GOVERNMENT Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such things as food and education? Or is it the responsibility of the governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?

What should a government do for a country to become successful?

Should money be spent on space exploration?

Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?

Does foreign aid help donor countries more than the recipients?

Should rich countries pay more for environmental damage?

 

Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?

Should developing countries concentrate on improving industrial skills or should they promote education first?

Safety standards are important when building people's homes. Who should be responsible for enforcing strict building codes - the government or the people who build the homes?

Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international aid to poor countries.

Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society?

In most countries disabled people are not catered for adequately, e.g. buildings are often inappropriately designed. Governments rely too heavily on charities and voluntary organizations to provide assistance and funding. What further measures could be taken to assist disabled people?

In your opinion should government intervene in the rights of the individual with regard to family planning?

The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.

 

MODERN SOCIETY

Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate more on patients health, no matter how rich they are?

Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?

In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?

Are famous people treated unfairly by the media ? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?

Is animal testing necessary?

Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some governments have banned smoking in all public places. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons.

To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?

Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. Argue for or against the opinion above.

Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to death of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss.

Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.

To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become a social and political issue in the 21st century?

In Britain, when someone gets old, they often go to live in a home with other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes the government has to pay for this care. Who should be responsible for our old people? Give reasons.

 

The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do you think?

The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.

News editors decide what to broadcast on TV and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence their decisions? Have we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported?

TV: could you be without it? Discuss.

To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become a social and political issue in the 21st century?

The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

Tourism is becoming increasingly important as a source of revenue to many countries but its disadvantages should not be overlooked. What are some of the problems of tourism?

The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer

 

TECHNOLOGY Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?

Will modern technology, such as the internet ever replace the book or the written word as the main source of information?

We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in future?.Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits?Use specific details and examples in your answer.

In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the past 10 years?

 Technology is making communication easier in today's world, but at the expense of personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer screen. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?

Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?

The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do you think?

The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

 

EMPLOYMENT

Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?

Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?

In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your answer.

 

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of environmental conservation?

Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.

The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of public transport.

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.

EDUCATION

Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do you agree?

What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?

Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties? What advice would you offer to a prospective student?

The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

Education is recognized as vital to the future of any society in today's world. Governments throughout the world should make education compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 15. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Discuss.

Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on academic subjects?

To what extent should universities function as training grounds for employment?

To what extent should university courses be geared to the economic needs of society?

Should children be taught sex education in schools?

Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more languages in the future?

Are zoos necessary for education?

 

PARENTS & CHILDREN

Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?

Children learn best by observing behavior of adults and copying it. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

IELTS Speaking Samples

The following IELTS speaking samples will give you an idea of how to get a high score on Part 2 of your IELTS speaking test. This part of the test is also known as the long turn. This is where you need to speak by yourself for 1-2 minutes on a given topic. Make sure you cover all the points mentioned on the card you are given. In addition, you should develop the topic into a well-structured answer. Please look over our list of free IELTS speaking topics for parts 1 and 2. Then, familiarize yourself with the type of topics, and practice as many of them as you can. This way you will be more comfortable, relaxed and confident on the day of the exam.

 

Sample IELTS Speaking Topic 1: Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing.

You should say:

What kind of sport it is Who you play it with Where you play it and explain why you enjoy playing it

Sample IELTS Speaking Response:

I enjoy playing various kinds of brain games online. There are a number of different websites I visit on a regular basis in order to play these games by myself. The objective of the games is to exercise different areas of your brain so that you preserve and enhance your memory and also expand and develop your brain capacity.

The games are of various kinds. Some enable you to practice your verbal skills. Others test logical reasoning, spatial skills and visual memory. I can keep track of my scores, so that each time I play, my goal is to do better than in the past – to outdo myself, so to speak. In addition, if I want, I can compare my scores to others who play online. This aspect is intriguing, but frankly it doesn't interest me much. I don&'t regard this as a competition with anyone else. It is something I do simply to sharpen my mental abilities and improve myself.

In fact, one of my favorite games is supposed to be the best for brain fitness. It involves solving a number of simple math problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as quickly as possible. I really hope these games will enable me to preserve my intellect and my memory into old age.

Sample IELTS Speaking Topic 2:Describe someone in your family who you like.

You should say:

How this person is related to you What this person looks like What kind of person he/she is and explain why you like this person

Sample IELTS Speaking Response:

The person in my family I really like and also love is my mother. She is a very special person and I cannot imagine what I would be without her.

Physically, my mother is petite. She is only about 5 feet tall, and weighs about 110 pounds. She has fine, black hair and a fair complexion. One thing people often notice is that my mother always takes pride in her appearance. Even now, at the age of 80, my mother is a well dressed, well-groomed and elegant woman, with her fine choice of clothes and matching accessories, jewelry and shoes. 

Intellectually, my mother always loves learning. Even after her busy day, she won't go to bed without reading the newspaper. She was one of the few members of her family that completed university. She also has many creative and cultural interests such as literature, music and dance. Through her own enjoyment, she passed on this love of culture to all her children, including me.

