TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2013)

—GRADE FOUR—

TIME LIMIT: 135 MIN

PART I DICTATION [15 MIN]

Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of 15 seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given 2 minutes to check through your work once more.

 

Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.

 

PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [20 MIN]

 

In Sections A, B and C you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the best answer to each question on Answer Sheet Two.

 

SECTION A CONVERSATIONS

 

In this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

 

Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the conversation.

 

1. According to the conversation, an example of “Christmas trimmings” could be

 

A. presents.

 

B. fruits.

 

C. sauce.

 

D. meat.

 

2. A Christmas lunch would include all the following EXCEPT

 

A. roast turkey.

 

B. sweet potatoes.

 

C. meat.

 

D. carrots.

 

3. Why did Helen come to Rob’s house?

 

A. She wanted to talk to Rob.

 

B. She had come to help Rob.

 

C. She had been invited to lunch.

 

D. She was interested in cooking.

 

Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the conversation.

 

4. Why did the woman phone the club?

 

A. She wanted to know more about it.

 

B. She was a new comer and felt lonely.

 

C. She wanted to learn a new language.

 

D. She was interested in social activities.

 

5. We learn from the conversation that the club

 

A. mainly organizes language activities.

 

B. accepts members from local students.

 

C. has been set up for a long time.

 

D. is increasing its membership.

 

6. According to the conversation, the woman might come to practice German on

 

A. Wednesday.

 

B. Tuesday.

 

C. Monday.

 

D. Friday.

 

7. What is the man going to do after the conversation?

 

A. Call up the woman for her address.

 

B. Wait for the woman to call him again.

 

C. Mail the woman some information.

 

D. Wait for the woman to pick up a form.

 

Questions 8 to 10 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the conversation.

 

8. According to the woman, what actually makes her job difficult?

 

A. Difficult questions from interviewees.

 

B. Embarrassing requests from interviewees.

 

C. Lack of professional background.

 

D. Lack of interviewing skills.

 

9. The woman uses all the following adjectives when talking about attending job fairs EXCEPT

 

A. prospective.

 

B. useful.

 

C. important.

 

D. tiring.

 

10. We learn from the conversation that the woman

 

A. works better at job fairs.

 

B. prefers honest people.

 

C. often works on her own.

 

D. is experienced in her work.

 

SECTION B PASSAGES

 

In this section, you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

 

Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the passage.

 

11. According to today''s weather forecast, which part of Europe has dry weather?

 

A. Scandinavian mountains.

 

B. Northwestern Europe.

 

C. Northern Europe.

 

D. Southern Europe.

 

12. In which part of Europe does the weather stay both fine and cool?

 

A. Southern Europe.

 

B. Northern Europe.

 

C. Eastern Europe.

 

D. Northwestern Europe.

 

13. In which region will the weather change tomorrow?

 

A. Northern parts of the Mediterranean.

 

B. Eastern parts of the Mediterranean.

 

C. Central parts of the Mediterranean.

 

D. Southern parts of the Mediterranean.

 

Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the passage.

 

14. According to the passage, what benefit can technology bring to people?

 

A. Closer contact with modern devices.

 

B. Greater changes in social organization.

 

C. Better understanding of mass media.

 

D. More useful information to better their life.

 

15. The speaker questions about everybody''s access to technological advances. The main reason is

 

A. illiteracy.

 

B. poverty.

 

C. food shortage.

 

D. ignorance.

 

16. According to the UN plan, all the following will be achieved within ten years EXCEPT

 

A. giving everyone a radio or TV.

 

B. starting to carry out the scheme in ten years.

 

C. offering internet service to more people.

 

D. providing more job opportunities.

 

17. What could be the topic of the passage?

 

A. Growth in telecommunications.

 

B. Technology and the developing world.

 

C. Education and medical care.

 

D. Building an information society.

 

Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the passage.

 

18. People in Latin America wear something __________ to express their hopes for wealth in the New Year.

 

A. new

 

B. red

 

C. white

 

D. yellow

 

19. Which of the following New Year’s traditions signals friendship?

 

A. Throwing old dishes.

 

B. Wearing something red.

 

C. Wearing something white.

 

D. Eating round fruits.

 

20. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one''s own New Year''s tradition?

 

A. Watching TV at home.

 

B. Going to bed early.

 

C. Visiting friends.

 

D. Running and shouting outside.

 

SECTION C NEWS BROADCAST

 

In this section, you will hear several news items. Listen to them carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

 

Questions 21 and 22 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the news.

 

21. What is happening to the schools in Fairfax County this school year?

 

A. 15 schools have started social studies.

 

B. 15 schools have used digital textbooks.

 

C. Students are ready to use electronic resources.

 

D. Digital textbooks are used for social studies.

 

22. With digital textbooks, schools have saved about __________ million dollars.

 

A. 1

 

B. 2

 

C. 3

 

D. 4

 

Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the news.

 

23. Who found the suspicious item at the airport?

 

A. TSA agents.

 

B. FBI agents.

 

C. The police.

 

D. Passengers.

 

24. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

 

A. The terminal was closed temporarily afterwards.

 

B. There was a thorough search inside the airport.

 

C. Passengers at the airport were safe and sound.

 

D. The security authorities identified the explosives.

 

Questions 25 and 26 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the news.

 

25. According to the news item, doctors use art therapy to treat the following problems EXCEPT

 

A. alcohol abuse.

 

B. smoking.

 

C. depression.

 

D. schizophrenia.

 

26. Why did doctors introduce art therapy in the first place?

 

A. To prevent patients from smoking.

 

B. To better understand patients.

 

C. To get patients occupied.

 

D. To teach patients some skills.

 

Question 27 and 28 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the news.

 

27. What is the main purpose of the new rules?

 

A. To reduce the number of pilots on duty.

 

B. To prevent pilots from working overtime.

 

C. To ensure an adequate amount of sleep.

 

D. To fix the amount of work for each pilot.

 

28. The Independent Pilots Association was unhappy about the new rules because they

 

A. had only covered cargo plane pilots.

 

B. had failed to cover all the pilots.

 

C. would be put into effect in two years.

 

D. would be too costly if implemented.

 

Questions 29 and 30 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.

 

Now, listen to the news.

 

29. Why is increase in livestock production necessary?

 

A. Because livestock production is highly efficient.

 

B. Because more people will become wealthier.

 

C. Because it may help double food production.

 

D. Because it has fewer ecological risks.

 

30. What does the word “challenge” mean in the news item?

 

A. Balance between human survival and ecology.

 

B. Conflict between less land and more production.

 

C. Difference between present and future needs.

 

D. Calls by environmental critics to consume less meat.

PART I DICTATION

 

What is a dream for

 

One theory is that we dream to release the deep, secret desires. We do not express these desires in real life because of the rules of polite society. Another theory is that dreams allow us to solve problems that we can’t solve in real life. We go to sleep with a problem and wake up with the solution. This may be a way to use our dreams rather than a purpose of dreaming. If you believe that your dreams are important then analyzing them may help you to focus on the problem and help you to find the solution.

 

The modern image is that dreams are the brain’s way of cleaning up the computer’s hard disk. Dreams organize the events of the day into folders and delete what is not needed. But we all know that very little of what we dream is concerned with what happened to us that day.

 

PART II LISTENING COMPREHENTION

1—5 ABCAD 6—10 ACDAB 11—15 DCADA

16—20 BBDAC 21—25 DBADB 26—30 CBBCA