20 exercices for gapped text (có đáp án và giải thích)

Đề ôn thi phần điền đoạn văn trong kì thi HSGQG, 304 môn tiếng Anh, đã có đáp án và giải thích rõ ràng Cung cấp kiến thức và kỹ năng cho học sinh chuẩn bị tham gia thi các kì HSG, có format, nội dung của TOEFL và CPE Đề thi lấy từ kho ôn thi của học sinh chuyên

120.

121.

GAPPED TEXT

Daydreaming can help solve problems, trigger creativity, and inspire great works of art and

science By Josie Glazier.

Most people spend between 30 and 47 per cent of their waking hours spacing out, drifting off, lost inthought, wool-gathering or building castles in the air Yale University emeritus psychology professorJerome L Singer defines daydreaming as shifting attention “away from some primary physical ormental task toward an unfolding sequence of private responses” or, more simply, “watching your ownmental videos.” He also divides daydreaming styles into two main categories: “positive-constructive,”which includes upbeat and imaginative thoughts, and “dysphoric,” which encompasses visions offailure or punishment

Such humdrum concerns figured prominently in one study that rigorously measured how much time

we spend mind wandering in daily life In a 2009 study, Kane and his colleague Jennifer McVay asked

72 students to carry Palm Pilots that beeped at random intervals eight times a day for a week Thesubjects then recorded their thoughts at that moment on a questionnaire The study found that about

30 per cent of the beeps coincided with thoughts unrelated to the task at hand and that wandering increased with stress, boredom or sleepiness or in chaotic environments and decreasedwith enjoyable tasks That may be because enjoyable activities tend to grab our attention

mind-We may not even be aware that we are daydreaming mind-We have all had the experience of

“reading” a book yet absorbing nothing—moving our eyes over the words on a page as our attentionwanders and the text turns into gibberish “When this happens, people lack what I call ‘meta-awareness,’ consciousness of what is currently going on in their mind,” he says But aimless ramblingcan be productive as they can allow us to stumble on ideas and associations that we may never find if

we intentionally seek them

So, why should daydreaming aid creativity? It may be in part because when the brain is floating inunfocused mental space it serves a specific purpose It allows us to engage in one task and at the sametime trigger reminders of other, concurrent goals so that we do not lose sight of them There is also thebelief that we can boost the creative process by increasing the amount of daydreaming we do orreplaying variants of the millions of events we store in our brains

It was not until 2007, however, that cognitive psychologist Malia Fox Mason, discovered that thedefault network — which lights up when people switch from an attention-demanding activity todrifting reveries with no specific goals, becomes more active when mind wandering is more likely Shealso discovered that people who daydream more in everyday life show greater activity in the defaultnetwork while performing monotonous tasks.

The conclusion reached in this ground-breaking study was that the more complex the mind wanderingepisode is, the more of the mind it is going to consume This inevitably leads to the problem ofdetermining the point at which creative daydreaming crosses the boundary into the realms ofcompulsive fantasising Although there is often a fine dividing line between the two, one question thatcan help resolve the dilemma relates to whether the benefits gained from daydreaming outweigh thecost to the daydreamer’s reputation and performance

On the other hand, there are psychologists who feel that the boundary is not so easily defined Theyargue that mind wandering is not inherently good or bad as it depends to a great extent on context.When, for example, daydreaming occurs during an activity that requires little concentration, it isunlikely to be costly If, however, it causes someone to suffer severe injury or worse by say, walkinginto traffic, then the line has been crossed

A Although these two findings were significant, mind wandering itself was not measured during the

scans As a result, it could not be determined exactly when the participants in her study were “on task”and when they were daydreaming In 2009 Smallwood, Schooler and Kalina Christoff

122.

of the University of British Columbia published the first study to directly link mind wandering withincreased activity in the default network Scans on the participants in their study revealed activity inthe default network was strongest when subjects were unaware they had lost focus.

B However, intense focus on our problems may not always lead to immediate solutions Instead

allowing the mind to float freely can enable us to access unconscious ideas hovering underneath thesurface — a process that can lead to creative insight, according to psychologist Jonathan W Schooler ofthe University of California, Santa Barbara

C Yet to enhance creativity, it is important to pay attention to daydreams Schooler calls this “tuning

out” or deliberate “off-task thinking.”, terms that refer to the ability of an individual to have more thanjust the mind-wandering process Those who are most creative also need to have meta-awareness torealise when a creative idea has popped into their mind

D On the other hand, those who ruminate obsessively—rehashing past events, repetitively analyzing

their causes and consequences, or worrying about all the ways things could go wrong in the future are well aware that their thoughts are their own, but they have intense difficulty turning them off Thelate Yale psychologist Susan Nolen-Hoeksema does not believe that rumination is a form ofdaydreaming, but she has found that in obsessive ruminators, the same default network as the one that

-is activated during daydreaming switches on

E Other scientists distinguish between mundane musings and extravagant fantasies Michael Kane, a

cognitive psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, considers “mind wandering”

to be “any thoughts that are unrelated to one's task at hand.” In his view, mind wandering is a broadcategory that may include everything from pondering ingredients for a dinner recipe to saving theplanet from alien invasion Most of the time when people fall into mind-wandering, they are thinkingabout everyday concerns, such as recent encounters and items on their to-do list

F According to Schooler, there are two steps you need to take to make the distinction First, notice

whether you are deriving any useful insights from your fantasies Second, it is important to take stock of the content of your daydreams To distinguish between beneficial and pathological

imaginings, he adds, “Ask yourself if this is something useful, helpful, valuable, pleasant, or am I justrehashing the same old perseverative thoughts over and over again?” And if daydreaming feels out of

control, then even if it is pleasant it is probably not useful or valuable G Artists and scientists are

well acquainted with such playful fantasizing Filmmaker Tim Burton daydreamed his way to Hollywood success, spending his childhood holed up in his bedroom, creating posters for an

imaginary horror film series Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist who won the Nobel Prize in

Literature in 2006, imagined “another world,” to which he retreated as a child, Albert Einstein

pictured himself running along a light wave—a reverie that led to his theory of special relativity

H Like Facebook for the brain, the default network is a bustling web of memories and streaming

movies, starring ourselves “When we daydream, we're at the center of the universe,” says

neurologist Marcus Raichle of Washington University in St Louis, who first described the network in

2001 It consists of three main regions that help us imagine ourselves and the thoughts and feelings ofothers, draw personal memories from the brain and access episodic memories

120B

“That may be because enjoyable activities tend to grab our attention.” connects with “However, intense focus on our problems may not always lead to immediate solutions.”

“The study found that about 30 per cent of the beeps coincided with thoughts unrelated to the task

at hand and that mind-wandering increased with stress, boredom or sleepiness or in chaotic environments” connects with “Instead allowing the mind to float freely can enable us to access

unconscious ideas hovering underneath the surface — a process that can lead to creative insight” 121G

“But aimless rambling can be productive as they can allow us to stumble on ideas and associations that we may never find if we intentionally seek them.” connects with “Artists and scientists are well acquainted with such playful fantasizing Filmmaker Tim Burton daydreamed his

way to Hollywood success, spending his childhood holed up in his bedroom, creating posters for an

imaginary horror film series Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006, imagined “another world,” to which he retreated as a child, Albert Einstein pictured himself running along a light wave—a reverie that led to his theory of special relativity.”

122C

“So, why should daydreaming aid creativity?” connects with “Yet to enhance creativity, it is important to pay attention to daydreams.” and “The mind's freedom to wander during a deliberate tuning out could also explain the flash of insight that may coincide with taking a break

from an unsolved problem.”

123H

“Our ability to do so is now known to depend on the normal functioning of a dedicated daydreamingnetwork deep in our brain.” connects with “Like Facebook for the brain, the default network is abustling web of memories and streaming movies” and “It consists of three main regions that help usimagine ourselves and the thoughts and feelings of others, draw personal memories from the brainand access episodic memories.”

124A

“Marcus Raichle of Washington University in St Louis, who first described the network in 2001” and

“It was not until 2007, however, that cognitive psychologist Malia Fox Mason, discovered that” connectwith “Although these two findings were significant, mind-wandering itself was not measured duringthe scans.”

