Practice 1. Read the following passage, then answer the questions.
The use of computer-generatedimagery,orCGI,infilmshasbecomesocommonthateven
veryrealisticfilmswilloftenusesomeformofCGItrickery.CGItechniqueswerepioneered
in1973'sWestworld,whichusedaCGIshottoconveythepointofviewofarobot.Thiswas
followedin1977byStarWars,whichcombinedCGIwithpuppetrytodepictbattlesinspace.
George Lucas, the director of Star Wars, created a special division within his production
company Lucasfilm to develop new CGI techniques. Lucasfilm subsequently did CGI for
many other groundbreaking films.
CGI is now so advanced that it is hard to detect, while many films that would previously have
been animations are created entirely with computer design. This trend began with Pixarin
1995,whomadethefirstcompletelyCGIanimation.However,CGIisnowusuallycombined
with live-action performances. This is often done through the use of motion-capture
technology,whichtracksanactor'sbodyorfacialmovementsandthenmapsCGIontothem.
The use of green screens is alsocommon,whichallowsfilmdirectorstoincorporateactors
intoacompletelycomputer-generatedbackground.Theultimateaimofthistechnologyisto
create completely photo-realistic human characters. Given the pace of technological
development, that may soon be a reality.
Questions 1-3
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. The robot in Westworld was created using CGI.
2. Lucasfilm only worked on the CGI of Star Wars films.
3. A green screen allows actors to be placed in CGI settings.
VOCABULARY
computer-generated (adj)
imagery (n)
realistic films (phrase)
trickery (n)
pioneer (v)
convey (v)
puppetry (n)
depict (v)
subsequently (adv)
groundbreaking (adj)
advanced (adj)
detect (v)
animations (n)
live-action (n)
motion-capture (adj)
tracks (v)
photo-realistic (adj)
maps (v)
ultimate (adj)
Practice 2. Read the following passage, then answer the questions.
Although many people are bilingual or trilingual, individuals with a high degree of
proficiency in several languages are known as polyglots. Recently, there has been
considerable debate within the scientific community over whether the extensive language
ability of certain people can be attributed to biological or behavioural factors.
One theory is that polyglots are biologically different from those who are unable to learn
more than one or two languages. An experiment run by Dr Narly Golestani at University
College London has shown thatthesepolyglotshaveacerebralcortexwithadistinctshape
and structure, particularly intheparietallobes,areasthatareassociatedwiththeprocessing
of audio information. In addition, Golestani argues, the white matter that connects these
componentsofthebrainhasamuchgreatervolume.Thissuggeststhatcertainpeoplehavea
genetic inclination towards language acquisition.
It is widely accepted that genetics impacts an individual's ability to learn languages.
However, these experiments are notdefiniteproofthatabilityinnewlanguagesisbasedon
biology.Infact,thedistinctivebrainstructureofpolyglotsismorelikelytobearesultofthe
regularstimulusthatoccursthroughlearninglanguages.Ifapersonusescertainareasofhis
orherbrainmorefrequently,suchasthoseassociatedwithstudyinglanguages,itcanleadto
the alteration of the structure of this organ. Therefore, the physical differences found in
polyglots are probably the result of behavioural factors such as regular language learning,
rather than the cause.
Questions 1-4
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the Reading passage ?
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of thewriter
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of thewriter
NOT GIVEN it is impossible to say what the writerthinks about this
1. Scientists generally agree that language ability is due to biological factors.
2. An area of the brain is a different shape in people who speak several languages.
3. Genetics can influence a person's ability in their native language.
4. A polyglot's different brain structure is not something they are born with.
VOCABULARY
bilingual (adj)
trilingual (adj)
proficiency (n)
polyglots (n)
extensive language ability (phrase)
biological (adj)
behavioural (adj)
cerebral cortex (phrase)
distinct (adj)
parietal lobes (phrase)
associated with (v)
white matter (phrase)
components (n)
volume (n)
inclination (n)
language acquisition (phrase)
definite proof (phrase)
distinctive brain structure (phrase)
stimulus (n)
alteration (n)
organ (n)
