
Listening Test (60%)
I.Spot Dictation 10% @ 1%
Directions: Listen to a passage and fill in the blanks with what you hear. You will hear the passage once only.
This was the chaotic scene in the city of Padang in Sumatra as terrified residents ran for safety when the (1) ____________________ earthquake struck on Wednesday. Less than 24 hours later another major earthquake (2) ____________________ in another part of the island on Thursday, (3) ____________________ more panic among local residents and tourists.
Indonesian television stations broadcast images of the devastation showing (4) ____________________ collapsed buildings, burning houses and rescue workers scrambling to find survivors beneath (5) ____________________ rubble. Crews were able to pull some people from the debris alive. So far, most of the deaths have been reported in this city of (6) ______________________________. Officials say at least 500 buildings were (7) ____________________ the quake.
Indonesia's president says the government is responding quickly to the disaster.
The two earthquakes in Indonesia follow a strong quake and (8) ________________ that hit the South Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa. Seismologist Stuart Sipkin with the US National Earthquake Center says he's not surprised by the (9) ____________________ quakes in these regions.
Indonesian officials say they expect the numbers of dead and injured to (10) ____________________ the coming days because of the large amount of destruction in very populated areas. They say their priorities now are saving lives and getting emergency aid to communities that need it the most.
II.Listening and note-taking 15% @5%
Directions: You will hear part of a radio phone-in programme in which a government minister, Mrs Fielding, answers question from two callers. Here are three ideas expressed in the progamme. According to Mrs Fielding, what are the arguments against them. Listen and make notes in the table. You will hear the passage only once.
| Spend more on public transport | |
| Make drivers pay more | |
| Discourage people from using cars in cities |
Directions: You are going to hear a short dialogue. Fill in the missing word or words as you listen to the dialogue. You will hear the dialogue only once.
Interviewer Bill, can I ask you first about your opinions on unemployment?
Bill Well, my views are (1) ____________________. I don’t have much sympathy with people out of work. If they looked for it, they’d find it.
Jane (2) ____________________ England they wouldn’t.
Interviewer Let Bill finish, Jane. Go on, Bill
Bill Of course they would. Take Kirkby, for example. People can’t get work because they (3) ____________________. Why don’t they move south? If they moved south, (4) ____________________ a job in no time.
Jane People shouldn’t be made to move away from their homes. The government should take work for the people.
Interviewer Garath, (5) _________________________?
Garath Well, I don’t think I agree with that, but I do think the government should do more to (6) ___________________________ to some places. And I think we should have more training and retraining programmes.
Interviewer What do you (7) ____________________________ social security? Should the state give more money to the poor?
Garath I certainly think some people don’t get enough help from the state. I mean, (8) _________________________________ more money available there wouldn’t be so many people living below the (9) ____________________.
Bill Frankly, poverty is the fault of the people, in my opinion not of the state. I mean, the situation would be a lot better if people didn’t expect so many (10) ____________________ from the government.
Jane That’s outrageous. There are large numbers of people who would be living in poverty if the government didn’t …
IV.True or false 10% @1%
Directions: Listen to a news story from VOA and decide whether the following statements are true or false. If a statement is true, write a T in front of it; if a statement is false, write an F in front of it. You will hear the news story once only.
___ 1. Officials are hopeful that the signs of world economy recovery will be seen in the next few months.
___ 2. At the Group of 20 summit in London in early April, leaders all promised to take all measures necessary to prevent the economic decline.
___ 3. At the G-20 summit in leaders also pledged to share their resources and promised to avoid restrictions on trade.
___ 4. The financial crisis began in the United States mainly because of the defects in its banking system.
___ 5. IMF official says Europe also must review the losses of its banks during the economic crisis.
___ 6. Finance ministers from both the seven richest industrial countries and the Group of 20 held separate meetings on Friday.
___ 7. One of the items on the financial meetings over the next few months will be the evaluation of the risks in this recession.
___ 8. The global economic recession has halted the world effort to relieve world poverty.
___ 9. About 100 million more people will be in poverty because of higher food and fuel prices.
___ 10. Both IMF and the World Bank have over 185 member countries.
V.Multiple choice 15% @1%
A. Directions: Listen to a conversation and choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences. You will hear the conversation only once.
_____ 1. Patricia believes it is necessary to make the wearing of car seat-belts compulsory because _____.
A. most drivers do not wear seat-belts
B. publicity campaigns do not produce even a temporary improvement in wearing rates
C. the traffic accident rate is increasing so much
D. the police think it is advisable
_____ 2. Patricia thinks that even careful drivers should wear seat-belts _____.
A. because they would set a good example to other road-users
B. although they are at less risk than careless drivers
C. because they can still make mistakes
D. because they could be in an accident caused by somebody else
_____ 3. On short journeys, Patricia thinks that seat-belts _____.
A. are not necessary, because most serious accidents happen on motorways
B. are advisable, but not really necessary
C. are necessary, because an accident can happen at any time
D. are only necessary if you are a careless driver
_____ 4. Patricia accepts that seat-belts can themselves cause injury _____.
A. and that this is a major drawback
B. and that this risk must be reduced before belts become compulsory
C. but says this happens very rarely
D. but says designers are working to reduce this problem
_____ 5. In side impacts Patricia feels that _____.
A. seat-belts are totally ineffective
B. seat-belts are as effective as in frontal impacts
C. seat-belts may increase the risk of injury
D. seat-belts can help to reduce injury
B. Directions: Listen to a story and choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences. You will hear the story only once.
_____ 1. The travellers were
A. going up the mountain B. at the top of the mountain
C. just starting to come down D. trying to reach the top of the mountain
_____ 2. They could see
A. nothing B. about two yards
C. only the path D. only a short distance
_____ 3. The bushes
A. got in their way B. prevented them from passing
C. made the path dark D. made the path narrow
_____ 4. John said they
A. had to go on B. could not go on
C. had to go back D. must make a choice
_____ 5. The travellers moved
A. nervously B. resolutely
C. carefully D. steadily
_____ 6. Peter was
A. in tears B. despondent
C. sleepy D. optimistic
_____ 7. When they saw the building they were
A. disappointed B. contemptuous
C. grateful D. dissatisfied
_____ 8. The building was a place where people could
A. hide B. relax
C. stay the night D. spend a holiday
_____ 9. The travellers lit
A. a fire B. a lamp
C. a lamp and a fire D. a lamp and some wood
_____ 10. The food in the box was
A. insufficient B. adequate
C. more than enough D. too much
