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Extra Exam Practice

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Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

UNUSUAL WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

If you ever walk down a street in Tokyo and feel like having a cold Coca-Cola, pay attention as you approach the nearest
vending machine. You may be trying to purchase your cold drink from a living, breathing person. An unusual product,
designed to protect women against crime, has been designed in Japan. A large sheet printed with a life-size photo of a
vending machine is attached to a womans clothing. By hiding behind the sheet, the woman is camouflaged and
protected.
This creation is just one of a variety of original and unusual solutions being devised in Japan to prevent crime and to
instil a feeling of security for the consumer. These inventions are being created in response to the growing fear of crime in
the country.

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15

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The new products reflect deep cultural differences between Japanese attitudes towards crime prevention and the ideas
promoted in the Western world. While Westerners are willing to do whatever it takes to protect themselves, including
fighting back, the Japanese prefer not to make a scene or draw attention to themselves. As a result, theyre attracted to
more passive ways of preventing crime.
The fact that these slightly bizarre inventions are being produced in Japan is also testimony to another aspect of Japanese
society. The Japanese have a long tradition of encouraging experimentation and innovative ideas. In fact, so many
unusual inventions have been produced in Japan that theres even a Japanese word for them, chindogu, which means
strange tools.
Many of the new anti-crime devices are still not commercially viable, which may have something to do with the fact that
in reality theres very little street crime in Japan. Will these devices ever find a market? Inventors argue that even if they
dont, these devices will prove valuable in the future since they may well lead to newer and better ideas. Only time will
tell if theyre right.

Choose the correct answer.

1. Unlike Westerners, the Japanese are .
a. reluctant to use force to defend themselves
b. willing to fight back if theyre attacked
c. interested in finding new methods of crime prevention

1. Its surprising that these inventions are being created

in Japan.
..................................................................................

2. Inventors of anti-crime devices .

a. have made money from their inventions
b. are sure that their inventions will be profitable in
the future
c. dont know if their inventions will make money

Complete the sentences using the information given in

the text. Use your own words as far as possible.
1. The anti-crime devices are being invented because many
people ...............................................................................
......................................................................................... .
2. Western attitudes towards crime prevention are
...........................................................................................
......................................................................................... .

Decide if the following statements are true (T) or false

(F). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers.

2. Theres not a lot of violence on city streets in Japan.

..................................................................................
3. The writer of the article believes that the inventions
will not be valuable in the future.
..................................................................................

Choose the best meaning for each word or phrase.

1. camouflaged (line 4)
a. exposed
b. hidden
2. bizarre (line 13)
a. unusual
b. violent
3. innovative (line 14)
a. original
b. strange

c. designed
c. creative
c. valuable

Write a composition of about 100-150 words. Choose

one option.
1. In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to
prevent crime?
2. Describe an unusual invention that you think would be
valuable to society.

Extra Exam Practice

Name