Exam English

The Creators of Grammar

No student of a foreign language needs to be told that grammar is complex.  By changing word
sequences and by adding a range of auxiliary verbs and suffixes, we are able to communicate tiny
variations in meaning.  We can turn a statement into a question, state whether an action has taken
place or is soon to take place, and perform many other word tricks to convey subtle differences in
meaning.  Nor is this complexity inherent to the English language.  All languages, even those of so-
called 'primitive' tribes have clever grammatical components.  The Cherokee pronoun system, for
example, can distinguish between 'you and I', 'several other people and I' and 'you, another person
and I'.  In English, all these meanings are summed up in the one, crude pronoun 'we'.  Grammar is
universal and plays a part in every language, no matter how widespread it is.   So, the question which
has baffled many linguists is - who created grammar?

At first, it would appear that this question is impossible to answer.  To find out how grammar is
created, someone needs to be present at the time of a language's creation, documenting its
emergence.  Many historical linguists are able to trace modern complex languages back to earlier
languages, but in order to answer the question of how complex languages are actually  formed, the
researcher needs to observe how languages are started from scratch.  Amazingly, however, this is
possible.

Some of the most recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade.  At that time, slaves from
a number of different ethnicities were forced to work together under colonizer's rule.   Since they had
no opportunity to learn each other's languages, they developed a make-shift language called
a pidgin.  Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of the landowner.  They have little in
the way of grammar, and in many cases, it is difficult for a listener to deduce when an event
happened, and who did what to whom.  [A] Speakers need to use circumlocution in order to make
their meaning understood.  [B] Interestingly, however, all it takes for a pidgin to become a complex
language is for a group of children to be exposed to it at the time when they learn their mother tongue.
[C] Slave children did not simply copy the strings of words uttered by their elders; they adapted their
words to create a new, expressive language.  [D] Complex grammar systems which emerge from
pidgins are termed creoles, and they are invented by children.

Further evidence of this can be seen in studying sign languages for the deaf.  Sign languages are not
simply a series of gestures; they utilise the same grammatical machinery that is found in spoken
languages.  Moreover, there are many different languages used worldwide. The creation of one such
language was documented quite recently in Nicaragua. Previously, all deaf people were isolated from
each other, but in 1979 a new government introduced schools for the deaf.  Although children were
taught speech and lip reading in the classroom, in the playgrounds they began to invent their own sign
system, using the gestures that they used at home.  It was basically a pidgin.  Each child used the
signs differently, and there was no consistent grammar.  However, children who joined the school
later, when this inventive sign system was already around, developed a quite different sign language. 
Although it was based on the signs of the older children, the younger children's language was more
Exam English

fluid and compact, and it utilised a large range of grammatical devices to clarify meaning.  What is
more, all the children used the signs in the same way.  A new creole was born.

Some linguists believe that many of the world's most established languages were creoles at first.   The
English past tense –ed ending may have evolved from the verb 'do'.  'It ended'  may once have
been 'It end-did'.  Therefore, it would appear that even the most widespread languages were partly
created by children.  Children appear to have innate grammatical machinery in their brains, which
springs to life when they are first trying to make sense of the world around them.  Their minds can
serve to create logical, complex structures, even when there is no grammar present for them to copy.

1  In paragraph 1, why does the writer include information about the Cherokee language?
 A To show how simple, traditional cultures can have complicated grammar structures
 B To show how English grammar differs from Cherokee grammar
 C To prove that complex grammar structures were invented by the Cherokees.
 D To demonstrate how difficult it is to learn the Cherokee language

2  What can be inferred about the slaves' pidgin language?

 A It contained complex grammar.
 B It was based on many different languages.
 C It was difficult to understand, even among slaves.
 D It was created by the land-owners.

3  All the following sentences about Nicaraguan sign language are true EXCEPT:
 A The language has been created since 1979.
 B The language is based on speech and lip reading.
 C The language incorporates signs which children used at home.
 D The language was perfected by younger children.

