Practice Test 3
READING
READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-12 which are based on Reading
Passage 2 below.
SPOKEN CORPUS COMES TO LIFE
A The compiling of dictionaries has been historically the provenance
of studious professorial types - usually bespectacled - who love
to pore over weighty tomes and make pronouncements on the
finer nuances of meaning. They were probably good at crosswords
and definitely knew a lot of words, but the image was always
rather dry and dusty. The latest technology, and simple technology
at that, is revolutionising the content of dictionaries and the way
they are put together.
B For the first time, dictionary publishers are incorporating real,
spoken English into their data. It gives lexicographers (people
who write dictionaries) access to a more vibrant, up-to-date
vernacular language which has never really been studied before.
In one project, 150 volunteers each agreed to discreetly tie a
Walkman recorder to their waist and leave it running for anything
up to two weeks. Every conversation they had was recorded. When
the data was collected, the length of tapes was 35 times the depth
of the Atlantic Ocean. Teams of audio typists transcribed the tapes
to produce a computerised database of ten million words.
C This has been the basis - along with an existing written corpus -
for the Language Activator dictionary, described by lexicographer
Professor Randolph Quirk as “the book the world has been waiting
for”. It shows advanced foreign learners of English how the
language is really used. In the dictionary, key words such as “eat”
are followed by related phrases such as “wolf down” or “be a
picky eater”, allowing the student to choose the appropriate phrase.
D “This kind of research would be impossible without computers,”
said Delia Summers, a director of dictionaries. “It has transformed
the way lexicographers work. If you look at the word “like”, you
may intuitively think that the first and most frequent meaning is
the verb, as in “I like swimming”. It is not. It is the preposition, as
in: “she walked like a duck”. Just because a word or phrase is
60
Reading
used doesn’t mean it ends up in a dictionary. The sifting out process
is as vital as ever. But the database does allow lexicographers to
search for a word and find out how frequently it is used - something
that could only be guessed at intuitively before.
E Researchers have found that written English works in a very
different way to spoken English. The phrase “say what you like”
literally means “feel free to say anything you want”, but in reality
it is used, evidence shows, by someone to prevent the other person
voicing disagreement. The phrase “it”s a question of crops up on
the database over and over again. It has nothing to do with enquiry,
but it’s one of the most frequent English phrases which has never
been in a language learner’s dictionary before: it is now.
F The Spoken Corpus computer shows how inventive and humorous
people are when they are using language by twisting familiar
phrases for effect. It also reveals the power of the pauses and
noises we use to play for time, convey emotion, doubt and irony.
G For the moment, those benefiting most from the Spoken Corpus
are foreign learners. “Computers allow lexicographers to search
quickly through more examples of real English,” said Professor
Geoffrey Leech of Lancaster University. “They allow dictionaries
to be more accurate and give a feel for how language is being
used.” The Spoken Corpus is part of the larger British National
Corpus, an initiative carried out by several groups involved in the
production of language learning materials: publishers, universities
and the British Library.
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Practice Test 3
Questions 1-6
Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs (A-G). Choose the most suitable heading for each
paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the appropriate numbers (i-xi) in boxes 1-6
on your answer sheet. Paragraph C has been done for you as an example.
NB There are more headings than paragraphs so you will not use all of them. You may use
any heading more than once.
List of Headings
i Grammar is corrected
ii New method of research
iii Technology learns from dictionaries
iv Non-verbal content
v The first study of spoken language
vi Traditional lexicographical methods
vii Written English tells the truth
viii New phrases enter dictionary
ix A cooperative research project
x Accurate word frequency counts
xi Alternative expressions provided
1 Paragraph A
2 Paragraph B
Example Answer
Paragraph C xi
3 Paragraph D
4 Paragraph E
5 Paragraph F
6 Paragraph G
62
Rreading
Questions 7-11
The diagram below illustrates the information provided in paragraphs B-F of Reading
Passage 1 Complete the labels on the diagram with an appropriate word or words Use NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each space Write your answers in boxes 7 11 on your
answer sheet
Example
Current, real-life data The portrayal of
collected during feelings through
Reseach
........................................ ... (11) ...