125F

“This inevitably leads to the problem of determining the point at which creative daydreaming crosses the boundary into the realms of compulsive fantasising Although there is often a fine

dividing line between the two, one question that can help resolve the dilemma relates to whether

the benefits gained from daydreaming outweigh the cost to the daydreamer’s reputation andperformance.” connects with “

“To distinguish between beneficial and pathological imaginings” and “On the other hand, there are psychologists who feel that the boundary is not so easily defined They argue that mind- wandering is not inherently good or bad”

HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THE UNIVERSE

Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, launches this year's Young Science Writer competition

If you ask scientists what they're doing, the answer won't be 'Finding the origin of the universe','Seeking the cure for cancer' or suchlike It will involve something very specialised, a small piece of thejigsaw that builds up the big picture

So, unless they are cranks or geniuses, scientists don't shoot directly for a grand goal - they focus onbite-sized problems that seem timely and tractable But this strategy (though prudent) carries anoccupational risk: they may forget they're wearing blinkers and fail to see their own work in its properperspective

I would personally derive far less satisfaction from my research if it interested only a few otheracademics But presenting one's work to non-specialists isn't easy We scientists often do it badly,although the experience helps us to see our work in a broader context Journalists can do it better, andtheir efforts can put a key discovery in perspective, converting an arcane paper published in anobscure journal into a tale that can inspire others

On such occasions, people often raise general concerns about the way science is going and the impact

it may have; they wonder whether taxpayers get value for money from the research they support.More intellectual audiences wonder about the basic nature of science: how objective can we be? Andhow creative? Is science genuinely a progressive enterprise? What are its limits and are we anywherenear them? It is hard to explain, in simple language, even a scientific concept that you understand well

My own (not always effective) attempts have deepened my respect for science reporters, who have toassimilate quickly, with a looming deadline, a topic they may be quite unfamiliar with

125.

It's unusual for science to earn newspaper headlines Coverage that has to be restricted to crispnewsworthy breakthroughs in any case distorts the way science develops Scientific advances areusually gradual and cumulative, and better suited to feature articles, or documentaries - or even books,

• for which the latent demand is surprisingly strong For example, millions bought A Brief History ofTime, which caught the public imagination

Nevertheless, serious hooks do find a ready market That's the good news for anyone who wants toenter this competition But books on pyramidology, visitations by aliens, and suchlike do even better: asymptom of a fascination with the paranormal and 'New Age' concepts It is depressing that these areoften featured uncritically in the media, distracting attention from more genuine advances

Most scientists are quite ordinary, and their lives unremarkable But occasionally they exemplify the link between genius and madness; these 'eccentrics' are more enticing biographees

There seems, gratifyingly, to be no single 'formula' for science writing - many themes are still exploited Turning out even 700 words seems a daunting task if you're faced with a clean sheet ofpaper or a blank screen, but less so if you have done enough reading and interviewing on a subject tobecome inspired For research students who enter the competition, science (and how you do it) isprobably more interesting than personal autobiography But if, in later life, you become both brilliantand crazy, you can hope that someone else writes a best-seller about you

under-A However, over-sensational claims are a hazard for them Some researchers themselves 'hype up'

new discoveries to attract press interest Maybe it matters little what people believe about Darwinism

or cosmology But we should be more concerned that misleading or over-confident claims on any topic

of practical import don't gain wide currency Hopes of miracle cures can be raised; risks can be eitherexaggerated, or else glossed over for commercial pressures Science popularisers perhaps even thosewho enter this competition - have to be as skeptical of some scientific claims as journalists routinelyare of politicians

B Despite this there's a tendency in recent science waiting to be chatty, laced with gossip and

biographical detail But are scientists as interesting as their science? The lives of Albert Einstein andRichard Feyman are of interest, but is that true of the routine practitioner?

123.

C Two mathematicians have been treated as such in recent books: Paul Erdos, the obsessive itinerant

Hungarian (who described himself as 'a machine for turning coffee into theorems') and John Nash, apioneer of game theory, who resurfaced in his sixties, after 30 years of insanity, to receive a Nobelprize

D For example, the American physicist Robert Wilson spent months carrying out meticulous

measurements with a microwave antenna which eventually revealed the 'afterglow of creation' - the'echo' of the Big Bang with which our universe began Wilson was one of the rare scientists with theluck and talent to make a really great discovery, but afterwards he acknowledged that its importancedidn't sink in until he read a 'popular' description of it in the New York Times

E More surprising was the commercial success of Sir Roger Penrose's The Emperor's New Mind This

is a fascinating romp through Penrose's eclectic enthusiasms - enjoyable and enlightening But it was asurprising best seller, as much of it is heavy going The sates pitch 'great scientist says mind is morethan a mere machine' was plainly alluring Many who bought it must have got a nasty surprise whenthey opened it

F But if they have judged right, it won't be a trivial problem - indeed it will be the most difficult that

they are likely to make progress on The great zoologist Sir Peter Medawar famously describedscientific work as 'the art of the soluble' 'Scientists,' he wrote, 'get no credit for failing to solve aproblem beyond their capacities They earn at best the kindly contempt reserved for utopianpoliticians.'

G This may be because, for non-specialists, it is tricky to demarcate well-based ideas from flaky

speculation But its crucially important not to blur this distinction when writing articles for a generalreadership Otherwise credulous readers may take too much on trust, whereas hard- nosed skepticsmay reject all scientific claims, without appreciating that some have firm empirical support

H Such a possibility is one reason why this competition to encourage young people to take up science

writing is so important and why I am helping to launch it today Another is that popular sciencewriting can address wider issues When I give talks about astronomy and cosmology, the questionsthat interest people most are the truly `fundamental' ones that I can't answer: 'Is there life in space?',

Is the universe infinite?' or 'Why didn't the Big Bang happen sooner?'

In D For example, links the paragraph before the gap with the example of Robert Wilson, who the

writer believes was 'wearing blinkers' and “not seeing his work in its proper perspective'.

In the paragraph after the gap, having made the point that scientists can become too absorbed in theirwork and not relate it to other people, the writer says that personally he wants his work to be ofinterest to non-specialists rather than only a few other academics.

121 H

At the start of H, Such a possibility refers back to the possibility of someone 'converting an arcane paper' into something inspiring for other people, mentioned at the end of the paragraph before the gap At the start of the paragraph after the gap, on such occasions refers back to the writer's talks mentioned at the end of H and means 'when I am giving talks'.

122 A

In the first sentence of A, them refers back to the science reporters mentioned in the last sentence of

the paragraph before the gap The writer says that a problem they face is over- sensational(exaggerated in order to surprise and attract attention) claims on the part of scientific researchers Inthe paragraph after the gap, the writer moves on to a new aspect of his subject - the lack of coverage(the extent to which something is present or discussed) that science gets in newspapers,

123 E

In the first sentence of E, More surprising refers back to the success of the book mentioned at the end

of the paragraph before the gap The writers says that the success of the book he mentions in E wasmore surprising than the success of the other book, and he then describes the second book In the

paragraph after the gap Nevertheless refers back to what he says about the second book at the end of

E

124 G

At the beginning of G, This refers back to the `depressing' fact he describes at the end of the

paragraph before the gap, of certain scientific matters being given more publicity than others he

regards as “more genuine' In the paragraph after the gap, the writer moves on to another aspect of

the subject the characteristics of most scientists

`Rather than just design a city in the same way we'd done it before, we can focus on how tominimise the use of resources to show that there is a different way of doing it', says Roger Wood,associate director at Arup Wood is one of hundreds of people at Arup, the engineering andarchitecture giant, hired by Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation to set out a master plan forthe Dongtan eco-city.

When the first demonstrator phase is complete, Dongtan will be a modest community of 5000 By

2020, that will balloon to 80,000 and in 2050, the 30km2 site will be home to 500,000 Arup says thatevery one of those people will be no more than seven minutes' walk from public transport Onlyelectric vehicles will be allowed in the city and residents will be discouraged from using even thosebecause each village is planned so that the need for motorised transport is minimal

That's a big cornerstone of Arup's design for Dongtan The aim is that the city will require 66 percentless energy than a conventional development, with wind turbines and solar panels complementingsome 40 percent that comes from biological sources These include human sewage and municipalwaste, both of which will be controlled for energy recovery and composting Meanwhile, a combinedheat and power plant will burn waste rice husks

Work on Dongtan had been scheduled to begin in late 2008 with the first demonstration phasecompleted by 2010 Unfortunately, problems resulting from the complicated planning procedures inChina have led to setbacks Dongtan's rival project in Abu Dhabi has suffered no such hold-ups

In the blistering desert of the Gulf state, where it's almost too hot to venture outdoors for three or fourmonths of the year, the big question for Masdar is how to keep cool without turning on the air-conditioning In this equation, insulation and ventilation suddenly become more important than theperformance of solar panels To maximise shade, I the city's streets are packed closely together, withlimits of four or five storeys set on the height of most buildings.

