VWO Reading Skills - Difficult Exam Questions

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Make sure you have got your answers to Text 4 of the Difficult Questions stencil in front of you!

10 How does the writer introduce the subject in paragraphs 1 and 2?

1. by calling attention to ethical pitfalls regarding a recent scientific discovery
2. by describing possible repercussions of unchecked scientific experiments with human DNA
3. by mentioning potential reactions towards a controversial scientific development
4. by sketching a dark vision of the future containing disturbing scientific experiments

Stappenplan meerkeuzevraag (ABCD)

1. Grote lijn (® titel, plaatje, introductie ®) - het gaat erom dat je begrijpt waar de tekst over gaat
2. Lees de vraag (niet eerst de tekst gaan lezen!)
     ® Streep in de tekst de zin of alinea aan waarnaar verwezen wordt in de vraag
     ® worden 1 of meer alinea’s genoemd, dan staat het antwoord in het hele stuk
     ® wordt er 1 zin genoemd, dan staat het antwoord in rest van de alinea

     ® Lees het betreffende stuk tekst en markeer de signaalwoorden en dubbele punten: > daar staat meestal het antwoord!

     ® Probeer zelf een antwoord te formulieren voordat je na de opties kijkt

3. Haal onzin-antwoorden eruit: meestal 2 van de 4, dus je houdt 2 antwoorden over
4. Leg je vinger op de zin die aangestreept is en vergelijk de overblijvende 2 antwoorden met de zin waar je vinger op ligt > 1
     daarvan is altijd net ietsje beter.
5. Controleer je antwoord:
    ® Past het in de grote lijn van de tekst?
    ® Kloppen alle onderdelen?

Step 1 - Grote lijn (® titel, plaatje, introductie ®) - het gaat erom dat je begrijpt waar de tekst over gaat

Human organs in pigs

by John Harris

1    Truly, you may think, we live in a Brave New  World. The news that a combination of stem cell and gene editing technology may soon enable scientists to grow human organs in pigs is cause for serious reflection. Your reaction may boil down to "Yuck!" But there's more to digest. Those organs may actually be superior to human donor organs from either cadavers or from live donation. Double yuck!!

2. Lees de vraag (niet eerst de tekst gaan lezen!)

     ® Streep in de tekst de zin of alinea aan waarnaar verwezen wordt in de vraag
     ® worden 1 of meer alinea’s genoemd, dan staat het antwoord in het hele stuk
     ® wordt er 1 zin genoemd, dan staat het antwoord in rest van de alinea

10    How does the writer introduce the subject in paragraphs 1 and 2?

     ® Lees het betreffende stuk tekst en markeer de signaalwoorden en dubbele 
         punten: > daar staat meestal het antwoord!
     ® Probeer zelf een antwoord te formulieren voordat je naar de opties kijkt

Human organs in pigs

by John Harris

1    Truly, you may think, we live in a Brave New  World. The news that a combination of stem cell and gene editing technology may soon enable scientists to grow human organs in pigs is cause for serious reflection. Your reaction may boil down to "Yuck!" But there's more to digest. Those organs may actually be superior to human donor organs from either cadavers or from live donation. Double yuck!!

2    It's hardly surprising that the thought of crossing so called "species barriers" should prompt such a virulent combination of distaste and panic. Every fibre of our natural instinct proclaims it taboo. But the reality is that humans and animals have been exchanging bits of their biological matter, intentionally or by chance, naturally or artificially, since time immemorial.

3. Haal onzin-antwoorden eruit: meestal 2 van de 4, dus je houdt
    2 antwoorden over.

A by calling attention to ethical pitfalls regarding a recent scientific discovery

B  by describing possible repercussions of unchecked scientific experiments with human DNA

C  by mentioning potential reactions towards a controversial scientific development

D  by sketching a dark vision of the future containing disturbing scientific experiments

Leg je vinger op de zin die aangestreept is en vergelijk de overblijvende 2 antwoorden met de zin waar je vinger op ligt > 1
daarvan is altijd net ietsje beter.

Human organs in pigs
by John Harris

1    Truly, you may think, we live in a Brave New  World. The news that a combination of stem cell and gene editing technology may soon enable scientists to grow human organs in pigs is cause for serious reflection. Your reaction may boil down to "Yuck!" But there's more to digest. Those organs may actually be superior to human donor organs from either cadavers or from live donation. Double yuck!!

2    It's hardly surprising that the thought of crossing so called "species barriers" should prompt such a virulent combination of distaste and panic. Every fibre of our natural instinct proclaims it taboo. But the reality is that humans and animals have been exchanging bits of their biological matter, intentionally or by chance, naturally or artificially, since time immemorial.

