Handwriting is history

Handwriting has been (0) ........ for about 6,000 years, just a small fraction of the time that humans haye been on this earth, but its effects have been enormous. Writing doesn't come naturally to us; (9) ........ seeing and hearing, it must be taught.

However, (10) ........ that computers have taken over our world, the need to write anything by hand is becoming redundant. Some educationalists are therefore questioning why schools Should teach joined-up writing at (11) ......... It takes up a lot of teaching time that could otherwise be devoted (12) .......... keyboard skills. But these experts admit that handwriting (13) .......... indeed have a presence that is absent in typed prose.

Many of us rebel (14) ........ the radical idea of abandoning writing by hand because we think that our personal identity shines through in our handwriting. It allows self-expression to grow and is regarded by many (15) ........ the mark of a civilised society. So, are we really ready to write a word (16) ......... the artistic flow of handwritten script might be about to disappear.

Reading and use of English

Part 3

For questions 17—24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Singing in a choir is good for you!

Example: (0) BENEFIT: BENEFICIAL

According to researchers, not only does singing in a choir make us feel good, it may also be (0)........ to our health.

A recent online survey of people who sang in choirs, played team sports or took up dancing all yielded very high levels of (18)........ well-being. However, it was the choristers who stood out as feeling the most (19)......... Why is this? Singing in a choir was shown to be (20).......... more effective at improving the mood of its because of the synchronised moving and breathing with other people. Alternatively, it could simply be the fact that being part of a (21)........ group is particularly satisfying. Over the years, researchers have found that choral singing has a number of health benefits as well, including boosting the immune system and lowering stress levels. One study has even suggested that it can increase life (22)......... .

Although  researchers  admit that some   their studies  are still (23).......... they  feel  there  does  seem  to  be  the (24).......... that singing in a group is more than just fun.

Reading and use of English

Part 4

For question 25—30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given.

Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (O).

Example:

0. James would only speak to the head of department alone.
ON
James …………………………………………………… to the head of department alone.

The gap can be filled by the words 'INSISTED ON SPEAKING'.

Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

25. I'm convinced that David is holding something back about his plans for moving.

HONEST

I'm convinced that David is............................................ about his plans for moving.

26. John always trained hard, but he never succeeded in winning a gold medal.

HOW

No ............................................... trained, he never succeeded in winning a gold medal.

27. The manager assured me that she would order a replacement watch.

WORD

The manager ............................................. that she would order a replacement watch.

28. There was no money to allow the construction of the road to continue.

LACK

Construction of the road could not ....................................... money.

29. The manager never doubted that the latest model of the phone would be a great success.

MIND

There was never any ............................................ that the latest model of the phone would be a great success.

30. Gina found it impressive that her tutor was able to remember all his students' names.

ABILITY

Gina was ............................................. to remember all his students' names.

Reading and use of English

Part 5

You are going to read a newspaper article about food. For questions 31—36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Philosophy needs to engage more with the world

Philosopher Adrian Small considers the role of philosophers in modern life

‘What do you do for a living?’ It's classic small talk — we define ourselves by our jobs. And it's a question usually answered in a few words. However, when you're a philosopher, as I am, it's slightly harder to deal with. For one thing, describing yourself as a philosopher sounds rather pretentious. Saying you study or teach the subject is fine, but to say you are a philosopher is, in the eyes of many, to claim access to some mystical truth or enlightenment above one's fellows. This is clearly nonsense; philosophers are no different from — indeed are part of — the masses, but the persistence of the notion makes me hesitate.

So why does this stereotype of a philosopher pervade? One reason is that philosophers have established themselves as people who judge the activities of others and celebrate intellectual life. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) argued that a life lived in contemplation, i.e. a philosophical life, was the most virtuous of all. Few modern philosophers would agree, but there's still a cultural aura around philosophy that associates it, rightly, with the life of the mind. Another Greek philosopher, Socrates, remarked that ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’, meaning that a life that simply accepted prevailing cultural norms would be deeply unsatisfying. It's partly mankind's innate ability to reflect upon the world that allows us control over our lives, and therefore the ability to make our own decisions.

