B- LEXICO-GRAMMAR

Part 1. Choose the word/ phrase that best completes each of the following sentences.
1. Many people have written to the newspaper to show their _____ of such behavior.
A. antipathy B. abhorrence C. aversion D. animosity
2. The regular appearance of sex and violence on television undoubtedly has a _____ influence on teenagers.
A. pernicious B. parsimonious C. precipitous D. propitious
3. It is disquieting that there has been an increased _____ of cancer near the nuclear power station.
A. occurrence B. accidence C. persistence D. incidence
4. “The Song of Ice and Fire” is the first volume of a series, which _____ six books in all.
A. assembles B. totals C. compiles D. amasses
5. From this year on, under-fives will get travel _____, which certainly makes huge savings for family trips.
A. consolations B. concessions C. contortions D. constrictions
6. Unfortunately, his report does not _____ with what we have learnt from other sources.
A. ally B. pally C. tally D. rally
7. Her _____ display of tears at work did not impress her new boss, who felt she should try to control her emotions.
A. maudlin B. meritorious C. precarious D. plausible
8. The authority is going to great lengths to _____ war on dangerous driving.
A. Launch B. Battle C. Stage D. Wage
9. China fueled fears that its _____ economy is about to slow further after Beijing cut its main interest rate by 0.25
percentage points.
A. diseased B. ailing C. sickening D. unwell
10. Robert is a well-behaved child, but his younger brother is a bit of a(n) _____.
A. Eyeful B. skinful C. armful D. handful
11. Most ideas never _____ the top brass, being quietly shelved by middle managers.
A. rise to B. make it to C. do with D. reach up to
12. _____, I haven't seen Catherine all day.
A. Come to think of it B. To come to think of it
13. The couple tied the knot two months after they met – it was indubitably a _____ romance.
A. typhoon B. hurricane C. whirlwind D. cyclone
14. Although it was initially regarded as a _____ , Leicester City finished 2014-2015 Premier League being the
champion.
A. rank interloper B. rank outsider C. rank newcomer D. rank foreigner
Part 2: Complete the text by writing the correct form of the word in capitals
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Alternative medicine is, by definition, an alternative to something else: modern, Western
medicine. But the term `alternative´ can be (1) _____ (LEAD), even off-putting for some 1………………………
people. Few (2) _____ (PRACTICE) of homeopathy, acupuncture, (3) _____ (HERBAL) 2.……………………..
and the like regard therapies as complete substitutes for modern medicine. Rather, they 3. ……………………
consider their disciplines as (4) _____ (SUPPLY) to orthodox medicine. The problem is
that many doctors refuse even to recognize `natural´ or alternative medicine. To do so 4. ……………………
calls for a (5)_____ (RADICAL) different view of health, illness and cure. But whatever
doctors may think, the demand for alternative forms of medical therapy is stronger than 5. ……………………
ever before, as the (6) _____ (LIMIT) of modern medical science become more widely
understood. Alternative therapies are often dismissed by orthodox medicine because 6. ……………………
they are sometimes (7) _____ (ADMINISTRATION) by people with no formal medical
training. But, in comparison with many traditional therapies, western medicine as we 7. ……………………
know it today is a very recent phenomenon. Until only 150 years ago, herbal medicine
and simple (8) _____ (ORGAN) compounds were the most effective treatment
available. Despite the medical establishment’ (9) _____ (TOLERATE) attitude, 8. ……………………
alternative therapies are being accepted by more and more doctors, and the World
Health Organization has agreed to promote the (10) _____ (INTEGRATE) of proven, 9. ……………………
valuable, `alternative´ knowledge and skills in western medicine.
10. ……………………
READING
1. Read the article below and circle the letter next to the word which best fits each space.
Broadcasting has democratized the publication of language, often at its most informal, even undressed. Now
the ears of the educated cannot escape the language of the masses. It (1) _____ them on the news, weather, sports,
commercials, and the ever-proliferating game shows. This wider dissemination of popular speech may easily give
purists the (2) _____ that language is suddenly going to hell in this generation, and may (3) _____ the new paranoia
about it.
It might also be argued that more Americans hear more correct, even beautiful, English on television than ever
before. Through television more models of good usage (4) _____ more American homes than was ever possible in
other times. Television gives them lots of (5) _____ English too, some awful, some creative, but that is not new.
Hidden in this is a (6) _____ fact: our language is not the special private property of the language police, or
grammarians, or teachers, or even great writers. The (7) _____ of English is that it has always been the tongue of the
common people, literate or not.
 English belongs to everybody: the funny (8) _____ of phrase that pops into the mind of a farmer telling a story;
or the (9) _____ salesman’s dirty joke; or the teenager saying, "Gag me with a spoon"; or the pop lyric - all contribute,
are all as (10) _____ as the tortured image of the academic, or the line the poet sweats over for a week.
1. A. circles B. surrenders C. supports D. surrounds
2. A. thought B. idea C. sight D. belief
3. A. justify B. inflate C. explain D. idealise
4. A. render B. reach C. expose D. leave
5. A. colloquial B. current C. common D. spoken
6. A. central B. stupid C. common D. simple
7. A. genii B. genius C. giant D. generalisation
8. A. turn B. twist C. use D. time
9. A. tour B. transport C. travel D. travelling
