196 Questions 38 to 45 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 Parents who had few avenues for meaningful social involvements found it very difficult to let go or give up control of their grown children. But parents who had other friendships and interests or good marriages generally let go of their children, since they did not rely on them to meet their social needs. This sheds some light on why mothers in my sample held on and fathers became remote. For many mothers, their family world was their only world, whereas many fathers had an alternative, external world separate from their family which meant that they could let go. This was also one reason why many daughters had trouble letting go. The fact is that mothers and daughters had fewer involvements outside the family than fathers and sons. It was the socially isolated women who held on the most. Socially isolated fathers - a much smaller group – were more likely to hold on than other fathers and were more likely the mothers in general. My findings therefore are consistent with Chodorow’s argument about social structure. She observes that in Western Society: A middle-class woman’s daily life is not centrally involved in relations with other women. She is isolated with her children for most of the work day. It is not surprising then that she ... looks to them for her own re-affirmation ... Her life situation leads her to an over-involvement in her children’s lives. (Chodorow 1978:212) While not all women live this sort of solitary life it remains true that relatively speaking women are more isolated in Western culture than in many other cultures. In non-industrialised societies the smaller communities and organisation of daily life means that women have close ongoing contact with other people other than family members. This in turn enables women to separate from their children. Chodorow argues that the structure of the Western nuclear family produces a great need for relationships among women but the isolation of the family and women makes it difficult for women to satisfy this need and this, together with the small size of the family, produces intense, over-involved relationships with children, particularly daughters. A key feature of the way modern society is organised is the separation of work and home. This is fundamental in producing the isolation of women. Industrialisation has had their lasting consequences: the separation of the man from intimate, daily routines of domestic life; the economic dependence of women and children on men; the isolation of housework and child-care from other work. Hence, through the allocation to women of housework and child-care, through modern definitions of the role of housewife and the role of the mother, industrialisation has meant the restriction of the womanhousewife to the home. (Oakley 1976:59) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
197 4 5 38 39 40 Men have followed the work out of the home and mothers have been left holding the baby. This means that children will develop much more intense relationships with their mother than with their often absent father; and since for many mothers child-rearing is their main task, those who remain at home are driven to a greater dependence on their children for social contact and a purpose in life. When combined with the way in which popular psychology makes mothers feel totally responsible for their children’s happiness and success it is hardly surprising that so many mothers continue to feel the burden of responsibility for their children – even after the children have grown up. Even when women work outside the home, children and housework occupy a great deal of their attention. We know that working women simply add their work to their domestic and family responsibilities, thus leaving them with very little energy, much less time, to take advantage of the social world provided by the workplace or to keep up their social life and sustain leisure interests. Working therefore may not reduce the social isolation of women as much as expected. (Adapted from David de Vaus, Letting Go, Oxford University Press, Australia, 1994) Why are mothers more likely to hold on to their children compared to fathers? A. They are happy to stay at home. B. They bond better with their children. C. They are dependent on their children. D. They are on their own most of the time. The phrase sheds some light (line 5) means to A. make it clearer B. expose the source C. reveal inner thoughts D. give an alternative view The writer quotes Chodorow’s work to A. support his own research findings B. restate the argument about social structure C. present the situation of the middle-class woman D. contrast his findings with those of other authorities 45 50 55
198 41 42 43 44 45 The following factors contributed to mothers’ over-involvement in their children’s lives except A. small family size B. fear of neglecting the children C. structure of the nuclear family D. lack of contact with other adults The idea in paragraph 4 contain A. enumeration B. exemplification C. cause and effect D. compare and contrast Which of the following best summarises Oakley’s point? A. Separation of work and home B. Separation of men from domestic life C. Impact of industrialisation on society D. Modern definitions of the role of women Which of the following is not a reason why mothers continue to feel responsible for their children? A. Women prefer a domestic to a public role. B. Child-care has become the main purpose of their lives. C. Women continue to exemplify the woman-housewife role. D. Fathers work and are often removed from domestic affairs. The main idea of the last paragraph is A. working outside the home offers more leisure pursuits B. working does not reduce the social isolation of women C. women seldom participate in social activities at their workplace D. women include their work outside the home as family responsibilities
199 PRACTICE 8 Questions 1 to 7 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 4 When a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) arrives, most senior executives worry about their jobs. Many worry that their history of successes and failures may not count for much. Anecdotal stories of what happens to executive teams during CEO transitions are hardly comforting. Firings, organisational reshuffles and cancelled strategies result in abrupt and unwelcome career change for a host of senior managers. On average, turnover among all executive officers was only a little when the new CEO came from within the company, but quite a lot when the CEO came from outside. In the latter situation, more than 25 per cent of the executives left within a year, and the odds of an involuntary departure more than doubled. What happens to executives who leave? Is losing their job, as the cliché goes, “the best thing that ever happened to them”? Do they in fact land on their feet, or do they suffer massive career setbacks? An executive who has been doing a good job may assume that even if he is asked to leave, he will find an equal or better job elsewhere and so many tend to be relaxed about his fate under the new leader. Unfortunately, the data of a study do not support this optimistic outlook. Of the approximately 400 senior executives who left following the arrival of a new CEO in 2002 or 2003, none moved to an equal job in any large firm. Figure 1: Executives Turnover in Companies in the United States, 2002-2003 5 10 15 20
