LISTENING B1 SCRIPT

PART 1
SET 1
Number-Related Questions - Time, Day, and Date

Warm-up Exercise
A.
1.
M: Oh, no! My watch stopped working again!
W: I think it's time for you to get a new watch.
M: What time is it, anyway?
W: I'm not sure, but I left the office at four, so it should be a little after four.
M: Four? I was supposed to pick up my sister at 3 o'clock. I'm really late.
2.
W: I'm starving. What time is it?
M: It's a quarter to one.
W: I didn't know it was so late. Do you want to go get something to eat with me?
I'm just going to go to the sandwich shop around the corner.
W: OK. Let's go, but I need to be back before 1:30.
3.
M: The movie starts in five minutes.
W: What time do you have? My watch says half past two.
M: Mine, too. Let's go in. I really want to see this movie. I'm so excited.
W: Do you think we have enough time to get some popcorn?
M: Maybe if we hurry. I don't want to miss the beginning of the movie.

B.
1. M: I was born on December eleventh, nineteen ninety.
2. W: I graduated from college on March second, two thousand two.
3. M: I started my first job on the twenty-third of September, nineteen eighty-eight.
4. W: We got married on June sixth, two thousand five.
C.
M: What year were you born, Kate?
W: I was born in 1985. How about you, Jimmy?
M: In 1987. My sister was born in 1985, too. When is your birthday?
W: October 27th. When is yours?
M: Actually, my birthday is next Wednesday. May 15th. Would you like to come to
the party?
W: Sure. Thanks for inviting me.

Practice Test
1.
M: Do you want to join me for a run tomorrow morning? W: What time?
M: What about before dawn to watch the sunrise?
W: Dawn?! Here in Fairbanks, Alaska, the sun rises at half past one in the morning
during the summer. M: One thirty? Oh, well, let's go five hours after that then.
2.
W: Good morning, this is Sandy with the local weather report. Most of you wonder
if we're going to see a break from this rain anytime soon. It looks like this is the
storm of the season. There will be heavy showers through Friday night. The
following morning should be sunny and clear. But be prepared for light
showers again on Sunday.
3.
W: Excuse me, what time do you have?
M: Urn... I don't have a watch, but I noticed it was three fifteen when I left class
about five minutes ago.
W: Oh, no! I'm already twenty minutes late for my meeting! I better hurry up and
get there! I hope I didn't miss anything important. Thanks, anyway.
M: You're welcome.
4.
M: Jack's alarm clock read six fifteen a.m. He dressed quickly. He was in his car
thirty minutes later. Traffic was surprisingly light that morning. It took Jack
only fifteen minutes to drive to work. But when he arrived at his office, no one
was there. Jack had forgotten today was daylight savings time! It was actually
an hour earlier than he had thought!
5.
M: April, are you coming to my birthday party?
W: I didn't know you were having a party. When's your birthday?
M: My actual birthday is February fourteenth. It's a Thursday. But I'm waiting to
have the party on Saturday at one-thirty so my friends will all be free to come.
W: Sounds good. I'll be there!
6.
M: I'm exhausted. What time is it?
W: Five twenty-five.
M: In the morning?! Wow, I didn't realize we'd been studying so long.
W: I should get to bed. I have to wake up in six hours to go to class.
M: Don't you have swimming practice in the morning?
W: You're right. I forgot. I'll have to get up an hour earlier than I thought.
7.
M: Everybody listen up. This year's race will be held at noon on the 21st of this
month. Volunteers need to show up forty-five minutes before the race. Please
come to the North Campus Parking lot. And don't forget your volunteer buttons.
Please come to the student activities office on 20th and pick them up.
8.
M: Ms. Garcia, we looked over your application, and we think you are a promising
candidate for the job. Are you available for an interview sometime this week?
W: I can do Tuesday at a quarter to twelve.
M: Hmm...eleven forty-five is not going to work for me. Can we shoot for an hour
after that?
W: Sounds good. See you then.
9.
M: And here they come! Silver Spur is in the lead with only one hundred yards to
go. He's followed closely by Black Lightning and...wait! Black Lightning pulls
ahead. He's taking off! And he crosses the finish line fourteen seconds under
thirty minutes. A record time for the Gold Star Horse Racing Classic!
10.
M: When I finally walked out of the woods, I had no idea how long I'd been gone.
Living in the wild, I had lost complete track of time. "What's the date today?" I
asked a man on the subway. "Today is April fifteenth, 2006" he replied. And I
realized I'd lived in the woods for exactly one year and seven days.
11.
W: What day is it today?
M: It's Monday. Want to get together and study for Friday's test?
W: Sounds good. Can we meet on Wednesday?
M: Sure. Shall we meet up around one o'clock?
W: Hmm...I have to be somewhere at ten to two, so can we meet before noon?
M: No problem. See you at 11 then!
12.
M: Don't forget—our plane leaves at 12 o'clock.
W: You mean midday?
M: Nope. Midnight. But be sure to get there an hour and a half early to check in.
W: Right. Thanks. How long does it take to get to the airport?
M: About twenty minutes.
W: OK, so I'll plan to leave my house twenty minutes before I need to be there.
13.
W: On the day of my college entrance test, I woke up before dawn. I left the house.
But the streets were crowded with cars. I didn't know how I would get to the
exam. Suddenly, a motorcycle came by. I stopped the man and asked for a ride.
Somehow, he got me to the test at 8:00 a.m.— just in time!
14.
M: So are we meeting at the park entrance tomorrow? What time?
W: Well, I'd like to be at the top of the peak by sunset, which is about 6:30.
M: How long does it take to hike to the top?
W: Oh, about two hours. But we should probably give ourselves an extra fifteen
minutes to make sure we get there by dusk.
15.
M: Hey, congratulations on winning your game last week!
W: Thanks! We've got another one this week. Are you coming?
M: If it's on Wednesday again, I can't make it. I've got band practice.
W: It was going to be Tuesday, but it got postponed two days because the weather's
supposed to be bad.
M: Awesome. Then I'll definitely be there!
SET 2
Recognizing Purposes, Intentions, and Reasons
Warm-up Exercise
A.
1.
W: I can't thank you enough. I really appreciate it.
M: Of course not.
M: Don't mention It.
2.
M: Would it be possible for you to open the window
W: That's very nice of you.
W: Certainly.
3.
W: Why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight?
(a) I'd be happy to.
(b) No trouble at all. Glad to help.
4.
M: I'm really sorry. It won't happen again.
(a) You're very welcome.
(b) It's no problem.

B.
1.
M: Hello, may I speak to Ms. Thompson please?
W: This is she. Who's calling?
M: This is Dave from Time Publishing Company. How are you?
W: I'd doing fine. Is this about my application for the position?
M: Yes, I'm sorry to inform you that we hired another person for the position.
W: No problem. Thanks for calling.
2.
M: ABC Customer Service Center. Thank you for calling. This is Kevin. How may I
help you?
W: I'm not happy with one of your employees.
M: Could you tell me what happened, ma'am?
W: I was at one of your stores yesterday. And the employee was very rude.
M: I'm very sorry to hear that, ma'am.
C.
1.
W: Hi, Jim. Why did Janet call you?
M: She wanted to tell me she was sorry that she couldn't have dinner with me next
week.
W: Why can't she have dinner with you?
M: She said she has to have dinner with her family. It's her father's birthday.
2.
M: Royal Hotel. How may I help you?
W: Hi, my name is Jean Collins. I have a reservation for the 13‘h.
M: Just one second. Yes, you booked a single room for four nights.
W: That's correct, but there were some changes. I'm wondering if I could change
the date to 15th.
M: No problem, ma'am. I'll take care of it right now.
3.
W: Dr. Johnson's office. This is Betty.
M: Hi, this is Sam Peters. I'm Jane Peters's father.
W: Hello, Mr. Peters. Jane came in yesterday for a stomachache. How is she doing?
M: She's much better. I just called to see if it's OK for her to have some solid food
today.
W: Yes, no problem. Just make sure that she drinks lots of water.

Practice Test
1.
W: This Saturday is our annual company picnic. This is also to honor our
employees' hard work and efforts for the year. I welcome you all to join us. We
will have a barbecue for steaks and hamburgers. And there will be plenty of cold
drinks. So bring your friends and family, and we'll play a game of football.
2.
W: Hello, Mike. This is Rachel from across the street.
M: HI, Rachel, what's up?
W: I'm going to be out of town next weekend, and I'd really appreciate It If you
could feed my dogs while I'm gone.
M: Certainly. I'd be happy to.
W: Great. I'll drop a key off at your place before I leave.
3.
W: John, what're you doing here?
M: Hi, Maggie, l wanted to cheer you on. I figured you'd want all the support you
could get for your big race.
W: That’s very nice of you. Are you sitting with my parents?
M: No, your mom complained that she can't see well from her seat, so they moved
to seats closer to the race.
4.
M: Let me put it this way. If you spend just five dollars more than you're currently
paying, we can double your monthly minutes. Plus, the plan includes twenty-
five free text messages per month. I'm telling you, this is a deal you can't refuse.
Don't think about It for too long because this offer won't last long.
5.
W: HI. Can you tell me where to find a detective novel by Arthur Conan Doyle? It's
called the Hound of the Baskervilles. I’ve looked in the mystery section, but I
can't seem to find It.
M: Sure, let me just look it up on the computer. Ah, here It is. It looks like It is filed
in the wildlife section. How strange.
6.
W: Excuse me. Would it be possible for me to switch seats?
M: We have a full flight today, Ma’am. I’m afraid you have to stay in your assigned
seat.
W: Yes, I understand, but I can’t sit next to this man. He’s got a cat in that box under
his seat, and I’m allergic to cats.
M: I see. Let me see what I can do.
7.
W: Danny, your principal told me that your behavior yesterday was terrible.
M: I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.
W: You should respect your teacher no matter how much you may disagree with
him or her.
M: It won’t happen again. I will apologize to Mrs. McGuire tomorrow.
W: Good. And if it happens again, I will take away your Playstation for a month.
8.
W: Hello? Michael? Are you home?
M: Yes, come in!
W: I hate to trouble you, but would you mind lending me your lawn mower for the
afternoon? Mine’s stopped working.
M: Absolutely not. No problem.
W: Awesome. I can’t thank you enough for this. I thought I’d have to go out and buy
a whole new mower.
M: Hey, don’t mention it.
9.
M: I’m sorry, but I have to tell you right now that the hiring department is going to
reject your application for the job.
W: Is the position taken?
M: No, but we would like someone with more experience. And I see here that you
don’t have enough work experience.
W: Oh, I wasn’t aware of that.
10.
W: Outback Online, can I help you?
M: I am calling to complain about a pair of hiking boots I ordered. One week after
I received them, the soles came off. I would like to request a replacement pair, if
đế giày
that’s possible.
W: Certainly. Exchanges take about three months to process.
M: Three months?! That’s ridiculous. Let me speak to the manager!
11.
W: Doug, I don’t know how to thank you for letting me stay at your place and
showing me around.
M: Don’t mention it. It’s my pleasure. Do you need a ride to the airport?
W: No, I’ll take the subway.
M: Are you sure? I’m happy to do it.
W: I really appreciate it, but I’d like to ride the city subway before I go.
12.
M: It was very nice to meet you, Isabelle. I appreciate you stopping by. Your resume
looks very good but unfortunately, we’re not hiring in the sales department at
the moment. I’ll keep it on file and e-mail you when something opens up.
W: Thanks. I really appreciate it. Would you mind calling me, though? I don’t check
my e-mail too often.
M: Not at all.
13.
W: David Hamilton Jr. died Saturday morning. He died of a sudden heart attack. He
was seventy-two years old. There will be a memorial service Wednesday
evening. The service will be at 6:00 to honor the life of this great man. It is open
to the public. The family requests everyone to wear black suits or dresses.
14.
W: Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother you. But would it be possible for you to take a
look at my car? I think the battery is dead.
M: Yes, of course. Do you have jumper cables?
W: Yes, I’ve got them right here. Thank you for doing this.
M: Oh, don’t worry about it. It isn’t much.
15.
W: What is the problem with this computer?
M: Oh, I should’ve warned you about this computer. I couldn’t even turn it on
yesterday. What seems to be the problem today?
W: It kept asking for a password.
M: Hmm…did you try rebooting the computer?
W: Yeah, it didn’t work.
M: I have no idea. We’d better take it to the repair shop.
SET 3
Identifying Jobs and Relationships

Warm-up Exercise
A.
1. M: Are you ready to order?
2. M: How short do you want it?
3. M: How long has it been hurting?
4. M: OK. I’ll have a dozen roses delivered by noon.
B.
1.
M: Can I help you find something?
W: Yes, I'm looking for a dress for a wedding. Does this dress come in black?
M: Yes, it does. Would you like to try it on?
W: Sure. Hmm... I'm afraid this is a little too small. Do you have a bigger one?
M: It's a size eight. Why don't you try a size ten?
2.
W: Can I see your driver's license and registration?
M: Sure. Here they are. What did I do wrong? I wasn't speeding, was I?
W: Actually, you were. You were going 50 miles per hour. The speed limit is 25
miles per hour.
M: Oh, I had no idea. I didn't see the sign. Sorry.
3.
W: So what was it like working with Brian Mathew?
M: Wonderful! I've wanted to work with him since I started my career. I was very
excited to hear that he would give me a role in his next movie.
W: And you just finished the movie together, right?
M: Yes. I worked with the most talented people, and it was great!
4.
M: How is your meal, ma'am?
W: Well, I'm glad you asked...
M: Oh, didn't everything come out all right?
W: Actually, no. My steak is very pink in the middle.
M: I see—and you ordered well done. I'll take that back to the kitchen now.
W: I appreciate it. I can’t eat rare steak.
C.
1.
The best part of my job is the fact that it lets me travel. I don't get to be outside,
but I do get to go all over town and take people to where they want to go. I've
learned so much more about my city after taking this job. While 1 don't get to
travel long distances like a pilot, I still enjoy it.
2.
W: I like my job because I meet so many new people. On any given day, I can meet
about fifty people I've never met before. While I only get to help them for about
an hour. It’s still enough time to have a great conversation. Furthermore, the
tips are great, and so is the food!

