EX1: Living in a Dream World

Daydreaming can help solve problems, trigger creativity, and inspire great works of art and
science. By Josie Glazier.
Most people spend between 30 and 47 per cent of their waking hours spacing out, drifting off,
lost in thought, wool-gathering or building castles in the air. Yale University emeritus
psychology professor Jerome L. Singer defines daydreaming as shifting attention “away from
some primary physical or mental task toward an unfolding sequence of private responses” or,
more simply, “watching your own mental videos.” He also divides daydreaming styles into two
main categories: “positive-constructive,” which includes upbeat and imaginative thoughts, and
“dysphoric,” which encompasses visions of failure or punishment.
119.
Such humdrum concerns figured prominently in one study that rigorously measured how much
time we spend mind wandering in daily life. In a 2009 study, Kane and his colleague Jennifer
McVay asked 72 students to carry Palm Pilots that beeped at random intervals eight times a day
for a week. The subjects then recorded their thoughts at that moment on a questionnaire. The
study found that about 30 per cent of the beeps coincided with thoughts unrelated to the task at
hand and that mind-wandering increased with stress, boredom or sleepiness or in chaotic
environments and decreased with enjoyable tasks. That may be because enjoyable activities tend
to grab our attention.
120.
We may not even be aware that we are daydreaming. We have all had the experience of
“reading” a book yet absorbing nothing—moving our eyes over the words on a page as our
attention wanders and the text turns into gibberish. “When this happens, people lack what I call
‘meta-awareness,’ consciousness of what is currently going on in their mind,” he says. But
aimless rambling can be productive as they can allow us to stumble on ideas and associations
that we may never find if we intentionally seek them.
121.
So, why should daydreaming aid creativity? It may be in part because when the brain is floating
in unfocused mental space it serves a specific purpose. It allows us to engage in one task and at
the same time trigger reminders of other, concurrent goals so that we do not lose sight of them.
There is also the belief that we can boost the creative process by increasing the amount of
daydreaming we do or replaying variants of the millions of events we store in our brains.
122.
The mind's freedom to wander during a deliberate tuning out could also explain the flash of
insight that may coincide with taking a break from an unsolved problem. A study conducted at
the University of Lancaster in England into this possibility found that if we allow our minds to
ramble during a moderately challenging task, we can access ideas that are not easily available to
our conscious minds. Our ability to do so is now known to depend on the normal functioning of a
dedicated daydreaming network deep in our brain.
123.
It was not until 2007, however, that cognitive psychologist Malia Fox Mason, discovered that the
default network — which lights up when people switch from an attention-demanding activity to
drifting reveries with no specific goals, becomes more active when mind wandering is more
likely. She also discovered that people who daydream more in everyday life show greater
activity in the default network while performing monotonous tasks.
124.
The conclusion reached in this ground-breaking study was that the more complex the mind
wandering episode is, the more of the mind it is going to consume. This inevitably leads to the
problem of determining the point at which creative daydreaming crosses the boundary into the
realms of compulsive fantasising. Although there is often a fine dividing line between the two,
one question that can help resolve the dilemma relates to whether the benefits gained from
daydreaming outweigh the cost to the daydreamer’s reputation and performance.
125.
On the other hand, there are psychologists who feel that the boundary is not so easily defined.
They argue that mind wandering is not inherently good or bad as it depends to a great extent on
context. When, for example, daydreaming occurs during an activity that requires little
concentration, it is unlikely to be costly. If, however, it causes someone to suffer severe injury or
worse by say, walking into traffic, then the line has been crossed.
A Although these two findings were significant, mind wandering itself was not measured during
the scans. As a result, it could not be determined exactly when the participants in her study were
“on task” and when they were daydreaming. In 2009 Smallwood, Schooler and Kalina Christoff
of the University of British Columbia published the first study to directly link mind wandering
with increased activity in the default network. Scans on the participants in their study revealed
activity in the default network was strongest when subjects were unaware they had lost focus.
B However, intense focus on our problems may not always lead to immediate solutions. Instead
allowing the mind to float freely can enable us to access unconscious ideas hovering underneath
the surface — a process that can lead to creative insight, according to psychologist Jonathan W.
Schooler of the University of California, Santa Barbara
C Yet to enhance creativity, it is important to pay attention to daydreams. Schooler calls this
“tuning out” or deliberate “off-task thinking.”, terms that refer to the ability of an individual to
have more than just the mind-wandering process. Those who are most creative also need to have
meta-awareness to realise when a creative idea has popped into their mind.
