你懂的 2013 12

TPO !
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Scripts
and
Answers
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INDEX!
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TPO 01 ........................................................................................8
Task 1 .........................................................................................................................9
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................10
Task 3 .......................................................................................................................12
Task 4 .......................................................................................................................15
Task 5 .......................................................................................................................17
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................20
TPO 02 ......................................................................................22
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................23
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................24
Task 3 ......................................................................................................................25
Task 4 ......................................................................................................................27
Task 5 ......................................................................................................................29
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................31
TPO 03 ......................................................................................33
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................34
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................35
Task 3 ......................................................................................................................36
Task 4 ......................................................................................................................39
Task 5 ......................................................................................................................41
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................44
TPO 04 ......................................................................................46
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................47
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................48
Task 3 ......................................................................................................................49
Task 4 ......................................................................................................................52
Task 5 ......................................................................................................................54
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................57
TPO 05 ......................................................................................59
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................60
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................61
Task 3 ......................................................................................................................62
Task 4 ......................................................................................................................65
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Task 5 ......................................................................................................................67
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................69
TPO 06 ......................................................................................71
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................72
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................74
Task 3 ......................................................................................................................75
Task 4 ......................................................................................................................78
Task 5 ......................................................................................................................80
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................83
TPO 07 .....................................................................................85
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................86
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................88
Task 3 ......................................................................................................................89
Task 4 .......................................................................................................................92
Task 5 ......................................................................................................................94
Task 6 ......................................................................................................................96
TPO 08 ......................................................................................98
Task 1 .......................................................................................................................99
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................100
Task 3 ....................................................................................................................101
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................104
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................106
...............................................................................................................................106
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................109
TPO 09 ....................................................................................111
Task 1 ....................................................................................................................112
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................113
Task 3 ....................................................................................................................114
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................117
Task 5 ....................................................................................................................119
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................122
TPO 10 ...................................................................................124
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................125
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................126
Task 3 ....................................................................................................................127
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................130
Task 5 ....................................................................................................................132
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Task 6 ....................................................................................................................135
TPO 11 ...................................................................................137
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................138
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................139
Task 3 ....................................................................................................................140
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................143
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................145
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................147
TPO 12 ....................................................................................149
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................150
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................151
Task 3 ....................................................................................................................152
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................155
Task 5 ....................................................................................................................157
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................160
TPO 13 ....................................................................................162
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................163
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................164
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................165
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................168
Task 5 ....................................................................................................................170
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................172
TPO 14 ...................................................................................174
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................175
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................176
Task 3 ....................................................................................................................177
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................180
Task 5 ....................................................................................................................182
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................185
TPO 15 ....................................................................................187
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................188
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................189
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................190
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................193
Task 5 ....................................................................................................................195
Task 6 ....................................................................................................................198
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TPO 16 ....................................................................................200
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................201
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................202
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................203
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................205
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................207
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................209
TPO 17 ....................................................................................211
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................212
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................213
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................215
Task 4 ....................................................................................................................218
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................220
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................223
TPO 18 ....................................................................................225
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................226
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................227
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................228
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................230
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................232
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................234
TPO 19 ....................................................................................236
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................237
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................238
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................239
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................241
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................243
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................245
TPO 20 ....................................................................................247
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................248
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................249
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................250
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................252
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................254
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................256
TPO 21 ....................................................................................258
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Task 1 .....................................................................................................................259
Task 2 ....................................................................................................................260
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................261
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................263
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................265
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................267
TPO22 .....................................................................................268
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................269
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................270
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................271
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................273
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................275
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................277
TPO23 .....................................................................................279
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................280
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................281
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................282
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................286
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................288
TPO24 .....................................................................................290
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................291
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................292
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................293
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................295
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................297
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................299
TPO 25 ....................................................................................301
Task 1 .....................................................................................................................302
Task 2 .....................................................................................................................303
Task 3 .....................................................................................................................304
Task 4 .....................................................................................................................306
Task 5 .....................................................................................................................308
Task 6 .....................................................................................................................309
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7
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TPO 01!
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北京新东⽅方学校滕达－新浪微博：@滕达speaking
Task 1!
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Talk about a book you have read that was important to you for some reason. Explain why the
book was important to you. Give specific details and examples to explain your answer.
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๏ Tips
• Books that are easy to talk about
• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Devil Wears Prada
• Twilight
• Any other English book that you’ve actually read before
• Books that you should avoid
• Chinese literatures
• Books that you believe will make a good impression on the rater because they are superior.
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Sample response
Harry Potter is the book that’s pretty important to me. First of all, it’s the first book I’ve read in
English. I had a great time learning English from it because the story is fun to read. I get bored
easily reading my English text books, and usually fall asleep within half an hour. But when I read
HP, I can go all day long. Second, the book taught me what true friendship is. For example, Ron
never gives up on Harry or abandons him no matter how difficult the situation gets, and they can
trust each other with their lives. I wish I have a friend like that in my life. 
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Task 2!
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Some people believe that television has had a positive influence on society. Others believe it has
had a negative influence on society. Which do you agree with and why? Use details and
examples to explain your opinion.
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๏ Tips
• TV is good
• Image+sound
• Fun to watch
• Dynamic content
• Fantastic programs
• Educational programs
• News, real time updates, breaking news
• Entertainments, music videos, movies
• Choices
• Many channels to choose from
• On demand/ pay per-views
• HD channels and contents
• TV is bad
• Contents
• Voilent, sex, drugs and crime
• Endless commercials
• Waste of time
• Easy to lose track of time
• Better to read or go out, travel
• Unhealthy life style
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• Lack of exercise
• Couch potato
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Sample response
I believe that TV has had a positive influence on society for the following reasons. First of all, TV
is more dynamic than other types of media. You get news coverage a lot faster from TV compare
to radio or prints. The combination of image and sound is highly effective. Also, some programs
have great educational value, such as the programs you get from Discovery Channel. TV allows
us to broaden our knowledge base, and it’s making our generations smarter and smarter.
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Task 3!
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Letter in the Centerville College News
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The administration has plans to acquire a new sculpture for campus. We should all oppose this
plan. The university’s poor financial condition led it to increase the price for campus housing and
tuition by 15% this past year. Surely then it is in no financial position to purchase such an
expensive sculpture. Moreover, just look at the sculpture: several 60-foot ling steel plates, jutting
out of the earth at odd angles! It’s so large, it’ll take up all the green space in front of the campus
center! This is public space that should be reserved for students to use.
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Narrator  
Now listen to two students discussing the opinion expressed in the letter.
 
Student A
Did you see Paul’s letter in the paper about the new sculpture?
 
Student B  
Yeah, but it was totally unconvincing. His reasons for opposing the plan were just totally off. I’m
glad we’ll finally have some nice art on campus. I’d like to shake the donor’s hand and say
“Thank you.”
 
Student A  
What do you mean, “the donor”?
 
Student B  
You didn’t know? An anonymous donor is paying the bill for most of the sculpture.
 
Student A 
Not the university?
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Student B  
No. His assumptions about who’s paying for it are all wrong.
 
Student A  
Still, I wonder if he has a point about the space it’ll take up.
 
Student B  
Well, you know why Paul is upset? He and his friends are always out there on the lawn, right
where the sculpture will be, kicking around the soccer ball. Now they’ll just have to use another
part of the campus to play.
 
Student A  
Oh, so, he just doesn’t want to have to move.
 
Student B  
Yeah. For him, it’s sculpture versus convenience.
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๏ Tips
• Reading key
• Proposal: student opposing school’s plan of acquiring a new sculpture
• Reason 1: expensive, waste of money
• Reason 2: large, takes up too much space
• Listening key
• The woman disagrees with it
• Reason 1: the school isn’t paying
• Details: a donor is paying for the sculpture, nice to have art on campus
• Reason 2: Paul is upset for not wanting to move
• Details: he and his friends are always on the lawn kicking a soccer ball, they don’t want to
move, it’s sculpture vs. convenient for Paul
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Sample Response:
The author of the letter is opposing the school’s plan of putting a new sculpture on campus,
because it’s too expensive and it takes up too much public space. In the conversation, the woman
disagrees with the opinion stated in the letter. First of all, the school isn’t spending any money
toward the sculpture, a donor is paying the bill. She thinks it’s nice to have some art on campus.
Second, she says that Paul is disagreeing with the plan for he and his friends are always playing
soccer at where the sculpture will be. It’s inconvenient for him and his friends, that they’ll have
to find somewhere else to play. 
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Task 4!
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Groupthink
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One process by which groups may make bad or irrational decisions is known as groupthink.
Individual members of a group attempt to conform their opinions to what they believe to be the
group consensus even though the result may be negative. There are many reasons why
groupthink happens. These include the desire to be liked, fear of losing a job, or even not
wanting to be the one employee delaying a decision that seems inevitable. These kinds of
implicit pressures to conform lead group members to ultimately make decisions that each, by
himself or herself, might normally not make.
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Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture on this topic in a business management class.  
Professor  
So let me tell you about my own experience with this when I was working for a computer
company a couple of years ago. So one day, a coworker and I suggested we should give our
computers a design makeover, make them look more up to date. Market research was showing
that new customers said they would be more interested in buying our computers if they looked
cooler. Our technology was advanced, but the outside design looked really old-fashioned.
 
At first, more than half the group supported us. There were a few senior managers there though
who didn’t support the design change. One of the senior managers said, “Our focus has always
been on technology. Changing the look is an unnecessary cost.” Almost immediately, some of
our supporters changed their minds. Even my coworker changed his mind. When I asked him
why after the meeting, he told me he didn’t want to make a bad impression on the senior
managers. He thought that disagreeing with them might jeopardize his chances of getting a
promotion by not looking like a team player.
 
What about me? I hate to admit it, but after a few hours of discussion, I started wondering if it
was worth everyone’s time to argue about this. As more people sided with senior management, I
started to feel like I was the only one holding up the vote. Everyone else seemed to think change
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wasn’t necessary, so I voted against my own idea in the end. So we unanimously decided to stay
with the current old-looking design. But this decision ended up costing us a lot of money. That
same year, our competitor came out with a new design that attracted some of our customers and
prevented us from profiting on potential new customers.
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๏ Reading keys
• Term: groupthink
• Definition: some times people make bad or irrational decision within a group
• Why do we do it?
• Desire to be liked, fear of losing a job
• Not wanting to be the only one that’s holding up the vote

๏ Listening keys
• Professor and coworker wanted to change the look of their computer
• Manager disagreed
• Coworker changed his mind
• Did not want to leave a bad impression on the managers
• Professor changed his mind as well
• Did not want to be the only one that’s holding up the vote
• They were all wrong
• A competitor came out with a new design that attracted many costumers
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Sample response:
The professor talks about groupthink which means sometimes people would make a bad decision
as a group. In the example, the professor and his co-worker thought they need to change the look
of their computers, but managers disagreed. So his co-worker changed his mind because he
didn’t want to leave a bad impression on the managers by not looking like a team player. In the
end, the professor changed his mind too, because he didn’t want to be the only person that’s
holding up the vote. But they were all wrong, the same year, a competitor came out with a new
design that attracted many of their customers. 
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Task 5!
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Narrator  
Now listen to a conversation between two students.  
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Student A  
Hey, Mary! How’s your volunteer work going? You still involved in that after-school program
with the elementary school kids?  
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Student B  
Yeah! But I’ve got a problem. I’m supposed to be driving a bunch of them to the zoo tomorrow.  
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Student A  
Yeah?  
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Student B  
And I was supposed to rent a van for the trip. But I waited too long to call the rental agency to
reserve one. And now it turns out they don’t have any vans available for tomorrow. I don’t know
what to do! These kids will be really disappointed if their trip gets cancelled.
 
Student A  
Um...well, doesn’t one of your friends here on campus have a car? I mean, couldn’t you borrow
it for the day?
 
Student B  
Yeah, probably, but I’d need to borrow two cars or there wouldn’t be enough space for all the
kids.
 
Student A  
Uh-huh.
 
Student B  
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That’s why I was going to rent the van. And then I need to find somebody else to drive too. I
can’t drive two cars by myself.
 
Student A  
[Chuckles] Yeah, that’s true! Well, I’m sure you can probably find a volunteer, or if you wanted
to save yourself the trouble of hunting down the second driver, well... what about public
transportation? Check the bus schedule. I...I think there’s a bus line that goes right past the zoo!
 
Student B  
Yeah! That’s a possibility. But...I don’t know. It might be a real ‘challenge’, supervising the kids
on the bus.
 
Student A  
[Chuckles]
 
Student B  
Sometimes they are a handful when they get excited. It’s an option, though.
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๏ Listening keys
• Problem: the woman needs to drive some kids to the zoo, but waited to long to rent a van
• First solution: borrow two cars and get a second driver
• Pro: volunteers are not hard to find
• Con: troublesome
• Second solution: take the kids to the zoo by bus
• Pro: there’s bus that goes right past the zoo
• Con: not easy to supervise kids on the bus, because they are a handful when they get excited
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Sample response:
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The woman’s problem is that she needs to drive some kids to the zoo, but she waited too long to
rent a van. There are two possible solutions. The first solution is to borrow two cars from her
friends for the day. The second solution is to take the kids to the zoo by bus. I think that going to
the zoo by bus is a better idea. First of all, there is a bus that goes right past the zoo, it will be
very convenient for her and the kids because they don’t have to walk too far. Second, it is very
troublesome to borrow two cars from her friends in that short period of time, not to mention that
she will have to find a second driver to drive the other car too. 
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Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture in a psychology class. The professor is discussing the
mathematical capabilities of babies.
 
Professor  
Scientists have learned some interesting things about the intellectual abilities of babies. They say
there is evidence that babies as young as five months old can do basic arithmetic - that they can
add. Scientists think babies know that one plus one equals two, and not one. The evidence is
indirect because obviously, you can’t ask a five-month-old baby to add up some numbers for
you.
 
So they devised an experiment where... um in this experiment, a baby is shown a doll on a table.
OK, so the baby looks at the doll. Then the researcher lowers a screen in front of the doll, so now
the doll is hidden behind the screen. But the baby’s already seen the doll and so knows it’s there.
 
Well then the researcher takes a second doll and very obviously places it behind the screen with
the first one. OK, so now you have two dolls behind the screen, right? Well, no ‘cuz what the
researchers did was they secretly took away one of the dolls. And then when they raised the
screen back up, the baby, well, it expects to see two dolls right? But there is only one there. And
guess what? The baby’s surprised. It expects two but it only sees one.
 
