You are going to read а magazine article.

For questioпs 31-36, choose the answer

(А, В, С or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
PART 5
Mark your aпswers оп the separate answer sheet.

Many people will have heard of the Alexander technique but have only а vague idea what it is about. Until
earlier this year, 1 didn't have the faintest idea about it - and saw no reason to think I should. But, hunched over а
computer screen one day, 1 noticed that the neck and backache I regularly suffered were more painful than usual.
1 was brought up to think that the prefer,red way of dealing with aches and pains is to do nothing and hope they'II
go away, but I eventually allowed myself to Ье dragged along Ьу а friend of mine to talk to an osteopath who
had performed wonders оп her. After examining me, the osteopath said: '1 сап treat the symptoms Ьу massaging
your neck and upper back. But you actually have bad posture. That is what you need to get sorted out. Go off
and learn the Alexander technique.'

1 had regularly been told Ьу friends and family that I tend to slouch in chairs but had been under the impression that
bad posture was something one was born with and could do nothing about. With hindsight, it's hard to believe just
how far off the mark I was. Dentists and саг mechanics, among others, tend to develop bad posture from leaning over
patients or engine bays. Those of us who are mothers often stress and strain their necks and backs lifting and carrying
children, and those who sit in front of computers all day are almost certainly not doing our bodies any favours.

After а little searching online, 1 found an Alexander technique teacher, Teresa Stirling, in my area of town and
booked а first appointment. Three months later I am walking straighter and sitting better, while my neck and
back pain are things of the past. 1 feel taller, too, which I may Ье imagining, but the technique сап increase your
height Ьу up to five centimetres if you were badly slumped beforehand.

The teaching focuses оп the neck, head and back. lt trains you to use your body less harshly and to сапу out the
sorts of movements and actions that we do all the time with less effort. There is very little effort in the lessons
themselves, which sets apart the Alexander technique from pilates or yoga, which are exercise·based. А typical
lesson involves standing in front of а chair and learning to sit and stand with minimal effort. You spend some
time lying оп а bench with your knees bert to straighten the spine and relax your body while the teacher moves
your arms and legs to train you to move them correctly.

The key is learning to break the bad hablts accumulated over years. Try, for example, folding your arms the
opposite way to normal. lt feels odd, doesn't it? This is an example of а hablt the body has formed which сап Ье
hard to break. Many of us сапу our heads too far back and tilted skywards. The technique teaches you to let go
of the muscles holding the head back, allowing it to resume its natural place оп the summit of our spines. The
head weighs four to six kilos, so any misalignment сап cause proЫems for the neck and body.

The Alexander technique teaches you to observe how you use your body and how others use theirs - usually
badly. Look how а colleague slumps back in а chair with his or her legs crossed. That puts all sorts of stresses
and strains оп the body. Even swimming сап harm the neck. The Alexander technique сап teach you to swim
better, concentrating оп technique rather than clocking up lengths.

So who was Alexander and how did he come up with the technique? Frederick Matthias Alexander, an Australian
theatrical orator born in 1869, found in his youth that his voice was failing during performances. Не analysed
himself and realised his posture was bad. Не worked on improving it, with dramatic results. Не brought his
technique to London 100 years ago and quickly gathered а following that included some very famous people.
Не died in 1955, having estaЫished а teacher-training school in London, which is thriving today.

So if you are slouching along the road one day, feeling weighed down Ьу your trouЫes, give а thought to the
Alexander technique. lt could help you walk tall again.
► ► Part 5
 31 What does the writer suggest in the first paragraph?
А She had Ьееп reluctant to seek treatment for her back proЫems.
В She was initially sceptical about the Alexander technique.
С She had little faith in the osteopath's methods.
D She was wrong to fo!low her friend's advice.

32 What does the writer say about bad posture in the second paragraph?
А She had thought that it only affected people in certain occupations.
В She had Ьееп told that she would inevitaЫy suffer as а result of it.
С She had misunderstood what the causes of it were.
D She had developed it after having children.

33 What principle of the Alexander technique does the writer identify in the foшth
paragraph?
А А person's natural movements shouldn't Ье altered.
В The Alexander technique shouldп't Ье attempted w[thout supervisioп.
С Fami!iar physical actioпs shoul,dn't Ье performed iп а strenuous maпner.
D The Alexander technique shouldп't Ье comЬined with other types of
exercise.

