Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC

PRACTICE TEST
SECTION I. LISTENING (50 points)
Part 1. Question 1-4
Question 1–2. Choose TWO letters, A–E. What TWO things does David say are necessary for early
friendships to form?
A. being a similar age
B. sharing a physical environment
C. having common hobbies
D. accessing means of communication
E. spending sufficient time together

Question 3–4. Answer the questions below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS
for each answer.
3. What do people who easily become friends usually associate with their first meeting?
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. What negative emotion can bring people together?
_______________________________________________________________________________

Part 2. For question 5-15, listen to a piece of news from BBC and supply the blanks with the missing
information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER taken from the recording for
each answer in the spaces provided
Trade war is a bad situation which occurs when a country becomes more (5) __________, imposing tariffs on
the other country. The other country (6) __________ instead of backing down.
While Trump believes trade wars are good and easy to win, recent history (7) __________.
The Hawley – Smoot Act in 1930 resulted in the (8) __________.
The World Trade Organization used The Hawley – Smoot Act as a (9) __________.
In 2002, Geogre Bush imposed (10) __________ in an attempt to revive the industry, but it (11) __________.
Some of the biggest victims of a trade war are (12) __________, factory workers and farmers.
As a result of protectionism, domestic companies can raise prices without fear of ceding (13) __________ to
foreign competitors. How do you win, it all matters to which country has the most (14) __________.
Perhaps the worst side effect of a trade war is that it (15) __________ between allied countries.
Your answers:
5. _______________________________ 11. ________________________________
6. _______________________________ 12. ________________________________
7. _______________________________ 13. ________________________________
8. _______________________________ 14. ________________________________
9. _______________________________ 15. ________________________________
10. ________________________________
Part 3. For question 16-20, listen to a report on education in several countries worldwide. What does the
speaker say about these countries in relation to their education? Choose five answers from the box and
write the correct letter, A-J, in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

A. A decline in student performance on tests has been recorded.

B. Approximately two-thirds of students aged nine and ten fail reading tests.
C. Teachers tend to quit their jobs as their proposal to focus on standardized testing is turned down.
D. Twenty percent of children complete school without a minimum level of education.
E. There is an alarming trend in turnover among teachers, partly due to their perceived lack of support.
F. Their GDP has risen nearly 40 times thanks to development goals in education.
G. Intense competition is the main cause of a less effective education system.
H. Universal basic skill targets have not yet been met.
I. The attitudes and beliefs make an important contribution to high levels of academic achievement.
J. A significant proportion of students in certain ages fail to meet their expected level in literacy.
Countries
16. The U.S. and Western Countries
17. The U.S. only
18. Finland
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
19. East Asian countries
20. Ghana
Your answer:
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Part 4. You will hear an extract from a radio programme in which a film critic, Dan Sheldon, is
interviewed about Hollywood and the part it has played in the film industry. Listen and choose the best
answer.
21. After the early French documentaries, film-makers became interested in ______.
A. illusion and reality
B. the effect of movement
C. adapting stories for film
D. manipulating plot
22. The use of mass production techniques in films led to ______.
A. further technological developments
B. the establishment of Hollywood
C. the rise of the studio system
D. the development of specialised genres
23. The speaker says colour was different from sound because ______.
A. its impact on film making was more gradual
B. it was not acccepted by some film enthusiasts
C. its arrival was associated with a particular film
D. it was more technologically complex
24. According to the speaker, what stopped the decline in Hollywood films?
A. The development of cheaper means of production.
B. The introduction of new genres.
C. The identification of a younger audience.
D. The rise of video.
25. The speaker suggests that in the future ______.
A. film stars will be less remote
B. the viewer will be more directly involved
C. there will be more film „packages'
D. new film genres will develop
Your answer:
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

SECTION II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (40 points)

