READING PASSAGE 1

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

A practice for body and mind

Meditation is described as a ‘mind and body treatment’. Its popularity has soared with the help of a growing body of research showing that it
reduces stress and anxiety, increases physical performance, promotes self-regulation and empathy, decreases chronic pain, and improves
physical and mental health. There are several types of meditation, but most have four principal characteristics: a relaxed place with minimal
disturbance; a particular, relaxing posture (sitting, lying down, walking or any other position); deep concentration (on a specially selected
word or word collection, an object or a breathing pattern); and an optimistic approach (letting the disturbances come and go without
considering them).

There is not much written about the discovery of meditation, although its origin can be traced back to ancient times. Teacher and
practitioner Nicole Clark explains: “Scientists assume that primitive hunter-gatherer societies may have unknowingly come upon meditation
and experienced an altered state of mind while staring at their fires. Then meditation grew into a regular practice over thousands of years.”
Apparently, five thousand years ago, Indian scriptures called ‘Tantras’ mentioned meditation techniques and made meditation popular in the
East for the first time.” In the West, however, meditation was first practised in the 17th-century. Still, it didn’t gain popularity until the late
twentieth century when more and more people were looking for a way to reconnect to peace, calmness and happiness in the fast-paced
western society. How this happened is described by historian Ernest Adams: “meditation spread across to Western countries thousands of
years after Buddha’s teachings spread far and wide across the Asian continent since meditation was the main characteristic of his religion.
Due to the popularity of Buddhism, countries and cultures adopted different forms of meditation and created their own unique way of
practising it.”

Meditation proponents believe that it can play a significant role in people’s lives on various levels as it can be used to achieve physical,
emotional, and mental balance. Stefan Fletcher, an Australian businessman and an enthusiastic fan, mentions: “meditation helps me fight
insomnia, and this allows me to make more sensible decisions. As it promotes deep rest, I can be more energetic and productive during the
day.” Meditation has also been found useful in stimulating the brain, replacing the need for alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or addictive
substances. Based on studies conducted by Doctor Mila Martin, it was found that meditation comes with similar biological and psychological
benefits to drug therapy: “well-performed meditation can improve different neurological mechanisms in the human body that are linked with
mental and physical well-being. That is why we often prescribe meditation as complementary mind-body medicine.”

Many of us are stressed out all the time. Therefore, controlling stress in the human body is one of the more studied benefits of meditation.
Psychologist Daisy Richards, a specialist in this field, believes that human adaptation over time as a result of evolution is to blame: “The
fight-or-flight reaction, known as the adrenaline rush, is a physiological reaction that we have acquired over millions of years and occurs in
response to perceived threats to our survival. These reactions are imperative when people are in serious danger. Getting stuck in traffic or
being irritated at work are a few everyday situations that elicit the same response in our body. People should be able to cope with these
unnecessary stressors with the help of meditation, especially if these stressors are beyond their control; otherwise, they would wind up with
chronic stress.”

A recent study on the impact of stress in college students found that meditation shows promise in reducing stress and anxiety. It was
reported that these students are at risk of developing hypertension, and meditation has been effective in reducing blood pressure. In this
study, the students were randomly assigned to a meditation group or a control group. The researchers also created a high-risk subgroup
based on blood pressure readings, family history, and weight. At the beginning of the study, all participants were screened for high blood
pressure and psychological problems, and the procedure was repeated after three months when the study ended. The meditation group
was enrolled in a five-step meditation course with regular refresher meetings and was monitored for the continuity of the meditation
practice. Riley Morgan, the director of the research, was satisfied with the initial findings but presented the results with caution: “These
results indicate that by practising meditation, young adults at risk of developing high blood pressure may be able to lower that risk.
However, to validate our short-term findings, future studies should focus on the long-term effects of meditation on hypertension and stress.”

It is proved that meditation has numerous beneficial effects on the brain. It seems that people who have been meditating for a long time
have better-preserved brains as they age than those who don’t. They also develop a larger hippocampus, a part of the brain which controls
learning and memory. Meditation also brings about structural changes in those areas of the brain that regulate emotions and improve self-
referential processing functions. These effects are not limited to adults. Meditation can produce a host of short- and long-term positive
outcomes for children’s developing brains as well. Many kids experience some level of school-related anxiety, and they are susceptible to
traumatic stress outside the school. To tackle this, schools and other educational institutes are pioneering the use of meditation. Los
Angeles high school principal, Stella Walker, describes the effects of meditation on her students: “Although I was uncertain at first, we
began a twice-daily meditation course and observed dramatic suspension decrease, GPA increase and reduction in absenteeism.”

