DIAGNOSTIC TEST

Testtaker’s name: ………………………….. Grader’s name: …………………………… No. of correct answers: …… / 40

PASSAGE 1 The history of American zoos
Nature on display in American zoos underwent a transformative journey starting with the inauguration of the
inaugural zoo in the United States in Philadelphia in 1874, followed by the Cincinnati Zoo the next year. By
1940, American cities boasted over one hundred zoos, with the Philadelphia Zoo setting a benchmark for
meticulous planning and superior funding that would shape subsequent developments. Embedded within its
landscape and mission—combining education with entertainment—it embodied enduring concepts in zoo
construction that persisted over decades. These institutions emerged during the late nineteenth century,
coinciding with the United States' shift from an agrarian society to an industrial powerhouse.
The nation's population more than doubled between 1860 and 1990, drawing a burgeoning middle class into
urban centres where they sought new connections with nature for leisure, personal growth, and spiritual
rejuvenation. Cities responded by establishing public park systems, bolstering the allure of nature tourism,
which gained further prestige with the establishment of national parks. Nature, once deemed beneficial to
people of all ages and social strata, became a fundamental component of school curricula, while collecting
natural history specimens grew in popularity as a pastime.
Simultaneously, disciplines traditionally grouped under "natural history" evolved into distinct fields such as
taxonomy, experimental embryology, and genetics, each fostering its own cadre of experts and research
frameworks. The ascendancy of laboratory-based research within American university zoology departments
widened the chasm between professional scientists and amateur naturalists, who previously enjoyed
broader accessibility to scientific pursuits. Zoos differentiated themselves from transient animal shows by
assuming roles as educational and scientific institutions alongside recreational venues. They democratized
zoological knowledge at a time when the intellectual divide between amateur naturalists and laboratory-
focused zoologists was deepening, attracting diverse audiences and swiftly becoming a hallmark of
progressive urban centres. They ranked among civic treasures on the same level of significance as art
museums, natural history museums, and botanical gardens.
Most American zoos operated under the auspices of municipal park administrations, reliant on public
funding and offering free admission. They curated extensive collections of mammals and birds, and some
reptiles, often competing to exhibit rare species like rhinoceroses to entice repeat visits. In the ongoing effort
to entice the public to return, certain display types fluctuated in popularity; for instance, numerous zoos
constructed special islands to house their substantial monkey populations. In the 1930s, the Works Progress
Administration injected substantial funds into zoo infrastructure nationwide, though animal collections were
typically organized by species in loosely classified enclosures.
While histories of individual zoos depict the 1940s to 1960s as a period of stagnation with instances of
neglect, new zoos continued to emerge across the country. The 1940s and 1950s witnessed the
establishment of child-friendly zoos, some featuring farm animals, while others experimented with novel
display arrangements. In addition to traditional taxonomic groupings, zoos began organizing exhibits by
continental origin and specific habitats such as polar, desert, or forest ecosystems. The 1960s saw a few zoos
pioneer behavioural exhibits like the Bronx Zoo's World of Darkness, showcasing nocturnal animals, even as
large cats and primates remained confined in stark, tiled enclosures reminiscent of bathrooms.
By the 1970s, a wave of reform surged forward, spurred by public movements advocating environmentalism
and animal welfare. Attention sharpened on endangered species and the welfare of animals in substandard
zoo conditions, prompting increased involvement by research scientists and the hiring of full-time
veterinarians. Many zoos previously reliant on municipal support sought private funding and began charging
admission fees. The prosperous 1980s and 1990s ushered in a new era of zoological exhibition, marked by
immersive landscape exhibits, particularly those themed around tropical rainforests, as conservation efforts
assumed primacy in zoo agendas.
Despite their popularity and proliferation by the turn of the twentieth century, American zoos have received
scant attention from historians, perhaps owing to their multifaceted nature and the inherent tensions
between their stated objectives of recreation, education, scientific advancement, and species preservation.
Zoos straddle a complex middle ground bridging science and spectacle, high culture and populism, remote
wilderness and urban landscapes, and the coexistence of wild creatures and city dwellers.
Questions 1-7.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
Write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
1. The ideologies underpinning the Philadelphia Zoo swiftly fell out of favour.
2. The inception of zoological gardens coincided with an urbanization trend.
3. In the era of zoo proliferation, natural history gained precedence in universities over other scientific
disciplines.
4. Cities acknowledged that zoos constituted an amenity on par with museums.
5. Between 1940 and 1960, several longstanding zoos necessitated relocation for expansion purposes.
6. Innovative funding mechanisms for zoos emerged during the 1970s.
7. Historians have engaged in significant debate regarding the foundational role of zoos.
Questions 8-13.
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.