Part 1. Choose the best answer A, B, C, or D to complete the following sentences. (20 pts)
1. The celebrations were somewhat ______ by the announcement of her resignation.
A. outshone B. overshadowed C. overcast D. outweighed
2. What the company needs is a ______ actor who can take on a variety of roles.
A. variable B. changeable C. diverse D. versatile
3. With their modern, lightweight boat, they soon ______ the older vessels in the race.
A. outstripped B. caught up C. overran D. exceeded
4. My sunburnt nose made me feel rather ______ for the first few days of the holiday.
A. self-confident B. self-centred C. self-conscious D. self-evident
5. We used to share a room at college, but we ______ over the years.
A. dreamt away B. messed up C. drifted apart D. slugged out
6. People were ______ moved by the photographs in the newspapers.
A. genuinely B. totally C. earnestly D. lovingly
7. When his parents are away, his older brother ______.
A. knocks it off B. calls the shot C. draws the line D. is in the same boat
8. It is public knowledge that new magazines often use free gifts or other ______ to get people to buy them.
A. gimmicks B. snare C. plots D. scams
9. Several fans have claimed that they were ______ by security guards.
A. inundated B. cloaked C. manhandled D. acquiesced
10. Why did you ______ and mention the party to Roger? It was supposed to be a surprise.
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
A. have kittens B. put the cat among the pigeons
C. let the cat out of the bag D. kill two birds with one stone
11. The police ______ off the street where the bomb had gone off.
A. battened B. cordoned C. fastened D. shuttered
12. He praised his wife for her dignity under the ______ of the tabloid press.
A. onslaught B. assault C. onset D. offensive
13. No decision has been taken about the building of the new airport. The authorities are still ______.
A. beating about the bush B. comparing apples and oranges
C. sitting on the fence D. holding all the aces
14. Both of the jobs I‟ve been offered are fantastic opportunities – I‟m in such ______!
A. a constituency B. a deviation C. an arrhythmia D. a quandary
15. After hearing news of the attack, the general made plans for an immediate ______ against the enemy.
A. compilation B. retaliation C. accumulation D. incantation
16. The hotel, though obviously grand in its day, appeared rather neglected and ______ when we checked in.
A. tumble-down B. downcast C. down-and-out D. run-down
17. As he was caught ______ an offensive weapon, he was immediately a suspect.
A. in possession of B. on ownership of C. with handling with D. out of control with
18. If you‟d like to take a seat in the waiting room till the doctor can see you, you‟ll find plenty of magazines to
______.
A. refer to B. browse through C. look over D. stare at
19. I wanted to talk, but she was determined to sweep the matter under the ______.
A. cupboard B. table C. carpet D. bed
20. I‟d give up my job ______ if only I could find a better one.
A. at one swoop B. at the drop of a hat
C. on the dot D. on the spur of the moment
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Part 2. Read the following text which contains 5 mistakes. Identify the mistakes and write the corrections
in the corresponding numbered boxes. (5 points)
Line
1 Job sharing refers to the situation in which two people divide the responsibility of one full-time job.
2 The two people willingly acting as part-time workers, enough hours between them to fulfill the duties
3 of a full-time worker. If they each work half the job, for example, they each receive 50 per cent of the
4 job's wages, their holidays and other benefits. Of course, some job sharers take a smaller or larger
5 share of the responsibilities of the position, receiving a lesser or greater share of the benefits.
6 Job sharing differs from conventional part-time work which it is mainly (although not exclusively)
7 occurring in the higher skilled and professional areas which entail higher levels of responsibility and
8 employees‟ commitment . Until recently, these characteristics have not generally been seen as
9 compatible with anything less than full-time employment. Thus, the demands of job sharing are
10 reciprocated by better pay and conditions and, ideally, more satisfactions than conventional part-time
11 work.