200 5 6 1 2 3 The broader group of exiting executives generally fared poorly, too (see Figure 1). The researchers discovered this by comparing the executives’ previous companies and job titles with their new ones. They separated the executives into four categories – winners, laterals, setbacks and dropouts – based on the combination of changes in their title and their new company. For example, a person who acquired a higher title at a slightly smaller firm might be classified as a lateral, but someone who accepted a lesser title at a much smaller firm would be classified as a setback. Winners are those who accepted a better position at a similarly-sized company or kept the same title but moved to a larger company; while dropouts are those who joined an extremely small venture or completely disappeared from the corporate radar screen. The results are sobering. Winners were rarely – only 4 per cent of executives fell into this category. Twenty-eight percent fell into the laterals category. Three percent were designated setbacks. The majority, a sizeable 65 per cent dropouts, moved to sole proprietorship or to companies with sales of less than US$10million, or disappeared altogether. It seems likely that this last group either retired or moved quite far down the corporate ladder. (Adapted from Harvard Business Review, September 2011) The appointment of a new CEO may bring about career change for some executives. A. True B. False C. Not stated More executives are fired when a new CEO is from within the organisation. A. True B. False C. Not stated Many senior executives leave their company because they do not share the vision of the new CEO. A. True B. False C. Not stated 25 30 35
201 4 5 6 7 Data from the study show that generally executives do not hold better positions in their new jobs. A. True B. False C. Not stated The criteria for categorising the types of executives turnover are job titles, salary and size of the company. A. True B. False C. Not stated Figure 1 presents a bleak picture of executive turnover. A. True B. False C. Not stated A preference to retire from work was the main reason for the high dropout percentage among executives. A. True B. False C. Not stated
202 Questions 8 to 14 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A man wakes up in a New York apartment, brews coffee and goes out into the world, and everything that can appear on a smart phone or iPad appears before his eyes instead – weather reports, calendar reminders, messages from friends, walking maps of New York, his girlfriend’s smiling face. This is the promise of Google’s Project, which released the video I have just described earlier, as a preview of a still percolating project that aspires to implant the equivalent of an iPhone into a pair of science-fiction spectacles. Even if the project itself never comes to fruition, the idea deserves a life of its own, as a window into what our era promises and what it threatens to take away. If modernity’s mix of achievement and alienation was once embodied by the Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, now it is embodied by the Man in the Google Glasses. On the one hand, the video is a testament to modern technology’s extraordinary facts – not only instant communication across blocks or continents, but also an almost god-like access to information about the world around us. The Man in the Google Glasses can find his way effortlessly through the mazes of Manhattan; he can photograph anything he sees; he can make an impulse purchase from any corner of the world. But the video also captures the sense of isolation that coexists with our technological mastery. The Man in the Google Glasses lives alone, in a drab, impersonal apartment. He meets a friend for coffee, but the video cuts away from this live interaction, leaping ahead to the moment when he snaps a photograph of some “cool” graffiti and shares it online. He has a significant other, but she is far away. When sunset arrives, he climbs up on a roof and shares the scenery with her via video, while she grins from a window at the bottom of his field of vision. He is, in other words, a characteristic twenty-first century American, more electronically-networked but more personally isolated than ever before. There are now more Americans living by themselves than there are Americans in intact nuclear family households. Children are much more likely to grow up with only a single parent in the home; adults marry less and divorce relatively frequently; seniors are more likely to face old age alone. The question hanging over the future of American social life then, is whether all the possibilities of virtual community – the connections forged by Facebook and Twitter and the hums of virtual conversations that are available any hour of the day can make up for the weakening of flesh-and-blood ties 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
203 8 9 8 9 10 11 and the declined traditional communal institution. The optimists say yes. The buzzing hive of the Internet is well on its way to generating a kind of “cognitive surplus” which promises to make group interactions even more effective and enriching than they were before the Web. The pessimists, on the other hand, worry that online life offers only a surreal community. As one author argues, the lure of Internet relationships, constantly available but inherently superficial, might make both genuine connection and genuine solitude impossible. Today, social media are hailed for empowering dissidents and bringing the downfall of tyrannies around the world. Yet it is hard not to watch the Google video and agree with critics that such a technology could ultimately accelerate the arrival of the persistent and pervasive citizen surveillance state in which everything you see and do can be recorded, reported and subpoenaed. In this kind of world, the Man in the Google Glass might feel like a king of infinite space. But he could actually be inhabiting a comfortable, fullserviced cage. (Adapted from The New York Times, April 16, 2012) Information found on a smartphone can also appear on the Google Glasses. A. True B. False C. Not stated The Google Glass project is nearing completion. A. True B. False C. Not stated While Google Glass provide instant access to information to its user, it also alienates him from his community. A. True B. False C. Not stated The following statements are true about the Man in the Google Glass video except A. he often travels across continents B. he can access information instantly C. he can buy things from anywhere in the world 40 45 50
204 12 13 14 The focus in paragraph 7 is A. the decline of traditional communities B. virtual conversations that can take place anytime C. virtual communities forged through Facebook and Twitter surreal (line 42) means A. strange B. imagined C. temporary The writer develops the concluding paragraph through A. cause and effect B. problem and solution C. comparison and contrast