Until 1940, more mammals and birds were displayed in zoos compared
• Up to 1940 to 8 ………………….
9 …………………….. were once highly favoured animals in numerous zoos.

In the 1940s and 1950s, zoos began showcasing animals based on their
• the 1940s and 1950s
10………………………. and where they originated from.

• the 1960s Some zoos categorized animals by 11 ……………………….

• the 1970s 12 ………………………. were taken on following academic concerns about

 animal care.

• the 1980s onwards There was a heightened emphasis on 13………………………

Questions 14-20
Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

List of Headings
i. Some of the problems that developed at Talbot Park
ii. Where the residents lived while the work was being completed
iii. The ethnic makeup of the new Talbot Park
iv. The unexpectedly high standard of the housing
v. Financial hardship in Talbot Park and a neighbouring community
vi. The experiences of one family living at Talbot Park today
vii. How to coordinate and assist the people who live at Talbot Park
viii. Raising the money to pay for the makeover
ix. A close community in the original Talbot Park development
x. Details of the style of buildings used in the makeover

List of paragraphs
14. Paragraph A
15. Paragraph B
16. Paragraph C
17. Paragraph D
18. Paragraph E
19. Paragraph F
20. Paragraph G
PASSAGE 2 A New Look for Talbot Park
Talbot Park, a housing project in Auckland, New Zealand, was once described as a ghetto, troubled by high
rates of crime and vandalism. However, it has just been rebuilt at a cost of $48m and the project reflects
some new think about urban design.
A. The new Talbot Park is immediately eye-catching because the buildings look quite different from other
state housing projects in Auckland. “There is no reason why state housing should look cheap in my view,”
says architect Neil Cotton, one of the design team. “In fact, I was anticipating a backlash by those who
objected to the quality of what is provided with government money.” The tidy brick and wood apartments
and townhouses would not look out of place in some of the city's most affluent suburbs and this is a
central theme of the Talbot Park philosophy.
B. Talbot Park is a triangle of government-owned land, which in the early 1960s was developed for state
housing built around a linear garden that ran through the middle. Initially, there was a strong sense of
neighbourliness. Former residents recall how the garden played a big part in their childhoods - a place
where kids came together to play softball, cricket, and bullrush. “We had respect for our neighbours and
addressed them by title - Mr. and Mrs. so-and-so,” recalls Georgie Thompson, who grew up there in the
1960s.
C Exactly what went wrong with Talbot Park is unclear. The community began to change in the late 1970s
as more immigrants moved in. The new arrivals didn't always integrate with the community and a ‘them
and us’ mentality developed. In the process, standards dropped, and the neighbourhood began to look
shabbier. The buildings themselves were also deteriorating and becoming rundown. Petty crime was on
the rise and the garden was considered unsafe. In 2002, Housing New Zealand decided the properties
needed upgrading. The question was, how to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past?
D. One controversial aspect of the upgrade is that the new development has actually made the density of
housing in Talbot Park greater, putting 52 more homes on the same site. Doing this required a fresh
approach that can be summed up as ‘mix and match’. The first priority was to mix up the housing by
employing a variety of plans by different architects. Some of the accommodation is free-standing houses,
some semi-detached, some low-level, multi-apartment blocks. By doing this, the development avoids the
uniform appearance of so many state housing projects, which residents complain denies them any sense of
individual identity. The next goal was to prevent overspending by using efficient designs to maximize the
sense of space from minimum room sizes. There was also a no-frills, industrial approach to kitchens,
bathrooms, and flooring, to optimize durability and ensure the project did not go over budget.
Architecturally, the buildings are relatively conservative, fairly plain houses standing in a small garden.
There's a slight reflection of the traditional Pacific beach house (a fale) but it’s not overplayed. “It seems to
us that low-cost housing is about getting as much amenity as you can for the money,” says architect
Michael Thompson. Another key aspect of the ‘mix and match’ approach is openness: one that not only
lets residents see what is going on but also lets them know they are seen. The plan ensures there are no
cul-de-sacs or properties hidden from view, that the gardens are not enclosed by trees and that most
boundary fences are see-through - a community contained but without walls.
E. The population today is cosmopolitan. 50% Pacific Islanders, 20% Maori, 15% Asian, 10% New Zealand
European, and the rest composed of immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, and Iran. “It was important that the
buildings were sufficiently flexible to cater for the needs of people from a wide variety of cultural
backgrounds,” explains designer James Lundy.
F. Despite the quality of the buildings, however, there should be no doubt that Talbot Park and its
surrounding suburb of Tamaki are low socio-economic areas. Of the 5,000 houses there, 55% are state
houses, 28% privately owned (compared to about 65% nationally), and 17% private rental. The area has a
high density of households with incomes in the $5,000 to $15,000 range and very few with an income over
$70,000. That’s in sharp contrast to the more affluent suburbs in Auckland.
G. Another important part of the new development is what Housing New Zealand calls ‘intensive tenancy
management’. Opponents of the project call it social control. “The focus is on frequent inspections and
setting clear guidelines and boundaries regarding the sort of behaviour we expect from tenants,” says
Graham Bodman, Housing New Zealand's regional manager. The result is a code of sometimes strict rules:
no loud parties after 10 pm, no washing hung over balcony rails, and a requirement to mow lawns and
keep the property tidy. The Tenancy Manager walks the site every day, knows everyone by name, and
deals with problems quickly. “It's all based on the intensification,” says project manager Stuart Bracey. “We
acknowledge that if you are going to ask people to live in these quite tightly packed communities, you have
to actually help them to get to know each other by organizing morning teas and street barbecues.” So far it
seems to be working, and many involved in the project believe Talbot Park represents the way forward for
state housing.
Questions 21-23
Look at the following people (Questions 21-23) and the list of ideas below.
Match each person with the correct idea.
21. James Lundy
22. Graham Bodman
23. Stuart Bracey

