Reading

READING

READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading
Passage 1 below.

Research using twins

To biomedical researchers all over the The idea of using twins to measure the
world, twins offer a precious opportunity influence of heredity dates back to 1875,
to untangle the influence of genes and when the English scientist Francis Galton
the environment - of nature and nurture. first suggested the approach (and coined
Because identical twins come from a the phrase 'nature and nurture'). But
single fertilized egg that splits into two, twin studies took a surprising twist in
they share virtually the same genetic the 1980s, with the arrival of studies into
code. Any differences between them - identical twins who had been separated
one twin having younger looking skin, for at birth and reunited as adults. Over two
example - must be due to environmental decades 137 sets of twins eventually
factors such as less time spent in the sun. visited Thomas Bouchard's lab in what
became known as the Minnesota Study of
Alternatively, by comparing the Twins Reared Apart. Numerous tests were
experiences of identical twins with carried out on the twins, and they were
those of fraternal twins, who come from each asked more than 15,000 questions.
separate eggs and share on average
half their DNA, researchers can quantify Bouchard and his colleagues used this
the extent to which our genes affect our mountain of data to identify how far
lives. If identical twins are more similar twins were affected by their genetic
to each other with respect to an ailment makeup. The key to their approach was
than fraternal twins are, then vulnerability a statistical concept called heritability.
to the disease must be rooted at least in In broad terms, the heritability of a trait
part in heredity. measures the extent to which differences
among members of a population can be
These two lines of research - studying explained by differences in their genetics.
the differences between identical twins And wherever Bouchard and other
to pinpoint the influence of environment, scientists looked, it seemed, they found
and comparing identical twins with the invisible hand of genetic influence
fraternal ones to measure the role helping to shape our lives.
of inheritance - have been crucial to
understanding the interplay of nature and Lately, however, twin studies have helped
nurture in determining our personalities, lead scientists to a radical new conclusion:
behavior, and vulnerability to disease. that nature and nurture are not the only

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elemental forces at work. According to a as they become heart, brain, or liver cells,
recent field called epigenetics, there is a for example.
third factor also in play, one that in some
cases serves as a bridge between the Geneticist Danielle Reed has worked with
environment and our genes, and in others many twins over the years and thought
operates on its own to shape who we are. deeply about what twin studies have
taught us. 'It's very clear when you look
Epigenetic processes are chemical at twins that much of what they share
reactions tied to neither nature nor is hardwired,' she says. 'Many things
nurture but representing what researchers about them are absolutely the same and
have called a 'third component'. These unalterable. But it's also clear, when you
reactions influence how our genetic get to know them, that other things about
code is expressed: how each gene is them are different. Epigenetics is the
strengthened or weakened, even turned origin of a lot of those differences, in my
on or off, to build our bones, brains and view.'
all the other parts of our bodies.
Reed credits Thomas Bouchard's work for
If you think of our DNA as an immense today's surge in twin studies. 'He was the
piano keyboard and our genes as the keys trailblazer,' she says. 'We forget that 50
- each key symbolizing a segment of DNA years ago things like heart disease were
responsible for a particular note, or trait, thought to be caused entirely by lifestyle.
and all the keys combining to make us Schizophrenia was thought to be due
who we are - then epigenetic processes to poor mothering. Twin studies have
determine when and how each key can be allowed us to be more reflective about
struck, changing the tune being played. what people are actually born with and
what's caused by experience.'
One way the study of epigenetics is
revolutionizing our understanding of Having said that, Reed adds, the latest
biology is by revealing a mechanism by work in epigenetics promises to take our
which the environment directly impacts on understanding even further. 'What I like
genes. Studies of animals, for example, to say is that nature writes some things in
have shown that when a rat experiences pencil and some things in pen,' she says.
stress during pregnancy, it can cause 'Things written in pen you can't change.
epigenetic changes in a fetus that lead to That's DNA. But things written in pencil
behavioral problems as the rodent grows you can. That's epigenetics. Now that
up. Other epigenetic processes appear to we're actually able to look at the DNA
occur randomly, while others are normal, and see where the pencil writings are, it's
such as those that guide embryonic cells sort of a whole new world.'

