 30 B 38 D 43 undeniably 48 injustice 31 C 39 B 32 B 40 C 33 B 44 insatiable 49 incapable 45 innumerable 50 invariably 57 C 59 B SECTION C READING (65 points) Part 51 A 52 B Part 61 by 66 fact 71 one 53 A 54 B 62 blamed 67 comes 72 According Part 76 (sensitive) balance 79 liquid nitrogen 80 B 81 C 84 FALSE 85 TRUE Part 89 B 90 D 91 F 55 B 56 D 63 too 68 worth 73 for 58 A 64 like 69 intended 74 below 60 C 65 fail 70 was 75 being 78 5,000 revolutions per minute/rpm 80 glass tube 82 A 83 B 86 NOT GIVEN 87 TRUE 88 FALSE 92 C 93 A 94 G 95 E Part 96 A 97 B 98 A 99 B 100 D 101 D 102 C 103 A 104 B 105 D Part 106 B 107 C 108 D 109 E 110 A 111 D 112 E 113 A 114 C 115 B SECTION D: WRITING (60 points) Part Sample summary Although few people are now dependent upon hunting and gathering, it is the most ancient lifestyle, and perhaps the only way to subsist before agricultural communities arose during the past 10,000 years Competition with agricultural societies has crowded hunter-gatherers into harsh terrains In a huntergatherer society, the surrounding vegetation limits the dietary options In addition, the length of the growing season restricts the amount of gathering that can be done and requires more hunting and fishing for groups to survive By studying hunter-gatherers in today’s world, we can better understand the people from prehistoric times We note that groups must follow the herds and travel to new sites where edible plants are in season Furthermore, men and women have specialized tasks (121 words) Part Sample report The two diagrams give figures for water use in different parts of the world in 2000 The first indicates that almost three-quarters of world consumption (70%) was for agriculture, while 22% was used for industry and a mere 8% for domestic purposes This pattern is almost identical to that for China in 2000, whereas India used even more water (92%) for agriculture and only 8% for industrial and domestic sectors In contrast, New Zealand used almost equal proportions for agriculture and household use, 44% and 46% respectively, and a slightly higher 10% was consumed by industry The pattern in Canada is almost the reverse of the world average, with a mere 8% of water consumed by agriculture and a massive 80% by industry Only 12% was used by the domestic sector, which was almost a quarter of the NZ industrial consumption Overall, the data show that water use in the two developing countries is closer to the world patterns of consumption (161 words) Part Sample essay Each stage of life has its ups and downs Some feel that people are generally happiest as teenagers, while others believe adulthood is a happier time, even though it brings greater responsibilities Personally, I agree with the latter point of view Life from the teenage perspective can seem very happy Teenagers live with their parents, who meet all of their needs, and spend most of their day at school, surrounded by friends They also enjoy long holidays and have plenty of opportunities to relax In fact, groups of teens enjoying themselves are a common sight in many places However, one of the reasons they are seen hanging around is that they often have little money and few places to go Furthermore, at this age, our bodies and minds are still developing, so a lack of maturity can easily get them into trouble There is also a great deal of pressure academically, with important exams to pass Therefore, this time of life looks a lot happier on the outside than it is in reality For adults, everyday life is a lot less carefree Living independently means we have to be able to afford accommodation and other expenses There are also responsibilities associated with work, which often increase with our salary and workload Working life also offers only a few short holidays each year Thus, opportunities to relax are brief, so it is not surprising that adults might reminisce about their childhood years Nevertheless, adulthood is a much longer stage of life, and with maturity comes the ability to deal with any challenges This is also a period when most adults build their own family, home, and career All of which brings a sense of personal satisfaction and happiness that is very different to anything experienced in our younger years In conclusion, happiness, like all emotions, is a temporary state Although it is tempting to associate it with being young and carefree, in my view, it is a much more complex and deeper emotion that is closer to the contentment more often achieved in adulthood (343 words)