English Weekly CET-4 Listening Practice Test 9

　　Part III Listening Comprehension

　　Section A

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　11. W: What do you think of your new coach, Mr. Smith?

　　M: Well, he is full of praise when you train yourself hard, but when you get up later than 5 oclock in the morning, youd better watch out.

　　Q: How does the new coach treat his men?

　　12. W: I heard only one person got a perfect grade on the term project. Im sure it wasnt me.

　　M: But it was!

　　Q: What does the man mean?

　　13. W: Look! It says they want a junior sales manager and it seems like its a big company. Thatll be good, for you might have to travel a lot.

　　M: Do they say anything about the experience?

　　Q: What are they talking about?

　　14. W: Listen to me, Joe, the exam is already a thing of the past. Just forget about it.

　　M: Thats easier said than done.

　　Q: What can we infer from the conversation?

　　15. M: Mary doesnt want me to take the job. She says our child is too young and the job requires much traveling.

　　W: You should talk to her again and see if you can find a way out. Think about the gains and losses before you make a decision.

　　Q: What do we learn from the conversation?

　　16. M: Have you finished reading the book you bought last month?

　　W: Oh, I didnt read it straight through the way you read a novel. I just covered a few chapters that interested me most.

　　Q: How did the woman read the book?

　　17. W: I think its wiser to wait until Jack comes back. Dont you agree?

　　M: I couldnt agree more.

　　Q: What does the man think?

　　18. W: Has the technician called about the repairs yet?

　　M: When he does, Ill have you talk to him.

　　Q: What does the man mean?

　　Now youll hear two long conversations.

　　Conversation One

　　W: Well, Ive got a really tough class this afternoon after the lunch break. Im giving a seminar to the 3rd Year Political Science students and quite honestly, Im a bit worried about it.

　　M: Oh, come on. Theyre a pretty bright lot.

　　W: Yeah, thats the problem. They are going to ask some tough questions and I just dont have any real answers for them.

　　M: Well, give me an example.

　　W: Okay. One girl always goes on about the same thing. If there werent any politicians, the world wouldnt get into such a mess. Something like that anyway.

　　M: Well, I think thats a stupid argument. Someone has to make decisions, somebody has to organize a society.

　　W: Yes, I agree. But young people see things differently. They see it this way. If nobody was allowed to hold complete power in any society, then decisions would be made at a more local level. This would guarantee some form of popular decision.

　　M: Well, thats fine in theory. So local politicians then make decisions and whats the big difference? You just exchange national politics for local politics.

　　W: Yes, absolutely. But you see my problem.

　　M: Oh, I do. I really do. Lets think about it

　　Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

　　19. What are they talking about?

　　20. What does the woman think of the students?

　　21. According to the passage, what do young people think of things like politicians?

　　Conversation Two

　　W: Hi! Come in. Have a seat. Ive found that article for you, you know, the one you were talking about the other day.

　　M: Oh great! That friend of mine who works in the library was not very helpful. He told me that the library doesnt subscribe to all foreign newspapers.

　　W: Yeah, so Ive heard. Anyway, the journalist who wrote this particular article really has a good feel for the subject. All of my friends who have read the piece say its spot on.

　　M: And do you agree with him?

　　W: Actually, the writer is a her. Yes, generally speaking, I do, at least most of the time. She thinks young people in Britain and America are spoilt because they have too much money, too much freedom and too long holidays.

　　M: Um, I see.

　　W: You see, she based her article on interviews with young people at a number of universities. Most of them had never had a job in their lives. They just expected their parents to pay for their holidays abroad and to give them lots of pocket money.

　　M: Well, perhaps jobs are hard to find.

　　W: Well, of course we are told there are very few jobs available at present. But still, everyone who really wants a job can find a job if they look hard enough.

　　M: Oh well, the situation is about the same here in China. But even though the government pays for their studies, some of the students who attend classes with me have to have a job during the holidays just to make ends meet.

　　W: How much money do they get per month for their studies?