Your answers
Line Mistakes Corrections

Part 3. Fill in each blank with ONE suitable preposition or particle to complete the following sentences.
(5 pts)
1. The old lady‟s savings were considerable as she had put ______ a little money each week.
2. Most of the delegates said they wanted to press ______ with the talks, though it sounded implausible.
3. The fighting which started in the night had petered ______ by morning.
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
4. I can‟t make anything ______ his writing – it‟s illegible.
5. It was such a sad film that we were all reduced ______ tears in the end.
6. The loud music brought ______ another one of his headaches.
7. It‟s high time Bill got a steady job and settled ______. He‟s over thirty now.
8. The prisoner is still ______ large, which caused the public great concern.
9. The couple broke ______, and it looked like they would never be the same again.
10. With the bus arriving late from time to time, I am ______ the impression that the company‟s service is very
unprofessional.
Your answers:
1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Part 4. Give the correct form of each bracketed word in the following passage. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes. (10 pts)
Vitamin Pills
In the fight to stay healthy, the vitamin pill is seen by many as a great ally. Whereas once upon a time a
small selection of vitamin bottles could be found reaching their (1) _______ (EXPIRE) dates in the dusty corner
of a chemist‟s shelf, the market is now a hugely (2) _______ (PROFIT) one for the pharmaceutical industry.
Interestingly enough, as world obesity rates rise, so does our (3) _______ (CONSUME) of these dietary
supplements as more and more shoppers regard them as an absolutely invaluable part of their daily nutritional
(4) _______ (TAKE). The vast range of vitamins means that they are used for numerous reasons, common ones
being for the (5) _______ (GENERATE) of skin cells, as natural aids to digestion, cures for (6) _______ (SLEEP)
and for stress-related symptoms such as headaches, (7) _______ (IRRITATE) and depression. However,
vitamin manufacturers are (8) _______ (INCREASE) coming under attack for making (9) _______ (REAL) claims
about their products. Can the right mix of vitamins really help you (10) _______ (LIVE) your contemporaries and
reach great old age? There is no scientific evidence to support this.
Your answer:
1. _______________________________ 6. ________________________________
2. _______________________________ 7. ________________________________
3. _______________________________ 8. ________________________________
4. _______________________________ 9. ________________________________
5. _______________________________ 10. ________________________________

SECTION III. READING (60 points)

Part 1. For question 1-10, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. (10 pts)
NO LOGO
In the luxury goods market, the prominent logos once associated with lavish lifestyles may soon be a thing of the
(1) ______. Amongst all sorts of brands, there is a growing consensus (2) ______ anonymity is the key to (3)
______ recognized. In other words, we recognize the brand (4) ______ its quality and style even if the logo is (5)
______ to be seen. (6) ______ the example of one well-established luxury brand, known for the timeless
elegance of its handbags rather than for bringing out a new style every season. During the last economic
recession, (7) ______ the fact that the only logo is discreetly stamped inside, it seemed to thrive. The
explanation for this might of course (8) ______ in the fact that, facing tighter budgets, customers wanted a bag
that would (9) ______ the test of time. But it could also be that in a world devoid of logos, it is the product itself
(10) ______ accentuates personality. What‟s more, the bags still tapped into a desire for admiration, albeit from
informed insiders.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 2. Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap. Write your
answer in the numbered box (5 pts)
THE DIGITAL WORLD
It seems that a large percentage of today‟s population is addicted to all forms of digital media and no one
seems free of the (1) _____ phone that buzzes, rings or sings to its owners incessantly. Many people no longer
trust their own (2) _____ memories and commit every detail of their lives to some digital device or other and are
completely lost without it. Generally (3) _____, it is the younger generation who are so addicted, but more and
more people seem to be having their way of life (4) _____ by the digital world. People „tweet‟ the most mundane
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
of matters as well as the most interesting – in their world, having a cup of coffee is as exciting as climbing Mount
Everest! There is a grave danger that people are allowing technology to take (5) _____ over everything else in
their lives. And in educational circles, concern is growing over the influence of social media, which seems to be
adversely affecting students‟ progress in some cases.
1. A networking B. permeating C. nagging D. exposing
2. A fallible B. unassailable C. visual D. uncontrollable
3. A saying B. speaking C. talking D. commenting
4. A put down B. censored C. broken down D. eroded
5. A. precedence B. collaboration C. reinforcement D. consideration
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part 3. For question 1-8, read the following article and answer the questions. Write A, B, C, or D in the
corresponding numbered box (8pts)
AGGRESSION
When one animal attacks another, it engages in the most obvious example of aggressive behavior.
Psychologists have adopted several approaches to understanding aggressive behavior in people.

The Biological Approach. Numerous biological structures and chemicals appear to be involved in aggression.
One is the hypothalamus, a region of the brain. In response to certain stimuli, many animals show instinctive
aggressive reactions. The hypothalamus appears to be involved in this inborn reaction pattern: electrical
stimulation of part of the hypothalamus triggers stereotypical aggressive behaviors in many animals. In people,
however, whose brains are more complex, other brain structures apparently moderate possible instincts.
An offshoot of the biological approach called sociobiology suggests that aggression is natural and even desirable
for people. Sociobiology views much social behavior, including aggressive behavior, as genetically determined.
Consider Darwin's theory of evolution. Darwin held that many more individuals are produced than can find food
and survive into adulthood. A struggle for survival follows. Those individuals who possess characteristics that
provide them with an advantage in the struggle for existence are more likely to survive and contribute their genes
to the next generation. In many species, such characteristics include aggressiveness. Because aggressive
individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce, whatever genes are linked to aggressive behavior are more
likely to be transmitted to subsequent generations.
The sociobiological view has been attacked on numerous grounds. One is that people's capacity to outwit other
species, not their aggressiveness, appears to be the dominant factor in human survival. Another is that there is
too much variation among people to believe that they are dominated by, or at the mercy of, aggressive
impulses.

