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Part I DICTATION (15MIN)
New Year’s Eve
For many people in the west, New Year’s Eve is the biggest party of the year./ It’s time to get together with friends or family/ and welcome in the coming year./ New Year’s parties can take place in different places./ Some people hold a house party;/ others attend street parties,/ while some just go for a few drinks with their friends./ Big cities have large and spectacular fireworks displays./ There is one thing that all New Year’s Eve parties have in common--- the countdown to midnight./ When the clock strikes 12, people give a loud cheer and sing songs./ It’s also popular to make a promise in the New Year./ This is called a New Year’s resolution./ Typical resolutions include giving up smoking and keeping fit./ However, the promise is often broken quite quickly/ and people are back into their bad habits within weeks or days.
PART Ⅱ LISTENING COMPREHE (20 MIN)
SECTION A CONVERSATIONS
Questions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation.
W: Hi, Mark. How are you?
M: Actually, I am really fed up, Linda. It's Jane (Q1).
W: Jane? Who's Jane?
M: No, nobody really. Just a most stunningly attractive girl in my year school (Q1).
W: Oh, is that all? So, what's the problem?
M: Well, the thing is I just don't know how to make her notice me or….
W: Wait a minute. I've got a brilliant idea. Why don't you try talking to her?
M: But I wouldn't know what to say. I …
W: Look, she is in your chemistry class, isn't she? You are good at chemistry. You could offer to help her with her chemistry homework. How about that?
M: Not that. Just one problem (Q3).
W: What?
M: She is better than me at chemistry.
W: OK, then. Well, there's that party at John's on Friday night. You could invite her.
M: Just another small problem (Q3). John's her boyfriend (Q2).
Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following conversation.
W: Yes. Can I help you?
M: Yes. You see, I've bought this personal stereo at your shop three days ago. And I'm afraid it hasn't really matched up to what I was told about.
W: I see. What exactly is the matter?
M: Well, first of all, there's this large scratch across the front of it (Q6).
W: But you should have noticed that when you bought it (Q4).
M: But it was in the box and all sealed up.
W: Well, I'm sorry. But it really is your responsibility to check the goods when you buy them (Q4). How are we to know that it wasn't you who made the scratch?
M: But that's ridiculous. But anyway, it's not the most important thing. I really am not happy about this other thing (Q6).
W: And what is that?
M: Look, it says here that the noise from it should undetectable by other people.
W: Yes, that's right.
M: But people can hear it, and it's really embarrassing on the bus and the underground.
W: Well, I'm sorry, but it must be the way you are wearing the headphones.
M: Look, I know how to put earphones in my ears. Thank you very much (Q5). But what I want to know is what you are going to do about it at all.
W: Well, I suppose we could exchange it for another model, if you really aren't happy with it.
M: No, I certainly am not.
W: Well, if I could just have the receipt (Q7).
M: Oh yes. Well, there is a slight problem about the receipt.
Questions 8 to 10 are based on the following conversation.
W: Hello. Happy Time Catering Services. Victoria's speaking. How can I help you?
M: Hello, Victoria. This is Joe Smith from Country Holidays. I wonder if you could do some catering for us next week (Q9). We're having a small reception (Q8). It's to launch our summer holiday advertising campaign. Will you be free?
W: When exactly is it, Mr. Smith?
M: Apr.21st, that's Thursday. Oh, sorry, no. It should be Friday (Q9).
W: Oh, yes, I can do that. Where will you be holding it?
M: We thought we'd have that at head office and use the conference room, because there is enough room for every one there.
W: Ok. What sort of things would you like?
M: Just a light lunch, I think, so that people can eat while they move around and talk to each other. You did something similar for us last year. We'd be happy to have the same menu again (Q10).
W: Right. I'll look at my diary and see what you had last time. Oh, I nearly forgot to ask you. How many should I cater for?
M: Well, I think most people will be able to come, perhaps around 30. No, let's say 35 to be sure.
W: Right. Thank you for getting in touch, Mr. Smith. I'll send you confirmation of the arrangements by the end of this week.
M: OK.
SECTION B PASSAGES
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage.
For shopaholics, the post-Christmas period means only one thing — sales! Across the country, prices are slashed on clothing, electronics, home furnishings and more. But London is the place for serious shopping, and you can certainly pick up some amazing bargains (Q11). The sales start on Boxing Day — 26th December, and continue for the month of January, but the keenest bargain hunters get there early to be first through the doors. In Oxford Street, queues formed outside shops ahead of predawn openings for the start of the sales. At Brent Cross in north London, more than 1,000 people were queuing at 3:30 a.m. for the “next” clothing store’s sale which began at 4 a.m. Some people even camped outside the shops to be the first in line (Q12). Some people are taking their friends shopping with them and buying their Christmas presents in the sales (Q13A)— a practical but an unromantic way of making sure you get the gift you really want. For a less exciting but less stressful shopping experience, online retailers are also getting in on the act with January sales of their own (Q13B). The most organized of all are those who are already doing their present shopping for next Christmas (Q13C), in the January sales!
Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage.
Ballroom dancing used to be seen as something rather unfashionable that old people might do (Q14). For the past five years though, the popularity of ballroom dancing has soared thanks to a reality TV show (Q15). “Strictly Come Dancing” is one of the big TV shows. Millions of people tune in every Saturday night to watch the show, which airs from September right up to Christmas (Q16D). In the show, a number of professional ballroom dancers each dance with a celebrity (Q16B). Every week they have to learn a different ballroom dance and perform it live on TV on Saturday night (Q16C). The show demonstrates how glamorous ballroom dancing is. The celebrities get to wear colourful dresses and suits to dance in (Q16A), and it looks like a lot of fun. The TV programme also shows what good exercise it can be to ballroom dance and what hard work is involved in learning the dances and performing them properly.
Dance schools around the country have seen a boost in the number of people wanting to learn how to dance. And it’s not only old people who’re interested. Lots of children and young people in their twenties are keen to learn (Q17).
Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage.
Recently a couple in New Zealand were forbidden from naming their baby son 4Real. Even though New Zealand has quite liberal rules about naming children, names beginning with a number are not allowed (Q18). They decided to call him Superman instead.
In many countries around the world, unusual names for children are becoming more popular, especially since the increasing trend for celebrities to give their children unusual names. Some parents choose names which come from popular culture (Q19). For example, there have been six boys named Gandalf after the character in the Lord of the Rings novels and films. Equally, names related to sports are fairly common (Q19). Since 1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal after the football team. Other parents like to make up names or combine names to make their own unique version (Q19), a method demonstrated by Jordan, the British model, who recently invented the name Theaamy for her daughter by combining the names Thea and Amy (the two grandmothers). She was quoted as saying that the accent and double letters were added to make the name “more exotic”.
Other countries have much stricter rules when it comes to naming children. Countries including Japan, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Argentina have an approved list of names from which parents must choose (Q20).
