Reading practice - Matching names 3

 

Concrete alternatives

The push for innovation in the construction industry, driven by concerns about the environmental impact of traditional concrete, is gaining momentum. Concrete, a fundamental building material, contributes significantly to global warming, generating 8% of annual carbon dioxide emissions. Scientists, the U.S. government, and the concrete industry are actively seeking alternatives to address these environmental issues.

Mija Hubler, co-director of the Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing at the University of Colorado, notes a surge in innovation over the past five years. The government's focus on environmental changes, such as rising sea levels, has spurred this movement, along with growing interest from home builders. Engineers are particularly enthusiastic about catering to home builders, as it aligns with their passion.

Hubler is working on a groundbreaking project to develop self-healing concrete, designed to repair existing structures without the need for demolition. Other concrete innovations and alternatives are also expected to emerge in the market in the next year or two, following current demonstration projects.

Key reasons for considering concrete alternatives include the carbon-intensive nature of cement, the primary component of concrete, which involves super-heating limestone using fossil fuels. The resulting carbon dioxide emissions, combined with the environmental impact of transporting heavy materials, contribute to the environmental concerns surrounding concrete.

Concrete alternatives address various issues, such as crack resistance, with some options offering better tensile strength. These alternatives can be molded like concrete but behave more like wood, allowing for unique architectural designs. Additionally, certain technologies draw inspiration from traditional earthen concepts like adobe, modernized for commercial viability. These alternatives provide improved temperature regulation, reducing the need for excessive energy consumption in heating and cooling.

Furthermore, according to Minagor Soras, a leading engineer at Aptos Construction, greener concrete alternatives alleviate environmental damage caused by quarrying limestone for cement, which disrupts landscapes and leads to dust pollution. Concrete production is also water-intensive, accounting for a significant portion of global industrial water use. The development of eco-friendly concrete alternatives aims to mitigate these environmental concerns while offering viable options for home building and improvement projects.

Hempcrete, made from hemp plant cores mixed with lime, sand, and water, is a lightweight and eco-friendly alternative to concrete. “While not suitable for foundations or load-bearing walls, it excels for interior walls, prefab panels, bricks, cinder blocks, and insulation”, notes Soras. With an insulation R-value of 2.4 to 4.8, it surpasses fiberglass batts. Hempcrete is carbon-negative, sequestering CO2 during plant growth and installation, and it uses less water than concrete. Prices vary but are generally higher than standard concrete.

Compressed Earth Blocks are modern alternatives to traditional methods, incorporating fibers, bamboo, or rebar for strength. “Environmentally conscious, they are unfired, lack lime, and often use locally sourced materials, potentially being cost-competitive with concrete”, says Novak Angler, the prosfessor of Construction at Havard University.

Green concretes like Ashcrete (using fly ash) and Fiber Cement (using wood pulp) replace energy-intensive materials. Ashcrete, reminiscent of ancient Roman practices, is strong, quick-curing, and cost-effective. Fiber cement, used in roofing and siding, resists cracking and warping.

“Ferrock, made from 95% recycled materials, is a carbon-negative concrete alternative up to five times stronger than regular concrete”, emphasizes Amstrong Green of AbitZ construction comany. It has better compressive strength and flexibility, suitable for various applications, including earthquake-prone regions. Availability is limited, but it's environmentally friendly.

Mycelium structures, grown from fungi fibers, offer a lightweight, versatile, fire, water, and mold-resistant material that is self-healing. While not widely available, it can be grown for walkways, driveways, and bricks. Biomass ingredients like fungi and bacteria are also used as binders in traditional cements.

Questions 1-4

Look at the following statements (Questions 1-4) and the list of people below.

Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

NB   You may use any letter more than once.

1. This alternative works well with some tasks but cannot be used for others.

2. This kind of new alternatives may be cheaper than conventional concrete.

3. Creating new concrete alternatives increased during a certain period of time.

4. More sustainable substitutes to concrete limit ecological damage.

List of people

A. Novak Angler

B. Mija Hubler

C. Minagor Soras

Reading practice - Matching names 2

 

Concrete and its alternatives

Concrete, a fundamental component of contemporary construction practices, finds itself under intense scrutiny due to its adverse environmental impact. In the relentless pursuit of sustainable building materials, a cohort of dedicated scientists and industry experts has embarked on an exploration of inventive alternatives. This article endeavors to illuminate the discourse by presenting profound insights from five distinguished figures, each contributing a distinctive perspective to the ongoing quest for eco-friendly construction materials.