The other major design feature for Masdar is that the whole city is raised on a deck The pedestrianlevel will be free of vehicles and much of the noisy maintenance that you see in modern cities Cars arebanned from Masdar entirely, while an underground network of `podcars' ferries people around thecity

Given that this concern is legitimate, developers of both cities would do well to incorporate both arange of housing and jobs to make them inclusive to everyone This will be difficult, obviously, but thenjust about everything is difficult when you're completely reinventing the way we build and live in ametropolis And supposing these sustainable and super-efficient cities are successful, could they evenusher in a new world order?

A The city will be built on a corner of Chongming Island in the mouth of the Yangtze River It will be

made up of three interlinked, mixed-use villages, built one after the other Each will combine homes,businesses and recreation, and a bridge and tunnel link will connect the population with Shanghai onthe mainland

B The skin of each building will be crucial Thick concrete would only soak up heat and release it

slowly, so instead engineers will use thin walls that react quickly to the sun A thin metal layer on theoutside will help to reflect heat and stop it from penetrating the building Density is also critical forMasdar The city is arranged in a definite square with a walled border Beyond this perimeter, fields ofsolar panels, a wind farm and a desalination plant will provide clean energy and water, and act as abarrier to prevent further sprawl

C 'If you plan your development so people can live, work and shop very locally, you can quite

significantly reduce the amount of energy that's being used', Wood says `Then, not only have youmade the situation easier because you've reduced the energy demand, but it also means that

producing it from renewable sources becomes easier because you don't have to produce quite as much'.

D Arup's integrated, holistic approach to city planning goes further still Leftover heat from the

power plant will be channelled to homes and businesses Buildings can be made of thinner materialsbecause the electric cars on the road will be quiet, so there's less noise to drown out Dongtan willinitially see an 83 per cent reduction in waste sent to landfill compared to other cities, with the aim toreduce that to nothing over time And more than 60 per cent of the whole site will be parks andfarmland, where food is grown to feed the population

E Developers at Masdar and Dongtan are adamant that each city will be somewhere that people want

to live Critics do not question this but they do, nevertheless, wonder if these cities will be realisticplaces for people on a low income They say that it would be easy for places like these to become a StTropez or a Hamptons, where only rich people live

F Funded by a 12bn (euro) investment from the government in Abu Dhabi, it has not passed the

attention of many observers that Masdar is being built by one of the world's largest and mostprofitable producers of oil Even so, under the guidance of architects as Foster and Partners, the city isjust as ambitious as its Chinese counterpart and also hinges on being able to run on low power

G Since cars and other petrol-based vehicles are banned from the city, occupants will share a

network of ‘podcars' to get around The 'personal rapid transit system' will comprise 2500 driverless,electric vehicles that make 150,000 trips a day by following sensors along a track beneath thepedestrian deck Up to six passengers will ride in each pod: they just hop in at one of 83 stationsaround the city and tap in their destination

H Incredibly, this is already happening Two rival developments, one in China and one in the United

Arab Emirates, are progressing in tandem Work on Masdar, 17km from Abu Dhabi, began in 2008,while Dongtan, near Shanghai, will eventually be home to half a million people The aim for both is tobuild sustainable, zero-carbon communities that showcase green technology and demonstrate whatsmart urban planning can achieve in the 21st century

Your answers

connects with “Rather than just design a city in the same way we'd done it before, we can focus on how

to minimise the use of resources to show that there is a different way of doing it”

“Work on Masdar, 17km from Abu Dhabi, began in 2008, while Dongtan, near Shanghai, will

eventually be home to half a million people.” connects with “Wood is one of hundreds of people atArup, the engineering and architecture giant, hired by Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation to

set out a master plan for the Dongtan eco-city.”

120 A

“Wood is one of hundreds of people at Arup, the engineering and architecture giant, hired by Shanghai

Industrial Investment Corporation to set out a master plan for the Dongtan eco-city.” connects with

“The city will be built on a corner of Chongming Island in the mouth of the Yangtze River”

“It will be made up of three interlinked, mixed-use villages, built one after the other.” connects with

“Only electric vehicles will be allowed in the city and residents will be discouraged from using even

those because each village is planned so that the need for motorised transport is minimal.”

121 C

“Then, not only have you made the situation easier because you've reduced the energy demand, but it

also means that producing it from renewable sources becomes easier because you don't have to produce quite as much” connects with “That's a big cornerstone of Arup's design for Dongtan The aim is that the city will require 66 percent less energy than a conventional development, with wind turbines and solar panels complementing some 40 percent that comes from biological sources.”

122 D

“These include human sewage and municipal waste, both of which will be controlled for energy recovery and composting Meanwhile, a combined heat and power plant will burn waste rice husks” connects with “Arup's integrated, holistic approach to city planning goes further still”

123 F

“Although it will take a different approach in terms of design, like Dongtan, the city is planned to be a

zero-carbon, uber-efficient showcase for sustainable living.” connects with “Even so, under the

guidance of architects as Foster and Partners, the city is just as ambitious as its Chinese counterpart

and also hinges on being able to run on low power”

124 B

“In the blistering desert of the Gulf state, where it's almost too hot to venture outdoors for three or

four months of the year, the big question for Masdar is how to keep cool without turning on the conditioning” connects with “The skin of each building will be crucial Thick concrete would only soak

air-up heat and release it slowly, so instead engineers will use thin walls that react quickly to the sun”

The Rise of Silicon Valley

On January 11, 1971, an article was published in the trade newspaper Electronic News about thecompanies involved in the semiconductor and computer industries in Santa Clara Valley at thesouthern end of San Francisco Bay Area in California, USA The article was entitled 'Silicon Valley USA',

a reference to the fact that silicon is the most important substance used in commercial semiconductorsand their applications The name stuck, and in light of the commercial success of the companies there,'Silicon Valley' is now used as a metonym for the high-tech sector

One such new business was the one founded by two graduates of the nearby Stanford University called Bill Hewlett and David Packard In 1938 the pair had $538, and along with Dave's wife Lucile, decided to

rent a property at 367 Addison Avenue, Palo Alto For $45 a month they got a ground floor apartmentfor Dave and Lucile, a garden shed where Bill slept, and a garage from which to run the business, agarage which has more recently been dubbed 'The birthplace of Silicon Valley'

As time passed, the 200A was improved and developed, resulting in the 200B Eight of these improvedoscillators were bought by The Walt Disney Company, for use in testing and certifying the Fantasoundsurround-sound systems installed in cinemas for the 1940 movie Fantasia Success was beginning tocome

Although they are often considered to be the symbolic founders of Silicon Valley, they did not deal insemiconductor devices until the 1960s From then onwards, the semiconductor devices they madewere mostly intended for internal use, for such products as measuring instruments and calculators.Today, however, Hewlett-Packard is the largest manufacturer of personal computers in the world

Terman also had a more direct influence through his role at Stanford University The University hadbeen established in 1891 in the north-western part of the Santa Clara Valley, and from the start, itsleaders aimed to support the local region The result was that the University played an important part

in establishing and developing local businesses, and indeed its alumni went on to found some majorcompanies, not just Hewlett-Packard, but such household names as Yahoo! and Google

The 1950s were also a time of great development in electronics technology Most importantly, thedevelopment of the transistor continued Research scientist William Shockley moved to the Santa ClaraValley region in 1956, when he formed Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory There his research teamstarted constructing semiconductors from silicon, rather than germanium, as did most otherresearchers The silicon transistors proved to perform much better, and started to be used in radiosand the early computers.