205 Questions 15 to 21 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 4 5 Across a patch of pineapples shrouded in smoke, Idris Hadrianyani battled a menace that has left his family sleepless and sick. Against the advancing flames, he waved a hose with a handmade nozzle crafted from a plastic soda bottle. This lopsided struggle is part of a battle against one of the biggest, and more over-looked causes of global climate change: a vast and often smouldering layer of coal-black peat that has made Indonesia the world’s third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States. Unlike the noxious gases pumped into the atmosphere by petrol-guzzling vehicles in the United States and smoke-belching factories in China, the danger here in the heart of Borneo rises from the ground itself. Peat, formed over thousands of years from decomposed trees, grass and scrub, contains gigantic quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), which used to stay locked in the ground. It is now dying and disintegrating and when it burns, carbon dioxide gushes into the atmosphere. For Agus Purnomo, head of Indonesia’s National Council of Climate Change, dealing with peat requires that the world answers a difficult duestion: How to make protection of the environment as economically rewarding as its often lucrative destruction? Carbon trading was meant to do just that, by allowing developing countries that cut their emissions to sell carbon credits. Carbon credits are tradeable equities in global market exchanges just as securities and commodities in the stock markets. But this and other incentives for conservation developed since a United Nations conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1977 has done nothing to protect Indonesia’s abused peatlands. Less than a quarter of a century ago, 75 per cent of Kalimantan was covered in thick forests. Cleared away since by loggers, oil palm plantations and grandiose projects, the forests have shrunk by about half. Fires, meanwhile, have grown more frequent and serious. For centuries, Kalimantan locals burned forest land to create plots for farming. But what used to be small, controlled fires have become fearsome conflagrations as dry and degraded peat goes up in smoke. In 2006, according to Wetlands International, Indonesia’s peatlands released roughly 1.9 billion tonnes of CO2. This is equal to the combined emissions in that year of Germany, Britain and Canada, and more than emissions from road and air travel of the United States. How dirt became so dangerous – and why reversing the damage is so difficult – is on grim display here in Central Kalimantan, inhabited by about two million people and a rapidly dwindling population of orang-utans. Economic logic here is firmly on the side of those wrecking the environment. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
206 6 15 16 17 For example, Hadrianyani, the fire-fighter in Taruna Jaya, also has another job: he clears peatland of trees and scrub for cultivation – a task done most easily by burning. That work earns him about US$8 (RM28) a day – twice what he gets for putting out fires. The uneven match of reality and good intentions have put Central Kalimantan’s government in a bind. “The carbon here is huge. It should be safeguarded,” said Humda Pontas, head of the economics department at the regional planning board. “But palm plantations, though a serious threat to carbon-rich peatland, are the only real investment opportunity. These plantations employ people and pay taxes. The rest is just theory,” he said. (Adapted from The Star, February 23, 2010) In paragraph 1, the writer mentions Idris Hadrianyani to A. emphasise the harmful effects of peat fire on health B. contrast between the global problem of peat fire against the feeble attempt at fire fighting C. highlight the skills of the locals at fire fighting in spite of the lack of sophisticated equipment The word lopsided (line 4) can best be replaced by A, unwieldy B. unbalanced C. unimaginable How to make protection of the environment as economically rewarding as its often lucrative destruction? (lines 16 to 17) This means that A. the money gained from destroying the environment should be spent on conserving it B. protecting the environment should be more profitable than destroying it C. saving the environment and destroying it should be equally profitable 40 45
207 18 19 20 21 Which of the following are true of carbon trading (line 18)? I. It serves as an incentive for conservation of the environment. II. It has helped to reduce deforestation and burning in Indonesia. III. Carbon credits are based on the quantity of CO2 reduced from emissions. A. I and II B. I and III C. II and III For centuries, Kalimantan locals have burned forest land to create plots for farming. (lines 27 and 28) This implies that this practice A. was not harmful B. could cause peat fires C. released more carbon emission The intention of the writer in mentioning emissions from road and air travel of the United States (lines 33 and 34) is to A. show that the United States ranks highest in CO2 emissions B. highlight the huge quantity of CO2 emissions from Indonesia C. compare it with CO2 emissions from Germany, Britain and Canada The rest is just theory (line 48) This implies that A. the problem needs to be further investigated B. clearing the land for plantations will continue C. Central Kalimantan’s government cannot decide on a plan of action
208 Questions 22 to 29 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 4 5 The ideal – as we are often reminded – is to go organic, to trade processed foods for fresh food, and the supermarkets for the farmers’ market. Organic foods currently represent only about 3 per cent of the total United States (U.S.) market, and anywhere from around 1 per cent to 7 per cent in European countries. Japan has traditionally been the largest organic market in Asia, but those in China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India are growing as consumers are becoming more affluent. In India, the certifiedorganic market has grown 200 per cent in the past two years. True, the importance of going organic is less relevant in the developing world but those who can afford it, so we are told, should support the movement. That sounds like a great idea, but there is a price to be paid for it. Organic fruits, vegetables, meat and milk usually cost more than ordinary produce – and in some cases much more. What is more, while grass-fed beef is lower in fat, and milk without chemicals is clearly a good idea, it is less obvious that organic fruits and vegetables have a nutritional edge to speak of. A 2009 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no difference between organic and conventional produce with regard to all but three of the vitamins and other food components studied, and conventional produce actually managed to be better than organic produce. “We draw these bright lines between organic and conventional food,” says McWilliams. “But science does not draw those lines. They criss-cross, and you have people on both sides of the argument. What is needed are not arguments but answers.” Keeping the food flowing – the prices low – requires a lot of industrialengineering tricks, and those have secondary effects of their own. In the U.S., up to 10 million tonnes of chemical fertilizer per year are poured onto fields to cultivate corn alone, which has increased yields by 23 per cent from 1990 to 2009 but this has led to toxic run offs that are poisoning the Gulf of Mexico. China, which uses more chemicals on its crops than any other country, goes through over 47 million tonnes of fertilizer annually. The battle over meat generates the most ferocious disagreement in the food wars. The vast majority of people in developed nations are carnivores. The U.S. produces 36 billion kilogrammes of meat per year. The European Union (E.U.) produces roughly the same amount, and all Asia produces a total of 103 billion kilogrammes. It is now common knowledge that animals are raised in poor conditions, jammed together on factory farms and filled with high-calorie feed that fattens them up and moves them to slaughter as fast as possible. The idea of animals living such short, brutish lives 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