Alex Thompson, an esteemed engineering professor at Imperial College London, emphasizes the magnitude of global concrete usage. While acknowledging that concrete itself is not inherently high-carbon, Thompson accentuates the environmental repercussions stemming from its staggering volume in construction projects. "Concrete is not a high-carbon product. Cement is high carbon, but concrete is not. However, it is the sheer scale of its usage that renders it high carbon. The enormity of the manufacturing process is the crux of the issue," he expounds. Thompson passionately underscores the imperative for alternatives capable of matching concrete's efficiency on a grand scale.

Mia Johnson, the Vice President of Stora Enso, Europe's premier supplier of cross-laminated timber, delves into the escalating global demand for wooden construction. Johnson discerns that concerns about climate change are compelling architects to consider treated timber as a sustainable resource. "Wooden buildings can be erected at a greater speed than those made of concrete and steel, and the process is quieter," she points out. However, Johnson concedes that treated wood has its limitations, underscoring the need for proven success across a diverse array of construction projects to firmly establish it as a bona fide alternative to concrete.

Evan Miller, representing the UK’s Green Building Council, delves into alternatives such as fly ash and iron-ore slag. These waste products hold the promise of being incorporated into concrete mixes to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, Miller cautiously remarks, "It's conceivable to replace the cement content in concrete with waste products to diminish the overall carbon impact, but a myriad of calculations must be considered throughout the entire life cycle of the building." He places significant emphasis on factoring in elements like transportation, as they could significantly influence the overall perspective on carbon reduction.

Taking a broader perspective, Olivia Walker and Liam Turner of the UK’s Royal Institute of International Affairs offer an encompassing view of innovation in the concrete industry. They highlight that while novel cements have been under discussion within the research community for over a decade, they face formidable challenges. "Presently, these alternatives are seldom as cost-effective as conventional cement, and they encounter raw-material shortages and resistance from customers," they conclude. This insightful observation brings to light the intricate complexities associated with introducing new materials into the construction industry and emphasizes the necessity of overcoming economic and market challenges.

Revisiting Alex Thompson's perspective, he accentuates the extraordinary properties of concrete, including its moldability and synergy with steel, rendering replication a formidable challenge. "Concrete is an extraordinary material. Producing anything with similar properties is bound to be exceedingly difficult," he asserts. Thompson underscores the vital role of innovation and human ingenuity in the development of alternatives capable of matching concrete's unparalleled versatility and strength.

Questions 1-5

Look at the following statements (Questions 9-13) and the list of people below.

Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

NB   You may use any letter more than once.

1. Multiple calculations should be taken into consideration when other materials are used to replace cement.

2. Producing any material sharing comparable qualities with concrete will undoubtedly be very challenging.

3. Other alternative materials are often more expensive than traditional cement.

4. A component of concrete is high-carbon, not concrete itself.

5. Timber, which is treated, has its own weeknesses in construction practices.

List of People

A     Alex Thompson

B     Mia Johnson

C     Evan Miller

D     Olivia Walker and Liam Turner

 

Reading practice - Matching names 1

 

Navigating Sustainable Construction: Unveiling Alternatives to Concrete

Concrete, an integral part of modern construction, is facing scrutiny due to its environmental impact. In the pursuit of sustainable building materials, scientists and industry experts are exploring innovative alternatives. This article presents insights from five key figures, each offering a unique perspective on the quest for eco-friendly construction materials.

Chris Cheeseman, an engineering professor at Imperial College London, underscores the global scale of concrete usage. While acknowledging that concrete itself is not inherently high-carbon, Cheeseman emphasizes the environmental impact due to its sheer volume in construction. "Concrete is not a high-carbon product. Cement is high carbon, but concrete is not. But it is the scale on which it is used that makes it high carbon. The sheer scale of manufacture is so huge; that is the issue," he says. Cheeseman stresses the necessity for alternatives that can match concrete's efficiency on a large scale.