D On the other hand, those who ruminate obsessively—rehashing past events, repetitively
analyzing their causes and consequences, or worrying about all the ways things could go wrong
in the future - are well aware that their thoughts are their own, but they have intense difficulty
turning them off. The late Yale psychologist Susan Nolen-Hoeksema does not believe that
rumination is a form of daydreaming, but she has found that in obsessive ruminators, the same
default network as the one that is activated during daydreaming switches on.
E Other scientists distinguish between mundane musings and extravagant fantasies. Michael
Kane, a cognitive psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, considers
“mind wandering” to be “any thoughts that are unrelated to one's task at hand.” In his view, mind
wandering is a broad category that may include everything from pondering ingredients for a
dinner recipe to saving the planet from alien invasion. Most of the time when people fall into
mind-wandering, they are thinking about everyday concerns, such as recent encounters and items
on their to-do list.
F According to Schooler, there are two steps you need to take to make the distinction. First,
notice whether you are deriving any useful insights from your fantasies. Second, it is important
to take stock of the content of your daydreams. To distinguish between beneficial and
pathological imaginings, he adds, “Ask yourself if this is something useful, helpful, valuable,
pleasant, or am I just rehashing the same old perseverative thoughts over and over again?” And if
daydreaming feels out of control, then even if it is pleasant it is probably not useful or valuable.
G Artists and scientists are well acquainted with such playful fantasizing. Filmmaker Tim
Burton daydreamed his way to Hollywood success, spending his childhood holed up in his
bedroom, creating posters for an imaginary horror film series. Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist
who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006, imagined “another world,” to which he retreated
as a child, Albert Einstein pictured himself running along a light wave—a reverie that led to his
theory of special relativity.
H Like Facebook for the brain, the default network is a bustling web of memories and streaming
movies, starring ourselves. “When we daydream, we're at the center of the universe,” says
neurologist Marcus Raichle of Washington University in St. Louis, who first described the
network in 2001. It consists of three main regions that help us imagine ourselves and the
thoughts and feelings of others, draw personal memories from the brain and access episodic
memories.
Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125.

EX2: WELCOME TO ECO-CITY

The world has quietly undergone a major shift in balance. According to UN estimates, 2008 marked the
first year in history when more than half of the world's population lived in cities. There are now around
3.4bn human beings stuffed into every available corner of urban space, and more are set to follow. At a
time when humanity has woken up to its responsibility to the environment, the continuing urban swell
presents an immense challenge. In response, cities all over the world are setting themselves high targets
to reduce carbon emissions and produce clean energy. But if they don't succeed, there is another
option: building new eco-cities entirely from scratch.
119.
`Rather than just design a city in the same way we'd done it before, we can focus on how to minimise
the use of resources to show that there is a different way of doing it', says Roger Wood, associate
director at Arup. Wood is one of hundreds of people at Arup, the engineering and architecture giant,
hired by Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation to set out a master plan for the Dongtan eco-city.
120.
When the first demonstrator phase is complete, Dongtan will be a modest community of 5000. By 2020,
that will balloon to 80,000 and in 2050, the 30km2 site will be home to 500,000. Arup says that every
one of those people will be no more than seven minutes' walk from public transport. Only electric
vehicles will be allowed in the city and residents will be discouraged from using even those because each
village is planned so that the need for motorised transport is minimal.
121.
That's a big cornerstone of Arup's design for Dongtan. The aim is that the city will require 66 percent less
energy than a conventional development, with wind turbines and solar panels complementing some 40
percent that comes from biological sources. These include human sewage and municipal waste, both of
which will be controlled for energy recovery and composting. Meanwhile, a combined heat and power
plant will burn waste rice husks.
122.
Work on Dongtan had been scheduled to begin in late 2008 with the first demonstration phase
completed by 2010. Unfortunately, problems resulting from the complicated planning procedures in
China have led to setbacks. Dongtan's rival project in Abu Dhabi has suffered no such hold-ups.
Engineers broke ground on the Masdar eco-city in March 2008. Although it will take a different approach
in terms of design, like Dongtan, the city is planned to be a zero-carbon, uber-efficient showcase for
sustainable living.
123.