Spoken Corpus
Data from computer
... (7) ...
written corpus
LANGUAGE
ACTIVATOR
Key words
Differences between
and
written and
... (8) ...
Most frequently ... (10) ... use
used ... (9) ... of
words.
Choose the appropriate letter A-D and write it in box 12 on your answer sheet
12 Why was this article written?
A To give an example of a current dictionary.
B To announce a new approach to dictionary writing.
C To show how dictionaries have progressed over the years.
D To compare the content of different dictionaries
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Practice Test 3
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 13-26 which are based on Reading
Passage 2 below.
Moles happy as homes go underground
A The first anybody knew about Dutchman moles. Growing numbers of Europeans
Frank Siegmund and his family was are burrowing below ground to create
when workmen tramping through a field houses, offices, discos and shopping
found a narrow steel chimney protruding malls. It is already proving a way of life in
through the grass. Closer inspection extreme climates; in winter months in
revealed a chink of sky-light window Montreal, Canada, for instance, citizens
among the thistles, and when amazed can escape the cold in an underground
investigators moved down the side of the complex complete with shops and even
hill they came across a pine door health clinics. In Tokyo builders are
complete with leaded diamond glass and planning a massive underground city to
a brass knocker set into an underground be begun in the next decade, and
building. The Siegmunds had managed underground shopping malls are already
to live undetected for six years outside common in Japan, where 90 percent of
the border town of Breda, in Holland. the population is squeezed into 20
They are the latest in a clutch of percent of the landspace.
individualistic homemakers who have
burrowed underground in search of D Building big commercial buildings
tranquillity. underground can be a way to avoid
disfiguring or threatening a beautiful or
B Most, falling foul of strict building “environmentally sensitive” landscape.
regulations, have been forced to Indeed many of the buildings which
dismantle their individualistic homes and consume most land -such as cinemas,
return to more conventional lifestyles. supermarkets, theatres, warehouses or
But subterranean suburbia, Dutch-style, libraries -have no need to be on the
is about to become respectable and surface since they do not need windows.
chic. Seven luxury homes cosseted
away inside a high earth-covered noise E There are big advantages, too, when it
embankment next to the main Tilburg comes to private homes. A development
city road recently went on the market for of 194 houses which would take up 14
$296,500 each. The foundations had yet hectares of land above ground would
to be dug, but customers queued up to occupy 2.7 hectares below it, while the
buy the unusual part-submerged number of roads would be halved. Under
houses, whose back wall consists of a several metres of earth, noise is minimal
grassy mound and whose front is a long and insulation is excellent. “We get 40 to
glass gallery. 50 enquiries a week,” says Peter
Carpenter, secretary of the British Earth
C The Dutch are not the only would-be Sheltering Association, which builds
64
Reading
similar homes in Britain. "People see this Roberto Olivetti in 1969, it comprises
as a way of building for the future." An 82 one-bedroomed apartments and
underground dweller himself, Carpenter 12 maisonettes and forms a house/
has never paid a heating bill, thanks to hotel for Olivetti employees. It is built
solar panels and natural insulation. into a hill and little can be seen from
outside except a glass facade. Patnzia
F In Europe the obstacle has been Vallecchi, a resident since 1992, says
conservative local authorities and it is little different from living in a
developers who prefer to ensure quick conventional apartment.
sales with conventional mass produced
housing. But the Dutch development was H Not everyone adapts so well, and in
greeted with undisguised relief by South Japan scientists at the Shimizu
Limburg planners because of Holland's Corporation have developed "space
chronic shortage of land. It was the creation" systems which mix light,
Tilburg architect Jo Hurkmans who hit on sounds, breezes and scents to
the idea of making use of noise stimulate people who spend long
embankments on main roads. His two- periods below ground. Underground
floored, four-bedroomed, two- offices in Japan are being equipped
bathroomed detached homes are now with "virtual" windows and mirrors,
taking shape. "They are not so much while underground departments in the
below the earth as in it," he says. "All the University of Minnesota have
light will come through the glass front, periscopes to reflect views and light.