Emotionally, my mother has a heart of gold. All her life, she has been ready, willing and able to help anyone who needs anything, with a smile on her face.  She is of the old school - she remembers to wish friends and relatives on their birthdays and anniversaries, she attends their weddings, dinners and parties, and she visits them when they're hurt, unwell or in mourning. In fact, my mother has always been a kind soul and people of all ages love her as soon as they meet her. I think this is because she is good-hearted from her core, and her authenticity is what everyone relates to. She has taught me the meaning of being compassionate, loving, kind, helpful, supportive and so much more. In fact, thanks to the unconditional love of both my wonderful parents, I  feel I've been truly blessed in this lifetime.

There are different types of questions for IELTS Writing Task 2.  Knowing the structure and strategies for each type can save you time.  You won't have to spend lots of time thinking about how do do the question.  Knowing these approaches will help you to get started planning and writing the essay quickly.  Here I will outline the approach you need to discuss more than one piece of evidence, argument or opinion, and then to reach your conclusion.   Here is an example of an IELTS Writing Task 2 question that employs an argument-led structure.   People live their lives in a completely different way nowadays from lifestyles in the past.  Some people believe that these lifestyle changes have been positive, while others think they have been negative.  Discuss both points of view and and state what your opinion on the subject is.

  First of all, think about paragraphing.  What is your first paragraph?  The first paragraph is where you introduce the topic.  You need to identify the main points in the question and address them in the introduction.  Don't give details or opinions yet.  Just think of how to introduce the idea in an interesting way.  Don't copy the question.  Think about how you can rewrite the question using different words, phrases, language etc.  

Your subsequent paragraphs are for you to answer the question.  Your second paragraph may be used to discuss the positive aspects and your third paragraph, the negatives.   Now you must think of the details.  Think of two main positive points and two main negative points.  How could you write these in sentences?  Now think of how you can justify, support, exemplify these arguments.   When writing the paragraphs, state your first main point then justify it.  Then state your second main point and justify that.  Do the same for the next paragraph.  Now you have three paragraphs: the introduction, positives and then negatives.  Now you must write your conclusion.   In the argument-led approach you need to say whether your opinion is for the negatives or positives.  Show your understanding or acceptance of the opposing point of view.   Remember to use logical linking words to make your essay easy to follow.  For example, you might want to use some of the following.   ADDITION: in addition, furthermore, and, moreover CONTRAST: on the other hand, whereas, while, but, however, nevertheless GIVING EXAMPLES: for example, one reason for this is, as evidence of this CONCESSION: although, despite, in spite of, even though CAUSE AND RESULT: as a result, because of this, this is because, one cause of this is SUMMARISING: overall, in conclusion, to conclude, to sum up   Follow this procedure for any IELTS Writing Task 2 question which is asking you to balance opposing arguments, opinions etc. and you should be able to produce a cohesive, coherent and impressive text for a good IELTS score.  Hi Shiji, Please go to Q/A area of the site and you can ask me any questions there. Please be very specific about your questions because general questions are difficult to answer. It yould take a very long time to explain everything about IELTS. I will answer any specific IELTS questions for free, and also you can fine more information on IELTS on my IELTS blog. If there is any specific information you'd like to see in the blog, just let me know. While the videos and podcasts are not free, you can read my blogs and ask me questions for free. I hope this helps.

Marking your IELTS Speaking test

Pip   08/May/2008, 20:20

 There are some changes coming to the way the speaking module of the IELTS test is marked.  At the moment, candidates’ pronunciation abilities are marked using a four-band scale - low level to high level, and then added to the rest of the skills areas to assess your overall Speaking test score. 

 

From 1 August 2008, this will change to a nine-band scale, similar to the nine-band IELTS score. There will be no changes to the format of the test, you will be asked the same types of questions in the same order, however pronunciation will become more important. So, you need to consider your pronunciation and how to improve it. 

 

Be very careful becuase often when students try too hard to pronounce well, they can actually begin to sound unnatural, and this ultimately lowers their score.  This is beacause you are not relaxing and you are trying to over-pronounce your words.  Try to relax and not speak too enthusiastically. 

 

Think of how your voice sounds in your own language when you are relaxed. Also don't try to over-pronounce and key phrases, because this sounds like you are desperately trying to make the examiner impressed and you might not focus enough on the informaiton you give. Try your best, but only that – don’t try to do more than you can do.

Location: SinglePost

What's my IELTS score? #2

Pip   08/May/2008, 19:17

Obviously the scoring for the Reading and Listening sections of the IELTS test is straight forward.  The examiners work out your score out of 40 and then convert that into the IELTS score depending on the difficulty of the IELTS test you have taken.

 

For Speaking and Writing sections of the examination there are no individual marks for individual questions.  These sections are marked on an overall assessment of the skills you demonstrate.  There are specific areas on which your English is assessed.  You are given marks in each of these skills areas, and then the IELTs score is calculated.

 

First of all, for the Writing section, there are the following skills areas.  Each of which will give you 10 marks maximum. 

These skills areas are: 

1. Task Completion (Writing Task 1) or Task Response (Writing Task 2) - 10 marks total 2. Cohesion and Coherence (Structure and Logic of answer) - 10 marks 3. Lexical Resource (Range of vocabulary used) - 10 marks 4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy - 10 marks

 

For the Speaking section, the skills areas are as follows:

1. Fluency and Coherence - 10 marks 2. Lexical Resource - 10 marks 3. Grammatical Range - 10 marks 4. Pronunciation - 10 marks

 

The examiner will calculate your total score out of 40 and then apply the general formula that I explained in my previous blog on the Reading and Listening sections. 

