Official Cambridge Guide 1 Listening Test 6
4 parts · 40 questions · 30 minutes
Rental accommodation enquiry
Questions 1–10
Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
ACCOMMODATION FORM: RENTAL PROPERTIES
Example – Name: Jane Ryder
Contact phone number: (0044) (1) …………………………
Email address: richard@ (2) ………………………… .co.uk
Occupation: a local (3) …………………………
Type of accommodation: a 2-bedroom apartment wanted (must have its own (4) ………………………… .)
no (5) ………………………… required (family bringing theirs)
a (6) ………………………… in the kitchen is preferable
Preferred location: near a (7) …………………………
Maximum rent: £ (8) ………………………… per month
Other requests: the accommodation has to be (9) ………………………… in the daytime
How did you first hear about us? through a (10) …………………………
Community police talk on crime prevention
Questions 11–15
Complete the sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
11. • The police officer suggests neighbours give each other their ………………………… .
12. • Neighbours should discuss what to do if there's any kind of ………………………… .
13. • It's a good idea to leave on the ………………………… .
14. • Think carefully about where you put any ………………………… .
15. • It's a good idea to buy good-quality ………………………… .
Questions 16–20
Which crime prevention measure is proposed for each area affected by crime? Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–G.
Crime prevention measures
A install more lighting
B have more police officers on patrol
C remove surrounding vegetation
D contact local police
E fix damage quickly
F change road design
G use security cameras
16. skate park
17. local primary schools
18. Abbotsford Street
19. shops on Victoria Street
20. supermarket car park
Planning a presentation on biofuels
Questions 21–26
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
21. Mike suggests they begin their presentation by
A explaining what kind of harm is caused by fossil fuels.
B pointing out that biofuels were in use before fossil fuels.
C ensuring students know the difference between fossil fuels and biofuels.
22. Karina doesn't want to discuss the production of ethanol because
A other students will already be familiar with the process.
B there will not be time to cover more important information.
C they may not provide an accurate description.
23. Which source of biofuel do the students agree is least environmentally friendly?
A sugar cane
B corn
C canola
24. What is the main problem facing the development of the biofuel industry in the USA?
A inadequate infrastructure for transporting ethanol
B not enough farmers growing biofuel crops
C little government support of biofuel development
25. Karina doubts that sugar cane production in Brazil will
A lead to the loss of wildlife habitats.
B create a large number of jobs in the biofuel sector.
C continue to provide enough energy for the country's needs.
26. Karina and Mike conclude that in order to increase the use of biofuels
A the price of fossil fuels must go up.
B more machinery must be adapted to use them.
C production methods must be more energy-efficient.
Questions 27–30
Answer the questions below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
27. • What TWO biofuel-related problems do Mike and Karina decide to focus on in the last section of their presentation? (1 of 2) …………………………
28. • What TWO biofuel-related problems do Mike and Karina decide to focus on in the last section of their presentation? (2 of 2) …………………………
29. • Which two sources of biofuel do Mike and Karina say are being tried out? (1 of 2) …………………………
30. • Which two sources of biofuel do Mike and Karina say are being tried out? (2 of 2) …………………………
Weak ties and online social networking
Questions 31–34
Complete the summary below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
31. In 1973, Mark Granovetter claimed that the influence of 'weak-ties' can affect the behaviour of populations in the fields of information science, politics and ………………………… .
32. Although friends-of-friends may be unlike us, they have similar enough ………………………… to have a beneficial effect on our lives.
33. An example of this influence is when we hear about ………………………… because information about them is provided by weak-ties.
34. Since Granovetter proposed his theory, other studies have shown that weak-tie networks also benefit our ………………………… .
Questions 35–36
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
35. Which does the speaker believe are TWO real benefits of online social networking? Selection (lower letter)
A people can gain higher self-esteem
B people can access useful medical information
C people can form relationships more quickly
D people can improve academic performance
E people can be reliably informed about current affairs
36. Which does the speaker believe are TWO real benefits of online social networking? Selection (higher letter)
A people can gain higher self-esteem
B people can access useful medical information
C people can form relationships more quickly
D people can improve academic performance
E people can be reliably informed about current affairs
Questions 37–38
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
37. Which TWO problems related to online social networking will increase, according to the speaker? Selection (lower letter)
A criminal activity
B poorer grades at school
C a decline in physical fitness
D less work done by employees
E loss of career prospects
38. Which TWO problems related to online social networking will increase, according to the speaker? Selection (higher letter)
A criminal activity
B poorer grades at school
C a decline in physical fitness
D less work done by employees
E loss of career prospects
Questions 39–40
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
39. Which TWO claims are made by Robin Dunbar about social networking sites? Selection (lower letter)
A They are not helpful for developing certain social skills.