In the blistering desert of the Gulf state, where it's almost too hot to venture outdoors for three or four
months of the year, the big question for Masdar is how to keep cool without turning on the airconditioning.
In this equation, insulation and ventilation suddenly become more important than the
performance of solar panels. To maximise shade, I the city's streets are packed closely together, with
limits of four or five storeys set on the height of most buildings.
124.
The other major design feature for Masdar is that the whole city is raised on a deck. The pedestrian level
will be free of vehicles and much of the noisy maintenance that you see in modern cities. Cars are
banned from Masdar entirely, while an underground network of `podcars' ferries people around the
city.
125.
Given that this concern is legitimate, developers of both cities would do well to incorporate both
a range of housing and jobs to make them inclusive to everyone. This will be difficult, obviously,
but then just about everything is difficult when you're completely reinventing the way we build
and live in a metropolis. And supposing these sustainable and super-efficient cities are
successful, could they even usher in a new world order?
A. The city will be built on a corner of Chongming Island in the mouth of the Yangtze River. It
will be made up of three interlinked, mixed-use villages, built one after the other. Each will
combine homes, businesses and recreation, and a bridge and tunnel link will connect the
population with Shanghai on the mainland.
B. The skin of each building will be crucial. Thick concrete would only soak up heat and release
it slowly, so instead engineers will use thin walls that react quickly to the sun. A thin metal layer
on the outside will help to reflect heat and stop it from penetrating the building. Density is also
critical for Masdar. The city is arranged in a definite square with a walled border. Beyond this
perimeter, fields of solar panels, a wind farm and a desalination plant will provide clean energy
and water, and act as a barrier to prevent further sprawl.
C. 'If you plan your development so people can live, work and shop very locally, you can quite
significantly reduce the amount of energy that's being used', Wood says. `Then, not only have
you made the situation easier because you've reduced the energy demand, but it also means that
producing it from renewable sources becomes easier because you don't have to produce quite as
much'.
D. Arup's integrated, holistic approach to city planning goes further still. Leftover heat from the
power plant will be channelled to homes and businesses. Buildings can be made of thinner
materials because the electric cars on the road will be quiet, so there's less noise to drown out.
Dongtan will initially see an 83 per cent reduction in waste sent to landfill compared to other
cities, with the aim to reduce that to nothing over time. And more than 60 per cent of the whole
site will be parks and farmland, where food is grown to feed the population.
E. Developers at Masdar and Dongtan are adamant that each city will be somewhere that people
want to live. Critics do not question this but they do, nevertheless, wonder if these cities will be
realistic places for people on a low income. They say that it would be easy for places like these
to become a St Tropez or a Hamptons, where only rich people live.
F. Funded by a 12bn (euro) investment from the government in Abu Dhabi, it has not passed the
attention of many observers that Masdar is being built by one of the world's largest and most
profitable producers of oil. Even so, under the guidance of architects as Foster and Partners, the
city is just as ambitious as its Chinese counterpart and also hinges on being able to run on low
power.
G. Since cars and other petrol-based vehicles are banned from the city, occupants will share a
network of ‘podcars' to get around. The 'personal rapid transit system' will comprise 2500
driverless, electric vehicles that make 150,000 trips a day by following sensors along a track
beneath the pedestrian deck. Up to six passengers will ride in each pod: they just hop in at one of
83 stations around the city and tap in their destination.
H. Incredibly, this is already happening. Two rival developments, one in China and one in the
United Arab Emirates, are progressing in tandem. Work on Masdar, 17km from Abu Dhabi,
began in 2008, while Dongtan, near Shanghai, will eventually be home to half a million people.
The aim for both is to build sustainable, zero-carbon communities that showcase green
technology and demonstrate what smart urban planning can achieve in the 21st century.
Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125.
Exercise 4:
The Rise of Silicon Valley
On January 11, 1971, an article was published in the trade newspaper Electronic News about the
companies involved in the semiconductor and computer industries in Santa Clara Valley at the southern
end of San Francisco Bay Area in California, USA. The article was entitled 'Silicon Valley USA', a reference
to the fact that silicon is the most important substance used in commercial semiconductors and their
applications. The name stuck, and in light of the commercial success of the companies there, 'Silicon
Valley' is now used as a metonym for the high-tech sector.
119.