10. A. valued B. valid C. truthful D. imperfect
2. Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D. best fits each gap.
Cairo, despite its contrasts, is similar to any other huge (1) __________ jungle with its high-rise tower blocks and
evidence of urban development. It is a melting (2) __________ of people from all over Africa and, in parts, resembles
a huge marketplace with little space to move, as street vendors and customers (3) __________ over the price of
goods. Cairo, however, is by no means a cheap city to visit, and accommodation, while not costing the (4)
__________, can be expensive. This is especially true if you want to stay in one of the hotels along the banks of the
River Nile where there are long (5) __________ of unspoilt beauty. (6) __________ in Cairo is (7) __________ easy
and cheap, as admission to most cities is well (8) __________ the average tourist’s (9) __________. All visitors to
Cairo take pleasure in experiencing the city and its sounds, and this is best done on foot. (10) __________ cars, as
this city of almost 16 million suffers from chronic traffic congestion and the inevitable smog which motor vehicles help
to produce. For a trip to the Pyramids, it is better to catch a bus, provided you can put up with the crowded and noisy
conditions, as taxis can be expensive.
3.Read the text below and choose the best answer to each question.
If you think that we are the only creatures on Earth with a moral sense, then you're in good company. Most experts in
behavior believe that morality is a uniquely human trait, without which our complex social life would never have
emerged - yet I'm convinced that many animals can distinguish right from wrong. Decades spent watching wild and
captive animals have persuaded me that species living in groups often have a sense of fair play built on moral codes
of conduct that help cement their social relationships. The notion of Nature being naturally ruthlessly and selfishly
competitive doesn't hold true for those of us who have observed and analyzed animal relationships.
That's not all. I suspect that herein lies the origin of our own virtue. Biologists have had real problems trying to explain
why people are frequently inexplicably nice to each other. It just doesn't make sense in evolutionary terms, unless
there are ulterior motives behind our seemingly altruistic actions. Perhaps we expect a payback somewhere down
the line, or maybe our good deeds are directed only towards kin, with whom we share a biological heritage. Nobody
has really considered the possibility that being considerate to your neighbors might sometimes be the best way to
survive. But I'm starting to find evidence that a well-developed sense of fair play helps non-human animals live longer,
more successful lives.
I'm particularly interested in social play amongst youngsters because it has its own special rules of engagement,
allowing participants to reinterpret acts that might otherwise seem aggressive. My studies of infant dogs, wolves and
coyotes reveal that they use a special signal to prevent misinterpretation of playful actions. They perform a 'bow' -
which entails crouching on the forelimbs while keeping the rear upright - when initiating play, or in association with
aggressive actions such as biting, to modify their meaning. And role reversal is common, so that during play a
dominant animal will often allow a subordinate to have the upper hand. Such behaviors reduce inequalities in size,
strength and dominance between playmates, fostering the co-operation and reciprocity that are essential for play to
occur. Indeed, on the rare occasions when an animal says 'Let's play' and then beats up an unsuspecting animal, the
culprit usually finds itself ostracized by its former playmates.
My belief is that a sense of fairness is common to many animals, because there could be no social play without it, and
without social play individual animals and entire groups would be at a disadvantage. If I'm right, morality evolved
because it is adaptive. It helps many animals, including humans, to survive and flourish in their particular social
environment. This may sound like a radical idea, particularly if you view morality as uniquely human and a sort of
mystical quality that sets us apart from other animals. But if you accept my argument that play and fairness are
inextricably linked, you're halfway there.
[A] As with any behavioral trait, the underlying genetics is bound to be complex, and environmental influences may be
large. [B] No matter. Provided there is variation in levels of morality among individuals, and provided virtue is
rewarded by a greater number of offspring, then any genes associated with good behavior are bound to accumulate in
subsequent generations. [C] And the observation that play is rarely unfair or uncooperative is surely an indication that
natural selection acts to weed out those who don't play by the rules. [D]
What does this tell us about human morality? First, we didn't invent virtue - its origins are much more ancient than our
own. Secondly, we should stop seeing ourselves as morally superior to other animals. True, our big brains endow us
with a highly sophisticated sense of what's right and wrong, but they also give us much greater scope for manipulating
others - to deceive and try to benefit from immoral behavior. In that sense, animal morality might be 'purer' than our
own. We should accept our moral responsibility towards other animals, and that means developing and enforcing
more restrictive regulations governing animal use. While animal minds may vary from one species to another, they are
not so different from our own, and only when we accept this can we truly be moral in our relations with nature as a
whole.
1. In the first paragraph, what does the writer state about morality?