The Psychodynamic Approach. Theorists adopting the psychodynamic approach hold that inner conflicts are
crucial for understanding human behavior, including aggression. Sigmund Freud, for example, believed that
aggressive impulses are inevitable reactions to the frustrations of daily life. Children normally desire to vent
aggressive impulses on other people, including their parents, because even the most attentive parents
cannot gratify all of their demands immediately. Yet children, also fearing their parents' punishment and the loss
of parental love, come to repress most aggressive impulses. The Freudian perspective, in a sense, sees us as
"steam engines." By holding in rather than venting "steam," we set the stage for future explosions. Pent-up
aggressive impulses demand outlets. They may be expressed toward parents in indirect ways such as
destroying furniture, or they may be expressed toward strangers later in life.
According to psychodynamic theory, the best ways to prevent harmful aggression may be to encourage less
harmful aggression. In the steam-engine analogy, verbal aggression may vent some of the aggressive steam. So
might cheering on one's favorite sports team. Psychoanalysts, therapists adopting a psychodynamic approach,
refer to the venting of aggressive impulses as "catharsis." Catharsis is theorized to be a safety valve. But
research findings on the usefulness of catharsis are mixed. Some studies suggest that catharsis leads to
reductions in tension and a lowered likelihood of future aggression. Other studies, however, suggest that
letting some steam escape actually encourages more aggression later on.

The Cognitive Approach. Cognitive psychologists assert that our behavior is influenced by our values, by the
ways in which we interpret our situations, and by choice. For example, people who believe that aggression is
necessary and justified - as during wartime - are likely to act aggressively, whereas people who believe that a
particular war or act of aggression is unjust, or who think that aggression is never justified, are less likely to
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
behave aggressively.
One cognitive theory suggests that aggravating and painful events trigger unpleasant feelings. These feelings, in
turn, can lead to aggressive action, but not automatically. Cognitive factors intervene. People decide whether
they will act aggressively or not on the basis of factors such as their experiences with aggression and their
interpretation of other people's motives. Supporting evidence comes from research showing that aggressive
people often distort other people's motives. For example, they assume that other people mean them harm when
they do not.

1. According to paragraph 2, what evidence indicates that aggression in animals is related to the hypothalamus?
A. Animals behaving aggressively show increased activity in the hypothalamus.
B. Some aggressive animal species have a highly developed hypothalamus.
C. Artificial stimulation of the hypothalamus results in aggression in animals.
D. Animals who lack a hypothalamus display few aggressive tendencies.
2. According to Darwin's theory of evolution (paragraph 3), members of a species are forced to struggle for
survival because ______.
A. not all individuals are skilled in finding food
B. individuals try to defend their young against attackers
C. many more individuals are born than can survive until the age of reproduction
D. individuals with certain genes are more likely to reach adulthood
3. The word "They" in the paragraph 5 refers to______.
A. future explosions B. pent-up aggressive impulses
C. outlets D. indirect ways
4. According to paragraph 5, Freud believed that children experience conflict between a desire to vent
aggression on their parents and ______.
A. a frustration that their parents do not give them everything they want
B. a desire to take care of their parents
C. a desire to vent aggression on other family members
D. a fear that their parents will punish them and stop loving them
5. Freud describes people as steam engines in order to make the point that people ______.
A. must vent their aggression to prevent it from building up
B. deliberately build up their aggression to make themselves stronger
C. usually release aggression in explosive ways
D. typically lose their aggression if they do not express it
6. According to the cognitive approach described in paragraphs 7 and 8, all of the following may influence the
decision whether to act aggressively EXCEPT a person's ______.
A. moral values B. previous experiences with aggression
C. beliefs about other people's intentions D. instinct to avoid aggression
7. The word “distort” in the passage is closest in meaning to ______.
A. mistrust B. misinterpret C. criticize D. resent
8. Which of the following square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph, the
sentence “According to Freud, however, impulses that have been repressed continue to exist and
demand expression.” can be inserted?
The Psychodynamic Approach. Theorists adopting the psychodynamic approach hold that inner conflicts are
crucial for understanding human behavior, including aggression. Sigmund Freud, for example, believed that
aggressive impulses are inevitable reactions to the frustrations of daily life. Children normally desire to vent
aggressive impulses on other people, including their parents, because even the most attentive parents
cannot gratify all of their demands immediately. [A] Yet children, also fearing their parents' punishment and the
loss of parental love, come to repress most aggressive impulses. [B] The Freudian perspective, in a sense, sees
us as "steam engines." [C] By holding in rather than venting "steam," we set the stage for future explosions. [D]
Pent-up aggressive impulses demand outlets. They may be expressed toward parents in indirect ways such as
destroying furniture, or they may be expressed toward strangers later in life.
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
Part 4. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For question 1-7, read the passage
and choose from paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is one extra paragraph you do not
need to use. Write one letter (A-H) in the corresponding numbered box (7 pts)