But the examined life doesn't require the wide reading of the philosophical classics, nor a life dedicated to intellectual reflection. It simply means looking more closely at the everyday experiences that define our lives to ensure they deserve their central role. It doesn't need to be the life of the sage, removed from society in order to evaluate it impartially. In fact, in order for the examined life to serve in guiding the experience of individuals, it's actually a deeply practical enterprise, and one in which knowledge should be shared, as it's an essential element of the good life.

This brings me to a second reason for the misconception about philosophers: in becoming a profession, academic philosophy has grown increasingly removed from lived experiences, especially those of people without formal training in the discipline. This isn't entirely the fault of philosophers: university funding, performance evaluations and esteem are tied to increasingly expensive and inaccessible academic journals. As a result, philosophers have little opportunity to explain their ideas to anyone other than the minute group of experts who populate their particular field of study. For the lay observer, the discipline can often seem far removed from reality.

If the bulk of philosophers once challenged this view of themselves as being remote, many have since ceased. Although the university system initiated the environment of privileged isolation, academics haven't shied away from supporting it. As thinking in some areas has grown increasingly concerned with very specific, technical debates, the process of interpreting them for philosophers working outside the specific subfield can be laborious enough, but trying to do so for the untrained mind becomes almost impossible. Philosophy, in some circles, has withdrawn from society altogether. This trend must be reversed.

I sometimes describe myself as an ‘ethicist’, because most of my work is in ethics, the field of philosophy concerned with evaluating human activity. More recently, though, I've begun to feel that title insufficient to capture my area of

inquiry, because ethics is commonly asserted as being connected to formal codes, values and laws. This represents quite a new and largely unconsidered development in philosophical thinking: the field of ethics has colloquially come to refer to applied ethics — a subfield that explores the justice of particular social practices. The task of the ethicist, in modern thinking, is to determine whether or not a certain activity is ‘ethical’ or acceptable.

These are important questions, and ones I engage in regularly. However, there's more to philosophy than this. A typical discussion might, for example, begin by exploring whether illegally downloading films is unethical (it is) before moving to an exploration of how we think about responsibility, our attitudes towards art, and the influence of market consumerism. In this way, philosophy can help people look a little more closely at the practices and behaviours that define their lives. Sometimes this might reveal something we already know; at other times we might discover that our beliefs are-hard to justify. Either way, merely by examining these ideas, we'll be doing something for the benefit of everyone.

Reading and use of English

Part 6

You are going to read four extracts from articles in which experts discuss Antarctica. For questions 37 – 40, choose from the writers A – D. The writers may be chosen more than once.

ANTARTICA

A.

Antarctica is a pristine and unspoilt continent. Not only is it unrivalled in its beauty but Antarctic science has revealed much about the impact of human activity on the natural world. For example, the discovery by scientists of the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica revealed the damage done to the Earth's atmosphere by man-made chemicals. The fact that Antarctica is so vital for such scientific knowledge, to my mind, suggests that it must be left undisturbed in order to allow further scientific research on such critical international issues as climate change, long-range weather forecasting and the operation of marine eco-systems (crucial to sustainable fishing). If mines to exploit its natural resources were to be placed on the continent, these would undoubtedly affect the scientific readings. Only by having Antarctica completely untouched can we guarantee the level of accuracy we now have.

B.

Access to Antarctica should be restricted to those with a serious purpose. To suggest an example, almost 30,000 tourists are expected this year in what is, to my mind, a place of unparalleled charm in the universe. Most of them will be on cruise ships, which call at Antarctica's sites for just a few days. This number is, however, rising rapidly and some visitors are now undertaking adventurous activities such as ski-hiking, scuba-diving, snowboarding and mountaineering. Unchecked, this influx of people is greatly increasing the problems of waste management and their activities are having a negative impact on the coastal environment and its wildlife. Adventure tourists also need to be rescued by the authorities from time to time, diverting resources from science. The more vessels visiting the continent, the greater the chance of catastrophic oil spills or for rogue operators to neglect their environmental responsibilities.

C.

There may come a time when the need for resources calls into question the need for Antarctica to be left alone. However, continuing systematic investigation in Antarctica must, under no circumstances, be allowed to come to an end. Antarctica is a large continent, so it seems possible that mining for its resources could occur on one side of the continent, while the other could be maintained for investigative purposes. The distances between the bases would ensure there would be no adverse effect on either area of work. Furthermore, as the scientists worked, they would be able to notice any abnormalities caused by the exploitation of resources. If any were to come to light, scientists could promote discussions witH governments and mining companies in order to address the issues involved. In this way, scientists would ensure that any negative impact on this most enchanting of environments would be kept to a minimum, thus eliminating cause for concern.