A. Humans are the only creatures that demonstrate true emotional behavior.
B. A well-developed moral code does not lead to civilization.
C. Humans and animals share the same selfish instincts for survival.
D. There is a common misconception that animals are not moral.
2. What point does the writer make in the second paragraph?
A. People who are generous to others are not always sure why they behave that way.
B. People who do not possess good social skills achieve less in life.
C. People who behave considerately to others have selfish reasons for doing so.
D. People who treat acquaintances better than relatives are unusual.
3. Neighbors are mentioned as an example to ___________.
A. illustrate the fact that another aspect of the driving force may have been overlooked
B. reiterate the notion that being nice to others is not hereditary
C. strengthen his belief that longevity does come into play concerning how kind we are
D. report that many folks are becoming increasingly disillusioned with their proclivity to helping others
4. The word ALTRUISTIC in paragraph two most likely means _____________.
A. strange B. democratic C. selfless D. immaterial
5. What has the writer deduced about social play from his observation of animals?
A. It provides an opportunity for physically weaker animals to develop survival skills.
B. It allows animals to prove who is dominant in the group without using real aggression.
C. It requires animals to abide by the rules or they will be excluded from the group.
D. It demonstrates that certain animals possess a large range of emotions.
6. Which of the following best summarizes the writer’s argument in the fourth paragraph?
A. There are different degrees of morality between various cultures.
B. Humans adopted moral behavior as a means of survival.
C. Groups benefit from social play more than individuals do.
D. Spirituality and morality are inseparable.
7. What does the writer state about the evolution of morality?
A. There may be a particular gene responsible for morality.
B. Moral development depends on physical hardships.
C. There is little point in seeking the origin of moral behavior.
D. Animals that behave fairly are more likely to breed.
8. In the final paragraph, according to the writer, people _____________.
A. must treat animals on equal terms with humans.
B. should be less arrogant in their view of themselves.
C. are more advanced as they use immorality to their advantage.
D. should discriminate between which animals display morality and those that do not.
9. The writer concludes that in our relations with nature as a whole, _____________.
A. an open mind is of paramount importance
B. any exploitation should be dispensed with
C. bilateral responsibility is not always conducive to a long-standing relationship
D. virtue should be perceived with a new level of intricacy
10. “I am not putting the case forward for a specific gene for fair or moral behavior”.
The sentence is extracted from somewhere in paragraph five. Where should this sentence be located?
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]

