IB English B

Question 1

Use an appropriate text type from the options below the task you choose. Write 250 to 400 words.

Your city is considering closing the local library because too few people use it. You do not want this to happen. Write a text for the city council in which you explain why you are concerned about this and suggest what they can do to attract more people to the library.

Leaflet

Letter

Presentation

Answer keys:

The two required aspects of the task are (i) to explain why they are concerned about the potential closing of the library, and (ii) to suggest what the city council can do to attract more people to the library. (Equal weight does not have to be given to those two elements, but both should be given some developed attention.)

The response should focus primarily on the reasons why the writer is concerned about the prospect of the library closing, as opposed to the fact that too few people use it.
The suggestion(s) need not be realistic or practical, provided the response explains how the suggestion(s) will lead to more people using the library.
The 'concerns’ could be presented as part of the ‘benefits’ which will be lost should the library be closed. This is permissible as long as ideas are clear and well supported.

Choice of text type:

	Text type & Its convention	Rationale
Appropriate	Letter: clear identification of recipient (by name, address or role/title etc.) date OR sender’s address opening and closing salutations.	This text type is suitable for addressing a concern or issue (‘closing the local library’) to specified audiences, including small groups (‘the city council’).
Generally appropriate	Presentation: catch the audience’s attention at the start, and leave a clear impression at the end address the audience and keep contact with them throughout, e.g. “we” and “you” etc. elements of speech rhetoric e.g. rhetorical questions, repetition etc.	This text type is suitable for addressing a specific audience (the city council) about a shared issue, but it usually requires an occasion in which the presentation is delivered. The choice may be considered “appropriate” if the response refers to such a context with audience addressed clearly and speaker's capacity or authority made clear (e.g. head of neighbourhood committee, representative of local group, etc.)
Generally inappropriate	Leaflet: engaging title ideas identified by format features, e.g. sub-headings, bullet points, numbering etc practical information, e.g. “contact us”, or a phone number and/or an email address. Graphic design as such is not marked	This text type is a mass media text, generally used to share information with unspecified audiences (e.g. the general public).

Register and tone:

Formal register
Serious and persuasive

Sample answer (detailed outline):

Title	To: The City Council, [City Name] From: [Your Name/Title - e.g., Concerned Citizen, Community Advocate] Date: [Current Date]
Introduction	Begin with “Dear …,” Immediate Address: Acknowledge receipt of the proposal to close the library due to low usage statistics. Purpose: State the firm opposition immediately. Argue that closing the library based purely on current foot traffic is unreasonable and fails to account for its unquantifiable civic value. Thesis: The library is not just a building; it is a critical community resource whose potential loss would create severe, long-term harm. We must explore proactive revitalization before considering closure.
Body 1	Main point 1: Explain why they are concerned about the potential closing of the library Loss of Educational Equity and Economic Mobility: Free access to educational resources, fast internet, and job-seeking opportunities for low-income residents and students Deepen the digital and educational divide if the library is closed Limiting the economic potential of the most vulnerable citizens. Erosion of the Community’s Social Hub: The role of the library in the community (a safe zone for elderly people and a learning zone for students) Describe how these people can be impacted by the closure (isolation due to lack of interaction, decreasing grades as students depend on the internet or resources) Deterioration of Local Culture and Literacy: How important are books and archival materials? (A cultural reservoir; promotes literacy among children and adults) Closing the library may send negative messages to the city’s residents (messages on lifelong learning and intellectual development)
Body 2	Main point 2: Suggestions for attracting more people Repositioning the library as a “Digital and vocational hub.” Dedicate a specific, modernized zone to high-demand technological resources. Free workshops aimed at teenagers and job seekers. This transforms the library from a quiet archive into a place of active creation and skill-building. Radical Revision of Operating Hours and Location: Instead of closing the entire facility, implement a new alternative, a mobile cart or small, staffed kiosk, that operates during peak evening hours (5 PM to 8 PM) in high-traffic, non-traditional locations How does this help attract more people? (residents can go to the library at any time or anywhere; no need for a special trip; …) Encouraging the locals to engage in library activities Provide opportunities for clubs, schools, and businesses to display their interests ensuring that the library reflects the current, diverse interests of the community, making it a continuously evolving destination
Conclusion	Summary: Reiterate that the city must invest in these revitalization strategies before considering the irreparable damage of closure. The long-term cost of lost human capital and community cohesion far outweighs the short-term cost of operation. Closing Request: Strongly urge the City Council to form a temporary Library Revitalization Task Force to immediately pilot the suggested programs for a trial period of six months. Formal Closing: Yours faithfully, [Your Name].

Question 2

Use an appropriate text type from the options below the task you choose. Write 250 to 400 words.

You feel that one of your school rules is outdated and may have negative impacts on students. You want this rule changed. Write a text in which you explain to the school principal why this rule is a problem and suggest how it could be changed.

Blog

Speech

Proposal

Answer keys:

The two required aspects of the task are [i] “explain why this rule is a problem” and [ii] “suggest how it could be changed”. (Equal weight does not have to be given to those two elements, but both should be given some developed attention.)

Some responses explain more than one rule. That should be permissible as long as each rule is developed to indicate the problem and suggestions on how to improve it.
While a response can mention how the rule affects the writer personally, it should focus on the impacts on the student body in general.
The term “changed” can be interpreted as a replacement of the rule by another, a modification of the rule to reflect a more current context (i.e., updating an outdated rule), or a removal of the rule.

Choice of text type:

	Text type & Its convention	Rationale
Appropriate	Proposal title summarising the overall subject clearly set-out format, e.g. headings, short clear paragraphs, bullets, numbering, insetting etc. style aimed to persuade a specified audience	The text type is suitable for the purpose of submitting ideas or solutions for implementation in order to address an issue that affects a large group of people.
Generally appropriate	Speech catch the audience’s attention at the beginning, and leave a clear impression at the end address the audience and keep contact with them throughout, e.g., use of “we” and “you” etc. elements of speech rhetoric e.g., rhetorical questions, repetition etc	The text type is suitable for the purpose of sharing ideas and suggestions, but it is not usually used to communicate with an individual (the school principal). If the response makes clear that the writer is addressing the principal only in a formal context to provide a proposal verbally (i.e., it is indicated the meeting had been pre-arranged), then it may be considered “appropriate”
Generally inappropriate	Blog first-person statement and/or narration awareness of the reader, e.g. direct address, a lively and interesting style etc. closing statement, e.g. invitation to comment, a conclusion drawn etc.	The text type is typically used for the purpose of sharing the writer’s thoughts and opinions with a larger group of unspecified audience.

Register and tone:

Formal register
Serious, explanatory, persuasive tone

Sample answer (detailed outline):

Title	Briefly introduce the main purpose
Introduction	Formal salutation and statement of intent: address the Principal respectfully. Clearly state the purpose of the text: to request a review and modification of the outdated rules Acknowledgment of original intent: briefly acknowledge that the original rule aimed to <depend on what rules you want to express>, but argue that its sweeping nature no longer serves the school community effectively.
Body 1	Main point 1: Explain why this rule is a problem Focus on general impacts: privacy, students’ well-being, and what negative impacts do old rules have on students. The ban creates more problems than it addresses. Students can bully others based on their faults Unnecessary stress and conflict: The constant threat of confiscation or penalty creates an environment of distrust and anxiety
Body 2	Main point 2: Suggestion for changes Replace the total ban with a <change that you suggest>. The change is not a removal, but a modification to reflect a current context. Designated periods: allow supervised during non-instructional periods for students to enjoy <something> for relaxation. Reduce the penalties or loosen the rules: not focusing on micro mistakes, rather on important ones, implementing protocol when students have committed heavy violations of the school rules. Modify the rules if possible. (how you want to change the old rule)
Conclusion	Briefly summarize how the proposal can help students in studying or their well-being. Formally request a meeting to discuss implementing a pilot program for the new policy. Thank the Principal for their time and consideration. Formal sign-off (e.g., Respectfully, Student Name/Grade).

