Discursive and case-based passage

Unseen Passage 1

1. While we may not all possess the ability to paint the Mona Lisa, compose like
Mozart, cook like Julia Child, or write like Hemingway, every human being is born
with a special talent. Some people are able to find and learn to express their talents
early on while others might discover them later in life. We are all creative beings, and
creative beings need to create as much as we need to eat, breathe and sleep. Creativity
has different meanings for different people and unfortunately, due to many factors
(one’s upbringing, religion, busy schedule, et cetera), that creativity is often stifled. Its
importance is not valued as much as it should be, which can have a powerful effect on
one’s overall ability to achieve true happiness and success in life. If we stifle our
creativity or discount its importance, we create blockages in other aspects of life,
which can hinder our ability to move forward in different areas like health, work and
personal relationships.

2. No matter how busy one’s schedule is, it is very important to schedule time for self-
care, specifically for expressing creativity. Trying out different hobbies is a great way
to explore one’s creativity because it can be very enjoyable. Some people find one
hobby and fall in love with it so much it becomes their passion. For example, I love to
play with natural ingredients and blend essential oils. Making all-natural, organic skin
care products and teaching the recipes in my community workshops is one of my
passions. Some people prefer to try different hobbies for shorter periods of time, or
change them up each season to stay interested and keep trying different things. One
great thing about hobbies is that there are no set rules. Each person gets to decide how
often they want to do it and whether they want to stick with it for a long time or move
on to something else after trying it for a few weeks or months.

3. Another valuable aspect of hobbies is that one can enjoy them quietly when enjoying
some downtime alone, or as a way to become involved with a community. Book
clubs, art or cooking classes, writers’ workshops, knitting circles, gardening clubs –
nearly every type of hobby presents an opportunity to meet with other likeminded
individuals and build relationships. This could be beneficial on both a personal and
professional level. In any business, especially the salon and spa business, teamwork is
vital to success. Hobbies can be a great way to create a community among co-workers
either in or outside of the spa. Sometimes if co-workers are not getting along, having
them participate in a seemingly non-work-related hobby, where all participants are
novices, can be great for creating common ground. Oftentimes, the simple act of
providing an opportunity for a person to find and express his or her own inherent
creative talents produces significant positive changes. When people experience
something as simple and profound as creating something beautiful from seemingly
nothing, they begin to view the world – and daily environments – in a fresh, new way.

QI. Choose the correct option according to your reading.

1. By comparing creative action to eating, breathing and sleeping, the writer ___
(a) Shows a desire to create everyday
(b) Highlights that creativity is necessary to living
(c) Inspires the reader to create
 (d) Forces the reader to take a look at their creativity

2. What is the meaning of ‘stifled’?

(a) Blocked
(b) Burdened
(c) Freed
(d) Suffocated

3. What is the relation between the following two statements found in the text:
A — “If we stifle our creativity,”
B — “we can hinder our ability to move forward in different areas like health, work
and personal relationships.”

(a) A is the consequence of B

(b) B is the outcome of A
(c) B is the reason for A
(d) A is the argument, B is the evidence

4. In para 2 the writer builds a relation of growth between 3 aspects of our creative
behaviour, which is the right cause-effect chain
(a) Creative expression — Hobby — Passion
(b) Hobby — Creative expression — Passion
(c) Passion — Hobby — Creative expression
(d) Creative expression — Passion — Hobby

5. By the repeated use of the pronoun ‘We’ what effect does the writer make
(a) Sounds close
(b) Makes the text seem helpful
(c) Associates herself with the reader
(d) Doesn’t achieve anything

6. What does the phrase “common ground” mean?

(a) Being on the same field
(b) Similarities in interest
(c) Feeling related
(d) Avoid differences

7. Which is not stated about ‘hobbies’ in the above text?

(a) Hobbies are natural behaviour
(b) Hobbies help explore creativity
(c) Some people like to try different hobbies
(d) Hobbies help build communities

8. Sum up the crux of para 3

(a) Hobbies help us explore ourselves
(b) Creativity is living
(c) Hobbies are personal
(d) Creative activity can build communities

9. Hindering creativity CAN NOT affect which aspect

 (a) Work
(b) Health
(c) Relationships
(d) Home maintenance

10. What message does the passage conclude with?

(a) Creativity renews perspective
(b) Creativity is a life force
(c) Creativity is rebirth
(d) Creativity exploration is refreshing

Unseen Passage 2
1. Research from the Publishers Association has shown that films based on books take 44%
more at the box office revenue in the UK and 53% more worldwide than original screenplays.
The report explores what impact a book has when adapted for film and TV.