5. Controleer je antwoord:
    ® Past het in de grote lijn van de tekst?
    ® Kloppen alle onderdelen?

A by calling attention to ethical pitfalls regarding a recent scientific discovery

B  by describing possible repercussions of unchecked scientific experiments with human DNA

C  by mentioning potential reactions towards a controversial scientific development

D  by sketching a dark vision of the future containing disturbing scientific experiments

Stappenplan meerkeuzevraag (ABCD)

1. Grote lijn (® titel, plaatje, introductie ®) - het gaat erom dat je begrijpt waar de tekst over gaat
2. Lees de vraag (niet eerst de tekst gaan lezen!)
     ® Streep in de tekst de zin of alinea aan waarnaar verwezen wordt in de vraag
     ® worden 1 of meer alinea’s genoemd, dan staat het antwoord in het hele stuk
     ® wordt er 1 zin genoemd, dan staat het antwoord in rest van de alinea

     ® Lees het betreffende stuk tekst en markeer de signaalwoorden en dubbele punten: > daar staat meestal het antwoord!

     ® Probeer zelf een antwoord te formulieren voordat je na de opties kijkt

3. Haal onzin-antwoorden eruit: meestal 2 van de 4, dus je houdt 2 antwoorden over
4. Leg je vinger op de zin die aangestreept is en vergelijk de overblijvende 2 antwoorden met de zin waar je vinger op ligt > 1
     daarvan is altijd net ietsje beter.
5. Controleer je antwoord:
    ® Past het in de grote lijn van de tekst?
    ® Kloppen alle onderdelen?

Now try to apply these steps yourself!

“Diet is a good example.” (paragraph 3) 11. What is it a good example of?

1. the ease with which animal matter will be discarded by the human body
2. the ethical difficulties the consumption of animals can give rise to
3. the inevitable changes the human digestive system has had to undergo throughout the ages
4. the intensive intermingling of animal and human DNA over a long time

3    We do it in drugs and in vaccines. Diet is a good example. Except for vegetarians, for whom objections are usually rooted in moral issues concerning animal welfare rather than those of species mixing, there does not seem to be any preoccupation with the entry of animal genes, cells, tissue, muscle and other bodily products into our daily metabolism. And we know that diet profoundly influences our bodies at both genetic and epigenetic levels. So really, if one were consistent in maximising the purity  of human matter, the diet of choice would be 12    .

A    the ease with which animal matter will be discarded by the human body

B    the ethical difficulties the consumption of animals can give rise to

C    the inevitable changes the human digestive system has had to undergo
       throughout the ages

D    the intensive intermingling of animal and human DNA over a long time

1. Zoek de grote lijn ® titel, plaatje, introductie
2. Lees tot het gat + één zin verder

3    We do it in drugs and in vaccines. Diet is a good example. Except for vegetarians, for whom objections are usually rooted in moral issues concerning animal welfare rather than those of species mixing, there does not seem to be any preoccupation with the entry of animal genes, cells, tissue, muscle and other bodily products into our daily metabolism. And we know that diet profoundly influences our bodies at both genetic and epigenetic levels. So really, if one were consistent in maximising the purity  of human matter, the diet of choice would be 12    .

4    Genetic hybrids have almost certainly always existed naturally. A report by the United Kingdom Academy of Medical Sciences back in 2007 (of which I was a co-author), noted "there are thousands of examples of transgenic animals, mostly mice, containing human DNA".

3. Bij een gat aan het einde van de alinea - alinea teruglezen, let op signaalwoorden en dubbele punt:

3    We do it in drugs and in vaccines. Diet is a good example. Except for vegetarians, for whom objections are usually rooted in moral issues concerning animal welfare rather than those of species mixing, there does not seem to be any preoccupation with the entry of animal genes, cells, tissue, muscle and other bodily products into our daily metabolism. And we know that diet profoundly influences our bodies at both genetic and epigenetic levels. So really, if one were consistent in maximising the purity  of human matter, the diet of choice would be 12    .

4    Genetic hybrids have almost certainly always existed naturally. A report by the United Kingdom Academy of Medical Sciences back in 2007 (of which I was a co-author), noted "there are thousands of examples of transgenic animals, mostly mice, containing human DNA".

