[00:00.69]PART I DICTATION
[00:03.70]Listen to the following passage.
[00:06.46]Altogether the passage will be read to you four times.
[00:10.63]During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed,
[00:14.74]listen and try to understand the meaning.
[00:17.69]For the second and third readings,
[00:20.50]the passage will be read sentence by sentence,
[00:23.24]or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds.
[00:28.20]The last reading will be done at normal speed again
[00:31.81]and during this time you should check your work.
[00:35.00]You will then be given 2 minutes
[00:36.90]to check through your work once more.
[00:40.24]Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.
[00:44.00]Now, listen to the passage.
[00:48.52]American Houses
[00:51.40]American houses usually have private kitchens and living rooms.
[00:56.38]Sometimes, there are separate areas for eating and watching television.
[01:02.29]Most Americans are happy to talk about their homes.
[01:06.39]And if they've done anything special in their houses,
[01:10.46]they'll let you know what it was.
[01:13.95]Many Americans live in cities, but nearly as many live in suburbs,
[01:19.42]where there are shopping centers called malls.
[01:23.28]Most of the houses in the suburbs are one or two stories tall,
[01:28.66]with private yards, gardens or garage.
[01:32.90]There are few tall buildings in the suburbs.
[01:36.60]Cities have neighborhoods, warehouse stores,
[01:40.10]and public transportation is usually pretty good.
[01:44.73]Private houses might only have a backyard,
[01:48.50]and if there is a garage it probably is small.
[01:52.86]Cities have a lot of tall buildings that seem to "scrape the sky",
[01:57.52]so they are called "skyscrapers".
[02:01.14]The second and third readings.
[02:03.93]You should begin writing now.
[02:08.18]American houses usually have private kitchens and living rooms.
[02:27.95]American houses usually have private kitchens and living rooms.
[02:47.74]Sometimes, there are separate areas for eating and watching television.
[03:07.86]Sometimes, there are separate areas for eating and watching television.
[03:28.00]Most Americans are happy to talk about their homes.
[03:46.96]Most Americans are happy to talk about their homes.
[04:05.85]And if they've done anything special in their houses,
[04:24.43]And if they've done anything special in their houses,
[04:43.05]they'll let you know what it was.
[05:00.55]they'll let you know what it was.
[05:18.00]Many Americans live in cities, but nearly as many live in suburbs,
[05:38.28]Many Americans live in cities, but nearly as many live in suburbs,
[05:58.61]where there are shopping centers called malls.
[06:16.85]where there are shopping centers called malls.
[06:35.08]Most of the houses in the suburbs are one or two stories tall,
[06:55.21]Most of the houses in the suburbs are one or two stories tall,
[07:15.23]with private yards, gardens or garage.
[07:33.96]with private yards, gardens or garage.
[07:52.27]There are few tall buildings in the suburbs.
[08:10.85]There are few tall buildings in the suburbs.
[08:29.04]Cities have neighborhoods, warehouse stores,
[08:47.60]Cities have neighborhoods, warehouse stores,
[09:06.05]and public transportation is usually pretty good.
[09:24.71]and public transportation is usually pretty good.
[09:43.55]Private houses might only have a backyard,
[10:01.87]Private houses might only have a backyard,
[10:20.20]and if there is a garage it probably is small.
[10:38.80]and if there is a garage it probably is small.
[10:57.53]Cities have a lot of tall buildings that seem to "scrape the sky",
[11:02.14]so they are called "skyscrapers".
[11:19.98]Cities have a lot of tall buildings that seem to "scrape the sky",
[11:24.53]so they are called "skyscrapers".
[11:42.35]The last reading.
[11:44.16]American houses usually have private kitchens and living rooms.
[11:49.01]Sometimes, there are separate areas for eating and watching television.
[11:54.80]Most Americans are happy to talk about their homes.
[11:59.18]And if they've done anything special in their houses,
[12:03.22]they'll let you know what it was.
[12:06.79]Many Americans live in cities, but nearly as many live in suburbs,
[12:12.10]where there are shopping centers called malls.
[12:16.12]Most of the houses in the suburbs are one or two stories tall,
[12:21.38]with private yards, gardens or garage.
[12:25.59]There are few tall buildings in the suburbs.
[12:29.41]Cities have neighborhoods, warehouse stores,
[12:32.97]and public transportation is usually pretty good.
[12:37.27]Private houses might only have a backyard,
[12:40.86]and if there is a garage it probably is small.
[12:45.42]Cities have a lot of tall buildings that seem to "scrape the sky",
[12:50.07]so they are called "skyscrapers".
[12:53.87]Now you have two minutes to check through your work.
[14:59.11]That is the end of part 1 dictation.