 

What's my IELTS score? #1

Pip   07/May/2008, 14:46

You might be thinking that there is a wierd and wonderful secret way that IELTS examiners calculate your score for the reading and listening section of the tests.  Well, you'd be happy to know that it is really simple and you can roughly calculate your IELTS score for listening and reading yourself. 

Below is a chart for the conversion of marks out of 40 into an IELTS score.  This chart is a guide only, because sometimes the scores change slightly depending on how difficult the exam is.  Generally speaking the conversion is as follows:

 

Raw Score out of 40 IELTS BAND

39/40 9

37-38 8.5

35-36 8

32-34 7.5

29-31 7

26-28 6.5

22-25 6

18-21 5.5

15-17 5

12-14 4.5

10-11 4

8-9 3.5

6-7 3

4-5 2.5

3 2

2 1.5

1 1

0 0

 

Remember, these scores can change if the exam is more difficult or easier than normal, but it is a good guide to help you mark yourself.  Later I will be giveing more information on how the writing and speaking sections are marked.  Hope this helps.

Location: SinglePost

Tags: ielts, score, band, percentage, academic, english

E-mail   |   Permalink   |   Comments (0)   |   Trackback

Add comment

You need to login.

IELTS speaking for the shy

Pip   01/May/2008, 21:30

It come up the other day in one of my classes that because there was a culture of shyness in the class, I found it rather difficult to get responses from the students to my IELTS questions.  Shyness is a big obstacle to overcome, and I don't understimate the difficulty that students have speaking in front of the class.

 

One way I engouraged my students to talk was to give them an IELTS speaking question, then asked them to roleplay a discussion.  I gave them cards which stated which opinions they had and what they had to say in the discussion.  Before doing this, I taught the vocabulary they needed to achieve thatask.  When I did this, the student felt under less pressure and spoke more.  It also had the effect of providing them with ideas, so that when they had to give their own opinions about a subject, they had somewhere to start from.

 

If you have this issue in class, you could do the same.  Think of all the different types of IELTS speaking questions there are.  Try to think of what other people's views on the issues would be.  What would people you know say.  If you have a range of different things already prepared to say to a particular question, you will feel under less pressure.  A lot of pressure comes from students being forced into saying something and feeling under a time pressure to say it.  

How do you feel when the teacher is waiting for you to say something and you can't think of something to say.  This pressure makes it worse and makes you less able to think.  But if you have prepared sufficiently and practiced with, maybe a friend, family member, or even another IELTS student, then you might feel more confident to speak in class, and in the final exam.

 

Remember your opinions are valid and don't worry about other people disagreeing with them.  Most people will be able to see your point of view, a lot of people will share your point of view.

 

Please don't let shyness affect your chances in the exam.  This is your chance to shine and show how much you know about a subject.

Location: SinglePost

Improve your General English by studying Academic English and IELTS

Pip   30/April/2008, 00:52

Many of my students ... hold on ... probably 99.9% of my students over the years have asked me how they can improve their English.  It would be very worrying if less than 99.9% did; however, this is such an important question that a teacher could spend decades trying to answer it.  No matter what I tell my students, there are hundreds of more ways to improve your English.  For this reason I would like to talk about one thing, or rather two things:  IELTS and Academic English.

 

OK, we all know that IELTS is the exam you need to get into an English speaking university.  We all know that in order to achieve high results in IELTS, you need to understand how academic language works.  However, how many students have thought beyond this.  How may of you have wanted to do IELTS and a course in Academic English just to improve your general ability in English.  Many of my past IELTS students have commented after their IELTS course that they have learned much more than just English.  They tell me that they have learned many new things about the world that they didn't know before.  One of my students happily commented that, "before this course I didn't think much about nature and life in the sea.  But now I know exactly how a coral reef is formed, and I can explain it in English but not in my language."  It's funny for me; that student didn't have the vocabulary to describe this process in his native Spanish, but he could in English.  Wow!

 

Think about the way a graduate can use his native language.  He or she can describe very complex ideas with great ease.  I am not saying that you need to go to university to be good at your language.  You absolutely don't!  A car mechanic, for example, might not have an academic degree but he (or she) can speak about the intricacies of car engine design very easily.  What have the academic and the mechanic got in common?  Expertise in something.  They know more than just vocabulary, grammar and some useful phrases.  They have learned about issues affecting the world, they have been encouraged to read a wider variety of texts, they have been taught to understand more inaccessible television or radio programmes, and to take part in more complex discussions.  After taking course with a more 'academic' approach to the process of learning, you will be able to speak more authoritatively on subjects you know about, and to be more involved in discussions about topics you didn't know so much about before.

