D Read the question

Read the exam question below carefully.

Part 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 300-350 words in an
appropriate style.

Last week, a television documentary explored ways in which we exploit

animals. Read the extract from a review of the programme which was
published in a weekly magazine.

The programme started by questioning whether it is mora'lly right to keep wild

animals in zoos. We were shown footage of captive animals in highly unsuitable
conditions. Not all zoos are this bad, it seems, but plenty are. The programme
also considered whether animals should be used in laboratory tests. While the
importance of medical research was acknowledged, the programme questioned
the use of animals for testing cosmetics and perfumes. At the end of the
programme we were left with the question: 'To what extent are we justified in
exploiting animals in this way?'

You have been asked to write an article for the magazine, referring to the
extract above and saying whether you think keeping animals in zoos or
using them for research is ever justified and if it is, under what
circum stan ces.

o Think about your reader

Work with a partner. Look at the instructions (rubric) in the exam question again and answer
the following questions.

1 Who is going to publish your article? 3 Should your article be

a a scientific journal a formal and scientific?
b a quality newspaper b semi-formal/neutral?
c a weekly magazine
4 Why are you writing the article?
2 Who is going to read your article? a to review the programme
a biologists and other scientists b to justify the making of the programme
b the general public c to give an opinion
c businesspeople d for some other reason

o Identify the key points in the question

Work with a partner. Look at the extract in the exam
question again and answer the following questions.
1 What was the subject of last week's TV
programme?
2 Which two major topics must you consider?
Underline them in the exam question.
What else must you do in your article?
If you are writing an article, always
check what kind of publication you are
writing for. While an article for a quality
newspaper will probably need to be
quite formal, magazine articles are often
written in a neutral or semi-formal style.
D Think about vocabulary
a Match the adjectives (1-9) with their opposites (a-i). (Sometimes more than one answer is possible,)

1 appalling a civilised
2 barbaric b defensible
3 cruel c essential
4 ~ramped d humane
5 inexcusable e painless
6 painful f spacious
7 pointless 9 superb
8 unnecessary h tame
9 wild useful
~
b Complete the text with a suitable adjective from a. (Sometimes more than one answer is
possible,)

I shall never forget my last visit to a zoo. The cages were so (1) that
the animals barely had room to turn round. The keepers themselves were quite
(2) and were doing their best to care for the animals but there was
little they could do in such (3) conditions. It was the owner who was
really to blame. He was greedy and (4) and totally unconcerned
about what was going on around him. The way he way he treated his animals was
absolutely (5) in my opinion.

1 oain a a disease
2 do b a point of view/an opinion
3 res make C an excuse
4 cure d drugs/medicine
5 ake e experiments/research
6 -~~. f access
lit Brainstorm the topic
Work with a partner and answer the questions. Note down the best ideas.

1 Name five wild animals and five tame animals or pets.

2 Why are wild animals kept in captivity?
Make a list of reasons.
3 Have you been to a zoo recently? Describe it.
4 Do you think animals in captivity are always well-kept and happy?
Why/Why not?
5 What criticisms could you make about zoos?
6 Why do scientists use animals in research?
7 Do you think scientists are justified in using animals for research?
Why/Why not?
8 Should beauty products be tested on animals before they are sold in
shops?
Why/Why not?

(Factfile)

Conditions vary greatly in zoos across the world. Some establishments pay
scant heed to the requirements of the animals they have in captivity. Many
animals show distress if kept in cages that are too small, or if they lack
physical and/or mental stimulation. This distress often leads to repetitive
behaviour, with animals pacing to and fro inside their cages.
The use of animals in research also arouses a great deal of passion. Many
scientists argue it is essential to use laboratory animals for research to find
cures for the world's major diseases. Opponents of these practices argue that
most experiments involving animals are cruel and unnecessary, and that
testing beauty products such as cosmetics and perfume on animals is immoral.
 Make a plan
a Look at the following notes which one student has made. Tick (.I) the points you think he
should include in his article. Put a cross (X) against any points that are irrelevant or unimportant.

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. condiJions- ~n S-01YJe-"7-00S-
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?Low we- 1-1s-e-aniIYJa(s- fo ?Le-(p 1-1S-, e-.g.' gl-1ide- dogs-

b Look at the plan below. The student has already completed most of the plan. Decide which
notes he should put in Paragraph 3.