Since the 1970s, however, the most important developments pioneered in Silicon Valley have been insoftware and Internet services rather than hardware So even though Hewlett-Packard remains thelargest producers of computers in the world, the future of Silicon Valley might well lie elsewhere

A Throughout their early years, Hewlett and Packard were mentored by one of their university

professors, Frederick Terman Terman was Stanford University's dean of engineering and provostduring the 1940s and 1950s, and had a positive influence on many of the successful companies inSilicon Valley Indeed, his influence was such that he has been dubbed 'the father of Silicon Valley'.Terman encouraged his students to form their own companies and personally invested in many ofthem, and in this way nurtured many highly successful companies, including not just Hewlett-Packard,but others such as Varian Associates and Litton Industries

B Hewlett-Packard was arguably the first company to offer a mass-produced personal computer,

namely the 9100A For marketing reasons, however, the 9100A was sold as a 'desktop calculator' Itsimply did not resemble what was then considered a 'computer', namely the large machines being sold

by IBM The 9100A fitted comfortably on a desk, and possessed a small screen and a keyboard In fact,

it was more like an oversized and over-expensive precursor of a pocket calculator than a modern PC,since its keyboard lacked letter keys

C Following the end of the Second World War in 1945, universities in the United States were

experiencing enormous enrolment demands from the returning military personnel Terman proposedlaunching a scheme which would kill two birds with one stone The idea was to lease out land owned

by Stanford University to high-technology companies for their offices This scheme would firstlyfinance the University's growth requirements and thereby facilitate a larger student intake, and

secondly provide local employment opportunities for graduating students.

D The beginnings of Silicon Valley can be traced back to the early twentieth century At that time,

Santa Clara Valley was known for its orchards which flourished in California's balmy climate Therewere nevertheless a number of experimenters and innovators in such fields as

radio, television and military electronics, and several people were trying to take advantage of any business opportunities that might arise

E It was also in Silicon Valley that other revolutionary electronic components were developed The

silicon-based integrated circuit, the microprocessor and the microcomputer were all invented bycompanies there, as well as such electronic devices as the mouse and the ink-jet printer Indeed,Silicon Valley has been the world's most important site of electronic innovation over the past 50 years

F In those early years, Hewlett-Packard was a company without a focused direction They made a

whole range of electronic products, with diverse customers in industry and agriculture In the 1940s,their principal products were test equipment, including such devices as voltmeters, oscilloscopes andthermometers They aimed to provide better quality products than their competitors, and made a bigeffort to make their products more sensitive and accurate than their rivals

G Another bond between the University and the local high-technology businesses was established in

1954, with the creation of the Honors Cooperative Program This programme allowed employees ofthe businesses to pursue part-time graduate degrees at the University whilst continuing to work full-time in their jobs In this way, key workers in the electronics industry were able to hone their skillsand knowledge, creating the foundation for the development of Silicon Valley

H Of the many products Hewlett and Packard worked on, the first financially successful one was a

precision audio oscillator, a device for testing sound equipment This product, the 200A, featured theinnovative use of a small light bulb as a temperature-dependent resistor in a critical section of thecircuit, which allowed them to sell it for $54.40, only a quarter of the price of their competitors' audiooscillators

traced back to the early twentieth century”

“There were nevertheless a number of experimenters and innovators in such fields as radio, television

and military electronics, and several people were trying to take advantage of any business opportunities that might arise.” connects with “One such new business was the one founded by two

graduates of the nearby Stanford University called Bill Hewlett and David Packard”

120 H

“One such new business was the one founded by two graduates of the nearby Stanford University

called Bill Hewlett and David Packard” connects with “Of the many products Hewlett and Packard

worked on, the first financially successful one was a precision audio oscillator, a device for testingsound equipment.”

121 F

“Eight of these improved oscillators were bought by The Walt Disney Company, for use in testing and

certifying the Fantasound surround-sound systems installed in cinemas for the 1940 movie Fantasia.” connects with “In those early years, Hewlett-Packard was a company without a focused direction”

122 A

“Terman was Stanford University's dean of engineering and provost during the 1940s and 1950s, and

had a positive influence on many of the successful companies in Silicon Valley.” connects with

“Terman also had a more direct influence through his role at Stanford University”

123 C

“Terman proposed launching a scheme which would kill two birds with one stone.” connects with

“Terman's proposal was taken up by Stanford University, and in 1951 Stanford Industrial Park was

created.”

124 G

“Another bond between the University and the local high-technology businesses was established in

1954, with the creation of the Honors Cooperative Program.” connects with “The 1950s were also a

time of great development in electronics technology.”

Critics dismissed Craeme Mather's attempts to make clouds rain But now recent experiments appear

to have vindicated him Anjana Ahuya reports

Dr Craeme Mather lived his life with his head in the clouds, as a documentary film to be shown thisweek shows Against the advice of almost everybody else in the meteorological community, theCanadian scientist devoted his professional life to trying to make clouds rain

Before Dr Mather became involved, the science of weather modification had already claimed manyreputations The idea that clouds could be manipulated first circulated in the 1940s, and effortsgathered pace soon after the Second World War

However, the entire discipline fell into disrepute when commercial companies hijacked the idea, took

it around the world, and then failed to deliver on their promises Cloud-seeding, as the process wasknown, became the preserve of crackpots and charlatans

Scientists theorized that if they could inject the cloud with similarly shaped crystals, these impostercrystals would also act as frames around which droplets would clump The cloud would then betricked into raining Silver iodide, whose crystals resemble those of ice, seemed the best bet Sadly,none of the experiments, including Dr Mather's, which had been going for more than five years,seemed to work Dr Mather was about to admit defeat when serendipity intervened

Dr Mather was convinced that something that the place was spewing into the atmosphere wasencouraging the downpour Subsequent experiments confirmed that hygroscopic salts pouring intothe sky from them were responsible Hygroscopic salts attract water - once in the atmosphere, theparticles act as magnets around which raindrops can form

He was wary; Dr Mather was known to be a smooth-talking salesman 'He was charming andcharismatic, and many scientists don't trust that; he says 'He was also not well-published because he

had been working in the commercial sector Overall, he was regarded as a maverick On that occasion,

he presented results that I was convinced were impossible Yet the statistical evidence wasoverwhelming, which I couldn't understand

'If those findings can be reproduced there, it will be the most exciting thing to have happened in thefield for 20 years It will be remarkable because some of the results are not scientifically explainable.’

He adds, however, that scientists must exercise caution because cloud-seeding is still mired incontroversy He also points out that, with water being such a precious resource, success will push theresearch into the political arena

Dr Cooper says: 'With the paper mill, he saw something that other people wouldn't have seen I amstill uncomfortable with his idea because it throws up major puzzles in cloud physics But if Dr Matherwas right, it will demonstrate that humans can change clouds in ways that were once thoughtimpossible.'

A Dr Mather refused to be daunted by this image After all, the principle seemed perfectly plausible.

Water droplets are swept up to the top of the clouds on updrafts, where they become supercooled (i.e.,although the temperature is below freezing, the water remains liquid) When a supercooled dropletcollides with an ice crystal, it freezes on contact and sticks Successive collisions cause each ice crystal

to accumulate more water droplets; the crystals grow until they become too heavy to remainsuspended in the atmosphere As the crystals fall through the cloud, they become raindrops The icecrystals, therefore, act as frames to 'grow' raindrops

B Dr Mather, unfortunately, will not be involved in the debate about such matters He died aged 63,

shortly before the documentary was completed It will ensure that this smooth-talking maverick isgiven the recognition he deserves

C He and a colleague decided to collect a last batch of data when they flew into a tiny but ferocious

storm That storm, Dr Mather says in the film, changed his life Huge droplets were spattering on thetiny plane's windscreen No such storm had been forecast Back on the ground, they discovered thestorm was located directly above a paper mill

D A trial in Mexico has been running for two years, and the signs are promising 'We were sufficiently

encouraged in the first year to continue the seeding research But the results are preliminary because

we have only a very small sample of clouds at the moment We need to work over two more summers

to reach a proper conclusion

E He arranged to fly to South Africa 'with the full intention of explaining what was wrong with the

experiment' Instead, he came back convinced that Dr Mather was on to something He is now runningtwo experiments, one in Arizona and one in northern Mexico to try to verify the South African results.The experiments use potassium chloride, which is similar to table salt (sodium chloride) and, it is

125.

claimed, non-polluting.

