PART 4

You are going to read an extract from a book about the origins of mathematics. For
questions }4-4;O, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the
text. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Ancient Origins the poor farmer pay for the per{ormance.

Preceding the use of astronomy and of mathematics for Wonder about the heavens eventually led, via the respectable
navigation and calendar reckoning there must have been science of astronomy, to mathematics. Meanwhile, religious
centuries during which men, filled with instinctive wonder and mysticism, itself an expression of wonder about life, death,
an awe of nature, with irrepressible philosophical drives, wind, rain and the panorama of nature, became concerned
patiently observed the movement of the sun, moon and stars. with mathematics through astrology. Of course, the
These seers, obsessed by the mystery of nature, overcame the importance of astrology in ancient religions must not be
handicaps of lack of instruments and woefully inadequate judged by its current discredited position in most cultures. ln
mathematics to distil from their observations the patterns almost all these religions, the heavenly bodies, the sun
which are described by the heavenly bodies. especially, had personalities and cosmic influences over
events on Earth. The wills and plans of these bodies might be
The early farmer learned to watch the face of the sky. He
fathomed by studying their activities, their regular comings
hunted, fished, sowed, reaped, danced and performed
and goings, the sudden visitations of meteors, and the
religious ceremonies at the times the heavens dictated. Soon
occasional eclipses of the sun and moon. lt was as natural for
particular constellations received the names of the activities
the ancient priests to work out a formula for the divination of
their appearance sanctioned. Sagittarius, the hunter, and
the future based on the motions of the planets and star
Pisces, the fish, are still in the sky.
constellations as it is for the modern scientist to study and
The heavens decided the time of events. But such imperious master nature with his techniques.
masters would tolerate no delay in compliance with their
Even if the heavenly bodies had not been thought to have their
orders. The farmer in many hotter countries, who made his
own personalities, a scientifically immature people would have
living by tilling the soil which the river covered with rich silt
had good reasons to associate the positions of the sun, moon
during its annual overflow of the fields, had to be well
and stars with human affairs. The dependence of crops upon
prepared for the flood. His home, equipment, and cattle had to
the sun and upon the weather in general, the mating of
be temporarily removed from the area, and arrangements
animals at definite seasons of the year, and numerous other
made for sowing immediately afterwards. Hence the coming of
similar associations, all made such a doctrine credible. To
the flood had to be predicted. Not only in hotter countries, but
ancient peoples, the coming of the annual flood on just the
in all lands, it was necessary to know beforehand the time for
day that Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, appeared at
planting and the coming of holidays and days of sacrifice.
sunrise meant only one thing: Sirius caused the flood.
Prediction was not possible, however, by merely keeping
Religious mysticism expressed itself directly in the
count of the passing days and nights. For the calendar year of
construction and orientation of beautiful temples and
365 days soon lost all relation to the seasons just because it
pyramids. Although these monumental structures are to be
was short by a quarter of a day. Prediction of a holiday or a
found in many countries today, it is the pyramids of Egypt
river flood even a few days in advance required an accurate
which have received the most attention in recent times. The
knowledge of the motions of the heavenly bodies and of
pyramids of Egypt were built with special care because they
mathematics that was possessed only by the priests. These
were royal tombs, and the Egyptians believed that their
holy people, knowing the importance of the calendar for the
construction according to exact mathematical prescriptions
regulation of daily life and for provident preparation, exploited
was essential for the future life of the dead. The orientation of
this knowledge to retain dominance over the uninformed
these religious monuments in relation to the heavenly bodies is
masses. ln fact, it is believed that many early priests knew the
well illustrated by the temple of Amon-Ra at Karnak, which
solar year, that is, the year of the seasons, to be 365.25 days
was devoted to worship of the sun. This building was so
in length, but deliberately withheld this knowledge from the
positioned that, on the longest day of the whole year, the sun
people. Knowing also when the flood was due, the priests
shone directly into the temple and illuminated its rear wall.
could pretend to bring it about with their rites, while making

U What was the initial urge which prompted man to study the stars and planets?
A the need to develop methods of navigation
B the need for life to be regulated by an accurate calendar
C a desire to improve the woefully inadequate mathematics of the time
D the desire to unravel the wonder of nature

I /-6
 PRACTICE EXA\I

sky
a careful watch of the
35 Primitive farmers made performed'
should be
A to see wtlen ""rtain activitiesparticular constellations'
B to receive the blessing of of hardship'.
C to receive comfort in times rituals and ceremontes'
.- -^^^iaa
their religious
D for guidance in

36Farmersinhottercountriesneededtoknowwhenriverswouldfloodbecause
be disastrous'
A the results could potentially
B various rituals had to be prepared' it'
C their prosperity was dependent onelsewhere'
D their cattle needed to be moved
gTWhatwastheprincipalbenefittothepriestsofEgyptofpossessinganaccuratecalendar?
''" the people'
*;; maintain their power over
A lt enabled
perform religious rites'
B They knew when ihey had to the annual flood of rivers'
C They could p'"i"nO to cause
from farmers'
D They received payment
times astrology was
38 The writer says that in ancientand mathematicians'
A scorned nV uti'ono*ers standing of science today'
B held in similar esteem to thewith astronomy'
C discredited' in comparison the future'
D primarily used to try to divine
39Whatisthe.doctrine,referredtobythewriterinthepenultimateparagraph?
AThatthegrowthofcropswasentirelydependentonthesunandweather.
of the sun and moon'
of the position
B That animaL were aware
GThateventsonEarthwereconnectedtothemovementsofheavenlybodies.
in the sky'
important star
D That Sirius was the most
example of
the temple of Amon-Ra as an
40 The writer mentions
AtheimportanceofthesuninearlyEgyptianreligion'
royal tomb'
used as a
B a tempte wnich was also Egyptians'
ttre aOvanced building
techniques of the ancient
C
Dtrrematnemuti"utp,""i.ionwithwhichsuchmonumentswerebuilt.