Question 3

Use an appropriate text type from the options below the task you choose. Write 250 to 400 words.

You recently met a business owner who thinks that after-school activities are more useful than lessons. You found his/her ideas interesting, and you want to share them with the other students at your school. Write a text describing and discussing the business owner’s ideas in more detail.

Interview

Online forum posting

Proposal

Answer keys:

‘Describe ' and “discuss” may be presented in an overlapping manner. Thus, it may not be expected to have scripts addressing each aspect separately as long as the script presents the ideas clearly and evaluates them effectively.

While the question clearly indicates that the business owner is in favour of “after-school activities” which are more useful than lessons, it is expected that some scripts cater for the benefits of lessons as another part of the argument. Focus should remain on ‘after-school activities’ in relation to lessons, rather than activities or leisure time at large.
While having detailed information about the business owner is not the focus of the question, it is expected to have a brief introduction about the name, position, company, type of business, etc.

Choice of text

	Text type & Its convention	Rationale
Appropriate	Interview (Embedded) relevant headline/title style aimed at involving and interesting the reader references to the interview, including direct quotations and/or reported speech (Transcribed) Relevant headline/title Clear introduction, to explain context Question and response structure, showing the speakers’ alternating speeches	The text type is suitable for sharing the ideas of another person first-hand with a large audience (i.e. the other students at the school).
Generally appropriate	Online forum posting first person narration/statement seek to engage the reader, eg direct address, lively and interesting style may include typical online communication techniques, eg references to other postings, members and forums, hashtags, @references, and ‘likes’ etc.	The text type is suitable for sharing the ideas of another person but it is typically used to communicate with an undefined group of people. The choice may be considered “appropriate” if the response makes clear the posting is on a school forum.
Generally inappropriate	Proposal title summarising the overall subject clearly set-out format, eg headings, short clear paragraphs, bullets, numbering, insetting etc style aimed to persuade a specified audience	The text type is usually used to make a proposal, rather than to share ideas. It is usually read only by the person(s) that the text is sent to.

Register and tone:

Semi-formal register, probably with flashes of informality.
Excited, engaging and serious tone

Sample answer (detailed outline):

Introduction	Greeting Hook: Start with an engaging statement or question to draw readers in. "Have you ever wondered if the time spent after school could be more valuable than the hours spent in the classroom?" Introduction of the Business Owner: Name: [Business Owner's Name] Position: Owner of [Business Name] Type of Business: Briefly describe the business (e.g., a local sports academy, art studio, etc.) and its relevance to after-school activities. Thesis Statement: Present the central idea: "In a recent conversation with [Name], I discovered compelling reasons why after-school activities might be more beneficial than traditional lessons.
Body 1	Main point 1: The politician's perspective Value of Practical Experience: Discuss how after-school activities provide hands-on learning experiences that lessons may not offer. Quote: Include a direct quote from the business owner, such as: "After-school programs allow students to apply what they learn in real-world situations." Development of Life Skills: Highlight the skills gained through after-school activities, such as teamwork, leadership, and time management. Example: Mention specific activities (e.g., sports, clubs) that foster these skills. Enhanced Engagement and Motivation: Explain how after-school activities can spark interest and motivation in students, making learning more enjoyable. "When students are engaged in something they love, they are more likely to excel academically."
Body 2	Main point 2: Balancing the benefits of lessons Importance of Academic Foundations: Acknowledge that lessons provide essential knowledge and skills that are crucial for academic success. Discuss how insight knowledge could help students advance deeper in their careers. Mention how a strong academic foundation can enhance performance in after-school activities. Integration of Learning: Discuss how after-school activities can complement lessons by reinforcing concepts learned in class. Provide an example: how a math club can help students apply mathematical concepts in practical scenarios
Conclusion	Summary of Key Points: Recap the main arguments presented by the business owner regarding the benefits of after-school activities compared to lessons. Call to Action: Encourage students to explore after-school activities and consider how they can enhance their overall education. "Why not give it a try? You might discover a passion that transforms your learning experience!" Final Thought: End with a reflective statement that invites readers to think about their own experiences with after-school activities. "What activities have made a difference in your life?"

Question 4

Use an appropriate text type from the options below the task you choose. Write 250 to 400 words.

Your school, which is in an English-speaking country, is planning to offer beginner English classes to help new overseas students settle into school life. Your school principal has asked all English B students to recommend useful topics for these lessons. Write a text offering your ideas for such lessons and explaining why they would be helpful to the new students.

Leaflet

Letter

Proposal

Answer keys:

Two elements are required in the question: ‘offering ideas’ and ‘explaining why they would be helpful’. There does not need to be equal space devoted to each of the two, but none of them should be left minimal (barely mentioned in a single sentence) or completely ignored.

The school’s plan to offer English classes need not be explained in great detail since it is assumed the audience of the communication knows about it already. However, it is needed to briefly set the reason for writing the proposal.
These lessons/ideas need to be focused on helping overseas students settle into school life. This could be through referring to activities, learning the language, participating in festivals, etc.
It is expected that the ‘topics’ or ideas for such lessons should be plural i.e. that there should be 2 or more distinguishable topics/ideas. If there is really only one idea, this is very general and superficial.

Choice of text:

	Text type & Its convention	Rationale
Appropriate	Proposal title summarising the overall subject clearly set-out format, eg headings, short clear paragraphs, bullets, numbering, insetting etc style aimed to persuade a specified audience	The text type is suitable for making a proposal, to be read by the individual that it is submitted to.
Generally appropriate	Letter clear identification of recipient (by name, address or role/title etc) date (and sender’s address)* opening and closing salutations.	The text type is suitable for communicating with an individual, but it is not necessarily used to make proposals. The choice may be considered “appropriate” if the response makes clear that the purpose of the writing is to propose.
Generally inappropriate	Leaflet engaging title ideas identified by format features, eg sub-headings, bullet points, numbering etc practical information, eg “contact us”, or a phone number and/or an email address. N.B.: Graphic design as such is not marked	The text type is typically used to inform or raise awareness among a mass audience. It is not usually used to make a proposal to an individual.

Register and tone:

Formal register
Serious and convincing tone

Sample answer (detailed outline):

Title	Briefly summarize the proposal’s topic
Introduction	Context: Briefly state the purpose of the proposal: to recommend useful topics for the beginner's English classes for new overseas students. Rationale: Emphasize the importance of these classes in facilitating a smooth transition for new students. Overview: Briefly state the structure of the proposal, mentioning the topics and their benefits.
Body 1	Main point 1: Essential School Vocabulary and Classroom Communication Description: Introduce key vocabulary related to school subjects, classrooms, and school routines (e.g., "homework," "assignment," "schedule," "teacher," "break time"). Focus on practical phrases for asking questions, seeking help, and participating in class (e.g., "Can you repeat that, please?" "I don't understand." "What does this mean?"). Include role-playing activities to practice using these phrases in common classroom scenarios. Benefits: Empowers students to understand instructions, participate in class, and seek help when needed. Reduces the initial anxiety associated with navigating a new academic environment. Facilitates effective communication with teachers and classmates.
Body 2	Main point 2: Understanding School Culture and Expectations Description: Introduce key aspects of the school culture, such as the grading system, academic expectations, and extracurricular activities. Discuss the importance of punctuality, respect for teachers and peers, and academic integrity. Include guest speakers (e.g., senior students, school counselors) to share their experiences and offer advice. Benefits: Helps students understand the norms and values of the school community. Prepares students for academic success by clarifying expectations. Promotes a sense of belonging and encourages active participation in school life.
Conclusion	Recap: Briefly summarize the recommended topics and their benefits. Call to Action: Encourage the school administration to implement these topics in the beginners English classes. Closing Statement: Express confidence that these classes will significantly aid new overseas students in their transition to school life.

