GR27

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Reading passage 1

A. Biologically, a child (plural: children) is generally a human between the stages of birth and

puberty. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person

younger than the age of majority. "Child" may also describe a relationship with a parent or

authority figure, or signify group membership in a clan, tribe, or religion; it can also signify beingstrongly affected by a specific time, place, or circumstance, as in "a child of nature" or "a child of

the Sixties."

B. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as "a human being

below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained

earlier." Ratified by 192 of 194 member countries. Biologically, a child is anyone between birth

and puberty or in the developmental stage of childhood, between infancy and adulthood.

Children generally have less rights than adults and are classed as not able to make serious

decisions, and legally must always be under the care of a responsible adult.

C. Recognition of childhood as a state different from adulthood began to emerge in the 16th and

17th centuries. Society began to relate to the child not as a miniature adult but as a person of a

lower level of maturity needing adult protection, love and nurturing. This change can be traced

in painting: In the Middle Ages, children were portrayed in art as miniature adults with no

childish characteristics. In the 16th century, images of children began to acquire a distinct

childish appearance. From the late 17th century onwards, children were shown playing. Toys

and literature for children also began to develop at this time.

D. The age at which children are considered responsible for their own actions (e.g., marriage,

voting, etc.) has also changed over time, and this is reflected in the way they are treated in

courts of law. In Roman times, children were regarded as not culpable for crimes, a position

later adopted by the Church. In the nineteenth century, children younger than seven years old

were believed incapable of crime. Children from the age of seven forward were considered

responsible for their actions. Therefore, they could face criminal charges, be sent to adult

prison, and be punished like adults by whipping, branding or hanging.

E. Surveys have found that at least 25 countries around the world have no specified age for

compulsory education. Minimum employment age and marriage age also vary. In at least 125

countries, children aged 7 –15 may be taken to court and risk imprisonment for criminal acts. In

some countries, children are legally obliged to go to school until they are 14 or 15 years old, but

may also work before that age. A child's right to education is threatened by early marriage, child

labour and imprisonment.

F. All children go through stages of social development. An infant or very young child will play

alone happily. If another child wanders onto the scene, he or she may be physically attacked or

pushed out of the way. Next, the child is able to play with another child, gradually learning to

share and take turns. Eventually the group grows larger, to three or four children. By the time a

child enters kindergarten, he or she is usually able to join in and enjoy group experiences.

G. Children with ADHD and learning disabilities may need extra help in developing social skills. The

impulsive characteristics of an ADHD child may lead to poor peer relationships. Children with

poor attention spans may not tune in to social cues in their environment, making it difficult for

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them to learn social skills through experience. According to population health experts, child

mortality rates have fallen sharply since the 1990s. Deaths of children under the age of five are

down by 42% in the United States, while Serbia and Malaysia have cut their rates by nearly 70%.

Source: Wikipedia.com

Questions

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1 to 14 which are based on Reading Passage 1

Questions 1 to 7

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A – G.

From the list of headings below, choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph.

Write the appropriate numbers I – ix in boxes 1 – 7 on your answer sheet.

1 Paragraph A

2 Paragraph B

3 Paragraph C

4 Paragraph D

5 Paragraph E

6 Paragraph F

7 Paragraph G

Questions 8 – 10

Choose the correct letters, A, B, C or D

Write your answers in boxes 8 – 10 on your answer sheet.

8 Children aged 7 –15 may be taken to court and risk imprisonment for

A. Civil act.

i. The biological definition of a child.

ii. 16th and 17th centuries.iii. The age of childhood.

iv. The UN definition.

v. Surveys on age limit.

vi. The stages of social development.

vii. The difference in enthusiasm.

viii. The social skills.

ix. The learning process.

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B. Criminal act.

C. Juvenile act.

D. Penal code.

9 A child is the beginning of

A. A grown up.

B. Adulthood.

C. Old age.

D. Youth.

10 In the nineteenth century, children younger than seven years old were believed

A. Incapable of crime.

B. Capable of crime.

C. Vulnerable.

D. Non responsive to crime.

Questions 11 – 14

Complete each of the following statements (questions 11 – 14) with the best endings A – G from the box

below

Write the appropriate letters A – G in boxes 11 – 14 on your answer sheet.

11 An infant or very young child will

12 Society began to relate to the child not as a miniature adult but

13 a child is anyone between birth and puberty or

14 Minimum employment age and marriage age

A As a full grown adult.

B As a person of a lower level of maturity.

C Play alone happily.

D Between infancy and adulthood.

E Not resemble the old. F Is constant.

G Also vary.

