READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 1-14 which are based on Reading
Passage 2 below.
THE VALUE OF HANDWRITING
A
'When I was in school in the I 970s,' says Tammy Chou, 'my end-of-term report
included Handwriting as a subject alongside Mathematics and Physical Education, yet,
by the time my brother started, a decade later, it had been subsumed into English. I
learnt two scripts: printing and cursive, *while Chris can only print.'
The 2013 Common Core, a curriculum used throughout most of the US, requires
the tuition of legible writing (generally printing) only in the first two years of school;
thereafter, teaching keyboard skills is a priority.
B
'I work in recruitment,' continues Chou. 'Sure, these days, applicants submit a digital CV
and cover letter, but there's still information interviewees need to fill out by hand, and I
still judge them by the neatness of their writing when they do so. Plus there's nothing
more disheartening than receiving a birthday greeting or a condolence card with a
scrawled message.'
C
Psychologists and neuroscientists may concur with Chou for different reasons. They
believe children learn to read faster when they start to write by hand, and they
generate new ideas and retain information better. Karin James conducted an
experiment at Indiana University in the US in which children who had not learnt to read
were shown a letter on a card and asked to reproduce it by tracing, by drawing it on
another piece of paper, or by typing it on a keyboard. Then, their brains were scanned
while viewing the original image again. Children who had produced the freehand letter
showed increased neural activity in the left fusiform gyrus, the inferior frontal gyrus, and
the posterior parietal cortex - areas activated when adults read or write, whereas all
other children displayed significantly weaker activation of the same areas.
James speculates that in handwriting, there is variation in the production of any letter,
so the brain has to learn each personal font - each variant of 'F', for example, that is still
1
'F'. Recognition of variation may establish the eventual representation more
permanently than recognising a uniform letter printed by computer.
Victoria Berninger at the University of Washington studied children in the first two
grades of school to demonstrate that printing, cursive, and keyboarding are associated
with separate brain patterns. Furthermore, children who wrote by hand did so much
faster than the typists, who had not been taught to touch type. Not only did the
typists produce fewer words but also the quality of their ideas was consistently lower.
Scans from the older children's brains exhibited enhanced neural activity when their
handwriting was neater than average, and, importantly, the parts of their brains
activated are those crucial to working memory.
Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer have shown in laboratories and live classrooms
that tertiary students learn better when they take notes by hand rather than inputting via
keyboard. As a result, some institutions ban laptops and tablets in lectures and prohibit
smartphone photography of lecture notes. Mueller and Oppenheimer also believe
handwriting aids contemplation as well as memory storage.
D
Some learners of English whose native script is not the Roman alphabet have difficulty in
forming several English letters: the lower case 'b' and 'd', 'p' and 'q', 'n' and 'u', 'm' and
'w' may be confused. This condition affects a tiny minority of first-language learners and
sufferers of brain damage. Called dysgraphia, it appears less frequently when writers
use cursive instead of printing, which is why cursive has been posited as a cure for
dyslexia.
E
Berninger is of the opinion that cursive, endangered in American schools, promotes self-
control, which printing may not, and which typing - especially with the 'delete' function
- unequivocally does not. In a world saturated with texting, where many have observed
that people are losing the ability to filter their thoughts, a little more restraint would be
a good thing.
A rare-book and manuscript librarian, Valerie Hotchkiss, worries about the cost to our
heritage as knowledge of cursive fades. Her library contains archives from the literary
giants Mark Twain, Marcel Proust, HG Wells, and others. If the young generation
does not lea cursive, its ability to decipher older documents may be compromised,
and culture lost.
F
2
Paul Bloom, from Yale University, is less convinced about the long-term benefits of
handwriting. In the 1950s - indeed in Tammy Chou's idyllic 1970s - when children spent
hours practising their copperplate, what were they doing with it? Mainly copying
mindlessly. For Bloom, education, in the complex digital age, has moved on.
* A style of writing in which letters are joined, and the pen is lifted off the paper at the end of a word.
Questions 1-5
Passage 1 on the following page has six sections: A-F.
Choose the correct heading for sections B-F from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i Handwriting and a more active brain
ii The disgrace of dysgraphia
iii A school subject
iv Handwriting has had its day
v Handwriting raises academic performance
vi Handwriting reduces typing ability
vii The medium is the message?
viii Cursive may treat a reading disorder
ix The social and cultural advantages of handwriting
Example Answer
Section A iii
1 Section B
2 Section C
3 Section D
4 Section E
5 Section F
3
Questions 6-9
Look at the following statements and list of people below.