4.Read the passage and do the tasks

Contaminating the Arctic
Our perception of the Arctic region is that its distance from industrial centers keeps it pristine and clear from the impact
of pollution. However, through a process known as transboundary pollution, the Arctic is the recipient of contaminants
whose sources are thousands of miles away. Large quantities of pollutants pour into our atmosphere, as well as our
lakes, rivers, and oceans on a daily basis. In the last 20 years, scientists have detected an increasing variety of toxic
contaminants in the North, including pesticides from agriculture, chemicals and heavy metals from industry, and even
radioactive fall-out from Chernobyl. These are substances that have invaded ecosystems virtually worldwide, but they
are especially worrisome in the Arctic.
Originally, Arctic contamination was largely blamed on chemical leaks, and these leaks were thought to be “small and
localized.” The consensus now is that pollutants from around the world are being carried north by rivers, ocean
currents, and atmospheric circulation. Due to extreme conditions in the Arctic, including reduced sunlight, extensive
ice cover and cold temperatures, contaminants break down much more slowly than in warmer climates. Contaminants
can also become highly concentrated due to their significantly lengthened life span in the Arctic.
Problems of spring run-off into coastal waters during the growth period of marine life are of critical concern. Spring
algae blooms easily, absorbing the concentrated contaminants released by spring melting. These algae are in turn
eaten by zooplankton and a wide variety of marine life. The accumulation of these contaminants increases with each
step of the food chain or web and can potentially affect northerners who eat marine mammals near the top of the food
chain. Pollutants respect no borders; transboundary pollution is the movement of contaminants across political
borders, whether by air, rivers, or ocean currents. The eight circumpolar nations, led by the Finnish Initiative of 1989,
established the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) in which participants have agreed to develop an
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP). AMAP establishes an international scientific network to monitor
the current condition of the Arctic with respect to specific contaminants. This monitoring program is extremely
important because it will give a scientific basis for understanding the scope of the problem.

In the 1950’s, pilots traveling on weather reconnaissance flights in the Canadian high Arctic reported seeing bands of
haze in the springtime in the Arctic region. It was during this time that the term “Arctic haze” was first used, referring to
this smog of unknown origin. But it was not until 1972, that Dr. Glenn Shaw of the Geophysical Institute at the
University of Alaska first put forth ideas of the nature and long-range origin of Arctic haze. The idea that the source
was long range was very difficult for many to support. Each winter, cold, dense air settles over the Arctic. In the
darkness, the Arctic seems to become more and more polluted by a buildup of mid-latitude emissions from fossil fuel
combustion, smelting and other industrial processes. By late winter, the Arctic is covered by a layer of this haze the
size of the continent of Africa. When the spring light arrives in the Arctic, there is a smog-like haze, which makes the
region, at times, looks like pollution over such cities as Los Angeles.
This polluted air is a well-known and well-characterized feature of the late winter Arctic environment. In the North
American Arctic, episodes of brown or black snow have been traced to continental storm tracks that deliver gaseous
and particulate-associated contaminants from Asian deserts and agricultural areas. It is now known that the
contaminants originate largely from Europe and Asia.
Arctic haze has been studied most extensively in Point Barrow, Alaska, across the Canadian Arctic and in Svalbard
(Norway). Evidence from ice cores drilled from the ice sheet of Greenland indicates that these haze particles were not
always present in the Arctic, but began to appear only in the last century. The Arctic haze particles appear to be similar
to smog particles observed in industrial areas farther south, consisting mostly of sulfates mixed with particles of
carbon. It is believed the particles are formed when gaseous sulfur dioxide produced by burning sulfur-bearing coal is
irradiated by sunlight and oxidized to sulfate, a process catalyzed by trace elements in the air. These sulfate particles
or droplets of sulfuric acid quickly capture the carbon particles, which are also floating in the air. Pure sulfate particles
or droplets are colourless, so it is believed the darkness of the haze is caused by the mixed-in carbon particles.
The impact of the haze on Arctic ecosystems, as well as the global environment, has not been adequately researched.
The pollutants have only been studied in their aerosol form over the Arctic. However, little is known about what
eventually happens to them. It is known that they are removed somehow. There is a good degree of likelihood that the
contaminants end up in the ocean, likely into the North Atlantic, the Norwegian Sea and possibly the Bering Sea — all
three very important fisheries.
Currently, the major issue among researchers is to understand the impact of Arctic haze on global climate change.
The contaminants absorb sunlight and, in turn, heat up the atmosphere. The global impact of this is currently unknown
but the implications are quite powerful.