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 Reading

Questions 1-4

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-4 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

1 There may be genetic causes for the differences in how young the skin of identical
twins looks.
2 Twins are at greater risk of developing certain illnesses than non-twins.
3 Bouchard advertised in newspapers for twins who had been separated at birth.
4 Epigenetic processes are different from both genetic and environmental processes.

Questions 5-9

Look at the following statements (Questions 5-9) and the list of researchers below.

Match each statement with the correct researcher, A, B or C.

Write the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 5-9 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

List of Researchers
A Francis Galton
B Thomas Bouchard
C Danielle Reed

5 invented a term used to distinguish two factors affecting human characteristics

6 expressed the view that the study of epigenetics will increase our knowledge
7 developed a mathematical method of measuring genetic influences
8 pioneered research into genetics using twins
9 carried out research into twins who had lived apart

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Questions 10-13

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-F, below.

Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.

Epigenetic processes
In epigenetic processes, 10 influence the activity of our genes, for example
in creating our internal 11 The study of epigenetic processes is uncovering
a way in which our genes can be affected by our 12 One example is that
if a pregnant rat suffers stress, the new-born rat may later show problems in its
13

A nurture B organs c code

D chemicals E environment F behaviour/behavior

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 Reading

READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading
Passage 2 below.

An Introduction to Film Sound

Though we might think of film as an and very realistic persona emerges. The
essentially visual experience, we really viewer sees not an actor working at his
cannot afford to underestimate the craft, but another human being struggling
importance of film sound. A meaningful with life. It is interesting to note that how
sound track is often as complicated as dialogue is used and the very amount of
the image on the screen, and is ultimately dialogue used varies widely among films.
just as much the responsibility of the For example, in the highly successful
director. The entire sound track consists science-fiction film 2001, little dialogue
of three essential ingredients: the human was evident, and most of it was banal
voice, sound effects and music. These and of little intrinsic interest. In this
three tracks must be mixed and balanced way the film-maker was able to portray
so as to produce the necessary emphases what Thomas Sobochack and Vivian
which in turn create desired effects. Sobochack call, in An Introduction to Film,
Topics which essentially refer to the the 'inadequacy of human responses
three previously mentioned tracks are when compared with the magnificent
discussed below. They include dialogue, technology created by man and the visual
synchronous and asynchronous sound beauties of the universe'.
effects, and music.
The comedy Bringing Up Baby, on the
Let us start with dialogue. As is the case other hand, presents practically non-stop
with stage drama, dialogue serves to dialogue delivered at breakneck speed.
tell the story and expresses feelings and This use of dialogue underscores not
motivations of characters as well. Often only the dizzy quality of the character
with film characterization the audience played by Katherine Hepburn, but also
perceives little or no difference between the absurdity of the film itself and thus its
the character and the actor. Thus, for humor. The audience is bounced from gag
example, the actor Humphrey Bogart is to gag and conversation to conversation;
the character Sam Spade; film personality there is no time for audience reflection.
and life personality seem to merge. The audience is caught up in a whirlwind
Perhaps this is because the very texture of of activity in simply managing to follow
a performer's voice supplies an element the plot. This film presents pure escapism
of character. - largely due to its frenetic dialogue.

When voice textures fit the performer's Synchronous sound effects are those
physiognomy and gestures, a whole sounds which are synchronized or