One such new business was the one founded by two graduates of the nearby Stanford University called
Bill Hewlett and David Packard. In 1938 the pair had $538, and along with Dave's wife Lucile, decided to
rent a property at 367 Addison Avenue, Palo Alto. For $45 a month they got a ground floor apartment
for Dave and Lucile, a garden shed where Bill slept, and a garage from which to run the business, a
garage which has more recently been dubbed 'The birthplace of Silicon Valley'.
120.
As time passed, the 200A was improved and developed, resulting in the 200B. Eight of these improved
oscillators were bought by The Walt Disney Company, for use in testing and certifying the Fantasound
surround-sound systems installed in cinemas for the 1940 movie Fantasia. Success was beginning to
come.
121.
Although they are often considered to be the symbolic founders of Silicon Valley, they did not deal in
semiconductor devices until the 1960s. From then onwards, the semiconductor devices they made were
mostly intended for internal use, for such products as measuring instruments and calculators. Today,
however, Hewlett-Packard is the largest manufacturer of personal computers in the world.
122.
Terman also had a more direct influence through his role at Stanford University. The University had been
established in 1891 in the north-western part of the Santa Clara Valley, and from the start, its leaders
aimed to support the local region. The result was that the University played an important part in
establishing and developing local businesses, and indeed its alumni went on to found some major
companies, not just Hewlett-Packard, but such household names as Yahoo! and Google.
123.
Terman's proposal was taken up by Stanford University, and in 1951 Stanford Industrial Park was
created. The first tenant in the Park was Varian Associates, founded by Stanford alumni in the 1930s to
make components for military radars. Hewlett-Packard moved in two years later. The Park still flourishes
to this day, although it is now known as Stanford Research Park. Current tenants include Eastman Kodak,
General Electric and Lockheed Corporation.
124.

The 1950s were also a time of great development in electronics technology. Most importantly, the
development of the transistor continued. Research scientist William Shockley moved to the Santa Clara
Valley region in 1956, when he formed Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory. There his research team
started constructing semiconductors from silicon, rather than germanium, as did most other
researchers. The silicon transistors proved to perform much better, and started to be used in radios and
the early computers.
125.
Since the 1970s, however, the most important developments pioneered in Silicon Valley have
been in software and Internet services rather than hardware. So even though Hewlett-Packard
remains the largest producers of computers in the world, the future of Silicon Valley might well
lie elsewhere.
A. Throughout their early years, Hewlett and Packard were mentored by one of their university
professors, Frederick Terman. Terman was Stanford University's dean of engineering and
provost during the 1940s and 1950s, and had a positive influence on many of the successful
companies in Silicon Valley. Indeed, his influence was such that he has been dubbed 'the father
of Silicon Valley'. Terman encouraged his students to form their own companies and personally
invested in many of them, and in this way nurtured many highly successful companies, including
not just Hewlett-Packard, but others such as Varian Associates and Litton Industries.
B. Hewlett-Packard was arguably the first company to offer a mass-produced personal
computer, namely the 9100A. For marketing reasons, however, the 9100A was sold as a 'desktop
calculator'. It simply did not resemble what was then considered a 'computer', namely the large
machines being sold by IBM. The 9100A fitted comfortably on a desk, and possessed a small
screen and a keyboard. In fact, it was more like an oversized and over-expensive precursor of a
pocket calculator than a modern PC, since its keyboard lacked letter keys.
C. Following the end of the Second World War in 1945, universities in the United States were
experiencing enormous enrolment demands from the returning military personnel. Terman
proposed launching a scheme which would kill two birds with one stone. The idea was to lease
out land owned by Stanford University to high-technology companies for their offices. This
scheme would firstly finance the University's growth requirements and thereby facilitate a larger
student intake, and secondly provide local employment opportunities for graduating students.
D. The beginnings of Silicon Valley can be traced back to the early twentieth century. At that
time, Santa Clara Valley was known for its orchards which flourished in California's balmy
climate. There were nevertheless a number of experimenters and innovators in such fields as
radio, television and military electronics, and several people were trying to take advantage of any
business opportunities that might arise.
E. It was also in Silicon Valley that other revolutionary electronic components were developed.
The silicon-based integrated circuit, the microprocessor and the microcomputer were all invented
by companies there, as well as such electronic devices as the mouse and the ink-jet printer.
Indeed, Silicon Valley has been the world's most important site of electronic innovation over the
past 50 years.