Paragraph I.· Shot-1ld we- /<:e-e-pa"ilVlals i" 7-oos!t-1se- Make sure you give
fhe-1Vl i" re-se-arch7 reasons for all your
arguments. Don't make
ParC1ftraph 2: VVh!j do we- "e-e-d 7-00S7 How 7-00 a"ilVlals
claims that you can't
st-1fhr.
justify and avoid over-
Paragraph 3· generalisations.

Paragraph 4-. A"ilVlals fe-e-I pai" a"d lVla"!j are-

i"fe-Ilige-"f The-!j st-1ffe-r i" a"!j forlVl of capfwrJ!j

o Read a model article

Read part of the article below and answer the following questions. Ignore the missing final
paragraph for now.

1 Has the writer paragraphed his article clearly? Does he start a new paragraph for
each new topic?
2 Underline the topic sentence in each paragraph.
3 Would a reader find the article interesting and well-argued?
4 Does the writer of the article address the reader directly? Find examples in the text.
S Does the writer use rhetorical questions to make his article more direct?
6 Has the writer made his opinion clear to the reader all through the article?
7 Has he justified all his statements by giving examples or explanations?
Find examples in the text.
8 Has the writer over-generalised in any of his points?
9 Has the writer forgotten any of the points he was asked to cover in the exam question?
10 Has the writer made any errors in grammar, spelling or punctuation?
 Are we fair to animals '?
We like to think that we live in a civilised society, but we are still capable of great cruelty. Consider
way we treat animals. We cage them, sometimes in appalling conditions, and we use them and even
kill them in experiments. How can this be justified?

Conditions in zoos
Take a look at a zoo near you. Maybe you will be fortunate and find you live near a reputable zoo,
where the animals are well cared for. This will not be the case for most of us, however. We are far
more likely to find the sort of scenes shown in last week's television programme, with animals
imprisoned in cramped cages in conditions unlike any they would experience in the wild. Like most
wild animals that are kept in captivity they will show signs of distress. They may pace up and down
their enclosures staring blindly ahead or sit listlessly in one corner of the cage. Few will reach even
half the age they would in the wild, let alone breed in captivity. And why are they forced to endure
these conditions? So that the owner of the zoo can make money, nothing more. Of course, not all
zoos are like this, but as was shown in last week's programme, plenty are.

Animal research
Now consider the plight of those animals - mice, rabbits, dogs, cats and monkeys - that are kept. in
laboratories. Few of us have been inside one of these establishments; in fact, we would probably not
be admitted if we tried. Nevertheless, we know enough about what goes on there to feel uneasy.
Scientists argue that research is necessary if they are ever to find a cure for some of our most serious
diseases - cancer, for example. Well, fair enough, this might justify some of the research involving
animals. But surely we shouldn't be using animals to test products like cosmetics and shampoos?
After all, we can't guarantee that a product will affect a human in the same way as an animal. And
besides, do we really need more and more of these products? Surely we have got enough already!

D Think about your conclusion

Decide which of the paragraphs below (a-cJ would make a good conclusion
to this article. What is wrong with the others? Use this guide to help you. The first and final
paragraph of a text are
often the most difficult to
write, so leave yourself
• is linked to the paragraph(s) before it. time in the exam to write
• links back thematically to the first paragraph. a good introduction and
conclusion.
• contains a number of sentences that are well linked.
• may pose a question or make a clear statement.
• summarises the theme of the article and takes it on in some way.
• makes the article fecl complete.

So are we justified in exploiting

All in all, I don't believe
animals in the ways we have
using animals in laboratories
described? I believe not.
e should is justifiable unless it is for
Animals feel pain and emotion, To sum up, w .
b t keep animals m serious medical research. Any
and they suffer in captivity, nO h for
s or use t em . other Use should be made
whether in a zoo or laboratory. zoo b cause It
experiments e . illegal and the penalties for
They deserve our respect and
, ~ barbanc. breaking the law should be
our consideration. As fellow is cruel anLl
severe.
creatures, they belong in their
natural habitats, not in the
prisons we make for them.
 Think about language
Find words and phrases in the model article (including the conclusion) which mean the
same as the following.

1 respected
2 to walk backwards and forwards, usually
because you are worried or bored
3 in a tired and uninterested manner
4 to reproduce
5 to put up with
6 sad or unfortunate situation
7 allowed to enter
8 to promise

IE Compare two texts

a Read the essay below, which is on the same theme as the model article in 7.