34 What does the writer say about bad habits in the fifth paragraph?
А They are а coпsequeпce of actions we perform.
В They inevitaЫy cause physical pain.
С They develop in early childhood.
D They сап Ье difficult to change.

35 What does the writer suggest about Frederick Alexander?

А Не was keen to make а name for himself.
В Не managed to recover his vocal powers.
С Не developed а form of exercise for actors.
D Не needed to leave home to develop his technique.

36 What is the writer's main puгpose in the article?

А То explain the widespread occurrence of back pain.
В То suggest that back proЫems сап Ье remedied.
С То explain how debilitating backache сап Ье.
О То challenge common ideas about back pain.

76
 You are going to read four writers' contributions to а debate about hosting the
Olympic Games. For questions 37-40, choose from the contributions A-D. The
contributions may Ье chosen more than once.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

А
The Olympics are undoubtedly expensive to stage and none of the Games in recent times have made an
immediate profit, but they should Ье considered а long-term investment. The large infrastructure projects like
new roads and transport systems, the new sports venues and cultural facilities, the regeneration of rundown
urban areas and the increase in tourism all end up stimulating the economy eventually. The international media
focus оп the Games сап also lift the host country's profile to another level. This has а knock-on effect on attitudes
within the host country. lnternational attention and proof of а capacity to rise to the challenge can pull the
country together, make it feel good about itself and put it in а position to compete in the modern world.

в
Weighing up the pros and cons of hosting an Olympics is а complex business. Research suggests that few
former hosts have experienced long-term economic gains. lndeed, certain cities like Montreal and Los Angeles
have taken decades to рау off the debts incurred in preparing for and running the two-week-long event, and in
cases like these, an unwelcome PR effect of international dimensions seems to соте attached. The real benefits
are less tangiЫe in that they inspire а local feel-good factor, enhancing а sense of pride in belonging to а city
and country that сап pull off such а massive and awkward enterprise. There is also the chance for everyone,
the younger generations in particular, to observe elite athletes, and therefore sporting excellence, exercise and
fitness become cool things to aspire to.

с
For а host city, the Olympic Games are all about 'legacy'. They present an opportunity to showcase, domestically
and to the world at large, the notion that the city possesses the know-how and manpower to manage а hugely
complex international event, plus an impressive new infrastructure of sports facilities, accommodation and
puЬlic transport, а vibrant, competent, fr,iendly local population, and historic sites and places of natural beauty
for tourists to visit. There is the sporting legacy too, with the greatest athletes from around the world inspiring
mass participation, а crucial development when modern lifestyles tend to have а significantly detrimental effect
оп fitness and health. Critics of the notion of hosting the Olympics often focus оп the more easily measuraЫe
economic implications which suggest that the Games are not а viaЫe proposition, but the Olympics are not just
about money; they are about other aspects of legacy which are at least as significant.

D
Most positive developments that might Ье associated with hosting the Olympics would happen anyway. The
infrastructural investments could Ье made, incentives for tourists to visit could Ье offered and trade delegations
could Ье energised. Past experience suggests the financial costs tend to outweigh the benefits anyway,
1vhen variaЫes like the absurd bidding process, security and mismanagement are factored in. What of the
more intangiЫe spinoffs? First, there is по hard evidence that hosting the Olympics leads to greater puЬlic
involvement in sports. ln fact, studies show sporting activity actually fell in certain Olympic cities once the 'after­
party enthusiasm' had worn off. Genuine long-term participation in sports comes from grassroots,investment
in schools and community facilities rather than glitzy shows. Most Olympic Games are concentrated in one city,
usually the capital, and have little impact, economic or otherwise, оп other parts of the country. ln fact, in some
cases, research reveals significant regional resentment about all the attention from government, the media and
other organisations being directed at one city. So much for pride in one's country.
 Which writer
has а different opinion to the others regarding the economic
impact of hosting the Olympics?

shares writer B's opinion about the implications for sport

in the host country?

expresses а different view to the others about the effect

that hosting the Olympics сап have on а national sense of
identity?

takes а similar view to writer А about the likely

coпsequeпce for the host couпtry's internatioпal reputation?