STEP THIS WAY FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ECONOMY

I remember the day I met an idealistic pilgrim
Mark Boyle, or Saoirse as he preferred to be called, had set out to walk 12,000 kilometres from his home in the
UK to Gandhi‟s birthday in India. His mission was to prove that his dream of living in a money-free community
really did have legs. I met him in Brighton soon after the start of his epic journey. Obviously, I‟d no sooner caught
sight of him approaching than I‟d started peering downwards, because he‟d obligingly stuck out a sandal-clad
foot to give me a closer look. The “boys”, as he called them on his blog, had become famous in their own right.
1.
There was indeed plenty more in the world to worry about, yet something about this man- his gentleness, his
over-active conscience, his poor feet- brought out all my maternal instincts. Saoirse, then twenty-eight, still had
another two and a half years of walking ahead of him, carrying no money and very few possessions along a hair-
raising route through Europe and central Asia, to his ultimate destination in India.
2.
It had all begun, it transpired, when Saoirse (Gaelic for “freedom” and pronounced “sear-shuh”) was studying
business and economics at Galway University. “One day, I watched the film Gandhi, and it just changed the
whole course of my life. I took the next day off lectures to start reading about him, and after that I just couldn‟t
read enough, it made me see the whole world in a different way.”
3.
The idea behind the website grew out of that seemingly simple proposition. You signed up and listed all the
available skills and abilities and tools you had, and donated them to others. In return, you might make use of
other people‟s skills. For example, people might borrow power tools, have haircuts or get help with their
vegetable plots.
4.
I asked anxiously about his planning for the journey, and he said that he was leaving it all in the hands of fate.
So far, he had been in places where his friends and fellow Freeconomists could help him, so mainly he‟d had
arrangements for places to sleep and eat. Otherwise, he‟d tried to talk to people, to explain what he was doing
and hope that they would give him a hand. His T-shirt said, in big letters, “Community Pilgrim”.
5.
His itinerary was certainly challenging, and he didn‟t even have a single visa lined up. “They don‟t give visas
more than about three months in advance in a lot of countries,” he‟d said, “so I thought I would just go for it.” But
I had my doubts whether some of the countries involved would let a westerner- even a gentle hippy such as
Saoirse- just stroll in.
6.
Once I had suppressed my concerns for his welfare, I found myself thinking that, actually, it is only our cynical,
secular age that finds the notion of a pilgrimage odd. The idea of spiritual voyages seems to be built into almost
every religion and, for most believers, Saoirse‟s faith that he‟d be looked after, that everything would turn out OK,
that what he was doing was a good thing to do for humanity- would not be odd at all. Most cultures accept the
idea of a good person, a saint or a prophet.
7.
After nearly an hour‟s talking, he was starting to look tired but made one final attempt to explain. “Look, if I‟ve got
100 pounds in the bank and somebody in India dies because they needed some money, then, in a way, the
responsibility of that person‟s death is on me. That‟s very extreme, I know, but I‟ve got more than I need and that
person needed it. And if you know that, then you‟ve either got to do something about it, or you have to wake up
every morning and look at yourself in the mirror.” His eyes were now red-rimmed, I think with emotion and
exhaustion. We said our goodbyes. And I couldn‟t help noticing that he was limping. Those poor, poor feet.