B They cannot fully reveal a person's real character.
C They are not a good starting point for building new relationships.
D They do not encourage people to widen their social circle.
E They will not retain their popularity with the young generation.
40. Which TWO claims are made by Robin Dunbar about social networking sites? Selection (higher letter)
A They are not helpful for developing certain social skills.
B They cannot fully reveal a person's real character.
C They are not a good starting point for building new relationships.
D They do not encourage people to widen their social circle.
E They will not retain their popularity with the young generation.
Answers
1. 208 613 2978
2. visiontech
3. doctor
4. garage
5. furniture
6. fridge
7. school
8. 950
9. quiet
10. friend
11. contact details
12. emergency
13. radio
14. keys
15. locks
16. C
17. D
18. F
19. G
20. E
21. pointing out that biofuels were in use before fossil fuels.
22. they may not provide an accurate description.
23. corn
24. inadequate infrastructure for transporting ethanol
25. continue to provide enough energy for the country's needs.
26. production methods must be more energy-efficient.
27. global hunger
28. pollution
29. wood
30. grasses
31. marketing
32. interests
33. jobs
34. health
35. people can form relationships more quickly
36. people can be reliably informed about current affairs
37. criminal activity
38. less work done by employees
39. They are not helpful for developing certain social skills.
40. They are not a good starting point for building new relationships.
Explanations
- 1. 208 613 2978
- 'that'd probably be our home number so 0044 for the UK, and then it's 208 613 2978.' The 0044 country code is already printed on the form.Common trap: Already-given trap — 0044 is printed, so only the digits after it are needed.
- 2. visiontech
- 'It's richard@visiontech.co.uk. I'll just spell the company name for you. That's V-I-S-I-O-N-T-E-C-H.'Common trap: Spelled-domain trap — richard@ and .co.uk are printed, so only the company name is needed.
- 3. doctor
- The agent asks for her job, not her husband's: 'Actually, just your job for now, thanks.' / 'Me? I'm a doctor at the hospital in our town.'Common trap: Wrong-person trap — the husband's job is given first and then discounted.
- 4. garage
- 'But what about a garage - is that something you'll want the apartment to have?' / 'Yes, that's definitely important.' A garden is ruled out.Common trap: Similar-word trap — 'garden' is named in the sentence before 'garage'.
- 5. furniture
- 'what we don't need is any furniture - because we'll be shipping all that over.'Common trap: Negative-request trap — the item is named inside a 'what we don't need' clause.
- 6. fridge
- 'how about a fridge? We'll be selling ours before we come, so if possible, we'd like the apartment to have one.' A stove is standard and a dishwasher is only an example of what she could buy.Common trap: Appliance-cluster trap — stove, cooker and dishwasher are all named around the answer.
- 7. school
- 'you mentioned you have a boy - I imagine you'd like to be fairly close to a school.' / 'Good idea. That would help.'Common trap: Follow-up trap — the bus service is discussed straight after but is never made a location requirement.
- 8. 950
- 'prices start from around £730 per month, and depending on the area can go up to £1,200.' / 'Something halfway would be better.' / 'So, would your limit be, say, £950?' / 'I'd say so, yes.'Common trap: Price-range trap — the bottom and top of the market are given before the agreed limit.
- 9. quiet
- 'what I really need from any apartment is for it to be quiet - so I can catch up on sleep if necessary during the day.'Common trap: Reason-first trap — the night shifts explain why, but the form wants the requirement itself.
- 10. friend
- 'Actually, it was a friend of ours. He spent a few months in Fairfield a couple of years ago and he pointed us in the direction of your website.'Common trap: Channel trap — commercials and the website are both named; the friend is the original source.
- 11. contact details
- 'a good way to start is by talking to your neighbours and exchanging contact details with them.'Common trap: Paraphrase trap — 'exchanging ... with them' matches the printed 'give each other'.
- 12. emergency
- 'make sure you have a good discussion about the best course of action to take in case of emergency.'Common trap: Adjacent-advice trap — the 'anything suspicious' sentence sits immediately before.