(2 hours) Alter more than thirtY

PAPER 2 - WRITING in one ot
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AnswerthePartlquestionandonequestionfromPart2. , It quite
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PART 1 in a
question' Write your answer
in 300-350 words in an ir"t oo',r,'on to make living anY,
You must answer this pages' rrqe modern citY worthwhile
style on the following Or"r.to*iing has resulted in
has
"ppt"prirt" article on >vels of crime, and there
extract as part of a newspaper corresPonding decline
^
1 You have read the following a large city' Readers were asked
,^A ^^mmlrnitv ValueS. lt =
the disadvantages oi ri'indin '"J"t" responding to the
decide to write a letter I waY to live. ln even
to send in their opiiion"' Vou your own views' countrYside is a sate'
;""'*;;"it;d and expressing t hattar nlaceI tO
to ltve.
write any postal addresses'
Write your letter' Do not
129
 PRACTICF tX \\I

PAPER 3 - USE OF ENGLISH (1 hour 30 minutes)

PART 1

For questions 1-15, read the text below and think of the
word which best fits each space'
the beginning (0)' write your
Use only one word in each space. There is an example at
un.*"ri in CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet'

HERBS

in cooking and medicine has been lost' especially in

over the last hundred years, (0) ..ruq.q.of the art of using herbs
(1) ... people in the crowded cities had the space to grow plants or
industrialised societies. Until recently, "
did knowledge of herbs linger on' (3) " " the advent of
refrigeration'
vegetables, and so (2) ........... in the country
had to be disguised' and the appearance of
however, (4) meant that the strong smell of old meat no (5) """" '
declined rapidly'
packaged food and easily-available medicines, the growing of herbs
patchof garden' ora{71 sill orbalconylarge
Nowadaysthereis(6)...........anyonewhodoesnothaveasmall
(g) . ...... for a pot or two of herbs. These facts, coupled with the beginnings of a revolt (9) ' standardised

foodsandperhapsalsoamistrustofiheside(10)ofsomeoftoday,smedicines,meanthatherbshavetaken
(11) ........... a new PoPularity.
(12) ."""" good effect all year round' (13) " """ dried
The culinary uses of herbs are endless and they can be used
(15) "" """' there is now a vast range available Herbs
form or cut fresh. (14) .......... aids to beauty and for medicinal
are for all occasions and all seasons'

PART 2
given in capitals at the end of
For questions 16-25, read the tex!-below. Use the word
same line' There is an
some of the lines to form a word that fits in the space in the
LETTERS on the separate
example at the beginning (0). write your answers in oAPITAL
answer sheet.

The lmPortance of SYmbols

in (o) .dai\" life, DAY
A symbol is a word or even a picture that may be familiar
over and above its standard and obvious
but possesses specific connotations
meaning. lt points to something vague or (16) something which is MYSTERY

normally hidden from us or may even be quite (17) ' On Cretan COMPREHEND
ENGRAVE
monuments,forinstance,(18)intheformofadouble-headedaxeare
oftenfound.Weknowwhatthisobjectis,butwedonotknowwhatit
IMPLY
symbolises or what its (19) were for the people who used it'
things beyond the range of human understanding, we NUMBER
since there are (20)
use symbolic terms all the time to represent concepts
that are shrouded in
OBSCURE
(21)''...'...orthatwecannotfullyunderstand.ThisisonereasonwhvreligionsI
WORLD
(221 ... . ... employ symbolic language or images'
of the unconscious DEEP
Man also produces symbols spontaneously in the t23l """"'
of reality is enormously complex, PERCEIVE
mind, in the form of dreams. our {24)
clear how events in our lives are recorded by our minds' WHOLE
and it is not (25)
is revealed
what is clear, however, is that the unconscious aspect of any event
to us in dreams - not as a rational thought but as a symbol'

131
 PRACTTCF EXA\I

PART 4
For questions 32-39, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to
the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between three and eight words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).

Example:

0 Whatever happens, you are not to embark on the journey alone.

circumstances
Under .............r19..?!rpy.ryp..r.a.npr.q.?rc.y.q?.!q.?er............. out on the journey alone.

Write only the missing words on the separate answer sheet'

32 lf sales decreased dramatically, the company might go bust'

fall
Were ........ ' sales, the company might
go bust.

33 His efforls to find a solution didn't deserve such savage criticism.

criticised
He shouldn't ............... ... his efforts to find a
solution.

34 Nowadays I consider gossip to be far less important than I used to'

nearly
Nowadays I don't attach I used to.

35 This is the first time l've seen her in my life!

eyes
I ............... her before!

36 Since my arrival, you have shouted at me constantly.

nothing
From the ...... ..... ..... shout at me.

37 ln all probability I can convince Dave that l'm right.

likelihood
There's .'..... to my way of thinking.

38 They'll soon discover what she's been doing.

before

39 Didn't you realisdthat he had invented that story about rescuing those people?
occur
Didn't ....... up that story about rescuing
those people?

133