4  In paragraph 3, where can the following sentence be placed?

It included standardised word orders and grammatical markers that existed in neither the pidgin
language, nor the language of the colonizers. 
 A
 B
 C
 D

5  'From scratch' in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:

 A from the very beginning
 B in simple cultures
 C by copying something else
 D by using written information

6  'Make-shift' in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:

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 A complicated and expressive

 B simple and temporary
 C extensive and diverse
 D private and personal

7  Which sentence is closest in meaning to the highlighted sentence?

Grammar is universal and plays a part in every language, no matter how widespread it is.
 A All languages, whether they are spoken by a few people or a lot of people, contain grammar.
 B Some languages include a lot of grammar, whereas other languages contain a little.
 C Languages which contain a lot of grammar are more common that languages that contain a
little.
 D The grammar of all languages is the same, no matter where the languages evolved.

8  All of the following are features of the new Nicaraguan sign language EXCEPT:
 A All children used the same gestures to show meaning.
 B The meaning was clearer than the previous sign language.
 C The hand movements were smoother and smaller.
 D New gestures were created for everyday objects and activities.

9  Which idea is presented in the final paragraph?

 A English was probably once a creole.
 B The English past tense system is inaccurate.
 C Linguists have proven that English was created by children.
 D Children say English past tenses differently from adults.

10  Look at the word 'consistent' in paragraph 4. This word could best be replaced by which of the
following?
 A natural
 B predictable
 C imaginable
 D uniform

11-14  Which THREE ideas best sum up the main ideas of the passage?

 A Some children are better at grammar than others.
 B Children have the mental capacity to create complex languages.
 C Children are better at learning grammar than adults.
 D Children prefer to invent their own grammar rules than to copy existing rules.
 E Children do not only learn grammar by copying other people.
 F All creole languages were perfected by children.
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Smart Energy

The next few decades will see great changes in the way energy is supplied and used.   In some major
oil producing nations, 'peak oil' has already been reached, and there are increasing fears of global
warming.  Consequently, many countries are focusing on the switch to a low carbon economy. This
transition will lead to major changes in the supply and use of electricity.  [A] Firstly, there will be an
increase in overall demand, as consumers switch from oil and gas to electricity to power their homes
and vehicles.  [B] Secondly, there will be an increase in power generation, not only in terms of how
much is generated, but also how it is generated, as there is growing electricity generation from
renewable sources. [C] To meet these challenges, countries are investing in Smart Grid
technology.  [D] This system aims to provide the electricity industry with a better understanding of
power generation and demand, and to use this information to create a more efficient power network.

Smart Grid technology basically involves the application of a computer system to the electricity
network.  The computer system can be used to collect information about supply and demand and
improve engineer's ability to manage the system.  With better information about electricity demand,
the network will be able to increase the amount of electricity delivered per unit generated, leading to
potential reductions in fuel needs and carbon emissions.  Moreover, the computer system will assist in
reducing operational and maintenance costs.

Smart Grid technology offers benefits to the consumer too.  They will be able to collect real-time
information on their energy use for each appliance.  Varying tariffs throughout the day will give
customers the incentive to use appliances at times when supply greatly exceeds demand, leading to
great reductions in bills.  For example, they may use their washing machines at night.  Smart meters
can also be connected to the internet or telephone system, allowing customers to switch appliances
on or off remotely.  Furthermore, if houses are fitted with the apparatus to generate their own power,
appliances can be set to run directly from the on-site power source, and any excess can be sold to the
grid.

With these changes comes a range of challenges.  The first involves managing the supply and
demand.  Sources of renewable energy, such as wind, wave and solar, are notoriously unpredictable,
and nuclear power, which is also set to increase as nations switch to alternative energy sources, is
inflexible.  With oil and gas, it is relatively simple to increase the supply of energy to match the
increasing demand during peak times of the day or year.  With alternative sources, this is far more
difficult, and may lead to blackouts or system collapse.  Potential solutions include investigating new
and efficient ways to store energy and encouraging consumers to use electricity at off-peak times.

A second problem is the fact that many renewable power generation sources are located
in remote areas, such as windy uplands and coastal regions, where there is currently a lack of
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electrical infrastructure.  New infrastructures therefore must be built.  Thankfully, with improved smart
technology, this can be done more efficiently by reducing the reinforcement or construction costs.