Practice Test
1.
M: I am the man at the controls. I am responsible for getting hundreds of people
from city to city. Sometimes, the weather is very bad. Then I'll make an
emergency landing. But that does not happen very often. Most of the time, we
get to the destination without a problem. As a pilot, it is my duty to keep
passengers safe.
2.
M: How can I help you? We're having a great sale today.
W: Actually, I'm not here to shop. Can I talk to the manager?
M: I'm the manager. What can I do for you?
W: I heard you were looking for a salesperson.
M: Yes, do you have any prior experience in sales?
W: Yes, I'm currently working in a toy store.
3.
M: Lots of people may not want my job, but I love it. It's fun to be a construction
worker. I get to be outside all day. And I get to move around and get lots of
exercise. Plus, everyone I work with is friendly. We get to talk while we work.
Also, we all eat our lunches together every day.
4.
W: So why did you stop into the clinic today?
M: My gums are aching. I've been in constant pain for about two weeks now.
W: Well, if it is something like that, it's always good to make an appointment with
your dentist.
M: Yes, I came to see you right away.
W: I'm glad we had an opening. Now, do your teeth hurt, too?
M: No, just my gums.
5.
M: It's always been my dream to be a baker or chef. I love to make desserts. My
specialty is cakes. In fact, I run my own bakery. We sell all different kinds of
cakes. I like making cakes look different. I make cakes in the shape of animals.
They are very popular.
6.
M: So you witnessed the accident? Could you please tell me what you saw?
W: I was crossing the street when I saw a taxi passing by very fast.
M: Did you see the taxi driver?
W: Yes, he was young, and he was wearing a baseball cap.
M: Thanks for letting us interview you.
W: You're welcome.
7.
W: I am very lucky. I am getting married next month. My sister is a florist and is
going to give me free flowers for the ceremony. It's going to save me several
hundred dollars. Plus, she's picking out a beautiful collection of flowers for me.
They're going to be purple and orange.
8.
W: Did you get into the advanced writing class I'm in at 10 a.m.?
M: No, it was all full when I tried to register for it. I really wanted to take that class.
Who's the professor?
W: Gaines. She's fantastic and is very passionate about her work.
M: Yeah, you'll have a lot of fun with her.
9.
M: I want to be an artist or an actor.
W: You want to become famous, don't you?
M: Maybe. I wanted to become a hairdresser when I was younger. You know my
father is a farmer and my mom is a hairdresser. What about you?
W: I want to be a reporter.
M: Maybe you will interview me some day.
10.
W: What do you do for a living?
M: I'm a doctor. I work at the Town Hospital down on 4th Avenue.
W: Wow. That must be so exciting. Did you always want to become a doctor?
M: Actually, I was a business person. I worked in an advertising company after I
graduated from college. I went back to school when I was thirty.
11.
M: I really need to find a new job. I'm sick and tired of being a housekeeper. I hate
cleaning floors and scrubbing sinks all day. I long for the day when I don't have
to make another bed or dust another set of curtains. No more vacuuming
carpets. No more picking up toys. No more folding laundry. What a life!
12.
W: Sir, can you crawl toward me?
M: No, I'm stuck. My arm is stuck!
W: Sir, don't panic. I'm a firefighter. We put out the fire, and we're going to get you
out of here. We have your wife safely out of the house.
M: Oh, thank goodness! I was so worried.
W: Now, is there anyone else in the building?
13.
M: We, police officers do lots of things. We direct traffic when there's an accident.
We write tickets to drivers. When drivers speed or run stop lights, we give them
tickets. We also arrest people who steal or harm the lives or property of others.
We help and protect innocent citizens.
14.
W: Have you decided what you're going to order for dinner?
M: Not really. I can't make a decision. I'm either getting the chicken or the steak.
They both look so tasty.
W: Well, our chef recommends the steak. He grills it over an open fire.
M: I still can't decide. I think I'll need more time.
M: Okay, I'll come back with your drinks.
15.
W: Getting my job wasn't easy. It took me four years of college and another four
years of medical school. After that, I had to complete two years of residency.
Then I got this position. But let me tell you, it was worth it. There's nothing more
satisfying than helping the sick to get better.
SET 4
Drawing Inferences and Conclusions

Warm-up Exercise
A.
1.
M: Can we go to the grocery store? I forgot I don't have any milk.
W: Sure. I actually need to buy some things for the picnic today anyway.
M: Let's buy a watermelon! I saw that they were on sale this week.
W: What are you going to take to the picnic?
M: I'm bringing cookies.
W: You should buy some fresh ones from the bakery.
2.
M: Hi, Ellen. I didn't know you were taking this class. This room is so big. I didn't
see you last week.
W: Yes, my major is English, so I have to take all of the reading courses.
M: This is my first. I hope I got the right books!
W: If you followed the instructions from the professor, you'll be fine. You may have
to go borrow a few more during the term.
M: It sound like this will be a lot of work!
3.
W: Is it possible to remove this stain?
M: Let me see. What is it? It looks like a red wine stain.
W: That's right.
M: How old is the stain?
W: Just a couple of days. I hope you can save this blouse. It's brand new.
M: I'll try my best, but I can't guarantee anything.
4.
M: So what is the short-term rate?
W: It's $2 for the first half hour and $1.50 for every hour after that.
M: What about the long-term parking rate?
W: You can get a monthly pass to the parking garage for $30.
M: That's pretty good. I think I'll get one. How do I sign up?
W: Just fill out this form.
B.
1.
W: This is a place where people go to work out. Sometimes they get on the
treadmill to get exercise. Some people enjoy taking classes, while others enjoy
weightlifting. It has become very popular to go here after work because many
people would like to be healthy.
2.
M: People come here to eat a quick meal while they are at work or school. You
stand in a line and choose the food you would like to eat. You can also pour your
own drink. After you have chosen what you would like to eat, you pay and sit
down to enjoy your meal.
3.
W: People have come here to pray for many years. A famous example of this is St.
Peter's, in Rome. June is a very famous month for couples to get married in this
place. You can often tell what it is because you can see crosses around it.
4.
M: This is a place where you will find many cars. Someone will walk outside to talk
to you about what you would like to buy. You have to decide which color you
like. After you sign some paperwork and give them money, the vehicle is yours!

Practice Test
1.
M: He wears white pants, shoes with cleats, a hat with a brim, and a jersey with the
name of his team. He plays in a sports stadium with hundreds of fans watching.
He waits in the dugout for his turn to bat. And after three outs, he jogs out to
center field with a glove on his left hand.
2.
W: One of my favorite things about going to a baseball game is the food. I love going
to the concession stand. There's nothing better than a fresh hotdog and a cold
drink. Plus, they have TVs at the concession stand so you don't miss any of the
game. And they serve you quickly! All in all, concession stands are
__________________.
3.
M: We're running out of gas.
W: There's a gas station at the next intersection.
M: Great. Let's stop there and fill up.
W: Are you getting hungry? I'm starving.
M: Me, too. I wonder if there's a place to get something to eat.
W: Oh, I see a grocery store over there. Let's go there first.
4.
W: Do you know how to get to the car dealership?
M: I know I have to go straight on Maple Street. Where should I turn?
W: Take a right on 2nd Street, right where that small travel agency is. After that,
take your first left.
M: OK. I think I can find it.
W: If you've passed the gym, you've gone too far.
5.
M: Hermit crabs do not make their own shells like snails do. Instead, they look for
abandoned snail shells. They carry them on their backs with their right claws.
When there aren't enough snail shells, hermit crabs will use anything they can
find. They even use plastic pill bottles or empty bottles of perfume. In
conclusion, hermit crabs _____________________.
6.
W: Frank! I didn't know you were a member here!
M: Yeah, I just joined last week. The weather's getting too cold to run outside, so I
haven't been getting out as much as I'd like. I thought I'd try running on the
treadmill. Maybe I'll do some weightlifting.
W: Well, have a good workout. It was great seeing you.
M: See you around.
7.
M: My family has to go to the cemetery today. There will be a service for my
grandmother. She was sick for many years. I brought flowers to put on her
grave. White daisies were her favorite. I am going to miss her a lot. She and I
were very close.
8.
W: Many people look up at a full moon and see an image on its surface. Americans
see a human face, which they call "the man in the moon." The English see a witch
carrying sticks of wood on her back. The ancient Maya saw a leaping rabbit. The
Japanese see a rabbit eating a rice cake. In summary, _______________.
9.
M: Excuse me, could you tell me where the Stanley lecture hall is?
W: Oh, sure. Do you know where the dorm cafeteria is?
M: Yeah, the one on the south side of campus? It's on the corner, right?
W: Right. It's just north of the cafeteria. It should have a big blue sign above it.
10.
W: This will help you lose weight. You can either walk or run on it. You can also
change levels to make it more difficult. Sometimes, they have special features
like a TV or fan on them so you can enjoy what you are doing. If you lose your
balance, you can hold the handrail.
11.
M: Some people say it's easy to spot a liar. Liars don't look you in the eye, some
say. Liars squirm and stutter, others say. Some people think all liars look up,
while others think they look down. Some say liars cross their arms, and others
say liars cross their legs. All in all, liars _______________.
12.
W: Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find pancake mix?
M: It should be in aisle three, on the right side. It's with all the baking stuff, right
next to the flour.
W: Great, thank you very much.
M: It's my pleasure. If there's anything else I can help you with, please let me know.
13.
M: You can buy it at a grocery store. You can buy it at a newsstand or in an airport.
You can have it delivered to your house. Its pages are glossy. It is full of colored
photographs, ads, and stories. You can read it in the bathtub or on the beach.
You can throw it away when you're done. But some people collect them.
14.
W: Some suits and sweaters can be damaged when washed with soap and water.
You don’t want to ruin your clothes, right? Then, take them to the dry cleaner.
They will be washed with a special liquid. This liquid removes dirt and stains
without water and soap. Therefore, it is important to____________.
15.
W: There's no place to park the car.
M: We should've taken the subway.
W: Do you know where the parking garage is around here?
M: There's one near the church, but it'll be too far from the theater.
W: Let me drop you off at the ticket office. Then I'll go park the car.
M: OK. I'll meet you at the theater then.
SET 5
Factual Understanding and Details

Warm-up Exercise
A.
1.
M: I’m looking for my dog. His name is Max. He's small and is black and white.
When I went to help guests bring In food for the retirement party. Max ran out
of the house chasing after a cat. He’s wearing a blue collar and a name tag. He
responds to his name. If you see him, please call me at 555-4678.
2.
W: Excuse me, have we met before?
M: I'm not sure. You look familiar... Did you go to Valley High School?
W: No, but I have a friend who went there. Her name is Rachel. Rachel Danson.
M: Oh! Now I remember where I’ve seen you before. It was her wedding reception
last month.
W: That's right. Nice to see you again. I'm Sarah.
3.
M: What do you want me to bring to your potluck dinner?
W: Let me see. I'll take care of the hot dogs and drinks. Mike is going to bring a
salad, and Jane is in charge of chips.
M: What about some fruit?
W: My brother will bring fruit. What about some desert? M: Sounds good. I'll bring
my famous homemade apple pie then.
4.
W: OK, sir. You have two round-trip tickets to Boston. M: Should I go to your office
to pick them up?
W: Our office is in the downtown area.
M: Hmm... Can you send them by mail?
W: There'll be $10 fee. Is that OK? Or you can go to our website on my business
card and print out the e-tickets.
M: That's great. I think I'll do that.
5.
M: Take a little piece of candle and rub the wax over the writing. The wax will
create a waterproof covering. And the rain won't make the writing disappear.
You can also use this method to make garden labels. So you can see what and
when you planted in your garden after the rain.
 6.
M: I wish I could peel onions without tearing up. And peeling tomatoes is so messy.
W: Put the onions in water and peel them under water.
M: What about tomatoes?
W: For tomatoes, boil the water first and put the tomatoes in hot water for five
seconds. The skin will peel right off.
7.
W: I have worked for the same lawyer for a long time. He hired me on my birthday,
twenty years ago. He has been very busy over the years, and I must order many
things to make the office run smoothly. I need to remember to order staples
---------
tomorrow because we are almost out.
8.
W: Thank you so much for spending Mother's Day with me.
M: Of course! We never get to see you.
W: It is a long drive, but I appreciate both of you taking me to the art museum for
the new opening.
M: Yes, I know how much you enjoy it.
W: I know you hate art, but maybe you can find something you'll enjoy looking at.

celebrate kỷ niệm
Practice Test
1.
M: It was a cool fall day. The year was 1621. American colonists and Native
Americans shared a feast. They celebrated the fall harvest. Many people think of
this feast as the first Thanksgiving. But this is wrong. It was part of an old native
tradition. They did this long before others came to America.
2.
làm phiền
W: Sorry to bother you, but do you have the papers for the Jones vs. Landbrook
case?
bìa hồ so
M: They should be in that blue binder on the shelf there.
W: Can I borrow it? mượn
M: Sure. Just put it back on the shelf when you're done.
W: Great. Thanks. I'll be at the copier if you need me.
3.
W: A baby shower is traditionally an all-girls' event. But I wanted my husband to
share in the experience. So I invited him and his friends. That turned out to be a
terrible decision! All my girlfriends gave useful presents. They brought baby
clothes and blankets. On the other hand, the guys bought the baby golf clubs.
experience kinh nghiệm
terrible khủng khếp, kinh khủng
decision quyết đinh
golf club gậy đánh golf
 4.
W: Having trouble? tìm cách treo băng dính dính
M: Yeah, a bit. I can't figure out how to hang this poster. The tape just won't stick
to the wall. kim bấm
W: Have you tried using a stapler? rơi ra
M: The staples are too small. They just fall right out of the wall.
W: Ah, well how about a thumbtack? đinh bấm
M: Good idea. I think that should work well.
5.
M: One sunny morning on Mother's Day, a mother and her friend were walking
among the flowers. "Is it true," said the friend to the mother, "that you have no
jewels? That you are poor?" "No, I am not poor," replied the mother, "I have my
boys. They are worth all the gems in the world."
đá quý
6.
máy làm mát nước
W: A water cooler in an office is not just a water cooler. It's a place to hang out and
meet coworkers. It's a place to gossip and a place to share news. They tell each
other jokes, and they discuss business matters. In fact, some managers will hold
đồng nghiệp
meetings around it. coworker
gossip buôn chuyện
tổ chức

7. other joke chuyện cười

discuss thảo luận tổ chức
M: Birthdays are a big deal in our house. We throw a party and invite all our
quà nướng
friends. We play games and open presents. We grill hot dogs and eat them with
our fingers while mustard drips down our chins. We bake a cake, and the
birthday boy or girl gets to blow out the candles. There is always one candle for
every year.
8.
máy hủy giấy bí mật
W: Paper shredders destroy documents. People use them to get rid of secret
papers. Still, it is possible to put the pieces back together. But how? In the past,
thợ dệt thảm carpet weavers were hired. They reconnected the pieces. But it was hard. Today,
hire thuê
computers make the process much faster.
9.
M: I don't know what to get my wife. It's our ninth wedding anniversary.
W: Why don't you get her some ceramic dishes? They are the traditional ninth
anniversary gift, you know. dĩa gốm sứ

M: I had no idea. Is there a traditional gift for every year?

W: I believe so.
M: Well, that makes it so much easier! Thanks for the suggestion!
10.
danh thiếp
W: Now, many people use business cards. Long ago, there were visiting cards and
trade cards. In the 1400s, Chinese kings and queens used visiting cards. They
announced their arrival at someone's home. In the 1700s, people used trade
buôn bán
cards in London. They gave directions to merchant stores. This was quite
important. You see, there were no street addresses back then.
11.
M: The office is throwing a retirement party for Peter. It's Friday afternoon. You
should come. We'll take a lot of photographs.
W: Peter Harrison? I thought he'd never retire. Yeah, of course, I'll be there. What
time will it start?
M: Oh, I'd say show up sometime after 1:00. It will be a potluck, so there will be
salad and drinks.
W: Should I bring some meat?
M: I'm sure Peter would love some of your homemade bread.
12.
W: OK, so how should we set up the tables for prom?
M: Well, the set-up they had for the last school dance worked pretty well. What do
you think?
W: I don't know. I wasn’t there. phác thảo
M: Hand me your clipboard, and I'll sketch It for you. All the tables made a circle
tạo thành vòng tròn xung quanh
around the dance floor, kind of like this. sàn nhảy
13.
W: Do you need some help?
M: Yeah, will you grab that hole punch and organize those papers in a binder for
me?
W: I'd be glad to. But I've been putting them in the file folders. They seem to fit
better in the file cabinets that way.
M: Oh, OK. Well, If your system Is working, then go ahead and keep doing it that
tiếp tục
way.
14.
hóa trang
W: Are you going trick-or-treating this Halloween?
M: Of course! Aren't you?
W: I don't know. Don't you think we're getting a little old to dress up?
M: No way! I'm going to be a jack-6-lantern, and my friend Rob is going to be the
carving knife. Pretty clever, huh?
W: Ha! And I’ll be the candle!
15.
M: Are you going to come to our wedding reception this Saturday around 4:00?
W: I'll be there. Do you need help with anything?
M: No, I think we have everything set up and ready to go. There will be delicious
food and drinks.
W: I’m vui
excited about the gift I bought you. I hope you both enjoy it!
M: I’m looking forward to It! I’m glad you can come.
SET 6
Factual Understanding and Details

Warm-up Exercise
A.
1.
M: I hope you all liked today's weather. It was a beautiful day, for sure. The clouds
that had been with us for a week are all gone. The clear skies should continue
through the weekend. So make your plans now to get out of the house. Enjoy the
beautiful sunny day.
2.
M: Brr! Today was not a warm day at all. The cold weather will continue tomorrow
and Friday. And I must warn you about tomorrow's weather. Lightning storms
have been forecasted for the city and all nearby areas. Please be careful out
there! If I were you, I would only go out If I had to.
3.
W: I'm on the scene of a==================
terrible accident. It appears that gas has caused a fire at
======================
this house on Main Street. The fire department is still trying to get the situation
under control. Also, drivers are warned not to travel on Main Street. The road
has been closed for now.
4.
W: Oh, no! It looks like there’s some problem up ahead. M: Yes, I see. There’s a sign.
Can you read It?
W: Hmm... It looks like the road is closed.
M: Ah, I can read It now. No, it's not closed. You see, there Is some construction, so
I'd better not drive so fast.