- 13. radio
- 'always leave your radio playing - even when you go out.' The curtains are to be kept closed, not left on.Common trap: Paired-tip trap — curtains are the very next tip but they are closed, not left on.
- 14. keys
- 'do take time to think where the best and safest place is to leave your spare keys.'Common trap: Place-versus-object trap — the door mat and front door are places, not the item.
- 15. locks
- 'if you are going to spend some money, what I'd recommend more than anything else is that you invest in some well-made window locks for your house.'Common trap: Free-versus-paid trap — the preceding advice is explicitly the advice that costs nothing.
- 16. C
- 'One possible solution here is to get rid of some of the trees and bushes around the park - making it more visible to passersby and vehicles.'Common trap: Problem-versus-measure trap — the broken glass is the problem, not the proposed fix.
- 17. D
- 'The schools don't have the funds for video surveillance so we need people in the neighbourhood to call their nearest police station and report any suspicious activity immediately.'Common trap: Ruled-out-measure trap — cameras (G) are named but explicitly unaffordable.
- 18. F
- 'the council have agreed to begin work over the next few months to put in a new roundabout.' A new roundabout = a change of road design.Common trap: Failed-measure trap — signs and speed cameras are named as things that have not worked.
- 19. G
- 'we've been advising shop owners along there about what kind of video recording equipment they can have put in - we'll then be able to get evidence of any criminal activity on film.'Common trap: Dark-alley trap — 'it's dark' invites the lighting answer (A), but the measure proposed is cameras.
- 20. E
- 'we've advised them to get graffiti cleaned off immediately and get the smashed lights replaced.' Both are about repairing damage quickly.Common trap: Lighting trap — lights are mentioned, but replacing broken ones is fixing damage, not installing more.
- 21. pointing out that biofuels were in use before fossil fuels.
- 'I thought we could start by asking our audience what car engines were first designed to run on - fossil fuels or biofuels' — and 'The earliest car engines ran on fuel made from corn and peanut oil.'Common trap: Familiar-idea trap — fossil-fuel harm is raised as the misconception, not the opening topic.
- 22. they may not provide an accurate description.
- 'different biofuels use different processes and if we give a general description, there's a risk we'll get it wrong, and then the tutor might mark us down.'Common trap: Three-reasons trap — all three options are touched on within two sentences.
- 23. corn
- 'the production of corn ethanol uses up more fossil fuel energy than the biofuel energy it eventually produces. For that reason, I'd say it was more harmful.' / 'You're probably right.'Common trap: Least-versus-most trap — canola is called the least harmful in the same stretch of talk.
- 24. inadequate infrastructure for transporting ethanol
- 'it still has to be transported by trucks or rail because they haven't built any pipelines to move it. Once they do, it'll be cheaper and the industry might move forward.'Common trap: Ruled-out-options trap — farmers and government are each raised and dismissed.
- 25. continue to provide enough energy for the country's needs.
- 'as the population grows, and there are more vehicles on the roads and there's more machinery, surely they can't depend so much on sugar cane?' Her doubt is about sustainability of supply.Common trap: Doubt-direction trap — jobs and habitats are both mentioned, but only the energy supply is doubted.
- 26. production methods must be more energy-efficient.
- 'they won't replace fossil fuels until we can find ways to produce them cheaply and quickly and with less cost to the environment.' / '... making sure they require minimal energy to produce.' / 'Exactly.'Common trap: Near-miss trap — relative price and other engines are both mentioned right after the answer.
- 27. global hunger
- 'the biggest issue related to biofuels is that land is now being used to grow biofuels crops - and that's contributing to global hunger.' The two problems chosen, in either order across Questions 27 and 28, are global hunger and pollution.Common trap: Already-covered trap — pollution is first ruled out for the FIRST section, then re-introduced for the last.
- 28. pollution
- 'in some countries, the way that biofuel crops are grown and harvested still produces a great deal of pollution - really damaging to the atmosphere.' / 'That's definitely an issue we should look at.'Common trap: Either-order pair — global hunger and pollution both count, whichever gap they are written in.
- 29. wood
- 'Some companies are exploring the possibility of using wood, and seeing how that can be used to make ethanol.' The two sources accepted, in either order across Questions 29 and 30, are wood and grass(es).Common trap: Third-option trap — algae is raised as 'another possibility' but the key accepts only wood and grasses.
- 30. grasses
- 'And grasses. They're another plant that researchers are investigating as a biofuel.'Common trap: Third-option trap — algae sits between the two answers in the conversation.