which runs from the second floor ceiling
to the ground. Areas which do not need I But Frank Siegmund and his family love
much natural lighting are at the back. The their hobbit lifestyle. Their home
living accommodation is to the front so evolved when he dug a cool room for
nobody notices that the back is dark." his bakery business in a hill he had
created. During a heatwave they took
G In the US, where energy-efficient homes to sleeping there. "We felt at peace
became popular after the oil crisis of and so close to nature," he says.
1973, 10,000 underground houses have "Gradually I began adding to the
been built. A terrace of five homes, rooms. It sounds strange but we are
Britain's first subterranean development, so close to the earth we draw strength
is under way in Nottinghamshire. Italy's from its vibrations. Our children love it;
outstanding example of subterranean not every child can boast of being
architecture is the Olivetti residential watched through their playroom
centre in Ivrea. Commissioned by windows by rabbits.
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Practice Test 3
Questions 13-20
Reading Passage 2 has nine paragraphs (A-I). Choose the most suitable heading for each
paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the appropriate numbers (i-xii) in boxes 13
20 on your answer sheet. Paragraph A has been done for you as an example.
NB There are more headings than paragraphs so you will not use all of them.
List of Headings
i A designer describes his houses
ii Most people prefer conventional housing
iii Simulating a natural environment
iv How an underground family home developed
v Demands on space and energy are reduced
vi The plans for future homes
vii Worldwide examples of underground living accommodation
viii Some buildings do not require natural light
ix Developing underground services around the world
x Underground living improves health
xi Homes sold before completion
xii An underground home is discovered
Example Answer
Paragraph A xii
13 Paragraph B
14 Paragraph C
15 Paragraph D
16 Paragraph E
17 Paragraph F
18 Paragraph G
19 Paragraph H
20 Paragraph I
66
Reading
Questions 21-26
Complete the sentences below with words taken from the reading passage. Use NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 21-26 on your
answer sheet.
21 Many developers prefer mass-produced houses because they ...
22 The Dutch development was welcomed by ...
23 Hurkmans’ houses are built into ...
24 The Ivrea centre was developed for ...
25 Japanese scientists are helping people ... underground life.
26 Frank Siegmund’s first underground room was used for ...
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Practice Test 3
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-38 which are based on Reading Passage
3 below.
A Workaholic Economy
FOR THE first century or so of the increased production has been almost
industrial revolution, increased entirel} decoupled from employment.
productivity led to decreases in working Some firms are even downsizing as their
hours. Employees who had been putting profits climb. “All things being equal,
in 12-hour days, six days a week, found we”d be better off spreading around the
their time on the job shrinking to 10 hours work,’ observes labour economist
daily, then, finally, to eight hours, five Ronald G. Ehrenberg of Cornell
days a week. Only a generation ago social University.
planners worried about what people Yet a host of factors pushes employers
would do with all this new-found free to hire fewer workers for more hours
time. In the US, at least, it seems they and, at the same time, compels workers
need not have bothered. to spend more time on the job. Most of
Although the output per hour of work has those incentives involve what Ehrenberg
more than doubled since 1945, leisure calls the structure of compensation:
seems reserved largely for the quirks in the way salaries and benefits
unemployed and underemployed. Those are organised that make it more
who work full-time spend as much time profitable to ask 40 employees to labour
on the job as they did at the end of World an extra hour each than to hire one more
War II. In fact, working hours have worker to do the same 40-hour job.