B.
M: Come to the grand opening of Casey's House. Casey’s House has the best steaks
in town, and you're invited to come enjoy one this Friday night. From 7:00 p.m.
to 9:00 p.m., we're offering all our delicious steak dinners at half price! Come on
down to Casey's and let us do the cooking.
W: You must be eighteen years old and registered in this state to vote. Elections
will be held on November 4, 2008. Your registration must be mailed no later
than October 20, 2008. You may go online to ask for a form or have one mailed
to you.
M: Good evening, sports fans! We have some breaking news for you tonight. Over
20,000 people came to the City Stadium today to watch our soccer team play.
And what a game it was! The score was tied one to one until the last five seconds
of the game. In the last seconds of play. Jack Smith kicked the winning goal.
4.
W: Now, for news! The new city park, which was completed last week, officially
================
opened today. The new park not only has a lot of walking paths, but it also has
four tennis courts. The mayor hopes to build a city pool there, too. But he does
not think this will happen until next year.

Practice Test
1.
tiếc nghỉ hưu
M: I regret to inform you that Joel Kats is retiring this month. He will no longer be
giving weather forecasts for KUAC radio. He has served KUAC for twenty-one
years, and we'll be sad to see him go. We will be hiring a new weathercaster
pv dự báo thời tiết
within the next two weeks.
2.
M: This is Mark Hammon with breaking news. Behind me is what's left of flight
688. Officials don't yet know the cause of the airplane crash, but I can tell you
người sống sot
this: there are no survivors to tell the tale. Flight 688 from Jacksonville crashed
============
just outside the Silver City airport. Back to you, Melissa.
3.
M: Looks like warm temperatures and sunny skies for the rest of the day. But get
out your umbrellas. There's a good chance tomorrow morning will be cloudy
with a seventy percent chance of rain. We may even see some hail in the
mưa đá
afternoon. But don't worry. Things should clear up again in time for the
weekend.
4.
W: The lottery jackpot is now $568,000! What would you do with all that money?
Pay off your debt? Start your own business? How about a brand new car? Or a
home on the Florida coast? Buy tickets for only $1 each at any supporting store
in town. You can win the lottery today!
5.
W: Dear Steve, I have terrible news. A house fire destroyed sixteen houses in the
neighborhood last night, including ours. No need to worry about us. We are safe.
The fire department evacuated us several hours before the fire came our way.
sơ tán
 Still, I can't help but be sad about our loss. I hope you are well. Your loving sister,
Virginia.
6.
W: Due to icy conditions, this road is closed from Willow Street to Pine Street.
mũi tên
Please take the detour to your left. The orange arrows will guide you back to the
care
main highway. Please drive slowly and with caution, as roads may be slippery.
Watch out for patches of black ice. trơn trợt

7. large piece of
ứng cử viên thị trưởng buộc tội đe dọa cử tri
M: Now for our top story. A candidate for mayor is accused of threatening voters.
Jim Hart is a candidate in the election. He threatened to shut down local
businesses unless their owners voted for him. Mr. Hart denies this. He claims,
tuyên bố
phủ nhận
"I'd never dream of doing such a thing." We'll keep you posted as we learn more.
8. dự báo sương mù
M: Here is the forecast. It's foggy out there this morning. We won't be seeing the
clouds lift any time soon. It looks like it will be cloudy most of the day. Expect
mưa phùn
light drizzles in the afternoon and thunder and lightning storms toward
giông sét
evening. This is Peter with today's forecast.
9.
M: Has your house been damaged from wind or rain? Are you worried about
spending too much on home repair? Stop worrying! Call Bobby's Home Repair
ước tính chi phí
for a free estimate. Bobby's offers quality service for low prices. You won't find
these anywhere else. So pick up the phone and dial 688-HOME today!
10.
lanhj thấu xương
W: John, this is Harriet. It's bitterly cold up here in Colorado. The temperature
âm 5 độ
outside my cabin door is minus 5 degrees. But things are really heating up with
xuống dốc
the competition.
cuộc thi We expect the downhill ski race to begin in 10 minutes. I'll
=====================================
bring you up-to-date news coverage about the race as it occurs.
11. bulletin
phóng viên nước ngoài
M: And now for a sad story. Foreign correspondent Ann Jane Pyle died today at the
Alta City Center Hospital. She had heart failure. Mrs. Pyle will be remembered
phủ sóng táo bạo
for her daring coverage in all parts of Africa. She is survived by her four sons
and six grandchildren. She was eighty-seven years old.
12. người cứu hộ nó
W: This is Leila, with News Now in Fairview. I'm here with mountain rescuer Ben
đồng đội giải cứu bị thương
Lyman. Mr. Lyman and his crew have just rescued four injured climbers caught
in antuyết
avalanche
lở
on Mt. Debra just this morning. Mr. Lyman, can you tell us about
the rescue? How are the injured climbers doing?
13.
ảm đạm
M: It's going to be a dreary week here in Rockfort. Looks like it's going to be rainy
the next couple of days. Temperatures will be in the 20s. Wednesday and
Thursday will be snowy and windy. By Friday afternoon, it's back to clear skies.
In the afternoon, temperatures will rise to the high 50s.
14.
phim kinh dị
W: New, from High Life Entertainment. The most disturbing thriller of the year. A
đáng sợ khai thác nổi sợ sâu nhất
film so terrifying you'll never be the same again.ghê
It rợn
will tap into your deepest
ám ảnh
fears. It will haunt your dreams. Discover the horror when the dead try to
communicate with the living. Coming March 20th to a theater near you. Watch
it...if you dare! dám
15.
M: Mrs. Henderson, this is John from Brooks Hospital. I'm sorry to inform you that
nạn nhân
your son is the victim of a bad car accident. It occurred this afternoon on 55th
and Elm Street. He has been taken to Brooks Hospital. He is being treated for
injuries to the head and neck. Our prayers are with you and your family.
PART 2

LISTENING SKILL 1: UNDERSTAND THE GIST

Passage 1
S: Hello, Dr. Lewis. I’m Jane in your early education class. I sent you an email
yesterday.
P: Come on in. In your email, you said you’re interested in volunteering to help
elementary school students for the class requirements.
S: Right. But my schedule is full. I can’t commit to too many hours.
P: That’s no problem. Some programs require just an hour a week. They pair you
up with a student and you act as a kind of mentor.
S: Oh, I didn’t realize they’re every week. Around final exams, for example, I can’t
meet students at all.
P: Well, there are other opportunities. It just depends on what the schools need.
Sometimes it’s something like setting up for Sports Day or a science fair.

Passage 2
S: Dr. Gillis, may I come in? I have some questions regarding my literature review
=======================================
for my graduation thesis.
P: Hi, Jacob. What’s the problem?
S: I’ve found a bunch of books, but I’m not sure what to do next.
P: The aim of a literature review is to show that you have read and have a good
grasp of the published work concerning your topic.
S: Then I’ll need to find all the journal articles, too? That’ll take forever.
P: It’s just for a graduation thesis, so you’ll need only about 40 or so titles.
S: How can I read more than forty books and articles?
P: You don’t have to. Just take notes.
S: Then is it okay to just write a description of the material in the form of a set of
============================================
summaries?
P: No. A literature review is not only a summary of the sources. It also focuses on
=============
synthesizing the arguments and ideas of others. So, write down what’s covered
=================================== ====================
and the authors’ points of view.
===========================

Passage 3
OK, let’s talk about an unusual kind of memory problem. What about people who
===============================
literally can never remember a face? It’s rare, but there are people who suffer
=====================
 from something called face blindness. If you answer yes to the following
questions, you likely have it. Do you have trouble recognizing the people you’ve
met, even after meeting them several times? Do you have trouble recognizing
even close family members? Do you focus on hairstyle and voice tone when
trying to remember someone? If asked to form a picture of a loved one’s face in
your mind, would it be nearly impossible for you to do it? Researchers can often
trace the cause of face blindness to a specific brain injury, such as a trauma or a
stroke. In some cases, it is a congenital disorder, present at birth in the absence
of any brain damage. It appears to run in families, so there may be a genetic
element to it. Also, it is often present in children with autism or Asperger’s
Syndrome.

Passage 4
M: Amy, I have some questions about dolphins since you are a kind of expert on
them. I have to write a report about them.
W: Well, they're smart, affectionate, and have even rescued people from
drowning...
M: Is there an interesting topic I can write about?
W: How about their unique respiratory system that enables them to spend up to
30 minutes underwater? As you know, humans and other land mammals
breathe unconsciously. But...
M: That means dolphins breathe consciously?
W: Yes, dolphins are mammals but they must actively decide when to breathe
because of their underwater habitat, so they are known as conscious
breathers.
=========
M: Aha! In order to receive oxygen, they must be conscious. How do they get on
for sleeping?
W: Sleep is necessary for the health of all living creatures, but it entails a state of
unconsciousness. Amazingly, nature finds a way. Dolphins get the sleep they
need by letting one half of their brain sleep at a time. In this way, the animal is
never completely unconscious, and still gets the rest it requires.
M: Thank you. I think this topic will work.

Passage 5
You remember that last time we looked at how Crimea was known as Taurica,
and that over the years it had been the site of colonies of both the Romans and
the Greeks. It was later part of the Ottoman Empire, during which time it was
the center of a large slave trade. Now, let’s talk about its relationship to Russia,
 and here our story begins with the Crimea War. Starting in 1853 and lasting for
three years, the war was fought with Russia on one side and Britain, France and
the Ottoman Empire on the other. Russia lost the war, but managed to keep the
Crimea Peninsula. In World War II, Nazi Germany tried to take over. It was a bad
time for the area, and eventually its most important port city, Sevastopol, fell
and was nearly destroyed. By the end of the war, Russia had regained control of
Crimea, and in 1954 Premier Nikita Khrushchev gave Crimea to Ukraine as a
sort of gift. No one really knows why, and it wasn’t too big of a deal at the time,
because Ukraine was still part of Russia. But, in December of 1991, Ukraine
decided to split from Russia, and took Crimea with it. Next class, we’ll talk about
the long-term effects of that decision.

Passage 6
Questions 1 and 2. Listen as two students have a conversation. The conversation
is on an exam.

W: Mark, do you have a minute? I need to ask you a question.

M: Sure. What's your question?
W: It’s about the exam.
M: Which exam? The one we just took in math class?
W: No, not the math exam we just took. My questions about the exam were going
to have==============
in English class.
M: Oh, that exam. The one were having next Wednesday.
=============
W: That’s right... Do you know what's on the exam? I know it’s on Chapter 9 in the
textbook, but is that all?
M: No, that’s not all. The exam’s not just on Chapter 9 in the textbook. It’s also on
Chapters 10 and 11.
W: So it’s on a lot more than I thought. ... I have a lot of studying to do.

Passage 7
Questions 3 and 4. Listen as a student consults with a professor. The
conversation is about a reading assignment.
problem, confusion, seeking advice
S: I have a question about the reading assignment you gave in today’s class.
P: Yes, what's your question?
S: I believe you said that we were supposed to read some articles.
P: That's right.
S: You listed some articles on the board, and we’re supposed to finish reading all
of the articles that you listed on the board. You listed seven of them.
P: Yes, that's right, too.
S: And did you also say that we're supposed to finish reading all of the articles, all
seven articles, by this coming Monday?
====================
P: No, not by this coming Monday. It's way too much reading for one weekend. No,
==============================================================
I said to finish them by a week from Monday, by Monday the tenth.
====================================
S: Oh, I'm glad I asked. I thought you said this coming Monday. It's too much
reading for one weekend.
P: It certainly is. That's why you have more than a week to read all of it.

Passage 8
Questions 5 and 6. Listen to a lecture in an astronomy class. The lecture is on
sunspots.
topic marker topic
(professor) Today, I'm going to talk about our Sun. You should understand this
====== =======
material clearly because it’s going to be on the exam on Friday. The Sun has a
number of dark-colored and irregularly shaped patches called=========== sunspots. The
number of sunspots doesn’t remain the same. The number of sunspots increases
and then decreases in a regular pattern. This regular pattern of increasing and
decreasing numbers of sunspots is called the sunspot cycle. The sunspot cycle
occurs every eleven years.
Sunspots appear dark because they're cooler than the surface of the Sun around
them. Sunspots are approximately five thousand degrees cooler than the rest of
===========================
the surface of the Sun, which averages temperatures of ten thousand degrees.
===============================
There are very strong magnetic fields that cause the sunspots to remain cooler
============================================
than the rest of the surface of the Sun.
Is all of this clear to you? You should ask questions if it isn't clear ... because you
will need to show me that you know it on Friday.
===============

Passage 9
S: Dr. O’Connell, I’m still not really clear on what’s going to be on the test. You said
===========================
that it’s about Byzantine art, right?
P: No, it’s Byzantine architecture. Actually, it’s about what Byzantine architecture
=====================
led to. You know, its legacy. = influence/ impact/ effect heritage
=========
S: I see. So, that was the part in the textbook about all those early Islamic mosques
===============
with domes, wasn’t it? There’s one central area with a dome, and then a circle
==========
of piers and columns.
P: Yes, that’s right. For example, remember the section on the Dome of the Rock at
Jerusalem? It’s one of the most distinctive Islamic monuments influenced by
============ ========================
Byzantine architecture.
====================
S: Sure. When it was designed, some Byzantine elements were incorporated, but it
======================
was changed a bit, so it wouldn’t look too much like a church.
P: Yes. For instance, worship is focused around the eastern wall, not the center of
the building. It was an effort to avoid the impression of a Christian church.
S: But they kept a lot of decorations, right? The geometric patterns as well as the
===================== ======================
brickwork were borrowed from Byzantine styles. So, are old mosques the only
========================================
legacy?
P: Not at all. In fact, there was a movement called the Byzantine Revival that
emerged in the 1840s. As you know, Westminster Church, a very important
======================
Catholic church in England, incorporates many Byzantine elements.
=============================
S: Thank you very much, Professor.

Passage 10
Today, I want to take a look at the Svalbard International Seed Vault. In 2008,
----------------------------------------------
the government of Norway officially opened it as a sort of “safety net” for the
======================= ---------------
world’s roughly=====================
14 hundred seed banks. Now, why would banks need a backup
=========
bank? First, well look at how they lose seeds. Then well look at why these losses
====== ===============
are so common. The banks need to store the seeds at very specific temperatures,
and this requires sophisticated machinery. Every once in a while, the machines
====================
break down, which leads to losses. Also, related to the machinery is the cost of
=========
running the banks. If a bank loses its funding, it’s going to very quickly lose its
seeds, too. Second, every year natural disasters destroy a couple of seed banks.
=======================
Wait. I forgot one other thing: war. There have been cases in which seed banks
========
have been blown up. so why do these bad things happen to seed banks so often?
It’s because the problems existed before the banks themselves did. In fact, the
===========================
banks were built because of these problems. Take country A. It’s a poor country
without the resources to protect its biodiversity. So, it sets up a seed bank. But,
it’s poor, right? Pretty soon, the bank loses its funding. Now take country B. It
has======================
lots of floods or wild fires. What happens to the seed bank it sets up to insure
its crops? Right It is damaged by flooding or destroyed by a fire. The Svalbard
International Seed Vault, because of its carefully chosen location and
guaranteed funding, offers other banks a level of protection they cannot provide
=======================================
themselves.
LISTENING SKILL 2: UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS

Passage 1
Las Meninas is a painting by Diego Velazquez. Its title means “Maids of Honor” in
Spanish. The picture shows a scene from the Madrid palace of King Philip IV. It
portrays Margarita, the daughter of King Philip IV, surrounded by her maids of
honor as well as the figures of important people within the royal court Some
critics say that the poses are so natural that It’s like looking at a photograph.
Interestingly, to the left of the scene, the artist depicts himself painting on a large
canvas. A mirror, a symbol of illusion, hangs on the back wall and reflects the
upper bodies of the king and queen. Some critics suggest that their image is
actually a reflection from the painting Velazquez is shown to be working on.

