Part 1: Reading Comprehension

(29 points)

 

Read the passage below carefully and then answer questions 1-3

 

 

REMOTE CONTROL YOUR HOME WITH PHONE-A-FRIDGE DEVICE

 

{I}

 

First they transformed our lives by letting us call each other while travelling.  Then teenagers used them to send secret text messages.  Now mobile phones are to trigger their greatest revolution: by allowing us to run our homes remotely.  If you are heading home early to a cold house, your mobile will let you switch on your central heating at the touch of a keypad. If you have left the fridge door open, it will send you a warning message. If an intruder tries to enter your house, an alarm will ring on your phone.

 

{II}

 

It sounds like science fiction. Yet these devices are about to be launched by some of Japan's leading electronic companies. Last week, at the country's Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (Ceatec), firms such as Toshiba, National, Panasonic and Mitsubishi revealed schemes for turning our homes into 'intelligent households'. And the key to all these plans is the mobile phone.  Householders will control appliances from the system's central unit or via their mobile phones. You will be able to alter your air conditioner's setting from a train or download a recipe from the internet and display it on a screen on your microwave or oven. Computer chips and digital networks are now so cheap, we can use them where we want, and kitchens and utility rooms are just perfect for "intelligent" improvements,' said one National official last week.

 

{III}

 

Japan is already transforming domestic life through its new I-mode mobile phone that can take and transmit pictures. One unexpected use includes the ability to buy Coca-Cola cans without handing over cash. Just pass your phone in front of a scanner on one of several hundred I-mode automated vendors in Japan and your credit card account will be debited in exchange for a chilled can of Coke. The system has encouraged companies to believe they might one day be able to get rid of the credit card completely. Firms such as Mitsubishi have revealed even more ambitious plans - for example, using mobile phones as aids for absent-minded shoppers who want to find out how many eggs or tomatoes they have left at home, by transmitting a video shot of their fridge's interior. Or, if a package arrives while you are away from home, a front-door camera will transmit a photo of the delivery man. Satisfied with his identity, you can then let him enter by opening your door remotely.

 

{IV}

 

The information era has begun to move out of the study and into the kitchen, bathroom and dining room - mainly because it has nowhere else to go. Manufacturers of PCs have realised their product has reached near saturation levels in most Western homes. Persuading the few homeowners who still refuse to buy one - mainly iconoclasts and elderly people - is a lost cause, it has been decided. The only answer is to find alternative domestic uses for computer chips and hardware. This has led Microsoft to develop plans for a house in which an intelligent kitchen will anticipate what recipes will be required at different times of the day and what ingredients need to be bought.

 

{V}

 

However, it is Japan that still drives the world's consumer electronics market, its people having had a long love affair with domestic gadgets. 'Japanese consumers always want something new, like recordable DVDs,' said Panasonic director Fumo Ohtsubo. 'By contrast, in America and Europe, people still only want cheap old VHS videos.' Where J

pan leads, the world follows, at least in domestic electronics.

 

The Sunday Observer

 

 

Questions: (29 points)

 

Answer questions 1-3 as instructed, according to the context of the passage.

In question 1(a) circle the number of the most suitable answer.

Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar.

 

1(a) What is the main point in paragraph I? (1 point)

 

i)                    Mobile phones are something new

ii)                   Mobile phones can act as remotes to run our house

iii)                 Mobile phones are great for sending text messages

iv)                 Mobile phones are great to have when travelling

 

1(b) Fill in the missing information (1 word in each space) according to the context of paragraph II. (4 points) 

 

Appliances in the house will soon be controlled by ___________ using their mobile   phones as was revealed by some of ________ electronic companies.

 

1(c) Name 2 things mobile phones will soon be able to do.  (Paragraph II) (4 points)

 

        i)

        ii)

 

2(a) In your own words what makes credit card companies believe credit cards might be redundant in the future?  (Paragraph III) (4 points)   

 

         Answer:

 

2(b) Mitsubishi revealed two new uses for their mobile phones.  What are they? (Paragraph III) (4 points)

 

         i)

         ii)

 

2(c) Explain what is meant by “saturation levels”. (Paragraph IV) (2 points)

 

          Answer:

 

2(d) Why have PC manufacturers decided to find new uses for computer chips and hardware and which type of people have yet to own a computer?  (Paragraph IV) (6 points)

 

         Answer:

 

3(a) What is the difference between Japan and America in relation to the electronics market?  (Paragraph V) (2 points)   

 

         Answer:

 

3(b) What two products are used an an example in paragraph V as to why Japan leads in domestic electronics? (2 points)

 

          i)

          ii)

 

 

 

Part II: Reading Comprehension

 

(13 points)

 

Read the text below carefully and answer question 4

 

 

 

WHY ROBINS SING IN WINTER

 

{I}

 

The sound of a robin chirping in winter is a good sign, say scientists. It means the bird has built up enough fat reserves to survive the cold nights and has enough energy left to defend its territory.   The bird traditionally sings in spring to attract a mate but in winter, when food is short, it faces a dilemma.  Should it spend its time hunting for food to get through the next cold snap or burst into song?

 

{II}

 

Researchers in the west of England think they have the answer: the bird sings at dawn if it has enough energy left over from keeping warm at night. It is all part of a complicated biological mechanism to regulate fat reserves. John McNamara of the University of Bristol said: "Because birds can't predict exactly how much energy they need to survive the night, they need to build up enough fat reserves by dusk to cater for the worst-case scenario. "And as most nights are not that cold, they should have enough energy reserves left over at dawn to sing."

