Test 1

SECTION 1

MAN: Hello?

WOMAN: Hi, good morning, this is Talia from Parrot Bay Travel Agency. Is Robert Goddard
(Example) there?

MAN: Yes, speaking.

WOMAN: I’m so sorry that I made such an early phone call, and I’m calling to ask a few
questions about your most recent vacation – could I have five minutes of your time?

MAN: Sure thing.

WOMAN: Great, thanks. Now, I see here that you visited Melbourne. Was this your first visit
to Melbourne?

MAN: No (Q1), I have actually been there twice before.

WOMAN: I see. Now, what would you say was your favorite part about Melbourne?

MAN: Well, I did like seeing the exotic wildlife, and there are great sites to see, but I have to
say I was most impressed by the amazing weather (Q2).

WOMAN: Yeah, the weather there is amazing. Which of the sites listed as part of our official
tour did you see, and of those, which was your favorite?

MAN: First I saw the theatre, which was beautifully designed. It was not nearly as cool as
the Town Hall (Q3) though – the building is a huge part of Melbourne’s history. Definitely
my favourite. I saw the aquarium too, but wasn’t too impressed.

WOMAN: I see. Yes, people often have great reviews of Town Hall. Now I would like to ask
you about your dining experience. Did you enjoy the food there?

MAN: Absolutely -I loved it!

WOMAN: I’m glad to hear it. Could you tell me a little bit about what you most enjoyed
about the food?

MAN: Being such an international city, I loved the variety (Q4) – I could find any type of food
I wanted. Whether I wanted seafood, burgers, or anything else, you name it and they had it.

WOMAN: Did you drive to Melbourne?

MAN: No, I flew. I thought about going by train, but in the interest of time I decided to go
by plane (Q5).

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WOMAN: Right, I see.

WOMAN: And would you mind telling me whether you are under 20, between the ages of
20 and 40, or older than 40?

MAN: Er, it would be nice if I were still under 20. My vacation probably would have been
quite different. Actually though, I just turned 41 last week (Q6).

WOMAN: Oh, happy birthday! So did you treat yourself and fly first class?

MAN: Ha! No way. I would love to have a budget that high. I’m more in the mid-range
(Q7) income level. I wasn’t always though – I spent much of my life in a low-income
household.

WOMAN: I see. That answers my next question then, of income level. And what was the
purpose of this visit?

MAN: I had to go there on business a lot before and decided I would go there for tourism
(Q8) this time.

WOMAN: I see. And what is your occupation?

MAN: I am mainly a computer programmer (Q9). I also write for a travel magazine on the
side, which is why I visited Melbourne before, but it’s not my main source of income.

WOMAN: I see. Wow, it sounds like you work a lot!

MAN: Yes, I am very busy, which is exactly why I took a nice week-long vacation to
Melbourne.

WOMAN: I completely agree. Would you care to comment on your accommodation?

MAN: My hotel was good value (Q10). Staying in the city can get really expensive, so it was
nice to find such a good price for the location and quality. I’m glad I didn’t end up in some
cheap motel in the middle of nowhere.

WOMAN: I’m glad you didn’t either. Well, thank you for taking part in our survey, and I’m
glad you enjoyed your vacation!

MAN: No problem. Take care!

SECTION 2

Thank you all for coming to our community meeting. As you know, we are excited to unveil
our improvement plan as we look forward to the influx of tourists in the summer months. I’ll
start with a quick overview of the main points of interest in the area for anyone who may
not quite know his or her way around yet, and then I’ll get into the improvements made.

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First off is my favorite, the Science Museum, which is on the corner of Saint George Road
(Q11). If you have not visited it yet, I encourage you to go before the busy season. It is
absolutely spectacular – there is even a flight simulator you can try out!

Just west of the Science Museum is the National History Museum (Q12). It’s a site not to
be missed as well, with each floor devoted to a different era in our nation’s history. There
are special exhibits for children with interactive games and fun history lessons, too.

If you’re looking for parking, it is available on the intersection of Queen Street and South
King Street in the Car Park (Q13). Standard hourly and daily rates do apply.

The best place for souvenirs is the Shopping Mall, though it gets extremely busy during
peak times. You can get there from the tube, or the entrance on Timber Road, just south
of Cornwell Road (Q14).

This area has students everywhere, usually from the Primary School across the street from
the Shopping Mall (Q15). Classes often take field trips and engage in guided tours through
the area.

So that’s the overview of the main sites and hopefully by now I’ve given you a general idea
of the area.

Now I’m going to outline the improvements we have made in our efforts to make the
experience even better for each and every one of our visitors. You probably noticed when
you first drove into the Car Park this morning, that there is now additional signage to help
avoid confusion. The directions were not entirely clear at first, so we have increased the
number of one-way signs indicating the correct direction of traffic flow (Q16).

Not far from there, in line with our mission of giving back to the community, we constructed
a brand new playground for the Primary School (Q17). It is really something to be excited
for – the equipment is state-of-the-art and includes swings, a small climbing wall, and even
an obstacle course.

Now we’ll head north and take a look at the Science Museum. In response to our feedback
from past visitors to the museum, there is now free information available (Q18) outlining
not only upcoming IMAX showings, but also natural wonders like meteor showers, eclipses,
and other cool natural events.

The Science Museum isn’t the only Museum improving the experience of its visitors. The
National History Museum has added an entire new wing to its facility to accommodate the
large crowds (Q19) of people gathering to see the Civil War exhibit, inventions timeline
exhibit, and other wonderful sections of the museum. The increase in space will definitely
give a more calm, comfortable experience for visitors (Q19).

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And finally, remember when there was actually a line at the mall entrance from the Tube
Station? It was terrible trying to get anywhere from the Tube because foot traffic got so
backed up sometimes. We have addressed that by adding another entry point into the
mall from the other end of the platform to disperse the crowd (Q20).

So those are the major improvements we have made. Clearly having too many people that
want to visit and enjoy what our community has to offer the public is a good problem to
have, and I am confident that we have made the changes necessary to accommodate the
growing interest in the area.

As always, we welcome any questions, comments, or concerns about the new improvement
plan. In a few minutes I will open up the floor for questions but you can also contact me or
any other board member by email or through the city website. Thank you for coming, and I
now encourage you to stay for the Questions and Answers panel occurring between now
and 10.30…

SECTION 3

TUTOR: So you were both given your project assignments for your senior thesis today, right?

JANE: Yes, and we already have to submit our topics next week!

MARK: But how could they give us a grade this soon?

TUTOR: No, next week’s due date will not be counted towards your final grade. The
teachers are just going to read your topic and give you feedback (Q21).

JANE: Oh, I see. So first we should come up with our topics, and then what?

TUTOR: Well, once you know what you want to study, you need to think about how you’ll
study it. You need to decide on your research methods. The methods will be the main part
of your paper (Q22).

MARK: What about the results section?

TUTOR: Well, I can give you feedback on that, but you will be the one carrying out an
experiment and thus will have to produce the Or here’s another example: What is one great
place to advertise suntan lotion? How about a swimming pool? It has the exact group of
people that need the product.

Alright, one last thing. Let’s say you’re filming a commercial for a water filter pitcher. What
would be good scenery to use for the background? Think about somewhere calm and
relaxing with clean, fresh water. Can’t you see how much Q40 more effective a commercial
with the beautiful scenery and flowing rivers of a national park would be than, say, water
dripping from a tap?

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So to wrap things up today, think about the geography of your target market, the type of
marketing material you should use, and the most effective way to appeal to the customer in
order to make a successful ad campaign.

That is all I have for you all today. Make sure to read through chapter 8 for Monday if you
have not done so already. OK, now I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have
results on your own. What I would like to do today is practice writing research papers
before you even begin your report. I’ll give you samples of old data from past experience,
and you can practice writing results and drawing conclusions.

JANE: I think that would be really helpful.

MARK: Yeah, it sounds like a lot of extra work, but I’m sure it will make our actual project
easier.

TUTOR: You are exactly right. So let’s get started. First, let’s try this simple experiment on
fruit flies. Read the information, and then take 25 minutes to summarise a results and
conclusion section. That’s really important – pay attention to the time limit (Q23).

JANE: OK, does it still have to be 6,000 words?

TUTOR: No, don’t worry about that.

MARK: What if we get off topic?

TUTOR: I wouldn’t worry too much – you will have so much information to write about that
it should be easy to stay on topic.

JANE: But what about other sources?

TUTOR: Well for this assignment, you can use the one from your textbook. In your actual
paper, you should find old experiments that support your topic.

MARK: So do we need to find different types of sources? For instance, should I be

conducting lots of interviews to use in my paper?

TUTOR: No, there’s no need to conduct lots of interviews (Q24) or anything like that.

MARK: OK, I’m ready to get started. I’m still a little confused though, on how we should
format our paper.

TUTOR: Don’t worry about it for now, but on your final paper, make sure to pay attention to
the format (Q25). It should follow the guidelines exactly.

JANE: Oh man, I’m starting to understand why they give us all semester to do this. Are there
any other small details like that that we should know about?

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TUTOR: Not a whole lot, make sure you provide two copies (Q26) – one for your teacher of
course, but one for yourself as well. And of course, you know the due date, right?

MARK: Uh, it’s April 11, right?

JANE: What? No! It’s May 11. Right?

TUTOR: Yes. The due date is May 11 (Q27). Write it down!

MARK: Oh wow. Yeah, I need to note it. Also, I’m having trouble finding information on my
topic. What if I can’t find enough good sources?

TUTOR: It’s alright to change (Q28) your topic. Just make sure to do it before the beginning
of April.

MARK: Oh really? Wow, I’m definitely going to change it then.

TUTOR: Just make sure to write a note (Q29) to your teacher letting him or her know.

JANE: Okay. So getting back to writing this sample paper, where do we start? Should I just
explain the experiment and what happened?

TUTOR: Well, you need to start with your hypothesis – what you think will happen – and
then describe your procedure (Q30). Then you can write up the results and your
conclusions.

JANE: Oh boy, I don’t know if I can handle any more instructions…

SECTION 4

Hello class, and welcome back to Marketing Strategies. This week I will expand upon last
week’s lecture by talking about factors you should consider when creating advertising
materials and the effects they can have on your product sales.

Lesson one: limit your advertising to the geographic area of your target market. Though you
may have a product that people want in a large area, the distance (Q31) that customers are
willing to travel is a significant factor in their choice of where to purchase that product.

Take this example – if you are really hungry and decide you want a burrito, would you
choose the restaurant that is a block from your apartment, or the one that is just as good –
or even slightly better – across town? Of course you’ll pick the closer restaurant.

Next, there’s the method of communication to your target market. How do you decide
among radio ads, TV commercials, fliers, or even word of mouth?

While we often think of the visual presentation of ads, there is much more to advertising
than the look. Studies show that consumers are much more likely to remember advertising
slogans if there is also a sound (Q32) played. Did you know that your sense of smell is

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closely linked with memory? Think about Mandy’s Candy Store up the road. Every time you
walk past it, you can just smell (Q33) the chocolate, right? I bet you can almost smell it now.
Just mentioning the name brings about the smell memory, and in turn a chocolate craving.
What better way to sell chocolate bars?

Obviously sometimes appealing to the senses isn’t the most practical way to advertise. For
example, it is a good idea to come up with a marketing strategy that adapts to the product,
especially digital products. The flexibility (Q34) of this kind of product is extremely
important, so it is very common for advertisers to form one single layout for all of their ads
– the visual, the medium, even the majority of the content – and simply update the ad each
time they come out with a new version.

Remember, advertising is all about stirring up the right feeling in your potential customers,
whether by stimulating the senses, appealing to intellect, and so on. Once the customer
experiences the ad, the important thing is his or her reaction (Q35). Someone could love the
ad you made, but unless he or she considers buying the product, you have failed to get the
reaction you were looking for.

So once you have successfully reached your target customer and you have his or her
business, often you will want to expand to a larger market. More often than not, the same
marketing strategies you used in your small campaign may not work for a larger audience.
The larger you scale your product, the more factors you must consider. For instance, Apple
operates worldwide, so they must tailor their advertising for each market they enter. Often
you’ll see Apple ads on international flights that appear not only in English, which is the
lingua franca of most regions, but also in the native language (Q36) of the majority of
passengers. I traveled to Russia last week, and it was really interesting to see the same Nike
ad that I have seen a hundred times – except this time it was in Russian!

Okay, going back to the medium of the advertisement, even after choosing to create print
ads (instead of radio announcements, television commercials, etc) there is more to consider.
If you print your ad in a newspaper, it will be read by a far different audience than if you
print your ad in a popular magazine. Would you put an ad for the new Justin Bieber album in
a newspaper? Probably not, because that product is most suitable for youths. Let’s face it –
do you know anyone under the age of 25 that buys a newspaper (Q37)? No!

Now let’s try a few strategy exercises. Imagine you are a company that is aiming to improve
the environment (Q38) by making products that reduce human waste. How would you
advertise your product? Clearly it would send the wrong message if you put up fliers or
other materials that cause lots of waste paper. Consider instead putting commercials on the
Health Channel, or buying ad space on websites like UNESCO.

Or here’s another example: What is one great place to advertise suntan lotion? How about
a swimming pool (Q39)? It has the exact group of people that need the product.

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Alright, one last thing. Let’s say you’re filming a commercial for a water filter pitcher. What
would be good scenery to use for the background? Think about somewhere calm and
relaxing with clean, fresh water. Can’t you see how much more effective a commercial with
the beautiful scenery and flowing rivers of a national park (Q40) would be than, say, water
dripping from a tap?

So to wrap things up today, think about the geography of your target market, the type of
marketing material you should use, and the most effective way to appeal to the customer in
order to make a successful ad campaign.

That is all I have for you all today. Make sure to read through chapter 8 for Monday if you
have not done so already. OK, now I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have…

Test 2
SECTION 1

EMPLOYER: Hello, is this John Murphy?

APPLICANT: Hi, yes it is.

EMPLOYER: Hi John, this is Ed Heisenburg from the Wild Dunes Spa and Resort calling about
your application for our lifeguard (Example) position. Do you have a few minutes to talk?

APPLICANT: Yes, absolutely.

EMPLOYER: Great. Could you give me your address?

APPLICANT: Sure. My address is 45 Elsinore (Q1) Court.

EMPLOYER: I’m sorry, was that Eleanor? Could you spell that for me?

APPLICANT: Sure – it’s Elsinore. E-L-S-I-N-O-R-E.

EMPLOYER: Okay, thanks. And is this the number we should reach you at in the future?
099885767?

APPLICANT: No, this is my home phone, but let me give you my mobile phone number
instead: 077896245 (Q2). Call me on that one.

EMPLOYER: Okay – I’ll make a note of that. Could you tell me your availability?

APPLICANT: Sure. I am usually available during afternoons or weekends.I would prefer not
to be scheduled on weeknights because I work part-time as a waiter (Q3).

EMPLOYER: That shouldn’t be a problem, since we don’t stay open very late anyway. And do
you have any other employment experience?

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APPLICANT: Yes, I have worked at a few other places. I was the baseball coach (Q4) at
Ridgemont High School last season.

EMPLOYER: I see. And do you have any other experience that you would like us to note on
your application?

APPLICANT: Yes. Last year I worked at the beach as a rescue diver (Q5).

EMPLOYER: Rescue diver? That sounds intense!

APPLICANT: Well, it’s really just like being a lifeguard, except in the ocean instead of a pool.
So kind of like being a lifeguard at the world’s largest pool.

EMPLOYER: Haha. I see.

EMPLOYER: So could you tell me about the relevant skills you have? I’m guessing a lot, given
your experience.

APPLICANT: I am CPR certified and have 2 years of diving experience (Q6).

EMPLOYER: Great! It sounds like you are well qualified for this position. When does your
CPR certification expire?

APPLICANT: Hm. I think in November, but let me quickly check my CPR card … actually, it
expires in October (Q7).

EMPLOYER: Okay, so regardless you have it through the end of the summer. When is your
ideal time to work?

APPLICANT: Since I work in the restaurant on weeknights, I like weekends best –

specifically Saturday mornings (Q8).

EMPLOYER: I see. We do already have a lot of staff available on Saturdays, but I do need an
early morning shift lifeguard. How early could you work Saturday morning?

APPLICANT: I can get there by 6.00 (Q9) if need be.

EMPLOYER: You’ll be happy to know we open a little later than that, but I’ll put you down
for Saturday mornings here.

APPLICANT: Oh awesome! I can’t wait to get started.

EMPLOYER: How about you come in next Saturday, the 12th?

APPLICANT: That sounds good.

EMPLOYER: Great – we can figure out other shifts for you to work when you come in then.
One last thing – just out of curiosity, where did you hear about us?

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APPLICANT: I heard your ad on the radio (Q10) while I was driving this morning.

EMPLOYER: You know, I think you’re the first person who has responded to our radio ads.
It’s almost always people who have seen us in the newspaper.

APPLICANT: Yeah, I don’t have time to read through the newspaper every morning. I have
plenty of time in the car to listen to radio ads.

EMPLOYER: That makes sense. Well, thanks for your time, and we’ll look forward to seeing
you on the 12th.

SECTION 2

GEOFFREY: Good evening, I’m Geoffrey Miller, from the University of Nottingham Student
Union. And in this week’s free class, Carlos Garcia is going to tell us about safety around
campus. Over to you, Carlos.

CARLOS: Thank you, Geoffrey. And thank you for all of your attendance today. Also, I would
like to thank the student union here at the university for organising this lecture (Q11).

Well, I have been serving and protecting the city of Nottingham for over 20 years now as a
member of the police department. Does anyone know what type of crime is the most
prevalent on campus? I heard someone say drugs and alcohol – that actually isn’t too much
of an issue. Violence? Nope.

Actually, the biggest thing we worry about here is theft (Q12). The nature of crime on
Nottingham’s campus is quite different from that of the surrounding areas.

Crime rates across the East Midlands are very difficult to control. We would like to see the
rate stay the same for this calendar year, but it has been increasing steadily over the past
three years. On campus, however, I’m happy to say that the overall crime rate has fallen
this year (Q13). You wouldn’t think so if you have seen the extremely exaggerated stories
in the media. The media has done nothing but cause more concern about crime in our
area (Q14).

Even the crime shows you see today are a little bit farfetched, but at least viewers know
they are not real events. We would really like to see more factual news articles out there so
the public can have a rational sense of the safety level of our society.

OK, let’s move on to what to do when you see a crime. Do not get involved if at all possible,
and do not draw too much attention to yourself by running away in a conspicuous manner.
Though most likely (and hopefully) you will not have to experience this situation, if you are
being mugged please do not try to resist. Instead, be compliant and, seek help after the
incident (Q15).

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Like I said, though, it is highly unlikely that you will find yourself amidst a crime, but it is
important to be prepared should it ever happen. We find that educating students and staff
on the correct precautions to take is the best way to increase your safety (Q16). Just
remember to be smart when you’re out late at night, and avoid any area or person that
looks suspicious. I know it sounds obvious, but I cannot stress this enough.

It is also not a bad idea to have your mobile phone with you at all times, but be careful. If
you are chatting on your smart phone on your way home, you are a prime target for thieves.
I’d like to see a show of hands – how many people have left work or the library after 10 p.m.
to go home before? A lot of you, right? If you do have to go home late at night, please don’t
walk home alone.

More often than not there is someone there that will be walking the same direction as you
at some point. Walk home with a friend or coworker. Even if you must use your phone to
call someone that is nearby to walk with you, it is always safer to walk home with someone
(Q17).

So when you’re walking home, you may feel more comfortable with some sort of self-
defense, such as pepper spray. Now, it’s your call whether you want to carry something like
this or not. However, I absolutely advise against carrying a knife or any other offensive
weapon. All too often they can be used against you if you are disarmed, putting yourself in
more danger (Q18).

For all those interested, the recreation centre offers a free self-defense class to all students
every Thursday evening. While obviously an introductory self-defense class may not equip
you to fight off villains like a regular superhero, it does come in handy sometimes. After
taking a self-defense class, you will surely be more aware of possible dangers (Q19) and
how to deal with them.

So hopefully now you have a more complete understanding of the nature of crimes
committed on your campus, and how to avoid being a victim. I know most students at the
University of Nottingham are not the criminal types, but remember that there is no barrier
like a wall (Q20) or something keeping nonstudents out. There is no army force securing the
borders, and I doubt anyone wants it that way. The campus is generally a safe place, but it is
not immune to small crimes once in a while.

Alright. That’s all I have to say for today. Stay safe!

SECTION 3

TUTOR: Hi Bobby, go ahead and sit down. Tell me about your research project.

BOBBY: Well, I decided to research football, and keys for success on a football team.

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TUTOR: That sounds great. What are the guidelines for the test? Did the teacher talk to you
about it in class?

BOBBY: No, everything is on a handout (Q21) that was passed out. It says that the first draft
is due at the end of next week, and the second and third are due later on in the month. I
don’t understand why we have to keep revising and fixing it. Is this assignment really that
important?

TUTOR: Well, this project is a major requirement for passing 11th grade English and will go
on your permanent record (Q22).

BOBBY: Oh really? Does that mean it will affect what English level I am placed in next year?

TUTOR: Well, not exactly. You need a good grade to move on, but it is your overall grade
and teacher recommendation that determines what level of English you are placed in next
year. Anyway, tell me about your topic choice. Do you play football?

BOBBY: Well, actually it’s because my father loves the sport (Q23). He watches it every
weekend.

TUTOR: Cool! It’s a good idea to report on something you’re interested in.

TUTOR: I see you worked hard calling players and the head coach to talk, so let’s see what
information you got.

BOBBY: Well, you have to listen carefully to the first call on the recording. It’s really hard to
hear because the background noise is louder than the person’s voice (Q24).

TUTOR: Yes, it is a bit tough to discern. I’m afraid the player’s answer is too short (Q25) as
well. You will have to interview him again and try to get him to give a better answer.

BOBBY: Okay. I thought that might happen. I will call him again tomorrow.

TUTOR: Moving on, let’s look back at this question. You asked, “Tell me about a time when
you learned a major life lesson through playing football, and explain how that has shaped
the person and player you have become now, and how you hope to pass on that lesson.” It
is a great idea for a question, but in an oral interview it is far too complex (Q26). I would
advise you to break it up into multiple parts to get a better response.

BOBBY: I guess you’re right – I wouldn’t want to have to provide an answer to a question
like that. I will simplify it. I found that when I asked players this question, it took too much
time (Q27) because they were truggling to answer the question completely. In fact, this is
the question Joe Billings was answering when the tape ran out.

TUTOR: He did tend to ramble on all the questions, didn’t he?

BOBBY: He sure did.

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TUTOR: I would recommend that when you go back and interview players again that you use
a more sophisticated recording device. This recording is spotty, which indicates that the
equipment wasn’t working consistently (Q28).

BOBBY: Okay. I guess it probably wasn’t the best idea to use the sound recorder on my
phone. Hey, could you give me some feedback on the content of the report itself?

TUTOR: Sure! Let’s start by focusing on your topic. While I like that you chose to cover
football, it seems inexplicit (Q29). The keys for success of a player and team is quite an
interesting topic, but what is your thesis? That is to say, what conclusions can you draw
from your research? I would suggest coming up with a strong thesis statement and then
shaping your report based on that.

BOBBY: Is it really too vague? I put a whole lot of facts into it. I list the top 10 goal-scorers in
football history, and later on provide statistics for a few of the most famous coaches and
their records as coaches.

TUTOR: I think that’s great that you included these facts, but I think you focused too much
on the facts (Q30) and not enough on connecting these facts to make your point.

BOBBY: Ah, I see. Okay. So it looks like I have quite a bit of work to do before the deadline!

SECTION 4

Good morning. Today I am going to cover the daunting task of giving a quality speech – a
thought that makes most of us cringe. In fact, 90% of all people feel nervous about public
speaking, about 10% of whom are described as genuinely terrified. Hopefully when we are
finished here today, you all will be in the 10% of the population who do not feel nervous at
all.

Did you know that lecturers tend to get more nervous (Q31) if the speech they are giving is
an important one? It makes sense, right? You probably wouldn’t be nearly as nervous to
address your residence hall about the proper use of the recycle and compost bins as you
might be if you were asked to give the graduation speech to your entire 5,000-student class.

So what is it that makes some people completely comfortable in front of crowds? Some
people think that the ability to give a good speech is a gift (Q32) that others are simply born
with. This is almost never the case. Public speaking can be learned with practice.

The first, most important thing you can do to improve your confidence in delivering a
speech is to prepare a quality speech. Honestly, while the content of your speech is
relatively important, the audience will really only remember the last (Q33) sentence you
say. It is a good idea to structure the rest of your speech to lead up to this last point to really
drive your message home. This is a good way to ensure that your speech is well-organised
(Q34).

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Once you are confident in the quality of the speech you have written, the rest is just about
your stage presence. Let’s go through some do’s and don’ts of public speaking.

First, you want to command the attention of the room. Do not – I repeat, do not proceed
with your speech until the audience is paying attention (Q35). Even Martin Luther King,
Junior’s I Have a Dream speech wouldn’t have made any difference in the world without the
undivided attention of his audience.

To continue with the I Have a Dream example, one of the reasons that MLK was such an
effective orator was his ability to speak with passion and engage with his audience. That sort
of charisma does not come from reading straight from paper. Don’t get me wrong – it is a
good idea to write your main ideas down on a note card, sheet of paper (Q36), or
something. But one factor that will consistently lead to a boring, forgettable speech is
writing down your entire speech. Do not write your full (Q37) speech down. If you are
constantly reading your paper, you are not making eye contact with your audience, and thus
failing to really express the feeling that goes with your ideas.

I advise you write one or two (Q38) ideas, so I f you suddenly draw a blank you have
something to jog your memory. If you’ve written a good speech that you believe in, those
ideas should be sufficient to keep you on track.

Once you have those ideas written down, give your speech a few practice runs in front of
the mirror, into your sound recorder on your phone, or with a friend before it comes time to
address a crowd. That way you can hear how the ideas come across, make sure there are no
abrupt transitions, and find out whether you’re talking too fast or too slow. Timing is
important – make sure you time (Q39) yourself beforehand to see how long your speech is.
That is pretty much it! With practice you’ll be able to deliver an expert speech that engages
and even maybe inspires your audience. Just remember – speak with emotion. No one
wants to listen to someone reading from a script (Q40).

As I come to a close in my speech, I’ll point out that I have employed all of these tips that I
have covered. I practiced my speech ahead of time and timed it, and I can even show you
my one small index card with just three simple bullets on it. It’s as easy as that!

14
 Test 3
SECTION 1

POLICE: Hello, London Police Department.

ANNA: Yes, I would like to report a robbery.

POLICE: Alright, just a minute while I pull up the form. OK, could you give me your first and
last name?

ANNA: Anna Grieg (Q1).

POLICE: Anna, Greg? G-R-E-G?

ANNA: No, Grieg. G-R-I-E-G.

POLICE: Got it. Alright moving on: gender – female. Date of birth?

ANNA: 15th of March (Q2), 1980.

POLICE: Alright, thanks. Just a few more personal information questions and then we can
address your claim.

ANNA: Alright.

POLICE: What is the address?

ANNA: 4 Ellendale (Q3) St. That’s E-L-L-E-N-D-A-L-E.

POLICE: Oh right, Ellendale Street: Yeah we’ve had a lot of break-ins in that area lately. And
the postal code?

ANNA: W5 2AT (Q4).

POLICE: And are you a citizen of the UK?

ANNA: No.

POLICE: Okay, what type of citizenship do you have?

ANNA: Well, I lived in the United States for most of my life, but I am actually of Grenadian
nationality.

POLICE: Okay, so is that the country that issued your passport?

ANNA: Yes.

POLICE: Alright.

15
POLICE: And what is the crime you are reporting?

ANNA: I already said – a robbery!

POLICE: Oh, right. Sorry, this is about the hundredth robbery report I’ve filled out today.
Have you had any prior break-ins?

ANNA: Um, in the building or just my flat? The unit below mine got broken into last year.

POLICE: No, just your flat.

ANNA: Oh – then no (Q5). Not here.

POLICE: Alright, let’s see here. Can you think of anything that was out of the ordinary
around your building, or anyone who may have had reason to do this?

ANNA: No, it seemed like just a normal evening. I didn’t see anyone suspicious, and can’t
think of anyone that would target me specifically.

POLICE: How long has this been your place of residence?

ANNA: Hm, let me think. I moved in on February 1, and it’s October, so it’s been about 8
months (Q6) already. Wow, time flies!

POLICE: And that is just for Ellendale, yeah?

ANNA: Yes. I have lived in the UK for just over 1 year.

POLICE: I see. Can you give me the first and last name of all members of the household?

ANNA: Actually, I live alone (Q7).

POLICE: OK – so no other occupants. And can you give me a brief account of what
happened?

ANNA: I left to go to a dinner party at 6 p.m., and when I returned at 11 I found the place
ransacked and a lot of my things gone.

POLICE: Any sign of forced entry?

ANNA: Yes, the back door (Q8) was wide open, and it looked like someone used a crowbar
to force it open.

POLICE: I see. And just to be clear, was the door locked when you left?

ANNA: Of course!

POLICE: Hey, you would be surprised how many reports we get where people have failed to
lock their doors. Now I need you to list any missing items valued above £200.

16
ANNA: So far I’m missing my computer, my purse with my wallet in it, and the TV.

POLICE: OK. Let’s start with the computer. What is the estimated value?

ANNA: £500.

POLICE: And what is the serial number?

ANNA: G4168770 (Q9).

POLICE: Thank you, and a visual description?

ANNA: It is a black 13-inch Pemdas Cloudbook. There is an Oxford sticker on the lid.

POLICE: OK, and could you give a description of the purse?

ANNA: Sure. It’s a Claude Frieda shoulder bag and the material is silver-colored cloth (Q10).

POLICE: Price?

ANNA: £300.

POLICE: Okay. That concludes my report. I’ll submit it and we’ll let you know of any
developments.

SECTION 2

TUTOR: Hi, Mark. Hi, Gina. What can I help you with?

MARK: So we were hoping you could help us with this extracurricular project.

TUTOR: Sure – what is the topic?

GINA: Attending business school.

TUTOR: This sounds like a great idea. So you’re going to explain the requirements for getting
into business school?

MARK: Not exactly. It will be more broadly about the experience – the academics,
accommodation, and social experience that comes with being a part of the business
school (Q11).

TUTOR: I see. So would your audience be the general public?

GINA: Well, we would probably want more to focus on members of the institution – we
would especially like to reach individual applicants to the business school (Q12).

TUTOR: I see. Now what form will this information be? You could give a talk to all the
summer courses – all you would need is permission from the course director. Or you could
pass out information outside the student union.

17
MARK: Those are both good ideas. What about sending out pamphlets in the mail?

TUTOR: Most college students never check their mail. Maybe you could make a video and
show it on campus?

GINA: That’s a great idea. We’ll do the video (Q13).

TUTOR: Great. And as members of the business school, do you have an incentive to attract
new students? If so, this idea is a great way to do that.

MARK: No, the idea actually came about because of how much students like us worry
about their studies (Q14).

GINA: Yeah – when! got into business school, there were a lot of things I had not prepared
for, so the video would cover a lot of things Mark and I wish we had known upon entering
business school.

TUTOR: Right.

TUTOR: What would you talk about first?

MARK: The first and probably most important section would be academics.

TUTOR: Good idea. So would you provide guidance on what courses to take?

GINA: We want to focus especially on the approaches professors take – their teaching
methods (Q15). It is far different than what students are used to in high school, and even in
liberal arts college.

TUTOR: Good idea. And how long do you think you would spend explaining academics?

MARK: We’ll probably spend 7 minutes on it.

GINA: We also have some ideas for talking about housing, food options, and stuff like that.
We’re not really sure how to tie it all together though.

TUTOR: I think it would be suitable to title that section accommodation (Q16) – what do you
think?

MARK: That could work. We’ll definitely describe the different dining options at the
cafeteria, and then walk students through flats and the grueling process of finding one near
the business school campus.

GINA: Okay – so we would cover specifics on the cafeteria, as well as flats (Q17)?

MARK: I think those are both helpful. We could spend about 6 minutes on accommodation,
and be sure to touch on those specifically.

18
TUTOR: Great. Is there anything else you would talk about?

GINA: We definitely want to go over the social aspect of attending school here.

TUTOR: Of course. I think it’s good to have a little fun once in a while when you’re working
so hard in school.

MARK: I think we are going to introduce new students to the disco (Q18) that so many
upperclassmen know and love. Maybe we’ll include a few other places too, but that’s the
main one.

GINA: We’re also going to invite students to the international evening (Q19) taking place in
the first week of school as a great chance for our large international student population to
meet a lot of other new students.

TUTOR: It can definitely be hard to meet people as an international student. I think that is a
great idea. You may want to spend slightly longer on this section than the other two.

MARK: Hm… How about 8 minutes?

GINA: That sounds reasonable. So overall, the introduction should take 3 minutes, and then
the conclusion should take 4, giving us a total of 28 minutes.

TUTOR: I wouldn’t rash your introduction. Maybe give it between 4 and 6 minutes. The
conclusion, though, can be shorter since it’s just a quick refresher of each of the topics. Give
that not more than 2 minutes (Q20).

MARK: Okay. So in total the video should take about the same time, just more intro and less
conclusion?

TUTOR: Precisely.

GINA: Alright – we are goihg to get to work on our video. Thanks for your help!

SECTION 3

DANI; So tell me about your research project, John.

JOHN: I created a questionnaire for the study to determine people’s opinions of the
relative feasibility of earning a living in Brisbane (Q21).

DANI: Oh, cool. How is it scored? Are they all multiple choice questions?

JOHN: Well, the questions consist primarily of yes/no responses. There are two free
response questions at the end. Participants will use a computer to fill in their answers
(Q22); that way it is really easy to analyse the data afterward.

19
DANI: Great! It sounds like you have a pretty solid idea of what you should do. Just don’t
forget to submit a copy of your plans to Professor Curran by the 15th.

JOHN: Oh, I almost forgot!

DANI: Hm, you don’t do it for high grade or appraise, but he can review and give you
feedback (Q23).

JOHN: Right, that will be helpful – he has been conducting studies like this for 30 years now.

DANI: Yep, oh and I’m curious – are you going to be in the room giving subjects directions
for the questionnaire?

JOHN: Well, I think the instructions will be provided by another representative who will
not be analysing the data (Q24). I want them to feel they can answer and be completely
anonymous, so I will not be in the room. Anonymity is really important for this study.

DANI: I agree. Good idea. You should tell the representative to remind subjects to fully
consider both sides of each issue (Q25). Sometimes it’s really easy to immediately check
“yes” or “no” without stopping to think about it completely.

JOHN: That’s so true! It’s like a race to finish the questionnaire first or something. I’ll make
sure to include that in the instructions. This report has to be perfect!

DANI: Wow, what’s the big deal? I know it’s part of your grade and all…

JOHN: Well it’s that, but also a well-executed study could grab the attention of faculty in the
department, which would be a huge deal.

DANI: So…for attention?

JOHN: No silly! I mean I could really gain the respect of professors who may later take me
on as a graduate student in their labs (Q26).

DANI: Oh, I see.

DANI: Let me take a look at the survey. Wow, this looks great! The map of the median
income by region is a great tool – where did you find it? (Q27)

JOHN: Well thanks! I read a lot of sources and just noticed this one in a small psychology
journal called Modern Psychology (Q27). It’s more helpful than the photo I added, but I
think the photo is just so interesting. It was in the newspaper last year during that huge
wage strike (Q28).

DANI: It’s great. Probably not necessary, but it looks great. I don’t understand – what is
WKRX’s involvement here?

20
JOHN: Oh – the radio station agreed to sponsor the study if I play their station in the room
(Q29).

DANI: Wow, interesting. So you don’t have to pay for any of this?

JOHN: Exactly.

DANI: Nice! Where did you get that idea?

JOHN: Last month at the Psychology Club Council meeting someone talked about how easy
it is to get sponsorship from local businesses, so I listened to their advice and called
around! (Q30)

DANI: I’ll have to remember that. Well, this all looks great. Good luck!

SECTION 4

Good afternoon. In the last few lectures we’ve been covering the social and political
pressures that influenced the rise of the rebellion of 1679. Today I would like to focus on the
Pleasanton Town Market.

Now, why are we talking all about some market? It’s not like it was the first market ever, or
even a particularly large market. The Pleasanton Town Market is important because it is
often mentioned in the literature found in the library (Q31). If you have ever been there,
you have probably seen all of the handcrafted items sold there now. But what was originally
bought and sold in the town market?

In the beginning, the market sold products such as meats, furs, and simple tools. Over time,
though, it became known as the place to find quality livestock (Q32). People came from all
over the world to find the biggest and best cows, pigs, and chickens. In fact, the profits from
the Town Market became the savior of a plummeting economy during a time of much
turmoil. Not to be confused with the reconstruction era, a period of rapid development
came about in the 1660s as a result of the market’s vendors contributing their profits to
building up much needed public facilities and defense (Q33), which would later make a
huge impact on the outcome of the war.

For many years, the market flourished and began to draw in large tourism crowds in
addition to the throngs of livestock customers. However, as revolutions in farming came
about, more people moved to farms far from the city centre. Customers grew more and
more reluctant to travel all the way to the town centre for their meats when they could
easily choose to buy from local farmers near them for a fraction of the price (Q34).

With such a fall in the profits of the town’s major profit generator, some quality town
planning was needed. In the mayoral election of 1668, a young man of little fame just barely
claimed the popular vote – none other than the now legendary John C. Wiley.

21
Wiley’s first decision as mayor of Pleasanton was to deal with the quickly failing Town
Market. The building with the large clock was a landmark that had symbolised growth in
Pleasanton for a generation. Wiley decided to use the notoriety of the Town Market to set
an example. During the historical Rotterdam Rebellion, Wiley gave all those involved
lifetime prison sentences in the very same building (Q35). It stayed a prison for about 50
more years until they transported all remaining prisoners to other facilities and turned it
into the historical monument today.

Now that you know the basics of the history of the Pleasanton Town Market, I will introduce
your next group project. I want you, to make a short film based on the real historical events
that occurred in Pleasanton before and during the uprising.

I will give you some class time to look through the library’s reference section, but you will be
responsible for conducting further research outside of class. I suggest starting by looking for
information on the market (Q36) itself. You’ll find plenty of information – in fact, some
students complain that there is actually too much information on it.

On your own time, you could find family members of old war veterans to
conduct interviews (Q37). Sometimes they provide wonderful insight that you wouldn’t find
in proper history books, but be careful – an interview that is riddled with bias is useless
(Q38).

I myself have some very old photographs (Q39) here that you are welcome to take a look at
for some inspiration. I’m lucky enough to own this one of Jim Wiley himself! Very interesting
to see, but does not provide enough information to add much to your film.

Feel free to take this film into whatever direction you choose; You could even do a crime
(Q40) thriller based on real outlaws. All you would have to do is look through the newspaper
archives in the crime section during that time period. Try to get as much detail as you can,
but you may end up having to draw your own conclusions.

Okay, that’s enough from me, so let’s go on to…

22
 Test 4
SECTION 1

PETER: Hey Jim, it’s Peter.

JIM: Oh hey Peter. What’s up?

PETER: I thought I’d call so we could hammer out the details for next year’s lease (Example).

JIM: That’s a good idea. Did we ever decide on how to split the total rent?

PETER: Well, I was thinking since my room is bigger I probably should pay a little more, so I
could pay £110 and you could pay £80 (Q1). Does that sound okay?

JIM: Considering that my old apartment cost me £100 for a smaller room, I’m definitely
alright with that! Hey, I was looking at a map of the area, and can’t seem to find a bus stop
near it. Do you know where we would catch the bus?

PETER: Well, the bus is actually pretty far from us, but we have that garage (Q2) that we can
park our cars in.

JIM: Wow, that’s great! Convenient parking is hard to find, so we’re lucky we have that.
Okay, so we have a whole lot of things we’ll need to buy when we move in – how do you
want to split that up?

PETER: I was wondering – do you still work at the supermarket (Q3)?

JIM: Yep, every Tuesday and Saturday.

PETER: Would you be able to buy things from there if I send you a shopping list?

JIM: Sure, I can do that.

PETER: Great. Then I can take care of whatever else we need that you wouldn’t get at a
supermarket. If you want, I’ll pick you up from work that day and we can go to the
apartment together.

JIM: That would be great, thanks.

PETER: No problem – that way we can split the cost of petrol (Q4).

JIM: Works for me. It’s so expensive these days, isn’t it?

PETER: It’s downright obscene.

JIM: So let’s figure out what appliances we need. Do we have a microwave?

23
PETER: Yes, the landlord’s providing that for us. Hey, do you still have that space heater
(Q5) though? We need one for the kitchen since it’s not connected to the central heating.

JIM: Oh, right, I’ll bring that. Anything else?

PETER: Well, I have some dining room and living room furniture I can bring, so that should
take care of most of the big stuff. You know what we do need though? Could you bring
a toaster (Q6)?

JIM: I actually don’t have one. It doesn’t come with the microwave?

PETER: No, the landlord is only supplying the microwave. It would really help if you could
bring one.

JIM: Okay, I’ll pick one up at the store. You know, I also have this cool antique rotary phone
that would be a cool addition to the apartment. Sort of as decoration and utility.

PETER: Oh cool! The only thing is, we’d have to put it in the kitchen, unless you want it in
your room.

JIM: Why not put it in the living room?

PETER: The living room is too loud to have a phone conversation. The noise sort of carries,
so if one person is trying to watch TV or have friends over the person on the phone won’t be
able to hear.

JIM: Hm, okay, well I guess kitchen (Q7) it is then. Any other big things we need? That
seems like everything.

PETER: That’s all I can think of. And of course, move-in is –

JIM: June 1st (Q8). I can’t wait. We’ll be able to watch the big game in our new apartment –
it’s going to be awesome!

PETER: Yeah, we can move in in the morning and then Friday night (Q9) we can sit back and
cheer on Liverpool.

JIM: I have an exam (Q10) in the morning, but will be done around 11 a.m. and can move in
after. Wait…Liverpool? You’re joking, right? I thought you were a Manchester United fan?

PETER: MAN U? No way! Liverpool all the way!

JIM: Oh no. I don’t know if I can live with a Liverpool fan…

SECTION 2

Welcome to all of you…Can everybody see and hear me?… Good…I’m Sarah Conor, an HR
representative of Earn and Learn. I have been asked today to talk to you about our

24
company. So, for those of you who don’t know very much about the company, let me start
by giving you some basic information about it.

Earn and Learn started nearly twenty years ago. It is not a charity but a forprofit company
that enables promising entrepreneurs to make money (Q11) while traveling. During the past
ten years, it has grown rapidly and has gained great influence in most countries of the
world.

We have a partnership with the school (Q12) and take a large number of recent graduates
from the business school. So if you are a recent graduate I’d say you can consider applying
to our company.

Before your application, you might be curious about what sort of places you could go to.
There are four main locations, but you also have the freedom to submit a different location
and if they can make the necessary arrangements, you can go. The first country Earn and
Learn established locations in was the U.S., where you may choose from multiple locations,
as long as you can commit to their more rigid schedule of August to December (Q13).

Also, you could do the Australia (Q14) internship. That one is really cool – you work at a
wildlife shelter and learn about the business practices of nonprofit organisations. You do
have to be willing to commit 8 months for that one (Q14), though. Perhaps that’s a long
time to be so far away, but I would say it is really an amazing opportunity.

I don’t know whether some of you are in decent physical shape. If so, the South Africa
(Q15) internship is another exciting one – you learn a lot about sustainable farming – but
you would be doing some of Q15 the manual labor involved in maintaining a farm. Indeed,
it’s hard work, but I think you would definitely be able to do it. It may be wise to wait until
after their summer is over so it’s not so terribly hot.

In addition, there is a most recently established location in India (Q16). This one gives you
more of a study abroad feel, given that they arrange a host family for you to stay with
(Q16). In the other locations, you live in an apartment with other interns, so this is definitely
a unique experience.

Regardless of where you go, at the end of the program you get a Global Traveling
Certificate, as long as you can explain your experience. You can provide a written log of
what you did (Q17). I recommend writing journal or blog entries about what you do every
day, or a weekly summary of each day. Of course you don’t have to write up a formal report
or anything like that. And you need to apply for it once you have returned (Q18).

Some students may want to know whether this is a paid internship. Actually you have to pay
for the flight there yourself. But you have the opportunity to create your own small
business, which could earn you money if it’s successfi.il. So basically you pay for it all up
front, but when you’re there you can find ways to make money. That is to say, you pay for

25
two thirds of the cost up front as a deposit, and then give the final installment one month
prior to your return (Q19).

Finally, I have to remind you that you need a health check (Q20) before you go, to make
sure you’re not going to spread any communicable diseases. In addition, before you go, you
don’t have to attend any meetings or workshops. You’ll meet everyone you’ll be working
with once you get there.

Okay, well, that’s all I’ve time for today. Thanks for listening and I’m happy to take any
questions if you have them…

SECTION 3

STUDENT: Hi, Professor Timmons? Do you have a few minutes? I was hoping to talk about
what I missed on Thursday.

PROFESSOR: Hello, come in. Sure, sit down. Could you tell me your name please?

STUDENT: Margaret, sir. Margaret Parkinson. I apologise for missing your class but I had to
go to the hospital.

PROFESSOR: I’m sorry to hear that! Everything is OK now though, I hope?

STUDENT: Yes, thanks.

PROFESSOR: Glad to hear it. So on Thursday I outlined the research project that will account
for 30% of your grade. All students will be divided into groups and will give a well-
researched presentation to the class covering a specific topic relevant to student life.

STUDENT: Oh, that sounds interesting – can we choose just any topic that pertains to life as
a student, like how to start your own student organisation?

PROFESSOR: Well, though Em sure that would be an informative presentation, I have

already chosen a list of topics which I will assign. As an example, I assigned one group the
topic of student loans (Q21). They are to research not just the prevalence of students who
have loans to pay for their tuition, but information as to how best to manage these loans
and possible scholarships that could alleviate some of the financial burden.

STUDENT: That one sounds particularly interesting to me – could I request that topic? I
could easily find out a lot about it by stopping by the Finance Office (Q22) on my way to
class.

PROFESSOR: Unfortunately, that one is already taken by another group. I have, however
assigned you to a group and given you all one of two choices.

STUDENT: Oh, I see. What are the choices?

26
PROFESSOR: The first is discussing smoking (Q23). Trends in the number of student smokers
compared with the general population, popular reasons students take up smoking, and
more healthy alternatives to smoking.

STUDENT: Hm, that one could be interesting. I’m not a smoker myself, but will see what my
group thinks. If we did choose this topic, we would rather not put our fellow students on the
spot to interview them – where else could we gather information?

PROFESSOR: How about where the cigarettes are sold?

STUDENT: Oh, that’s a great idea. I could interview the manager of a supermarket (Q24) and
find out the average age of people buying cigarettes, or how much they buy, that sort of
thing?

PROFESSOR: Precisely.

STUDENT: Okay, I’ll keep that in mind. And what was the other topic?

PROFESSOR: The other topic is the practice of natural medicine (Q25). It sounds far more
specific than the others, but it is more an exercise of outlining a career path. If your group
chooses this, you would cover the specifics of becoming a Doctor of Natural Medicine, how
to become licensed to practice natural medicine, what the career outlook is, etc. you could
find much of the information you need on this in the Careers Office (Q26).

STUDENT: Wow, that would be really helpful not just in learning about natural medicine, but
in how to approach researching any career path.

PROFESSOR: That’s the idea. I want groups to really think outside the box to find
information on their topics. They should interview multiple sources.

STUDENT: Okay, now I think I have the general idea.

STUDENT: When is the presentation due?

PROFESSOR: I expect each group to send me an email attachment (Q27) of the plan ahead
of time – by October 10th – so that I can ensure that you are on the right track.

STUDENT: Oh, that’s actually really reassuring. I would hate to spend so much time on a
presentation only to find we had taken it in the wrong direction! So when is the
presentation?

PROFESSOR: I let groups choose from the list of time slots I have between November 1st
and November 5th (Q28).

STUDENT: Okay, how about the 3rd? I’ll have to check with my group, of course, but maybe
we could write a tentative time?

27
PROFESSOR: Sure, let me take a look. I’m actually booked completely through the 3rd and
4th now. How about sometime in the afternoon of the 5th?

STUDENT: Great! How about 2 o’clock?

PROFESSOR: No problem. I’ll pencil your group in.

STUDENT: Okay, thanks. And to clarify, what exactly is due in the first phase?

PROFESSOR: Before the October deadline, I want your group to have compiled resources
and then to provide some initial data analysis (Q29) to support your claims.

STUDENT: Okay, so data analysis is due the 10th of October, and then the um, the

PROFESSOR: – Presentation (Q30)? Yes. The final phase is simply giving the presentation on
the 5th of November.

STUDENT: Alright, I think I have all the information I need. Thanks!

PROFESSOR: You’re welcome. See you in class tomorrow.

SECTION 4

Today I’d like to tell you about how U.K. architects are playing their part to address the issue
of global warming. You have seen many of these iconic buildings while going about your
everyday life, but you may not know how they are affecting your tomorrow.

In 2003, construction was completed on the famous Swiss Re Building, or more informally
called the Gherkin, a true masterpiece commissioned by the law (Q31) offices of Foster and
Partners.

This is not the first ambitious endeavor of the firm – they are renowned for their various
philanthropic, environmental efforts. The Gherkin, with its cutting edge green initiative and
sharp design, is gaining recognition as an icon in modern architecture. You can pick it out of
the London skyline by its unorthodox cigar (Q32) shape.