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Reading passage 2

A. In 2007, MPs in the UK voted by a huge margin to ban smoking from all public places including

pubs and private members' clubs in England. The Commons decided by a margin of 200 to

impose a ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces. This law took effect on 1 July 2007.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the change would "save thousands of people's lives. I'm

absolutely delighted. This is really a historic day for public health." Ministers gave a free vote

amid fears Labour MPs could rebel against plans to exempt clubs and pubs not serving food.

B. The Cabinet was split on how far restrictions - set out in the Health Bill - should go, with

Conservatives calling government policy a 'shambles'. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chancellor

Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Charles Clarke all voted for a blanket ban. But Deputy Prime

Minister John Prescott, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, Defence Secretary John Reid andEducation Secretary Ruth Kelly opposed it.

C. Elspeth Lee, of Cancer Research UK , said: "This is really going to affect generations to come and

make the nation a lot healthier." However, Simon Clark, director of smoking support group

Forest , said: "This is a double whammy and an unnecessary and illiberal piece of legislation that

denies freedom of choice to millions of people. The Government should educate people about

the health risks of smoking but politicians have no right to force people to quit by making it

more difficult for people to consume a legal product."

D. The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only in pubs serving food, in line with

Labour's election manifesto. A free vote was offered after many Labour MPs, fearing a partial

ban could increase health inequalities among customers and staff, threatened to rebel.

Ministers came up with three choices: a total ban; exempting private clubs; or exempting clubs

and pubs not serving food. Many MPs opposed a smoking ban on civil liberties grounds.

E. The government predicts an estimated 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of the

law change. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said ministers had "put forward proposals

which their own backbenchers thought were completely unworkable". But it was "a very

important step"; he added there "had to be a culture that encourages better health".

Conservative MPs were offered a free vote on the issue. Liberal Democrat health spokesman

Steve Webb said: "This legislation is good news for tens of thousands of bar staff up and down

the country. The key issue has always been the health and safety of people who work in publicplaces." In a recent report, the Commons health select committee said a total ban was the "only

effective means" of protecting public health.

F. Employment law consultancy Peninsula found that 91 per cent of workers are in favour of the

legislation. A survey conducted by the British Thoracic Society concluded that far from having a

negative impact the smoking ban has provided a welcome boost for business. Similar smoking

bans have been introduced in more than a dozen U.S. states, including California and New York,

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as well as in Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, but the U.K. is the largest country thus far to

adopt a national ban.

G. To explain the changes, the government paid for TV advertisements, national newspaper ads,

and billboards and signs on trains and buses. One showed a man walking through different

locations -- a cafe, a pub, a garage and an office -- explaining that smoking would be banned

from all enclosed public places from July 1. A second advert showed the same man walking

through a pub, a garage and a restaurant, warning people they could be fined for breaking the

ban. It is a company's responsibility to enforce the ban. A person who smokes in a bar could be

fined £30 (US$60), but the bar's owner could face a fine of as much as £2,500 (US$5,000).

Companies must put up no-smoking signs, minimum of about 3 inches (75mm) wide, including

in all their vehicles.

Source: Time

Questions

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15–

27 which are based on Reading Passage 2Questions 15 – 19

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 15 -19 in your answer sheet write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

15. People welcomed the effort of banning smoking in public.

16. Many of the critics also supported the ban.

17. In Europe and America smoking is banned in many places.

18. There are companies who are taking initiative to protest against the ban.

19. The smoking support groups blame the plan as hypocrisy.

Question 20 – 23

Look at the following topics (questions 20 – 23) and the list of statements below.

Match each topic to the correct statement.

Write the correct letter A – G in boxes 1 – 4 on your answer sheet.

20. Patricia Hewitt

21. New Zealand

22. Charles Clarke

23. Chancellor Gordon Brown

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Questions 24 – 27

Complete the following statements with the correct alternative from the box.

Write the correct letter A – F in boxes 24 – 27 on your answer sheet.

24. The smoking ban has provided a

25. The government paid for TV advertisements, national newspaper ads,

26. The Government should educate people about

27. The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only

Reading Passage 3

A People lose their heads quite often in Hindu mythology. On a father’s whim, a son cuts off his

mother’s head; demons are decapitated to expel the chaos-threatening poison lurking in their

throats; the fidelity of wives and the faith of devotees are tested by beheading; and, in the

rituals myth sustains, animals lose their heads to satisfy sacrificial imperatives. But, as Wendy

Doniger reassures us in her courageous and scholarly book, in Hindu myth “beheading is seldomfatal”. Nor is it without meaning and purpose, for decapitation proves a means of achieving a

creative fusion between apparently incongruous parts. Heads are restored, but they are also

misplaced.