TRUE if the statement is true

FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the advertisement
1. Industry in the Arctic has increased over the last 20 years.
2. Arctic conditions mean that the break down of pollutants is much accelerated
3. Pollution absorbed by arctic algae can eventually affect humans.
4. The AEPS has set up scientific stations in the Arctic to monitor pollution.
5. Arctic pollution can sometimes resemble US urban pollution.
6. Evidence that this smog has only occurred in the 20th Century has been found in the ice on the polar ice cap.
Complete the summary relating to Arctic Haze below.
Choose your answers from the box below the summary and write them in boxes 22 – 27 on your answer
sheet.
NB There are more words than spaces, so you will not use them at al

burning terrible ice cores valid certain

originating sea destroying theories unknown
agriculture decided bird life dissipating accepted
gases darkness air density

Research has shown that aerosol arctic pollutants remain the air indefinitely. Theories that the origins of spring, arctic
haze, first seen over the ice cap in the 1950s, came from far away were at first not (7) ______________________.
This haze is a smog formed in the dark, arctic winter by pollution delivered to the Arctic by storms (8)
______________________ in Europe and Asia. It is known to be a recent phenomenon as proof from (9)
______________________ shows it only starting to occur in the 20th Century. The smog consists of sulphates and
carbon, the latter creating the (10) ______________________ of the haze. Due to lack of research, the final
destination of the pollution is unknown but it probably ends up in the (11) ______________________ and therefore
into the food chain. Scientists are presently more worried about the (12) ______________________ effect it has on
climate change.
5. Read the passage and do the task
 Reducing the Effects of Climate Change
Mark Rowe reports on the increasingly ambitious geo-engineering projects being explored by scientists
A. Such is our dependence on fossil fuels, and such is the volume of carbon dioxide already released into the
atmosphere, that many experts agree that significant global warming is now inevitable. They believe that the best we
can do is keep it at a reasonable level, and at present, the only serious option for doing this is cutting back on our
carbon emissions. But while a few countries are making major strides in this regard, the majority are having great
difficulty even stemming the rate of increase, let alone reversing it. Consequently, an increasing number of scientists
are beginning to explore the alternative of geo-engineering — a term which generally refers to the intentional large-
scale manipulation of the environment. According to its proponents, geo-engineering is the equivalent of a backup
generator: if Plan A - reducing our dependency on fossil fuels - fails, we require a Plan B, employing grand schemes to
slow down or reverse the process of global warming.
B. Geo-engineering; has been shown to work, at least on a small localised scale. For decades, MayDay parades
in Moscow have taken place under clear blue skies, aircraft having deposited dry ice, silver iodide and cement powder
to disperse clouds. Many of the schemes now suggested look to do the opposite, and reduce the amount of sunlight
reaching the planet. The most eye-catching idea of all is suggested by Professor Roger Angel of the University of
Arizona. His scheme would employ up to 16 trillion minute spacecraft, each weighing about one gram, to form a
transparent, sunlight-refracting sunshade in an orbit 1.5 million km above the Earth. This could, argues Angel, reduce
the amount of light reaching the Earth by two per cent.
C. The majority of geo-engineering projects so far carried out — which include planting forests in deserts and
depositing iron in the ocean to stimulate the growth of algae - have focused on achieving a general cooling of the