209 6 7 22 23 24 introduces an element of altruism into the organic versus commercial debate. There are material advantages to humane treatment. Cattle that eat more grass have higher ratios of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6, a balance that is widely-believed to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and arthritis and to improve cognitive function. Take the cows out of the pasture and stuff them with corn-based feed, and omega-3 plummets. What is more, animals not raised on feedlots have less chances of spreading E. coli bacteria through contact with the manure of other animals. Short of swearing off meat, there are no easy solutions. For one thing, if we decided to switch to healthier meat, there would not be enough to go around. What is more, the scarcity helps drive the prices higher still. Another alternative is to eat more fish which is healthier because it is leaner, lower in calories and higher in omega-3. But with fish stocks collapsing worldwide because of over consumption, there is only so far that solution can take us. A half-measure – but a very powerful one – is simply to cut back on whatever meat we do eat, even if we cannot quit it altogether. (Adapted from TIME, September 6, 2010) In paragraph 1, the writer mentions that the Indian organic market has grown 200 per cent in the past two years. This is to A. illustrate the rapid growth of the organic market in Asia B. compare the growth of the organic markets in Europe and Asia C. highlight the fact that India’s organic market is larger than in the U.S. ...but those who can afford it, so we are told, should support the movement. (lines 9 and 10) This implies that the writer is of the opinion that A. only the rich can afford organic food B. we should be cautious about going organic C. since organic food is now more available, we should buy it Paragraph 4 is mainly about the A. attempts at lowering food prices B. effects of the heavy use of fertilizers C. adverse effects of industrial-engineering on farming 40 45 50
210 25 26 27 28 29 The main reason for supporting organic beef is that A. the cows are better treated B. this increases the supply of chemical-free milk C. the chemicals in commercially-reared beef are harmful The following are advantages of grass-fed cattle except A. its meat has more fatty acids B. it may reduce the risk of various cancers C. there is less possibility of E. coli transmission The word plummets (line 44) means A. to fall sharply B. to remain constant C. to increase gradually According to the writer, which of the following is the preferred solution? A. Eat more fish B. Eat less meat of any kind C. Eat only chemical-free meat The purpose of this passage is to A. evaluate the reasons for advocating organic products B. help consumers choose between organic and conventional products C. compare the advantages and disadvantages of organic and non-organic products
211 Questions 30 to 37 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 Nnaemeka, for his own part, was very deeply-affected by his father’s grief. But he kept hoping that it would pass away. If it had occured to him that never in the history of his people had a man married a woman with a different tongue, he might have been less optimistic. “It has never been heard,” was the verdict of an old man speak a few weeks later. In that short sentence he spoke for all of his people. This man had come with others to commiserate with Okeke when news went round about his son’s behaviour. By that time the son had gone back to Lagos. “It has never been heard,” said the old man again with a sad shake of his head. “What did our Lord say?” asked another gentleman. “Sons shall rise against their Fathers; it is there in the Holy Book.” “It is the beginning of the end.” said another. The discussion thus tending to become theological, Madubogwu, a highly practical man, brought it down once to the ordinary level. “Have you thought of consulting a native doctor about your son?” he asked Nnaemeka’s father. “He isn’t sick,” was the reply. “What is he then? The boy’s mind is diseased and only a good herbalist can bring him back to his right senses. The medicine he requires is Amalile, the same that women apply with success to recapture their husbands’ straying affections.” “Modubogwu is right,” said another gentleman. “This thing calls for medicine.” “I shall not call in a native doctor.” Nnaemeka’s father was known to be obstinately ahead of his more superstitious neighbours in these matters. “If my son were to kill himself, let him do it with his own hands. It is not for me to help him.” Six months later, Nnaemeka was showing his young wife a short letter from his father: It amazes me that you could be so unfeeling as to send me your wedding picture. I would have sent it back. But on further thought I decided to cut off your wife and send it back to you because I have nothing to do with her. How I wish I have nothing to do with you either. When Nene read through the letter and looked at the mutilated picture, her eyes filled with tears, and she began to sob. “Don’t cry my darling,” said her husband. “He is essentially good-natured and will one day look more kindly on our marriage.” But years passed and that one day did not come. For eight years, Okeke would have nothing to do with his son, Nnaemeka. Only three times when Nnaemeka asked to come home and 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
212 4 5 6 30 spend his leave did his father write to him. “I can’t have you in my house,” he replied in one occasion. “It can be of no interest to me where and how you spend your leave – or your life, for that matter.” The story eventually got to the village in the heart of the Ibo country that Nnaemeka and his young wife were the most happy couple. But his father was one of the few people in the village who knew nothing about this. He always displayed so much temper whenever his son’s name was mentioned that everyone avoided it in his presence. By tremendous effort of will, he had succeeded in pushing his son to the back of his mind. The strain had nearly killed him but he had persevered, and won. The prejudice against Nnaemeka’s marriage was not confined to his little village. In Lagos especially among his people who worked there, it showed itself in a different way. Their women when they meet at their village meeting were not hostile to Nene. Rather, they paid her such excessive deference as to make her feel she was not one of them. But as time went on, Nene gradually broke through some of this prejudice and began to make friends among them. Slowly and grudgingly, they began to admit that she kept her home much better than most of them. Then, one day he received a letter from Nene, and in spite of himself he began to glance through it perfunctorily until out of a sudden the expression of his face changed and he began to read more carefully. ...Our two sons from the day they learnt that they had a grandfather, have insisted on being taken to him. I find it impossible to tell them that you will not see them. I implore you to allow Nnameka to bring them home for a short time during his leave next month. I shall remain here in Lagos... (Adapted from Smalzer, W. and Lim,P.L (1994). United States. Heinle & Heinle Publishers) The first paragraph tells us that the people from Nnaemeka’s village were A. close knit B. hospitable C. interfering D. conservative 45 50 55 60 65