 Let op:

• positieve en negatieve strekking van de hele tekst > daar moet jouw antwoord bij passen
• zitten er tegenstellingen in het antwoord (groot-klein) ® dan is het 1 van de 2, de rest is onzin
• Let op ingewikkelde ontkenningen: hardly, nevertheless etc

A    cannibalism

B    carnivorism
C    omnivorism
D    vegetarianism

3. Bij een gat aan het einde van de alinea - alinea teruglezen, let op signaalwoorden en dubbele punt:

3    We do it in drugs and in vaccines. Diet is a good example. Except for vegetarians, for whom objections are usually rooted in moral issues concerning animal welfare rather than those of species mixing, there does not seem to be any preoccupation with the entry of animal genes, cells, tissue, muscle and other bodily products into our daily metabolism. And we know that diet profoundly influences our bodies at both genetic and epigenetic levels. So really, if one were consistent in maximising the purity  of human matter, the diet of choice would be cannabalism.

4    Genetic hybrids have almost certainly always existed naturally. A report by the United Kingdom Academy of Medical Sciences back in 2007 (of which I was a co-author), noted "there are thousands of examples of transgenic animals, mostly mice, containing human DNA".

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 5?

1. Besides
2. Conversely
3. For instance
4. In short

Bestaat het antwoord uit 4 signaalwoorden (ABCD)

> Lees de zin ervoor en erachter en bedenk hoe ze aan elkaar geplakt kunnen worden (welk woord past het beste?)
Let op signaalwoorden die je tegenkomt
• Dus = reden voor het gat
• Maar = tegengestelde van het gat
• Zoals = voorbeeld van het gat
• : = inhoud van het gat
6. Let op:
• positieve en negatieve strekking van de hele tekst > daar moet het bij passen
• zitten er tegenstellingen in het antwoord (groot-klein) ® dan is het 1 van de 2, de rest is onzin
• Let op ingewikkelde ontkenningen: hardly, kaum, pas mal de, e

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 5?

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 5?

A    Besides     B    Conversely     C    For instance        D    In short              E    Similarly

But those who think "yuck" are by no means irrational. For there is a very problematic issue, noted recently by the US National Institutes of Health. They fear that the presence of human cells in the modified animals might "humanise" the animals' brains to the extent that they possessed human sensibilities, cognition, and rationality. Such capabilities would not just merit moral and legal protections comparable with creatures like ourselves ─ they would demand them. 13  such animals, becoming more human, would have rights analogous to human rights.

Geef van elke van de volgende beweringen aan of deze overeenkomt met de inhoud van alinea 6.

1. It would be a good thing if man’s view on the position of animals were to fundamentally change in the coming years.

1. Wel
2. Niet

Een bewering (wat is waar?) is pas juist als ALLE elementen uit die bewering juist zijn

Dus:  

• knip het antwoord in stukke en controleer per element

 It would be a good thing if man’s view on the position of animals were to fundamentally change in the coming years.

Valkuilen beweringen/stellingen:
•    Woorden als altijd, nooit, alles, alleen maar, vooral (more/most) > die staan vaak in de verkeerde antwoorden!!
•    Vragen waarbij alle antwoorden ‘waar’ of ‘niet waar’ zijn > dat kan!

 It would be a good thing if man’s view on the position of animals were to fundamentally change in the coming years.

6    This, of course, would change our entire conception of our place in the animal kingdom ─ our entire relationship with the natural world ─ in ways that the prospect of so-called "full" Artificial Intelligence may change our attitudes to machines (and theirs to us?). The best combination of evidence and informed scientific opinion so far does not support the idea that these attempts to grow human organs in pigs will result in any "humanisation" of pig brains. But, and here is the crucial point, unless this work continues we will never know the answer to this question for sure.

2 Humanity needs to consider carefully how to treat hybrids, since similar rules may soon apply to robots as well.

1. Wel
2. Niet

Humanity needs to consider carefully how to treat hybrids, since similar rules may soon apply to robots as well.

6    This, of course, would change our entire conception of our place in the animal kingdom ─ our entire relationship with the natural world ─ in ways that the prospect of so-called "full" Artificial Intelligence may change our attitudes to machines (and theirs to us?). The best combination of evidence and informed scientific opinion so far does not support the idea that these attempts to grow human organs in pigs will result in any "humanisation" of pig brains. But, and here is the crucial point, unless this work continues we will never know the answer to this question for sure.

3 The potential for pigs to be used as a model for studying human diseases has not yet been fully realised.

1. Wel
2. Niet

3    The potential for pigs to be used as a model for studying human diseases has not yet been fully realised.

6    This, of course, would change our entire conception of our place in the animal kingdom ─ our entire relationship with the natural world ─ in ways that the prospect of so-called "full" Artificial Intelligence may change our attitudes to machines (and theirs to us?). The best combination of evidence and informed scientific opinion so far does not support the idea that these attempts to grow human organs in pigs will result in any "humanisation" of pig brains. But, and here is the crucial point, unless this work continues we will never know the answer to this question for sure.