78 Рагt 6
 You are going to read а magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from
PAPER 2 the article. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap (41-46).
There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
PAPER 3 Part 5 Mark your answers оп the separate answer sheet.
PAPEI, 4 Part 5

Wildlife observation has always proved inspirational ln practice, this means that many tour operators,
for humans. lt led Charles Darwin to provide us with guided Ьу ethical policies, now use the services of
а better understanding of how we evolved and it has local communities, train local guides and have close
inspired such everyday innovations as Velcro. US ties to conservation projects. Tour operator Rekero, for
author Peter Matthiessen wrote: 'The variety of life example, has estaЫished its own school - the Koyiaki
in nature сап Ье compared to а vast library of unread Guide School and Wilderness Camp - for Maasai
books, and the plundering of nature is comparaЫe people in Kenya.
to the random discarding of whole volumes without
having opened them and learned from them.'

Conservation organisations have also realised that

tourism сап help educate people and provide а
'What is interesting is how much people are willing to valuaЫe source of revenue and even manpower. The
рау to Ье in а wilderness environment,' says Julian World Wildlife Fund, for example, runs trips that give
Matthews, director of Discovery lnitiatives, а company donors the chance to see for themselves how their
which takes people on small-group trips to more financial aid is assisting conservation projects in the
than 35 countries. 'lt's still а small part of the tourism field, and some organisations even allow tourists to
industry but it's undoubtedly expanding. There are take part in research and conservation.
definitely more and more people seeking wildlife
experiences now.'

Similarly, Biosphere Expeditions takes about 200

people every year оп what its field operations director,
Matthews recognises the contribution that television Dr Matthias Hammer, calls an 'adventure with а
has made to our knowledge of nature, but he says conscience'. Volunteers сап visit six destinations
'there's no way to compare seeing an animal in the around the world and take part in various activities
wild with watching one оп TV. While а filmmaker including snow leopard, wolf and bear surveys and
may spend six months shooting an animal and will whale and dolphin research.
get closer to it than you ever will, there's по greater
pleasure than seeing an animal in its own environment.
On film, you're only getting the visuals and the sound.
Of course, going in search of wildlife doesn't always
As impressive as they may Ье, it's not the real thing.'
mean you will find it. That sightings of animals in large
And the good thing is that tourists сап now watch
wild areas don't соте automatically is а fact of life.
wildlife 'live' while helping to protect it- а concept that
Although potentially frustrating, it makes_ sightings
comes under the broad label of 'ecotourism'.
all the more rewarding when they are made. And
,f�!i-------------------� the opportunity to do something to help both the
environment and local people сап only add to the
experience.
► Part 7 79
А Не is confident that, if done properly, this Е Despite being an important part of the
combination of tourism and conservation can population there, they have largely been
Ье 'а win-win situation'. 'People have а unique excluded from the benefits brought to the
experience while contributing to conservation region Ьу tourism. This initiative is а concerted
directly. Local people and habitats benefit effort to еnаЫе them to take up jobs and run
through job creation, research and an alternative programmes themselves.
income. Local wildlife benefits from our work.'
F Earthwatch is а non-profit international
В While there is indeed much to learn from тапу environmental group that does just that.
species not yet known to science, it's the already 'Participation in an Earthwatch project is
opened texts that attract the majority of us, а positive alternative to wildlife-watching
however. And we are attracted in ever increasing expeditions, as we offer members of the puЬlic
numbers. the opportunity to Ье on the front line of
conservation,' says Claudia Eckardt, Earthwatch
С As people are аЫе to travel to more extreme programme manager.
places in search of the ultimate wildlife
experience, it's worth remembering that you G lt is а term which is overused, but the principle
don't have to go to the ends of the earth to catch behind i! undoubtedly offers hope for the future
rewarding glimpses of animals. lndeed, some of of many endangered species, as money from
the best wildlife-watching opportunities are on tourism directly funds conservation work. lt also
our doorstep. extends to the consideration of the interests of
people living in the places that tourists visit.
D This growth has Ьееп stimulated Ьу the efforts
of conservation groups and natural history
documentaries. Greater awareness of the planet
has led to an increased demand for wildlife tours
or the addition of а wildlife-watching component
to traditional holidays. People want to discover
nature at first-hand for themselves - not just on
а screen.
 You are going to read reviews of four psychology books. For questions 47-56,
PAPER 2 choose from the books (A-D).

Mark your answers оп the separate answer sheet.

PAPER 3 rart 5
PAPER 4
About which book is each following point made?
lt is likely to put certain kinds of people off.

