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Letters f rom readers

T his month, we are featuring some of your unusual experiences.

One day I was in the middle of a spelling test, when my head started hurting. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first
because I had often had headaches before and I decided to try to finish the test. However, as I started to write the
next word in the test – ‘conscientious’ I think it was – something strange happened. I couldn’t remember how to write.
When I looked down at what I’d written, the letters were in the wrong order and didn’t mean anything. T hen I put up
my hand and tried to speak to my teacher, but I couldn’t. It was as if a cloud had descended over my brain, making me
incapable of communication.

I was taken to hospital, where the doctors were mystified, but said it may have been a migraine – a severe type of
headache that can have a strong effect on the body. T hey told my parents to monitor the situation and make sure I
got lots of rest. I was a bit scared and so were my mum and dad, I think. What if I stayed like this forever? Fortunately,
there was an improvement in my condition just a few hours later. Gradually, things began to make sense and by that
evening I was able to communicate normally again. Since then I’ve read that what I experienced is called temporary
aphasia and that it sometimes accompanies certain kinds of headache. T he experience has made me really appreciate
the power of words. You don’t know what you have until it’s taken away. Abby

My strange experience happened on holiday in California with my mum and dad. It was a balmy August afternoon and
my dad and I had decided that in order to cool off we would go for a dip in the sea. T he temperature of the water was
just perfect. We waded into the deep waters and started swimming.

After half an hour or so, we noticed a pod of dolphins swimming nearby. As they got closer, we thought they wanted
to play with us. It was incredible. T hen they started circling us. At first, the circle was quite big but it soon got smaller
and smaller until the dolphins were so close to us that we could have reached out and touched them! It was amazing to
be in such close proximity to a group of wild animals and yet not feel threatened by them in any way. On the contrary,
we felt the dolphins were trying to communicate with us in a friendly way.

After about ten minutes, they swam away and my dad and I swam back to the beach, where my mum was waiting
anxiously. Before we had a chance to tell her about our amazing experience, she told us something that freaked us out
completely. Someone thought they had spotted a shark in the water near where we had been swimming! It was only
then that the dolphins’ behaviour began to make sense. If there really had been a shark, then maybe it was about to
attack and they had surrounded us in order to protect us. We’ll never know for sure, but it’s just possible that those
dolphins saved our lives. Jasmine
 C

My wife and I have always been fond of animals, which is why, in 2009, we decided to accept the ownership of a zoo in
our home town of Devon.

We found the first couple of years extraordinary, especially in the spring months when numerous young were born
and Lucy and I spent endless nights with little sleep looking after what felt like our own children. We enjoyed looking
after all the animals but felt a particularly strong bond between ourselves and the gorillas. It could be because we
seemed to understand each other. If they wanted something or if something had happened, they were usually able to
get the message across.

One spring, Blanca, one of the female gorillas, had a baby. However, regrettably she didn’t seem to feel she had the
ability to look after her young daughter and one day she signalled to us to take her away. We were unsure what to do
but finally decided that this was the best option. From that day, Blanca’s daughter Cola has lived with us in our house.
We have adopted her and now she is part of our family. She lives with us, has her own room and despite being an
animal, she is able to let us know through hand signals all of her desires and needs. Who said that animals can’t talk?
Matthew

1 Read three letters about unusual experiences. Match the questions (1–6) with the people (A–C). You can choose
the people more than once.

Which person/people …

1 made a difficult decision after receiving an unusual message?

2 couldn’t be helped by anyone while the experience lasted?
3 felt excitement followed by shock?
4 value(s) something more now as a result of what happened?
5 had an experience which they understood later? and
6 experienced something similar to parenthood?

Score: /6

2 Read three letters about unusual experiences and answer these questions.

1 What does Abby suffer from frequently?

2 What did she later discover about her condition?

3 What did the dolphins do to Jasmine and her father?

4 Why was Jasmine’s mum worried?

5 What was Matthew and Lucy’s relationship with the gorillas like compared with the other animals at the zoo?

6 How does Cola communicate what she wants?

Score: /6
Letters f rom readers

T his month, we are featuring some of your unusual experiences.