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matched with what is viewed. For We are probably all familiar with
example, if the film portrays a character background music in films, which has
playing the piano, the sounds of the become so ubiquitous as to be noticeable
piano are projected. Synchronous sounds in its absence. We are aware that it is used
contribute to the realism of film and also to add emotion and rhythm. Usually not
help to create a particular atmosphere. meant to be noticeable, it often provides
For example, the 'click' of a door being a tone or an emotional attitude toward
opened may simply serve to convince the story and/or the characters depicted.
the audience that the image portrayed In addition, background music often
is real, and the audience may only foreshadows a change in mood. For
subconsciously note the expected sound. example, dissonant music may be used in
However, if the 'click' of an opening film to indicate an approaching (but not
door is part of an ominous action such yet visible) menace or disaster.
as a burglary, the sound mixer may call
attention to the 'click' with an increase in Background music may aid viewer
volume; this helps to engage the audience understanding by linking scenes. For
in a moment of suspense. example, a particular musical theme
associated with an individual character
Asynchronous sound effects, on the other or situation may be repeated at various
hand, are not matched with a visible points in a film in order to remind the
source of the sound on screen. Such audience of salient motifs or ideas.
sounds are included so as to provide an
appropriate emotional nuance, and they Film sound comprises conventions and
may also add to the realism of the film. innovations. We have come to expect an
For example, a film-maker might opt acceleration of music during car chases
to include the background sound of an and creaky doors in horror films. Yet, it
ambulance's siren while the foreground is important to note as well that sound
sound and image portrays an arguing is often brilliantly conceived. The effects
couple. The asynchronous ambulance of sound are often largely subtle and
siren underscores the psychic injury often are noted by only our subconscious
incurred in the argument; at the same minds. We need to foster an awareness of
time the noise of the siren adds to the film sound as well as film space so as to
realism of the film by acknowledging the truly appreciate an art form that sprang
film's city setting. to life during the twentieth century - the
modern film.

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 Reading

Questions 14-18

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

14 In the first paragraph, the writer makes a point that

A the director should plan the sound track at an early stage in filming,
B it would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films,
C the music industry can have a beneficial influence on sound in film.
D it is important for those working on the sound in a film to have sole
responsibility for it.
15 One reason that the writer refers to Humphrey Bogart is to exemplify
A the importance of the actor and the character appearing to have similar
personalities.
B the audience’s wish that actors are visually appropriate for their roles,
C the value of the actor having had similar feelings to the character.
D the audience’s preference for dialogue to be as authentic as possible.
16 In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that
A audiences are likely to be critical of film dialogue that does not reflect their own
experience.
B film dialogue that appears to be dull may have a specific purpose,
C filmmakers vary considerably in the skill with which they handle dialogue,
D the most successful films are those with dialogue of a high quality.
17 What does the writer suggest about Bringing Up Baby?
A The plot suffers from the filmmaker’s wish to focus on humorous dialogue.
B The dialogue helps to make it one of the best comedy films ever produced.
C There is a mismatch between the speed of the dialogue and the speed of
actions.
D The nature of the dialogue emphasises key elements of the film.
18 The writer refers to the ‘click’ of a door to make the point that realistic sounds
A are often used to give the audience a false impression of events in the film,
B may be interpreted in different ways by different members of the audience,
C may be modified in order to manipulate the audience’s response to the film,
D tend to be more significant in films presenting realistic situations.

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Questions 19-23

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 19-23 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

19 Audiences are likely to be surprised if a film lacks background music.

20 Background music may anticipate a development in a film.
21 Background music has more effect on some people than on others.
22 Background music may help the audience to make certain connections within
the film.
23 Audiences tend to be aware of how the background music is affecting them.

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Questions 24—26

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-E, below.

Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.

24 The audience’s response to different parts of a film can be controlled

25 The feelings and motivations of characters become clear
26 A character seems to be a real person rather than an actor

A when the audience listens to the dialogue.

B if the film reflects the audience’s own concerns.
C if voice, sound and music are combined appropriately.
D when the director is aware of how the audience will respond.
E when the actor’s appearance, voice and moves are
consistent with each other.

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READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading
Passage 3 on the following pages.

Questions 27-32

Reading Passage 3 has six paragraphs, A-F.

Choose tne correct heading for paragraphs A-F from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-vii, in boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings
i Differences between languages highlight their impressiveness
ii The way in which a few sounds are organised tc convey a huge
range of meaning
iii Why the sounds used in different languages are not identical
iv Apparently incompatible characteristics of language
v Even silence can be meaningful
vi Why language is the most important invention of a:’
vii The universal ability to use language

27 Paragraph A
28 Paragraph B
29 Paragraph C
30 Paragraph D
31 Paragraph E
32 Paragraph F

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 Reading

‘This Marvellous Invention’

A Of all mankind’s manifold creations, language must take pride of place. Other inventions -
the wheel, agriculture, sliced bread - may have transformed our material existence, but the
advent of language is what made us human. Compared to language, all other inventions pale
in significance, since everything we have ever achieved depends on language and originates
from it. Without language, we could never have embarked on our ascent to unparalleled
power over all other animals, and even over nature itself.