We like to think that we live in a civilised society, yet we are still capable of great
cruelty. A good example of this can be found in the way we treat animals. We keep
them caged up in conditions which are often appalling, and we even use them in
laboratories to test new drugs, cosmetics and other pharmaceutical products. It is
difficult to see how this treatment can be justified.

With regard to zoos, it must be accepted that a few, usually those in large cities, are
concerned with the problem of animal welfare and do attempt to offer captive animals
something like the surroundings they would enjoy in the wild. However, many other
zoos are not so particular and the unfortunate animals in these places are confined in
tiny cages which offer them little opportunity for movement or stimulation. A lot of
animals show signs of distress and few reach even half the age they would in the wild.
Sadly, these zoos are not concerned with issuessuch as animal conservation; they
exist purely to satisfy the curiosity of the public.

Turning to the plight of animals in laboratories, it is even more difficult to find a

justification for their treatment. It is very hard for the public to gain accessto any of
these establishments, which only increases the concern felt by many people about
what goes on there. While there may be a strong argument for using animals to do
research into cures for diseaseslike cancer, there seems little ·excuse for using them to
test products like cosmetics and shampoos. There is no guarantee that these products
will affect humans and animals in the same way, and besides, there is already a wide
enough range of these products on sale in the shops.

To sum up, I believe that it is unacceptable to keep wild animals in zoos or to

experiment on them, except in very few cases.We understand much more about
animals now than we did in the past and this should prompt us to treat animals with
respect. Failure to do so is, I believe, barbaric.
b Compare the essay in a with the model article. In what way is an article different to an essay?
Put ticks (.I) in the correct column.

1 Sentences tend to be long and complex.

2 The writer addresses the reader directly.
3 The style is formal and impersonal.
4 The tone is lively and conversational.
5 There are a number of rhetorical questions.
6 Passiveforms are used quite frequently.
7 There is a title.
S There may be sub-headings.
9 Some verbs are in the imperative.

Read the exam question carefully and check what type of text you are being
asked to write. An article is different from an essay or a letter, both in style and
in format. Make sure you know the difference.

Think about language

Responding to opinions
The phrases in the box can be used to acknowledge and then dismiss opinions that differ
from your own. Rewrite the following pairs of sentences, using appropriate phrases from the box.

Responding to opinions Some people claim that .

What they forget is that .
While it might be argued that ... ,
the truth is that ... Despite claims that ... ,
it is a fact that ...
Although ... , it must be remembered
that ... It may be true that ... but all too
often ...

e.g. Animals in zoos are sometimes well looked after. All too often, they are not.
It may be true that animals in zoos are sometimes well looked afte/~but all too often,
they are not.

1 Some experiments on animals are done for medical reasons. In the majority of
cases, they are not.

3 Scientists are not deliberately cruel to animals. They do sometimes cause them pain
and discomfort.

4 Some animals seem to adapt quite happily to living in cages. Most wild animals
suffer if kept in captivity.
Exam practice: Write an article giving an opinion
You are going to write an article giving an opinion. Read the exam question and follow the
instructions below.

Part 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 300-350 words in an
appropriate style.

The extract below comes from a lecture you heard recently on reasons for
becoming a vegetarian. You have decided to write an article on the subject for
a weekly magazine referring to the points raised in the extract and giving your
own views.

There are more reasons than ever to become a vegetarian. Pictures of battery
hens and other horrors have revealed the cruelty involved in intensive farming.
These practices have not improved the quality of our food - they have made it
worse. Think, for example, of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE), or Mad
Cow Disease, which can spread from cattle to humans with disastrous
consequences. There have been worries about the other meat we buy too, such
as chicken and veal. As well as all the food scares, d~ctors warn us that eating
too much meat is bad for our health. It is hardly surprising that thinking people
are weighing up the pros and cons of eating meat and turning vegetarian.