Earth. But some look specifically at reversing the melting at the poles, particularly the Arctic. The reasoning is that if
you replenish the ice sheets and frozen waters of the high latitudes, more light will be reflected back into space, so
reducing the warming of the oceans and atmosphere.
D. The concept of releasing aerosol sprays into the stratosphere above the Arctic has been proposed by several
scientists. This would involve using sulphur or hydrogen sulphide aerosols so that sulphur dioxide would form clouds,
which would, in turn, lead to a global dimming. The idea is modelled on historic volcanic explosions, such as that of
Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, which led to a short-term cooling of global temperatures by 0.5 °C.
Scientists have also scrutinised whether it's possible to preserve the ice sheets of Greenland with reinforced high-
tension cables, preventing icebergs from moving into the sea. Meanwhile in the Russian Arctic, geo-engineering plans
include the planting of millions of birch trees. Whereas the -regions native evergreen pines shade the snow an absorb
radiation, birches would shed their leaves in winter, thus enabling radiation to be reflected by the snow. Re-routing
Russian rivers to increase cold water flow to ice-forming areas could also be used to slow down warming, say some
climate scientists.
E. But will such schemes ever be implemented? Generally speaking, those who are most cautious about geo-
engineering are the scientists involved in the research. Angel says that his plan is ‘no substitute for developing
renewable energy: the only permanent solution'. And Dr Phil Rasch of the US-based Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory is equally guarded about the role of geo-engineering: 'I think all of us agree that if we were to end geo-
engineering on a given day, then the planet would return to its pre-engineered condition very rapidly, and probably
within ten to twenty years. That’s certainly something to worry about.’
F. The US National Center for Atmospheric Research has already suggested that the proposal to inject sulphur
into the atmosphere might affect rainfall patterns across the tropics and the Southern Ocean. ‘Geo-engineering plans
to inject stratospheric aerosols or to seed clouds would act to cool the planet, and act to increase the extent of sea
ice,’ says Rasch. ‘But all the models suggest some impact on the distribution of precipitation.’
G. A further risk with geo-engineering projects is that you can “overshoot", says Dr Dan Lunt, from the University
of Bristol’s School of Geophysical Sciences, who has studied the likely impacts of the sunshade and aerosol schemes
on the climate. ‘You may bring global temperatures back to pre-industrial levels, but the risk is that the poles will still
be warmer than they should be and the tropics will be cooler than before industrialisation'. To avoid such a scenario,
Lunt says, Angel’s project would have to operate at half strength; all of which reinforces his view that the best option is
to avoid the need for geo-engineering altogether.
H. The main reason why geo-engineering is supported by many in the scientific community is that most
researchers have little faith in the ability of politicians to agree - and then bring in — the necessary carbon cuts. Even
leading conservation organisations see the value of investigating the potential of geo-engineering. According to Dr
Martin Sommerkorn, climate change advisor for the World Wildlife Fund’s International Arctic Programme, ‘Human-
induced climate change has brought humanity to a position where we shouldn’t exclude thinking thoroughly about this
topic and its possibilities.’
Questions 1-3
Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.
1. mention of a geo-engineering project based on an earlier natural phenomenon
2. an example of a successful use of geo-engineering
3. a common definition of geo-engineering
Questions 4-10
Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 4-10 on your answer sheet.
GEO-ENGINEERING PROJECTS

