Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PRACTICE TEST 3
Listening Section 1
Locations
Questions 1–10
Complete the form below. A on washing machine
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS B in hallway cupboard
AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer C in hot water cupboard
D next to back door
NEW PASSWORD E in bathroom
F on top of television
G in bedroom
Example H under kitchen sink
Call taken by: Natasha I above front door
1 The Commonwealth is an international association consisting of the UK together with states that were previously part of the British Empire and dependencies.
deadlines or achieve their goals. But there are more cunning twists on the human psyche.
other costs too. In shifting burdens of One such approach was developed by the
responsibility onto others and reneging on their crime writer Raymond Chandler, who built his
promises, procrastinators undermine strategy on a basic yet critical observation:
relationships both in the workplace and in their procrastinators rarely sit about completely
private lives, all of which takes a toll on their inactively, but rather tend to engage them-
well-being. In one study, over the course of a selves in useful but less pressing tasks: vacu-
semester, procrastinating university students uming behind the bed, cleaning out the fridge,
were noted to be suffering from notably weaker washing the windows and so on. The result is
immune systems, more gastrointestinal that they ‘cheat’
problems, and higher occurrences of insomnia themselves into experiencing feelings of
than their non-procrastinating peers. productivity and satisfaction that offer further
Is there hope for procrastinators? Everyone distraction from the original project. Chandler’s
admits it’s a difficult demon to beat, but a few method, which he successfully used to help
self-styled procrastination coaches have himself write detective stories, involves setting
developed strategies to that end. Although aside a period of time in which the
evidence for their efficacy is largely anecdotal procrastinator may do one of two things:
at this stage, some of these strategies at least absolutely nothing or work on the project that
offer promising avenues for future research. he or she wishes to complete. Sitting still,
Career counsellor Amy Sykes focuses on the without the satisfaction of busying himself with
basics. Firstly, she says, embrace peer less urgent tasks, Chandler slowly felt the itch
pressure. Many weight loss and self-help of tedious monotony sink in. Within five or ten
groups encourage individuals to hold minutes, this itch had become intolerable, and
themselves accountable to a wider circle of he felt compelled to begin writing his stories.
their peers, and Sykes believes this social Another procrastinator, professor of philosophy
safety net can be harnessed just as John Perry, developed his strategy against
successfully by procrastinators. A change in procrastination based on essentially the same
perspective is also considered vital. ‘When we insight as Chandler’s – that procrastinators are
want people to do something for us, we really actually quite good at doing ‘marginally useful’
sell it to them,’ Sykes observes. ‘But when we tasks, just not the tasks they really ought to be
need to do it ourselves, we focus on all the doing. He thus surmised that the enemy of
reasons we don’t want to.’ Instead, she argues, successful task completion is not, in fact, that
we should pique our own interest and find ways great engine of productive activity –
to make our important projects more attractive procrastination itself – but rather how we order
– by turning them into little competitions or our projects in the hierarchy of urgency. If a
fact-finding missions, for example. If all else procrastinator needs to finish an assignment
fails, Sykes believes we must recompense before 8 o’clock the following morning, for
ourselves for our troubles, ideally with little instance, he is likely to find himself sharpening
treats upon finishing a task. ‘It doesn’t need to pencils instead. ‘But if all the procrastinator had
be big,’ she says. ‘Pancakes, a hot bath, or an left to do was to sharpen some pencils,’ Perry
episode of your favourite television show could observes, ‘no force on earth could get him to do
all do the trick.’ it.’ The key to this approach is to rank one’s
Though these tips may be a little too garden priorities, then bump the most urgent tasks a
variety 1 for some, others have thought up little further down and place at the top some
earth armed with nothing but spears and stone flight mechanism functions most helpfully as a
tools. We now buy our meat from the response to something that can cause bodily
supermarket rather than stalking it through the harm, such as a falling tree or a wild animal,
jungle; houses and high-rises shelter us at rather than in response to a fulminating boss, a
night instead of caves. But despite these traffic jam, or a spouse who has not returned a
changes, some very basic responses linger on. phone call. During these instances of mental
The short, sharp feeling of heightened distress, the physical manifestations of fight or
awareness that sweeps through us when a flight, such as an inability to think rationally and
stranger passes in a dark alley is no different, calmly, can actually exacerbate the problem.