One day I was in the middle of a spelling test, when my head started hurting. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first
because I had often had headaches before and I decided to try to finish the test. However, as I started to write the
next word in the test – ‘conscientious’ I think it was – something strange happened. I couldn’t remember how to write.
When I looked down at what I’d written, the letters were in the wrong order and didn’t mean anything. T hen I put up
my hand and tried to speak to my teacher, but I couldn’t. It was as if a cloud had descended over my brain, making me
incapable of communication.

I was taken to hospital, where the doctors were mystified, but said it may have been a migraine – a severe type of
headache that can have a strong effect on the body. T hey told my parents to monitor the situation and make sure I
got lots of rest. I was a bit scared and so were my mum and dad, I think. What if I stayed like this forever? Fortunately,
there was an improvement in my condition just a few hours later. Gradually, things began to make sense and by that
evening I was able to communicate normally again. Since then I’ve read that what I experienced is called temporary
aphasia and that it sometimes accompanies certain kinds of headache. T he experience has made me really appreciate
the power of words. You don’t know what you have until it’s taken away. Abby

My strange experience happened on holiday in California with my mum and dad. It was a balmy August afternoon and
my dad and I had decided that in order to cool off we would go for a dip in the sea. T he temperature of the water was
just perfect. We waded into the deep waters and started swimming.

After half an hour or so, we noticed a pod of dolphins swimming nearby. As they got closer, we thought they wanted
to play with us. It was incredible. T hen they started circling us. At first, the circle was quite big but it soon got smaller
and smaller until the dolphins were so close to us that we could have reached out and touched them! It was amazing to
be in such close proximity to a group of wild animals and yet not feel threatened by them in any way. On the contrary,
we felt the dolphins were trying to communicate with us in a friendly way.

After about ten minutes, they swam away and my dad and I swam back to the beach, where my mum was waiting
anxiously. Before we had a chance to tell her about our amazing experience, she told us something that freaked us out
completely. Someone thought they had spotted a shark in the water near where we had been swimming! It was only
then that the dolphins’ behaviour began to make sense. If there really had been a shark, then maybe it was about to
attack and they had surrounded us in order to protect us. We’ll never know for sure, but it’s just possible that those
dolphins saved our lives. Jasmine
 C

My wife and I have always been fond of animals, which is why, in 2009, we decided to accept the ownership of a zoo in
our home town of Devon.

We found the first couple of years extraordinary, especially in the spring months when numerous young were born
and Lucy and I spent endless nights with little sleep looking after what felt like our own children. We enjoyed looking
after all the animals but felt a particularly strong bond between ourselves and the gorillas. It could be because we
seemed to understand each other. If they wanted something or if something had happened, they were usually able to
get the message across.

One spring, Blanca, one of the female gorillas, had a baby. However, regrettably she didn’t seem to feel she had the
ability to look after her young daughter and one day she signalled to us to take her away. We were unsure what to do
but finally decided that this was the best option. From that day, Blanca’s daughter Cola has lived with us in our house.
We have adopted her and now she is part of our family. She lives with us, has her own room and despite being an
animal, she is able to let us know through hand signals all of her desires and needs. Who said that animals can’t talk?
Matthew

3 Complete the summary.

All three readers had experiences that were (1) to communication in some way. In the first letter,
Abby describes how she was completely (2) to express herself through words for a short period of
time. Another reader, Jasmine, encountered a group of dolphins in the sea and felt they were trying to
(3) her something. Finally, Matthew, a zoo owner, learned to (4) the body
language of the gorillas that lived there and describes a special request that one of them made.

Score: /4

Driving in the capital of China

Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the most polluted cities in the world, with the main contaminant believed to be
gases emitted from transportation. (1) With a rapidly increasing population that led to more and more drivers taking
to the road, in 2006, the Beijing T raffic Management Bureau began to think of the future and the different ways it
could deal with this grave environmental problem.