Question 5

A student talks about her experience of homeschooling

Elena Kervitsky, Contributor

Student in Maryland, USA

I left school in the third grade (1) because it is difficult to learn when there are 30 or more kids in each class. Most students don’t get the attention they need for a proper education.

With homeschooling, you can learn as slow or as fast as you want. You must learn the required topics but you can choose what you learn on top of that. Your choice is not limited to the five or less options you get as extra classes if you are in school.

Someone who is in a school has a very restricting schedule — you have an exact amount of sick days or snow days (2) and holidays. A benefit of homeschooling is that you can work when you want so you can take a trip at any time of the year. I have been all over the world thanks to my choice of education.

In most schools, you learn with a textbook, but homeschoolers also learn with hands-on learning. It is difficult to have this type of learning in a classroom because of the number of students, but for homeschoolers it’s an effective and exciting way to learn.

Some people think that homeschoolers have no social life. However, most homeschoolers take classes with other kids — sports or arts classes usually. In fact, I have met some of my best friends at classes like those. With homeschooling, you meet some really cool people, and you learn a lot from people who are different from you.

Homeschooling requires a lot of discipline. Once a year, all homeschoolers meet with a teacher who reviews the work they have done that year. You either pass or get a warning. If you get a warning, you have not done enough work and they will expect you to do a lot more of it the next year. If you don’t pass the next year, you will be sent back to school, and no one who has enjoyed homeschooling wants that. Homeschooling has its ups and downs, but it is an amazing experience altogether.

1 third grade: the third school year of primary school. Students are usually 8–9 years old
2 snow days: days when schools close because of snow

Question:

Answer the following questions (paragraphs 1-2).
1. Why did the writer decide to stop attending school?
2. Which phrase shows that homeschoolers can set the pace of their learning?
3. Which phrase means “additionally”?

What do the following words mean in the text? Choose the appropriate words from the list.

4. schedule (paragraph 3)

A. volume

B. timetable

C. number

D. advantage

E. demand

F. scheme

5. amount (paragraph 3)

6. benefit (paragraph 3)

Find the words that complete the following sentences. Answer using the words as they appear in paragraphs 4-5.
7. If there are many students in a class, it is difficult to have…
8. The writer says she has been able to make best friends in...
9. Mixing with a variety of new people allows homeschoolers to…

Choose the correct answer (paragraph 6).
10. According to the writer, homeschoolers must…
A. Develop their self-management skills.
B. Send their work to a local teacher.
C. Learn a lot of information by heart.
D. Review their own work each year.

11. Homeschoolers who do not pass the year for the first time have to…
A. Repeat the whole school year.
B. Make specific improvements.
C. Demonstrates a greater effort.
D. Return to the school classroom.

12. When the writer says that “Homeschooling has its ups and downs”, the author is suggesting that…
A. It is a rather imprecise way to learn.
B. It produces both good and poor results.
C. It is an unpredictable form of education.
D. It has advantages and disadvantages.

Answer:

1. Target answer: (because it is) difficult to learn when there are 30 or more kids (in each class)

Accept: other wording with the same meaning

Do Not Accept:
Most students don’t get the attention they need for a proper education
It is difficult to learn on its own
Too many students in one class

Text Evidence: "I left school in the third grade because it is difficult to learn when there are 30 or more kids in each class."
Explanation: The writer directly states that the reason she left school was the difficulty in learning caused by having 30 or more children in every class.

2. Target answer: (you can learn) as slow or as fast as you want

Do Not Accept:
"as slow as fast" on its own
addition of "with homeschooling" to the target answer

Text Evidence: "With homeschooling, you can learn as slow or as fast as you want."
Explanation: The phrase "as slow or as fast as you want" clearly means the student has full control over the speed of their learning, which is how they set the pace.

3. Target answer: on top of that

Text Evidence: "You must learn the required topics but you can choose what you learn on top of that."
Explanation: The phrase "on top of that" is used to introduce extra information after something else has been mentioned. This means the same thing as additionally or besides that.

4. Target answer: B

Text Evidence: "Someone who is in a school has a very restricting schedule..."
Explanation: A schedule refers to a plan of times when things are supposed to happen, and the best matching word is timetable.

5. Target answer: C

Text Evidence: "...you have an exact amount of sick days or snow days..."
Explanation: Amount here means a quantity that can be counted, such as the number of days, making C the correct choice.

6. Target answer: D

Text Evidence: "And a benefit of homeschooling is that you can work when you want..."
Explanation: A benefit is a good or helpful result you get from something, which is the definition of an advantage.

7. Target answer: hands-on learning

Text Evidence: "...it is difficult to have this type of learning in a classroom because of the number of students..." (lines 15-16). This refers to the hands-on learning mentioned just before.
Explanation: The writer says that hands-on learning is difficult to have in a classroom because there are too many students.

8. Target answer: classes with other kids, (sports or arts classes usually).

Do Not Accept:
classes like those
sports and art classes

Text Evidence: "...most homeschoolers take classes with other kids – sports or arts classes usually. In fact, I have met some of my best friends at classes like those."
Explanation: The author states she met her best friends at the types of classes homeschoolers take to socialize, which are named as classes with other kids, (sports or arts classes usually).

9. Target answer: learn a lot (from people who are different from you)

Text Evidence: "...you meet some really cool people, and you learn a lot from people who are different from you."
Explanation: The text shows that meeting different people helps homeschoolers learn a lot (from people who are different from you).

10. Target answer: A

Text Evidence: "Homeschooling requires a lot of discipline."
Explanation: The writer states that homeschooling requires a lot of discipline, which means students must be able to organize their own work and time, which is the same as having to develop their self-management skills.

Option B is incorrect because a teacher reviews the work, the student doesn't necessarily send it to a local teacher.
Option C is incorrect because the text does not mention learning by heart.
Option D is incorrect because a teacher, not the student, reviews the work each year.

11. Target answer: C

Text Evidence: "...they will expect you to do a lot more of it the next year."
Explanation: If a student gets a warning, they are expected to do a lot more work, which means they must demonstrate a greater effort.

Option A is incorrect because the consequence for not passing the next time is being sent back to public school, not repeating the whole school year at home.
Option B is incorrect because the expectation is to do more work, not just make specific improvements.
Option D is incorrect because returning to the classroom is the penalty for failing the year, not the action taken after receiving a warning.

12. Target answer: D

Text Evidence: "Homeschooling has its ups and downs..."
Explanation: The phrase "ups and downs" is a common way to say that something has both good parts (ups) and bad parts (downs), meaning it has advantages and disadvantages.

Option A is incorrect because the text gives many details showing it is a controlled way to learn.
Option B is incorrect because the phrase describes the entire experience, not just the results.
Option C is incorrect because the text suggests that the student has control over the pace, so it is not completely unpredictable.

Question 6

Britain’s gender pay gap starts with pocket money

By Magdalena Mis

... The gender pay gap ... between women and men’s earnings starts in childhood in Britain with girls receiving 20 percent less pocket money than boys, according to a [recent online] survey … [of 2000 children in the UK undertaken by the market research agency Childwise].

Boys aged five to 16 receive an average allowance of 10.70 pounds ... per week, while girls [of] the same age get just 8.50 pounds ... , according to ... [the] report. ...

The pay gap grows to 30 percent as children get older, with boys aged 11 to 16 receiving 17.80 pounds ... each week, while girls receive almost a third less with an average of 12.50 pounds,… the report said.

[There are] “an early gender imbalance in the way parents educate their children about money matters and financial independence,” said Jenny Ehren, Childwise research manager.