Markus Mannstrom, Vice President of Stora Enso, Europe's leading supplier of cross-laminated timber, discusses the increasing global demand for wooden construction. Mannstrom notes that climate change concerns are driving architects to consider treated timber as a resource. "Wooden buildings can be constructed at a greater speed than concrete and steel, and the process is quieter," he highlights. However, Mannstrom acknowledges that treated wood has limitations and underscores the need for proven success in a variety of construction projects to establish it as a genuine alternative to concrete.

Anna Surgenor, representing the UK’s Green Building Council, delves into alternatives like fly ash and iron-ore slag. These waste products can be incorporated into concrete mixes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, Surgenor cautions, "It's possible to replace the cement content in concrete with waste products to lower the overall carbon impact, but there are several calculations that need to be considered across the entire life cycle of the building." She emphasizes the importance of considering factors like transportation, as it could affect the overall carbon reduction perspective.

Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne of the UK’s Royal Institute of International Affairs offer an overarching view of innovation in the concrete industry. They note that while novel cements have been discussed for over a decade within the research community, they face challenges. "At present, these alternatives are rarely as cost-effective as conventional cement, and they face raw-material shortages and resistance from customers," they conclude. This insight highlights the complexities of introducing new materials into the construction industry and the need for overcoming economic and market challenges.

Returning to Chris Cheeseman, he highlights the remarkable properties of concrete, including its moldability and the synergy with steel, making it challenging to replicate. "Concrete is amazing stuff. Making anything with similar properties is going to be very difficult," he notes. Cheeseman underscores the necessity for innovation and human ingenuity to develop alternatives that can match concrete's versatility and strength.

Questions 6-13

Look at the following statements (Questions 9-13) and the list of people below.

Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

NB   You may use any letter more than once.

 

1. Although it is not as high-carbon as cement due to its large manufacturing scale, concrete still has a significant level of carbon.

2. The poor response to the creation of new cements has been partially explained by high expense.

3. It would be challenging to develop a concrete substitute for construction that provides so many equivalent advantages.

4. Compared to concrete and steel, wooden houses can be built faster and more silently.

5. The significance of taking transportation into account because it may have an impact on the bigger picture on decreasing carbon emissions.

 

List of People

A     Chris Cheeseman

B     Markus Mannstrom

C     Anna Surgenor

D     Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne

IELTS READING PRACTICE- PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

 

"Physical activity is an indispensable component of a healthy lifestyle, playing a pivotal role in promoting overall well-being and preventing a myriad of health issues. This essay will delve into the multifaceted benefits of engaging in regular physical activity, including its impact on physical health, mental well-being, and the prevention of chronic diseases.   Firstly, regular physical activity is paramount for maintaining optimal physical health. Exercise is closely linked to the prevention of various cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. Engaging in activities that elevate the heart rate and promote cardiovascular endurance helps to strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and regulate blood pressure. Additionally, physical activity is instrumental in maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of obesity and related conditions, including diabetes.   Furthermore, the positive effects of physical activity extend beyond the physical realm, encompassing mental well-being. Exercise has been proven to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression by triggering the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood enhancers. Moreover, regular physical activity is associated with improved cognitive function and a reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to enhanced mental acuity and longevity.   Another crucial aspect is the prevention of chronic diseases through regular physical activity. Numerous studies have demonstrated the correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and the development of chronic conditions, including certain types of cancer, osteoporosis, and metabolic disorders. Engaging in regular exercise strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation, and enhances the body's ability to ward off illnesses, contributing significantly to disease prevention.

In addition to physical and mental health benefits, physical activity fosters social connections and promotes a sense of community. Participating in group activities or sports encourages interpersonal relationships, teamwork, and camaraderie, thus fostering a supportive and positive social environment. This communal aspect of physical activity not only enhances the overall experience but also contributes to mental and emotional well-being."