Although Smart Technology is still in its infancy, pilot schemes to promote and test it are
already underway.  Consumers are currently testing the new smart meters which can be used in their
homes to manage electricity use.  There are also a number of demonstrations being planned to show
how the smart technology could practically work, and trials are in place to test the new electrical
infrastructure.  It is likely that technology will be added in 'layers', starting with 'quick win' methods
which will provide initial carbon savings, to be followed by more advanced systems at a later date. 
Cities are prime candidates for investment into smart energy, due to the high population density and
high energy use.  It is here where Smart Technology is likely to be promoted first, utilising a range of
sustainable power sources, transport solutions and an infrastructure for charging electrically powered
vehicles.  The infrastructure is already changing fast.  By the year 2050, changes in the energy supply
will have transformed our homes, our roads and our behaviour.

1  According to paragraph 1, what has happened in some oil producing countries?

 A They are unwilling to sell their oil any more.
 B They are not producing as much oil as they used to.
 C The supply of oil is unpredictable.
 D Global warming is more sever here than in other countries.

2  Where in paragraph 1 can the following sentence be placed?

There is also likely more electricity generation centres, as households and communities take up the
opportunity to install photovoltaic cells and small scale wind turbines. 
 A
 B
 C
 D

3  Which of the following is NOT a benefit of Smart Grid technology to consumers?

 A It can reduce their electricity bills.
 B It can tell them how much energy each appliance is using.
 C It can allow them to turn appliances on and off when they are not at home.
 D It can reduce the amount of energy needed to power appliances.

4  According to paragraph 4, what is the problem with using renewable sources of power?
 A They do not provide much energy.
 B They often cause system failure and blackouts.
 C They do not supply a continuous flow of energy.
 D They can't be used at off-peak times.

5  In paragraph 6, what can be inferred about cities in the future?

 A More people will be living in cities in the future than nowadays.
 B People in cities will be using cars and buses powered by electricity.
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 C All buildings will generate their own electricity.

 D Smart Grid technology will only be available in cities.

6  The word 'remote' in paragraph 5 could be best replace by:

 A isolated
 B crowded
 C attractive
 D alone

7. The word 'underway' in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to:

 A permanent
 B complete
 C beneficial
 D in progress

8  17 What is the main idea of the final paragraph? (paragraph 6).
 A To describe who will benefit from Smart Grid technology first.
 B To outline the advantages of Smart Grid technology.
 C To summarise the main ideas in the previous paragraphs.
 D To describe how, where and when Smart Technology will be introduced.

9  In paragraph 6, what can be inferred about the introduction of Smart Grid Technology?
 A The technologies which produce most benefits will be introduced first.
 B The cheapest technologies will be introduced first.
 C The technologies which are most difficult to put into place will be introduced first.
 D Technologically advanced systems will be introduced first.

10-12  Which THREE of the aspects below are answered in the passage?

 A How consumers are likely to respond to Smart Grid technology.
 B The problems which will have to be overcome in switching to Smart Grid technology.
 C The reasons why Smart Grid technology will be needed in the future.
 D A comparison between Smart Grid technology and the present electrical distribution system.
 E The ways Smart Grid technology will affect the way consumers use energy.
 F An analysis of the costs and benefits of Smart Grid technology.
Exam English

Risk-Taking and the Monkey Economy

Humans are uniquely smart among all the other species on the planet.  We are capable of
outstanding feats of technology and engineering.  Then why are we so prone to making mistakes? 
And why do we tend to make the same ones time and time again?  When Primate Psychologist Laurie
Santos from the Comparative Cognition Lab at Yale University posed this question to her team, they
were thinking in particular of the errors of judgement which led to the recent collapse of the financial
markets.   Santos came to two possible answers to this question.  Either humans have designed
environments which are too complex for us to fully understand, or we are biologically prone to making
bad decisions.

In order to test these theories, the team selected a group of Brown Capuchin monkeys.  Monkeys
were selected for the test because, as distant relatives of humans, they are intelligent and have the
capacity to learn.  However, they are not influenced by any of the technological or cultural
environments which affect human decision-making.  The team wanted to test whether the capuchin
monkeys, when put into similar situations as humans, would make the same mistakes.