 

Many students who are enrolled on General English courses complain that although they have learned to speak a language very well, they feel that they are not confident in certain situations.  You might be confident in ordering in a pub or asking for a train ticket, or even having your hair cut.  But, these students still complain that they can't use English the way they want to.  They listen to native speakers discuss politics, the environment or any social issues affecting the world in which they live and they want to be able to do the same.  It's a matter of applying your skills.  Taking Academic English and IELTS opens you up to a deeper understanding of many subjects that General English doesn't.  Rather than learning how to say that there are traffic jams in your city, you will be able to talk or write confidently about the

causes and results of traffic congestion, suggest how governments can better tackle the situation in their cities, discuss measures currently in operation in different countries etc.  You will be able to look at a particluar situation, analyse the pros and cons, etc and put forward well planned and detailed arguments supporting and justifying your theories.  And all this in another language.

 

An interesting piece of information, now.  I did a test recently to assess the ability of students who came from an academic background compared to those who didn't.  I took a group of intermediate level students and a group of advanced level students.  I gave them all two tests: a General English test, and an IELTS mock test.  Everybody did exactly the same two tests; no difference for their levels.  You might be surprised by the following results.  For the intermediate students, everyone got an intermediate score in the General English test.  For the IELTS test those who had not been to university got below 4.0 in IELTS and those who had been to university in their country got above 4.0 in IELTS.  One of them got 5.5.  However, for the advanced students, all the students got an advanced score in the General English test, but the students who hadn't gone to university in their country got between 5.0 and 7.0 in the IELTS test.  Obviously, the advanced students who had been to university got very high (the best score was 8.0), but this is a big boost for a lower level student.  However, at the end of the IELTS course, the advanced student had improved their IELTS score by 2 points.  this is very hard to do in just three months, but the academic experience she got during the course, and the hard work she put in really paid off, and with 7.5 three months later, she was accepted to study History at a university in London.

 

After gaining experience in the academic side of language learning, your ability to use more complex language will improve.  You will be able to speak at a much higher level.  Obviously you don't learn much street language, slang, or even swear words, however, IELTS and Academic English will help increase your control and command of English and when you combine your knowledge of General English and Academic English, how good do you think you'll be then?  You'll be great.  And you'll feel that you have improved.

 

So, one of the answers to the question, 'How can I improve my English?" is: take a course in Academic English and IELTS as well General English (and don't forget all the other tips and advice that your teachers give you).  Even if you don't want to go to university in the UK, you will benefit immeasurably.

Location: SinglePost

Reading Practice Test 1-7

UKgate   21/October/2008, 11:44

Section 1a: Look at the information about a charity fun run and answer Questions 1-7

 

CHARITY FUN RUN

 

Dear Supporter,

I am writing to invite you to join us for our Annual Fun Run which will be held this year on Sunday 18th August. The run starts from the school grounds and participants are able to choose to take part in a 2, 5 or 10 kilometre run.

Last year we raised a total of $15,450 which was donated to the children’s hospital and this year we expect to raise over $16,000. This year, we are raising money which will be used to develop the village recreational centre.

To confirm your registration, email funrunsuccess@edu.com or telephone 01784 5337841.  As soon as you are registered you simply start collecting your sponsors and come along on the day!

Further instructions are found below, please read them carefully.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday 18th August,

D. Jackson

Fun Run Co-ordinator

Thanks in advance for your support!

 

Moorfields School Fun Run

START TIMES

10 Kilometre Run – 8am5 Kilometre Run – 8.30am2 Kilometre Run – 9am

ROUTE MAPSDetails are available on our website www.moorfieldsschool.com and will also be available on the day from school reception. All routes will be signposted and there will be marshals stationed along the routes providing cold drinks for runners. If you feel ill or need assistance at any time during the run, please let one of the marshals know and they will be able to help you.

WHAT TO WEARShorts and tee-shirts should be fine; however, we recommend you bring a light raincoat in case of bad weather. Comfortable running shoes are a must!  Please avoid wearing new trainers on the day to avoid foot problems.

PARKINGThe school car park behind C-block (the language department) will be open on the day. Drive in through the main gates then turn right.  Westhill Leisure Centre (across the road from the school) will also allow runners to park their cars there on the day.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE RUN?There will be a number of entertainers including face-painting and the school band. Food and drink stalls will be available. There will also be a prize-giving event for runners who finish 1st and 2nd in each of the runs and two cinema tickets are available for the best fancy dress if you are interested in running in a special costume! 

We expect the whole day to finish at around 4pm.

Questions 1-7

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.

1. How many different lengths of route are there?

2. To whom was the money raised in last year's event given to?

3. How much money do the organisers expect to raise this year?

4. What refreshment will be available from the officials stationed along the route?

5. What do all runners have to wear on the day?

6. Where can participants leave their cars if they do not park at the school?

7. What prize can the runner wearing the best costume win? 

Answers 

1. 3

'...participants are able to choose to take part in a 2, 5 or 10 kilometre run.'

2. The children's hospital

'Last year we raised a total of $15,450 which was donated to the children’s hospital '

3. Over $16,000

this year we expect to raise over $16,000

NOTE: You must include the currency sign ($)

4. Cold drinks

'...there will be marshals stationed along the routes providing cold drinks for runners.'

5. Comfortable running shoes

Shorts and tee-shirts should be fine; however, we recommend you bring a light raincoat in case of bad weather. Comfortable running shoes are a must!

NOTE: The questions asks what runners have to wear. Shorts, Tee-shirts and a light raincoat are only recommended.