F The scientific community remained sniffy in the face of this apparent proof Foremost among the

skeptics was Dr William Cooper, of the United States National Centre for Atmospheric Research(NCAR) Dr Cooper, regarded as one of the world's finest cloud scientists, saw Dr Mather present hisastonishing claims at a cloud physics conference in Montreal

G They involved weather experts firing rockets into clouds to stop them from producing hail, which

damages crops The clouds, it was hoped, would dissolve into a harmless shower

H The desire to do so led him to set up a project in South Africa, which was ultimately to convince him

that it was possible As the program reveals, experiments around the world appear to prove his faithwas justified

In H, the phrase “to do so” refers back to the end of the opening paragraph and means 'to make clouds rain' As a result of his desire to make clouds rain, he set up a project A film has been made

which shows that various experiments have proved that he was right to think it could be done

The paragraph after the gap gives some information about what had happened regarding weather modification (causing the weather to change) before Dr Mather got involved in it.

120.G: In the paragraph before the gap, we learn that the science of weather modification had claimed many reputations, which means that many scientists had lost their good reputations as a

result of getting involved in it We also learn that the idea began in the 1940s and grew after theSecond World War

In G, they at the beginning refers back to the efforts made after the Second World War that are

mentioned at the end of the paragraph before the gap The paragraph then describes efforts to prevent

clouds from producing hail (frozen rain that fails as little balls of ice) that would damage crops and

make them produce rain instead

In the paragraph after the gap, we are told that the entire discipline (the whole field of weather

modification) then acquired a bad reputation

121.A: In the paragraph before the gap, we learn that the science of weather modification got a bad reputation because commercial companies “hijacked the idea” (took it over for their own purposes) and “failed to deliver on their promises” (failed to do what they had promised to do - this must

mean they did not prove that cloud-seeding was possible, as they had promised to) As a result, the

process became the preserve (an activity exclusively done by) of crackpots (crazy people) and charlatans (cheats who make false claims about being experts to something in order to make money).

In A, we are told that Dr Mather refused to be daunted by this image This image refers back to

the image that people had of weather modification, or cloud-seeding, which was that it was the

preserve of crackpots and charlatans Dr Mather was not discouraged by the fact that people had this image of weather modification because the principle (the basic idea on which a theory is based) seemed perfectly plausible (believable) The rest of the paragraph consists of a detailed explanation

of what that principle is with regard to what happens in clouds

In the paragraph after the gap, this explanation is continued, moving on from what happens in clouds

to what scientists believed they could do to change what naturally happens in clouds

122 C: In the paragraph before the gap, we learn that none of the experiments which were carped out

to prove the theory that clouds could be affected by scientists worked Dr Mather had no success

himself in this, and so he was about to admit defeat (accept that success was impossible and give up), but then serendipity (the ability to make fortunate discoveries completely by chance) intervened

(entered into the situation and changed it)

In C, we are told what happened when serendipity intervened The last batch of data refers back to the experiments he made that are mentioned in the paragraph before the gap and means that he

collected a last batch of data before giving up these experiments When he was collecting this, there

was an unexpected storm, which he discovered was directly above a paper mill (a factory for

processing paper)

In the paragraph after the gap, the place and from there both refer back to the paper mill mentioned

at the end of C We learn in this paragraph that Dr Mather thought that the paper mill had caused thestorm

123.F: In the paragraph before the gap, we !earn that Dr Mather decided that there was a direct link between the hygroscopic salts coming from the paper mill and the storm and that subsequent

experiments he connected proved that rain could be caused by certain substances being put intoclouds

In F, we learn that the scientific community did not believe this apparent proof - that clouds could be

made to produce rain by putting certain substances into them, as described in the paragraph before

the gap The scientific community remained sniffy (contemptuous) and Foremost among the skeptics (one of the main people to be extremely doubtful) was Dr

Cooper He saw Dr Mather present his astonishing claims - this refers back to his claims concerning

the effect of hygroscopic salts on clouds in the paragraph before the gap - at a conference

At the beginning of the paragraph after the gap He is Dr Cooper and the first sentence means that Dr Cooper was wary (cautious, suspicious) when he heard the claims referred to at the end of F In this paragraph, we learn that he was wary because Dr Mather was considered to be a smooth-talking salesman (someone who tried to convince others of something that is probably not true by means of speaking persuasively) because scientists don't trust other scientists who are charming and charismatic (having a great personal charm that makes them have influence over other people because other people are impressed by them) because Dr Mather had been working in the commercial sector (this implies that Dr Mather's conclusions might have been influenced by commercial considerations) and because Dr Mather was considered to be a maverick (someone in a

particular field of work with unconventional views and methods which are often disapproved of) The

phrase On that occasion refers back to Dr Mather's appearance at the conference, mentioned at the

end of F

124.E: In the paragraph before the gap, we learn that Dr Cooper considered Dr Mather's results impossible but felt that the statistical evidence for them was overwhelming (enormous) and as a

result was confused

In E, Dr Cooper goes to South Africa to prove Dr Mather wrong but comes back believing that Dr

Mather was on to something (had discovered something that could have important consequences).

Dr Cooper is now conducting two experiments himself - in Arizona and in Mexico - to verify (to

confirm, to make sure that they are what they seem) the results so far obtained in South Africa, using akind of salt

In the paragraph after the gap, Dr Cooper is speaking about the experiments referred to in E In the

first sentence, those findings refers back to the South African results in E and there refers back to

Arizona and Mexico in E He talks shout how significant it would be if his experiments have the sameresults as those already conducted in South Africa, since this would prove that clouds can be made toproduce rain if certain substances are put into them

125.B: In the paragraph before the gap, we learn that, although it might have been proved that cloud seeding is possible, scientists must exercise (use) caution on the matter because it is a subject that is still mired in (prevented from making progress because of) controversy Another reason why caution

-is necessary -is that because water -is such a precious resource, the possibility that it can be produced from making clouds rain puts the subject into the political arena (the world of politics).

In B, such matters refer back to the controversy surrounding cloud-seeding and the fact that it could

become a political issue, both of which are mentioned in the paragraph before the gap Dr Matherwon't be involved in discussing these issues because he died shortly before the film about

THE ORIGIN OF ADVERTISING

Advertising has become a major force in our modern world Through our airwaves, up in the skies, onwalls, streets and along motorways, almost nowhere can we go and not be bombarded by adverts Ithas become so prevalent that scientists and researchers have analyzed its sociological effectextensively – how it influences buying habits, desensitizes consumers and in some cases even repelsthem

Such rudimentary content is also believed to be present in the first printed adverts, used by ancientEgyptians to communicate sales messages through the use of papyrus In contrast with the ephemeralnature of today’s advertising, they would also carve messages of commerce into stone or on steelplates, which would remain visible for a lifetime

Naturally, we cannot know for sure, but one would guess that the power of persuasion was present inthe spoken adverts of ancient times You could suppose that the loudest, most colorful, mostentertaining crier garnered the most business Although we do not experience this form ofadvertisement often today, sellers in public markets in Europe and the Middle East still employ thismethod

The specific message on the printing plate was ‘We buy high-quality steel rods and make fine- qualityneedles to be ready for use at home in no time', and the seller also placed a rabbit logo and the name

of his shop in the center The plate, made of copper and dating back to the Song dynasty of the 10thcentury China, was used to print posters the dimensions of which were nearly perfect squares roughlythe size of a window frame

-It was not until the rise of newspapers did advertising makes its next big leap During this time,targeted slogans and catchphrases became popular The first such instance of a paid newspaper advertappeared in the French newspaper La Presse in 1836 and what was so revolutionary about it was that

121.

124.