Questions 1-5 Complete the sentences below. Choose ONLY ONE WORD from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.   Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining the best physical health, preventing ……1……. disorders like heart attacks and strokes, and promoting cardiovascular endurance. It also helps maintain a ……2……. weight, reducing the risk of obesity and related conditions like……3…. By causing the production of……4……., physical activity also improves mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Regular physical activity is associated with improved ……5……. function and a reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to enhanced mental acuity and longevity.     Questions 6-10 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? In boxes 6-10 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   6. Exercise doesn’t assist in releasing endorphins, the body's natural mood boosters. 7. Frequent physical activity helps people live longer. 8. There is the correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and the development of regular exercise. 9.  Participating in regular exercise improves the immune system.

10. Physical activity damages social connections and discourages interpersonal relationships. 

READING PASSAGE 1 (4)

The Benefits of Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is often touted as a key factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it contribute to physical well-being, but it also has numerous mental health benefits. Many studies have explored the positive impact of regular physical activity on both the body and the mind.

Exercise is known to enhance cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and maintain a healthy weight. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in improving cognitive functions, such as memory and concentration. Individuals who engage in consistent physical activity are often found to have lower levels of stress and anxiety.

Despite these benefits, some people find it challenging to incorporate regular exercise into their daily routine. Work commitments, lack of motivation, and a sedentary lifestyle are common barriers. However, making small changes, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going for a brisk walk during lunch breaks, can significantly contribute to overall well-being.

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-5 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

1. Engaging in regular physical activity is linked to multiple mental health benefits.

2. Exercise is effective in reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

3. People who exercise regularly tend to have higher stress levels.

4.  Some individuals struggle to include exercise in their daily routine due to their laziness.

5.  Making small changes in daily habits cannot contribute to overall well-being.

Questions 6-10

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONLY ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

6. Engaging in consistent physical activity has been shown to enhance __________ health.

7. Exercise is known to improve cognitive functions, including __________ and concentration.

8. Although there are many health benefits, some individuals find it hard to incorporate __________ into their daily routine.

9. Being unmotivated and a nonstandard lifestyle are popular __________ to regular exercise.

10. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator and going for a brisk walk during lunch breaks are examples of small changes that can contribute to overall

 

Diagram completion 2

 

Read the text and label the diagram below.

                  The chicken egg

  Chicken egg consists of six main parts: albumin, yolk, shell, germinal disc, chalaza and air cell. In further paragraphs we will learn all the important information you need to know about these parts.

  One of the main parts of the egg is yolk - the yellow, inner part of the egg where the embryo will form. The yolk contains the food that will nourish the embryo as it grows. Yolk is a major source of vitamins, minerals, almost half of the protein, and all of the fat and cholesterol. The yolk contains less water and more protein than the white part of the egg, some fat, and most of the vitamins and minerals of the egg. The yolk is also a source of lecithin, an effective emulsifier. Yolk color ranges from just a hint of yellow to a magnificent deep orange, according to the feed and breed of the hen. Yolk is anchored by chalaza - a spiral, rope-like strand that anchors the yolk in the thick egg white. There are two chalazae anchoring each yolk; one on the top and one on the bottom.

  Another very important part of the egg is the albumin, which is the inner thick white part of the egg. This part of the egg is a excellent source of riboflavin and protein. In high-quality eggs, the inner thick albumen stands higher and spreads less than thin white. In low-quality eggs, it appears thin white.

  Now let's talk about the outer part of the egg - the shell It is a hard, protective coating of the egg. It is semi-permeable; it lets gas exchange occur, but keeps other substances from entering the egg. The shell is made of calcium carbonate and is covered with as many as 17,000 tiny pores.

  Air cell is an air space that forms when the contents of the egg cool and contract after the egg is laid. The air cell usually rests between the outer and inner membranes at the eggs larger end. As the egg ages, moisture and carbon dioxide leave through the pores of the shell, air enters to replace them and the air cell becomes larger.

  And last but not least, let's look at the germinal disc. It's a small, circular, white spot (2-3 mm across) on the surface of the yolk; it is where the sperm enters the egg. The nucleus of the egg is in the blastodisc. The embryo develops from this disk, and gradually sends blood vessels into the yolk to use it for nutrition as the embryo develops.