Before 2006, the city was constantly covered by a thick brown cloud. T he cause was pollution emitted from public
transport, private vehicles and also by the city’s numerous factories and power plants. Nitrogen dioxide, the main
pollutant from these sources, was not only above the ground covering the heads of inhabitants but also on the ground
in the form of dense smog. (2) T he effects of traffic pollution were everywhere. T hose particularly affected were
babies and young children, the elderly, and asthmatics who often suffered respiratory problems as a direct
consequence.
 A solution needed to be implemented. With the justification of the Beijing Olympic Games looming in the future and
the desperate need to act, the government set up some controls to reduce the quantity of pollution and to improve
the quality of air in the city. In November 2006, an experiment was carried out in which the use of government and
commercial vehicles was prohibited in the city and, in addition, the use of private vehicles was limited. T he experiment
took place between 4th and 5th of November. (3) In view of the need to further increase the air quality in the city, for
its inhabitants and for the Olympic Games, the model was enforced permanently, but with some changes.

During the Olympics even tighter measures were adopted. T he government brought in an even-odd licence plate
system where only cars with a specific number plate were allowed to use the streets in the city on any specific day. (4)
T he Beijing T raffic Management Bureau again reported, during this period, a substantial drop in traffic congestion,
and the levels of pollution within the city diminished.

Many wonder how such a large and complex ban can be enforced, and the answer is simple. T he city now has
thousands of number plate recognition cameras set up around the city. If cars that should not be on the streets are
filmed, the driver receives a 100 Yuan (£7.30) fine. T his is a deterrent which to date has worked effectively.

T oday, the prohibition of vehicles in the city still exists, with, on average, a fifth of 3.6 million private vehicles being
banned from the roads each week day. (5) Beijing is by no means free of its pollution problem, but it can be said that
the city is now becoming cleaner. T he cloud that used to loom above the city has now been lifted, and its inhabitants
can see the real colour of their sky.

4 Read an article about driving in Beijing. Five sentences have been removed f rom the article. Choose f rom the
sentences A–G the one which f its each gap. T here are two extra sentences.

1
2
3
4
5
A T he high quantity of nitrogen dioxide emitted by public and private vehicles meant there was a high number of
patients being admitted to hospitals throughout the city every week.
B T he results of the ban are positive and a daily reduction of approximately 275 tonnes of emissions has been recorded.
C When rain descended upon the city, dirty smog turned to acid rain, which inevitably caused serious damage to cars,
buildings and the city’s water supply.
D It recorded a 30% decrease in the number of vehicles in the city and, most importantly, a substantial reduction in
nitrogen dioxide levels.
E On average, 3.6 million private vehicles are driven through the capital every day.
F Inevitably this enraged many of the city’s inhabitants who felt their civil rights were being violated as they were
forced to use buses or trains to get to their destinations.
G When the Beijing T raffic Management Bureau saw it working they decided to increase the level of the fines.

Score: /5
5 Read the article about driving in Beijing. Are these statements T rue (T ), False (F) or is the inf ormation Not
Mentioned (NM)?

1 T he Beijing T raffic Management Bureau’s main concern was to reduce pollution from T / F / NM
transportation.

2 It is thought that more pollution comes from factories and power plants than transport. T / F / NM

3 T he experiment in November 2006 was repeated again during the Olympic Games. T / F / NM

4 T he government are planning other traffic reduction policies. T / F / NM

5 T he system can only be really successful when combined with the use of speed cameras. T / F / NM

6 Some drivers follow the system to avoid paying a fine. T / F / NM

7 Drivers have 30 days in which to pay their fine. T / F / NM

Score: /7

T he impact of omega f ish oils on the brain

For many years, researchers have debated the actual benefits of the consumption of ‘omega’ fish oils. It has been said
that their consumption can prevent heart disease and counter the effects of depression, but some scientists have
made the bold claim that the regular consumption of Omega 3 drastically improves intelligence. Wanting to put the
rumours to the test, a group of scientists decided to carry out some qualitative research on a group of British
children. Details of the experiment, together with the results, can be found in this report.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 can be found in oily fish such as salmon, tuna and halibut. T hese oils cannot be made by the
human body and therefore need to be consumed either in our diets or as a dietary supplement taken in pill form.
Evidence shows that Western diets contain a relatively small quantity of Omega 3 fatty acids when compared to
Asian cultures. Consequently, the researchers chose individuals from Great Britain to carry out their research.