125.

the seller paid for its placement, allowing the newspaper to charge its readers less

Known as quackery, such messages boasted cures for common ailments that went above and beyondwhat traditional remedies could provide Naturally, an unsuspecting and undereducated public wasparticularly susceptible to such fabrications Much as how quackery would be dispelled today, doctorswent out of their way to publish medical journals debunking the claims made by these adverts

In the advert, a painting of a child blowing bubbles – a work of art literally entitled Bubbles, by Englishartist Sir John Everett Millais – was used as the background of a poster, with the product visible in theforeground The visual immediately linked the product with high – class society and it is a tactic that isundeniably still very much used today

Along with the staggering investment is the use of a broad range of tactics to maximize impact, such asfocus groups, evocative imagery, storytelling, and seemingly boundless product placement Sopsychological is the effect that it has given rise to the belief that companies know everything aboutyou Nevertheless, with such creativity poured into the field, one can still appreciate its art formand its place in history

A One need look no further than failed advertising campaigns Some went too far in their shock value,

had to be apologized for and hurt the brand more than they helped In one example, a gamemanufacturer, in order to promote the carnal violence visible in the game, held an event whichshowcased an actual deceased goat

B For better or worse, there was no stopping the budding advertising industry Agencies started to

spring up and with that came campaigns The first successful campaign was for the British soapmanufacturer Pears With the help of chairman Thomas James Barratt, the company successfullylinked a catchy slogan with high culture

C In contrast to the adverts being produced for the literate populace of this region, text was largely

absent from adverts that proliferated in the towns and cities of medieval Europe To circumvent thisobstacle, adverts used commonly recognizable imagery such a boot for a cobbler or a diamond for acarver to promote products and services And still, criers remained the go-to medium for relaying thesellers’ messages to the public

D Also entering the industry was the vast sums of money that companies would splash out on

campaigns A little over one hundred American companies in 1893 spent 50,000 US dollars onadvertising campaigns That equates to over one million US dollars today, still a fraction of whattoday’s companies spend at nearly 500 billion pounds globally

E In this era, though, the medium with the greatest prevalence was oral Public criers would circulate

messages in urban centers to passers-by advertising various products There is evidence of writtenadverts and for more than just selling wares In one such advert found at the ruins of Thebes dated1,000 BC, a man was offering a reward for a runaway slave But oral messages were the main method

of delivery until the invention of the printing press in 1450

F But there was a time when an advert was a rare occurrence and its effect on society amounted to no

more than its core function; that is, to connect seller and buyer We know that the written word beganaround 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, in the Sumerian civilization that existed in modern-daysouthern Iraq The make – up of this early scrawling consisted of grain inventories, from whathistorians and linguists can make of it

G Adverts in ancient times did contain an element of sophistication which essentially lured buyers,

albeit less obviously On the other side of the world, in ancient China, the language of advertscontained selling points and friendly imagery, such as in an advert to coax people into using acraftsman’s services This particular advertising medium is considered the oldest example of printedadvertising

H That formula was soon copied by other publishers looking to increase their profits while

expanding their circulation British newspapers, which had been using newspaper advertising sincethe 18th century, used adverts to promote books and newspapers themselves The printing press hadmade their production much more affordable and advertising content expanded to include medicines,

in what would prove to be the first instances of false advertising

Your answers

119 F

"We know that the written word began around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, in the Sumerian

civilization that existed in modern-day southern Iraq The make – up of this early scrawling consisted of grain inventories, from what historians and linguists can make of it.” connects with

“Such rudimentary content is also believed to be present in the first printed adverts, used by ancient

Egyptians to communicate sales messages through the use of papyrus.”

120 E

“In one such advert found at the ruins of Thebes dated 1,000 BC, a man was offering a reward for a

runaway slave But oral messages were the main method of delivery until the invention of the

printing press in 1450.” connects with “Naturally, we cannot know for sure, but one would guess that

the power of persuasion was present in the spoken adverts of ancient times.”

121 G

“Although we do not experience this form of advertisement often today, sellers in public markets in Europe and the Middle East still employ this method.” connects with “On the other side of the world, in ancient China, the language of adverts contained selling points and friendly imagery, such

as in an advert to coax people into using a craftsman’s services.”

soon copied by other publishers looking to increase their profits while expanding their circulation.”

124 B

“The first successful campaign was for the British soap manufacturer Pears With the help of

chairman Thomas James Barratt, the company successfully linked a catchy slogan with high culture.”

connects with “In the advert, a painting of a child blowing bubbles – a work of art literally entitled Bubbles, by English artist Sir John Everett Millais – was used as the background of a poster, with the product visible in the foreground.”

Are travelers selfish?

Travel, when you think about it, is largely a selfish pursuit It’s all about me, me, me Places I can go to,people I can meet, things I can see, food I can try, my bucket list, my experiences Are you a self-absorbed traveler? Let’s look at some common scenarios, starting with the plight of traveler seeking todiscover something unique

Your first reaction is to blame the guide book, regardless of the fact that it’s probably the way youfound out about it, too And it’s true, that book in your hand has a bit to answer for But that’s asimplistic notion In an age of mass tourism, of backpacker grapevines, of internet and travel blogs, it’sinevitable that what was once a pristine paradise will be seething with tourists before long

You can direct a little blame at the locals, too Without their efforts, that which seems to offend youwould not exist They like the money and they want more – although it’s a bit hard to blame them forthat If tourist cash spent at beach bars and souvenir shops can ease poverty and raise living standards

it would be selfish to begrudge the locals their chance at a better life

Honestly, either accept a place as it is, even if it doesn't live up to your expectations or go elsewhere ifthe trappings of the progress are too offensive for your sensibilities Don’t blame the guide books, theinternet, the Trip Advisor Don’t blame your fellow tourists And definitely don’t blame the locals fortrying to improve their lives – that would be the height of selfishness

They say money makes the world go round So how do you spend your hard-earned cash on holiday?

Do you shop locally? If you stay, eat and shop in places owned by locals, your money will stay in thecommunity and help generate jobs Foreign-owned resorts or hotel chains may offer a higher level ofcomfort and extra facilities, but very little of what you pay actually trickles down into the localeconomy If there’s a beach nearby, do you really need a swimming pool?

And last but not least where money’s concerned, bargain fairly Saving an extra dollar on that T-shirt

or souvenir will hardly make a dent in your budget, but it can make a huge difference to the seller

125.

Once, I was disgusted to witness a shameful exchange in which a well-fed foreigner haggled hard to get

a novelty toy for less than half price The saving? Fifty measly cents Adding insults to injury, heboasted about it to his companions He felt great because he’d put one over on the locals Don’t be thatperson!

People say there’s something about lending a hand that lifts voluntourism above the average travelexperience But I think there's still an element of selfishness even to the noble volunteers who helpbuild homes or teach art to children You do these things because it downsizes to all this goodwill,however, is that voluntourism is actually quite expensive Most companies that organize volunteertrips will charge you plenty for the experience – often far more than it would cost you to just visitthose countries on your own

Well, that’s it Some of you will disagree with my views, but I’m up for a good debate Are you a selfish traveler?

A Maybe you’re not the kind of travelers who thinks hell is other people Maybe you’re happy to discover and share the world with others That’s commendable But while you’re roaming the

planet, think about your personal impact on the people and the places around you Are youcontributing in positive ways that can be of benefit to others, or are you exacerbating problems? Areyou causing harm to satisfy selfish needs?

B You get to an exotic destination expecting to find an untouched and unspoiled paradise, a secludedfantasyland just for you, far from the well-worn tourist path….and the place is crawling with othertravelers There are loud and obnoxious backpackers, huge speakers thumping out the most awfuldance music, and tour buses spewing their human cargo

C One last thing before I get off my soapbox: voluntourism It’s a novel concept, and, to those whoseidea of travel is a secluded resort and a day spa, a somewhat frightening one The idea is simple: as atraveler from the first world, you’re usually in a far more privileged position than those who live in thecountries you’re visiting But, rather than just comfort yourself with the knowledge that your money

is helping their economy, why not do something tangible to help out, even for just a few days?

D There is something imperialistic about not allowing – or wanting – less developed countries todevelop along the lines of our own cultures After a recent trip to Nepal, a member of our group wascomplaining about locals in a village, and how the place was spoilt because there was an internet café Icouldn’t believe in my ears Why can’t these Nepalese people enjoy the web if they so choose?

E Stay calm and don’t get angry if you think you’ve been charged a bit more for your transport, hotel

or food Perhaps it’s just an honest mistake Try to point out the discrepancy in a polite and respectfulway, and don’t accuse anyone of dishonesty Yes, it’s your hard-earned cash, but don’t assume thatpeople want to rob you of it just because they have less

F Be careful about what you’re buying, too In countries with lax environmental regulations, or whereauthorities turn a blind eye to illegal trade, it’s not difficult to find products made from endangeredspecies such as shell, coral and certain woods It never fails to shock me when I hear of anyone buyingivory products, like carving or jewellery And then there’s medicine made from parts ofendangered animals Don’t even think about it! The tiger population in Asia has been drasticallyreduced, and for what? Some crackpot cure that doesn’t work.