Passage 2
M: Hi, Cathy. Do you have any ideas for the International Women's Day conference
our department will be holding on March 8?
W: Well, you know the aim of the International Women’s Day is to celebrate the
achievements of women around the globe. So I think it would be great if the
conference started with a keynote address from an accomplished female
speaker.
M: That sounds interesting. Who do you have in mind?
W: Dr. Alice Miller. She's a scientist who recently made groundbreaking
discoveries in the field of applied chemistry. I’m going to write a letter to her
department at the university where she’s teaching. I hope she’ll accept the
invitation. How about you? What plans do you have for the event?
M: I’m preparing a presentation that will discuss some of the key issues that are
important to women living in the modern world. My main focus will be on
workplace gender discrimination.
W: Good! The conference will be a success.

Passage 3
So... let me explain the topic this way. Autism is a brain development disorder
that makes socializing with others very difficult. People with autism find it really
hard to communicate their needs and wants to others. And more than 80
percent of them have some form of mental retardation. Showing affection can
also be incredibly hard for them. Well, it is thought that abnormal genes are
responsible for autism, but their role isn’t fully understood yet. Sufferers usually
show symptoms before they are 3 years old and, unfortunately, there’s no cure
 yet. Autism affects one in a thousand children, and a sufferer Is four times more
likely to be a boy than a girl. Some of the early signs of the disorder would be
delayed ability to speak, showing no fear of danger, and using objects in unusual
ways. Few people with autism are able to live independently even as adults, but
some are very successful. And a small percentage of them have amazing musical
or mathematical abilities

Passage 4
M: Hey, what are these books for?
W: I'm writing a report on the wheel, which is one of the world's oldest and most
important Inventions. I’m gathering some facts on its origin, history and...
actually, there's lots of interesting information that I didn’t know before.
M: I see. So where and how long ago was the wheel invented?
W: It is thought to have originated in Mesopotamia about 7,000 years ago. Then it
spread to Europe, Asia, and Africa, but somehow people in the New World
didn't use the wheels then.
M: That sounds hard to believe, since people in the New World, such as the Aztecs,
Mayas and Incans are known to have such advanced civilizations.
W: I know. Despite the presence of those advanced civilizations, it took a thousand
years more before the wheels arrived in the New World.
M: Anyway, come to think of it, we can see that the basic concept of the wheel is
as simple as it is revolutionary; a circular device that is capable of rotating on
its axis.
W: Right. The wheels enabled the efficient movement of an object across a surface.
As far as we know, the wheel was probably first used in a cart drawn by a horse
or a human.
M: Nowadays the same idea is used on the rollers on an aircraft's flap mechanism,
isn’t it?
W: That’s correct.

Passage 5
OK, let's continue from where we left off last week. We'll continue our
discussion of formations created by volcanic eruptions. I don’t know how well
you can see it, but some of you may recognize this picture of the Giant's
Causeway. It is located in Antrim, on the northeastern coast of Ireland. Um...
geologically, it dates back to the Paleogene period, which is around 50 million
to 60 million years ago. At that time, the region that is now Antrim experienced
a lot of volcanic activity. The resulting lava eventually formed a plateau. As the
 lava cooled, the columns that you see were caused by a process called
contraction. Naturally, the columns are composed of basalt. The size of each
column indicates how quickly or slowly the lava cooled down. The faster the
lava cooled, the smaller the column. The Causeway derives its name from an
Irish legend that says the giant Finn MacCool accepted a challenge from a
Scottish giant. And he started building the columns as a land bridge across the
North Channel so that the two giants could meet. Of course, we now know that
isn’t true. However, it may interest you to know that across the sea, there are
identical basalt columns on the Scottish isle of Staffa. So it is possible that the
story was influenced by this.

Passage 6
Questions 1 through 4. Listen as two students have a conversation. The
conversation is about a recital.
W: What is that you’re carrying?
M: It's a tuba.
W: A tuba?
M: It's a musical instrument.
W: I know. You play the tuba?
M: Yes. That’s why I'm carrying a tuba around. I'm going to the Music Building.
W: That makes sense. Are you going to the Music Building to practice?
M: No, I’m not going to the Music Building to practice. I'm going there because I'm
playing in a recital.
W: You’re in a recital this afternoon?
M: Yeah, it starts in about an hour and a half. You should come.
W: The recital is over in the Music Building?
M: Yes, it is.
W: Will it last very long?
M: Only about a half hour.
W: I can take a half hour off from studying. I’ll be there.
M: You'll enjoy the recital. I'm sure.

Passage 7
Questions 5 through 10. Listen to a lecture in a geography class. The lecture is
on the Carlsbad Caverns.
(professor) Today, I’ll be talking about Carlsbad Caverns. Are any of you familiar
with Carlsbad Caverns?... Well, Carlsbad Caverns is a huge series of caves. This
 huge series of caves is in the state of New Mexico. It's located in the southeastern
corner of New Mexico. This extremely large maze of caves was formed 200
million years ago when the Rocky Mountains were only small hills. Today the
Rocky Mountains are huge mountains and not small hills.
The caves in Carlsbad Caverns extend for miles, and it isn't possible to count the
caves because there are so many of them. Many of the caves haven't been
explored yet because there are just so many caves.
The largest of the caves is called the Big Room. The Big Room is as long as ten
football fields and is as high as a twenty-story building. Picture ten football
fields, and picture a building with twenty stories. That's how large the Big Room
is, and that’s a pretty big cave.

Passage 8
Questions 11 through 16. Listen to a discussion in a zoology class. The
discussion is on the grouper.
professor The next type of fish we need to discuss is the grouper. What type
of fish is a grouper? Does it live in rivers, in lakes, or in the ocean?
Mark?
Mark The grouper lives in the ocean. It generally lives close to the shore.
It doesn’t live out in the deep part of the ocean, away from the
shore.
professor And what does the grouper look like? Ellen?
Ellen It's easy to recognize the grouper from the shape of its mouth.
professor And what does its mouth look like?
Ellen It has a very large mouth. Its mouth is huge in relation to the rest
of the fish.
professor And why does it need such a large mouth? Sam?
Sam It needs a large mouth because it feeds on other fish. It swallows
other fish whole. It needs a large mouth to swallow other fish.
professor Now, you should have read something about male and female
grouper fish. What's unusual about male and female grouper fish?
Mark?
Mark What’s unusual about male and female grouper fish is that all
grouper fish are born as females.
professor Exactly. When grouper fish are born, they’re all females. Then what
happens to them? Ellen?
Ellen Later, as grouper fish age, they change from female to male.
 Sam So all groupers are females when they’re born, and they change to
males when they’re older?
professor That’s exactly right. It’s quite unusual, isn’t it?... Now, for something
exciting. We’re going to be watching a film... Does that sound good?
... But I hope you're not expecting a comedy, or a love story, or a
musical... We're going to be watching a documentary on... you
guessed it... grouper fish.

Passage 9
S: Professor Lundall, I made an appointment for three. May I come in?
P: Sure, please, Carol. What can I do for you?
S: I’ve decided to write a report on illegal immigration in Europe. But since I’m
not familiar with European immigration, first I’d like to know some general
background about it in terms of how it differs from the US.
P: To begin with, the scale of the immigration in Europe is much smaller, and
European countries are more open to asylum cases than the US. By the way, why
did you choose the topic?
S: Well... while I was traveling in Paris last summer, I saw an incident where an
illegal immigrant worker was being chased and got arrested in the street.
P: I see. There are many people who are trying to enter Europe without legal
documentation. Urn... according to some statistics, about 8% of all the
foreigners trying to enter Europe every year do so through illegal means.
S: Which parts of the world do they normally come from?
P: Mostly from the countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East. And many
come from the more impoverished nations in Eastern Europe as well.
S: What are the usual reasons?
P: Well, illegal immigrants often come from relatively impoverished nations. They
may perceive certain countries in Europe as holding more economic
opportunities.
S: Do you think political asylum is a big factor?
P: That’s part of it but personally, I think economic factors are more major
influence.

Passage 10
So now... you are looking at a picture of the largest artificial body in orbit. Can
anyone guess what the picture is showing? Hmm... that’s right. It is the ISS, the
International Space Station. As the name suggests, it is a space station. We can
also call it a habitable artificial satellite. The ISS consists of parts, such as
pressurized modules, external trusses, solar arrays, and other components. The
ISS components have been launched by American Space Shuttles and Russian
Proton and Soyuz rockets. The main role of the ISS is to provide a research
laboratory in an outer space environment. There, the crew members conduct
experiments in astronomy, physics, biology, meteorology, and other space-
related fields. Well, one example of an experiment would be looking at how the
microgravity environment affects the human body immune systems. Another
example would be what they call the “veggie hardware validation test,” which
will evaluate the feasibility of eating plants grown on the space station. The crew
members’ data is, of course, available to the scientists on Earth. The station is
also used for the test of spacecraft systems and devices used for missions to the
moon and to Mars. The station is divided into two sections: the Russian Orbital
Segment and the United States Orbital Segment. The latter is shared by many
nations. So far, it has been visited by astronauts and cosmonauts from 15
different nations. Some of the countries are Canada, Japan and Italy; each of
these countries plays a particular role or has a particular mission at the station.
GIST & DETAIL REVIEW

Questions 1 through 9. Listen to a lecture in an architecture class. The professor

is talking about the London Bridge.

(professor) Today, were going to talk about the London Bridge. The London
Bridge is covered in your text, on page 122 (one hundred twenty-two). I'm going
to talk a little about this topic today, and you can also read about it in your text.
There is something important that you need to understand about the London
Bridge. The London Bridge isn't actually in London anymore, but it used to be
there.
You can see the London Bridge when it was in London. The bridge crossed the
Thames River, which is in the middle of London. The London Bridge is made of
granite, and it's an arch bridge; you can see the five curved arches in the bridge.
The London Bridge was built in the first half of the nineteenth century. When it
was built, it was a very difficult project. It took 800 men seven years to build the
bridge.
In 1968, the city of London decided that it needed a new bridge. The London
Bridge was too narrow; a wider bridge with six lanes was needed. The city didn’t
tear the bridge down and throw it away. Instead, the city found a buyer and sold
the bridge.
Here's the bridge in its new home. Do you know where this is? It's Lake Havasu
in Arizona. The company that bought the London Bridge paid a lot of money for
it. The company paid two and a half million dollars for the London Bridge. Then
the company took the bridge apart stone by stone, put it into crates, transported
it across the Atlantic, and rebuilt it in its new home. The London Bridge is now
far from its original home, on a lake in the southwest United States.
PROGRESS TEST 1
Passage 1
Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.
S: Professor Nelson, I’m Jack Hudson. I’m sorry to bother you but I couldn’t fully
understand your lecture on biomass this morning. Could you spare some time
to review the key points of the lecture?
P: Of course, I can give you all the time you need. What questions do you have in
mind?
S: Well, first of all, what exactly is biomass? Can I say that it is plant material,
vegetation, or agricultural wastes that are used as a fuel or an energy source?
P: Yes, that’s correct. However, as an energy source, the term “biomass” most often
refers to plant or plant-based materials.
S: I see. Then could you explain how it can be used as an energy source?
P: Sure. It can be used either directly or Indirectly. For example, it can be used
directly via combustion to make heat or indirectly by converting the source into
various forms of bio-fuel.
S: Then what kind of methods are used to convert biomass into bio-fuel?
P: Conversion of biomass to bio-fuel can be achieved by various methods. They can
be broadly classified into thermal, chemical, and biochemical methods.
S: I see. And... I think you mentioned wood being the largest biomass energy
source. Does that mean that it includes residue from forests, such as dead leaves,
branches and tree stumps?
P: You’re right. The biomass energy source can also include city waste like yard
clippings and wood chips.
S: Now I have a much clearer idea on biomass as an energy source. Thank you very
much for your kind explanation.
P: Please come by again if you have any questions.

Passage 2

Listen to a lecture in a philosophy class.

Today, we’ll talk about Homo Ludens, which means “Man at Play.” It's the title
of a book written by Dutch philosopher and theorist Johan Huizinga. As its tide
suggests, the book refers to the importance of play and fun in human society and
culture. According to the author, play is present in every aspect of culture, even
in religion and ritual. He also suggests that all contest and competition are forms
of play, and are necessary elements in civilization, whether it is Westerners like
the Anglo-Saxons or Easterners like the Chinese. In fact, he says play creates
civilization. From play arise our concepts of beauty, virtue, and honor. Play is
present in such areas as war and courtroom trials too. Those who break laws,
whether civil or international, are thought to have broken the rules of play, and
are thus seen as outsiders. Philosophy is play, as it represents a competition for
knowledge. Literature, music, and the other arts are as well, as they represent
competition for beauty. In short, the author defines the characteristics of play
in Homo Ludens. For example, play is free, play is not ordinary or real life, play
creates order, and play Is not connected to any material interest. However, play
lost its value somewhat in the 19th century. It was largely replaced by
technology in the 20th century. Now, even sports have lost their playfulness, as
they become more professional and geared toward spectators. But play still
exists in a larger sense — for example, in international relations and trade. In
this contest, negotiators in a sense are playing a game with each other. Thus,
play is still an important part of life, as Johan Huizinga suggested.
LISTENING SKILL 3: UNDERSTAND RELATIONSHIPS
Passage 1
P: Hello, class. Today let's talk about terrestrial planets. There are four terrestrial
planets in our solar system, and they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. First,
we're going to look at composition. Another name for these planets is "rocky
planets,” so I guess you can easily assume they are made up of rocks. Next, let's
look at structure. They have almost the same type of structure. There’s a
metallic core that’s mostly iron. Around that is what we call a mantle, and for
these planets the mantle is silicate. Silicate is a large group of mineral
compounds and about 90% of all rock falls into this group. Last, one more
interesting characteristic is that the planets have diverse terrains with canyons,
volcanoes, mountains, craters and other surface structures.

Passage 2

M: Can I ask you something about the tennis lessons offered by the school? Can
anyone take them?
W: Sure, anyone is able to sign up, but you have to pay for at least two months’
worth of lessons in advance.
M: You mean it isn't free? I thought it was covered as part of our general fees.
W: Sorry, but there is an additional fee. Also, you’ll need to supply your own racket
and balls. You’ll need the appropriate clothing, too,
M: I see. Who’s the instructor?
W: It’s Dr. Johnson. He's actually one of our history professors, but he’s an
excellent player. He played competitively at the college level when he was
younger.
M: I’d really like to sign up, but now I wonder about the level of the lessons. I’ve
never played before.
W: Don’t worry. There are two types of lessons. One is for beginners and the other
is for more advanced students.

