Unit 6 - Lifelong Learning

Section I – Joys for life

It used to be the case that once you had gained your expertise in life – whether that meant as a
bricklayer or an accountant – then you were set for life. Even in the USA, a country best-known
for development and change, patterns of employment were fixed fifty years ago, and the
concept of remaining in one company for a lifetime was not something particularly rare. It was,
in fact, the rule rather than the exception it is becoming today.

Section II – Change is the only const

Of course, professions do remain, but even if you are a doctor, a civil engineer, or a teacher, it
is highly doubtful that you will be able to rest on your laurels from the time you qualify to the day
you retire. Advances in medicine are staggering, with the field of genetics providing a whole new
way to treat disease. Structures grow higher and longer, with the tallest skyscraper today over
twice as tall as the Empire State Building, and the longest bridge over 100 miles long. Teachers
can now teach online and have interactive whiteboards to bring their lessons to life, and in more
and more classrooms, every student has a laptop.

Section III – Back to school, Doc

What career counselors, industry specialists, and recruitment agencies emphasize more and
more is something called lifelong learning. This is more than just the latest piece of jargon, but
rather a watchword, a philosophy to live by. Someone who embraces this way of thinking will
not see the school, college, or university door closing behind them as the end to their education.
They might expect it to land them their first job opportunities, but soon afterwards they would
expect to return to the classroom to develop new skills, update old ones, and expand their
career horizons. Those that reject this mentality risk finding themselves on the scrapheap at a
very tender age, as their field of work surpasses their knowledge and leaves them behind.

Section IV – Adapt or die

This radically redefines the needs we have from our educational system, and few doubt that
many of the old textbooks have to go into the trash. Indeed, old educational institutions are
finding it hard at times to adapt and remain up-to-date and could well find themselves irrelevant
and obsolete within our lifetime. Just as the new Silicon Valley companies morph and shift
effortlessly in response to the changing landscape, so must the education on offer.

Section V – New ways of learning

What does this mean in practice? Perhaps something as radical as reshaping the entire
educational path, so that students don’t go straight from senior high to university, but work for a
few years to get an exact idea of what they need from education. Or why not scrap university
altogether, and simply find colleges with evening classes that can teach you in a more modular
way, as and when you need a new qualification?

Section VI – The university of life

If you are literate, numerate, and computer-savvy, there are, in fact, fewer and fewer reasons for
staying in school after eighteen. Getting into the real world four years before your peers is going
to propel you far beyond where an entry-level post will put them on graduating. Going back to
college with the knowledge and support of an employer will make your education a collaborative
effort that ensures you have the requirements for the next big promotion.
 Unit 5 - Organic or Enhanced ?

Section I – Heading e
One of today’s latest crazes, popularized by the Internet and mainstream media, is eating
organic products. These products, such as vegetables and livestock, are grown or raised
without the use of fertilizers, pesticides or hormones. Advocates of these products believe in
a “greener”, back to nature approach and try to discourage people from buying from
supermarkets, as the bulk of produce on sale there has been enhanced with additives for
mass production.

Section II – Heading d
What does the term “enhanced food” really mean? Well, scientists around the globe are
constantly hard at work trying to improve the value, quality, and appearance of food on a
scale beyond our imagination. In order to do this they resort to measures such as cloning,
adding artificial coloring, adding preservatives and altering nutritional value. The reasons
behind this are to make the product look as attractive as possible and prevent it from
decaying easily, thus prolonging its shelf life.

Section III – Heading c

Science claims that food manufactured in this way is perfectly safe for human consumption
and has undergone a barrage of rigid health and quality checks by both independent and
governing bodies before it is released onto the market. Using these methods, food can be
mass-produced at a lower cost, making it more accessible for people in poorer countries. In
addition to this, food with a longer shelf life reduces waste.

Section IV – Heading g
While altering the DNA of our vegetable produce is not as frowned upon as it once was,
many people raise objections when the same process is used on animals. Animal activists
are strongly opposed to interfering with animal DNA in order to make it more desirable for
human consumption. Altering life in search of ways to nourish the population can often have
disastrous results, results that are often unpredictable and uncontrollable.

Section V – Heading h
This may be the reason why organic farms are on the rise, and although their produce is
pricier, more and more people buy from them when their budget allows it. In a recent survey
where consumers were asked which product they would buy if money was not an issue, an
amazing 67% said they would prefer to buy organic produce. Nowadays, a plethora of
information can be found on the subject through the Internet, and there seems to be a
growing consensus that there is just something inherently right about producing food as
nature intended.