[A] Of particular interest to the scientists was whether monkeys would make the same mistakes when
making financial decisions.  [B] In order to find out, they had to introduce the monkeys to money. 
[C] The monkeys soon cottoned on, and as well as learning simple exchange techniques, were soon
able to distinguish 'bargains' – If one team-member offered two grapes in exchange for a metal disc
and another team-member offered one grape, the monkeys chose the two-grape option. 
[D] Interestingly, when the data about the monkey's purchasing strategies was compared with
economist's data on human behaviour, there was a perfect match.

So, after establishing that the monkey market was operating effectively, the team decided to introduce
some problems which humans generally get wrong.  One of these issues is risk-taking.   Imagine that
someone gave you $1000.  In addition to this $1000, you can receive either A) an additional $500 or
B) someone tosses a coin and if it lands 'heads' you receive an additional $1000, but if it lands 'tails'
you receive no more money.  Of these options, most people tend to choose option A.  They prefer
guaranteed earnings, rather than running the risk of receiving nothing.  Now imagine a second
situation in which you are given $2000.  Now, you can choose to either A) lose $500, leaving you with
a total of $1500, or B) toss a coin; if it lands 'heads' you lose nothing, but if it lands 'tails' you lose
$1000, leaving you with only $1000.  Interestingly, when we stand to lose money, we tend to choose
the more risky choice, option B.  And as we know from the experience of financial investors and
gamblers, it is unwise to take risks when we are on a losing streak.

So would the monkeys make the same basic error of judgement?  The team put them to the test by
giving them similar options.  In the first test, monkeys had the option of exchanging their disc for one
grape and receiving one bonus grape, or exchanging the disc for one grape and sometimes receiving
two bonus grapes and sometimes receiving no bonus.  It turned out that monkeys, like humans, chose
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the less risky option in times of plenty.  Then the experiment was reversed.  Monkeys
were offered three grapes, but in option A were only actually given two grapes.  In option B, they had
a fifty-fifty chance of receiving all three grapes or one grape only.  The results were that monkeys, like
humans, take more risks in times of loss.

The implications of this experiment are that because monkeys make the same irrational judgements
that humans do, maybe human error is not a result of the complexity of our financial institutions, but is
imbedded in our evolutionary history.  If this is the case, our errors of judgement will be very difficult to
overcome.  On a more optimistic note however, humans are fully capable of overcoming limitations
once we have identified them.  By recognising them, we can design technologies which will help us to
make better choices in future.

1  What was the aim of the experiment outlined above?

 A To investigate whether monkeys could learn to use money
 B To investigate where human mistakes come from
 C To find out whether it is better to take risks in times of loss
 D To determine whether monkeys make more mistakes than humans

2  Where in paragraph 3 could the sentence below be best placed?

The team distributed metal discs to the monkeys, and taught them that the discs could be exchanged
with team-members for food.
 A
 B
 C
 D

3  Which of the following statements is the best paraphrase of the highlighted sentence?
On a more optimistic note however, humans are fully capable of overcoming limitations once we have
identified them. 
 A Hopefully, humans will soon be able to solve these problems.
 B Fortunately, humans can solve problems that we know about.
 C Luckily, humans do not have many limitations which have been identified.
 D We are happy to note that we can solve the problem which we have identified.

4  The words 'cottoned on' are closest in meaning to:

 A learnt
 B knew
 C completed
 D concluded

5  Which paragraph addresses why monkeys were chosen for the experiment?
 A Paragraph 2
 B Paragraph 3
Exam English

 C Paragraph 4
 D Paragraph 5

6  What can be inferred about Laurie Santos?

 A She thinks that both humans and monkeys are greedy.
 B Her job frequently involves working with monkeys.
 C She believes that humans should never take risks.
 D She prefers monkeys to humans.

10-12  Which THREE of the following statements are supported by the text?

 A Both monkeys and humans take risks at any opportunity.
 B Risk-taking behaviour among humans is the same as that among monkeys.
 C Human mistakes are due to the complexity of our environment.
 D Monkeys and humans take more risks if there is the chance they will lose out.
 E Humans' perception of risk has probably been part of our minds for millions of years.
 F Monkeys make fewer errors of judgement that humans do.