Passage 3
Our ability to remember things has three stages, which are sensory memory,
working memory, and long-term memory. When we see hear, or touch
something, our sensory memory retains it for a very short time before it passes
into our working memory. It remains there for only about 30 seconds unless we
maintain it by repetition or encode it for storage. If we do neither, the
information is lost forever. Conversely, encoded information is stored in our
 long-term memory, at a subconscious level, until we retrieve it. At that time, the
information passes from long-term back to working memory, where we become
aware of it again. The retrieval process may be conscious, using cues such as
images or word association, or it may be unconscious, when some event triggers
retrieval of the stored memory. But even our long-term memories may be lost
over time if we don’t use them. Some researchers believe that by recalling our
past experiences frequently, we create memories that never fade.

Passage 4
P: Hey, Amy. So, how are things coming along with your graduate school
application?
S: Professor Jones, that’s what I came here about. I’ve narrowed it down to two
schools. It’s going to be either Columbus University or St. Cloud College.
P: Well, Columbus University is a lot closer.
S: Yes, but that’s actually a strike against it. I’d love to move away for a few years.
I’ve been in the same city my whole life.
P: Graduate school can be pricy. Have you taken that into consideration?
S: I have. Although St. Cloud’s tuition is lower, there're fewer scholarships
available.
P: So, it might be more expensive in the long run. What about which one is
considered more prestigious?
S: That would be St. Cloud. But there’s a professor at Columbus I really like. I’ve
contacted him and he’s already expressed an interest in being my thesis advisor.
P: Good to hear. And are you interested in working as a teaching assistant?
S: No, it’s not really something I'd be interested in doing.
P: Well, if it were up to me, I would go to the school that has the better overall
reputation.
S: It’s not easy for me to decide. And time is running out.

Passage 5
OK, let's get started. Today I’m going to talk about labeling theory. It is the idea
that a person is defined by how others see him or her. It means that other
members of society influence a person’s self-identity and behavior. The theory
combines elements of sociology, criminology and linguistics. Labeling theory
refers to a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy brought about by stereotyping.
Stereotypes are commonly held perceptions about a group of people.
Essentially, the concept holds that applying a label to someone will change the
behavior of the labeled person. This is especially true of negative stereotypes or
 labels. For example, if someone is labeled as a “juvenile delinquent,” meaning
young criminal, by his or her peers and society, it is far more likely that he or
she will act in a delinquent way. Some take it as far as to say that labeling can be
the cause of mental illness for those being labeled. One flaw in the theory is the
difficulty in scientifically proving its core idea that people's self-concepts are
rooted in societal perceptions. And the theory leaves some questions
unanswered concerning the psychology of the criminal and society's most
serious offenses.

Passage 6
Questions 1 and 2. Listen as a student consults with a professor. The
conversation is about a missed exam.

S: Hello, Professor.
P: Hello, Mary. What happened to you last Friday? Were you really sick? You
missed the exam I gave on Friday. Are you feeling better today?
S: Oh, I wasn't sick last Friday.
P: But you missed the exam. Why did you miss the exam last Friday?
S: Oh, some friends of mine were going skiing, and the weather was so beautiful,
and they wanted me to go skiing with them. I just had to go.
P: You missed an exam because you went skiing?
S: Yeah, so I was hoping I could make the exam up, maybe tomorrow.
P: You missed an exam because you went skiing, and you think you're going to be
able to make it up?
S: Yeah.
P: Don't count on it.

Passage 7
Questions 3 and 4. Listen to a lecture from a zoology class. The lecture is on the
robin.
(professor) A robin is a type of bird that's known for its singing. When a robin
sings, it isn’t to relax or to entertain other birds or people. Instead, a robin sings
to defend its territory.
Robins are territorial birds. This means that they select a certain location for
their family and they don’t allow other birds to enter the location. The way that
they tell other robins that they’ve taken a certain location as their own is to sing.
 When one robin hears another robin singing, this means "This is my territory.
Don't enter it."
The territory that one robin family takes can be one tree or a group of trees. And
why do you think that a robin protects its territory from other birds? That's
easy. It protects its territory from other birds in order to have a better chance
of raising its family safely and having enough food for its family.

Passage 8
Questions 5 through 7. Listen to a discussion from an astronomy class. The
discussion is on auroras.
P: Today, we're going to discuss auroras. First of all, what's an aurora, Tom?
S: An aurora is a natural show of colored light in the night sky.
P: And what colors are in the auroras?
S: The auroras are usually white with a bit of green. Other colors may appear in
the auroras, such as yellow or red.
P: And where are the auroras found? Pam?
S: The auroras are found mainly in the high latitudes of both hemispheres.
P: That's right. Now, Pam, can you explain which parts of the world are in the
higher latitudes?
S: The higher latitudes are in the far north and far south.
P: Exactly. The auroras can be seen mainly in the northernmost and the
southernmost parts of the world. . . . Now, Marie, how often do auroras occur?
S: They occur about twenty-four times a year.
P: And are these twenty-four occurrences of the auroras spread out equally during
the year?
S: No, they’re not spread out equally throughout the year. They occur more often
in the spring and the fall. They occur less often in the summer and the winter.
P: That's exactly right. It's much more common to see auroras during the spring
and the fall than it is during the summer and the winter.

Passage 9
M: OK, so... what do you think we should go over next?
W: How about if we go over this stuff about where the glaciers in Iceland are
located?
M: It’s a good idea.
W: Um, there are three factors that determine the location of glaciers. They are
related to how high up, how cold, and how wet.
M: Is that why there are no glaciers along the coast? It’s too warm?
W: Yes, so they are in the central mountains, where it snows and rains a lot. But
the differences in topography, the landscape, create different types of glaciers.
M: The part about the different types was confusing Why do some of them have
lakes?
W: In some cases, as a glacier moves down the side of the mountain, it can extend
so far that it’s actually below sea level.
M: And then when it retreats, the water it leaves behind gets trapped and forms a
lake, right? Are all the glaciers now retreating?
W: Yes. And we can assume it's from changes in temperature because we know
that the amount of rain and snow has remained constant.
M: I guess the glaciers tend to expand and retreat at the same rate
W: Some of them are getting larger much faster than others. In 1890, one of the
glaciers expanded by 10 kilometers in just a few months' time.

Passage 10
We often talk about how art changes over time, but what about the changes we
can see within the career of one artist? Today we'll be looking at the evolution
of the work of Claude Monet, the most famous of the Impressionists painters.
When Monet was starting out, the popular painters hid their brushstrokes and
blended their colors. This means there are no sharp dividing lines between the
colors. Also, they painted indoors. This might sound surprising, but at the time,
painting outdoors in natural light was such a novel idea that they even had a
special name for it, en plein air. Using the popular techniques of the day, Monet
did find success. One of his earlier works completed in 1866, the Woman in the
Green Dress, was well received by critics. It was a study in Realism and featured
dark colors and a deep background. At the end of his career, though, we can see
many changes in his paintings. Now a wealthy man, Monet invested his money
in large gardens and the surrounding landscape offered many motifs for his
paintings. In 1893, he launched a vast landscape project and carefully planted
water lilies, which will become the subjects of his best-known works of art.
Instead of finding landscapes to paint, he, in fact, created them. The paintings
were created using short and thick brushstrokes, with little attention to detail
and as little blending of color as possible. Instead, the focus is on how the light
hits the subject.
PROGRESS TEST 2
Passage 1
Listen to a conversation between a student and an academic advisor.
W: I was wondering if you could help me with choosing the classes I need to take.
M: Sure, that’s my job. First, I need to know your department. The requirements
for graduation differ from one to another.
W: I’m a history major. I don’t know if this matters, but my focus is on European
history.
M: Let me see... liberal arts majors need at least one credit from outside of their
department. It’s the university’s policy designed to ensure everyone’s getting
a broad enough education.
W: Well, I’ve never had a head for the sciences and a language class might be
helpful for my major. Something like German maybe.
M: Language classes tend to be small and hard to get into. The language majors
are given preference over students from other departments.
W: I see. How about an English literature class?
M: It’s possible, but remember that there would be a lot of required reading. And
the classes are famous for being tough. It could bring down your GPA.
W: It would be great to study literature with other students, and I love to read. But
you’re right. I need something that’s interesting but not too time-consuming
and not too hard.
M: I would suggest an art appreciation class, then. I hear nothing but good things
from the students who take them. Also, in some of the lectures you’d be looking
at art that is of historical significance.
W: Right. It’s sort of related to my major and it would allow me to fulfill my
requirements for graduation. But I’m still undecided.
M: Well, I’m not scheduled to see another student for another 30 minutes. If you
have questions, ask away.

Passage 2
Listen to a lecture in a technology class.
In comparison to communication over short distances, communicating over
long distances has a much shorter history. All the same, it's pretty long, too. Let
me start by defining a few terms. The first is optical communication, which is
sending and receiving information using light. Examples of this type of
communication involve basic technologies that never break down, such as fire
or basically anything that creates or reflects light that can then be directed
toward a specific location. The advantages are obvious: something as simple as
a colored flag or a flash of light could be used to communicate “wirelessly”
across a pretty good distance. Sailors still use it to communicate from ship to
ship. On the other hand, there is a need for “line of sight,” which means you have
to be able to see the sender. Also, everyone could see the message. Of course,
people tried to develop secret codes, but in the end it was basically like sending
a postcard. Wired communication, in which information is sent through a wire,
was developed to address both of these issues. Only the length of the wire limits
the distance between sender and receiver. The telegraph, for example, quickly
connected towns and then states. The issue of privacy was also solved. It’s easy
to control who is on each end of the line. But wired communication is not
without drawbacks. It takes time and money to set up a network of cables. Just
think of all the phone lines crisscrossing any large city. And the technology is
more fragile, with nothing more than a good rainstorm needed to bring down
the lines and disrupt the system.
LISTENING SKILL 4: UNDERSTAND ATTITUDES AND FUNCTIONS

ATTITUDE
Passage 1
M: Hey, Emily. Are you ready for life in the dormitory starting in the new
semester?
W: Hi, Chris. No, not really. Actually, I’m sort of dreading it.
M: What are you talking about? Your sister stayed in the same dormitory last year,
and she loved it.
W: I heard that from her. But I’m kind of worried about living away from my
parents for the first time.
M: Staying in the dormitory is mandatory for all the freshmen and it might help
you study.
W: Speaking of studying, I hear the dorms can be loud on the weekends.
M: Some people like to party, but it won’t bother you that much except Friday
nights.
W: I guess so. But like I said, I’m really not looking forward to it.

Passage 2
M: Hey, Jenny, you look a bit upset. What’s wrong?
W: Hi, Chris. Well, I'm thinking about changing my major.
M: Really? You're already in the second-year chemistry classes. Aren't you going
to graduate next year?
W: I know It’s unusual. But I think I’m more suited to studying economics.
M: Chemistry’s not for everyone. But you’ve already invested a lot of time and
effort into your degree.
W: I know. Actually, at first l thought about changing my focus, from organic to
inorganic chemistry.
M: That sounds like a better decision, Wouldn’t it be a little hard for you to switch
majors now?
W: Well, not exactly. I’ve been minoring in math, and that would help when it came
to changing my major.
M: Don’t make any rash decisions. You still have time until the end of the semester
to decide. Take as much time as you can before doing anything final.
Passage 3
So, what do we know about the vegetarian diet? Basically, a vegetarian is
someone who does not eat meat, and mostly eats foods that come from plants,
like grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. But “vegetarian" is actually a bit more
complicated than that, especially when it’s related to diet. For example, semi-
vegetarian diets consist largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish or
poultry, or sometimes other meats. And we have a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet
which includes milk products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs, but no
meat, poultry, seafood, or fish. A vegan, or strict vegetarian diet excludes all
animal products including eggs, dairy, beeswax and honey. Some scientists say
that if properly planned, vegetarian diets can provide all the nutrients you
need... and I agree with this assessment. In addition to that, being a vegetarian
can actually be better for your health. You avoid the cholesterol in meat, so you
are likely to weigh less than people who eat meat, and you’ll have a lower risk
of heart disease.

Passage 4
M: What are you reading, Kate?
W: Hi, Jack. I’m reading an article about bio-recognition technology.
M: Bio-recognition technology? I’ve heard about it before, but I don’t know what
it is exactly.
W: Maybe you’ve seen it in movies before. It’s being used from granting access to
a restricted room to restricting access to certain information by scanning a
fingerprint or a retina. While it’s still in the development stage, biorecognition
technology will probably take over all other security measures soon.
M: So is it available to the public at all yet?
W: In a few cases, yes. Because of the price, currently people use it in high-security
locations like government buildings and big companies, but soon it’ll be almost
everywhere, including libraries, and even stores.
M: It sounds really interesting, but what would happen to our privacy? Doesn’t it
mean that people will have to give up a lot of their personal information?
W: That’s an important issue. But it’s still in an early stage so it’s hard to tell yet.
All we can do is to hope for the best. And I assume that it could have a positive
impact on our lives as long as we keep control over the uses of the technology.
M: I guess you're right. But technology does have a way of getting out of control.
Passage 5
We can say that the role of the press is to spread information. But, is that all? I
mean, what makes the press rise above the level of simple gossiper? First, the
press is responsible for giving people the information they need to participate
in society. In order to be a good citizen, people need to know what’s going on
around them. How else can they intelligently choose their political leaders? How
else can they know not only what's right but also what’s wrong with their
communities? Related to this idea is the second role, which is to set and
moderate the public discourse. The press needs to raise the important questions
and give people a platform for sharing ideas. But, in reality, other organizations
and other people can always step in and lend a hand. So, what can only the press
do? “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’’ This means the press acts
as a watchdog, making sure the powerful don’t abuse their power. The press
must uncover and report abuses of power as a way to protect those who cannot
protect themselves.

Passage 6
W: Hey, Thomas, what are you reading?
M: Hi, Christina, I'm reading the poem, Warriors of the North. It's about the
Vikings. Do you want to give it a shot?
W: No, thanks. As far as I know, all the Vikings ever did was to raid villages and
terrorize women and children. So I don't think that poem would be my cup of
tea.
M: Actually, a lot of people agree with you that the Vikings were bloodthirsty
maniacs who never contributed anything useful to society. But you're wrong.
W: What makes you say that?
M: Well, they were skilled at building settlements. And I think people forget how
adventurous and ambitious they must’ve been.
W: Yeah. I guess they must've been good navigators to travel all the way from
Scandinavia to the shores of Britain.
M: Exactly. They were also expert traders. And because they introduced hundreds
of words into the English language, 17th century scholars were able to write
Norse dictionaries. These dictionaries are still used by people today to help
them read the Icelandic sagas!
W: You know a lot about the Vikings. Then, is it true that Viking warriors wore
helmets with horns? And they drank from skull cups?
M: No, those are two really common misconceptions. Just think about it Helmets
with horns would've been uncomfortable to wear during battle. And it was the
Germanic tribes who drank out of skulls.
W: Well, I guess I’ll have to give that poem a try. I might learn something.

Passage 7
Figuring out if something is environmentally friendly might be easy. Take cars,
for example. All we have to do is to ask, “How much gas does it burn?” The less
gas it needs, the less pollution it creates, and the “friendlier" it is. But, when we
look at biofuels, things get tricky. A biofuel is a hydrocarbon that is made by or
from a living organism, which is usually ethanol. Ethanol is a fuel made from
plants. The two biggest producers of ethanol are America and Brazil. In America
it’s usually from corn, but in Brazil, it’s from sugarcane. On paper, it looks like a
great idea. But, here’s just the first problem. We're going to need to grow tons
of it. Actually, if we used all the corn produced in a year in America, it would
only replace 12% of the required gasoline. This leads to other problems. One is
an increase in food prices. Because much of what we grow would be going into
our tanks, there'd be less food to go around. We’re already seeing food scarcity
in parts of Africa. Also, people stop growing a variety of crops and instead focus
on the one or two crops that can be converted into biofuels. It reduces what we
call biodiversity. There's less variety of plant life. And we need variety, because
it in turn supports a variety of different animals. Also, what happens if a new
disease shows up and destroys that one crop? We end up with too many eggs in
one basket.

