Cambridge 18 Academic Reading Test 3

READING PASSAGE 1

Questions 1-4

Reading Passage 1 has eight sections, A-H.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

1 an explanation of the industrial processes that create potential raw materials for concrete

A B C D E F G H

2 a reference to the various locations where high-rise wooden buildings can be found

A B C D E F G H

3 an indication of how widely available the raw materials of concrete are

A B C D E F G H

4 the belief that more high-rise wooden buildings are needed before wood can be regarded as a viable construction material

A B C D E F G H

Questions 5-8

Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 5-8 on your answer sheet.

Making buildings with wood

Wood is a traditional building material, but current environmental concerns are encouraging 5 to use wood in modern construction projects. Using wood, however, has its challenges. For example, as 6 in the atmosphere enters wood, it increases in size. In addition, wood is prone to pests and the risk of fire is greater. However, wood can be turned into a better construction material if it is treated and combined with other materials. In one process, 7 of solid wood are glued together to create building blocks. These blocks are lighter than concrete and steel but equal them in strength. Experts say that wooden buildings are an improvement on those made of concrete and steel in terms of the 8 with which they can be constructed and how much noise is generated by the process.

Questions 6-13

Look at the following statements (Questions 9-13) and the list of people below.

Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

List of People

A Chris Cheeseman

B Markus Mannstrom

C Anna Surgenor

D Felix Preston and Johanna Lehne

9 The environmental advantage of cement alternatives may not be as great as initially assumed.

A B C D

10 It would be hard to create a construction alternative to concrete that offers so many comparable benefits.

A B C D

11 Worries about the environment have led to increased interest in wood as a construction material.

A B C D

12 Expense has been a factor in the negative response to the development of new cements.

A B C D

13 The environmental damage caused by concrete is due to it being produced in large quantities.

A B C D

READING PASSAGE 2

Questions 14-20

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-viii, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i A period in cold conditions before the technology is assessed

ii Marketing issues lead to failure

iii Good and bad aspects of steam technology are passed on

iv A possible solution to the issues of today

v Further improvements lead to commercial orders

vi Positive publicity at last for this quiet, clean, fast vehicle

vii A disappointing outcome for customers

viii A better option than the steam car arises

14 Paragraph A

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

15 Paragraph B

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

16 Paragraph C

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

17 Paragraph D

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

18 Paragraph E

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

19 Paragraph F

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

20 Paragraph G

i ii iii iv v vi vii viii

Questions 21-23

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 21-23 on your answer sheet.

21 What point does the writer make about the steam car in Paragraph B?

A Its success was short-lived.

B Not enough cars were made.

C Car companies found them hard to sell.

D People found them hard to drive.

22 When building their first steam car, the Doble brothers

A constructed all the parts themselves.

B made written notes at each stage of the construction.

C needed several attempts to achieve a competitive model.

D sought the advice of experienced people in the car industry.

23 In order to produce the Model C, the Doble brothers

A moved production to a different city.

B raised financial capital.

C employed an additional worker.

D abandoned their earlier designs.

Questions 24-26

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.

The Model E

The Model E was road-tested in 1924 by the Automobile Club of America. They found it easy to drive, despite its weight, and it impressed the spectators. A later version of the Model E raised its 24, while keeping its emissions extremely low.

The steam car was too expensive for many people and its design was constantly being altered. Under 25 cars were produced before the company went out of business. However, even today, there are Model Es on the road in the US. They are straightforward to maintain, and they satisfy California’s 26 emissions laws. Perhaps today’s technology and materials would help us revive the steam car.

READING PASSAGE 3

Questions 27-30

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet.

27 The writer describes the Romeo and Juliet lesson in order to demonstrate

A how few students are interested in literature.

B how a teacher handles a range of learning needs.

C how unsuitable Shakespeare is for most teenagers.

D how weaker students can disrupt their classmates’ learning.

28 What does the writer say about streaming in the third paragraph?

A It has a very broad appeal.

B It favours cleverer students.

C It is relatively simple to implement.

D It works better in some schools than others.

29 What idea is suggested by the reference to Mount Qomolangma in the fifth paragraph?

A students following unsuitable paths

B students attempting interesting tasks

C students not achieving their full potential

D students not being aware of their limitations

30 What does the word ‘scaffolding’ in the sixth paragraph refer to?

A the factors which prevent a student from learning effectively

B the environment where most of a student’s learning takes place

C the assistance given to a student in their initial stages of learning

D the setting of appropriate learning targets for a student’s aptitude

Questions 31-35

Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-l, below.
Write the correct letter, A-l, in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet.

Is streaming effective?

According to Professor John Hattie of the Melbourne Education Research Institute there is very little indication that streaming leads to 31 . He points out that, in schools which use streaming, the most significant impact is on those students placed in the 32, especially where a large proportion of them have 33 . Meanwhile, for the 34, there appears to be only minimal advantage. A further issue is that teachers tend to have 35 of students in streamed groups.
A. wrong classes, B. lower expectations, C. average learners, D. bottom sets, E. brightest pupils, F. disadvantaged backgrounds, G. weaker students, H. higher achievements, I. positive impressions

Questions 36-40

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

36 The Vygotsky model of education supports the concept of a mixed-ability class.

YES NO NG

37 Some teachers are uncertain about allowing students to take on MKO roles in the classroom.

YES NO NG

38 It can be rewarding to teach knowledge which you have only recently acquired.

YES NO NG

39 The priority should be to ensure that the highest-achieving students attain their goals.

YES NO NG

40 Taking part in collaborative outdoor activities with teachers and classmates can improve student outcomes in the classroom.

YES NO NG

Cambridge 18 Academic Reading Test 3

Questions 1-4

Making buildings with wood

Questions 14-20

The Model E

Is streaming effective?

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