While its appearance is the obvious attribute at which to marvel, there is far more to this
building than meets the eye. And let’s face it – there’s a lot about this building that meets
the eye. The building helps reduce the city’s carbon footprints (Q33) in a number of ways.

Just a quick note – in case you’re not familiar with the term ‘carbon footprints,’ get used to
it! It’s a buzzword you’ll hear relentlessly to talk about reducing emissions. Think of it as the
amount of harmful greenhouse gases that are given off into the environment by a single
person, organisation, or product.

28
So going back to the Gherkin Building – perhaps the most obvious as well as the most
significant eco-friendly feature is the glass windows, which allow light (Q34) to pass through
the building, both reducing heating costs and brightening up the workspace.

The ingenuity behind the various eco-friendly aspects of the Gherkin has seen its fair share
of publicity both from serious and silly sources. In a recent April Fool’s Day edition, one e-
publication printed a story detailing plans to replace 50% of the current exterior with grass
(Q35), which would not only make large steps in the name of sustainability, but also give the
building the green hue that would truly earn it the nickname of the Gherkin. The only
drawback is, as you may have guessed, that this story was an April Fool’s Day joke and
completely made up.

In all seriousness though, the building is setting a new standard of design that other
architects and city planners just cannot ignore. The building’s bold and cost-efficient design
has won a number of architecture awards, including the Stirling Prize, the London Region
Award, and the Emporis Skyscraper Award among others. The design comfortably
accommodates a large number of offices while keeping maintenance and operation costs
down, striking a superb balance between nature (Q36) and the workplace.

Nature is well arid good, as long as the weather is nice outside. Given London’s notoriously
bad weather, the architects knew they must devise a quality temperature regulation system,
and that they did. A special system designed to reduce the building’s reliance on air-
conditioning (Q37) was devised that cuts consumption in half compared to standard office
buildings. There are atria that link each floor vertically to one another, forming spiraling
spaces up the entire building. They serve not just as social common spaces but also act as
the building’s lungs (Q38), distributing clean air from the opening panels in the facade
through the entire building.

The building isn’t all business though – it has its fair share of fun as well. At the very top,
a clubroom (Q39) offers a picturesque entertainment spot for company functions, private
parties, etc., with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

The creation of such an innovative structure has many wondering what the future of urban
planning and architecture may be. Well, if the other projects currently commissioned by
Foster and Partners are any indication, the entire city (Q40) constructed with similarly eco-
friendly buildings is not far in the distance. The Masdar City development aims to create a
desert city that produces zero waste and removes as much carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere as it puts in – a huge feat in protecting our earth.

The Gherkin is a truly impressive feat, yet it is not the only one worth noting. Now to move
on to another green initiative, I’ll tell you about the Eden Foundation Building, found in
Cornwall…

29
 Test 5
SECTION 1

JANET: Hello?

AGENT: Yes, I’d like to speak with Janet Evans (Example), please.

JANET: Speaking.

AGENT: Hi Ms. Evans, this is Jim Rodriguez calling from Farrelly Mutual about your recent
homeowner ’s insurance inquiry.

JANET: Yes, hi. Thanks for returning my call.

AGENT: My pleasure. I understand you are potentially interested in insurance for a

bungalow located a bit out of town. Could you give me the address?

JANET: Sure, it’s 49 Greenway (Q1) Court. Greenway is one word.

AGENT: Thank you. Alright, and would you prefer to be contacted via email or phone?

JANET: Either one is fine – maybe try emailing me first and as an alternative I can give you
my phone number.

AGENT: Great – and what is your email address?

JANET: pk2@cat.com (Q2).

AGENT: Hm, did you say “cat,” as in the animal?

JANET: Yes. It is the acronym for the construction company I work for – I’m sure you’ve seen
them around.

AGENT: Yes, I have. And could you give me your primary phone number, and the best time
to reach you?

JANET: Sure – the number is (020) 4251-9443. I am generally unable to answer my phone at
work, but anytime after 5.30 p.m. (Q3) is fine.

AGENT: I will make a note of that here. Now I’m going to ask you a little bit about the
property itself so we can make an accurate estimate of the cost of insuring your home.
Could you tell me the size of your house?

JANET: Um, well, I don’t have the exact measurements, but I’m pretty sure it’s right
around 80 (Q4) square metres. Should I measure it and call you back later?

30
AGENT: No, that’s completely alright. I’ll write 80 square metres for now to get the estimate
and then an agent will come get the exact measurements later on if you decide to purchase
our insurance.

JANET: Okay, great.

AGENT: And what material is your house made of? For example, wood, brick, stucco…

JANET: It’s mainly brick (Q5).

AGENT: Great – that will give you a lower rate than most other materials since it is so strong.

JANET: Wonderful!

AGENT: And do you have any sort of home security, Ms. Evans?

JANET: Um, we don’t have a fence or anything yet, but we have an alarm system (Q6) that
we use regularly.

AGENT: Good.

AGENT: Now I’ll go through a number of things we offer coverage for, and I’d like you to tell
me which items you want your policy to cover.

JANET: Okay.

AGENT: We’ll start with the building itself first – would you like us to cover incidental
damage to the structure to your house?

JANET: Absolutely.

AGENT: Splendid. And the contents inside your house – we usually cover all items with an
appraised value above £200. Would you like us to cover theft and damage beyond natural
wear-and-tear? I will let you know that the second option here will come with a
considerable increase in your rates.

JANET: I think I’d just like the contents of the house to be covered against theft then.

AGENT: Alright – and would you like any other insurance – fire, flood, etc?

JANET: Yes – I definitely want flood (Q7) coverage. It rains a lot here, and the drainage
system in the area is not the greatest.

AGENT: Okay. I am calculating your quotation now. It will just take a second. (Two seconds
pause) It looks like your annual insurance rate will be £148.30 (Q8).

JANET: Thanks, that seems somewhat reasonable. I would like to take some time to think
about it. Flow long does it take to begin receiving coverage after signing up?

31
AGENT: It depends on the time of year – it can take anywhere from two to six weeks. I
would say if you sign up by July 1st, you could start your coverage by August 1st (Q9).

JANET: I see. Okay, thanks for your help. Should I call you back at this number when I have
made my decision?

AGENT: Yes, please. And so that we can look up your account faster, I’ll give you a reference
number that you should provide when calling. Ready?

JANET: Yep!

AGENT: It’s TR278Q (Q10).

JANET: Got it. Thanks!

AGENT: Thank you, and have a nice day!

SECTION 2

Hey if you’re just joining us on WKPX “The Sound”, welcome. We’re here in the studio with
Matt and Cam in the morning, and this morning we’re talking about keeping the kids
occupied on summer vacation. Folks, there’s a new kid in town in the world of summer fun.
Get ready for the Pool for the People, a pool and outdoor venue created by – that’s right –
the people.

Scheduled to open in November, the ideas for everything from the design of the pool right
down to the items sold in the snack bar have been decided upon by a sample of 1,050
members of the public.

The public selected two top proposals from over a dozen (Q11) created by renowned
architect Ned Mosby, and the final design is truly something else. The pool is shaped like a
fishbowl, sinking down into the ground, and there’s – you guessed it – a real, live fish tank
in the centre! It’s certainly the centre of attention in the Bridgewater area (Q12).

Now, you are probably wondering how much an extravagance like this must cost right?
Well, have no fear. At just £15 for adults and £10 for kids, it’s an affordable way to entertain
the kids in those dog days of summer. The only problem now is the possibility that it will in
fact become too popular! The pool is only so large, so swarms of people coming to enjoy it
may cause quite a crowd in its first summer of opening (Q13).

There will be an opening party for a select audience, and in line with the pool’s mission, the
people have decided on all the arrangements. They collectively decided on actress Rebel
Wilson to host the festivities scheduled for later this month, and even dictated the playlist
by ranking their top 10 songs from a list of hundreds.

32
There is some discrepancy, however, on the sculpture design for the foyer at the entrance
(Q14). The people elected a jellyfish sculpture to greet entering visitors, but given last
week’s vicious attack by a box jellyfish on a local youth, coordinators fear it will bring too
much fear to patrons.

The theme of the clubhouse is set to be “international waters” with a different section
representing each continent, designed by the legendary local artist Roberta
Anuzzi. Representing Asia in the reception area will be a mosaic made up of prominent
animals indigenous to the continent – a camel, a panda, and the Siberian white tiger, to
name just a few (Q15).

In the West lounge, feel the cool, icy vibes of the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica
(Q16). Makes you cold just thinking about it, doesn’t it? Just seeing a wall with a mural of
the glacial mountains is almost enough to cool you off on a December afternoon. Almost.

Why not make the trip to the pool a social studies lesson at the same time? The theme in
the lady’s lounge room for Africa may not be what you expected. A safari? Drum music? The
Nile River? No, did you know that Africa was home to the first jewelry (Q17)? I sure didn’t.

By contrast, as you may expect, North America’s theme for the card room is as modern —
even futuristic – as it gets. Anuzzi created for North America a sort of absurdist print
interestingly juxtaposing the moon landing of 1969 with an abstract depiction of humans
living on Mars. Seems to me like an interesting commentary on the future of space
exploration (Q18).

And in the men’s lounge room, the ancient forts of Sparta, Rome, Greece, and other
European civilisations fittingly exhibit the strength and combatant characteristics of these
societies (Q19).

Finally, the cafe and breakfast room area is an enchanting round room that draws all
attention to its centre – where there is a strikingly realistic sculpture of a volcano . The
delicious food may actually be only the second most exciting part of this room in
comparison to the 9-foot statue complete with brightly colored molten lava to
characterise South America (Q20).

Honestly, it is like a museum visiting each room of the clubhouse. Why not make the trip to
the pool an educational one for the kids?

We’re going to take a quick commercial break here at WKPX, but we’ll be back in 10 with
more on what’s touted to be the Summer’s Hottest Place to Beat the

Heat…

SECTION 3

33
TUTOR: Before we start, Jimmy and Kathy, thanks for coming in today to talk about your
current research paper! Well, I will also give you some suggestions for your future
presentation later.

JIMMY: That’s great!

TUTOR: Okay, I have read the introductory chapter (Q21), and so far I like where you’re
going with your research, you two.

KATHY: Thanks! What did you think of the procedure section?

TUTOR: I haven’t gotten there yet. I will get to that and the results and discussion section in
a bit.

JIMMY: Oh. If you haven’t read the rest, are you just saying you like the introduction?

TUTOR: No – the layout is really well done (Q22). You have each section clearly marked and
have the header and footer perfectly formatted, and your title page is right on the money. A
lot of students have trouble with that one.

JIMMY: To be honest, we did refer a lot to the example we received in class.

TUTOR: That’s good to do for spacing and layout, as long as you’re not also copying the
information. The background information is a little sparse, though. You may want to add to
it.

KATHY: You think so? I was more worried about whether I had enough data.

TUTOR: You definitely need more background information. I would think about finding some
more online articles or doing more research in the campus library (Q23).

JIMMY: That’s a good idea – we can go tomorrow. I find it too tough finding the subject
matter in the online journal database.

TUTOR: I also like being able to flip through the physical journal as opposed to trying to
scroll down on a computer.

KATHY: Me too. Oh, I almost forgot. I’ve included all of my citations in the abstract, but
could you help me with the bibliography (Q24)? I should be using a bibliography, right? Not
an appendix?

TUTOR: Sure, I can help with that. Yes – for this type of scientific research paper, list all
sources that you cite in the body of your paper in a bibliography. Go to the website I gave
you last time to see the exact way to list each source.

KATHY: Okay, thanks. I’ll do that. We still have a lot of things to fix up.

34
TUTOR: Yeah, but there’s a lot of good stuff here to work with. So enough about the paper,
how is the presentation going?

KATHY: Well, it’s alright. I am going to go try out the new presentation software
(Q25) while Jimmy’s working on the bibliography.

JIMMY: Yeah, we are hoping to make an animation of an actual pump but still have a lot to
learn about how to do that.

KATHY: Who would have thought before we started this project that we would be able to
recreate the motion of a pump? This stuff is just so interesting.

TUTOR: So glad to hear it!

JIMMY: Yeah, I am glad I took engineering this semester. I would definitely like to keep up
with it.

TUTOR: You know, there’s an organisation called the Machine Engineer Society. You should
look into joining it. You would need to score well in your engineering class (Q26) to
qualify, but I think you can do it.

KATHY: Hm, interesting. I will definitely check it out. I would really like to get in contact with
some professionals in the engineering field to find out more. I don’t really know anyone in
the field now, though.

JIMMY: I think if you keep meeting people in your classes and professors you’ll be able to
get in contact with some really helpful people (Q27).

TUTOR: Well said, Jimmy. If engineering pumps is something you both are specifically
interested in, make sure you stay up to date on new developments. In fact, you could visit
the local water treatment facility periodically to see what new developments are going on
(Q28).

KATHY: Hm, that may be a good way to get some practical experience.

TUTOR: Well, I don’t think they would let you handle any equipment by just visiting the
facility. If you really want to get your hands dirty, so to speak, I would recommend instead
seeking a summer internship (Q29).

KATHY: Wow, you have so many helpful suggestions for getting a leg up. Now if only you
could tell me how to get my work published!

JIMMY: Haha, wouldn’t that be nice.

TUTOR: Well, honestly, all you really need to do is once you have a dissertation, present it.
Present it often and to many audiences, and once you get feedback, adjust it. You’ll get
published one day (Q30).

35
KATHY’: Wow, this meeting has been truly inspiring. Thanks for your help!

SECTION 4

Tonight I’m going to present an overview of the research on amber. Okay, I’ll start by giving
a brief introduction about amber, then talk about the formation of amber, and then
describe amber’s applications in different fields. First of all, what is amber? Amber is not a
stone, but is ancient, fossilised tree resin, which is the semi-solid amorphous organic
substance secreted in pockets and canals through epithelial cells of the plant. And why is
resin produced? Although there are contrasting views as to why resin is produced, it is a
plant’s protection mechanism. The resin may be produced to protect the tree from disease
and injury inflicted by insects (Q31) and fungi.

Amber occurs in a range of different colors. Besides the usual yellow, orange, and brown,
other uncommon colors are also associated with it. Interestingly, blue amber, the rarest
Dominican amber, is highly sought after. It is only found in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
There are several theories about what causes the blue color in amber. The most common
one links it to the occurrence of volcanic dust (Q32) that was present when the resin was
first pressed out from hymenaea protera millions of years ago.

At this point, you might be curious about how amber is formed. Molecular polymerisation,
resulting from high pressures and temperatures produced by overlying sediment,
transforms the resin first into copal. Sustained heat (Q33) and pressure drives off terpenes
and results in the formation of amber. Copal that I’ve just mentioned is also a tree resin but
it hasn’t fully fossilised to amber. More generally, the term copal describes resinous
substances in an intermediate (Q34) stage of polymerisation and hardening between
“gummier” resins and amber.

So where can we find amber? It can be found on sea shores (Q35). The main producer
worldwide is Russia. In fact about 90% of the world’s available amber is located in the
Kaliningrad region of Russia, which is located on the Baltic. Here, the resin is washed up on
the coast after being dislodged from the ocean floor by years of water and ocean currents.
However, exposure to sunlight (Q36), rain, and temperate extremes tends to disintegrate
resin. This also indicates that amber is not really an ideal fossil preservative for most uses.

We’ve already learned that amber is made of tree resin. It often includes insects that were
trapped within the tree many millions of years ago. A piece with a visible and well-arranged
insect is generally valued much higher than simple, solid amber. One Dominican amber
source reported finding a butterfly with a five-inch wing spread; this is both a large and
unusual find; most butterfly specimens have no more than a two-inch wingspan. Inclusions
in Dominican amber are numerous – 1 inclusion to every 100 pieces; Baltic amber contains
approximately 1 inclusion to every 1,000 (Q37) pieces.

36
Now that you have a basic knowledge of amber, I’d like to talk a bit about amber’s
applications in different fields. First, amber is appreciated for its color and beauty. Good
quality amber is used to manufacture ornamental objects and jewelry, for instance using a
variety of exclusive first class quality natural Baltic amber with silver (Q38) to make natural
amber jewelry. But due to the biodegradation of Amber fossils, people with amber jewelry
have to take special care of it, to ensure that the amber is not damaged.

It was previously believed that amber worn on the neck served to protect one from diseases
of the throat and preserved the sound mind. Kalistrate, a famous doctor in the Roman
Empire wrote that amber powder mixed with honey (Q39) cures throat, eye and ear
diseases, and if it is taken with water, eases stomachache. While the mystery around that
use of amber has not been cleared, one thing is sure: it will help effectively to defeat small
malaises.

Amber has even been used as a building (Q40) material. Amber created the altar in St.
Brygida Church in Gdansk, Poland. In St. Petersburg, Russia, the walls of the famous Amber
Room were lined with intricate carvings and inlaid designs. This palace room is being
reconstructed from photographs, and can be visited at the Catherine Palace, located in the
town of Tsarskoye Selo. And finally, the fourth use of amber is that…

37
 Test 6
SECTION 1

AGENT: Hello, Elite Travel, this is Emily speaking, how may I assist you today?

CUSTOMER: Hi, I have a group visit to plan, and I wonder whether you could help me decide
on which hotel to book. I have narrowed it down to either the Winchester, the Royal Hotel,
or the Star Hotel. I am wondering if you have a recommendation.

AGENT: I would be happy to help! Those three are excellent choices. If everyone is booking
hotel rooms independently, an easy way to do it is online booking. The Star Hotel offers
online bookings at no additional charge.

CUSTOMER: It sounds fine!

AGENT: Yeah, and you can even book the gorgeous sea view rooms (Q1) if you act quickly.

CUSTOMER: Hm, I will consider that. It would be great since we are mostly first-time visitors
to the area to get a nice view of the water. Now, are there handicap accessible rooms?

AGENT: Yes, all three options have access for the physically disabled (Q2).

CUSTOMER: Great. I should also mention that we will be on a tight schedule, so we won’t
have much time to go out for meals. Which of these hotels serve food?

AGENT: There is a limited continental breakfast menu at the Star and at the Winchester. For
a full restaurant and room service, the Royal Hotel is your best bet (Q3).

CUSTOMER: Oh wonderful! Could you tell me more about the restaurant?

AGENT: Absolutely. In the morning there is a gourmet buffet or a la carte item, and after 11
a.m. lunch is served in the dining room. Dinners are in a nice, low-key but high quality
setting in the hotel’s private dining room (Q4) and Fridays feature the house jazz band.

CUSTOMER: How lovely! Is there a group discount?

AGENT: No, sorry. Not at the Royal hotel. Let me check on the others, though. Could I place
you on hold for just a second?

CUSTOMER: Sure, thanks.

AGENT: It looks like there is one at the Winchester – 15% off when you book 8 or more
rooms (Q5).

CUSTOMER: Really? Sold! We’ll book at the Winchester. Wait – is it suitable for children
though? We’ll have a few little ones in our group, and it would be great to have a way to
keep them occupied.

38
AGENT: Yes. In fact, it has a play place (Q6) that kids just love, with slides, and swings and
everything. Definitely a good hotel to bring the kids.

CUSTOMER: Okay, great.

CUSTOMER: So now I know where we’ll be staying, what next? Should I go ahead and book
transportation and assign rooms and everything?

AGENT: Well, for now, there are only a few things for you to take care of. We will hold a
block of rooms for you as soon as you send a deposit (Q7). I recommend booking as soon as
possible, so you probably want to send the invitations (Q8) as soon as you know how many
rooms to hold.

CUSTOMER: Oh, right. Okay, I’ll send the invitations and put down the deposit. Is there
anything else I should take care of?

AGENT: Great! And don’t worry about this now, but sometime before you arrive do let US
know if you’ll be requiring our transport (Q9) service to and from the airport.

CUSTOMER: I’ll make sure to let you know. Does that incur a service charge? Or perhaps a
tip, or some presents to show our gratitude for the personal car service?

AGENT: Oh, don’t worry about it. It is a free service, so if you would like to tip you are
welcome to do so, but hotel drivers do not accept gifts (Q10).

CUSTOMER: Thanks for your help!

AGENT: My pleasure. Enjoy your stay at the Winchester!

SECTION 2

Ladies and Gentlemen of Durham, start your engines! Skip Gordon here inviting you to the
eleventh annual Durham County Car Exhibition! That’s right, it’s that time of year again!
Mark your calendars – the pre-opening event kicks off on the 18th, and the exhibition
officially opens to the public on Saturday, March 19th (Q11). Take it from me – you won’t
want to miss Durham’s most attended public event of the year 5 times running. You don’t
have to be a motor head to appreciate the finest cars both new and old in existence today,
but it helps! Be one of the 70,000 (Q12) people to see everything from big rig monster
trucks to good old fashion classic hot rods.

Get your tickets now! Admission is £10 for adults and £5 (Q13) for children during off-peak
times, and £20 for adults and £10 for children and senior citizens on weekends and for full-
day passes.

Come see vintage classics, bid in the auctions, and even test out a few on the Winner’s
Circle Racetrack. An insider tip – weekends are the exact time when all of the best

39
attractions take place, but to avoid Saturday crowds join us this Sunday (Q14). You’ll see me
– Skip Gordon – and all your friends from WKXP there this Sunday at our very own booth, so
stop by and say hi and you might just win a prize of your own.

A new attraction this year will be the addition of a new car category – electricity (Q15),
namely the electric car class. See displays from Toyota, Honda, and – you guessed it – Tesla!
Watch as the first generation of fully electric cars compete on style, ride, and watch the
main entertainment as there’s going to be a fabulous show of racing car (Q16) to see who
takes home fastest battery powered car. While not typically known for their speed, this new
class is guaranteed to surprise you.

Get tickets before they sell out! Last year’s tickets sold out fast, so we upped the
attendance this year. That’s right, more seats! But don’t wait – act now and save!
(Q17) That’s right – if you buy your tickets before this Friday, you’ll get two for the price of
one. That’s right, TWO for the price of one!

And don’t worry kids, just like last year, there’s something specially for you! Wreak havoc
on the road with the Kids Krazy Cars ride, and then Race around the Tiny Tykes Track in
your favorite child-sized race car (Q18). Meanwhile Mom and Dad can take a spin in a ride a
bit more than their size. We’re rolling out a massive dirt track so you can get behind the
wheel and test drive something a little more adventurous. Put the pedal to the metal in a 4
by 4 SUV (Q19) as you go over bumps and navigate through twists and turns – you’ll want to
buckle up!

You heard it here – act now to get in on the fun at thé Durham County Car Show before it’s
too late. Come for prizes, good prices, and good old fashioned family fun. We had a lucky
draw for a NEW car last year (Q20), but this year our main event is the Monster Truck Rally,
where one lucky fan will win a chance experience the thrill from behind the wheel – well,
next to the wheel as they ride with legendary driver Smash Tate! Feel the speed first hand
and talk to a living legend in a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

For tickets, go online to www.durhamcountycars.com, or call 1-888-CAR-SHOW now. We’ll

see you there! And always remember to buckle up!

SECTION 3

STUDENT: Hi, Professor Jamison, I was hoping we could talk this week about choosing
courses for next semester.

TUTOR: That sounds great! Any idea yet what you would like to take?

STUDENT: Well, I was hoping you could kind of tell me. There are so many to choose from. I
don’t even know where to start!

40
TUTOR: Sure. Well, first thing’s first. Do you know what you will major in? It is important to
take courses that are relevant to your career path (Q21).

STUDENT: Well, I think I want to major in Biology. I want to go to medical school, so it seems
like it would make sense.

TUTOR: I agree – if you like Biology, it is definitely a good idea to focus on that since so many
of thè requirements overlap.

STUDENT: Okay, so I should take a few Biology classes then?

TUTOR: Yes. Let’s start there. You should pick one or two Biology classes. Not just any
Biology classes, though! If possible, read online or talk to senior fellows and find out about
the structure of the courses (Q22). You don’t want to end up signing up for two classes that
require labs in the same semester – you’ll spend so much time in the Biology Department
that you won’t see the light of day.

STUDENT: Oh right, good idea. I heard labs can be as long as 4 hours.

TUTOR: That is true. And another thing – make sure the topic is either relevant to your
major, or something you are interested in learning about (Q23). It sounds obvious, but do
not just take a class because you heard it was easy, or because it does not require
attendance.

STUDENT: Of course not. Though it would be really nice to have at least one class, that’s a
little bit less rigorous than the ones I’m taking this semester. I barely sleep as it is with all
this studying.

TUTOR: That may have more to do with your study habits, though I don’t disagree that your
schedule is really difficult this semester.

TUTOR: So any idea which Biology classes you may decide on for next semester?

STUDENT: Well, I was thinking of taking Human Physiology – it sounds relevant and
interesting.

TUTOR: I think it is an interesting class, but I would recommend against it. You are already in
Human Anatomy, which also covers Physiology so it would be repetitive, and probably not
the best use of your time (Q24).

STUDENT: If I already know some of the stuff, I could take it to boost my GPA a little bit.

TUTOR: Um, you could maybe do that, except the professor that teaches it is famous for
giving out the fewest A’s of any professor.

STUDENT: Oh wow. Never mind.

41
TUTOR: Now, changing subjects, have you decided yet on your research topic?

STUDENT: Well, I actually decided. I don’t want to do a research paper. I’m going to do a
dissertation instead. I think I will much more enjoy coming up with a thesis and finding all
the details to support it (Q25).

TUTOR: I see. Didn’t you already do some of the research though? What happened to that?

STUDENT: Well, I started doing research. Then the more data I collected, the more
complicated things got (Q26). I realised I would have to take a lot more steps to randomise
the sample, and then I realised I would need to control for more factors.

TUTOR: I see. What kind of data collection did you do?

STUDENT: I interviewed employees at the water treatment facility after Professor

Dickinson recommended it (Q27).

TUTOR: I understand. Well, the research paper could be much more outside work, but it
may be worth it if that is what you are interested in.

STUDENT: No, I am a lot happier just doing the dissertation.

TUTOR: That’s fine with me. Just remember, you need to finish your first draft and send it in
soon. It’s already the middle of February!

STUDENT: Oh wow, it is, isn’t it? I just have to finish it by the end of March (Q28), right?

TUTOR: Yep, but don’t forget! The date will really sneak up on you.

STUDENT: OK, I’ll make sure to set reminders in my calendar. And who do I talk to about
registering my dissertation?

TUTOR: You should go to the Department Office, and then talk to the secretary (Q29).

STUDENT : I thought I needed to talk to the Department Head.

TUTOR: Not for registering. If you need help developing your dissertation, that’s when you
should go to the Department Head.

STUDENT: Oh, I see. And who would I see about getting access to the database of past
research on my topic?

TUTOR: That you can find in the computer (Q30) lab, specifically in the office – you’ll have to
ask a lab technician to give you access.

STUDENT: Okay. Well, I’ll go ahead and get started on that then. Thanks!

42
SECTION 4

Good morning, everyone. In today’s lecture, I’m going to talk about the role of sleep in
humans and animals. Of all the biological processes in the animal kingdom, sleep is perhaps
the most important. A human can survive for almost two weeks without eating, but did you
know that one week without sleep can be fatal? It’s even worse for animals, especially for
those who must avoid predators. Without sleep, an animal is much less capable of avoiding
an attack (Q31) – this is the case for all animals, whether they are reptiles, mammals
(Q32) or fish. Let us look now at how different animals sleep, reasons for their ways of rest,
and the potential problems they might encounter.

In marine life, sleep must be balanced with breathing. For example, the dolphin must float
to the surface as it sleeps in order to breathe (Q33). Like other large sea mammals, they
keep one eye open and one half of the brain awake at all times to maintain some amount of
consciousness required to breathe and to watch out for possible threats. They sleep with
only one brain hemisphere in slow-wave sleep.

Birds also have unusual sleeping patterns, mostly due to being constantly on edge (Q34) in
the presence of numerous predators. They usually sleep quite lightly -for example,
Swainson’s Thrush, also called Olive-backed Thrush, is a medium-sized thrush that takes
hundreds of naps during the day, each of which lasts just a few seconds. While migrating,
migratory birds tend to function well on micronaps.

Horses, on the other hand, do most of their sleeping standing up. Scientists think that
horses develop their habit of sleeping upright as a defense mechanism, a way of protecting
themselves against predators, and a standing position keeps a horse in a constant state of
readiness to race away if danger should approach.

Also, horses do occasionally take short naps lying down. Horses are heavy animals with big
muscles, but their bones (Q35) are surprisingly delicate, so lying in one position for a long
time could well injure a horse. Just like humans, animals can also have sleeping problems
(Q36). Dr. John Hedricks and Adrian Morrison from the School of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, determined that certain diseases were primarily
associated with the sleep states in animals. In their research they emphasised that because
so much in this area still remains unclear, animal models were very important for studies of
sleep disorders. The physiology of sleep in animals is similar to that of humans.

But why do we humans sleep? Researchers and scientists believe it helps us organise
our memories (Q37) of the day – that sleep acts as a kind of filing system for the brain.
Without it, our thoughts become disorderly and confused, which leads to increased
likelihood of accidents and a tendency to say and do bizarre things. Researchers also believe
that sleep plays a key role in learning (Q38). We sleep so that the brain can integrate new
knowledge and form new associations. Because of the similar sleeping pattern to that of
humans, rats (Q39) are often studied in order to increase our knowledge of human

43
physiology. In one study, rats were kept awake for almost two weeks, and their behavior
was observed. Researchers found the sleep-deprived rats could hardly remember anything
of what they had been taught that day. For example, one rat had been taught to recognise
pictures of various Parisian landmarks in order to receive food – pressing a button below a
picture of the Louvre would result in food being released and so forth. However, when
deprived of sleep, they would press buttons seemingly at random.

In addition to rats, the fruit fly, a small insect that feeds and breeds on spoiled fruit, also has
been used as a model organism and thousands of scientists around the world work on it. But
why was the fruit fly chosen to be studied? It was for practical reasons. The most important
one is that the relationship between fly and human genes is so close that the sequences of
newly discovered human genes, including genes that show a susceptibility, can often be
matched against their fly counterparts. This provides an indication of the function of the
human gene and could help in the development of effective drugs to help people with
sleeping disorders. Therefore, many scientists today choose to study the genetic structure
(Q40) of the fruit fly, which could make a particularly important contribution to the
understanding of developmental processes in humans.

In conclusion, sleep is a necessary part of life not just for humans, but for the entire animal
kingdom. Now, I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have…

44
 Test 7
SECTION 1

Employee: Good afternoon. Welcome to Matrix Printing. I’m John Smith. How can I
help you?

Customer: Good afternoon. I’m here to reprint a brochure for our hotel. There are
some pages that need revising.

Employee: Sure, how may I address you?

Customer: Oh, I’m Mary Jane from Central Hotel Chains (Q1). Nice to meet you. I’ve
got samples of the previous version.

Employee: I assume it is your company’s advertising brochure?

Customer: Yes.

Employee: What exactly is the problem?

Customer: Well, it was printed the year before, so some of the information is already
out-of-date. There are also a couple of problems with the layout. Firstly, the letters of the
address on the front page are far too small (Q2). It’s hard to see when glancing at the
cover.

Employee: How big do you need it to be?

Customer: Increase the letters by 3 font sizes.

Employee: Just a minute. Let me take notes of your requirements… OK, what else
needs changing?

Customer: The information regarding the pool should be deleted, because it is

currently under renovation and is not available. (Q3)

Employee: So all of the relevant descriptions on page 2 should be removed? What do

we replace it with? We can’t just leave the whole page blank.

Customer: Just fill it in with the introduction of our newly-opened gym. I’ve included
all the relevant information here in this flash drive.

Employee: Let me check…Um. I see. No problem then.

Customer: What is also bothering us is that the description under the top photo on
page 4 is incorrect. The wore lounge needs to be replaced with reception. (Q4)

Employee: Fully noted. Is that all?

45
Customer: No, there is more. Turn to page 5. We feel that showing merely the picture
of our exterior and interior decoration does not fully represent the appeal of our hotel. On
second thought, we’ve decided to use a picture with the view of the hotel. (Q5)

Employee: Do you have the original copy of the picture?

Customer: Yes, it is also enclosed in the flash drive.

Employee: OK, we’ll reedit the whole layout of the photos.

Customer: Great.

Customer: Let’s turn to the next page.

Employee: Yes, what’s wrong with that? It seems perfectly fine to me.

Customer: At first sight, it seems fine. But according to the feedback of the
customers, the prices do not stand out, so we want to change the print from black to red
to make it pop out. (Q6)

Employee: OK. I’ve made notes of all your requests. Is there anything else?

Customer: I appreciate it. Just one final request. Could you translate the whole
brochure into Spanish (Q7)? We have customers worldwide, you know, especially those
from Latin countries.

Employee: No problem. What about other languages, like Japanese, Chinese or

German? These are our most popular target languages.

Customer: I have to ask the manager about the Chinese version. There’s been a
surging number of Chinese clients during recent years. However, we don’t need German or
Japanese translations as we currently don’t have many customers from those two countries.

Employee: Sure. Just keep me updated.

Customer: So roughly when could we get the revised print? We need it before the end
of July. (Q8)

Employee: It’s late June now. Roughly it’ll take 3 weeks to reedit, so it will definitely be
ready before the deadline.

Customer: Great.

Employee: To where shall we send the samples?

Customer: The address is No. 9 Green Drive, Cliffton, NY21300. (Q9)

Employee: How do you spell Cliffton?

46
Customer: C-L-I-double F-T-O-N, Cliffton.

Employee: And the telephone number?

Customer: It’s 9-0-3-0-3-6-6-0-2 (Q10). Also, if you have any further questions, you can
reach me through this number.

Employee: OK.

SECTION 2

Welcome to Byron National Park. 1 am Jim Carson, your tour guide for the trip. First. I’d like
to give you some basic information about the park.

Covering 7,000 acres of land and spanning across 3 states, Byron National Park was
established to protect the area’s most spectacular scenic values. With unique geologic
features, natural history and native plant and animal life, it is an ideal destination for
recreation as well as research purposes. The park has a breathtaking waterfall connecting
the longest river in the country, but it is most renowned for having the largest sub-tropical
rainforest worldwide (Q11). There are many layers of tall, medium and low vegetation
growing with seasonal variations in the park. It is a place where the air seems green.

Ardent hikers can find an awesome array of options here. Apart from the dense green
rainforest, tourists can also hike along the mountain trail. Despite the stunning view, taking
photos is not advised on the way up, I’m afraid, as one might get distracted and the narrow
trail by the sheer cliff is quite dangerous. When you reach the top of the mountain, there is
nothing better than having a picnic under the trees with your family (Q12). Accompanied
mostly by wildlife, walkers as well as cyclists may find the Bush Track a good choice for
having a tranquil time to themselves. As your tour guide, I suggest that only expert hikers
take the Creek Circuit (Q13), because its beautiful and inspiring scenery through the
subtropical jungle is paralleled by its physical challenges.

A list of transport is available within the park. Bicycles are a popular choice as it is the most
flexible way to get around. Electric trams are temporarily closed for maintenance. Boat trips
down the river are an ideal way to spend a tranquil afternoon. Rest assured that transport
within the park is covered in the bill. (Q14)

Extreme sports is another highlight of the park. They are for adventurous grown-ups,
especially those who are comfortable with having a racing heart. Scary as it may sound, it is
actually safe to participate in extreme sports under strict instructions and close
supervision. Abseiling is available regardless of the weather (Q15). It is a fun way to
overcome fear of heights, gain new skills and get an adrenaline rush. Bungee jumping and
paragliding are also available except for during the summer.

47
At this point, you might worry about meals here. Well, even though there is only one
restaurant in the park at the moment, the variety of dishes is astonishing. There are two
meals included in the price. Just get your meal ticket at the reception before dining (Q16).
Also, there is no need to make reservations or worry about availability since there are plenty
of tables.

During your stay here, you might want to know what there is to do. Let’s turn to the plan so
I can familiarise you with the layout of the park.

Most tourists would choose to stay in our guest house located in the southeast comer. It
features 63 tastefully appointed guest rooms, many of which offer spectacular views of the
park. You’ll find a home away from home at our guest house.

But for those who want to experience the natural beauty up-close, there is also a
campsite. When you get out of the guesthouse, go straight ahead, turn right at the end of
the road. To your left, there is a campsite amongst the trees (Q17) where you could spend
a night under the stars together with owls and chipmunks.

If you look at the top left of the plan, you will notice a picnic area. You can either bring
your own food or we can deliver food to you. Barbeque is an option. The Business Centre
is situated directly opposite the picnic area (Q18). It provides flexible, fully serviced offices,
conferencing suites, meeting rooms and is equipped with the latest multi-media facilities.
Wired as well as wireless high speed Internet is available within the entire premises. The
Centre is designed to cater to both individual travellers and corporate groups.

Visitors can also go to the museum which holds a vast collection, that exhibits local history
and a natural habitat. You start from the guesthouse, just turn left at the first conjunction,
then walk past the teahouse, turn right. You’ll see the museum after making the 3rd
right (Q19). Have you found it?… Pretty easy, right?

To spend a delightful afternoon with a book and a fresh cup of coffee, you can go to the only
cafe in the park. From the guesthouse you go straight, then take the 2nd right and you’ll
see the cafe right in front of you. (Q20)

You might want to check out our all-season tennis court which offers instruction for all ages
and skill levels. It is located right opposite the cafe…

SECTION 3

Tutor: Helen and Paul, congratulations to you both for doing so well the past semester. You
two have exhibited an impeccable performance during your first year in the nursing
program. I’d like to get some feedback from the two of you to better improve the program
and to provide guidance for our prospective students. I’d like to start with you, Helen. So
first of all, which aspect of the program impressed you?

48
Helen: Well, to be honest, when I was enrolled into the course, I was expecting a group of
classmates my age. But as I stepped into the classroom for the first time, I was surprised
by the diversity. Most were in their twenties, but there were also those in their thirties or
even forties (Q21). As it turns out, the intergenerational communication has sparked
intense debate and new thinking, and I think that’s something special about the program
that I appreciate very much.

Tutor: What about you, Paul? What do you think of the program?

Paul: For me the group project we carried out last semester is another key feature of the
program. The whole class was divided into 8 different groups working on 8 perspective
cases. Team building sessions were conducted in a collaborative way most of the time.
Comprised of five members, our group studied acute pancreatitis. During the process, we
broke the task into different parts and assigned them to each member. We were then able
to tackle the complex problem by pooling our knowledge and skills. More importantly,
stronger links were established between the group members. Because of the project,
we’ve all become good friends. (Q22)

Tutor: That’s true. According to graduates, group projects prepare them for the work world
in which teamwork and collaboration are increasingly the norm. So tell me, Paul, what else
do you like about the program?

Paul: I want to be a registered nurse working in a public hospital after graduation. So the
internship provided is a valuable opportunity for clinical practice in a supportive learning
atmosphere. However, I was amazed by the amount of written assignments since I
thought the course should have focused more on practice-oriented learning. (Q23)

Helen: Well, I have to disagree with you, Paul. The essays demonstrate your understanding
of the course. For me, writing essays is a process that involves critical thinking which
challenges me to develop my points more thoroughly. I thus managed to gain a diversity of
perspectives.

Tutor: The program is designed to deliver basic and advanced theoretical knowledge of
core concepts including health care systems concepts, together with practicum or clinical
practice experience to bridge the classroom content to the practice setting. So I’m afraid
written work is unavoidable. Also this year, we’ve added a module of law. How do you feel
about that?

Helen: At first we felt that learning law is kind of redundant and too time-consuming. After
a few sessions, we realised that it is necessary in dealing with future medical
disputes. (Q24)

Tutor: Do you have any suggestions for prospective students?

49
Paul: What bothers me most is handing in essays on time. I almost missed the deadline
once because there were three essays due within the same week. So rationalising your time
is critical. (Q25)

Helen: Well, that’s true. The lectures deliver so much useful information. I have poor
memory so I kept making notes and revisiting them on a regular basis (Q26). To my
surprise, at the end of the semester, I have learnt the key concepts by heart.

Tutor: How was the research? I heard that it was quite challenging. How did you manage to
overcome the difficulties?

Paul: That’s true. The majority of us had no clue how to carry out the research at first.
Fortunately, when I was digging up reference materials at the library, I sought help from
the librarian (Q27). She taught me about finding the appropriate resources and choosing
the proper research methods.

Tutor: Have you checked out the online forum?

Helen: Yes, it has become a habit for me to visit the forum regularly. In a sense, it extends
classroom learning. It is where the students post academic problems that they come
across and get support from the faculty members. (Q28)

Paul: Some of my classmates didn’t do so well during the placement tests. I feel that
background reading is necessary. (Q29)

Tutor: Lastly, do you have anything to say to the freshmen?

Helen: I was really ambitious at first, trying to get straight A’s on my transcript. I made tons
of notes and worked hard even on the optional assignments to get extra credit. I stressed
myself out before having an emotional breakdown. After consulting my advisor, I found it
important to set realistic goals (Q30). Don’t push yourself too hard. It is wise to sort out
your priorities.

Tutor: Thank you for coming here today and providing valuable feedback on the program.
Have a great summer break.

SECTION 4
Good morning everyone. Today’s lecture is about a type of adorable animal — the penguin.
When you think of penguins, you may picture them surrounded by snow and ice. But not all
penguins live where it’s cold—African penguins live in the southern tip of Africa. They are
usually found within 40 kilometres of the shore and on a number of its surrounding islands.

African Penguins are also known as Jackass Penguins, because they make donkey-like
braying sounds to communicate. African penguins can keep their body temperature at a
stable level (Q31). But their land habitat can get quite warm, so there are a number of ways
for them to stay cool. They limit their daylight movements on breeding sites on land to

50
early mornings and early evenings to avoid too much sun (Q32). The pink glands above
their eyes can help them cope with the temperate climates. Like other penguins, African
penguins spend most of the day feeding in the ocean, which also helps keep them cool.

Being a type of small to medium sized penguin species, African penguins average about 60
centimetres tall and weigh up to 3.6 kilograms. They have a black stripe and a pattern of
unique black spots on their chest. Males are larger than females and have larger beaks. Even
though they are categorised as birds, African penguins aren’t able to fly because of their
heavy bones (Q33). Their wings are more like flippers that make them particularly suited for
life in the water. When they’re on land, their flippers and their tails help them keep their
balance and walk upright.

African Penguins begin to breed at the average age of four. When a male and female pair
up, they tend to breed together for the rest of their lives. Most other penguins nest and lay
their eggs out in the open, but African penguins have a different approach. They dig holes
under bushes out of their own excrement, called guano, so they are sheltered from the
sun and predators. (Q34)

The African Penguin survives on a diet that is comprised mainly of marine organisms. They
feed primarily on fish like sardines, along with the occasional squid and shellfish. But when
normal food is in short supply, they eat tree roots as well (Q35). The streamlined body of
the African Penguin allows it to move through the water like a rocket, capable of reaching a
speed of around 20 kilometres per hour when hunting for food.

The African Penguin’s smaller size means that it has many predators both in the water and
also on dry land. Their natural predators at sea include seals and sharks (Q36). The biggest
threat to them on land is not just towards the adult penguins. The penguin chicks are
sometimes taken by seagulls into the air and dropped from above. The seagulls could thus
feed on them. (Q37)

At risk from predators, young penguins are protected for about 40 days after hatching by
both parents. They will leave the colony when they are between 3 to 5 months old and will
return a few years later. The entire surface of their body is densely covered with feathers,
which fall off during the winter (Q38). This process is called molting and takes about three
weeks to complete. During that time, they are unable to forage. Therefore prior to this,
African penguins spend about five weeks laying down fat deposits.

They generally live between 10 to 15 years, however many do not reach their full life span.
Their population has drastically declined. Approximately 120,000 African penguins remain in
the wild, and their population has decreased by 90% in the past 60 years. They are
considered to be vulnerable and have been listed as being endangered. Two major factors
have contributed to their decline. They are struggling for nesting space due to human
disruption and competing for food due to overfishing and pollution. (Q39)

51
With the limited number of breeding pairs, survivorship becomes difficult for African
penguins. This makes them especially vulnerable as environmental conditions change or an
outbreak of a disease occurs. For instance, avian malaria has caused 27% of the captive-
breeding penguins’ deaths annually. The more genetic diversity there is within a species,
the higher the likelihood that at least some of the individuals will adapt and survive. (Q40)

Test 8
SECTION 1

Teacher: Good afternoon. May I speak to Emma’s parent?

Father: Afternoon. I’m her father. Who am I speaking to?

Teacher: This is Emma’s teacher Jane Carson calling from the Art Centre. I’m just
calling to talk about her drama class at the centre.

Father: Oh, thank you for calling. How’s Emma doing in drama class? You know she
just transferred here last month, unlike the others in her class who have been taking the
course the whole semester since June. So I’m a bit worried that she might not fit in so well.

Teacher: There’s no need to worry. She exhibits a strong performance in her drama
class.

Father: Is that so?

Teacher: Yes. She didn’t adapt to the new environment as quickly as I originally
expected, and seemed a bit shy at first. But a few days later, she made a couple of friends
and became more talkative and also more involved in class. Emma really is a role model for
others (Q1), because she has always been an active participant during class. She voices her
own ideas and is very creative.

Father: I didn’t expect that. But I can tell that she really enjoys the course, because
she’s been talking about it at home frequently these past few weeks.

Teacher: That’s great to hear. Interest is always the best teacher. I also have to
inform you that there’s been an adjustment in the timetable of the drama class next term.

Father: Why is that?

Teacher: It’s not that the music room that we currently use isn’t available. As there
are too many enrolling for the coming semester, increased class size means that space is
limited to house the whole class (Q2). Also the new classroom we use is not available
during the current timeframe, so I’m afraid we have to change the time for it.

Father: I see. So when would it be?

52
Teacher: As you know, the current class begins at three fifteen. But the new time of
the drama class would be a quarter to five. (Q3)

Father: I’m afraid I have errands to run during that time.

Teacher: On the other campus the class still begins at three fifteen, but for the
campus Emma goes to, it is the only time available for drama class.

Father: Oh. I see. I have to make adjustments to my chore schedule then. No

problem.

Father: Miss Carson, I’m thinking about signing Emma up for another art course.
I’m

thinking about dance class.

Teacher: Dance class is a popular course here, a great choice for a child to shape up
and have fun. But unfortunately, it is over-subscribed at the moment (Q4). I have to put
you on the waiting list.

Father: That’s too bad. What else can I choose from then? Could you give me some
advice?

Teacher: Sure. Emma could take singing class (Q5) as well. This would improve her
musicality.

Father: Sounds good. When is that?

Teacher: It is held every Friday evening.

Father: That’s too bad. Emma already has a swimming class earlier that
evening (Q5). It will be too late for her to come home if she takes this course.

Teacher: There is also a vocal course (Q6) available. Emma’s got a great voice, I’m
sure she’ll stand out in the class.

Father: Tell me about it.

Teacher: The vocal course starts at 4.30 pm every Tuesday. It isn’t fully booked yet.
Great teacher, experienced and beloved by students. The price is a bit higher though.

Father: How much is it?

Teacher: It’s 110 dollars.

Father: Oh, that’s too much, way over our budget (Q6). We have to cover the
extra cost if we choose it.

53
Teacher: Or maybe Emma could take music class.

Father: What is it about? Learning about songs and musicals?

Teacher: Well, the students have the opportunity to play different instruments like
the piano, drum and so on. They can also learn how to write music under professional
guidance. (Q7)

Father: That’s exactly what Emma is eager to learn. How much would it cost? (Q8)

Teacher: It was 63 dollars last term. But this term it is 85 dollars (Q8), 22 dollars
more than the original price.

Father: We can afford that. When does the course begin?

Teacher: The course starts on September 7th.

Father: Can we start one week later, on September 14th? My daughter will be on
a trip to France with her Mom on the 7th. (Q9)

Teacher: No problem. And the teacher for the class is Jamal Curtis (Q10). Just
contact him if you have any further questions regarding the course.

Father: Jamal Curtis? How do you spell Curtis?

Teacher: Oh, it’s C-U-R-T-I-S. (Q10)

Father: Thank you.

SECTION 2

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Annual Ski and Snowboard Exhibition held
from April 8th to 17th. I am Mary Granger, coordinator of the event this year. The 10-day
event features many highlights. As a snow sports lover, I know you are looking forward to a
great time here. Now I’d like to offer you some practical information about the whole event
and what to expect from it.

This might be the first time coming here for some of you. So for those who are still
wondering about the right accommodation, I recommend Sky Hotel. It has its own health
and sports clubs just like most of the hotels here, but I love it because of its incredibly
cozy beds which guarantees good rest after an exhausting day of exploration (Q11). If you
haven’t brought your own equipment, like poles, boots and skis, they are available for
purchase or rent at Ski Set or Snow Rental.

The exhibition this year provides a colorful look into the history of skiing and an inspiring
peek into the future prospects of the sport. Apart from the fascinating photo exhibitions and
the most up-to-date skiing gear like always, this year we have added four computers which

54
can imitate the process of skiing, ensuring the same physical activity and sensations that
appear during the skiing process on downhill slopes (Q12). But I have to warn you that it
might be quite time-consuming to line up for the free trial experience.