Complete the diagram below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Do not write articles.

Diagram completion

Sample reading passage:

In their new location, the beekeeper will pay the farmer to allow his bees to feed in such places as orange groves. The honey produced here is fragrant and sweet and can be sold by the beekeepers. To encourage the bees to produce as much honey as possible during this period, the beekeepers open the hives and stack extra boxes called supers on top. These temporary hive extensions contain frames of empty comb for the bees to fill with honey. In the brood chamber below, the bees will stash honey to eat later. To prevent the queen from crawling up to the top and laying eggs, a screen can be inserted between the brood chamber and the supers. Three weeks later the honey can be gathered.

Label the diagram below.

Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

QESTIONS:

8. .........................

9. .........................

10. .......................

11. ......................

SENTENCE COMPLETION

 

Positive and negative impacts of tourism on the environment   Tourism is a thriving industry that brings both positive and negative impacts to a country. Domestic tourism creates jobs, contributes to the increase in cash flow into the economy and the development of infrastructure such as airports, roads, shops, golf courses, restaurants and hotels. It also generates revenue by attracting people to visit tourist destinations for vacations, weddings or cultural celebrations.   However, tourism also has negative effects. It leads to environmental devastation due to unexpected events such as political upheaval, terrorism, natural disasters and adverse weather conditions, which can cause significant damage to the environment. Construction of airports, hotels and pubs often involves cutting down trees, leaving animals and birds without shelter.   The expansion of tourism leads to excessive water use, habitat loss, and pollution. It does not bring authentic tourism experiences and social benefits, causing depletion of natural resources. Other negative impacts include soil erosion, habitat loss, increased pollution and stress on threatened species. The tourism industry contributes up to 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, of which transportation accounts for 90%.

Complete the sentences below.   Write ONLY ONE WORDS from the passage for each answer.   1. By generating jobs and enhancing infrastructure, domestic tourism greatly _________ to economic growth.   2. By drawing tourists for special occasions, the tourism sector ____________ revenue.   3. Taking down plants during ____________ of infrastructure destroys wildlife’s and birds’ habitat.   4. Besides not bringing true feelings for tourists, tourism growth is also causing immense environmental issues such habitat loss, a problem with water, and _____________.   5. Up to five percent of the world's carbon footprint are caused by the tourism industry, with 90% of those _____________ originating from transportation.

NOTE COMPLETION

 

Positive And Negative Impacts Of Tourism On The Environment Tourism is a flourishing industry that offers both positive and negative effects on a nation. Inbound tourism creates jobs, increasing the flow of money into the economy and contributing to the development of infrastructure such as airports, roads, shops, golf courses, restaurants, and hotels. It also generates revenue by attracting people to visit tourist destinations for vacations, weddings, or cultural celebrations. However, tourism also has negative impacts. It leads to environmental destruction due to sudden events like political upheaval, terrorism, natural disasters, and adverse weather conditions, which can cause significant damage to the environment. The construction of airports, hotels, and pubs often involves cutting down trees, causing animals and birds to lose their shelter.   Tourism's expansion leads to overuse of water, habitat loss, and pollution. It fails to provide genuine travel experiences and social benefits, causing depletion of natural resources. Other negative impacts include soil erosion, habitat loss, increased pollution, and stress on threatened species. The tourism industry contributes to 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with transportation accounting for 90%.

Question 10- 13 Complete the notes below  Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer   ·         Domestic tourism boosts the economy's _____1____ flow and helps to build infrastructure like roads, stores, ... ·         By encouraging people to travel to tourist attractions for holidays, weddings, or cultural events, it also produces _____2_____.   ·         Tourism results in ____3______ degradation as a result of unexpected occurrences, for example, natural disasters, and unfavorable weather.   ·         Trees are frequently chopped down during the ________4_______ of airports, hotels, and bars.     ·         Along with an increase of ____5___ and some other factors, pressure on threatened species is a further detrimental effect.   ·         Vehicles are responsible for 90% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, while the tourism sector ­­_______6_____ to 5% of them.

