Fifth Year Goi Zikloa

JUNE 2007

Ciclo Superior

Paper one: Paper two: Paper three: Paper four :

Instructions:

Use of English (1 hour) Listening (about 30 minutes) Reading (1 hour) Writing (2 hours)

Do not open this booklet until you are told to by the examiner. Write your name, surnames and identity card number on the answer sheets. All answers must be written or marked on the answer sheet in ink. Do not use a pencil. You can mark or write your answers in this booklet and you can use it as rough paper. Only the answer sheets are marked. The listening test starts 20 minutes after the beginning of the exam. At the end of the exam, both the exam booklet and the answer sheets must be handed in to the examiner.

________________________PAPER ONE: Use of English__________________________

Fill in the gaps in the following text with one suitable word. The first one (0) has been done for you as an example.

Caught in a zip
Gentlemen may find this uncomfortable, warns Kate, our Australian guide, (0)__as__ we prepare ourselves for a slide along a steel cable. Demonstrating the correct posture, she warns the male members of the party that unnecessary movement can shift the harness into an awkward position. I prepare myself for the ride. Part Indiana Jones, part army assault course, this is the fastest (1)_____ to travel between two mountains. Its also the most exciting. Two leashes dangle from my harness. One of them ends with a pulley system, (2)_____ Kate connects on to the platform. It feels as though Im walking the plank. The last time I did this we (3)_____ it a death slide, but that was 20 years ago. Back then, we didnt wear harnesses or helmets, or listen to safety briefings or sign waivers. But then we werent suspended 150ft above a gorge, sliding (4)_____ speeds of up to 50mph. Its quite a thrilling experience, says David Udow, Ziptreks boss. Ive done it countless (5)_____. We are in an untouched forest just outside Whistler, in western Canada. A series of steel cables, each up to 1,000ft long, stretches across the Fitzsimmons creek between wooden platforms that have been built high up in the trees. Unlike many extreme sports, zip-trekking is something anybody can participate in, regardless of (6)_____ youre a 25-year-old thrill seeker or a 70-year-old grandmother, says Udow. The one qualification is that you dont (7)_____ more than 85 kilos. This has nothing to do with the cables strength, but with speed. The heavier you are, the faster you travel. If you came in to land too fast you could do (8)_____ (or the poor guide who has to catch you) an injury. The real risk of ziptrekking is much lower than the perceived risk, adds Udow. (9)_____ this may be an entirely safe activity, the thought of standing up in the trees and flying across a valley is daunting, nonetheless. For this reason, the organisers build you up to the big one with some introductory slides back in Whistler village, the first of which is 200ft long and just a few feet from the ground. I climb up the steps to the launch site and Kate clips me on to the cable. She then tells me to sit in the harness and let go. Suddenly Im cruising through the air and its all (10)_____ very quickly. Bring on the big one! Adapted from The Guardian Weekly.

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June 2007

________________________PAPER ONE: Use of English__________________________

Read the following passage and decide which of the four options A, B, C, or D best fits each gap. The first one (0) has been done for you as an example. Thanks to television and life-style magazines, knowing how the well-off live only serves to increase our material desires and trigger dissatisfaction in our own lives, according to a report by Gregg Easterbrooke. If you made a graph on both sides of the Atlantic since World War II, every line concerning money and the things that money can buy would (0)__B__ upward, a statistical monument to capitalism. Designer everything, personal electronics and other items that didnt yet exist half a century ago are now (11)____. But if you made a chart of happiness in the same period, the lines would be flat. According to the U.S.s National Opinion Research Center in the 1950s, about one-third of Americans (12)____ themselves as very happy. The same center has (13)____ essentially the same poll periodically since then, and the percentage remains almost identical today. The same trend (14)____ true in Europe, too. In Germany, for example, 57% of those surveyed were content with their life as it is; in 2001, that figure had only very slowly (15)____ to 59%. Money (16)____ in our purses and wallets as never before, but we are basically no happier for it. How can that be? Of course, weve all been told that money cant buy happiness. (17)____, we dont appear to have listened. Millions of us spend more time and energy in (18)____ of the things that money can buy than in engaging in activities that (19)____ real fulfilment in life, like cultivating friendships, helping others and developing a spiritual life. But money doesnt guarantee happiness, in part because of a phenomenon sociologists call reference anxiety, which most of us know as (20)____ up with the Joneses. That is to say, most people judge their possessions in comparison with others, and our rising reference anxiety is a product of the widening gap. In other words, the rich are getting richer faster and the rest of us are none too happy about it. Adapted from Time. 0 A wing B B B B B B B B B B B soar expensive regarded conducted keeps crept clangs Notwithstanding persecution turn up catching C C C C C C C C C C C climb affordable thought researched sticks wandered clashes Despite quest bring about holding D D D D D D D D D D D head bargain fancied performed holds leapt jangles Although chase give out being