Although there is a great deal of opposition to meditation, those who practice it are ardent supporters. Inarguably, meditation has become
one of the most popular ways to relieve stress among people from all walks of life. Even though further studies on the effects of meditation
are still being carried out, a growing number of doctors already prescribe its techniques. With more clinical data in its favour, it is expected
that meditation will become a widely recommended therapy in the future.

Glossary
Hypertension - abnormally high blood pressure
 Questions 1-7
Look at following statements (questions 1-7) and the list of people below.

Match Each statement with the correct person’s initials in the table.

EA Ernest Adams
RM Riley Morgan
MM Mila Martin
DR Daisy Richards
SF Stefan Fletcher
SW Stella Walker
NC Nicole Clark

1. Meditation can help people get a better night’s sleep. ___

2. Further research is needed to verify the efficacy of meditation. ___
3. Meditation may have been discovered by chance. ___
4. Properly conducted meditation can contribute to better health. ___
5. Meditation has many different forms around the world. ___
6. Meditation has increased school attendance. ___
7. Without meditation, busy lifestyle may lead to permanent stress. ___

Questions 8-13
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.

8. Meditation became common in the west only in the _____________________.

9. Our evolutionary _____________________ is the underlying reason for the stress that we have in our daily
lives.
10. College students who were placed in the _____________________ group were not enrolled in the five-step
course.
11. The study of the effects of meditation on college students ran for _____________________.
12. The increased size of the _____________________ can imply continuous meditation practice.
13. Meditation will be more frequently prescribed as more supporting _____________________ becomes
available.

Passage 2 on next page

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

The History of Salt

Paragraph A
Salt has deeply influenced human life since its discovery thousands of years ago. Not only in terms of eating habits but also in social,
financial, mythological and religious realms. Salt, staple food and feed, was for centuries more precious than gold, so much so that “salt
roads” were constructed in Europe, Asia and Africa by which salt was transported to regions where it was not produced. Salt production
and transportation has led to the emergence of settlements and infrastructures such as cities and roads. It has been suggested that the
first civilizations emerged along the edges of deserts because of the natural surface deposits of salt that could be found there. In ancient
Rome, salt was used for commerce and trade. Soldiers who worked for the Roman Empire were given a handful of salt as their payment
for each day. This was known as ‘salarium’, the Latin root of the word ‘salary’.

Paragraph B
Salt has been interwoven into civilizations long before the existence of written documents. About four thousand seven hundred years
ago, Shennong Bencao Jing, perhaps the oldest documented pharmacology paper, was released in China. This literature described the
features of more than forty varieties of salt for the first time. It also elaborated on two techniques of salt extraction and use, which were
remarkably similar to the processes used today.

Paragraph C
Most people think of salt as simply that white granular seasoning found in saltshakers on virtually every dining table. Still, only six per
cent of global salt production is used to prepare meals. Over fourteen thousand different uses of salt have been identified, which are
necessary for many industries. The chemical industry is by far the largest consumer of salt. Its compounds make salt one of the
essential materials in the industry as it is used for the chemical synthesis of more than 50% of chemical products. It is also used in the
manufacturing of thousands of other commodities such as glass, rubber, fertilizers, textiles, polyester, household bleach, soaps and
detergents, as well as in industrial water softening systems.

Paragraph D
As a symbol of incorruptibility and immortality, salt was and still is thrown in the coffin of a dead person before the funeral in some
European countries to keep away the devil. In the past, salt was also added to the beer during its manufacturing process in ancient
Scotland to save it from being ruined by witches and evil spirits. Today we know that the added salt prevented excessive fermentation.
In some countries, it is believed that if you do spill salt, a pinch should be picked up and thrown over the left shoulder. This is supposed
to blind the devil, which could be standing behind.

Paragraph E
Salt has historically played an essential role in determining the fate of wars. It is known that during his withdrawal from Moscow,
thousands of Napoleon’s troops died because there was not enough salt to heal their wounds. In December 1864, Union forces in the
US Civil War reassembled force and fought a 36-hour battle to capture a vital salt processing plant located in Burlington, Vermont, which
was necessary to support the South’s besieged armies. In the US Civil War, Salt was deemed so vital that Confederate President
Jefferson Davis decided to waive military service to those willing to provide the South army with coastal salt kettles.