213 31 32 33 34 35 Why did Okeke not want to call in a native doctor? A. He was stubborn. B. He disliked the use of herbal medicine. C. He was less religious than the other villagers. D. He was less supersitious than the other villagers. The first letter written to his son shows that Okeke felt A. betrayed by his son B. rejected by Nnaemeka’s wife C. unable to stand up to his peers D. insulted for not being invited to the wedding mutilated (line 34) means A. rejected B. damaged C. discarded D. disfigured The subsequent letters written by Okeke revealed that he was A. distant B. distrustful C. indifferent D. unforgiving By tremendous effort ... and won. (lines 49 and 51) This description of Okeke shows his A. lack of judgement B. need to be independent C. anguish over his decision D. inability to stand up to his beliefs
214 36 37 ... they paid her such excessive deference as to make her feel she was not one of them. (lines 55 and 56) The quote above can best be paraphrased as A. Nene felt overwhelmed by their politeness B. the womenfolk made Nene feel very unhappy C. the womenfolk were so polite that Nene felt like a misfit D. Nene was unable to integrate because she was different from them. Nene’s letter can most aptly be described as A. an appeal B. an inquiry C. a complaint D. a negotiation
215 Questions 38 to 45 are based on the following passage. 1 2 3 4 The World Health Organization (WHO) says the world is in the grip of a “crisis” of non-infectious disease. Salt is one of the main culprits because of its effect on blood pressure. Only one substance gives the WHO greater cause for concern, and that is tobacco. For the past 40 years, doctors around the world have been waging a war on salt. In some places they have been very successful. And yet in recent months something has shifted. Headlines have appeared questioning the benefits of eating less salt. Some have claimed salt reduction is positively harmful; even Scientific American declared: “It is time to end the war on salt.” The food available to our hunter-gatherer ancestors would have been low in salt so we have evolved an exquisite system detecting in our diet. Unlike energy, our bodies cannot readily store salt and so we are experts at hanging on to it, largely through a recycling unit in the kidneys. It is possible to survive perfectly well on very little salt. But most people eat much more salt than they need. While US dietary guidelines set an adequate intake of 3.75 grammes a day, the average Westerner eats about eight grammes; in some parts of Asia, 12 grammes is the norm. This effortless consumption of salt horrifies doctors. Our kidneys can excrete some excess salt but to keep fluid concentrations stable, our bodies retain extra water. An inevitable consequence of this excess fluid is a rise in blood pressure. Exactly how is not clear. Nor is the reason why some people are more sensitive than others. But the fact that it does is uncontroversial. It is the effect on blood pressure that causes problems. High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease; even small increases raise your risk of having a stroke. For this reason, salt reduction has become one of the most important public health targets in the West. Dietary guidelines vary, but generally recommend no more than five to six grammes of salt a day. In the United Kingdom, this kind of salt reduction was mooted in 1994 but hastily shelved after protests from food manufacturers. In the intervening years, lobbying by scientists, public health groups gradually turned the tide – not least by raising public awareness – and how the industry is broadly reconciled to modest salt reductions. The most vigorous defender of the status quo is the Salt Institute, a trade body representing 48 producers and sellers of sodium chloride. This institute has a long history of trumpeting any research that goes against the orthodoxy and picking holes in the evidence against salt. So what is the evidence? Over the years dozens of studies have been done and the findings are far from uniform. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
216 5 6 7 One approach is to look for a link between how much salt people eat when left to their own devices and their rates of heart attacks and strokes. In 2009, cardiologist, Francesco Cappuccio pooled all the data and found a strong relationship between a salt diet and cardiovascular disease (British Medical Journal (BMJ, vol. 339, p. 4567). Another way is to intervene directly in people’s diets – take two groups of people, get one of them to eat less salt for a while and see what the outcome is. These trials take more work than observational studies but several have been done. The biggest managed to get thousands of people to cut down on salt by about two grammes a day for up to four years and saw a 25 per cent fall in cardiovascular disease (BMJ, vol. 334, p. 885). Or you can look at whole countries, taking the before-andafter approach. Fifteen years ago, northern Japan had one of the world’s biggest appetites for salt – an average of 18 grammes a day, a person – and shockingly high numbers of strokes. The government implemented a salt reduction programme and by the late 1960s, an average salt consumption had fallen by four grammes a day and stroke deaths were down by 80 per cent. Finland, another salt-guzzling nation, achieved similar gains in the 1970s. However, the evidence is not always so clear. In July, Cochrane Collaboration, an international body dedicated to assessing medical evidence, published a study on salt and cardiovascular disease. The study was a “meta-analysis”, pooling the results of all the best-designed randomised controlled trials that have been done. Seven trials met the quality criteria, with over 6000 subjects in total. The analysis did show that people who cut back on salt have slightly lower blood pressure and are less likely to die from heart attacks. But crucially, the effect on deaths was not big enough to be statistically significant. The research was published simultaneously by Cochrane and the American Journal of Hypertension (vol. 24, p. 834), whose editor Michael Alderson is a long-time critic of salt reduction. Alderson claims that the Cochrane study is flawed. When he re-analysed the same data in a slightly different way, he found a reduction that was statistically significant. Far from casting doubt on salt reduction, some argued that the findings supported it. The Cochrane report was not the end of it. Last month, Alderson’s journal published further meta-analysis purporting to show salt reduction could actually be harmful. It concluded that while cutting salt lowered blood pressure, blood levels of certain hormones were increased, which could raise cardiovascular risk. But many of the studies included in the analysis lasted just a few days and involved big salt reductions. Sudden and steep salt reduction can lead to counter-productive hormonal changes but modest reductions do not. (Adapted from New Scientist, December 2011) 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