Procedure Aim

put a large number of tiny spacecraft into orbit far above to create a 4.________________ that would reduce
Earth the amount of light reaching Earth

place 5. .________________ in the sea. to encourage 6. .________________ to form

release aerosol sprays into the stratosphere to create 7. .________________ that would reduce
the amount of light reaching Earth

fix strong 8. .________________ to Greenland ice sheets to prevent icebergs moving into the sea

plant trees in Russian Arctic that would lose their leaves in to allow the 9. .________________ to reflect
winter radiation

change the direction of 10. .________________ to bring more cold water into ice-forming areas

Questions 11-14
Look at the following statements (Questions 11-14) and the list of scientists below.
Match each statement with the correct scientist, A-D.
Write the correct letter, A-D, in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.
List of Scientists
A Roger Angel
B Phil Rasch
C Dan Lunt
D Martin Sommerkorn

11. The effects of geo-engineering may not be long-lasting.

12. Geo-engineering is a topic worth exploring.
13. It may be necessary to limit the effectiveness of geo-engineering projects.
14. Research into non-fossil-based fuels cannot be replaced by geo-engineering.
6. Read the text and do the following tasks
THE ROBOTS ARE COMING - OR ARE THEY?
What is the current state of play in Artificial Intelligence?
A. Can robots advance so far that they become the ultimate threat to our existence? Some scientists say no, and
dismiss the very idea of Artificial Intelligence. The human brain, they argue, is the most complicated system ever
created, and any machine designed to reproduce human thought is bound to fail. Physicist Roger Penrose of Oxford
University and others believe that machines are physically incapable of human thought. Colin McGinn of Rutgers
University backs this up when he says that Artificial Intelligence is like sheep trying to do complicated psychoanalysis.
They just don't have the conceptual equipment they need in their limited brains'.
B. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is different from most technologies in that scientists still understand very little about
how intelligence works. Physicists have a good understanding of Newtonian mechanics and the quantum theory of
atoms and molecules, whereas the basic laws of intelligence remain a mystery. But a sizeable number of
mathematicians and computer scientists, who are specialists in the area, are optimistic about the possibilities. To them
it is only a matter of time before a thinking machine walks out of the laboratory. Over the years, various problems have
impeded all efforts to create robots. To attack these difficulties, researchers tried to use the 'top-down approach', using
a computer in an attempt to program all the essential rules onto a single disc. By inserting this into a machine, it would
then become self-aware and attain human-like intelligence.
C. In the 1950s and 1960s great progress was made, but the shortcomings of these prototype robots soon became
clear. They were huge and took hours to navigate across a room. Meanwhile, a fruit fly, with a brain containing only a
fraction of the computing power, can effortlessly navigate in three dimensions. Our brains, like the fruit fly's,
unconsciously recognise what we see by performing countless calculations. This unconscious awareness of patterns
is exactly what computers are missing. The second problem is robots' lack of common sense. Humans know that
water is wet and that mothers are older than their daughters. But there is no mathematics that can express these
truths. Children learn the intuitive laws of biology and physics by interacting with the real world. Robots know only
what has been programmed into them.
D. Because of the limitations of the top-down approach to Artificial Intelligence, attempts have been made to use a
'bottom-up' approach instead - that is, to try to imitate evolution and the way a baby learns. Rodney Brooks was the
director of MIT's Artificial Intelligence laboratory, famous for its lumbering 'topdown' walking robots. He changed the
course of research when he explored the unorthodox idea of tiny 'insectoid' robots that learned to walk by bumping
into things instead of computing mathematically the precise position of their feet. Today many of the descendants of
Brooks' insectoid robots are on Mars gathering data for NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration),
running across the dusty landscape of the planet. For all their successes in mimicking the behaviour of insects,
however, robots using neural networks have performed miserably when their programmers have tried to duplicate in
them the behaviour of higher organisms such as mammals. MIT's Marvin Minsky summarises the problems of AI: 'The
history of AI is sort of funny because the first real accomplishments were beautiful things, like a machine that could do
well in a maths course. But then we started to try to make machines that could answer questions about simple
children's stories. There's no machine today that can do that.'
E. There are people who believe that eventually there will be a combination between the top-down and bottom-up,
which may provide the key to Artificial Intelligence. As adults, we blend the two approaches. It has been suggested
that our emotions represent the quality that most distinguishes us as human, that it is impossible for machines ever to
have emotions. Computer expert Hans Moravec thinks that in the future robots will be programmed with emotions
such as fear to protect themselves so that they can signal to humans when their batteries are running low, for
example. Emotions are vital in decision-making. People who have suffered a certain kind of brain injury lose the ability
to experience emotions and become unable to make decisions. Without emotions to guide them, they debate
endlessly over their options. Moravec points out that as robots become more intelligent and are able to make choices,
they could likewise become paralysed with indecision. To aid them, robots of the future might need to have emotions
hardwired into their brains.
F. There is no universal consensus as to whether machines can be conscious, or even, in human terms, what
consciousness means. Minsky suggests the thinking process in our brain is not localised but spread out, with different
centres competing with one another at any given time. Consciousness may then be viewed as a sequence of thoughts
and images issuing from these different, smaller 'minds', each one competing for our attention. Robots might
eventually attain a 'silicon consciousness', Robots, in fact, might one day embody an architecture for thinking and
processing information that is different from ours - but also indistinguishable. If that happens, the question of whether
they really 'understand' becomes largely irrelevant. A robot that has perfect mastery of syntax, for all practical
purposes, understands what is being said.
Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-F.
1. an insect that proves the superiority of natural intelligence over Artificial Intelligence
2. robots being able to benefit from their mistakes
3. many researchers not being put off believing that Artificial Intelligence will eventually be developed
4. the possibility of creating Artificial Intelligence being doubted by some academics
5. no generally accepted agreement of what our brains do