• Read the question • Think about paragraphing

Underline all the points you need to Start a new paragraph for each new
cover in the exam question. Remember topic. Link your paragraphs. Write a topic
to include points in the instructions sentence for each paragraph.
(rubriC>as well as those in the input
• Think about your arguments
text(s).
Always justify your claims by giving an
• Think about style, tone and format example or an explanation. Don't over-
Remember how an article differs from generalise.
other kinds of text.
• Think about your introduction and
• Make a plan conclusion
Make sure you plan what you are going Allow yourself enough time to write a
to say before you start to write. good introduction and conclusion.
9 Think about vocabulary (p,5S)
a 1 is booming; 2 their natural habitats; 3 rowdy;
4 disrupting; 5 wipe out; 6 subscribe to; 7 impact;
8 lessening
c 1 on; 2 in; 3 for; 4 to; 5 on; 6 on; 7 with/by;
8 on
a Students should underline the following:
It seems ... ; Let's begin with the positive side; This is
of particular importance in ... ; Another concern is ... ;
Think, for example, of ... ; The answer must be that it
is ... ; Part of the problem is that ... ; Perhaps we
need to ...
b Students should underline the following:
Finally, ... ; To begin with, ...
Other items could be:
Introductory phrases: First of all, ... ; Firstly, ; In
the first place, ... ; The first point to consider is ;
The first concern must be ... ; Second, ... ;
Secondly, ... ; Another concern is ... ; Lastly, ... ;
The last point to consider is ...
Concluding phrases: To conclude, .
Adding information: in addition, .
11 Edit a text (p,56)
Paragraph 1: at; have created
Paragraph 2: people's; prosperity; (may otherwise) have
been; whose; by; on; benefited; will (protect);
On; worse
Articles
I: Giving an opinion
2 Think about your reader (p,58>
1 c; 2 b; 3 b; 4 c 6 Essay; 7 Article; 8 Article; 9 Article
3 Identify the key points in
the question (p,58>
The subject was the ways in which we exploit
animals.
2 You must consider (1) whether you think keeping
animals in zoos or using them for research is ever
justified and (2) if it is, under what circumstances. You
must also refer to the extract above
4 Think about vocabulary (p,59)
a 1 g (d, a); 2 aid; 3 die; 4 f; 5 b; 6 e; 7 c (i);
8 i (c); 9 h
b 1 cramped; 2 humane; 3 appalling/barbaric(/cruel);
4 cruel(/barbaric); 5 appalling/barbariclinexcusable
6 Make a plan (p.61>
a Students should tick all of the notes except:
• cruelty to pets
• how we uSe animals to help us, e.g. guide dogs
b Paragraph 3: conditions in some zoos; keeping
animals in zoos is wrong; how captivity affects
animals
7 Read a model article (p.61>
1 yes; yes
2 Students should underline the following:
Paragraph 1: We like to think that we live in a civilised
society, but we are still capable of great
cruelty.
Paragraph 2: Take a look at a zoo near you.
Paragraph 3: Now consider the plight of those animals -
mice, rabbits, dogs, cats, and monkeys -
that are kept in laboratories.
3 yes; 4 yes; 'Consider the way we treat animals.' 'Take
a look at a zoo near you.' 5 yes; 6 yes; 7 yes;
examples or explanations follow immediatelly after all
statements; 8 no; 9 no; 10 no
8 Think about your conclusion(p.62)
Paragraph a would make a good conclusion to the
article. It is linked to the paragraphs before it and also
links back thematically to the first paragraph. It contains
a number of sentences that are well-linked. It summarises
the theme of the article and takes it on while at the same
time making the article feel complete.
Paragraph b links back to only one aspect of the article,
which is inappropriate. It consists of only one sentence.
Paragraph c links back to only one aspect of the article,
which is inappropriate.
9 Think about language (p.63)
1 reputable; 2 pace (up and down); 3 listlessly;
4 breed; 5 endure; 6 plight; 7 admitted; 8 guarantee
10 Compare two texts (p.63)
b Students should tick the following columns:
1 Essay; 2 Article; 3 Essay; 4 Article; 5 Article;
11 Think about language (p.64)
There are many possible answers for each question. One
example is given:
While it might be argued that some experiments on
animals are done for medical reasons, the truth is
that in the majority of cases they are not.
Although some experiments on animals are done for
medical reasons, it must be remembered that in the
majority of cases they are not.
Some people claim that some experiments on
animals are done for medical reasons. What they
forget is that in the majority of cases they are not.
Despite claims that some experiments on animals are
done for medical reasons, it is a fact that in the majority
of cases they are not.
It may be true that some experiments on animals are
done for medical reasons but all too often they are not.