Paragraph F
Due to salt’s paramount importance, it has been in control of governments and subject to special taxes since the 18th century. With
earnings from heavy salt taxes, the British Empire financially supported itself, resulting in a booming black market for the white crystal.
The French kings also established a salt monopoly by controlling its production and sales, leading to the scarcity of salt, and eventually
to the French Revolution. In more contemporary times, to garner public support for self-governance, Mahatma Gandhi challenged British
salt rules that completely controlled India’s salt market. In past decades, however, the expansion of free trade has put an end to salt
monopolies, enabling nations to earn the benefits and allowing market forces to adjust the salt price.

Paragraph G
Needless to say, salt production has often been carried out near the sea. The town of Bournemouth on the southern coast of the United
Kingdom was a main salt-making centre and used a conventional method to produce the commodity. Seawater was captured at high
tide in an artificial lake. Wind and sun caused some water to evaporate before it was fed into a shallow pond through a sliding door.
When sunshine was consistently available, the brine would be left in the pond to evaporate further before the salt could be taken. Still,
the weather could not be relied upon, and a spell of rainfall could nullify days of evaporation. Therefore, when the saltwater was of
sufficient strength, a windmill drained it into a storage container. From there, it was pumped through pipelines to the boiling chamber into
the metal pans, under which coal was burned, and the brine was heated until the moisture dried up, leaving the end product. The
Bournemouth Sea Salt production was periodic and climate-dependent, so the average production period was only twenty-four weeks.
About three tons a week was produced in each pan.
Questions 14-20
Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-G from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.
List of headings
i An extraction method explained
ii Importance of salt in battlegrounds
iii An innovation that transformed manufacturing
iv The first record
v Role of salt in revolutions
vi Salt and supernatural beliefs
vii Controversial salt policies throughout history
viii Salt and food chemistry
ix Contribution to the industry
x Salt’s historical imporance
14. Paragraph A ____
15. Paragraph B ____
16. Paragraph C ____
17. Paragraph D ____
18. Paragraph E ____
19. Paragraph F ____
20. Paragraph G ____

Questions 21-23
Which of the following sentences below are accurate descriptions of present or past uses of salt based on
passage 2?
Choose THREE letters, A-G
A. Salt has been used in road construction.
B. Salt has been used to pay individuals for their work.
C. Salt has been used in paper production.
D. Salt is used in farming.
E. Salt has been used to encourage soldiers during a war.
F. Salt is added to water to make it clean.
G. Salt has been used in beer production.
21. ____
22. ____
23. ____

Questions 24-26
Fill in the blanks with components of the production plant.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

24. ____________________
25. ____________________
26. ____________________

Passage 3 on next page

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

Physical Punishment of Children

Corporal punishment is a controversial and widely debated topic within every society. It is interpreted as the use of physical force for the
control and correction of a child. It is a punishment for non-compliance imposed on the body to inflict some degree of pain or discomfort,
albeit light. Studies have shown that corporal punishment can result in immediate child obedience; however, some findings suggest that
it cannot be effective in teaching self-control and inductive reasoning to a child. Therefore, in terms of child amenability, its shortcomings
outweigh its advantages. In fact, corporal punishment advises a child not to act in a manner that is punishable by force while in an
adult’s presence, instead of teaching them not to engage in improper conduct under any circumstances.

As part of their normal growth, children may question or test parental standards and authority. They occasionally might choose to step
out of the line to achieve something, such as affection, an object, dominance or peer approval. While this behaviour which is considered
an integral part of children’s development process, should not be discouraged, it should not be allowed without consequences either.
This way, children learn to distinguish appropriate from inappropriate and acceptable from unacceptable.

There are few issues parents feel more strongly about than those regarding the discipline and punishment of their children. Although
these two terms are usually used interchangeably, their interpretations are quite distinct from each other: The purpose of punishment is
merely preventing inappropriate conduct, while discipline refers to the process of showing a child the contrast between appropriate and
inappropriate behaviours. Good discipline should be a positive force focusing on what a child is allowed to do. Discipline aims to help a
child change impetuous, spontaneous behaviour into directed, purposeful behaviour, and it is believed that training, repetition, and
encouragement can improve discipline. Corporal punishment as one discipline technique might be physical (spanking or slapping) or
psychological (rejection, separation from others, or deprivation of rights).

The use of corporal punishment has its supporters in society, while most believe in its mild application. They agree that mild corporal
punishment used sparingly within a nurturing environment teaches a child that one can press the patience of others past a point of
reasonable endurance. They believe that corporal punishment can reinforce parental authority, defuse the tension between parent and
child, and reduce the parent's fury if the child’s behaviour is exasperating. However, in cases where the conduct of a child is beyond
their control or completely unintentional, such as spilling water, proponents are more cautious and say that corporal punishment should
not be used.