Many have posed the question as to how to enter the skiing and snowboarding
competition (Q13). Well, rather than filling out the back of the entrance ticket or
bombarding the committee with emails, the most effective method is by checking out the
exhibition newsletter delivered every month for availability (Q13). As the most beloved
local event, the exhibition has also drawn attention from the press. Last year, massive media
coverage was on the worrisome amount of snowfall. In order to avoid the same
predicament, several artificial skiing slopes have been built. With more participants this
year, we have lowered the entrance fee which has been widely reported by local
newspapers. (Q14)

A bonus for our participants is the ski program. It offers a wide variety of lessons and
sessions with qualified instructors ensuring that all ages and abilities are catered to from
the first timers to seasoned amateurs. I strongly advise you to sign up for the program as
it is offering an unprecedented 30% discount. That’s mainly because we are cooperating
with the program organiser who promises affordable prices only for the participants of
the festival this year. (Q15)

Now I would like to introduce to you the list of presentations during the following week so
that you can better plan your schedule.

The first presenter Simon is one of our best ski instructors. As an experienced instructor,
he will inform you about the dangers that face skiers and snowboarders (Q16). Accidents
happen mostly to those who are careless or ignorant. Good risk management involves
considering both the probability and consequences of an accident.

The next speech titled Solution is given by Jamie Kurt. A list of problems may occur to
novice skiers and snowboarders, so he is going to offer useful information for first timers
on choosing the appropriate gears, the right dress code and ways of protecting your
skin (Q17). For instance, some of you may have rented the skiing equipment, but rental
footwear is notoriously uncomfortable. Then Jamie will provide instructions to help make
your footwear fit better.

The third speech is about a documentary introducing skiing and snowboarding and the
difference between the two sports. It also depicts a group of snow lovers exploring new
slopes with breath-taking views (Q18). The director Andy Fisher will be there, addressing
the whole shooting experience.

The fourth talk is about the tricks of skiing, presented by Harry Tyson. It is most useful for
those who have already tried skiing, yet still need more practice to master the sport.
Harry will teach you how to turn more skillfully (Q19). A lot of people can keep their skis

55
roughly parallel but there’s no point if you make it hard to work with and slide around out of
control. Useful exercises will also be suggested to improve your parallel skiing technique so
that you can tackle steeper slopes and enjoy yourself more.

Johnson Smith will be the last presenter, mainly addressing towards advanced skiers. He
manages to apply snow climbing into skiing (Q20). Climbing in soft snow, you are
floundering around. Walking becomes harder, so a good trick during climbing is to maintain
a wider gait, approximately shoulder width, so that you are more stable while walking. This
works for skiing as well.

SECTION 3

Tutor: Jerry, how did it go with preparing your lessons? Is there anything you would like to
discuss?

Jerry: Well, this is actually the first time that I have ever taught in an elementary
classroom. After 8 years of learning pedagogy, I want to practice what I’ve learned in an
instructive manner, but I’m a bit stuck right now. You know the topic 1 want them to
research is a bit hard for pupils. I’m afraid that they won’t be able to handle it on their own.
So I need new ideas on designing more effective teaching methods. Mr. Carter, do you have
any suggestions?

Tutor: Well, you should probably read this book called Professional Learning, written by
J.K. Simmons. He is a professor who just transferred here last semester but is already
popular amongst the students for his creative teaching methods (Q21). There is an
extensive range of learning approaches mentioned in the book including approaches
for team research (Q22), which might be helpful to you.

Jerry: You mean dividing the students into groups to do research? I’ve never thought of
this before. How does it work?

Tutor: Professor Simmons has already demonstrated how efficient this approach can
be. Basically it aims to increase cooperation between students so they can present the
results in a collaborative fashion (Q23). It helps them to develop their own voice and
perspective.

Jerry: I’ll check out the book as soon as possible. It seems I can borrow some of the
essential concepts and work them into my course design.

Jerry: Well, I was thinking maybe I could use both observation and nonobservation as part
of my teaching methodology. Could you take a look at my teaching plan?

Tutor: Sure. What kind of observational methods do you have in mind?

Jerry: For the observational part, I intend to include two approaches. First, the pupils can
assess each other’s behaviour (Q24). I feel that reviewing fellow students through criteria-

56
based reference evaluation allows constructive feedback. It can also improve their
understanding of the subject material.

Tutor: That’s a smart move for a large class that would be hard to observe all by yourself.
Also, you might want to get the feedback from several different individuals rather than just
one. So how do you plan to carry out the peer assessments?

Jerry: Oh, every pupil will be required to write a diary, which includes group projects,
presentations and in-class discussions. They’ll put down their remarks. I’ll collect them on
a regular basis which can also help me see whether they can keep up or not. (Q25)

Tutor: Good, what else do you intend to do?

Jerry: Besides that, I also plan to do video recording (Q26). I’ve already purchased a
camera just in case I miss anything important. I can go back and review their performances
anytime I want.

Tutor: Would you record every in-class activity?

Jerry: No, I’ll just keep track of an in-class simulation (Q27), which would require every
pupil to fully participate. Students will act as members of a City Council meeting, discussing
issues like whether or not prohibition should be instated in the United States.

Tutor: This kind of teaching method is both inspiring and challenging. I can’t wait to see
how yours work out. Do you send me a copy of the assessment afterwards, will you?

Jerry: No problem.

Tutor: So what do you have in mind for the non-observational approaches?

Jerry: Well, my plan is to quantify the statistics. Numbers do not lie. It is the most direct
way to measure their performance. See how well they’ve learned.

Tutor: Where does the data come from?

Jerry: I’ll evaluate the test results including the mid-term (Q28), final exam and pop
quizzes, which would only take up about 40 percent of the overall assessment.

Tutor: Sounds like a lot of tests and assignments. Please remember that you don’t want to
wear out your students. Keeping them engaged is the key to efficient learning. Once they
are exhausted, they just stop trying.

Jerry: Oh, I haven’t thought about that. You are right. I don’t want to frighten them with
tons of assignments and exams. I’ll make note of that. Thanks for the advice.

Tutor: I remember last time you mentioned questionnaires, right?

57
Jerry: That’s true. But it is not for my students. In fact, they have to design their own
questionnaires and choose the respondents using the Internet (Q29). As a complement of
other teaching activities, it would deepen the creative learning process.

Tutor: Is that all?

Jerry: Oh, the pupils will have to conduct interviews of their own (Q30). And for this,
they get to choose anyone they like, including relatives, friends and acquaintances to
answer the questions.

Tutor: Seems to me that you have figured out most of your teaching methods. But you still
need to polish some of the activities…

SECTION 4

Good afternoon and welcome to my talk on urban migration today. The world has
experienced unprecedented urban growth in the recent decades. As much as 3% of Earth’s
landmass has been urbanised, an increase of at least 50% over previous estimates. Today,
people living in cities already outnumber those in rural areas and the trend does not appear
to be reversing. In addition, cities have larger amounts of carbon consumption than rural
areas. (Q31)

This is a result from two major aspects. First, with the increase of urban population around
the world, the massive construction of urban infrastructure and residential housing is hard
to avoid. Second, urban households have a higher rate of car ownership and use more
gasoline products.

Even though rural exodus is often negatively judged, there are also benefits of migration
shared by the local environment and the society as a whole. Well, firstly, global trends of
increasing urban migration and population urbanisation can provide opportunities for
nature conservations, particularly in regions where deforestation is driven by agriculture. As
rural dwellers leave their homes, local forests are left to recover. (Q32)

What’s more, it is easier for city dwellers to get around. Living in the country means
transport can be very difficult (Q33). For instance, after midnight there are no buses or taxis
in the countryside. However, there is still a number of public transport modes to choose
from in the city.

Finally, with more funds and advanced technology, cities endeavour to produce clean
energy. New power plants have been built to take harmful methane gas created by the
decomposition of rubbish, and convert it into electricity (Q34). By doing so, an important
greenhouse gas is turned into useful energy rather than being directly emitted into the
atmosphere.

58
The hustle and bustle of city life offers women: he opportunity to explore different
professions and pursue their own careers. Women in cities work as engineers, managers
and even football players. This change of roles has affected their marital status and family
life. More women are choosing their careers over marriage, which raises the graph of late
marriages. As a result, more are remaining single well into their late thirty’s. They want to
be independent and earn money on their own. It is also easier for them to get a promotion
while working in the city (Q35). Women are slowly achieving wider participation at work,
while in rural areas the mindset is still very conservative.

However, cities also change the way that humans interact with each other and the
environment, often causing multiple problems. In general, urban wages are significantly
higher, so moving to the city is an opportunity to earn what was impossible in rural areas.
However, the wage difference is often offset by the higher cost of living and absence of self-
produced goods, including subsistence farming. A sizable proportion of new comers attach
greater importance to money and gradually abandon their former way of life, thus risking
losing their culture. (Q36)

These new city residents are also faced with another problem. According to statistics, crime
rates are significantly higher in densely populated urban regions than in rural areas (Q37).
For instance, property crime rates in our metropolitan areas are three to four times as high
in comparison to the rates in rural communities. Immigrants, upon arrival into cities,
typically move into the poor, blighted neighbourhoods because that is where they can
afford to live. Crime in these areas is high and reflects poor living conditions, as these
neighbourhoods experience great levels of poverty. This pattern also occurs for violent
crimes, which is much more common in large urban areas than elsewhere.

In addition, traffic congestion and industrial manufacturing are prominent features of the
urban landscape, which take their toll on the natural environment and those who depend
on it. Air pollution from both cars and factory emissions affect the health of countless
urban residents. (Q38)

Rural to urban migration can boost the urban economy. With a better economy, cities
provide their residents with better welfare. But the concentration of services and
facilities, such as education, health and technology in urban areas inevitably contributes
to greater energy consumption (Q39). Another problem with life in the city is traffic
congestion. It makes people late to work and thus stresses us out before we even get
there (Q40). Deliveries can’t arrive on time. Gas costs money. The quality of life of those
commuters starts to decline. What’s worse is that if congestion makes it harder to match
the right workers to the best jobs, it is economically inefficient, as well.

59
 Test 9
SECTION 1

Receptionist: Good morning. Sunset Hotel. How may I help you?

Customer: Good morning. I just saw an advert in the paper about your hotel. Where
exactly is it located?

Receptionist: We are situated on Sunset Avenue, north of the beach (Example). Close to
many scenic spots, it is an ideal choice for travellers interested in sightseeing.

Customer: That’s great. Is there a vacant four-bed room? We’ll be travelling with our
two sons aged 9 and 11, so it’s best that we are able to stay in one room.

Receptionist: Let me check, just a moment…Um. we only have a few four-bed rooms, and
I’m afraid they are fully booked at the moment. The earliest time available is August (Q1),
but there might be some left in July if a previous customer cancels the reservation.

Customer: Oh, that’ll do. How much would the room cost me?

Receptionist: It’s 77.50 euros during peak time (Q2), but the price would be much lower
during off-peak season. Only 50 euros.

Customer: So if I book a room right now, is there any discount?

Receptionist: Yes. We do offer a 30% discount for any reservation made one month
ahead of schedule (Q3). It is a very reasonable price.

Customer: That does sound tempting. Does the price include anything?

Receptionist: The price includes two breakfast vouchers per room per day (Q4). You can
use them at two different restaurants in our hotel. There’s also a 20-minute spa trial
available, but you have to book it beforehand at the concierge or directly at the Spa Centre.

Customer: Um, I’m wondering if there is a hairdryer in the room. It takes ages to dry
my hair without one. Do I have to bring one?

Receptionist: No, there is absolutely no need to bring that for each room is equipped with
a hairdryer. But I have to inform you that towels are not provided (Q5). You’ll have to bring
your own or hire some at the front desk.

Customer: Oh, I see.

Customer: Before making a reservation, can you tell me a little bit more about your
hotel?

60
Receptionist: Sure, no problem. We aim to please our guests by providing impeccable
service and all the modem amenities, trying to make them feel at home. In the lounge,
there are a list of books, ranging from contemporary literature to classic poetry, free for
any guest to read (Q6). There is also a games room offering a number of indoor
games (Q7) including popular board games like Monopoly as well as the beloved Table
Soccer. A nice place to go to on rainy days.

Customer: Are there computers available in the hotel? I might have a few emails to
respond to during my stay there.

Receptionist: I’m afraid we currently co not provide any for our customers. However,
Internet is available within our hotel premises (Q8). Just use the room number and guest
name to log in.

Customer: That means I have to bring my own laptop then. All right. Um, because I’m
travelling with my two sons, is there anything that they might be interested in?

Receptionist: Yes, a popular activity here for children is collecting shells on the beach.
Our hotel has a private beach (Q9). When there are very few visitors, you can take a stroll
down the beach with your children and enjoy some quality family time undisturbed.

Customer: That sounds nice, but you see my boys really love adventure. Is there
something more exciting for them to participate in?

Receptionist: We do have bicycles (Q10) ready for hire. You can cycle with the boys along
the bush track by the hotel, which is an ideal place to explore the wonders of nature. But,
because there’s only a limited number of bicycles, we apply a “first come first serve” rule.

Customer: Got it. I think my boys would love it. How can arrange the payment, then?
Can I pay by credit card?

Receptionist: Of course. We take credit cards.

Customer: Thank you. You’ve been a great help.

Receptionist: My pleasure, ma’am.

61
SECTION 2

On behalf of Northfiels Sports Complex, I’d like to extend our warmest welcome to all here
this evening. I’m George Dyson, founder of Northfiels Sports Complex. I’m giving this speech
today to celebrate a special occasion. We started the business exactly a decade ago (Q11),
and today, we have developed into a large firm with a sizable group of members. We’ve also
been nominated the “Most Valuable Company” by Green Town at the yearly Business
Awards which will be held next week. As experienced and qualified reporters, you are
invited here to experience and witness this historical moment of Northfield Sports
Complex together with us. (Q12)

Situated within the campus of Green Town University, Northfield Sports Complex is a
modem, refreshing and fully-equipped facility for sports of all kinds. As part of its
commitment to the local community, Northfield Sports Complex is available not only to
school children but also to local residents. It offers a wide range of facilities including a 25-
metre swimming pool, paved walking and jogging paths, a well-quipped fitness gym, all-
weather pitches, indoor courts for table tennis, tennis and other sports, as well as a
renowned skating rink. Different age groups can all find the right sports to participate in.
That’s why local residents enjoy working out here. As a result, natives here are healthier
than most of the people within our nation.

The whole town is very proud of having nurtured two world champions, who were once
both trained right here in our skating rink. Thus it has become the ideal venue to learn to
skate and have fun. But what I take pride in most of all is the skating rink that has stirred
the interest of boys and girls here in local schools to skate (Q13). Since opening, an
increasing number of pupils have been paying regular visits to the skating rink.

A new yoga classroom with trainers will be open next month for mothers with babies. They
can bring their own yoga mat and work out together with their babies. This will be a great
way for them to get healthy and meet other moms. There will also be a brand new gym
open to the pensioners in the near future. Just this month a new swimming pool is open to
all fitness levels with special offers for those without a job. (Q14)

Our complex is open daily from 8 am to 9 pm except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We

intend to extend our business in the coming year. A list of equipment will be put up for
sale ranging from exercising equipment like cardio machines to sports recovery and injury
prevention facilities. (Q15)

Within our complex, we try our best to avoid injuries of any kind. We train knowledgeable
staff to guide our clients through correct workout regimens.

For those who want to further ensure workout safety, they are welcome to apply to be a
member of our standing committee (Q16). They are responsible for revising the safety
guidelines and supervising its enforcement.

62
Now I would like to introduce some of our most popular sports facilities here at Northfield
Sport Complex. Our 25-metre swimming pool is the centre piece of the complex. Combining
modem, bright and airy surroundings with fully up-todate changing facilities, the pool is
excellent for learning how to swim, improving techniques and, of course, competing in
school competitions. It is also bookable for private functions, including pool parties, where
lifeguards are available. (Q17)

Next, we have the only climbing wall throughout the whole town. Many would see rock
climbing as a type of extreme sport, exposing great risk to those who participate. But
actually, under proper guidance and with close supervision by the coach here, it is a
perfect sport for the youth to increase their flexibility and strengthen their muscles. (Q18)

I have to mention our skating rink once again. As our most popular facility, it has been
prominently featured in a TV commercial we’ve released recently. There is no other skating
rink larger than ours within the whole nation. (Q19)

Also, our state-of-the-art gym is an inspiring place to train and keep fit in relaxed and
friendly surroundings. The Technogym equipment enables our clients to measure their
performance. If you book a one-on-one trainer, he or she might suggest a future training
plan and help you train more systematically. (Q20)

SECTION 3

Syria: Hi, Greg. How did it go w:th the research on renewable energy? Have you found
anything?

Greg: Yes. But I think it’s about time we exchange our findings and discuss our next move.

Syria: You read my mind. Right. I’ll start first. Germany is the very first country I dug into in
order to find innovative means of creating clean energy because 15% of its national
electricity supply conies from renewable sources. I found that apart from the traditional
fossil fuel industry, there’s a German firm that has initiated a project using kites to generate
power.

Greg: Really, I’ve never heard of it before. How does it work?

Syria: As a substitution for traditional fossil fuels that release toxic gas into the
atmosphere, the power-generating kites can function in any weather (Q21). Compared to
conventional wind turbines, such kites can produce twice as much energy because the
overall power density is proportional to altitude.

Greg: Sounds like an efficient way of producing power. Okay, now let me tell you what I
have found. There is an American company manufacturing school buses and city buses
depending solely on electricity instead of gasoline (Q22). The all-electric vehicles can save

63
up to 20 gallons of fuel on a daily basis. This could reduce transport budgets by over $10,000
each year, not to mention maintenance savings.

Syria: Wow, impressive. If only there were more of these electric vehicles around.

Greg: Well, over the years, South Africa has attached great importance to clean energy.
The nation encourages using propane gas, which can either be extracted from natural
deposits or be produced organically. It is normally stored in gas canisters as a type of
cooking gas. To reduce the number of kitchen accidents, a new type of composite gas
canister made of fiber was introduced. It is much safer and less likely to explode even
when engulfed in fire. (Q23)

Greg: Now, about the survey, do you have any clues as to what kind of interviewees we
should include?

Syria: How about local companies doing business on clean energy products?

Greg: Probably not the best choice of respondents. Remember the last time we asked
corporate employees tc do the questionnaire, only about 5% of them were actually willing
to participate.

Syria: That wouldn’t be enough then. It seems we have to drop that idea. Then maybe we
can ask the professors and administrative staff here to help us. They could provide their
insights and understanding on energy production.

Greg: It would be ideal if they would, but I’m afraid most of them are too busy to respond
to the list of questions we’ve prepared. I guess the students here at the university would
be more suitable. (Q24)

Syria: You’re right. And it is a much bigger sample pool too. Also, I think we should
include the locals. Their opinion is key to the promotion of renewable energy here in the
town. (Q25)

Greg: But wouldn’t it be difficult to collect data? There’s no way the two of us could go
from door to door to interview all the residents.

Syria: There’s no need to worry about that. We’ll make it telephone interviews. That way
we’ll have enough time to get sufficient data.

Greg: Good idea. What should we present in our speech?

Syria: Due to lack of media coverage, the majority of people actually have a limited
understanding on renewable energy (Q26). Most of them aren’t able to identify various
types of renewable sources. So I feel we could start by clarifying what it is and the benefit of
it compared to fossil fuels.

64
Greg: That makes sense. We could start with wind energy. For centuries, wind has been
used to do work. With the help of windmills, farmers used to pump water from wells or turn
large grinding stones to grind wheat or corn. The windmills today generate electricity. The
only problem is that it might not be windy all the time, so it is crucial to choose the
appropriate site for wind farms. (Q27)

Syria: Well, I think we can also include comparisons between clean energy and traditional
energy resources like coal, oil and natural gas.

Greg: Maybe we can look into the prospect of these conventional sources of
energy (Q28). The rising cost of fossil fuels and the threat of climate change is a concern to
many

Syria: Totally. These traditional resources will deplete eventually. Renewable energy
currently makes up less than 2% of the world’s primary energy supply, and although growing
very rapidly, it is not on course to fill the fossil fuel gap.

Greg: Nuclear energy is another type of energy we ought to mention. Nuclear power
plants can produce dependable power constantly and release far less greenhouse gases
than other traditional power plants. But most people feel that this type of energy is unsafe
because radiation isn’t easily dealt with, especially in nuclear waste and maintenance
materials. (Q29)

Syria: What should we end the speech with?

Greg: Have you heard about a new type of energy called hydrogen fuel? It is an infinitely
renewable fuel that doesn’t have detrimental environmental effects. The only problem is
that it is so expensive that only wealthy individuals can afford it. But I think overall the
benefits overshadow its high cost.

Syria: I think that even though this new type of renewable energy is too expensive to use
at the moment, in the long run, its price will go down and become more accessible. (Q30)

SECTION 4

So what I’m going to talk about to you today is something called “aquaculture”. It has been
responsible for the impressive growth in the supply of fish for human consumption. There’s
also been a slight improvement in the state of certain fish stocks due to improved fishery
management. Aquatic food production has transitioned from being primarily based on the
capturing of wild fish to the culture of increasing numbers of farmed species. In recent
years, a type of genetically modified salmon has been farmed in the New England region,
produced by a Massachusetts based bio-tech firm. This type of fish is engineered to grow
twice as fast as its conventional farm-raised counterpart.

65
As a result, this increases the speed of the local aquaculture industry development, and thus
reduces the fishing pressure on wild stock. But local residents have expressed their concerns
on the potential negative effects on the ecosystem. Should those GM fish ever escape into
the sea (Q31), stronger, healthier and faster growing. These fish might cannibalize others or
outcompete wild-type fish for food. Local decision makers and regulators have thus pushed
forward a number of measures making it impossible for most GM fish to mate. A small
percentage is able to breed only within confined pools.

Despite the economic boom of genetically engineered fish, culturing traditional types of fish
is still mainstream among fish farmers. Most of them prefer fish with special features, such
as tuna (Q32). It is a source of high quality protein with almost no fat. It also contains all
essential amino acids required by the body for growth and maintenance of lean muscle
tissue. With high nutritional value, this kind of fish will always be popular in the fish market.

For the fish farming industry, incidents of fish escaping the farms has been a troubling issue
over the years. Due to bad weather, nets that used to hold the fish were often destroyed.
Thousands of salmon worth nearly 220 thousand euros escaped from a fish farm in the
Norwegian region in July, raising fear that they would breed with wild fish stocks. Cages
were thus built to withstand storms (Q33). The frames of the cages are made of PE which is
dedicated to marine use. This material has trustable strength, resilience and tenacity. To
further strengthen it, strong nets without knots are used to support the cylindrical
frame. (Q34)

A group of small villages on the island of Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa have been
trying to develop a local aquaculture industry sustainably. They use a land-based production
system that is both economically and ecologically sound. Land-based recirculation can
control ocean temperature and optimize growth for the fish that are used to warmer water.
All organic waste from the fish is held on land with incoming water sterilized to avoid
disease, which has historically plagued ocean based farms. The lack of disease means that
no drugs are administered to the fish.

However, one problem facing the villagers is lack of suitable land on the coast (Q35) for this
system. Hotels & beaches open to tourists take up most of the coastal area. Another
problem facing local fishermen is the scarcity of young fish (Q36) used to breed the species.
This predicament stems from overfishing during the previous decades. The local commercial
fishing industry has been reduced by 50% for this reason and the aquaculture industry has
yet to thrive.

The government has taken a set of initiatives to safeguard native aquaculture and the
fishing industry. An open-air seafood market has been launched. Residents are encouraged
to support local fish farming businesses (Q37) by purchasing marine products. As it turns
out, there is a public demand for access to locally produced, sustainable sources of fresh
seafood. Moreover, local fish farmers are aided to market seaweed and oysters, both of

66
which have additional economic values. Seaweed is used in various ways in
cosmetics (Q38). Seaweed extract is often found on the list of ingredients, constituting
creams, soaps, shampoos, powders and sprays. It is said to be useful in various ways,
including the relief of rheumatic pain and the removal of cellulite. Oyster is a source of
seafood popular among the local hospitality industry (Q39). Served with caviar and
champagne, it is one of the world’s ultimate luxury foods, appealing to gourmets with its
succulent and delicate flavor. It thus appears to have the greatest potential for commercial
culture.

Even though the national and international market has shown demand for marine products
in Zanzibar, it is still challenging to survive in the competitive modern fishing industry. The
government ought to restore the business by encouraging aquaculture, recreation and
shipping (Q40). First, it could utilize modern fish farming technology to supply more high-
quality marine products. Tourism is an effective stimulus to boost its sales and with better
shipping capability, more products can be delivered abroad.

67
 Test 10
SECTION 1

Man: Hello, First Choice Car Rental! How may I help you?

Woman: Oh, good morning. Um, I’m calling for some information about your car
renting services. I’m an American (Example), and I will be going on a family holiday to your
city from Ohio next month.

Man: OK. no problem. It’s our pleasure to serve you. Could you please tell me
your name and contact information first?

Woman: I’m Caroline, that’s C-A-R-O-L-I-N-E, and my telephone number

is 04196570156 (Q1).

Man: OK. I’ve got that. And how can I send you our quotation, if you are satisfied
with our arrangement? Is email all right, or should I send it by post? (Q2)

Woman: The latter (Q2), please! I’m afraid I’d prefer to read it on paper.

Man: That’s no problem.

Woman: I’m considering renting a caravan for a week, but I don’t really know the
price range for it, since I haven’t rented any car through that method before. I think it
should be within my budget of $50.

Man: You know, we have various caravans at different renting prices, according to
the class of vehicle, facilities inside, mileage, etc. I’d recommend the ‘Explorer’, taking your
budget into consideration, which is of good value and will cost you $39 per day (Q3). Is that
OK?

Woman: Of course, that’s fine for me! I know the ‘Explorer’. That could save me $11
each day! You know a family holiday will be costly. That van is perfect!

Man: I’m glad that you like it. So do you have any particular requirements about
your room in the van?

Woman: Um, how many beds are there?

Man: One twin bed.

Woman: But there are three of us, my mum. daughter and me. So can we add
another bed? (Q4)

Man: No problem.

68
Woman: For the facilities, I think a kitchen is the most important (Q5), and of course
the stove.

Man: In our vans, such as ‘Explorer’, there are all the basic bedding materials you
need, like pillows and blankets, as well as some equipment for daily life. And many things
can be added into your room according to your needs, such as a coffee maker.

Woman: Well, I need to have a heater (Q6), in case it’ll be cold at night, and a
microwave of course. (Q7)

Man: All right, I’ve taken notes of all these things. Actually, all our vans should be
taken from our company, which is not too far from the city centre, so we can pick you up
from the centre for free. Is that OK?

Woman: Oh, I’m afraid we’d better be picked up from the airport (Q8), as we are
foreigners in your country and not familiar with the transport system. Is that alright?

Man: Yes, it is no problem. With that comes the information for the insurance. I
need the driver’s name and age.

Woman: That is my daughter Chris, who is 19, the youngest driver amongst us three.

Man: I’m sorry, but our company only accepts caravan drivers aged 25 or over,
according to our regulations. So…

Woman: Well, that would be me, Caroline, and I’m 49 years old. (Q9)

Man: And where was your driving licence issued? I mean the country.

Woman: I’ve got a licence in America, but I’ve also got one in Australia which is still
valid. Is it better for me to register the local one from your country? (Q10)

Man: Yes, that might be better. So your registration number is…

SECTION 2

Host: Hello and welcome to today’s talk. Here with me is the famous botanist. Professor
Alison Downing. So, Alison, tell us something about cocoa beans.

Alison: Cocoa beans, also called cacao beans, are the primary constituent in making
chocolate. Grown in tropical areas in South and Central America, West Africa and Asia, the
cocoa tree is often raised on small, family-owned farms. When the harvested pods are
opened to expose the beans, the pulp and cocoa seeds are removed and the rind is
discarded. The pulp and seeds are then piled in heaps, placed in bins, or laid out on grates
for several days. During this time, the seeds and pulp undergo a process called ‘sweating’,

69
where the thick pulp liquefies as it ferments. The fermented pulp trickles away, leaving
cocoa seeds behind to be collected. This is when the beans are harvested (Q11) and then
the bags holding them are ready to be transported.

But the most important step in processing the cocoa bean is cleaning it. Once the beans are
unloaded from the railroad cars, the packages are opened (Q12) and then weighed by
machines. Then the pods are split, and the seeds or beans are covered with a sweet white
pulp or mucilage. On arrival at the factory, the cocoa beans are sorted and put in a hopper
to be cleaned more rigorously (Q13). The wet beans are then transported to a facility so
they can be fermented and dried. They are fermented for 4 to 7 days and must be mixed
every 2 days. They are dried for 5 to 14 days, depending on the climate conditions. The
fermented beans are dried by spreading them out over a large surface and constantly raking
them.

Then the beans are ready to be roasted. Now, roasting takes place at a high temperature
and then the beans are boiled in a heated chamber. During the roasting process the beans
will be expanded and cracked (Q14). But prior to this, the beans are trodden and shuffled
about using bare human feet. During this process, red clay mixed with water is sprinkled
over the beans to obtain a finer colour, polish, and protection against molds during
shipment to factories in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and other
countries. Now, back to what I was saying. After the beans are cracked, they need to be
cooled (Q15). Then the roasted beans are sealed in pockets. (Q16)

Host: Wow, that is not a simple process, is it? But someone told me that different roasting
levels of coffee can lead to different kind of flavours.

Alison: Yes. Roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee
beans into roasted coffee products. The roasting process is what produces the characteristic
flavour of coffee by causing the green coffee beans to change in taste. Unroasted beans
contain similar if not higher levels of acids, protein, sugars, and caffeine as those that have
been roasted, but lack the taste of roasted coffee beans due to the Maillard and other
chemical reactions that occur during roasting. The vast majority of coffee is roasted
commercially on a large scale, but small-scale commercial roasting has grown significantly
with the trend toward ‘single-origin’ coffees served at specialty shops. Some coffee drinkers
even roast coffee at home as a hobby in order to both experiment with the flavour profile of
the beans and ensure the freshest possible roast. So here, I am going to introduce some of
these roasted coffee beans and their special flavours.

Now, the First Crack is lighter-bodied, and has a higher acidity level with no obvious roast
flavour, and is popular for its special mild taste (Q17). This level of roast is ideal for tasting
the full original character of the coffee. The Green Beans are raw, unroasted coffee
beans. They are strictly hard beans with a smoky flavour and are slightly acidic (Q18).
We’ve also got French Roast. And the flavour that comes across in French roast coffee

70
usually has more to do with the roasting process than the actual quality of the beans. By the
time the beans are dark enough to qualify as French, most of their original flavour has
dissipated. In its place come the flavours of caramelising sugar, bittersweet coffee, and
often, a bit of chocolate (Q19). And finally, Espresso Smoky. That is coffee brewed by
forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground
coffee beans. Espresso is generally thicker than coffee brewed through other methods,
has a higher concentration of suspended and dissolved solids, and has crema on top. As a
result of the pressurised brewing process, the flavours and chemicals in a typical cup of
espresso are very concentrated (Q20). Espresso is also the base for other drinks such as a
cafe latte, cappuccino, cafe macchiato, cafe mocha, flat white, or cafe Americano…

SECTION 3

Student F = Student Female; Student M = Student Male

Lecturer: Thank you all for coming here today to hear about the Moa, a kind of animal
which has been extinct for a long time. Well, first of all we’ll look at what the Moa are. The
Moa are nine species of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. They were the dominant
herbivores in New Zealand’s forest, shrubland and subalpine ecosystems for thousands of
years, but around 500 years ago, they all went extinct. When I mention extinct animals
during ancient times, you may immediately think of dinosaurs, which disappeared around
66 million years ago. Fossils of dinosaurs which we use to study are large in number, but
not many of those of Moa remain, though both animals appeal to people today. (Q21)

Student F: So the Moa sound more mysterious now. But sir, I’ve got a question about
these flightless birds. How can we distinguish them from other birds?

Lecturer: That’s a good question! Birds are commonly characterised by being warm-
blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, and laying eggs, while the
flightless Moa. until their extinction, were the largest birds in the world. Their heads are
relatively small in relation to their bodies, and they are the only wingless birds lacking even
the vestigial wings and substantial tail bones in their family. (Q22)

Student M: That’s impressive. But were they born to be like that? I mean when they
were chicks.

Lecturer: Yes, absolutely! So let’s move onto the chicks. The eggs of Moa were laid in
nests and incubated for about two months. The chicks would be well-developed upon
hatching and probably would be able to leave the nests to feed on their own almost
immediately. (Q23)

Student F: I’ve heard that the male Moa are thought to have incubated the eggs. Is
that true? (Q24)

71
Lecturer: I think there is a possibility for that (Q24). I’ve read somewhere that the
sex-specific DNA recovered from the outer surfaces of eggshells suggested that these eggs
were likely to have been hatched by the male, but we still need to consult more.

But I have a question. There has been some occasional speculation that the Moa were still
alive, because someone said they had caught sight of them in New Zealand in the late 19th
century or even the 20th. Do you think it’s possible?

Student M: I’m not amazed by that, since that kind of thing has been claimed several
times, but I find it funny (Q25) because no reliable evidence of Moa tracks has ever been
found, and experts still contend that Moa survival is extremely unlikely.

Student F: So what was the reason for the Moa’s extinction? I wonder if it was global
warming or some other factors related to their living environment.

Lecturer: Well, before the arrival of human settlers in New Zealand, the Moa’s only
predator was the massive Haas’s eagle. Then the Maori arrived sometime before CE 1300,
and all Moa genera were soon driven to extinction by hunting (Q26). What a horrible
thing!

Lecturer: All right. Now let’s look at the features of some species of Moa. The South
Island Giant Moa may have been the tallest birds ever known, and the second tallest of the
nine moa species is the North Island Giant Moa, with the females being markedly larger
than males both in weight and height. (Q27)

Student M: And I’ve heard that the smallest of the Moa birds are the Coastal Moa. Is
that right?

Lecturer: Yes, you’re right. And have you heard about any other kinds of Moa before?

Student F: I know the Crested Moa (Q28). The eggs they laid may be larger than
others’.

Lecturer: As they mainly lived in the remote interior of the Southern Island, their
fossils are rare or absent in archaeological sites, and no egg remains have yet been
identified. (Q28)

Student F: Are there any species of Moa that have got more fossils?

Lecturer: Yes, of course. A considerable amount of remains of the Stoutlegged Moa

exist, due to the well-preserved properties of their habitat. Their skulls reveal relatively
bad vision, a good sense of smell, and a very short bill. (Q29)

Then there is the Eastern Moa. They were remarkable in having very long and narrow
windpipes, which probably enabled them to make louder, more resonant calls than those
of other Moa (Q30), and have the greatest vocal abilities, so they could communicate when

72
they could not see each other in the forest or at night. They used a range of senses, apart
from sound in their search for food, such as their sense of smell and vision.

SECTION 4

Good morning, everyone. Today, I’m going to talk about the research project I’ve been
involved in on time measurement.

Do you know how time is measured? Consider how we measure length, and how with time
we encounter a difficulty. Before we could grasp it, it would slip through our fingers. In fact,
as we can see, we are forced to have the recourse to measure something else—the
movement of something in space, or a set of movements in space. All the methods that
have been employed so far really measure time by a motion in space. The measurement of
time is no easy matter; a scientific unit only arrives at after much thought and reflection.

As the most primitive form of measurement, the sun seems to be natural. Ever since man
first noticed the regular movements of the sun and stars, we have wondered about the
passage of time. Prehistoric people first recorded time according to the sun’s position. To
start off, let us take noon, which is when the sun is on the meridian at the highest point of
its course across the heavens, and when it casts the shortest shadow. But this
measurement, which was regarded as a major one in ancient times, was less important
than the natural events that occurred. (Q31)

The earliest natural events that had been recognised were in the heavens, but during the
course of the year there were many other events that indicated significant changes in the
environment. Seasonal winds and rains, the flooding of rivers, the flowering of trees and
plants, and the breeding cycles or migration of animals (Q32), all led to natural divisions of
the year, and further observation and local customs led to the recognition of the seasons.

Years later, precise measurements were invented, because the passage of time was
extremely important for astronomers and priests who were responsible for determining the
exact hour for daily rituals and for important religious festivals. Apart from the connection
with religion (Q33), accurate time measurement was also related to the
government (Q34), since they divided the day or the night into different periods in order to
regulate work and various events. For thousands of years, devices have been used to
measure and keep track of time. The current sexagesimal system of time measurement,
dates back to approximately 2000 BCE from the Sumerians. It was found that the earliest
ancient time keepers were mainly invented and used in Mesopotamia, where the water
clock was introduced from, as well as in North Africa (Q35), especially in the area of
ancient Egypt.

73
So now, I’d like to introduce you to some of the most well-known ancient timekeepers, as
well as the disadvantages of them, for which they were replaced by various new forms of
clocks that were used afterwards.

A sundial is a device that tells the time of day by the apparent positioning of the Sun in the
sky. In the narrowest sense of the word, it consists of a flat plate and a gnomon which casts
a shadow onto the dial. As the sun appears to move across the sky, the shadow aligns with
different hour-lines which are marked on the dial to indicate the time of day. However, it
was quickly noted that the length of the day varied at different times of the year (Q36),
therefore there could have been a difference between ‘clock time’ and ‘sundial time’. In
addition, the sundial was of no use at night, so a water clock was invented.

The water clock, or clepsydra, appeared to have been invented around 1,500 BCE and was a
device which relied on the steady flow of water from or into a container. Measurements
could be marked on the container or on a receptacle for the water. It was reliable, but the
water flow still depended on the variation of pressure and temperature from the top of
water in the container. (Q37)

As the technology of glass-blowing developed, from some time in the 14th century, it
became possible to make sandglasses (Q38). Originally, they were used as a measure for
periods of time like lamps or candles, but as clocks became more accurate they were
calibrated to measure specific periods of time. The drawback however, as you can imagine,
was the limited length of time they could measure. (Q39)

The last timekeeper to be introduced is the fire candle clock. Candle clocks take advantage
of a simple concept: the slow and consistent nature of a burning wax candle. By utilising this
process, our ancestors were able to keep steady track of the time. The clocks were created
by engraving the length of the candle with evenly spaced markings. Each marking
represented a single unit of time, and as the wax burned down, each hour would disappear.
However, the draughts and the variable quality of the wax mainly influenced the time of
burning (Q40). Like oil lamps, candles were used to mark the passage of time from one
event to another, rather than tell the time of day…

74
 Test 11
SECTION 1

Mike (man) Hello. I’ve just moved to Melbourne for a new job and I’ve been advised to
register with a new doctor for my family and myself. I think that this surgery is the nearest
one to where I live.

Recept: What’s the name of the road that you live in sir?

M: Dawson Road. (Example)

R: Yes. That’s in our area. Would you like to register with us now?

M: Yes please.

R: Right. I’ll just have to take some details. First of all, could you give me your name?

M: It’s Mike Jacobs. J-A-C-O-B-S. (Q1)

R: And your family?

M: My wife’s name is Janet and I have one little boy whose name is Rod.

R: Ron?

M: No, Rod. R-O-D. (Q2)

R: Good, that’s fine. And what is your address here in Melbourne?

M: 52 Dawson road, Highfield. Melbourne.

R: Highfield. H-I-G-H-F-I-E-L-D (Q3). Good. And I’ll need to know your health card
number.

M: It’s NH eight seven one eight one C (Q4). What about my family?

R: Oh, only yours for now. Do you know the name of your old doctor?

M: It was Dr. Graham McKenzie in Perth.

R: Now, we’ve got 4 doctors here. There’s Dr. Susan Larkins, Dr. Kevin White, Dr. James
Nicholson and Dr. Linda Williams. Which one would you like to register with?

M: Oh! I didn’t think of that. Well, I think I would like a man as my doctor. I’ll go for the
last one. Was that one a man?

R: No, that was Dr. Linda. How about Dr. Kevin?

M: Yes, that will be fine.

75
R: Right. Dr. White (Q5) it is. Will that be the same for your family?

M: Oh yes. My wife might not want a man as her doctor. Well, we’ll leave it as it is for
now and my wife can change if she wants to.

M: I’d like to make an appointment now for my wife. She wants to come in at the end
of the week.

R: How about this Friday morning? That’s Friday (Q6). Mmm, I don’t think she can make the
morning. Any openings in the afternoon?

R: There are appointments available at 2.00, 2.30 and 3.30. M We’ll take the first one
please (Q6). Ok. That’s done.

M: Oh. And what shall my wife do if she wants to switch doctor?

R: She can just give us a call here. Do you want to take the number down?

M: Yes please.

R: It’s seven two five three nine eight two nine (Q7). Can you give me your name
please?

R: My name’s Angela (Q8) but there are two other girls who might be on duty as well.
Their names are Elizabeth and Rachel but it doesn’t matter who’s on duty. Anyone can take
care of it.

M: Now what do we do if we need to call out a doctor during the night?

R: We’ve got a rotation system with the doctors in the area. There’s a mobile and you
can call and that’ll get through to the doctor who’s on duty.

M: What’s that number?

R: It’s zero five zero six seven five nine three eight five six (Q9). Got that. I didn’t ask
about any charges.

R Like all Australia, prescriptions have to be paid for at the chemist at the prevailing
rate. Some things like vaccinations for travel and insurance reports (Q10) we make a
standard charge for and I can give you a price list for those. consultations though are under
the National Health Service so they’ll be free.

M Great. Well that’s all. Thanks and goodbye.

R Goodbye.

76
SECTION 2

Good morning everyone. I’d like to welcome you all to Westley University Library. This is a
20-minute tour around the library to show you all the facilities and all you will need to know
to start off your life here as a student at the University. What I’ll start by doing is telling you
about what you need to do to join the library. Then I’ll briefly tell you about our facilities
and then I’ll guide you quickly round and show you everything.

So to join the Library you need to go to the reception between the hours of 9am and 5pm.
After that the reception closes, though all the other facilities will stay open until 10pm. At
the reception they’ll give you an application form. After you fill that in, you’ll have to give us
the fee of five (Q11), which you have to give us every year that you’re a member of the
Library. We will also need to see your University Card (Q12) to confirm that you’re a
student of the University and finally we’ll need 2 passport photos – 1 for our records and
the other for your Library card. You will need to do all this as soon as possible so you’ll be
able to use the facilities at once. I’m sure your workload will begin to build up soon!

Now, let me tell you a bit about the facilities. The Library opens daily (Q13) from 8am to
10pm though, as I told you earlier, the Reception operates only between the hours of 9am
and 5pm, although this is extended to 6.30pm on Fridays (Q14) to give students more time
to organise their book requirements for the weekend. The reception is closed on Sundays.
Undergraduate students are permitted to take out 4 books at any one time and each book
may be borrowed for a period of two weeks post may borrow 6 books (Q15) at a time.
Borrowing time can be extended by a period of one week (Q16) per book if the student
comes into the Library in person with the book in question so it can be reached. We do not
renew book borrowing over the phone. If you are late in returning any book, then you will
be charged a fine of two for every week that you are late. You won’t be able to take out any
other books until this fine is paid. This is not a method of earning money for the Library but
merely what we have to do to ensure that all students have access to all the books that they
will need.

Ok then. Onto the layout of the library. We’re on the ground floor of the library at the
moment. Here we have the reception, the computers (Q17), which you can use to search
for books and their location, and the bathrooms, which are behind the reception. The rest of
the ground floor is taken up by the non section (Q18) of the library. Here we keep all the
books, which are either too valuable or are used too much to lend out. You can reserve time
with these books at reception and use them during any time that the library is open but, of
course, you may not remove them from the Library.

On the first floor above us, we have the Arts section (Q19), which includes books that
students will need for such as languages, literature, art and history. On the second floor is
the science section. We’ll see these in a minute. Of course, individual departments will
usually have their specialist libraries in their buildings, though the computer catalogs here

77
will list them so you know where to find everything, whether it’s here or in the specialist
libraries.

Finally, in the basement (Q20) we have the stack system, which contains the University
collection of magazines and journals that we have collected and to which we subscribe.

If there is anything that we do not have or that you can’t find, please go to reception and let
them know the details. The University operates a swap system with other universities and
we can arrange for volumes that we do not possess to be sent here on a limited loan.

Well, those are the basic details about the University Library.

SECTION 3

Tutor Good morning everyone. Well, in today’s tutorial we’re going to discuss the
essays that you have to submit by the end of next week. Some of you will have already
started them, which is good and if you haven’t, well that’s OK but you’ll have to get a move
on. So, let’s begin with you Simon. What’s happening with you?

Simon Well, I’ve made a start on it. I’ve research the background quite extensively
last weekend and I should get to the writing stage tomorrow (Q21) with a bit of luck and I’ll
get it finished at the weekend.

Tutor What are you writing about?

Simon I decided to look at the car manufacturing company, Jaguar, examine the
problems they had with reliability (Q22) in the 1970s and 80s, how they dealt with it, and
how it affected their marketing and sales strategy.

Tutor That sounds pretty interesting. Any problems with that?

Simon At the start I had problems getting information from that far back, but after
rooting around in the library, I found some magazines which gave me information and also
gave me references to find other stuff. It seems now the only problem is keeping to
the 4,000 word limit (Q23). It just seems that I have so much to write about. It seems I’ll
need 5000 or even 6000 words to be able to cope.

Tutor Yes, your essay title seems to me to be very wide-ranging. Would you think
about cutting out part of it? How about looking at their sales and marketing strategy but
only mentioning the problems in the 70s and 80s and not going too far into it?

Simon That’s a good idea. That will make it much easier to handle. By the way,
how do you want us to hand in our work? Do you want us to drop in a hard copy to your
office?

78
Tutor You could do that but I’d prefer it if you just e-mailed it to me as an
attachment (Q24). You’ve all got my address. If not, give it to the secretary clearly marked
that it’s for me. Right, Jennifer, how about you?

Jennifer I’ve not really got going on it yet but I’ve decided on a subject. I’ll try and do
some research during the rest of this week and I should get writing this weekend.

Tutor OK, what are you writing about then?

Jennifer I want to look into how supermarkets use market surveys to develop their
products.

Tutor Will you have enough time to find out what sort of things that the
supermarkets do? You won’t have much time for that.

Jennifer I should be OK. I’ve had a look in the stack system (Q26) in the library and
I’ve found a magazine that surveyed all the UK major supermarkets and a trade publication
that analysed the same things in Canadian supermarkets.

Tutor Be careful about using their conclusions (Q27) too much. The university
takes a tough stance on plagiarism (Q27). Make sure you properly list where you get your
information from in a bibliography and try and do your own analysis. Get going too as that
analysis will take a bit of time.

Jennifer OK, thanks.

Tutor And Melanie. How is your work going?

Melanie I’m a bit behind I’m afraid. I was sick all last week and weekend with flu. I’ve
got a subject I think but I’ve not done any work on it yet. Is there any chance I can get an
extension (Q28) to the submittal date?

Tutor The policy of the department is not to give any extensions unless there are
extenuating circumstances. Do you have a doctor’s certificate or anything? (Q29)

Melanie I went to the doctor’s but I didn’t get a note as I didn’t realise I would need
it. The doctor will have a record of me though as I got a prescription . I’ll go back and get
one.

Tutor Yes, do. If you get one, then there shouldn’t be a problem getting an extension.
Without it though, you’ll be in trouble. What subject are you considering anyway?

Melanie I thought I’d do an overview of the UK mortgage interest rates (Q30) and
their effect on housing sales trends over the last 10 years. I thought it might be of interest
because of the huge increases of house prices over the last decade.

79
Tutor Certainly an interesting subject and it should be no great problem getting
information as this has been fairly well documented. It’s a lot of work again though and
you’ll really need to get cracking on it even with the extension – if you get one.

Melanie Well, I’ve not got much on for the rest of the week and I’ve set aside the
weekend to really get to grips with it.

Tutor Good. Now, is there anything else

SECTION 4

Good afternoon and welcome to this Earth Sciences lecture. Today we’re going to look at
tidal; or more correctly, tsunami.

Deep below the ocean’s surface tectonic plates collide, and every once in a while, these
forces produce an earthquake. The energy of such submarine earthquakes can produce tidal
waves, which radiate out in all directions from the epicentre of the quake, moving at speeds
of up to 500 miles per hour. When these waves reach shore, they can cause enormous
destruction and loss of life. Tidal waves are actually miss named. They are not caused by
tides. A more accurate word for them is the Japanese name tsunami, which means, harbour.
They are also sometimes called seismic sea waves, since they can be caused by seismic
disturbances such as submarine quakes. However, that name is not really accurate either,
since tsunami can also be caused by landslides, volcanic eruptions, nuclear explosions, and
even impacts of objects from outer space, such as meteorites, asteroids, and comets.

Earthquakes though are the largest cause of tsunami. Tectonic plates cover the world’s
surface and their movement can be detected anywhere in the world. Some areas of the
world are more prone to greater movement, and it is in these places that the largest waves
can occur. Large vertical movements of the earth’s crust occur at plate boundaries which are
known as faults. The Pacific Ocean’s denser oceanic plates are often known to slip under
continental plates in a process known as subduction, and subduction earthquakes are the
most effective in generating tsunamis. (Q31)

A tsunami can be generated by any disturbance that displaces a large water mass from its
equilibrium position. In the case of earthquake-generated tsunamis (Q32), the water
column is disturbed by the uplift or subsidence of the sea floor. Submarine landslides, which
often accompany large earthquakes, as well as collapses of volcanic edifices, can also disturb
the overlying water column as sediment and rock slump down, and are redistributed across
the sea floor. submarine volcanic eruptions can create an impulsive force that uplifts the
water column and generates a tsunami. Conversely, super marine landslides and cosmic
body impacts disturb the water from above, as momentum from falling debris is transferred
to the water into which the debris falls. Generally speaking, tsunamis generated from these

80
mechanisms, unlike the devastating Pacific-wide tsunamis caused by earthquakes, dissipate
quickly and rarely affect coastlines distant from the source area.

Tsunamis are very hard to detect, since they cannot be seen when they are in the deep
ocean.

