Exam B10 LV

Choose the best answer to each question. 

1. I like looking at the photos that my sister takes of her children because she captures their joy, energy, and movement really well.

The word “captures” is closest in meaning to _____.

2. Surprisingly, this image of the countryside in northern Japan reminds me of the place where I grew up in southern New Zealand.

The phrase “reminds me” probably means _____.

3. This photograph of a father holding his child was taken more than 60 years ago, but it has a timeless quality that makes it a moving image even today.

The word “quality” is closest in meaning to _____.

4. For any photographer, a very important element in taking good pictures is making sure that the light – which can be natural or artificial – is right.

The phrase “element in” most likely means _____.

5. A sports photographer needs to keep his or her camera ready at all times because exciting moments on the field can happen very suddenly.

The word “suddenly” is closest in meaning to _____.

6. I thought I had taken some wonderful photographs while I was on vacation, but my friends pointed out that most of them were out of focus.

The phrase “pointed out” is similar in meaning to _____.

7. Joan’s picture won a photography competition; she was presented with her prize – a brand new camera – at a special ceremony in Los Angeles.

The word “ceremony” is closest in meaning to _____.

8. For my birthday, my friends bought me a black and white photo showing a scene of an eagle flying between two mountain peaks.

The word “scene” is closest in meaning to _____.

Choose the best form of the word to complete each sentence. 

9. I have a very good __________ with my sister, but not such a good one with my brother.

10. I used __________ to a photography club, but I was never able to go to meetings because I was too busy.

11. It was __________ when I lost my camera, of course. Luckily, I had insurance that covered loss, so I was able to get a new one.

12. Because there was no wind, the lake was incredibly __________, and the water was so clear that I could see all the way to the bottom.

13. It was an __________ exciting experience to see a black bear in the forest, but also pretty frightening, as I’m sure you can imagine!

14. I saw a post on Facebook about a new photography exhibition in town, so I __________ booked a couple of tickets.

15. Sometimes it feels like every time I turn on the television there is some __________ news from somewhere in the world.

HOW PHOTOGRAPHY CONNECTS US 

One day some years ago, David Griffin was at a beach watching his son swimming in the water. Suddenly, a big wave caught the boy and started to pull him out to sea. As Griffin ran to help his son, time seemed to slow down. The scene froze. Griffin can still remember what the moment felt like. “There’s a wave about to crash onto him,” he says. “I can see his hands reaching out, and I can see his face in terror, looking at me, saying, ‘Help me, Dad.’”

Griffin was able to help his son out of the water and both were fine. But Griffin will never forget the details of the event. For Griffin, it is an example of a “flashbulb memory.” In a flashbulb memory, all the elements of an event come together. These elements include both the event and the viewer’s emotions as the event is happening. In these situations, time slows down and details become very clear.

Today, Griffin is an award-winning photography director. He believes that a great photograph is like a flashbulb memory. It copies the way the mind works when something important is happening. It shows the event, and also the story and feelings behind the event. “I believe that photography can make a real connection to people,” says Griffin. In other words, we do not just see the event in a photo. We also feel an emotional connection with it.

The best professional photojournalists, says Griffin, “create a visual narrative.” That is, they know how to use pictures to tell a story. Here are some examples.

The 2007 photo above by Brent Stirton features a 225-kilogram silverback gorilla called Senkwekwe. Several gorillas were killed illegally that year. The photo shows villagers carrying Senkwekwe from Virunga Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to a special burial place.

The photo had a powerful impact around the world. People became more aware of the dangers facing wild animals. “This photograph changed everything for me,” Stirton said. “[It] got a much bigger response than anything that I’d shot before to do with people. The gorillas were seen as true innocents.”

In 2005, Randy Olson traveled to central Africa’s Ituri Forest for a photo story. His goal was to photograph a pygmy tribe called the Mbuti. Pygmies are some of the shortest people in the world – most adult males are less than 4 feet 11 inches (150 centimeters) tall. They are also very difficult to reach, as they live deep inside the forest. In the foreground of the image below is a blind, young Mbuti boy. He is getting ready for a ceremony to mark the beginning of his life as an adult. Behind him is a young Mbuti girl. “I love this photograph because it reminds me of Degas’s bronze sculptures of a little dancer,” says Griffin.

The image above was taken in 2016 by amateur photographer Son Truong. He photographed a woman in the Vietnamese countryside working while her daughter played on a swing. Although many of the most powerful images are taken by professional photographers, Griffin points out that amateur photographers can also capture a special moment. “The quality of amateur photographs can at times be amazing,” he says. “Everyone has at least one, maybe two, great photos in them.”

The questions refer to Reading 1 from Unit 10. 

Review the passage before. Then complete the sentences by writing TWO WORDS from the reading for each answer. 

A Some photographs are funny, others are serious. Some show movement and energy, others show stillness and peace. And a few – very few, in fact – have the power to change how humans see the world.

B The very first of these photographs is View from the Window at Le Gras by Joseph Niepce back in 1826. The word photography comes from two Greek words meaning light and write; Niepce’s image was the very first time that a human being had used light from the sun to produce an image.(δA) Although this picture is important, the subject matter is not very striking – it shows a wall and part of a rooftop with a chimney. (δB) This picture led to the development of modern photography and introduced a new art form to the world. (δC)

C Another photograph that changed our perception of the world is one of a series of shots of a running horse taken by Eadweard Muybridge in 1878. Muybridge’s photograph showed all four of the horse’s legs in the air at the same time, making the creature look as if it were flying. Until this photograph was taken, people believed that at least one of a horse’s legs must be in contact with the ground. With this picture, Muybridge showed that humans could use photography as a tool to learn about the natural world.