List of Ideas
A. Good tenant management involves supervision and regulation.
B. State housing must be built at minimum expense to the public.
C. Organizing social events helps tenants to live close together.
D. Mixed-race communities require adaptable and responsive designs.
E. Complaints were expected about the high standard of the development.
F. Too many rules and regulations will cause resentment from tenants.

Questions 24-26
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
The 'mix and match' strategy

One aspect of the Talbot Park project that some critics are concerned about is that the higher 24 ______ of
accommodation would lead to the old social problems returning. To prevent this, a team of various 25
______ worked on the project to ensure the buildings were not uniform. Further, they created pleasant,
functional interiors that could still be built within their 26 ______. Finally, the absence of walls means
Talbot Park is characterized by openness, making it easier to regulate behaviour within the community.

PASSAGE 3 The Analysis of Fear

Researchers are investigating the processes in the brain that give rise to fear in animals. The results may
lead to new ways to treat human anxiety.
Over the years, the majority of people acquire a range of skills for coping with frightening situations. They
will attempt to placate a vexed teacher or boss and will shout and run when chased by a hostile stranger.
But some individuals become overwhelmed in circumstances others would consider only minimally
stressful: fear of ridicule might cause them to shake uncontrollably when called on to speak in a group, or
terror of strangers might lead them to hide at home, unable to work or shop for groceries. Why do certain
people fall prey to excessive fear?
Ned H. Kalin and Steven E. Shelton at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are addressing this problem by
identifying specific brain processes that regulate fear and its associated behaviors. Despite the availability
of non-invasive computer imaging techniques, such information is still extremely difficult to obtain in
humans. Hence, they have turned their attention to another primate, the rhesus monkey. These animals
undergo many of the same physiological and psychological developmental stages that humans do, but in a
more compressed time span. As we gain more insight into the nature and operation of neural circuits that
modulate fear in monkeys, it should be possible to pinpoint the brain processes that cause inordinate
anxiety in people and to devise new therapies to counteract it. Effective interventions would be particularly
valuable if they were applied at an early age, as growing evidence suggests overly fearful youngsters are at
high risk of later emotional distress.
When they began their studies two decades ago, Kalin and Shelton knew that they would first have to find
cues that elicit fear and identify behaviors that reflect different types of anxiety. With such information in
hand, they could then proceed to determine the age at which monkeys begin to match defensive behaviors
selectively to specific cues. Finally, by determining the parts of the brain that reach maturity during the
same time span, they could gain clues to the regions that underlie the regulation of fear and fear-related
behavior.
The experiments were carried out at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kalin and Shelton discerned
varied behaviors by exposing monkeys between six and 12 months old to three related situations. In the
alone condition, an animal was separated from its mother and left by itself in a cage for ten minutes. In the
no-eye-contact condition, a person stood motionless outside the cage and avoided looking at the solitary
infant. In the stare condition, a person was again present and motionless but, assuming a neutral
expression, peered directly at the animal. These positions are no more frightening than those that
primates encounter frequently in the wild or those that human infants encounter every time they are left
at a day-care center.
In the alone condition, most monkeys became very active and emitted frequent gentle 'coo' calls made
with pursed lips. More than 40 years ago it was deduced that when an infant monkey is separated from its
mother, it yearns to regain the closeness and security provided by nearness to the parent. These responses
help to draw the mother’s attention. In contrast, in the more frightening no-eye-contact situation, the
monkeys reduced their activity greatly and sometimes froze for extended periods of time. When an infant