6. Westhill Leisure Centre

'Westhill Leisure Centre (across the road from the school) will also allow runners to park their cars there on the day'

7. Two cinema tickets

'two cinema tickets are available for the best fancy dress if you are interested in running in a special costume!'

 

Reading Practice Test 8-14

UKgate   21/October/2008, 11:50

Section 1b: The list of tour options for holiday-makers on the right has nine tour descriptions A to I. Read them and answer Questions 8-14.

 

Tour Details

A. Learn more about Maori culture, food, dance, performing arts and the internationally famous Haka. The tour involves lectures on Maori traditions an etiquette; particularly customs for welcoming to and visiting a marae – the meeting house of Maori tribes. Experience an authentic cultural show in one of the country’s best-known Maori performance venues.

B. Whether your motivation is to be eco-friendly or simply to enjoy the great outdoors and keep fit while on holiday, our cycling tours of NZ can cater to your needs. Coaches are on hand to transport the group from A to B where distances are far and discounts on wine tours and quad bike tours are also available.

C. Ornithologists unite for this spectacular trip which focuses on the wide variety of species that share our home.  Visit the nesting areas of our native birds and the north island gannet colony of Muriwai.  Guest lecturers will also give an insight into the now extinct species – the Great Moa – the largest bird ever known to have lived on our shores.

D. This tour is a must for appreciators of the outdoors and lovers of what is known in New Zealand as 'tramping'. Ideal for those who prefer to make their own way, not reliant on transport! See some of the most beautiful countryside Aotearoa (Maori for New Zealand) has to offer.  A reasonable fitness level is required though no steep paths or climbing is involved.

E. An education programme which focuses on lectures and field trips based our the natural world. Visit the Auckland museum to see the informative display of animals and plants of New Zealand. Guest speakers include professors and researchers from our most prominent universities.

F. Where two oceans meet; experience the beauty of nature, the expanse of the land and endless beaches and coastline. Often described as the ‘winterless north’ due to the mild climate, we offer a variety of trips year round. 

G. The centre of the north island offers many opportunities to experience naturally occurring thermal phenomenon such as the hot pools, mud pools, and geysers in national parks alive with sub-terranean activity. The tour is three days in duration and accommodation in Rotorua is provided for our clients.

H. Travelling by luxury, air-conditioned tour bus, we partake in some of the best food and beverages New Zealand has to offer. Visit 5 of the country’s largest exporting vineyards and take advantage of the discount pricing available to our clients.

I. We take you to spots inaccessible to regular vehicles. Small group sizes. Plenty of off road travel but made as comfortable as possible in our custom made jeeps. Optional walking tours each day or just relaxation if preferred at our breath-taking picnic stops. N.B. We will soon also be offering excursions in the northern tip of the North island.

 

 

Questions 8-14

Choose the correct title for each tour from the list of tour names below.

Write the correct number i-xi in boxes 8-14 on your answer sheet.

List of tours

i. Wine Lovers Exploreii. Hiking in NZiii. 4-wheel drive South Island Extravaganzaiv. The Traditional Culture of Rotorua v. Aotearoa on two-wheelsvi. An introduction to New Zealand Birdlifevii. The History of the Moaviii. Flora and Fauna Education tour

ix. Thermal Wonderland tourx. Northern Exposurexi. Come Scale the Peaks!

EXAMPLE Tour A iv

8 Tour B

9 Tour C

10 Tour D

11 Tour E

EXAMPLE Tour F x

12 Tour G

13 Tour H

14 Tour I

 

Answers

8. v

'cycling tours of NZ can cater to your needs.' (Paragraph D mentions that Aotearoa is the Maori name for NZ)

9. vi

'Ornithologists' are bird watchers the nesting areas of our native birds and the north island gannet colony of Muriwai.' Guest lecturers will also give an insight into the now extinct species – the Great Moa – the

largest bird ever known to have lived on our shores.

NOTE: vii ('The History of the Moa') is NOT the correct answer as this refers to only one species of bird

10. ii

'not reliant on transport ....A reasonable fitness level is required though no steep paths or climbing is involved (tramping is a New Zealand word for hiking).

11. viii

The paragraph talks about the natural world. Flora and fauna means ' animals and plants'. The tour is educational (involving lectures).

12. ix

The paragraph refers to 'thermal phenomenon'

NOTE: iv ('The Traditional Culture of Rotorua ') is NOT the correct answer as the paragraph talks about the natural world, not culture.

13. i

'we partake in some of the best food and beverages New Zealand has to offer. Visit 5 of the country’s largest exporting vineyards...'

14. iii

The paragraph refers to 'off road travel' and 'custom made jeeps', also adding that 'We will soon also be offering excursions in the northern tip of the North island.' (therefore South Island Extravaganza and NOT Northern Exposure)

 

Location: SinglePost

Reading Practice Test 15-20

UKgate   21/October/2008, 11:55

Section 2a: Read the advertisement and answer Questions 15-20

 

CHILDCARE SOLUTIONS

NANNYING POSITIONS WORLDWIDE

Are you a qualified nanny and have at least 1 year’s post-qualification experience looking after children?

We can help you find a suitable employment position in one of 16 destination countries.

No registration fee applies for job applicants.