F. In those early years, Hewlett-Packard was a company without a focused direction. They made
a whole range of electronic products, with diverse customers in industry and agriculture. In the
1940s, their principal products were test equipment, including such devices as voltmeters,
oscilloscopes and thermometers. They aimed to provide better quality products than their
competitors, and made a big effort to make their products more sensitive and accurate than their
rivals.
G. Another bond between the University and the local high-technology businesses was
established in 1954, with the creation of the Honors Cooperative Program. This programme
allowed employees of the businesses to pursue part-time graduate degrees at the University
whilst continuing to work full-time in their jobs. In this way, key workers in the electronics
industry were able to hone their skills and knowledge, creating the foundation for the
development of Silicon Valley.
H. Of the many products Hewlett and Packard worked on, the first financially successful one
was a precision audio oscillator, a device for testing sound equipment. This product, the 200A,
featured the innovative use of a small light bulb as a temperature-dependent resistor in a critical
section of the circuit, which allowed them to sell it for $54.40, only a quarter of the price of their
competitors' audio oscillators.
Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125
Exercise 6
THE ORIGIN OF ADVERTISING
Advertising has become a major force in our modern world. Through our airwaves, up in the skies, on
walls, streets and along motorways, almost nowhere can we go and not be bombarded by adverts. It has
become so prevalent that scientists and researchers have analyzed its sociological effect extensively –
how it influences buying habits, desensitizes consumers and in some cases even repels them.
119.
Such rudimentary content is also believed to be present in the first printed adverts, used by ancient
Egyptians to communicate sales messages through the use of papyrus. In contrast with the ephemeral
nature of today’s advertising, they would also carve messages of commerce into stone or on steel plates,
which would remain visible for a lifetime.
120.
Naturally, we cannot know for sure, but one would guess that the power of persuasion was present in
the spoken adverts of ancient times. You could suppose that the loudest, most colorful, most
entertaining crier garnered the most business. Although we do not experience this form of
advertisement often today, sellers in public markets in Europe and the Middle East still employ this
method.
121.
The specific message on the printing plate was ‘We buy high-quality steel rods and make finequality needles
to be ready for use at home in no time', and the seller also placed a rabbit logo
and the name of his shop in the center. The plate, made of copper and dating back to the Song
dynasty of the 10th-century China, was used to print posters the dimensions of which were nearly
perfect squares roughly the size of a window frame.
122.
It was not until the rise of newspapers did advertising makes its next big leap. During this time, targeted
slogans and catchphrases became popular. The first such instance of a paid newspaper advert appeared
in the French newspaper La Presse in 1836 and what was so revolutionary about it was that the seller
paid for its placement, allowing the newspaper to charge its readers less.
123.
Known as quackery, such messages boasted cures for common ailments that went above and beyond
what traditional remedies could provide. Naturally, an unsuspecting and undereducated public was
particularly susceptible to such fabrications. Much as how quackery would be dispelled today, doctors
went out of their way to publish medical journals debunking the claims made by these adverts.
124.
In the advert, a painting of a child blowing bubbles – a work of art literally entitled Bubbles, by English
artist Sir John Everett Millais – was used as the background of a poster, with the product visible in the
foreground. The visual immediately linked the product with high – class society and it is a tactic that is
undeniably still very much used today.
125.
Along with the staggering investment is the use of a broad range of tactics to maximize impact,
such as focus groups, evocative imagery, storytelling, and seemingly boundless product
placement. So psychological is the effect that it has given rise to the belief that companies know
everything about you. Nevertheless, with such creativity poured into the field, one can still
appreciate its art form and its place in history.
A. One need look no further than failed advertising campaigns. Some went too far in their shock
value, had to be apologized for and hurt the brand more than they helped. In one example, a
game manufacturer, in order to promote the carnal violence visible in the game, held an event
which showcased an actual deceased goat.
B. For better or worse, there was no stopping the budding advertising industry. Agencies started
to spring up and with that came campaigns. The first successful campaign was for the British
soap manufacturer Pears. With the help of chairman Thomas James Barratt, the company
successfully linked a catchy slogan with high culture.
C. In contrast to the adverts being produced for the literate populace of this region, text was
largely absent from adverts that proliferated in the towns and cities of medieval Europe. To
circumvent this obstacle, adverts used commonly recognizable imagery such a boot for a cobbler
or a diamond for a carver to promote products and services. And still, criers remained the go-to
medium for relaying the sellers’ messages to the public.
