Forging a better social bond - Unit 4

C2 Proficiency · Multiple Choice Reading · Close-up C2 Workbook, National Geographic Learning

You are going to read an article about social bonding. For questions 1–6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Findings from studies on social connections reveal a broad spectrum of truths: that men and women need one another – as friends, as romantic partners, as cooperative colleagues, and so forth. Studies also reveal the strange era we live in: a society in our offices to forge meaningful bonds, why some people encounter obstacles, and what behaviours, habits, processes and in some cases medication can re-vip our social engines. A father cuddling his newborn baby, lunch with a long-standing, respected co-worker who employs your ideas and suggests a Hollywood movie after being apart for some time can all stimulate a hormone from a very small area of our brain. This hormone, oxytocin, which originates from the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland situated at the base of our brain, has in medical research been long associated with childbirth. It induces labour and has been used as such in hospitals for decades. While naturally produced, it has been replicated in laboratories and it has been deemed safe for use by the medical community. Its discovery as a 'cuddle hormone', which is off-label due to its ability to make people more sociable, has thrust it into the spotlight as a way of healing our – what some sociologists might hypothesise – increasingly disconnected society. Commercially available, oxytocin poses no known physical risks or causes any adverse changes in cognitive function. Clinical trials show people who have had the hormone administered to their bloodstream display warm, affectionate behaviour with loved ones, strengthening their already-established bonds. Consumers can purchase nasal sprays and atomisers manufactured with traces of oxytocin, albeit for a rather exorbitant price, and its molecular likeness has even been imprinted on pillows, coffee mugs and T-shirts, as evidence of its ascendancy in our collective consciousness as a love-inducing hormone. Missing, though, are much-needed stamps of approval from national food and drug administrations, but aside from cost, branding or regulatory issues, its use is hampered by the peculiar effect it has on negative bonds. Research shows the specific effect oxytocin has relates to the type of bond a person has with another. It amplifies whatever bond is present; that is to say, close bonds are strengthened, but if a person has antagonistic feelings towards someone else, they become more unfriendly and incompatible. An example often cited in research is its effect on males and their relationships with their parents, specifically their mother. The hormone elicited more praise from men who got on well with their mums, and more criticism in cases where men had not inaptly clashed. Further corroboration of this effect could be seen in individuals who, after inhaling the hormone, were more likely to become more amiable with established friends; concerning outsiders, the hormone effectively had no opposing, repelling effect. One of the most pressing problems facing society today is the increasing lack of bonds that men and women have with outsiders, such as a foreigner or people of differing faiths, or perhaps simply people who are simply outside one's inner circle of friends. He can point the finger at various culprits for this rather tedious social, which has relegated us to computer screens, is partially due to the increase, whether perceived or real, of refugees and foreigners coming to our country. They are viewed as nothing more than job-takers or freeloaders, even though considerable evidence points to the contrary. In search of a panacea for these ills, the use of oxytocin could almost be viewed as a case of 'be careful what you wish for' – were its undesirable effects worse. But we don't really need to go back to the drawing board – more holistic methods of forming bonds, such as seating our company with like-minded individuals, go further than scientific intervention. The true challenge is encouraging people to exploit those methods. While it's inarguably easier to go online and sift through news feeds, our bonds are breaking as a result. People still need the human touch, smiles, the favour we do for one another, such as make a cup of tea for someone, or even the shopping trips we take with each other. A famous person once said, 'Life was much easier when Apple and Blackberry were just fruits.' Easier, and perhaps more rewarding, too.

He treats the subject matter with a very narrow point of view.

He speaks broadly about social connections and doesn't give specifics.

He leads up to its connection with a naturally produced substance.

He highlights the struggles that some people have who study social connections.

How would you characterise the author's discussion of social bonding in the first paragraph?

The connections people have today exhibit many positive attributes.

Secrets to social bonding may exist in treatments used for childbirth.

We might have to resort to unorthodox forms of treatment to fix society.

There may be cause for alarm due to how society is now developing.

What does the author suggest is the belief of people who study social connections?

was brought about by its verifiable effectiveness.

is a testimony to its perceived impact on people.

demonstrates the power of horde mentality.

means it should be regulated by authorities.

The author believes that oxytocin's image on things that can be bought

to inform people of conclusive clinical evidence

to temper the suggestion that oxytocin is a cure-all

to show flaws in research that negate previous understanding

to present another point of view about the application of oxytocin

What is the author's purpose in mentioning the study in paragraph 4?

Studies indicate the two have a connection.

Both seem to be causing a certain type of ill in society.

Both include people with a lack of knowledge of the world.

Because the author has a negative view of both of these things.

Why does the author lump together social media and a fear of foreigners?

Its commercial use was never really necessary in the first place.

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