physiologically speaking, from the sensation A similar case of an evolutionary development
our ancestors experienced when they were overstaying its welcome is the example of
walking through the bushes and heard a dry ‘mind chatter’. Mind chatter is the ceaseless
twig snap nearby. It’s called the ‘fight or flight’ train of scattered thoughts and self-talk that
response, and it helps us to identify dangerous occupies our mind, ensuring we are always
situations and act decisively by, as the name ‘switched on’, searching for danger and
suggests, mustering our strength for a threats. This would have been a boon for a
confrontation or running away as fast we can. solitary caveman on a three-hour hunting
This shift to survival mode is often popularly expedition, but in a modern world already
described as a sudden unease, a sense that a overloaded with sensory input, it causes us to
situation is ‘off’ or ‘not right’. However, the fret about non-existent predicaments and
sense is actually the outcome of an incredibly occasionally needlessly triggers the fight or
complex mind-body process which involves the flight response.
brain’s ‘fear centre’, the hypothalamus, These twin forces, mind chatter and the fight or
advising the sympathetic nervous system and flight response, have combined to wreak havoc
the adrenal-cortical system to work, at first on the modern psyche and have led to a spike
separately, and then together, to blend a potent in what some studies have suggested is a
mix of hormones and chemicals and secrete cause of up to eighty per cent of all illness
them into the bloodstream. Our heartbeat rises, today: stress. Stress, erroneously considered
along with our respiratory rate. Skin feels cold by many to be a mere feeling, is actually a
(hence the ‘shiver’ down the spine) as blood physiological condition resulting from a
supply is redirected to the larger muscles cumulative accrual of certain hormones in the
required for a physical confrontation or a hasty body, hormones that can help us in quick,
retreat. The ability to concentrate on issues of sharp doses, but which are toxic if they are not
minor importance also suffers, as the brain properly metabolised. Metabolism of these
tends to prioritise ‘big picture’ thinking at this potentially toxic hormones relies on physical
time. exertion, which originally evolved as part of the
Without this instinctive response, the human fight or flight process – hormone release was
race would never have survived, but at present usually followed by physical exertion (fighting
it is often more of a hindrance than a help. or running), which returned the body to a state
Although instances of physical threats have of balance. In present day encounters,
decreased over the years, activation of the fight however, the vital element of physical exertion
or flight response has actually increased, is missing: a resentful employee cannot punch
largely in response to mental frustrations. This his co-worker, for example, and a frustrated
poses a problem, however, because the fight or driver is unable to simply ram his way through
a packed intersection.
What can be done to restore the balance? organs. Although this 32 .................... was
Stress researcher Neil F. Neimarck, perhaps once essential to human survival, it now occurs
not surprisingly, recommends physical as a result of perceived rather than actual
exercise as one useful strategy. Fortunately, threat.
the brain is not clever enough to realise that
this exercise is completely unrelated to the A plan B strengths C substances
original stress stimulus, and in this way we can D strangers E warmth F mixtures
effectively ‘fool’ our bodies into metabolising G instincts H threats I powers
stress hormones by punching a boxing bag J system K anxiety L pressure
instead of the person who annoyed us in the M drop N problems O rise
first place. Another option is the ‘relaxation
response’, discovered by Harvard cardiologist Questions 33–36
Herbert Benson. Benson found that certain Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
behaviours, such as deep breathing, Write the correct letter in boxes 33–36 on your
meditation, and the repetition of simple, answer sheet.
affirmative phrases, acted as an antidote to
mind chatter and the fight or flight responses, 33 When the fight or flight response is
calming the nervous system and inducing a activated, it is difficult to
relaxed state of mind and body instead. A increase breathing speed
Integrating these methods into our lives will be B focus on small problems
important if the cycle of stress accumulation C maintain body temperature
that is so endemic in modern D run for long periods of time
Western society is to be stopped.
34 The fight or flight response is less useful
Passage 3 today because modern individuals
Questions 27–32 A encounter fewer physical threats
Complete the summary using the list of words, B can easily manage small daily difficulties
A–O, below. C are better at creative problem solving
Write the correct letter, A–O, in boxes 27–32 on D do not need to hunt dangerous animals
your answer sheet.