217 38 39 40 41 42 Which of the following questions best addresses the issue in paragraph 1? A. Is salt a health hazard? B. Is salt as bad as tobacco? C. Is the war on salt ever going to end? D. Is salt to be blamed for high blood pressure? Which of the following is true of paragraph 2? A. Our ancestors avoided salt in their food. B. Asians’ consumption of salt is the highest. C. Salt in our bodies is recycled in the kidneys. D. Eating eight grammes of salt a day is about the right amount. Based on paragraph 3, which of the following statements are accurate? I. We know that there is a consensus on a safe limit of salt intake. II. We know how excess liquid in the kidney increases blood pressure. III. We know that excess fluid in the body causes a rise in blood pressure. IV. We know why some people are more sensitive to excess fluid in the body. A. I and III B. I and IV C. II and III D. II and IV What is the writer’s main intention in paragraph 5? A. To create awareness of the importance of salt reduction B. To evaluate the findings of some studies on salt reduction C. To highlight studies that clearly show a relationship between salt intake and heart disease D. To explain the approaches adopted in studies on the relationship between salt intake and heart disease Which of the following is an observational study? A. The study conducted in Japan. (line 50) B. The study carried out in Finland. (line 55 and 56) C. The study published in BMJ, vol. 339, p. 4567. (line 43) D. The study reported in BMJ, vol. 334, p. 885. (lines 48 and 49)
218 43 44 45 The most significant finding of the Cochrane Collaboration study is A. the higher the salt intake, the more likely death will strike B. there is a direct link between salt intake and level of blood pressure C. when blood pressure is lowered, death through heart attacks is reduced D. the relationship between salt reduction and death rate is not statistically significant Alderson claims that the Cochrane study is flawed. What is his reason? A. The sample size was small. B. The data was wrongly analysed. C. The meta-analysis approach was not suitable. D. Only seven trials were included in the analysis. The main purpose of this article is to A. encourage research B. resolve controversies C. promote healthy living D. present a balanced view
219 800/4 WRITING
220 QUESTION 1 Candidates are suggested to use 40 minutes to complete this question. Transferring information from specific stimuli to a linear text. The stimuli / visuals may take the form of linear and/or non-linear texts. Link the information given in the two visuals. Write between 150 - 200 words. DO’S AND DON’TS DO DON’T Spend about 5 minutes to analyse the stimuli Focus on the key features or important trends Write a title Write introduction (what does the chart show) Write overall trend Use proper paragraphing Use appropriate tenses and time frame Copy the question or instruction Write more than 200 words Make own assumption Bring in information outside of the visual given Only use data from one stimulus List and describe the information LANGUAGE Accurate – describe what is seen Meaning – idea and language come through Sentence structure: Avoid repetitive pattern. Avoid long sentences that may confuse reader. Use variety of sentences – simple, compound and complex Vocabulary – suitable choice of words used Grammar – correct and consistent use of tenses. Link of ideas – synthesis and analysis Organization – intro, body, conclusion & able to visualize the figures with the writing Use suitable paragraphing. Discourse marker - use suitable linkers Eg: furthermore, but, in addition, in contrast, in comparison
221 DESCRIBING GRAPHS Be familiar with vocabulary that is commonly associated with interpreting non-linear texts. The following table gives you useful vocabulary to describe the graphic aids. Chart movements boomed climbed escalated increased rose surged went up maintained plateau remained steady remained unchanged stayed constant declined decreased dipped dropped fell plunged reduced slumped went down fluctuated peaked at rose and fell Degree and speed of change Use adjectives or adverbs to describe the changes. Describing the degree of change Describing the speed of change Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs 1. abrupt 2. considerable 3. dramatic 4. enormous 5. gradual 6. immediate 7. instant 8. minimal 9. moderate 10. quick 1. abruptly 2. considerably 3. dramatically 4. enormously 5. gradually 6. immediately 7. instantly 8. minimally 9. moderately 10. quickly 11. rapid 12. sharp 13. significant 14. slight 15. slow 16. steady 17. steep 18. substantial 19. sudden 20. swift 11. rapidly 12. sharply 13. significantly 14. slightly 15. slowly 16. steadily 17. steeply 18. substantially 19. suddenly 20. swiftly peak
222 DESCRIBING RANK/ RANKING/ RATE/ RATING You may also be asked to describe the rank, rate or position of certain data. Example the most important ... the least important ... the second/third/fourth important ... rank/rate higher/lower than ... Describing part of the chart/graph the highest the lowest the most significant the smallest the largest percentage/ proportion/ number QUESTION 1 GUIDELINE TITLE Give title of the essay INTRODUCTION A good intro will show what is shown. Cover both visuals, correctly stated. Use the title of the visuals as a guide. Note the time frame in the visuals presented. OVERALL TREND Shows connection between the two visuals or the general trend. (the pattern – increasing or decreasing) BODY / CONTENT: Analyse and synthesise the data 5 elements to consider when analysing and synthesising data: Object (item) / point of reference / key features Duration / time frame Data – must accurate Comparison Trend / movement There is no need to analyse every single data Synthesise – link figure 1 with figure 2. Look for relationships between them. CONCLUSION: A rewording of the overall trend A summary of the analysis You may begin your conclusion by writing: In conclusion .................... It can be seen that ...........
223 SAMPLE QUESTION 1
224 SAMPLE ANSWER QUESTION 1 TITLE Consumers' choice of venue for grocery shopping INTRODUCTION Info from the graph/table/chart Overall trend Figure 1 shows places where consumers buy their groceries in 1985 and 2010 and Table 1 shows the characteristics of the shopping outlets in 2010. Supermarket was the most preferred shopping outlet based on certain characteristics in 2010. Consumers show a clear preference for shopping for groceries at supermarket due to certain characteristics in 2010. BODY analysis (A) synthesis (S) In 1985, wet market and grocery store were the two most popular outlets for grocery shopping at 45% and 37% respectively. (A) In 1985, the two least frequented venues were the supermarket (5%) and 24-hour store (2%). (A) However in 2010, supermarket became the most popular shopping outlet at 60% because it offered big discounts, comfort, variety and convenience. (S) In 2010, 35% of the shoppers still patronised wet market, night market and grocery store as prices were negotiable at these venues. (S) The 24 hour store was the least frequented outlet in 2010 as convenience was the only pull factor. (S) The percentage of shoppers frequenting the night markets remained the same at 11% in both 1985 and 2010. (A) Convenience, negotiable price and variety were the main attractions for night market in 2010. (S) In 2010, the grocery store and wet market experienced a market drop in popularity, 27% and 31% respectively. (A) CONCLUSION In conclusion, it is clear that supermarket has overcome other shopping outlets as the most popular venue for grocery shopping in 2010 in terms of what it offers consumers. Your answer must be written in paragraphs.