Reading for the ELTS: Sentence completion

 

Reading for the ELTS: Sentence completion

There are some IELTS reading questions that need you to complete the missing sentences. Filling in those blanks with words directly from the reading text is recommended. Additionally, you have a word limit, for instance: "Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORDS ..." 

The question paper for this kind of questions, known as sentence completion questions, might seem as follows:

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

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

14. Scientists now believe that the shapes of atoms are similar to microscopic ................................. .

Useful information about sentence completion questions:

• You should complete statements that paraphrase sentences from the text.
• You're given a word limit.
• Questions follow the order of the text.

So you are given sentences, which you have to complete. Those sentences are not exactly taken from the text: they are paraphrased. But they keep the initial meaning.

Key words from questions may be your pointers: they'll help you to find the passage that contains the answer. But to find the answer, you should understand the meaning of the question and find the sentence with the same meaning in the text. So you should look for meaning, not separate words.

Note that if you are asked to complete sentence with no more than two words, you can write one or two words.

To understand the theory better, see an an example now.

Answering strategy:

1. Read the text.
2. Use key words to find the needed paragraph.
3. Make sure you understand the question statement and search for sentence with similar meaning.
4. Once you've found the answer, check if it fits into the statement grammatically and doesn't exceed the word limit.
5. Repeat this strategy with other questions.

If you prefer, you can read the text by passages.

Tips:

• Make sure that your answer doesn't exceed the word limit.
• Make sure that your answer fits into the sentence grammatically.
• The order of questions can help you. Answer for question 4 will be between answers for questions 3 and 5 in the text.
• If text introduces new terms, some answers are likely to be among them.

 

Matching heading reading practice - Inventions

 

A. The invention I'd like to talk about today is none other than my current smartphone, namely the Nokia C20. I bought it two years ago from a renowned phone retailing system, The mobile phone world.

B. My phone is kind of a modernized personal digital assistant with wireless connectivity, which is compact in design with a high-resolution touch screen, multi-touch interface, and QWERTY keyboard.

C. The gadget is also designed with software for built-in basic apps such as a calendar, contact list, clock, weather, and maps. Thousands of innovative apps in a wide range of categories are available to download that can keep me entertained, productive, and organized.

D. But I sometimes spend too much time on social networking apps on my phone, like Facebook or YouTube, because they might be so addictive. The random occurrence of interesting articles and videos is really attractive to me. In addition, the feature that allows me to freely share my life with friends and others also creates a sense of urge for me to want to use social networks more.

E. In my opinion, the long-term effects of this are greater than the small, daily conveniences that my smartphone offers. And this would be damaging to my health and relationships. I believe.

1. Paragraph A

2. Paragraph B

3. Paragraph C

4. Paragraph D

5. Paragraph E

i. Positive impacts of a modernized object.

ii. Apps that keep people entertained.

iii. Social networking apps that are addictive.

iv. Some good functions on a smartphone.

v. A personal feeling about something.

vi. The introduction of a cutting-edge gadget.

vii. A famous retailer to buy phones.

viii. The design of a modern device model.

READING PRACTICE 2 . PASSAGE 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN’S PLAY

Brick by brick, six-year-old Alice is building a magical kingdom. Imagining fairy-tale turrets and fire-breathing dragons, wicked witches and gallant heroes, she’s creating an enchanting world. Although she isn’t aware of it, this fantasy is helping her take her first steps towards her capacity for creativity and so it will have important repercussions in her adult life.

Minutes later, Alice has abandoned the kingdom in favour of playing schools with her younger brother. When she bosses him around as his ‘teacher’, she’s practising how to regulate her emotions through pretence. Later on, when they tire of this and settle down with a board game, she’s learning about the need to follow rules and take turns with a partner.

‘Play in all its rich variety is one of the highest achievements of the human species,’ says Dr David Whitebread from the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge, UK. ‘It underpins how we develop as intellectual, problem-solving adults and is crucial to our success as a highly adaptable species.’

Recognizing the importance of play is not new: over two millennia ago, the Greek philosopher Plato extolled its virtues as a means of developing skills for adult life, and ideas about play-based learning have been developing since the 19th century.