G Isn’t this concept of an exclusive paradise selfish? Not only that, but the arrogance implicit in it isastonishing too Without wishing to state the obvious, the second you decide to go to a place because it

is paradise, you are part of the problem The blaring speakers, international sport on big screen TVs,karaoke, fish and chips – it’s all there because it’s what the tourists want

H Yes, that’s right – you pay the organization to go and work for free The money is supposed to gointo the community, but often, shady operators pocket the profits As if that wasn’t bad enoughvolunteers could be taking jobs from locals Think about it If there’s free labor, i.e you,

why would anyone employ a local? That’s probably what I find most disturbing about the wholeconcept It’s not ethical or responsible, and in my humble opinion, best avoided

120 G

“But that’s a simplistic notion In an age of mass tourism, of backpacker grapevines, of internet and

travel blogs, it’s inevitable that what was once a pristine paradise will be seething with tourists before long.” connects with “ Isn’t this concept of an exclusive paradise selfish? Not only that, but the

arrogance implicit in it is astonishing too.”

121 D

“After a recent trip to Nepal, a member of our group was complaining about locals in a village, and how the place was spoilt because there was an internet café I couldn’t believe in my ears.

Why can’t these Nepalese people enjoy the web if they so choose?” connects with “Honestly, either

accept a place as it is, even if it doesn’t live up to your expectations, or go elsewhere if the

trappings of the progress are too offensive for your sensibilities.”

122 A

“Are you contributing in positive ways that can be of benefit to others, or are you exacerbating

problems? Are you causing harm to satisfy selfish needs?” connects with “They say money makes the

community, but often, shady operators pocket the profits.”

Exercise 8.

GANGS: the new tribes

‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ a class of fresh-faced 12-year-olds were asked uponcommencing secondary school Their new English teacher – Mrs Marcus – asked this question everyyear and it seemed to fire the imagination of every child Usually, there was a smattering ofprofessions, vocations and trades, along with some interesting surprises This lot did not disappoint

It turns out they were a highly varied lot: doctor, nurse, lawyer, judge, electrician, archaeologist,businesswoman, vet, police officer, hairdresser, actor, shop assistant There was trouble containingtheir enthusiasm, with some throwing out more than one idea A few had non-specific ambitions, ‘Idon’t know I want to travel’, and ‘ I just want to go to university.’ All of them had opinions, somestronger than others, but opinions nonetheless

I’m particularly interested in the differences between that generation and the current one ‘Hopes anddreams,’ she replies immediately ‘Whether your classmates achieved those things or not is irrelevant.The important thing is you had ideas about your future; you had aspirations When I have asked thatquestion in recent years, instead of setting their sights on becoming a scientist, a lawyer or an artist,the best some children could think of was going on the dole, being famous, or being the boss of a gang,’she says

This lies at the very core of a gang’s appeal The aimlessness of some youths’ experience is replaced bythe rigid system of rules, rituals, and codes of behavior that members follow, and which gives them apurpose and adds much – needed structure to their lives In many cases, the gang becomes a surrogatefamily, providing security, camaraderie and a sense of belonging These powerful inducements exert astrange power over vulnerable teenagers.

I ask Margaret what it is that can drive such a change ‘I’ve known many young boys who have turnedover a new leaf,’ she says ‘The key is intervention at the grassroots level Community programs thatkeep kids off the streets and involve them in pro-social activities are great deterrents Strong after-school programs that meet children’s needs for supervision are also successful in reducing attraction

to gang-related activities These cost money, though, and authorities are often not willing to spend,’she explains, ‘and sadly, some kids fall through the cracks.’

What chance for rehabilitation do they have, I wonder, when they cling to their gangs even in thesecircumstances? Admittedly, the need for survival plays a role since those in prison rely on their fellowgang members for protection After all, prison is no picnic and is possibly more dangerous in anenvironment than the outside world But even in here, there is hope

‘You can’t make anyone succeed, but you can help them to see that success in life is possible outside ofthe narrow confines of the gang,’ says Margaret ‘If we give young people opportunities to bring about

a change in their circumstances, they can build a happy future.’ Let’s hope that the next timeMargaret asks 'the questions', there will be some scientists, entrepreneurs, and plumbers in the group

A Success, however, can be measured in a myriad of ways, and for those without traditional role

models, gang culture becomes increasingly alluring as a way to make something of themselves

‘They’re not inherently bad kids,’ says Marcus, ‘they just have no direction and no one to look up to

Were they to attach value to work and education, their whole outlook on life would change and theywouldn’t need what gang membership provides.’

B Though there is no conclusive evidence, many critics of popular media believe exposure to violent

films and song lyrics, particularly rap music, has a negative influence; glamorizing gang life andencouraging at-risk youths to join gangs or to participate in gang-related crime as a means of gaining asense of belonging and empowerment

C Those who do join a gang inevitably end up in a downward spiral, losing any moral foundation

they had and hurtling headlong into a life of violence and crime And yet, even when they are placed injuvenile detention centers, or worse – in adult prisons – some maintain their allegiance to the gang andlook upon their membership as a badge of honor; a mark of success, not failure

D Thick and fast came the replies ‘Teacher,’ said a bespectacled girl in the front row Mrs Marcus

smiled to herself The prospective teachers always sat as close as possible to the board, eager andserious ‘Football player!’ shouted a tall lad from the back, raising his arms in victory as though he’djust scored a winning goal against Argentina at the World Cup Mrs Marcus knew he’d be a live wire inclass ‘Prime Minister’, said another, garnering a round of applause as well as ridicule from hisclassmates

E How has it come to this? A recent report has found that children in some areas of the country have

so little contact with working people that the concept of employment is almost foreign They live inthe so-called ‘welfare ghettos’ where more than half of the working-age population depends on out-of-work benefits In many families, unemployment is intergenerational with grandparents and parentsliving on the dole

F Thankfully, in many cases the lure is temporary It becomes nothing more than a phase that plays to

their fantasies of rebellion and desire for high drama, in part fueled by pop culture through music andfilms that glamorize thug life In time, these wannabe gangsters find other interests and reject thevalues of the gang

G Fast forward twenty years and Mrs Margaret Marcus is now teaching at an inner-city school in a

large metropolis Hoping to get some insight from this forty-year veteran of the education system, I’minterviewing her about the challenges faced by young people today ‘So you became a journalistinstead of a teacher,’ she says with a twinkle in her eye Yes, I was that child in the specs long ago.Before getting down to business, we reminisce for a few moments about my classmates

H There are many organizations that are working positively with young people in gangs, both inside

and outside of detention, and helping them through some very difficult times in their lives With thishelp, they can stop their slide into crime and violence, and make the tough transition of evolving intoproductive, responsible and law-abiding members of society

or not is irrelevant The important thing is you had ideas about your future; you had aspirations When

I have asked that question in recent years, instead of setting their sights on becoming a scientist, alawyer or an artist, the best some children could think of was going on the dole, being famous, or beingthe boss of a gang,’ she says.”

121 E

“When I have asked that question in recent years, instead of setting their sights on becoming a

scientist, a lawyer or an artist, the best some children could think of was going on the dole, being famous, or being the boss of a gang,’ she says.” connects with “How has it come to this?”

122 A

‘They’re not inherently bad kids,’ says Marcus, ‘they just have no direction and no one to look up to.

Were they to attach value to work and education, their whole outlook on life would change and theywouldn’t need what gang membership provides.’ connects with “This lies at the very core of a gang’s

appeal The aimlessness of some youths’ experience is replaced by the rigid system of rules, rituals,

and codes of behavior that members follow, and which gives them a purpose and add much – neededstructure to their lives.”

123 F

“In many cases, the gang becomes a surrogate family, providing security, camaraderie and a sense of

belonging These powerful inducements exert a strange power over vulnerable teenagers.” connects with “Thankfully, in many cases the lure is temporary.”

124 C

“And yet, even when they are placed in juvenile detention centres, or worse – in adult prisons – some

maintain their allegiance to the gang and look upon their membership as a badge of honor; a mark

of success, not failure.” connects with “What chance for rehabilitation do they have, I wonder, when

they cling to their gangs even in these circumstances?”

125 H

Exercise 9.

Disposable Buildings?

