Skills for Study Level 2 Teacher's Book - Cambridge University Press

1gSuggested answersSource A (Kirkup, 2007)cSource B (Goyal, 2010)Either a or b could be argued here: the writer has claimed that "Social progressis a myth", which would seem to suggest a) is correct. However, they do notactually claim that there has been no progress, so an argument for the lessextreme position b) could be made.Source C (Maxwell, 2010)a1h Student discussion1i Note: The passage interprets Source A (Kirkup, 2007) in exercise 1g.Suggested answersThe writer misrepresents Kirkup as claiming that “… the main results oftechnological development have been the catastrophic wars of the 20th centuryand damage to the environment”. Also, Kirkup does not deny that technologicaland economic advances have led to social progress, though the student writerclaims that Kirkup argues the opposite.1jExample answerThe evidence of progress in human affairs is everywhere: around the world,billions enjoy higher standards of living, access to nourishing food and cleanwater, better educational and employment prospects, and protections oftheir freedoms and rights. These improvements in the human condition aresafeguarded by organizations such as the United Nations, and it is arguablytrue that the ideal of human development is shared by all. However, somesceptics claim that this is not always the case. Kirkup (2007), for instance,argues that while there have been undoubted economic and technologicaldevelopments, human behaviour is often unchanged, and that this mixture oftechnical power and irrational behaviour has led to the catastrophic wars ofthe 20th century and damage to the environment. As Kirkup observes, thougheconomic and technological progress have brought many benefits, there isdanger in assuming that these alone are enough for true social progress.1kSuggested answerThe student seems to have interpreted Goyal’s stance fairly. The representationof Maxwell’s stance is unfair, however, suggesting that Maxwell agrees with Goyalin claiming that technological and economic developments do not lead to socialprogress. In fact Maxwell is quite positive, and does not hold similar views to Goyal.1lExample answerThere is a widespread view that the direction of history is a straight, upwardsprogression of ever-improving technological and social conditions. However,there is in fact some debate about the extent to which social progress reallytakes place. Goyal, for instance, claims that social progress is a “myth” (Goyal,2010, p.237). He asserts that undoubted developments in technology and thegrowth of financial markets have not helped to relieve poverty or suffering, andhave instead led to catastrophic wars and environmental breakdown.Unit 3 Part E ∙ Reporting in writing 100