spots a potential predator, its goal shifts from attracting the mother to becoming inconspicuous. Inhibiting
motion and freezing are common attempts to achieve this in many species. If the infant perceives that it
has been detected, its aim shifts to warding off an attack. So, the stare condition evoked a third set of
responses. The monkeys made several hostile gestures: barking (forcing air from the abdomen through the
vocal cords to emit a harsh, growl-like sound) and staring back. Sometimes the animals mixed the
threatening displays with submissive ones, such as fear grimaces, which look something like wary grins, or
baring of teeth.
Having identified three categories of defensive behaviors, Kalin and Shelton set about determining when
infant monkeys first begin to apply them effectively. Several lines of work had led them to surmise that the
ability to make such choices emerges when an infant is around two months old. To establish the critical
period of development, they examined four groups of infant monkeys ranging in age up to 12 weeks old.
The babies were separated from their mothers, left to acclimatize to a cage, and then exposed to the
alone, no-eye-contact, and stare conditions. All sessions were videotaped for analysis. They found that the
infants in the youngest group (no more than two weeks old) engaged in defensive behaviors, but they
lacked some motor control and seemed to act randomly, as if they had not noticed the human beings that
were present. Babies in the two intermediate-age groups had good motor control, but their actions
seemed unrelated to the test condition. Only animals in the oldest group (nine- to 12-week-olds)
conducted themselves differently in each situation, and their reactions were both appropriate and identical
to those of mature monkeys. This finding meant motor control was not the prime determinant of selective
responding and that nine to 12 weeks is the critical age for the appearance of a monkey's ability to
adaptively modulate its defensive activity to meet changing demands.
Questions 27-30.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
27. In the first paragraph, the writer points out that
A. fear and stress are different feelings
B. most humans develop strategies for dealing with fear
C. business situations cause more fear than others
D. some people never experience fear
28. When discussing the use of rhesus monkeys as experimental subjects, the writer notes that
A. they react more quickly to fear than humans
B. they are more influenced by fear than humans
C. their mental growth resembles that of humans
D. their brains work more slowly than those of humans
29. Which of the following did Kalin and Shelton outline as the second stage in their research project?
A. the identification of expressions of anxiety in monkeys
B. the identification of situations that arouse stress in monkeys
C. an analysis of brain development in monkeys
D. the study of reactions to fear in monkeys of different ages
30. In the fourth paragraph, the writer notes that the three related situations
A. reflect common experiences for infant humans and monkeys
B. highlight the similarities between monkey and human infant care
C. were predicted to cause monkeys more distress than human infants
D. were graded in terms of their potential effect on young monkeys
Questions 31-35.
Look at the following responses of monkeys (Questions 31-35) and the list of conditions.
Match each response with the correct condition, A, B, or C.
NB. You may use any letter more than once.
31. aggressive facial expressions
32. prolonged stillness
 33. a combination of contradictory signals
34. appeals for maternal protection
35. the production of soft sounds

List of Conditions
A. the alone condition
B. the no-eye-contact condition
C. the stare condition

Questions 36-40.
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Once they had identified three types of defensive behavior, Kalin and Shelton grouped the monkeys
according to their 36. ............ in order to discover precisely when they were able to respond appropriately
to different fear-related cues. They videotaped their results and found that monkeys as young as
37. ............ reacted to the cues but in a haphazard fashion. The researchers noted that they seemed to be
unaware of the 38. ............ who were around them. Despite demonstrating 39. ............, the monkeys in the
middle groups failed to react in ways corresponding to the experimental situation. The oldest group,
however, reacted in the same way as 40. ............ and the researchers concluded that monkeys are capable
of selective responding between nine and 12 weeks old.