!t has aims which resemЬle those in other recent1y

puЫished books.

lt offers unnecessary advice to readers.

lt makes seemingly original but convincing observations.

lt avoids obvious answers to an issue which is familiar

to many people.

lt may prompt the puЬlication of other books exploring

the same subject matter.

lt is organised differently from other writing Ьу the same author.

lt lacks а c!ear structure.

lt challenges а modern trend in psychology.

lt is difficult to understand in places.

А Missing Out: ln Praise of the Unlived Life с Teach Us То Sit Still Ьу Тim Parks 1/
Ьу Adam Phillips А few years ago, а number of writers dealt f
,\

ln Missing Out, а slim volume peppered with movingly about what it's like to have а serious r,
insights that тау never have Ьееп expressed illness. lf Teach Us to Sit Sti/1 does well, we could 1'
quite like this before but which make you want Ье in for а glut of writing Ьу people who don't (
to scrawl 'yes' in the margins оп almost every have much wrong with them, yet still write about f
page, the psychoanalyst and writer Adam Phillips it at length. But if they аге anything like as good 1.
asserts that we all 'learn to live somewhere as this, it might not Ье such а gloomy prospect. j
between the lives we have and the lives we would А few years ago, Tim Parks couldn't sleep and
had serious pains in his side. Medical tests all 11;
like'. For 'modern' people, 'the good life is ... filled
to the full'; we seek complete satisfaction. But came back negative, but the pain persisted. So, '
what we need, argues Phillips, isn't satisfaction he embarked on а sceptical exploration of the �
but frustration. You can't get instant satisfaction possiЫe causes of and cures for his woes. Не
because you can't control people or the world. tried out· an array of theories and therapies. The f
You can't 'get' other people because по опе intensity. of Park's search makes for а less than l'
сап Ье fully understood and neither, of course, relaxing read, and, ih all probability, there will Ье r
сап you. But а capacity for tolerating frustration readers who fail to make it past the first couple ;
allows us to develop. Appropriately, given the of chapters. Parks, an innovative and prolific f
subject matter, this book сап Ье а frustrating novelist, writes wonderfully however, and despite ;;
read - sometimes you think you're just getting to the subject matter, а layer of wit runs through it.
Parks eventually achieves some relief through 1,
grips with ап idea, only for it to slip away. But, as V
is often true of Phillips's books, what you do feel special breathing exercises and meditation, but
when you've finished it is that it offers glimpses of uncovers no magic formulas.
the real, messy and never fully knowaЫe human
heart. D The Antidote Ьу Oliver Burkeman
Should we all Ье striving for happiness? Should
В Together Ьу Richard Sennett we think positively? Should we try to ignore •­
Together is the second book in а planned trilogy
about the skills modern humans need for а happy
any difficult thoughts, feelings, or situations that
arise? Мапу self-help books these days would
!i!
co-existence. The first addressed the joys of shout 'Yes!' Oliver Burkeman isn't sb sure. А ;,,,
making things with your hands, and the third will leading writer in what could Ье called the 'anti- /
Ье about cities. This one looks at how we сап all get self-help self-help' genre - which happily seems
W
along together. Sennett explores the importance to Ье swelling - Burkeman's work, as represented f
of equality and how, in unequal societies, people in The Antidote, is not about positive thinking,
аге less willing to co-operate. Не argues that our finding partners, and getting promotions at work
and doesri't offer facile instructions for living 1,
society is becoming atomised, 'deskilling people R
in practising co-operation'. The trouЫe is it all а happy, easy life. Rather, it uses research to /,
feels atomised itself. Sennett's argument seems suggest that we reconsider our assumptions and f
to bounce from place to place, and he relies оп find new ways of thinking and being. Help! How !
anecdotes and experience more than data. lt aims to Весоте Slightly Happier, his previous book, �
to Ье а practical, how-to guide for maximising comprised а series of short sections, each а page ;
co-operation, but ends up а sort of unsystematic or two long, which presented an idea fairly quickly. 1;
self-help book: listening is as important а skill as The Antidote has just eight chapters and each /
the presentation of your own ideas; discussion one explores а subject like success and failure in 1;
detail. So what are his conclusions? Well, опе is 1
need not reach agreement but сап teach us
that we have to stop searching for firm answers F
new things; assertiveness is valuaЫe, but so is
politeness and diffidence. AII true, but don't we and quick fixes.
г\
know it already? t.
1
1;

82