11 A priceless 12 A believed 13 A instigated 14 A stays 15 A shot 16 A juggles 17 A Nevertheless 18 A pursuit 19 A stand out 20 A keeping

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June 2007

________________________PAPER ONE: Use of English__________________________

Read the following passage and decide which of the four options A, B, C, or D best fits each gap. A doctorate may give you the skills of a lawyer, but it can also obscure the big issues in a mass of detail, according to the philosopher and writer Madge Migley. During my long life I have had a lot of luck, one (21)____ of which may be worth mentioning. I missed out on one of the regular phases of academic education. I never had the normal discipline of the PhD. In fact, I have spent much of my life in philosophy without ever getting those magic letters that (22)____ one to teach in universities. It is (23)____ unlikely that anyone would get away with that today. This happened by chance because, when I left Oxford in 1942, the war put graduate work right out of the question. (24)____ with Iris Murdoch and many others I went into the civil service and spent the rest of the war doing various kinds of work that was (25)____ to be of national importance. But by the time the war was over I had developed my own way of thinking, which would not (26) ____ into the regular mould. So, when I did embark on a doctorate, I did not choose any of the obvious options. I picked on a subject as unfashionable (27)____ vast: Plotoniuss view of the soul. Needless to say, I never finished my thesis. (28)____, although I worked on it in Oxford I ended up unqualified and grateful for it. I am not saying that the PhD training isnt useful. It shows you how to deal with difficult arguments, which is necessary in dealing with hard subjects. But that close work doesnt help you to (29)____ the big questions that provide its context - the background issues out of which the small problems arose. I think there ought to be a corrective course after the PhD - a course in (30)____ details to look at the whole landscape. Its hard to do this on your own. Todays academic system, which forces people to write articles without having time to think properly about them, makes this harder. Adapted from Education Guardian. 21 A instance 22 A ensure 23 A firmly 24 A Both 25 A held 26 A suit 27 A as 28 A Similarly 29 A grope 30 A diverting B occurrence B encourage B seriously B Altogether B accepted B coincide B as it was B So forth B grip B re-routing C event C entitle C highly C Likewise C expected C match C as well as C Thus C grab C distracting D incident D entrust D deeply D Along D regarded D fit D as to be D However D grasp D bypassing

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June 2007

________________________PAPER ONE: Use of English__________________________

For questions 31-35 complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change the word given. The first (0) one has been done for you as an example. 0 This year the police have arrested more drivers than usual for speeding. number This year an . increased number of drivers have been arrested for speeding. 31 He doesnt realise the damage the changes will cause. damaging Little ...................................................................................... the changes will be. 32 Tim cant go to the shopping centre without meeting old friends from school. bumps Whenever Tim ................................................ old friends from school. 33 That old market town is worthy of a visit, if you have the time. worth Its ...................................................................... allows. 34 Without his help, we would have gone over the deadline. met But ............................................................................ the deadline. 35 It is unlikely that they will terminate his employment. likelihood There is ................................................... the sack.

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June 2007

PAPER TWO: Listening

You will hear an interview with an interior designer, Zoe Carter. For questions 1-5, choose the answer A, B, C or D which fits best according to what you hear. You will hear this passage twice. You now have 1 minute 30 seconds to read the questions. The first one (0) has been done for you as an example. 0 Zoe feels that people can be put off changing their homes because of A ignorance of different decorating and furnishing options. B the cost of the planning and design of changes. C the way other people might react. D laws requiring them to follow local conventions.

Zoe tends to think that holidays are often the best source of inspiration because A you will reconsider your own space and resources. B you will change your mood away from home. C you will realise what wealthy celebrities have done. D you are probably more sensitive to various factors. When considering changing their home, Zoe feels people should A take a holiday and make a plan. B be prepared to consider plenty of different options. C get ideas from lifestyle magazines. D get on quickly with their project before they lose interest. With features of rooms which cant be changed, it is best to A integrate them into the design of the room. B find ways to cover them up. C ignore them and work with the rest of the room. D try not to make them stand out. Making good use of a given space always involves A using lots of different colours. B enlarging it when possible. C keeping a balance between different elements. D making the space serve different purposes. The secret of making small rooms look good is A making the most contrasts within the room. B storing things out of sight. C keeping furnishings to a minimum. D highlighting the appealing aspects of small spaces.