The distance between two wave crests can be 500 kilometers and, because of this, the wave
height is only a few feet. Because the rate at which a wave loses its energy is inversely
related to its wavelength (Q33), tsunamis not only propagate at high speeds, they can also
travel great, transoceanic distances with limited energy losses. As the tsunami reaches
shallow water however, its speed decreases, but the energy it contains remains about the
same. Instead Access of travelling fast, the wave rises high.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has set up a seismic detection
system (Q34) to monitor earthquakes and predict the possible arrival of tidal waves for
Pacific countries. Buoys at sea (Q35) can also detect water pressure changes that can
indicate tsunamis moving through the ocean. But when tsunamis originate near the shore
there is often little chance to warn people.

Let’s look at some examples of tsunami and their causes and effects

Some can be relatively harmless. In 1992 an Q36 offshore landslide caused a tidal wave of
only about three feet high that struck at low tide, so Humboldt County, where it hit, got off
easy with no casualties.

On January 13th in 1992, a Pacific Ocean earthquake off the coast of San Salvador,
registering 7.6 on the Richter scale, did not cause any ocean disturbance at all. (Q37)

However, a recent tidal wave, which struck Papua New Guinea on July 17th 1998, was 23
feet high, and killed at least 1200 people. This wave was caused by a magnitude
7.1 submarine earthquake. (Q38)

On July 17, 1998 a Papua New Guinea tsunami killed roughly 3,000 people A huge
underwater volcanic eruption 15 miles offshore was followed within 10 minutes by a wave
some 40 feet tall. The villages of Arop and Warapu were destroyed.

One of the worst tsunami disasters engulfed whole villages along Sanriku, Japan, in 1896. An
underwater earthquake induced a wave of 35 feet drowning some 26,000 people. (Q39)

Finally, about 8,000 years ago, a massive undersea landslide off the coast of Norway sent a
30- foot wall of water barreling into the uninhabited northern coast of Europe (Q40). If
this were to recur today, as scientists say it could, almost anywhere in the world, it would
cost billions if not tens of billions of dollars to repair the damage to coastal cities and kill
tens of thousands of people.

Any questions so far?

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 Test 12
SECTION 1
Peter: Hello, I’m new in the area and I’d like to join the library please.
Will: That’s no problem. Let me get an application form. Here we are. Now all we have to
do is fill this in and then I’ll get you to sign and you’ll be a member.
P: Great
W: Now then. What’s your full name?
P: Peter Adrian Camden.
W: How do you spell Camden?
P: C-A-M-D-E-N. (Q1)
W: C-A-M-D-E-N
P: Yes, that’s right.
W: Right, and what’s your address?
P: Flat 553 Green street, Finsbury. (Q2)
W: Ok. Got that. That’s near here isn’t it?
P: Yes, just 5 minutes walk.
W: What’s the post code?
P: 7424.. I..I mean, sorry, 7 4 3 4. (Q3)
W: Got that now. Now, can you tell me your date of birth?
P: 8th of July, 1976. (Q4)
W: And, what’s your telephone number?
P: Well, I don’t have a home number but I’ve got a mobile.
W: That’ll do fine.
P: It’s o six six three four nine eight two seven four six. Did you get that?
W: Some of it. Can you say it again?
P: The code’s 06634 and the number’s then 982 746. (Q5)
W: Right. That’s almost it. Now I need some kind of identification to prove where you
live. Do you have a driving license or a passport or anything like that?
P: I’m afraid that everything I have, has got my old address on it. Do you need it now?
W: No, not now, but you won’t be able to take anything out until we see that.

82
P: Wait a minute. I’ve got a letter addressed to me here that arrived this morning. Will
that do?
W: Oh yes. That’s a good idea. That will be fine. Let’s look. Ok. Well, that’s that
finished.
W: Could I ask you a few questions? The Council that runs the library is running a
survey to find out what kind of books people prefer so that they can direct their buying.
P: Yeah, no problem.
W: OK. So, what type of books do you like?
P: Well, I’m very keen on mysteries (Q6). You know, when a detective is trying to find
out who did the murder. Historical novels interest me too (Q7). Romance never! My sister
loves them but they bore me to tears. I quite like books on animals too (Q8). I get them out
sometimes. Not science fiction either. Too weird.
W: Well, I think that’s it then.
P: Good. Oh, do you charge anything?
W: The library is free (Q9) unless you want to rent out some of our videos or DVDs.
P: How much is that?
W: Well, we rent videos out for four dollars each and DVDs are six dollars. You must
leave us a deposit for $60 of$60 as well. That’s returnable of course. (Q10)
P: I don’t think I’ll get any of those just yet. Can I pay later?
W: Sure, just give the money in when you’re ready to rent them out.
P: Well thanks very much. You’ve been very helpful. I might take a book out now for
the weekend, if that’s OK?
W: Go ahead.
M: Well, goodbye.
SECTION 2

Interviewer: Hello everyone. I’ve just been joined in the studio by Dr. Matthew Johnson.
Dr. Johnson works at Westley General hospital and he is here today to tell us all about giving
blood. Good morning Matthew.

Matthew: Good morning.

Interviewer: So, Matthew. Why is it important for us to give blood ?

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Matthew: Donating blood is not important. It’s actually vital that people do this.
Without donated blood, thousands of people would die every year and it’s something that
could affect everyone.

We all expect blood to be there for us, but barely a fraction of those who can give, do. Yet
sooner or later, virtually all of us will face a time of great vulnerability in which we will need
blood. And that time is all too often unexpected. The need for blood is great. On any given
day, an average of 38 thousand units of red blood cells are needed. Blood transfusions are
often needed for victims of things such as accidents and burns (Q11), heart surgery, organ
transplants (Q12), and patients receiving treatment for leukaemia, cancer (Q13) or other
diseases. In 2002, nearly 29 million units of blood components were transfused. And with an
aging population and advances in medical treatments and procedures requiring blood
transfusions, the demand for blood continues to increase.

Interviewer: We really need that much?

Matthew: Yes. And we need it now. Blood supplies nationwide have reached critically
low levels, with less than one day’s supply of several blood types. Thousands of accident
victims, cancer patients, premature babies (Q14) and countless others who need blood to
stay alive are hoping you’ll care enough to help them. All blood types are needed.

Interviewer: What are the different types?

Matthew: It’s a bit more complicated than that. First we collect the whole blood from
donors and then it’s sorted into the different types which are basically O, A, B or AB though
there are also divisions here. Then the blood is split into its constituent parts. We divide it
into 4 basic parts. First there are the red blood cells, then the white blood cells, then things
called platelets and finally plasma. This is shipped off to hospitals where they use the blood
parts that the patients need.

Interviewer: What are the different parts used for?

Matthew: Well, as I said before the whole blood is your blood in its natural state and
something we rarely use. It’s much more useful to us to have it separated into its
component parts. Red blood cells are what everyone associates with blood, i.e.: it’s red. It’s
widely used to replace lost blood during surgery or when people hemorrhage. Its main
function is to carry oxygen to cells (Q15). White blood cells are the most important part of
the body’s immune system (Q16) and they’re used for patients whose normal defense
systems aren’t working properly. Platelets are crucial for making your blood clot and we
need to give them to patients who suffer from illnesses that deplete their natural levels of
platelets or they will bleed to death. Finally, plasma is what carries the other parts of blood
around (Q17) and needs to be administered with any of the other components. Take away
the red blood cells and this is actually yellow.

84
Interviewer: So, that’s what blood is all about. Now, you’re here in Westley today to
collect blood. Can you tell us where and when we can donate?

Matthew: Of course! We’re set up here today, that’s Wednesday, and for the next
two days at Westley General Hospital at the Outpatients Department (Q18). Come along
between 9am and 4.30pm (Q19) and we’ll be able to deal with you within one hour. And let
me tell you a few things that will calm your fears about giving blood. Aside from a brief
needle prick, it doesn’t hurt to give blood. Your body will replace the blood you donate
within days of your donation. And finally you can’t catch AIDS, hepatitis or any other disease
by giving blood. And of course, you get a cup of tea and a biscuit afterward .

Interviewer: And can anyone give blood?

Matthew: Almost everyone. Donors must be in generally good health, be at least 17

years of age (Q20), weigh no less than 110 pounds, have not received a tattoo within the
past year and not have donated whole blood within the past 56 days. We screen donors
with a series of questions before we take the blood so, if you’re unsure, come down and
we’ll let you know. Please come down and see us. Remember, if you can donate one pint of
blood, this can save up to three lives.

Interviewer: Well, thanks Matthew. I for one will definitely be going down to Westley
General to donate.

SECTION 3

Jim Hello there. Do you work in the computer room? Yes, I do. Can I help you?

Jim Well, I’m a first year and I know that I’ll need to use the computer room for my
work as I don’t have a computer of my own. So, I thought I’d get down here and see what I
have to do in order to get time on one of the university’s computers.

Dave OK. There are 4 computer labs open to undergraduates. The others can only be
used by the staff (Q21) and postgraduates. The names of the 4 labs that you can use are
Wimborne, Franklin, Salisbury and Court. Wimborne and Court are in this building, the
Johnson building, Franklin is in the Computer Sciences building and Salisbury is in the
library. (Q22)

Jim So I can use them whenever I like?

Dave Well, you can use them but not whenever you like. As you can imagine they’re in
quite a lot of demand so you have to reserve your time on a computer. In each of the labs
there is a reservation book and you can reserve your time on a computer in that for 2
hours daily (Q23). If a computer is free though you can go on it straight away. It’s quite
straightforward but be sure to always write your name in the reservation book in
pen (Q24) or someone can rub it out and put their name in instead

85
Jim Oh my God! Does that really happen?

Dave I’m afraid so. And far more often than you would think. When people are stressed
about their assignments they’d, they’ll do anything to get some time on the computers.
Better not try it yourself though or you’ll be banned from the computers for the rest of the
academic year and your password and user name will be taken away.

Jim That reminds me. I’ve got to get a user name and password . How do I go about that
then?

Dave Well, what I’ll do is pass you over to my colleague, Jane, as she’s in charge of all
that. Jane!

Jane Yes Dave.

Dave I’ve got a new student here wanting to find out about user names and passwords.
Can you help him out with that?

Jane Yeah sure. Hi there.

Jim Hi.

Jane Well, it’s a straightforward process. First of all tell me your name and I’ll type it into
the system.

Jim James Smith.

Jane Right, let me do that. You see all students are automatically given a user name and
then they just choose a password themselves. OK. So, your user name is James smith – –
that’s all small case. That means there must be more than one of you at the university at the
moment. Well, what do you want your password to be? (Q25)

Jim I think I’ll choose biology (Q25), as that’s the subject that I’m studying though my
girlfriend Mary will be upset that it’s not her name I’m using.

Jane Well, that’s all done. You can now use any of the four undergraduate computer
labs.

Jim By the way, can I print out stuff at the labs?

Jane Yes you can but sometimes it’s not quick. When you print it goes into a queue and
it will be left in a tray in Franklin (Q26), as that’s where all the main printers are. The good
bit is that, although last year it cost 3 pence per page, now it doesn’t cost you
anything. (Q27)

Jim I don’t really know much about computing. Is there any training available?

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Jane Yes. We have introductory courses for all new students. There is beginner,
intermediate and advanced. Which would you like to go for?

Jim Well, I have done some but I don’t know if I’m up to anything more than
beginner (Q28). I’d better stick with that. intermediate could be too tough.

Jane Well your course is in Franklin then (Q29). We’re in Court now. You know where
that is?

Jim That’s in this building too, isn’t it?

Jane No that’s Wimborne you’re thinking about. Franklin’s over in the Computer
Sciences Building. Anything else?

Jim I don’t know what time the course starts.

Jane Let’s have a look then. Advanced starts at 4:30 in the afternoon on Mondays but
yours is the day after at 5 in the afternoon. (Q30)

Jim Are there any other times as I’ve got a part time job then.

Jane Yes. You could try Thursday at 2.00 pm. How’s that?

Jim Even worse as I’ve a tutorial then. Anything else?

Jane No. That’s it.

Jim I’ll have to rearrange work then. I can’t miss the tutorial.

SECTION 4
Tutor
Good afternoon everyone. In today’s seminar we are going to continue listening to different
students giving us a presentation on the subject of their term paper. Now today is Hillary’s
turn. So, what are you going to talk about today Hillary?

Hillary
Well, some of you will know that I was brought up when I was young in Japan and I’m going
to do my term paper on Japan’s bullet trains, which have revolutionized their rail industry.
Japan’s main island Honshu is covered by a network of high speed train lines that connect
Tokyo with most of the island’s major cities and Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. Japan’s
high-speed trains are called shinkansen but are known to us bullet trains. The Japanese
bullet train system is credited with being the world’s first purpose built high-speed railway,
and the model and inspiration for all other similar type systems running today such as the
French TGV. The reputation it has earned for safety, speed and punctuality is unsurpassed.
I’d like to give you some figures about that. As regards safety, there has never been a death
on the bullet train system since it’s inception in 1964 (Q31), other than that caused by

87
deliberate passenger misadventure. As far as speed is concerned the bullet train holds the
current world records for the fastest average speed (Q32) between two station stops,
which was 260 1.8 kph between Hiroshima and Kokura. The train travelled 192 kilometers in
44 minutes. This record is from the 500 series “Nozomi” trains running at a maximum speed
of 300 kilometers an hour between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. I’ll talk more about them later.
The punctuality puts European train services to shame. Most trains arrive at their
destination, after several hours, to within the second!

In one year, the total time that all bullets trains were late by was 12 seconds (Q33)! This
statistic is hard to believe but it would be difficult to prove otherwise and that’s what the
rail authorities in Japan have told us.

Now I’d like to tell you a bit about their history. The first bullet train was introduced in 1964
by Central & West Japan Railways for the Tokyo to Osaka route. Most of these old trains
have now been discontinued. There have been several bullet train models since then. The
most recent ones have been the 300, 500 and 700 series and it’s the 500 series one that can
travel at 300 kph. The bullet trains operating in Japan today are of the three following
categories: Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama. The Nozomi trains stop only at the most important
stations (Q34), and reach Osaka from Tokyo in only about two and a half hours and it’s the
most modern of bullet trains that serve as Nozomi. Hikari trains stop a little bit more
frequently than Nozomi trains, and need roughly three hours to reach Osaka from
Tokyo. Kodama trains stop at all stations (Q35) and they are the local trains among bullet
trains. Older models of bullet trains serve as Kodama.

I’d like now to talk a little bit about the technology involved in bullet trains. The Shinkansen
bullet trains consist of electrically powered cars. That means basically all individual cars are
equipped with electric motor driving systems. This is in contrast to locomotive trains in
which the locomotive pulls the passenger coaches. The realization of the high-speed
Shinkansen with the electric train system had a great significance. The French “Train a
Grande Vitesse” or TGV runs on a centralised power system (Q36), in which the
heavyweight, high-output locomotives at both ends pull the passenger coaches. It’s a
system suitable to European railways, which run basically on straight tracks in wide plains
with solid foundations. However it is unsuitable in Japan where the ground is flimsy and
the tracks full of curves and undulations and inter-city distances are short (Q37), making it
necessary for the trains to accelerate and decelerate frequently. One of the advantages of
the electric car system is that the motor functions as a brake to reduce the speed of the
train (Q38). When the power feed to the electric car motors is stopped, the wheels
continue revolving, keeping the motors rotating, resulting in electricity generation by
magnetic induction (Q39). As the force acts in the direction opposite to the axles motion, it
functions as a brake to the train. All the motors equipped on each coach can be utilized
effectively to reduce the speed, making the electric train system advantageous on Japanese
railways, which involve frequent deceleration and acceleration. In addition, by virtue of the

88
remarkable progress achieved recently in semiconductor technologies, the electric train
system has undergone tremendous improvements in power, operability and safety
administration, so the system is becoming increasingly advantageous. (Q40)

Test 13
SECTION 1

Reception: Good afternoon, you’re through to reception at The Island Hotel in Crete,
how may I help you today?

Mr. Schiffer: Yes, hello there, I’m hoping to book a double (Example) room for my wife
and myself for about two weeks from the 25th April of this year. Firstly, could you tell me
whether it’s particularly hot during this time?

Reception: Yes, of course Sir, during late April and early May, the daytime temperature
shouldn’t exceed 19 (Q1) degrees Celsius, but the weather has been rather erratic and
difficult to predict in recent years, so I am unable to say for certain.

Mr. Schiffer: Okay, that sounds good, my wife doesn’t like going outside when it’s very
hot! I haven’t booked flights yet, but I must say that I’m unfamiliar with Crete and its
transport system. Does the hotel provide an airport shuttle service?

Reception: Yes Sir, we provide a complementary airport pick-up service for all our
guests. It takes about 40 minutes (Q2) to get here from the airport, but it’s at least 60
minutes at rush hours and you will be provided with a fully airconditioned shuttle bus.

Mr. Schiffer: Okay, excellent. In that case, do you have any rooms available for the dates
I gave you?

Reception: I shall have a look on the system now for you Sir, bear with me just a
moment, [brief pause] Yes Sir, I can see now that we have several rooms available. Would
you prefer a garden view or a sea view?

Mr. Schiffer: Well, ideally I would like a sea-view room with a balcony, but of course that
depends on the difference in price.

Reception: Not to worry Sir, all of our standard double rooms have en-suite facilities
and a balcony (Q3). If you would like one of our sea-view rooms, there is a premium of €60
per night.

Mr. Schiffer: Okay, so could you tell me the total nightly rate for a standard double room
with a sea view?

Reception: Yes, of course Sir, for the spring months, our rate is €216 per night. For 14
nights, altogether this will come to €3,024.

89
Mr. Schiffer: Perfect. I also read on your website that the hotel has gym and spa facilities.
Are there any other facilities on offer?

Reception: Yes, we have a large outdoor infinity pool overlooking the ocean, with
luxury sun beds and a poolside bar. We also have 3 full-sized tennis courts (Q4), where we
run a popular doubles tournament, with the winner receiving 2 all-inclusive spa day
vouchers.

Mr. Schiffer: Goodness, I shall have to brush up on my tennis skills!

Mr. Schiffer: Are there any other activities organised by the hotel that we can partake in?
It’s just that it’s our wedding anniversary on the 30th of June, and I would like to provide my
wife with the perfect romantic getaway.

Reception: I can assure you, Sir, that your wife won’t be disappointed. Ours is a 5-star
resort which is renowned for its luxury and beauty. In terms of activities, the hotel provides
thrice weekly entertainment. On Tuesdays, guests will take a mini bus and partake in
learning to cook succulent fish dishes (Q5) with our Michelin starred chef, Enrique. The class
will take place in a beautiful valley deep in the Cretan hills, where guests will be treated to
an intimate piano (Q6) performance by our in-house concert pianist, Pedro. On
Wednesdays, a select number of guests will be fortunate enough to explore the mountains
by helicopter (Q7), before being transported to a tropical Cretan garden (Q8) by shuttle
bus. Finally, on Thursdays after a fancy dinner, we provide a
spectacular fireworks (Q9) display, which guests can view from the comfort of a cable
car (Q10).

Mr. Schiffer: Oh wow, that all sounds absolutely wonderful! I shall book the room now,
and then I need to look at flights so as not to become extortionate. Would you like to take
my details now or later? [fade out]

SECTION 2

BarterOnlineUK is a young, up and coming website in the United Kingdom where users can
‘buy’ new and used goods; however, instead of paying with money, registered users instead
exchange their purchase for an item of similar value. This part is perhaps the most
complicated, as the registered users themselves must mutually decide on an appropriate
value, with value either being the recommended retail price (RRP), or simply how much they
believe the item to be worth. The website has been founded by a group of
four friends (Q11) in the north of England. Originally they exchanged their belongings
among family members. They frequently found themselves swapping their belongings when
they no longer had any use for them. They live by the motto ‘one person’s trash is another
person’s treasure’, and hate to throw things away. As more and more people caught wind of
the idea and wanted to participate in the exchanges, the group decided that the idea had
the potential to become a successful business venture, and so it did.

90
BarterOnlineUK is a start-up online business, which took 3 months to set up and has now
been running for around half a year (Q12). Despite only being founded a short time ago, the
website has already garnered about 1,500 (Q13) registered users, with 500 more than
expected, a huge achievement for the founders. Some of the users are registered in the
United Kingdom and Canada, with the majority from the Republic of Ireland (Q14). In order
to become a registered member, users must first fill in their personal details followed by
their credit or debit card details, which will be used to take payment of a monthly fee of £5.
As long as this fee is paid, users will be able to perform an unlimited number of online
exchanges.

A multitude of items are sold on the website, such as textbooks, soft toys, and tools,
however books for children (Q15) and computer games (Q16) are by far selected most. The
exchange process itself is not as complicated as it might seem, users can enter their
preferences for what they would like to receive, and also explicitly state what they would
like to give away, and the website will automatically pair up suitable users. If, however, a
user doesn’t want to give anything away, but would simply like to buy something,
BarterOnlineUK does support a secure online payment system where users can perform a
normal monetary transaction. Despite this, the founding group strongly discourages the use
of the online payment system, clearly stating that this goes against the intended ethos of
the company.

Although bartering is an age-old process, many of the website’s users are unsure how to
decide which of their own items to exchange. It often helps to order items by popularity
using the ‘filter’ button provided, this will tell the website to find out popular (Q17) items
for users’ convenience. To this, the founding members say just put everything you don’t
want on there, different people have different tastes (Q18), and you never know what they
might be looking for! In order to aid registered users in their exchanges, and to provide
them with assurance, the founders recently added a new feature whereby on completion of
an exchange, users will be encouraged to provide each other with feedback (Q19). This
feedback will include criteria such as the quality of the item as compared with how it was
advertised, the ease of communication with the seller, the speed (Q20) at which the item
was delivered, and so on. The friends believe that using this method, users will have a more
transparent and trustworthy bartering experience, [fade out]

SECTION 3

Tom: Professor Tomlinson, may Annie and I please quickly ask you a few
questions about the reflective journal assignment? It’s just that we’re a bit confused as to
what you want us to include and discuss.

Prof. Tomlinson: Yes of course, what are you having trouble with?

Annie: Well, everything really. To start with, what should be included first in the
reflective journal? Perhaps suggestions from others?

91
Prof. Tomlinson: No no, firstly you should include the study goals you set yourself at the
beginning of the module (Q21). This section should have been discussed in some detail
towards the beginning of the course by Professor May. You should be able to find her
suggestions on the slides she has provided the class online.

Annie: Okay, thank you, Professor. Could I also trouble you to take a brief look at
my bibliography and footnotes? I feel like they’re missing something; most of our friends’
bibliographies are longer.

Prof. Tomlinson: Well, looking at this Annie, I can see that you have used a wide range of
resources, which shows that you have made effective use of communication
technology (Q22). As far as I can tell, you need not make any changes to this, although you
might want to double check that your referencing complies with the Harvard Referencing
Style regulations.

Annie: Oh I’m very surprised you’ve said that! Thank you, now I can set my mind at
ease. Tom, you said you wanted to ask the Professor about the achievements section?

Tom: Ah yes, Professor, in the assignment guidelines, we are asked to introduce

and elaborate on our biggest achievement in the past, saying which skills we learnt in the
process, and how these skills can be transferred to various different future careers. The only
problem is that I don’t know what my greatest achievement actually is. I’ve only ever
worked as a waiter in a hotel restaurant during the summer holidays from university.

Prof. Tomlinson: If you worked as a waiter in a hotel restaurant, you’re bound to have
worked with other waiters as part of a team. Would you say that during your time as a
waiter, you developed any leadership skills?

Tom: Yes, well I suppose I was asked to become the team leader of the food
and beverage department (Q23). But that’s hardly an achievement.

Prof. Tomlinson: You might not think so, but if you write that you were offered the position
of the team leader, it shows a lot more about your character, for example that you’re
charismatic and work well in a high-pressure situation.

Tom: I never would have thought to write that down, thank you! I guess I should
start listening to others more often (Q24)! Annie, do you have any more questions or are
you ready to go back to the library?

Annie: Yeah, I think I’ve got everything I need. Thank you very much, Professor
Tomlinson!

Tom: That was really helpful. I’m actually starting to look forward to writing this
now (Q25), and it should be a really useful exercise to prepare us for writing CVs and
applying for jobs. It’s shocking how bad I am at identifying my strengths and

92
weaknesses. Professor Tomlinson has shown me that I definitely need to start displaying
some self-awareness! (Q26)

Annie: Yeah, Tom, you really do. You’re always so modest! Modesty is great until it
comes to applying for jobs!

Annie: Oh no! I forgot to ask the professor about the section on identifying the
skills gained through different activities, do you remember? When it asks you, for example,
whether writing an essay develops your study skills or your independent learning and so on?

Tom: Oh goodness, we really should have asked him that. I’ve been having
trouble with it too. It just seems like such a pointless task. What do you reckon the answers
are?

Annie: Hmm… I think writing an essay might be a way of identifying and resolving
a problem, because you have to state the problem in the introduction and then solve
it (Q27). I’m not so sure about taking exams… I thought they were supposed to develop lots
of different skill sets. If I really had to choose, I’d say that taking exams enables you to
become more confident in yourself (Q28)… do you agree?

Tom: Maybe, I really don’t know either. What do you think about the last two?
Making class notes and presentation notes?

Annie: Oh it’s so difficult! I think making class notes has to be a way of becoming
a more independent learner (Q29) because you yourself decide what the important
information is and learn it. That reminds me, I find taking presentation notes is a
disaster (Q30)! The professors speak much too quickly, and I write much too slowly, [fade
out]

SECTION 4

Welcome back to my series of short lectures on apes. Today we will examine recent and
historical breakthroughs on the behaviour of chimpanzees, otherwise known as chimps.

The word ‘chimpanzee’ is an umbrella term for two different species of apes in the genus
Pan, which are the Common Chimpanzee, or Pan Troglodytes, found in West and Central
Africa, and the Bonobo, or Pan Paniscus, which are found in the forests of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. Chimpanzees belong to the Hominidae family, together with gorillas,
orangutans and indeed humans. Current research tells us that the chimps broke away from
the human branch of the Hominidae family approximately six million years ago, and remain
the closest living relative to humans to this day. More modern researches into chimpanzees
have centred on their behavioural characteristics, once all biological
and genetic (Q31) factors have been ruled out. In this way, scientists have unearthed an
unfathomable amount of similarities between human and chimpanzee behaviour. Although
much of this research has taken place through observation of captive chimps, the results are

93
widely seen as an authoritative reflection of chimps living in the wild. Chimps live in large so-
called communities comprised of many male and female members, with the social hierarchy
determined by an individual chimp’s position and influence. Through such research,
scientists have found that chimps learn and adapt through observation (Q32) of others’
behaviour. Once in power, the alpha male is often seen to alter its body language in order to
retain power, for example he might puff himself up in order to intimidate others, while
lower-ranking chimps are noted to behave more submissively and holding out their hands
while granting. Female chimpanzees also have a distinct social hierarchy, with high social
standing inherited by children. It is not unheard of for dominant females within a
community to unite and overthrow the alpha male, backing another in his place.

James Diamond, in his book The Third Chimpanzee suggests that chimps should now be
reclassified in the genus Homo, instead of Pan, and there are many arguments still in favour
of this. Male common chimpanzees are on average 1.7 metres in height, weighing 70kg,
with their female counterparts being somewhat smaller. By comparison, the Bonobo is
slightly shorter and lighter, but with longer arms and legs; however, both species walk on all
fours, and climb trees with great ease. Jane Goodall made a groundbreaking discovery in
1960, when she observed the use of tools (Q33) among chimpanzees, including digging for
termites with large sticks. A recent study claimed to reveal that common chimpanzees in
Senegal have been using spears sharpened with their teeth to hunt; however these reports
remain unsubstantiated. Researchers have witnessed such tools, namely rocks, being used
by chimps to open (Q34) coconut shells and indeed crushing nuts
with stone (Q35) hammers. As scientific technology has developed, so too has our
knowledge of the sheer extent of the chimp’s intelligence. Research has now shown that
chimps have the capability to learn and use symbols (Q36), and understand aspects of the
human language, including syntax as well as numerical sequences.

As I mentioned earlier, the umbrella term ‘chimpanzee’ is comprised of the common

chimpanzee and the bonobo. These two sub-species are divided along the Congo River, with
the common chimps living on one side, and the bonobos living on the opposite side of
the river (Q37). Over the past few decades, both of these sub-species have witnessed an
alarming decrease in population density (Q38), with animal activists now working harder
than ever to protect those remaining and encourage procreation.

In addition, next week’s episode will focus more closely on how chimpanzees in captivity are
able to learn things through imitating the behaviour of humans (Q39), as well as how
chimpanzees’ behaviours have developed over many generations. (Q40)

Thank you very much for attending this evening’s lecture. I hope you found it intellectually
stimulating, and I look forward to seeing you again next week. Goodnight!

Test 14

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SECTION 1

Events Coordinator: Good morning, you’re through to the events coordinator at the
Birmingham City Council, how may I help you?

Julie: Hello there, my husband and I are interested in purchasing (Example) tickets to the
automobile exhibition, but I couldn’t find many details about it on your website, and I was
wondering whether you could provide me with some more information. Does it open in
June?

Events Coordinator: Yes, of course, Madam. The exhibition will take place during July (Q1),
and will showcase the history of automobiles from the very first commercial car in the late
1800s all the way through to the present day.

Julie: Is the exhibition open for the duration of July?

Events Coordinator: No, Madam, the exhibition will last 3 days (Q2), from the 1st of July to
the 3rd of July, and then the cars will be taken to another exhibition.

Julie: Okay. Does the exhibition focus on a certain manufacturer?

Events Coordinator: No, it will showcase a wide range of manufacturers.

Julie: Wonderful! I’m ever so fed up of going to these shows and only seeing one
manufacturer. Are there any opportunities to sit in or even drive the cars?

Events Coordinator: There will be many opportunities for you to sit in the cars; however,
some of the cars will only be available to observe. We are yet to be told whether any of the
antique cars will be available to drive, however there will certainly be an opportunity to test
driving (Q3) some of the more modern cars on a purpose-built track.

Julie: That sounds like great fun! I mustn’t forget to bring my camera, or my husband will
never forgive me!

Events Coordinator: I’m afraid to say that cameras (Q4) are actually strictly not allowed to
bring into the exhibition. There will however be a section where a professional
photographer will be available to take photos of you sitting in a car in period clothing.

Julie: Well, that sounds like it could be fun, but I assume the photos won’t be free.

Events Coordinator: On the contrary, one free photograph is included within every ticket,
but each photo after this will cost £5.

Julie: That’s a nice surprise, not many things are free anymore. I’ve been asking around
about the ticket prices, but I haven’t yet had a definite answer. Is it correct that the tickets
are £100 whether you buy them now or on arrival?

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Events Coordinator: I’m afraid not. If you buy the ticket in advance the price is £110 (Q5),
but it’s £165 on the door.

Julie: Oh goodness! I suppose I’d best pay for them now then. Is it possible to buy tickets
from you now over the phone?

Events Coordinator: Yes, of course, Madam. I’ll transfer you to the Box Office Manager,
Mark Edgeworth (Q6), that’s E-D-G-E-W-O-R-T-H, and he will probably need to take your
credit card details and some personal details.

Julie: Yes, that’s fine. Before you transfer me, I just need to ask a few more questions.
Will the exhibition be held in the Birmingham Exhibition Centre? I think that’s where I went
last time.

Events Coordinator: No, Madam, the Birmingham Exhibition Centre is currently undergoing
some renovations, so this year all exhibitions will be held in the Summer (Q7) Palace.

Julie: Summer Palace? I’m not entirely sure where that is.

Events Coordinator: Well, it’s not too far from city centre (Q8). Once you’re in the centre,
you should be able to find signs for the palace. If not, most people in Birmingham will be
able to direct you.

Julie: Hmm…neither my husband nor I am particularly good with directions. Is there

anywhere I can find this information on the Internet?

Events Coordinator: Our website will give you an address. Perhaps you could
visit www.directions.com (Q9) for more detailed information, and they should be able to
provide you with step-by-step instructions.

Julie: Okay and is this the best way to contact you, by phone?

Events Coordinator: I think the most convenient way to contact us is enquiring online (Q10),
which is much simpler than having to dial various different numbers to reach the right
person! Unless you have any more questions, I’ll transfer you now.

Julie: No, that’s great! Thank you for your help.

SECTION 2

Hello, and welcome to the home page for the Healthy Hearing Medical Clinic and Surgery,
where we’d like to share a little more information about the services we provide and more.

Our hospital is one of the leading specialised hospitals in the United Kingdom, attracting the
very best healthcare professionals from around the globe. Not only are we a leading medical

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practice, but we are also the only hospital in the United Kingdom dedicated entirely to the
treatment of, and research into the curing of hearing loss. Our facilities and staff here are
renowned across Europe, attracting thousands of patients a year. Our consultations can
number anything up to 11,000 patients a year, however we aim to treat around 5,000
patients a year so as to maintain and ensure the quality of our services (Q11). Our patients
are guaranteed the highest standard of care, as well as the use of our first class facilities. All
patients requiring overnight treatment are provided with their own private room with en-
suite facilities, as well as a state-of-the-art entertainment centre, which includes a flat
screen LCD television and Playstation.

Appointments with our healthcare professionals can be made at any time during the
week, with female doctors available between 8 am and 11 am (Q12). If you need to see a
doctor outside of these times, please visit the ‘Out of Hours’ page of our website for more
information. Our doctors are all trained to an exceptionally high standard, and practice a
vast array of specialties: Mr. Robert is a fully qualified ear and throat specialist, Mr. Edwards
is a pediatric hearing specialist, while Mr. Green specialises in reversing hearing loss (Q13).
For more details about our people, please visit the ‘Staff Members’ page on our website.

During a consultation, doctors will sometimes decide medication is required, for which
patients should receive a prescription. There are several pharmacies within the
city; however we recommend that patients use the pharmacy housed within our health
care facility (Q14). Our in-house pharmacy is well-stocked at all times, our products are
competitively priced, and our pharmacists are on hand to help and advise from 8 am until 10
pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 9 am until 12 pm on Sundays. If you require any
help outside of these hours, please see our ‘Out of Hours’ page on the website.

Since the Healthy Hearing Medical Clinic and Surgery also functions as a teaching hospital,
we aim to provide our students with every opportunity to expose themselves to medicine in
practice. Therefore we would like to encourage our patients to give their consent for a
medical student to attend their consultations (Q15). If our patients are not comfortable
with this, there will be a form at reception where patients will be able to opt out.

Now, please look at the map I’ve given you of the Healthy Hearing Medical Clinic and
Surgery. For those not familiar with our practice, reception can be found through the main
door at the end of the corridor (Q16). If your consultation is booked with Mr. Green, you
need to go through the main door and turn right by the nurses’ desk, and his office is at the
end of the corridor on your left-hand side (Q17). If you need to alter any of your personal
details, please visit our secretary at the Office for Medical Records, which you will find next
to the therapy room (Q18). If you’re awaiting surgery, please first check in with reception,
before taking the first door on the right after you enter the clinic. (Q19)

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Finally, in the event that you feel disappointed with any of the services we have provided, or
have any further questions, please locate our Manager’s Office, which can be found near
the Office for Medical Records and between two closets. (Q20)

If you have any more questions about the Healthy Hearing Medical Clinic and Surgery,
please do not hesitate to contact us on 01256 111 111. [fade out]

SECTION 3

Jim: Jane, what did you think of Professor Morgan’s lecture? I don’t know about you, but
I find it incredibly difficult to believe that light influences the environment as much as he
says. I’ve never seen any journal articles, websites or anything that verifies his argument. It’s
stupid.

Jane: On the contrary, I’ve seen a great deal of research supporting his argument from a
wide range of renowned scientists. Have you looked at the recommended textbook listed on
the course outline given to us at the beginning of the semester? All the information is in
there, perhaps you’ve just been looking in the wrong places.

Jim: I never look at the course outlines, I have so many loose sheets of paper I tend to
lose anything I’m given by the end of the day. What’s the textbook they recommend, and
where can I get it from? I should probably go buy it soon; I’m already behind in the course.

Jane: Yeah, you definitely should buy it, and our grades are more important this year! It’s
called ‘The Influence of Light on the Environment’. You should be able to find it in the
bookshop on campus. If not, they’ll order it within two weeks. In the meantime, you should
read up on Ken Simpson’s work, he argues that in order to protect natural habitats,
governments should endeavor to turn off lights in cities at night. (Q21)

Jim: Well that’s controversial; I doubt any government would be willing to do that any
time soon. I imagine roads would become quite dangerous without street lighting. For this
issue, Dave Kepler suggests they could just replace the existing lights with more
environmentally friendly bulbs (Q22). They could even install solar-powered lights; that
way, roads will be more eco-friendly while maintaining safety. Although I guess they
wouldn’t be particularly effective in colder countries, especially during the winter.

Jane: That’s quite a good idea actually. The price of solar power is supposed to be on par
with electricity within the next few decades, and it was on the news this morning. I’ve also
heard that, according to Sharon Grey, in countries with more sunlight, insect-eating
animals tend to be smaller in size (Q23). Since there are fewer insects, and the remaining
insects produced a smaller number of eggs.

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Jim: Yeah, I think I read somewhere that sunlight also has a negative effect on the
quality of water, but I’m not sure I believe it. In many hot countries, particularly developing
countries, there is a lot of water pollution caused by factories rather than
sunlight. Nevertheless, Maria Jackson says that in direct sunlight, the surface of the water
becomes more translucent, therefore it affects the amount of sunlight that aquatic insects
can absorb (Q24). Not much research has been undertaken to prove Jackson’s theory, but it
seems to have been widely accepted anyway.

Jane: I’ve never heard of that. I’ll have to look it up on Google. The only other theory I’ve
studied is Barbara Swallow’s study on how declined insect population adversely affects
the frog population (Q25). Not that I’m complaining… I hate insects, especially spiders.

Jim: You have arachnophobia? I never would have guessed. Didn’t your brother have a
pet black widow spider?

Jane: Yes, he did, and I hated it. It escaped from its cage once and we never found it. I had
nightmares for months.

Jane: Okay, now I’m getting goose bumps, let’s change the subject. What’s your stance on
natural and artificial light?

Jim: Honestly, I’m not sure it makes much difference which one you use; species will
die out either way (Q26). I think the real argument we should consider is global warming
and protection or replacement of finite fuels. Solar power provides us with an incredible
opportunity to replace electricity, and governments should definitely increase spending on
research in this field. The theories discussed in our lectures, like Simpson’s and Grey’s, are
so vague and lack proof, so I don’t understand why we even study them. (Q27)

Jane: I see what you mean. I don’t like learning unsupported theories for exams, and I’d
rather spend my time learning something else. For example, I’d be much more interested in
studying the animals in safari parks than researching migratory birds, particularly the
effect of tourists on the quality of life of animals (Q28). As we know, every year thousands
of visitors will drive in their own vehicles or ride in vehicles provided by the facility to
observe freely roaming animals.

Jim: Yeah, that would be really interesting! Especially those animals living in more
tropical countries, like Borneo (Q29). Following on from that, I want to study how bringing
animals over from foreign countries to put in our zoos affects their life expectancy (Q30).
For example, do you remember when China sent pandas to Edinburgh Zoo? Apparently one
of the pandas became depressed, but it was never explained why. To me, obviously, you
can’t take an animal out of its natural habitat and put it in a cage on the other side of the
world. It just doesn’t work… [fade out]

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SECTION 4

Great Britain is often hailed as the home of football, with talented players travelling from far
and wide to play for teams in the English Premier League – one of the most popular football
leagues on the planet. Today we are going to take a look back to the 19th century Great
Britain in an attempt to trace the evolution of ‘the beautiful game’ as it is now known.

Prior to the 19th century, the game featured a wide variety of local and regional
adaptations, which were later smartened up and made more uniform to create our modern-
day sports of association football, rugby football, and Ireland’s Gaelic football. Even up to
the mid-19th century, Shrovetide football or ‘mob football’ was still widely practiced.
According to the rules of mob football, there were no rules… a player could legally use any
means whatsoever to obtain the ball, such as kicking, punching, biting and gouging, with the
only exceptions being murder and manslaughter. These games may be regarded as the
ancestors of modem codes of football, and by comparison with later models of football,
they were chaotic and had few cooperation. Towards the latter end of the 19th century and
moving into the early part of the 20th century, however, there appeared a new found
emphasis on moral values in football (Q31). Perhaps a more modern example of this can be
seen in John Terry’s suspension as England captain following reports of his infidelity to his
wife. Furthermore, as mob football died away, there grew a greater concern for players’
health and general well-being, with many clubs affording their top players access to
frequent medical check-ups and treatment (Q32). Despite the presence of Great Britain’s
unique state-funded National Health Service, football clubs are still seen today providing
team members with State-of-the-art healthcare facilities, with the top clubs even housing
their own specialist doctors and physicians.

Today, football is a key feature of school children’s day-to-day education, particularly for
boys. With the help of football associations, all schools in the UK are boasting their own
football teams. This mainly comes as a result of pressure put on schools and the
government by concerned parents (Q33), who felt that football education taught their
children valuable lessons and indeed vital life skills, such as teamwork and the drive to
succeed. Nowadays, many of the UK’s top football clubs provide training facilities and
outreach programmes in an attempt to educate the nation’s aspiring youths.

As I previously mentioned, it was only during the 19th century that football in its uniform
concept truly began to emerge, with footballers previously playing according to their
own versions (Q34) of the rules. However, it was not until the early 20th century that
different players actually began to play according to these standardised rules. Prior to the
19th century, football was played by all the major English public schools including the likes
of Eton College, Winchester College, and Harrow. In 1848 there was a meeting at Cambridge
University in an attempt to lay down the laws of football. Present at the meeting were
representatives of each of these major public schools, whom each brought a copy of the
rules enforced by their own individual school’s rules of football. The result of the meeting

100
was what is now known as the ‘Cambridge Rules’, thereby uniting the rules from across
the country (Q35) into one simple document. However, the Cambridge Rules were not liked
by all, and a new set of rules, ‘Thring’s Rules’ compounded in the book ‘The Simplest Game’
became common place among dissenters.

Across the country, improvements in infrastructure and public transport (Q36) had a knock
on effect of dramatically increasing attendance to football games. Football quickly became
a social (Q37) event where spectators would meet friends, drink tea and chat about the
good old days. As football became more and more popular, it was decided that more money
should be invested in maintaining the quality of pitches amongst other things, and there
was even talk of installing seating for spectators. However, the question of who was to foot
the bill quickly became a divisive issue, with many believing that the government should
fund football’s development as a national sport. But in the end, the onus fell upon Britain’s
local and regional football clubs for the funding (Q38) and development of the football
association. They became responsible for the upkeep of football grounds, began to pay their
best players a small salary, and organised competitions (Q39) against other local and
regional teams. And there began England’s Football Association, or the FA, as we know it in
its current form, the governing body of football in England. As the FA continued to grow and
accumulate greater wealth, it was able to attract more and more talented young men from
across the country, before finally accepting professional (Q40) talent in the early 20th
century. Today, football is played at a professional level all over the world. Millions of
people regularly go to football stadiums to follow their favourite teams, while billions more
watch the game on television or on the Internet, [fade out]

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 Test 15
SECTION 1

OLIVIA: Hi Zach! I heard you passed your driving test! Congratulations!

ZACH: Thanks Olivia! I passed just last week. It feels great to be independent and
driving on my own!

OLIVIA: I really want to take driving lessons, but I haven’t been able to find a driving
school that will give lessons during the weekends (Example) so that I don’t have to miss any
classes at college.

ZACH: The driving school that I used was brilliant and really flexible with their
teaching hours. It’s really close to school. The address is 67 King’s (Q1) Road – that’s 67-
KING-apostrophe-S Road.

OLIVIA: Oh that’s perfect! I don’t like the idea of driving around busy streets. Did
your teacher make you drive in urban areas or did he mainly teach you on roads in the
countryside?

ZACH: My teacher said that I had to learn on both in order to become a good and
experienced driver. We would start in the city centre and then drive north (Q2) above the
city.

OLIVIA: He sounds like a good teacher. Would you mind giving me his contact
details so I can ask him for lessons?

ZACH: Of course! My mother’s friend Daniel Smith referred me to him. His name is
Allen Sutcliffe.

OLIVIA: Could you spell the surname please?

ZACH: S-U-T-C-L-I-double F-E. (Q3)

OLIVIA: Thanks for helping me out, I’ll give him a call tomorrow. I don’t know if I
should learn in a manual or automatic car. How do I decide?

ZACH: I wasn’t sure which type of car to learn in either. In the end I chose to learn
in a manual car because once you’ve learnt how to drive manually you can drive automatic
as well. Most cars on the road are automatic (Q4) nowadays.

OLIVIA: OK, I think I’ll learn with a manual car too then. Hopefully the teacher will
be able to give me lessons in the evenings after school!

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ZACH: It would be much better if you take the lessons during the day (Q5). It will
be far easier for you to learn when there is enough daylight to clearly see everything going
on around you. But you need to be an experienced driver to drive safely at night.

OLIVIA: How frustrating! I was hoping I wouldn’t have to take lessons during the
weekends! You’re right though, safety comes first!

ZACH: Speaking of safety, you should wait until summer to start learning! It’s
really difficult and dangerous to drive in the wind and rain as a learner so you should
definitely wait until the weather (Q6) is sunny and dry.

OLIVIA: OK, that’s perfect, actually! It will give me some time to save up some
money to pay for the lessons.

ZACH: Tell me about it! I had to work for months before I had enough money
saved up! It was worth all the work when I finally got my driving license (Q7) though!

OLIVIA: The whole process is so expensive! How much did it cost you in the end?

ZACH: Well, each half hour lesson cost $30 and then the final test cost $50 (Q8). In
total it cost me about $300.

OLIVIA: Gosh, it’s pretty expensive! How did you find the test? Was it really
difficult?

ZACH: No, it wasn’t too bad, and the man was really calm and friendly. I knew that
I would have to perform two parking manoeuvres during the test, so I practised them a lot
beforehand and that really helped! The test used to last 40 minutes, but it changed a bit. For
the first 20 minutes of the test he gave me directions and I had to just drive around and
then the last 10 minutes was for demonstrating the manoeuvres, so the test
is 30 (Q9) minutes in total.

OLIVIA: OK, great, I’ll remember that! Do you have any more advice?

ZACH: It’s really good to practise driving a lot outside of driving lessons as well.
Whenever my parents were running errands on the weekends I would offer to drive them.
My driving teacher also told me to buy a notebook to write down everything that I’ve learnt
in it like a diary. (Q10)

OLIVIA: Haha, that sounds boring, but I’ll do it if it helps.

ZACH: I found it really useful! Before my test I read through everything I had
written down and it reminded me of a lot of things that I had forgotten about! It’s really
helpful for the theory test as well because there’s so much information to remember for it.

OLIVIA: That’s great, Zach! Thanks for your help!

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ZACH: No problem, see you at school!

OLIVIA: Bye!

SECTION 2

Good morning, everybody and welcome to Mount Rushmore! To start your visit I’m just
going to give you a brief account of the history of the memorial before letting you roam
about on your own. I won’t keep you long. OK?

Mount Rushmore is South Dakota’s top tourist attraction and features the heads of four
United States Presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and
Abraham Lincoln. Each head is 18 metres tall, which is taller than the heights of eleven
people combined! The sculptor initially wanted to depict the presidents from head to waist,
but due to a lack of funding the construction had to stop before this vision could be realised.
In total it cost the government $ 1 million (Q11) to sculpt the heads at Mount Rushmore.

Before the construction of the presidents’ heads, the mountain was just bare rock and
forest attracting only a few hikers a year. The new carving at Mount Rushmore has become
an iconic symbol of presidential greatness and has appeared in works of fiction and other
popular works. The sculpture has also worked perfectly as a way to develop tourism (Q12),
which was its intended purpose, and now attracts over two million people a year.

The original plan was to carve the Presidents’ faces into the granite pillars known as ‘The
Needles’, however the sculptor soon realised that these rocks were too eroded and delicate
to support such a large sculpture. Instead he chose to locate the carving at Mount
Rushmore due to its grand appearance and brightly lit rock faces that experience maximum
exposure to sunlight throughout the day as a result of the south-east (Q13) orientation.
Upon seeing Mount Rushmore, the sculptor declared ‘America will march along that
skyline.’

The name of Mount Rushmore also has an interesting history. The location was originally
known as the Six Grandfathers, however during an expedition in 1885 the mountain was
renamed after Charles E. Rushmore, a prominent New York lawyer (Q14) who joked that his
annual treks to the mountain had earned him the right to have it named after him. Forty
years after the mountain was renamed, Charles E. Rushmore donated $5,000 towards the
sculpting of the president’s heads -the largest single contribution. In 1927 the construction
work started and seven (Q15) years later was complete with no fatalities.

So that’s the history for you. If you’d like any more information, please feel free to ask me
questions, or you can soak up the information from our fantastic guide book.