4 Whether it is reasonable to attribute human characteristics to pigs remains to be seen.

1. Wel
2. Niet

4    Whether it is reasonable to attribute human characteristics to pigs remains to be seen.

6    This, of course, would change our entire conception of our place in the animal kingdom ─ our entire relationship with the natural world ─ in ways that the prospect of so-called "full" Artificial Intelligence may change our attitudes to machines (and theirs to us?). The best combination of evidence and informed scientific opinion so far does not support the idea that these attempts to grow human organs in pigs will result in any "humanisation" of pig brains. But, and here is the crucial point, unless this work continues we will never know the answer to this question for sure.

“a combination of stem cell and gene editing technology” (paragraph 1)
15. Which of the following sentences from paragraph 6 to 9 best identifies the problem that will be solved when people embrace this new technique?

1. “This, of course, would change our entire conception of our place in the animal kingdom” (paragraph 6)
2. “this fear of animals with humanised brains” (paragraph 7)
3. “they could be superior to human donor organs” (paragraph 8)
4. “the shortage of donated organs” (paragraph 8)

Stappenplan verbanden benoemen

1.  Het gaat hier om vragen over verbanden in de tekst (tussen alinea’s of zinnen)
2.  Markeer het signaalwoord (stift) in betreffende zinnen of alinea’s
3.  Schrijf de verbinding op in de kantlijn
4.  Trek je conclusie

?Geen signaalwoord?

Let op tegenstellingen, werkwoorden, dubbele punt

“a combination of stem cell and gene editing technology” (paragraph 1)

Which of the following sentences from paragraph 6 to 9 best identifies the

problem that will be solved when people embrace this new technique?

1. Truly, you may think, we live in a Brave New  World. The news that a combination of stem cell and gene editing technology may soon enable scientists to grow human organs in pigs is cause for serious reflection. Your reaction may boil down to "Yuck!" But there's more to digest. Those organs may actually be superior to human donor organs from either cadavers or from live donation. Double yuck!!

8    Harvard's Professor George Church, who has led research on chimeras ─ as human/animal hybrids are known ─ suggests that "gene editing could ensure the organs are very clean, available on demand and healthy, so they could be superior to human donor organs". If he is right the prize is enormous in terms of human health and happiness. In the US, an average of 22 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs. In the UK the figure is three people a day (a thousand people per year) who die waiting for a transplant. Globally, preventable deaths for want of donor organs and tissue run into hundreds of thousands. Therapy delayed is therapy denied and that denial costs human lives day after day.

“will not be worrying about the semantics.” (paragraph 12)
16. What opinion does the writer give in this final remark?

1. A In the long run, pigs will enable people to become nearly immortal.
2. B People immediately lose interest in animal welfare if their own lives are at stake
3. C Ultimately, people are indifferent to becoming partly pig if it means they will remain healthy.

11    In fact, in the end the ethical issues may not be the ones many now fear, with the creation of talking and thinking pigs ─ but one where limitless safe organs and tissue transplants allow humans to live healthy, fit and productive lives well into what is currently considered "old age". The question then will not be "when is a pig too human" but "when is a human too porcine"?

12    My bet is that the resulting creatures, if they are living long, fit and healthy lives, untrammelled by failing bodies, will not be worrying about the semantics.

Text 5

Humans are underrated

In both paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 a remark made by Colvin is quoted.

17 How does Colvin’s remark in paragraph 2 relate to his opinion as presented in paragraph 1?

1. It adds weight to his claim that the options for automated jobs are endless.
2. It corroborates the notion that computers might eventually replace humans in the future.
3. It proposes a more productive attitude to human potential in the workplace.
4. It reduces the importance of his opinion that there are fundamental differences between humans and computers.

17. In both paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 a remark made by Colvin is quoted.            How does Colvin’s remark in paragraph 2 relate to his opinion as presented in paragraph 1?

Humans Are Underrated
by Geoff Colvin

1    Generations of parents have faced this dilemma: You want to give your kids career advice, but what, exactly, will be the in-demand and well-paid jobs of the future? In "The Graduate" (1967), the answer was "plastics"; more recently people have suggested professions that seemingly could not be automated, such as nursing or law. Yet if technology improves exponentially, "it's dangerous to claim there are any skills that computers cannot eventually acquire," according to Fortune editor-at-large Geoff Colvin. Computers can drive our cars, search legal documents, and probably write serviceable book reviews.