Match each statement with the correct person: A, B, C, or D.
Write the correct letter A, B, C, or D, in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet.
6 According to him/ her/ them, education is now very sophisticated, so handwriting is
unimportant.
7 He/ She/ They found children who wrote by hand generated more ideas.
8 Universities have stopped students using electronic devices in class due to his/
her/ their research.
9 He/ She/ They may assess character by handwriting.
List of people
A Tammy Chou
B Victoria Berninger
C Paul Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer
D Paul Bloom
4
Questions 10-14
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-H, below.
Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet.
A correlation B dispute C essentially D evidence
E inevitable F proponents G psychologists H teachers
The value of handwriting
Educators in the US have decided that handwriting is no longer worth much curriculum
time. Printing, not cursive, is usually taught. Some 10 .................... and neuroscientists
11.................... this decision as there seems to be a(n) 12 ..................... between early
reading and handwriting. Children with the best handwriting produce the most neural
activity and the most interesting schoolwork. 13 ..................... of cursive consider it more
useful than printing. However, not all academics believe in the necessity of handwriting.
In the digital world, perhaps keyboarding is 14.....................
5
1. vii
2. i
3. viii
4. ix
5. iv
6. D
7. B
8. C
9. A
10. G
11. B
12. A
13. F
14. E
1
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 15-27 which are based on
Reading Passage 2 below.
Growing up in New Zealand
It has long been known that the first one thousand days of life are the most critical
in ensuring a person's healthy future; precisely what happens during this period to
any individual has been less well documented. To allocate resources appropriately,
public health and education policies need to be based upon quantifiable data, so
the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development began a longitudinal study of
these early days, with the view to extending it for two decades. Born between
March 2009 and May 20I0, the 6,846 babies recruited came from a densely
populated area of New Zealand, and it is hoped they will be followed until they
reach the age of 21.
By 2014, fur reports, collectively known as Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ),
had been published, showing New Zealand to be a complex, changing country,
with the participants and their families' being markedly different from those of
previous generations.
Of the 6,846 babies, the majority were identified as European New Zealanders, but
one quarter was Maori (indigenous New Zealanders), 20% were Pacific (originating
in islands in the Pacific), and one in six were Asian. Almost 50% of the children had
more than one ethnicity.
The first three reports of GUiNZ ae descriptive, portraying the cohort before birth,
at nine months, and at two years of age. Already, the first report, Before we are
born, has made history as it contains interviews with the children's mothers and
fathers.
The fourth report, which is more analytical, explores the definition of vulnerability for
children in their first one thousand days.
Before we are born, published in 2010, describes the hopes, dreams, and realities
that prospective parents have. It shows that the average age of both parents
having a child was 30, and around two-thirds of parents were in legally binding
relationships.
2
However, one-third of the children were born to either a mother or a father who
did not grow up in New Zealand – a significant difference from previous longitudinal
studies in which a vast majority of parents were New Zealanders born and bred.
Around 60% of
3
the births in the cohort were planned, and most families hoped to have two or
three children. During pregnancy, some women changed their behaviour, with
regard to smoking, alcohol, and exercise, but many did not. Such information will
be useful for public health campaigns.
Now we are born is the second report. Fifty-two percent of its babies were male and
48% female, with nearly a quarter delivered by caesarean section. The World Health
Organisation and New Zealand guidelines recommend babies be breastfed
exclusively for six months, but the median age for this in the GUiNZ cohort was fur
months since almost one-third of mothers had returned to full-time work. By nine
months, the babies were all eating solid food. While 54% of them were living in
accommodation their families owned, their parents had almost all experienced a
drop in income, sometimes a steep one, mostly due to mothers' not working. Over
90% of the babies were immunised, and almost all were in very good health. Of the
mothers, however, 11% had experienced post-natal depression – an alarming
statistic, perhaps, but, once again, useful for mental health campaigns. Many of the
babies were put in childcare while their mothers worked or studied, and the
providers varied by ethnicity: children who were Maori or Pacific were more likely
to be looked after by grandparents; European New Zealanders tended to be sent to
daycare.
Now we are two, the third report, provides more insights into the children's development
- physically, emotionally, behaviourally, and cognitively. Major changes in home
environments are documented, like the socio-economic situation, and childcare
arrangements. Information was collected both from direct observations of the children
and from parental interviews. Once again, a high proportion of New Zealand two-year-olds
were in very good health. Two-thirds of the children knew their gender, and used their
own name or expressed independence in some way. The most common first word was a
variation on 'Mum', and the most common favourite first food was a banana. Bilingual or
multi-lingual children were in a large minority of 40%. Digital exposure was high: one in
seven two-year-olds had used a laptop or a children's computer, and 80% watched TV or
DVDs daily; by contrast, 66% had books read to them each day.