“The challenge for parents is to avoid inadvertently perpetuating these gender divisions themselves, and to help children learn the skills needed to be a confident and independent adult,” she said in a statement.

Girls seemed to ... [receive less money] than boys and were more likely to have things bought for them. ... [This approach] helped to bridge the pay gap but also ... [partially explained it], the report said.

Parents were more likely to hand out cash to the boys while managing money on [the] girls’ behalf.

British boys were more likely than girls to receive some kind of regular income while girls were more likely to receive no cash at all, the report said.

Sam Smethers of The Fawcett Society, a campaign group promoting women’s ... [employment] rights, ... said [the] gender pay gap between boys and girls reflected the situation they face in adult life.

“These figures reveal that we undervalue girls from a very early age. What chance do they have at work?”

According to [The] Fawcett [Society], ... women in Britain were paid 13.9 percent less than men. [The group has calculated that] at the current rate, it will take another 62 years before women’s work is valued as much as that of men. …

Question:

1. Choose the three true statements (paragraphs 1-7).
A. 20 percent of the girls surveyed said they received less pocket money than boys.
B. Childwise conducted the online survey about gender pay gap.
C. Girls receive £12.50 less allowance each week than boys.
D. Jenny Ehren thinks parents educate boys and girls about money differently.
E. Jenny Ehren thinks children need to learn more about money.
F. Parents were more likely to control boys’ spending than girls’ spending.

Find the word or phrase in paragraphs 1-2 which means the following:
2. Difference
3. Examination
4. Identical

To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using the words as they appear in the text.
5. ...gender divisions themselves... (paragraph 5)
6. ...to have things bought for them. (paragraph 5)
7. ...partially explained it... (paragraph 6)

Choose the correct answer (paragraphs 8-11).
8. According to the report, a minority of girls receive...
A. More pocket money than boys.
B. Nothing at all as pocket money.
C. As much pocket money as boys.
D. Presents in the form of money.

9. According to Sam Smethers, differences in pay for men and women...
A. Become less important with the passage of time.
B. Reflect the advances made in women’s rights.
C. Are the result of changing employment rights.
D. Are very similar to those between girls and boys.

10. The phrase “What chance do they have?” means:
A. Why won’t girls improve their situation?
B. How many worries must girls face?
C. What is the likelihood girls will succeed?
D. When will girls accept their situation?

11. The Fawcett Society has predicted that only in 62 years’ time will women...
A. Be employed on the same pay rates as men.
B. Be earning more than men for the first time.
C. Work in the same positions as men.
D. Become more valued for their quality of work.

Answer:

1. Target Answer: B, D, E (in any order)

B. Childwise conducted the online survey about gender pay gap.

Text Evidence: "...according to a [recent online] survey... undertaken by the market research agency Childwise."
Explanation: The passage explicitly identifies Childwise as the organization responsible for executing the online research inquiry pertaining to the gender disparity in remuneration.

D. Jenny Ehren thinks parents educate boys and girls about money differently.

Text Evidence: "Parents were more likely to hand out cash to the boys while managing money on [the] girls' behalf."
Explanation: The description of parental behavior—allocating direct cash to sons versus administrating funds for daughters—substantiates the assertion that parents employ divergent methods in the financial socialization of children based on gender.

E. Jenny Ehren thinks children need to learn more about money.

Text Evidence: "The challenge for parents is... to help children learn the skills needed to be a confident and independent adult," she said.
Explanation: Ehren's recommendation that children must acquire the necessary competencies for self-sufficiency implicitly advocates for the instruction of enhanced financial acumen and handling capabilities.

2. Target answer: gap

Do Not Accept: pay gap

Text Evidence: "The gender pay gap between women and men's earnings..."
Explanation: The word gap in this context means a difference or disparity, specifically between the pay received by men and women.

3. Target answer: survey

Do Not Accept: online survey

Text Evidence: "...according to a [recent online] survey..."
Explanation: An examination or detailed study of something is referred to in the text as a survey.

4. Target answer: (the) same

Text Evidence: "...while girls [of] the same age get just 8.50 pounds..."
Explanation: Identical means exactly alike or equal. The word used in the text to show equality is the same (referring to age).

5. Target answer: parents

Do Not Accept:
gender divisions
Parent

Text Evidence: "The challenge for parents is to avoid inadvertently perpetuating these gender divisions themselves..."
Explanation: The word themselves refers back to the people who are doing the action of perpetuating the divisions (even if by mistake). The text names these people as parents.

6. Target answer: girls

Text Evidence: "Girls seemed to ... receive less money than boys and were more likely to have things bought for them."
Explanation: The pronoun them refers back to the group who receive less money and have things bought for them, which the text names as girls.

7. Target answer: (the) pay gap

Do Not Accept:
this approach
gender pay gap
"gap" on its own

Text Evidence: "This approach helped to bridge the pay gap but also ... partially explained it..."
Explanation: The word it refers back to the economic difference that the previous sentence was discussing and trying to "bridge," which is the pay gap.

8. Target answer: (B) nothing at all as pocket money.

Text Evidence: "British boys were more likely than girls to receive some kind of regular income while girls were more likely to receive no cash at all, the report said."
Explanation: The text states that girls were more likely to receive no cash at all, which means that a small number (a minority) of girls get nothing at all as pocket money.

Option A is incorrect because the report states boys receive more, not girls.
Option C is incorrect because the report states girls receive less pocket money than boys.
Option D is incorrect because the text says girls were more likely to receive no cash, not presents in the form of money.

9. Target answer: (D) are very similar to those between girls and boys.

Text Evidence: "...[the] gender pay gap between boys and girls reflected the situation they face in adult life."
Explanation: Sam Smethers says the pay gap between children reflected the situation in adult life, meaning the child differences are very similar to the adult differences.

Option A is incorrect because Smethers focuses on the reflection of the issue, not its reduction over time.
Option B is incorrect because Smethers focuses on the continuation of the problem, not progress.
Option C is incorrect because Smethers links the adult differences to childhood differences, not to changing employment rights.

10. Target answer: (C) What is the likelihood girls will succeed?

Text Evidence: "These figures reveal that we undervalue girls from a very early age. What chance do they have at work?"
Explanation: The question "What chance do they have?" is asked after noting that girls are undervalued, meaning the writer is questioning the likelihood or possibility that the girls will succeed in their careers.

Option A is incorrect because the phrase is a commentary on their situation, not a question asking why they don't improve.
Option B is incorrect because the phrase is not about counting problems, but questioning future success.
Option D is incorrect because the phrase questions their future prospects, not when they will accept the current situation.

11. Target answer: (A) be employed on the same pay rates as men.

Text Evidence: "The group has calculated that at the current rate, it will take another 62 years before women's work is valued as much as that of men."
Explanation: The Fawcett Society predicts that it will take 62 years for women's work to be valued as much as men's, which means they will receive the same pay rates as men.

Option B is incorrect because the prediction is about achieving parity (equal pay), not earning more than men.
Option C is incorrect because the prediction is about pay value, not job positions.
Option D is incorrect because the prediction is specifically about equal value and pay, not just becoming more valued generally.

Question 7

What do travel agents do?

Understanding the responsibilities undertaken by this role may help people begin their career and increase their chances of job success. In this article, we explain the role of a travel agent.

[ – 11 – ]

Despite the popularity of automated booking systems for vacations, travel agents are in demand for trips that require thoughtful planning and expertise. Travel agents ensure travel plans, such as activities and costs, receive a personalized touch while often providing clients with the best value for their money.

[ – 12 – ]

Travel agents help clients make travel arrangements or explore different travel package options. They may suggest accommodations or destinations, and they can help people arrange a travel itinerary. A travel agent can also book flights, hotels and make reservations. Before travel +agents can make travel arrangements, it’s essential for them to learn about their clients, including a budget, schedule, ideal vacation and preferred travel method. For example, a travel agent who learns a client is afraid of flying may suggest a cruise instead.