How could the researchers tell that the baby’s surprised? Well they recorded the baby’s eye
movements on camera. And we know that when a baby is surprised by something, a loud noise,
or an unexpected flash of light maybe, it stares at where the noise or light is coming from. And
that’s what the babies in the experiment did - they stared, ‘cuz a baby knows that if you add one
doll and one doll, you should have two dolls. So when it sees one doll, then it stares because it’s
surprised.
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๏ Listening keys
• Main idea: Babies as young as five month old can do basic math
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• Example (study)
• A baby is shown a doll on a table
• A screen is lowered between the baby and the doll
• A second doll is very obviously placed behind the screen
• One of the dolls is secretly taken away
• Screen is raised back up
• Baby is surprised to see one doll, because it’s expecting to see two
• We know it’s surprised because it stared
• When a baby is surprised, it would stare

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Sample response:
Research suggests that babies as young as five month old can do some basic math. The professor
gives us a study to confirm the suggestion is true. In the study, a baby is shown a doll on a table.
Then the researcher lowers a screen in front of the doll, and puts a second doll behind the screen.
But at the same time, they secretly take away one doll. When the screen is raised back up, the
baby’s surprised to see only one doll on the table instead of two. The researchers know it’s
surprised, because babies stare when surprised. This is how they confirmed that a babies know
one plus one equals two, not one. 
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TPO 02!
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Task 1!
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Choose a place you go to often that is important to you and explain why it is important.
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๏ Tips
• Choose to talk about a place you’re familiar with!
• Where is it?
• Who do you go to this place with?
• What kind of activities do you do at this place?
• How is this place special to you? For example: childhood memories? Special occasions?
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Sample response
The zoo is a place I go to often that is important to me for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love
to learn about animals and nature. I find all the animals fascinating to look at, and I get to learn
something new about them each time I visit the zoo. There are these tags in front of all the
display about the animal inside, I like the fact that I can study the animals while being able to
look at them up close. Itʼs way better than reading about them from a text book. Second, I like to
take pictures of the animals. If you pay attention you can find all kinds of expressions on their
face. For example, monkeys are almost as expressive as we are. I took many good pictures of
monkey and will never get tired of taking more.
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Task 2!
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Some college students choose to take courses in a variety of subject areas in order to get a broad
education. Others choose to focus on a single subject area in order to have a deeper
understanding of that area. Which approach to course selection do you think is better for students
and why?
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๏ Tips
• Targeted course selection
• Become an expert in the field for the time spent on the subject area
• Studying similar courses actually saves time and efforts
• Become more competitive on the job market
• Better networking - coworkers and professional contacts
• Casual course selection
• It’s fun to switch to a different subject once in a while
• It opens one’s mind; offers different points of views and perspectives
• Become a better problem solver
• Find out what you really love to do
• Opens up more career possibilities

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Sample response
I believe choosing subjects from different fields is the way to go. First of all, it will broaden a
student’s horizon and knowledge base. Not only I get to learn different things from variety of
courses, most importantly, I can gain other perspectives in doing so. I will be able to think
differently and can use many approaches toward the same problem. Second, it’s interesting to
take courses from other fields. I get to meet a lot of students from other majors and talk to them.
It’s great when I can have many types of friends. It would be very boring if I’m surrounded only
by the people in my major all the time.
!
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Task 3 !
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Bus Service Elimination Planned
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The university has decided to discontinue its free bus service for students. The reason given for
this decision is that few students ride the buses and the buses are expensive to operate. Currently,
the buses run from the center of campus past university buildings and through some of the
neighborhoods surrounding the campus. The money saved by eliminating the bus service will be
used to expand the overcrowded student parking lots.
!
Narrator  
Now listen to two students discussing the article.
 
Man  
I don’t like the university’s plan.
 
Woman  
Really? I’ve ridden those buses, and sometimes there were only a few people on the bus. It did
seem like kind of a waste.
 
Man  
I see your point. But I think the problem is the route’s out-of-date. It only goes through the
neighborhoods that’ve gotten too expensive for students to live in. It’s ridiculous that they
haven’t already changed the route - you know, so it goes where most off-campus students live
now. I bet if they did that, they’d get plenty of students riding those buses.
 
Woman  
Well, at least they’re adding more parking. It’s gotten really tough to find a space.
 
Man  
That’s the other part I don’t like, actually. Cutting back the bus service and adding parking’s just
gonna encourage more students to drive on campus. And that’ll just add to the noise around
campus and create more traffic…and that’ll increase the need for more parking spaces.
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Woman  
Yeah, I guess I can see your point. Maybe it would be better if more students used the buses
instead of driving.
 
Man  
Right. And the university should make it easier to do that, not harder.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: elimination of bus service
• Reason 1: not many students take it
• Reason 2: money saved can be used to build more parking lots

๏ Listening key
• The man disagrees with it
• Reason 1: the bus route is out of date
• Details: it only goes through the areas that are too expensive for students to live in
• Suggestion: change the bus route, then more people will be willing to take the bus
• Reason 2: building more parking lots is not a good idea
• Details: + parking - bus → more people will drive → more pollution and traffic problems on
campus
!
Sample response
The university is planning to eliminate its free bus service, because not many students use it and
the school can use the money saved to build more parking lots. In the conversation, the man
disagrees with the university’s plan. First of all, he thinks the reason that few students take the
bus is because the route is out-of-date, it only goes through the areas that have gone too
expensive for students to live. Instead of eliminating the bus service, the university should change
the bus route to where more students live. Second, he thinks that more student will drive if the
university used the saved money to build more parking lots, and that will create more traffic
problem and increase the noise level on campus. 
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Task 4 !
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Social Interaction
!
People deal with each other every day. This interaction is at the heart of social life. The study of
social interaction is concerned with the influence people have over one another’s behavior.
People take each other into account in their daily behavior and in fact, the very presence of
others can affect behavior. For example, one principle of social interaction, audience effects,
suggests that individuals’ work is affected by their knowledge that they are visible to others, that
the presence of others tends to alter the way people behave or perform an activity.
!
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a talk in a sociology class. The professor is discussing audience effects.
 
Professor  
OK, so we said that the way we interact with others has an impact on our behavior. In fact,
there’s some interesting research to suggest that in one type of interaction - when we’re being
observed specifically, when we know we’re being watched as we perform some activity - we
tend to increase the speed at which we perform that activity.
 
In one study, college students were asked to each put on a pair of shoes-shoes with laces they
would have to tie. Now one group of students was told that they would be observed. The second
group, however, didn’t know they were being observed. The students who were aware that they
were being watched actually tied their shoes much faster than the students who thought they
were alone. Other studies confirm the same is true even when we’re learning new activities.
 
Let’s say someone is learning a new task - for example, learning how to type. When they’re
conscious of being observed, they’ll likely begin typing at a much faster rate than they would if
they were alone. But, and this is interesting, the study also showed that certain common behavior
- things people typically do, like...making mistakes when you’re learning something new that
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behavior pattern will also increase. So in other words, when we’re learning to type, and we know
we’re being watched, we’ll type faster but we’ll also make more mistakes.
๏ Reading key
• Term: Audience Effect
• Definition: audience effects, suggests that individuals’ work is affected by their knowledge that they
are visible to others
๏ Listening key
• Example 1
• Two groups of students were ask to tie their shoes
• One group knew they were being watched
• The other group didn’t
• First group tie their shoes a lot faster than the second group
• Example 2
• The same thing happens when we are learning a new activity
• When we know we are being watched when learning how to type
• We would type faster with more mistakes

!
Sample response
The professor talks about audience effect which means people would perform differently when
they know they are being watched. In the first example, two groups of students were asked to put
on some shoes, while the first group knew they were being watched, the other group didn’t. The
result shows that the first group put on the shoes faster than the second group. The same thing
happens when people learn a new activity. When we learn how to type, and know that we are
being observed, we would type faster, but we will also make more mistakes. 
28
!
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
Listen to a conversation between a student and her geology professor.
 
Man  
Mary, I’m so glad I ran into you.
 
Woman  
Oh hello, Professor Jensen.
 
Man  
Listen, I know it’s short notice...and maybe you’ve already made plans for spring break...
but...one of my students just dropped out of the field trip to the Smithson River Caves. You’re
next on the waiting list, so now there’s room for you to come along.
 
Woman  
You’re kidding! [disappointed] I didn’t think there was a chance… and...well, it’s a three-day
trip, right? I agreed to spend next week helping Professor Clark set up the new museum
exhibition. I think she’s really counting on me.
 
Man  
Yeah, three days. But you know... if you’d rather come on the field trip, why not speak with her
and see if she has anyone to replace you?
 
Woman  
Yeah, I’d hate to miss out on the caves. I’ll definitely ask Professor Clark if there’s someone else
who could help her.
 
Man  
You know... we don’t leave until Wednesday. If you still have to help out, any chance you could
get the museum setup done before then?
29
 
Woman  
Oh yeah... not until Wednesday... so then yeah... maybe that’s possible too.
!
๏ Listening keys
• Problem: woman wants to go to the field trip to study a cave, but she’s promised another professor to
set up an exhibition
• Solution 1: find someone to replace her
• Pro: none given
• Con: none given
• Solution 2: finish the museum work, and then go to the field trip
• Pro: none given
• Con: none given

!
Sample response
The woman’s problem is that she wants to go to the field trip but she’s already promised another
professor to help set up the museum exhibition. There are two possible solutions, the first is to
speak with the other professor and find a replacement, the second solution is that she can set up
the museum exhibition first, and then go to the field trip. I think the second solution is better.
because first of all, she gets to do both activities, so she can learn more in the process and gain
more experiences. And also, it’d be better if she can keep her promise, because the other
professor is counting on her. 
!
!
!
30
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to a part of a talk in an economics class.
 
Professor  
So, let’s talk about money. What is money? Well, typically people think of coins and paper
“bills” as money... but that’s using a somewhat narrow definition of the term.  
!
A broad definition is this: [slowly] money is anything that people can use to make purchases
with. Since many things can be used to make purchases, money can have many different forms.
Certainly, coins and bills are one form of money. People exchange goods and services for coins
or paper bills, and they use this money... these bills...to obtain other goods and services. For
example, you might give a taxi driver five dollars to purchase a ride in his taxi. And he in turn
gives the five dollars to a farmer to buy some vegetables.
 
But, as I said, coins and bills aren’t the only form of money under this broad definition. Some
societies make use of a barter system. Basically, in a barter system people exchange goods and
services directly for other goods and services. The taxi driver, for example, might give a ride to a
farmer in exchange for some vegetables. Since the vegetables are used to pay for a service, by
our broad definition the vegetables are used in barter as a form of money.
 
Now, as I mentioned, there’s also a second... a narrower definition of money. In the United States
only coins and bills are legal tender - meaning that by law, a seller must accept them as payment.
The taxi driver must accept coins or bills as payment for a taxi ride. OK? But in the U.S., the taxi
driver is not required to accept vegetables in exchange for a ride. So a narrower definition of
money might be whatever is legal tender in a society, whatever has to be accepted as payment.
!
๏ Listening keys
• Main idea: the two definitions of money
• Broad definition: anything that can be used to buy things with
31
• Example 1: a taxi driver earns five dollars for a ride, then use the five dollars to buy some
vegetables
• Example 2: the taxi driver can take vegetables as payment in a barter system
• Narrow definition: whatever must be accepted as payment (coins and bills)
• Example: in the US, the driver must accept coins or bills as payment
!
Sample response
In this lecture, the professor talks about the two definitions of money. The first is broad definition
which is anything that people can use to make purchases with. For example, a taxi drive earns
five dollars for a taxi ride, he can then use the five dollars to buy some vegetable. While in a
barter system, the driver can except vegetable for payment too. The second is narrower
definition of money, which is the only legal tender to be accepted in a society. Take the same taxi
driver for example, in the United States, only coins and bills are legal tender, so he must except
paper bills or coins but vegetable as payment.  
32
!
TPO 03!
!
Task 1!
!
What characteristics do you think make someone a good parent? Explain why these
characteristics are important to you.
!
๏ Tips
• Good listener
• Listens or pays attention to what you say
• Patient
• Takes the time to help you solve problems
• Never blames or punishes you for the mistakes you made
• Supportive
• Financially
• Education, tuition and tutoring
• Shelter, food and clothes
• Emotionally
• Support your choice: choosing college major
• Respect your opinion and ideas

!
Sample response
My mom has many good characteristics that I think all parents should have, let me give you
some of them. First, she is a good listener who always pays attention to what I have to say, that
makes her the person who knows me the best in our family. And also, she has a good manner.
I’ve learned from her how to treat others around me with dignity and respect since I was young,
thanks to her I made many good friends in my life. Also, she’s very supportive of me. For
example, she’s always wanted me to get in to Finance, but my passion is in Art. Although we had
different views of what I should be studying in college, she was very supportive of me and my
goals and decided to send me to the best Art school in the country. 
34
Task 2!
!
Some students prefer to work on class assignments by themselves. Others believe it is better to
work in a group. Which do you prefer? Explain why.
!
๏ Tips
• Work alone
• Saves time, you can start or finish whenever you like, no joking around with other students
• Quite, better concentration
• Efficiency, only work on the problems that concern you
• Work with a group
• Learn to become a team player
• Opens one’s mind, learn from each other about new ideas and opinions
• Build up public speaking skill and confidence

!
Sample response
I prefer to work on class assignments in a group. First of all, when having discussions with a
study group, I get a better understanding of the subject matter. And people are usually more
focused when participating in a discussion, I myself tend to put things off or get lazy when
working alone. Second, I can gain other perspectives when studying with a group. For example, I
think it’s amazing sometimes there are so many different ways to solve a single problem. When
studying by myself, my thoughts are very limited. But when working with a group, I can learn
how to think differently from listening to other group members. 
35
!
Task 3 !
!
Hot Breakfasts Eliminated
!
Beginning next month, Dining Services will no longer serve hot breakfast foods at university
dining halls. Instead, students will be offered a wide assortment of cold breakfast items in the
morning. These cold breakfast foods, such as breads, fruit, and yogurt, are healthier than many of
the hot breakfast items that we will stop serving, so health-conscious students should welcome
this change. Students will benefit in another way as well, because limiting the breakfast selection
to cold food items will save money and allow us to keep our meal plans affordable.
 
Narrator  
Now listen to two students discussing the announcement.
 
Woman  
Do you believe any of this? It’s ridiculous.
 
Man 
What do you mean? Well it’s important to eat healthy foods.
 
Woman  
Sure it is, but they are saying yogurt’s better for you than an omelet or than hot cereal? I mean
whether something is hot or cold, that shouldn’t be the issue, except maybe on a really cold
morning. In that case which is going to be better for you, a bowl of cold cereal or a nice warm
omelet? It’s obvious; there’s no question.
 
Man  
Uh I’m not gonna argue with you there.
 
Woman 
And this whole thing about saving money.
36
 
Man  
What about it?
 
Woman  
Well, they are actually going to make things worse for us, not better, ‘cuz if they start cutting
back and we can’t get what we want right here on campus, well we are going to be going off
campus and pay off-campus prices. And you know what? That’ll be expensive. Even if it’s only
two or three mornings a week, it can add up.
!
๏ Reading keys
• Announcement: replace hot items with cold items in the school cafeteria
• Reason 1: cold foods are healthier
• Reason 2: students can save money from the change

๏ Listening keys
• Woman disagrees with it
• Reason 1: cold items isn’t better than hot food
• Details: warm omelet is better than cold cereal in a cold morning
• Reason 2: it won’t save money for students
• Details: people can’t get what they want on campus → go off campus to buy food → off campus
food is more expensive → students will end up spending more money over time
!
Sample response
37
The school is planning to stop serving hot breakfast at the university dinning hall, because cold
items are healthier and doing so can bring down the cost of campus meal plan. In the
conversation, the woman disagrees with the schools plan for the following reasons. First of all,
she dosen’t think that cold food for breakfast is a good idea. Especially in a cold morning, a
warm omelet can make you a lot more comfortable than something cold. Second, she thinks
cutting back the menu will make student’s life a lot harder. People are going to be forced to go off
campus to get what they want. And off campus food is usually more expansive. Over time,
students will end up spending a lot more money. 
38
Task 4 !
!
Cognitive Dissonance
!
Individuals sometimes experience a contradiction between their actions and their beliefs－
between what they are doing and what they believe they should be doing. These contradictions
can cause a kind of mental discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. People experiencing
cognitive dissonance often do not want to change the way they are acting, so they resolve the
contradictory situation in another way, they change their interpretation of the situation in a way
that minimizes the contradiction between what they are doing and what they believe should be
doing.
!
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture about this topic in a sociology class.
 
Professor  
This is a true story, from my own life. In my first year in high school, I was addicted to video
games. I played them all the time and I wasn’t studying enough. I was failing chemistry. That
was my hardest class. So this was a conflict for me, because I wanted a good job when I grew up,
and I believed, I knew, that if you want a good career, you got to do well in school. But I just
couldn’t give up video games. I was completely torn.
 