　　M: Oh I dont know. If they are undergraduates

　　Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

　　22. Where do the speakers converse?

　　23. What is the passage mainly about?

　　24. What does the journalist think of young people in Britain and America?

　　25. According to the passage, what does the man mean when he says that some Chinese students try to have a job even though the government pays for their tuition?

　　Section B

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some 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). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　Passage One

　　The Nobel Committees send invitations to hundreds of scientists and scholars around the world, asking them to suggest names for the Nobel Prizes in the coming year. The names are sent in by February 1.

　　Each committee, with the help of specially appointed experts, discusses the names suggested, and makes out a short list to present to the prize-awarding institution. A vote is taken for the final choice. The names of the prizewinners are announced in October or November. The prizes are awarded on December 10. The Peace Prize is presented at Oslo University, the others at a ceremony in Stockholm. The King of Sweden presents a diploma, a medal and a check to each prizewinner and there is a ceremonial dinner afterwards in the City Hall. Each Nobel prizewinner is expected to give a Nobel lecture.

　　Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　26. The passage is mainly about_______.

　　27. When are the names of the prizewinners announced?

　　28. What do prizewinners not receive?

　　Passage Two

　　Some people have very good memories, and can easily learn quite long poems by heart. There are other people who can only remember things when they have said them over and over.

　　The famous English writer, Charles Dickens said that he could walk down any long street in London and then tell you the name of every shop he had passed. Many of the great men of the world have had wonderful memories.

　　A good memory is a great help in learning a language. Everybody learns his own language by remembering what he hears when he is a small child and some children seem to learn two languages almost as easily as one. In school it is not so easy to learn a second language because the pupils have so little time for it, and they are busy with other subjects as well.

　　A mans mind is rather like a camera, but it takes photos not only of what we see, but also of what we hear, smell and taste. When we take a real photo with a camera, there is much to do before the photo is finished and ready to show our friends. In the same way there is much work to be done before we can keep a picture forever in our minds.

　　Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　29. For what purpose does the speaker mention Charles Dickens?

　　30. Why is it difficult for people to learn a second language in school?

　　31. What can be concluded from the passage?

　　Passage Three

　　There are many reasons why family life in Britain has changed so much in the last fifty years. The liberation of women in the early part of the twentieth century and the social and economic effects of World War II had a great impact on traditional family life. Women became essential to industry and the professions. During the war they had worked in factories and proved their worth; now, with the loss of millions of men, their services were indispensable to the nation.

　　More recently, great advances in scientific knowledge, and particularly in medicine, have had enormous social consequences. Children are better cared for and are far healthier. The infant death rate is low. Above all, parents can now plan the size of their family if they wish through more effective means of birth control.

　　Different attitudes to religion, authority and tradition generally have also greatly contributed to changes in family life. But these developments have affected all aspects of society. It is particularly interesting to note the concept of the family as a social unit has survived all these challenges.

　　Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　32. What is this passage mainly about?

　　33. Why did British women become indispensable to industry after World War II?

　　34. What remained unchanged in spite of all the challenges to family life?

　　35. What are the reasons listed for the change of family life in Britain?

　　Section C

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

　　Buying a house is always a problem, as Ive found out several times. There was the one which looked all right, but they were going to build a motorway through the back garden. Another one I went to look at was cheap, but it was on the verge of falling down. Needing some restoration, said the estate agent. An incurably optimistic breed, estate agents.

　　Then, when you are inspecting one of the possibilities on your rapidly shortening list, you have to keep a polite expression on your face as the proud owner tells you how many hundreds of pounds he has spent on the hideous decorations, which youd tear down at the first opportunity. What about the neighbors? Theyre always perfect, the most marvelous people you could imagine. But wait till you move in thats when you find out about the all-night parties twice a week, to which they never invite you, or the not-very-well house trained Alsatian which they let out in the garden every evening to howl at the moon.

　　Even if you can find a place you want to buy, you still have to raise the money for it. Unless youve won the football pools, you can forget about paying cash; its a mortgage for you, ￡4,000 down and ￡75 a month for the rest of your life, if you can find a building society which will trust you enough to lend you the money. Of course, the house isnt yours; if you cant keep up the repayments, the building society can take it away from you.