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Now I’m going to give you a plan of the site and I’d just like to point out where everything is
so that you can explore everything for yourself. We’re currently standing at the entrance,
which is marked with the arrow on the map. If you follow the trail up to our left, you will
find the information centre (Q16). There’s a great photo booth there where you can have
your photograph taken with Mount Rushmore in the background for a fee of only $10 –
what a great souvenir! In front of us is the refreshment centre where you can help
yourselves to coffee, locally grown tea and a delicious selection of cold drinks and
biscuits (Q17). Be sure to stay hydrated as it can get really hot up here! To our right not far
up the trail is the gift shop (Q18). Here we sell copies of the guide book and it’s also the
perfect place to pick up some small souvenirs for yourself, your family and friends. Now
further up the trail behind the gift shop is a big stone building with a workshop (Q19). This
is where all of our souvenirs are made by hand, which you can purchase in the gift shop like I
said before. Some are even carved from pieces of rock taken from Mount Rushmore itself! If
you carry on walking up the trail past the workshop you’ll find our state of the art visitor
centre where you can find maps of the walking trails here at Mount Rushmore (Q20). Now
for the real treat! After you have walked past the visitor centre, you can follow the trail up
to the left, which will take you to our wooden shelter. From here you will have the best view
of Mount Rushmore that there is – an experience not be forgotten! Right, if anyone wants a
guided tour then I’m starting at the information centre. If you’d like to follow me, this way
please.

SECTION 3

CHARLOTTE: Excuse me, Dr Twain. May I speak with you for a minute?

DR TWAIN: Of course, please come in.

CHARLOTTE: I’m Charlotte York. I’m considering taking your course in Tourism.

DR TWAIN: Right. Well, Charlotte, how can I help you?

CHARLOTTE: I have been considering studying Tourism, however, it is such an important

decision that I would like to seek some advice about it first. Would you mind answering
some of my questions?

DR TWAIN: Absolutely, fire away!

CHARLOTTE: Well I have been discussing courses with my parents and they are
concerned that I will not be able to get a well-paid job with a degree in Tourism. The reason
that I want to study the course is that I have a great interest in the subject and I think I
would really enjoy it. I believe the only way that I will enjoy my life is if I enjoy my career.
Happiness is far more important than money (Q21), don’t you think?

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DR TWAIN: Absolutely. I would much rather be happy and poor rather than rich and
miserable. Money cannot buy you happiness.

CHARLOTTE: I’m glad you agree.

DR TWAIN: You needn’t worry about money, Charlotte. A large part of the Tourism
course is dedicated to teaching students how to manage finances, a skill that you can
apply to your everyday life as well (Q22). I would also recommend that you take a sideline
course in time management, as this can be incredibly useful in efficiently planning your
workload. Efficiency is the key to success!

CHARLOTTE: I’ll remember that.

DR TWAIN: Now I have found that some students have natural talents that really help
them to succeed in the course. Communication skills, for example, can be very beneficial. Do
you have any strengths?

CHARLOTTE: Maths was always my favourite subject at school so I really enjoy solving
mathematical problems, however I find statistics quite difficult. I have always been very
capable and self-sufficient. I have a lot of confidence in my abilities and will take the
initiative in situations without needing to depend on anyone else for their help. (Q23)

DR TWAIN: That’s a really great quality to have and will be particularly useful if you
choose to study Tourism.

CHARLOTTE: That’s great.

DR TWAIN: I would recommend that you spend some of your time researching the
course. A lot of people who are uneducated on the subject claim that Tourism is a shrinking
industry and that it will become irrelevant in the future. If you study the published research
however, you will see that the truth is quite the opposite. The industry has, in fact, grown
significantly as people have developed an ever-increasing interest in culture and
travel (Q24). Have you compared the university course with a polytechnic?

CHARLOTTE: Yes, I have. I was interested in studying the course in modules. However,
the university doesn’t offer that option. I don’t have enough funds to be able to attend an
expensive university, so I was relieved to see that the course is quite affordable (Q25). I
also considered attending a summer school instead of university to save money and so that I
could work during the rest of the year, but I really wanted the university experience.

DR TWAIN: I think that university would suit you well.

DR TWAIN: Now, what about the courses? Are you interested in any of the other
subjects on offer?

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MELANIE: I have looked at a few. I was interested in Travel and Business as it sounds
similar to Tourism.

DR TWAIN: That is really worth learning, however, be aware that it is difficult and will
demand a lot of your time. (Q26)

MELANIE: OK, that’s good to know.

DR TWAIN: You might find that Japanese is an interesting course and it will teach you
valuable skills in speaking the language. Personally, it’s not bad and could be of some help,
but not that much. (Q27)

MELANIE: OK, Japanese, got that… What about Medical Care?

DR TWAIN: Well, if you have time, the course will teach you a lot about curing diseases
and illnesses, or dealing with injuries outside, although it’s not essential.

CHARLOTTE: So, OK, if it’s useful (Q28), I’ll take it.

DR TWAIN: If you enjoy using technology and are worried about fulfilling the entry
requirements, computing is very relaxed about the skills that applicants must
possess. (Q29)

CHARLOTTE: I’m terrible with computers so I’m not sure that I would enjoy that course.
How about Public Relations?

DR TWAIN: Yes, I would recommend that course. It would be related to entering the
Tourism industry as it will educate you on how to approach clients and develop
associations with them. (Q30)

CHARLOTTE: That’s great! Thank you so much for your help!

SECTION 4

Welcome class to your very first lecture in this series on Business in the Modern World
conducted by myself, Dr Toby Bennett. Today we will be looking into the practice of
company outsourcing, using TCP Technologies as a case study. Now, for those of you who
are unfamiliar with this practice, I will give you a summative definition: company
outsourcing involves the contracting of various business activities by one company to
another. This practice will sometimes occur from a western company to a party based in a
third world country, the rationale being to make significant financial savings on lower
international labour rates and to potentially increase quality.

Now, our case study for today is TCP Technologies – a party located in India that receives
outsourced tasks from western companies. The manager of TCP Technologies is a man

107
called Manjeet Khanna who has personally developed a series of aims and philosophies by
which the company is expected to operate. He claims that the most important of these
philosophies is to create a workplace where each individual member has the opportunity to
contribute their opinion to the operations of the company. That is to say that he found it
important to develop a democratic (Q31) environment.

As a means of ensuring quality from every individual at TCP Technologies, a grading system
has been developed that encourages an ethos of hard work and recognises
accomplishment. This grading of individuals is based upon a series of factors such as
turnover, hours worked and efficiency. Every month Khanna publishes the grades on
an internal website (Q32) where staff can access not only their own grades, but also
compare it to others. A spirit of playful competitiveness has developed through this method,
which has resulted in increased efficiency and turnover across the company.

Khanna also saw it as essential to develop a culturally diverse group of employees as a

means of presenting a multi-faceted image that would appeal to a host of potential
employees from across the globe. This cultural openness has not only increased the quantity
of incoming contracted opportunities by 7%, but has also benefitted the company itself
significantly. A level of transparency (Q33) now exists that had not before been apparent.
According to questionnaires carried out recently, these newly introduced measures have
significantly increased the rate of staff satisfaction, which has subsequently led to an
increase of 32% in the company’s income. (Q34)

These figures are truly admirable and serve as a testament to the measures that Khanna has
introduced to the workplace at TCP Technologies. In a recent interview published by the
Economist, he declared, ‘The figures speak for themselves – my system works!’ When asked
if he had any advice for companies on methods they could employ to streamline workflow
and increase turnover, he replied, “It’s simple, really. A company must see itself not as one
entity comprised of nameless components, but instead as a living organism composed of
cells, each one essential to the functioning of the whole. I suggest that the motto by which
your management operates will be ‘employee first’.” (Q35)

Many benefits have been reaped from the aforementioned changes in management style,
such as a significant decrease in staff turnover. This improvement alone has solved many
problems that had before stunted the growth of the company. A lot of these improvements
came from the realisation that the solution (Q36) does not have to be produced internally,
but can come from any other company. The grading system also immeasurably enhanced
the dynamics of the company. The fact that this measuring system is solely produced for
staff members and inaccessible by management means that it cannot be used as a judging
criterion for promotion (Q37). It has proven itself a relaxed and informal means of
stimulating workflow.

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When asked about specific features of his managing style, Khanna mentioned that it is
important for him to respond personally to any complaints filed by staff members. Having
found the existing complaints process slow and ineffective, he introduced a new online
system that created a direct line of communication between Khanna and all employees of
the company. The complaint form, dubbed by Khanna as a ticket (Q38), eradicates the
middleman, is easily accessible to all employees online and has an interface that can be
instinctively navigated. Any staff-related complaint, such as those relating to air conditioning
and food quality, can be submitted directly to Khanna via this online system. Entitlement
to vacation (Q39) is also a popular issue discussed through this forum. The main benefit of
using this system is that staff must include their personal details on the ticket before they
are able to submit it. In the past, anonymous complaints had been at the root of much
confusion and caused many wasted work hours, so the new system has put a ban (Q40) on
this form of complaint.

That wraps up the lecture for today. Please remember that attendance is mandatory… (fade
out)

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 Test 16
SECTION 1

Manager: Hi there, welcome to the Job Centre. How can I help?

Lauren: Good morning, I’m here to enquire as to whether you have any jobs
available at the moment?

Manager: Yes, we have several available. What kind of job is it that you’re looking for?

Lauren: Well, um, I’ll take any part-time (Example) jobs I can get. I’m really
strapped for cash at the moment.

Manager: Okay, bear with me while I have a browse on our system. [Pause] Here we
are. We have three vacancies at the moment, all involving quite different roles.

Lauren: That sounds promising. What are they?

Manager: The first one is for a post as a receptionist (Q1). It says here that experience
in reception or general administration is preferred, but not essential. Have you worked on a
reception desk previously?

Lauren: No, I haven’t. I had a baby quite young, and so I have very little work
experience. Could you tell me a few more details?

Manager: Yes, of course. The job will be to mainly provide quality

customer (Q2) service both over the phone and in person. When customers are waiting you
will be expected to provide them with refreshments and ensure they have a first-rate
experience.

Lauren: I think I could manage that, and I’m a very friendly person!

Manager: That’s great.

Lauren: Do you have any information about the hours involved?

Manager: It says here that you will be expected to work several early mornings (Q3),
4 days a week.

Lauren: Any other requirements?

Manager: Yeah, you’ll have to go through a couple of weeks of

unpaid training (Q4) before qualifying for the post.

Lauren: Hmm, I don’t know if I would be able to fully commit to that. Did you say it’s
4 days per week?

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Manager: Yeah, it says here 4 days a week, with another day off per week when
requested in advance. It also explicitly states that at least one of your working days must fall
on a weekend.

Lauren: I’ll have to think about that and talk to my babysitter.

Lauren: Are there any other roles beginning later in the day?

Manager: Yes, there’s an advertisement here for a driver (Q5). It says you’ll need a
clean and valid UK driver’s license, with absolutely no exception. Lauren: No problems
there. I passed my test first time and have never received any points.

Manager: It also explicitly states that you must be over twenty-five and have been
driving for at least six years.

Lauren: That sounds quite exciting. Is there any more information?

Manager: Yep, it says here that working hours are flexible (Q6), and the employers
are happy to work within your personal schedule since they employ multiple drivers.

Lauren: That’s great.

Manager: The employers ask for a commitment to either mornings 5 days per week,
evenings 5 days per week, or three full working days per week.

Lauren: I’m sure I can handle all that without a problem.

Manager: As well as driving the employers to and from work, they will ask you to
perform various duties on their behalf, such as collecting the grocery shopping (Q7), and
picking their children up from school.

Lauren: Do they need me to work a day on the weekend as well?

Manager: No, it says here that they only require you to work on weekdays,
not weekends. (Q8)

Lauren: That sounds interesting.

Manager: Okay, there’s only one more left, another customer service-related post. It
looks like it requires you to work short hours, quite late at night, so it might not be suitable
for you. Do you want to hear about it anyway?

Lauren: Yeah, can’t do any harm.

Manager: Okay, so it’s a post for a cashier in a cinema (Q9) in the centre of town. I’m
sure you’ve been to the cinema a few times, so you can guess what kind of role it would be.
They’re quite short and late shifts, between 17.30 and 22.30 most nights, with slightly
longer shifts on Friday and Saturday nights.

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Lauren: Mmm, can you tell me what the job involves?

Manager: Yes, sure. It says that you’ll be required to sell and dispense tickets, and
provide refreshments. Also, they ask that you be quick on the computers since you’ll also
need to take bookings (Q10) over the phone, but you’ll receive basic training for that.

Lauren: Do they need me to work weekdays as well?

Manager: Well, it says here that if you request at least a fortnight in advance, they will
grant you a day off on Mondays, but never on a weekend.

Lauren: Mmm. I’ll think it over and let you know later. Thanks for all your help.

SECTION 2

Thank you all for coming to my talk this evening. It’s nice to see so many people in the
audience. For those of you who don’t know very much about ‘Connection’, let me start by
giving you some background information about it.

‘Connection’ is a British organisation that facilitates homestays all over the globe. This
organisation prides itself on matching tens of thousands of host families with guests every
single year, allowing travellers to discover a country’s culture in a way like no other.
Homestays are ideal for both travellers and homeowners, enabling inter-cultural exchanges
and the development of life-long friendships, while providing travellers with often
discounted accommodation costs, and host families with a steady income from the
comfort of their own homes (Q11). The homestay experience is particularly popular with
university exchange students looking for a more genuine insight into their country of choice,
and an unrivalled opportunity to develop their language skills. The homestay experience is
truly unique and once-in-a lifetime, and one that you will likely remember for the rest of
your lives. It is important to note, however, that some people will find it difficult to adapt to
the new country, with many enduring what is known as ‘culture shock’.

Connection’s advice for those suffering from culture shock, is to go out and make as many
friends as possible, no matter how difficult you may find it (Q12). Friends are guaranteed
to help you feel more integrated as part of the local society, and show you some great
places to hang out. At first, it might seem extremely challenging to overcome the language
barrier between you and your host family; however, you will find that you quickly overcome
this and develop a very close and almost familial relationship. Many of our travellers have
suggested that they have found discussing their hobbies and other interests with their
host families is the best way to overcome any barriers (Q13), since you are more than likely
to find something you share in common.

For example, you might find that you are both passionate about football, and end up playing
in the local field every week. One of our guests undertaking a homestay in a rural area of
the UK told us that she and her host now take a Tai Chi class together upon a hilltop at

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sunrise, calling the experience ‘absolutely breathtaking’. After the first few weeks, you will
find your understanding of the people around you and their culture deepens by leaps and
bounds (Q14), and you will soon become one of the locals. Our hosts, in over 140 countries,
turn a location into a culture, time into experience and strangers into friends.

So how can you find out about applying for a homestay? The best way would be to visit
Connection’s website, www.connection.com, and contact one of their friendly advisors for
more information. Once you have confirmed your interest in the service, we would strongly
advise that you remain in close contact with the registration office (Q15), which will send
you several emails keeping you up-to-date with potential matches in your country of choice.
Once registered, Connection will require you to send various documents, and will act as an
intermediary between you and the host family prior to final confirmation and payment.
During this stage, Connection will ask you to provide two photos, one for the host family,
and the other for our own records (Q16). Please ensure that you sign the back of each
photo.

Due to the nature of the service Connection provides, security is an absolute must, and they
will ask you to send in photocopies of your passport, birth certificate, and a bank
statement as confirmation of your identity (Q17). On receipt of these documents, the
official process will begin and your bank account will be debited for the initial deposit of
£200. If you haven’t received any acknowledgement confirming receipt of these
documents from us within seven working days (Q18), please contact the main office. As I
mentioned before, due to the nature of the organisation, Connection operates a meticulous
screening process, and all applicants will undergo an interview in our head office in
London (Q19), with exceptions made in extreme circumstances.

After your interview, it may take us several weeks to carry out the decision process, so
please be patient with us. If you would like a fast-track service, please indicate this on your
application and we will notify you of the additional charges. Finally, once we have come to a
result about your application, you will receive a decision in the post (Q20). If you do not
receive an offer of placement, we will refund your deposit within 7 working days.

SECTION 3

Professor: For next week, I’d like you to undertake a piece of research in preparation
for writing your final essay. In order to gain top marks, you must include a range of primary,
secondary, and tertiary sources. Are there any questions?

Douglas: Yes, Professor, I have a question. We haven’t yet covered how to undertake
this sort of research in much depth, and I’m a little unsure of what you want us to do. In
telling us to include primary sources, do you mean you want us to design and distribute a
questionnaire, analysing the results?

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Professor: You could design a questionnaire, but you’ll soon find that distributing a
questionnaire on such a large scale is somewhat troublesome. We couldn’t possibly expect
you to do it effectively as an individual university student without the necessary resources.
No, ideally I would like you to form one or two focus groups, and interview (Q21) them. This
will provide you with a more qualitative approach. If your strengths lie in mathematics,
please by all means take a more quantitative approach, but this will be more strenuous and
time consuming, and isn’t entirely necessary for the purpose of this study.

Jane: Professor, you haven’t told us what our project is about. Do we get to
choose our own topic based on the previous study?

Professor: No, I’m afraid not. This will be a strictly Australian study (Q22); however,
you can choose which angle you’d like to take, so long as it remains within the realm of
anthropology. Does anyone have any questions specifically about the formation of the focus
groups? I’ve had several emails about this, and I’d like to address it now.

Douglas: My study is related to growing up in Australia, and the question of nature

versus nurture. I’ve gathered more than two hundred school children who would be happy
to participate in a focus group. Do you think we’ll need to include that many participants in
a focus group?

Professor: Blimey, Douglas, well done for finding that many willing children, but you
definitely don’t need that many for the study you’re going to undertake. I’d say you need no
more than five children per group, and no more than three groups, so fifteen children
altogether. You definitely need to control the group size in order to generate a meaningful
dialogue. (Q23)

Douglas: OK, if it’s useful, I’ll try and do it…

Professor: I appreciate your enthusiasm for the project, but there are plenty of
different ways to gather data, and I’m sure that if you look hard enough, you’ll find someone
who has conducted almost the exact same research in the past. My advice for you is don’t
be too ambitious (Q24), and try to include as much information about various people or
sectors.

Jane: For those who haven’t ever collected original data before, what do you
suggest we do?

Professor: I would suggest that you read accounts from other people who have
undertaken such research to see what advice they can give. I would also encourage you to
read Chapter Eight in the course textbook, which should give you a good introduction to
collecting data. Moreover, you should try to practice using the data table (Q25) provided in
your course handbook. By now you should have read at least six or seven books giving quite
detailed instruction on how to go about collecting data.

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Douglas: Professor, I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m having trouble reading
the books. I had a really big assignment for another course and I’ve been spending all my
time on that (Q26). Jane, have you read all the books the professor mentioned?

Jane: Well, my trouble is getting hold of the books. I’ve been to the library several
times, but all the books are out.

Professor: Sounds like you should have started borrowing books a bit earlier.

Jane: Yes, I should have. But I got several ones from my friend a couple of days
ago. I just skimmed through them, and don’t remember a lot of the information.

Jane: But now let’s look at these things. We’ll need to start thinking about which
ones we’ll definitely want to do for the project.

Douglas: Okay. The first one here is the final report.

Jane: If you like, we can work together on the research and data-collection side
of the project, and doing the final write-up? (Q27)

Douglas: Cool. That sounds good. I’m not sure how much I’d be able to contribute
considering I haven’t had a chance to read the course material. But I should be able to
prepare some sheets and a list of questions that can be used during the focus group
sessions. (Q28)

Jane: That sounds appropriate. I think so too.

Douglas: Do you think we’ll need to write a letter to send to the participants, telling
them the time and place for the interviews?

Jane: Positive. I can take care of that. (Q29)

Douglas: Well, that’s great.

Jane: I should also include a document for them to sign saying that they’re happy
to be voice-recorded.

Douglas: Oh yes, of course. I forgot about the transcript. That’ll likely be a big job, so
let’s do half each, I’ll do one of the groups and you can do the other (Q30). Okay?

Jane: Sounds like a plan!

SECTION 4

Good morning everyone! Today I’m going to talk about the graphical symbol. A graphic
symbol is a written symbol that is used to represent speech, such as those used in the Greek

115
alphabet. The term ‘graphic symbol’ encompasses anything from the logographs used in
Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, to ancient Chinese pictograms. Early symbols were based on
pictographs and ideograms before they were developed into logographic writing systems.
These systems are still in use in some non-literate cultures in Africa, the Americas, and
Oceania. Indeed, elements of pictography are still found in modern Chinese characters, and
it is often an interesting exercise to trace the origins of some Chinese characters.
Pictographs remain in common commercial (Q31) use today as signs, instructions, or
statistical diagrams. Road signs and public toilet signs, and even flat-pack assembly
instructions utilising pictures are considered pictographic.

Ancient graphic writing systems provide researchers with a wealth

of knowledge (Q32) about past civilisations. In 1799, one of the most important historical
discoveries was made by accident when members of Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt found
a stone in Rosetta that exhibited three different scripts. The stone, now known as the
Rosetta Stone, was studied in significant depth by scholars, and was first deciphered by
Frenchman Jean-François Champollion in 1822. He was able to correctly determine the
phonetic values of the symbols, and later research has confirmed his findings. In many of
these symbols, lines (Q33) are used to portray a multitude of meanings, and knowledge and
understanding of these lines holds the key to comprehension of graphic writing systems.

A key moment in the history of communication was the invention of the camera obscura, or
camera. Although the concept can be traced back to the fifth century

B.C. Chinese philosopher Mo Ti, the first photographic image was ultimately created in 1826
by Joseph Nicephore Niepce. Photography (Q34), as it was later known, enables researchers
to piece together and better understand history. Today, photography forms a huge part of
everyday life and most publications contain a vast number of photographs. Photography is
used in advertising, and is now becoming a way to increase awareness of existing world
issues. For example, animal welfare charities are increasingly using photography
to advertise (Q35) animals that are at high risk of endangerment. Charity workers are
sometimes flown to far-flung locations to document the suffering endured by high-risk
animals in an attempt to raise human awareness of their consumption activities, and how
they impact others. One recent high profile campaign was undertaken by attaching a
camera to the foot (Q36) of a bird, in order to obtain photographs of the animals in their
natural habitats, and understand how often they come into contact with human waste. A
soon-to-be-released documentary about the suffering of animals on Midway Island shows
the full extent to which human consumption is harming animals thousands of miles away
from us.

As photography continues to progress, with the use of drones now becoming somewhat
commonplace, we should expect more and more objects (Q37) to be included in the future,
expanding the horizon of photography ever further. Indeed, the downward pressure on
traditional media prices means that media companies are being forced to get creative on

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how to make a profit. Many have found that the answer to this lies in advertising, and
companies are now willing to devote a large portion of their budgets to advertising
in newspapers (Q38). By the same token, marketing has become an essential part of a
company’s business model, often meaning the success or failure of a company. As a result,
much time and money has been pumped into the development of effective branding, with
attractive packaging (Q39) playing a large role in this. However, many governments are now
seen to be cracking down on marketing and packaging in an attempt to protect consumers
from being misled. In particular, tobacco companies are now subject to ever increasing
regulation. For example, in the United Kingdom, legislation is soon to pass preventing any
form of branding or differentiation on cigarette packaging in efforts to curb the harmful
effects of smoking.

Finally, one must not forget the fundamental role that graphic writing systems have had to
play in mathematics (Q39). Graphs, icons, and diagrams often form the very basis of these
branches of academia. Indeed, one needs to look no further than chemistry’s periodic table
to see a perfect example of graphic writing systems in use today.

Test 17
SECTION 1

OPERATOR: Hello, you have reached the complaints department. How can I help you?

JACK: Yes, hello there. I am phoning to make a complaint regarding a flight that I
took with you recently.

OPERATOR: OK. There are some details I will need to take from you first. May I have
your name please?

JACK: Jack Dawson (Example). That’s D-A-W-S-O-N.

OPERATOR: And your address?

JACK: It’s 33 Hillcrest (Q1) Road. That’s H-I-double-L-C-R-E-S-T.

OPERATOR: 33 Hillcrest Road. Is that in Exeter?

JACK: Yes.

OPERATOR: And what is the postcode of the residence?

JACK: It’s AL698GQ. (Q2)

OPERATOR: Thank you. Do you have a telephone number?

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JACK: Yes. The number at my office is 754688. (Q3)

OPERATOR: That’s good, and may I just take a home phone number for you in case of
emergencies?

JACK: No problem. It’s 798662.

OPERATOR: Are they both local numbers?

JACK: Yes.

OPERATOR: OK great, thank you for your patience. Now what is the nature of your
complaint?

JACK: I’m phoning to complain about a flight I took recently. I always take certain
measures to ensure that I will be comfortable. For example, I always pay the additional cost
for extra legroom and I always arrive punctually for the flight to make sure that I am seated
beneath an air conditioner. Unfortunately I was disappointed to find that the air
conditioning on the plane was broken, so I spent the entire flight in discomfort as it was
too hot and the air was stuffy. (Q4)

OPERATOR: I see. I do apologise for this fault with the air conditioning. Now while I have
you on the phone, would you mind answering a short questionnaire regarding your recent
flight?

JACK: Sure.

OPERATOR: OK, let’s get started. What did you think of the food that was served to you
during the flight?

JACK: I thought that it was inexpensive and quite delicious. However I was still
very hungry afterwards as it was a very small portion and more of a snack (Q5). Providing
a snack for lunch is not reasonable.

OPERATOR: OK, I have noted that down. What was your opinion of the quality of service
that you received from our staff on-board?

JACK: The staff were very helpful, Q6 but each time I pressed the button to
request service it took a long time for a staff member to arrive. I found this frustrating as
there just weren’t enough staff on-board the flight to be able to serve all of the customers.

OPERATOR: OK, that’s great. Thank you very much for answering those questions. Are
there any other parts of your travel experience that you would like to comment on?

JACK: Yep. The process of moving through security (Q7) was very quick and
helped to make my travel experience stress-free.

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OPERATOR: Okay. Do you have any extra comments on the services you received during
the flight?

JACK: Yes, I thought that the seats were very uncomfortable and looked very old.
They were also in need of repair as the reclined feature on my chair was broken so I could
not go to sleep for the whole flight. Luckily the entertainment (Q8) facilities were very good
so I was able to distract myself by watching movies.

OPERATOR: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of my questions, we
would like to offer you some gifts as a goodwill gesture, with a 20% discount on the cost of
your hotel (Q9) stay. We also appreciate that international calls to your home country can
be expensive and we are sure that you would like to keep your family updated on your
travels, so please accept a phone card (Q10), which has a credit of £20.

JACK: Oh that’s really great. Thank you so much for the gifts!

OPERATOR: No problem, we look forward to having you travel with us again soon! Have
a fantastic vacation.

SECTION 2

PRESENTER: Good morning, listeners! And welcome back to Star Radio!

Today on the show we have a visitor from Yazoo Car Rental who is going to give us an
insight into his company and into the public transport system! Welcome Jonathan!

JONATHAN: Thank you for having me. Yes, I would like to start by introducing my company
Yazoo Car Rental. We are the cheapest and most reliable rental company in the city and
have won multiple awards for the quality of our services. This success did not come easily,
however, and it proved important that we stay fresh and are always thinking of ways to
attract new customers. Our first attempt to do this was to offer a free gift with every car
rental, which we were confident the customers would be very interested in. The offer of a
free hoover with each rental, however, did not attract any new customers so we quite
quickly stopped offering it. (Q11)

In 2002, a new taxi company opened next door to us and we started losing a lot of business
to them, so we introduced an offer that we hoped might compete with their service. We
offered a new package where you could rent a car with a driver for a small extra fee. By
introducing this offer, we found that all of our customers preferred to drive the cars
themselves (Q12), so again this offer was unsuccessful in attracting more customers.

Learning from these mistakes, we decided to offer a package service where the customer no
longer had to come to our offices to pick up the rental car. Instead we could drop off and

119
pick up the car anywhere in the city to make the customer’s experience a lot more stress
free. This offer was very popular and increased our profits by 30%. (Q13)

In order to attract a younger demographic, we updated the models of cars that we offered
for rental. We began offering more trendy cars such as minis and smart cars that we thought
might appeal to the younger crowd and we also purchased them in more fun colours like
reds and greens. This offer attracted some new customers of a younger age group,
however not as many as we hoped. (Q14)

Next I decided to offer our services at a discounted price on our website where it could be
seen by thousands of people. I thought that this could be a great way to attract a number
of new customers who would never have heard of us before and it worked fantastically
well (Q15). Following the success of the discount offer, we had so many customers that it
became necessary to open a new branch of the company in the centre of the city. The cost
of renting offices in the city centre was very high, so we hoped that our profits would justify
this expensive decision. We made enough profit to keep our city centre offices open, but
we had hoped for a greater increase in customer numbers. (Q16)

JONATHAN: Now for the second part of my talk, which is on the topic of public transport.
There are many benefits to public transport, for example, the recent introduction of bus
lanes has meant that buses are now unaffected by traffic jams and are able to stay on
schedule. Unfortunately, as fewer and fewer people are taking the bus nowadays, the
service has become quite inefficient. (Q17)

This reduction in passengers may be due to the stories in the newspaper about the dangers
posed to pedestrian safety by the buses, however this is largely untrue as buses are
responsible for far less pedestrian-related accidents than cars. I use the bus service often, as
car petrol is so expensive nowadays that the bus is far more affordable. However, if I am in
a rush I prefer to take a taxi as they tend to get you to your destination very quickly so you
can remain punctual for your appointments (Q18). I also very much enjoy flying to my
destinations, as the service is incredibly fast and the airports are always very easy to find.

Personally, my favourite mode of transportation is the bus. Due to the lack of people using
the service I have found that the buses are never overcrowded so there is always a seat
available. They are also never dirty as they get cleaned regularly. However, I have found
that sometimes the bus can be over a half hour behind schedule which can be very
frustrating (Q19). There has been a lot of fluctuation in the price of bus tickets in the last
couple of years. In the past, £1.80 for a ticket was enough to sustain the bus companies,
however, as the price of fuel increased so did the ticket prices. Now the ticket prices are
declining as the bus companies try to encourage more people to use their service
again. (Q20)

Well, that’s all from me today. Thank you for listening.

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SECTION 3

ALEXANDRA: Excuse me, Dr Thompson. May I speak to you for a minute?

MR THOMPSON: Of course. Please come in.

ALEXANDRA: I’m Alexandra Jones. I’m studying Business here at the university and for my
assignment I have to carry out a survey of people who own their own organisations. I heard
that you are the founder of your own company, and I was wondering if I could ask you some
questions about it.

MR THOMPSON: Yes, of course, please fire away.

ALEXANDRA: OK great, we’ll get started! Did you encounter any problems whilst you
were starting your company?

MR THOMPSON: Actually it was not as hard as I anticipated. I started out with very clear
objectives, so I knew exactly what I wanted my corporate identity to be. It was very difficult
to find the correct premises as the property market in London is so competitive, but
eventually I found the perfect site. The hardest part was structuring the business, as I had
no formal template so I had to create it myself. (Q21)

ALEXANDRA: Yes, that is very impressive. Was it difficult dealing with staff?

MR THOMPSON: It’s always tricky trying to satisfy a group of people with varying interests,
however, I didn’t encounter many problems. I found it very important to make the staff feel
appreciated, so I hosted a staff day where we could all introduce ourselves and get to know
each other as individuals. I was also able to talk to them about the type of work that they
would be doing and gave them the opportunity to share with me the issues they had with
the allocation of the work. (Q22)

ALEXANDRA: OK. Did you hire a management team or did you take on the role of the
manager?

MR THOMPSON: Oh no, I already had enough tasks to take care of. I employed someone
else to take on the role of the manager, however, he never consulted me before making
decisions (Q23) so I was forced to let him go and hire someone else.

ALEXANDRA: And what did the other staff think of the new manager?

MR THOMPSON: They had a great deal of respect for him. It definitely helped that I
consulted with them before hiring him. They were surprised that he has been so successful
in his role at the company, despite the longer meeting hours. (Q24)

ALEXANDRA: Since the company opened, has it had any great achievements?

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MR THOMSON: There are many aspects of the company that I am pleased with, however,
there is one achievement of which I am particularly proud. I wanted a mural painted to
brighten up our entrance area, so I decided it would be a great idea to invite the local
primary school to create one for us. The youngsters had a great time and I know they were
thrilled to be included. (Q25)

ALEXANDRA: Oh, that’s lovely.

ALEXANDRA: Have you encountered any major problems since you opened the company?

MR THOMPSON: Yes, we are always encountering issues with employment because it is very
hard to find people who are qualified for the roles that we were offering, but unfortunately
there is no solution (Q26) to this. One of our administrators also recently left to go on
maternity leave, which put us in a tricky situation, however, we have managed to find a
temporary replacement for her. It’s also now approaching the period when we must carry
out our financial training so I need to find a venue with enough space to hold everyone. It
will be interesting trying to organise that event!

ALEXANDRA: Oh gosh, I can imagine. I find it hard enough to organise myself!

MR THOMPSON: Organisation is a difficult thing to master, but it is also essential for

success! Whilst I was learning how to stay organised, I realised that the role of
motivation (Q27) is essential.

ALEXANDRA: OK, that’s great!

MR THOMPSON: I also suggest that you visit the library, as there is a section
on culture (Q28) that will have some very valuable material on how to develop your
organisation skills.

ALEXANDRA: OK, I’ll head to the library when we’re finished.

MR THOMPSON: I think you will find it very useful. They also have a collection of
documentaries on the subject of personal organisation and I suggest that you look up the
literature on management of change (Q29). I personally found these sources incredibly
useful. Articles are also a valuable resource and we have a whole collection of them in our
university library. I advise that you look at Section 2 where you will find articles on
the nature of volunteering. (Q30)

ALEXANDRA: That’s great, thank you so much for your help.

MR THOMPSON: No problem.

SECTION 4

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Welcome class to your very first lecture in this series on Architecture conducted by myself,
Dr Torben Dahl. Today we will be looking into the relationship between climate and
architecture, where I will be giving you a critical overview of the main climate influences
that shape the design of buildings. Throughout this lecture series we will be looking at the
latest research into climatic design carried out by experts in the field in addition to case
studies and examples drawn from modernist practice both in cities (Q31) and rural areas.

Now, acid rain is one of the climatic elements with the most devastating effects on our
architecture. The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures
such as bridges, and erosion of stone statues. Since the 1970s, our government has been
making great effort to reduce the release of these chemicals into the atmosphere with
positive results. Private organisations have also been raising awareness and funds and
recently received a huge donation from the bank (Q32). It is interesting to look at the
studies that have been carried out into the effects of acid rain at varying altitudes. Research
has shown that there are lower levels of acid in the damaging pollutants at higher altitudes,
meaning that skyscrapers (Q33) are much less vulnerable to the negative effects as they are
exposed to acid rain with far lower levels of damaging pollutants.

Recently, the Alter Project was founded to carry out further research into acid rain. This
project is directed towards studying the effects of acid rain on old, traditional buildings
of stone (Q34) construction that are vulnerable to damage caused by acid rain. Masonry is
particularly vulnerable as it is easily corroded and weakened by the acidic chemicals. It is
imperative that we protect these buildings, as they are valuable examples of our history and
culture.

Pollution is one of the main sources of concern in the present day. The construction industry
contributes considerably as a source of pollution in its day-to-day processes of creating
building materials such as concrete and glass, however, more new sustainable methods are
being developed to counter this. A recent case study for this is Sky Tower, whose windows
have been made from recycled glass (Q35) to prevent pollution from the glass-making
process.

Water is the most problematic element to be considered in construction. It is imperative

that construction elements such as the insulation are fitted into the building in dry weather
to prevent it from getting wet. This makes winter an undesirable season for construction as
the heavy rainfall (Q36) can have adverse effects on the building. Another climate type that
has an enormous affect on buildings is humidity. Constructions made of steel and stone are
largely unaffected by humidity, however, it can have a serious effect
on wooden (Q37) constructions if the timber has not been correctly treated. Moisture from
the air can condense in the grain of the wood, which then swells and shrinks in proportion
to the magnitude of change in its moisture content. This variation in size can have disastrous
consequences.

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In areas of the world that are prone to earthquakes, certain design and environmental
conditions are preferable for protecting buildings in the event of a tremor. Engineers have
come up with numerous building procedures to help minimise shaking in buildings. For
example, tall buildings have height restrictions and counterweights and multi-storey
buildings have reinforced floors and walls. Ground conditions are a cause for worry in many
constructions as often the soil (Q38) is of the wrong density to protect the foundations.
Luckily technology has now been developed that can help to minimise damage by
earthquakes. Seismic sensors can give prior warning when an earthquake is about to happen
so that preparations can be made to protect both the people and the buildings from harm.
The movement (Q39) of building structures can now also be measured and monitored over
time by architects. It has been expressed by architects within the design community that it
would be valuable to be given special courses for designing buildings within earthquake
zones. Guidelines (Q40) are also expected to be produced by the government in the near
future that will give architects a universal checklist to follow.

That wraps up the lecture for today. Please remember that attendance is mandatory… [fade
out]

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 Test 18
SECTION 1

AGENT : Hello, thank you for calling Iris Rentals. How can I help you?

CLIENT : Yes, hello there. I’m ringing just to make enquiries about renting a new
property and I came across a listing on your website that I’m interested in.

AGENT: Oh yes.

CLIENT : I’d like to find out a few more details, if I may.

AGENT : Yes, of course. Can I take your name?

CLIENT : It’s Mary Collins. (Example)

AGENT : Okay, Mary. I’m just searching our system for the property details. Is there
any information in particular that you were wanting?

CLIENT : Does the house have a gym?

AGENT : No, the house doesn’t have a gym, however the house has a
large swimming pool (Q1), which will be great for exercise and really refreshing during
summer.

CLIENT : Oh wow, that sounds lovely. What is the general layout of the house?

AGENT : This house is rather unusual as the living room is located upstairs with the
bedrooms, and downstairs at ground floor is the dining room (Q2), which has a lovely view
out over the swimming pool.

CLIENT : Does the house come with a car parking space on the street?

AGENT : Oh, there’s no need for that. The house comes with a
big garage (Q3) where you can park your cars and there’s also a lot of room for storage. It’s
attached to the house through a door in the kitchen.

CLIENT : Oh, that’s perfect, it’ll make it far easier to cany my food shopping into the
house.

AGENT : Oh yes, absolutely. You actually don’t even need to take your car to do the
shopping as the local supermarket (Q4) is just down the street. You can walk the distance
easily.

CLIENT : Really? How convenient! Is there anywhere near to the house where I can
take my children to play?

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AGENT : Unfortunately there aren’t any playgrounds nearby, but there is
a park (Q5) near the supermarket that would be great for taking your children for a walk. It
would also be a great place for you to meet your neighbours.

CLIENT : Yes, that’s true, I love taking long walks in the park. I’m sure there will be a
playground at the local school anyway.

AGENT : Yes, absolutely. The community has its own primary school (Q6) and there
is a secondary school in the neighbouring community, so there are plenty of resources
nearby for your children’s education.

CLIENT : OK, great. What are the rental costs for the property?

AGENT : The monthly rent is $980, which is very reasonable considering the size of
the house and the amenities that it has to offer.

CLIENT : Does that figure include maintenance fees and bills?

AGENT : The bills are not included in that figure, but it does include any
maintenance fees for the garden. (Q7)

CLIENT : That sounds like a very reasonable price. We were hoping to move in on the
20 of April. Will the house be vacant for that date?

AGENT : The current tenants of the property are due to leave on the 20 , but the
cleaners will need a few days to make sure that the house is clean and tidy. This would make
the house officially available on the 23rd April. (Q8)

CLIENT : Well everything about the house sounds perfect… exactly what I’m looking
for. What date would it be possible to view the property?

AGENT : I have arranged for the tenant to leave the property on Friday so I can show
the house to prospective renters. Would you be able to make that day?

CLIENT : Yes, I’m sure I could come on my lunch break. Would 1 o’clock be OK?

AGENT: I’m afraid that I have a meeting at 12.30, so I won’t be able to make that
time. I have available appointments at 10.15 and 3.

CLIENT : OK, in that case can we schedule the appointment for 10.15? (Q9)

AGENT : No problem, I’ll book it into my schedule. If you wouldn’t mind arriving 5
minutes early that would be great, just so we can get started on time.

CLIENT: Sure. What is the address?

AGENT: The postcode is GA58ER and the house is number 8 on Spring Street (Q10).
It’s the second right off of Bath Street.

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CLIENT : OK, that’s great.

AGENT : Do you have any more questions?

CLIENT : Nope.. .thank you for your help. AGENT : No problem. See you on Friday. Bye!

SECTION 2

Good morning everybody and welcome to the Australian Wild Zoo. I would like to start by
introducing you to the new features that we have added to our zoo in the recent
renovation. Being the only zoo in the area, we receive thousands of visitors a year. We
found that this huge footfall was too demanding for the facilities that we were able to
provide, and so we decided to expand ourselves in order to give every visitor a brilliant and
exciting experience. We initially intended to build a new dog-walking area, however we felt
that the zoo should cater only to exotic animals. During our previous renovation we
expanded the exhibition centre and so we felt that this time the zoo would benefit most
from introducing a new batch of animals (Q11), so visitors can now see a whole range of
new additions at the Australian Wild Zoo, including lions and bears.

With this huge improvement to our facilities, we also found it necessary to change our
regulations, which we put into action in June. We now allow visitors access to the zoo during
weekdays and, as some of our newly added animals are nocturnal, guests may also now
visit the animals late at night (Q12). Unfortunately some visitors had started feeding the
animals during these late night viewing times, which disrupted their feeding pattern and as a
result we had to ban food in the viewing areas.

One of our most exciting additions to the zoo is our native kangaroo, who we have named
Frisbee. For a fee of just $5, visitors can have their photo taken with him and have it printed
onto a selection of items such as key rings and mugs. At first, visitors were also allowed to
feed Frisbee items that we provided, such as carrots and leaves, however some guests
started feeding him hamburgers and chips so we were forced to forbid visitors from
feeding him (Q13). As kangaroos are such calm animals, Frisbee isn’t disturbed by the
noises and shouting of visitors at the zoo, which has helped him to settle in at his new home
very quickly.

The pye-dog zone has been permanently closed throughout the winter period to allow the
dogs to hibernate as they would in their natural habitat. We were very excited to be
reopening the zone, however unfortunately we have been forced to close it temporarily as
the result of a broken fence (Q14), which will take about one week to fix. We were
intending to renovate the zone with the other constructions that we were undertaking, but
unfortunately we did not have sufficient funds. We understand that this temporary closure
may disappoint our visitors, and so we have decided to offer a discounted price on our
tickets for the next week. If you ask at the reception desk, they will happily direct you to
the photo shop where you can purchase the ticket (Q15). The ticket will also entitle you to

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a 10% discount off any item in our gift shop where we sell a range of items including
postcards and fluffy toys.

Now we’re currently standing at the gate, which is marked with the arrow on the map. Now
if any of you need to visit the toilets before we get started, they’re right here to our left. Out
to the east, just across the grass, there is the bird hide (Q16) where we have over one
hundred species of birds for you to watch. We even have an interactive zone where you can
feed them with seed and take photographs with our parrots! What a great souvenir to
remember your trip! And up the path to the north, if you look in front of you now, there is
the pye-dog zone (Q17). Although it is closed, if any of the dogs are playing outside, you will
be able to see them through the fence. And then let’s pass by the refuge. This area is a
sheltered part for Brolga watchers who can use it to spy through binoculars.

And after that, I suggest that you all visit the rest area for some cold drinks and snacks as it
is very hot outside. It is just at the northwest corner of the zoo (Q18). After that you could
cut across the path to the large rectangular hut where you will be able to see our new
addition of fierce lions. The mother has just had cubs, so it is really quite a rare thing to
see! And around to the west, for those of you who want to visit Frisbee, our native
kangaroo, he is in the circular shaped hut just up the path to the left (Q19). Don’t forget to
have your photo taken with him! Now, as I mentioned before, you can purchase your
discounted tickets at the photo shop and this is also where you will come to collect any
photos you have had taken at the zoo during your visit. The photo shop is located at the
southwest corner of the zoo. (Q20)

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your visit.

SECTION 3

JONES: Hello, Mr Thompson. May I speak to you for a minute?

MR THOMPSON: Of course. Please come in.

JONES: I’m Alexandra Jones. I’m studying Sustainability here at the university and I
heard about the summer course that you offer every year. I was considering joining the
course and wanted to ask you some questions about it.

MR THOMPSON: Yes, of course, please fire away.

JONES: Has the course been effective in improving the environment?

MR THOMPSON: Yes, absolutely. We have seen great results. Last year we planted a small
field of trees and we have been measuring their oxygen outputs to see the benefits that
they have provided to the environment. Since we were regulated by law last month, we
are now able to hugely enhance our efforts (Q21). Our current goal is to introduce a lot
more tree species to the plot so that we can establish a complex habitat and compare the

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benefits of each species. In order to do this we need to get a lot more students involved in
the project, so I am very pleased to hear about your interest.

JONES: Well, the project sounds fascinating. I would definitely like to be involved,

MR THOMPSON: Absolutely. Over the years we have received funding from private investors
and from selling shares, but the biggest improvement in our research came from a
government fund that we received in the first year (Q22). This has greatly improved the
organisation and we have since won prizes for our research.

JONES: Wow, how impressive!

MR THOMPSON: Yes, it is of the utmost importance to our organisation that we find a way
to repair the terrible damage that has been done to the environment by the human species.
This is no small undertaking and our resources still need management, but from reports
taken of our studies we have found that teachers and students have greatly benefitted
from field trips to the tree plantation. (Q23)

JONES: Yes, I visited the plantation myself on a field trip two years ago and I found
myself greatly impressed by it.

MR THOMPSON: We have received a lot of feedback from visiting groups telling us how
impressed teachers, researchers and students alike have been during their visits. Due to the
educational facilities that we have carefully structured, I know that the visits are useful
and engaging for students and that their experience is particularly special. (Q24)

JONES: So what is the particular focus of the organisation and the reports that it
provides?

MR THOMPSON: I am personally very interested in soil erosion, so I knew that I definitely

wanted to focus some of the report on this area (Q25). Before I set up the organisation, I
looked up information on what areas were currently being researched and I found that
there were already studies into air pollution and water pollution. I obviously wanted to find
a unique area to research and so these were no good. I was tempted to look into the
background of overgrazing, but the impacts of forest exploitation are far more devastating
and very little research has been carried out on this subject, so I decided that this should
also form some focus for the report. (Q26)

JONES: Yes, that makes sense. What have you found to be the greatest benefits of
the activities carried out by the organisation?

MR THOMPSON: I have found that the greatest benefits are not the ones that anyone can
learn from a book, like how to collect data, but more importantly are life lessons that one
can gain only from experience. Students who have partaken in the summer course have
massively enhanced their confidence (Q27), which will prove invaluable for the rest of their

129
lifetime. The people who partake in the summer course already know the importance of
environmental protection, so it is not important that we spend time teaching them this.
Students instead benefit from learning the importance of punctuality, as each day they
have to wake up early to make sure that they are not late for their practical experience
sessions. (Q28)

JONES: If I decide to attend the summer course, what will I be doing for the rest of
the time when no activities are going on?

MR THOMPSON: Well, we unfortunately don’t yet have a library on site, so you would be
unable to read reference books although you are obviously welcome to bring some books of
your own with you. We offer a range of fun hobbies, such as games and painting, for
students to participate in outside of their classes so you could participate in one of these
activities (Q29). We do not offer tutorials outside of the scheduled classes, however you are
free to interview teachers (Q30) and ask them any questions you may have about the
research.

JONES: Well, the course sounds fantastic. I would definitely like to participate
during the summer. Thank you so much for your help.

MR THOMPSON: No problem at all, here is a form with all of the details. I look forward to
seeing you there.

SECTION 4

Good morning. In the last few lectures I’ve been talking about the history of technology in
the modern world. But today I want to use Roberts as our case study, which is a company
that develops complex camera technology for a range of industries and disciplines. Since the
camera was invented in 1816, it has changed and improved dramatically with cameras now
in existence that can fit on the head of a pin. The company has been founded on a series of
principals by which the company operates in its day-to-day business, the most important of
these being to enhance the present (Q31) development of camera technology.

Roberts has a philosophy pioneering and innovation, having been responsible for the
invention of numerous technologies since it was founded by Dwayne Roberts in 1957. It has
achieved many of its aims over the years, but its principal and founding aim persists through
time, which is to explore new facts (Q32) and imagine the unimaginable.

The cameras produced by Roberts have a multitude of potential applications that are
currently being explored. One of these is an anti-gravity camera that they aim to attach to a
space satellite from where it will record live, high-definition video and provide fascinating
new views of planet earth. It could also prove useful in exploring other planets (Q33) by
providing researchers with never before seen images of the universe. Roberts are also
experimenting with attaching the cameras to small drones that will fly through the

130
rainforest in search of plants that could be used to develop future medicine (Q34). The
camera also has the potential to be used on the roads. As it is 20% cheaper than the speed
cameras that are currently in operation, this means that more of them could be distributed
across the road network where they can control traffic (Q35) by making sure that all cars
abide by the speed regulations.

Despite this diverse range of potential applications, the cameras are presently used for very
different, more domestic purposes. Roberts’ cameras are presently used as nanny-cams,
which allow parents to watch their nannies to ensure that they are responsibly attending to
the children that they have been employed to care for. These cameras give parents peace of
mind and more control over their child’s welfare whilst they are at work or otherwise
occupied. The highest sales of the company are in toys (Q36) that have the cameras hidden
within them. This clever idea means that the cameras are camouflaged from view and do
not look out of place in the child’s nursery. The toys are also very robust, so children can
play with them without damaging them in the process. The toys are designed to look
like animals (Q37) and come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours as well as different
animal species such as monkeys and bears. These toys are incredibly popular and can be
bought in any toy store for only $20. Always eager to be constantly improving their
products, Roberts are now working on a product that will change the way people see
photography. This new contraption is a mini camera (Q38) that is built into eyewear such as
glasses and sunglasses where it can capture the world as you see it. Holiday makers and
tourists no longer have to carry a big, heavy camera around with them on their travels! They
can instead purchase a set of eyewear with the built-in camera, which will capture the
moment with a simple tap.