What do our services include?

An online ‘matching service’ which allows you to post your CV and we will contact you if any families are interested in offering you a position. We conduct interviews on behalf of our clients at one of our 4 offices in the U.K. Arrangement of a return flight, the cost of which will be covered by your employer. Many positions also include medical insurance for the length of your contract. Arrangement of full employment contracts between you and your new employer prior to leaving the UK. A visa assistance service is available for countries where visas are required (additional costs apply)

You are also entitled to:

On-going support throughout your contract in the unlikely event of experiencing difficulties Access to our ‘Nannies Abroad’ online network and discussion forum. Access to an agency staff member via our 24-hour emergency contact facility.

Call us for more information on 1800 222 649

About us

Childcare Solutions was established in 1985 by three qualified nannies who returned to the UK after 5 year’s working overseas. We understand that the opportunity to work abroad appeals to many; however, due to language barriers and safety concerns we realise that many experienced professionals are dissuaded from going ahead with their dream.

Through our established partnerships with sister organisations in 16 countries worldwide, we are able to match child care professionals with appropriate families across the globe.

We have different sized families and different lengths of contract available, so contact us today and let us know what type of work, in which location you are looking for.

Additional requirements to register with Childcare Solutions.

You must:

Be 18 years of age or older

Be able to provide evidence of a clear criminal record in the UK and any other country you have resided in for more than 6 months.

Provide 2 references (at least one from a former position)**Where pre-written references are provided we will contact your referees personally to reconfirm.

Provide evidence of qualifications

Be enthusiastic, reliable, flexible and hard-working!

So call us today and let us assist you in fulfilling your career goals overseas.

Questions 15-20

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the advertisement?

In boxes 15-20 on your answer sheet write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

15. Applicants are required to attend an interview with the family interested in offering a work position.

16. Childcare Solutions pays for flights for nannies placed in positions overseas.

17. Costs of visas vary depending on destination.

18. The organisation was set up by experienced childcare workers.

19. Nannies are employed for a minimum of 6 months.

20. The organisation requires recommendations from two previous employers.

 

 

Answers 

15. FALSE

'We conduct interviews on behalf of our clients at one of our 4 offices in the U.K. '

16. FALSE

'Arrangement of a return flight, the cost of which will be covered by your employer.'

17. NOT GIVEN

The text refers to 'A visa assistance service is available for countries where visas are required (additional costs apply)' but DOES NOT talk about differences in cost.

18. TRUE

'Childcare Solutions was established in 1985 by three qualified nannies who returned to the UK after 5 year’s working overseas. '

19. NOT GIVEN

The text states 'different lengths of contract available' but DOES NOT say what the minimum period is.

20. FALSE

'Provide 2 references (at least one from a former position)*' 2 references are required but ONLY ONE has to be from a former employer.

 

Location: SinglePost

Reading Practice Test 21-27

UKgate   21/October/2008, 11:59

Section 2b: Read each paragraph and choose which of the chapter headings in the prospectus, A-L, would contain this information.  

 

Language Express Student Prospectus

Contents Page

About Language Express Entry Requirements for Language Students Entry Requirements for Business Students Course Commencement Orientation for New Students Unique Opportunities International Links Additional Academic Support The Facilities

10. Examinations and Graduation 11. Social Activities 12. The Student Council

 

Questions 21-27

Each of the short paragraphs below (21-27) gives information about an education institution called Language Express.

Read each paragraph and choose which of the chapter headings in the prospectus, A-L, would contain this information.

Write the correct letter A-L in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.

21. Language Express provides students with access to a state-of-the-art computer laboratory, extensive library, comfortable and tranquil private study area and Language Support Tutors in the Learning Support Centre. Should you be experiencing any difficulties with your course, make an appointment with a tutor and they will be able to offer you one-to-one advice

and help you plan a study schedule and access resources to assist you in meeting your learning goals.22. Members are elected by their peers at the beginning of each academic year. They are on hand to communicate between the student body and academic and management staff of the school. Their role is to keep us informed of any requests or complaints from our students that may not be raised on an individual level. Members often also recommend social activities and are active in ensuring that everyone also enjoys their recreation time.

23. As far as we are aware, we are the only institution in our city that has such extensive links with industry. We are able to place our students in work experience positions during semester breaks which provide you with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience which will differentiate you from other applicants and help you to secure the employment position you deserve.

24. Language Express was established in 1990 and cooperates with 10 other prestigious education institutions in various countries. Graduates from our business programmes are able to cross-credit their courses into a number of nominated courses on offer at our sister institutions. Our goal is to provide quality education to our students and to assist them in achieving their goals.

25. Students of any level can join our classes; we offer instruction from beginner to advanced level. During Orientation, one of the first priorities is to arrange a test for our students so that we know which class is most suitable for them. Our weekly tests will allow you to measure your progress for yourself. Many of our students go on to enroll in one of our professional qualification courses; but whatever your interest or goals we can help you fulfil your potential.

26. Several courses are assessed purely via assignments and presentations; however, should your course involve a final test, they are held two weeks after lectures finish - this means you have a two week period in which to prepare and revise. Graduation ceremonies are held twice a year; the largest being in April and smaller ceremony in November for students who successfully finish at the end of Semester 2.