D. Also entering the industry was the vast sums of money that companies would splash out on
campaigns. A little over one hundred American companies in 1893 spent 50,000 US dollars on
advertising campaigns. That equates to over one million US dollars today, still a fraction of what
today’s companies spend at nearly 500 billion pounds globally.
E. In this era, though, the medium with the greatest prevalence was oral. Public criers would
circulate messages in urban centers to passers-by advertising various products. There is evidence
of written adverts and for more than just selling wares. In one such advert found at the ruins of
Thebes dated 1,000 BC, a man was offering a reward for a runaway slave. But oral messages
were the main method of delivery until the invention of the printing press in 1450.
F. But there was a time when an advert was a rare occurrence and its effect on society amounted
to no more than its core function; that is, to connect seller and buyer. We know that the written
word began around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, in the Sumerian civilization that existed in
modern-day southern Iraq. The make – up of this early scrawling consisted of grain inventories,
from what historians and linguists can make of it.
G. Adverts in ancient times did contain an element of sophistication which essentially lured
buyers, albeit less obviously. On the other side of the world, in ancient China, the language of
adverts contained selling points and friendly imagery, such as in an advert to coax people into
using a craftsman’s services. This particular advertising medium is considered the oldest
example of printed advertising.
H. That formula was soon copied by other publishers looking to increase their profits while
expanding their circulation. British newspapers, which had been using newspaper advertising
since the 18th century, used adverts to promote books and newspapers themselves. The printing
press had made their production much more affordable and advertising content expanded to
include medicines, in what would prove to be the first instances of false advertising.
Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125
Exercise 7.
Where to next?
Are travelers selfish?
Travel, when you think about it, is largely a selfish pursuit. It’s all about me, me, me. Places I can go to,
people I can meet, things I can see, food I can try, my bucket list, my experiences. Are you a selfabsorbed
traveler? Let’s look at some common scenarios, starting with the plight of traveler seeking to
discover something unique.
119.
Your first reaction is to blame the guide book, regardless of the fact that it’s probably the way you found
out about it, too. And it’s true, that book in your hand has a bit to answer for. But that’s a simplistic
notion. In an age of mass tourism, of backpacker grapevines, of internet and travel blogs, it’s inevitable
that what was once a pristine paradise will be seething with tourists before long.
120.
You can direct a little blame at the locals, too. Without their efforts, that which seems to offend you
would not exist. They like the money and they want more – although it’s a bit hard to blame them for
that. If tourist cash spent at beach bars and souvenir shops can ease poverty and raise living standards it
would be selfish to begrudge the locals their chance at a better life.
121.

Honestly, either accept a place as it is, even if it doesn't live up to your expectations or go elsewhere if
the trappings of the progress are too offensive for your sensibilities. Don’t blame the guide books, the
internet, the Trip Advisor. Don’t blame your fellow tourists. And definitely don’t blame the locals for
trying to improve their lives – that would be the height of selfishness.
122.
They say money makes the world go round. So how do you spend your hard-earned cash on holiday? Do
you shop locally? If you stay, eat and shop in places owned by locals, your money will stay in the
community and help generate jobs. Foreign-owned resorts or hotel chains may offer a higher level of
comfort and extra facilities, but very little of what you pay actually trickles down into the local economy.
If there’s a beach nearby, do you really need a swimming pool?
123.
And last but not least where money’s concerned, bargain fairly. Saving an extra dollar on that T-shirt or
souvenir will hardly make a dent in your budget, but it can make a huge difference to the seller. Once, I
was disgusted to witness a shameful exchange in which a well-fed foreigner haggled hard to get a
novelty toy for less than half price. The saving? Fifty measly cents. Adding insults to injury, he boasted
about it to his companions. He felt great because he’d put one over on the locals. Don’t be that person!
124.
People say there’s something about lending a hand that lifts voluntourism above the average travel
experience. But I think there's still an element of selfishness even to the noble volunteers who help build
homes or teach art to children. You do these things because it downsizes to all this goodwill, however, is
that voluntourism is actually quite expensive. Most companies that organize volunteer trips will charge
you plenty for the experience – often far more than it would cost you to just visit those countries on
your own.
125.
Well, that’s it. Some of you will disagree with my views, but I’m up for a good debate. Are you a
selfish traveler?