The fourth report evaluates twelve environmental risk factors that increase the
likelihood of poor developmental outcomes for children and draws on experiences in
Western Europe, where the specific factors were collated. This, however, was the
first time for their use in a New Zealand context. The factors include: being born to
an adolescent mother; having one or both parents on income-tested benefits; and,
living in cramped conditions.
4
In addition to descriptive ones, future reports will focus on children who move in
and out of vulnerability to see how these transitions affect their later life.
To date, GUiNZ has been highly successful with only a very small dropout rate
for participants – even those living abroad, predominantly in Australia, have
continued to provide information. The portrait GUiNZ paints of a country and
its people are indeed revealing.
Questions 15-20
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Passage 2?
In boxes 15-20 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.
15 Findings from studies like GUiNZ will inform public policy.
16 Exactly 6,846 babies formed the GUiNZ cohort.
17 GUiNZ will probably end when the children reach ten.
18 Eventually, there will be 21 reports in GUiNZ.
19 So far, GUiNZ has shown New Zealanders today to be rather similar to those of
25 years ago.
20 Parents who took part in GUiNZ believe New Zealand is a good place to
raise children.
5
Questions 21-27
Classify the following things that relate to:
A Report 1.
B Report 2.
C Report 3.
D Report 4.
Write the correct letter A, B, C, or D, in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.
21 This is unique because it contains interviews with both parents.
22 This looks at how children might be at risk.
23 This suggests having a child may lead to financial hardship.
24 Information for this came from direct observations of children.
25 This shows many children use electronic devices.
26 This was modelled on criteria used in Western Europe.
27 This suggests having a teenage mother could negatively affect a child.
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15. TRUE
16. TRUE
17. FALSE
18. NOT GIVEN
19. FALSE
20. NOT GIVEN
21. A
22. D
23. B
24. C
25. C
26. D
27. D
1
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 28-40 which are based on
Reading Passage 3 below.
LET THERE BE LIGHT?
A
'Incandescent light bulbs lit the 20th century; the 21st will be Jit by LED lamps.'
So stated the Nobel Prize Committee on awarding the 2014 prize for physics to
the inventors of light-emitting
diodes (LEDs).
Around the world, LED systems are replacing most kinds of conventional lighting
since they use about half the electricity, and the US Department of Energy
expects LEDs to account for 74% of US lighting sales by 2030.
However, with lower running costs, LEDs may be left on longer, or installed in places
that were previously unlit. Historically, when there has been an improvement in
lighting technology, far more outdoor illumination has occurred. Furthermore, many
LEDs are brighter than other lights, and they produce a blue-wavelength light that
animals misinterpret as the dawn.
According to the American Medical Association, there has been a noticeable rise in
obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease in people like shift workers
exposed to too much artificial light of any kind. It is likely more pervasive LEDs will
contribute to a further rise.
B
In some cities, a brown haze of industrial pollution prevents enjoyment of the night
sky; in others, a yellow haze from lighting has the same effect, and it is thought that
almost 70% of people can no longer see the Milky Way.
When a small earthquake disabled power plants in Los Angeles a few years ago, the
director of the Griffith Observatory was bombarded with phone calls by locals who
reported an unusual phenomenon they thought was caused by the quake - a
brilliantly illuminated night sky, in which around 7,000 stars were visible. In fact, this
was just an ordinary starry night, seldom seen in LA due to light pollution!
2
Certainly, light pollution makes professional astronomy difficult, but it also
endangers humans' age-old connection to the stars. It is conceivable that children
who do not experience a truly starry night may not speculate about the universe,
nor may they learn about nocturnal creatures.
C
Excessive illumination impacts upon the nocturnal world. Around 30% of vertebrates
and over 60% of invertebrates are nocturnal; many of the remainders are
crepuscular - most active at dawn and dusk. Night lighting, hundreds of thousands of
times greater than its natural level, has drastically reduced insect, bird, bat, lizard,
frog, turtle, and fish life, with even dairy cows producing less milk in brightly-lit
sheds.
Night lighting has a vacuum-cleaner effect on insects, particularly moths, drawing
them from as far away as 122 metres. As insects play an important role in
pollination, and in providing food for birds, their destruction is a grave concern.
