I. Language in Use

Choose the appropriate word or expression to fill in each blank.

1. She has the ability to __________ with young minds.

A. engage                     B.  participate                  C. involve                       D. evolve

2. He loves films and novels in the horror ___________ .

A. variety                      B. diversity                      C. genre                          D. gene

3. My main reason for _____________ to New Scientist is to keep abreast of advances in science.

A. prescribing                B.  inscribing                 C. describing                   D. subscribing

4.  A(n) ___________ is a person who has come to live in a country from their own country.

A. migrant                      B. migrate                       C. immigrant                   D. emigrant 

5. It seems such a pity that a _____________ and honored name should be commercialized in such a manner.

A. disguised                   B. distinguished               C. different                     D. distinct

6. He exerted ______________ influence on the thinking of the scientific community on these issues.

A. concerning                B. considering                      C. considerable             D. considerate 

7. Neil’s colleagues said he was actually in a joking, ___________ mood even at the disappointing news. 

A. upbeat                        B. beat                                 C. downbeat                    D. fun

8. A key task is to get pupils to ______________ for themselves the relationship between success and effort.

A. look                            B. perceive                         C. receive                         D. accept          

9.  — Hey, I heard you had left the company. Why did you do that?

—  _____________  I resigned was the company never kept its promises.

 A. Because                    B. As                     C. Since                 D.  The reason that 

10.  —  Professor, what do you think causes the current economic problems in our country?

—  Well, in my opinion, those problems are largely __________ the weakness of the recovery. 

A. contributing                      B. attributing                         C. prior to                     D. due to

Key:

1. A        2. C       3. D       4. C       5. B       6. C      7. A       8. B       9. D      10. D

News Report

Directions: In this section, you will hear one news report. At the end of the news report, you will hear three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).

Questions 1 to 3 are based on the news report you have just heard. ]

1.  A. Because they can express themselves through Jazz.
    B. Because Jazz is different from calligraphy.
    C. Because Jazz is similar to traditional Chinese arts.
     D. Because they can use musical language. 

2. A. Jazz creates personal connection.  

   B. They can play things written down.

   C. Jazz is democratic.

   D. The freedom Jazz improvisation (即兴创作) offers.

3. A. Because players play in a small group.

B. Because each player has the chance to play different roles.
      C. Because each player have the same role.
      D. Because all players can play the leading role at the same time.

Script

Now, Jazz education is growing in some Asian countries.

Terence Hsieh from China says that his students enjoy Jazz improvisation, i.e. inventing music while playing. It allows them to express themselves in artistic ways by using a musical language. Traditional Chinese arts, except for perhaps calligraphy, do not often rely on improvisation, Hsieh explains.

Jerome Quah, in Malaysia, says that Malaysian students like the freedom that Jazz improvisation gives them. Students, he explains, like being able to play things that are not written down, as in classical music.

Denny Euprasert, in Thailand, says that his students like Jazz because it is democratic. It is democratic, he explains, in the sense that each player in a small group gets a chance to play a supporting part and a leading role.

He adds that Jazz education can create personal connections – even across language barriers. At a recent Jazz camp, he said, students from across Southeast Asia met each other for the first time. Even though the students did not speak the same language, they were able to connect through their shared interest in the music.

Questions

1. Why do Chinese students enjoy Jazz?

2. What do Malaysian students like about Jazz?

3. Why do Thailand students like Jazz?

Key:  1. A           2.  D           3. B   

Long Conversation

Directions: In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).

Questions 4 to 7 are based on the long conversation you have just heard.

4. A. He is in short of money.

    B. He feels lonely living all by himself.

    C. He needs to find somebody to make the apartment more comfortable.

    D. He wants to get help with his courses from his roommate.

5. A. The carpet in the living room is stained in several places.

   B. The carpet in the living room is worn out in several places.

   C. The toilet is clogged and the sink has a few leaks.

   D. The windows in the bathroom can keep out rain and snow.

6. A. He used some cardboard to keep it shut.

   B. He applied some super glue to keep the hinges on tightly.

   C. He pushed a box against the door to keep it shut.

   D. He pushed a chair against the door to keep it shut.

7. A. Find a job for the man.

    B. Split the rent.

    C. Help the man fix up the house.

    D. Look for another place.

Script

M: Hi, Shelley. Come on in.

W: Uh, yeah, I stopped by to see if you were still looking for a roommate to share your house.

M: Yep. I sure am. Ever since I cut back on my working hours to go to school, I’ve been really strapped for cash. Hey, let me show you around the place. Uh, here’s the living room.

W: Oh. It looks like you could use a new carpet... and those stains?

M: Well. I’ve had a few problems with some former roommates. I know it needs to be cleaned, but I just don’t have the money to do it right now.

W: Oh. And what about the kitchen?

M: Right this way. Look. It’s completely furnished with all the latest appliances, except... Well, the refrigerator door is broken... a little bit... and it won’t shut all the way. It needs fixing, but don’t worry. I’ve pushed a box against it to keep it shut.

W: Hmm. Great. Well, how about the bathroom? ... No, no. Don’t tell me. The toilet is clogged or the sink has a few leaks.

M: No, those work fine. Well, there’s another slight problem. The windows. I’ve put up a piece of cardboard to keep out the rain and snow, and if it gets a little cold, you can always turn up the heat.

W: I can’t believe you’ve survived under these conditions.

M: So what do you think? You really can’t beat a place like this for $450 a month. So it has its problems, but we can fix those.

W: Uh, no, thank you. I think I’ve seen enough.

Questions:

4. Why does the man need to share his apartment with a roommate?

5. Which of the following statements is true about the man’s house?

6. What has the man done to temporarily fix the refrigerator door?

7. What will Shelley probably do after she’s seen the place?

Key: 4. A       5. A       6.C         7. D

Passage

Directions: In this section, you will hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear three questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).

Questions 8 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard.

8. A. We have to first use our eyes, then the brain and finally the muscles.

   B. We have to make our eyes, brain and muscles work almost at the same time.
          C. We have to use mainly the legs and arms to run and hit.
          D. We have to use mainly the muscles so that the ball is met and hit back.

9. A. What he does and experiences out of class.
          B. What he learns in books.
           C. His place in society.
          D. His lessons at school.

10. A. Shooting skills.
             B. Team spirit.
             C. The football field.
             D. The climate.

Script

Sports and games give us valuable practice in making eyes, brain and muscles work together. In tennis, our eyes see the ball coming, judge its speed and direction and pass this information on to the brain. The brain then has to decide what to do, and to send its orders to the muscles of the arms, legs, and so on, so that the ball is met and hit back where it ought to go. All this must happen with very great speed, and only those who have had a lot of practice at tennis can carry out this complicated chain of events successfully.    

 Sports and games are also very useful for character training. At school, students may learn about such virtues as unselfishness, courage, discipline and love of one’s country; but what is learned in books cannot have the same deep effect on a child’s character as what is learned by experience. The ordinary day school cannot give much practical training in living, because most of the pupils’ time is spent in classes. So it is what the pupils do in their spare time that really prepares them to take their place in society as citizens when they grow up. If each of them learns to work for his team and not for himself on the football field, he will later find it natural to work for the good of his country instead of only for his own benefit.

Questions:

8. What do we have to do when we play tennis?
9. Which of the following can a child’s character be most deeply influenced by?

10. What is of the greatest importance to a football team?

Key: 8. B     9. A     10. B