And my solution was to... to change my perspective. See, the only class I was doing really badly
in was chemistry. In the others, I was... I was Ok. So I asked myself, if I wanted to be a chemist
when I grew up, and the fact is I didn’t. I was pretty sure I wanted to be a sociologist, so I told
myself my chemistry class didn’t matter, because sociologists don’t really need to know
chemistry. In other words, I changed my understanding of what it meant to do well in school. I
reinterpreted my situation. I used to think that doing well in school meant doing well in all my
classes. But now I decided that succeeding in school meant only doing well in the classes that are
related directly to my future career. I eliminated the conflict, at least in my mind.
!
39
๏ Reading keys
• Term: cognitive dissonance
• Definition: the discomfort caused by the conflict between our actions and believes
• Fix: to see the problem from a new perspective

๏ Listening keys
• Example
• Conflict
• Playing video games caused him a poor grade
• He knew he should stop and study harder
• Perspectives
• Old one: doing well in school = doing well in all subjects
• New one: doing well in school = doing well in the courses that are related to future career
• Reason
• He didn’t want to be a chemist in the future
• He wanted to be a sociologist
• Conclusion
• Chemistry class was not important to him

!
Sample response
Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort caused by the conflict between our actions and believes.
People tend to change their perspective to deal with it. The professor talks about his own
experience. He was addicted to video games in high school and that caused him a poor grade in
chemistry class. His solution was to change his perspective. Because he didn’t want to become a
chemist, he thought that chemistry class was not that important to him anyway. He used to think
that doing well in school meant doing well in all classes, but to solve the conflict, he decided that
doing well in school meant only doing well in the classes that are related directly to his future
career.
!
!
40
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to a conversation between two students.  
!
Student A  
Hey, Marny! What’s wrong?
 
Student B  
Oh... I’m just struggling about what to do... I won an award from the Creative Writing Institute
for a story I wrote. And...
 
Student A  
That doesn’t sound like anything’s wrong.
 
Student B  
Well, it’s a huge honor to win, and there’s an award ceremony they’ve invited me to attend,
which I’m so excited about, but...and here’s what’s frustrating: I’ve got a biology exam that’s
scheduled for the same time!
 
Student A  
Uh-oh! Well, have you talked to your professor about this?
 
Student B  
Yeah, she said I could write a five-page paper instead. And I’ve lots of ideas and know I could do
a good job. But...
 
Student A  
But what?
 
Student B  
Well, writing a paper would take up so much time, a lot more time than studying for and taking
the exam. I’ve lots of other schoolwork to deal with.
41
 
Student A  
Oh! Or, you could have someone else receive the award for you, I mean, go in your place and
accept it on your behalf.
 
Student B  
Maybe... I’d still get the award and the money that way.
 
Student A  
Ooh!!! You won money too?
 
Student B  
Yeah, pretty cool, huh? But anyways, my parents were really looking forward to coming and
seeing me on stage, shaking hands with the Institute’s president and all. I’d hate to disappoint
them.
!
Student A
Um...true... I’m sure they’re really proud.
!
Student B  
Like I said, I’m still struggling about what to do.
!
๏ Listening keys
• Problem
• Wants to go to award ceremony to accept award
• There’s a biology exam that’s scheduled at the same time
• Solution 1: write a five page paper instead of taking the exam
• Pro: the teacher will allow it, the woman has plenty of ideas, confident to do a good job
• Con: writing a paper takes up too much time, she has other schoolworks to do
• Solution 2: have someone to take the award on her behave
• Pro: she still gets the award and money
42
• Con: her parents won’t be able to see her on stage

!
Sample response
The woman’s problem is that she wants to attend an award ceremony and accept her award, but
she’s got a biology exam that’s scheduled at the same time. There are two possible solutions, the
first is to skip the exam and write a five page paper instead. Or she can find someone to receive
the award for her. I think the first solution is better. First, she did mention in the conversation
that she has plenty of ideas, and she’s confident she’ll be able to do a good job. Also, if she does
not attend the ceremony, her parents are going to be very disappointed because they can’t see her
on stage.
!
!
!
43
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture in a psychology class. The professor is discussing advertising
strategies.
 
Professor  
In advertising, um...various strategies are used to persuade people to buy products. In order to
sell more products, advertisers will often try to make us believe that a product will meet our
needs or desires perfectly, even if it’s not true. The strategies they use can be subtle, uh...friendly
forms of persuasion that are sometimes hard to recognize.  
!
In a lot of ads, repetition is a key strategy. Research shows that repeated exposure to a message,
even something meaningless or untrue, is enough to make people accept it or see it in a positive
light. You’ve all seen the car commercials on TV, like the one that refers to its roomy cars over
and over again, you know which one I mean. This guy is driving around and he keeps stopping to
pick up different people. He picks up three or four people, and each time the narrator says
“plenty of room for friends, plenty of room for family, plenty of room for everybody”. The same
message is repeated several times in the course of the commercial. Now the car... er… the car
actually looks kind of small. It’s not a very big car at all, but you get the sense that it’s pretty
spacious. You think that the viewer would reach the logical conclusion that the slogan... er...
misrepresents the product. Instead, what usually happens is that when the statement “plenty of
room” is repeated often enough, people are actually convinced it’s true.
 
Um, another strategy they use is to get a celebrity to advertise a product. It turns out that we are
more likely to accept an advertising claim made by somebody famous, a person we admire and
find appealing. We tend to think they are trustworthy. So... um… you might have a car
commercial that features a well-known race car driver. Now it may not be a very fast car, er... it
could even be an inexpensive vehicle with a low performance rating, but if a popular race car
driver is shown driving it, and saying “I like my cars fast”, then people will believe the car is
impressive for its speed.
!
๏ Listening keys
44
• Main idea: two persuasion strategies that are used in advertising
• First: repetition
• Example: car ad, someone drives around, narrator keeps saying “plenty of room for everyone”.
The audience will think the car is big although it’s small
• Second: using celebraties
• Example: car ad, famous race car driver drives a slow car, people will think the car is pretty fast
because people find famous people trustworthy and appealing.
!
Sample response
The professor talks about two strategies that are used in TV ads that will make them more
convincing. One strategy is repetition, when people hear something often enough, the message
becomes positive. Take a car ad for example, the narrator says “plenty of room for everyone” for
many times, although the car is small, eventually people will start to think that the car is fairly
big. The second strategy is using a celebrity to advertise a product because people tend to
believe someone famous. A race car driver who says “I like my car fast!” might actually make
people think the car in the ad to be pretty fast, because we find them trustworthy. 
45
!
TPO 04!
!
Task 1!
!
What do you miss most about your home when you are away? Use specific details in your
explanation.
!
๏ Tips
• Your favorite food
• Chinese Dumplings
• Mapo Tofu
• Mom’s home made meal
• Friends and families
• Miss having someone to talk to when in need
• Someone who can share happy moments with you
• Favorite place back home
• Library
• Zoo
• Shopping mall
!
Sample response
The things I miss the most about my home are my family and friends. When I first went to
Canada 10 years ago, I felt very lonely in the first couple of months because I didn’t know
anyone. I had no one to turn to or talk to about my troubles, that was pretty hard on me in the
beginning. I also missed Chinese food a lot, such as Kung Pao Chicken, Peking Duck and
Chinese Dumplings. Although I could find some of those dishes in Chinese restaurant in Canada,
they tasted a lot different from home.  
47
Task 2!
!
Many universities now offer academic courses over the Internet. However, some people still
prefer learning in traditional classrooms. Which do you think is better? Explain why.
!
๏ Tips
• Internet courses
• Convenience
• Anywhere, any time
• Flexible study schedule
• Repeat, rewind, fast forward
• Traditional classroom
• Teacher-student interaction
• Ask questions and get feedbacks in class
• Teacher knows students needs better
• Student-student interaction
• Making friends
• Class discussions
!
Sample response
I prefer taking courses in traditional classrooms for the following reasons. First of all, it’s very
important that students get to work with an experienced professor in the learning process. It’s so
much easier to engage in a discussion or ask questions directly in a traditional classroom. The
presence of a professor plays a big role when you are trying to learn something new. Second,
learning in a traditional classroom means that you can meet many other students. It’s great that
students get to know each other and become friends in the classroom. Plus, learning in a study
group can give students other perspectives which can’t be obtained when taking online courses. 
48
Task 3 !
!
Evening Computer Classes May Be Added
!
The computer department is considering offering evening classes in the fall. The proposal to add
the classes is a response to student complaints that daytime computer classes have become
increasingly overcrowded and there are no longer enough computers available. The department
has decided that despite some added expense, the most cost-effective way of addressing this
problem is by adding computer classes in the evening. It is hoped that this change will decrease
the number of students enrolled in day classes and thus guarantee individual access to computers
for all students in computer classes.
!
 
Narrator  
 
Student A  
I just don’t think this will work.
 
Student B  
Why not?
 
Student A  
Because it’s not gonna solve the problem. Students are busy at night. I mean, we have jobs,
families, clubs, social events... Most of us already have something to do every single night of the
week.
 
Student B  
I see your point. I sure couldn’t fit anything into my schedule during the week. I’ve got
swimming practice most nights.
 
Student A  
Right, and as far as expense goes, I think they are going about it the wrong way. I mean, it cost
49
money to hire more teachers and keep the academic building open late, which is a lot more
expensive than just simply buying more computers.
 
Student B  
More computers?
 
Student A  
That’s right. Computer prices have come way down the past few years. So the department won’t
have to spend as much now as they did in the past. Besides, the computer department
classrooms, you know, the rooms themselves, they are actually very big. There’s plenty of space
to add more computers.
!
๏ Reading keys
• Announcement: college will start offering evening computer classes
• Reason 1: not enough classes to meet the needs
• Reason 2: new plan is cost efficient

๏ Listening keys
• Man disagrees with it
• Reason 1: students are busy at night
• Details: families, clubs, social events
• Reason 2: it’s cheaper to buy new computers
• Details: computer prices have come way down; expensive to keep the building open late; there’s
room for the new equipments
!
Sample response
50
The school is planning to start offering evening computer classes due to it’s popularity and it will
be cost effective. In the conversation the man disagrees with the school’s plan for the following
reasons. First of all, many students are busy at night doing other activities. For example, they
might have jobs, families, clubs and social events to attend to. He also thinks that the school
should buy more computers to meet the needs instead of opening up more classes. Computer
prices decreased a lot during the years, they have become very cheap. Hiring more teaching staff
is going to be more expensive for the school in the long run, plus there will be enough space for
the new equipments. 
!
!
!
51
Task 4 !
!
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
!
When we speak with other people face-to-face the nonverbal signals we give—our facial
expressions, hand gestures, body movements, and tone of voice—often communicate as much as,
or more than, the words we utter. When our nonverbal signals, which we often produce
unconsciously, agree with our verbal message, the verbal message is enhanced and supported,
made more convincing. But when they conflict with the verbal message, we may be
communicating an entirely different and more accurate message than what we intend.
!
 
Professor  
Last month my favorite uncle paid me a surprise visit. I hadn’t seen him for many years. The
doorbell rang, I opened the door and there was Uncle Pete. Now I am sure when I saw him, I said
something like “Uncle Pete, what a surprise! How nice to see you!” Anyway, my wife was
standing next to me, and according to her, I wasn’t really aware of this, my eyes got really wide
and I broke into a huge big smile. She said I was actually jumping up and down like a little boy.
Well, anyway, later that evening uncle Pete told me how very very good he felt when he saw how
happy I was to see him.
 
But compare that with this, my daughter, she is six. We were building a birdhouse together last
week. And I was showing her how to use a hammer and nail. And of course, stupid me, I wasn’t
being very careful and I smashed my thumb with the hammer. Boy did it hurt! I almost felt like
screaming, but I didn’t want to upset my daughter, so I said, “Don’t worry, honey, it’s nothing.”
Meanwhile, I was shaking my hand as if that would stop my thumb from hurting, and my face
was contorted in pain. My voice was trembling too. So even though I told my daughter I was
okay, I’m sure she didn’t believe me because she kept asking me if I was okay.
!
๏ Reading key
• Main idea: relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication
52
• Agree with one another: enhance and support each other
• Conflict with one another: nonverbal is more accurate

๏ Listening key
• Example 1:
• Uncle visits
• Verbal: so happy to see you!
• Nonverbal: jumping up and down, huge big smile, eyes got really wide
• Nonverbal signals enhance verbal message
• Example 2:
• Teaches daughter how to use a hummer and nail
• Verbal: it’s fine, it’s alright
• Nonverbal: shakes hand, face full of pain
• Nonverbal signals are telling the truth

!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about the relationship between verbal and nonverbal
communication. The first example is that his uncle Pete gave him a surprise visit. His eyes got
wide, he broke into a huge big smile, and he was jumping up and down like a little boy. His
expression enhanced how happy he was to see Uncle Pete. The second example is he hurt his
thumb when teaching his daughter how to work with a hammer. Even though he kept saying he’s
fine, he was shaking his hand and his face was twisted in pain. Those expressions told his
daughter the truth: he was really in a lot of pain. 
!
!
53
Task 5
 
Narrator  
Now listen to a conversation between two students on campus.
 
Student A  
Hi, good morning! Could you help me with something?
 
Student B  
Uh...maybe. What’s up?
 
Student A  
Well, I’m a first year student.
 
Student B  
Everything going okay?
 
Student A  
Actually no... um...this is a little embarrassing. I think I left my class schedule back in my dorm.
 
Student B  
Hm...not a good thing to do on the first day of classes.
 
Student A  
Yeah...so I’m not sure where my class is. I think I remember it was supposed to be here in Smith
Hall.
 
Student B  
There is a computer for student use in the student center. You can go over there, look it up and
check the room number. But... you’d have to hurry.
 
Student A  
Hm... that’s not a bad idea. I could check my schedule for the whole rest of the day at the same
54
time. I don’t know where any of my other classes are either, but I don’t wanna be late, make a
bad impression with the professor on the first day. It’s actually my very first class - Introduction
to Psychology.
 
Student B  
Psychology? Oh? Okay, you’re definitely in the right building. And if it’s introduction to
Psychology, it’s gonna be a big class, in which case it probably meets in a big lecture hall.
There’re only three lecture halls in the building, one on every floor. Just check each floor till you
find yours. There is an elevator, so you should be able to move fast.
 
Student A  
Yeah, but I don’t know what the professor looks like or anything. How will I know whether it’s
my class or not? It’d be sort of embarrassing, sticking my head into each lecture hall, asking if I
was in the right place
!
Student B  
Well... you might luck out and find it the first time.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: left class schedule back in the dorm, can’t find class
• Solution 1: go to the student center and check on the computer
• Pro: find the schedule for the whole day
• Con: might be late for class and leave a bad impression on the prof.
• Solution 2: check all the lecture halls one by one
• Pro: saves time; there’s an elevator
• Con: embarrassing to pop in and ask if it’s the right class

!
Sample response
55
The man’s problem is that he left his class schedule in the dorm and now he can’t find his class.
There are two possible solutions. The first is to go to the student center and check his schedule
on the computer. The second solution is to check the three lecture halls on each floor till he finds
the right one. I think the first solution is better for the following reasons. First of all, if he looks
up the schedule online, not only he can find where Introduction to Psychology is, he can also get
his schedule for the rest of the day. Plus, it’d be really embarrassing to stick his head into each
lecture hall, asking if it is the right one. It’ll disturb the other professors and students as well.
!
!
!
!
56
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Listen to part of a talk in an art appreciation class.
 
Professor  
In order for art to communicate, to appeal to the emotions or the intellect, it has to combine
various visual elements to express meaning or emotion. It’s really the visual components of the
work, things like color, texture, shape, lines and how these elements work together, that tell us
something about the work. Artists combine and manipulate these visual elements to express a
message or to create a mood.
 
Think about how a painter might use color, for example. You all know from experience that
different colors appeal in different ways to the senses and can convey different meanings. An
artist chooses certain colors to evoke a particular mood and make powerful statements. The color
red, for example, is a strong color and can conjure up strong emotions, such as extreme joy or
excitement or even anger. Blue, on the other hand, is considered a cool color. Blue colors tend to
have a calming effect on viewers.
 
Another visual element important to art is texture. By texture, I mean the surface quality or feel
of the work - its smoothness or roughness or softness. Now, of course, in some types of art, the
texture’s physical - it can actually be touched by the fingers. But in painting, for example, texture
can be visual. The way an artist paints certain areas of the painting can create the illusion of
texture, an object’s smoothness or roughness or softness. A rough texture can evoke stronger
emotions and strength, while a smooth texture is more calming and less emotional.
 