B Doniger recounts a South Indian tale in which the wife of a sage is sentenced to death by her

husband. At the moment of execution, the Brahmin wife, from the highest of castes, embraces a

Pariah, a woman from the very lowest of castes, an “untouchable”, and in the confusion, both

A Is the health secretary.

B Smoking is banned.

C Investment banks are now relying more on client businesses.

D Is the Home secretary.

E Is the prime minister.

F Voted in favour of the ban.

G Played an important role in the proposition.

A In pubs serving food.

B Critical to the analysts.

C The health risks of smoking.

D And billboards and signs on trains and buses.

E Welcome boost for business.

F High market shares may be more resilient.

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women lose their heads. The sage relents, pardons both women and restores their heads, but

one woman now bears a Brahmin head on a Pariah body, the other a Pariah head on a Brahmin

body.

C This story is full of the kinds of multiple meanings that flash throughout this fascinating book. In

the anxious world of the “Brahmin imaginary”, it articulates high-caste fears about the

“confusion of classes”, the miscegenation of types that constantly threatens in this mixed-up,

decadent age. But the tale also hints at male violence (against women), feminine sympathy

(here a cause of calamity) and the misguided authority of a man who, in seeking to restore

order, is in fact responsible for creating even greater confusion.

D The metaphorical transposition of heads sheds light on other issues too. Attempts to uphold the

dharmic order through elite Sanskrit texts are repeatedly subverted by the “alternative” voices

of the subordinated and marginalized – women, pariahs, tribal people. Reading myths helps

reveal the processes by which the Hindu tradition, far from being a timeless monolith, has been

enriched by influences from within India (folklore, dissenting religions such as Buddhism and a

diversity of regional cultures), as well as from without, including Islam and Christianity. The

question is not so much where these disparate elements came from but how, through the

“infinite inventiveness” of the Hindus, they came together and stayed together.

E The Hindus is, in one way, a celebration of the inventive nature and permissive power of myths.

Myths give insight into human dilemmas and fears but they also create, above all in Hinduism,

the cultural room and psychological space to imagine an almost infinite range of actions and

consequences. Even if many of those possibilities are imagined expressly in order to be denied,

they retain the ability to generate new, alternative, sometimes contradictory ideas, as when

Ravana in rereadings of the Ramayana is transformed from demon to hero, or the long-suffering

Sita becomes a woman with attitude, enlivened by a hint of extramarital desire. Doniger

suggests that what myth makes possible in the mind can sometimes inform social behaviour –

inspiring the oppressed or creating the ideals to which the sati (the devoted wife) subscribes in

choosing self-immolation.

F Yet the relationship between myth and history is seldom simple. At one level, myths are more

than history. Born in a specific time, drawing sustenance from the everyday, they can illuminate

the changing material world, and can, as with the rights and status of women, chart significant

shifts in social practice. But they can seldom be read simply as raw historical data. Just because

people say things, even in seemingly authoritative texts such as the Laws of Manu or the Kama

Sutra, does not mean that they practise what they write, or that the events described

necessarily happened.

G Myths do not exist just to echo the zeitgeist. As Doniger points out, the Ramayana and

Mahabharata were roughly contemporaneous and yield extensive evidence of intertextuality

and yet they present very different outcomes: one is triumphalist, the other deeply tragic. And

while some texts, such as the songs of female bhakti saints, have a startling openness in their

treatment of rape, abortion and abandonment, Doniger is well aware that these critical insights

seldom transform society at large.

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Questions

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28 –

40 which are based on Reading Passage 3.

Questions 28 – 32

The passage has seven paragraphs labelled A– G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 28-32 on your answer sheet.

NB: You may use any letter more than once.

28. Mythological stories reflect certain human characteristics with a message.

29. The relationship between history and mythology.

30. Presence of frequent beheading in Hindu mythology.

31. The impact of mythology in common life.

32. The openness of Hindu mythology to other religions.

Questions 33 – 36

Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 3.

Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 33-36 on your answer sheet.

33. Though there are many instances of beheading in Hindu mythology but they are….

34. Above all, myths create … … and psychological space for imaginations.

35. The ‘Brahmin story’ denounces the dilemma between ….

36. The authoritative texts of mythology are more hypothetical than ….

Questions 37 – 40

Complete the summary of the paragraphs E – G below.

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Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet.

The Hindu mythological texts help us to look through the human 37 ……………. The Hindu myth often

creates a scope for the understanding of 38 ……………. Though myths are not direct historical evidences

but they refer to the 39 ……………. These myths can hardly deliver a picture of the 40 …………….

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