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June 2007

PAPER TWO: Listening

You will hear a musician describing her experience of playing the viola. For questions 615 complete the sentences with a word or short phrase. You will hear this passage twice. You now have 45 seconds to read the passage. The first one (0) has been done for you as an example. The musician says that her parents were not (at all) musical 0 .

She says that when she was eleven she wanted to learn the When she first picked up a viola, it was the start of a with the instrument. Although her parents expressed some 7

6 .

8 at her talent, they encouraged her to play music. 9 .

She was lucky enough to have a good quality instrument during her Her 1792 viola is her 10 .

She considers the lack of control over what she plays to be one of the of her profession. She joined a new chamber orchestra despite the

11

12 that it might not be successful. 13 to their playing.

All the musicians in the orchestra play period instruments, which gives a

Although she is happy with her current situation, she does have

14 .

The prospect of having children is made more complicated by the fact that, as a musician, she is always 15 .

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June 2007

PAPER THREE: Reading

10

15

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35

40

45

Read the following passage and answer questions 1 to 10. First thing Monday morning at Kings College School, Wimbledon, and instead of double science and design technology, some 200 boys aged 10 and 11 are queuing to have their copies of Wolf Brother signed by the bestselling author Michelle Paver. Welcome to the pack is the message she writes on the flyleaf, next to a little inky stamp of a wolfs paw. There is no mistaking the loyalty of her young cubs, either. A good 50 per cent of them are also holding copies of her brand new hardback Spirit Walker, which has been out barely a month. Nor is this just an isolated outbreak of book fever. There has been the same kind of turnout here for Caroline Lawrence (Thieves of Ostia, Pirates of Pompeii) and for the prolific Anthony Horowitz, whom grown-ups know as the writer of the television series Foyles War, but whom boys all over Britain know as the creator of Alex Rider, the 14-year-old secret agent. Whats more, this page-turning phenomenon has spread right across the country, at least in those schools and families where an actively pro-book policy prevails. Ever since Harry Potter materialised into the Muggle world, huge numbers of British children have undergone a miraculous transformation whereby instead of being force-fed literature through gritted teeth ( la green vegetables), they now seek it out and devour it as if it were the most additive-laden junk food. Somehow, though, this is a good news story that seems to have eluded the tabloids attention. Boys and girls enthused by books rather than Posh and Becks? Children joyriding through the pages of a novel rather than in a stolen Ford Mondeo? Not news, is it? Mind you, we parents have not been that quick on the uptake, either. While stolidly driving our offspring back and forth to flute lessons they dont want or mini-rugby matches where they never get a go, we seem to have completely bypassed the possibility that if we want horizon-broadening and personality-rounding for our children, perhaps the best way might be to stay at home with them and read a novel. Enter (magically, through a bookcase) the Weekend Family Book Club, whereby parents and children get together with other parents and children, all read the same book and then gather to discuss it. And repeat once a month. A simple idea, but one that has been seized upon in our corner of south-west London. Particularly appealing is the fact that its aimed at nine to 12-year-olds, most of whom have long stopped being read to by Mummy and Daddy and consequently, come bedtime, are upstairs running with their wolf comrades through the frozen north or hiding from dark forces in the marshes of Mordor, while downstairs their parents flick disconsolately through the television channels and wonder why there is nothing good on any more. Indeed, although the first book we are going to be tackling is the timeless CS Lewis classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, one of the things we Family Book Club grown-ups are most looking forward to is trying out new authors recommended by our children. Ask most parents to suggest a classic childrens book and theyll probably come up with something such as Treasure Island, which is in fact quite difficult to read, says Sally Gritten, the managing director of HarperCollins childrens book, who came up with the reading-group idea. Ask children to recommend a book, though, and they can reel off a whole list of titles. Equally, the children will get great pleasure from turning on their parents to a modern author, says Francesca Simon, the creator of the Horrid Henry books. Its incredibly empowering for children that their parents should take up their recommendation, she says. You are extending to them a measure of respect by giving up time to read the book that they have put forward.