[ – 13 – ]

Additionally, travel agents may field complex questions regarding national and international travel. For example, they can help clients understand the health and safety protocols airlines or countries are currently adhering to for travel. This role can often act as a buffer between the consumer and travel suppliers.

[ – 14 – ]

A travel agent also has various duties that can change daily based on their client or agency work, but some typical responsibilities for this role include:

negotiating hotel rates for clients
helping clients plan trips
developing alternative travel plans when schedules change or client events arise
determining travel costs and helping the client save money
advising clients on activities in the area they’re visiting
informing clients about required travel documents, like passports
discussing essential information with clients, such as requirements for crossing borders.

Question:

Choose the appropriate word from the list that completes each gap in the following text (paragraphs 1-2).
Nowadays, many people make use of [ – 1 – ] booking systems. Nevertheless, some people find that travel agents are still very [ – 2 – ]. They offer face-to-face [ – 3 – ] services to travellers looking for something different, including activities and pricing. Travel agents often deliver [ – 4 – ] value to customers.

1. [ – 1 – ]	A. experienced B. real C. online D. individualized E. affordable F. fast G. limited H. helpful
2. [ – 2 – ]
3. [ – 3 – ]
4. [ – 4– ]

The following statements are either true or false. Tick the correct option, then justify it using words as they appear in the text. (paragraphs 3-4).
5. Travel agents do not need to know about their customers’ spending limits
True
False
Justification:

6. Travel agents sometimes recommend an alternative trip to nervous travellers.
True
False
Justification:

7. Travel agents often work together with travel suppliers so the customer does not have to.
True
False
Justification:

Find the word or phrase in paragraph 4 which means the following:
8. answer
9. Rules
10.Following

Choose an appropriate heading from the list that completes each gap in the text.

11. [ – 11 – ]	A. A personalized touch B. The importance of offering cheap travel options C. The resilience of travel agents in the digital age D. Booking flights and hotels for clients E. The dos and don’ts of travelling F. Daily responsibilities and flexibility of the role G. Considering the expertise of the client H. Navigating complex travel queries
12. [ – 12 – ]
13. [ – 13 – ]
14. [ – 14 – ]

Answer:

1. Target Answer: C

Text Evidence: "Despite the popularity of automated booking systems for vacations,...”
Explanation: The phrase "automated booking systems" implies online reservation platforms.

2. Target Answer: H

Text Evidence: “...travel agents are in demand for trips that require thoughtful planning and expertise.”
Explanation: Nevertheless shows contrast; despite online systems, people find agents helpful.

3. Target Answer: D

Text Evidence: “...receive a personalized touch while often providing clients with the best value for their money.”
Explanation: Personalized means the service is individualized.

4. Target Answer: B

Text Evidence: “receive a personalized touch while often providing clients with the best value for their money.”
Explanation: Providing the best value means they deliver real value.

5. Target answer: False

Justification: (it’s) essential for them to learn about their clients, including a budget
Do Not Accept: Addition of "before travel agents can make travel arrangements" to the target answer.
Explanation: The text explicitly states that knowing a client's budget (spending limit) is essential before making arrangements, directly contradicting the statement.

6. Target answer: True

Justification: (a travel agent who) learns a client is afraid of flying may suggest a cruise instead
Do Not Accept: Addition of "For example" to the target answer.
Explanation: The text provides a specific instance where a travel agent recommends a cruise as an alternative trip to a client who is afraid of flying (nervous traveller).

7. Target answer: True

Justification: "This role can often act as a buffer between the consumer and travel suppliers."
Explanation: The term buffer implies that the travel agent intervenes and manages the relationship between the client (consumer) and the suppliers, eliminating the need for the customer to handle complex negotiations.

8. Target answer: field

Text Evidence: "Additionally, travel agents may field complex questions regarding national and international travel."
Explanation: In this professional context, to field a question means to receive, handle, and provide an answer to it.

9. Target answer: protocols

Text Evidence: "...they can help clients understand the health and safety protocols airlines or countries are currently adhering to for travel."
Explanation: Protocols are the formal systems or established procedures, which are equivalent to official rules.

10. Target answer: adhering to

Text Evidence: "...safety protocols airlines or countries are currently adhering to for travel."
Explanation: To adhere to a protocol means to follow or comply with it.

11. Target Answer: C

Text Evidence: "Despite the popularity of automated booking systems, travel agents are in demand for trips that require thoughtful planning and expertise."
Explanation: This paragraph's central theme is the continued relevance and survival (resilience) of travel agents even with the dominance of the internet (digital age).

12. Target Answer: A

Text Evidence: "Travel agents ensure travel plans, such as activities and costs, receive a personalized touch..."
Explanation: The phrase “personalized touch” is a direct benefit mentioned for using travel agents, highlighting their focus on client needs.

13. Target Answer: H

Text Evidence: "Additionally, travel agents may field complex questions regarding national and international travel."
Explanation: Handling complex questions about international rules and protocols involves navigating difficult requests.

14. Target Answer: F

Text Evidence: "A travel agent also has various duties that can change daily based on their client or agency work, but some typical responsibilities for this role include: negotiating hotel rates... helping clients plan trips..."
Explanation: The paragraph lists numerous, changing tasks (various duties that can change daily) and responsibilities, summarizing the Daily responsibilities and flexibility of the role.

Question 8

Honoring Black History with Anitra Belle Henderson

In 1860, a plantation owner smuggled in a shipload of 110 African people to Alabama on the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the US, decades after the banning of the importation of enslaved people. When enslaved people were freed in 1865, survivors of the Clotilda couldn’t afford to return to Africa, so they founded Africatown instead, a bustling town rooted in their homelands and cultures.

After years of searching for the long-lost Clotilda, a team of historians and archaeologists finally discovered it at the bottom of Alabama’s Mobile River in 2019.

Now, the City of Mobile will open a heritage house this summer to tell the story of the Clotilda’s survivors and of Africatown.

“We are excited to help the community of Africatown tell their story,” says Anitra Belle Henderson, the leader of the team planning all the Africatown projects. “Our goal is for visitors to understand more about those who were enslaved. They have a name and a story.”

The heritage house is designed to be an immersive experience. Visitors will feel the waves of the ocean like the enslaved people felt on their voyage, read stories about the slave trade and the survivors of the Clotilda. They’ll also be able to visit Africatown, where many descendants of the Clotilda’s survivors still reside.

“Each detail of the heritage house was designed with reverence to the ancestors, descendants and the community,” Belle Henderson says. “Those who are curious about African culture can visit an African community on American soil—a community that was built with hope and promise.”

“The many stories show the diverse brilliance of black people,” she says. “Since the discovery of the Clotilda there has been a new excitement in the community. Educating people about Africatown’s past will definitely create a bright future for a community that so deserves the attention it is receiving.”

Question:

The following statements are either true or false. Tick the correct option, then justify it using words as they appear in the text (paragraphs 1-2).
1. We know that other slave ships arrived in the US after the Clotilda.
True
False
Justification:

2. The people who arrived on the Clotilda didn’t have enough money to go back to their home.
True
False
Justification:

3. The founders of Africatown based it on the countries they came from.
True
False
Justification:

4. The location of the Clotilda was identified by a group of experts.
True
False
Justification:

Choose the correct answer (paragraphs 3-7).
5. Henderson and her team are very keen that the heritage house will...
A. give a voice to the Africatown community.
B. lead to further projects in the City of Mobile.
C. encourage more people to visit Africatown.
D. be opened to the public before summer.

6. The heritage house project will enable visitors to…
A. go on board the recently restored Clotilda.
B. meet survivors of the Clotilda in person.
C. learn about the real experiences of the slave trade.
D. see how the Africatown settlement was built.