Section VI – Heading a
Both ways of producing food are backed by strong arguments as to which is better. Organic
methods produce food the natural way, and science applies cutting edge technology to
address issues such as world starvation. Pushing the boundaries of what we already know
is a learning process which involves trial and error, but it also leads to the advancement of
our knowledge and the understanding of our natural world.
Headings.

a. Seeking Knowledge
b. Unhealthy Eating
c. Feeding the Masses
d. Food Technology
e. Back to Nature
f. Buying on a Budget
g. Food Production Ethics
h. The Old-Fashioned Way
i. Organic is Best Questions

Questions.

1. Section I suggests that:

A. supermarkets sell very little enhanced produce.
B. organic produce is more natural.
C. scientists approve of organic products.
D. we should only buy food from supermarkets.

2. In the passage, it is stated that enhanced food:

A. is free of additives.
B. has a short expiration date.
C. has no nutritional value.
D. contains artificial coloring.

3. Scientists claim that enhanced food.

A. is only produced for poor countries.
B. is unfit for human consumption.
C. is low in quality.
D. is more economical

4. Altering the DNA of food products.

A. is fine according to most people.
B. can be disastrous.
C. is approved by animal rights activists.
D. applies only to vegetables.

5. The survey revealed that.

A. organic food is reasonably priced.
B. the majority buys organic food.
C. buying organic food is a waste of money.
D. organic products are too expensive

6. Section VI suggests that.

A. future enhanced food will be more natural.
B. technology helps to produce organic food.
C. there is still much to be learned about nature.
D. scientists are most interested in world starvation.
 Unit 8 - Through the Eyes of a Child

Section I – Heading f
A famous actor once said, “Play is the work of children. It is serious stuff.” He couldn’t have
been more correct. From a child’s point of view the world around them is an endless
playground. Everything is new and exciting, both visually and emotionally. Although it may seem
to most of us that children spend their time aimlessly running around, screeching, or hiding,
there is, in fact, a lot of skill building, exploring, and problem solving going on at the same time.

Section II – Heading i
Imagination at a very young age is free of any restrictions of social conformity. It also has free
reign over everything that surrounds them. Everyday objects can be transformed in the blink of
an eye to become a child’s prized possession. A simple piece of wood can become a knight’s
sword, a colorful flower a princess’s jewel. This transformation doesn’t only stop at objects but
extends into powerful role playing, too. Becoming a brave knight or a princess is a child’s way of
exploring different scenarios and observing their outcome. These are the first steps they take in
attempting to socialize and gain social acceptance.

Section III – Heading a

Most of us believe that gaining acceptance by a group, be it society in general or the local tennis
club, is mostly a phase teenagers go through. However, studies have shown that toddlers, when
in a group, often play together, even though they are unable to communicate. This clearly
indicates the need in all of us to join in group activities. As children grow older and make use of
their communication and interactive skills, they often create storylines with individual roles for
them to act out. This is their way of exploring important social skills such as cooperating,
negotiating, and sharing with others. Little do they know it at the time, but they will use these
skills throughout their lives.

Section IV – Heading d
Other important skills children learn spawn from much more primitive urges, like the urge to
compete. Living species have competed with one another since the dawn of time, and humans
are no exception. As we watch children at play we see them competing with others as to who
can climb the tallest tree, or which team can run the fastest race. This is a prime example of
developing their large motor skills such as running or throwing, while their fine motor skills are
not that far behind. These skills include balance and hand-eye coordination, which is serious
business when attempting to scale a climbing frame in a playground.

Section V – Heading g
However, there are also non-physical benefits from learning how to play with others. Group
leadership and devising winning strategies while playing games, enables the young mind to
learn social etiquette. This teaches them how to operate in the best interest of a team rather
than just looking out for themselves. Emotions come into play when they are on the losing side
as losing is learning to accept defeat. This is when children need extra guidance and attention
to help them understand that defeat is probably one of the hardest things to overcome not only
in childhood, but all through their lives.

Section VI – Heading c
It is clear then that play isn’t that simple after all, and that it remains with us through maturity.
We never forget how to play, no matter how old we are. It’s just that our toys become more
sophisticated and our role playing more serious. So, the next time you see a group of boisterous
children at play, take heart! They are simply preparing themselves for the future!

Headings.
a. Lifelong team players
b. Working out
c. Grown up fun
d. Ancient growth
e. How animals play
f. Not just messing around
g. The inner game
h. The world of the theatre
i. The world remade

Questions.

1, Section I suggests that

from a child's point of view a lot of work is done during playtime.
children run around aimlessly while screeching or hiding.
after playtime children often reflect on their skill building.
all children see is an endless playground around them.