- 31. marketing
- 'this influence was something highly important in the fields of information science and politics, and as you can imagine, marketing also.'Common trap: Already-given trap — information science and politics are printed, so the answer is the third field.
- 32. interests
- 'these friends-of-friends ... might not be like us but they can still have a positive influence because we share the same sort of interests.'Common trap: Setting-versus-shared-thing trap — social and work gatherings are where you meet them, not what you share.
- 33. jobs
- 'when our weak-ties get in touch and pass on details about jobs they think might be suitable for us.'Common trap: Straightforward example — signposted by 'An example of this'.
- 34. health
- 'Some of these studies have looked at how weak-tie networks are useful to us in other ways, and one thing that seems to improve as a result of weak-tie influence is our health.'Common trap: Number trap — a figure is given in the sentence before the answer.
- 35. people can form relationships more quickly
- The two benefits the speaker states as established are being reliably informed about current affairs ('this information comes from sources more trustworthy than local media') and forming relationships faster ('what we do have clear evidence for is that people are developing friendships and professional networks in a way that wasn't possible before - the process is faster').Common trap: Hedged-claims trap — the three wrong options are all raised but marked as debatable or unproven.
- 36. people can be reliably informed about current affairs
- The two benefits the speaker states as established are being reliably informed about current affairs ('this information comes from sources more trustworthy than local media') and forming relationships faster ('what we do have clear evidence for is that people are developing friendships and professional networks in a way that wasn't possible before - the process is faster').Common trap: Hedged-claims trap — the three wrong options are all raised but marked as debatable or unproven.
- 37. criminal activity
- Fraud is 'likely to continue' — 'people are using the personal data of others ... for criminal purposes' — and lost productivity at work 'reducing productivity like never before, and I doubt they can put a stop to this habit'.Common trap: Dismissed-claims trap — fitness and school grades are both raised and then played down.
- 38. less work done by employees
- Fraud is 'likely to continue' — 'people are using the personal data of others ... for criminal purposes' — and lost productivity at work 'reducing productivity like never before, and I doubt they can put a stop to this habit'.Common trap: Dismissed-claims trap — fitness and school grades are both raised and then played down.
- 39. They are not helpful for developing certain social skills.
- Dunbar 'maintains that face-to-face interaction is essential for the initial creation of true friendship and connections', and worries that an online-only experience 'doesn't allow them to form the ability or acquire the strategies for maintaining relationships' in situations needing negotiation or diplomacy.Common trap: Superficial-ties trap — the 150-friend limit sounds like options B and D but supports neither.
- 40. They are not a good starting point for building new relationships.
- Dunbar 'maintains that face-to-face interaction is essential for the initial creation of true friendship and connections', and worries that an online-only experience 'doesn't allow them to form the ability or acquire the strategies for maintaining relationships' in situations needing negotiation or diplomacy.Common trap: Superficial-ties trap — the 150-friend limit sounds like options B and D but supports neither.
Audio transcripts
Part 1 — Rental accommodation enquiry
Agent: Fairfield Rentals. Andrew Williams. How can I help you? Jane: Oh hello. I'm calling from the UK - um, my family are moving to Canada early next year, and we're hoping to find somewhere to rent in Fairfield for the first six months while we settle in. Agent: Right, I see. Well, let's get your details. Jane: Yes, my name's Jane Ryder. Agent: OK, Jane. And can I have a phone number - the best number to get you on? Jane: Well, that'd probably be our home number so 0044 for the UK, and then it's 208 613 2978. Agent: Alright. And an email address, please, so we can send you out all the information and forms. Jane: I think it's best if I give you my husband's email - he's sitting in front of a computer all day so he can print stuff off and get it back to you sooner than I could. It's richard@visiontech.co.uk. I'll just spell the company name for you. That's V-I-S-I-O-N-T-E-C-H. Agent: Great. And we have a question here about occupation. Jane: Richard's an IT specialist for an advertising company. They're transferring him to their Fairfield branch. Agent: Actually, just your job for now, thanks. Jane: Me? I'm a doctor at the hospital in our town. Agent: OK, I'll put that down. Now, what kind of accommodation are you looking for? House, apartment? Jane: An apartment, probably, as long as it has two bedrooms. There'll be me, my husband and our ten-year-old son. Agent: And so with an apartment, you're less likely to get a garden. Jane: That's OK. Agent: But what about a garage - is that something you'll want the apartment to have? Jane: Yes, that's definitely important. Agent: OK, just a moment, I'll just make a note of that. Jane: But - er before we go on - I should probably say now that what we don't need is any furniture - because we'll be shipping all that over, and I don't really want to pay for storage while we're waiting to buy a house. Agent: Not a problem. I'll make a note of that. Jane: Actually, though, just thinking about the kitchen, what can I expect from a rental property? I mean, what kind of equipment is provided? Agent: Well, the normal thing is that you get a stove - I think that's a cooker in British English. Jane: OK, good to know, but how about a fridge? We'll be selling ours before we come, so if possible, we'd like the apartment to have one for when we