Module 4: Education

READING
Strategies for MCQ questions
1. Skim the passage to get the main idea and the passage’s structure
2. Underline keywords in the questions and 4 options
3. Use keywords to locate information in the passage
4. Read the passage carefully to identify the correct answer

Exercise 1: Read the passage and choose the correct answer for each of the following questions:
GLOBALISATION OF EDUCATION AND THE WORKPLACE
Globalisation has affected most aspects of our lives. One area which has changed is education. More and more people
move to different countries for their studies. At the same time, more people stay at home and study by distance learning. It is
now easy to learn without attending a college or university, or attending less often. ‘Blended learning’ means studying partly
in a traditional way in the classroom and partly online or via email. These changes also mean that there is now more interest
in ‘lifelong learning’, the idea that we go on learning throughout our working lives and even into retirement. It is easy to attend
‘webinars’ or online seminars without being away from our offices. Many adults go back to college later in life because it is so
easy to get a qualification without giving up work or disrupting family life.
Different countries have benefitted from the globalisation of education in different ways. Many British, Australian and
American universities run their degree programmes in countries throughout Asia, and many students, parents and employers
feel this is a valuable opportunity. Students can get an internationally recognised degree at a much cheaper price than going
abroad and so can improve their chances of getting a good job. At the same time, those in the countries providing world-class
degrees also benefit. They have greater access to ideas and knowledge from all over the world and having international
students enriches their universities.
However, it is not good news for everyone in some developing countries. It is usually the elite – or the richest people in
the large cities – who have access to international education. Many people in rural areas have not even had a primary
education. Also, those areas usually do not have reliable internet connections and most people do not own a computer. It will
take a bit more time for international opportunities to reach everyone in developing countries.
One concern people have about globalisation is that it can start to mean ‘westernisation’. In other words, local
knowledge can be lost and money seen as more important than culture. Education should treat every culture with respect; it
should not be just learning about the West, but should include different ways of teaching and approaches from around the
world. The aim is to enrich and share; the flow of ideas and information should go from East to West as well as from West to
East.
Educational institutions have changed their focus due to globalisation. There are so many benefits of having overseas
students that universities are competing for them, using strategies from the world of business. For example, they visit
Education Fairs all over the world and spend time and money creating publicity material and advertisements. There is also
more emphasis on the student experience. There is more focus on customer care, especially helping international students to
settle in, improve their English and understand the academic culture of the host country.
There are many advantages to the globalisation of education and the workplace. More people get benefits that were
only available to those in the developed countries before. There is more understanding between different nations as people
learn about each other’s cultures. However, it is important to make sure the benefits reach everyone and don’t leave many
citizens of the developing world behind.

1. Blended learning means

A. continuing to learn throughout your life. B. studying online or via email.
C. mixing traditional and modern methods. D. learning in a classroom.
2. All of these are advantages of globalised education except:
A. Students in developing countries can get better jobs. B. Students can get a degree at a cheaper price.
C. Universities benefit from international students. D. The elite get most of the opportunities.
3. Who benefits from globalised education in developing countries?
A. almost everyone in those countries B. mainly well-off people in big towns
C. only those in developed countries D. only those who own a computer
4. What is the meaning of ‘westernisation’?
A. learning only about the West B. learning local knowledge
C. not learning about culture D. treating culture with respect
5. How has the focus of educational institutions changed?
 A. They have become poor value for money. B. Staff are not committed to their students.
C. They are focused on attracting students. D. They only want foreign students.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer to each of the following questions:

Passage 1:
Jack Calder started playing the violin when he was ten. "My music teacher played and one day he asked if anyone wanted to
learn. Some girls put up their hands and so did I. I didn't have a violin, but my uncle said I could use his. The lessons were
really hard at first, but playing the violin soon became important to me.
Question:
What do we learn about Jack in the first paragraph?
A. He was the only person at school to play the violin.
B. He learned to play on an instrument that he borrowed.
C. He enjoyed playing the violin as soon as he started learning.