FUNCTION
Passage 1
As we continue our discussion of animal characteristics and morphology, today
we will learn some of the interesting features of one of the largest flying birds,
the albatross. It has a long bill shaped like a large hook. Along the sides of the
bill are long nostrils that are often referred to as tubes. These tubes are unique
in that they are specialized for assisting in flight. Isn’t that incredible? The tubes
help the albatross measure airspeed during the flight, similar to the way in
which pitot tubes on aircraft function. It is crucial for the albatross to be able to
judge its airspeed with a high degree of precision in order to execute its various
complex gliding maneuvers.
Passage 2
S: Professor Miller, do you have a minute?
P: Sure, Brian. I heard you were applying for a teaching assistant job. This year’s
competition will be pretty intense from what I hear.
S: As much as I am hoping to get the job, I am also concerned about whether I will
be capable of handling the position or not.
P: I understand your feelings, but give yourself more credit. I know you are one of
the top students in your department, and I'm sure that someone will want to
have a bright student like you as his or her teaching assistant.
S: Thank you for saying that. Actually, hearing that makes me feel a bit relieved.
P: It's nothing. I’d be interested to hear how everything turns out for you. Keep me
posted, OK?
S: Sure. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

Passage 3
Did you know that the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson,
was also an inventor? As a matter of fact, he created many new things. Let me
give you more details. For example, he created a plow specially adapted for
plowing hills. That was followed by a macaroni machine, which enabled him to
create the pasta dishes that he loved. Another of Jefferson’s creations was a
secret code named “Jefferson Wheel.” This allowed people to read and write
secret letters, which played an important role during the American Revolution.
As the diverse range of these inventions suggests, Jefferson was interested in
many things and created designs for all kinds of different items He even
designed beds. These beds were somewhat unusual because they were hung
from the ceiling by ropes. During the day the beds could be hoisted up to the
ceiling so the space underneath them could be used.

Passage 4
M: Good morning, Ms. Scott. Thank you for your career advice the last time we
spoke.
W: You’re welcome, Henry. So have you had a chance to think more about your
future career or possible fields you’d be interested in entering?
M: Well, I have finally Come to a decision. I am going to be a car designer.
W: It sounds very interesting. I think car designer is a highly specialized job.
Though you are majoring in industrial design, you will need to also complete
all the subjects related to car design.
M: I’m taking 18 credit hours this semester and most of the courses are related to
it.
W: Well, that’s actually a good thing. You also need to think about building up your
portfolio. Are you taking pictures of your drawings and prototypes?
M: Not yet. But I'm going to start choosing my best drawings and models to put in
portfolio.
W: Good. You will need to find ones that really highlight your abilities. After
obtaining an undergraduate degree, you will then be eligible to apply to car
companies.
M: How difficult is it to become a car designer?
W: I would predict that prestigious companies would be very selective when
hiring their employees. To be more competitive, I would focus on gaining
working experience through internships. And winning a design competition
would be helpful, too.
M: Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.

Passage 5
Today I’m going to give you a brief introduction to anomie theory. It refers to
the loss of values and norms among members of a society. It can result in social
unrest, chaos, or even the complete breakdown of a society. The term anomie
was coined more than a century ago. It comes from Greek and means “without
law." When social norms and rules are eroded or debased, anomie is said to
occur. People no longer know how to behave toward or what to expect from one
another. In the past, religions and philosophies provided people with a shared
set of norms of behavior. When these lost their dominance after modernization,
anomie occurred. It has been a popular theme of literature. Umm... everyone has
heard of Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment, right? Another example
would be Albert Camus’s The Stranger. In both novels, the protagonists suffer
from a severe form of social alienation. They are unable to distinguish between
right and wrong. The idea of anomie is also connected to Existentialism, a
modem philosophy. It holds that individuals create their own meaning and
value in their lives, and that therefore these do not come from society at large
or any specific institution.

Passage 6
W: Now I’m reading about mythology in Scandinavia for a school project. You
know, the mythology from countries like Norway, Finland and Sweden.
M: That’s an interesting topic. I did a project on Norse mythology last year.
W: Really? Can you tell me a bit about it, then?
M: OK, let me see what I can remember. Oh, first, it’s based on the pre-Christian
thoughts of the Scandinavian peoples.
W: Well, I’ve read Norse mythology is believed to be a preserved version of
Germanic paganism. Does paganism mean various religions or religious beliefs
outside Christianity?
M: You’re on the right track. However, these days it’s more often used to refer to
various religious viewpoints from around the world.
W: I see, and I heard the stories were passed down orally in the form of poetry,
weren't they?
M: You’re right, but I also read somewhere that there are several written sources
for Norse mythology, which were brought together over time.
W: OK, wait a second. Let me write that down.
M: The most famous text is the Eddas, which was written in medieval times.
W: Do you know anything more about it?
M: Umm, it explains that in Scandinavian myth, there are nine different worlds.
One of them is the world that humans live in, but other worlds have gods,
giants, dwarves and elves, and so on.

Passage 7
Listen everyone... we have all heard that the average temperature of our planet
continues to rise quite significantly, right? But do we know exactly how climate
change affects our daily lives? In terms of the immediate effects of the
temperature rise, I can easily think of suffering through long and blazing
summers. However, as we delve deeper into the effects of global climate change
on human lives, you will notice that it actually affects our lives in various ways.
For one thing, extreme heat can be detrimental to our bodies, especially to
children, the elderly, and those that are ill as high temperatures can cause heart
and respiratory problems. Also, it has been reported that temperature changes
can increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as floods and
storms. Umm... another critical effect on human life would be in relation to the
food supply. This might be news to those of you from the city. Agriculture and
fisheries are temperature sensitive, meaning that crops and animals require
certain temperature ranges. Therefore, high temperatures destroy ecosystems
and cause shifts in the habitat ranges of marine and terrestrial animals. Due to
the decrease in our ability to produce food, eventually the economy is also
affected by climate change. In the worst case scenario, we can expect economic
crisis in most parts of the world as dwindling supplies fail to meet increasing
 demands, eventually leading to huge economic losses. Unfortunately, the effects
of climate change are various and far-reaching.

ATTITUDE & FUNCTION

Passage 1 CAMPUS LIFE

M: I'm interested in your course on Indian culture. Can you tell me about it,
please?
W: Certainly. The course is eight weeks long. There will be a mid-term
examination, a final exam, and two essays.
M: How do you determine the grades?
W: The final will account for 30 percent of your mark. The mid-term is 15 percent,
the first essay is 10 percent, and the second essay is 30 percent.
M: Let's see. 30, 15, 10, 30...that's only 85 percent.
W: The other 15 percent is based on your attendance and participation in the
class.
M: It sounds interesting I think I'll take it.

Passage 2 CAMPUS LIFE

M: Have you heard about Mexican turtles disappearing?
W1: Yes. It's because they lay their eggs on the beach, right?
M: Yeah, and people eat the eggs. But my professor said there's a plan to save
them
W1: What is it?
M: I don't know, but he gave us a phone number.
W1: Let's call!
M: OK, here goes...
W2: Hello, Environmental Protection Hotline. How may I help you? M: I'd like to
find out about the program to save Mexican turtles. W2: Yes, of course. I can
send you something to read or you can look at our website, www.enviro.com.
M: Thanks! I'll look at the website.
W2: Thanks for calling!
Passage 3 PHYSICS
W: And now, the winner of this year's science fair, Choi Min-Soo! Min-Soo, tell
everyone about your work.
M: Thank you! Let me tell you about my "white noise" machine. Does noise ever
annoy you or keep you awake? Well, we can lessen noise by using "white
noise." Think of water. Think of sending one big wave toward another coming
in. My machine does that with sound. It can tell how much noise is coming in,
then send back "white noise." You don't hear it, but it shuts out the noise! I
hope that my machine will help those who need quiet. Thank you!
PROGRESS TEST 3
Passage 1
Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.
S: Professor Gray, you told us in class there Is an advertisement competition at
Fresh Bite Produce, right?
P: Correct. It’ll be a great opportunity to build up your resume and portfolio. Are
you thinking of entering the competition?
S: Yes. Could you tell me a little more about it? And I'd especially like to ask you
for some tips on winning the competition.
P: I’ll briefly explain to you what the challenge is and then you can ask me
questions for clarification. First of all, the main objective is to create a 35-second
advertisement highlighting the core elements of the company.
S: Does the company prefer a certain format or genre?
P: No. Since there are no limitations as to what you can include in the video,
creativity and originality are the keys to producing the best advertisement.
Before you start, however, take note of the requirements. The advertisement
cannot exceed 35 seconds and it has to be completely original in its content.
S: Okay. I was thinking of creating a documentary showing as many details about
the company as possible in that short time period.
P: Hmm... there is nothing worse than a boring advertisement. A great
advertisement is both intriguing and straight to the point. Do you think a
documentary-style advertisement would be interesting?
S: Well, I guess not. I will have to come up with a better idea pretty quickly. Can I
get feedback from you after my first rough cut of the advertisement?
P: Sure. 1 look forward to seeing your work and helping you improve it.

Passage 2
Listen to a lecture in a history class.
Last time we discussed a variety of revolutions that occurred in history. Today
we’ll deal with a more specific topic. What comes to mind when I say “purple,"
“orange,” or “rose”? Actually, these are the names of color revolutions.
Remember, this is color. It's related to the fact that these revolutions used
specific colors or symbols that have color, like flowers. Color revolutions were
highly diverse in geographic scope; nonetheless, there are some key features
they do in fact share. They were often closely connected to student movements
and usually started as a form of resistance against what were perceived as
authoritarian governments. They were also associated with non-violent forms
of protest. Many scholars consider the Yellow Revolution of the Philippines in
1986 to be the precursor to color revolutions, being an example of a successful
nonviolent movement The protest against President Marcos developed from the
assassination of Senator Benigno S. Aquino. The yellow-dad protesters carried
out peaceful demonstrations against the government and eventually installed
Benigno's widow, Corazon, as president in place of Marcos. The Carnation
Revolution of Portugal is also an example of a color revolution. It initially began
as a military coup led by military officials opposed to the authoritarian Estado
Novo regime. However, it soon became a civilian resistance movement. Almost
no shots were fired and people celebrated the success of the revolution by
placing carnations in the soldiers' rifles. Um... it has been estimated that color
revolutions achieved democratic goals such as fair elections or the resignations
of corrupt officials. However, I personally think that color revolutions also
tended to rely heavily on emotional and populist rhetoric, rather than being
grounded in concrete economic and political analysis. I believe this presented
significant challenges for the countries undergoing a color revolution.
SKILLS REVIEW
Passage 1 Campus Life
W: What should I do to prepare for my exams? I have some old exams from last
year. Do you think it's a good way to study?
M: Yes, it can help. Being familiar with the way the test is made up is beneficial.
You may be less anxious at exam time. First, quickly look over all the material
you've studied. Then decide which things you need the most work on. Then
use questions from the exams to practice.
W: Great! I should just memorize all the answers!
M: No, I don't think that's a good idea. Questions on the new exam will probably
be different. You need a strong understanding of the material. Memorizing
won't replace a thorough knowledge of the subject.
W: I guess that's probably true. So, what else can I do?
M: Make sure you go to all the review sessions. Go to your professor's office hours
too.
W: I always do that. I really like my professor.
M: Good! In the exam, be sure to read the directions carefully. They may be
different from the practice exams. Also, make sure you get to the exam in
plenty of time. Get comfortable before it begins.
W: OK! Thanks for your help.
Passage 2 Physical Science
Some people once thought that only four things made up the Earth: earth, water,
air, and fire. Earth, water, and air are all forms of matter, but fire is really
different. It may seem the same in that you can see it, feel it, and smell it. You
can even move it from place to place, but it really isn't matter at all. It's an
activity. It is matter changing form. Of course, fire has to have something to burn.
We call this fuel Fire also has to have air so that it can burn. Usually, when we
build a fire, we first put down easily flammable material like newspaper or dry
leaves. Then, we carefully place pieces of wood over it, leaving room for air.
Since fire doesn't start by itself, we need a spark or heat source to start it.
Matches, lighters, even magnifying glasses can be used. That's a glass piece,
specially made for seeing small things. We can make sun shine through it to form
a very hot spot of light. Wood has to reach about 150 degrees Celsius. Then,
something in the wood changes. Part of the wood turns into gas. We see this gas
as smoke. The parts of the wood that don't burn change to ash. This is the soft,
white powder left after a fire. A third part of the wood becomes carbon, or char.
This char, or charcoal, burns slowly and hotly without smoke. This gives us
enough time to cook food.
PRACTICE TEST 1
PART 1
1.
Hi, Kevin, it’s Karen. I’m going to be at a party on Saturday night. I’m pretty sure
it will be over by a quarter to nine. But it may go a little later than that. My
friends are real party animals. Still, I’d like to see you. Do you have any plans on
Saturday around ten? Let’s go see a late movie. Let me know. Bye.
2.
Prom is a dance held for students at the end of the school year. It is a custom for
boys and girls to attend the dance together. Students wear formal clothing like
a suit or dress. They usually eat dinner at a restaurant before the dance. The
prom King and Queen are also elected at the dance. The King and Queen have a
spotlight dance together.
3.
Most people have fears. The problem is when they are so afraid that they cannot
live a regular life. For example, some people may be very afraid of spiders. They
become sick or stay inside for days after seeing a spider. They are afraid they
will see a spider again. So, they may not do the things they need to.
4.
How was Earth made? Long ago, people had many ideas. Take the Greeks, for
example. They believed that Earth was made with just four things: fire, water,
air, and dirt. They believed everything was made of these things mixed together.
They didn’t try to prove their ideas like scientists today, though.
5.
Hi, Lisa, it’s Richard. I won’t be able to go with you to the baseball game tonight.
I forgot about the book report I have to do tomorrow. I’m sorry, but maybe we
can go to the game on Saturday. Give me a call back when you get this. I’ll be
studying all night. Bye.
6.
Some people think learning to play a musical instrument is hard. It takes a lot of
hard work. It also takes a lot of practice. People who play music can show off to
their friends and families. Sometimes they can also read and write music. Many
people who learn how to play a musical instrument often do it their whole life.
7.
Many scientists believe that laughing is a great way to stay healthy. If a person
laughs long enough, it can be as good for the body as exercise. Laughing also
puts special chemicals into the brain that make people feel happy and calm.
 There are many stories of people who were very sick but began to feel better
when they laughed more every day.
8.
The wait is over! Fans can listen to twelve new songs from The Green Tones. Go
to your local music store today and pick up a copy before they’re sold out! The
Green Tones will also be performing this weekend at The Majesty Theater. So
hurry and pick up your copy. Get there early before they sell out. The early bird
always catches the worm.