As I said earlier, artists often combine elements to convey a message about the work. Take a
painting that, say, uses a lot of strong colors like reds and oranges and uses brush strokes that are
broad - wide, sweeping brush strokes that suggest a rough texture. Well, these elements together
can convey a wilder, more chaotic emotion in the viewer than, more than, say, a painting with
tiny, smooth brush strokes and soft or pale colors. Artists use these visual effects and the senses
they arouse to give meaning to their work.  
!
57
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: how artists use color and texture to express emotions
• Color
• Color red: strong emotions like joy or excitement
• Color blue: ease and comfort
• Texture
• Rough texture: strong emotions and strength
• Fine texture: less emotional
• Combined
• Red+ wide brush strokes: chaotic and wild
• Pale color+ smooth brush strokes: peaceful emotions

!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about how artists use two elements to express meaning or
emotions. The first is color. For example, the color red can express strong emotions and powerful
statement, such as extreme joy or excitement, even anger. A calming color such as blue would
give the viewer the feeling of ease and comfort. The other element is texture. When using rough
texture, artists can evoke strong emotions and strength, while a smooth texture is less emotional.
They can work together too. For example, a wide, rough brush stroke combined with red or
orange creates the feeling of chaotic and wild. While a tiny, smooth brush stroke and soft color
can express peaceful emotions. 
58
!
TPO 05!
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a place you enjoyed going to or visiting when you were a child. Describe the place.
Explain why you enjoyed it.
!
๏ Tips
• Park
• Meet other kids, make friends
• Activities: sports, taking photos
• Safe to play around: no traffic
• Nice environment: fresh air; trees

!
Sample response
The place I enjoyed going to or visiting when I was a child was the park near my house. First of
all, it’s hard to find an open space in the city for me to run around where there’s no traffic. It’s
quiet and safe for me to do many activities, such as boating, swimming, fishing, and flying a kite.
Second, I made many friends in the park. Whenever I went, I could meet a lot of other kids who
liked to spend time there. We would kick around a soccer ball and forget about school work, it
was a very relaxing experience. I had so much fun during the years, the park remains one of my
favorite places till today. 
60
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important to study math or
science than it is to study art or literature. Use details and examples to explain your answer.
!
๏ Tips:
• Math or science is important
• Useful, what’s learned in classroom can be applied in real life
• Interesting and fun to solve challenging problems
• Wants to become a banker; math skill is crucial
• Art or literature is important
• Self improvement, character building
• Have something to do to relax when stressed out
• Use what’s learned to decorate a room or house

Sample response
I strongly disagree with the statement that studying math or science is more important than
studying art or literature. First of all, studying art and literature can help children to express
their feelings better. It’s very relaxing to paint a picture or to write a short story, I find it very
calming to create some sort of art when I’m stressed out. Also, The Arts can be a wonderful
career for those who have the talent to draw well. And for those without the talent, it can be a
wonderful way to spend time with your family, or decorate your home. 
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Task 3 !
!
Campus Dining Club Announced
!
Starting this year, the university dining hall will be transformed into The Campus Dining Club
for one week at the end of each semester. During the last week of each semester, the dining hall
will feature special meals prepared by the university's culinary arts students. The school feels
that this will give students who are studying cooking and food preparation valuable experience
that will help them later, when they pursue careers. The university has announced that it will
charge a small additional fee for these dinners in order to pay for the special gourmet food
ingredients that will be required.
!
!
Narrator  
 
Student A  
Did you see that article?
 
Student B  
Yeah, and it sounds like a great idea. It’s really good for the students in that program.
 
Student A  
Don’t they cook in class anyway?
 
Student B  
Well, yeah, they do. But my cousin was in the program a few years ago, and she said that it’s
very different to cook for a lot of people in that kind of atmosphere than to cook for classmates.
 
Student A  
Why is that?
 
Student B  
62
Well, in class, you can take your time, but cooking for more people there is more pressure. I
mean you are in a rush, people are waiting, and it might be easy to make a mistake with all that
stress.
 
Student A  
Then they’ll think you are a bad chef right?
 
Student B  
Absolutely.
 
Student A  
So, OK, it’s good practice. But what about the extra cost?
 
Student B  
Well, look at it this way. You’ve eaten at some of the fancier restaurants in town right?
 
Student A  
Well, there are some great places to eat around here.
 
Student B  
Well, these students, they’ll be making fantastic meals and it’s gonna be cheaper than going out
to one of those restaurants.
 
Student A  
Much cheaper actually.
!
Student B  
So, you know, it would be worth it. The meal will be as good as the ones in those expensive
restaurants.
!
๏ Reading keys
• Announcement: transform campus dinning hall into campus dinning club
63
• Reason 1: give Culinary Arts student more experience
• Reason 2: only a small fee will be charged

๏ Listening keys
• Man agrees with it
• Reason 1: it’s good practice
• Details: it’s different to cook for more people; more stress and pressure when people are waiting
or in a rush, might be easy to make mistakes
• Reason 2: it’s a good deal
• Details: the dishes students make will be great, but a lot cheaper than going to restaurent in town
!
Sample response
The school is planning to transform the university dining hall into The Campus Dining Club to
give students more real world experience, and it will be a good deal. In the conversation, the
man thinks the school's plan is a great idea. First of all, students can get real world experience
by cooking for a lot of people. When cooking for more people, there is more pressure, it might be
easy to make mistakes with all that stress. And also, he thinks that it'll be cheaper to eat at the
Campus Dining Club than going to some of the fancy restaurants in town. The dishes that
students make at school will just be as delicious but a lot cheaper.
!
64
Task 4 !
!
Target Marketing
!
Advertisers in the past have used radio and television in an attempt to provide information about
their products to large, general audiences; it was once thought that the best way to sell a product
was to advertise it to as many people as possible. However, more recent trends in advertising
have turned toward target marketing. Target marketing is the strategy of advertising to smaller,
very specific audiences— audiences that have been determined to have the greatest need or
desire for the product being marketed. Target marketing has proved to be very effective in
reaching potential customers.
!
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture on this topic in a marketing class.
 
Professor  
Nowadays something you notice more and more is television commercials that are made
specifically for certain television programs. So let’s say a company wants to sell a telephone, a
cell phone. Now during TV shows that young people watch, you know shows with pop music or
teen serials, they create the commercial that emphasizes how fun the phone is. You know, the
phone has bright colors and they show kids having a good time with their friends. And well the
company wants the kids watching TV at this time to want to buy this phone, this phone that’s
made especially for them.  
!
But the same company will make a different commercial to be shown during, say, a program
about business or a business news show. Now for this group of people, business people, the
company will have to show how efficient their phone is, how it can handle all business easily and
maybe even save money. And here is the thing. It’s basically the same phone. The company has
just made two different commercials to appeal to different groups of people.
 
!
๏ Reading key
65
• Term: target marketing
• Definition: target marketing is the strategy of advertising to smaller, very specific audiences
๏ Listening key
• Example 1
• Who: young people
• When: shown during pop music programs
• How: how colorful the phone is; kids having good time with friends; fun to use
• Example 2
• Who: business people
• When: shown during business news show
• How: how efficient the phone is; handles all business; save money
• Conclusion: same phone, different ad for different audiences group

!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about target marketing which is the strategy of advertising to
smaller, very specific audience. In the example, a cellphone advertisement targeting young
people is shown during a pop music program. The ad will focus on how fun the phone is to use,
and it is colorful. It will also show kids having a good time with friends when using the phone.
But the company will show a different ad for the same phone during a business program to target
business people. This version will emphasize how efficient the phone is, and how it can handle
all business easily, maybe even save money.  
66
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
Listen to a conversation between two students.
 
Student A  
Susan! What happened to your arm?!
 
Student B  
That’s my wrist actually, I sprained it last weekend. And I’m kind of upset about it, because I’m
supposed to play the violin in my string quartet’s big concert next week. We’ve been practicing
for weeks and we’ve already sold a bunch of tickets.
 
Student A  
Uh... I’m sorry to hear that. What are you gonna do?
 
Student B  
Well, I was thinking about trying to play anyway. I mean I really don’t want to let the other three
group members down. Plus the doctor said my wrist should be feeling better by then.
 
Student A  
Oh, okay, so, problem solved, right?
 
Student B  
Not exactly. I’m worried that I’m gonna be out of practice, like I haven’t been able to play the
violin since I sprained my wrist. What if I don’t play well? I’d make the rest of the group sound
bad.
 
Student A  
Why don’t you get somebody else to take your place?
 
Student B  
Well there is only one other person I know of who could do it, and that’s Jim. He is a great
67
violinist, and I’m sure he’d say yes. The thing is that he is not very reliable. I mean I’m in the
orchestra with him and he is always showing up late for rehearsals.
 
Student A  
Oh, so you’re not sure you can depend on him.
 
Student B  
Exactly, and we have less than a week left to rehearse for the concert. We’d really need him to
show up on time for all of our rehearsals.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: need to play the violin, but hurt her arm
• Solution 1: play anyway
• Pro: won’t let down group members; doctor thinks it will heal soon
• Con: she’s been out of practice, could make mistakes during performance
• Solution 2: get Jim to replace her
• Pro: Jim is a fabulous player and he’d say yes
• Con: Jim is always late for rehearsals
!
Sample response
The woman’s problem is that she needs to play the violin in a big concert, but she’s hurt her arm.
There are two possible solutions, the first one is to try to play anyway. The other solution is to
get Jim to replace her and play in the concert. I think the first is better, because that way she
won’t let the other group members down, and the doctor said her wrist should be feeling better
by then. Also, she says in the conversation that Jim is not reliable. If he’s always late for the
rehearsals, that’ll compromise the whole performance. And that’s unfair to the other group
members who have been practicing for weeks. 
!
!
!
68
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture in a psychology class.
 
Professor  
Why do we do the things we do? What drives us to participate in certain activities, to buy a
certain car or even to choose a certain career? In other words, what motivates us to do what we
do?
 
Well, in studies of motivation, psychologists distinguish between two very different types. Our
reasons for doing something, our motivations, can be extrinsic, in other words, based on some
kind of external reward like praise or money. Or they can be intrinsic, meaning we engage in the
activity because it pleases us internally. Both create strong forces that lead us to behave in certain
ways. However, intrinsic motivation is generally considered to be more long-lasting than the
other.
 
As I said, extrinsic motivation is external. It’s the desire to behave in a certain way in order to
obtain some kind of external reward. A child, for example, who regularly does small jobs around
the house, does them not because she enjoys taking out the garbage or doing the dishes but
because she knows if she does these things, she’ll be given a small amount of money for doing
them. But how motivated will the child be to continue doing the work if her parents suddenly
stop giving her money for it?
 
With intrinsic or internal motivation, we want to do something because we enjoy it or get a sense
of accomplishment from it. Most people who are internally motivated get pleasure from the
activity so they just feel good about doing it. For example, I go to the gym several times a week.
I don’t go because I’m training for a marathon or anything. I just enjoy it. I have more energy
after I exercise and I know it’s good for my health so it makes me feel good about myself. And
that’s what kept me going there in the past five years.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: two types of motivation
69
• Extrinsic motivation: outside rewards
• Example: small girl takes out garbage when given money, not because she enjoys doing it; she’ll
stop doing it when the money stops
• Intrinsic motivation: happens naturally
• Example: professor goes to the gym to run; she knows her action is good for her health; she feels
better after exercising; she’s more energetic after working out; she’s been going for five years
• Difference: intrinsic motivation lasts a lot longer than extrinsic motivation 

!
Sample response
The professor talks about two types of motivation in the lecture, Extrinsic motivation is based on
some kind of external reward, but does not last long. For example, a child does the dishes and
takes out the garbage when given a small amount of money. But she’s likely to stop doing it when
her parents stop giving her money. Intrinsic motivation happens when some one is enjoying
doing something. For example, the professor goes to the gym because she knows that her action
is good for her well being, and it makes her feel good about herself. Intrinsic motivation lasts
longer because it comes from within. She has been going there for five years.
!
!
70
!
TPO 06!
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a photograph or painting you have seen that was memorable. Explain what you liked
or disliked about it.
!
๏ Tips
• Family portraits, picture of a birthday party or school reunion
• What occasion was the photo taken from?
• Who are in the photo?
• What’s everyone doing in the photo?
• Where do you keep this photo?
• When would you take it out to look at it?

!
Sample response 2
A photograph that I have seen that was memorable is the Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry. It is
memorable because first of all, it’s visually intriguing. Her red turban and the green background
creates a nice contrast and work really well together. Not to mention her green eyes which tell
the viewer a lot about her life. The second reason I was drawn to this picture is that the
photographer and a crew met with the girl again after 17 years, during which time she had not
been photographed even once. Her eyes in the picture are haunted and haunting at the same
time. It’s full of the pain that wars has brought to human race.
72
73
Task 2!
!
Some people have one career throughout their lives. Other people do different kinds of work at
different points in their lives. Which do you think is better? Explain why.
!
๏ Tips
• One career
• Becomes an expert in the field
• The more time spent working in an area, the more competitive one becomes on the job market
• Professional network building, co-workers; colleagues
• A less challenging life style
• Multiple career
• An exciting life, one that’s full of surprises and adventure
• Learn more and get more experiences from doing different kinds of work
• Opens one’s mind; use different approches toward a problem
• Meet all kinds of people on different jobs
!
Sample response
In my opinion, having different kinds of work at different points in life is better. First of all, we
can learn different things from different types of jobs. Take myself for example, I worked in a
restaurant part time while I was in University, at that job, I learned how to multitask under a lot
of pressure and improvise to solve all kinds of problems. Second, by working different jobs, we
can make many type of friends. After I graduated, I worked as a freelance photographer, I met
people from all walks of life, such as business people, actors, architects and athletes. My current
job is teaching, I love doing it because I get to spend time with students and have a lot of fun.
!
!
74
Task 3 !
!
History Seminars Should Be Shorter
!
Currently, all of the seminar classes in the history department are three hours long. I would like
to propose that history seminars be shortened to two hours. I make this proposal for two reasons.
First, most students just cannot concentrate for three hours straight. I myself have taken these
three-hour seminars and found them tiring and sometimes boring. Also, when a seminar lasts that
long, people stop concentrating and stop learning, so the third hour of a three-hour seminar is a
waste of everyone’s time. Two-hour seminars would be much more efficient.
 
Narrator  
Now listen to two students discussing the letter.
 
Student A  
I totally disagree with Tim’s proposal.
 
Student B  
Why?
 
Student A  
Well look, Tim’s my friend, but he’s not your typical student. He stays up late partying every
night, week nights too.
 
Student B  
If he parties every night, no wonder he can’t pay attention.
 
Student A  
Yes, and most students aren’t like that. They come to class prepared and rested and they can
concentrate.
 
Student B  
So, you are saying the problem is really Tim.
75
 
Student A  
Yes, he was in one of my classes last year and whenever I looked at him he was actually
sleeping.
 
Student B  
I guess if he’s sleeping, he can’t really know what’s happening, what other people in class are
doing.
 
Student A  
Right, and you want to know what does happen in that last hour of seminar? In a lot of seminars
that I’ve been in, that’s when things get interesting.
 
Student B  
Really?
 
Student A  
Yes, that’s usually when students get really involved in their discussion and started exchanging
important ideas. And if the history department actually did what Tim suggests, well, if they did
that, what would happen is you lose what might be the most worthwhile part of the seminar.
!
๏ Reading tip
• Proposal: the history department should shorten history seminar from 3 hours long to 2 hours
• Reason 1: too long for students to concentrate
• Reason 2: last hour of the seminar is useless

๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: problem is Tim, not the class
• Details: Tim partys all the time, week nights too; other students are doing just fine; they come
prepared and rested; they can concentrate
• Reason 2: last hour of the class in the most important
76
• Details: people have discussion and exchange important ideas; that’s when people start to learn
important things 
!
Sample response
The author of the letter suggests that the history department to shorten the seminars from three
hours long to two hours, because it’s too long for students to concentrate and the last hour of
class is a waste of time. In the conversation, the woman disagrees with the suggestion. First of
all, she thinks that Tim can’t pay attention in class because he stays up late partying every night,
not that the seminars are too long for students to stay focused. Other students are doing fine. And
the second reason is that the last hour of the class is the most interesting because students start
to have discussions and exchange ideas. That’s when they really get involved and learn
important things.
!
77
Task 4 !
!
Explicit Memories and Implicit Memories
!
In everyday life, when people speak of memory, they are almost always speaking about what
psychologists would call explicit memories. An explicit memory is a conscious or intentional
recollection, usually of facts, names, events, or other things that a person can state or declare.
There is another kind of memory that is not conscious. Memories of this kind are called implicit
memories. An individual can have an experience that he or she cannot consciously recall yet still
display reactions that indicate the experience has been somehow recorded in his or her brain.
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture on this topic in a psychology class.
 