　　English Weekly CET-4 Listening Practice Test 9

　　Part III Listening Comprehension

　　Section A

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　11. W: What do you think of your new coach, Mr. Smith?

　　M: Well, he is full of praise when you train yourself hard, but when you get up later than 5 oclock in the morning, youd better watch out.

　　Q: How does the new coach treat his men?

　　12. W: I heard only one person got a perfect grade on the term project. Im sure it wasnt me.

　　M: But it was!

　　Q: What does the man mean?

　　13. W: Look! It says they want a junior sales manager and it seems like its a big company. Thatll be good, for you might have to travel a lot.

　　M: Do they say anything about the experience?

　　Q: What are they talking about?

　　14. W: Listen to me, Joe, the exam is already a thing of the past. Just forget about it.

　　M: Thats easier said than done.

　　Q: What can we infer from the conversation?

　　15. M: Mary doesnt want me to take the job. She says our child is too young and the job requires much traveling.

　　W: You should talk to her again and see if you can find a way out. Think about the gains and losses before you make a decision.

　　Q: What do we learn from the conversation?

　　16. M: Have you finished reading the book you bought last month?

　　W: Oh, I didnt read it straight through the way you read a novel. I just covered a few chapters that interested me most.

　　Q: How did the woman read the book?

　　17. W: I think its wiser to wait until Jack comes back. Dont you agree?

　　M: I couldnt agree more.

　　Q: What does the man think?

　　18. W: Has the technician called about the repairs yet?

　　M: When he does, Ill have you talk to him.

　　Q: What does the man mean?

　　Now youll hear two long conversations.

　　Conversation One

　　W: Well, Ive got a really tough class this afternoon after the lunch break. Im giving a seminar to the 3rd Year Political Science students and quite honestly, Im a bit worried about it.

　　M: Oh, come on. Theyre a pretty bright lot.

　　W: Yeah, thats the problem. They are going to ask some tough questions and I just dont have any real answers for them.

　　M: Well, give me an example.

　　W: Okay. One girl always goes on about the same thing. If there werent any politicians, the world wouldnt get into such a mess. Something like that anyway.

　　M: Well, I think thats a stupid argument. Someone has to make decisions, somebody has to organize a society.

　　W: Yes, I agree. But young people see things differently. They see it this way. If nobody was allowed to hold complete power in any society, then decisions would be made at a more local level. This would guarantee some form of popular decision.

　　M: Well, thats fine in theory. So local politicians then make decisions and whats the big difference? You just exchange national politics for local politics.

　　W: Yes, absolutely. But you see my problem.

　　M: Oh, I do. I really do. Lets think about it

　　Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

　　19. What are they talking about?

　　20. What does the woman think of the students?

　　21. According to the passage, what do young people think of things like politicians?

　　Conversation Two

　　W: Hi! Come in. Have a seat. Ive found that article for you, you know, the one you were talking about the other day.

　　M: Oh great! That friend of mine who works in the library was not very helpful. He told me that the library doesnt subscribe to all foreign newspapers.

　　W: Yeah, so Ive heard. Anyway, the journalist who wrote this particular article really has a good feel for the subject. All of my friends who have read the piece say its spot on.

　　M: And do you agree with him?

　　W: Actually, the writer is a her. Yes, generally speaking, I do, at least most of the time. She thinks young people in Britain and America are spoilt because they have too much money, too much freedom and too long holidays.

　　M: Um, I see.

　　W: You see, she based her article on interviews with young people at a number of universities. Most of them had never had a job in their lives. They just expected their parents to pay for their holidays abroad and to give them lots of pocket money.

　　M: Well, perhaps jobs are hard to find.

　　W: Well, of course we are told there are very few jobs available at present. But still, everyone who really wants a job can find a job if they look hard enough.

　　M: Oh well, the situation is about the same here in China. But even though the government pays for their studies, some of the students who attend classes with me have to have a job during the holidays just to make ends meet.

　　W: How much money do they get per month for their studies?