         In both paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 a remark made by Colvin is quoted.

17      How does Colvin’s remark in paragraph 2 relate to his opinion as

          presented in paragraph 1?

A    It adds weight to his claim that the options for automated jobs are endless.

B    It corroborates the notion that computers might eventually replace humans in the future.

C    It proposes a more productive attitude to human potential in the workplace.

D    It reduces the importance of his opinion that there are fundamental differences between
       humans and computers.

E    It strengthens the concerns parents have about their offspring’s career prospects.

“So are we doomed to uselessness?” (paragraph 2)

18 How can this question be rephrased?

1. So do humans tend to underestimate their own competence?
2. So have people become too dependent on the computer?
3. So will humans ultimately be controlled by computers?
4. So will there be no jobs left for humans in the future?

“So are we doomed to uselessness?” (paragraph 2)

18    How can this question be rephrased?

2    So are we doomed to uselessness? In Humans  Are Underrated Mr. Colvin starts with a litany of our weaknesses, including his own defeat by IBM's Watson computer in a "Jeopardy!"-like showdown, before he inserts this twist: "In finding our value as technology advances, looking at ourselves is much more useful than the conventional approach, which is to ask what kind of work a computer will never be able to do."

“So are we doomed to uselessness?” (paragraph 2)

18    How can this question be rephrased?

A    So do humans tend to underestimate their own competence?

B    So have people become too dependent on the computer?

C    So will humans ultimately be controlled by computers?

D    So will there be no jobs left for humans in the future?

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 3?

1. fated to fall victim to their own ingenuity
2. ignoring the computer’s potential
3. inclined to be distracted easily
4. wired for social interaction

19. Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 3?

2    So are we doomed to uselessness? In Humans   Are Underrated Mr. Colvin starts with a litany of our weaknesses, including his own defeat by IBM's Watson computer in a "Jeopardy!"-like showdown, before he inserts this twist: "In finding our value as technology advances, looking at ourselves is much more useful than the conventional approach, which is to ask what kind of work a computer will never be able to do."

3    Humans, it seems, are    19    . We want to work with people and have conversations with people. Even if computers can do things better, there are some actions that we "will simply insist be performed by other humans." And so "the most valuable people are increasingly relationship workers."

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 3?

A  fated to fall victim to their own ingenuity

B  ignoring the computer’s potential
C  inclined to be distracted easily
D  subject to complex emotions
E   wired for social interaction

20. Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 5?

1. Consequently
2. However
3. Short

20. Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 5?

4        The rest of the book offers examples of how this relationship-orientation will preserve (or create) future jobs. Algorithms can predict criminal recidivism better than judges, but "it's a matter of the social necessity that individuals be accountable for important decisions" like sentencing.

5    20 , even high-tech-oriented companies such as Google, Mr. Colvin notes, now hire for empathy and people skills. The author details the U.S. Army's research on the "human domain" ─ how to get troops to trust each other and their commanders, and how to understand and defuse situations in hostile territory. "To look into someone's eyes ─ that turns out to be, metaphorically and quite often literally, the key to high-value work in the coming economy," writes Mr. Colvin.

20. Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 5?

A    Consequently
B    However
C    In short

“it's easy to overstate the big idea.” (paragraph 6)

21. Which of the following paragraphs does not contain any explicit criticism of the book?

1. Paragraph 7
2. Paragraph 8
3. Paragraph 9
4. Paragraph 10

“it's easy to overstate the big idea.” (paragraph 6)
20. Which of the following paragraphs does not contain any explicit criticism
of the book?

6    As big idea business books go, this one is pretty good. Mr. Colvin weaves original reporting and humor into an intelligent narrative. Of course, as with all such books, it's easy to overstate the big idea.

10    Nonetheless, Mr. Colvin is a shrewd student of human nature. He freely admits that for us underrated humans, "rationality is not our strong suit." In other words, for those smart enough to understand that our brains don't change as quickly as technology, there will be many economically valuable niches still to be exploited. In the future a lawyer may not make money by scanning documents, but by "understanding an irrational client," and "forming the emotional bonds needed to persuade that client to act rationally." There may even be jobs for corporate poets. Mr. Colvin thinks this is "wonderful news" because what we're being asked to do in this brave new world is "become more essentially human" ‒ telling tales around the campfire, or the boardroom table, as the case may be, while the machines are still out in the cold.
A   paragraph 7
B   paragraph 8
C   paragraph 9
D   paragraph 10