T he children selected for the experiment were all from the same secondary school in the north of England and they
were hand picked by teachers of the school using a set of criteria. It was deemed essential by the experimenters that
the children chosen regularly suffered from a lack of concentration, and were not the highest achievers in class. Once
the children had been selected, the scientists had to gain parental consent. During an open evening with parents,
many questions were answered and eventually all of the parents signed the necessary forms allowing their sons or
daughters to take part. Individual files were then set up on each student.
 T he duration of the experiment was six months. During the first three months, the researchers measured the
concentration and academic ability of the children through a series of experiments. T he researchers were present in
the classes of the individuals and monitored their concentration during a series of tests carried out using electronic
equipment and computers. In addition, their academic ability was tested by the teachers who regularly fed homework
marks or test results back to the team of scientists. During the second half of the experiment, half of the children
were given a pill containing a specified quantity of Omega 3 and the other half were given placebos. During this
second three-month period, the scientists again carried out the same experiments that measured the concentration
and academic ability of the selected children.

T he results from the experiment were immediately clear. T he boys that had taken the fish oils were finding it easier to
concentrate in class and had drastically improved their academic ability. T hey had begun to achieve higher results in
class and their teachers had commented on their improvements. In contrast, there was only a relatively small
difference found in the girls tested. Only a small percentage of the girls showed a dramatic increase in concentration,
with the rest showing no difference whatsoever. With regards to academic achievement, it was apparent that overall
performance had increased. T he conclusions of the experiment were clear, although the scientists could not explain
the difference in results between boys and girls.

When the scientists released their findings stating that fish oils dramatically improved the behaviour, concentration
and academic ability of boys in a school environment, and should therefore be used in the future to aid concentration
and improve intelligence, other experts jumped on the bandwagon and immediately refuted their claims. T hey
questioned their research methods, the school used, and also the quantity of children experimented on. Others found
the results significant. ‘T his study’s results suggest that parents should consider fish oil supplements,’ one expert
said, ‘But personally I feel that more research is needed to pinpoint the precise benefits. I look forward to similar
tests in this area.’

So, it appears that eating oily fish has some advantages even if the scientists can’t put their finger on exactly what
they are.

6 Read the article about the ef f ects of omega oils on the brain and choose the best answers, A, B, C or D.

1 Prior to the report …

A people thought omega fish oils could prevent depression.
B people believed omega fish oils made you more clever.
C everyone was sure of the benefits of Omega 3.
D someone had suggested that Omega 3 stops heart disease.
2 According to the text, Omega 3 …
A is a natural vitamin.
B is more often consumed in Asian diets than in western diets.
C is found in all fish.
D is half as beneficial as Omega 6.
3 T he children selected for the experiment …
A were the teachers’ favourite students.
B had to answer questions before taking part.
C often couldn’t focus in class.
D asked their parents for permission to take part.
4 During the first three months of the experiment …
A researchers tested the students’ computer skills.
B the students sent their homework to the scientists.
C each student was given a pill.
D the teachers and the researchers performed different functions.
5 T he results showed that …
A in general the students did better academically.
B the boys were more intelligent than the girls.
C the concentration of some girls went down.
D none of the girls improved their concentration.
6 When the scientists released their findings …
A some people thought that the experiment should have had more students.
B they suggested all boys should be given vitamin pills.
C some experts said they had already found the same results in their studies.
D other scientists wanted to copy their research methods.

Score: /6

7 Read the article about the ef f ects of omega oils on the brain. Are these statements T rue (T ), False (F) or is the
inf ormation Not Mentioned (NM)?

1 Prior to the report, experiments had proven that the consumption of Omega 3 enhances T / F / NM
intelligence.

2 Omega fish oils can only be obtained by humans through the consumption of certain fish. T / F / NM

3 British people didn’t like eating foods high in Omega 3. T / F / NM

4 T he parents had a lot of questions for the scientists about the experiment. T / F / NM

5 T he results indicated considerable improvements in the concentration of some of the girls and T / F / NM
all of the boys who had taken Omega 3.

6 Scientists came to the conclusion that fish oils could aid boys in various areas in the future. T / F / NM

Score: /6
 Design your baby

In today’s world it is increasingly possible to access the specific things we want in our lives. If we wish for the finest
tea from India or the purest silk from T hailand, all we have to do is shop around or, easier still, find it on the Internet. In
today’s consumer society, everything and anything is accessible. At times, we’re so used to having everything on
demand that it can be frustrating if we don’t get it instantly. (1) In today’s world, we ask considerably more questions
and find out about how we can design our own cars. We choose the colour and style, the material of the seats, the
gadgets we want inside and much more. But could this interest in designing our own belongings extend to our
children?

