ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 5 3

Technology in schools

Exam task
You are going to read an article about using video games in education. For questions 1–6
1
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Using video gaming in education

It has become conventional wisdom that spending too transformed into something more cohesive, with the
much time playing video games has a detrimental effect learners driving the change. With minimal teacher input,
on children’s studies and their social development. they set about choosing leaders and established several
However, some educationalists are now questioning teams, each with its own clearly-defined role. These teams,
this theory and are using video games as effective now party to clear common goals, willingly cooperated
educational tools thus bridging the gap between to ensure that their newborn world flourished, even when
recreational and educational activities. faced with the toughest of challenges.

Due to the sophisticated nature of today’s games, ‘Human’ inhabitants in a Minecraft ‘society’ are very
teachers are able to justify the inclusion of video and primitive and wander around the imaginary world,
online games for many pedagogical reasons. There may, waiting for guidance from players. This dynamic bears
for example, be sociological, psychological, and ethical a resemblance to traditional education, an observation
implications built into the gameplay. Harvey Edwards, who highlighted by Martina Williams, one of the leaders of the
teaches IT classes in London, was one such educator group. ‘Through the game, we were no longer passive
who decided to use video games in his lessons. To do learners in the classroom, being told what and how to
this, he chose Minecraft, an online game in which players learn, but active participants in our own society.’ Each
create and develop imaginary worlds. He was somewhat group member had ideas as to how their function should
uneasy about attempting such an unconventional develop. The leaders, meanwhile, had a vision for their
approach, not because of some students’ unfamiliarity virtual world as a whole, encouraging everyone to play their
with the game but rather due to them not being able part in achieving the group’s goals. Through creating their
to make sense of what he was trying to do with it. He own characters and using these to build their own ‘world’,
worried that it might interfere with his learners’ focus, but students will have gained some experiential understanding
he couldn’t have been more surprised by the results. of societal structure and how communities work.

Minecraft is an example of a ‘sandbox game’, in which But not everyone is convinced by video games’ potential
gamers roam around and change a virtual world at will. academic value. While many progressive commentators
Instead of having to pass through numbered levels to reach cite extensive evidence to maintain that video games
certain places, there’s full access from start to finish. The encourage collaboration and build problem-solving
original version can be adapted to control which characters skills, more traditional factions continue to insist they
and content are left in. Each student can then be allocated are a distraction that do not merit inclusion in any
tasks – such as house-building, locating items or problem- curriculum. Even less evangelical cynics, who may
solving – which they must complete within the game. grudgingly acknowledge games have some educational
Elements of more general skills can be subtly incorporated benefit, assert that this is only the case in the hands
into the lessons, such as online politeness and safety, of creative educators. However, the accusation most
teamwork and resolving differences. Edwards feels that often levelled at video games is that they detract from
presenting such lessons in the context of a game students the social aspect of the classroom, particularly taking
probably already know and enjoy enables him to connect part in discussions. Dr Helen Conway, an educational
with them at greater depth, and in more motivational ways. researcher, argues that video games can be used to
promote social activities. ‘Students become animated
Bolstered by his success, Edwards introduced his approach talking about the game and how to improve their game-
to another school nearby. He recalls that the first couple playing and problem-solving skills,’ she says. ‘I find it
of sessions didn’t live up to his expectations. Those who strange, this image that many people have,’ Conway
had played Minecraft before were keen for others to adopt says. ‘Children are often totally detached from their
their own style of play. Unsurprisingly, this assortment of peers when undertaking more traditional activities, like
styles and opinions as to how the game should proceed reading books, but we never suggest that books are
were far from harmonious. However, the sessions rapidly harmful because they’re a solitary experience.’

40 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 5 | 3 © Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018
 1. The first time Edwards used a game in his 4. In the fifth paragraph, the writer draws a
classes, he was comparison between a Minecraft ‘society’ and
A convinced that learners would realise why A relationships within the group as they
he wanted them to play it. played.
B convinced that learners would see the B the way in which countries organise
reasons for playing it. themselves.
C anxious that he had chosen the wrong one C typical students in a school environment.
for learners to play. D how leadership operates in different
D sure that his reasons for getting learners situations.
to play it were valid. 5. In the sixth paragraph, the writer feels that
2. The writer suggests that Minecraft is a good critics of video games in education
choice of educational game because A are unwilling to admit that using them in
A any number of learners can use it class has benefits.
simultaneously. B make accurate observations about
B teachers can remove any inappropriate teachers who use them.
material. C use flawed research to support their
C gamers can create educative tasks whilst objections to using them.
playing it. D acknowledge the drawbacks of more
D players can develop their skills in a step-by- traditional teaching methods.
step way. 6. The words ‘this image’ in the sixth paragraph
3. Which of the following words in the fourth refer to
paragraph is used to convey a feeling of approval? A people who criticise gaming in education.
A keen B students discussing a game in a group.
B harmonious C a group of students reading individually.
C driving D a solitary player absorbed in a game.
D newborn