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
When will we have a thinking machine?
Despite some advances, the early robots had certain (6) _____. They were given the information they needed on a (7)
_____. This was known as the 'top-down' approach and enabled them to do certain tasks but they were unable to
recognise (8) _____. Nor did they have any intuition or ability to make decisions based on experience. Rodney Brooks
tried a different (9) _____. Robots similar to those invented by Brooks are to be found on ( 10) _____ where they are
collecting information.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

6.Read a magazine article about acupuncture treatment. Six paragraphs have been removed from the article.
Choose from the paragraph A-G the one which fits each space. There is one extra paragraph which you do
not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Pins and needles
I was curious to find out more about acupuncture as I’d heard a lot about its beneficial effects. However, I didn’t feel in
any particular need of treatment myself so I decided to ask a friend of mine if I could observe her receiving treatment.
I asked Joan Hughes, who I knew had been complaining of muscular stiffness for some time. She agreed, so excitedly
we attended her first appointment at the local centre.
The Traditional Acupuncture Centre was just as you’d expect: the incense, rubber plants and charts on the wall. These
mapped out the body’s energy channels. They seem to be the typical wall coverings of an alternative health centre.

0. E
Nina returned and explained that she needed to ask Joan questions about her health, lifestyle, diet and personal
history. She began by asking why Joan wanted acupuncture. Joan described the shoulder stiffness and backache that
had bothered her for years.
1. ______________
Nina then explained that in Chinese medicine, physical and emotional aspects are not distinct. An imbalance of either
manifests itself in the same way. The division between mind and body is a Western idea.
2. ______________
Nina opened a sachet of sterile 4 cm long needles. They were fine and flexible, but Joan was still apprehensive. Nina
took a pulse at six points on each of Joan’s wrists, looking for certain “qualities” that she would then treat.
3. _______________
Nina inserted the first needle into Joan’s shin. It went in a surprisingly long way before she twisted it to the right and
Joan’s leg shot up suddenly. “Oh” she exclaimed. She was visibly tense, but Nina inserted the next needle it wasn’t so
bad.
4. ________________
When the time came to remove the needles, Joan was more relaxed, though she flinched as they came out. All the
time Nina was reassuring her. She informed Joan that the shocks she felt were due to blockages of the energy
channels.
5. ________________
I asked Joan the next day about how she felt. She said that she felt a little more relaxed and that she had slept deeply
that night. However, she really felt that she needed a course of treatment to be able to assess its effectiveness.
A. Nina said that she felt Joan’s problems with her back and her shoulder stiffness came from her office job. She
recommended that Joan do yoga exercises at work, as this kind of relaxation had many benefits for mind and body.
B. Nina finished with a pressure point massage on Joan’s shoulder and back. “I’m looking forward to seeing you
again,” Nina said, as she bade a relieved Joan a fond farewell. Nina left the decision to Joan about arranging another
appointment.
C. Our health apparently depends on the motivating energy, or chi, made up of the equal and opposite qualities of
Yin and Yang. When these are unbalanced, one can become ill. By inserting needles into points on the energy
channels, healing responses are stimulated and the balance id restored.
D. Surprisingly, these questions went on for a whole hour. Joan was asked about her attitudes to many things,
including work and relationships. She was also asked about her attitude to herself on several occasions.
E. Nina Doughty, the acupuncturist, introduced herself and then slipped away to prepare the treatment room. Joan
was anxious. “I hope this does not hurt too much” she murmured.
F. She also looked at Joan’s tongue, an indicator of her general state of health. At this point, Joan felt that the
experience was rather like being at the dentist. However, at the dentist one usually knows where the needle will be
inserted.
G. She placed more needles in Joan’s ankles, feet, lower back and forearms. She tweaked them as she put them in,
regularly checking Joan’s pulse, then left them for 20 minutes. Joan lay on the bed all this time.