[00:00.75]PART I DICTATION
[00:04.32]Listen to the following passage.
[00:06.91]Altogether the passage will be read to you four times.
[00:11.19]During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed,
[00:15.02]listen and try to understand the meaning.
[00:18.06]For the second and third readings,
[00:20.27]the passage will be read sentence by sentence,
[00:23.21]or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds.
[00:27.65]The last reading will be done at normal speed again
[00:30.83]and during this time you should check your work.
[00:34.22]You will then be given 2 minutes
[00:36.19]to check through your work once more.
[00:38.87]Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.
[00:43.18]Now, listen to the passage.
[00:48.46]The Origin of Thanksgiving Day
[00:52.88]Thanksgiving Day is one of the American national holidays.
[00:58.11]It is closely connected with the earliest history of the country.
[01:03.17]In 1620, the first Americans sailed to America on the May Flower,
[01:09.05]seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship.
[01:13.92]After a tough two-month voyage
[01:16.35]they landed on America in icy November.
[01:19.99]During their first winter,
[01:22.48]over half of the settlers died of starvation.
[01:26.25]Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.
[01:31.27]All summer long they waited for the harvests.
[01:35.34]Their lives and future depended on the coming harvest.
[01:39.92]Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations.
[01:46.12]And therefore it was decided
[01:48.61]that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed.
[01:52.72]Years later, President of the United States
[01:56.21]declared the fourth Thursday of November
[01:59.17]as Thanksgiving Day every year.
[02:02.78]The celebration of Thanksgiving Day
[02:05.54]has been observed on that date until today.
[02:10.99]The second and third readings.
[02:13.47]You should begin writing now.
[02:17.84]Thanksgiving Day is one of the American national holidays.
[02:38.29]Thanksgiving Day is one of the American national holidays.
[02:58.05]It is closely connected with the earliest history of the country.
[03:17.78]It is closely connected with the earliest history of the country.
[03:37.39]In 1620, the first Americans sailed to America on the May Flower,
[03:58.20]In 1620, the first Americans sailed to America on the May Flower,
[04:18.92]seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship.
[04:37.80]seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship.
[04:56.57]After a tough two-month voyage
[04:59.14]they landed on America in icy November.
[05:17.55]After a tough two-month voyage
[05:20.04]they landed on America in icy November.
[05:38.48]During their first winter,
[05:55.40]During their first winter,
[06:12.31]over half of the settlers died of starvation.
[06:30.40]over half of the settlers died of starvation.
[06:49.04]Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.
[07:08.32]Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.
[07:27.62]All summer long they waited for the harvests.
[07:45.74]All summer long they waited for the harvests.
[08:05.09]Their lives and future depended on the coming harvest.
[08:24.15]Their lives and future depended on the coming harvest.
[08:43.15]Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations.
[09:03.90]Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations.
[09:24.19]And therefore it was decided
[09:27.09]that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed.
[09:45.79]And therefore it was decided
[09:48.24]that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed.
[10:06.98]Years later, President of the United States
[10:10.33]declared the fourth Thursday of November
[10:28.45]Years later, President of the United States
[10:31.72]declared the fourth Thursday of November
[10:50.06]as Thanksgiving Day every year.
[11:07.80]as Thanksgiving Day every year.
[11:25.58]The celebration of Thanksgiving Day
[11:28.32]has been observed on that date until today.
[11:47.08]The celebration of Thanksgiving Day
[11:49.76]has been observed on that date until today.
[12:08.33]The last reading.
[12:11.24]Thanksgiving Day is one of the American national holidays.
[12:16.51]It is closely connected with the earliest history of the country.
[12:21.57]In 1620, the first Americans sailed to America on the May Flower,
[12:27.78]seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship.
[12:32.11]After a tough two-month voyage
[12:34.87]they landed on America in icy November.
[12:38.61]During their first winter,
[12:40.81]over half of the settlers died of starvation.
[12:44.55]Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.
[12:49.66]All summer long they waited for the harvests.
[12:53.78]Their lives and future depended on the coming harvest.
[12:58.07]Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations.
[13:04.56]And therefore it was decided
[13:06.95]that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed.
[13:11.30]Years later, President of the United States
[13:14.53]declared the fourth Thursday of November
[13:18.07]as Thanksgiving Day every year.
[13:21.57]The celebration of Thanksgiving Day
[13:24.29]has been observed on that date until today.
[13:28.78]Now you have two minutes to check through your work.
[15:38.86]That is the end of part 1 dictation.