Roberts are also developing a model of this tiny camera for use during medical procedures
and operations. The camera will be used during noninvasive keyhole surgeries to enable the
surgeon to see what they are doing inside the body without having to make a large incision.
This innovative application for the camera could make surgeries a lot faster and the saved
time and energy will also make it far more efficient (Q39). As the patient will no longer have
to undergo a large incision for their surgery, it also means that their recovery will be much
faster with a greatly reduced chance of post-op infection.

If any of you have an interest in working in this field of technological invention, Roberts is a
very diverse and fast-growing company that would be a fantastic internship opportunity.
Every year they organise a series of competitions (Q40) where entrants stand the chance of
winning a place in their internship programme, so I would suggest that all of you enter.

That wraps up the lecture for today. Please remember that attendance is mandatory… [fade
out]

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 Test 19
SECTION 1

Cindy: So, Bob, how many people have said that they’re coming on the company picnic?

Bob: Well, Cindy, we’ve got 35 definite and another 10 probable.

Cindy: Shall we say 50? (Q1)

Bob: I think so. And we’ve fixed the date for…?

Cindy: 26th. The last Sunday in August. (Q2)

Bob: Great! I hope the weather is good.

Cindy: Should be. Now, we have to decide where to order the food from and what kind of
things we want.

Bob: Right. What’s our budget?

Cindy: We decided to go for £10 a head for food and £5 a head for drinks. (Q3)

Bob: OK. I got some pamphlets from caterers. What do you think?

Cindy: The most important thing is to make sure there’s a variety of food. We don’t want
people complaining that they don’t like anything.

Bob: We also don’t want food that could deteriorate in the sun ice cream (Q4), that kind
of thing.

Cindy: You’ve seen these pamphlets. What do you think?

Bob: Well, I thought Paris Kitchen looked good. The price almost exactly meets our
budget and they seem to have a good variety.

Cindy: I don’t know. A friend of mine used them for her company and wasn’t impressed.

Bob: Really? What exactly didn’t she like?

Cindy: Well, the food… she said the food was good, but not quite the variety they’d
expected. The drinks included some wine (Q5), which was apparently not very good.

Bob: Oh. Well, perhaps we need to consider this one… er … Company Caterers.

Cindy: Looks a bit pricey. Mind you, I’ve heard that they are very good.

Bob: Let me check the price. … Yes … £12 a head for food. That’s more than our budget.
Do you think we could get a discount?

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Cindy: Let’s see if it says anything in the pamphlet. … Yes, they do offer a discount for
groups of more than 30. … 10% (Q6) … does that help us?

Bob: 10% off £12 … It’s still more than we budgeted for.

Cindy: Hey, look at this one. Celebrations.

Bob: It’s a new company. I asked a few people about them, but no-one has any ideas.

Cindy: Well, let’s see. 9 pounds a head for food and five pounds a head for drinks. That’s
fine. What kind of food do they have? It says here that they just provide cold meals (Q7) for
picnics. Well, that’s OK. … And they include vegetarian dishes…. We do have
some vegetarian (Q8) to take into consideration.

Bob: Well, it looks good to me. The only problem is their lack of experience. I mean, it’s a
bit of a risk, isn’t it?

Cindy: Yes. If the food is no good, we’ll look incompetent.

Bob: Ah, look here. It says that we can visit their premises and try some of the dishes
they offer.

Cindy: You mean we might get a free lunch? Shall we call them and arrange to go and see
them?

Bob: OK. Which day? How about tomorrow?

Cindy: No. We’ve got that meeting. The day after tomorrow. Thursday. (Q9)

Bob: Good. Time?

Cindy: 11?

Bob: Good. Right, what’s their phone number? 28 65 34 79 (Q10). We also need to ask
them whether they can deliver straight to the picnic site, don’t we?

Cindy: Yes. I don’t think that’ll be a problem, though. I mean, it’s on the outskirts of the
city, but it’s not too far away. Does the price include delivery?

Bob: It doesn’t say, but the other companies include it, so they should. If they don’t, our
budget still allows us to pay a small fee.

SECTION 2

Presenter: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Sally Miller and I’m here to offer you
some advice on legal matters whilst you are studying at this university. Happily, most

133
international students complete their courses without running into any serious legal
problems, but if you do find yourself involved in a legal dispute of any kind, ask for help.
There are two options. First, contact the students’ union or welfare officer. Even if they
cannot help you directly, they should be able to advise you where to go for help. The second
possibility is to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau in your area. You can find them in the
local telephone directory. They will be able to recommend (Q11) a solicitor if you need one,
and tell you if there is a local law centre providing free legal advice. They will also be able to
tell you whether you can claim legal aid (Q12) to help pay for any court and legal fees. Let
me give you some basic information about the police. The police have the power to stop
and search anyone who appears to be behaving in a suspicious manner.

If you are arrested for any reason, even if you know it to be a wrong reason, remember a
few very important things. One, don’t be aggressive. Two, do not try to bribe the police
officer. Three, if you are arrested by plain-clothes police officers, ask to see some form of
identification (Q13). Four, give your true name and address if the officer asks you to. Lying
to the police is a criminal offence. Five, do not sign any statement until you have
received advice (Q14) from a solicitor. There is always a solicitor on duty at every police
station. Six, you will be entitled to make one telephone call. If you use this call to telephone
a friend, urge your friend to contact someone from your university or from the students’
union and get advice about what you should do next. If you find yourself in trouble with the
police, it is very important to get professional advice. Contact any of the following: your
university welfare officer, the students’ union at your university, your local Citizens Advice
Bureau, a local law centre.

If you are found guilty of an offence, it could seriously damage your position as an
international student, so be sure to ask for help as early in the process as possible.
Remember: obey the local laws! The laws here may not be quite the same as in your own
country. Here are a few examples of actions that are illegal here. It is against the law to:
possess offensive weapons (Q15), e.g. knives, guns, chemical sprays used for personal
defence—even women are not allowed to carry sprays or other deterrents to protect
themselves against possible assault—except for rape alarms, possess or supply (Q16) hard
or soft drugs, disturb the peace — this is called “disorderly conduct”. This means that you
can be arrested for being too noisy or rowdy. A few words about drinking. In this country, it
is perfectly acceptable for adults to drink alcohol in moderate amounts.

For many people, drinking is an established part of their social life—”going out for a drink” is
how they relax or spend time with friends. If you go to a party or visit people at home in the
evening, your host will probably offer you a drink. Often a lot of university social life can
revolve around drinking, especially for undergraduates. Do not be surprised if people
arrange to meet in a bar (Q17) or if events are held in a pub. But you are not obliged to
drink alcohol if you do not want to even if you are in a pub or at a party where everyone
else is drinking. You can always ask for a non-alcoholic drink instead (Q18). And if you feel

134
uncomfortable going to places that serve alcohol, explain this to your friends— there are
lots of other places where you can meet. If you do choose to drink, remember that you
should never drive a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol— it is dangerous and the police
can impose serious penalties on you.

Also remember that being drunk in public is not acceptable either, and the police can arrest
you for it. Drugs and alcohol can cause serious problems. Let me repeat that in this
country, it is illegal to use drugs, except under medical supervision (Q19). But, if you do use
illegal drugs and you develop a problem, there are organisations you can contact. Contact
your students’ union or your student counsellor. Anyone over 18 years old can legally buy
and consume alcoholic drinks (Q20) in this country, but if you think you might be drinking
too much, get help and advice from your student counsellor or your doctor. Again, there are
special organisations that can help you with drug and alcohol problems. Contact them.

SECTION 3

Carlos: OK, everyone. Let’s look at what presentation tips we have come up with
for our next seminar. Melissa?

Melissa: OK, here’s my first tip. Show up early (Q21). Some experience presenters
say that something good is bound to happen! I’m not sure about that, but…

David: Well, … you may have a chance to head off some technical problem. Also, at
the beginning, before you actually begin your presentation, people filter in slowly. It’s a
great time to introduce yourself.

Melissa: Can’t argue with that! Simona had some ideas about opening.

Simona: Have a strong opening. I picked up a few ideas for structuring your opening.
First, never apologize (Q22). If you’re worried the presentation won’t go well, keep it to
yourself and give it your best shot. Besides, people are usually too preoccupied with their
own problems to notice yours.

Carlos: I like that!

Simona: Open by addressing the following three questions: What’s the problem?
Who cares? What’s your solution?

Carlos: Excellent suggestion! David? You’ve gone quiet!

David: Well, my next suggestion is PGP. That means that with every subtopic, you
should move from the Particular to the General and back to the Particular (Q23). Even
though the purpose of a subtopic is to convey the general information, bracing it with
particulars is a good way to draw attention and promote retention. (Q24)

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Melissa: I’ve got another one. This might not be a tip so much as a law. Give
everyone at least one piece of paper. A piece of paper is a record from your presentation.
People can use that to help recall the details of the presentation, or better yet to tell others
about it.

Carlos: The next tip that I have is know your audience (Q25). This is, of course, a
general piece of advice for public speaking. See if you can find out what styles of
information presentation they are most familiar and comfortable with. Adapting your
presentation to those styles will leave fewer barriers to the direct communication of your
material.

Simona: I like that idea. We mentioned possible technical problems before. My next
point is that maybe speakers should rethink the overhead projector. Is one really necessary?

David: I think that often it is. but I agree with your basic point (Q26), Simona.
Don’t use one just because it’s there. Maybe a good tip is to consider carefully what you are
putting on your slides.

Simona: Yes, David, that’s a very good point to make. Slide content is … well, you
don’t want too much … too little. Carlos?

Carlos: Good points, both of you. Another point I have is to respect the audience.
Don’t condescend by “dumbing down” your lecture. Show them respect by saying what you
believe and what you know to be the whole story.

Melissa: I also have a point about humor. I think that humour is generally good, but
be careful with it. Humour in a presentation works best (Q27) when it actually drives the
presentation forward. If you find you’re using canned jokes that don’t depend on the
context, of the presentation, eliminate them David?

David: Maybe, Melissa, but always be very careful about jokes that. put. down a
class of people. If you’re going to alienate your audience, do it on the merits of your
content.

Simona: Also, avoid masculine-or even feminine pronouns as universal. It can be a

nuisance to half the audience. As universal, use the plural “they”. The Oxford English
Dictionary has allowed “they” as a gender neutral singular pronoun for years.

Carlos: Thanks, Simona. Thinking towards the end. Take care with questions (Q28).
Many people judge the quality of your talk not by the twenty minutes of presentation, but
on the thirty seconds you spend answering their question (Q28). Be sure to allow long
pauses for questions. Ten seconds may seem like a long pause when you’re at the front of
the room, but. it flows naturally from the audience’s point of view.

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Simona: Let people know you believe your material. Speak with conviction. Believing
your subject, matter is one of the best ways to speak more effectively!

Melissa: Finish early, and something good is almost bound to happen (Q29). If
nothing else, people will be able to leave early, and suddenly they’ll have an extra couple of
minutes to do things they didn’t think they’d get to. People will really like you if you do that.

David: I think we have missed a key point. Practice! Practice over and over and
over. If you can, record your presentation. Play it back and watch yourself. You’ll discover a
thousand horrible things you never knew about yourself. Now watch it again without the
sound. Why are your hands flying around like that? Now listen to it without the picture. Get
rid of those urns! Now watch it at twice the normal speed. This emphasizes low frequency
cycles in your gestures.

Carlos: David, those were excellent points! I have one more. Something quite
simple, but often overlooked. I read that the two most dehydrating things you can do in
modern civilization are live presentations and air travel. I don’t know if it’s really true, but
the message is that, the way to stay sharp is to drink lots of water (Q30). Take care of your
body, especially your voice. If possible, avoid alcohol too.

Melissa: So, we’ve got to organise these points now…

SECTION 4

Welcome to this introductory lecture on the Celts. Who were the Celts? The Celts were an
Indo-European group, that is, related linguistically to the Greeks, the Germanic peoples,
certain Italic groups and peoples of the Indian subcontinent. They arose in central Europe at
the beginning of the first millennium B.C. and were an iron (Q31) using and horse rearing
peoples. By the end of the first millennium B.C. their cultural group had spread up and down
the Danube and Rhine, taking in Gaul, Ireland and Britain, across central Europe, into
northern Italy and northern Spain. Their roaming across Europe led some of the Celtic tribes
to sack Rome in 390 B.C. creating a fear of the northern barbarians that was to haunt
Romans for hundreds of years to come.

The Celts are defined archaeologically by the type-sites of Hallstatt and La Tene, the former
being taken to relate to an earlier phase of cultural development. Hallstatt, an ancient salt
mining area, was excavated from 1876 (Q32) onwards by the Viennese Academy of Sciences
and provided the first classification of the prehistoric Celts. In 1858 (Q33), the waters of
Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland sunk to a low level, revealing a large prehistoric settlement
with a huge number of surviving artifacts. The nearby town of La Tene gave its name to the
second phase of Celtic cultural development. However, please note that these phases

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overlap through time, and are defined according to geographical area. Let’s look at each of
these, taking the Hallstatt first.

Hallstatt culture is characterized in 4 stages (Q34). A & B were during the late Bronze Age,
from about 1200 to 700 BC; C was in the Early Iron Age, from about 700-600 BC; D was from
about 600 to 475 BC. The Hallstatt culture spanned central Europe, with its centre in the
area around Hallstatt in Central Austria. There were two distinct cultural zones – the eastern
and the western. At the start of the period, long distance trade was already well established
in copper and tin (Q35) – the basic requirements for manufacture of bronze. From about
700 BC, trade in iron also became established. The Hallstatt area also already controlled the
trade in salt, crucial when there were few other means to preserve food. Control of these
two crucial trade goods—iron and salt—provided the basis for the accumulation of wealth
and influence. From 800 BC, some burials of rich people can be identified, in central Europe,
with grave goods such as wheeled wagons and iron swords.

Hallstatt C saw the construction of fortified hilltop (Q36) settlements to the North of the
Alps. These had burial mounds holding very high quality goods, such as vehicles and
expensive imported treasures. By the time of the Hallstatt D period, these increasingly
extravagant burial mounds were clustered around a few major hill forts to the southwest of
the region. This suggests a development and a concentration of wealth and social power,
possibly based on the development of Massilia (present-day Marseilles) as a Greek trading
port. The expansion of luxury trade (Q37) brought greater opportunities for profit and
helped to create an increasingly stratified society, with the development of a wealthy
nobility. Over the period from 1846 to 1863, a thousand graves were found at Hallstatt, with
an astonishing range of artefacts, including clothing and salt mining equipment as well as
weapons, jewellery, pottery and imported bronze vessels in the “chieftains” graves.

The La Tene era was the time of Celtic expansion and migration (Q38) and the time of
formation of the myths, The La Tene culture is named after the site in Switzerland where it
was first discovered. The La Tene people were those known to the Romans as Gaids.
Originally found in an area from Eastern France to Bohemia, the La Tene culture spread
rapidly (Q39) from about 400 BC. The La Tene Celts settled in Spain in 450 BC, in Northern
Italy in 400 BC, invaded Rome in 390 BC, invaded Greece in 279 BC, invaded Galatia (in
modern Turkey) in 270 BC. By 200 BC, they occupied the lands that are now Britain, the
Netherlands, Brittany, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

There is much debate over how much of the expansion into Britain was achieved through
invasion and settlement and how much was the expression of cultural transfer that
accompanied trade and reflected the commonality of kinship and language of many tribes.
There is little evidence for actual migration of La Tene people into Britain. Nevertheless, it
does appear that the La Tene culture was more militarily than the Hallstatt one. The La
Tene graves (Q40) across Europe hold iron weapons – swords and spearheads – and
wooden shields, as well as everyday items such as razors, yokes, cauldrons and jewelry.

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 Test 20
SECTION 1
Agent: Good morning. May I help you?

Student: Oh, good morning. Is this the Student Job Centre?

Agent: Oh, yes.

Student: Urn… I was wondering if perhaps you could tell me a bit about the job, you
know, the Hotel Recruitment Program that offers a range of work at the hotels in the area.

Agent: Of course, take a seat, please. I’ll take you through some of what we have
on offer.

Student: Thank you so much. Oh, wait a second and I’ll get my pen.

Agent: OK. The first job is Reception Assistant (Q1) at the Parkview Hotel. The
Parkview Hotel has quite an international flavour, so you’ll need to speak at least two
foreign languages.

Student: Sure, I can speak fluent French and Spanish, so that’s no problem.

Agent: Good. And many guests, of course, travel by car, and you may have to take
their vehicles around to the car park, so you will need to have a valid driving license (Q2),
and you will not be allowed to do the job if you haven’t.

Student: OK, I got that.

Agent: Right. And they also say that basic computer skills such as word processing
would be an advantage, although this isn’t a requirement.

Student: Well, I just got my Computer Skills certificate, so I have no worries about
that.

Agent: This is quite a varied job, and in fact I should point out that at certain times
of the day it would involve heavy lifting (Q3) when guests’ luggage arrives or perhaps
deliveries come in. Is that OK for you?

Student: Well, it’s hard to say at this moment. But I’ll bear that in mind when
deciding whether to apply for this post.

Agent: Sure. Another job is general assistant at the Lakeside Hotel. To be honest,
the pay is rather low, but there are compensatory factors, for example, the hotel will
provide you with all your meals (Q4) while you’re working, and they will also train you in all

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the aspects of the job and then issue you with a certificate (Q5), which, of course, could be
very valuable to you in the future.

Student: Oh, that sounds great.

Agent: Now… the third job on offer is Catering Assistant at Hotel 98 smart new
premises . As you know, this hotel is popular with exclusive travelers and so you’ll need to
wear the distinctive staff uniform (Q6) – which you’re provided with. Don’t consider this job
unless you’re fairly flexible about when you work, as the hotel will require you to work
nights for this job, and you will need to travel to and from the hotel, as it’s situated just
outside the city.

Student: Well. I’m afraid I can’t manage that because of the lectures.

Agent: OK, I get the picture. So, which one will you prefer, Reception Assistant at
the Parkview Hotel or General Assistant at the Lakeside Hotel?

Student: Well, I guess I still couldnt make up my mind right now. Can I have a few
days to think about and go back to you later?

Agent: That’s no problem. And there are a few things I need to clarify with you. If
you would like to apply for one of these jobs, you will need to follow the recruitment
process.

Student: Mum…

Agent: So the first thing you’ll need to do is to fill in one of these – a personal
information form (Q7). It’s pretty straightforward and should only take you a few minutes.
Once you’ve done that and handed it in, we’ll give you a questionnaire (Q8) about your
skills. We then look through the information about you, and pass on our recommendations
to the relevant hotel.

Student: Yes, sure.

Agent: You will then proceed to the next step of the process and attend a general
course of training. This is designed to be helpful and realistic, so an important part of the
course is role-play activities. (Q9)

Student: That sounds interesting.

Agent: Yes, indeed. And after that, the final step is that you will be contacted by
the hotel you’re going to work for, and they’ll post you a video (Q10) about themselves and
the work involved. Watching this will constitute further and specific training for your job.

Student: Oh, yes. I think I’m very clear now. Thank you for helping me.

Agent: It’s a pleasure. Bye.

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Student: Bye.

SECTION 2

Good morning, everyone. I’m John Smith, the General practitioner of London Fields Medical
Centre, and I’m very glad to give you a brief introduction about our practice and some
suggestions about how to see a doctor here.

Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a
lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help you with your inquiry,
ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician.

OK, right, well the first thing to do is to register. We can only accept new patients who live in
our practice catchment area. To register with us you will need 2 proofs of address such as
bank statements or tenancy agreements plus 1 form of ID such as passport or drivers’
license.

If you are foreign nationals, then you’ll have to register as a temporary visitor (Q11). Then,
fill in this form. It’s a medical history form. You have to give details of any illnesses you have
had. Then you also need to write down if you’ve got any allergies (Q12), OK? This as well as
that, we need to know if you’ve had any operations … and last of all, you have to give full
details of current medication (Q13) you may be on. This as well as that, you need to fill in
this registration card (Q14) – this is for your personal details, thats your full name, address
and telephone numbers. Okay? And we also need to make an appointment for you to see
the doctor for a new patient health check. It’ll just take about 15 minutes, thats all. It’s just a
basic checkup really.

OK, then, let me tell you something about the health centre. We have 5 GPs here – general
practitioners. We also have a practice nurse who looks after minor injuries (Q15). She can
also administer some treatments . We also have a chiro product. That’s a foot specialist.
She’s private which means you have to pay for the service, unless you’re over 65. (Q16)

If you want to see a doctor, you have to make an appointment first. Please call our main
switchboard number on 0207 9 23 8 100 to book an appointment at either our main
practice or one of our branch surgeries. You can also email for an appointment on London
Fields medical@NHS.net. Urgent cases are seen on the day. If your condition is non-urgent,
you can expect to see a GP within two working days, though you may have to wait longer if
you want to see a particular GP.

If it’s an emergency, you’d better come straight here to the Centre, one of the doctors can
usually see you, or you can go to the emergency department at the hospital in town. If you
are very sick, you can ask for a home visit as well (Q17). On Friday afternoons we have an
open surgery which means you can come along and just wait to see a doctor, but you may

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have to wait for several hours, so it’s much better to make an appointment and come at
the specified time. (Q18)

Usually when you see a doctor you’ll be given a prescription for medicine which you need to
take. Or you can choose to go to a pharmacist in a chemist’s shop. If the doctor decides that
you will need the medication for a long time, you will be given a repeat prescription
form (Q19). This allows you to get a further supply without seeing the doctor again. You
simply leave the repeat form here a few days before you need it. Then you pick up the
medication at the chemists.

Oh, you may wonder how much this all costs? Well, there is no charge for seeing a doctor –
you can make an appointment anytime to see one of our doctors and it will not cost you
anything for the consultation. However, you need to pay for the prescription and the cost
varies with the medicine, but its usually just a few pounds. Nevertheless, in some
situations, such as pregnancy, the prescription is then free. (Q20)

All right, do you have any other questions?

SECTION 3

Professor: Until recently, we knew almost nothing about how important bees are in
maintaining natural diversity. Now we know more about them. We know, for example, that
bees fall into two categories: wild bees and domesticated honeybees. A main reason for the
domestication of bees has always been the production of honey and beeswax (Q21). We
also know that honeybees are the dominant pollinators. In addition to bees, wasps, moths,
butterflies, flies and beetles, as many as 1,500 species of birds and mammals serve as
pollinators. Many crops of commercial importance such as almond, cherry, avocado
pear (Q22), watermelon, cucumber, rely on pollination by insects, and of these insects, bees
are by far the most important. Animals and insects provide pollination services for over
three-quarters of the staple crop plants and for 80% of all flowering plants in the world. The
economic value of animal pollination to world agriculture has been estimated to be 200
billion (Q23) US dollars per year. Pollination is one of nature’s services to farmers. So think
about this: if you eliminated the pollinators, it would take the food right out of our mouths.
We biologists never imagined we’d see the day when wild plants or crops suffered from
pollinator scarcity. But, unfortunately, that day has come. In fact, farmers in Mexico and the
U.S. are suffering the worst pollinator crisis in history. So… what happened? Any ideas?
Alicia?

Alicia: Is it…um… because of natural enemies? I read something about a kind of parasite
that’s killed lots of bees.

Professor: It’s true. An outbreak of parasitic mites has caused a steep decline in North
American populations of honeybees. But parasites (Q24) aren’t the only factor.

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Alicia: What about the pesticides used on farms? All those chemicals must have an effect.

Professor: Most definitely, yes. Pesticides are a major factor. Both wild and domesticated
bees are in serious trouble because of pesticides. In California, farm chemicals (Q25) are
killing around 10% of all the honeybee colonies. Agriculture in general is part of the
problem. Another example is the monarch butterfly. Millions of monarchs from all over the
U.S. and southern Canada fly south every year in late summer. The monarch is the only
butterfly that returns to a specific site year after year (Q26). Unfortunately, the herbicides
used in their milkweed in the Great Plains are taking a toll on monarchs, and fewer of them
are reaching their winter grounds in Mexico. In a recent field study at Cornell University in
the U.S., it was found that monarch butterfly caterpillars eating com toxic pollen blown on
to milkweed plants near com fields had suffered significant adverse effects leading to death
of nearly 20% of the caterpillars.

Alicia: Wow, 20%, thats so tragic!

Professor: And it’s more than that. There are over 1,500 species of butterflies in the Indian
subcontinent, but their population is dwindling because of environmental changes. Many
manmade environmental changes like deforestation, extension of farming and
unrestricted urbanization are threatening some species of butterflies to extinction by
destruction or disturbance of their larval as well as adult food plants, feeding grounds and
shelters (Q27). Many of the most spectacular and endangered species have various levels of
protection under local legislation. However, there is a major trade in the spectacular
tropical species for incorporation in ornaments and souvenirs (Q28). The international
demand for insects is greater than most people realize.

Alicia: Yes, indeed. I once read an article about another important pollinator – the long-
nosed bat. These amazing animals feed on cactus flowers. But they are having a tough
time, too (Q29). Some desert ranchers mistake them for vampire bats, and they’ve tried to
poison them, or dynamite the caves where they roost.

Professor: Yes, we must recognize that pollination is not a free service, and that investment
and stewardship are required to protect and sustain it, so what can be done about this
situation?

Alicia: Well, wildlife farming, you know, based on sustainable exploiting wild creatures, can
help to save endangered species like butterflies and their habitats. Besides, gardeners,
orchard growers, farmers and urban dwellers can switch to more pollinator-friendly
organic methods of cultivation to reduce wildlife exposures to insecticides, herbicides and
fungicides. (Q30)

Professor: That’s right! Actually, the focus of beekeeping needs to change from conventional
honey production to crop pollination.

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SECTION 4

The London Eye

Today I want to focus on some of the major sights that attract tourists to cities, and I am
going to begin with the London Eye. The London Eye is London’s newest major tourist
attraction. It is a huge wheel designed to celebrate the Millennium year 2000, so it’s also
known as the Millennium (Q31) Wheel. It stands at Millennium Pier, on the South Bank of
the River Thames (Q32), close to the south end of Westminster Bridge, and within an easy
walk of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Though it looks like a huge Ferris wheel, the
London Eye is no fairground thrill- ride, but a slow and stately way to experience London in a
unique way. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by
over 3.5 million (Q33) people a year.

The Eye was built between 1998 and 2000. It seems remarkable that a site that has so
quickly become a symbol of modem London has been around for such a short time! It took
fully seven years from start of the design process to create the Eye. It was intended to stand
for only a few years, but it proved to be such a popular attraction that the decision was
made to make the wheel a permanent feature of the London landscape. The Eye was
referred by British Airways (Q34), and for several years after opening it was referred to as
the British Airways Millennium Wheel. Today the London Eye is under the ownership of the
London Eye Company, a subsidiary of Merlin Entertainments Group Company.

Constructing The Merlin Entertainments London Eye was a massive challenge. It’s the tallest
cantilevered observation wheel in the world, rising high above the London skyline at 135
metres (Q35). It was a piece of daring innovation and revolutionary design which combined
the best of British design, architecture and engineering with an exceptional team of experts.

So, how is that great wheel held up? How did it get there? The starting point was, of course,
the ground, and while parts of the wheel itself were still being constructed in various
countries, tension piles (Q36) were being driven into the ground beside the River Thames.
This was the first step, and once these were securely in place, a base cap was installed over
them as a kind of lock, with two giant blimps pointing up, onto which a frame was attached,
like a giant letter. The wheel was supported on huge A-frame (Q37) legs, made up of 2,200
tonnes of concrete on 44 concrete piles set 33 meters deep in the earth. All this took many
months and incredible effort, but meant that the spindle could be installed, around which
the great wheel would turn. The spindle itself was too large to cast as a single piece so
instead was produced in eight smaller sections. Now the project really was in business, and
the vast rim (Q38) with spokes like an outsized bicycle wheel could be brought in. 64 spoke
cables, which are similar to bicycle spokes, hold the rim tight to the central spindle.

And the view was enhanced by the capsule design; unlike traditional ferris wheel designs
that you might see at a local fairground, the passenger capsules (Q39) were not suspended
under the wheel, they were set within a circular mounting ring attached to the outside

144
surface of the wheel. What this means in practice is that travelers within the capsule have a
full 360 degree panoramic view, unhindered by spokes of wheel struts. And the last thing to
be built is the first thing the visitor encounters, the boarding platform (Q40) laid down
underneath. The wheel does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is
slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It
is, however, stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark
safely.

Test 21
SECTION 1
You will hear a conversation between an optometrist and a patient who has come for an eye
test.

Optometrist: Good morning, can I help you?

Simon Lee: Yes. I’m here for an appointment at ten o’clock with the optometrist. I’m a
little early. I know it’s only ten to ten.

Optometrist: Are you Simon Lee?

Simon Lee: Yes, I am.

Optometrist: I’m Rachel White, the optometrist here today. Come in and take a seat.

Simon Lee: Thanks.

Optometrist: Before we test your eyes, I just need to get a few details from you. So,
Simon, what’s your full name?

Simon Lee: Simon Anthony (Q1)— that’s A-N-T-H-O-N-Y. And my family name is Lee: L
double E.

Optometrist: And your date of birth, Simon?

Simon Lee: The 1st of June, 1989. (Q2)

Optometrist: The 21st of June.

Simon Lee: No. The first of June.

Optometrist: Whoops… sony! 1989 – ah, same year my son was born! What’s your
current address?

Simon Lee: I’m living at a hall of residence.

Optometrist: Which one?

Simon Lee: At University Hall (Q3), not far from here, in Adams terrace.

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Optometrist: University Hall… And do you have any medical insurance?

Simon Lee: Yes, I’m fully covered

Optometrist: And who are you insured with?

Simon Lee: I’m with ‘Health for life’. (Q4)

Optometrist: Healthy Life.

Simon Lee: No. People always get that wrong. It’s Health for Life. They’re part of some
big insurance company.

Optometrist: Good! Now, Simon. Have you ever had your eyes tested before?

Simon Lee: Yes, once. But not recently. It was when I was still at school.

Optometrist: So roughly when would that have been?

Simon Lee: Probably around September 2007. No, on second thoughts, it must’ve been
the year before – September 2006 (Q5). And my eyesight was fine then.

Optometrist: But you’re having a little difficulty now, are you?

Simon Lee: Well, yes … since I started at university, I’ve been having difficulty with
distance vision. I can’t always see things in the distance. (Q6)

Optometrist: Well, let’s have a look. Now I’m just going to cover your left eye. Can you
read the top line?

Simon Lee: Yes. R… B… Q… S…

Optometrist: Well, Simon. Your eyes have obviously got a little worse since your last test
and I think you’re going to need to wear glasses … er… not all the time and … not so much
for reading or close work but definitely for driving. (Q7)

Simon Lee: Right. Yes. I thought that was probably the case.

Optometrist: So now you need to choose some frames. There’s a wide range to choose
from, as you can see.

Simon Lee: Can you give me some idea of the difference in cost? I quite liked the idea
of some frameless glasses.

Optometrist: Mm… Did you? Well, the prices vary enormously, like everything, but the
frameless ones are the most expensive. The cheapest are the ones with the full frame. (Q8)

Simon Lee: Mm, perhaps I’d better go for those.

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Optometrist: Or why not try these ones with the half frame?

Simon Lee: They’re not too bad.

Optometrist: Yes. They look quite nice and they’re strong (Q9) far less likely to break
than the frameless ones.

Simon Lee: Oh, that’s a good point. OK, I think I’ll take those ones.

Optometrist: If you pop back next Monday, I should have them ready for you. And you
can pay for them when you pick them up.

Simon Lee: Thanks very much. Can I pay by credit card?

Optometrist: You can, but there will be a slight charge if you do that.

Simon Lee: Right. I’ll pay by cash (Q10) then, if you don’t mind.

Optometrist: No problem. Cash, credit card, debit card. All the same to us. See you on
Monday.

SECTION 2

You will hear an extract from an audio guide to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is the most popular tourist attraction in India. It is also one of the most
spectacular buildings of the world, and is considered as a symbol of love. But how many
people realise that it was actually built as a tomb or burial place for the Emperor’s wife?

The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan to commemorate his beloved
wife Mumtaz Mahal when she died, and, although this was not his original intention, for he
had planned to build a black marble tomb for himself, they both lie side by side in the
tomb (Q11) today. Emperor Shahjahan’s two greatest passions were architecture and
jewellery and both are represented here in all their splendor.

The most skilled architects and craftsmen came from across India and countries as far away
as Persia and Turkey. Much of the structure was built in white marble that was carried by a
thousand elephants all the way from the Indian region of Rajasthan (Q12) some 300km
away. Crystal and jade came from China, sapphires from Sri Lanka and turquoise from Tibet.

But there’s a lot more to the Taj Mahal than just the tomb, so let’s have a look at the overall
plan before we take a walk through the magnificent gardens. Your tour begins here at the
point marked with an X on the plan. This is known as The Main Gateway (Q13). Walk
through the gate and you come into an magnificent garden. There are two marble canals
studded with fountains, which cross in the centre of the garden, dividing it into four equal
squares. Each of these four quarters is then subdivided into flower beds. So there are 16
flower beds (Q14) altogether. The tomb stands majestically at the north end, not in the

147
centre as you might have expected Instead, at the centre of the garden, halfway between
the tomb and the gateway, there’s a raised pond (Q15) which provides a reflection of the
Taj Mahal. It’s a magnificent sight. On either side of the tomb there are buildings made of
red sandstone. The one to the west – to the left on our plan – is a mosque (Q16). It faces
towards Mecca and is used for prayer. On the east side of the Teg is a building known as the
Rest House. It’s like the twin of the mosque, but because it faces away from Mecca, it was
never used for prayer.

Many people have asked what the Rest House was for. Was it a place for pilgrims to stay?
Was it a meeting hall of some kind? Perhaps the most likely answer to this question is that
its purpose is purely aesthetic, to act as a visual balance for the mosque and to preserve the
symmetry of the design (Q17) of the whole complex.

Let’s have a look at some of the engineering features of the garden. For one thing, they
require a constant supply of running water. When it was built, water was drawn from
the river (Q18) manually, using an elaborate rope and bucket system, pulled by a team of
bullocks. The water was then brought through a broad water channel and held in a number
of supply tanks (Q19). These tanks were at varying heights off the ground and were
ingeniously designed to store the very large amounts of water required. Using an elaborate
system of underground pipes, the water was then distributed from the supply tanks to each
of the fountains (Q20). To ensure that the water pressure was the same throughout the
garden, there was a copper pot under each fountain connected to the water supply. It was
undoubtedly a brilliant system.

SECTION 3

You will hear a tutor and two students discussing the crop rice.

Tutor Good morning, everyone. So … following on from our tutorial on European

agriculture last week, Daisy and Erik are going to talk about the most commonly grown crop
in Asia, which is, of course, rice. Erik, can you tell us what you’ve been working on?

Erik Yes, sure … We’ve been looking at the role of rice in a number of countries, how it’s
grown, ways of increasing production. As I’m sure you know, rice is the staple diet
throughout Asia and, in fact, 90 per cent of the world’s rice is grown and eaten there.
Daisy’s got some background on that.

Daisy Um … well, rice was originally a wild plant which started out in the tropical regions
of Asia, but there are literally hundreds of varieties today and each with different qualities.
For instance, one will survive floods, while another will grow in relatively dry
conditions (Q21). A third has a really lovely smell. But wherever it grows, rice needs a lot of
water.

Tutor What do you mean by ‘a lot’?

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Erik Well, it takes about 5,000 litres to get a kilogram of rice. This can be supplied either
naturally or by irrigation. And as most ricegrowing countries suffer from unpredictable
weather, including drought – water management really is the key. (Q22)

Daisy Research has become so important now that each rice-growing country in Asia has
its own research institute, whether we’re talking about Japan, China or Bangladesh … and
they’re all co-ordinated by a group in the Philippines (Q23) called the International Rice
Research Institute.

Tutor Interesting.

Daisy Bangladesh, for instance, has been successfully using different rice varieties and
fertilizers for 30 years. But because it’s such a flat, delta country, it’s very difficult for the
water to drain away after the monsoon season, so they need to find special rice crops that
can survive the floods (Q24). And with global warming, the situation is more urgent than
ever.

Erik Now I’d like to move on to our comparative study. As you can imagine, China is the
world’s biggest rice producing country (Q25). Collectively the Chinese people probably eat
more than three billion bowls of rice every day!

Tutor Quite a statistic!

Erik And of course, rice plays an important cultural role too.

Daisy We then compared China to Thailand. You know, even though Thailand only has
about 64 million people, it is the world’s number one exporter of rice (Q26). Not China as
you might imagine.

Tutor Is that so?

Erik Yes. They send their rice everywhere … in particular to Europe, as well as Africa and
the Middle East. Apparently the fact that ‘jasmine rice’ is growing in popularity is one reason
why Thailand’s rice export industry is doing so well. People want something a bit different.

Daisy And, of course, Thailand is well suited to rice growing-good climatic conditions, and
lots of fresh water.

Erik Going back to China for a minute, we should mention that at the rice research
institute in Hangzhou they are working on ways of improving rice yields, using less water.

Tutor By yields you mean … the amount they can grow?

Erik Yes. They’re trying to find ways to get more rice from less land, improve the taste,
but also have other things in it besides carbohydrates so that it’s healthier – better for
you. (Q27)

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Tutor Good idea, considering it’s the staple food.

Erik And then you’ve got Japan, which is totally self-sufficient when it comes to rice. This
is basically because they have a high tariff on imported rice, so everyone buys the home
grown product. And they don’t export much.

Daisy Yes, but you know, even though rice is a kind of sacred crop there, consumption is
only half what it was in the 1960s (Q28). This trend isn’t evident in Thailand or China.

Tutor Interesting that you mentioned how rice is almost sacred in Japan. Because I believe
in Thailand it also plays an important cultural role.

Daisy Absolutely! They have the ‘royal ploughing ceremony’ every year (Q29), which the
King always attends and he actually scatters a new stock of seed to the farmers, who pour
into Bangkok for the event.

Tutor What about the global interest in organic farming? Is there such a thing as
organically grown rice?

Erik Yes – indeed. And the Japanese are getting quite a taste for it, apparently (Q30).
There’s an experimental farm near the city of Akita in the Japanese rice belt – famous for its
Sake, by the way – which has pioneered organic rice production, and now it’s sold all across
the country. It’s a bit like the recent popularity of jasmine rice in Thailand, but that’s for the
export market, of course.

Tutor Interesting how attitudes change, isn’t it?

SECTION 4

You will hear part of a lecture about writing for radio.

Lecturer We’re going to move on today to look at some of the key principles of writing for
radio.

Of course the main thing that you have to remember is that a radio script is not written to
be read, but to be spoken and heard. Now putting this into practice is more difficult than it
seems because writing as we speak involves abandoning many of the normal ‘rules’ (Q31) of
writing that have been taught to us from an early age. This is because we need to
concentrate on how the piece sounds. Written words convey information, but they don’t
convey the full meaning of what you want to say… they don’t tell you what to emphasise,
what speed (Q32) something should be read at, or where the pauses should come, so these
have to be indicated in a script.

Whatever is said on radio – whether it’s a link to a magazine programme, a film review, or
even a voice piece in the news – needs to sound as if it is coming from the mind of the

150
speaker – almost like part of a conversation (Q33) – rather than something that is being
read.

Before you begin to write, it’s a good idea to know who you’re talking to, to visualise a
typical member of the radio station’s audience. If you’re writing a film review for a local
audience, for example, think about how you would tell your grandmother (Q34) about the
film, or if you’re reviewing a pop concert, think about how you would tell your friend about
the band.

The words have much more impact if each person feels they are being spoken to directly. So
your tone needs to be informal – rather than using impersonal words like ‘listeners’ or ‘the
audience’, you can make it more informal… include them in what you’re saying by referring
to ‘us’ and ‘we’. (Q35)

Once you know who you’re talking to, the next thing is to work out what you’re going to say.
Don’t forget that the person listening to you has no opportunity to ask questions, and in the
same way, you can’t repeat (Q36) what you’ve just said. For these reasons it’s important
that your script is logical and progresses smoothly.

Too many facts too close together will cause confusion, so space (Q37) them out evenly.
The best scripts allow listeners to visualise what you’re describing. For example, instead of
giving the physical dimensions of a field, describe it as being the size of, say, a football
pitch (Q38): if you’re talking about a tall building, relate it to – perhaps – a ten-storey block
of flats.

Now, all scripts need something that will grab the attention of the listener. You need
something that will make them say, ‘Hey, I want to stop and listen to this.’ So the first
sentence (Q39) has to do this for you … it needs to be intriguing, interesting – and then it
needs to be backed up by a second sentence that explains what you’re talking about. The
last sentence should also give your listeners food for thought and can be in the form of a
question, or a statement that sums up the item.

After you’ve finished your script you need to polish it up and the most effective method of
doing this is by reading it aloud (Q40). This also helps you to avoid tongue twisters or words
that you might find awkward to pronounce.

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 Test 22
SECTION 1

You will hear a conversation about accommodation rules.

Advisor: Good morning, everyone. I’m your accommodation advisor.

Well, firstly welcome to Thomas House which is one of the most popular accommodations in
our university. I will give you an introduction about the house and answer your questions.
As you know, the building was constructed in the middle of the 18th century and was used
by the family of Thomas (Q1). That’s of course how the house and university got his name.
We repaired it and added some new and modern facilities last year…

Student: Excuse me, advisor.

Advisor: Yes?

Student: What kind of facilities are there in Thomas House?

Advisor: There are three floors. A front fall and a dining room are on the ground
floor.

Student: Does the house have a garden?

Advisor: Of course.

Student: And a garage?

Advisor: No, we don’t provide parking lot to students. (Q3)

Student: OK.

Advisor: A small Gym with some new equipment is on the second floor.

Student: Does it have a computer room? (Q2)

Advisor: No. I mean a leisure room on the second floor and you can find a
comfortable land with big balcony on the same floor.

Student: How about bedroom and bathroom?

Advisor: They are both on the top.

Student: How many students are there in one flat?

Advisor: Four to six.

Student: I wonder if I have to share a bathroom with others.

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Advisor: No. We provide every student a bedroom and bathroom.

Student: Great.

Advisor: There are some rules in Thomas House. Firstly, smoking (Q4) is not allowed
in both your bedroom and bathroom.

Student: Does the house have a smoking section?

Advisor: No. You can smoke on balcony or outside the house.

Student: Advisor, is there a laundry (Q5) in the house?

Advisor: Of course. Laundry room is located on the right corner of the second floor.

Student: Sure.

Advisor: But please do not use it after 11 o’clock.

Student: Is it free to us?

Advisor: In fact, you don’t need to pay any bills which are included in your
accommodation fee. But you have to pay laundry fee.

Student: How much?

Advisor: We offer two coin-operated washing machines. The large one is two
pounds fifty and the small one is one pound sixty.

Student: If the lounge has a time restriction?

Advisor: Definitely. We ask all students to keep quiet and do not

make noise (Q6) after 11 o’clock.

Student: We know there is a backyard in the house.

Advisor: Yes.

Student: If we can park our car there?

Advisor: No. We do not allow parking (Q7) in our yard.

Student: OK. Could we invite some friends to hold a party (Q8) in the garden or
lounge?

Advisor: We only allow party on weekends.

Student: Fine.

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Advisor: The last rule is to pay attention to the opening time of the Front Hall. The
door is locked at 11 p.m. and opened again at 6 a.m. (Q9) in the next morning. Remember
to take the front door key (Q10) when you go out early or come back late.

Student: How could we get the front door key?

Advisor: You can go to residents office building and get your key in Room 101.

Student: Sure.

Advisor: Well, any questions?

SECTION 2

You will hear an introduction about sports matches.

Good morning everyone. I am Mary White, the Secretary of the Exciting Sports Club.
Welcome to attend matches arrangement meeting. I know you are looking forward to a
great season. Now I’d like to give you a short introduction to our arrangement in this
season.

This season we still have two competitions. One is tennis and the other is soccer. Let’s start
with tennis. There will be six (Q11) teams competition. We hope the players’ ages are
between 16 and 22 years old. While the number of soccer teams is only four in this season.
Because we hope all players’ ages are no more than 20 (Q12) years old. Now, in this new
season there are some changes. The first one is the venue (Q13). We will arrange all our
matches for both the tennis and soccer competitions in Magic Park instead of Darry Park
which was used last year. Tennis matches will be arranged on court 2 and court 4 (Q14) will
hold soccer matches.

On our match schedule all tennis matches will be played on Sunday afternoons (Q15). All
matches will begin at 2 o’clock. Soccer matches in this season will be played at 7 o’clock on
Saturday evenings. The joining fee is still 30 pounds including a new sport gear. We still offer
a week of training session before formal match for our new players. There are two training
session at 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on next Friday and Saturday afternoon. The fee is only 12
pounds. Now I’d like to introduce the coach (Q16) of each training session. George Hansen
who has been supervised the tennis teams for over four years will still be coach this season.
While, we will invite a good soccer coach who has enough patience and professional skills to
work as this season soccer coach. His name is Paul Bhatt. (Q17)

In addition, we offer some activities to thank all players. Please look at your brochure. There
are some activities and their time arrangements. At beginning we hope to start the season
with a barbecue dinner (Q18) on next Saturday in Magic Park. I do really hope all players

154
will go there to enjoy the dinner and you may invite your relatives and friends. Of course
they have to pay a listed fee with just 5 pounds.

And then, after the final match in this season, we will vote this season’s MVP (Q19) (the
most valuable player). The two players from tennis team and soccer team will gain an
honour and a prize from our sports centre. This season we hope all players can send
a confirm letter (Q20) to us to ensure our match arrangement. So please write to us before
the deadline – it is on Thursday, 18th April. Our secretary – David Black – is in charge of
collecting fees and your letters in this season. His room number is 214 and his phone is
332567 (fade)…

SECTION 3

You will hear a conversation about student thesis.

(knock at door)

Assistant: Come in please.

Man: Good afternoon. Oh, I am sorry. Is it Professor Lee’s office room?

Assistant: No. It is room 640. His new room number is 614 (Q21) on the right of this
corridor.

Man: Thanks a lot.

Assistant: You are welcome.

(knock at door)

Professor Lee: Come in please.

Man: Good afternoon, Professor Lee.

Professor Lee: Good afternoon. Come in please. I remember our tutorial time is at two
o’clock (Q22), right?

Man: Really? Oh, I am so sorry. I remember it is at half past one. So, I… I go to common
room to wait for thirty minutes. OK?

Professor Lee: No, no. I am free now. Let’s begin.

Man: I am so sorry.

Professor Lee: That doesn’t matter. So, how about your work?

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Man: In fact, Professor Lee, can I get an extension of time to hand in my work? I mean I
hope to extend my thesis deadline. (Q23)

Professor Lee: James, you know extension is usually given only for medical or accident
reasons. So what’s your problem? You have a good beginning with your draft. Isn’t it right?

Man: Yes. While, I… I’m having too many reading materials (Q24) to read. Too many?

Professor Lee: How many?

Man: Besides academic journals I have about 15 books to read next month. I don’t think I
can finish them.

Professor Lee: Oh, darling, you do not need to read them all.

Man: What do you mean?

Professor Lee: I mean you can choose some parts of these books which can help your work.

Man: Really? Could you give me some suggestions ?

Professor Lee: Sure.

(5 seconds pause)

Professor Lee: Do you bring your reference book list?

Man: Yes. I take it.

Professor Lee: Let’s see. First, the book by Bayer, I think it is really worth reading.

Man: Read it all? (Q25)

Professor Lee: Yes. The topic of the book is nearly the same field with you.

Man: OK… I’ll read Bayer’s book.

Professor Lee: The next author is Oliver.

Man: I heard that his argument (Q26) is very strong. But the book is a little difficult.

Professor Lee: You are right. But I still recommend you to know about his argument which
will give you a lot of help.

Man: Fine. Do you think I should read Billy’s book?

Professor Lee: About Billy, I have to say his work is very good, especially his research
method, but you do not need to read it now. (Q27)

Man: Right. The last author is Andrew. How about his book?

156
Professor Lee: In my opinion, the one by Andrew says the research findings – I mean his last
part is very excellent (Q28), clear and persuasive.

Man: I agree with you. I am reading the book now.

Professor Lee: Great.

Man: How about others?

Professor Lee: I suggest you finish these books next month and then we will talk about
others, OK?

Man: OK.

Professor Lee: Have you begun your research work?

Man: Yes.

Professor Lee: How are things going?

Man: That’s OK, except the research method.

Professor Lee: What’s wrong with the method?

Man: I have made some interviews.

Professor Lee: Yes.

Man: But I found that they couldn’t give me the data I need.

Professor Lee: Who are the interviewees?

Man: Some are our classmates and others are schoolmates.

Professor Lee: Oh, no. James. It’s better for you to interview some professionals. (Q29)

Man: Do you think it is better for me to change another research method such as
questionnaire?

Professor Lee: I don’t think you will have enough time to design it and then analyze your
research data. That will waste you a lot of time.

Man: You are right.

Professor Lee: And pay attention to your reference.

Man: Reference books?

Professor Lee: No. I mean you should make clearly about what reference books you
read (Q30) and then write them after your thesis.

157
Man: OK. I will make them clear.

Professor Lee: Fine. I hope to see your work quickly.

Man: I hope too. Thanks for your help, Professor Lee.

Professor Lee: That’s OK. See you next time.

Man: See you.

SECTION 4

You will hear a conversation about astronomy.

Woman: This is “Magic Time” from the BBC. I am Faith. In today’s programme we invite a
professor of astronomy. Welcome Lewis.