Complete the sentences with the correct perfect tense form of the verb in brackets.
2
1. The video game more money than any other game in history. (make)
2. The company estimates that it more than 200,000 laptops by the end of this
year. (sell)
3. The students told the teacher that they Minecraft many times before. (play)
4. We this topic for about four weeks now, and I find it really
interesting. (study)
5. I so many different computers over the last five years, but this one is the best. (try)
6. He music files for about ten minutes when his computer crashed.
(download)
7. Tony a lot of positive feedback about the new smart phone, so decided to buy it. (read)
8. At this rate, the lesson before we this software
working properly. (finish, get)

Get it right!
Look at the sentence below. Then try to correct the mistake.

Dear Alex, I am happy to receive a letter from you.

© Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 5 | 3 41
 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 6 1

Work and business

Exam task
You are going to read four extracts from articles in which experts give their views on progress
1
and tradition. For questions 1–4, choose from the experts A–D. The experts may be chosen
more than once.

Which expert
expresses a different view to the others about how rapid progress has affected people’s 1
happiness?
expresses a similar view to B about the impact of rapid progress on economic prosperity? 2
has a different view to the others about the effect of rapid progress on working life? 3
expresses a different view to C about the rise in the age at which couples have children? 4

The world we live in is changing fast – but is this a good thing?

B Guillermo Alvarez
There are countless surveys carried out worldwide
every year which monitor the satisfaction levels
of different populations, and the majority of these
consistently demonstrate an upward trend. I can’t
help but think that there’s a strong correlation
between these figures and the increasing levels of
prosperity that most nations, and the individuals
within them, have experienced. This has come
about through rapid development, which has
inevitably meant sacrificing some old, well-loved
ways of doing things. I’m not sure many people
A Aloza Henry mourn the loss of the repetitive jobs of yesteryear,
but the shorter hours that went alongside them
A modern mythology has developed about
have clearly been consigned to history. As people
traditional customs holding up the financial evolution
are generally putting off starting a family far more
of a country; it suggests that shedding them will
than in previous generations, this will bring them the
somehow prove liberating. There’s as much truth
kind of maturity that will help to make what is a very
in this as in most legends. This is in contrast to the
challenging few years more fruitful as their offspring
fears that many commentators raise about certain
develop and grow.
patterns closer to home, such as the average
parental age for starting a family. Considering that C Kasper Voss
seeking to establish a career has gained priority Whilst the average employee these days probably
over committing to parenthood, I’m beginning to rues the direction in which the length of their week
wonder whether our ancestors had it right. No one is going, I’d be surprised if they felt the same way
has ever satisfactorily explained the reason to me about its mundanity. Factory work has become
as to why the balance between work and home life increasingly mechanised, leading to an expansion in
has shifted so far towards the former. It stands to more gratifying work. Given that there are also far
reason, however, that those who love their jobs will more diverting leisure activities to occupy us these
be more than content with this situation. On the days, it’s little wonder that there’s a tangibly more light-
other hand, as the majority of our workforce don’t hearted mood than 30 years ago. As with all changes,
share this luxury, there can only be one outcome in there are inevitably losers as well as winners, and I’m
terms of the population’s degree of contentment. far from convinced that having close to middle-aged

42 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 6 | 1 © Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018
 parents is going to stand the newest generation in are gradually being reduced as some of what
good stead. That said, by the time the first child has frankly been an over-stretched and untenable
arrives, both mother and father are generally some workload is taken over by the rapidly increasing
way up the career ladder. This is one example of the cohort of part-time staff. It’s extremely hard to
many ways in which swift development has contributed judge whether the financial situation has improved
to the enhancement of many nations’ wealth. over that time for a majority of the world’s
population. What clouds the issue more than
D Zhang Wei
anything is the astonishing rise in the number of
The rapid progress we’ve seen over the last few people on the planet. I’ve yet to be persuaded that
decades has been interesting to live through. the recent rise in starting a family later in life will
Despite some notable clouds on the horizon, it spread sufficiently to control this. It’s my view that
has been an era which we have ended in a more starting a family when in your forties goes one step
comfortable and optimistic frame of mind than too far against nature.
when we started. Most full-time employees’ hours

Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences, a or b.

2
1. He gave
a to his employees some advice. b his employees some advice.
2. Can you please explain
a this theory on development to the class? b the class this theory on development?
3. I’d like you to write
a to me a letter explaining the changes. b me a letter explaining the changes.
4. The professor asked
a the students their opinions on the trend. b to the students their opinions on the trend.
5. She described
a for him her family background. b her family background to him.
6. He took
a the report Mrs Green once it was finished. b Mrs Green the report once it was finished.
7. The teacher asked his colleague to
a leave him the book when she went. b leave the book to him when she went.
8. The company decided to offer
a staff an extra three days’ holiday. b to staff an extra three days’ holiday.

