Useful strategy: identifying words with a similar meaning 1 1 B Our company = Here at Household Electronics
spent large sums of money = invested heavily
cannot find any evidence = shows no connection
between
our products = the screens we manufacture
harmful to health = headaches, eye problems or
other such issues
A is wrong because Olivia Downey works at a
laboratory, not a company, and her research has
found some evidence that screens may cause
health problems.
2 A The results of the research = the findings
not reliable = invalid
sample = subjects
the study = the experiment
too small = so few
B is wrong because Professor Lannighan explains
why a small sample size was used, but does not
mention the results of the research.
3 A possible to change = be able to alter
public opinion = the views of ordinary people
but it will only happen = If
facts and statistics = data
widely available = broad range of different media
B is wrong because Mei Tan is talking about a past
event, not a future possibility.
4 B The research done so far = the studies to date
encouraging = some very positive results
too early = until more work has been completed
firm conclusions = know for sure
A is wrong because Marie Dubois talks about a
‘variety of results’, not ‘encouraging’ results, and
she speculates that future research may require
an ‘alternative approach’.
Useful strategy: identifying what type of information is missing 1 2 y
on the screen itself: so, not in the room around
the screen
y
colour combination: so, this is a colour or shade
y
a strong contrast: so, this must be contrasting
with white
3 y
regular breaks: so, this must be something you
do on a break
y
stretch: so, this must be a body part you can
stretch
y
reduce fatigue: so, this activity must help
reduce tiredness
4 y
having: so, this is something you have or own
y
properly designed: so, this is something that
can be designed well or badly
y
posture: so, this must relate to how you stand
or sit
5 y
glasses or contact lenses: so, this must relate to
these items
y
correct: so, this must be something that can be
incorrect
y
optometrist: so, this must relate to the work of
an optometrist