Man: Thanks a lot, Faith.

Woman: What magic information will you introduce to us?

Man: We all know the Leonids in August are coming, so today let’s talk about meteors.

Woman: Good topic. At one time or another, almost everyone has glimpsed a swift little
streak of light dashing across the night sky. Nearly everyone makes wishes when they see
them and blame both good and bad luck on their presents.

Man: Yes. These sudden celestial visitors are meteors. We often call it “shooting
star” (Q31). The glowing trails are caused by the incineration of a piece of celestial debris
entering our atmosphere.

Woman: Many meteors are quick flashes, but some last long enough for us to track their
brief course across the sky.

Man: Right. Now and then, a meteor truly will light up the night, blazing brighter than
Venus – although rarely, even brighter than the Moon – leaving in its wake a dimly glowing
trail that may persist for minutes.

Woman: Lewis, can we see some meteors every night in one year?

Man: Yes. Under a dark sky, any observer can expect to see between two and seven
meteors each hour any night of the year. These are sporadic meteors.

Woman: Sporadic meteors?

Man: Yes. Their source bodies – meteoroids – are part of the dusty background of the
inner solar (Q32) system. Several times during the year, Earth encountered swarms of small
particles that greatly increase the number of meteors. The result is a meteor shower, during

158
which observers may see dozens of meteors every hour. Concentrations of material within
the swarms may produce better-than-average displays in some years, with rates of
hundreds per hour. And we’re treated to a truly amazing display in which thousands of
visible meteors can be seen for a brief period. The phenomenon is called meteor storms
which are more magnificent than meteor showers. (Q33)

Woman: Ah ha! That’s wonderful!

Man: Definitely. The meteors that appear during a meteor shower seem to come from
one point in, the sky. This illusion is an effect of perspective, just as a roadway seems to
converge in the distance. Usually, meteor showers get the name of the constellation from
which the meteors appear to radiate. Such as during the Perseid shower in August, meteors
seem to streak from a point in the constellation Perseus.

Woman: When is the biggest meteor storm?

Man: According to records, in 1833 (Q34) a storm of 60,000 meteors an hour shocked the
world.

Woman: 60,000? That’s unbelievable!

Man: By the 1860s, scientists had known that many meteor showers were annual –
including the normally Placid Leonids, which produced the big storm – and that they were
somehow related to comets. (Q35)

Woman: Really?

Man: Yes. But most of the meteors people have seen during one of the annual showers
arise from fluffy particles not much larger than sand grains. As a particle enters Earth’s
atmosphere, it collides with gas atoms and molecules. The particle becomes wrapped in a
glowing sheath of heated air and vaporized material boiled off its own surface.

(5 seconds pause)

Woman: Whether meteor is very near to us when it appears?

Man: No. In fact, it is an illusion. However even well-trained professionals can be fooled.
Such as airline pilots have swerved to avoid meteors that were actually 160 kilometers
away. A meteor that appears brighter than any of the stars and planets is a fireball. (Q36)

Woman: Fireball? That’s so interesting

Man: Yeah. Most meteors are seen 80 to 120 kilometres above the ground. Sometimes,
someone will claim to see a viable land on a hilltop, but in fact a real fireball first appears at
a height of about 125 kilometers and loses its brightness while still at least 20 kilometres
above the ground.

159
Woman: Yes. What colours do meteors have?

Man: Usually, most meteors look white (Q37). but some also appear blue, green, yellow,
orange, or even red.

Woman: What will happen if a meteoroid gets to the surface of the Earth without being
completely vaporised?

Man: It will be meteorite.

Woman: I heard meteorites were long ago thought to be cast down as gifts from angels.

Man: Yes. And others thought the gods were displaying their anger.

Woman: Really?

Man: As late as the 17th Century, many believed they fell

from thunderstorms (Q38) (they were nicknamed “thunderstones”). Many scientists didn’t
believe the accounts of people who claim to have seen meteors and some experts were
skeptical that stones could fall from the clouds or the heaven.

Woman: Yes.

Man: One of the most significant meteorite events in recent history destroyed hundreds
of square miles of forest in Siberia on June the 30th (Q39)1908. According to local witnesses
a ball of fire streaked through the sky and seemed to enter the atmosphere at an oblique
angle. It exploded, sending out hot winds and loud noises and shaking the ground enough to
break windows in nearby villages. Small particles blown into the atmosphere lit the night sky
for several days.

Woman: So, nowadays, the prevailing theory holds that a meteor exploded just above the
surface?

Man: Yes. Most impact craters and basins larger than the Meteor Crater are heavily worn
away or have been buried by rocks and dirt as the earth’s surface changed. At present,
Chicxulub Basin centered in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is the largest one. The diameter of
basin is around 300 kilometres. Rock samples obtained by drilling into the basin show that
an asteroid struck the earth there about 65 million years ago. (Q40)

Woman: Does that the same period with the dinosaurs disappeared?

Man: That’s right. Many scientists believe this debris caused climate changes which made
the dinosaurs not survive.

Woman: We do really hope that will never happen again.

Man: Right.

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Woman: OK. Thanks for watching today’s programme. See you next week.

Test 23
SECTION 1

CLERK: Good morning, ma’am, and welcome to “Australia’s Moving Experience”!

How can I help you?

WOMAN: Well, I… I hope you can help me. I’m so up in the air right now… I…

CLERK: Just calm down, now. Let me guess: you’re moving and it has you a little
confused.

WOMAN: That’s it exactly. You see, I’m relocating to the United States next month
and I’m having a hard time getting organised.

CLERK: Here, fill out your name and address, and let me ask you a few questions.
Oh, what should I call you?

WOMAN: My name is Jane, Jane Bond. (Example)

CLERK: OK, Jane, first of all, what’s your work phone number? In case I have any
questions about things.

WOMAN: My work phone is 94635550 (Q1). But please try not to call me too often
there. My boss hates personal calls.

CLERK: So does mine, ma’am, so does mine. And what address should we ship your
things to?

WOMAN: My new company is letting me stay temporarily at 509 Clark House (Q2),
that’s C-L-A-R-K, 1137 University Drive in Seattle. (Q3)

CLERK: Seattle? Beautiful city, I hear. Mountains right beside the ocean, almost.
Cooler than Australia, too. OK, and when should we come pack your things?

WOMAN: I guess that would be on Monday, March 11th. (Q4)

Do you want any help with an after-packing clean-up? We do that for a small additional
charge.

Yes, that would be helpful. I promised the landlord I’d give her the keys back by 5:00 p.m.
on Thursday (Q5), the 14th.

Great, we’ll just schedule the clean-up for that day. That way, the place will smell clean and
there’ll be no dust.

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Well, you do think of everything! Oh, how much is this going to cost?

Here is a list of our basic prices.

Oh dear, this seems rather expensive!

Yes ma’am, but you’re paying for the best. We’re careful and we’re fast. Like we say, the
only thing we break are speed records getting you moved.

Well… maybe that’s so… Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you. I don’t want my furniture shipped
with me. I won’t be looking for an apartment till after I arrive in America. Would it be
possible to put my furniture in storage here for a month (Q6), then have it sent along later?

Of course, we do that all the time. A couple of other things.

Here at “A Moving Experience”, we try to pack your things logically. We don’t just throw
stuff in boxes.

Do you have any special requests? You know, things you want packed in some special place,
so you know where to find them?

Like what?

Oh, I don’t know… Things like dishes maybe. Not to be rude, but you look like a lady who
likes to eat.

Ahhh! Yes, I need my dishes and things where I can find them quickly.

Great. We’ll put those dishes and cutlery in what we call the emergency pack (Q7). Can
you think of anything else?

Ummm, I do have an antique tea kettle (Q8) my great-grandmother gave my mother. I

wouldn’t want to lose that. So I guess you’d better put that in storage with the
furniture. (Q8)

Grandma’s tea kettle with the furniture, got it! Say, how about things like your alarm clock?
You don’t want to miss your plane on the big day, right?

Well, you certainly think of everything! Yes, that’s right. I’ll also need my alarm clock where
I can find it. (Q9)

Fine, we’ll put that in your personal package (Q9). And of course, we’ll give you a list of
where we pack everything. So, all you’ll have to do on Thursday, the 14th is grab your
luggage on your way out the door. Um, I couldn’t help noticing the new CD player you’re
carrying. Is that a Samsung?

Why? Yes, it is. One of their best. Cost me nearly a hundred dollars, it did!

162
Do you want to take special care of it? I mean it’s brand new.

Take care of it, but nothing special. You can just put it in storage with the furniture. (Q10)

That looks like everything we need here. I guess you’re all set.

That was certainly quick. Thank you, young man. This has been a most moving experience!

SECTION 2

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the 2nd Annual Wullaballoo Conference on
Mastering Computer Languages. I hope you all had a good trip. Before we get underway
with today’s programme, let me fill you in as to what’s on tap for tomorrow, Sunday,
February 19th.

At 9:00 a.m. right here in the Main Hall, we’ll be hearing a lecture from Dr John Smith about
“Computer as Teacher’’ (Q11). Professor Smith, from the University of Melbourne (Q12), is
a world-class expert in the field of computer-assisted education, and his talk promises to be
both stimulating and informative.

Immediately afterwards, at 10:30, there will be a presentation of papers by various

delegates. That, however, will take place in the Garden Room on the ground floor. If you
don’t yet know, the Garden Room is also called the Ballroom, and we’ll be gathering at the
west end, the slightly raised area called Level 2. Just look for the crowd. If you get lost, there
are signs in the foyer.

After all that thinking, talking, and listening, I expect everyone will be a bit weary. So at
11:15, there will be a break for coffee, cookies, and other light refreshments. These will be
available at the aptly named Refreshment Stand, placed by the door back here in the Main
Hall. Also, if you choose to skip the formal lunch, you can buy a packed lunch at the stand
for a reasonable price.

I strongly urge you, however, to join us at the formal lunch. That won’t be till one o’clock
sharp, so you have time to stroll about town a bit. We’ll be eating at the Sea View
Restaurant. The restaurant is located right here in the hotel, on the top floor (Q13). It’s a
good dozen flights of stairs, so I suggest you take the lift on the ground floor (Q14), eh? If
you’re not fond of fish, there is an all-you-can-eat barbecue available as well. They even
offer wallaby meat!

After lunch, we’ll troop back downstairs to Level 2 in the Ballroom for the presentation of
further papers, which will begin at 2:00 p.m. Please try to be on time. I know you’ll be a bit
tired after lunch, but the Ballroom echoes so with people coming in late. Thank you in
advance.

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Once we’ve heard the papers, we’ll break for afternoon tea at 3:10 (Q15) p.m. No need to
walk. The manager of the refreshment stand has graciously agreed to have tea served in the
Ballroom. He’s even promised us some special scones, baked from a recipe of his dear old
Scottish grandmother.

Then, tea being drunk and scones munched, we’ll retire here to the Main Hall for some
closing remarks and questions. So, by 5:00 we should have the conference wrapped up. But
the fun isn’t over! This is Australia mates! We’ll be flocking to the hotel’s own Palm
Lounge (Q16) on the east side of the foyer for an informal reception. You can relax, mingle
with the other delegates, and let your hair down a bit. This will run from 5:10 to 6:10,
though you’re free to stay as long as you like. The lounge manager has informed me that,
for the duration of the actual reception, you can have all-you-can-drink beer for $20.00 with
purchase of an advance ticket.

And, yes, tickets can be purchased from any conference organiser or at the front desk
anytime between now and the start of the reception. (Q17)

I suggest you come by tomorrow evening to pick up the tickets since the conference hall
only holds 800 people. That way, you can also get your journey planned ahead of time and
be sure not to miss this truly memorable conference. If you want cocktails, however, I’m
sorry. You’ll have to pay for those at the regular price.

Oh my goodness! Speaking of paying, I see I forgot to tell you a couple of things. The first is
about lunch. The charge for the lunch will be $15.00 for all you delegates (Q18). If you have
guests with you, the cost is $25.00 for the general public, and $6.50 for children under the
age of 10. That’s fifteen dollars each, not total for everyone! Another item is about the lunch
menu. I very much urge you to try the fish. I mean, look at the restaurant’s name: Sea
View. As the name suggests, it is a famous seafood restaurant (Q19). The chef is a Basque
from Spain, and he really gets quite put out when people ignore his fish specialties for
burgers or barbecue. If fish isn’t your thing though, try the steak – he makes an exquisite
Filet mignon topped with bleu cheese and mushrooms.

Finally, if you’d like to buy a ticket, you can have both lunch and the unlimited beer for
$35.00 (Q20). I should have mentioned that earlier, but I am a bit forgetful. Maybe I should
avoid the beer after the conference, eh?

Well, I’ve said my bit. Are there any questions?

SECTION 3

Hello… are you Professor Van Diezen?

Yes, I am. And who might you be?

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Oh! Sorry, my name is Tina. I’m a freshman here. They told me I should ask you for advice in
choosing courses.

Well, that’s part of what I’m here for. Please come in and sit down. Now, what are your
questions?

I, I almost don’t know! Everything is so confusing! Like what is a “specialised course”?

Oh, easy. A specialised course is one that is compulsory, meaning it’s a requirement for
your major and regular, so you can’t place out by taking a proficiency exam. (Q21)

That sounds pretty strict. Then what are all these general courses? I seem to have to take so
many.

Nothing to be alarmed over. These are courses open to all students and not directly related
to your major. The university offers these general courses to choose so that you can become
more well-rounded individuals. For example, I see you’re a Microbiology major. So it might
be a good idea to take some literature or history courses so that you can know something
besides all science.

You mean these courses are, like, for fun?

That might be one way to look at it, but don’t tell the literature professor such a thing. Think
of a general course as the opposite of a specified course. A specified course is one that
pertains directly to your major.

So can I take any Microbiology course I want?

Let’s see. Oh, those courses used to be open to Microbiology students only.

The good thing is, now it’s open to students on a flexible schedule, so it’s not only for full-
time students (Q22). So the answer is yes, if you have the instructor’s permission. May I ask
you why you chose Microbiology?

Well, I also like plain old Biology, too. You know, fullsized animals. I might even become a
veterinarian. Could I take some Biology classes?

Well, they are open to full-time students only (Q23), which I believe is what you are. I don’t
know how a freshman would get along with Microbiology, though. I mean, most of the
students presently looking into it are from off-campus. (Q24)

Off-campus?

Yes, you know, people who use it in their work at hospitals, laboratories, even a police
detective. Why did you choose Microbiology, if I may ask? I don’t think you quite answered
that.

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Well, eventually I want to be a doctor. At least my dad tells me so.

If I may say so, young lady, you seem a little uncertain.

Still, I think that might be a good idea for a career. Of course, if you’re thinking about being
either a doctor or a vet, you should take some Medical Science classes before you even
think of applying to med school.

Great! What should I take?

There is one small problem. The new Medical Sciences building is under construction, so
there are no experimental facilities available until next year. (Q25)

I’m afraid you’ll have to wait. But don’t forget to take those courses at the first opportunity!

Oh, bummer. Is there any other course you’d recommend for someone like me?

Well, since you seem to like animals, have you ever thought about looking into
Environmental Science? (Q26)

No, I never really thought about it before. Is it worthwhile?

Quite! In fact, it’s the fastest growing subject on this campus. (Q26)

I’m sorry, I couldn’t help noticing the long list of classes you’ve written out there. May I have
a look?

Oh, sure.

Medical Science, Statistics, Laboratory Techniques, Medicine, Mathematics, Computing. My,

my, a bit of everything here.

Is it too much?

For your first semester, yes. What I suggest is starting out by taking the compulsory
courses (Q27). Like we said before, the Medical Science can wait.

Consider taking that in your sophomore year. I think I’d put off Computing, too.

I recommend to all freshmen that I talk to get the compulsory Mathematics out of the way
as early as possible (Q27), so take that one. It’ll be one less difficult course you have to
focus on when the science lab opens next year, and you have to catch up on classes like
Laboratory Techniques. Your major also requires Statistics so you have to balance two
Maths classes, and no doubt you should take that (Q28). Otherwise, get your required
Medicine course out of the way by taking something theory-based. (Q29)

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Oh, of course and your Environmental Science class if you’re interested. The others can wait,
though I think Computing is definitely a good idea, even though it’s not required. I see too,
on your paper there, you seem to have had high marks on the entrance exam.

Uhhh, yeah. I guess so.

Don’t be shy! Have you thought about applying for a scholarship?

Do they have any? I mean, my dad is always complaining about how much money it costs
him.

In your department, there are actually three full scholarships available. They cover tuition
and provide $1,500 cash.

$1,500 cash?! Party!

Please, Miss. The money is intended more as a textbook allowance (Q30), not party money.
If you promise to behave,

I’ll show you how to apply.

Great, and thanks!

SECTION 4

We’ve been talking about choosing building materials in the last week. Now, a great many
factors influence the choice of building materials. You can’t make a house of cards, right?
And “people who live in glass houses…” and all that… Anyhow, today I’d like to say a few
words about flooring.

Some artificial materials can be used, like plastic (Q31) for instance, which offer mixed
blessings when used as a flooring surface. On the one hand, plastic is cheaper than nearly
any other alternative, short of bare ground. Plastic also does not warp like wood. On the
other hand, the best that can be said about plastic is that it “looks like” wood or stone.
However, it cannot replace the real materials. As I have mentioned, I’m fixing up a new
house. The decorator my wife hired told me, “Plastic does a great job of looking exactly like
plastic.” Besides, it scratches easily, fades or discolours, and starts cracking within a year or
two. So, if you’re fitting out a sleazy hotel or plan to live in a trailer park, go with the plastic.
Really, though, for all intents and purposes, this leaves us with wood or stone as choices for
flooring.

Stone and wood are alike in at least one respect: both go through processing (Q32) before
they can be put to use. Since few of us cut our own lumber or quarry our own stone, this is
not perhaps a pressing concern. Still, do-it-yourselfers would do well to remember to buy

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only properly seasoned (Q33) wood. Unseasoned wood warps and a warped floor quickly
becomes firewood (and its owner quickly becomes poorer). Likewise, except for dull-hued
materials like slate or sandstone, most stone floors are polished (Q34) before installation.
The choice goes well beyond just wood or stone – each type requires many further consider
ations. A few special remarks are called for when considering wood, for example. As always,
aesthetics, personal taste, and layout all play roles as well as the type of house or room. Oh,
and certainly don’t forget the cost (Q35). When it comes to cost, a rule of thumb is that the
softer and less exotic the wood, the lower the cost. In the US, for instance, pine is both
ubiquitous and cheap. Mahogany is imported and exorbitantly expensive. If you’re on any
kind of budget when remodeling, it’s really helpful to remember to go for the softer woods.

Aside from cost, there are still lots of different factors that are important in choosing the
best flooring for the job. Continuing with the example of wood, one must consider the
effects of each type of wood on the mood of the room. When selecting the best wood to
use, particular attention needs to be paid to its grain patterns (Q36), texture, and colour. In
rooms where relaxation or deep thought is the aim – say bedrooms or the study – dark,
strong grained woods are the rule.

Here the grain ought to match the furniture for a feeling of homogeneity. In rooms where
activity and motion are typical – the dining room or living room – lighter, finer-grained
lumber is more suitable.

In such a setting, the wood grain might be useful in offering a contrast to the furniture. This
leads to a feel of subconscious excitement, in keeping with the room’s function.

In either case, though, consult a decorator. It is a decorator’s job to know what materials to
use to fit the function of the room. Though some things about putting together a room are
subjective and based on one’s individual taste, materials appropriate to a room’s function
are much more straightforward. A decorator takes the needs of the customer and uses a
mathematical formula, rather than subjective words (Q37). Since feelings vary from person
to person, verbal descriptions of wood types tend to be ambiguous. You want the wood you
select, not something approximate! And if you do decide to do it yourself, remember that all
wood must be treated with preservatives to enhance its appearance and preserve its natural
beauty.

In the case of stone, or “quarry tile” as flat-cut flooring stone is properly called, a new set of
considerations must be weighed up. Simple colour aside, the degree of reflection must be
kept in mind. This is called the “reflectance rate”, which is expressed in a number between
0.0 and 1.0, depending on the amount of light it reflects.

At one end of the scale is polished silver. At a rating of 1.0, this shiny surface reflects nearly
all of the light directed at it. Numbers closer to zero describe materials that absorb more
light. Moving down the scale a bit, we see the plastic that has been painted white has a rate

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of 0.8 (Q38), which makes sense. We know that the colour white reflects all other colours
while black absorbs all colours, and plastic itself is a relatively reflective material.

Materials that are denser and darker have reflectance rates much closer to zero. The quarry
tile I mentioned a while ago has a rate of 0.1 (Q39). As you may know, quarry tile is
generally dark brown and made from clay so it is quite dense. Of course, there is
considerable variation among types of quarry tile because of the hue or treatment of the
clay during its creation.

Does anyone have any guesses as to what materials may have a rate of almost 0.0? We can
guess most of these materials are black in colour, but plastic, wood, and even stone reflect
some light. One material with a rate of almost 0.0 is black velvet (Q40). The texture
produces almost no shine at all.

Carrara marble, despite its white hue, is actually lower in reflectivity than black onyx! In any
case, the fact that tiles vary somewhat should not be forgotten. A highly reflective floor
would not be suitable in a library; it would be indispensable in a ballroom (should your
home be large enough to feature one). Again, a rule of thumb is that “light means lively”.
Since form and material follow function, one should only use the more reflective materials
in rooms where the cultivation and expression of energy is important. Bear in mind too that
most types of stone cost more than all but the rarest of woods.

Of course, there is no reason why some rooms of a house should not feature wood floors or
other stone tiles. You can even mix the two. A room with wood panels on the walls can have
a beautiful stone floor. My bedroom has white birch walls and a light blue slate floor. The
place looks like a Russian hunting lodge. Remember, though, go with what feels right for
you. Good taste and the “laws” of interior design are the homeowner’s servants, not his
master. It’s only beautiful when you decide it is. I mean, you’re the one who lives there, not
the decorator, right? OK, are there any questions?

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 Test 24
SECTION 1

Woman: Good morning. I’ve been looking at your holidays to Australia in

your brochure (Example). I’m thinking of going during the second half of next month.

Man: Good morning. As you can see from our brochure, we offer a wide variety of
packages to various destinations in Australia. Is there anything in particular that interests
you?

Woman: Yes, my husband and I are very interested in the holidays in the Outback.

Man: These holidays are becoming increasingly popular. Would you like to arrange flights
and accommodation with us, or just accommodation?

Woman: Can you arrange flights from Sydney?

Man: Certainly.

Woman: OK, flights (Q1) and accommodation then.

Man: Right. You said that you wanted to travel next month. Which date would you prefer?
I should point out that there are no daily flights available, so if you have a flexible itinerary,
that’s better.

Woman: Well, we arrive in Sydney on the 15th of April (Q2) and we were thinking of
travelling to the Outback on the 18th of August, er… I mean April.

Man: OK. There’s only one flight from Sydney to Alice Springs on the 18th, so I’ll book you
on that. It leaves at 10 in the morning, which is quite convenient. Shall I book two seats for
you?

Woman: Yes, please.

Man: As for your stay in the Outback, you can see from the brochure that we offer three
packages – budget, standard, and luxury. The budget package is about 500 Australian
dollars. The standard package is about 700 and the luxury one is approximately 1,000,
though it does depend on exactly what you would like regarding extras. Which one would
you prefer?

Woman: Well, we can’t decide between the budget (Q3) and standard options.

Man: Ah, well, actually, just looking at my computer here, on the date that you want to fly
into Alice Springs, there is no standard accommodation available. It’s fully booked, I’m
afraid.

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Woman: That’s OK. We think that the cheapest (Q3) one should be fine for us. We don’t
mind roughing it for a few days and we don’t expect to be spending much time at the accom
modation. We prefer the outdoors.

Man: Right. Let’s look at the room options. First of all, would you prefer a non-
smoking room? (Q4)

Woman: Yes. Neither of us smokes.

Man: OK.

Woman: Oh, before I forget, could you book everything in my husband’s name, please?

Man: Yes, of course. Are you paying by credit card?

Woman: Yes.

Man: In that case, I’ll need your husband’s name exactly as it appears on the card.

Woman: Of course. It’s John A. Smyth (Q5). That’s Smyth with a “Y”.

Man: John … middle initial “A” … surname Smyth, S-M-Y-T-H. Is that correct?

Woman: Correct.

Man: Thank you. I’ll just check the price. The room will cost 100 dollars a night plus 10
dollars tax, so 110 dollars (Q6) per night in total. Is that OK?

Woman: Yes, that’s fine. Book us for three nights, please.

Man: Most of the guests like to participate in some special activities and trips while they
are staying in the Outback. Is there anything that interests you and your husband?

Woman: Yes, there are several things we’d like to see and do. We’d definitely like to visit
the Cultural Centre. (Q7)

Man: Yes, that’s very popular. It’s within walking distance of the accommodation and it’s
free. It’s also a great place to pick up souvenirs of your trip.

Woman: We were thinking about visiting one of the nearby farms.

Man: There are two farms nearby – a sheep farm and a kangaroo farm. There is also an
opportunity to ride camels in the desert. Have you ridden a camel before?

Woman: No, but it sounds like fun. Could you give me some more details about the
kangaroo farm and the camel ride? (Q8)

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Man: Certainly. The kangaroo farm includes information on how the animals are raised
whilst the camel ride provides information on desert flora and fauna. Which would you
prefer? You can arrange to see the kangaroos in the wild if you like, rather than on a farm.

Woman: That sounds perfect. OK, we’ll go on the camel ride and see the kangaroos in their
natural habitat.

Man: OK. I’ll arrange that for you. I forgot to mention that the journey also includes a stop
at a place of aboriginal artwork. It’s a place well-known for its stone carvings of animals and
mythical creatures.

Woman: That sounds great! Are the carvings in the desert? (Q9)

Man: Yes.

Woman: Wonderful!

Man: Well, that’s perfect then. I’m sure you’ll have a lovely trip, but remember that you
need take care in the sun.

Woman: Yes. We’re really looking forward to our trip. We really want to try to experience
the Dreamtime under the stars. (Q10)

Man: Of course. That’s what a trip to the Outback is really all about.

Woman: Yes. Now, how about the cost…

SECTION 2

Continuing our broadcast of public service announcements, Worldwide Helpers announces

upcoming vacancies for a number of volunteer worker positions. All applicants must meet
the following requirements.

First of all, applicants must be over 18 (Q11) years of age. The company apologises, but
there can be no exceptions to this rule. Second, persons interested in these positions may
not have police records (Q12). Minor traffic offences like a parking ticket are, of course, no
problem. But, and I quote, “past and present drug users and sex offenders” need not apply.
The employer will, of course, check with the police to verify your clean record.

In addition, applicants must supply references (Q13) from past or present employers or
teachers along with their recent CV (Q14). These references must testify as to the
applicant’s work habits and/or character. Remember, these are references from employers
or teachers. A note from your dear old Mum won’t do. Worldwide Helpers assures me that
they will contact these references to confirm they are genuine.

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Although all positions are volunteer, the employer will reimburse some of your expenses.
For example, they will pay for transportation (Q15) to and from the job site. Aside from
that, the cost of phone calls is covered.

As for the positions themselves, there are three types. The first involves assisting persons
confined to wheelchairs. For this position, volunteers must be physically fit and in excellent
health. They must be able to lift at least 150 pounds. They should also have a current First
Aid certificate from the Red Cross (Q16). But the most important requirement is that the
volunteer must have his own car. On Tuesday afternoons (Q17), the volunteers take their
clients to various scenic spots around the city to experience and enjoy nature.

If you don’t drive, but you’d still like to get involved, the centre has a number of openings
for people to read to the blind. Readers must, of course, read English clearly. Persons with
no foreign accent (Q18) are preferred. For these positions, you must be available on
Monday mornings. Oh, wait, I see a note here. There is one opening for someone who can
read Urdu. Apparently, there is a Pakistani blind person who’d like to hear his or her native
language. But the other positions are all in English.

And finally, there are a limited number of volunteers needed to care for disabled
children (Q19). I’m sorry, but the information I’ve been given does not say how many
children or what disabilities they have. In any case, you are needed to care for the children
for one week in August. Apparently, this will be at the close of the summer holiday. I would
guess this involves helping them with the routine chores of daily life.

Again, volunteers for this position must know basic First Aid, be in good health, and be able
to lift up to 75 pounds. (Q20)

OK, our next announcement is looking for someone to “facilitate” tiger breeding at the
London Zoo. And, get this, it’s a “strictly volunteer” position. That means you don’t get paid!
Oh my God… I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, but I just have to laugh…

SECTION 3

DAVE: Are you just leaving the library now? I saw you get there at 8:00 a.m.!

PETE: Yeah, I’ve been there all day.

DAVE: What for? They hired a cute new librarian or something?

PETE: I wish. No, it’s the presentation that I will give in Environmental Science the day
after tomorrow.

DAVE: What’s it about? I heard you were really excited about the class. And Dr Schnee also
calls you for the “arcane” questions, as he calls them.

PETE: It’s about environmental damage in the Yucatan.

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DAVE: Excuse me, what? Or is that where?

PETE: Yucatan. It’s a state in Southeast Mexico.

DAVE: So what’s happening there?

PETE: Agriculture is having a really adverse (Q21) impact on the environment. There are
too many farmers doing too much farming. It’s really destroying the forests and ruining the
soil. Deforestation is a major problem there now.

DAVE: How did you learn about this? I don’t recall Dr Schnee saying anything about it in
lecture.

PETE: Yes, but my brother went there last month, you know, to look at the old cities the
Maya Indians built. That’s what first got me interested.

DAVE: Your brother Tom?

PETE: No, Dick, Harry’s twin. Anyway, he told me how few trees there were now and how
much empty ground that grows almost nothing. He said the place looked more like the
desert than jungle in some parts. It brought environmental damage (Q22). So I started
looking for materials in the library. Here, look at this magazine.

DAVE: What’s in it?

PETE: It’s an old issue of “National Geographic”. It includes interviews

with tourists (Q23) who’ve been there in the past few years. It’s pretty bad. See the photos?

DAVE: I see the photos, but one or two photos don’t prove anything.

PETE: Then read what the article says. Right there. The first thing it points out is how
soil samples (Q24) show it is hard for anything to grow there. It says how an area of 21,000
square (Q25) kilometres has lost most of its forest in the past ten years. See, there are
graphs. As the number of farmers increases, the acres of forest have decreased. It’s an
inverse relation.

DAVE: So how big is that state? I’m sorry, but I’ve never really learned the metric system.

PETE: It’s bigger than the state of Massachusetts!

DAVE: That’s shocking! Anything else?

PETE: There’s lots of else. Scientists say there’s a “growing area” of about 10.5
square (Q26) kilometres where nothing can grow at all. It’s like the beginning of a desert.

DAVE: Oh yes. What Dr Schnee called “desertification”. But, why can’t anything grow
there? I’ve never really studied soil chemistry.

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PETE: I’m just starting to look into that subject, but my sister Marie is a geologist and she
says the problem is that the soil has too much saline, with no plants helping to adjust the
chemistry. Apparently, that’s a common problem with soil types throughout areas with
rainforest. Once you lose the plant cover, it’s difficult to bring it back. Reforestation is
almost impossible, even if the land is not being used for other purposes.

DAVE: Wait a minute. What is “saline”?

PETE: Saline is salt dissolved in water. Scientists who’ve gone there have
taken measurements (Q27). They do this by gathering a sample of the soil (Q28) and
running a simple test that shows the ionisation of the solution. The Geology Department in
our own university has reviewed the soil at the site, too. They’re right. It looks pretty bad.
The level of salinity is going up. But the plants that would solve that problem can’t be
planted in soil like that. There is a narrow spectrum of salinity in which the plants will grow.

DAVE: And once you pass the threshold, there is no way to put the problem right?

PETE: Exactly. It’s possible that no one can do anything to stop the trend now. All because
of human greed! I…

DAVE: Wait a second. How do you know these “scientists” can be trusted? What kind of
reputation do they have? Are they reliable?

PETE: Oh they’re definitely reliable. They include four members of the faculty from the
Geology Department right here at MIT. Here, study these photographs (Q29) and check the
damage yourself. That’s what Dr Horst who wrote this book here did. He’s newly appointed,
but Dr Schnee says he’s brilliant.

DAVE: So, where are you going now?

PETE: I’m headed over to the Geography Department to borrow a map (Q30) for my
presentation. You know, this whole problem could have been avoided! The farmers there in
the Yucatan…

DAVE: Uh, Pete??

PETE: What?

DAVE: Go take a break! Leave some studying for the rest of us.

SECTION 4

Good afternoon, and welcome to Insect Biology 101. I’d like to begin this course with a few
remarks about good insects and bad ones. Bugs are all around us and that’s both a benefit
and an annoyance – sometimes maybe even serious harm. First, let’s talk about the good
things that insects do for us.

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Probably the most important insect for humans, and maybe for all other life, is the
bee. Bees help plants in the process of pollination, and thus are necessary to most flowers
and fruit-producing trees (Q31). That is, they carry pollen from “male” flowers to “female”.
If it weren’t for bees, we’d have very few food plants and no fruit either. In fact, there would
be no “we”. No less a thinker than Albert Einstein pointed out that, without bees, humanity
would be dead within a year or less. We’d starve. It’s that simple. That should maybe make
us just a little humble.

A little less dramatic is the fact that bees also make the honey we eat. Moreover, they
produce beeswax, which is useful in candles and it’s also used as a first-rate furniture
polish (Q32). Sure, these may not be vital to our lives, but they can serve as reminders of
how important bees are. That’s a point I keep coming back to in this course. Though, in all
fairness, I should point out that butterflies aid in pollination as well as bees.

Now, here in Michigan, what’s the worst part of summer? Yep, that’s right – mosquitoes.
But I’m talking about helpful insects, right? So let’s look at the dragonfly first. If there were
no dragonflies, there would be even more mosquitoes! Dragonflies mainly eat mosqui
toes (Q33) and also a few other insects. Yes, that’s right. They don’t just fly around, and
they also help to eliminate harmful insects. So, the next time you see a dragonfly, don’t you
dare kill it!

Now let’s talk a little about those harmful insects. Take the mosquitoes I just mentioned as
an example. Not so many years ago, mosquitoes here in America weren’t just annoying.
Some were even deadly. They carried malaria and yellow fever. My own ancestor, the
Confederate General John Bell Hood, lived through the worst battles of Civil War only to die
at age thirty-eight from yellow fever. A pest, not a bullet!

Well, besides the mosquitoes, in summer there is also a kind of insect that never seems
tired. Right, that is the fly. Before I go on talking, I must mention an African fly called the
Tsetse fly, which feeds on blood and can cause serious diseases in the people and animals
that it bites. Besides, it is still a bearer of sleeping sickness (Q34), which affects around
300,000 people every year in Africa and can be treated only with toxic drugs that are hard to
administer. Worse still, the drugs sometimes don’t work.

Other insects, of course, destroy food crops. In China, for instance, locusts continue to be a
danger to the harvest in some areas. Less important, but still annoying, moths eat people’s
clothes and dust mites slowly destroy carpets. Worse, but still in the home, termites or
“white ants” eat wood – the wood of your house. If they are not stopped, they can
eventually destroy the whole building (Q35). Usually they seriously damage a building
before anyone even notices them. So, as we all know, insects can be a real trouble.

For some decades in the West, to kill insects with chemicals seemed a good remedy.
Unfortunately, chemicals can only be used in a limited area for a limited time. It’s a small-
scale (Q36) solution. The insects come back. Worse still, some of the poisons used like DDT

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were found harmful to the environment. Many kinds of wildlife, like hawks, were harmed.
And people in chemical-using rural areas have one of the highest rates of liver cancer in the
world. It’s no secret that the chemicals remain harmful to humans. (Q37)

Like all species, insects adapt to their changing environments at an amazing rate. When a
new chemical is introduced to their habitat, the insects that survive are generally the ones
with some way of resisting the harmful effects. They then breed with the other survivors,
and just like that insects become resistant (Q38) to most poison in a few generations. An
insect generation, remember, is a couple of months at most!

So, again we have to ask: what to do? Well, there are biological solutions. Some of these are
pretty simple. One is destroying the insects’ habitat. You take away their home or food.
Cleaning your kitchen is the best way to prevent roaches. No garbage: no food. Getting rid
of marshes and swamps eliminates mosquitoes. Other solutions might include bringing in
dragonflies or bats in areas where mosquitoes are many. This is a cheaper (Q39) alternative
to chemicals. Biological methods like this also bring no extra pollution to the environment.
But you have to be careful. If you change the environment too much, you might be hurting
other forms of life accidentally.

One recent method of controlling insect populations involves interrupting their breeding
cycle. What does that mean? It means “birth control for bugs”. Insects are provided with
food that makes them unable to reproduce. Since they can’t have babies, the population
disappears, or nearly so. And since no young are born, resistance is not a problem with no
young insects developing increased resistance.

Interrupt the life cycle (Q40), eliminate the bug! It’s clear that we must have an
understanding of the life cycle of the insect. At least, that’s the plan. We’ll go into more
details as this course goes along. Now I will stop here to see whether you have any
questions or not.

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 Test 25
SECTION 1

Hello, and welcome to “Under Pressure Enterprises”, Customer Service Department. This is
Kelly. How may I help you?

HEWITT: Yes, I’m calling about one of your rice cookers I just purchased. (Example)

CR: What seems to be the problem, sir?

H: Seems? There’s no seeming about it! The blasted thing shoots hot steam all over
the place, that’s what! It nearly scalded my hand when I went to open it. Why it could have
killed the cat or something. It could have exploded and killed my wife and me!

CR: Sir, sir, please calm down. As long as the steam escapes the cooker, it won’t
explode.

H: So you’re telling me there’s no problem! Are you calling me a liar?

CR: Sir, no one is calling you a liar.

H: Yes! So I demand a full refund!

CR: Under Pressure will be happy to refund your money, sir. Now I just need some basic
information.

H: OK, OK. Sorry. I do tend to get a little hot under the collar. My wife tells me to slow
down… So, what do you need to know?

CR: Sir, don’t worry. I just need to ask you the model number of the cooker.

H: Hmmm… where are my glasses? Ah, here! Let’s see… ah. It’s R242. (Q1)

CR: R242. OK, and how much did you pay for the product?

H: 89.99 (Q2) pounds. It was on sale, I guess I should tell you.

CR: Thank you, that’s honest of you. Now, where did you buy the cooker? Which store
and which branch?

H: At that big Electric Life appliance store downtown.

CR: The City Centre Branch? (Q3)

H: That’s the one.

CR: And you say the problem is that the steam escapes?

H: Yes, it does!

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CR: No problem, sir. If there’s steam escaping, clearly the cooker is broken or defective.
So we have an R242 cooker with an escaping steam (Q4) problem. It was bought from
Electric Life’s City Centre Branch for 89.99. Is that correct?

H: Yes, that is correct.

CR: Oh, I nearly forget. When did you buy the cooker?

H: Just as soon as my wife got the crazy idea she’ll live longer if she stops eating good
English food: roast beef and mash. No, all she says she wants is rice and vegetables and
sauces you’d not soak your feet in!

CR: Sir, sir! When did you buy it?

H: Oh, there I go again. Let’s see… we bought it just six months ago! We hardly used it
either. But six months? Is that too long? I mean for the warranty?

CR: Very well, that’s well within the warranty period. Now, what’s your name and
address?

H: Name and address! What for?

CR: Sir, it is company policy. If you want your money, you must in form me. Money you
say? Oh, my name is Herbert Hewitt and my address is 84 Park Road. (Q5)

CR: Is that here in Coventry?

H Yes. The postal code is B0241DJ (Q6). But I don’t think sending things in the mail is
very secure or very efficient. I mean…

CR: Don’t worry, Mr. Hewitt, don’t worry. We can credit the money to your credit
card (Q7). You do have one, don’t you?

H: Yes, that’s how we paid for the cooker.

CR: Oh, yes. We still have the number on computer. I only need to ask your card’s
expiry date.

H: I’m afraid I never give that sort of information out. I mean, once you have that,
anyone could go charging things and…

CR: Sir! I said your expiry date, not your card’s password.

H: Oh, er, yes. Foolish me. Of course, you didn’t say “password”. Let’s see. That will
be April 2008. (Q8)

CR: April 2008. Very well, your card still has nearly two months left to go. We’ll get
that refund (Q9) right to you, probably by five o’clock this evening.

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H: You had better! If I don’t get my money… wait, wait. Yes, I know I’m losing my
temper again. I really am sorry. I haven’t had my medicine today.

CR: And sir, just one more question for our record. How often do you go shopping at the
City Centre Branch?

H: Oh, well it’s hard to say. I suppose maybe once a month (Q10). But I can tell you
this, if I don’t get my refund, I’ll never shop there again! (He hangs up the phone.)

CR: (sigh) I think it’s time to start looking for another job!

SECTION 2

Hello everyone, and welcome to the University of New South Wales.

The first thing I’d like to do at today’s Orientation Session is get you all oriented! That means
tell you the location of some useful facilities and services. So, first of all, take out the maps
we gave you all as you came in the door. The map is the big yellow sheet of paper.

As you can see on the map, North is at the top, South at the bottom, et cetera. Which way is
North? Well, look through that window on my left, your right. See the rising sun? That
would have to be East. So North must be directly behind me.

Now, we are at the campus’s Main Gate. The Recreational Facilities are on my right hand
and its opposite is the Student Centre (Q11). No questions? Good. Pretty easy, right?

OK, did everyone eat breakfast at the Student Food Service this morning? Was the food
good? Yes, yes. I am joking. I’ve eaten there, too.

So after a meal like that, you must be eager to go to a doctor. Right?

Well, I have good news for you: the Student Health Centre is located about half a kilometre
straight north of here (Q12). Look on your maps. You see the street on the east side of this
building? Ned Kelly Avenue?

Just follow that about 500 metres, and the Health Centre will be on your left at the third
cross street. (Q12)

Now, I know you all just got here. So you must be wondering how to tell your folks you’ve
arrived safely, how much you miss the dog, and how you already need more money. If you
don’t have an Iphone, you probably are wondering where to find a computer. Well, I have
good news. If you go straight out of its door and walk down the Garden Street, you’ll see
the Internet Unit on your left side, just next to the Gym (Q13). The hours are posted on the
door, and the computers are free, but you must bring your student ID card with you. Like I
tell everyone, if you need help with anything, you can probably find it right here in the
Student Centre.

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Do you see the four buildings there between the Student Centre and the library? Those are
the dormitories. The men’s dorms are the two on the south; the women’s the two on the
north.

OK, I’m sorry to have to tell you, but the university has been doing a lot of repairs and
remodelling, and it’s not all done yet. So there may be some small problems with your dorm
rooms. Maybe the window doesn’t open. Maybe an air conditioner is missing or does not
work. If there are any problems, you can go to the Complaint Office, which is right beside
the Teaching Building between the Parker Street and the Crammer Street (Q14). Just tell
them your problem and they should have it fixed by the time you graduate in four years. I’m
joking, but please be patient. There are a lot of little things they need to take care of.

Tired of the school food? No? Give it a week. Or maybe you just need a place to get coffee in
the wee hours of the night during one of those marathon study sessions. Either way, you
definitely have to check out the little Cafe just past the women’s dormitories (Q15).
They’ve got free Wi-Fi, so a lot of students saddle up with coffee and a bagel for hours on
end to get work done.

As for the dorm rooms, I have some bad news and some good news.

The bad news is the rooms are small and you’ll probably be sharing space with at least three
other students. The good news is that each room has its own bathroom (Q16). What’s good
about sharing a bathroom with three strangers? Hmmm… good question. OK, call it bad
news and worse news.

Hey, maybe try this for good news: each dorm has a kitchen. If you want to make snacks or
meals, you can do it there. You can buy food containers (Q17) at any campus convenience
store, so you can store your food in the kitchen. But a word of warning: you should
definitely write your name on your food containers. Sad to say, there are food thieves
among your fellow students. Speaking of thieves, a word about security. I mean this is
Australia and we do get drunken bushrangers wandering onto campus. Each of you will be
given a key for your dorm room. Don’t lose it. You have to pay for any replacement and fill
out a bunch of papers, too. Red tape, huh? Your key does not work for the front door of
your dorm, however. To the right of each door, there is a keypad with numbers. When you
move in, they will tell you the code (Q18) you use to enter the door. Please do not tell the
code to people who do not live in the dorm.

Let’s see. Have I forgotten anything? Oh, yes. Most of you are not rich, correct? So when
your clothes get dirty, you can’t just throw them away and buy new ones. That means you
have to learn to do laundry. Or, men, that means you have to hurry up and get married.

If you decide to wash those clothes and not get married, there are laundries in each dorm.
Where? Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The laundry for each dorm is in the basement (Q19).

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Some real good news this time: if you are a student, it is free. You do have to buy your own
soap, however. The laundry closes, by the by, at 11:30.

And, now that I’ve mentioned 11:30, please remember the dorm doors are locked at Q20
11:30 p.m. Your code will not work. If you want to get in, you’ll have to call the night
watchman. Don’t worry, you can get that number at the Dorm Office. Yes, the Dorm Office
and the Complaint Office are the same office. All right, then. Before we continue, are there
any questions?

SECTION 3

PROFESSOR: Come in!

BETTY: Professor Dundee? We’re ready to make our presentation.

PROFESSOR: Oh, yes. I did say one o’clock, didn’t I? Please, sit down. So, who goes first?
Bruce? Or you, Betty?

BETTY: I guess I could. Bruce is always a little shy.

PROFESSOR: Not after he’s had a lager for lunch, eh Bruce? BRUCE: Heh, heh. No, Betty
really should go first.

BETTY: OK. Well, I’m reporting on the effects of different marketing strategies on the cheese
and oil markets. Different strategies obviously affect the sales volume differently. I looked at
the sales in two countries, New Zealand and Colombia.

PROFESSOR: And what did you find, pray tell?

BETTY: Well, in New Zealand, the sales of both oil and cheese have declined pretty
steadily (Q21). And in fact, the sales have decreased more quickly than the population. On
the other hand, in Colombia, the volume of sales for both products has remained the
same. (Q22)

PROFESSOR: Wait, so you said sales in New Zealand have been going down?

BETTY: Correct. Suppliers have introduced two new upscale brands of each product, which
are a bit expensive but very tasty. The big ad agencies are trying out a new series of ads that
shift the focus from health to great taste. They think that will get sales moving up in New
Zealand, where the population is less affluent and generally less health-conscious.

PROFESSOR: Brilliant. Thank you. And Bruce?

BRUCE: Uhhh… yeah. My report is about chocolate sales in Italy and Germany. The two
countries’ marketers have found out that you have to market chocolate differently in each
country.

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PROFESSOR: For example?

BRUCE: In Italy, “Kostig”, the most expensive brand, pays shop owners to put the candy just
about knee-high for an adult.

PROFESSOR: I don’t see…

BRUCE: For little kids, that’s about eye level! That bright red candy is the first one they see,
so they buy it! Even better, they start telling their moms to buy it, too!

PROFESSOR: So, you mean…

BRUCE: Well, I mean, in Italy if you locate your product at the right location of shelves,
sales do great (Q23). They say it doesn’t matter much what brand of chocolate you’re
selling. As for Germany…

PROFESSOR: “Das Land der Schokolade”.

BRUCE: Huh?

PROFESSOR: That’s German. It means “The Land of Chocolate”. Germans love the stuff, so
people make a joke and call Germany that.

BRUCE: Oh… uh, right…

PROFESSOR: So, you were saying?

BRUCE: Well, like you pointed out, Germans love chocolate. But they’re thrifty. For a long
time, the biggest selling brand was “Schmutzig”, mostly because it was the second
cheapest, but didn’t taste too bad. (Q24)

PROFESSOR: Again brilliant! A pretty good job, both of you. Tell me, what do you plan to
investigate next week?

BETTY: I’m especially interested in the effects of colour (Q25) on sales of products, so I’ll be
looking at ads for cosmetics and cleaning products in the local market. You know, like the
distinct orange colour of Mr. Muscle, lavatory cleaning products. (Q26)

BRUCE: And you, Bruce?

I’m focusing on the effects of different containers (Q27) on sales of cookies. So I’m going to
look into packaging for cookies and how the materials (Q28) they use will affect
the image (Q29), and in turn sales. You know, most containers are paper, but some
expensive cookies come in metal boxes. The shiny metal boxes catch people’s attention and
the image remains in the memory longer.

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PROFESSOR: Well, it sounds like you two are all set. But as always in this course, I urge you
both to pay much more attention to the advertisement (Q30) extensions. That’s often the
key. Alright, any questions for me before you go.

BRUCE: No, I think I’m all set. Thanks!

Me too. Thanks, Professor Dundee. See you later.

SECTION 4

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to
our exhibition, “Two Centuries of the Bike”.

Let’s stroll around the exhibition, shall we?

Although there were a few early efforts back in the 1700s, you didn’t really see many bikes
till, say, the 1830s in England. Bikes were a response to the rapid growth of cities early in the
19th century. Cities like London were getting too big to walk across! The early bike let
people travel with less effort (Q31) than walking. Plus a bike was a lot cheaper than a horse!

Think of it. No one invented a bike for, what, five thousand years of human history? Why did
people do it then? Probably because this was the start of the Machine Age: people wanted
machines to do all the work.

There were some drawbacks, however. For one thing, there were no pedals. You simply
pushed yourself along using your feet. Kind of like today’s skateboard. That meant you went
fairly slowly. And uphill, you actually worked harder, pushing that two-wheeler. Plus, the
wheels were made of wood covered with metal, as you can see from this model. So the
downside was that the ride was quite uncomfortable (Q32) on most roads. Only a few
gadget lovers had or used them.