Robert Capa
1. Robert Capa is a name that has for many years been synonymous with war photography.
2. Born in Hungary in 1913 as Friedmann Endre Ernő, Capa was forced to leave his native country
after his involvement in anti government protests. Capa had originally wanted to become a writer, but
after his arrival in Berlin had first found work as a photographer. He later left Germany and moved to
France due to the rise in Nazism. He tried to find work as a freelance journalist and it was here that he
changed his name to Robert Capa, mainly because he thought it would sound more American.
3. In 1936, after the breakout of the Spanish Civil war, Capa went to Spain and it was here over the
next three years that he built his reputation as a war photographer. It was here too in 1936 that he
took one of his most famous pictures, The Death of a Loyalist Soldier. One of Capa’s most famous
quotes was 'If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough.' And he took his attitude of
getting close to the action to an extreme. His photograph, The Death of a Loyalist Soldier is a prime
example of this as Capa captures the very moment the soldier falls. However, many have questioned
the authenticity of this photograph, claiming that it was staged.
4. When World war II broke out, Capa was in New York, but he was soon back in Europe covering the
war for Life magazine. Some of his most famous work was created on 6th June 1944 when he swam
ashore with the first assault on Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Capa, armed only
with two cameras, took more than one hundred photographs in the first hour of the landing, but a
mistake in the darkroom during the drying of the film destroyed all but eight frames. It was the images
from these frames however that inspired the visual style of Steven Spielberg's Oscar winning movie
‘Saving Private Ryan’. When Life magazine published the photographs, they claimed that they were
slightly out of focus, and Capa later used this as the title of his autobiographical account of the war.
Exam English

5. Capa’s private life was no less dramatic. He was friend to many of Hollywood’s directors, actors
and actresses. In 1943 he fell in love with the wife of actor John Austin. His affair with her lasted until
the end of the war and became the subject of his war memoirs. He was at one time lover to actress
Ingrid Bergman. Their relationship finally ended in 1946 when he refused to settle in Hollywood and
went off to Turkey.
6. In 1947 Capa was among a group of photojournalists who founded Magnum Photos. This was a co-
operative organisation set up to support photographers and help them to retain ownership of the
copyright to their work.
7. Capa went on to document many other wars. He never attempted to glamorise war though, but to
record the horror. He once said, "The desire of any war photographer is to be put out of business."
8. Capa died as he had lived. After promising not to photograph any more wars, he accepted an
assignment to go to Indochina to cover the first Indochina war. On May 25th 1954 Capa was
accompanying a French regiment when he left his jeep to take some photographs of the advance and
stepped on a land mine. He was taken to a nearby hospital, still clutching his camera, but was
pronounced dead on arrival. He left behind him a testament to the horrors of war and a standard for
photojournalism that few others have been able to reach.
9. Capa’s legacy has lived on though and in 1966 his brother Cornell founded the International Fund
for Concerned Photography in his honor. There is also a Robert Capa Gold Medal, which is given to
the photographer who publishes the best photographic reporting from abroad with evidence of
exceptional courage. But perhaps his greatest legacy of all are the haunting images of the human
struggles that he captured.

1  Why did Capa change his name?

 To hide his identity
 Because he had been involved in protests
 To sound more American
 Because he had to leave Hungary

2  Capa originally wanted to be

 A photojournalist
 A writer
 American
 A protestor

3  Capa went to Spain to

 fight in the civil war.
 build his reputation.
 have a holiday.
 take photographs.

4  Capa’s famous picture Death of a Loyalist Soldier

Exam English

 was taken by someone else.

 was definitely genuine.
 wasn’t even taken in Spain.
 cannot be proven genuine or staged.

5  When World War II broke out Capa

 went to New York.
 swam ashore on Omaha Beach.
 went to Europe.
 went to Normandy.

6  A mistake meant that

 only one hundred of Capa’s photographs were published.
 Capa lost both of his two cameras.
 Capa’s images inspired an Oscar winning movie.
 Most of Capa’s images of the D-Day landing were destroyed.

