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In this section, you will hear Karen Davies, a journalist, talking about people who paint or draw graffiti(words and pictures)on buildings and in public places. This passage will be read twice. For questions 21 -30, complete the notes in three words or fewer for each blank. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.
    Graffiti writing is a leisure activity with a difference. ’ Why is graffiti writing a leisure activity?’ you might ask, especially considering that the people who are responsible for it take it seriously and look upon it as more of a job than a hobby. In reality, they’ re a bit like Spider-Man because they seem to be able to reach the most inaccessible places. Apparently, almost all serious graffiti writers climb onto a high building at some point during their graffiti writing careers, although not all writers manage to finish their work before they are caught.
    Another question many people ask is, ’ Why do they do it at all? ’ According to the writers I have talked to, it’ s a way of showing everyone that this is their home ground. It may seem pointless to us, but to them it’ s a clear sign that they have left their mark, and that they won’ t allow anyone else to come and write graffiti over what they have already written.
    For graffiti writers, any kind of flat surface is hard to resist, and is almost an open invitation to show the world what they can do. However, if this is what you would like to do in your spare time, heed the following warning. Local authorities are getting so tired of spending money removing graffiti these days, they are beginning to take tougher action against anyone they find defacing buildings and other structures. In other words, graffiti artists are now actually breaking the law, and if caught, will find themselves in a lot of trouble.
    In any case, graffiti writing certainly isn’ t safe for amateurs like you or me. Graffiti writers seem to have no fear of heights and seem to be able to reach places that even a bird or other animal might have difficulty reaching. In their defence, graffiti writers insist that their work makes surfaces look better. In the case of a blank wall at the end of a rather miserable row of houses, this might be the case, but what about the brand new windows of a train? Rail passengers will find it very difficult indeed to get a good view out of a window covered by graffiti, however artistic.
    Particularly sought after places for graffiti writers are subways. They are easy to reach and they have good surfaces to write on. It’ s easy to argue that graffiti actually makes a boring place more interesting. One writer I spoke to actually considers himself an artist who will never get the chance to show his work in a gallery. He told me that he thought this was the only opportunity he would ever have of showing the public what a fantastic artist he is.
    Motorway bridges are another inviting place for graffiti writers. The problem there is that the graffiti actually distracts motorists, and this has resulted in accidents. For people who have to remove graffiti, however, the problem just won’t go away. As soon as one surface is cleaned up, it’s immediately covered with more pictures. Some local authorities feel that if graffiti writers didn’ t exist , more money could be spent on building useful facilities for communities, such as libraries. One solution suggested by a local council in the North West was to offer graffiti artists free art classes, so that their artistic abilities could be channelled into something more creative and positive. They even came up with the idea of organising a competition for writers, which would be held away from public buildings, perhaps in an old factory or warehouse. For the moment, though, whatever people try seems to end in failure and we, the public, are left with what graffiti writers produce, like it or not!