D In the United States in the 1930s, many people suffered as a result of the economic disaster called the Great Depression. Photographer Dorothea Lange put a human face to this situation by taking a powerful picture of a 32-year-old woman called Florence Owens Thompson and her children. Thompson’s husband had died and she was having a hard time finding enough work to afford food for her children. After the photo by Lange was published under the title Migrant Mother, attitudes towards those affected by the Great Depression changed, and the government quickly provided food and other aid to help these unfortunates. 

E The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has published numerous photos that have had a big impact on the world. One of the first, and arguably still the most powerful, is a photo from 1968 called Earthrise. This was taken from close to the surface of the moon and shows the blue ball of the Earth hanging in the blackness of space. This photo, and others like it, made clear to people not just how beautiful our planet is, but also how important it is for us all to take care of it. Another NASA photo, this one taken in 2005 and called Sunset on Mars, has also had an impact. This photo is seen by some as a symbol that though humans must still live on the Earth, one day we might survive on other planets.

Read the passage before and answer the questions below. 

24. Look at the three forms (δ) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

Why was such a boring picture so important? 

Where would the sentence best fit?

25. The word “striking” in paragraph B is closest in meaning to ____.

26. The word “it” in paragraph C refers to ____.

27. Why does the author describe the belief on many people that one of a horse’s legs must be in contact with the ground in paragraph C?

28. The word “suffered” in paragraph D is closest in meaning to ____.

29. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the underlined sentence in paragraph D? (The incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.)

30. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the underlined sentence in paragraph E? (The incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.)

31. In paragraph E, the author makes all of the following points EXCEPT:

A Some photographs are funny, others are serious. Some show movement and energy, others show stillness and peace. And a few – a very few, in fact – have the power to change how humans see the world.

B The very first of these photographs is View from the Window at Le Gras by Joseph Niepce back in 1826. The word photography comes from two Greek words meaning light and write; Niepce’s image was the very first time that a human being had used light from the sun to produce an image. Although this picture is important, the subject matter is not very striking – it shows a wall and part of a rooftop with a chimney. This picture led to the development of modern photography and introduced a new art form to the world.

C Another photograph that changed our perception of the world is one of a series of shots of a running horse taken by Eadweard Muybridge in 1878. Muybridge’s photograph showed all four of the horse’s legs in the air at the same time, making the creature look as if it were flying. Until this photograph was taken, people believed that at least one of a horse’s legs must be in contact with the ground. With this picture, Muybridge showed that humans could use photography as a tool to learn about the natural world.

D In the United States in the 1930s, many people suffered as a result of the economic disaster called the Great Depression. Photographer Dorothea Lange put a human face to this situation by taking a powerful picture of a 32-year-old woman called Florence Owens Thompson and her children. Thompson’s husband had died and she was having a hard time finding enough work to afford food for her children. After the photo by Lange was published under the title Migrant Mother, attitudes towards those affected by the Great Depression changed, and the government quickly provided food and other aid to help these unfortunates.

E The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has published numerous photos that have had a big impact on the world. One of the first, and arguably still the most powerful, is a photo from 1968 called Earthrise. This was taken from close to the surface of the moon and shows the blue ball of the Earth hanging in the blackness of space. This photo, and others like it, made clear to people not just how beautiful our planet is, but also how important it is for us all to take care of it. Another NASA photo, this one taken in 2005 and called Sunset on Mars, has also had an impact. This photo is seen by some as a symbol that though humans must still live on the Earth, one day we might survive on other planets.

Subordinating conjunctions show the relationships between clauses in a sentence. Some conjunctions, such as after or until, show time relationships. Others, such as although or while, show contrast. 

Look at the passage before about important photographs. Then answer the questions. 

32. Which sentence in paragraph B contains a subordinating conjunction of contrast?

33. Which sentence in paragraph C contains a subordinating conjunction of time?

34. Which sentence in paragraph D contains a subordinating conjunction of time?

35. Which sentence in paragraph E contains a subordinating conjunction of contrast?

Opinion paragraphs express your view – or the view of somebody else – about a topic. They typically begin with a topic sentence that states your view. The paragraph typically has one or more supporting reasons, and each reason is usually supported with an example or explanation. 

Put the sentences in order to make an opinion paragraph. Put a-e in the spaces. 

Describing spatial relationships is especially useful if you are describing a photograph. Most spatial expressions use prepositions. 

Choose the best words from the options in parentheses to complete each sentence. Then write the full sentence in the space below. 

Write full sentences in answer to these questions. 

41. Why do you think photo-sharing apps and websites like Flickr and Instagram are so popular?

42. Do you often take selfies? Why or why not?

43. Do you prefer color or black and white photos? Why?

44. Are you most interested in photos of people or photos of landscapes? Why?

45. Which do you enjoy looking at more: photographs, paintings, or sculptures? Why?

46. Which of the photos above do you think is the most powerful and interesting? Why? Support your opinion with reasons and examples or explanations. Write at least 100 words.