arrive. Agent: I can certainly add that to the form. If there's any other whiteware that you need - like a dishwasher for example, there are plenty of stores here that'll arrange delivery on the same day as purchase. Jane: Thanks. Hopefully we won't need to buy too many things. Agent: Now, how about location? Have you done any research into the Fairfield area? Jane: Not that much so far. Agent: Well, you mentioned you have a boy - I imagine you'd like to be fairly close to a school. Jane: Good idea. That would help. What's public transport like in Fairfield? Is it easy to get around? Agent: The bus service is pretty comprehensive - there are plenty of local routes, services into the city and out of town. Jane: OK, and for a two-bedroom apartment - what sort of rent should we expect to pay? Agent: Well, looking at the properties we have at the moment, prices start from around 730 pounds per month, and depending on the area can go up to 1,200 pounds. Jane: That's too much. Something halfway would be better. Agent: So, would your limit be, say, 950 pounds? Jane: I'd say so, yes. Agent: Can I ask if you smoke or if you have any pets? Jane: No to both questions. But I do have one more request, please. Agent: Yes? Jane: Well, I've also been offered a job - at Victoria General Hospital - and I suspect I'll be working nights occasionally - so what I really need from any apartment is for it to be quiet - so I can catch up on sleep if necessary during the day. Agent: Congratulations on the job offer. I'll add your request to the form. Well, what I'll do is compile a list of suitable properties for you and send them via email. Um, can I just ask - how did you hear about us? Obviously not from our commercials if you're living in the UK. Jane: Actually, it was a friend of ours. He spent a few months in Fairfield a couple of years ago and he pointed us in the direction of your website. Agent: Well, it's good to be recommended. So, what I'll do is ...
Part 2 — Community police talk on crime prevention
Police officer: Well, good afternoon. I'm Constable James McDonald, and as you may know, I'm the community police officer for the local area. That means that as part of my job - I try to get out in the community as much as possible - talk to the people that live in this neighbourhood - people like yourselves - and make sure there's an effective level of communication between the public and the police - hence the reason for this meeting. There have been several burglaries in the area in the last few weeks and I'd like to talk about ways you can keep your home and property safe. So, I'd suggest that a good way to start is by talking to your neighbours and exchanging contact details with them. This'll allow you to get in touch immediately if there's anything suspicious happening next door. Then, make sure you have a good discussion about the best course of action to take in case of emergency - make sure everyone is clear about what to do and who to call. If you plan ahead, this'll prevent uncertainty and even panic should anything happen later. Another thing that I would advise you to do is always leave your radio playing - even when you go out. And if you keep your curtains closed, burglars are less likely to try and break in because they can't be sure whether someone's home or not. Now, none of us want to be in the situation where we can't get into our own home, but do take time to think where the best and safest place is to leave your spare keys. Putting them under the door mat or anywhere near the front door is just asking for trouble. You'd be surprised how many people actually do this - and it makes life really easy for burglars. All these things will help keep your community safe and will cost you nothing. However, if you are going to spend some money, what I'd recommend more than anything else is that you invest in some well-made window locks for your house. This will give you peace of mind. OK, moving on. Unfortunately, there's been an increase in the number of minor crimes and anti-social behaviour in the general area and I want to talk about some specific prevention measures that are being proposed. First of all, the skate park. As you probably know, it's well used by younger people in our community but unfortunately we're getting more and more reports of broken glass - making it especially dangerous for younger children. One possible solution here is to get rid of some of the trees and bushes around the park - making it more visible to passersby and vehicles. If the vandals know they're being watched, this might act as a deterrent. As you will have heard, a couple of local primary schools have also been vandalised recently - despite the presence of security guards. The schools don't have the funds for video surveillance so we need people in the neighbourhood to call their nearest police station and report any suspicious activity immediately. Please don't hesitate to do this. I expect most of you are familiar with the problems facing Abbotsford Street. It seems that no amount of warning signs or speed cameras will slow speeding drivers down. I'm happy to say, however, that the council have agreed to begin work over the next few months to put in a new roundabout. What else? Oh, yes. The newsagent and the gift shop on Victoria Street were both broken into last week, and although no money was taken, the properties have suffered some serious damage. Access was gained to these shops through the small alleyway at the back of the properties - it's dark and as you can imagine, no one saw the thief or thieves in action. So, we've been advising shop owners along there about what kind of video recording equipment they can have put in - we'll then be able to get evidence of any criminal activity on film. The supermarket car park is also on our list of problem areas. We've talked to the supermarket managers and council authorities and we've advised them to get graffiti cleaned off immediately and get the smashed lights replaced. If you don't deal with this sort of thing at once, there's a strong possibility that the activity will increase and spread, and then it becomes ...