Professor  
Ok, uh... the first kind of memory, we’re all very familiar with this, right? You probably
remember what you had for dinner last night - you have a Conscious Memory of last night’s
dinner. So, urn, if I ask you ‘what did you eat last night?’ you could tell me.
 
But these other kind of memories - ‘Implicit Memories’, they work differently. Let’s take an
example from the world of advertising. When you’re driving along a highway, you’ll see plenty
of billboards - you know, road-side advertisements. You certainly don’t remember them all. But
they still affect you.
 
Marketing researches have shown, well, to be specific, let’s say there’s a billboard on the
highway advertising a ... car, called the ‘Panther’. The ad shows a big picture of a car and above
the car in huge letters is the name of the car - ‘Panther’. A lot of people drive by the billboard.
But ask those drivers later if they saw any advertisements for cars, and well, they’ll think about it
and a lot of them will say ‘no’. They honestly don’t remember seeing any. They have no
conscious memory of the ‘Panther’ billboard.
 
So, you ask the same people a different question. You ask, urn... Ok, urn... you ask them to name
an animal starting with the letter ‘p’. What do you think they’ll answer? Do they say ‘pig’? ‘Pig’
78
is the most common animal that starts with the letter ‘p’, but they don’t say ‘pig’. They say
‘Panther’. The billboard had an effect even though the drivers don’t remember ever seeing it.
!
๏ Reading key
• Term: Implicit Memory
• Definition: the kind of memory that is not conscious

๏ Listening key
• Example: details on billboard
• People driving on highway, sees billboard for car ad
• The ad has a picture of the car being promoted and above the car is the name of the car
“panther”
• Ask those who drive by later, they can’t remember seeing a car ad
• Ask them to name an animal with the letter “p”
• They say “pig” instead of “panther” although “pig” more commonly known
• They remembered “panther” unconsciously

!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor mainly talks about implicit memory which is that sometimes we can
remember things without even realizing it. For example, when people see a car ad on the
billboard, they can unconsciously remember details in the ad. Say the car in the ad is called
panther, people can’t remember that they’ve seen a car ad on the highway, or anything has to do
with panther. But interestingly, when they are asked to name an animal whose name starts with a
“p”, they’ll say “panther” instead of “pig” which is more commonly known. The billboard had
an effect even though the drivers aren’t aware of it.
!
!
79
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to a conversation between a professor and a student.
 
Professor  
Hi, Sara. Uh, to what do I owe the pleasure of this office visit?
!
Student  
It’s my study group, Professor Wilson. We are not getting much studying done. And, you know,
not all of us did very well on your last quiz.
 
Professor  
Hmm... What’s the problem?
 
Student  
Well, we’ve all become good friends and we joke around a lot instead of studying.
 
Professor  
Hmm... Sara, let me ask you this. When do you meet?
 
Student  
Every Friday afternoon.
 
Professor  
Have you thought about changing to another day? By the time Friday afternoon rolls around, all
of you are probably exhausted, and urn, all you want to do is relax and um, unwind. It’s hard to
stay focused at the very end of the week.
 
Student  
Good point? Although things have gotten so out of hand that I’m not sure changing days would
help. And we’d lose one or two people if we change days. Friday afternoon is the only time
everyone is available. But it’s worth considering.
80
 
Professor  
OK. But, just a second, another possibility is, does your group have a leader?
 
Student  
No.
 
Professor  
Well, if you had a leader that would help enormously. Someone to set an agenda in advance,
email it to everyone before the meeting, and then make sure when you meet that you stay
focused on your goals. And since you seem to be concerned enough about the problem to have
come see me. I think that someone might be you.
 
Student  
I guess I could take on that role, but it sounds like work.
 
Professor  
You don’t have to do it for the whole semester, Sara. You can start it off and then perhaps
someone else can take over.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: people joke around instead of studying during study meeting
• Solution 1: change the meeting time
• Pro: everyone’s exhausted on the weekend, they can’t concentrate with a week of hard work
wearing them off
• Con: lose one or two people
• Solution 2: appoint a team leader, the woman can be it first
• Pro: set an agenda before, email it to all members, make sure the discussion stays on topic
• Con: too much work

!
Sample response
81
The woman’s problem is that everyone jokes around and talks a lot during study meetings instead
of studying. She’s got two possible solutions, the first is to change the study meeting from Friday
afternoon to some other time. The second solution is to appoint a leader to the group. I think it’d
better if she bit the bullet and take on the role of leader. First of all, it is very important for
everyone to study during a study meeting or it’s a waste of time. The presence of a leader can
keep the discussion on topic. Second, she mentions that Friday night is when everyone is free to
meet, so changing the meeting schedule would mess things up for many group members.
!
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Task 6  
!
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a talk in an education class.
 
Professor  
One of the hardest parts of teaching is keeping your students’ attention. Now, the key to doing
this is understanding the concept of attention.
 
Basically, there are two types of attention. The first type is ‘active’. Active attention is voluntary.
It’s when you intentionally make yourself focus on something. And since it requires effort, it’s
hard to keep up for a long time.
 
Ok, so, um, let’s say you’re teaching a... a biology class, and today’s topic is ‘frogs’, all right?
You’re standing at the front of the room and lecturing, “A frog-is-a-type-of-animal-known-as-an-
amphibian.’ Well, this isn’t necessarily going to keep the students’ interest. But most of them will
force themselves to pay active attention to your lecture. But it’s only a matter of time before they
get distracted. Now the other type of attention is passive attention when it’s involuntary. Passive
attention requires no effort because it happens naturally. If something’s really interesting,
students don’t have to force themselves to pay attention to it. They do it without even thinking
about it.
 
So, back to our biology lecture, you start talking about frogs, and then you pull a live frog out of
your briefcase. You’re describing it while you hold it up, show the students how long its legs are
and, and how they’re used for jumping, for example. Then, maybe you’ll even let the frog jump
around a bit on the desk or the floor. In this case, by doing something unexpected, something
more engaging, you can tap into their passive attention and it can last much longer than active
attention. As long as the frog is still there, your students will be interested.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: active and passive attention
• Active attention: forced
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• Example:
• A teacher teaches a class by only reading from textbooks
• Students will get bored, yet they’d still try to focus
• But they will get distracted soon because this attention is forced
• Passive attention: happens naturally
• Example:
• A teacher teaches with a live frog, let it jump around a bit
• Students get interested in what’s happening, their concentration happens naturally
• As long as the frog is on the table, students will have no problem focusing on the lecture
!
Sample response
The professor talks about two kinds of attention in the lecture. The first type is active attention
which is voluntary. For example, if a biology teacher teaches a class by only reading from a
textbook, the class can become fairly boring. Most students would force themselves to focus, but
sooner or later, the students will be distracted. The second type of attention is passive attention,
let’s say instead of reading from a textbook, the teacher pulls a live frog out of his bag, then the
lecture becomes really interesting. As long as the frog is on the table, the students will be able to
focus on the lecture. 
84
!
TPO 07 !
!
Task 1!
!
If friends from another country were going to spend time in your country, what city or place
would you suggest they visit? Using details and examples, explain why.
!
๏ Tips
• City: Beijing
• Activities to do in the city
• Looking at famous landmarks
• Visiting museums and galleries
• Karaoke, night clubs and bars
• Local food
• Beijing Duck
• Chinese Dumplings
• Mapo Tofu
• Great public transportation system
• Subway and bus
• Affordable taxi service

!
Sample response
If friends from another country were going to spend time in my country, I would certainly suggest
them to visit the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the
Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and
now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five hundred years, it served as the home of
emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese
government. It’s the biggest imperial palace of its kind in the whole world and also such a
beautiful place to visit. I’m sure they won’t be disappointed.
86
87
Task 2!
!
State whether you agree or disagree with the following statement. Then explain your reasons,
using specific details in your explanation.
Learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom
setting.
!
๏ Tips
• Internet courses
• Convenience
• Anywhere, any time
• Flexible study schedule
• Repeat, rewind, fast forward
• Traditional classroom
• Teacher-student interaction
• Ask questions and get feedbacks in class
• Teacher knows students needs better
• Student-student interaction
• Making friends
• Class discussions
Sample response
I prefer taking courses in traditional classrooms for the following reasons. First of all, it’s very
important that students get to work with an experienced professor in the learning process. It’s so
much easier to engage in a discussion or ask questions directly in a traditional classroom. The
presence of a professor plays a big role when you are trying to learn new things. Plus, learning
in a study group can give students other perspectives which can’t be found when taking online
courses.
!
!
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Task 3 !
!
Sculpture Courses to Be Discontinued
!
University administrators announced yesterday that the sculpture program, a division of the art
department, will be eliminated. "The main reason is a lack of student interest," reported one
administrator. "Although the number of art students has increased, fewer and fewer art majors
are taking sculpture classes." Furthermore, the department's only sculpture professor is retiring
this year. "Given the art department's limited budget,'' the administrator explained, "it just doesn't
make sense to hire a new full-time professor to teach sculpture for only a handful of students."
!
Narrator  
 
Student A  
Everything all right?
 
Student B  
Yeah, I’m just upset about that article I showed you this morning.
 
Student A  
Why? What’s the big deal?
 
Student B  
Well, as an art major, I think it’s a big loss for the department. The university’s got it all wrong.
 
Student A  
What do you mean?
 
Student B  
Well, the low enrollment isn’t because art majors don’t want to take these classes. Problem is:
who has time to take them when there are so many other requirements.
89
 
Student A  
I don’t understand.
 
Student B  
See, the classes they are eliminating are all optional. The required courses are mostly painting
and drawing and they take up all our time. What we really need are different requirements. Then
our majors could take a better variety of classes, all the things we are interested in.
 
Student A  
That makes sense. But, the thing about the professor.
 
Student B  
Well, that’s true. But still, they are being drastic. If money is the problem, they could hire a part-
time professor. Or, most of the professors in the department have secondary fields.
!
Student A  
Really?
!
Student B  
Yeah. At least a few painting teachers are also great sculptors. I’m sure one of them could teach a
class.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: cancelation of the sculpture class
• Reason 1: lack of student interests
• Reason 2: doesn’t make sense to hire a new prof for a few students
๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: students are too busy to take the sculpture class
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• Details: students are all busy taking required classes, which are limited to drawing or painting;
school should offer more required classes
• Reason 2: no need to hire a full time professor
• Details: part time professors are inexpensive; existing professors can teach sculpture class; they
have secondary fields
!
Sample response
The university plans to cancel the sculpture class, because not many students take it and the
school can’t afford a full time professor. In the conversation, the woman disagrees with the
schools decision. First of all, students are all busy taking required classes such as drawing and
painting, she thinks the school should make the required courses less limited by offering more of
them. And second, she thinks saving money is not an excuse. Many teachers in the department
have secondary fields, she believes the school can easily find someone in the department who’s
both capable and willing to teach the sculpture class. Not to mention the option of hiring part-
time teachers which is inexpensive. 
91
!
Task 4!
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of lecture on the topic in a psychology class.
!
Behavior Modification
!
Individuals often modify their behavior based on what they have learned about the possible
consequences of their actions. When an individual learns through experience that a certain
behavior results in pleasant consequences, that behavior is likely to be repeated. An unpleasant
consequence, on the other hand, discourages further repetition of the behavior. While behavior
modification can be observed in experiments, it also occurs frequently in everyday settings,
when individuals change their behavior based on what they have learned about the consequences
of that behavior.
 
Professor  
This happens all the time with kids in schools. Say there is a little boy or a girl who’s just starting
school. Well, they are not really used to the rules about proper behavior for a classroom. So at the
beginning, they might, I don’t know, interrupt the teacher, walk around the classroom when they
are supposed to be sitting down, you know just misbehaving in general.
 
OK, but what happens? Well, the teacher gets angry with them when they act this way. They
might get punished. They have to sit at their desks when everyone else is allowed to go outside
and play, and they certainly don’t like that. Soon they’ll learn that this kind of behavior gets them
in trouble. They’ll also learn that when they raise their hand to talk to the teacher and sit quietly
and pay attention during class, they are rewarded. The teacher tells them she is proud of them,
and maybe puts little happy face stickers on their homework. Now that their behavior gets a good
reaction from the teacher, the kids learn to always act this way in class and not behave the way
they used to.
!
๏ Reading key
92
• Term: Behavior Modification
• Definition: Individuals often modify their behavior based on what they have learned about the possible
consequences of their actions.
๏ Listening key
• Example part one
• Improper behavior: walking around the classroom; interrupting the teacher
• Reaction from teacher: gets mad; punish them by not allowing them to play outside
• Result: discourages further repetition of the behavior
• Example part two
• Proper behavior: sitting quietly in class, raising hand before talking
• Reaction from teacher: tells the kids she’s proud of them; puts happy face stickers on their
homework
• Result: kids will repeat the desirable behavior to receive more compliment from the teacher
!
Sample response
The professor talks about behavior modification which is people would change or modify a
behavior according to the result of that behavior. The professor gives the example of school kids.
When they interrupt the teacher or misbehave in any other way, the teacher gets angry and might
punish them by not allowing them to play outside. So the kids will learn those behaviors get them
in trouble, and will likely stop doing it. On the other hand, when they behave themselves in the
classroom, the teacher will tell them she’s proud of them and put a little happy face sticker on
their homework. Therefore the kids will begin to act in the way in which they can receive more
compliment. 
93
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
Now listen to a conversation between two students.
 
Student A  
Hey Jennifer, how are things going?
 
Student B  
Well, I’m relieved it’s the end of the semester but, that’s actually part of my problem.
 
Student A  
What do you mean?  
!
Student B  
Can you believe this? My computer broke yesterday, so it’s at the shop being repaired. It won’t
be ready until the end of next week, which is when all my papers are due.
 
Student A  
Why not use the computer lab? They’ve got lots of machines there.
 
Student B  
I know. But it gets so noisy there that I can’t keep my mind on my work. I mean when I’m at the
computer, I’m not just typing - I’m thinking! So I need quiet to concentrate.
 
Student A  
Maybe you could try going in the morning or evening. It might be less noisy then!
 
Student B  
Maybe, but this time of year everybody is working on papers and it could be crowded even then.
 
Student A  
Um...what about calling back the computer repair shop to see if they can have your computer
94
ready at the beginning of next week instead? That would still give you enough time to finish
your papers by the end of the week.
 
Student B  
Oh! I haven’t thought of that! The only problem is that the shop is closed today and tomorrow
for the long holiday weekend so it would be a few days before I could talk to them.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: woman needs to finish her paper but computer is broken and being repaired in the shop
• Solution 1: go to the lab to do her work
• Pro: plenty of machines to use
• Con: it’s crowded; too noisy to concentrate
• Solution 2: wait for her own computer to be repaired
• Pro: no need to work amount the crowed in the lab
• Con: has to wait after the long holiday weekend to find out 
!
Sample response
The woman’s problem is that her computer is broken and being repaired in the shop, now she
can’t finish all her papers in time. There are two possible solutions here. The first one is that she
can go to the computer lab to do all the work. The second is waiting for her computer to be
repaired. I would use the computer lab to do my work if I were her. First, this way she won’t
waste anytime on the weekend, and there is no guaranty that the repair shop can get her
computer ready as early as the beginning of next week. Second, she can choose a time when the
lab is less noisy to do her work, such as early in the morning or late in the evening.
!
!
95
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Listen to part of a lecture in a business class
 
Professor  
If a consumer has to choose between two products, what determines the choice? Assume that
someone, a purchaser, is choosing between two products that cost the same, Ok? If people have a
choice between two identically priced products, which one will they choose? They choose the
one they think is of higher quality of course, but what does it mean for a product to be a high
quality product? Well, business analysts usually speak of two major factors of quality. One factor
is reliability and the other is what we call features.
 