A. Maybe you’re not the kind of travelers who thinks hell is other people. Maybe you’re happy
to discover and share the world with others. That’s commendable. But while you’re roaming the
planet, think about your personal impact on the people and the places around you. Are you
contributing in positive ways that can be of benefit to others, or are you exacerbating problems?
Are you causing harm to satisfy selfish needs?
B. You get to an exotic destination expecting to find an untouched and unspoiled paradise, a
secluded fantasyland just for you, far from the well-worn tourist path….and the place is crawling
with other travelers. There are loud and obnoxious backpackers, huge speakers thumping out the
most awful dance music, and tour buses spewing their human cargo.
C. One last thing before I get off my soapbox: voluntourism. It’s a novel concept, and, to those
whose idea of travel is a secluded resort and a day spa, a somewhat frightening one. The idea is
simple: as a traveler from the first world, you’re usually in a far more privileged position than
those who live in the countries you’re visiting. But, rather than just comfort yourself with the
knowledge that your money is helping their economy, why not do something tangible to help
out, even for just a few days?
D. There is something imperialistic about not allowing – or wanting – less developed countries to
develop along the lines of our own cultures. After a recent trip to Nepal, a member of our group
was complaining about locals in a village, and how the place was spoilt because there was an
internet café. I couldn’t believe in my ears. Why can’t these Nepalese people enjoy the web if
they so choose?
E. Stay calm and don’t get angry if you think you’ve been charged a bit more for your transport,
hotel or food. Perhaps it’s just an honest mistake. Try to point out the discrepancy in a polite and
respectful way, and don’t accuse anyone of dishonesty. Yes, it’s your hard-earned cash, but don’t
assume that people want to rob you of it just because they have less.
F. Be careful about what you’re buying, too. In countries with lax environmental regulations, or
where authorities turn a blind eye to illegal trade, it’s not difficult to find products made from
endangered species such as shell, coral and certain woods. It never fails to shock me when I hear
of anyone buying ivory products, like carving or jewellery. And then there’s medicine made
from parts of endangered animals. Don’t even think about it! The tiger population in Asia has
been drastically reduced, and for what? Some crackpot cure that doesn’t work.
G. Isn’t this concept of an exclusive paradise selfish? Not only that, but the arrogance implicit in
it is astonishing too. Without wishing to state the obvious, the second you decide to go to a place
because it is paradise, you are part of the problem. The blaring speakers, international sport on
big screen TVs, karaoke, fish and chips – it’s all there because it’s what the tourists want.
H. Yes, that’s right – you pay the organization to go and work for free. The money is supposed to
go into the community, but often, shady operators pocket the profits. As if that wasn’t bad
enough volunteers could be taking jobs from locals. Think about it. If there’s free labor, i.e. you,
why would anyone employ a local? That’s probably what I find most disturbing about the whole
concept. It’s not ethical or responsible, and in my humble opinion, best avoided.
Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125.
Exercise 8.
GANGS: the new tribes
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ a class of fresh-faced 12-year-olds were asked
upon commencing secondary school. Their new English teacher – Mrs Marcus – asked this
question every year and it seemed to fire the imagination of every child. Usually, there was a
smattering of professions, vocations and trades, along with some interesting surprises. This lot
did not disappoint.
119.
It turns out they were a highly varied lot: doctor, nurse, lawyer, judge, electrician, archaeologist,
businesswoman, vet, police officer, hairdresser, actor, shop assistant. There was trouble containing their
enthusiasm, with some throwing out more than one idea. A few had non-specific ambitions, ‘I don’t
know. I want to travel’, and ‘ I just want to go to university.’ All of them had opinions, some stronger
than others, but opinions nonetheless.
120.
I’m particularly interested in the differences between that generation and the current one. ‘Hopes and
dreams,’ she replies immediately. ‘Whether your classmates achieved those things or not is irrelevant.
The important thing is you had ideas about your future; you had aspirations. When I have asked that
question in recent years, instead of setting their sights on becoming a scientist, a lawyer or an artist, the
best some children could think of was going on the dole, being famous, or being the boss of a gang,’ she
says.
121.
It is a vicious circle that becomes increasingly difficult to break. It was crucial for my peers and
me that we knew people who worked and we could make decisions about our ambitions based on
some knowledge. We had the benefit of seeing our parents, relatives, and neighbours going to
work, returning from work, talking about their jobs, or their time at university. These experiences
informed our ideas, ambitions and, let’s face it, our expectations, too. We wouldn’t have dreamt of
alternative. After all, work and study were our means to get ahead and make our way in life.