June 2007

___________________PAPER THREE: Reading__________________________________ Adapted from The Daily Telegraph Weekend.

Choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text. The first one (0) has been done for you as an example. 0 Students from Kings College School A are too young to have a genuine interest in science and technology. B are such keen readers that devour all sorts of childrens books. C are eager to buy a copy of the newly-published book Wolf Brother.. D show their enthusiasm by queuing on an early Monday morning.. At Kings College School, Michelle Pavers young readers fidelity is apparent A through their patience when queuing for her autograph. B in the fact that they have missed some lessons so as to have their books signed by her. C because she can recognize some of them as members of her club of fans. D in that half of them have already bought her latest book. The change in Britishs attitude towards literature A has been brought about by authors like Michelle Paver and Caroline Lawrence. B was caused by the popularization of a character from a TV series. C has been more noticeable in families where children are encouraged to read. D started when Harry Potters story was made into a film. The writer suggests that parents A have failed to see this new change from the start. B have traditionally imposed reading on children against their will. C have worried too much about how to foster their childrens development. D have at first resented their childrens preference for reading over other activities. The implication in paragraph 8 is that A children are enjoying reading while their parents get bored in front of the TV. B 9-12-year-olds are keener on reading than young children. C at bedtime children like to run around in their bedrooms. D children from Weekend Family Book Club are not allowed to watch TV at night. Children are pleased when A parents share the stories they read as children with them. B parents ask them about books to read. C parents read books recommended by them. D They read books proposed by their parents.

Read the passage again and find the words or phrases in the text which correspond to the following definitions. The first one (0) has been done for you as an example. 0 6 a baby of a wild animal (lines 1-10) tightly pressed together (lines 15-20)
2007

cubs

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___________________PAPER THREE: Reading__________________________________ 7 8 9 10 filled with enjoyment (lines 20-25) disregarded (lines 25-30) switch (lines 30-35) recite (lines 40-45)

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PAPER THREE: Reading

Read the following text and complete each blank with ONE suitable word or expression from the list supplied. Transfer the word or expression chosen to the numbered boxes on your answer sheet. Each word or expression can be used only ONCE. SEVEN OF THESE are not to be used. The first one (0) has been crossed out as an example.

Railway over the world

China is a nation on the move. But should its economic growth be (0) _cause_ for alarm? Other nations have risen fast Britain during the industrial revolution, the US (11)____ of the last century, Japan during and after the 1960s. However it took Britain 100 years to rise, 60 for the US and 30 for Japan. It seems China will be transformed in a couple of decades. And it is not (12)____ the speed of the change that is turning heads (13)____ the scale. China has the worlds biggest population: 1.3 billion. Now those millions are travelling, (14)____ and consuming more than ever before, and pessimists fear the world will be overrun by an eastern horde. Others, however, (15)____ China as the place where development is progressing fastest. (16)____ is where the biggest risks are taken, where the impossible seems possible. The railway to Tibet is one of the greatest symbols of that spirit. (17)____ it was built in 1984, the route from Xining to Golmud, the garrison town in Chinas wild west, has been the train to nowhere. No one, it was believed, could build a line any further across the Qinghai plateau, certainly (18)____ one all the way to Tibet. It was too bleak, too cold, too high, too oxygen-starved. And how could a regular service be run in an area (19)____ by sandstorms in the summer and blizzards in the winter? But next month three years ahead of schedule Chinese engineers will (20)____ the final section of track on a line stretching to Lhasa, (21)____ the roof of the world. Commercial services are scheduled to begin within two years. Lhasa, the (22)____ of Tibetan Buddhism, is already beginning to look like any (23)____ town in China, with broad roads, huge whitetiled buildings and multi-coloured street lamps (24)____ the shape of palm trees. It is a (25)____ clash of two cultures the modern materialism of China and the medieval spiritualism of Tibet. The railway looks certain to (26)____ this clash. But with the first train services now less than two years (27)____, the Dalai Lama, Tibets exiled spiritual leader, is increasingly worried about its impact. (28)____ kind of cultural genocide is taking place, he said this month. In general a railway link is very useful in order to develop, but not when politically motivated to bring about demographic change. Economically, Chinas expansion is a storming success; environmentally and spiritually, (29)____, it is a disaster. When the railway is finished, travellers on the train from Beijing to Lhasa will pass (30)____ some of the most polluted cities and over-exploited farmlands in the world.
Adapted from the Guardian Weekly.

