You will hear part of a lecture about the history, meaning and modern uses of labyrinths.
First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.
Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
Labyrinths have been part of human culture for more than 4,000 years, and examples of their symbols have been discovered in places as far apart as Turkey, Ireland, Greece, and India.
Their designs vary, but each one consists of a winding spiral route that leads towards a central space.
There is a single entrance and only one continuous path, so although the walker meets many twists and turns, getting lost is impossible.
Nowadays, people often use the word labyrinth as if it meant maze, but the two are not the same.
A maze is a kind of puzzle formed from a complicated network of routes.
Mazes became fashionable in European gardens during the 15th and 16th centuries, where tall, dense hedges prevented visitors from seeing across them.
To reach the center and find the way out, people normally take several wrong turns before applying logic to recognize the pattern.
The term maze probably comes from a Scandinavian word describing a state of confusion, and it is also the origin of the word amazing.
A traditional labyrinth serves a rather different purpose.
Its spiral has long represented the journey of a human life, and reminded people that their lives have direction and meaning.
Because following the path is thought to encourage calm, labyrinths have often been used during meditation and prayer in cultures around the world.
The oldest known spiral designs were carved into stone.
Examples dating from the late Bronze Age have been identified across Europe and in regions extending from Arizona and India to Africa.
The Pima people of North America incorporated the circular design into woven baskets as an image of their cosmology.
The ancient Greeks placed the same symbol on coins around 4,000 years ago, while Roman labyrinths made from mosaics appeared in villas, bathhouses, and tombs.
Northern Europe also developed physical labyrinths that people could walk through.
These circular paths were cut directly into turf or grass.
Their original purpose is uncertain, although they may have been connected with fertility rituals thousands of years ago.
Eleven turf labyrinths still exist, and the largest survivor, at Saffron Walden in England, once had a substantial tree at its center.
Labyrinths have undergone a revival in recent times.
Supporters believe that walking along the path encourages mindfulness and healing, bringing emotional as well as physical benefits.
For instance, a walk may make a person's breathing slower and restore a sense of balance and perspective.
This belief has led to labyrinths being installed in spas, health and fitness centers, and even prisons.
A leaflet at Colorado Children's Hospital tells patients that a labyrinth can help people remain calm during a crisis.
Visitors often find walking one less stressful than waiting in a corridor, and some doctors use the hospital labyrinth during their breaks.
Patients who cannot walk can trace a finger labyrinth made from paper while staying in bed.
Although the scientific evidence is not yet extensive, many small studies support the claimed benefits.
One reported short-term calm, relaxation, and reduced anxiety among people with Alzheimer's disease.
So why do labyrinths appeal to people everywhere?
Well, that is the end of part four.
You now have one minute to check your...