increased noticeably since 1970 — Professional and managerial employees
perhaps because real wages have supply the most obvious lesson along
stagnated since that year. Bookstores now these lines. Once people are on salary,
abound with manuals describing how to their cost to a firm is the same whether
manage time and cope with stress. they spend 35 hours a week in the office
There are several reasons for lost leisure. or 70. Diminishing returns may
Since 1979, companies have responded eventually set in as overworked
to improvements in the business climate employees lose efficiency or leave for
by having employees work overtime more arable pastures. But in the short
rather than by hiring extra personnel, says run, the employer’s incentive is clear.
economist Juliet B. Schor of Harvard Even hourly employees receive benefits -
University. Indeed, the current economic such as pension contributions and medical
recovery has gained a certain amount of insurance - that are not tied to the number
notoriety for its “jobless” nature: of hours they work. Therefore, it is more
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 1994 by Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved.
68
Writing
profitable for employers to work their crises take people away from the
existing employees harder. workplace.’ Positive experiences with
For all that employees complain about reduced hours have begun to change the
long hours, they, too, have reasons not more-is-better culture at some
to trade money for leisure. “People who companies, Schor reports.
work reduced hours pay a huge penalty Larger firms, in particular, appear to be
in career terms,” Schor maintains. “It”s more willing to experiment with flexible
taken as a negative signal’ about their working arrangements...
commitment to the firm.’ [Lotte] Bailyn It may take even more than changes in
[of Massachusetts Institute of the financial and cultural structures of
Technology] adds that many corporate employment for workers successfully to
managers find it difficult to measure the trade increased productivity and money
contribution of their underlings to a for leisure time, Schor contends. She
firm’s well-being, so they use the number says the U.S. market for goods has
of hours worked as a proxy for output. become skewed by the assumption of
“Employees know this,” she says, and full-time, two-career households.
they adjust their behavior accordingly. Automobile makers no longer
“Although the image of the good worker manufacture cheap models, and
is the one whose life belongs to the developers do not build the tiny
company,” Bailyn says, “it doesn”t fit the bungalows that served the first postwar
facts.’ She cites both quantitative and generation of home buyers. Not even the
qualitative studies that show increased humblest household object is made
productivity for part-time workers: they without a microprocessor. As Schor
make better use of the time they have, and notes, the situation is a curious inversion
they are less likely to succumb to fatigue in of the “appropriate technology” vision
stressful jobs. Companies that employ more that designers have had for developing
workers for less time also gain from the countries: U.S. goods are appropriate
resulting redundancy, she asserts. “The extra only for high incomes and long hours.
people can cover the contingencies that you
know are going to happen, such as when Paul Walluh
69
Practice Test 3
Questions 27-32
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3? In
boxes 27-32 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
Example Answer
During the industrial revolution people worked harder. NOT GIVEN
27 Today, employees are facing a reduction in working hours.
28 Social planners have been consulted about US employment figures.
29 Salaries have not risen significantly since the 1970s.
30 The economic recovery created more jobs.
31 Bailyn’s research shows that part-time employees work more efficiently.
32 Increased leisure time would benefit two-career households.
Questions 33-34
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 33 and 34 on your answer sheet.
33 Bailyn argues that it is better for a company to employ more workers because
A it is easy to make excess staff redundant.
B crises occur if you are under-staffed.
C people are available to substitute for absent staff.
D they can project a positive image at work.
34 Schor thinks it will be difficult for workers in the US to reduce their working hours
because
A they would not be able to afford cars or homes.
B employers are offering high incomes for long hours.
C the future is dependent on technological advances.
D they do not wish to return to the humble post-war era.
70
Reading
Questions 35-38
The writer mentions a number of factors that have resulted, in employees working longer
hours. Which FOUR of the following factors are mentioned? Write your answers (A-H) in
boxes 35-38 on your answer sheet.
List of Factors
A Books are available to help employees cope with stress.
B Extra work is offered to existing employees.
C Increased production has led to joblessness.
D Benefits and hours spent on the job are not linked.
E Overworked employees require longer to do their work.
F Longer hours indicate greater commitment to the firm.
G Managers estimate staff productivity in terms of hours worked.
H Employees value a career more than a family.
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