Memory

Memory is at the (0).............. of our sense of personal identity. If we did not have memory, we would not be (1).............. of our relationships with other people and would have no (2)............... that we had had any past at all. And without memory we would have no knowledge on which to  (3)............... our present and future.

Memory (4).................. of three processes: registration, retention and recall. Registration happens when we consciously notice something. Retention is the next (5)................ when we keep something we have noticed in our minds for a certain period of time. Finally, recall occurs when we actively think about some of these things that are (6)................... in our minds.

Every day we are subjected to a vast  (7)................... of information. If we remembered every (8)..................... thing we had ever seen or heard, life would be impossible. Consequently, our brains have learnt to register only what is of importance.

Visit to a sweet factory

Today I am visiting a sweets factory, a building squeezed (0)................ a railway line and a canal (9)................ I watch, trucks filled with sugar arrive at the factory where this family-owned company has been making sweets for some 80 years.

Being in a factory (10)............... this one is exactly (11)................. children dream of. I am staring at huge vats of sticky liquid (12)................. eventually ends up as mouth-watering sweets. Every now  (13)................. then I see a factory worker in a white coat put a sweet into her mouth.

Ailsa Kelly, granddaughter of the company owner, remembers visiting the factory as (14)..................... child with her grandfather. ’He would take me onto the factory floor and introduce me,’ she says. ‘He told me, “You may work here some day.”And indeed, she has, continuously, (15)................... 1999. The sense of family is (16)................. of the reasons employees are remarkably loyal to the company.

Job Interviews

Most people feel rather (0).............. when they go for an interview for a new job. This is not surprising as getting a job one wants is important. People being interviewed expect the interviewers to be  (17)............... matching an applicant against a job (18)............. However, what often happens in reality is that the interviewers make (19)...............  that are little more than reactions to the (20)............... of the applicant.

Even skilled interviewers may, without realising it, (21)............ favour people who make them feel at (22).............. With this in mind, if you go for an interview you should try to make a good impression from the start by presenting the interviewers with the very best version of yourself, emphasising the (23).............. of skills you have. You must appear very positive and as (24).............. as possible. It is for you to convince the interviewers that you are definitely the most suitable person for the job.

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. A very friendly taki driver drove us into town.

DRIVEN

We ......................... a very friendly taxi driver.

The gap can be filled by the words 'were driven into town by'.

25. ‘Do you know the cost of the trips?’ asked Pamela.

MUCH

Pamela asked if I knew ...................................... were.

26. During the quiz, I could not think of the correct answer to the winning question. 

COME

During the quiz, I was not ........................... the correct answer to the winning question.

27. I promised that I would think carefully about the job offer.

GIVE

I promised ................................... the job offer.

28.The group continued to walk despite rain starting to fall.

EVEN

The group carried ............................................ started to rain.

29. Almost all the tickets for next Saturday's concert have been sold.

HARDLY

There are ............................................ for next Saturday's concert.

30. Do you think it is likely that Peter will get the job he has applied for?

CHANCE

Do you think that Peter has .......................................  the job he has applied for?

A career in the video games industry?

Reporter Lauren Cope finds out about working in the video games industry.

Initially populated by computer scientists and the self-taught, the video game design industry used not to offer many routes into its midst. Often, perhaps unfairly, viewed as just a hobby for young enthusiasts, the video games industry is now being taken seriously. Surprised? Industry experts aren't. It's not easy though. Video game spin-offs that rapidly follow any new movie require dozens of team members and months of incredible skill, perseverance and intricacies. As with almost every industry, it's tricky to get into — but it is  expanding. Jim Donelly, a spokesman for an online games magazine says: ‘lt's certainly very difficult to make much headway within big companies, or to influence any of the really big mainstream games. But the truth is, the industry needs game designers more than ever. Not just director-level people who  orchestrate an entire game, but the lower-level people who design systems and individual set pieces.’

So, how can you get into such a competitive industry? Although many  companies prefer  people   to have a degree in computer science,  Jim disagrees. ‘There is only one route: make games. The tools are there. You won't get a job if  you haven't made something, and you won't get anywhere independently if you are not making stuff. Game design is less a job than it is a way of life. Like any creative endeavour it must be  done to be real.’ Another industry expert, John Field, sees other options. (line 32) ‘There's a lot to be said for “just doing it”, but it's really more complicated than that. There are lots of people who want to work in games,  but few who measure up to the requirements of the industry these days; even fewer who have the creative talent, technical know-how, vision and entrepreneurial ability to really contribute to the ever-changing face of an evolving medium.’

Can you do it on your own? ‘Perhaps, but it's pretty tricky,’ says John. ‘However, a good postgraduate course in games can help, plus provide a year or two of top-level support and guidance. Most games designers start their careers as programmers, or artists, progressing their way up the ladder. They are interested in all forms of entertainment media, plus have a healthy appetite for all areas of the arts and contemporary culture. They may or may not have spent a few years in the working world post-graduation, but have realised that games is going to be their “thing”. They are not merely fans, but are fascinated by the future possibilities of games, and are aware of the increasing breadth and diversity of the form. And finally connections can help. (line 54) This is often overlooked, but in order to get ahead in games - as in many other areas — you need to network.’