2, It is important for children to role play because

it frees them from social conformity.
they can see different things when looking at everyday objects.
it broadens their imagination.
it is the first step in learning social acceptance.

3, It is observed that toddlers play together because

they lack the communication skills to do otherwise.
it is a phase they are going through.
they feel better when they have company.
they easily get bored playing by themselves.

4, We feel the urge to compete at a very young age because

we are constantly striving to become winners.
we are an exception in life's grand plan.
species have been doing it for millions of years.
we need to do things better than others.

5, Children need guidance and attention when playing games because

choices winning is the only way forward.
they need to accept defeat as part of a game.
they might never understand how to defeat their opponents.
losing is unacceptable.

6, Our ability to play

doesn’t disappear just because we get older.
stops when our childhood ends.
helps us remember our childhood dreams.
isn't that simple to do after all.
 Unit 7 - Discovery

Section I – Heading a
Throughout history amazing observations and discoveries have been made by man. From
the discovery of how to create fire and design the wheel, to finding ancient civilizations and
new planets in the cosmos, we have been on a never-ending quest in search of the
unknown in order to understand the past and try to reshape the future. These discoveries
have been found in all fields of knowledge including science, history, and astronomy to
name but a few. However, no matter how amazing they appear to us, none of them are able
to surpass the discoveries made regarding the human body.

Section II – Heading c
Our brain enables us to observe and innovate by remembering information and shifting
through endless volumes of it while choosing the exact parts we need to complete our task.
A single brain cell can retain five times the amount of information stored in any
encyclopedia. In electronic terms, this is up to 1000 terabytes of storage space. In
comparison, the British National Archives, which hold almost 900 years of history, are 70
terabytes in total.

Section III – Heading g

As we go about our daily lives, it seems totally natural and effortless to perform a multitude
of tasks without giving any thought as to how our bodies work. Millions of tasks are done
every minute without the control of our conscious mind. Wounds are healed, eyes blink to
stay moist, the immune system is on constant stand-by, and the heart beats throughout in
order to keep everything going. These are but a few of the amazing discoveries attributed to
our bodies. Without them there would be little point in discussing breakthroughs in
mathematics or archaeology.

Section IV – Heading i
No doubt the greatest discovery in modern times is that living matter, whether vegetable or
animal, is comprised of minute living building blocks known as cells. Cells were thought to
exist in soft tissue only, but the truth is that fibers and even bones are made up of them. So,
what can we deduce from this information? Well, the discovery is that our unique lives are
not that unique after all. Our bodies are colonies of millions of living cells that we share our
everyday experiences with.

Section V – Heading e
Further understanding of our body enables us to probe into the world around us and try to
uncover its mysteries and solve its problems. Understanding the limitless potential in all of
us sets us free from mental blocks and gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate the
knowledge we have in a better light. This is the process that has spawned discoveries and
unique ideas throughout the ages.

Section VI – Heading f
The truth is that although we take our bodies for granted, we are constantly making new
discoveries about it. These discoveries are a step in the right direction, not only to broaden
our horizons but also to plant the seeds for future generations. In this way they will be able
to progress, explore, and discover the world around them. There is no limit to what we as
humans are capable of, and history is proof of this.
Headings.
a. Past and Future Discoveries.
b. Limitless Knowledge about Everything.
c. The Amazing Brain.
d. Discovering History.
e. Mankind's Infinite Potential.
f. Paving the Way for the Future.
g. How our Body Works.
h. History Repeats Itself.
i. Building Blocks of Life.

Questions.

1, Section I suggests that man is constantly searching for.

A. ancient civilizations.
B. new planets.
C. the unknown.
D. scientific discoveries.

2, According to the article, the brain.

A. stores five times less information than an encyclopedia.
B. only memorizes useful information.
C. retains an astonishing amount of information.
D. has one thousand gigabytes of storage space.

3, Section III suggests that.

A. our daily life is effortless.
B. there are few discoveries attributed to the human body.
C. the conscious mind controls our heartbeat.
D. some human tasks are controlled consciously while others are not.

4, The article claims that.

A. cells are only found in soft tissue.
B. fibers and bones have no living matter.
C. cells are the building blocks of all living matter.
D. living matter is unique to humans.

5, In fully understanding our bodies we are able to.

A. solve life’s mysteries.
B. challenge the knowledge we already have.
C. agree on pre-existing knowledge.
D. face more problems than previous generations.

6, According to Section VI, discoveries are important to us because.

A. history has proved it so.
B. they enable us to explore the world.
C. we expand on existing knowledge and help future generations.
D. they confirm our overwhelming knowledge