225 PRACTICE 1
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227 PRACTICE 3
228 PRACTICE 4
229 PRACTICE 5
230 PRACTICE 6
231 PRACTICE 7
232 PRACTICE 8
233 QUESTION 2 Extended writing based on a given topic. Give your stand on the question/issue given. Agree, disagree, neutral / discursive Support points with relevant reasons and examples – at least 2 very well developed or 3 well developed points. Have at least 5 paragraphs. Introduction Introduce the topic It can be a definition or an explanation of the topic based on the question It should capture the interest of the reader. Have a strong thesis statement - Thesis statement is a sentence that conveys the writer’s main points in the essay Body (3 points) Write your ideas which should consist of: Topic sentence (main point of the paragraph) Specific /supporting details / elaboration Conclusion Sum up your discussion / summary of points Restate your thesis statement / opinion / stand Avoid sweeping statements and generalisations that you have no proof about. Stay away from words like: all, never, always, every, everyone, everything etc. You need to think in various styles when coming up with the 3 crucial points: eg. 1. Short term, Mid term and Long term (smoking: S=bad breath, M=wasting money, L=health problems like lung cancer) 2. Individual, Society and Government (recycling: I=3Rs, S= community collection/fund raising, G=recycling campaigns) 3. Social, Economic & Political/Spiritual Use suitable cohesive devices / transition signals to link sentences, paragraphs and ideas: Addition : also, in addition, moreover, besides, furthermore Contrast : but, however, nevertheless, in contrast, in spite f, on the contrary Comparison : similarly, likewise, in the same way Conclusion : in conclusion, finally, to conclude, to summarize
234 Example : for example, for instance, namely, to illustrate Use correct and consistent grammar. QUESTION 2 WRITING TEMPLATE INTRODUCTION Nowadays, /In this era of ... In my opinion, I strongly agree/disagree that... In this essay, I will discuss three solid strategies for _____ which include ____________________, _____________________ and _________________. (THESIS STATEMENT) BODY 1 st POINT Firstly, /First and foremost, ... (TOPIC SENTENCE) This is because... Moreover, For example, and so on. Therefore, ... 2 nd POINT Secondly, ... (TOPIC SENTENCE) This means that... Furthermore, in addition... For instance, take for example... and many more. Thus, hence... 3 rd POINT (TOPIC SENTENCE) Finally, /Last but not least, ... CONCLUSION In a nutshell, the three strategies I have suggested are _______________, ______________ and _______________. In my opinion, I still agree/disagree that... (summary of main points, restate your opinion on the topic or overview of solution)
235 SAMPLE OF A GOOD ESSAY Information and communication technology (ICT) is the cause of today’s many social ills. What is your opinion? Support your answer with examples. You should write at least 350 words. (60 marks) ANGLE OF DISCUSSION 1. Agree - ICT is the cause and why 2. Disagree - ICT is not the cause but due to other factors 3. Discursive - ICT is the cause but up to a certain extent. 4. Disagree - ICT is not the cause, in fact it has contributed to society, benefitted society. SAMPLE ESSAY Information and communication technology (ICT) is a result of mankind’s need to constantly improve our world. Most people are familiar with the word ICT and to many, ICT has become deeply intertwined with our daily lives. It is impossible to deny that ICT has had a profound impact on society, however has this preoccupation with ICT helped or damaged us? In my opinion, ICT may be the cause of today’s many social ills, but only to a certain extent. Through ICT, information, videos, stories, data and such are practically available to everyone. As such, illegal activities such as the passing of copyrighted songs and videos between internet users often occur. Dubbed as a form of piracy, companies and publishers find that their revenues may not be as high as it should be. Piracy is deemed as illegal, and yet governments find themselves helpless in stopping the illegal transferring of such information as the number of internet users doing this is innumerable. Artists and producers constantly voice their frustrations against such situation, but the problem only seems to worsen as more people are ICT savvy these days. Clearly the use of ICT has brought losses to producers, publishers, singers and the like. Has ICT brought about a world that has no respect for copyrights? Another dark side to ICT is the dangers in the sheer amount of information that people are exposed to. There is a lot of misinformation and undesirable elements like pornography floating around the Internet. Excessive information without any control or filter is just as detrimental to the psyche as complete ignorance. For example, people may try to self-medicate based on information that may be incomplete or skewed. Children today are exposed to much more information than children of yesterday. Some of the computer games that they play are violent which in turn tends to promote violence among children. Children are easily influenced by what they see and do on the Internet and are not mature enough to weigh what is right and what is wrong. This unfortunately, may lead them to practise harmful behaviour in real life. Introduction Opinion / thesis statement 1 st point (topic sentence) 2 nd point (topic sentence)
236 Despite the fact that ICT has caused some of today’s many social ills, one cannot deny that ICT has brought about many positive developments in today’s world. For instance, with the internet, a whole ocean of knowledge is a mere click away. People need not spend hours poring over heavy encyclopaedias in libraries anymore in a bid to learn more about a topic of interest. Instead, search engines such as ‘Google’ and ‘Ask Jeeves’ are available to one’s whim and fancy. On top of that, the internet caters knowledge to all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens. Parents these days know that they must expose their children to the internet world in order to give their children the best. Through ICT, this modern generation is knowledgeable about happenings throughout the world, and has a wider view of the world outside one’s upbringing, culture and country. In addition, ICT has helped save time in a world that is constantly advancing. E-mails can be sent within seconds across the world, as compared to snail-mail, which takes a good few weeks if one was to post a letter from Malaysia to America. Besides that, multinational companies need not waste time and money in meeting together physically to hold meetings. Instead, most companies resort to video