The childish stereotype of the adolescent boy glued to his games console has long been replaced by the more accurate perception of a grown-up medium, grabbing our attention. Families frequently get involved on interactive consoles. Smart phones introduce a wealth of new games through apps, as well as social media. John believes there is plenty of room for expansion. ‘Games have become pervasive play-things for increasingly large audiences. They are also a great way to learn things and I see this already big area as an expanding array of possibilities and opportunities.’ 

Grand Prix driver

I'm a great believer in success, in achieving whatever goal you set on a particular day, so whether I was practising on the track or working out in the gym, I always put my heart and soul into it.

When I was learning my trade, racing on karts as a teenager, I would look after my helmet and race suit carefully. Everything had to be perfect; it was all about preparation. At 18, I progressed to Formula Ford racing, a stage before Formula One, and I'd even get the car up in the garage and polish the underside until it was gleaming. (37)………….. But I make tne point, joxingiy, tnat ii i ever roiieo over in a race, my car would have the shiniest underside in history.

It may be that the environment of Formula One fuelled this obsession with neatness and cleanliness. It's a profession based on precision and exactness. If you walk around a team factory it looks like a science laboratory. (38)………......A Formula One factory couldn't be further from that; it's like something from another planet. 

Everything is aircraft standard and quality. And so it should be. If some mega-rich potential sponsor walks into a dirty factory to find people lounging around, that doesn't make a great impression. If they walk in and everyone's working hard and there's not a speck of dust anywhere, that's another matter (39)…………..

Polishing my helmet was a specific ritual I had. The race helmet is an important and prized possession. When you're starting out, you only have one helmet for several years and it can be a pricey piece of kit.(40)…...……… By the time you get to Formula One, you're getting through probably a dozen or more expensive ones a year. Normally I'd never have dreamed of wearing someone else's, but I did have a problem with the front of my helmet some years ago at the Monaco Grand Prix, and just couldn't see properly. In the end I used one belonging to Nelson Piquet.

He very kindly let me keep the helmet after the race. He'd finished second in the Brazilian Grand Prix with that helmet, so it's a unique piece or history — two drivers wearing the same helmet and finishing second in different races. Four years later, Nelson said he wanted to swap another helmet with me. This was before he'd announced he was retiring, so my immediate thought was, what's with this helmet collection thing? (41)……..…….. There must be something in it. So I gave him a helmet and he gave me a signed one of his.

Helmets are treasured and it's quite rare for me to give race ones to anyone. I only gave my friend Richard one recently, although we've known each other since we were five. Sometimes it's easy to forget obvious things. (42)..………….. It should be the other way round.

Volunteers

A. Teresa

For many years I had fantasised about spending December on a white, tropical beach on a remote island. I finally found my slice of paradise in the Seychelles when my dream came true last year, though not exactly in the way I had envisaged. I had been feeling burnt out from work and wanted ,to escape winter and learn new skills. Volunteer projects seemed a good option. Narrowing my search criteria to marine research helped cut down the thousands of options out there and I eventually joined a coral protection project to help determine the long-term impact of rising sea temperatures on the ecosystem. Within 24 hours of our group's arrival, we lived and breathed coral, not just under water but also in the camp — with 52 coral types to master and up to three research dives a day. If there was a downside, it was the seemingly endless chores in the camp, but I didn't mind. But the experience was, overall, incredible. I stretched myself beyond my wildest imagination.

B. Patricia

Imagine spending the summer as I did, working on the edge of an active volcano in Hawaii. I had once been on a ranger-guided walk there with my family. I had been terrified. However, as I relaxed I slowly realised that the ranger's job was something I'd like to do too. So a few years later I applied and got a volunteer ranger job. I found living there surprisingly laid back, as well as exciting. After a crash course in geology, I was given the volunteer ranger uniform and began the job. On the first morning I found myself in front of a group of visitors. Suddenly, I was the ‘authority’, delivering a talk on the volcanic past and present of the islands. As a volunteer I was making the park come alive for the visitors, and they in turn made Hawaii come alive for me.

C. Helen 

After months of study, I wanted to get away for a bit. My dad is an artist and often does paintings or tropical birds. l'd always wanted to find out more about them. From the internet I found that a farm which breeds parrots was looking for volunteers. I arrived in the middle of a panic situation — a storm had knocked the electricity out, and the generator, needed for keeping the eggs warm, was nearly out of petrol. After visiting several garages we found some and dashed back just in time. I really enjoyed my stay. Some hosts lay down strict rules on the amount of work expected but luckily mine, Darryl, preferred to set out projects which he wanted my help with. Most of the time I did basic maintenance jobs and fed the birds. ‘They can break coconuts with their beaks and they'll take your finger off so be careful,’ Darryl advised. So, I chopped bananas and then used a long fork to pass the fruit in to the birds without risking my fingers.

D. Kate

During my stay in Guatemala, I volunteered to work on a plantation. One day, my supervisor, Rene inspected my scratched hands and asked gently if I needed gloves. I gathered my strength and told him that gloves might indeed help. Then I grasped my knife and resumed my attack on the invading roots that were constantly threatening to drag the fragile new cacao plantation back into the rainforest. In the sticky red earth, everything grows — the trouble is that it is rarely what you planted. Walking through the plantation, Rene toad to point out to me the treasured cash crops of coffee, cacao and macadamias. To my eye, they were indistinguishable from the surrounding jungle. Every day I caught glimpses of little waterfalls and vividly coloured butterflies between towering bamboo. The air was always heavy with the sound of insects. It was a great experience.

Which wolunteer....