By the 1860s (Q33), though, improvements were being made. As you can see from this
specimen, metal frames had become the rule. They’re more durable than wood, and they
don’t warp in the rain. The biggest improvement however was the development of the chain
and sprocket system. They are connected (Q34). This meant you did not push the bike. You
used pedals just like today. You had to try harder to balance, so it took some practice to
figure out how to use the pedals. But it made the ride so much easier. As a result, the good
thing was that you could ride a lot more smoothly (Q35) and with very little effort.

By the 1880s, another big change was the use of rubber wheels (Q36). These became pretty
common at that time. Though the first ones were solid rubber, the ride was a good deal
more comfortable than the old iron and wood system. This is a big consideration because
the faster you go, the more you feel every bump. Air-filled tyres – “pneumatic tyres” – didn’t
really come into use till around the year 1900, as you can see from this exhibition over here.
That made the ride even more comfortable.

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So, by 1890 or so, people were going a lot faster and a lot more smoothly. There was one
problem when you were going quickly and comfortably: “OH NO! HOW DO I STOP?” Yes, we
all laugh now.

But for a long time, the only way to stop was drag your feet. That didn’t work very well and
it would be dangerous if you were going fast. In the crowded cities of those years – New
York, Chicago, and so on, you would get killed if you couldn’t stop for, say, a streetcar.

Plus look at this bike. The front wheel is nearly a metre and two thirds tall! They made them
that way so you could see over people and wagons. But you couldn’t drag your feet. This
model is called a “velocipede” – a “speed pedal”. Another characteristic of the bike in this
period is that it has two equal-sized wheels, which signalled a big change in bikes.

For with the velocipede, brakes appeared. If you wanted to stop, you just pushed the pedal
backwards. Doing that stopped the back wheel of the bike. This technique worked a lot
better than dragging your feet or jumping off the high seat there! This meant that bikes
became a great deal safer (Q37). It would have been safer if people wore helmets, but the
first bicycle helmet wasn’t invented until years later, and even then it was little more than a
leather ballcap. It really wasn’t until the 1970s that the bike helmet was modified to provide
some real protection.

Before continuing on to look at developments since the 1890s, let’s say a word more about
safety. Everyone knows if you’re going downhill, you can get going dangerously fast. To go
more than a hundred kilometres an hour isn’t all that difficult! But even on level ground it’s
easy to go too quickly. On a city street, today’s bicycles can be ridden at a speed of over
forty miles an hour, over a short distance. That’s about sixty-four kilometres an hour.
Remember you’re on a bike, not in a car. There’s nothing to protect you. People are killed in
single-bicycle accidents every day, just from hitting the road.

A good rule to remember is, if you’re going faster than the cars, slow down. And please
wear a helmet. Nearly one quarter of the epilepsy cases come from head injuries in
accidents on bikes and motorcycles. I didn’t mean to scare you, but safety is everyone’s
business.

What? Now that’s a good question. Why are today’s bikes so much faster? Well, it’s not just
that today’s athletes are faster. The answer is partly mechanical. If you look closely here, at
the back wheel you’ll see a number of gears. Changing gears is what makes those fast
speeds possible (Q38). You can shift gears depending on the terrain and how hard you wish
to pedal. So you can put it on a higher gear for downhill, and a lower gear for uphill travel
to make it easier to climb that slope (Q39). You’ll notice this gear-shifting mechanism is
attached at the back wheel, and when the rider shifts on the handlebar gear shifter, the
chain moves to the appropriate sprocket (Q40). And, speaking of changing gears, let’s look
over here at our “Tour de France” exhibit…

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 Test 26
SECTION 1

WOMAN: Hello, how may I help you?

MAN: Well, I’ve been seeing these yellow boxes in front of a lot of houses in my
neighbourhood. I just wondered what they were for. I noticed your phone number on all of
them, so I called. Could you tell me about your business?

WOMAN: We do do recycling (Example), but we’re not a business. Gaea’s Guardians is a

non-profit group. We encourage recycling as a way of protecting the environment.

MAN: I don’t know. I mean it is a good idea. But I really don’t read the newspaper every
day or anything.

WOMAN: And we don’t come collect newspaper every day! In fact, we only do
pickups every other week. (Q1)

MAN: Oh, well then maybe I could help. I mean in my neighbourhood, there’s too much
rubbish lying around everywhere. I’d like to help out, I guess.

WOMAN: That’s great, sir. You’re doing the right thing. OK, I need to get your contact
information. What is your name, please?

MAN: Peter Wisrough … (Q2)

WOMAN: Peter… how do you spell your last name? W-I-S-R-O-W?

MAN: No, actually it’s W-I-S-R-O-U-G-H.

WOMAN: Oh, I’m sorry. I’m a terrible speller.

MAN: You’re a good speller. It’s just that my family are terrible pronouncers!

WOMAN: You’re quite a card, Peter! OK, now what’s your address?

MAN: No. 168 Bridge Road (Q3). That’s here in London. How about if I have any
questions?

WOMAN: I’m sending you a copy of our booklet, too. The booklet has our phone number
and our e-mail address, helpline@blackcat.com (Q4), that’s H-EL-P-L-I-N-E at B-L-A-C-K-C-A-
T dot com.

MAN: But I nearly forgot to ask, what’s your postcode?

WOMAN: BS97PU. (Q5)

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MAN: PS97BU?

WOMAN: No. That’s B as in “boy”-S-9-7-P as in “Peter”-U.

MAN: So, I’m guessing those yellow (Q6) boxes I saw are for recycled newspapers?

WOMAN: Yes, that is correct, and it’s free of charge.

MAN: Wow, that’s good news! Do you recycle anything besides newspaper?

WOMAN: Oh yes, we recycle most everything. Glass, plastic, paper…

MAN: Oh, so I can put like glass and plastic bottles in the box?

WOMAN: Sorry again. Things like that you have to bring to our collection centre.

MAN: And where is that?

WOMAN: Our main centre isn’t that far from you. It’s actually right on the East Side
of Central Park. (Q7)

MAN: That new blue building?

WOMAN: That’s the one!

MAN: Cool. Hey, what’s with all those different coloured boxes outside that place?

WOMAN: Oh, that’s for the different materials we recycle. The blue is for metal (Q8), the
green is for glass and plastics, and the yellow of course is for paper.

MAN: Hm, okay. I’ll try and manage to keep all that straight.

WOMAN: Oh, no need, they’re each labelled.

MAN: Great. So which one would I put magazines in?

WOMAN: Actually, they don’t go in any of the bins. Unfortunately, magazines (Q9) can’t be
recycled because of the material they’re made of. It’s such a waste. So would you be
interested in volunteering?

MAN: Um, I’ll think about it. Could you send me some more info?

WOMAN: Absolutely. Along with the newspaper box, I’ll be sending you our booklet,
“Savvy” (Q10), that is S-A-double V-Y. It tells you about what you can do to protect the
environment in your daily life. Plus it lists things you can do as a volunteer with our group.

MAN: Hey, that’s cool, thanks!

WOMAN: My pleasure. Do you have any other questions or concerns?

MAN: Nope, that’s it!

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SECTION 2

Welcome everyone to today’s seminar on “CV and Interview Skills”.

Remember, your CV is probably the most important document you will ever write. It opens
the door to your career! And that job interview is probably the most important meeting you
will ever attend. It’s like stepping through that open door. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get
down to work, shall we?

First of all, I cannot possibly tell you everything you need to know about writing a resume in
the time we have. But let me tell you that there are dozens of great websites on
the Internet (Q11). These will give you all the suggestions you need. If you look at the paper
I gave you, you will see a list of the dozen most popular sites.

I can mention a couple of important points, however. One is that your CV or resume should
not be too long (Q12). A page is about right. Why?

HR departments do not have time to read long documents. Too many people are sending
too many CVs! After all, the economic crisis of 2008 is still very much alive. Everyone needs
a job now.

No matter how short you make that resume, though, you do not want to forget to tell HR
how to contact your references. References are people who will give you a recommendation
for a job. That’s usually an ex-boss or a professor who knows you well. Do not use relatives!
I don’t care how much your mum loves you.

Also, when you send that CV, be sure to include a typed (Q13) cover letter.

A cover letter is a letter where you, basically, are asking for a job. It’s like introducing
yourself. Make it brief. The real information about you is on that CV of yours. And, please
make sure the letter is typed!

It doesn’t matter if your handwriting is beautiful or not. Companies only read typed letters.

Another point about CVs is you should try to have an attractive layout (Q14). Maybe use
different typefonts or colours to highlight information. Some people include a photo. You
can find dozens of examples on the Internet. Whatever layout you decide to use, however,
avoid all spelling and grammar errors (Q15). I used to be an HR manager. If I saw a mistake,
that CV went into the garbage.

Something you write in a CV is a description of your skills and experiences (Q16) in an

interesting way. Mention training, too. I mean these are what get you hired! Do not just say,
“I have lots of experience.” or “I have many skills.” Tell that boss what you did, for what
company, and when. Better, tell him how well you did it! Don’t just say, “I sold houses.” Say,
“I sold two million pounds worth of houses in my first year.” That is, say something to make
the person reading excited and curious.

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Finally, speaking of CVs, it’s sad. But some people actually forget to provide a contact
number (Q17). That’s pretty silly. You wrote a great CV, you have HR dying to meet you…
and they don’t know how. You forgot your phone number! Oh sure, if you apply online, they
have your e-mail address. But you just showed them you’re forgetful. Why are they going to
want to talk to you after that?

Alright, moving on to the actual interview, I’ll go over what you need to know by the end of
it, and what you can discuss and negotiate on later once it looks like you’ll be offered the
job. First, there’s working hours. It’s not that necessary to hammer out the hours off the bat,
especially since it’s easy to come off as lazy when the first thing you bring up is how much
you’re going to have to work. You can also find out more about possible promotions later
on. It is important,

however, to get a feel for how much you’ll be paid. You should make sure the salary range
is commensurate with what you’re worth, and if you’re not, you can move on to better
opportunities (Q18). Being sure you’re going to make what you want to live on is much
more important than issues like your pension – you’re all so young that your pension is not
going to matter for quite a long time.

You should find out about what skills you must know for the job and what they’ll teach
you. In addition, if the company will provide training, you should find out how long the
training period is and whether it is paid (Q19). Beware of any jobs that want you to train
for a long time without appropriate compensation. Speaking of compensation, find out
about holidays as well (Q20). Do you get paid vacation time? Are you allowed to take
personal days? Do you have to work on national holidays?

Once you work out these main issues, you can move on later to details like the location and
expected attire and whatnot.

Wow, that’s a lot of information! Let’s take a break so you can think everything over and ask
any questions you may have. Don’t hesitate to come and see me if you need any
clarification on all this stuff!

SECTION 3

FRANK: Hello, are you Dr Lindsey? The Returning Students Advisor?

DR LINDSEY: Yes, that’s right. Are you Frank? Your appointment wasn’t till 2:00, but that’s
OK. Please come in and have a seat.

FRANK: Thanks, I like to arrive early whenever I have anything to do.

DR LINDSEY: That’s certainly a praiseworthy habit. Let me see, it looks like you’ve taken a
long break from school, and I understand you wanted to have a chat about what you
should study if and when you return for further classes. (Q21)

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FRANK: It’s such a big challenge. I don’t know if I’m crazy for doing this or not!

DR LINDSEY Believe it or not, I know exactly what you mean. Before I began working here at
the university, I taught primary school for nearly ten years. It takes a lot of courage to go
back to school!

FRANK: I feel more shy and scared than the primary students I teach! In the schools I
taught, I found today’s youngsters are very sure of themselves (Q22). In terms of intelli
gence, I have a lot to teach them. And the maturity level of much of my class leaves
something to be desired. But in terms of confidence, wow! A lot more confident than I am
now, that’s for sure!

DR LINDSEY: Stop fretting. “A brave man is a coward who refuses to run.” Let’s talk about
your strong points. You seem an intelligent man. What is it you would like to study?

FRANK You see, I’ve been teaching children for a few years, but I think I’d be happier
teaching adults. (Q23)

DR LINDSEY: I think teaching students in middle school is much more satisfying because they
end up being much more grateful for your work. If I may ask, what got you interested in
teaching adults?

FRANK: A lot of things, I guess. I met my future wife back in my first year of college. She
always complains that I was more interesting then. She says that now I talk like I’m seven
years old! That’s probably from being with children all day.

DR LINDSEY: Ha ha ha! Again I know just what you mean. My husband used to say the same
thing about me when I taught kindergarten. Anything else?

FRANK: Well, yes. Fairly often now I run into former students and we talk (Q24). Some of
them are getting close to being grown up. I guess I think more and more about how people
develop over time. So, I’m interested in the results of education, you know, the final stages.

DR LINDSEY: I see. Well, coming back to the university can be both difficult and very
rewarding. There are some problems unique to returning students, you know, older
students like yourself. What do you think is your greatest weakness?

FRANK: Well, I actually think my confidence is getting better.

DR LINDSEY: I’m definitely overcoming my introversion and starting to be much more

comfortable in front of a class. To tell the truth, I’m afraid I’m rather behind the times
about many things (Q25). It’s more difficult for me to chase after the popular things
youngsters are fond of – such as Iphone, Twitter, if you name it!

FRANK: I think I understand.

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DR LINDSEY: How old are you, 35? People at your age still go back to school for further
education. I was a bit the same way. (Q26) I mean I didn’t study at the university till after I
had a family: a husband and one child. My point of view was a lot different from your
average eighteen-year-old girl’s, I can tell you!

FRANK: Gee, that sounds pretty rough. A family and college? Clearly you weren’t
unsuccessful though!

DR LINDSEY: It was, Frank. It truly was. My first term at school was extremely
stressful (Q27). But excuse me! You’re not here to listen to my life story. We’re talking
about your plans. Is there anything unique I should know about you or your past experience
or plans?

FRANK: I’m afraid not. There is nothing interesting about my career or plans. It’s really not
too impressive. (Q28)

DR LINDSEY: Now, I forbid you to talk like that. This is your one life, and if you’re not
interested, why bother living it? Don’t be so humble, Frank.

FRANK: OK, OK. My wife says I’m a wimp.

DR LINDSEY: Let’s talk about your dreams a bit. You want to teach adults, you said. What
would you like to teach them?

FRANK: Well, when I first came to college, I really liked Languages and Literature. A lot of
people have told me that for practical reasons, it would be more rewarding to choose
Business Management as my major, but I made up my mind to study Liberal Arts once I got
the idea of going back to school. (Q29)

DR LINDSEY: I must say it’s refreshing to meet someone who knows there’s more to an
education than computers and finance. Let’s have a look at the university course catalogue…

FRANK: Excuse me, Dr Lindsey. Before we do that, could I maybe ask you some questions
about changes in university life? I think I need to discuss that so I know what to expect.

DR LINDSEY: Of course. I’m here to help you. The biggest thing to get used to is the change
in technology. Professors present things on huge screens, many of which are interactive
computerised whiteboards. You can write on them still and use them like a touch screen.
They’re really handy! No more sloppy scribbled notes on the projector. Let’s see, I doubt
you’ll be living in student housing, so I won’t go into all the improvements there. (Q30)

Another major change that you’ll enjoy is the plethora of resources available for students.
As a student, you have 24-hour access to the gym, and library privileges that include the use
of school computers to scan, copy, and print, and of course the Media Library, which
contains movies from all genres and most of the movies listed on AFI’s Top 100 Movies of All
Time. The dining facilities are also not what they used to be.

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They offer choices for all diets, and you can expect a hot meal any time of day.

FRANK: Wow, things really have changed! I’ll be sure to utilise all those great facilities in my
time here. Thanks for all your help, Dr Lindsey. I think that’s all the questions I have for now.

SECTION 4

OK and welcome back. During the short break we just took, several of you approached me
with questions. So, before going on with the orientation talk, I’d like to address those
queries. As I’ve found, if one person asks a question, probably a dozen others are wondering
about the same thing!

The first question is whether Wassamatta U. employs modules technology (Q31) as an

instruction method. The answer is yes, we do. At least that’s what the university catalogue
says. If some of you don’t understand what “modules technology” is, don’t worry. I googled
the word but couldn’t find it. Apparently, though, it’s a method of broadband, wireless
access. At least that’s what an American company’s website told me. But again, don’t worry.
If you need to know something more, your professor can tell you.

Another question someone asked me was what tomorrow’s workshop on “Research

Methods and Skills” was about. Well, research skills include any method you can imagine for
finding and presenting any information you need. That’s not just schoolwork, either. Writing
English – the native language for most of you – and finding a job (Q32) are also research
skills. And, yes, those will be addressed in tomorrow’s workshop.

As you know, Wassamatta U. is one of this country’s premier universities for the study of
“the dismal science”, economics. Some of you, it seems, want to get a jump on their
classmates. During the break, half a dozen of you came up and asked me where to find eco
nomics tomes. I know it’s odd, but this school’s library holdings are divided up between two
libraries. Economics books are in the old library (Q33). If you look out of the window behind
me, you can see it. It’s the red brick building.

Oh, before I forget, you economics types also need a lot of maths, am I right? Well, those
Maths books are neither in the old library nor in the new one. They can be found in
the Maths Department (Q34) Building. Why am I telling you this? Doesn’t “the Invisible
Hand” guide economists? Maybe it’s good you asked: in 2008, that Hand shoved most of the
world economy off a cliff, didn’t it?

Now I realise that most of you couldn’t bring a computer printer or a photocopier from
home. So I’m sure you’re already wondering where you can copy things like term papers,
Internet articles, and things like that. I have some good news and some bad news. The good
news is that there are a number of places you can make copies. These include both libraries
and the Student Union Building.

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Now the bad news. I am sorry to say, most classroom buildings and academic departments
do not have copiers students can use. So most of the large buildings you see around
campus do not have copiers for students (Q35). The copiers there are reserved for
professors and office staff. Oh, yes! I nearly forget to tell you. If you need to have printing
done, all the copiers available to students are laser printers (Q36). Plus, for your
convenience, you can pay using prepaid cards. You can get those in the Student Union
Building.

That just covers the questions put to me. If you have more, please see me during the next
break at 2:15. Right now, though, I’d like to start to give you a rundown on the various
facilities here on campus. That way, you won’t get lost so easily in the weeks to come.

I have been told that this year’s incoming class features a large number of married students
and parents. So, you must be wondering where to put the baby while you’re in class. OK,
right now, we are in the Student Union Building, right? Remember the big doors in front
where you all came in? If you go out of the building, you can see the Nursery is just on the
other side of this building (Q37). It’s only about twenty metres away! Convenient, eh?

Next, we’re all from different places around the country. Some of you are from other
countries. That means we’re pretty likely to get sick during the first months of school as we
expose each other to many new viruses. So, where’s the doctor? Of course, you need to
find the Medical Services Centre which is on the right as you leave the build ing (Q38).
Remember, that’s the second building on the right.

And if you look out of that window, you can see a lot of antennae and satellite dishes on
the roof. So that’s what we call the Media Centre. (Q39)

Yeah, I know, I think it’s confusing, too. The Media Centre is next to the Medical Centre. The
chairwoman of the Journalism School on the first floor doesn’t like it when people who
wander in there mistake her for a nurse!

Chances are you’ll have at least one Maths class while you’re here.

That red building there just outside to the left is the Maths Department Building. I know, it
looks about as old as the subject as Maths, but I assure you that the inside is equipped with
state-of-the-art classroom equipment including interactive chalkboards and surround sound
in every room.

Oh, can you see the back building there? Yes, behind the Media Centre. Quite new, isn’t it?
That’s the new library, just decorated. (Q40)

They’re back-to-back, you might say. If you look just to the left of it at the lower, older-
looking building, you’ll find the old library. It’s nice and quiet – perfect for those marathon
study sessions during exam week. Since the weather is so nice, why don’t we stop looking at
our maps but go for a walk around the campus?

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 Test 27
SECTION 1

AGENT: Good afternoon and welcome to Habitat Hunters. You must be Joseph.

RENTER: Yes, that’s right. You said on the phone that I could come by at 2:00. Sorry,
I’m a little early.

AGENT: No problem at all. In Calgary’s market, you have to move fast if you want a
good apartment!

RENTER: Actually, I’d settle for almost anything. I’ve been here ten days and the
hotel is ruining me. My father has me on a strict budget.

AGENT: Sit right down here now, sir. Let’s talk a little about the places before we go
have a look. Now, we have four apartments available.

RENTER: OK, could you tell me more about those four apartments?

AGENT: Sure. The first one is on Beatle Road, just a block off campus. It’s a 3-
bedroom with a bathroom (Q1) and a living room and a great Italian restaurant right next to
it.

RENTER: How much?

AGENT: Well, it’s $435 (Q2) a month, including Internet and utilities.

RENTER: Okay, that sounds reasonable. Any drawbacks to the house?

AGENT: There’s a really big garden, but it hasn’t been taken care of over the years
and is just too big to clean up nicely.

RENTER: Hmm. That sounds okay. Tell me about the next option.

AGENT: The other 3-bedroom apartment is on Oakington Avenue on campus. It is

right near the building where you have classes, and the kitchen and living room are newly
furnished.

RENTER: Wow, that sounds like a pretty good option.

AGENT: Well, it is a cool apartment, but since it’s a dormitory, the living room,
bathroom, kitchen, and washing machine (Q3) are all shared. It would be nice not to have
to buy living room furniture, though.

RENTER: And how much is this one?

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AGENT: $400 per month for a bedroom with an air conditioner. For a bedroom
without an air conditioner, you would pay less, $340 for it.

RENTER: Yikes, even with the air conditioner, it sounds really inconvenient (Q4) to
have to share facilities. I’ll never cook if I have to walk down the hall to use the kitchen.

AGENT: Yeah, that’s true. Anyway, the next place is a 2-bedroom on Mead Street.

RENTER: Oh, I like Mead Street – that’s off campus, right?

AGENT: Yep. It’s pretty cool, but it only has 2 bedrooms, plus a living room and a
study (Q5).

RENTER: But I want to live together with my two friends.

AGENT: So you could make the study into a small bedroom if you end up living with
them.

RENTER: Also, we guys want a TV and DVD player since we’re all so much into
movies.

AGENT: Well, this place has a great TV and VCR, but no DVD player.

RENTER: No DVD? That’s so weird. Are any other facilities provided?

AGENT: As you said, weird enough, it also comes with a washbasin. (Q6)

RENTER: Is there a washing machine? I think we need that more than just a
washbasin.

AGENT: I’m afraid there’s no washing machine in the apartment.

RENTER: Wow, that’s so old-fashioned! Maybe it’s not the best choice for three
college guys. How much is it?

AGENT: Well, it’s $600 per month, but of course it would be cheaper if you made it
into 3 bedrooms instead of 2. Where is this apartment located?

AGENT: It’s 2500 Mead Street, where there are a lot of bars.

RENTER: It would be affordable, but it would get pretty noisy (Q7). And that sounds
really expensive for an old place in a noisy area. How about the last place?

AGENT: This one’s on-campus in the Devon Close complex. It’s a one-bedroom, so it
will be a little quieter than the Mead Street place.

RENTER: One bedroom, huh? That could be good for focusing on my studies. What
else does it have?

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AGENT: It comes with a living room and a study, and includes a really nice lamp in
the study that has a bunch of different settings (Q8). You know what else is cool? There’s a
dining hall downstairs so all evening meals (Q9) are free. You can purchase breakfast and
lunch, but meals after 6 p.m. are free. Wow, this place sounds too good to be true. Is it
really expensive?

AGENT: It’s alright – $500 per month, but there’s no bathroom. (Q10)

RENTER: What? No bathroom?

AGENT: Well, there’s no bathroom in the apartment, but there’s one at the end of
the hall.

RENTER: Hmm. Thanks, I think now I just have to decide whether I want to live alone
or not.

AGENT: Yeah, which one do you prefer?

RENTER: I think I’d choose either this apartment or the one on Beatle Road.

AGENT: OK. You’d better think about it, and then you can contact me ASAP.

RENTER: Fine, thanks for your help!

AGENT: You’re welcome…

SECTION 2

Hi folks, my name is Loretta Johnston, and I’m here from the Baltimore Department of
Public Waste. Thank you for coming out to our community meeting tonight. I’ve got a few
words to say about the waste collection here in Baltimore.

First, there’s the sorted collection bins themselves. They’re made of sturdy, solid material,
so none of your trash can seep out or puncture the bin. Also, since these things sit out on
the curb overnight rain or shine, they have to be waterproof (Q11). We can’t have water
getting up in it and filling up the bin. Remember to pay attention to which bin is which, and
sort your waste accordingly. You should have a blue or green bin for recyclable garbage, a
yellow bin for unrecyclable garbage, and a red bin for toxic waste. Our citywide waste
management is divided into two services. The first is commercial waste collection, or trash
collection from buildings. The majority of building (Q12) waste is paper, which goes in the
blue or green bins. You’ll notice in your office buildings there are signs that warn you not
to overfill (Q13) these bins. All that paper adds up, and an overflowing bin is infinitely
harder for collectors to carry to the truck and empty.

Aside from paper, another large source of building waste is metals.

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Metals such as tin and aluminium can be put in the yellow recycle bins, but metals like lead
and copper should be disposed of in the red bins. These heavy (Q14) metals are harmful to
the environment and exacerbate our city’s existing pollution problem.

That’s about all the information you need for building waste. Moving on to the second
service, household waste collection is probably what you primarily think of when you think
of what we do here…

Many of the same guidelines apply – the sorting is the same, et cetera.

Please remember to keep garbage like kitchen waste in a plastic (Q15) bag.

It makes collection easier and lessens the abominable rotten-trash smell.

So after we take your trash away, what happens to it? We take all the garbage to one of a
number of garbage disposal plants, each of which is located in the middle of
an open (Q16) space of some sort. No one wants to have their home or office right next
door to a waste disposal plant, right? Waste is collected and then disposed of once
every four weeks. (Q17)

A lot of trash can build up in that time, so we’re in the process of developing a plan to fund
collection more frequently. Ideally it would be collected weekly, but we will likely have to
settle for biweekly. The garbage trucks make their rounds to clear the bins at night in order
to avoid traffic. (Q18)

I’m sure you’ve seen how much waste your own household produces in a given week. Now
imagine all the trash produced by all the households in Baltimore. It’s a lot, right? It may
surprise you that this amount is only marginal compared to commercial waste. Yep, the
main waste producers are actually businesses (Q19), industrial facilities, retail, and offices.
Hard to believe humans produce that much waste, right? No wonder we have pollution
problems!

Anyway, after all incoming waste is sorted, recyclables are sent to a recycling plant, while
garbage and toxic waste are transported to their respective areas of the plant for treatment.
Items such as stones (Q20), which should not be disposed of in our bins, are separated out
and discarded.

Once the trash has undergone the treatment process, it is compacted and disposed of with
all the other trash and finally, when the landfill space is full, it is buried deep underground
and in time something new is built on the land.

That’s everything about waste collection. Thank you for listening. Are there any questions?

SECTION 3

RICKY: Hi, Julie, it’s Ricky.

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JULIE: Hi, Ricky, how are you? I noticed you weren’t in Psychology today.
RICKY: I’m feeling sick, so I didn’t go to school today. Would you mind telling me what I
missed in class?
JULIE: Sure thing. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well! Anyway, we spent most of the class
talking about a new essay that Professor Johnson assigned. You need to choose one of the
bold headings from the note system (Q21) and research it.
RICKY: Wow, I picked the wrong day to miss class, huh?
JULIE: You sure did.
RICKY: Could you tell me the specific requirements of this paper?
JULIE: Sure. You need to find scientific research (Q22) that supports your claim as one of
your references. It can be from some of the case studies we discussed in class, or you can
find your own. Or even better, you can conduct your own research! I’m sure that would get
you an A.
RICKY: Have you decided what you’re going to do yet? Also, where are you getting your
references?
JULIE: Yeah, I’m going to research facial recognition by infants. I’ve already found a few
experiments in scientific journals (Q23). That would probably be a good start for you –
there are tons of journals in the library.
RICKY: Great idea, thanks. I’m considering writing my essay on the effects of one of the
psychotropic drugs we talked about in class. I’m sure there is lots of stuff about it on the
Internet. Are we allowed to use information from the Internet? (Q24)
JULIE: Sure, you can use that as long as it’s not your main source for information. You’ll
probably want to cite some of the experiments we went over.
RICKY: Good idea, thanks. I’m gonna try to find some information from a bunch of different
sources.
RICKY: Are there any specifications on how the essay should be written?
JULIE: Yeah, Professor Johnson wants it double-spaced (Q25). It should be between 6 to
10 pages long.
RICKY: 6 to 10 pages? That’s so much! It’s going to take forever.
JULIE: I know. The whole class groaned when he said that. Anyway, you also need to put
the title in italics (Q26), and…
RICKY: Wait, each section heading, or just the main heading?

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JULIE: Only the main heading should be in italics. I think section titles are supposed to be
in the same format, but maybe in bold. You’ll have to check that in class next time.
RICKY: Oh okay. So I take it that the report has to be typed (Q27) since there are so many
requirements. What are the other formatting requirements?
JULIE: Yep, it’s got to be typed. Aside from that, there are still a few more specifications.
You should number each page, Make sure it goes up in the top right (Q28) corner.
RICKY: Okay, I’ll make sure to write that down. I always forget to number the pages. Do we
need to title and date each page, too?
JULIE: You need the shortened title on every page, but no need to include the date. That
should just be on the cover page.
RICKY: Okay, thanks.
JULIE: No problem. Also, make sure the margins are 3.25 (Q29) pixels wide..
RICKY: What? I’m not even sure how to do that.
JULIE: It’s okay, I can show you. It’s really easy. I think that’s all the directions he gave us. A
lot of formatting requirements, but we have the freedom to research many things that we
like, so that’s good. Oh, I almost forgot – remember to put down your ID number (Q30) on
your report.
RICKY: Thanks so much for your help. I’ll see you in class Monday!
JULIE: No problem, glad I could help. See you later.
SECTION 4

Good morning and welcome to yet another lecture in Environmental Science. I don’t think I
am telling you a secret when I mention that water is a big worry here in Australia. The stuff
is scarce. Perhaps that’s why we drink so much beer, eh?

Seriously, though, a safe and reliable (Q31) source of water is one of the great concerns of
people everywhere. Moreover, as the world population grows, the pressure on existing
water supplies grows greater and greater. Think about it. Our economic system demands
that there be more and more consumers. The growing number of people has been tied to
climate change, including droughts. So more people means less water. But our economic
system demands a high birth rate. Forget about oil. Soon enough you will see wars for
water. Mark my words.

But today, I’m going to confine my remarks to Australia. As noted already, here down under,
the water supply is extremely scarce (Q32). The only drier continent is Antarctica – and
remember, no one really lives there anyway. Moreover, in recent years, the wind patterns

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have changed. Rain that used to fall on the country now falls out to sea hundreds of miles to
the south.

Now, when I speak of people needing water, most of you probably think of drinking.
Certainly everyone needs water for drinking. But surprising as it may sound, drinking is not
anywhere near being the main use for water. Most water is actually used for washing (Q33).
When you take a shower, you probably use well over a hundred litres of water. Every time
you flush your toilet, that’s about eight litres. But most people drink no more than two litres
or so per day.

So, where to get water? It could be obtained from rainwater, but often rainfall consists of
other harmful pollutants that evaporated with the water. In fact, acid rain, an intense
example of this, causes harmful effects on the wildlife of the habitat on which it falls. Water
from underground could also be used, though it is more difficult to contain and often must
go through an extensive cleansing process. The purest water is found in rivers, creeks, lakes,
and dams (Q34). And, sad to say, Australia has precious few of these. Really, how many of
your home towns have rivers? Year-round rivers, I mean. The soil tends to be sandy, so
water soaks into the ground. Many places are rocky too, so 87% of the rainfall is lost to
evaporation. That’s almost twice the evaporation rate in my native Canada!

Speaking of rain, we already heard how rainfall is diminishing here in Oceania. The quantity
itself isn’t the only problem, either. Going back to the problems with obtaining rainwater, a
further problem is that rain is a useful source of water only if air pollution (Q35) is fairly
mild. Again, you’re in a situation where you can’t win. You need water where most people
live. People tend to build cities where rainfall is adequate. But then modern cities tend to
feature polluted air which renders the rain far less easily usable. OK, let’s take a look at the
table here, you’ll see it showing the relative pollution of rainfall in the world’s cities. The
more people, the dirtier the rain.

This is becoming a huge concern for people in the West, who want their water to be pure
and safe (Q36). Though reliable drinking water is important everywhere, the concern in the
West is reflected in all the government regulations and political campaigns aimed at solving
this problem. In contrast, there are not as many demands made on the governments in
Asian and African cultures to improve the water, as their focus is on other issues.

Now, whatever the source of water, we can never afford to forget that all water is highly
vulnerable to contamination (Q37). Whether we’re getting it from the ground, from bodies
of water, or rainfall, it is susceptible to a variety of toxins. In fact, that’s why we clean it
before using it: water carries with it filth and dirt. This problem shows up in a number of
different ways.

As humans and all other animals need water to survive, it’s no surprise to us that one of the
most important domestic uses of water is for drinking. Yet if you have old-fashioned lead
pipes, you may slowly be poisoning yourself by drinking (Q38) that nice clear water. The

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industrial pollution, farm chemicals, and leaky landfills are well-known sources of
contaminants as well. So what is being done to ensure we Australians a safe and steady
supply of drinking water? There are a lot of initiatives that make admirable efforts to
remedy this issue. We’ll be talking about this when we meet again on Thursday. But, as a
preview, I can tell you that so far the amount of real solutions that have been produced is
not nearly adequate. Traditionally, we’ve been very free in this country. That means that
every person and every province tend to go its own way. So the mechanisms for water
management are, in a word, insufficient. (Q39)

To begin seeing how this is so, I want you to read something before our next class. Though a
lot of previous data on water usage and water management are inconclusive and have thus
caused quite a concern, we can learn a lot from the content of reports written on the
subject.

The basis for the government’s water policy is the 1989 White Paper reporting on “Water
Use: Present and Future”. If you compare the numbers offered in the paper with those in
the text, you’ll find that the report is rather untrustworthy (Q40). Truth being told, I’m
being too kind when I say that!

Test 28
SECTION 1

AGENT: Good morning. City House Services. How may I help you?

CUSTOMER: Good morning. I’d like to arrange to have my house cleaned.

AGENT: Certainly. I just need to ask a few questions. First, could I take your name?

CUSTOMER: Yes, it’s Barbara Hill. (Example)

AGENT: Thank you. Next, is your house in London?

CUSTOMER: Yes, it’s in Kingston in Southwest London. (Q1)

AGENT: OK, Southwest London and… er, what’s the postcode?

CUSTOMER: SW105.

AGENT: And what is the square footage and what rooms will we be cleaning?

CUSTOMER: The whole house is 268 square feet, and there is no need to clean all the
rooms. I only want to have my bedrooms cleaned.

AGENT: OK, how many bedrooms does the house have?

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CUSTOMER: Three bedrooms. Oh no, sorry, we used to have three bedrooms, but we
only have two bedrooms now.

AGENT: Are those single bedrooms or doubles?

CUSTOMER: Doubles. (Q2)

AGENT: Fine, two doubles…

CUSTOMER: There is one more room which needs cleaning. It was used as a bedroom
before, and now we have converted it into an office. (Q3)

AGENT: I understand. Three rooms have got to be cleaned, and are all of those
rooms upstairs?

CUSTOMER: Yes. Then, downstairs we have a kitchen-diner, conservatory,

and lounge (Q4). The kitchen-diner is quite large and has the usual equipment – cooker with
oven, refrigerator, cupboards, and worktops. The conservatory has a lot of plants, but
there’s no need to take care of them. The lounge has a leather three-piece suite and a large
coffee table.

AGENT. Thank you. And do you keep any pets?

CUSTOMER: Yeah, I really love keeping them. I’ve got two dogs and three cats.

AGENT: OK, then if our staff come over to offer the service, please take your pets
away. Have you looked at our services packages?

CUSTOMER: Yes, I have one in front of me.

AGENT: Excellent.

AGENT: Any extra services you need (Q5) – switching bed linen, working in the
garden, cleaning the glass in the conservatory, that kind of thing?

CUSTOMER: Err… no… err… actually, replacing the bed linen (Q5) …yes… that would be
good.

AGENT: No problem. I’ll just make a note of that. How about curtains, mats, and
carpets? What would you like us to do with those items?

CUSTOMER: The curtains… I’ll have to think about that. I think we should have the
carpets cleaned really well every quarter (Q6). Mats can just be done with the laundry.

AGENT: Of course. How about clothes? We can have our staff wash and iron them,
or we can have them taken to a dry cleaner’s.

CUSTOMER: Washing and ironing. No, just ironing (Q7). That’ll be OK..

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AGENT: OK, fine. I know quite a bit about what you want now. I should let you know
that we locate on 12 Amyes (Q8) Road, that’s A-M-Y-E-S.

CUSTOMER: Em.

AGENT: And we work from Monday to Sunday except Tuesday and Wednesday.
Could you let me know when is convenient for you?

CUSTOMER: Next Friday… err… no, that’s no good. My son invites his friends over in the
afternoon that day. Perhaps next Thursday or next Saturday. Let me check, OK,
next Thursday. (Q9)

AGENT: When is it convenient for us to come over and provide the service? Is it OK
if we come in the morning? Or we may come in the afternoon? It depends on your schedule.
I’m OK with any time. Just give me a call to let me know you’re coming before you arrive.

AGENT: Sure, we will.

CUSTOMER: By the way, how long would it take for the service?

AGENT: We usually work 1-3 hours for house cleaning, and the work will take three
hours at most. And of course, if it takes more than three hours (Q10), you should pay extra
for it.

CUSTOMER: Er… fine.

AGENT: So, let me just do some calculations…

SECTION 2

Hi everyone, and welcome to Sydney Airport. Today, I’ll be giving you the inside information
on the day-to-day operations of the Australian Quarantine Service here. We hope to provide
you with a better understanding of why such heavy security regulations are necessary by
educating you (Q11) on how we operate and why we do the things we do.

We’re not here to try to persuade you to fly through Sydney Airport, though we hope you’ll
find your experience relatively stress-free and comfortable.

First things first, our personnel. Can anyone guess how many people work at Sydney
Airport? We have 200 alone working in Terminal 2, so can you guess how many in the whole
airport? I heard someone say 360, that’s getting closer… What? Did someone say 2,000?
That’s way too high. Sydney Airport actually employs 440 people (Q12). A lot, right? And
about half of those employees work in security-related matters..

Moving on to our not-so-human employees, let’s come and see our favourite pooch, Milton.
Milton is our best drug-sniffing dog on the force. He’s friendly to most people – you can
even come pet him at the end of our tour. Burnouts beware, though, he’ll find everything.

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Notice that even though there are so many of us around him, Milton stays quite calm. This
is the precise reason he was chosen for the job. (Q13)

Dogs that are chosen are not predisposed to sniff out different narcotics – that’s something
we teach them already.

So here’s a part of the airport most people never notice – the cargo transport terminal. This
is where packages are shipped to and from.

Normally we ship around 4,400 packages per month. In this airport alone, over 52,000
packages were shipped in and out over the past year (Q14). We ship to and from 170
different countries. Not bad, eh? Probably it will go up to over 72,000 packages this year.
And despite over 100 flights in and out of here daily, the number of lost or delayed packages
is impressively low. If you send your package through here, rest assured we’ll get it where
it’s going.

Let’s move on to the area most of us are familiar with, the passenger terminals. In order to
be allowed into this area, you must pass through security with your ticket and if you’re
travelling internationally, your passport. If you’re travelling domestically, you just need a
legal form of ID. If you don’t have those, you will not be allowed to pass through security
and board your flight.

During the security scan, your carry-on items will be checked for dangerous items such as
weapons, sharp objects, and liquids that exceed our specified limit. If you attempt to pass
any of the prohibited items on this list posted at the entrance, Qyou are still allowed to
board the plane, but you’ll be given a warning (Q15) and your item will be confiscated.

Don’t worry, we will not arrest you for having too much shampoo in your bag, or anything
like that.

We also search your carry-ons and parcels for any perishable items.

We prohibit the transportation of local vegetation and prohibit parcels containing any
insects in them. You may or may not have learned about this in Biology class, but when
some plants are introduced to a new environment, they spread wildly and wipe out the
current species around it. It is important to control the introduction of new plants into an
ecosystem, so we must prohibit the transport of any fertile seeds. (Q16)

So what happens to parcels containing possibly suspicious items? It’s of course something
we do not take lightly here. If an object passes through the scanner that appears suspicious
in any way, it is separated out for manual search by a member of our trained security per
sonnel. If an illegal plant or simple sharp object like a pocket knife is found, it is simply
disposed of in our biohazard waste containers (Q17), and the package itself is returned to
the sender (or passenger, if it is for a passenger flight). More serious weapons are reported
to higher authorities for investigation.

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As far as parcel security, the material of the parcel is important. For shipped goods, the
most common material used (and the most widely accepted) is paper (Q18). Make sure it is
packed sturdy enough, with no rips or tears. We’ve definitely had packages rip open before
due to haphazard packing. A more common problem, though, is the package labels (Q19).
When an item does not make it to the right place, this is the most common reason. The
label may not be in the right place or marked clearly enough.

If you’re receiving any items from abroad that must be declared, please remember our
guidelines in order to ensure the timely delivery of your item. Make sure it is packed
correctly, and we ask that you notify customs between 2 and 10 (Q20) days within the
item’s scheduled arrival date.

Okay, before we move on, are there any questions?

SECTION 3

MR. SMITH: Welcome! Please come in and gather over here around the tables. My name is
Adam Smith, and I’m the librarian here. I’ll show you around today and explain how to use
these facilities. Hopefully when I’m done with it, you’ll know the ropes, and please feel free
to let me know of any questions or concerns that you may have. Now, we’re at the gate of
the library. Upon entering into the door, you’ll find that the restrooms are on your left-hand
side, and opposite them is a Photocopy Room. Many of you are wondering about the check-
in and check-out process. What you have to do is go to the Circulation Desk, which is to the
east of the Photocopy Room. The Reading Room is a really large area in the centre of the
library, just to the north of the Circulation Desk (Q21). I’m sure you won’t miss it. If you’re
here to do research, this is where you should bring books to look through. However, if
you’re here to do any group projects or other interactive activities, I advise you to use one
of the study rooms, which are just to the east of the Reading Room. Moving on to the
southeast corner, we have the Periodicals Section, just next to the study rooms (Q22). We
have a collection of different newspapers and magazines in this section. You can get last
week’s weather reports, or all the top stories five years ago – our periodicals can be traced
back 20 years to the time when our school library was built. Ah, our first question! Yes?

STUDENT: Can we check out magazines from the library?

MR. SMITH: I’m sorry, but you cannot take any periodicals out of the library. You’re
welcome to read them for as long as you want while you’re here, but you cannot check
them out.

STUDENT: I wonder if there is any place where we can get some food in the library. Do
we have a store here?

MR. SMITH: Of course. The Food Service Centre is just metres away from the study rooms.
It’s on the northeast corner as you look at the map (Q23). The Food Service Centre offers

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different kinds of snacks though it’s not big. Well, moving on along to the west, you will
Find the Video Resource Centre on your right hand (Q24). We have educational videos and
documentaries, as well as major motion pictures. We ask that you pay attention to the tag
on the video that you pick up, as many of our documentaries are for on-site viewing only
and may not be taken out of the library. To the west of the Video Resource Centre is our
Satellite TV Station (Q25). Here we stream the news from Channel 19 for most of the day.

STUDENT: How many channels does it have?

MR. SMITH: (laughs) It does have nearly 200 channels, but we generally will give top priority
to channels with some big events, like presidential addresses or other breaking news. During
the coverage of the presidential debate, students will take a break from studying and flock
to watch it. Last but perhaps most important is the Enquiry Desk. It’s just on the left-hand
side when you walk into the library (Q26), so it’s impossible to miss it. If you have any
questions about how to use equipment or where to find something, come and ask the
assistant. Don’t be shy, because that’s what they’re here for!

MR. SMITH: Speaking of questions, one of the questions we get asked is how to actually
check out a book once a student has picked one out. If it’s a fiction or non-fiction book, look
for the pink and yellow (Q27) check-out card inside the back cover of the book. You can also
find information about the book on these cards, including its publishing date, genre, ISBN,
and a log of dates it’s been checked out before. Present this card to me or any library
assistant, and we’ll stamp it and then the book can be kept for three weeks. You can find
general information on a field of study by using one of our subject (Q28) guides. We have
them on paper here, but any of our computers will allow you to search within fields as well.

STUDENT: What if the library doesn’t have a resource we’re looking for?

MR. SMITH: Great question, I’m going to address that. Our library is in a network with a
number of other universities in the area, so if there is something you’re looking for and it’s
available somewhere in the area, we’ll be able to get it for you. However, there
are universities (Q29) which are not part of the network, so we do not share resources with
them. If you want more information about the library and its resources, you’ll find it in a
labelled blue folder (Q30) on my desk in the enquiry section. Okay, so that’s a lot of
information all at once, and I don’t expect you to remember it all. The most important thing
is, please be respectful of the staff and if you need help with anything at all, come and ask
me or one of the assistants. Alright, any questions?

SECTION 4

Good morning. Today, we will continue our study of Crocodylus niloticus by talking about its
living habits. We’ve already discussed the evolutionary attributes that set it apart from its
crocodile relatives. Does everyone remember that?

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Yes, it has an extremely narrow snout, and three or four rows of protective scales on its
back, as compared to two rows on other members of the Crocodylus genus.

Let’s take a look at how these carnivorous man-eaters live, where they live, and finally,
whether they really deserve their vicious reputation.

To start, I’d like to address a great question posed to me by a student during yesterday’s
office hours. We talked about the distribution of crocodiles in Africa and saw that they are
highly concentrated in the South and West of the continent. This student noticed that on
the map displaying the distribution of crocodiles across Af rica, there were no crocodiles in
the Northern Region, and found no mention in the literature of the existence of crocodiles
in the North of Africa (Q31). Why might there be no crocodiles in North Africa? Let’s save
this question for later in the lecture.

To find out more about the social habits of the African crocodile, one researcher named
Tara Shine of the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland conducted a survey of the
wetlands in Mauritania and received reports of 46 crocodiles living in one group, or float as
we say when referring to crocodiles, though the usual number is a little less than half of
that. (Q32)

In general, crocodiles are more highly concentrated in wet, subtropical environments near
bodies of water and rich vegetation (Q33). While South American crocodiles thrive in cool
rainforests, the African crocodile is more equipped for heat. Though they can survive at the
hot temperatures found in some deserts, they are not equipped to handle dry climates and
thus cannot survive in places like the Sahara Desert of North Africa. As cold-blooded
animals, crocodiles’ core temperatures fluctuate from their average of 38 degrees Celsius as
external conditions change, thus they need to avoid extreme temperatures. Others live an
underwater life, keeping a body temperature close to that of the water. As their own unique
method of regulating their body temperatures, some African crocodiles have made dens by
digging holes in the ground to provide themselves with a cool, dark place to retreat from
the hot African sun. (Q34)

Speaking of the hot African sun, let’s go back to the question asked at the beginning of the
lecture. We know that there used to be crocodiles in Northern Africa, yet today there are
none. What are some possible explanations for this?

Some students have suggested that the African crocodile has evolved from a desert creature
into a wetland creature, thus causing them to migrate south for more appropriate
condition. Others presume that the crocodile was hunted out of Northern Africa by a fiercer
predator. While these are intelligent guesses, the real story is a little bit different.

The key to this migration is that the Sahara Desert did not always cover the North of Africa.
About 8,000 years ago, the land was fertile wetlands perfect for breeding crocodiles. Over

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time, though, the area dried out and the wetland slowly turned to desert, leading the
African crocodile to migrate south to the marshlands they call home today. (Q35)

Some crocodiles did, however, adapt to living in dry conditions. In Mauritania, some
crocodiles have learned to survive in an area where they can go up to 8 (Q36) months with
no water by spending the driest of times in what’s called a torpor, or short period of
hibernation. To utilise every bit of rainfall, these desert crocodiles dig underground caves
that collect runoff, thus staying cool and hydrated.

During the mating period in November and December, males attract females to their
viciously protected territory through a number of behaviours that range from snapping their
jaws all the way to sending infrasonic pulses through the water. Afterwards, the female digs
a hole up to 60cm in depth (Q37) to store the eggs for an 80-day incubation period. The
female protects these eggs during the period, and sometimes even helps crack the eggs with
her snout at the end.

These teeth-gnashing carnivores are softer than we think. Although these vicious creatures
have attacked humans on a few occasions, the residents are not afraid of (Q38) them. In
fact, they show a great deal of reverence towards these wondrous creatures. Some say that
crocodiles bring water to their habitat, so if they leave, they will bring the water with them.
Obviously this is not true, but it demonstrates the admiration the inhabiting people have for
crocodiles.

Generally, crocodiles do not predate on humans. They attack (Q39) when humans populate
the crocodiles’ habitat, instilling fear and uneasiness in the crocs. Like any other species,
crocodiles are known to attack when feeling fear.

There’s still a lot more to be discovered about the African crocodile.

Researchers want to know more about the population size, how many crocodiles inhabit
Africa in all, how they form separate floats, etc.

There is still also much to learn about migration patterns (Q40), and relations to other
populations of crocodiles now found in other parts of the world.

Next time, we’ll examine a few specific case studies of crocodile populations in Southern
Africa.

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