7  Capa’s private life was

 less dramatic than his professional life.
 spent mostly in Hollywood.
 very glamorous.
 spent in Turkey.

8  Capa wanted his work to

 be very famous.
 show how glamorous war can be.
 show the true horror of war.
 make lots of money.

9  Which sentence best paraphrases paragraph 5?

 Capa had a tragic private life and was never able to settle down and find happiness.
 Despite having many good friends and lovers, Capa always put his work first.
 Capa wanted to make friends with important people in Hollywood so that he could move into the
movie industry.
 Capa’s private life was very complicated. He could not choose between the two women he loved,
so he went off to work in Turkey.

10  Which sentence best paraphrases paragraph 4?

 Capa never tried to avoid danger. He risked his life to take photographs of the D-Day invasion,
but then destroyed most of them.
 Capa took some of his most famous photographs during the D-Day invasion, but most were
tragically destroyed in an accident.
 Capa only kept the best eight D-Day photographs as the others were out of focus. These inspired
the visual style of a Hollywood film.
Exam English

 Capa left Europe when the war broke out and went to take his most famous photographs of the
D-Day invasion.

10-12  Which THREE sentences best summarise the passage?

 A Capa’s work tried to show the beauty within the horror of war, that’s why so many
photographers have tried to copy his work.
 B From his earliest years Capa was active in political journalism and reporting. This often got him
into trouble with the authorities.
 C Capa was not afraid to get close to his work and often risked his life to ensure that his
photographs were as good as they could be.
 D Capa wanted to have a glamorous life style and so he made friends with Hollywood film stars
and even had a film, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ made about him.
 E Capa was deeply committed to trying to stop war and he left behind him a legacy that
continued to support and inspire other photojournalists to continue this work.
 F Capa had always wanted to be as American as possible, so after the war he changed his name
and went to live in America.

Read the text and answer the questions.

1) There has, in recent years, been an outpouring of information about the impact of
buildings on the natural environment; Information which explains and promotes green and
sustainable construction design, strives to convince others of its efficacy and warns of the
dangers of ignoring the issue. Seldom do these documents offer any advice to practitioners,
such as those designing mechanical and electrical systems for a building, on how to utilise
this knowledge on a practical level. 

2) While the terms green and sustainable are often considered synonymous, in that they

both symbolise nature, green does not encompass all that is meant by sustainability, which
can be defined as minimizing the negative impacts of human activities on the natural
environment, in particular those which have long-term and irreversible effects. Some
elements of green design may be sustainable too, for example those which reduce energy
usage and pollution, while others, such as ensuring internal air quality, may be considered
green despite having no influence on the ecological balance.  

3) Although there are a good many advocates of ‘green’ construction in the architectural
industry, able to cite ample reasons why buildings should be designed in a sustainable way,
not to mention a plethora of architectural firms with experience in green design, this is not
enough to make green construction come into being.  The driving force behind whether a
building is constructed with minimal environmental impact lies with the owner of the building;
that is, the person financing the project. If the owner considers green design unimportant, or
of secondary importance, then more than likely, it will not be factored into the design.
Exam English

4) The commissioning process plays a key role in ensuring the owner gets the building he
wants, in terms of design, costs and risk. At the predesign stage, the owner’s objectives,
criteria and the type of design envisaged are discussed and documented. This gives a
design team a solid foundation on which they can build their ideas, and also provides a
specific benchmark against which individual elements, such as costs, design and
environmental impact can be judged.

5) Owners who skip the commissioning process, or fail to take ‘green’ issues into account
when doing so, often come a cropper once their building is up and running. Materials and
equipment are installed as planned, and, at first glance, appear to fulfil their purpose
adequately.  However, in time, the owner realises that operational and maintenance costs
are higher than necessary, and that the occupants are dissatisfied with the results. These
factors in turn lead to higher ownership costs as well as increased environmental impact.

