Part 2 READING PASSAGE 2

The Printing Process

Read the text below and answer Questions 15– 20.

The world entered its first information revolution when the first printing press was built in 1450. Before this, typical ways of recording information were to carve words onto clay tiles and bamboo, or to write on parchment or papyrus. Fast forward to the digital age, the second information revolution, and it has now become possible to self-publish, have books printed in paperback or as an e-book, and some books are even free!

Digital warehouse

Long gone are the days when every book was printed before there was a buyer. Why print thousands of books only to find out that very few people want to buy them? Now it is possible to work with a printer in a process called Print On Demand (POD) and only print a paperback when you have an order.

To do this a printer has a digital warehouse with every book stored electronically. Once an order is placed, the printer has all of the electronic data necessary to print and deliver the book to its intended destination. Every month money is sent to all of the authors that have sold books that month.

Giving your book to the printer

Once written, an author can send his book electronically to the printer in the form of a PDF file or as a hardcopy that can be scanned and digitized by the printer.

Processing fees for all services from a printer are minimal but allow you to have access to large distribution networks of not only online bookstores but also the bricks and mortar retailers. These people may not buy your book but your book will be in their catalogues and they will order from the printer if someone asks for it.

Two Concerns

Speed is not the only priority for the printer, they are also concerned with quality and have 10 quality control checks on each book before it is shipped.

Sharp graphics and crisp text make it virtually impossible to distinguish a POD book from the more traditional offset copies. As technology continues to improve this can only get better.

As an author, it is possible to choose the type of book you want; paperback, hardback, or e-book (now the most popular form of book), the size of your book, type of paper, and type of cover (laminated, cloth or jacketed for hardbacks).

Read the text below and answer Questions 21– 27.

Yoga

Developed more than 5,000 years ago, yoga can be a way of life that benefits you physically, mentally, and spiritually. But where to start? Here is a quick summary of five of the most common yoga styles practiced today.

Hatha
	Originated in India in the 15th century. Slow-paced, gentle, and focuses on breathing and meditation.
Purpose	Introduces beginners to yoga with basic poses and relaxation techniques.
Benefits	Relieves stress, provides physical exercise, and improves breathing.
Good for	Beginners wanting to learn the basics of yoga.

Vinyasa
	Similar to Hatha, basic poses and breath-synchronized movements. Stresses the Sun Salutation, 12 poses where movement is matched to the breath.
Purpose	Links the breath with movement, builds lean muscle mass throughout the body.
Benefits	Helps improve strength and flexibility, tones the abdominal muscles, and reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Good for	Beginners and advanced yogis alike seeking to strengthen their bodies.

Ashtanga
	Metaphorically focuses on eight limbs. Fast-paced, intense with lunges, push-ups.
Purpose	Helps improve one’s spiritual self.
Benefits	Relieves stress, improves coordination, and helps with weight loss.
Good for	Fit people looking to maintain strength, stamina, and spirituality.

Iyengar
	Covers all eight aspects of Ashtanga yoga and focuses on bodily alignment. Standing poses are emphasized, and are often held for long periods of time.
Purpose	Strengthens and brings the body into alignment.
Benefits	Helps improve balance, speeds up recovery from injury, builds up body strength.
Good for	Beginners who want to learn the correct alignments in each pose and those with injuries, balance issues, and chronic medical conditions like arthritis.

Bikram
	Practiced in a 95 to 100 degree room. A series of 26 poses that allows for a loosening of tight muscles and sweating.
Purpose	Flushes out toxins and deeply stretches the muscles.
Benefits	Speeds up recovery from an injury, enhances flexibility, and cleanses the body.
Good for	Beginners, advanced yogis who want to push themselves and those with injuries.