PART 2
Questions 9 to 12.
Listen to the conversation between a teacher and a student.
G: Hello. I was wondering if I could ask you something.
T: Sure. What is it?
G: Well, it's just a general question about studying French. You see, I want to go
abroad to study in Paris sometime in the future, so I thought I'd learn French.
And since you're the French teacher, I'd like to see you first.
T: I see. Have you ever studied French before?
G: No, but I'm planning on taking the introductory French course next semester.
T: That's a good start. It would be helpful to learn new words and basic grammar.
One thing I recommend is to not get discouraged. A lot of students find learning
another language difficult at first and just give up.
G: I'll keep that in mind. Anything else?
T: Uh... try to practice as much as possible. I know that may be hard because there
aren't many French speakers in this town, but you could always join the French
club at the community center and get together with other students who learn
the language.
G: The French club?
T: Yes. It has special lecturers who come in to teach French. Besides, they do lots
of fun things like watching French films and cooking French food in the club.
This helps you learn about French culture, too.
G: That sounds very interesting.
T: It's important to understand the culture of the country before you start to learn
its language. You can learn the language more easily if you know its culture
enough. After all, language and culture are related.
G: OK. Thank you for your advice.
Questions 13 to 16.
Listen to the conversation between a teacher and a student.
S: Excuse me Professor Eterett, can I talk to you?
P: Sure what's on your mind?
S: Well, I was wondering if I could write a research paper instead of doing the oral
presentation you assigned in class.
P: Sorry, Sheila. That's really not possible. It's one of the course requirements and
20% of your final grade.
S: But I really don't like talking in front of people. I get too nervous.
P: Oh, come on, you'll do fine. There's nothing to worry about. It'll just be me and
your classmates.
S: I know that. But if I don't do well, it will affect my grade, and I'm doing really
well so far this semester.
P: Well, this is a challenge you'll have to face if you want to pass the course. But we
can talk about strategies you could use to do better.
S: Um, yeah, OK.
P: So, what's your topic?
S: I wanted to talk about how, in literature, writers give animals human traits.
P: OK. Great. So, what do you think you need to do to get a good grade?
S: Uh ... , speak clearly?
P: Yeah, that's part of it, but what about the content of your presentation?
S: I guess I should really be prepared.
P: Right, and an important part of being prepared is organization. A good way to
get organized is to use an outline to structure your presentation.
S: Uh-huh.
P: Have you thought about how to structure your presentation?
S: I want to talk about the Japanese story ''Momotaro," ''Peach Boy'' how the
animals in the story have human traits. There's a dog, a monkey and a bird, and
they become friends with the boy and help him fight against evil.
P: Uh-huh.
S: I could talk about why the story has animals.
P: That sounds interesting. Students will enjoy the story some may already know
it. And your presentation will make them understand it on a more sophisticated
level.
S: Any other advice?
P: Well, another good strategy is to use visuals pictures and charts so that your
audience will see your ideas as they listen to you. And don't forget to make eye
 contact. If you look people in the eye, they'll pay more attention. You might also
notice if you are not being clear enough.
S: Uh-uh.
P: And I think rehearsing is important.
S: Rehearsing?
P: Yeah. Practice your presentation.
S: OK ... so, you're sure I can't just do a research paper instead ...
P: I'm sure.
S: OK, thanks.
P: See you in class. Let me know if you have any questions.
S: OK, bye.

Questions 17 to 20.
Listen to the conversation between a teacher and a student.
David: Hi Mr. Greenwood. How are you?
Advisor: Great, David. How are you?
D: Good—I have an appointment with you at 3 o’clock. Can I come in?
A: Let’s see, it's 3, so come on in. What can I do for you?
D: Well, I have some job interviews after graduation next week, and I wanted to
run something by you.
A: Shoot.
D: Well, OK, I don’t exactly know what I want to do after graduation. So I’ve decided
to interview at a couple places—I really need “on the job” experience where I
can use my computer science degree.
A: OK. What are some of your options?
D: One is a small hi-tech firm, where I’d be doing software design.
A: Sounds good. And the other?
D: An elementary school. They want me to teach the basic computer class.
A: I thought kids these days were born with computer skills.
D: You’re right! They probably know more than 1 do!
A: So, what's your question?
D: I know I have the skills for both jobs. 1 have a strong resume—that internship
at Microsoft you helped me get really helps! And I’ve done my homework—I
know a lot about this hi-tech firm and the school, too.
A: But???

BCDA
KEYS: CBAC
DBBA
D: —But, well, this may sound kind of stupid. But what I'm not sure of is, well, what
do I wear to an interview?
A: Good question. I guess knowing what to wear is part of the challenge. OK, well,
my first suggestion is to dress just a little more formally than the people in that
job dress. What do the men wear at the hi-tech firm?
D: The guys wear nice pants, or sometimes jeans, and a dress shirt.
A: Well, jeans are too casual for an interview. Wear some nice pants and a dress
shirt, and maybe a suit jacket. A tie might be too formal.
D: What about for the school?
A: When you interview there, you should probably wear a nice shirt and a tie with
a suit jacket—not a dark suit, like bankers wear—that would be too much—but
something neat and professional.
D: Should I take my earring out when I go for my interview?
A: Ah—well, that’s your choice. If you are applying for a job at a conservative place,
it might be better to take it out. But you also have to decide if you want to work
in a place where you have to make a lot of personal changes.
D: Yeah. Good point. OK—so I should probably cover my tattoos.
A: Tattoos?
D: Yeah . .. Sec? It’s my name written in Chinese characters. I got it when I was in
high school. My parents were furious!
A: Well, as long as you wear shirts with sleeves—which I expect you will—there
shouldn't be a problem. Just remember you want to put your best foot forward.
D: OK.
A: Both places should be happy to have you.
D: Thanks. So, OK, let’s see. Dress neatly—a little better than they do. Think about
the earring. Don’t mention the tattoo.
A: You’ve got it. Let me know how your interviews go.
D: I will. Thanks Mr. Greenwood. See you at graduation—if not before.
A: OK. Take care . . . and good luck.
BCDA
KEYS: CBAC
PART 3
DBBA
Questions 21 to 25.
Listen to the talk about popular racquet sports.
For people who like racquet sports, they are quite fortunate because they have
quite a few different ones to choose from. Three that deal with using a fast-
moving ball are tennis, racquetball, and squash. All three are high energy games
that require very quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination.
 Tennis is the grandfather of the three sports and was known as a game that the
nobility played. Today, it is played on different courts whose surfaces affect the
speed of play because of the rebounding action they give to the ball. The three
types of court generally used in professional tennis are hard court, clay, and
grass. The most famous grass courts are found at Wimbledon, but clay courts
are used for play at the French Open. Both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open
use hard courts. Professional players are usually known for their preference of
court surfaces, and it is unusual for the players to excel on all three. This is what
makes winning all of the major tennis tournaments a serious challenge.
In contrast to tennis, both racquetball and squash are played inside a special
court where the ball hits and rebounds against both walls and the floor. What
makes the games different is the speed and size of the balls used.
Racquetball uses a rubber ball about the size of a small apple. This ball bounces
incredibly fast and is chased around the court by two players. In squash, though,
the ball is about the size of a walnut. It is usually a very dead ball, which means
that when dropped on the floor of the court, it barely bounces at all. In order to
get the ball to rebound off the court wall, the ball must be hit with a lot of
strength.

Questions 26 to 30.
Listen to the lecture in a music class.
One of the greatest composers in the history of classical music is Ludwig van
Beethoven. He was born in Bonn, Germany, on December 17th, 1770. His first
music teacher was his own father. Beethoven's father was a very rough man
who treated young Beethoven very harshly and beat him often. Sometimes his
father would come home drunk with his friends and embarrass Beethoven by
making him perform in the middle of the night. Also Beethoven's father would
force Beethoven to practice several hours every day. If Beethoven ever made a
mistake, his father would punch his ears as punishment.
In 1792, Beethoven moved to Vienna, Austria, where he studied piano under
Joseph Haydn. It was when he began to receive attention for his musical talents
and began to earn a living as a musician. Instead of working only for the church
or the aristocratic court, Beethoven was the first musician to earn money
through freelance work. He composed music which could be sold and received
money from rich patrons. Moreover, he made money from giving concerts and
private lessons. When he was in his late 20s, Beethoven began to lose his
hearing. This made it difficult for Beethoven to listen to music or to even have a
normal conversation. By 1802, Beethoven lost his hearing completely, yet he
continued to compose music. Although he couldn't hear anything, he completed
 his final symphony, the Ninth Symphony, in 1824. When the symphony was first
performed, Beethoven didn't even notice the audience's enthusiastic applause
at the end. Someone had to turn him around to let him see with his own eyes
how much they loved his music.

Questions 31 to 35.
Listen to the talk in a psychology class.
Professor: So, we’ve already talked a bit about the growth of extreme sports—
things like mountain climbing and parachuting. As psychologists, we need to ask
ourselves, why is this person doing this? Why do people take these risks and put
themselves in danger when they don’t have to?
One common trait among risk takers is that they enjoy strong feelings or
sensations. We call this trait “sensation seeking.” A “sensation seeker” is
someone who’s always looking for new sensations. What else do we know about
sensation seekers?
Well, as I said, sensation seekers like strong emotion. You can see this trait in
many parts of a person’s life, not just in extreme sports. For example, many
sensation seekers enjoy hard rock music. They like the loud sound and strong
emotion of the songs. Similarly, sensation seekers enjoy frightening horror
movies. They like the feeling of being scared and horrified while watching the
movie. This feeling is even stronger for extreme sports, where the person faces
real danger. Sensation seekers feel that danger is very exciting.
In addition, sensation seekers like new experiences that force them to push
their personal limits. For them, repeating the same things every day is boring.
Many sensation seekers choose jobs that include risk, such as starting a new
business, or being an emergency room doctor. These jobs are different every
day, so they never know what will happen. That’s why many sensation seekers
also like extreme sports. When you climb a mountain or jump out of an airplane,
you never know what will happen. The activity is always new and different.

KEYS PART 3 TEST 1:

ACDBA
ABCDA
ACCBA
PRACTICE TEST 2
PART 1
1.
W: Due to problems with the lighting, the concert has to be postponed until Friday
the 22nd. The concert will also be moved from hall A to the larger hall C. A bigger
venue means a further five hundred tickets will now be available, twice the
original number. Because of the extra tickets, tickets will now be priced at the
lower cost of twenty dollars.
2.
M: This year at university, I am studying three languages. English is the most
difficult. French and Spanish are both quite easy. I have lots of chances to
practice Spanish because I live with my Mexican friend. I am getting used to
speaking Spanish outside of class.
3.
Good evening, this is Peter O’Dell with the weather. It looks like the cold and
rain we’ve been seeing for the last week are finally going to come to an end. As
you can see from the weather map behind me, there’s a warm front moving into
our region late tomorrow morning. It will bring us sunshine and much warmer
temperatures. The weather should stay nice for at least the next week.
4.
I know some of you are still finishing your dinner—dinner is great tonight, isn’t
it? But I want to go ahead and get started with our awards presentation. Our
first award will be for the most creative new business in our community. Now,
I’d like to ask Laura Mendez to come up to the microphone. Ms. Mendez is going
to present our first award this evening. She is one of the best known business
owners in town, and of course, for many years she has owned the Café
Argentina, where we’re meeting and having such a wonderful dinner tonight.
And here she is . . . Ms. Laura Mendez.
5.
Attention, shoppers, and thanks for coming to PriceSmart, where you always
find the best merchandise at the best prices. PriceSmart will be closing in 15
minutes. Please bring your purchases to the check-out counters. The doors will
be locked promptly at 10 o’clock. And please, PriceSmart shoppers, come back
tomorrow for our big spring sale on outdoor furniture, gardening supplies and
equipment, and lawn mowers.
6.
Do you want to buy a home computer, but are a little nervous about shopping
for one? Then our class, “Buying Your First Computer,” is for you. You’ll learn to
make a list of what software and what hardware you need. You’ll learn basic
computer terminology so that you’ll understand what the computer salesperson
is saying. And you’ll get a list of recommended stores and websites that sell
computers. This two-hour class is held at Northview Community Center twice a
 month. It’s held on the first and third Mondays of every month at 7 p.m. For
more information, call the center at 717-854-2348.
7.
Attention, all members and guests of Crystal Springs Athletic Club. The
management regrets to announce that the indoor swimming pool will be closed
for two weeks for repair, cleaning, and painting. All other facilities at the club—
the outdoor pool, the workout room, the tennis and squash courts, the snack
bar—will remain open. The management of Crystal Springs is sorry for any
inconvenience this may cause you.
8.
Hello, this is Lawrence Talbot of Talbot Commercial Insurance Associates. I will
be visiting out-of-town clients on Wednesday and Thursday, and will not be
back in my office until Friday. I will be checking my voice mail as often as
possible. In case of an emergency, call my assistant at (303) 555-1451, and she
can reach me on my cell phone. Thanks!
ADCABAAC
PART 2
Questions 9 to 12.
Listen to the conversation about making glue.

M: This project is due tomorrow and we're all out of glue!

W: We'll just have to make our own glue.
M: How? We don't have a chemical laboratory.
W: It's easy. We'll just need a bowl, some flour, and some water.
M: Okay, here's the bowl and water.
W: Here's the flour. Now we have to mix the flour and water into a smooth, slightly
thick liquid.
M: What do we do now?
W: Now, we spread it on our paper and let it dry. It isn't as good as store glue but
it works.
M: Hey! This is really working.
W: If we had time we could have made some fish glue, like they did in the old days.
M: How do you make fish glue?
W: Well, first you have to clean the bones and skin of the fish in warm water.
M: What comes next?
W: Then you heat them in water and separate the glue from the water.
M: That sounds like a lot of work.
W: If you aren't careful it is.
M: What is fish glue used for?
W: Well, it has been used in paintings and in the repairing of musical instruments
for almost 2000 years.
M: Wow! I didn't know that glue could be made in such a variety of ways. This is
interesting!

Questions 13 to 16.
Listen to the conversation about phobias.
W: I didn't realize that phobias took so many forms.
M: I know. There are about as many different fears as there are people.
W: Yeah, and some people have the strangest fears.
M: True. What are some of the problems people have because of their fears?
W: Some people have changed their jobs because of their fears.
M: Wow, I've heard that some people also cut back on their social lives because of
fear.
W: Yes, and in the extreme cases, they don't even leave their homes.
M: That's sad. Did you know that there are physical symptoms that accompany
these fears?
W: Right! Some people have stomach pains, high blood pressure, a rapid heart beat,
and other symptoms related to intense fear.
M: What's truly terrible is that doctors don't think to question people about their
fears, so the physical treatments are sometimes useless.
W: However, there are new treatments for phobias that are remarkably effective.
M: Unfortunately, few people, including doctors, know about them.
W: What phobias do you know about?
M: I know about Technophobia and Sciophobia.
W: I don't know them, what are they?
M: Well, Technophobia is the fear of technology. Sciophobia is the fear of shadows.
W: Oh, do you know about Nyctophobia and Electrophobia.
M: I think Electrophobia is the fear of electricity, but what is Nyctophobia?
W: You're right about Electrophobia. Nyctophobia is the fear of night.
M: Oh, what is your favorite phobia?
W: My favorite is Gynophobia. That is the fear of women. What about you?
M: My favorite is Musophobia. It's the fear of mice.
Questions 17 to 20.
Listen to the conversation about cybercrime.
Student: Thanks for meeting with me, Professor Mozell. I know you probably
thought I wanted to meet with you to discuss my grades this semester or classes
for the upcoming semester, but uh well, actually, that's not what I wanted to talk
about at all ... I trust you and I know that you know a lot about legal matters and
to tell the truth, I really didn't know who else I could talk to about this ...
Professor: Oh, well, what is it? Is it something serious? I mean, it's nothing
serious, I hope.
S: Well, actually, it is, but, well, it's uh a money issue.
P: Oh? OK. Tell me about it then. What seems to be the problem?
S: OK. About three months ago, I saw this ad online for a new stereo system. It
caught my eye because I'd been shopping around for quite some time for a
stereo just like it. I'd been to every electronics store in town looking for it, and
they were always sold out. So, when I saw it on the Internet, it was perfect
timing.
P: Well, that sounds great. ls it that the stereo's not as good as you thought it would
be and you want your money back?
S: Well, you're partly right. I do want my money back, but not because the stereo's
not that good. It's because I never got it. They never sent it to me. I sent them
$300 for this state-of-the-art stereo system nearly three months ago and it still
hasn't arrived!
P: I was hoping you weren't going to tell me that. I had a feeling that was the
problem. Believe it or not, you're not the first student to ask me about this. Sorry
to say this, but sounds like you're the victim of a cybercrime.
S: Oh no. Cybercrime? Um ... OK, so what do I do now?
P: I'm glad you asked ... It may not seem like much, but here's something ... First,
you need to report your loss that is, the amount of money you've lost-to a fraud
complaint center. I would recommend going online to the Internet Fraud
Complaint Center’s website. There, you'll find a place to file your complaint.
You're going to need to provide them with as much of the on line company's
information as you have name, website, phone numbers everything. Also,
anything about the money method of payment, how much you paid, when you
paid, everything.
S: Sounds like a lot of information.
P: Well, I'd say it's worth it if it means getting your money back.
S: Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, Professor Mozell. I'll get right on collecting
that information

CDCD
CBBD
CAAB
PART 3
Questions 21 to 25.
Listen to the talk about an aspect of film industry.
We are truly at a crossroads between imagination and reality, especially when
it comes to film. No longer are we able to tell what is real and what isn't. In the
past, it was easy to tell if a scene in a film was created artificially, as the special
effects were never very good. To a person who grew up with the special effects
that Hollywood can create today, the effects in films from 50 years ago are
laughable. The scenes from these films come across as so obviously fake that
they are almost painful to watch.
Today, however, a line has been crossed. Computer-generated animation has
made it nearly impossible to distinguish between what was actually filmed and
what was created by lines of computer code by a programmer. Not only is
scenery created by computers, but also many actors known as extras. In the
past, a film director would have to hire dozens and possibly hundreds of extras
in order to show a crowd scene. This is no longer the case, and the one film that
proved this was achievable was Titanic, directed by James Cameron. However,
years later, computer animation was taken to yet another level by the same
director with the movie Avatar.
Avatar was a 3-D (three-dimensional), partially computer animated film about
an amazing world with unbelievable creatures. While some roles were acted by
human actors, all of the creatures in the imaginary world were completely
computer-generated. These creatures were very numerous- just like the crowds
in Titanic- but they also played major roles. It proves that side by side, human
actors and computer-generated ones can now be a reality in the films that we
watch.

