Language in Use

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

1. She was young and she was wearing student-type clothes so I _________ she was studying here.

A.  resumed       B. assumed          C. pretended      D. claimed

2. Can you ________ this watch so that it keeps time accurately? 

A. regulate         B. control            C. save        D. rule

3. The survey used a ________ sample of two thousand people across the Midwest.

A. randomly          B. free         C. at random       D. random

4. Our ________ mind registers things which our conscious mind is not aware of.

A. subconscious       B. unnoticed       C. unaware           D. unconscious

5. His jokes seemed _________, but were in fact carefully prepared beforehand. 

A. suddenly             B. spontaneous            C. deliberate         D. planned

6. They produce artificial chemicals which exactly __________ particular natural ones.

A. describe           B. follow       C. come from      D. imitate

7. I’m trying to ________ an interest in classical music in my children.

A. foster               B. form          C. teach            D. grow

1. He was one of Australia’s most distinguished artists, _______ for his portraits and landscapes.  

A. praised           B. congratulated            C. renowned         D. accepted            

2. The 30 mph speed ________ applies in all built-up areas.

A. confinement                B. inhibition

C. restriction                  D. detainment

10.We worked all day without _____________.

A. refreshing                  B. refreshment 

C. supply                     D. beverage

Key:

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

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. Canadian Students’ Declining Math Skills

  B. The Discovery-based Learning Techniques

  C. Discovery-based Learning Leading to Students’ Declining Math Skills

  D. The Differences Between Traditional Methods and Discovery-based Learning

2. A. Students learn to solve problems on their own.

  B. Students learn new things by listening to the teacher’s instruction.

  C. Students learn to use hands-on materials.

  D. Students draw pictures in order to grasp division.

3. A. The process of direct learning is more interesting.

  B. Direct learning relies more on working memory.

  C. Direct learning is based on the way the human memory functions.

  D. Direct learning is more complex.

Script

A new report suggests that Canada’s math teachers need to shift their focus away from discovery-based learning and move back towards traditional methods.

The report says that all but two provinces showed statistically significant declines between 2003 and 2012 on the exams administered by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Report author Anna Stokke says teachers should base 80 per cent of their math classes on direct learning such as memorizing multiplication tables and practising long division. She says only 20 per cent should come from discovery-based learning techniques, which see students rely more on independent problem-solving and hands-on materials and less on instructions from the teacher.

Stokke’s report says the preference for direct learning is based on the way the human memory functions. It says discovery-based learning puts too much burden on a person’s working memory, which can only retain information for a few seconds at a time. In addition, asking students to master division through drawing pictures or other discovery-based techniques makes the learning process more complex than it needs to be.

Stokke believes tackling math instruction through direct learning may be more repetitive, but ultimately more successful.

Questions

1. Which of the following is the best title for this news report?

2. Which of the following is NOT discovery-based learning?

3. Why does Anna Stokke prefer direct learning?

Key: 1. C     2. B     3. C

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. Her “lucky birthday”. 

B. A call from her dad.

C. Her wedding anniversary.

D. A special gift from the man.

5.A. Gave her a big model plane.

B. Bought her a gold necklace.

C. Took her on a trip overseas.

D. Threw her a surprise party.

6.A. The gift her husband has bought.

B. The trip her husband has planned.

C. What has been troubling her husband.

D. What her husband and the man are up to.

7.A. He will be glad to be a guide for the couple’s holiday trip.

B. He will tell the woman the secret if her husband agrees.

C. He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.

D. He wants to find out about the couple’s holiday plan.

Script

M: I bet you’re looking forward to the end of this month. Are you?

W: Yes, I am. How did you know?

M: David told me you have a special birthday coming up.

W: Oh…yeah that’s right. This year will be my golden birthday.

M: What does that mean? I’ve never heard of a golden birthday.

W: I’ve actually just learnt this concept myself. Fortunately, just in time to celebrate. A golden or lucky birthday is when one turns the age of their birth date. So, for example, my sister’s birthday is December 9th and her golden birthday would have been the year she turned nine years old. Come to think of it, my parents did throw her a surprise party that year.

M: Interesting. Too bad I missed mine. My golden birthday would’ve been four years ago. I assume you’ve got big plans then.

W: Actually yes. My husband is planning a surprise holiday for the two of us next week. I have no idea what he’s got in mind, but I’m excited to find out. Has he mentioned anything to you?

M: He might have.

W: Anything you’d like to share? I’m dying to know what kind of trip he has planned on where we’re going.

M: You know nothing at all?

W: Not a clue. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Though I must say I think he’s been having even more fun keeping the secret from me in the past few weeks.

M: I’m sure both of you will have a fantastic time. Happy golden birthday! I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back.

Questions:

4. What is the woman looking forward to?

5. What did the woman’s parents do on her sister’s lucky birthday?

6. What is the woman eager to find out about?

7. What does the man say at the end of the conversation?

Key: 4. A    5. D     6. B     7. C

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. About 1/10 of them.

 B. More than 1/10 of them.

 C. Less than 1/10 of them.

 D. 1/10 of them.

9.A. United States.      B. Germany.

  C. France.           D. England.

10.A. Most small towns become gradually crowded.

  B.Small towns are still similar to each other.

  C.As the traditional picture is changing, towns are different.

  D. Small towns are turning into large cities.

Script

Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs, its people are by now almost entirely an urban society. Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry, and most of the rest live in or around towns, small and large.

The traditional picture is changing: every small town may still be very like other small towns, and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country, but most Americans do not live in small towns any more. Half the population now lives in some 1arge cities with their suburbs — a larger proportion than in Germany or England, let alone France. The statistics of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day. As the rush to live out of town continues, rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses, so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb. But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment.

Questions:

8. How many of American people are engaged in agriculture and forestry?
9. Which of the following countries has the biggest proportion of people living in large cities?

10. According to the passage, what can we learn about small towns in the United States?

Key: 8. C    9. A     10. B