Copyright 1996

part of a social network, someone will notice
as the priniar) reason for the drop in
whether you look well or have been absent
participation, because they are no longer free to from the group Voluntarism cuts crime If you
\ olunteer for community acti\ ities or school
know your neighbours' first names it is more
nu i lings 
of a deterrent to crime than more police
Increasing Parent Teacher Association
Oln lousl), it is only one variable Beginning in
involvement in schools is more effective than
the 1970s, real income dropped, which led to
increasing teachers' salaries 10 per cent Living
the increase in I ho numbers of people working
on a block u here people go to church, even if
at more than one job — it now requires two
you do not go, means that you will hear about
incomes to maintain a similar standard of
jobs and consequently, will be less likely to be
living that one income provided in 1970 The
on drugs Areas with high social connectedness
apparent social isolation has also been abetted
produce better government services, less
by the explosion of new technologies
corruption and more efficiency

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The drop in membership in voluntary 
membership in other voluntary or religious 
associations is marked with a concomitant rise 
groups, could undermine the very democracy 
in cynicism and alienation The comergence of 
that has thrived on diverse interests 
these two growing trends — dropping out and 
It is going to require a lot of consciousness- 
|
0
gg
ln
g on — exacerbates the serious 
raising to drive home the critical role that 
consequences of a drop in political 
social interactions contribute to society, or just
involvement and a rise in social isolation Life 
as importantly, what their absence could lead 
on the Internet is unlikely to lead to the 
to Even one of the already mythical founders 
downfall of democracy by itself Nor is the act 
of the electronic revolution, John Perry Barlow,
of joining groups a guarantee that democracy 
wonders 'How can you guess what lies in their 
will thrive Growth of membership in right- 
hearts, when you can't see their eyes
7
'
wing religious groups, unbuffered by
Questions 28-30 
Complete these statements with not more than FOUR words taken from the 
text 
Write your answers m the spaces numbered 28-30 on the answer sheet One 
has 
been done for you as an example 
Example: 
'Voluntarism' may be defined as . . 
Answer:
membership (by citizens in) voluntary social groups
28 The drop in voluntary participation has been seen by Robert Putnam as a 
29 In recent years, because of the drop in real income, more people have had 
30 Users of Internet have to depend on a for information 

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Questions 31-35 
According to information in Reading Passage 3, match the following kinds of 
social behaviour with their effects and write the appropriate letter A-H in the 
spaces numbered 31-35 on the answer sheet. The first one has been done for you 
as an example. 
There are more effects listed below than you need. 
Example: 
Having social links ... 
Answer:
A
31. Being a member of more than one group ... 
32. Knowing your neighbours' first names ... 
33. Living near churchgoers ... 
34. Places where social networks are good between people ... 
35. The growth of Internet users ... 
List of effects 
A ... helps you stay healthy.
X
B
... makes it easier to hear about job opportunities.
C
... leads to social alienation.
D
... reduces crime.
E
... produces better schools.
F
... increases your lifespan.
G
... makes drug abuse more likely.
H
... have lower levels of corruption and higher levels of efficiency.
Questions 36-39 
Which of the following are mentioned in the passage as being a threat to 
democracy? Write YES or NO in spaces numbered 36-39 on the answer sheet. 
36. joining religious groups 
37. joining fundamentalist right-wing religious groups 
38. being part of the electronic revolution 
39. using the Internet 

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READING TEST 8 
QUESTIONS 1-14 
You arc advised to spend about 20 minute!, on Questions 1-14 which refer to 
Reading 
Passage 1 below