So reliability. What’s reliability? Well a product is reliable, if it works the way we expect it to
work, if it can go a reasonable amount of time without needing repairs. If a product, a car for
example, doesn’t work the way it should and needs repairs too soon, we say it’s unreliable. So
product reliability means basically the absence of defects or problems that you weren’t
expecting. It used to be that when people thought about product quality, they thought mainly
about reliability. Today it’s different. People do still care about reliability, don’t get me wrong.
It’s just that manufacturing standards are now so high that.. .we’ll take cars for example today.
Today’s cars are very reliable, so reliability is important but it’s not gonna be the deciding factor.
So if reliability is not the deciding factor any more, what is? Features. All those extras, the things
a product has that aren’t really necessary but that make it easier to use or that make it cool. For
example, new cars today are loaded with features like electric windows, sunroofs, air
conditioning, stereos and so forth. When people are comparing products today, they look at
features, because reliability’s pretty much equal across the board and that’s why manufacturers
include so many features in their products.
!
๏ listening key
• Main idea: two aspect of quality, reliability and features
• Reliability: things work as expected, without needing repairs
• Example: if a car needs to be repaired shortly after being bought, it’s considered not reliable
96
• Features: the things a product can do that make it easier to use but not necessary
• Example: new cars today are loaded with feature like electric window, sunroofs, stereos and A/C
• Role in consumer decision making
• Feature is the deciding factor because everything’s pretty reliable these days
!
Sample response
The professor talks about the two major factors of quality, The first is reliability, A reliable
product works the way we expect it to work, without needing repairs. For example, when a car
needs to be repaired shortly after being bought, we say it’s unreliable. But most products today
are pretty reliable. That’s when consumers take features, the things a product can do that make it
easier to use, into account when trying to decide what to buy. For example, new cars today are
loaded with features like electric windows and sunroofs. The deciding factor is features now
because everything’s somewhat reliable today. 
!
!
97
!
TPO 08!
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a time when a friend or family member helped you in the past. Describe how the
person helped you. Then explain why this was important to you.
!
๏ Tip
• Problem/ difficulty/ challenge
• Failed exam; relationship problems
• Who, and who this person helped you
• Talk/ spend time together/ buy books to prepare for make up exam
• What was the result

!
Sample response
I still remember when I took the TOEFL exam for the first time, my mark was awful, I totally lost
confident in doing a good job on the test. My dad was the person that helped me through the
tough time. First, instead of blaming or punishing me, he spent a lot of time to find out what my
problems were and how I could improve. Next, he bought me many useful books to prepare for
the test. There were many sample questions and useful sample responses in the books. Also, there
were practice tests in the books that I could use to sharpen my skills. Because of his support, I’m
confident that I can do a better job this time around.
!
!
99
Task 2!
!
Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things Others are not adventurous: they are
cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why.
!
๏ Tip
• Taking risks
• Talk about a few new things you’ve done or experienced
• Learning a new language; trying things that’s challenging
• Talk about what you have learned through doing them
• People can go through any difficulty if they work hard enough and believe in themselves
• Talk about how the experience has changed you
• Accomplished a goal and gained confidence
• Avoid danger
• Waste of time an energy to learn things that’s unnecessary
• What you learned might not have practical purpose, such as a third language
• Talk about something you shouldn’t’ve tried that lead you to injure yourself
• Intensive sports: bungee jumping or snow boarding

!
Sample response
I enjoy taking risks and trying new things for the following reasons. First of all, I believe that life
is short and I must live it to the fullest. I always try to learn things when I get the chance. For
example, I learned a lot from reading books, traveling with families and friends, and talking to
people from all walks of life. Second, life is more exciting when I try new stuff to challenge
myself. For example, trying new food, learning a new language, or visiting a country I’ve never
been before, even doing the things that really scare me such as bungee jumping. I’ll never get
bored living like this.
!
100
Task 3 !
!
Music Coming to Cafeterias
!
Mary Dixon, Director of the Student Life Committee, announced yesterday that beginning next
semester university cafeterias will broadcast classical music during mealtimes. “Music will foster
a more relaxed atmosphere.” said Dixon, "Students' lives are hectic, and mealtimes provide
important opportunities to take a break and catch up with friends before moving on to the next
class or assignment." Added Dixon. "We're also hoping that, if we provide the music, students
will unplug their personal music devices—their Walkmans and mp3 players or whatever—and
will spend more time talking to each other. When students have their headphones on. they're not
connecting with each other."
 
Narrator  
Now listen to two students discussing the university’s plan.
 
Student A  
Did you read this article? Are they serious?
 
Student B  
Yeah, I think so, why?
 
Student A  
Well, first of all, a lot of kids aren’t looking for a relaxing break at lunch time. They like to study
while they eat, especially if they have exams coming up or some assignment they have to get
done.
 
Student B  
Yeah, that’s true.
 
Student A  
And now they won’t to be able to concentrate. This is gonna be very distracting.
101
 
Student B  
Hm, Ok, yeah, I see your point.
!
Student A  
And second, most students don’t like classical music.
 
Student B  
It’s certainly not what I listen to.
 
Student A  
So are people going to stop listening to their own music?
 
Student B  
No.
 
Student A  
I think people are going to be even more likely to bring their mp3 player, you know, to play their
own music and block out the classical stuff.
 
Student B  
Yeah, that makes sense.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: school cafeteria to play classical music
• Reason 1: to give students a chance to relax during break
• Reason 2: encourage more face to face conversation between students

๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: students are busy during lunch
102
• Details: students study while they eat; they are also working on upcoming exams or getting ready
for the next class
• Reason 2: students don’t like classical music
• Details: classical music will encourage more people to bring their own music to school, even less
people will talk to each other
!
Sample response
The school is planning to play classical music during lunch hour in the student cafeteria to give
students a chance to relax and encourage more face to face conversations between students. In
the conversation, the man disagrees with the school’s plan for the following reasons. First of all,
students aren’t looking for a relaxing time during the break, they are either busy preparing for
upcoming exams or working on assignments. Second, most students don’t even like classical
music. If the school played this kind of music, that will encourage even more students to bring
their MP3 players to school, therefore even fewer students will be talking to each other. 
!
103
!
!
Task 4 !
!
Revealing Coloration
!
Many animals use coloration to protect themselves from predators. One defensive strategy
involving the use of coloration is what is known as revealing coloration. Animals employing this
strategy have an area of bright color on some part of their body; this bright color is usually
hidden from predators' view. When approached by a predator, the animal suddenly reveals the
area of bright color; this unexpected display of color startles or confuses the predator and
provides the would-be prey with an opportunity to escape.
!
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture from a biology class.
 
Professor  
There is a large tropical insect called the Peanut Bug, yes like the peanuts that you eat. Um and
the peanut bug’s front wings are colored so that they blend in with their surroundings. But its
back wings, which are usually closed and hidden, have these bright colorful spots on them and
when the peanut bug’s attacked, it suddenly opens its back wings and out pop these big bright
colors. And that surprises the predator and gives the peanut bug a chance to get away.
 
Um and then you have a butterfly called the Morpho Butterfly, and parts of the morpho
butterfly’s wings are very shiny. They reflect a lot of sunlight. When this butterfly is resting, this
shiny part of its wings is hidden. Now morpho butterflies are often attacked by birds. So when a
bird approaches, the morpho flies away. And when the morph flaps its wings, all the bird can see
are flashes of light reflected from the morpho’s wings. Those flashes of light make it very
difficult for the bird to follow the morpho, and the morpho is usually able to get away.
!
๏ Reading key
104
• Term: Revealing Coloration
• Definition: a defensive strategy involving the use of coloration is what is known as revealing coloration
๏ Listening key
• Example 1:
• Peanut bug
• Huge colorful spots on back wings that are hidden
• Expose color spot when under attack
• Get a chance to escape when predator is surprised
• Example 2:
• Morpho butterfly
• Shinny wings that reflect a lot of sunlight
• That makes it hard for the bird to see the butterfly when chasing it
• Bird slows down; butterfly escapes

!
Sample response
The professor talks about revealing coloration which is a strategy animals use to get away from
predators involving the use of colors. In the first example, peanut bugs show the two big bright
spots located on their back wings to surprise predators, so it gets a chance to hide or escape. In
the second example, the professor talks about morpho butterfly. When it’s attacked by birds, the
morpho flies away, and when it flaps its wings, it’s very difficult for the bird to get a good look at
them, because morpho’s wings can reflect a lot of sun light. When the bird slows down, the
morpho can usually get away. 
105
 
Task 5!
!
Narrator  
 
Female student  
Hey Steve! are you ready for classes to start?
 
Male student  
Not really! There is still a big conflict in my course schedule.
 
Female student  
What’s wrong?
 
Male student  
This is my last semester, and I’ve still got two required courses left to take in order to finish my
literature degree.
 
Female student  
OK?
 
Male student  
I have to take both History of the Novel and Shakespeare, or I can’t graduate. Problem is the two
courses meet at the same time.
 
Female student  
Uh oh! What are you gonna do?
 
Male student  
Well, I talked to the professor who’s gonna teach Shakespeare. He said I could do an independent
study to fulfill that requirement.
106
 
Female student  
How would that work?
 
Man:
I’d read the assigned texts on my own, do all the same assignments and meet with him when I
need to, if I have any questions.
!
Woman：
Well, that sounds like a good way to fulfill the requirement.
!
Man：
Yeah, it would be nice to have one on one discussions with the professor. It’s just that, well,
working on my own like that, I’m kind concerned that I won’t be able to motivate myself to get
the work done on time. It’s easy to put things off when it’s not an actual class, you know.
!
Woman：
Yeah, are there other options?
!
Man：
Um..., yeah. I found out that the Shakespeare class is being offered in another university about
half an hour from here. That university has a really great literature program and our university
will accept their credits, so…
!
Woman：
That’s an idea!
!
Man：
Yeah, I’m sure it will be a good class, and it will fulfill the requirement. Only thing is I have to
drive half an hour to get to the class and half an hour to come back, three times a week, that’s a
lot time and gas money.
!
107
๏ Listening key
• Problem: confliction of class schedule; two required classes are being offered at the same time
• Solution 1: do independent study
• Pro: meet with the professor when needs to
• Con: lack of motivation; might put things off
• Solution 2: take one of the course at another school
• Pro: his school takes the credit, and the course offered at the other school is excellent
• Con: it’s a long drive; waste of money and time

!
Sample response
The man’s problem is that there is a big conflict in his course schedule, he’s got to take two
required courses to graduate but they are offered at the same time. He has two possible
solutions, the first is to do an independent study on his Shakespeare course. The second solutions
is to take it at another school. I think the second solution is better. First of all, it’s mentioned in
the conversation that the class being offered at the other school is excellent, also, he can make
many friends when he’s over there. Second, in doing so, he still gets to go to lectures for it and
work with the professor and classmates in class, which is more productive. 
!
!
!
108
Task 6 !
!
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture in a business class.
 
Professor  
Today we’ll talk about how companies determine the initial price for their products, by that I
mean when they first introduce a product in the market. There are different approaches and today
we will discuss two of them. They are quite different, each with their own advantages.
 
One approach, or strategy, sets the initial price of the product high, followed by a lower price at a
later stage. Why? Well, when introducing a new product, companies want to build a high-quality
image for it. Products that cost more are believed to be of higher quality. So, during the early
stages of the product life cycle, companies can make very high profits from consumers willing to
pay more for a high-quality product, and although consumers know that prices will eventually go
down, they are also willing to pay more to get the product sooner. This approach works very well
with, oh, innovative high-tech products for example. Now just think about when video recorders,
or video cameras, or even cell phones first came out. They were very expensive, but then they
became much more accessible.
 
Another very common strategy sets an initial price low. Now this happens when the market is
already saturated with the product and the strategy is to undercut its competitors. Say there is a
newly starting computer maker trying to gain market share, so what do they do? Well, they offer
a computer at an affordable price, lower than existing brands. By doing this, the company
appeals to new consumers who weren’t probably even interested in getting a computer, and, well
of course, to existing consumers who might now be tempted to switch brands. Now how does
this company make profits with its low price computer? Well, one thing that’s often done is to
encourage their customers to buy accessories also manufactured by them, like printers or
software for example.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: two pricing strategies
109
• Example 1
• Set the initial price high followed by a lower price
• Works well with innovative high-tech products: cellphones and video recorders
• High price will give the product a high quality image which encourages people to make purchase
• Price will come down eventually
• Example 2
• Set the initial price low
• A new computer company uses low price to undercut competitors
• Encourage people to buy a new computer to buy from them or switch to them
• Profit comes from selling accesseries like softwares and printers

!
Sample response
The professor talks about how companies use two ways to set an initial price on some products.
The first is to set the price high initially and lower it later on. Take video recorders or cellphones
for example, when they first came out, the prices were really high, so people believed that it has
a higher quality, therefore more people were encouraged to buy them. Another strategy is to set
the initial price low, and make profit from selling accessories. For example, a computer company
would sell their computers at a low price to undercut competitors, so more people will be
attracted in buying them. But they will make money from selling softwares and printers later on.
 
!
110
TPO 09 
Task 1!
!
Talk about an important experience that you recently had. Describe what happened and explain
why it was important to you.
!
๏ Tip
• See Task 1 of TPO 08

!
Sample response
I still remember when I took the TOEFL exam for the first time, my mark was awful, I totally lost
confident in doing a good job on the test, even doubted if my English was any good at all. My
dad was the person that help me through the tough time. First, instead of blaming or punishing
me, he spent a lot of time going through the rating card with me to find out what went wrong and
how I could improve. Next, he bought many useful books for me to prepare for the test. In the
books, I found many sample questions and responses that gave me a good idea of what my
answers should be like. He was very supportive in the process, thanks to my dad, I’m more
confident this time around that I can do a better job.
!
112
Task 2!
!
Some people think that family members are the most important influence on young adults.
Others believe that friends are the most important influence. Which do you agree with? Explain
why.
!
๏ Tips
• Family influence
• Most caring people round a child
• Unconditional love
• Parents can teach children that their friends can’t
• Friend influence
• Same age, same taste
• Spend most of the time together, at and after school
• better communication, friends don’t judge as mush as parents
• Kids share more problems and secrets with friends

!
Sample response
I think that family members are the most important influence of young adults. The person that
influenced me the most is my mom. she is a good listener who always pays attention to what I
have to say, that makes her the person who knows me the best in our family, I have no secret in
front of her. And also, she has a good manner. I’ve learned from her how to treat others around
me with dignity and respect since I was young, thanks to her I made many friends in my life.
Most friends at my age aren’t mature enough to teach me qualities like these.
!
!
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Task 3 !
!
Required Work Experience
!
The business studies department at State University will now require all students enrolled in its
program to complete one semester of work experience in a local corporation or small business. It
is felt that students will benefit from this work experience by developing leadership and
organizational skills that would not normally be learned in a classroom or campus setting.
Furthermore, the relationships that students establish with the company that they work for may
help them to secure permanent employment with that company once they have completed the
program and graduated.
!
 
Narrator  
 
Student A  
Did you read this announcement?
 
Student B  
Yeah and I disagree. I don’t think it will actually help students.
!
Student A  
Really? Why not?
 
Student B  
Well, they talked about leadership and organizational skills, but that’s not really the kind of work
you do. Like my elder brothers have the kind of jobs they are talking about and typically you are
just there to do basic tasks like typing or filing stuff, nothing very meaningful.
 
Student A  
Oh so you wouldn’t actually learn anything new.
114
 
Student B  
Exactly.
 
Student A  
Ah, I guess I see what you mean. But what about the other point they make?
 
Student B  
About this helping us after we graduate? I don’t agree.
 
Student A  
How come?
 
Student B  
Well, the problem is that there are lots of other universities in our area that have the same
requirement, so there are lots of other students at these positions.
 
