Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear3 shortpassages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Boththe passage and thequestions will be spoken only once. After you hear aquestion, you must choose the best answerfrom the four choices marked A), B),C), and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 1with a singleline through the centre.
Passage One
Good transportation is very important in winter. (16) If you have a car, make sure it is readyfor the cold weather. Keep the gas tank as nearly full as you can. This will keep water out of thetank and will be a reserve in case you get into trouble. (17) If a storm traps you in your car,there are some steps you should take for your own safety. Do not tend to walk to find help.You may quickly lose your way in blowing and drifting snow. Your chances of being found arebetter if you stay in your car. Keep a downwind window open slightly for fresh air. Freezing raincan seal off your car and lock you inside. Run the engine and heater once in a while. Keep thesame downwind window open while the engine is running. Make sure that snow has not blockedthe exhaust pipe. Clap your hands and move your arms and legs from time to time. Do notstay in one position too long. But, do not move too much. (18) Exercise warms you up, but italso causes you to lose body heat. If more than one person is in the car, do not sleep at thesame time. One person should always be awake. If you are alone, stay awake as long as youcan. Turn on the inside light at night. This would make your car more visible to rescue crews.Don’t panic. Stay with your car.
Q16 What does the speaker say you should do in winter with your car?
Q17 What should you avoid doing if a storm traps you in the car?
Q18 Why is too much exercise undesirable when you are trapped in a car by a winter storm?
Passage Two
The topic of my talk today is gift-giving. Everybody likes to receive gifts, right? So you maythink that gift-giving is a universal custom, but actually the rules of gift-giving vary quite a lot.And not knowing them can result in great embarrassment. In North America the rules are fairlysimple. If you are invited to someone’s home for dinner, bring wine or flowers, or a small itemfrom your country. (19) Among friends, family and business associates, we generally don’t givegifts on other occasions except on someone’s birthday and Christmas. The Japanese, on otherhand, give gifts quite frequently, often to thank someone for their kindness. The tradition ofgift-giving in Japan is very ancient. (20) There are many detailed rules for everything, from thecolor of the wrapping paper to the time of the gift presentation. And while Europeans don’tgenerally exchange business gifts, they do follow some formal customs when visiting homes,such as bringing flowers. The type and color of flowers, however, cancarry special meaning.Today, we have seen some broad differences in gift-giving. I could go on with additionalexamples, but let’s not miss the main point here. (21) If we are not aware of and sensitive tocultural differences, the possibilities for miscommunication and conflict are enormous.Whether we learn about these differences by reading a book or by living abroad, our goal mustbe to respect differences among people in order to get along successfully with our globalneighbors.
Q19 What does the speaker say about gift-giving of North Americans?
Q20 What do we learn about the Japanese concerning gift-giving?
Q21 What point does the speaker make at the end of the talk?
Passage Three
Claudette Rigo is a reporter for a French newspaper. Her assignment for the last five years hasbeen Washington and American politics. She reports the current political news for her paper.
In addition, she writes the column that is published every week. (22) The column explainsAmerican politics to her readers in France. They often find it very difficult to understand theUnited States and Americans. Claudette lives in a small house in a fashionable section ofWashington. She entertains a great deal. Her guests are usually government officials,diplomats, lawyers and other newspaper people. When she isn’t entertaining, she goes out todinners and parties. In spite of her busy social life, Claudette works very hard. The parties arereally work for her, because reporters frequently get news stories just by talking and listeningto people. Claudette also has a small office in the building downtown. She goes there everymorning to write up her stories and send them to Paris. (23) Her column is published everyMonday, so she usually spends a large part of the weekend working on it at home. (24)Claudette spends a month in France every year, so that she won’t forget how to speak French.In spite ofall of her experience in Washington, Claudette may be transferred. This is anelection year in the United States when the people elect a new president. (25) When theelection is over, Claudette thinks that her newspaper in Pairs may change her assignment.
Q22 What do we learn about the column Claudette writes?
Q23 What does Claudette usually do on weekends?
Q24 Why does Claudette spend a month in France every year?
Q25 What might happen to Claudette after this year’s American presidential election?