conferencing these days. This method is efficient and is as effective as a physical meeting. Besides that, many newspapers now have online newspapers, updating the latest news about events that are used to read only the following day. As such, it is unequivocal that ICT saves one time, and plenty of it. In conclusion, I reiterate that ICT may be the cause of today’s many social ills, but only to a certain extent, depending on the hand that uses it. One cannot deny that ICT has brought along many positive developments in this world. As the saying goes, ‘Nothing is perfect’. As a society that wishes to improve this world and to eradicate social ills, let us unite and ensure that the world of ICT contributes to our society the way it should. Citizens, young and old alike should work hand-in hand with governments to obliterate immoral activities that occur in the online world. Governments should realize that by doing so, a whole new generation worthy of bringing their countries to greater heights yet to be achieved will become a reality. 3 rd point (topic sentence) 4 th point (topic sentence) Conclusion
237 PRACTICE QUESTION 2 You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this task. PRACTICE 1 Many tragedies can be avoided if people take preventive actions. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 2 In an arranged marriage, the choice of a husband or wife is made by parents or elders. What do you think of this practice in today's society? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 3 The most valuable thing in life is friendship. Do you agree? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 4 A person's career choice should be determined by his or her interest. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 5 Students’ participation in co-curriculum activities has been made one of the criteria for entry into universities. What do you think of this requirement? Give your opinion and support it with reasons. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 6 “Women make better leaders than men.” Do you agree? You should write at least 350 words PRACTICE 7 Man's careless attitude is the main cause for the destruction of the environment. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 8 “Everyone should aim to become a millionaire by the age of 35.” Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 9 The trend today among youths is to own the latest technological gadgets such as mobile phones and other devices. Is this a healthy development among young people? Give your opinion. You should write at least 350 words PRACTICE 10 “There is a strong link between reading and academic success.” Discuss. You should write at least 350 words.
238 PRACTICE 11 “The imbalance between the number of boys and girls pursuing university education creates social problems.” To what extent is this statement true? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 12 “Parents know best as far as careers are concerned.” Do you agree? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 13 “The most important factor which contributes towards a person’s success is himself.” Do you agree with the statement? Justify your stand, giving relevant examples where appropriate. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 14 “The media is an educational tool.” Do you agree with the statement? Justify your stand by giving relevant examples where appropriate. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 15 “Playing computer games is beneficial to everyone”. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 16 “Education comes not from books, but from practical experience”. Do you agree with the statement? Justify your stand by giving relevant examples where appropriate. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 17 “Failure is the first step to success”. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 18 “Holding a part-time job while studying disrupts a student’s studies”. Do you agree with the statement? Justify your stand by giving relevant examples where appropriate. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 19 The rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products. How will this affect the society? Give your opinion. You should write at least 350 words. PRACTICE 20 “Peer pressure can help mould a student’s life”. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words.
239 References Ang Y.T., Francis A., Chew P.C., Lee S.K., Lee Y.L., Ng K.S. (2010). MUET Skills, Preparation & Practice. Selangor: Federal Marshall Cavendish Education Choo W.Y., Yeoh W. T., Stanley Nyanaprakasan, Yee S.F. (2013). Ace Ahead Text MUET. 5th ed. Selangor: Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd. Collection of MUET papers November 2012. (2013). Johor: Penerbit Pelangi Sdn Bhd. Collection of MUET papers July 2013. (2013). Johor: Penerbit Pelangi Sdn Bhd. Collection of MUET papers July 2014. (2014). Johor: Penerbit Pelangi Sdn Bhd. Collection of MUET papers November 2013. (2014). Johor: Penerbit Pelangi Sdn Bhd. Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia. (2011). End-2011 MUET Paper 3 Reading. Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia. (2016). March 2016 MUET Paper 3 Reading. Wiles, A. (2011). MUET My Way. Retrieved from http://muetmyway.blogspot.my
240 PANEL WRITERS NAMA KELAYAKAN 1. Raja Zaida bt Raja Ahmad Kamar [email protected] M.A. (English) Universiti Putra Malaysia B.A. (HONS) Universiti Putra Malaysia Diploma in ESL, University Malaya Teaching Certificate (TESL) Maktab Perguruan Pulau Pinang Postgraduate Certificate (Trainer Development – English Language Teaching) University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth,UK. 2. Pn. Hjh. Akmar bt Aminuddin [email protected] M. Ed. (TESL) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia B.Ed (Hons) University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK. Postgraduate Certificate (Trainer Development – English Language Teaching) University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth,UK. 3. Pn. Noraida bt Mustafa [email protected] M.Ed. (TESL) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia B.Ed.(Hons)TESL Universiti Malaya 4. Pn. Veronica Cristobel a/p Anthonysamy [email protected] M.Ed (Education Management) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia B.Ed.English (Hons) Universiti Putra Malaysia 5. Pn. Lailatur Suraya Bt Jalaluddin [email protected] MA English Literature Universiti Putra Malaysia B.A (ELT) University of Surrey 6. En. Malek bin Baseri [email protected] MEd. TESL Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris BEd. TESL University Canterbury Christ Church, UK 7. Amrien Hamila binti Ma’arop [email protected] B. Ed (TESOL) Macquarie University, Sydney.