Exam facts
In this part, you read four texts giving different opinions on a topic.
You must read all the texts to be able to match questions summarising opinions to the texts.
© Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2016

© Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 6 | 1 43
 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 6 2

The environment

Exam task
You are going to read four extracts from articles in which experts give their views on banning
1
single-use plastic products such as shopping bags and drinks bottles. For questions 1–4,
choose from the experts A–D. The experts may be chosen more than once.

Which expert
shares B’s views regarding how easy it would be to implement any ban or restrictions? 1
has a different view to the others about adding charges to the prices of single-use 2
plastic products?
shares A’s views on the environmental impact of imposing a ban? 3
expresses a different view to D about the economic effects of introducing a ban? 4

Banning single-use plastic products

A Doran Yusef absurdly complicated to introduce and supervise. I
There has been little debate as to whether it actually would beg to differ. Is it really such an effort to visit
makes ecological sense to ban single-use plastic a supermarket to see which manufacturers still use
products. I find this troublesome, given that the paper plastic packaging, and whether customers are being
and glass, which would presumably replace the plastic provided with plastic bags? There’s no reason why
used in bags and bottles respectively, use more energy they should be, as schemes worldwide whereby
than plastic in their production, therefore contributing customers pay for these have been immensely
more to global warming. Changing the material that these effective and should now encompass other single-
products are created from will have minimal financial use products. Having said that, although plastic is
impact, as income and employment losses in plastics undoubtedly a major pollutant, it would be wrong to
and packaging would be absorbed into the manufacturing completely ignore the likely impact of producing other
of whichever material takes its place. Costs imposed on more energy-intensive materials that might replace it.
consumers at the point of sale for plastic bags have been However, I believe these would be the lesser of two
highly successful in reducing how many are used, so now evils. Also, although the focus has largely been on
is the moment to enforce these on other items packaged packaging and bags, there needs to be a widening
in disposable plastic. Any outright ban may be challenging of the net to include other everyday items like
to police and would have to be instigated gradually, in drinking straws.
order to make it workable. D Joanna Muller
B Hideko Suzuki Even though sustainable industries are relatively
Customers have little or no direct control over what new, there are already sufficient examples where
packaging a company sells its products in. It’s therefore any reductions in revenue caused by the termination
unfair to inflict additional expenses on buyers for decisions of a more traditional product are in effect cancelled
made by the producer. Along similar lines, if shops want out by the success of its replacement. That said,
to sell their goods, they should provide and pay for the imposing an immediate ban on plastic bags may well
means of carrying it home. I think the financial implications be a step too far especially if it were too sudden
of a ban on the products are more far-reaching than for consumers to cope with. However, I’m all for an
anyone has predicted. You can’t just remove an entire obligatory raising of prices worldwide for products
industry from a nation and expect no repercussions. sold in environmentally-unfriendly packaging, in
What’s driving the call for a ban, of course, are the effect an extension of the highly fruitful policy of
catastrophic consequences to the planet of avoiding this making plastic bags prohibitively expensive. This
issue. I wholeheartedly go along with the view that it needs pricing strategy has been generally straightforward
to be addressed, but perhaps not so quickly that we end to monitor and oversee, as spot checks on retailers
up creating more problems than we solve. These sorts of can quickly establish whether or not any legislation
transitions take time, especially as the regulation of such a is being followed. Another case for gradually
ban is likely to be extraordinarily complex. implementing controls is that replacing plastics,
which create physical pollution, with materials that
C Radislav Kovac produce excessive harmful emissions during their
The majority of those calling for stopping short of manufacture doesn’t currently make sense. Greener
a ban on throwaway plastics claim that it would be alternatives need to be found.

44 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 6 | 2 © Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018
 Complete the sentences with the correct words from the box. You can use words more
2
than once.

as enough result so such too therefore

1. Plastic products can be produced cheaply that shops don’t usually charge for plastic bags.
2. Some tourists get a shock seeing just how much plastic there is in the sea that they start
to clean it up.
3. It was soon to know whether the new legislation limiting sale of plastic products had been
successful.
4. It’s unfortunately easy to foresee what will happen if we continue producing plastic
products at the same rate as today.
5. The shop started charging a dollar for a plastic bag and, a , 99% of customers
started to bring their own bags.
6. We have a rapidly increasing world population and we need more food to feed us all.
7. In many places, the ecological situation is changing quickly even for many of our most
esteemed scientists to keep up.
8. We need to demonstrate patience when seeking environmental change, as many
organisations and individuals are still resistant to it.

Exam tips
For each question, look at the topic and quickly find the opinions of all of the writers on it before
you answer. Writers may not offer an opinion on every topic.
Once you have located the writer’s opinion about a topic, read it in detail and watch out for traps
such as double negatives (which make a positive in English!).

© Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 6 | 2 45