27. Semester start dates for business courses vary slightly from year to year (dates for this year and the following year are found on our website). There are three semesters each year (though students may decide to study for only two terms and take a summer school holiday). The language school intake is more flexible and students are able to begin their course on any Monday apart from in December when the institution closes for a three week holiday. 

 

Answers 

21. H - Additional Academic Support

The paragraph refers to both the facilities (computer lab etc) and the services (Support Tutors) which give students additional academic support outside class.

22. L - The Student Council

The paragraph refers to 'Members' who are 'on hand to communicate between the student body and academic and management staff of the school'.

23. F - Unique Opportunities

The paragraph refers to being 'the only institution in our city that has such extensive links with industry' which allows students 'to gain valuable work experience which will differentiate you from other applicants'. Although the paragraph refers to links, they are local and not international.

24. A - About Language Express

The paragraph gives an overview of the instiution - when it started, opportunities for students and the goals of the school.

25. B - Entry Requirements for Language Students

The paragraph refers to the following points:

Students of any level can join our classes

instruction from beginner to advanced level.

Orientation

Many of our students go on to enroll in one of our professional qualification courses

26. J - Examinations and Graduation

The paragraph refers to 'assignments and presentations', 'a final test' and 'Graduation ceremonies'

27. D - Course commencement

The paragraph refers to 'Semester start dates for business courses... There are three semesters each year' and that 'The language school intake is more flexible and students are able to begin their course on any Monday apart from in December when the institution closes for a three week holiday.'

 

Reading Practice Test 28-40

UKgate   21/October/2008, 12:02

Section 3:The Reading Passage has seven sections A-G. Answer Questions 28-40 on your answer sheet. 

 

 

Reiki

A. The spiritual practice of Reiki was first introduced in early 20th century Japan and continues to be used by its followers today with the intention of treating physical, emotional and mental imbalances and consequent ill-health. The principles of Reiki involve techniques employed by practitioners they say will channel healing energy through the subject’s body, and advocates hold that these techniques can also be used for self-healing. The name of the practice itself stems from two Japanese characters,  pronounced ‘rei’ which translates to ‘unseen’ or ‘spiritual’ and ‘ki’ meaning ‘life force’ or energy’.

B. According to Reiki philosophy, only by undergoing an attunement process performed by a Reiki Master is an individual able to access, then channel this positive energy within, this ability once established is considered to be enduring. Once attuned, it is said that an individual has the ability to allow energy to flow to weak or diseased areas of the body, so activating a natural healing process. Reiki energy is considered to be ‘intelligent energy’ in that it automatically flows to such areas; for this reason, practitioners believe that diagnosis of a specific problem is unnecessary beforehand and that the

practice can be used as preventative medicine and encourage healing prior to the onset of tangible symptoms. Since healing initiated by Reiki treatment is entirely natural, many practitioners are confident that it can be used alongside any other type of treatment with out adverse affect; however, others recommend that since the patient may undergo significant internal improvement for certain ailments – diabetes, for example - careful monitoring is required since such improvements may establish a need for an alteration in medication requirements.

C. A ‘whole body’ Reiki treatment session typically lasts between 45 to 90 minutes. The subject is required to lie down – often on a treatment table – clothed in comfortable and loose fitting attire. Treatment may involve the practitioner placing their hands on the recipient in a variety of positions; however, some therapists take a non-touching approach, holding their hands a few centimeters away from the body. Hands are usually held in one position for up to 5 minutes before moving on to the next part of the body; between 12 and 20 hand positions are generally used. Those who have undergone a Reiki treatment session often state that they experienced a pleasant warmness in the area of focus and a feeling of contentment and relaxation throughout the session.

D. The healing energy is said to originate in the universe itself and is not the passing of personal energy from practitioner to patient; it is therefore thought to be inexhaustible and the personal well-being of the practitioner uncompromised.  While some masters and teachers hold that subjects must be receptive to the concept in order for energy to flow, others believe that the attitude of the patient is of no consequence and that benefits will follow regardless; for this reason, those following the latter school of thought say that since Reiki requires no conscious belief it can also benefit the well-being of animals and plant life.

E. Controversy surrounds the practice of Reiki, some in opposition as they say that Reiki may offer only a perceived improvement in health and therefore only a ‘placebo’ effect. Whilst the practice of Reiki itself is not necessarily considered potentially harmful, some medical practitioners are concerned that its benefits may be over-estimated by patients and that, as a result, they may ignore or abandon conventional treatments. Others argue against the reliability of Reiki due to the lack of regulation of practitioners, holding that patients may be left vulnerable to illegitimate therapists who lack knowledge and skill. While Reiki is not connected to any particular religious doctrine, some religious leaders oppose the practice for spiritual reasons; however, others hold that the meditative principles involved in treatment have enhanced their own ability to explore and embrace their own particular religion.

F. Limited scientific studies in the authenticity of Reiki have been conducted. During research conducted by the Institute of Neurological Studies at South Glasgow University Hospital it was observed that there was a significant decrease in heart rate and blood pressure amongst subjects receiving 30 minutes of Reiki treatment as opposed to a group receiving placebo treatment of 30 minutes rest. Since the test group consisted of a small number of subjects – just 45 – the research recommendations concluded a requirement for further studies. A similarly small preliminary study into the potential effects of Reiki on patients suffering mild dementia, conducted in the USA, tentatively suggested that treatment had a positive effect on the subjects’ memory abilities; however, research limitations included insufficient analysis of potential placebo affects.