Currently, the vast majority of people are against corporal punishment in any form. They believe that corporal punishment employed as
the exclusive method of discipline can lead to unsatisfactory and even harmful consequences. Corporal punishment is said to have little
effect on misbehaviour and shifts the blame for the wrongdoing away from the child. Helena Williams, child psychologist, clarifies: “To
develop the intellectual autonomy required to act as stable, self-disciplined individuals, children need to learn being responsible for their
behaviour. A child, who is punished with spankings, shouts, and intimidations, may learn to escape these punishments simply by not
disobeying or misbehaving in that specific situation in the presence of the person who punishes”. Moreover, there is no assurance that
the child’s conduct will improve over time or while the child is away from the person who punishes them. Another drawback of corporal
punishment is that it can lead to a child seeing punishment as an endorsement of aggression and deducing that an adult can have
power over a younger person. Corporal punishment may indeed stimulate feelings of anger, resentment, and profound embarrassment,
and the child may even develop unsympathetic attitudes towards the suffering of another human being. Corporal punishment often
raises the likelihood of domestic violence since it might be challenging for parents to judge the severity of the punishment.

Another essential factor to consider is the ultimate goal parents have for their children. If the goal is to encourage them to learn how to
control their urges and become self-sufficient and autonomous adults, they need to be disciplined with more than just punishments that
function only as short-term solutions. This can be achieved, for example, by inflicting a reasonable punishment along with a verbal
clarification about the child’s misbehaviour and what he or she can do to compensate for the wrongdoing in the future. Explaining to
children why their misbehaviour is not tolerated allows them to reflect on their improper behaviours and prepares them to be accountable
for their actions. This approach differs entirely from reasoning with the child since a child does not have to agree that parental directives
are justified in order to comply with them.

It is acknowledged that older children will eventually do what is right and decent, not because they live in constant fear of future punitive
measures, but mostly because they have adopted a standard initially presented by their parents and other caregivers. Discipline is about
modelling behaviour; therefore, parents have to control themselves and their own emotions, especially when their child is having “a
moment”.

It is evident that corporal punishment should be considered a severe psychological issue. It is currently prohibited in several countries;
therefore, parents do not have the right to use it unless they dare to face charges. However, what is apparent is that with the emergence
of each new generation, this issue becomes relevant again and causes a range of arguments.
Questions 27-33
Complete the sentences below.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 22-26 on your answer sheet, write

Yes if the statement agrees with the writer

No if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN the information is not found in the passage

27. Corporal punishment is effective in making a child compliant. ___

28. It is difficult to compare the benefits and shortcomings of corporal punishment. ___
29. Parents should discourage their children from questioning their authority. ____
30. People don’t usually realise the difference between discipline and punishment. ___
31. Corporal punishment is not part of what is considered as discipline. ___
32. Supporters of corporal punishment claim that it can alleviate parent’s anger. ___
33. Today, corporal punishment is illegal all over the world. ___

Questions 33-37
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.

Opposition of Corporal Punishment

Opponents of corporal punishment are concerned about its adverse 34. ____________________ on children.
They fear that corporal punishment might deflect the 35. ____________________ from children and so it cannot
improve their behaviour. Children should learn to take responsibility for their actions; otherwise, they may learn
to avoid punishment by behaving while they are being monitored.
Moreover, children subjected to corporal punishment might think that it is acceptable to use 36.
____________________, and eventually develop unfeeling attitudes towards another person’s pain.
Parents of these children can easily put them at risk of 37. ____________________ abuse.

Questions 38-40
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.

Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.

38. Verbal justification for a punishment teaches children that

39. There is no need for children to accept that
40. Ultimately, children will behave well because

A misconduct will not be tolerated.

B role models demonstrate the right behaviour.
C they should take responsibility for their behaviour.
D they should not rely solely on their parents.
E rules are entirely fair.
F they can be reasonable individuals.
 Answers
1. SF
2. RM
Reading Score Band
3. NC
4. MM
5. EA 39-40 9

6. SW
7. DR 37-38 8.5

8. 20th century/twentieth century

9. adaptation 35-36 8

10. control
11. 3 months 33-34 7.5

12. hippocampus
13. data 30-32 7

14. x
27-29 6.5
15. iv
16. ix
23-26 6
17. vi
18. ii
19-22 5.5
19. vii
20. i 15-18 5

21-23. B, D, G
24. artificial lake 13-14 4.5

25. shallow pond

26. metal pans 10-12 4

27. Yes
28. Not Given 8-9 3.5

29. No
30. Yes 6-7 3

31. No
32. Yes
33. No
34. consequences
35. blame
36. aggression
37. domestic
38. C
39. E
40. B
 Question Paper
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