6) In some cases, an owner may be aware of the latest trends in sustainable building design.
He may have done research into it himself, or he may have been informed of the merits of
green design through early discussion with professionals. However, firms should not take it
as read that someone commissioning a building already has a preconceived idea of how
green he intends the structure to be. Indeed, this initial interaction between owner and firm is
the ideal time for a designer to outline and promote the ways that green design can meet the
client’s objectives, thus turning a project originally not destined for green design into a
potential candidate.

7) Typically, when considering whether or not to adopt a green approach, an owner will ask
about additional costs, return for investment and to what extent green design should be the
limiting factor governing decisions in the design process. (1) Many of these costs are
incurred by the increased cooperation between the various stakeholders, such as the owner,
the design professionals, contractors and end-users. (2) However, in green design, they
must be involved from the outset, since green design demands interaction between these
disciplines. (3) This increased coordination clearly requires additional expenditure. (4) A
client may initially balk at these added fees, and may require further convincing of the
benefits if he is to proceed. It is up to the project team to gauge the extent to which a client
wants to get involved in a green design project and provide a commensurate service.

8) Of course, there may be financial advantage for the client in choosing a greener design.
Case studies cite examples of green / sustainable designs which have demonstrated lower
costs for long-term operation, ownership and even construction. Tax credits and rebates are
usually available on a regional basis for projects with sustainable design or low emissions,
among others.
Exam English

1  The writer’s main purpose is to…

 explain to professionals how they can influence clients to choose greener designs.
 explain the importance of green building design in reducing long-term damage to the
environment.
 explain to owners commissioning a building why ignoring green issues is costly and dangerous.
 explain to professionals why it is important to follow the correct procedures when a building is
commissioned.

2  The examples of green and sustainable designs given in paragraph 2 show that
 designs must be sustainable in order for them to be described as green.
 for the purposes of this paper, the terms green and sustainable have the same meaning.
 some sustainable designs are green, while others are not.
 some designs are termed green, even though they are not sustainable.

3  According to paragraph 3, the reason for the lack of green buildings being designed is that…
 few firms have any experience in design and constructing buildings to a green design.
 construction companies are unaware of the benefits of green and sustainable designs.
 firms do not get to decide whether a building is to be constructed sustainably.
 firms tend to convince clients that other factors are more important than sustainability.

4  Which of the following is NOT true about the commissioning process?

 It is conducted before the building is designed.
 It is a stage that all clients go through when constructing a building.
 It is a step in the design procedure in which the client’s goals are identified.
 It provides the firm with a measure of how well they did their job.

5  In paragraph 5, what does the phrase ‘come a cropper’ mean?

 experience misfortune
 change one’s mind
 notice the benefits
 make a selection

6  In paragraph 6, the writer implies that…

 most clients enter the commissioning process with a clear idea of whether or not they want a
green building.
 designers are usually less concerned about green design than the clients are.
 the commissioning process offers a perfect opportunity to bring up the subject of green design.
 firms should avoid working with clients who reject green designs in their buildings.

7  Where in paragraph 7 does this sentence belong?

In a typical project, landscape architects and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers do not
become involved until a much later stage.
Exam English

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8  In paragraph 7, what does ‘balk at’ mean?

 display shock towards
 agree to pay
 question the reason for
 understand the need for

9  Green buildings are most likely to incur more expense than conventional buildings due to…
 higher taxes incurred on sustainable buildings.
 higher long-term operational costs.
 the higher cost of green construction materials.
 increased coordination between construction teams.

Read the 6 sentences below. Which 3 sentences best express the most important ideas in
the passage? (Do not choose sentences which focus on minor or incorrect facts).
1. Green, sustainable buildings are advantageous not only in terms of environmental impact.
There are financial benefits as well.
2. Ensuring good internal air quality is one way of ensuring that occupants are satisfied with
a building’s design.
3. Since clients are unlikely to choose a green construction design, it is up to the firms to
advocate it.
4. Most clients are prepared to pay extra in order to receive the benefits of green building
design.
5. Architects are more interested in green building design than other contractors, such as
engineers and plumbers.
6. Although the initial costs for designing and constructing green buildings may dissuade
clients from building them, there are financial incentives, particularly in the long term.

10. Select first sentence

1
  

11. Select second sentence

3
  

12. Select final sentence

6