But we live in changing times, and Whitebread is mindful of a worldwide decline in play, pointing out that over half the people in the world now live in cities. ‘The opportunities for free play, which I experienced almost every day of my childhood, are becoming increasingly scarce,’ he says. Outdoor play is curtailed by perceptions of risk to do with traffic, as well as parents’ increased wish to protect their children from being the victims of crime, and by the emphasis on ‘earlier is better’ which is leading to greater competition in academic learning and schools.

International bodies like the United Nations and the European Union have begun to develop policies concerned with children’s right to play, and to consider implications for leisure facilities and educational programmes. But what they often lack is the evidence to base policies on.

‘The type of play we are interested in is child-initiated, spontaneous and unpredictable – but, as soon as you ask a five-year-old “to play”, then you as the researcher have intervened,’ explains Dr Sara Baker. ‘And we want to know what the long-term impact of play is. It’s a real challenge.’

Dr Jenny Gibson agrees, pointing out that although some of the steps in the puzzle of how and why play is important have been looked at, there is very little data on the impact it has on the child’s later life.

Now, thanks to the university’s new Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL), Whitebread, Baker, Gibson and a team of researchers hope to provide evidence on the role played by play in how a child develops.

‘A strong possibility is that play supports the early development of children’s self-control,’ explains Baker. ‘This is our ability to develop awareness of our own thinking progresses – it influences how effectively we go about undertaking challenging activities.’

In a study carried out by Baker with toddlers and young pre-schoolers, she found that children with greater self-control solved problems more quickly when exploring an unfamiliar set-up requiring scientific reasoning. ‘This sort of evidence makes up think that giving children the chance to play will make them more successful problem-solvers in the long run.’

If playful experiences do facilitate this aspect of development, say the researchers, it could be extremely significant for educational practices, because the ability to self-regulate has been shown to be a key predictor of academic performance.

Gibson adds: ‘Playful behavior is also an important indicator of healthy social and emotional development. In my previous research, I investigated how observing children at play can give us important clues about their well-being and can even be useful in the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.’

Whitebread’s recent research has involved developing a play-based approach to supporting children’s writing. ‘Many primary school children find writing difficult, but we showed in a previous study that a playful stimulus was far more effective than an instructional one.’ Children wrote longer and better-structured stories when they first played with dolls representing characters in the story. In the latest study, children first created their story with Lego*, with similar results. ‘Many teachers commented that they had always previously had children saying they didn’t know what to write about. With the Lego building, however, not a single child said this through the whole year of the project.’

Whitebread, who directs PEDAL, trained as a primary school teacher in the early 1970s, when, as he describes, ‘the teaching of young children was largely a quiet backwater, untroubled by any serious intellectual debate or controversy.’ Now, the landscape is very different, with hotly debated topics such as school starting age.

‘Somehow the importance of play has been lost in recent decades. It’s regarded as something trivial, or even as something negative that contrasts with “work”. Let’s not lose sight of its benefits, and the fundamental contributions it makes to human achievements in the arts, sciences and technology. Let’s make sure children have a rich diet of play experiences.’

———————————-
* Lego: coloured plastic building blocks and other pieces that can be joined together

Questions 1-8

Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet.

Children’s play

Uses of children’s play

•     building a ‘magical kingdom’ may help develop 1…………………………………

•     board games involve 2 ……………………………. and turn-taking

Recent changes affecting children’s play

•     population of 3 ………………………… have grown

•     opportunities for free play are limited due to

–  fear of 4 ………………………………

–  fear of 5 ………………………………

–  increased 6 …………………………… in schools

International policies on children’s play

•     it is difficult to find 7 …………………………… to support new policies

•     research needs to study the impact of play on the rest of the child’s 8 ……………………………..

Questions 9-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 9-13 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

9     Children with good self-control are known to be likely to do well at school later on.

10   The way a child plays may provide information about possible medical problems.

11   Playing with dolls was found to benefit girls’ writing more than boys’ writing.

12   Children had problems thinking up ideas when they first created the story with Lego.

13   People nowadays regard children’s play as less significant than they did in the past.

Source: Cambridge Ielts 14