2. The report reads: “Published material is the basis of 52% of top UK films in the last 10
years, and accounts for an even higher share of revenue from these leading performers, at
61% of UK box office gross and 65% of worldwide gross.” The Hollywood adaptation of
“My Cousin Rachel” was shown to have a significant impact on the sales of the Daphne Du
Maurier thriller. The sales of the book in 2017 alone accounted for 23% of all sales since
1992.

3. The research suggests that adapted films tend to perform better, because films can
“leverage the popularity” of well-known books through an existing audience. Films adapted
from books also tend to have a richer, more fully-developed story to draw on.
In terms of TV
adaptation, it was revealed that a quarter of dramas were based on literary sources and
attracted a 56% larger share of the audience than those based on original scripts. Fourteen of
the 35 high-end series produced in the UK in the period between January and September
2017 were based on books, compared to seven based on true stories or historical events and
five based on pre-existing films or TV stories. 


4. In the case of the 2016 BBC broadcast of “The Night Manager”, research revealed that
while the novel was in circulation for over 25 years, 82% of the copies it sold were in 2016
and 2017. Sales of the paperback edition remained strong in 2017 even after the series went
off the air. 


5. In conclusion, the report states that “there is a strong two-way relationship between
publishing and the wider creative economy, wherein a successful adaptation often has spill-
over effects and gives a substantial boost to the sales of the original book. 


Q1. The purpose of the research by Publishers Association was to study the_____.

A. variety in films and TV shows.


B. impact of films on books.

C. choice of books for film-making.
D. connect between books and films.

Q2. Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.
(1) The revenues generated at the box office have increased.

(2) Majority of the top films in the UK are based on published material.

A. (1) is the result of (2).


B. (1) is the reason for (2).
C. (1) is independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2).

Q3. Select the option that gives the correct meaning for the statement given below.
“The sales of the book in 2017 alone accounted for 23% of all sales since 1992.”
A. There were 23% higher sales in 2017 than previous years.
B. A major chunk of sales happened in 2017.

C. The sales were limited to 23% in 2017.

D. There were very few books sold in the previous years.

Q4. According to the research, the films based on books have greater success because____.
A. people like to see the characters from the books on screen.
B. the films get the advantage of the fame of the books.

C. it takes less effort for people to watch films than read books.
D. the films get a ready-made script from the books.

Q5. Select the option listing what the given sentence refers to.

‘Films adapted from books also tend to have a richer, more fully-developed story to draw on.’

(1) The plot and the storyline of such films are better.

(2) The characters are likely to be more vivid.

(3) The production of such films is meant for the rich and famous.
(4) The settings and costumes are adapted from the book.

(5) The making of such films require the author to write a sequel.

A. (1), (3) and (4)

B. (2), (3) and (5)
C. (1), (2) and (5)
D. (1), (2) and (4)

Q6. On what from the following were the maximum TV serials in UK in the year 2017
based?
A. books.

B. historical stories.

C. original true stories.
D. previous films.

Q7. This passage lists an example proving that TV dramas based on literary works
have_______.
Select the correct option.

A. increased the immediate sales of the book


B. increased the sales of the book during the first screening
C. had no immediate impact on the sales of the book

D. had very little impact on the sales of the book

Q8. Choose the correct option to answer the following:
According to paragraph 5, ‘there is a
two-way relationship between books and the screen’.
This is so because both

A. revolve around the same stories.

B. cater to an audience with the same taste.
C. gain from each other’s popularity.

D. belong to the creative field.
Q9. Research by the Publishers Association shows the higher success rates of films based
on…
A. Original screenplays
B. Books
C. True events
D. None of the above

Q10. Which sentences use the word leverage as used in the passage.
1. The company used leverage to buy more factory fixtures.
2. The team leveraged their coordination in the match
3. Leverage helped investors to buy larger stock.
4. We have leverage in this situation given our knowledge of the territory.

A. 1, 2
B. 2, 3
C. 4, 1
D. 2, 4

Answer key
Unseen passage 1

1. b
2. d
3. b
4. a
5. c
6. b
7. a
8. d
9. d
10. a

Unseen passage 2

1. D
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. A
7. A
8. C
9. B
10. D