TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2010)-GRADE EIGHT-

PART I?? LISTENING COMPREHENSION (35 MIN)

SECTION A? MINI-LECTURE

In this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them to complete a gap-filling task after the mini-lecture. When the lecture is over, you will be given two minutes to check your notes, and another ten minutes to complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for note-taking.

Complete the gap-filling task. Some of the gaps below may require a maximum of THREE words. Make sure the word(s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically & semantically acceptable. You may refer to your notes.

Paralinguistic Features of Language

In face-to-face communication speakers often alter their tomes of voice or change their physical postures in order to convey messages. These means are called paralinguistic features of language, which fall into two categories.

First category: vocal paralinguistic features

(1)__________: to express attitude or intention??????????????? (1)__________

Examples

1. whispering:????? need for secrecy

2. breathiness:????? deep emotion

3. (2)_________:??? unimportance??????????????? ?????????(2)__________

4. nasality:???????? anxiety

5. extra lip-rounding: greater intimacy

Second category: physical paralinguistic features

facial expressions

(3)_______ ????????????????????????????????????????(3)__________

----- smiling: signal of pleasure or welcome

less common expressions

----- eye brow raising: surprise or interest

----- lip biting: (4)________??????????????????????????? (4)_________

gesture

gestures are related to culture.

British culture

----- shrugging shoulders: (5) ________????? ????????????(5)__________

----- scratching head: puzzlement

other cultures

----- placing hand upon heart:(6)_______???????????? ????(6)__________

----- pointing at nose: secret

proximity, posture and echoing

proximity: physical distance between speakers

----- closeness: intimacy or threat

----- (7)_______: formality or absence of interest??????????? (7)_________

Proximity is person-, culture- and (8)________ -specific. ????(8)_________

posture

----- hunched shoulders or a hanging head: to indicate(9)_____ (9)________

----- direct level eye contact: to express an open or challenging attitude

echoing

----- definition: imitation of similar posture

----- (10)______: aid in communication??????????????? (10)___________

----- conscious imitation: mockery

SECTION B? INTERVIEW

In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on ANSWER SHEET TWO.

Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.

Now listen to the interview.

1.??? According to Dr Johnson, diversity means

A. merging of different cultural identities.

B. more emphasis on homogeneity.

C. embracing of more ethnic differences.

D. acceptance of more branches of Christianity.

2.??? According to the interview, which of the following statements in CORRECT?

A. Some places are more diverse than others.

B. Towns are less diverse than large cities.

C. Diversity can be seen everywhere.

D. American is a truly diverse country.

3.??? According to Dr Johnson, which place will witness a radical change in its racial makeup by 2025?

A. Maine

B. Selinsgrove

C. Philadelphia

D. California

4.??? During the interview Dr Johnson indicates that

A. greater racial diversity exists among younger populations.

B. both older and younger populations are racially diverse.

C. age diversity could lead to pension problems.

D. older populations are more racially diverse.

5.??? According to the interview, religious diversity

A. was most evident between 1990 and 2000.

B. exists among Muslim immigrants.

C. is restricted to certain places in the US.

D. is spreading to more parts of the country.

SECTION C? NEWS BROADCAST

In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.

Question 6 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the question.

Now listen to the news.

6.??? What is the main idea of the news item?

A. Sony developed a computer chip for cell phones.

B. Japan will market its wallet phone abroad.

C. The wallet phone is one of the wireless innovations.

D. Reader devices are available at stores and stations.

Question 7 and 8 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.

Now listen to the news.

7.??? Which of the following is mentioned as the government’s measure to control inflation?

A. Foreign investment.

B. Donor support.

C. Price control.

D. Bank prediction.

8.??? According to Kingdom Bank, what is the current inflation rate in Zimbabwe?

A. 20 million percent.

B. 2.2 million percent.

C. 11.2 million percent.

D. Over 11.2 million percent.

Question 9 and 10 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 20 seconds to answer the question.

Now listen to the news.

9.??? Which of the following is CORRECT?

A. A big fire erupted on the Nile River.

B. Helicopters were used to evacuate people.

C. Five people were taken to hospital for burns.

D. A big fire took place on two floors.

10.?? The likely cause of the big fire is

A. electrical short-cut.

B. lack of fire-satefy measures.

C. terrorism.

D. not known.