Questions 15

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-28, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

Section 1 (Questions 15 - 20)

Ocean Study Semester

If you are looking for an educational adventure in a study abroad program, you won’t find anything similar anywhere in the world. This program takes college students to the deep ocean on a traditional sail ship sailing vessel to learn about the sea.

You may be excited at first by the opportunity to visit exotic ports like Tahiti, Hawaii, Martinique or Grenada. But if you talk to students who have experienced the program, many will tell you that the most exciting destination of all is the sea itself, and the most interesting discovery is learning what lies within you. [Crack IELTS with Rob] Perhaps, you want to have an international experience; perhaps you are intrigued that the world is mostly water and you want to know more about how the oceans work. Perhaps you want to understand how we are ONE world, land and sea, connected to our past and to each other. Perhaps you just want to do something very, very thrilling and different from what others are doing. If any of these are true, this could be the experience for you.

By participating in the program, you can get a semester’s credit for a 12-week program that takes place half on shore and half at sea. The interdisciplinary program begins in our centre for ocean research. Here you will study the chemistry, biology, physics and geology of the oceans and you will design your own research project that you will carry out at sea. You will learn the culture, history and traditions of life at sea. You will discuss major policy issues that will be tomorrow’s headlines. And you will learn what it requires to take a vessel under sail safety to the deep ocean and to international ports.

After six weeks on shore, you will be prepared and eager to go to the sea. You and your classmates will join one of our vessels, either in the Atlantic/Caribbean or in the Pacific. Is this for you? Only you can tell. [Crack IELTS with Rob] Our students are diverse. Some are Science majors but just as many come from the liberal arts. Students come from diverse colleges around the country and from abroad.

What do our students have in common? They are bright. They have a sense of adventure. They are willing to work hard. They welcome a unique experience. They love a challenge. They like people and want to be part of a community unlike any they have experienced before.

Section 2 (Questions 21 - 28)

Life on Board

Day-to-day operation of the ship is governed by the three colour watch system ( red, white and blue) typically used on naval vessels. Each watch is 4 hours long proceeding in sequence 24 hours a day. To rotate the watches, there are two shorter 2-hour watches in the afternoon.

Eight students are assigned to each watch and report to one of the three junior officers who in return report to the three watch officers. They report to the first mate, who reports to the captain. [Crack IELTS with Rob] The Swiftsure and Fairwind each carry a full time cook and an officer in charge of maintenance and repairs at sea.

As a crew member you will sleep in the lower deck quarters. Since one third of the crew will be awake and on deck while on watch, the bunks are shared with other students. While on watch your duties will include working and changing sails, steering, acting as lookout and handling lines as the ship comes alongside or puts to sea.

Life on board is not all duties, however. Every day is a surprise and depending on the weather and wind, other activities may include swimming and a variety of games only possible on a tall ship.

When off-watch some duties include assisting the cook in meal preparation and clean up, performing maintenance duties and managing sails where required. There will also be times when you will receive direct training in sailing and seamanship. [Crack IELTS with Rob] When the ship is at anchor, night time watch service is usually shortened to 1 hour 20 minutes with students staying awake in pairs. While in port, students who are not on watch may be given shore leave where they are free to explore the port of call.