- A
- B
- C
- D
Read the passage below.
Announcement from the Department of Student Life
We wish to inform you that access to television will no longer be available in the student union building. Maintenance will remove the building's current television set by the end of this week. We have received several complaints from students who wish to use the building to study and find the television disruptive. In addition, most students have televisions in their dorm rooms. We, therefore, find it excessive to provide a television set in this common area.
Write down the main idea and key points in note form, using keywords and key phrases only. Restate the passage in your own words.
student union – a university building used for student activities
maintenance – a group of people who keep a building in good condition
complaint – a statement saying that someone is unhappy with something
disruptive – distracting
excessive – more than is necessary
Reading:
Now listen to a related conversation. Take notes on the woman's opinion.
unreasonable – unfair
keep from – to stop someone from doing something
social – being with other people
common area – a place that everyone can use
constantly – very often
Listening:
- Opinion: The television should not be removed from the student union building.
- Reason 1: That area should not be used for studying.
- Reason 2: Many people do not want to go back to the dorms to watch TV.
W: I can't believe they're taking away the TV from the student union building!
M: I know. It seems pretty unreasonable. But I guess the university has its reasons. Like the announcement said, it's keeping students from studying, which is never a good thing.
W: Yeah, I mean sure, some students might want to study there. But I know lots of students who come there to relax or hang out when they need a break from studying. It's supposed to be a social area, not a study hall. Students who need a quiet area to study could just go to the library. There's no reason that they need to use the common area.
M: True. But like the announcement said, most students have TVs in their rooms. Do you think students actually come to the student union to watch television?
W: Sure! I watch TV there all the time. Especially in between classes when I don't have time to go back to my dorm room. I mean, it is a twenty-minute walk back to my dorm room, and I'm not about to do that when I can just go to the student union to relax for a while. I know a lot of students do the same thing.
M: Hmm. You're probably right.
Read and think about the prompt below.
The woman expresses her opinion of the department's decision. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
WITHOUT looking at the original reading passage, review your notes from the reading and listening passages. Select the information you think is important.
Reading:
Try to fill in the blanks of the sample response below using your notes.
Now listen to a sample response. How does it differ from your response above? Write down any differences in information or phrasing.
Listen again and repeat after the response during the intervals. Pay close attention to pronunciation, intonation, and word stress.
WITHOUT looking at the written sample response, make quick notes on your own response using your notes on the reading and the listening only.
Reading:
Notes for the Response
Now give your own spoken response to the prompt. Try to incorporate useful expressions you remember from the sample, while also paying attention to your pronunciation and intonation. Record your time.