Part 3 — Planning a presentation on biofuels
Karina: Hi, Mike. How's it going? Mike: Actually, I was up last night with an assignment so - yeah, I'm tired, but I guess we'd better sort this presentation out. Karina: Well, we've done enough background reading, but I think we need to organise exactly what we're going to say about biofuels during the presentation, and the order. Mike: I thought we could start by asking our audience what car engines were first designed to run on - fossil fuels or biofuels. Karina: Nice idea. Mike: Yes, when most people think about cars and fuel, they think about all the carbon dioxide that's produced, but they don't realise that that wasn't always the case. Karina: You're probably right. The earliest car engines ran on fuel made from corn and peanut oil, didn't they? Mike: Yes. The manufacturers used the corn and peanut oil and turned them into a kind of very pure alcohol. Karina: You mean ethanol? Mike: Yes. In fact, most biofuels are still based on ethanol. Actually, I've got some notes here about the process of turning plant-matter into ethanol - the chemical reactions and the fermentation stages and ... Karina: It's interesting - the other students would appreciate it, but different biofuels use different processes and if we give a general description, there's a risk we'll get it wrong, and then the tutor might mark us down. I'd rather we focus on the environmental issues. Mike: Fair enough. So, um the main plants that are used for biofuel production now are sugar cane, corn ... Karina: And canola. Of all of them, canola is probably the least harmful because machines that use it don't produce as much carbon monoxide. Mike: Sugar cane seems to be controversial. It doesn't require as much fertilizer as corn does to grow, but when they burn the sugar cane fields, that releases loads of greenhouse gases. Karina: Yes, but some critics have suggested that the production of corn ethanol uses up more fossil fuel energy than the biofuel energy it eventually produces. For that reason, I'd say it was more harmful to the environment. Mike: I see what you mean. You're probably right. It's interesting how everyone saw the biofuel industry as the answer to our energy problems, but in some ways, biofuels have created new problems. Karina: Well, in the USA, I wouldn't say that farmers are having problems - the biofuel industry for them has turned out to be really profitable. Mike: I think, though, that even in the USA, ethanol is still only used as an additive to gasoline, or petrol. The problem is that it still has to be transported by trucks or rail because they haven't built any pipelines to move it. Once they do, it'll be cheaper and the industry might move forward. Karina: That'll have to happen one day. At least the government are in favour of biofuel development. Mike: Yes. But Brazil's probably in the lead as far as biofuels are concerned - they've got to the point where they don't need to import any oil now. Karina: Which is great, and the industry in Brazil employs a huge number of people, but is it sustainable? I mean, as the population grows, and there are more vehicles on the roads and there's more machinery, surely they can't depend so much on sugar cane? At some point, there has to be a limit on how much land can be used for sugar cane production - certainly if you want to preserve natural habitats and native wildlife. Mike: I think that whatever problems Brazil's facing now the same will be true for any country - you have to weigh up the pros and cons. Karina: Well, we probably won't see an increase in biofuel use - I mean, they won't replace fossil fuels until we can find ways to produce them cheaply and quickly and with less cost to the environment. Mike: ... making sure they require minimal energy to produce. Karina: Exactly. And in a way that means they have to cost less than fossil fuels - certainly when you're filling up your car. Mike: Yes, and whatever other kind of engines use fossil fuels at the moment. Karina: Alright, so in the last section of the presentation, what problems are we focusing on? Mike: Well, we've already had a look at different types of pollution in the first section, so we can leave that out, but the biggest issue related to biofuels is that land is now being used to grow biofuels crops - and that's contributing to global hunger. Karina: Indeed. It doesn't seem right we're using corn to run cars when people can't afford to buy it to eat. Yes, let's talk about that. The other thing is that in some countries, the way that biofuel crops are grown and harvested still produces a great deal of pollution - really damaging to the atmosphere. Mike: OK, that's definitely an issue we should look at. Karina: Let's not finish on a negative note, though. Why don't we talk about the potential new sources of biofuel so rather than corn and sugar cane what other plants could be used? Mike: Good. Some companies are exploring the possibility of using wood, and seeing how that can be used to make ethanol. Karina: Yes, and algae is another possibility. You can grow it in any water and it absorbs pollutants, too. Mike: I read that. And grasses. They're another plant that researchers are investigating as a biofuel. Karina: And these kind of plants aren't used as food, which is why ...