7. According to Henderson, Africatown was developed with a sense of…
A. optimism.
B. urgency.
C. achievement.
D. uncertainty.

8. According to Henderson, the discovery of the Clotilda…
A. is likely to bring challenges to Africatown.
B. is providing new opportunities for Africatown.
C. has reopened unhappy memories of US history.
D. was inspired by the heritage house project.

Answer the following questions.
9. Which phrase in paragraph 5 suggests that the heritage house will stimulate a number of senses?
10. Which phrase in paragraph 5 tells us that people continue to live in Africatown?
11. Which word in paragraph 6 suggests that respect is a key element in the design of the heritage house?

To whom or to what do the underlined words refer? Answer using words as they appear in the text.
12. Our goal is for visitors... (paragraph 4)
13. They have a name... (paragraph 4)
14. Those who are curious... (paragraph 6)

Answer:

1. Target answer: False

Justification: (the Clotilda, the) last known slave ship (to arrive in the US)
Explanation: The narrative designates the Clotilda as the final documented vessel of its kind to reach the United States, thereby refuting the assertion that subsequent slave ships are known to have arrived.

2. Target answer: True

Justification: (survivors of the Clotilda) couldn't afford to return to Africa
Explanation: The text explicitly states that the survivors were financially incapable of repatriating to Africa, confirming the factual accuracy of the statement.

3. Target answer: True

Justification: (a bustling town) rooted in their homelands (and cultures)
Explanation: The passage asserts that the newly established settlement of Africatown was rooted in the cultures and homelands of the founders, substantiating that the original countries served as a foundation for the new community.

4. Target answer: True
Accept: Addition of "at the bottom of Alabama's Mobile River." to the target answer.
Do Not Accept: Addition of "in 2019" to the target answer.

Justification: (a) team of historians and archaeologists finally discovered it
Explanation: The discovery of the Clotilda was achieved by a collective of specialists comprised of historians and archaeologists, thus confirming that the location was identified by a group of experts.

5. Target Answer: A.

Text Evidence: "We are excited to help the community of Africatown tell their story..."
Explanation: Henderson expresses enthusiasm for enabling the community to narrate their history, which is analogous to the concept of giving the community a voice.

Option B is incorrect: The heritage house is part of the Africatown projects, and the text does not indicate it is intended to lead further projects in the city of Mobile.
Option C is incorrect: While visits are encouraged, the primary stated goal is to ensure visitors understand more about those who were enslaved, not simply to encourage more people to visit Africatown.
Option D is incorrect: The text states the house will open this summer, not that it is intended to open before summer.

6. Target Answer: C

Text Evidence: "Visitors will feel the waves of the ocean like the enslaved people felt on their voyage, read stories about the slave trade and the survivors of the Clotilda."
Explanation: The project intends for visitors to engage with narratives concerning the slave trade, facilitating a deeper comprehension of the authentic experiences endured by the enslaved individuals.

Option A is incorrect: The text states the Clotilda is at the bottom of a river, so visitors cannot literally go aboard.
Option B is incorrect: The survivors founded Africatown in 1865; they are not available to meet in person today.
Option D is incorrect: Visitors will learn about Africatown, but the project's explicit focus is on the experiences of the journey and the survivors, not merely seeing how the settlement was physically constructed.

7. Target Answer: A

Text Evidence: "Those who are curious about African culture can visit an African community on American soil—a community that was built with hope and promise."
Explanation: Henderson characterizes Africatown as being established upon hope and promise, which are sentiments indicative of optimism regarding its future prosperity and enduring identity.

Option B is incorrect: The text does not mention a sense of urgency in its development.
Option C is incorrect: The text describes the community's founding as being rooted in culture, not a sense of achievement (yet).
Option D is incorrect: The founding upon "hope and promise" directly contradicts a sense of uncertainty.

8. Target Answer: B

Text Evidence: "Since the discovery of the Clotilda there has been a new excitement in the community."
Explanation: The emergence of "new excitement" within the community subsequent to the discovery signifies that the event is generating fresh opportunities for engagement and revitalization.

Option A is incorrect: Henderson suggests the discovery is creating excitement and a bright future, not challenges.
Option C is incorrect: While the discovery focuses on unhappy history, the effect noted by Henderson is positive excitement and future opportunity, not reopening unhappy memories.
Option D is incorrect: The heritage house project was clearly initiated after the discovery to tell its story, not the other way around.

9. Target answer: (an) immersive experience

Text Evidence: "The heritage house is designed to be an immersive experience."
Explanation: An immersive experience is specifically engineered to engage multiple sensory modalities, thereby stimulating more than one of the body's senses.

10. Target answer: (Africatown where many descendants of the Clotilda's survivors) still reside

Text Evidence: "They'll also be able to visit Africatown, where many descendants of the Clotilda's survivors still reside."
Explanation: The presence of the phrase "still reside" confirms that the descendants currently inhabit the location, indicating the continuation of residency within Africatown.

11. Target answer: reverence

Text Evidence: "Each detail of the heritage house was designed with reverence to the ancestors, descendants and the community,"
Explanation: The term reverence denotes a profound feeling of respect and admiration, establishing it as a fundamental principle governing the design process.

12. Target answer: (the) team planning all the Africatown projects

Text Evidence: "says Anitra Belle Henderson, the leader of the team planning all the Africatown projects."
Explanation: The possessive pronoun Our in this context refers to the collective entity represented by Anitra Belle Henderson, which is identified as the team planning all the Africatown projects.

13. Target answer: those who were enslaved
Accept:

(the) enslaved people
the enslaved
(the) survivors of the Clotilda
(the) Clotilda's survivors

Do Not Accept:

the community of Africatown
slaves
Enslaved

Text Evidence: "Our goal is for visitors to understand more about those who were enslaved. They have a name and a story."
Explanation: The plural pronoun They is immediately preceded by and clearly acts as a substitute for the group of individuals whose narratives the project seeks to illuminate: those who were enslaved.

14. Target answer: visitors
Do Not Accept: people

Text Evidence: "Our goal is for visitors to understand more about those who were enslaved... Those who are curious about African culture can visit..."
Explanation: The phrase Those who are curious refers to the interested parties encouraged to engage with the site, which, by context, are the visitors the project aims to educate and attract.

Question 9

Useful diet tips on the road to recovery

In a healthy-eating workshop session at a patient support centre in Hong Kong, about 20 people listen attentively as a dietitian explains the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. The participants, many of whom have recovered from cancer, are also given tips on how to get all the nutrients they need if they adopt a meat-free approach.

The gathering is one of the highlights of a wellness programme set up by Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre. Helen Lui, who runs the charity, said it was important to make sure patients got enough nutrients during and after their treatment. Under the theme “Eating Well”, an array of activities have been staged at the organisation’s specially-designed centre, all aimed at helping patients better equip themselves for the challenges of their illnesses. “As well as talks on nutrition, since body conditions among patients vary, we also carry out diet assessment for individuals and make specific recommendations to them,” Lui said.

Dietitian Sally Poon, who hosted the healthy-eating workshop, said demand for one-on-one diet assessment was huge. When designing personal diet plans for patients, Poon sometimes had to address their concerns about widely-believed food myths, which prompted many to avoid certain ingredients. “I explain to them whether these food myths are substantiated by scientific evidence,” she said. “It’s important for patients to eat enough calories. We don’t normally encourage them to quit any particular type of food.”

Mok Chun-keung, 66, sought advice from the diet expert to deal with his digestive problems. The retiree stopped eating meat after being diagnosed with cancer about two years ago. “I just ate vegetables,” Mok said. He is thankful that Poon has helped him to balance his diet.