Student A  
Yeah, I guess I hadn’t thought of that.
 
Student B
So even if you take a position like this in a company while you are still a student, once you
graduate, the competition for permanent jobs will be impossible. I mean there just won’t be
enough jobs available for all the business graduates in the city who will be looking for full time
work.
!
Student A
Hm, I see what you are saying.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: all business graduates must intern at a local business
• Reason 1: business and leadership skills
115
• Reason 2: professional relationship building

๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: students don’t learn anything meaningful at these positions
• Detail: her cousin did it before, all there is to do are basic stuff like filing and typing
• Reason 2: internship can’t secure permanent positions
• Details: the problem not is not the lack of work experiences, problem is there aren’t enough job
opens for all graduates in the area
!
Sample response
The business studies department plans to require all students to intern at a local business,
because they can get more working experience and that will help when they job hunt after
graduation. In the conversation, the woman disagrees with the school’s plan. First of all, she
thinks students won’t learn anything valuable at these positions. They only get to do some simple
tasks such as typing and filing stuff, it’s a waste of time. Second, many other universities in the
city have the same requirement for students, so after they graduate, the competition is still there.
Getting a permanent job is almost impossible because there just aren’t enough jobs available for
all business graduates.
!
 
!
116
Task 4 !
!
The Establishing Shot
!
Film directors use different types of camera shots for specific purposes. An establishing shot is
an image shown briefly at the beginning of a scene, usually taken from far away, that is used to
provide context for the rest of the scene. One purpose of the establishing shot is to communicate
background information to the viewer, such as the setting—where and when the rest of the scene
will occur. It also establishes the mood or feeling of the scene. Due to the context that the
establishing shot provides, the characters and events that are shown next are better understood by
the viewer.
!
 
Narrator  
Now listen to part of a lecture on this topic in a film class.
 
Professor  
So, the other day I went to this great new movie, and one of the scenes in particular I thought
was really set up nicely.
 
At the start of the scene, before the action and talking and things started, you saw, on the movie
screen, an image of a city. You could tell it was a big city. There were lots of buildings, tall ones,
skyscrapers. And the cars and signs on the city streets looked old-fashioned, like they were from
the past, like the 1940s. The other thing I noticed right away from this first image, just when the
scene started, was that the city seemed gloomy. You couldn’t see much because it was, well,
there was mostly darkness rather than sunlight. And there was only just a little bit of light from
the street lamps. On top of that, it was raining, and kind of foggy. All of these details worked
together to create a dark, gloomy, mysterious feeling.
 
So then when the action started, and it showed detectives talking to each other in an office, I
already knew that the office was located in a tall building in a big city sometime in the 1940s.
117
And I had a good idea that the events that would be taking place would be pretty dark and
mysterious because of the shot, the image I saw at the beginning of the scene.
!
๏ Reading key
• Term: Establishing Shot
• Definition: An establishing shot is an image shown briefly at the beginning of a scene that is used to
provide context for the rest of the scene.
๏ Listening key
• Describing the shot
• City; tall buildings; old fashioned cars and signs on the street; raining; gloomy; only a bit of light
from street lamps; everything’s dark and mysterious
• How does the shot reflect on the audience
• The story happens in a big city during the 1940’s; what’s about to happen is moody and
mysterious
Sample response
The professor talks about establishing shot in the lecture which is a shot used to provide context
for the rest of the scene. And he uses a new movie as an example. In one scene, before the action
and talking started, an image of a city is shown to the audience to provide context. Things in the
city looked old fashioned, and the city itself was gloomy and dark. And it was raining too, and
kind of foggy, all these elements worked together to create a mysterious feeling. So when the
action started, the audience would get the idea that the story of the mo vie takes place in a big
city during the 1940s, and the rest of the movie will be very mysterious and dark.
 
!
!
118
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
 
Male student  
Hey Beth! How are things?
 
Female student  
Not great!
 
Male student  
Why? What’s wrong?
 
Female student  
I just found out I have to move out of my apartment, like, right away.
 
Male student  
You are kidding. Why?
 
Female student  
Well, my apartment... it’s in a house, a kind of old house. And now something’s wrong with the
water pipes. I think some of the pipes burst or wore out or something. Anyway, we don’t have
any water in the house. And apparently, it’s gonna take about two weeks to fix the problem.
 
Male student  
So you need to find a place to live for what, two weeks or so?
 
Female student  
Yeah! Bad timing huh, with mid-term exams coming up and everything.
 
Male student  
So have you figured out what you are going to do?
119
 
Female student  
Well, some friends said I could stay at their place. They don’t have an extra bedroom, but they
said it’d be OK for me to sleep on their living room couch.
 
Male student  
You could probably handle that for a couple of weeks right?
 
Female student
I guess so. I mean it’s really nice of them to offer, and it’s free. The only problem is they already
have four people living there so it could be a little crowded.
 
Male student  
And not ideal for studying for mid-terms.
 
Female student  
Yeah, too many distractions.
 
Male student  
Um, any other options?
 
Female student  
Well, I did find this place. It’s a small hotel over on 3rd Street right near campus.
 
Male student  
Oh right’ a lot of kids’ parents stay there when they come for a visit.
 
Female student  
Right, so I could get a room there. They have a weekly rate and it’s pretty reasonable, but.. . I
don’t know.
!
Male student  
At least at the hotel you’d have a place of your own, you know, so you could get more done.
120
 
Female student  
That’s definitely a plus. But I have to think about it. Even though it’s pretty cheap, it will still end
up costing me some money and my budget’s pretty tight right now.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: woman has move out because water pipes in the apartment bursted
• Solution 1: stay at her friend’s place
• Pro: free of charge
• Con: it’s crowded because there are already four people that live there
• Solution 2: rent a room in the hotel near campus
• Pro: space of her own; closer to campus
• Con: extra cost

!
Sample response
In the conversation, the woman’s problem is that she has to move out right away because the
water pipe in her apartment is broken. There are two possible solutions. The first is to stay at a
friend’s place, the second solution is to rent a room in a hotel near campus. I think the second
solution is better. First of all, if she rents a room in a hotel, she can have a quiet and personal
space to prepare for mid-term exam, there are too many distractions at her friend’s place.
Second, the hotel’s near campus, therefore it’ll be easier for her to get to school and library
every day. Spending some extra money isn’t so bad considering the fact that she will have better
chance at getting a good grade on her exams. 
!
!
!
121
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.
 
Professor  
We all know that insects like to eat plants. But some plants have been able to... to develop ways
to protect themselves from insects. Today I’m gonna talk about some ways plants defend
themselves.
 
Now, some plants have physical features that prevent insects from landing on them, like the
passion plant for example. Its leaves have little spiky hairs all over them. They are like spikes,
sticking out of the plant that are so numerous and dense that they prevent insects from landing on
the leaves. Basically there’s just no room for the insect to land. And since insects can’t land on
the leaves they can’t eat them. So the little hairs serve as a physical feature that helps protect the
passion plant from insects.  
!
All right! But other plants protect themselves using chemical defenses, like the potato plant. The
potato plant’s able to release a chemical throughout its leaf system whenever an insect attacks it,
starts eating leaf. So, say an insect starts eating a potato plant’s leaf. That will cause the plant to
react by releasing a chemical throughout its leaf system. The insect swallows this chemical as it
eats. And this chemical discourages the insect from wanting to eat any more of the plant. How?
Well, the substance makes the insect feel full, like it’s already had enough to eat. The insect no
longer feels hungry. So it stops eating the plant. So, by emitting this chemical, the potato plant
protects itself from insects.
!
๏ Reading key
• Main idea: two defensive strategies used by plants agains hungry insects
• Strategy 1: physical defense
• Example: passion fruit.
• Dense spiky little hair all over; that make it very difficult for the insects to land on them; no
landing spots= no way to eat it
122
• Strategy 2: chemical defense
• Example: potato plant
• When being eaten by insects, it will emit a chemical that makes the insect feel full; the insect will
stop eating it because it doesn’t feel hungry anymore
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about the two ways plants protect them from being eaten by
insects. The first is that they use physical features that make it hard for insects to land on them.
Passion plants have spiky hairs all over them, no room is left for insects to land on the leaves in
order eat them. The second kind of defense is chemical. Take the potato plant for example, it can
release a chemical from its leaf system when being eaten by insects. The insect swallows this
chemical which makes it feel full, like it’s already had enough to eat. Because the insect doesn’t
feel hungry any longer, it stops eating the plant.  
123
!
TPO 10 !
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a time when you accomplished something you did not think you could do. What did
you accomplish? Why did you think you could not do it?
!
๏ Tip
• See task 1 of TPO 08 and 09

!
Sample response
The thing I didn’t think I could ever do but did was bungee jumping. I was very scared of the idea
of jumping off from great height, because I have a fear of height since I was a kid. But I’ve
always wanted to overcome it. So one day I beefed up and decided it was now or never. I went to
the bungee site with some friends of mine, I had a cold feet and didn’t want to do it when I got up
high, but everyone encouraged me and gave me a lot of confident. So I closed my eyes and just
went. It was a surreal experience free falling for a long time, It felt like the whole world had
stopped and I was very aware of all my thoughts. I’m very proud of myself because not everyone
has the guts to do what I did.
!
125
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All children should be required to learn a
second language in school.
!
๏ Tip
• Agree
• Speak from own experience about how important English leaning is for you
• Question becomes why is learning English important for you
• Disagree
• Waste of time and energy
• Can’t be applied to everyday life
• Will forget it over time from disuse

!
Sample response
I strongly agree with the statement that every child should be required to learn a second
language in school. First of all, in todays world, it is a huge advantage to speak more than one
language. Take English for example, when speaking good English, people can make friends from
all over the world. When travelling, we don’t have to stick with the tour guide, we can ask around
and find the things to do that interest us. Also, a second language can open our minds. Because
of English, I can get access to massive amount of information when I do research for my school
works. Also when watching an English movie, I don’t need to rely on subtitles which sometimes
aren’t accurate. 
126
Task 3  
!
Student Art Display
 
The university is currently considering possible locations on campus for displaying paintings and
other artwork by students. I think the lobby at the entrance to the student center would be a great
location. Since many students pass through the student center everyday, artwork displayed in the
lobby would be viewed by hundreds of people. Also, because the whole front of the building is
made of glass windows, the lobby is filled with natural light. This makes it perfect for displaying
art work, which should have plenty of light to be seen and appreciated.
!
Narrator  
Now listen to two students discussing the letter.
 
Male student  
Mary, you are an art student. What do you think of this letter?
 
Female student  
I don’t like the idea.
 
Male student  
Why not?
 
Female student  
Well, first of all, his first point about a lot people passing through the student center, that’s true,
but...
 
Male student  
But?
 
Female student  
But it’s always really crowded with people coming and going. It’s not good for showing artwork.
127
Imagine you are standing there, trying to look at a painting. There’s gonna be like a million
people walking through, people walking in front of you, blocking your view, distracting you...
 
Male student  
Hm... yeah... hadn’t thought of that.
 
Female student  
You won’t be able to appreciate the artwork, or get a good look at anything with so much going
on, with so many people moving around.
 
Male student  
Yeah, I see what you mean.
!
Female student  
Plus, he’s wrong about the windows.
 
Male student  
But isn’t it true that it’s good for art to have lots of light?
 
Female student  
In a sense, yeah, but that kind of light, all that natural light from windows? That’s actually not
good because it’s really sunny out, it’ll be way too bright. If it’s cloudy, it’ll be way too dark.
 
Male student  
Oh!
 
Female student
What you want is controlled light, consistent light, the kind you get from electric light bulbs.
Think about in an art museum. In an art museum, you’ve got electric lighting, and the light is
always carefully controlled, always at the same level.
!
๏ Reading key
• Proposal: the school should display student artworks at the lobby of student center
128
• Reason 1: a lot of students passby
• Reason 2: plenty of natural light

๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: student center is to crowded
• Details: like a million people walking through, people blocking your view, distracting you, won’t be
able to enjoy the artworks
• Reason 2: natural light is not ideal for showing artworks
• Details: too bright when sunny out; too dark when cloudy. Artworks should be displayed at
somewhere there’s consistant light, light that’s from a light bulb which always stays at the same
level
!
Sample response
The student who wrote the letter is suggesting the school to display paintings and other artwork
by students at the entrance of the student center, because lots of people pass through, and it’s
filled with light. In the conversation, the woman disagrees with the opinions stated in the letter.
First of all, she thinks that the student center is too crowded, it’s full of students moving around,
students can’t enjoy the artworks in that setting when people are walking in front of you, or
blocking the view. The second reason is that the lighting in the student center is not ideal for
showing artworks. It’s too bright in there when sunny outside, too dark when it’s cloudy. She
states that the artworks should be displayed at somewhere there’s consistent light, which always
stays at the same level.
 
!
!
129
Task 4!
!
Entertainment Merchandising
!
An effective, widely used marketing practice in the entertainment industry is entertainment
merchandising. Entertainment merchandising is a form of marketing in which the brand or image
from one product is also used to sell another. The practice of entertainment merchandising often
occurs in connection with movies and television shows, especially those associated with
children. For example, the success of a popular children’s television show may result in the
marketing of toys that are designed to look like characters in the show or the situation may be
reversed when a children’s television show is written to include characters that are based on
already popular toys.
 
Narrator  
Now listen to a lecture from a marketing class.
 
Professor  
OK, so I’ve actually got a few different examples of this. You know when I was kid, a character
named Action Hero was really popular with my friends and me. We would always watch the
Action Hero program on television every week, and played games, pretending that we were
strong and powerful as he was. Then pretty soon we began seeing these small Action Hero
figures in all the stores. And well we all just had to have them. I mean we’d been watching the
television show for so long that it seemed only natural to want to own the toys too.
 
Well I finally grew up and left the Action Hero television program and toys behind. But now I
have a seven-year-old daughter who watches television a lot and also likes to play with her toys.
And lately her favorite toy is a cute little baby doll with a big round face and lots of curly hair
named Rosa. All my daughters’ friends have Rosa dolls too. And they enjoy going to each other’s
houses to play with them. Then a few weeks ago, my daughter came running up to me all excited
because she had just heard there was going to be a new television program on every week with
the doll Rosa as the main character. So naturally she and all her friends have begun watching the
show. And it’s already very popular, as popular as the toy doll.
!
130
๏ Reading key
• Term: Entertainment Merchandising
• Definition: Entertainment merchandising is a form of marketing in which the brand or image from one
product is also used to sell another.
๏ Listening
• Example 1: Action Hero
• Professor watched Action Hero TV shows when he was young
• He and his friends saw Action Hero toys in the store
• They all had to have the toy because of the TV show was so popular amount them
• Example 2: Rosa Doll
• Professor’s daughter loves to play with a cute little toy doll
• One day they find out there will be a TV show that’s about Rosa
• They all began watching the show because they’ve been playing with toy for so long
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about entertainment merchandising which is a form of
marketing in which the brand or image from one product is also used to sell another. In the first
example, the professor talks about a character called the Action Hero, when he was a kid, the TV
show was very popular, so when he and his friends saw little Action Hero figures in the stores,
they all had to buy them. And he talks about his daughter in the second example, her favorite toy
is a doll called Rosa, she and her friends play with the doll all the time. Not long ago, the kids
discovered that there will be a new TV program which is about Rosa. She and her friends were
very excited and all began watching the show.
!
!
!
131
Task 5 !
 
Narrator  
 
Female student  
Is there a problem with the electricity?
 
Male student  
Yeah, this storm’s smacked up power all over the city. And they are saying it might be several
hours before we have electricity again.
 
Female student  
Oh no! I have a history paper due tomorrow, and I’ve been writing it on my laptop computer and
the battery is running low. I’m going to need electricity soon.
 
Male student  
Well, you know, Jefferson City still got electricity, and there is a library there where you can plug
in your laptop. You could go over there and work on your paper. It’s only about a 20-minute
drive.
 
Female student  
That’s a good idea. Of course I’d have to pack up all my stuff and it is raining outside.
 