A After two weeks of solid walking from his starting point in Bristol at a rate of around twenty-five miles
a day, his discomfort was readily apparent, despite the sensible footwear. “It‟s all right,” he said. “I‟ve
got blisters but bombs are falling in some places.”
B For Saoirse, both pilgrimage and this enterprise were only the first steps. His long-term vision was to
nurture a money-free community where people would live and work and care for each other. Perhaps
that was why when I met him that day, he struck me as an idealist who was going to come unstuck
somewhere along the way.
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
C Was there a back-up plan if any failed to materialize? He said he didn‟t really have one because that
would be “contrary to the spirit of the thing”. Was he prepared to be lonely, scared, threatened? He
said he had spent the previous few months trying to work through the fear, but that he “just had to do
it”.
D His mentor‟s exhortation to “be the change you want to see in the world” had particular meaning for
him. Then, a few years later, he was sitting with a couple of friends talking about world problems-
sweatshops, war, famine, etc.- when it struck him that the root of all those things was the fear,
insecurity and greed that manifests itself in our quest for money. He wondered what would happen if
you just got rid of it.
E Indeed, his faith in human kindness, rather worryingly, seemed to know no bounds. I convinced
myself, however, that ordinary folk he‟d meet along the way would mostly see that he was sincere, if
a little eccentric, and would respond to that.
F I wondered if his mother at least shared some of these anxieties. All I learnt though was that she
was, like his father, thoroughly supportive and was following his progress keenly through the website.
G Perhaps it is, in fact, only in the contemporary western world, the world of the selfish gene, that
extreme altruism is, according to Richard Dawkins at least, “a misfiring”. Because from all I‟d heard,
there it was before me on a pavement in Brighton, I felt I still hadn‟t got to the bottom of what drove
Saoirse on, however.
H He was undertaking that extraordinary pilgrimage to promote the idea of “freeconomy”, a web-based
money-free community. What‟s more, he‟d be relying just on the kindness and generosity of strangers
and contacts that he‟d made through the site. I pressed him for deeper reasons.