G. Other studies have also attempted to determine correlation between Reiki treatment and improvement in cancer and stroke patients.  Whilst investigations into the first condition indicated a seemingly positive effect on degrees of fatigue, pain and stress experienced by sufferers, the second project failed to reveal a link between treatment and improvement in the subjects’ condition and rehabilitation. Theories have been put forward that the benefits of energy treatments such as Reiki may be scientifically attributed to the effect of electromagnetic fields; however, the majority researchers agree that more extensive investigation is required.

 

 

Questions 28-30

Choose THREE letters A-H

Write your answers in boxes 28 - 30 on your answer sheet.

N.B. Your answers may be given in any order

Which THREE of the following statements are true of Reiki?

1. Principles for self-healing differ to those used on others. 2. Attunement is said to have a permanent effect on the recipient 3. Its preventative properties are more significant than cure. 4. There are differences in opinion regarding its use with other therapies. 5. The treatment typically involves contact between the therapist and the patient. 6. The recipient's own energy is the key to the philosophy. 7. Some therapists believe a pessimistic approach affects results. 8. It is only practiced on human subjects.

Questions 31-36

Reading Passage 3 has seven paragraphs A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

31. A scientific explanation of why Reiki may have positive effects.

32. An overview of the practicalities of how Reiki is performed.

33. The pre-requisite required to experience Reiki benefits.

34. When patients faith and expectations cause concern.

35. The immediate effects that can be experienced by recipients.

36. The safety of conducting therapy for practitioners.

Questions 37-40

According to the information in the reading passage, classify the following research findings into the benefits of Reiki as relating to

1. The Institute of Neurological Studies 2. Research conducted in the USA 3. Cancer research 4. Stroke research

Write the correct letter A, B, C or D in boxes 37 - 40 on your answer sheet.

37. The groups' comfort and quality of life appeared to improve.

38. No apparent links were identified.

39. Results were compared to a control group who did not receive Reiki treatment

40. Recollection ability seemed to be enhanced.

 

 

Answers

Questions 28-30 (any order) - B, D and G

B - Attunement is said to have a permanent effect on the recipient

Paragraph B - ' ...attunement process ... this ability once established is considered to be enduring... '

D - There are differences in opinion regarding its use with other therapies.

Paragraph B - '...many practitioners are confident that it can be used alongside any other type of treatment with out adverse affect; however, others recommend that since the patient may undergo significant internal improvement for certain ailments'

G - Some therapists believe a pessimistic approach affects results.

Paragraph D - '...some masters and teachers hold that subjects must be receptive to the concept in order for energy to flow'

31. G - 'Theories have been put forward that the benefits of energy treatments such as Reiki may be scientifically attributed to the effect of electromagnetic fields...'

32. C - Most of the paragraph refers to how Reiki is performed (the practicalities)- 'The subject is required to lie down – often on a treatment table – clothed in comfortable and loose fitting attire. Treatment may involve the practitioner placing their hands on the recipient in a variety of positions; however, some therapists take a non-touching approach, holding their hands a few centimeters away from the body. Hands are usually held in one position for up to 5 minutes before moving on to the next part of the body; between 12 and 20 hand positions are generally used'

33. B -'According to Reiki philosophy, only by undergoing an attunement process performed by a Reiki Master is an individual able to access, then channel this positive energy within...'

34. E - 'some medical practitioners are concerned that its benefits may be over-estimated by patients and that, as a result, they may ignore or abandon conventional treatments.'

35. C - 'Those who have undergone a Reiki treatment session often state that they experienced a pleasant warmness in the area of focus and a feeling of contentment and relaxation throughout the session.'

36. B - 'The healing energy is said to originate in the universe itself and is not the passing of personal energy from practitioner to patient; it is therefore thought to be inexhaustible and the personal well-being of the practitioner uncompromised.'

37. C - Cancer Research

Paragraph G: 'Other studies have also attempted to determine correlation between Reiki treatment and improvement in cancer and stroke patients. Whilst investigations into the first condition indicated a seemingly positive effect on degrees of fatigue, pain and stress experienced by sufferers'

38. D - Stroke

Paragraph G: 'Other studies have also attempted to determine correlation between Reiki treatment and improvement in cancer and stroke patients. Whilst investigations into the first condition indicated a seemingly positive effect on degrees of fatigue, pain and stress experienced by sufferers, the second project failed to reveal a link between treatment and improvement in the subjects’

39. A - The Institute of Neurological Studies

Paragraph F: '...research conducted by the Institute of Neurological Studies at South Glasgow University Hospital it was observed that there was a significant decrease in heart rate and blood pressure amongst subjects receiving 30 minutes of Reiki treatmentas opposed to a group receiving placebo treatment of 30 minutes rest.'

40. B - Research conducted in the USA

Paragraph F: '...conducted in the USA, tentatively suggested that treatment had a positive effect on the subjects’ memory abilities...'

  Location: SinglePost