The centre was founded by Maggie Jencks, who had first-hand experience of living with cancer. She used this to create a blueprint for a new type of care. The philanthropist saw the need for a welcoming place away from a hospital, where patients, their families and friends could go for support.

The first Maggie’s Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996, a year after her death. In 2008, the charity opened a temporary centre in Hong Kong, which was relocated five years later to its present address, in a building designed by architect Frank Gehry.

Question:

Choose the correct answer.
1. The workshop participants are...
A. supportive.
B. interested.
C. bored.
D. caring.

2. The workshop is for people who...
A. need to eat well.
B. want to lose weight.
C. are already vegetarians.
D. eat too much meat.

The following statements are either true or false. Tick the correct option, then justify it using words as they appear in the text.
3. The wellness programme runs a number of memorable events.
True
False
Justification:

4. For patients, eating healthily is most important after their treatment.
True
False
Justification:

5. Personal nutrition sessions take place because individual patients vary.
True
False
Justification:

6. Many patients accept rumours about avoiding particular types of food.
True
False
Justification:

7. Sally Poon advises the centre’s patients not to eat meat.
True
False
Justification:

Choose an appropriate ending from the list that completes each sentence.

8. Mr Mok...	A. worked at Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh. B. designed the new caring centre building. C. ate only vegetables after becoming ill. D. formed the idea for the caring centre. E. gave diet advice to Sally Poon. F. opened the first caring centre in 2008. G. designed the first caring centre building. H. helped Mr Mok learn to improve his diet.
9. Sally Poon...
10. Maggie Jencks...
11. Frank Gehry...

Choose the correct answer.
12. Maggie Jencks hoped that her centre would be...
A. located inside a hospital.
B. supported by her family and friends.
C. welcoming to philanthropists.
D. helpful to patients and their loved ones.

13. The main purpose of the text is...
A. to discuss the benefits of healthy eating.
B. to report on the work of the caring centre.
C. to promote the next workshop activity.
D. to inform the reader about Maggie Jencks.

Answer:

1. Target answer: B

Text Evidence: "About 20 people listen attentively as a dietitian explains the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle."
Explanation: Listening "attentively" (with close attention) is direct evidence that the workshop participants are "interested."

Option A is incorrect because the text does not directly state the participants are supportive, only attentive.
Option C is incorrect because listening attentively directly contradicts being bored.
Option D is incorrect because there is no evidence to suggest the participants are caring, only attentive.

2. Target answer: A

Text Evidence: "In a healthy-eating workshop... about 20 people listen attentively as a dietitian explains the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle." "...are also given tips on how to get all the nutrients they need..."
Explanation: The workshop is explicitly titled a "healthy-eating workshop" and its aim is to provide tips for people recovering from cancer to get "all the nutrients they need," which confirms the audience's primary need is to "eat well."

Option B is incorrect because the text focuses on overall nutrition and health, not explicitly on losing weight.
Option C is incorrect because the workshop explains the benefits of vegetarianism, implying participants may not be vegetarians yet.
Option D is incorrect because the focus is on a healthy approach for recovery, not solely on an issue of excessive meat consumption.

3. Target answer: True

Justification: (the gathering is) one of the highlights (of a wellness programme)
Do Not Accept: an array of activities have been staged
Explanation: The use of the word "highlights" implies that the events are significant and thus "memorable," directly supporting the statement as True.

4. Target answer: False

Justification: (it was important to make sure patients got) enough nutrients during and after (their treatment)
Do Not Accept: Addition of “Helen Lui, who runs the charity, said” to the target answer.
Explanation: The text explicitly states that adequate nutrition is vital "during and after" treatment, which contradicts the claim that it is "most important after" treatment, making the statement False.

5. Target answer: True

Justification: (since) body conditions among patients vary, we also carry out diet assessment for individuals (and make specific recommendations to them)
Do Not Accept: Addition of “As well as talks on nutrition” to the target answer.
Explanation: The text provides the reason for carrying out individual diet assessment ("personal nutrition sessions") as the fact that "body conditions among patients vary," directly confirming the statement as True.

6. Target answer: True

Justification: (widely believed food) myths, which prompted many to avoid certain ingredients
Do Not Accept: Addition of “Poon sometimes has to address their concerns about” to the target answer.
Explanation: The "widely-believed food myths" that "prompted many to avoid certain ingredients" are equivalent to patients accepting and acting upon "rumours" about food avoidance, making the statement True.

7. Target answer: False

Justification: (we don’t normally encourage them to) quit any particular type of food
Explanation: Sally Poon's statement directly contradicts the idea that she advises patients to quit meat, as she confirms they do not normally encourage quitting "any particular type of food," rendering the statement False.

8. Target answer: C

Text Evidence: "The retiree stopped eating meat after being diagnosed with cancer... 'I just ate vegetables,' Mok said."
Explanation: The text clearly states that Mr Mok "stopped eating meat" and said, "I just ate vegetables,".

9. Target answer: H

Text Evidence: "He is thankful that Poon has helped him to balance his diet."
Explanation: The text explicitly mentions that Mr Mok is thankful that "Poon has helped him to balance his diet,".

10. Target answer: D

Text Evidence: "The centre was founded by Maggie Jencks... She used this to create a blueprint for a new type of care."
Explanation: Maggie Jencks created a "blueprint for a new type of care," which means she originated and "formed the idea" for the centre.

11. Target answer: B

Text Evidence: "...to its present address, in a building designed by architect Frank Gehry."
Explanation: The text clearly states that the present building was "designed by architect Frank Gehry,".

12. Target answer: (D) helpful to patients and their loved ones.

Text Evidence: "...a welcoming place away from a hospital, where patients, their families and friends could go for support."
Explanation: The centre was intended to be a place where patients and their "families and friends" could find "support," meaning it was meant to be "helpful to patients and their loved ones."

Option A is incorrect because the text describes the centre as being located away from a hospital.
Option B is incorrect because the text mentions the centre was supported by a philanthropist, not her family and friends (who are the beneficiaries, not the supporters mentioned in this context).
Option C is incorrect because the centre was founded by Jencks (a philanthropist) but was designed to welcome patients and their support network, not other philanthropists.

13. Target answer: (B) to report on the work of the caring centre.

Text Evidence: The text describes a workshop, lists the various services offered (diet assessment, myth debunking), recounts a patient’s success story (Mr Mok), and provides the history and founding of the Maggie's Centre.
Explanation: The majority of the passage is dedicated to describing the activities, services, history, and impact of the Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre, making the overall purpose to "report on the work of the caring centre."

Option A is incorrect because discussing healthy eating is only one activity detailed, not the main focus of the entire text.
Option C is incorrect because the text reports on a past workshop, but its overall purpose is not limited to promoting future events.
Option D is incorrect because informing the reader about Maggie Jencks is only a small part of the text, serving to provide context for the centre’s founding.

Question 10

No exams, no uniform and no football team: Inside the best school in the world

Welcome to High Tech High, where classes are just as likely to be making skateboards as studying maths, yet 95% go on to university.

A group of casually dressed teenagers are chattering about their upcoming lessons. The walls around them are hung with artwork. Subject boundaries are fluid. Maths and physics are taught as one. English and history share time. An art and physics scheme resulted in a school full of life-size wooden staircases which led nowhere.

High Tech High has achieved fame thanks to a documentary called Most Likely To Succeed, which showed the life of the school and has been screened around the world. At this school, written exams have been replaced by projects that are displayed to an audience of parents, alumni and locals. The teens don’t carry satchels of books and the corridors are locker-free. But everywhere there’s an air of purpose and good fortune.

This is a school that gets results for its pupils. Pupils are not elite: 15% have special educational needs, 50% are low-income and 44% of the graduates are the first in their family to go on to higher education.