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Part 5. Read the following extract and answer do the tasks that follow. (15pts)
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-H from the list of headings below. Write your answers in
the corresponding numbered boxes.
List of Headings Example Answers
i. Gender bias in televised sport Paragraph A ___v___
ii. More money-making opportunities 1. Paragraph B ______
iii. Mixed views on TV‟s role in sports 2. Paragraph C ______
iv. Tickets to top matches too expensive 3. Paragraph D ______
v. A common misperception 4. Paragraph E ______
vi. Personal stories become the focus 5. Paragraph F ______
vii. Sports people become stars 6. Paragraph G ______
viii. Rules changed to please viewers 7. Paragraph H ______
ix. Lower-level teams lose out
x. Skill levels improve
xi. TV appeal influences sports‟ success
Television and Sport
when the medium becomes the stadium
A.
The relationship between television and sports is not widely thought of as problematic. For many people,
television is a simple medium through which sports can be played, replayed, slowed down, and of course
conveniently transmitted live to homes across the planet. What is often overlooked, however, is how television
networks have reshaped the very foundations of an industry that they claim only to document. Major television
stations immediately seized the revenue-generating prospects of televising sports and this has changed
everything, from how they are played to who has a chance to watch them.
B.
Before television, for example, live matches could only be viewed in person. For the majority of fans, who were
unable to afford tickets to the top-flight matches, or to travel the long distances required to see them, the only
option was to attend a local game instead, where the stakes were much lower. As a result, thriving social
networks and sporting communities formed around the efforts of teams in the third and fourth divisions and
below. With the advent of live TV, however, premier matches suddenly became affordable and accessible to
hundreds of millions of new viewers. This shift in viewing patterns vacuumed out the support base of local clubs,
many of which ultimately folded.
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
C.
For those on the more prosperous side of this shift in viewing behaviour, however, the financial rewards are
substantial. Television assisted in derailing long-held concerns in many sports about whether athletes should
remain amateurs or „go pro‟, and replaced this system with a new paradigm where nearly all athletes are free to
pursue stardom and to make money from their sporting prowess. For the last few decades, top-level sports men
and women have signed lucrative endorsement deals and sponsorship contracts, turning many into multi-
millionaires and also allowing them to focus full-time on what really drives them. That they can do all this without
harming their prospects at the Olympic Games and other major competitions is a significant benefit for these
athletes.
D.
The effects of television extend further, however, and in many instances have led to changes in sporting codes
themselves. Prior to televised coverage of the Winter Olympics, for example, figure skating involved a
component in which skaters drew „figures‟ in the ice, which were later evaluated for the precision of their shapes.
This component translated poorly to the small screen, as viewers found the whole procedure, including the
judging of minute scratches on ice, to be monotonous and dull. Ultimately, figures were scrapped in favour of a
short programme featuring more telegenic twists and jumps. Other sports are awash with similar regulatory shifts
- passing the ball back to the goalkeeper was banned in football after gameplay at the 1990 World Cup was
deemed overly defensive by television viewers.
E.
In addition to insinuating changes into sporting regulation, television also tends to favour some individual sports
over others. Some events, such as the Tour de France, appear to benefit: on television it can be viewed in its
entirety, whereas on-site enthusiasts will only witness a tiny part of the spectacle. Wrestling, perhaps due to an
image problem that repelled younger (and highly prized) television viewers, was scheduled for removal from the
2020 Olympic Games despite being a founding sport and a fixture of the Olympics since 708 BC. Only after a
fervent outcry from supporters was that decision overturned.
F.
Another change in the sporting landscape that television has triggered is the framing of sports not merely in
terms of the level of skill and athleticism involved, but as personal narratives of triumph, shame and redemption
on the part of individual competitors. This is made easier and more convincing through the power of close-up
camera shots, profiles and commentary shown during extended build-ups to live events. It also attracts television
audiences - particularly women - who may be less interested in the intricacies of the sport than they are in
broader „human interest‟ stories. As a result, many viewers are now more familiar with the private agonies of
famous athletes than with their record scores or match- day tactics.
G.
And what about the effects of male television viewership? Certainly, men have always been willing to watch male
athletes at the top of their game, but female athletes participating in the same sports have typically attracted far
less interest and, as a result, have suffered greatly reduced exposure on television. Those sports where women
can draw the crowds - beach volleyball, for example - are often those where female participants are encouraged
to dress and behave in ways oriented specifically toward a male demographic.
H.
Does all this suggest the influence of television on sports has been overwhelmingly negative? The answer will
almost certainly depend on who among the various stakeholders is asked. For all those who have lost out -
lower-league teams, athletes whose sports lack a certain visual appeal - there are numerous others who have
benefitted enormously from the partnership between television and sports, and whose livelihoods now depend
on it.
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading passage?
In boxes 8-10, write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer.
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer.
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thank about this.
8. The average sports fan travelled a long way to watch matches before live television broadcasts.
9. Television has reduced the significance of an athlete‟s amateur status.
10. The best athletes are now more interested in financial success rather than sporting achievement.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
Part 6. You are going to read the transcript of a series of interviews with ordinary people conducted for
the Have your say feature of a daily newspaper. For Question 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The
people may be chosen more than once. Write your answer in the space provided (15 pts)
Have your say ... on the Economic Crisis
A. Robert
I find it infuriating to reflect on the fact that bankers, at least the ones at the top, continue to be paid huge sums
