Reading 4 Reading 1: making sure that information is given in the text
A In the Speaking and Vocabulary Module of this unit, you learnt the word nostalgic. Check it again and answer these questions with a partner.
1. What is nostalgia? How is a feeling of nostalgia different from having concrete memories? 2. Can you feel nostalgic about the recent past or only the more distant past? 3.
Are feelings of nostalgia always positive? Is it possible to feel nostalgic about a time when you were unhappy? 4. Does nostalgia have a purpose?
B You will read a short extract about nostalgia. Before you read, put the points below into what you think is a logical order.
___ give examples of who might benefit from nostalgia ___ define nostalgia and give some examples of what makes people feel nostalgic ___ explain why feeling nostalgic might be beneficial
C Skim the extract quickly and check your answers in Exercise B. Sweet Remembrance
A For one person it might be a bite of a dessert that was a common school lunch, for another it might be a few notes of a popular Beatles song. For you it could be the sight of a little boy stacking plastic bricks or playing with a catapult that suddenly takes you back years into the past. In the right environment, the tiniest trigger can bring back a flood of memories, even for the least sentimental of us.
B Such reminiscing might be healthier than you think. Despite the fact that we are frequently told to live for the moment and not to dwell on the past, research suggests that the occasional trip back in time can give your spirits a much needed lift. In fact, just half an hour spent each day contemplating fond memories can make people more cheerful and more contented with their current situation.
C Most people spontaneously reminisce when they feel lonely or miserable. This suggests that we see pleasant memories as an antidote to sadness. A new arrival in a big city will think about friends back home, while a college student struggling with an assignment will bolster his confidence by reliving high school glories. Nostalgia can motivate people and make them feel they are rooted, rather than being blown around by the vagaries of everyday life.
D Read the extract again more carefully and answer the questions. For questions 1–3, choose the correct answer a, b or c according to the text.
1. Memories can come flooding back because of … a. something very small. b. a song. c. a favourite game.
2. Most people are led to believe that they should think about … a. the past. b. now.
c. the future.
3. A college student struggling with an assignment thinks about … a. being happy at high school. b. how difficult high school was. c. what he achieved at high school.
D For questions 4–8, decide if the information given below agrees with information given in the text. Write (T) true, (F) false or (NG) not given, if there is no information on this.
4. Everybody feels nostalgic when they think about school lunches. 5. Only very sensitive and emotional people are affected by nostalgia.
56 Pathway to IELTS 6.0
___ ___
6. People can feel better about the life they live now if they sometimes think about the past. ___
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