Skills Test Unit 9 Test B

Name: ___________________________________________

Everyday English
1 Complete the extracts from a talk with the words below.
sum happy aim what queries
Hello, everyone. The 1__________ of my presentation today is to make you more aware of internet
security and what you can do to protect yourself. Please hold any 2__________ that you have until
the end, as I’ve reserved fifteen minutes or so for that purpose. Now, to begin, the first issue is
making sure the website you are on is a secure one. That’s 3__________ I’m going to talk about
now …
… To 4__________ up, if you make sure you follow the steps I’ve talked about today, there is no
need for any concern regarding internet use. Right! If anyone has any questions, I’d
be 5__________ to answer them.

Mark: ___ / 5

1
Listening
2  Listen to a talk by Sally Smith. Tick () the best summary of her message.
A Things were better when we didn’t have so much technology in our lives. It’s good to look back
on a life that was less complicated.
B Technology is a convenient tool as long as we are able to keep it under control. That’s why we
need to give ourselves rules of usage.

3  Listen again. Circle the correct answer (a–d).

1 Sally states that most people
a are unaware that they experience technology stress.
b like that they can answer messages straightaway.
c agree that technology has made our lives simpler.
d prefer to use just one device to communicate with others.
2 When on holiday,
a people don’t like to be contacted by others.
b many of us like to switch our devices off in order to relax.
c only people who are into technology refuse to go without it.
d most people are annoyed if there isn’t access to the internet.
3 What is the best definition of ‘phubbing’?
a using your phone antisocially
b failing to reply to messages online
c socializing online rather than face to face
d preferring staying in and using social networks to going out
4 When on holiday, Sally suggests
a doing more exercise.
b not taking your device.
c taking a novel with you.
d ignoring work messages.

Mark: ___ / 10

2
Reading
3D printing
3D printers have been around for a while. They date back to 1983, when Chuck Hull of 3D Systems
Corporation invented the first. Since that time, the technology has gone largely under the radar due to
the elevated manufacturing costs. Other emerging technologies like smartphones and tablets have had
much greater success – that is, until now. Back in 2002, any standard techie could tell you that at
£20,000 per printer, it just wasn’t financially viable for most businesses. Yet, lately, this has
decreased to a fraction of the previous price, so it is finally being considered to have legs in the
manufacturing world.
So how does it work exactly? 3D printing, or ‘additive manufacturing’, as it is also known, requires
an initial computer design or a scan of the desired object. This is sliced into wafer-thin virtual layers
by the computer, and these are then printed in sequence using melted plastic, creating a three-
dimensional object. This means that literally any shape, however weird, wonderful or unique, can be
printed as a solid object, in theory.
Dr Phil Reeves, who is the managing director of an additive manufacturing company, claims that the
ability to mass-personalize goods and produce individual products for individual consumers has
opened up an incredible opportunity. He says that we have been living in the age of mass production,
where everything is the same, but that we are now developing digital tools to make unique products
designed by and for individuals. In this way, manufacturing has come full circle to before the
Industrial Revolution, when the emphasis was on individual craft.
In east London, Alice Taylor runs a doll-making business called MakieLab. Not so long ago, her
dolls would probably have been cheaper to mass-produce abroad, but thanks to 3D printing, that’s no
longer the case. She uses suppliers in London and Amsterdam to print the dolls, but all of the
assembly is done at her office, and an employee even makes all of the clothes individually and by
hand. Every doll is unique. For Alice, it’s cheaper to make dolls to order for her customers, rather
than mass producing them and paying the manufacturing and transport costs.
Alice’s business is not alone. We are seeing more and more businesses like hers focusing on
personalized consumer goods. This has a knock-on benefit for the environment as well, since
consumers are more likely to keep a product for longer if it has been tailor-made and holds particular
sentimental value for them.
Once the technology gets up to speed, what does the future hold for 3D printing? It seems that as
soon as different materials can be used and can be combined with electronics, it will be possible to
print not just a mobile phone cover (these are already being made by a limited number of start-up
companies), but also a working phone. Richard Hague, Professor of Innovative Manufacturing at the
University of Nottingham, is excited by 3D printing’s potential. He said that he was trying to move
away from single material additive manufacturing, to manufacturing the whole product or system
using different materials.
3D printing is currently under close scrutiny, because it is still largely in development, but in the
future it is thought that it could be used to produce lighter aircraft, spare parts for spacecraft and even
working body parts. However, we might have to wait a little while to see if those plans actually come
to fruition.

3
4 Read the text. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 In the past, 3D printers were too expensive to be widely used. ___
2 The cost of a 3D printer has seen a slight reduction in the last thirty years. ___
3 The product must already physically exist in order to be made by a 3D printer ___
4 Dr Reeves has reservations about the 3D printer. ___
5 A 3D printer works in a similar way to pre-industrial revolution machinery. ___
6 Alice Taylor’s business makes unique dolls for each of its customers. ___
7 It’s more expensive to make dolls with a 3D printer, but the quality is better. ___
8 3D printing is already able to produce accessories for smartphones. ___
9 It is hoped that 3D printing could one day create entire electronic products. ___
10 The applications for 3D printing technology are still being studied. ___

Mark: ___ / 10

Writing
5 Choose a popular item of technology (e.g. a smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc.) and write a
report on its use in a place where you live (hospital, factory, police station, sports centre,
etc).

Follow the plan:

Paragraph 1: Introduction: introduce the item and state why you are writing the report.
Paragraph 2: Talk about how the item of technology can be used.
Paragraph 3: Present the benefits of the item of technology.
Paragraph 4: Present the drawbacks of the item of technology.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion: sum up the main arguments and give recommendations.

Mark: ___ / 15
TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 40

4
Challenge!
6 Complete the text with the correct words (a–d).
The new generation of gaming
The negative effects of children playing video games are constantly under scrutiny. But what about
the positive effects? Should parents always feel under 1________ to prevent their children from
playing video games? Certainly, as a child, I was warned against playing computer games, and
whenever my mum accused me 2________ playing them, I’d always deny it. However, they have
always been very popular with the younger generation, so isn’t it about time we closely 3________
how parents can help children get the best from gaming, rather than banning it altogether?
Professor Mark Griffiths, director of International Gaming Research at Nottingham Trent University,
states that gaming has educational, social and therapeutic benefits. He 4________ critics that research
has proved that the activity can improve reaction times, hand-eye coordination and even self-esteem.
Professor Griffiths also encourages parents to join in this activity. For those who are doubtful about
whether this idea actually has 5________ , he explains that, when TV was invented, people worried
about family time in the same way. In the early days of TV, advisors murmured reassurances about
how this new invention could enhance the time that families spent together, and today, many families
watch and discuss programmes as a group. He suggested 6________ a family games evening to make
sure that kids don’t become isolated when they’re playing games.
Lately, there has been a shift towards gaming which requires exercise and teamwork, a 7________
intelligent marketing move by game creators. This 8________ that gaming isn’t the antisocial,
inactive hobby it used to be.
1 a pressure b the radar c the weather d age
2 a that b for c of d about
3 a suggested b proved c examined d testified
4 a says b confesses c boasts d reminds
5 a ears b legs c arms d feet
6 a to have b to having c have d having
7 a high b highly c hard d hardly
8 a demonstrates b assesses c tells d invites