Part 4 — Weak ties and online social networking
Lecturer: Good morning. Today we're thinking about the way that technology is influencing our social structures and the way we interact with one another. Humans, as we know, have always lived in groups; without this arrangement, our species would have died out long ago. But now, the way we see and define our group is changing. I'd like to start by mentioning the research of American sociologist Mark Granovetter in 1973. It was Granovetter who first coined the term 'weak-ties', which he used to refer to people's loose acquaintances - in other words, friends-of-friends. His research showed that weak-ties had a significant effect on the behaviour and choices of populations - and this influence was something highly important in the fields of information science and politics, and as you can imagine, marketing also. So, these friends-of-friends, people we might spend time with at social or work gatherings, might not be like us but they can still have a positive influence because we share the same sort of interests. That's enough to make a connection - and this connection can turn out to be more beneficial than we might suspect. An example of this, an example of how the connection can influence us, is when our weak-ties get in touch and pass on details about jobs they think might be suitable for us. Well, since Granovetter first came up with this theory, his work has been cited in over 19,000 papers. Some of these studies have looked at how weak-tie networks are useful to us in other ways, and one thing that seems to improve as a result of weak-tie influence is our health. Today, our number of weak-tie acquaintances has exploded due to the Internet - to the phenomenon of online social networking. This is still a relatively new way of communication - something that has a huge amount of potential - but also, as with any invention, it brings with it a new set of problems. Let's start with the benefits. Without question, online social networking allows us to pass on the latest news to be up-to-date with local and global events and for many, this information comes from sources more trustworthy than local media. So, this is one clear point in favour of online social networking. I know that it's also being used by students as a means of increasing their chances of success - in the way that lecture notes can be shared and ideas discussed. I think, personally speaking, that we need some further research before we can definitively say whether it helps or not. There's also been a great increase in the number of networking sites devoted to sharing advice on health issues but there are as yet no studies to prove the reliability of that advice. Now, what we do have clear evidence for is that people are developing friendships and professional networks in a way that wasn't possible before - the process is faster. I'm not talking about quality here, but simply that they exist. And it's debatable whether the number of online friends that you have increases your level of self-confidence - that's perhaps an area of research some of you might be interested in following up. Turning to the problems, there are any number of articles connecting online activity to falling levels of physical fitness but it's too easy to blame the Internet for our social problems. The poor grades of school children are also frequently linked to the time spent on social networking sites, but it would be naive to believe there are no other contributing factors. One real concern, however, is the increase in the amount of fraud. Where for example, people are using the personal data of others, which they've put online, for criminal purposes. This kind of activity seems likely to continue. And then, certainly for employers, online social networking sites have provided a great time-wasting opportunity - reducing productivity like never before, and I doubt they can put a stop to this habit, no matter what restrictions are in place. We'll come back to these issues in a minute, but I'd like to say something about the theories of Robin Dunbar - an anthropologist at Oxford University. Dunbar has found that the human brain has evolved in a way that means we can only give real attention to a particular number of people. 150, apparently. So, for example, if the number of friends on your online network is greater than that, according to Dunbar, this would imply the relationships are only superficial. Dunbar is not against online relationships, but he maintains that face-to-face interaction is essential for the initial creation of true friendship and connections. He's concerned that for young people if their only experience of forming relationships is online - this doesn't allow them to form the ability or acquire the strategies for maintaining relationships, for example, in situations where negotiation or diplomacy is required, or where it's essential for ...
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