Passage 2:
Across cultures, wisdom has been considered one of the most revered human qualities. Although the truly wise may seem
few and far between, empirical research examining wisdom suggests that it isn’t an exceptional trait possessed by a small
handful of bearded philosophers after all – in fact, the latest studies suggest that most of us have the ability to make wise
decisions, given the right context.
Question:
What point does the writer make in the first paragraph?
A. Wisdom appears to be unique to the human race.
B. A basic assumption about wisdom may be wrong.
C. Concepts of wisdom may depend on the society we belong to.
D. There is still much to be discovered about the nature of wisdom.

Passage 3:
We are all explorers. Our desire to discover, and then share that new-found knowledge, is part of what makes us human –
indeed, this has played an important part in our success as a species. Long before the first caveman slumped down beside
the fire and grunted news that there were plenty of wildebeest over yonder, our ancestors had learnt the value of sending out
scouts to investigate the unknown. This questing nature of ours undoubtedly helped our species spread around the globe,
just as it nowadays no doubt helps the last nomadic Penan maintain their existence in the depleted forests of Borneo, and a
visitor negotiated the subways of New York.
Question:
The writer refers to visitors to New York to illustrate the point that
A. exploration is an intrinsic element of being human.
B. most people are enthusiastic about exploring.
C. exploration can lead to surprising results.
D. most people find exploration daunting.

Exercise 3: Simplify the following passage and then choose the main idea of this passage:
Original sentence Simplified sentence
We all know how it feels – it’s impossible to keep your
mind on anything, time stretches out, and all the things
you could do seem equally unlikely to make you feel
better.
But defining boredom so that it can be studied in the lab
has proved difficult.
For a start, it can include a lot of other mental states, such
as frustration, apathy, depression and indifference.
There isn’t even agreement over whether boredom is
always a low-energy, flat kind of emotion or whether
feeling agitated and restless counts as boredom, too.

What is the main idea of the paragraph?

 A. Creating a system of classification for feelings of boredom
B. Problems with a scientific approach to boredom
C. A new explanation and a new cure for boredom
KEY
Exercise 1:
1. C. mixing traditional and modern methods.
(Blended learning’ means studying partly in a traditional way in the classroom and partly online or via email.)

2. D. The elite get most of the opportunities.

(A: so can improve their chances of getting a good job
B: Students can get an internationally recognised degree at a much cheaper price
C: At the same time, those in the countries providing world-class degrees also benefit. )

3. B. mainly well-off people in big towns

(It is usually the elite – or the richest people in the large cities)

4. A. learning only about the West

(it should not be just learning about the West)

5. C. They are focused on attracting students.

(Education should treat every culture with respect)

Exercise 2:
Passage 1: B. He learned to play on an instrument that he borrowed.
(I didn't have a violin, but my uncle said I could use his.)

Passage 2: B. A basic assumption about wisdom may be wrong.

(Although the truly wise may seem few and far between, empirical research examining wisdom suggests that it isn’t an
exceptional trait possessed by a small handful of bearded philosophers after all – in fact, the latest studies suggest that most
of us have the ability to make wise decisions, given the right context.)

Passage 3: A. exploration is an intrinsic element of being human.

(This questing nature of ours undoubtedly helped our species spread around the globe, just as it nowadays no doubt helps
the last nomadic Penan maintain their existence in the depleted forests of Borneo, and a visitor negotiated the subways of
New York.)

Exercise 3: Simplify the following passage and then choose the main idea of this passage:
Original sentence Simplified sentence
We all know how it feels – it’s impossible to keep your We all know how it feels - boredom
mind on anything, time stretches out, and all the things
you could do seem equally unlikely to make you feel
better.
But defining boredom so that it can be studied in the lab But defining boredom - studied in the lab - difficult
has proved difficult.
For a start, it can include a lot of other mental states, such it can include a lot of other mental states
as frustration, apathy, depression and indifference.
There isn’t even agreement over whether boredom is There isn’t even agreement over ….
always a low-energy, flat kind of emotion or whether
feeling agitated and restless counts as boredom, too.

What is the main idea of the paragraph?

B. Problems with a scientific approach to boredom