122.
This lies at the very core of a gang’s appeal. The aimlessness of some youths’ experience is replaced by
the rigid system of rules, rituals, and codes of behavior that members follow, and which gives them a
purpose and adds much – needed structure to their lives. In many cases, the gang becomes a surrogate
family, providing security, camaraderie and a sense of belonging. These powerful inducements exert a
strange power over vulnerable teenagers.
123.
I ask Margaret what it is that can drive such a change. ‘I’ve known many young boys who have turned
over a new leaf,’ she says. ‘The key is intervention at the grassroots level. Community programs that
keep kids off the streets and involve them in pro-social activities are great deterrents. Strong afterschool
programs that meet children’s needs for supervision are also successful in reducing attraction to
gang-related activities. These cost money, though, and authorities are often not willing to spend,’ she
explains, ‘and sadly, some kids fall through the cracks.’
124.
What chance for rehabilitation do they have, I wonder, when they cling to their gangs even in these
circumstances? Admittedly, the need for survival plays a role since those in prison rely on their fellow
gang members for protection. After all, prison is no picnic and is possibly more dangerous in an
environment than the outside world. But even in here, there is hope.
125.
‘You can’t make anyone succeed, but you can help them to see that success in life is possible
outside of the narrow confines of the gang,’ says Margaret. ‘If we give young people
opportunities to bring about a change in their circumstances, they can build a happy future.’
Let’s hope that the next time Margaret asks 'the questions', there will be some scientists,
entrepreneurs, and plumbers in the group.
A. Success, however, can be measured in a myriad of ways, and for those without traditional
role models, gang culture becomes increasingly alluring as a way to make something of
themselves. ‘They’re not inherently bad kids,’ says Marcus, ‘they just have no direction and no
one to look up to. Were they to attach value to work and education, their whole outlook on life
would change and they wouldn’t need what gang membership provides.’
B. Though there is no conclusive evidence, many critics of popular media believe exposure to
violent films and song lyrics, particularly rap music, has a negative influence; glamorizing gang
life and encouraging at-risk youths to join gangs or to participate in gang-related crime as a
means of gaining a sense of belonging and empowerment.
C. Those who do join a gang inevitably end up in a downward spiral, losing any moral
foundation they had and hurtling headlong into a life of violence and crime. And yet, even when
they are placed in juvenile detention centers, or worse – in adult prisons – some maintain their
allegiance to the gang and look upon their membership as a badge of honor; a mark of success,
not failure.
D. Thick and fast came the replies. ‘Teacher,’ said a bespectacled girl in the front row. Mrs
Marcus smiled to herself. The prospective teachers always sat as close as possible to the board,
eager and serious. ‘Football player!’ shouted a tall lad from the back, raising his arms in victory
as though he’d just scored a winning goal against Argentina at the World Cup. Mrs Marcus knew
he’d be a live wire in class. ‘Prime Minister’, said another, garnering a round of applause as well
as ridicule from his classmates.
E. How has it come to this? A recent report has found that children in some areas of the country
have so little contact with working people that the concept of employment is almost foreign.
They live in the so-called ‘welfare ghettos’ where more than half of the working-age population
depends on out-of-work benefits. In many families, unemployment is intergenerational with
grandparents and parents living on the dole.
F. Thankfully, in many cases the lure is temporary. It becomes nothing more than a phase that
plays to their fantasies of rebellion and desire for high drama, in part fueled by pop culture
through music and films that glamorize thug life. In time, these wannabe gangsters find other
interests and reject the values of the gang.
G. Fast forward twenty years and Mrs Margaret Marcus is now teaching at an inner-city school
in a large metropolis. Hoping to get some insight from this forty-year veteran of the education
system, I’m interviewing her about the challenges faced by young people today. ‘So you became
a journalist instead of a teacher,’ she says with a twinkle in her eye. Yes, I was that child in the
specs long ago. Before getting down to business, we reminisce for a few moments about my
classmates.
H. There are many organizations that are working positively with young people in gangs, both
inside and outside of detention, and helping them through some very difficult times in their lives.
With this help, they can stop their slide into crime and violence, and make the tough transition of
evolving into productive, responsible and law-abiding members of society