D.

The vast continent of Antarctica has been a major focus of scientific exploration for relatively few decades when compared to most areas on Planet Earth. Despite its remoteness, it has always attracted visitors, whether for adventure or leisure purposes. However, let's not lose sight of the fact that it's just one region and there are undoubtedly others which are equally stunning. Antarctica should be for all of humanity, not just for elite scientists who seek to deny others the right to go there while simultaneously demanding huge sums of money for their research projects. If the continent were opened up to tourism, revenues from this could be taxed as a way of offsetting the cost of scientific research. In order to prevent resulting damage to the environment, the International Association of Antarctica Tour operators operates a strict code of practice. Therefore, I see no reason why we should be unduly alarmed about adverse effects on the landscape in Antarctica.

Reading and use of English

Part 7

You are going to read an article about the difficulties of being an environmentalist. Six paragraphs have been removed from the article. Choose from the paragraphs A – G the one which fits each gap (41 – 46). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

The unbearable hypocrisy of being an environmentalist

Canadian environmentalist Rosa Sharp explores the contradictions inherent in the lives of those who choose to live a greener life

I consider myself an environmentalist, yet last weekend I spent five hours in a car dealership  going through the rigmarole of getting a new car — arguably one of the most polluting devices in modern-day life.

In a similar vein, an environmental lawyer I know, who came to his profession amid a deep affinity for and desire to protect the environment, now works seventy hours a week in a city centre office, staring at his computer screen. The work in which he makes great strides to protect the natural world also prevents him from enjoying it, leaving him torn between the change he wants to create, and his ability to enjoy the countryside for more than the odd weekend between cases.

This unbearable hypocrisy is a struggle for the individual and a delight for the critic, yet it seems both necessary and inescapable. All of us exist within the very system we hope to change. I use a laptop, a smartphone, internet, electricity. Most of the publications I write anti-consumerism articles for are paid for by advertisements for consumer products. This delicate balancing act epitomises the seemingly inescapable reality of the modern world which we've built and which now runs our lives.

However, an escape of this kind also means losing priceless human connection and culture, as well as the chance to educate or inspire change in others. The fear of navigating this intellectual conflict, as well as the fear of armchair critics declaring that you’ve failed is, I believe, at the heart of many people's reluctance to adopt more green practices.

Apparently, a decision to live in a way which limits the damage you're causing to the environment means instantly opening yourself up to harsh criticism. You never committed to changing everything in your life, and yet, having made one or two changes, you're suddenly expected to be able to justify just about any aspect of your life that youi attacker chooses.

My own reluctant decision to continue running a car came about as a result of several carefully considered factors including the limited public transportation options in my city and six months of harsh Canadian winter. Yes it makes me feel bad, but choosing to try to be green means putting up with the fact that you'll fail, at least some of the time.

I think environmentalist George Monbiot sums it up best: ‘Hypocrisy is the gap between your aspirations and your actions. Environmentalists have high aspirations — they want to live more ethically — and they will always fall short. But the alternative to hypocrisy isn't moral purity (rio one manages that), but cynicism. Give me hypocrisy any day.’

A.After all, most of us would be put off to E discover that, by deciding to start cycling to work or buying only locally produced food, we have tacitly branded ourselves and joined the often-mocked world of righteously indignant environmentalists who protest against energy  companies while still availing themselves of heated homes and gas-powered trasportation.

B. It seems cruel that trying to safeguard what you love should mean you are unable to experience it first-hand. But such contrasts exist in the lives of most eviromentalists. Some of us own cars; some still eat meat. The more fsamous regularly fly grat distances to speak about the horrific impact of carbon emissions - such as that released by the airplanes they arrived on.

C. And after all, why should anyone have to do this? There's an assumption that you'll have all the answers. ‘Why bother recycling when you still drive?’ Aren’t those annual flights erasing the impact of anything else you do?’ Well, of course in an ideal world, we environmentalists would live completely ethically, but this isn't an ideal world.