ACROSS AT THE TURN AWAY BLESSED BILLING BUT CAUSE (0)

EARNING GARISH IN HOME HOWEVER INTENSIFY JUST

LAY

MEANWHILE
NOT ON THE BRINK OTHER PLAGUED RECKLESS

SINCE SOME STRIKE THIS THROUGH THUS VIEW

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______________________PAPER FOUR: Writing________________________________

Complete both tasks A and B. TASK A Write a composition about the following. Your local authorities have decided to open an adult education centre in your area where people from 18 to 30 will be able to follow courses and activities which interest them. They have invited the public to write giving their views on the value the centre would have for the community. Write a letter as the Representative of your Neighbours Association, giving your views on the centre. Write 200 words. Do not write any postal addresses. You may wish to consider the following points: - the need if your community for a new centre. - the value it would have for different sectors of that community. - facilities and location. TASK B Choose one of the following writing tasks: a) You are moving to China for a year and have arranged with an agency to exchange houses with a Chinese family who are moving to your country for the same period of time. Write a letter to the Wong family to welcome them to your home. Include information about the house and neighbourhood which they might find useful and make a few suggestions that might make their stay more pleasant and interesting. Write 300 words. b) You see this notice on your college notice board. WRITING COMPETITION The book I would take with me if I were stranded on a desert island. Describe the book that is so special to you, that you would not want to be without it. Tell us why it has had such a great influence on you and your life. Write your competition entry in 300 words. ___________________________________________________________________

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June 2007

FIFTH YEAR / GOI ZIKLOA / CICLO SUPERIOR KEY TO EXAM JUNE 2007 IDATZIA / ESCRITO Pass Mark 96/ 160 marks
PAPER ONE: Use of English Answers
Open cloze test Marks Multiple-choice cloze tests Marks Multiple-choice cloze tests Marks

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

way which called at times whether weigh yourself Although over

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

C B B D B D A A C A

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A C C D A D B C D D Marks 1//1 1//1 1//1 1//1 1//1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Sentence Transformations 31 32 33 34 35 Little does he realise // how damaging the changes will be. Whenever he goes to the shopping centre, // he bumps into old friends from school. Its (well) worth visiting-paying a visit to that old market // if time allows. But for his help // he would not have met the deadline. There is little likelihood that // he will be given the sack.

Open cloze test: 10 marks Multiple cloze tests: 20 marks Transformations: 10 marks

USE OF ENGLISH Pass Mark: 24/40 marks

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June 2007

PAPER TWO: Listening Answers

EXERCISE 1 Marks EXERCISE 2 Marks

1 2 3 4 5

D B A C D
EXERCISE 2

2 2 2 2 2 Marks 1 1

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

(mild) surprise early training (most) prized possessions (major) drawbacks risk (beautiful) (mellow) quality (some) long-term plans on the move

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

6 7

violin love affair Ex.1: 10 marks Ex.2: 10 marks

LISTENING Pass Mark: 12/20 marks = 24/40 marks

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June 2007

PAPER THREE: Reading Answers

TEXT 1 Marks
1 2 3 4 5 D C A A C 1 1 1 1 1 6 7 8 9 10 gritted enthused bypassed flick reel off

Marks
1 1 1 1 1

TEXT 2 Marks
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 at the turn just but earning view This Since Not plagued lay 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 across home other in garish intensify away Some however through