Look at a building, any building What can it tell you? Few would dispute that architecture

reflects the taste and style of the period that gave rise to it

Today’s architectural landmarks tend to be secular rather than religious For the present purpose,however, it is less important to acknowledge a building’s patronage than it is to carefully scrutinize itsform So, observe a contemporary building What stands out? Discord? A hodgepodge of odd shapesand garish colours that jar? What about the next? The same? Seeing one modern building does little toprepare the viewer for the next one; uniformity is negligible

In the larger scheme of things, these differences are minor and it is safe to say that uniformity ofappearance is a major factor that differentiates between the buildings of the past and those of thepresent Another important distinction and one so obvious that it may seem to go without saying, isthat modern buildings do not look like old buildings, (unless they are built in imitation, likeneoclassical architecture, for example)

This is more than a comment on the quality of the respective building materials The pyramids werebuilt to last; the Millennium Dome most assuredly was not This is not to say that the intention formodern structures is that they should last a certain amount of time and then fall down – as a kind ofdisposable building Nevertheless, they are undeniably designed and built with only the mostimmediate future in mind

124.

The people of the past, on the other hand, looked ahead It is clear that they intended a building to bethere for future generations This is corroborated by the fact that, in countries where the climateallows it, they planted trees Consider this: planting a tree, especially one that will someday grow to bevery big, is the ultimate in altruistic behaviour When a man plants an oak sapling, he knows very wellthat he will not see the tree that it will become

There is a third element particularly relevant to contemporary architecture – the aesthetic element.Aesthetics pose a challenge because they are inherently subjective Beauty is, indeed, in the eye of thebeholder; we all have likes and dislikes, and they are not the same Even allowing for this, however,most would probably agree that ‘beautiful’ is not the most apt way to describe the majority of modernbuildings

With most modern buildings, we certainly are Without interventions, these words inevitably take on anegative connotation, yet it can be constructive to be confronted with something completely different,something a bit shocking A reaction is provoked We think All art evolves with time, and architecture,

in all its varied manifestations, is, after all, a form of art

As a result, we have been left with much material for study from past eras What will we leave behind

us, in turn? If our culture still places a value on the past and its lessons or a belief that we carry ourhistory with us, in continuity, to the future, then this view has not been reflected in our architecture.The generations of the future may not be able to benefit from us as we have benefited from thegenerations of the past

A The fact remains, though, that until the present day, art forms have been made to last Countless

paintings and sculptures, as well as buildings, bear witness to this The artists and architects of thepast strove to impart their creations with attributes that would stand the test of time It was part andparcel of the successful execution It was an expression of pride; a boast It was the drive to sendsomething of themselves to live on into the future, for reasons selfless and selfish both

B For architecture, patronage has always been important While this method of financing a work of art

is as old as the idea of art itself, it gathered huge momentum during the Renaissance During thisperiod, wealthy and powerful families vied with each other in a competition for the

125.

creation of the breathtakingly beautiful and the surprisingly different It was a way of buying into theirown immortality, and that of the artist or the architect to boot.

C Indeed, it is rare to see a modern building that has worn well, that is free from leaks or rising damp,

that is without bits of its outer structure falling off It is hard to call to mind an edifice built in thelast fifty years which is not like this or will not soon be These days, we are not interested in posterity:

if a building serves our purpose and that of our children, that seems to be enough

D However, neither of these distinctions reveal much about the builders, apart from their aesthetic

and their fondness for visual conformity Now, take a look at some old buildings The fact that you cansee them at all, that they are intact and relevant, is what opens up the chasm between the present andthe past We do not know how long today’s architectural heritage will last, but the chances are that itwill not stand the test of time

E Why is this? Do we not require our buildings to be beautiful any longer? Perhaps beauty has become

architecturally superfluous, or just plain old-fashioned It could be that the idea of beauty is toosentimental and sugary for the contemporary taste Maybe the modern psyche demands somethingmore stimulating and less easy than beauty Perhaps we yearn to be challenged

F Historic buildings from a common era, on the other hand, resemble each other Take the example of

the Gothic cathedral To the non-specialist, one Gothic cathedral looks much like the next; if you’veseen one, you’ve seen them all This view, while extreme, is correct in the sense that there is auniformity of style in every Gothic cathedral ever built Anyone can see it It takes an enthusiast,however, to spot and appreciate the myriad subtleties and differences

G In contrast, any tree-planting that takes place today is largely commercial, motivated by the quest

for immediate gain Trees are planted that will grow quickly and can be cut down in a relatively shortspace of time The analogy between tree planting and the construction of buildings is a good one; bothactivities today show thinking that is essentially short-term and goal-driven; we want aninstantaneous result and, on top of that, we want it to be profitable

H Buildings, however, can reveal considerably more than that They give us a unique insight into the

collective mind and culture of those responsible for their construction Every building was conceivedwith an objective in mind, to serve some purpose or assuage some deficiency, and someone wasresponsible for commissioning them Throughout the course of history, buildings have generally beenconstructed at the instigation of the rich and powerful – products of politics, religion or both This iswhat makes them so revealing

Your answers

119 H

“Few would dispute that architecture reflects the taste and style of the period that gave rise to it.” connects with “Buildings, however, can reveal considerably more than that They give us a unique

insight into the collective mind and culture of those responsible for their construction.”

“Throughout the course of history, buildings have generally been constructed at the instigation of the rich and powerful – products of politics, religion or both.” connects with “Today’s architectural landmarks tend to be secular rather than religious For the present purpose, however, it is less important to acknowledge a building’s patronage than it is to carefully scrutinize its form.”

120 F

“Seeing one modern building does little to prepare the viewer for the next one; uniformity is negligible.” connects with “Historic buildings from a common era, on the other hand, resemble each other.”

“It takes an enthusiast, however, to spot and appreciate the myriad subtleties and differences.” connects with “In the larger scheme of things, these differences are minor and it is safe to say that

uniformity of appearance is a major factor that differentiates between the buildings of the past andthose of the present.”

121 D

“Another important distinction and one so obvious that it may seem to go without saying, is that

modern buildings do not look like old buildings, (unless they are built in imitation, like neoclassical

architecture, for example).” connects with “However, neither of these distinctions reveal much about

the builders, apart from their aesthetic and their fondness for visual conformity.”

“We do not know how long today’s architectural heritage will last, but the chances are that it will not stand the test of time.” connects with “This is more than a comment on the quality of the respective

building materials.”

122 C

“Nevertheless, they are undeniably designed and built with only the most immediate future in mind.” connects with “ Indeed, it is rare to see a modern building that has worn well, that is free

from leaks or rising damp, that is without bits of its outer structure falling off.”

“These days, we are not interested in posterity: if a building serves our purpose and that of our children, that seems to be enough.” connects with “The people of the past, on the other hand, looked ahead.”

123 G

120

121

“Consider this: planting a tree, especially one that will someday grow to be very big, is the ultimate

in altruistic behaviour.” connects with “In contrast, any tree-planting that takes place today is largely commercial, motivated by the quest for immediate gain.”

124 E

“Even allowing for this, however, most would probably agree that ‘beautiful’ is not the most apt way

to describe the majority of modern buildings.” connects with “Why is this? Do we not require our buildings to be beautiful any longer? Perhaps beauty has become architecturally superfluous, or just plain old-fashioned It could be that the idea of beauty is too sentimental and sugary for the contemporary taste.”

125 A

“The artists and architects of the past strove to impart their creations with attributes that would standthe test of time.” connects with “As a result, we have been left with much material for study from pasteras.”

Exercise 10.

Playing the Game

It's a cut-throat business but there are massive rewards on offer in the software industry - and age is no barrier to success, explains Rupert Jones.

The frequent claim that Britain has an unrivalled reputation when it comes to producing games is noidle boast; the UK has by far the biggest development community in Europe and is also home to most

of the global publishing giants In fact, the UK leisure software market is now said to be the growing sector of the UK entertainment media

fastest-"It's now very much a commercial exercise," says Roger Bennett, Director General of industry tradebody, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) "Whereas people canmake a film with a camcorder, you can't make a game now unless you have a huge amount ofequipment and the skills to use it." And lots of money, too A top-flight game can cost up to £5m todevelop

This is borne out by Nick Wheelwright at Codemasters He says it looks for "outstanding academicpeople" Those the company takes on will normally have a degree in a relevant discipline, so for anartist that might be fine art or illustration and animation, while for a programmer it could be computerscience or maths