D. Although I chose to cycling and advocate  buying  second-hand, lease new.  I encourage walking, public  transportation, and  I  do his ability to enjoy the countryside for more than take advantage of these options regularly, yet here I was, accepting the keys and setting off with a shiny new ride and a sinking sense of discomfort.

E. They provide a perfect illustration of how being an environmentalist has always been about the need to make compromises. For most of us, leaving modern life behind just isn't an option. However, the fact that living a greener existence is challenging doesn't mean we shouldn't do what we can.

F. In order to avoid it, one would need to go off the grid; abandon modern living for a hut in the woods. It's a move which, if you're brave enough to make, it enables you to subtract most of your enviromental impact, and I think everyone, myself included, fantasies about it from time to time.

G. And I've come to realise that it's a compromise I can live with.- We can either accept the status quo, or work towards something better. Doing so often looks less like an off-grid hut in the woods and more like finding a way to exist in an uncomfortably unsutainable society whilst also trying to change it.

Reading and use of English

Part 8

You are going to read an article about an artist who made a film which shows her daughter Billie between the ages of eleven and eighteen. For questions 47 – 56, choose from the sections (A – D). The sections may be chosen more than once.

Growing up on film

A. When artist and film maker Melanie Manchot's daughter Billie was 11, Manchot had the idea of videoing her for just one minute every month until she turned And when she proposed the idea to her daughter,the answer was an instant affirmative as Billie was familiar with the processes involved. ‘She grasped the idea quickly,’ Manchot says. ‘To me, it was a commitment from the beginning. I wanted it to last for seven years. For Billie, it was much lighter — a “let's try it”.’ Starting as Billie began her last term of primary school, the project slipped seamlessly into their routine. ‘It was always at the beginning of the month, Billie back from school, at the end of my working day,’ says Manchot. ‘We'd go downstairs into the studio. I marked the spot where Billie would stand and where the camera would be and it stayed the same for seven years.’

B. How does Billie remember the process? She thought that overall it was not that bad though there were times when she was less She says: ‘You have to stay in the one spot and there's no sound, so you can't really do much. I think the fact that it was a film, not photos, made it more representative. You can pose for a quick photo but when you're standing there for a minute, it feels more like you. It wasn't digital, so I didn't really see it afterwards. We might film for a year and then it would be sent off to be developed. I didn't have a sense of what it would all be like.’ Manchot was equally uncertain: ‘I didn't see it for long periods and didn't know what it would become. Billie had veto rights all the way through. She could always tell me that she wanted something to stay private. Then that piece of film would become a portrait for us as a family.’

C. Filming for the project finished as Billie turned 18. Shortly afterwards, Manchot was invited to exhibit it. It was as if the whole thing had been planned — the exhibition started five days before Billie was due to go away to university. ‘I was looking back at all this film, seeing the years gone by, putting it into a sequence — and Billie was packing up her whole life, ready to leave,’ recalls Manchot. The installation, 11/18, is an 18-minute sequence, with a screen for each year. ‘There's no story,’ says Manchot. ‘But in a way, there is. It's the story of growing up.’ Billie at 11 looks more playful, more relaxed. She laughs and yawns and shows things to the camera. The older Billie is more still, more wary, more steady and composed. There's the sense of an interior, a holding back. But still there's continuity. Certain gestures — the way she pushes back her hair and looks up, for example — survive from 11 into adulthood. In the final minute, all the images appear at the same time — all the Billies are present together. And then they are gone.

D. What's striking for a parent is how fast we can forget our children's younger selves, how completely they vanish. Has making 11/18 helped Manchot hold on to every age and stage? ‘When I see young children now, it seems such a distance,’ she says. ‘I remember Billie being six clearly and poignantly we spent a month in Ibiza and I can almost project myself back to that time and see her and feel her, the size, the dimensions. But there are lots of times between that have disappeared because that's what time does — you can't hold on to it. I remember filming Billie so well — some of those memories are so powerful, what she wore, how she rolled up her T-shirt. The marks of where we had to stand are still there on the studio floor and I'm going to keep them there forever. Maybe part of making this was to allow me as a mother and as an artist to stay more in touch with the many small moments that slip away.’

Which section mentions