Using low- pressure sodium-vapour lamps or UV-filtered bulbs would reduce insect
mortality, but an alternative light source does not help amphibians: fogs exposed
to any night light experience altered feeding and mating behaviour, making them
easy prey.
Furthermore, birds and insects use the sun, the moon, and the stars to navigate. It is
estimated that around 500 million migratory birds are killed each year by collisions
with brightly-lit structures, like skyscrapers or radio towers. In Toronto, Canada, the
Fatal Light Awareness Program educates building owners about reducing such
deaths by darkening their buildings at the peak of the migratory season. Still, over
1,500 birds may be killed within one night when this does not happen.
Non-migratory birds are also adversely affected by light pollution - sleep is difficult,
and waking up only occurs when the sun has overpowered artificial lighting,
resulting in the birds' being too late to catch insects.
Leatherback turtles, which have lived on Earth for over 150 million years, are now
endangered as their hatchlings are meant to follow light reflected from the moon
and stars to go from their sandy nests to the sea. Instead, they follow street lamps
or hotel lights, resulting in death by dehydration, predation, or accidents, since
they wander onto the road in the opposite direction from the sea.
D
Currently, eight percent of all energy generated in the US is dedicated to public
3
outdoor lighting, and much evidence shows that lighting and energy use are
growing at around four percent a year, exceeding population growth. In some
newly-industrialised
4
countries, lighting use is rising by 20%. Unfortunately, as the developing
world urbanises, it also lights up brightly, rather than opting for
sustainability.
E
There are several organisations devoted to restoring the night sky: one is the
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), based in Arizona, US. The IDA draws
attention to the hazards of light pollution and works with manufacturers, planners,
legislators, and citizens to encourage lighting only what is necessary when
necessary.
With 58 chapters in sixteen countries, the IDA has been the driving force behind the
establishment of nine world reserves, most recently the 1,720-square-kilometre
Rhon Biosphere Reserve in Germany. IDA campaigns have also reduced street
lighting in several US states and changed national legislation in Italy.
F
Except in some parks and observatory zones, the IDA does not defend complete
darkness, acknowledging that urban areas operate around the clock. For transport,
lighting is particularly important. Nonetheless, there is an appreciable difference
between harsh, glaring lights and those that illuminate the ground without
streaming into the sky. The US Department of Transportation recently conducted
research into highway safety and found that a highway lit well only at interchanges
was as safe as one lit along its entire length. In addition, reflective signage and
strategic white paint improved safety more than adding lights.
Research by the US Department of Justice showed that outdoor lighting may not
deter crime. Its only real benefit is in citizens' perceptions: lighting reduces the
fear of crime, not crime itself. Indeed, bright lights may compromise the safety, as
they make victims and property more visible.
The IDA recommends that where streetlights stay on all night, they have a lower
lumen rating, or are controlled with dimmers; and, that they point downwards, or
are fitted with directional metal shields. For private dwellings, low-lumen
nightlights should be activated only when motion is detected.
G
It is not merely the firefly, the fruit bat, or the fog that suffers from light pollution -
many human beings no longer experience filling stars or any but the brightest stars,
nor consequently ponder their own place in the universe. Hopefully, prize-winning
5
LED lights
6
will be modified and used circumspectly to return to us all the splendour of the
night sky.
Questions 28-32
Reading Passage 3 has seven sections, A-G.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 28-32 on your answer sheet.
28 A light-hearted example of ignorance about the night sky
29 An explanation of how lighting may not equate with safety
30 A description of the activities of the International Dark-sky Association
31 An example of baby animals affected by too much night light
32 A list of the possible drawbacks of new lighting technology
Questions 33-35
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 33-35 on your answer sheet.
33 Too much ......................light has led to a rise in serious illness.
34 Approximately ..................... % of humans are unable to see the Milky Way.
35 About ................... million migratory birds die crashing into lit-up tall buildings
each year.
7
Questions 36-39
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Passage 3?
In boxes 36-39 on your answer sheet, write:
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer NO if the
statement contradicts the claims of the writer.
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.
36 It is alarming that so many animals are killed by night lighting.
37 It is good that developing countries now have brighter lighting.
38 Italians need not worry about reduced street lighting.
39 Bright lights along the road are necessary for safe driving.
Question 40
Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.
Write the correct letter in box 40 on your answer sheet.
According to the writer, how much night lighting should there be in relation to
what there is?
A Much more
B A little more
C A little less
D Much less
8
28. B
29. F
30. E
31. C
32. A
33. artificial/night
34. 70
35. 500
36. YES
37. NO
38. NOT GIVEN
39. NO
40. D