High Tech High was envisioned by Larry Rosenstock, who rethought schooling for the 21st century. He looked at all the elements of a child’s education and he posed the question: How can a system of education that was set up to produce workers for the factories of the 19th and 20th century be relevant to young people today?

In previous generations, workers sat in rows in offices or stood in line by conveyor belts (1). They needed to learn discipline, patience and an understanding of hierarchy. In the 21st century, employment already looks quite different. With less job security and a fast-changing job market, workers need to learn flexibility, resilience and teamwork. In addition to academic skills, there will also be more focus on technology, politics and language.

The school teaches children aged 14–18. The youngest and most senior years share the ground floor, with the elders acting as positive role models for the newbies (2).

The school’s approach to teaching and learning reflects Rosenstock’s approach. He discovered that if children made things as they learnt, their comprehension of the topic was improved. Deeper learning is based on encouraging critical thinking, learning to collaborate, and effective presentation skills.

1 conveyor belts: a continuously moving strip of rubber or metal which is used in factories for moving objects along
2 newbies: newcomers

Question:

Answer the following questions.
1. What is the surprising consequence of students making skateboards and studying maths in High Tech High?
2. Which words in paragraphs 1–2 tell us that students in this school do not wear a uniform?
3. Which word in paragraphs 1–2 means “not rigid”?
4. What was the result of showing the documentary in many countries?

Choose the correct answer.
5. At High Tech High...
A. parents help students with school projects.
B. people from the area teach classes in the school.
C. there are no cupboards for students’ belongings.
D. parents, alumni and locals set exams for students.

6. Which of the following is true about students at High Tech High?
A. Most students come from wealthy families.
B. Some students need extra academic support.
C. All students’ parents are university graduates.
D. Many students receive scholarships.

7. Larry Rosenstock...
A. was the first pupil to attend High Tech High.
B. wanted to educate factory workers.
C. criticized the system of education at High Tech High.
D. wanted to bring education up to date.

8. According to the text, workers in the past...
A. complained about their working conditions.
B. stood behind desks.
C. had to follow instructions.
D. worked very long hours.

9. According to the text, workers today...
A. tend to stay in the same job for a long time.
B. must be able to work quickly.
C. should study science at university.
D. need to adapt to different types of jobs.

10. Choose the four true statements.
A. The classes at High Tech High are for teenagers.
B. High Tech High offers evening classes for adults.
C. The youngest and the oldest students are taught together.
D. Older children show the younger ones how to behave.
E. The school courses are both academic and practical.
F. The school encourages students to be critical of themselves.
G. The school encourages students to work individually.
H. The school teaches students to communicate convincingly.

Answer:

1. Target answer: 95% go on to university
Accept: Other wording with the same meaning, as long as the percentage (95%) is included.

Text Evidence: "...where classes are just as likely to be making skateboards as studying maths, yet 95% go on to university."
Explanation: The unexpected result of the non-traditional, project-based curriculum (making skateboards alongside math) is the high rate of matriculation to university, quantified as 95% go on to university.

2. Target answer: casually dressed (teenagers)
Do Not Accept: a group of casually dressed teenagers

Text Evidence: "A group of casually dressed teenagers are chattering about their upcoming lessons."
Explanation: The reference to casually dressed teenagers implies that students are permitted to wear non-standard attire, confirming the absence of a required school uniform.

3. Target answer: fluid

Text Evidence: "Subject boundaries are fluid. Maths and physics are taught as one."
Explanation: The word fluid is used to describe the nature of subject boundaries, indicating that they are flexible and not fixed or rigid.

4. Target answer: (High Tech High has) achieved fame
Accept: Other wording with the same meaning
Do Not Accept: the life of the school/High Tech High has been screened around the world

Text Evidence: "High Tech High has achieved fame thanks to a documentary called Most Likely To Succeed, which showed the life of the school and has been screened around the world."
Explanation: The consequence of the documentary's worldwide screening was that High Tech High achieved fame and widespread recognition.

5. Target Answer: C

Text Evidence: "The teens don’t carry satchels of books and the corridors are locker-free."
Explanation: The statement that the corridors are locker-free signifies that the premises lack storage units (cupboards or lockers) for student belongings.

Option A is incorrect: The text mentions parents display projects but not that they help with school projects.
Option B is incorrect: The text mentions parents, alumni, and locals being involved, but not that they specifically teach classes.
Option D is incorrect: The text mentions parents, alumni, and locals replacing projects, not setting exams.

6. Target Answer: B

Text Evidence: "This is a school that gets results for its pupils. Pupils are not elite: 15% have special educational needs..."
Explanation: The fact that 15% have special educational needs implies that a proportion of the student body requires additional academic support to meet their learning requirements.

Option A is incorrect: The text explicitly states pupils are not elite and 50% are low-income, suggesting the contrary.
Option C is incorrect: The text states that 64% are the first in their family to go on to higher education, implying that 36% have parents who did not attend university.
Option D is incorrect: The text does not mention students receiving scholarships.

7. Target Answer: D

Text Evidence: "High Tech High was envisioned by Larry Rosenstock, who rethought schooling for the 21st century."
Explanation: Rosenstock's intent to rethink schooling for the 21st century demonstrates a clear objective to modernize and update the system of education.

Option A is incorrect: He envisioned and founded the school; he was not a student.
Option B is incorrect: His focus was on creating a system to benefit young people today, not factory workers specifically.
Option C is incorrect: He created the system, implying his goal was to improve it, not criticize it.

8. Target Answer: C

Text Evidence: "In previous generations, students sat in rows in offices or stood in line by conveyor belts. They needed to learn discipline, patience and an understanding of hierarchy."
Explanation: The necessity for workers to learn an understanding of hierarchy in previous generations signifies that they were expected to adhere to directives and follow instructions from management.

Option A is incorrect: The text mentions sitting in rows, but not complaining about working conditions.
Option B is incorrect: The text mentions standing in line, but not standing behind desks.
Option D is incorrect: The text does not provide information about their working hours.

9. Target Answer: D

Text Evidence: "With less job security and a fast-changing job market, workers need to learn flexibility, resilience and teamwork."
Explanation: The context of a fast-changing job market requires workers to possess flexibility and resilience, which is necessary for adapting to different types of jobs over time.

Option A is incorrect: The text explicitly mentions less job security, suggesting the opposite.
Option B is incorrect: While teamwork is mentioned, the emphasis is on flexibility for the changing job market, not just working quickly.
Option C is incorrect: The text mentions subjects like technology and politics, not a specific requirement to study science at university.

10. Target Answer: A, D, E, H (in any order)

A. The classes at High Tech High are for teenagers.

Text Evidence: "The school teaches children aged 14–18."
Explanation: The school's age range of 14–18 corresponds precisely to the definition of teenagers.

D. Older children show the younger ones how to behave.

Text Evidence: "The youngest and the most senior years share the ground floor, with the elders acting as positive role models for the newbies."
Explanation: The elders acting as positive role models for newcomers (newbies) means the older children are demonstrating appropriate behavior for the younger students.

E. The school courses are both academic and practical.

Text Evidence: "classes are just as likely to be making skateboards as studying maths."
Explanation: The combination of studying maths (academic) and making skateboards (practical) confirms that the school courses integrate both academic and hands-on elements.

H. The school teaches students to communicate convincingly.

Text Evidence: "Deeper learning is based on encouraging critical thinking, learning to collaborate, and effective presentation skills."
Explanation: The instruction in effective presentation skills equips students with the abilities necessary to communicate convincingly and clearly to an audience.

Option B is incorrect: The school is for teenagers aged 14–18; it does not offer evening classes for adults.
Option C is incorrect: The text states the youngest and most senior years share a floor, not that the oldest and youngest are taught together in the same classes.
Option F is incorrect: The text encourages critical thinking, not self-criticism.
Option G is incorrect: The text stresses learning to collaborate, not working individually.