Marks
0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5

TEXT 1: 10 marks
TEXT 2: 10 marks

READING Pass Mark: 12/20 marks

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Tapescripts:
Listening Exercise 1: Interviewer: Our guest in our Lite Enhancement slot today is interior designer Zoe Carter. Zoe, welcome. Zoe: Hello. Interviewer: Now, Zoe, if someone is thinking of completely redoing their home - where do they begin? Zoe: Well, its easy to understand why people might be daunted by the prospect. There are just so many decorating and furnishing alternatives out there and many people feel inhibited about exposing themselves to ridicule - after all, the way we choose to live will always invite comment from friends and neighbours and this tends to force the more self-conscious among us towards conventional choices. So I suppose you should start by making up your mind to see your own bold plan through to the end. Interviewer: And where do people look for inspiration then? Zoe: Well, many people might think its in lifestyle or home magazines but Id caution against this. Seeing what wealthy celebrities have done can be disheartening when you come to consider your own space and resources, I tend to think holidays are often the best source of inspiration for a change of surroundings at home because away from your familiar environment you are far more likely to be sensitive to colours, texture and light and how these affect your mood. Interviewer: So once you have a clear sense of what you want to achieve, what are the points to consider? Zoe: Be as open-minded as you can about the things you can change such as the position of walls and use of storage space and think as creatively as possible about features you cant change. Interviewer: What do you mean features you cant change? Zoe: Well, say someone lives in rented accommodation and ugly old pipes seem to stick out and dominate in the bathroom. For those easily discouraged, this might be reason enough to completely give up on the room and just give it a coat of paint now and again but, for those who rise to the challenge, what initially seems like an obstacle could become the source of inspiration for a change. I recently saw someone with just such a problem strip off all the old layers of paint to reveal the original metal of the pipes and then purposely select all the other fittings to blend in. Interviewer: And how can we ensure we make the best use of space? Zoe: First of all, how best to use space may come down to functional choices, for example, whether you combine your dining area with the kitchen or the living room. Such issues are never black and white and the decision should depend on how you see yourself using the various rooms. After that, two key elements in deciding on the utilisation of space in the home are unity and proportion. Rooms look awkward when there is a mishmash of conflicting styles clamouring for attention and, similarly, knocking a wall down to combine two previously separate spaces may make the features of each room seem out of scale. You should definitely strive to achieve harmony in style and proportion. Interviewer: So big spaces are not necessarily better? Zoe: Well, though space is obviously one of the luxuries of a modern era small spaces can still be used so that you can accentuate the appealing features of the enclosed space - cosiness, intimacy and the feeling of having everything within easy reach without suffering the drawbacks. One very simple contrast, for example, is that between storage and display. Why hide, say, beautiful racks of clothes behind the cumbersome doors of a space-consuming built-in cupboard when you could open the whole thing up and provide depth and colour to a room. Interviewer: Well, Zoe, youve certainly given us plenty of food for thought

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June 2007

Listening Exercise 2: Woman: I first started playing at the age of eleven. My parents were not at all musical, but I had this wonderful music teacher who gave me lessons after school once a week. There was a viola in the music department for some peculiar reason, and although I actually wanted to play the violin I had no choice but to start with this. Well, I have never looked back; my love affair, I suppose you could say, with this instrument started from the moment I picked it up. My teacher soon recognised in me a natural affinity for the viola and recommended me to a private school specialising in music. My parents were very supportive of me right from the start - despite their mild surprise at the fact that a budding musician had suddenly appeared in their midst! Without them I would never have fulfilled my dreams. However romantic the idea of being a musician may have seemed to me at the time, they were fully aware of the practicalities of the situation; financially it was very difficult for them - but somehow they managed to find the fees for the school and buy me an extremely good viola which saw me through all my early training. They also made a point of taking me to as many concerts as possible, which inspired me and gave me this incredible love of performance. The most moving experience I have ever had was when my dad retired and was given a golden handshake from his company - hed worked for them for over forty years. Well, at a family reunion a short while afterwards he suddenly presented me with this enormous box - and inside was an original 1792 viola of the most exceptional quality... I just couldnt believe it. He had spent his entire retirement gift on me - well, this is my most prized possession. So you can see I really have quite exceptional parents as well... I started performing at the age of fourteen -

mostly locally in young peoples orchestras. But it wasnt until I had finished my training that I could work full time. Now, one of the major drawbacks of the work I do is that its not always easy to find work and if you do, its not always exactly what you want to be playing. I muddled along like this for two years and found the whole situation very frustrating. But five years ago I got my lucky break; while on tour in Austria I was offered the chance to play lead viola in a newlyfounded chamber orchestra. I jumped at the opportunity, although there was a risk that the project wouldnt take off. But a year later we had made a name for ourselves and now have toured most of Europe. Were hoping to move on to North America and Canada in the autumn and tour there for the next couple of years. I think the attraction of our orchestra is twofold. First of all, all the musicians were in similar situations to my own, and the feeling of liberation we all had on joining the orchestra surely accounts for our enthusiasm. Secondly, we all play period instruments and this really gives a beautiful mellow quality to our playing. At the moment I am happy where I am, but I do have some long term plans taking shape in my head. I think what I would most like to do in the future would be to form my own quartet. On the other side of the coin, there is also the matter of family at some point I would like to have children of my own- but this is a very demanding career which requires you to be constantly on the move, so I must admit this is very much on standby at present. Luckily, my husband is a fellow musician, so he is quite understanding on this matter!

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