　　M: Oh I dont know. If they are undergraduates

　　Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

　　22. Where do the speakers converse?

　　23. What is the passage mainly about?

　　24. What does the journalist think of young people in Britain and America?

　　25. According to the passage, what does the man mean when he says that some Chinese students try to have a job even though the government pays for their tuition?

　　Section B

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some 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). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　Passage One

　　The Nobel Committees send invitations to hundreds of scientists and scholars around the world, asking them to suggest names for the Nobel Prizes in the coming year. The names are sent in by February 1.

　　Each committee, with the help of specially appointed experts, discusses the names suggested, and makes out a short list to present to the prize-awarding institution. A vote is taken for the final choice. The names of the prizewinners are announced in October or November. The prizes are awarded on December 10. The Peace Prize is presented at Oslo University, the others at a ceremony in Stockholm. The King of Sweden presents a diploma, a medal and a check to each prizewinner and there is a ceremonial dinner afterwards in the City Hall. Each Nobel prizewinner is expected to give a Nobel lecture.

　　Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　26. The passage is mainly about_______.

　　27. When are the names of the prizewinners announced?

　　28. What do prizewinners not receive?

　　Passage Two

　　Some people have very good memories, and can easily learn quite long poems by heart. There are other people who can only remember things when they have said them over and over.

　　The famous English writer, Charles Dickens said that he could walk down any long street in London and then tell you the name of every shop he had passed. Many of the great men of the world have had wonderful memories.

　　A good memory is a great help in learning a language. Everybody learns his own language by remembering what he hears when he is a small child and some children seem to learn two languages almost as easily as one. In school it is not so easy to learn a second language because the pupils have so little time for it, and they are busy with other subjects as well.

　　A mans mind is rather like a camera, but it takes photos not only of what we see, but also of what we hear, smell and taste. When we take a real photo with a camera, there is much to do before the photo is finished and ready to show our friends. In the same way there is much work to be done before we can keep a picture forever in our minds.

　　Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　29. For what purpose does the speaker mention Charles Dickens?

　　30. Why is it difficult for people to learn a second language in school?

　　31. What can be concluded from the passage?

　　Passage Three

　　There are many reasons why family life in Britain has changed so much in the last fifty years. The liberation of women in the early part of the twentieth century and the social and economic effects of World War II had a great impact on traditional family life. Women became essential to industry and the professions. During the war they had worked in factories and proved their worth; now, with the loss of millions of men, their services were indispensable to the nation.

　　More recently, great advances in scientific knowledge, and particularly in medicine, have had enormous social consequences. Children are better cared for and are far healthier. The infant death rate is low. Above all, parents can now plan the size of their family if they wish through more effective means of birth control.

　　Different attitudes to religion, authority and tradition generally have also greatly contributed to changes in family life. But these developments have affected all aspects of society. It is particularly interesting to note the concept of the family as a social unit has survived all these challenges.

　　Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　32. What is this passage mainly about?

　　33. Why did British women become indispensable to industry after World War II?

　　34. What remained unchanged in spite of all the challenges to family life?

　　35. What are the reasons listed for the change of family life in Britain?

　　Section C

　　Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

　　Buying a house is always a problem, as Ive found out several times. There was the one which looked all right, but they were going to build a motorway through the back garden. Another one I went to look at was cheap, but it was on the verge of falling down. Needing some restoration, said the estate agent. An incurably optimistic breed, estate agents.

　　Then, when you are inspecting one of the possibilities on your rapidly shortening list, you have to keep a polite expression on your face as the proud owner tells you how many hundreds of pounds he has spent on the hideous decorations, which youd tear down at the first opportunity. What about the neighbors? Theyre always perfect, the most marvelous people you could imagine. But wait till you move in thats when you find out about the all-night parties twice a week, to which they never invite you, or the not-very-well house trained Alsatian which they let out in the garden every evening to howl at the moon.

　　Even if you can find a place you want to buy, you still have to raise the money for it. Unless youve won the football pools, you can forget about paying cash; its a mortgage for you, ￡4,000 down and ￡75 a month for the rest of your life, if you can find a building society which will trust you enough to lend you the money. Of course, the house isnt yours; if you cant keep up the repayments, the building society can take it away from you.