of money every year and receive massive bonuses despite the fact that they are largely responsible for the poor
state of health of the economy, and let's not forget, the toughest and longest recession since the l930s. I mean,
where is the justice in that? While ordinary decent folk are losing their jobs and struggling to put food on the table
as a result of problems that are no fault of their own, the very problem-makers themselves continue to earn big
bucks. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an increase in civil unrest in the coming months and years, especially
if the economic crisis continues to hit ordinary people hard. After all, if no one is going to look after their interests,
they will have to start looking after their own - don't be surprised to see protest marches in the near future, and
where there are large groups of unhappy people gathered together, there s always a danger that the situation
will descend into chaos. I would never condone violence, but I think that the more desperate people get, the
more I can empathise with why they might resort to it. If you are a man who has been unemployed for over a
year, and who has to look on helplessly as his family disintegrates right before his very eyes, it must be awful -
these people need help.
B. Barbara
The solution to our problems is very simple and I blame the political system for it not having happened already.
Politicians, you see, are totally reliant on rich business people to bankroll their efforts to get elected. Now, ask
yourself this, why on earth would a businessperson donate money to a politician out of the goodness of their
heart? I mean, are we really so naive as to believe that that can actually happen. Well, just in case, let me put
you straight - it can't and it doesn't. The only reason businesspeople give money to politicians is in return for
favours when they get into power. And that's the problem. We have a situation where the government doesn't
have trough money to cover spending. The logical thing to do then would be to increase taxes to generate more,
and obviously this obligation to pay extra tax should fall on those who earn re most - ah, but this is where we get
into problem territory. You can't really expect politicians to vote to increase the tax rate of those who support
them financially. To do so would be risk angering their backers and losing their support, putting the very careers
of the politicians themselves in jeopardy. Politicians clearly have a vested interest in maintaining low tax rates for
the wealthy. The only way we are ever going to create a situation where this is not so is if we ban all private
donations to political parties and fund them instead with money from the state's coffers. In the long run, it will
work out less expensive - just think of all the money that would be saved as a result of there being less
corruption - we might finally have politicians who focused on doing what's best for country rather than on trying to
prolong their political careers by doing favours for their 'buddies'.
C. Ned
It is not just the economy that is in crisis; it is the whole of society. The extent to which we have lost hope is, I
think, reflected in voter apathy. Every time there is an election now, the number of people who turn out to vote is
less and less. Surely this is a sign that people feel totally disenfranchised - powerless to make a difference. But,
more importantly, it is an indictment of our politicians and the extent to which they have failed us. The people no
longer see a point in voting as it won't make any real difference either way. Besides, nowadays, all the main
parties have centrist policies; the whole political system might just as well join together into one big party and
then we wouldn't even have to hold elections anymore. People often complain about the bankers and how they
acted corruptly, and that this was the main cause of the economic crisis we are in today. Okay, fine; the bankers
were definitely at fault, but they hardly have a monopoly on corruption. I mean, think about the expenses scandal
from a couple of years ago - politicians were trying to claim huge sums of money they weren't entitled to; let's not
kid ourselves; the whole system from the top down is corrupt, not just the bankers. They are just being made a
scapegoat.
D. Mary
I think, today, that we live in a very cynical world. Everyone is very quick to point the finger of blame for our
economic woes on anyone but themselves - the easy targets usually; the politicians, the bankers and so on. It is
so easy to criticise other people and wash your hands of responsibility for what is happening. But that is what got
us into this mess in the first place - people not taking responsibility for their actions. The way I see it, it is about
time that we all started to take a little bit of responsibility and instead of blaming the rest of the world for our
problems, perhaps we should start by looking at ourselves. Okay, so the bankers did wrong; they were careless
with money, but so were we. Who put a gun to your head and made you buy a house that was so overpriced it
was obvious there was going to be a dramatic downward correction? Is it the bank's fault or your own that you
are in negative equity now? Now, just because you 1 made a mistake with your money doesn't mean you are
 Advanced Exercises – Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan – MA- PBC
some kind of monster - and the same goes for the bankers... Let's stop trying to find scapegoats and instead try
to work together to pull ourselves out of this crisis. We do not need the cynicism of naysayers, we need people
to think positively and try to make good things happen to get this recovery underway. I for one am done with the
blame game.

Which person gives each of these opinions about the economic crisis?
Your answers
A culture of trying to look for people to blame for our problems is what caused the crisis in
the first place. 1. ________
People feel helpless to change the situation and this is reflected in their lack of interest in
the political system. 2. ________
It was glaringly obvious that the bottom would fall out of the housing market, not just to
experts but to everyone. 3. ________
Some form of civil disturbance or protest by ordinary members of the public is likely if the
economic crisis continues. 4. ________
It is very unfair that the people in finance who caused our economic problems continue to
be well-rewarded for their work while ordinary hard-working people suffer. 5. ________
Political parties should not receive funds from private sources but should instead be
entirely state-funded. 6. ________
The highest earners should be required to pay more tax in order to generate more revenue
for the government. 7. ________
The fact that some politicians tried to defraud the state by claiming more expenses than
they were due is evidence that corruption is widespread in our society. 8. ________
There is very little difference in terms of policies between all of the main political parties
today. 9. ________
We should stop trying to vilify bankers and take a more positive and proactive approach to
speed up the economic recovery. 10. ________