 

{III}

 

The Bristol team studied wild and captive robins. The captive birds were trained to weigh themselves on electronic balances. It turned out that the birds stored extra fat when food started to become scarce and the nights got colder. When it was warmer at night, they had more fat left at dawn and were able to sing.

 

{IV}

 

Mike Everett of conservation charity, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, told BBC News Online: "This interesting research confirms that healthy, well-fed robins have the best chance of survival in harsh weather. "It also underlines the importance of feeding robins and other small birds in our gardens during the winter - feeding which, in the most severe weather, really can mean the difference between life and death."

 

{V}

 

The research, published in the winter edition of the Natural Environment Research Council journal Planet Earth, should aid conservation efforts.  According to Bristol scientist Innes Cuthill, it will give us a better understanding of how bird species react to climate change.

 

 

Questions: (13 points)

 

Answer question 4 (a-c) as instructed, according to the context of the text.

 

Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar.

 

 

4(a)  In which two ways does the robin face its dilemma in winter? (Paragraph I) (5 points)

 

     i)

     ii)

 

4(b)  If the robin sings at dawn what does it mean? (Paragraph II) (3 points)

 

          Answer:

 

4(c)  Fill in the missing words, one per space.  (Paragraph III) (4 points)

 

          When the nights were cold and the food __________ the birds stored extra fat.  When the nights were ________ , at dawn they had more fat left.

 

 

Questions:  (18 points)

Answer question 5 (items a-d) as instructed, according to the context of the passage.

Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar.

 

 

HOW ANCIENT ATHLETES HAD A HELPING HAND

 

{I}

 

Even Olympic athletes in ancient Greece were not above using aids to enhance their performances, according to a study published today. But rather than using drugs, Greek pentathletes swung hand weights, called halteres, when competing in the standing long jump. Archaeological evidence suggests that the weights were in use as early as 708 BC.

A vase from ancient Greece showing an athlete using performance enhancing weights

Prof Alberto Minetti and Dr Luca Ardigó, of Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager, near Crewe, worked out the likely advantages gained with the weights after analysing the leaps of four jumpers.

 

{II}

 

Today, in the journal Nature, they show the effects of swinging the masses back and forth before take-off, as depicted on ancient Greek vases, and then swinging them backwards just before landing.  The former can help boost the length of the standing long jump by changing the centre of mass of the body. By throwing the halteres backwards, the mass of the body is moved further forward. In this way, the halteres make the muscle mass of the upper limbs work more effectively in the jump, an idea put forward by Aristotle, said Prof Minetti.

 

{III}

 

The researchers found that an athlete swinging a mass of about seven pounds back and forth in each hand would have an increased power on take-off of about six per cent. The halteres could also add at least seven inches to a nine-foot jump if swung forwards during take-off and backwards on landing.  But when the halteres reach double the weight, the boost to performance begins to decline. The range of masses found in the study that enhance performance correspond to the weights of the lead and stone halteres found by archaeologists.

 

The Independent

 

 

5(a)  Which two ways did the Greek athletes have of swinging the halteres? (Paragraph II)  (4 points)

 

          i)

          ii)

 

5(b)  Which two ways did the swinging of the halteres help the Greek pentathletes?  (Paragraph III) (6 points)

 

          i)

          ii)

 

5(c)  Complete the following sentence: (Paragraph III) (3 points)

        

         Researchers found that an increased power take off of about 6% could be achieved by _________________________ 

 

5(d)  How could the athletes’ performance decline? (Paragraph III) (3 points)

 

          Answer:

 

 

Part IV:  Cloze Exercise.

 

(10 points) 

 

Fill in the missing words (one word in each space); the missing word may be part of speech.  Pay special attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation.

(10 points; 1 point for each word)

Important:  Read the whole passage through before doing the exercise.

 

 

6.                                    WHY KEEPING WARM MATTERS

 

More people get ill in winter, and the number of deaths(1________). There is a direct link between cold (2__________) and a higher death rate, especially amongst older people and others in at-risk groups.

 

About half of all extra deaths in winter are (3_______) to coronary heart disease or stroke. About a quarter are due to respiratory disease. A drop in body (4___________) contributes to these deaths. Blood thickens in cold conditions and makes circulation more (5__________); and persistent exposure to cold reduces resistance to chest infection. Where there is bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, a previous stroke or other chronic heart and lung disorder already present, the (6_________) are greater. This applies also with diabetes and other diseases affecting major organs.

 

 

There is also the increased risk of injury from falls. Icy and wet surfaces are one hazard, but if your (7________) is cold your muscles react more slowly which will make you more likely to fall.

 

The best way to combat winter is to keep (8________). Countries with much colder winters than ours experience only slight increases in death rates (9_________) more care and effort goes into keeping warm and safe, at home and outside. Winter needn’t be (10_________) if you take the right steps.

 

 

Part V:  Writing tasks

 

(20 points)

 

Write in English on both of the following topics, no. 7 and no. 8.

Write about 120 –130 words on each topic.

 

 

7.      Describe a real or imaginary invention you have had.  Describe any or all of the following:

 

• How you came about your idea
• What your invention looks like
• What its purpose is

    

You may refer to the passage “Remote Control your Home with Phone-a-Fridge Device”.

 

8.      Write an article to your school newspaper about research you have carried out on the wildlife in your neighbourhood.

 

Discuss how and where the research was carried out and over how long.

 

       Give your opinion on the results and the conclusion.

 

 You may refer to the passage “Why Robins Sing in Winter”