B But language is foremost not just because it came first. In its own right it is a tool of
extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: ‘this marvellous
invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of
expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow
us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate
it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul’. This was how, in 1660,
the renowned French grammarians of the Port-Royal abbey near Versailles distilled the
essence of language, and no one since has celebrated more eloquently the magnitude of its
achievement. Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to
languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity. Language is
mankinds greatest invention - except, of course, that it was never invented. This apparent
^paradox is at the core of our fascination with language, and it holds many of its secrets.

C Language often seems so skillfully drafted that one can hardly imagine it as anything other
than the perfected handiwork of a master craftsman. How else could this instrument
make so much out of barely three dozen measly morsels of sound? In themselves, these
configurations of mouth - p,f»b,v,t,d,k,g,shfa,e and so on - amount to nothing more than a
few haphazard spits and splutters, random noises with no meaning, no ability to express,
no power to explain. But run them through the cogs and wheels of the language machine,
let it arrange them in some very special orders, and there is nothing that these meaningless
streams of air cannot do: from sighing the interminable boredom of existence to unravelling
the fundamental order of the universe.

D The most extraordinary thing about language, however, is that one doesn’t have to be a
genius to set its wheels in motion. The language machine allows just about everybody -
from pre-modern foragers in the subtropical savannah, to post-modern philosophers in the
suburban sprawl - to tie these meaningless sounds together into an infinite variety of subtle
senses, and all apparently without the slightest exertion. Yet it is precisely this deceptive ease
which makes language a victim of its own success, since in everyday life its triumphs are
usually taken for granted. The wheels of language run so smoothly that one rarely bothers to
stop and think about all the resourcefulness and expertise that must have gone into making
it tick. Language conceals art.

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E
to bChZ o™ =f

S.™^**** »,ai" °ne e”m,p1'' rans 8 an 7 ,‘;e

„ « Le whom «e can't »m IMO • town-dweller. (In ease you were wondenng, this
monstrosity really is one word. no. merely many different words squashed together - most o
Its components cannot even stand up on (heir own.)

And If that sounds like some one-off freak, (hen consider Sumerian the language spoken
F on (he banks of (he Euphrates some S.000 years ago by the people who invented writing
Xus enabled th. documentation of history. A Sumerian wordI likewhen
he had made 1( suitable for her’) might seem rather trim compared to the Turk, h colossus
"bo" e What is so impressive about it, however, Is not its lengthmess but rather the reverse
the thrifty compactness of Its construction. The word is made up of different slots, each
correspondfog Io a particular portion of meaning. This sleek des.gn allows s.ngle sounds
o conley usefol information, and In fact even the absence of a sound has been enlisted to
express something specific. If you were to ask which bit in the Sumer,an.word eoraponds
“L pronoun 'if in the English translation 'when he had made « suitable for her, then the
answer would have to be nothing. Mind you, a very particular kind of nothing, the nothing
that stands in (he empty slot in the middle. The technology is so fine-tuned then that even a
non-sound, when carefully placed in a particular positron, has been invested wrlh a specific
function. Who could possibly have come up with such a nifty contraption.

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 Reading

Questions 33—36

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-G, below.

Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 33-36 on your answer sheet.

The importance of language

The wheel is one invention that has had a major impact on 33 aspects of
life, but no impact has been as 34 as that of language. Language is very
35 yet composed of just a small number of sounds.

Language appears to be 36 to use. However, its sophistication is often

overlooked.

A difficult B complex C original

D admired E material F easy
G fundamental

Questions 37-40

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

37 Human beings might have achieved their present position without language.
38 The Port-Royal grammarians did justice to the nature of language.

39 A complex idea can be explained more clearly in a sentence than in a single word.

40 The Sumerians were responsible for starting the recording of events.

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