Questions 26 to 30.
Listen to the talk about the lifetime of stars.
All stars spend about 90% of their lifespans creating energy through nuclear
fusion. They fuse hydrogen to produce helium in their cores. Stars in this stage
are said to be on the main sequence. After the main sequence, what comes next?
In other words, what happens when a star reaches the end of its life? There are
several possibilities, and the outcome depends mainly upon the size of the star.
Let's take the smallest ones first. Small stars, or red dwarfs, burn their fuel
extremely slowly, simply getting dimmer and dimmer, and eventually will end
up as what we call black dwarfs. No black dwarfs actually exist yet; red dwarfs
take incredibly long to exhaust themselves, tens to hundreds of billions of years.
This is much longer than the present age of the universe. How about medium-
sized stars? As an average-sized star ages, its outer layers expand and cool to
form a red giant. Meanwhile, its core compresses, eventually so tightly that
fusion of helium, and sometimes of even heavier elements, begins. This process
causes the star to heat and contract further. Finally, the star loses its outer layers
and becomes a white dwarf.
 Lastly there are the large stars. The aging process of the biggest stars resembles
that of the medium-sized ones, except that fusion doesn't stop. In a large star,
fusion continues, with heavier and heavier elements, until finally the star
collapses and then explodes into a supernova. Most of the star's mass is blown
away by the explosion. Heavy elements often end up as new stars or planets.
Whatever remains will collapse into either a neutron star or, in the case of the
largest stars, a black hole.

Questions 31 to 35.
Listen to the talk about Emily Dickinson.
Good morning, class. In our last class, we talked about Walt Whitman, and said
he was one of the two great voices of American poetry in the nineteenth century.
The other was Emily Dickinson. Their poetry could not have been more
different. Dickinson claimed that she never even read Whitman’s poems. And
their lifestyles could not have been more different. But they were both
important innovators. I said before that Whitman became well-known around
the world. Dickinson was famous only in her own village—Amherst,
Massachusetts—and that was not for her poetry but for her mysterious ways.
You see, she almost never left the house of her father, who was a wealthy lawyer.
When she did appear in public, she always wore white dresses like a bride.
While this may not seem too strange to us today, it was pretty unusual behavior
for Amherst in the 1800s! For a woman who lived such an uneventful life,
though, she wrote amazingly perceptive poems about nature, love, and death.
Her poems are all short and untitled.
What I particularly admire about these poems is their economy—she was able
to say so much in so few words! She was a very prolific writer. In one year alone,
1874, the year her father died, she wrote over 200 poems. But she never
intended that her poems would be published. At least seven of them were
published during her lifetime in newspapers and magazines, but that was
against her will. After her death in 1886, her family discovered that she had
written over 1,700 poems. Her family arranged to have a collection of about 30
of her poems published a few years later, and eventually, all of them appeared
in print. In 1950, Harvard University bought all of her manuscripts and acquired
the publishing rights to all her poems. Harvard published a complete three-
volume collection of her poems and letters five years later.
Now, we’ll take a look at some of her poems, but first... questions, anyone?
ABBCD
DCBAD
CABAD
 PRACTICE TEST 3
PART 1
1.
You’re hungry, but you don’t feel like going out. Unfortunately, your favorite
restaurant doesn’t deliver. Don’t worry, just call Waiters on Wheels, and we’ll
bring your favorite food directly to your house or apartment. We serve all
sections of town, and we’ll go to any restaurant you like, all for a very reasonable
delivery fee. Can’t decide what you feel like eating? Visit our website and you’ll
see menus from almost every restaurant in the city.
2.
Good afternoon, this is Eliza Hinson, your WBOM weather forecaster. In most
parts of the city, there’s over ten inches of snow right now, and there will
probably be 18 inches before this storm clears out tomorrow morning. Tonight,
it will get much colder and the winds will become stronger. The roads will be
very bad and very dangerous. If you don’t have to go out tonight, stay home. If
you do have to go out, be very, very careful.
3.
Now, before we close the meeting, I’d like to take this opportunity to say
goodbye and good luck to Derrick Wheeler. Today is Derrick’s last day at
Fairfield Communications. As everyone who has talked to Derrick knows, he
comes from Australia. However, you may not know that he attended university
in Ireland and the U.K. before moving to the U.S. about 20 years ago. Derrick
worked in banking and in software before he went to work for our competitor,
Global Communications. When Global merged with Fairfield, Derrick came to
work for us, and soon became vice-president of marketing.
4.
Attention, all members and guests of Crystal Springs Athletic Club. The
management regrets to announce that the indoor swimming pool will be closed
for two weeks for repair, cleaning, and painting. All other facilities at the club—
the outdoor pool, the workout room, the tennis and squash courts, the snack
bar—will remain open. The management of Crystal Springs is sorry for any
inconvenience this may cause you.
5.
Good afternoon, this is Sylvia Vickers with another hour of “Travelers’ Tales,”
the radio program that brings you the world. Today, I’m going to start our
program with a review of a new travel book, Paris on the Cheap. This is a book
for travelers on very tight budgets. It’s a well-written book, full of interesting
ideas. My only complaint, in fact, is that there is too much information on cheap
places to eat and not enough about cheap places to stay. Almost half the book is
about restaurants, but there are only ten pages about reasonably priced hotels.
6.
Hello, this is Lawrence Talbot of Talbot Commercial Insurance Associates. I will
be visiting out-of-town clients on Wednesday and Thursday, and will not be
 back in my office until Friday. I will be checking my voice mail as often as
possible. In case of an emergency, call my assistant at (303) 555-1451, and she
can reach me on my cell phone. Thanks!
7.
I’ve called this meeting to talk about our new evaluation system. First, a little
background: From the time this company opened 12 years ago, we’ve used
annual job evaluations. For years, workers and managers were evaluated only
by their supervisors or, in the case of the factory workers, their foremen. Then,
two years ago, we started to use the peer evaluation system. In this system, you
are evaluated by someone at the same job level as you. This year, we are going
with what is called 360-degree evaluations, where you are evaluated by your
supervisors and by your peers.
8.
Thank you for calling Health Line. Health Line is a free automated system
providing you with information about health and medicine. The topic you chose
was sore throats. Most sore throats are caused by viruses. However, some sore
throats are caused by bacteria. This condition is called strep throat. If you have
a sore throat and a fever, but not a cough, and if there are white spots on the
back of your throat, then you may have strep throat. You should see a doctor,
who can do a simple test to see if you really do have strep throat.
CDABCDCC
PART 2
Questions 9 to 12.
Listen to the conversation between a student and a teacher.
W: Excuse me, Professor Finch? May I talk to you for a minute?
T: Of course, Daria. How can I help you?
W: I’m thinking about choosing a major, but I’m not sure which one to take. It’s a
difficult decision to make.
T: Well, what subjects are you interested in?
W: I really like science. I got A’s I both my physics and astronomy classes. I didn’t
do too well in history.
T: I see. Do you have other interests?
W: I also like fixing things. Last year, I fixed my computer when it broke.
T: Wow, that’s wonderful. How are you with math? Do you enjoy working with
numbers?
W: Oh yes. I enjoy mathematics very much. I have taken all the math courses
available right now. My mathematics professor even told me that I was a
natural with numbers.
T: Well, if you like science and fixing things, and are good with numbers, maybe
you should think about taking engineering.
W: Hmm, I never thought about that before. Thank you for your advice.
T: Sure. Let me know if you have any other questions or problems.

Questions 13 to 16.
Listen to the conversation between a man and a woman.
W: Where do you want to have lunch?
M: Do you want to eat in the cafeteria down the hall? I heard that they are serving
spaghetti and pizza today.
W: Really? I feel like having something else other than Italian.
M: Why? Their food is wonderful.
W: I was thinking about having some hot and spicy food today.
M: Aright, so what do you prefer?
W: I really like Mexican food. It’s too spicy for most people, but I love eating it.
M: What kind of food do Mexican restaurants serve?
W: Mexican restaurants usually have tacos and burritos. They are popular dishes.
M: Let me see. I do remember seeing a Mexican restaurant nearby the school.
W: Yes, you’re right. I went there last week. It’s just across the school entrance.
They serve very hot Mexican food over there.
M: Sounds good. Do you want to go there, then? I like spicy food, too.
W: That would be great! I’ll pay for lunch. Let’s go there now. I’m so hungry.
M: Me too

Questions 17 to 20.
Listen to the conversation between a student and a teacher.
T: Hi, Alex. How are you?
M: Fine, thank you. I was wondering if you had a minute or so.
T: Sure. We can talk now. So what’s your question?
M: I really like your course and would like to take it. I’m just not sure about the
assignments. I’m not used to writing short papers together with my work in
other courses. I don’t know if I will be able to turn in all the short papers that
the course requires.
T: Hmmm… I see. I designed the course work in order to help the students in the
class. I didn’t want to put on pressure by asking for a big final exam.
M: Yeah… I can see that. But I think that it might be better for me to take a big exam
or two big exams.
T: OK… Why don’t we do this? I think that you should still hand in a short paper,
just so that you get some practice. It’s not easy to write a short paper, because
you really have to say exactly what you want to say. So turn in a short paper and
then two smaller papers. How does that sound?
M: Great. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Will you give me the deadlines
for the smaller papers next time in class?
CADB
BDAC
CBAA
T: Sure. Thanks for reminding me. Let me make a note of it. OK. Great. I’ll see you
soon then.

PART 3

Questions 21 to 25.
Listen to the lecture in a biology class.
As you know, there are six common animal groups: mammals, birds, reptiles,
fish, amphibians and insects. So far we’ve studied two of them: mammals and
birds. Today, we’re going to learn about reptiles. Can you name some retiles?
Snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises… what else? Yes, alligators and crocodiles …
they are all reptiles. Let’s take a look at what those reptiles have in common.
First, they have dry, tough and scaly skin. Also, their skin is thick and waterproof
to keep moisture from leaving the body. One interesting thing is most reptiles
shed their skin as they grow. Second, they usually have short legs and toes with
claws. But some, like snakes, have no legs at all. Third, they breathe with lungs.
So, some ocean reptiles such as sea turtles and sea snakes have to hold their
breath when they are underwater. Fourth, they are cold-blooded. That means
when it is cold, they would die because their body and blood become too cold.
That’s why reptiles in cold climates hibernate during the winter. Fifth, they are
vertebrates. In other words, they have backbones like birds and mammals.
Sixth, most reptiles lay eggs. The eggs are usually soft and flexible. But some
reptiles can give birth to babies. For instance, the Green Anaconda carries its
eggs for six months inside the body until they hatch. Then, twenty to forty babies
are born in the water at the same time.

Questions 26 to 30.
Listen to the lecture in an Earth science class.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that comes down from a
thunderstorm. It can be formed when cool wind meets warm wind. When two
winds at different heights and at different speeds meet, they start to rotate –
that is, spin in a circle. The circling air then becomes a vertical column. Wind
pushing upwards makes it spin faster. As it keeps spinning, it grows into a funnel
cloud – wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Many funnel clouds just spin
around in the air. But thunderstorms can pull them to the ground. When the
funnels touch the ground, they become a tornado.
Tornadoes can happen anywhere. But most tornadoes occur in America,
especially in the South Central Plains. In this area, cool dry wind blows over
warm humid winds. This makes it easy for tornadoes to develop. Also,
tornadoes happen more during the spring. That’s because the spring has more
chances of cool dry wind meeting with warm humid wind.
Sometimes tornadoes can cause a lot of damage. The worst case of tornadoes
was the Super Outbreak of 1974. It is the largest tornado outbreak on record.
 On April 3rd and 4th of 1974, 148 tornadoes struck 13 states in 18 hours, 330
people were killed and 5,550 more injured.
If you’re caught in a tornado, you should go to the basement or the first floor of
a building. People who are driving should get out of their cars and try to find a
place to hide, such as a ditch near the road.

Questions 31 to 35.
Listen to the lecture in a botany class.
P: You read in your assignment, or at least you should have about epiphytes, a
certain type of plant that grows on host plants. We've also talked about
parasites, parasitic plants, which also grow on host plants. So what’s the
difference? Who can tell us?
S: A parasitic plant grows on another plant, a host plant, and it gets, um, takes
nutrition from that host plant and water to it takes water from the host plant.
It depends on the host plant for survival.
P: Yes, very good. That’s what a parasitic plant is. But how does it differ from an
epiphyte which also depends on a host plant?
S: The difference is that the epiphyte doesn't take nutrients and water from the
host plant. It gets them from the air or from debris that gets caught in the host
plant. But it doesn't take anything directly from the tissues of the host plant
P: Yes, that’s exactly right. And epiphyte relies on the host plant for support.
Physical support only. You can find epiphytes growing on most parts of the
host, the trunk branches or even the leaves. Not on the roots, though, there
would be no advantage for the plant. But we'll talk more about that later. Okay,
so, there are over 20,000 species of epiphytes around the world. They mostly
grow in tropical places, particularly in the rainforests of South and Central
America, and Southeast Asia. Certain kinds of ferns and orchids as well as
bromeliad, which are related to pineapples are among the better known
epiphytes. Although they're mostly tropical, they can be found in temperate
zones as well. Mosses, lichens and algae are types that you'll find in temperate
parts of the world. What all these different types of epiphytes have in common
is that they depend on a host for support. Growing on a host plant has certain
benefits for an epiphyte. What are they? Who can explain?
S: By growing on the host plant, an epiphyte can grow higher up where there's
more light. Also, an epiphyte doesn't have to compete with other plants, plants
that grow in the ground for nutrients and for water from the soil.
P: Thank you. Yes, those are the key reasons growing on host plants prove so
advantageous for epiphytes. It's a system that works well for the epiphyte and
doesn't have serious disadvantages for the host plant.
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S: What about roots? Epiphytes wouldn't have roots, would they? Because they
don’t grow in the ground.
P: I'm glad you asked that. There are some common misconceptions about that.
Epiphytes don't have roots that would anchor them in the ground, like most
plants do, but many have what we call aerial roots, roots that allow them to
draw water and nutrients from the air or from water and debris that collect on
the host plants.