35 One disadvantage of ‘mind chatter’ is that
THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE people may
Modern man still has the 27 .................... that A talk too much and miss important
were needed in his distant past in the jungle. information
One of these, the ‘fight or flight response’, B spend too much time by themselves
originally assisted humans to recognise C become distracted from real threats
28 .................... and take action. Today, this D worry about problems that are not real
same response manifests itself mostly as
nothing more than a feeling of 29 ..................... 36 The writer suggests stress is increasing
It is the result of the hypothalamus producing because of
and releasing 30 .................... into the blood, A a lack of physical release
with subsequent rises in heart rate and B an increase in the number of threats
breathing, and the sensation of a 31 C more health problems
................... in temperature as the blood is D the loss of some hormones
diverted to other
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 Stress is an emotion.
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows how a solar powered water pump works.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Rising university fees and scarce employment prospects for graduates have led some
people to say that universities should not teach arts subjects, like philosophy and
history, and only offer practical degree courses that maximise chances of employment.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Speaking PART 2
Section 1 Section 4
1 Simmons 31 Interventions
2 Ocean Drive 32 Policies
3 Unlimited 33 Housing
4 24 Month 34 Statistics
5 White 35 Evaluate
6 (a) goldfish 36 Cooperate
7 30 June/30 June/June 30/June 30th 37 Economic
8 Modem 38 Critical
9 Home phone 39 Gender
10 Security 40 micro-credit
Section 2
11 D
12 B
13 H
14 A
15 C
16 G
17 Tourists
18 Monday(s)
19 Happy Dragon
20 3231190
Section 3
21 B
22 C
23 A
24 B
25 A
26 Documents
27 Shortlist
28 Tailor
29 Call
30 Ask questions
Section 1 30 C
1 TRUE 31 M
2 NOT GIVEN 32 J
3 FALSE 33 B
4 FALSE 34 A
5 NOT GIVEN 35 D
6 TRUE 36 A
7 A young age 37 NO
8 The ruling monarch 38 NOT GIVEN
9 A nominations system 39 NO
10 An advisory panel 40 YES
11 B
12 C
13 F
Section 2
14 FALSE
15 TRUE
16 NOT GIVEN
17 TRUE
18 FALSE
19 B
20 A
21 C
22 A
23 C
24 B
25 A
26 B
Section 3
27 G
28 H
29 K
Task 1
The diagram demonstrates how a solar powered water pump is used to supply water for a village.
There are three main components to the system: a solar panel, an underground bore or well with a
water pump inside it, and a tank for holding the water after it has been pumped up from the
underground source.
The first part of the process involves collecting sunlight to power the pump. A solar panel consisting
of photo-voltaic cells is mounted, facing the sun, on a raised pole well above the ground. DC elec-
tricity is collected when the panel is exposed to sunlight. This DC current travels from the panel to
power a water pump, which is suspended below the water level inside an underground well or bore.
The DC power is used to pump water from the well into an outlet pipe which runs from the pump up
the well through the bore cap and into the top of a water tank which is situated on the ground nearby.
The water then runs in a pipe to a village, where it provides fresh water to the residents.
186 Words.
Task 2
Students spend a great deal of time and money on tertiary study; therefore, vocational subjects
would be a better investment in terms of immediate job opportunities. However, not everyone has
an aptitude for science, engineering or medicine, and there is a need for graduates with expertise
gained from arts courses.
In subjects such as philosophy, students learn a valuable set of skills. They become active thinkers
who learn how to solve problems, rather than passive learners who memorise facts and other peo-
ple’s ideas. Philosophy students become proficient at critical and moral thinking, argumentation and
debate. The ability to examine and analyse topical issues or challenge the status quo is very import-
ant. After all, someone needs to question the results or indeed the usefulness of scientific research,
the politician’s assertions, and historical events and assumptions in general. What is more, scan-
dals in business and government emphasise the need for ethics in the corporate and public domain.
The sciences and business are clearly very important for our community, and those who have talent
should, of course, pursue a university degree and a career in those fields. If, however, they also
have training in logic and analytical thinking or a broad general knowledge from studying arts sub-
jects, they are more likely to be able to solve problems, create initiatives, identify bias and avoid
major pitfalls as they progress through their careers.
in short, I wholeheartedly disagree with the statement that arts subjects should not be taught. I
suggest that every student should have instruction in philosophy, history or other arts subjects, even
if they elect to major in the sciences, because learning critical thinking skills, and developing a wide
background knowledge, will benefit them enormously in later life. In addition to this general training,
we need specialist graduates in arts subjects to make their contribution to a well-rounded society.
307 Words.