In the US, a hospital clinic has now successfully enabled hundreds of couples to choose the sex of their unborn
children. Although this number is not huge for a country so vast, it is rising fast as parents become aware of the
success rate and the relatively low cost associated with the process. Doctors say the method, which has a success
rate of 91% for choosing a girl and 75% for a boy, is being used by couples to balance the sex of their children when
they have had numerous children of the same sex or they simply want ‘one of each’. (2) Other experts have warned
that the technique, which uses a dye, could lead to genetic damage later in life.

T he procedure of designing a baby’s gender is relatively straightforward. All that is needed is the consent of both
parents, a nominal fee of approximately £15,000 and a couple of hours. One thing to bear in mind in the US,
nevertheless, is that they do not accept couples who are trying to determine the gender of their first unborn child. (3)

T he procedure started with a view to aid parents that had inherited gender-related medical problems. Families who
knew that the women in the family could almost certainly contract life-threatening diseases were given the option to
visit the US clinic. T he clinic gave hope to those families that had thought they would never have children, due to the
potential dangers. (4) ‘I’ve always wanted a girl … so cute!’ one mother claimed. Another mum said, ‘I’ve got two boys
and all I need is one girl to make my family complete’. Suddenly some parents wanted to choose the gender of their
unborn children like they would choose sweets in a sweet shop.

With the rapid development of science and with new research being carried out, there have been talks of the next
step. Scientists have already predicted that in the next few years, parents are going to be able to further design their
unborn children. T hey will have the ability to enhance intelligence levels and develop personalities. But is this going
too far?

Many humanitarian organisations are completely against the concept of designing babies. T hey see the process as
discriminatory, inhumane and appalling. (5) T here was an experiment carried out on mice some years ago which had
the aim of re-engineering the mice’s intelligence. Although the experiment worked, the mice suffered considerable
side-effects.

(6) T o date, they can choose the sex of their unborn child and it is certain that in the future other genes will be able to
be tampered with, meaning inevitably more choices to be made. How close we are to this is, however, unknown.

8 Read the newspaper article about designing your baby. Six sentences have been removed f rom the article.
Choose f rom the sentences A–G the one which f its each gap. T here is one extra sentence.

1
2
3
4
5
6
A What started as an experiment had such a high success rate that other parents started to enquire about it for their
own, more personal reasons.
B It is clear that people in today’s society always want more.
C T hey insist the parents already have one child before they can determine the sex of the second.
D Some people are unhappy if they can’t have the girl they always wanted.
E But some fertility experts fear it could have disastrous social consequences if parents start favouring one sex over
another.
F T here are also many dangers connected with scientists ‘playing with genes’.
G Years ago, when buying a car, for example, people used to go to the car showroom and enquire about the engine and
about how it worked.

Score: /6

9 Read the newspaper article about designing your baby and choose the best answers, A, B or C.

1 T he writer’s overall view of people in today’s society is that …

A they buy everything they want online.
B they always want more and they ultimately get what they want.
C they are getting increasingly more aggressive.
2 Why does the writer talk about cars in the first paragraph?
A to show how simple things have become more complicated
B to show how selfish people are
C as an example of how people want to have more control over their possessions
3 How does the writer describe the process of choosing the gender of an unborn child?
A quick and simple
B fairly complicated and expensive but reasonably quick
C easy, expensive and exhausting
4 What does the writer imply by saying ‘Suddenly parents wanted to choose the gender of their unborn children like
they would choose sweets in a sweet shop’?
A that nowadays parents have too much money
B that parents are selfish as they want to have perfect families
C that parents are spoilt for choice and they don’t consider values
5 What happened when the scientists carried out an experiment on mice?
A T he intelligence of the mice was enhanced without any consequences.
B T here was a negative effect on the mice.
C Scientists realised they could not use the drug on humans.
6 What does the writer predict will happen in the future?
A Scientists will make more discoveries.
B Humanitarian organisations will prevent scientists from designing babies.
C People will have a greater number of options available to them.

Score: /6