Male student  
Yeah, that’s true. Well, why don’t you just ask the professor for an extension? You know,
tomorrow when you go to class, just ask him if he’d give you an extra day to get the paper done.
I’m pretty sure he’d agree, you know, with this storm and all.
 
Female student  
Yeah, that’d sure be a lot easier. But then he did tell us when he gave us the assignment that he
wouldn’t grant any extensions.
132
 
Male student  
You don’t think he’d grant an extension in this case?
 
Female student  
I’m not sure. It’s a little risky. He might just say that we shouldn’t have waited until the last
minute.
 
Male student  
Yeah, but maybe if other students had the same problem, you might be able to convince him.
 
Female student  
Yeah, I mean it’s not our fault the electricity went out, hm...
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: woman needs to do her history paper but the storm’s knock down power in the city
• Solution 1: go to the library in Jefferson City
• Pro: there’s power in the library and it’s only a 20 minutes drive
• Con: it’s inconvenient to pack up all her stuff because of the rain
• Solution 2: ask for an extension from the professor
• Pro: he will probably understand because the storm
• Con: he said it when giving the assignment no extension will be granted
!
Sample response
133
The woman’s problem is that she needs to write her history paper that’s due the next day, but the
storm has knocked down the power in the city, she can’t charge her laptop anymore. The first
solution is that she can go to the library in another city to do her work there. The second is to
ask the professor for an extension. I think the first solution is better, because first of all, that
library is only 20 minutes away, it won’t take her too much time to get there to charge her
computer and type her paper up. Second, the professor said that he won’t give any extension for
this assignment, so I think it is a waste of time trying to get one. 
!
!
!
134
Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
 
Professor
OK, we generally assume that babies can feel only very basic emotions like happiness or anger,
that is that babies just react to things that happen directly to them. However, some new research
suggests that babies may be able to feel concern for others, to have empathy for others. Now
empathy is a complex emotion. It involves a baby relating to someone else’s emotions, not just
reacting to things happening directly to them. Let’s talk about an experiment that may show that
babies could be capable of feeling empathy.
 
OK, for the first part of the experiment, well, um, we’ve always known that babies start to cry
when they hear other babies crying, right? One baby in the room starts crying and all the rest join
in. We’ve always assumed that the other babies cried because they were reacting to the noise of
the crying, that the noise itself was distressing. So in the experiment researchers played a tape
recording, a tape of babies crying, to another baby. And sure enough the baby started crying
when he heard the sound of other babies crying. This was no surprise of course. And researchers
assumed that the baby cried because of the noise.
 
But the next part of the experiment was surprising. The researchers played the baby a tape of his
own crying. Now it was just as noisy so the researcher expected him to cry. However this time
the baby did not cry. He wasn’t upset by the sound of his own crying. Why not? Well, maybe it
wasn’t the noise that had made him cry before when he heard other babies crying. In fact, maybe
noise had nothing to do with it. It could be that the baby felt empathy for the other babies. And
that was why he got upset when he heard them crying. The researchers concluded that it is
indeed possible that babies feel empathy, concern for others.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: babies can feel empathy
• Example
135
• Part one
• Play a baby a tape of other babies crying
• The baby in the experiment starts to cry
• Researcher assumed the baby cried because of the noise
• Part two
• Play the baby a tape of his own crying
• The baby doesn’t cry to the noise
• Conclusion
• Baby cried in the first part of the experiment because he felt empathy, concern for others
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about babies can feel concern for others, to have empathy for
others. She gives us a experiment to demonstrate her point. In the first part of experiment, they
played a tape of babies crying to a baby, sure enough the baby heard the tape and started crying,
the researcher assumed that the baby cried because of the noise. And then the researchers played
the baby a tape of his own crying, the baby didn’t cry despite the noise. In fact, the noise had
nothing to do with it. It cried in the first part not because of the noise, but it got upset because it
felt empathy, concern for others.
!
136
!
T P O 11 !
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about an interesting book you have read. Explain why you thought the book was interesting.
Give specific details and examples to explain your answer.
!
๏ Tips
• Books that are easy to talk about
• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Devil Wears Prada
• Twilight
• Any other English book that you’ve actually read before
• Books that you should avoid
• Chinese literatures
• Books that you believe will make a good impression on the rater because they are superior.
!
!
Sample response:
The book I have read that was interesting is Harry Potter for the following reasons. First of all,
the plot is amazing. I can forget about all the troubles I need to deal with at school when reading
it, it gives me a chance to escape my life which can be stressful sometimes. Second, I’ve learned
a lot from Harry and his friends, things like bravery and loyalty. Harry is always full of courage
no matter how hard his life is. And Ron, being a good friend, is so loyal to their friendship, that
he would never give up on Harry no matter how dangerous the situation gets. I wish I had a
friend like Ron in my life who I can trust with my life.
!
!
138
Task 2!
!
Some people think that children should be allowed to watch whatever television programs they
choose to. Others think that parents should exercise control over the television programs their
children watch. Which do you agree with? Explain why.
!
๏ Tips
• Allowing kids to choose
• So they get to choose what interests them
• Learn to be independent
• So that they don’t waste anytime pretending to be interested in the programs parents force them
to watch
• Not allowing kids to choose
• Contents that are not suitable for younger viewers
• Sexual/voilent contents
• Parents should limit the time kids watch TV
• It’s easy to lose track of time; endless commercials
• Better selection of programs
• Educational programs from discovery channel

!
Sample response
I think that parents should exercise control over the television programs their children watch for
the following reasons. First of all, not all TV programs today are suitable for younger viewers.
For example, some TV programs have sexual and violent content that would have a negative
influence on children, it’d be a good idea for parents to filter out these kinds of programs for
children. Second, parents should encourage children to watch more educational programs. Such
as the programs you get from the Discovery Channel. Kids can learn a lot and have a great time
watching them. 
139
!
Task 3 !
!
Housing Renovations Planned
!
Over the last ten years, the number of Central College students living on campus in dormitories
has decreased by twenty percent. In an effort to counteract the trend, the college has announced a
plan to renovate its on-campus housing. The renovations will take two years, and they will
include improvements to the bathrooms, lighting, and heating in the dormitories. "A lot of people
are moving off campus because the dorms aren’t in great shape," explained the college president.
"By renovating the dorms, we can make them more appealing than off-campus housing, and
more students will choose to remain on campus."
 
!
Narrator
Now listen to two students discussing the college’s plan.
!
Student A
The college is making a mistake with this new plan.
!
Student B
What do you mean? I think it’ll really help accomplish the college’s goals.
!
Student A  
Don’t be so sure. All that construction for two years? It’s gonna create a lot of noise.
!
Student B  
Well you mean in the beginning, for students who are still living in the dorms.
!
Student A  
Yeah, students who are trying to sleep or do work are constantly going to be disturbed. So people
will try to get as far away as possible, probably by moving off campus. So they’ll lose even more
people.
140
 
Student B  
Huh, I hadn’t thought of that. But still, once all the construction is over, more people will
probably want to live in the dorms, right? I mean, the living conditions will be so much better.
!
Student A
If they can afford to. Do you know how the college is planning on paying for this plan? by
raising the cost of campus housing!
!
Student B
Oh, I didn’t realize that.
!
Student A 
Yeah! So if it’s more expensive, why would people want to move back into the dorms if they can
rent an apartment for less money?
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: renovation of the on campus housing
• Reason: attract more students to come live in the dormitory

๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: the construction will create too much noise
• Details: it lasts two years, the noise from the construction will disturb students who are trying to
sleep or do work
• Reason 2: high costs will keep students from willing to move back
• Details: the school is planning to raise the cost of on campus housing. People won’t be willing to
move back if they can rent an apartment off campus for less money
!
Sample response
141
The school is planning to renovate the on campus housing to encourage more students to live on
campus. In the conversation, the woman disagrees with the school’s plan for two reasons. First,
she thinks that the construction will create too much noise, students who are trying to sleep or do
work are going to be disturbed. So even more people will get as far away as possible. Second,
the school is planning to raise the cost of on campus housing after the construction, that will
discourage students from moving back on campus. No one will be willing to move back if they
can rent an apartment for less money off campus.
!
!
!
142
Task 4 !
!
Outsider Art
!
Outsider Art is a term used to describe art that is made by people who choose to live and work
outside society. The artists who produce this kind of art-Outsider Artists-work in isolation from
other artists and have little or no formal artistic training. Because they do not learn conventional
artistic techniques from teachers or other artists. Outsider Artists must invent their own ways of
doing things. As a result of the unconventional methods that Outsider Artists often use, their
work can look strange and not at all like traditional art to the observer.
 
Narrator  
Listen to part of a lecture in an art history class.
 
Professor 1  
All right, so let’s consider the work of the outsider artist - Henry Darger.
!
Darger lived by himself in a tiny apartment in Chicago in the 1900s. He had no friends and spent
all his spare time there alone creating hundreds of paintings and drawings. He had never formally
studied art and kept his work completely private so no one ever saw it or responded to it during
his lifetime. And so when you see Darger’s work, you notice how unique it is. It doesn’t remind
you of anything you’ve ever seen before. It’s very much his own.
 
For example, one piece - it’s a water color painting. In this piece he illustrates a story about the
adventures of seven children. But see, Darger had a really hard time drawing human figures, yet
he managed to come up with his own rather unique solution for the problem. He simply cut out
pictures of children from newspapers and magazines and pasted them into his own painted
illustration of trees, flowers and grass. The results look... um a little strange. Darger’s picture
looks more cluttered, more crowded with details than the pictures of other artists because its
entire surface’s painted and there are no spaces left empty. It’s also a lot longer than the pictures
of most other artists, about nine feet long.
!
143
๏ Reading key
• Term: Outsider Arts
• Definition: outsider arts are the ones created by outsider artist who lives and works in isolation
๏ Listening key
• Henry Darger lived and worked by himself, no one saw or responded to his work while he was alive
• He has trouble drawing human figures because the lack of traditional training
• He’s solution was to cut out pictures of children from newspaper and magazines and pasted them on
his painting
• The result looked strange and unusual
• His works are crowded with details because no space was left empty, it’s also longer than other
people’s works
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about the works of outsider artist Henry Darger. Darger lived
and worked by himself in a Chicago apartment, no one saw or responded to his work while he
was alive, and his works are very unique. Because Darger never received any proper training, he
had difficulty painting human figures, his solution was to cut out pictures of people from
newspapers and magazines and pasted them onto his painting. As a result, his work sometimes
look strange. Also, because his works are filled with details, they look rather crowded. It’s also a
lot longer than the works of most other artists, sometimes nine feet long.
!
!
!
144
Task 5!
!
Narrator
Student A
By the way, Frank, I heard you got a summer research position with Professor Davis.
!
Student B
Uh, huh… but, I’ve got a problem.
!
Student A  
Oh?
 
Student B  
Yeah, well, since I didn’t hear from her for so long I assumed I didn’t get the position. So I didn’t
apply for a dorm room for the summer. I’m afraid it’s too late for that now.
 
Student A  
Yeah, the deadline for campus housing applications has already passed. So what are you gonna
do now?
 
Student B  
Well, I can stay with my parents. They live two hours from here. So I thought I could drive and
commute to campus every day. I know my mom and dad would be happy to have me over for a
few weeks, and most of my old friends will be home for the summer. So in a way it’d be fun.
!
Student A
Yeah, I understand. But you’d spend quite a lot of time on road going back and forth. Won’t you
get tired?
!
Student B 
Yeah, that thought did cross my mind. The other thing I could do is rent an apartment off
campus. Besides being much closer to work, I’d also save tons of money on gas.
145
!
Student A
Uh-huh, but then you’ll have to pay rent.
!
Student B
I know... there’s always something, isn’t there?
!
๏ Listening keys
• Problem: the man has to work on campus during summer but he didn’t apply for campus housing
• Solution 1: live with his parents
• Pro: they are happy to have him; he can hangout with his friends during his stay
• Con: it’s a two hour drive; driving back and forth can be very tiring
• Solution 2: rent an apartment off campus
• Pro: much closer to work; saves money on gas
• Con: he has to pay rent

!
Sample response
The man’s problem is that he’s got the summer research position, but he didn’t apply for a dorm
room for the summer. There are two solutions, the first is staying with his parents and drive to
school everyday, the second is to rent an apartment off campus. I think staying with his parents is
better. First of all, he can save a lot of money on rent, and his mom and dad will be glad to have
him over for a few weeks, it’s nice to spend some time with family. Also, he mentions in the
conversation that some of his old friends will be home for the summer, it’ll be a good chance for
him to reconnect with them and have a good time.
!
!
!
146
Task 6  
!
Narrator  
Listen to part of a lecture in an interior design class.  
Professor  
So we’re talking about interior design... uh...specifically the basic principles typically used in
home and office decoration in the United States. Effective designs create a delicate balance
between two things: you need unity and you also need contrast which is essentially a break in
unity. Now this might seem a little contradictory, but let me explain why we need both of these
for an effective design.
 
So for the first principle: we need unity in our design. Think of it as consistency. Well, an easy
and very effective way to do this is by bringing together similar elements. A common example is
by matching colors. You pick a color and use it for different parts of the room. Say you pick
green and then use a light shade of green for the walls and maybe a somewhat darker shade for
the fabric on the sofa, and finally complement that with a matching green in the rug. When
elements match, the room is unified and gives its residents a sense of order and comfort.
 
OK, but there is such a thing as too much unity. Remember you need a balance of unity and
contrast. If all you do is focus on unity, the result will be a boring room. So what do you do?
Well, you apply the second basic principle of design, which is contrast. Contrast serves to disrupt
or break up the unity in places, but in a careful intentional way. Um, well, let’s continue using
color as an example. To create contrast, color contrast, you need to abruptly change your color
scheme once in a while. Ah let’s see, you could throw bright-red cushions on your dark green
sofa, for example. Contrast makes things stand out. The green will look even greener next to the
red. So, now your room is more interesting, not completely the same. But watch out. Too much
contrast is also dangerous, just like too much sameness is. Too much contrast will make the room
feel busy, chaotic.
!
๏ Listening keys
• Main idea: the two aspects of interior design
• First principle: unity
147
• How to achieve it: bringing together similar elements, such as using green for the sofa, wall and
rug
• Effect: gives residents a sense of ease and comfort
• Drawback: too much unity will make the room boring
• Second principle: contrast
• How to achieve it: use different element; use different color scheme such as throw red cushion on
red sofa
• Effect: make things standout, more interesting
• Drawback: too much contrast will make the room look busy and chaotic
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about the two principals of interior design which are unity, and
contrast. Unity gives the residents a sense of order and comfort, it can be achieved by using
matching colors. For example, you can paint the wall green and use a different shade of green
for the fabric on the sofa, and complement that with a matching green rug. But too much unity
will make the room boring, that’s when contrast comes in. Contrast can break the unity and make
the room look more interesting. Take the same room in the first case for example, to create
contrast, you can throw bright red cushions on the green sofa to break the unity. But too much
contrast will make the room feel busy, chaotic.
!
148
!
TPO 12!
!
Task 1!
!
What is the most efficient type of transportation in your country? Explain why you think it is
efficient. Include specific reasons or examples.
!
๏ Tips
• Train
• Doesn’t get affected by the weather
• Trains can keep going in heave rain or snow storm
• Good at keeping the schedule
• Trains usually leave and arrive on time; airplanes are almost never on time
• Economical
• It can move many people at a low cost. E.g. Chinese New Year
!
Sample response
I think the most efficient type of transportation in my country is the high-speed train for the
following reasons. First of all, train is probably the last thing that still moves in a really bad
weather. When there’s a snow storm, you can’t drive or fly, but you can take the train as usual.
Second, trains are pretty good at keeping a schedule. I can’t even recall how many times my
flight’s been delayed. When taking the train, I can usually make it to my destination on time.
Finally, the train can move a lot of people at a low cost. During every Chinese New Year, there
are approximately 400 million people on the move trying to get back home. I can’t imagine any
other type of transportation that can move so many people in just a few weeks. 
150
Task 2!
!
Some people believe it's essential for a person's education to learn to play a musical instrument.
Others don't believe music education is important. Which view do you agree with? Explain why.
!
๏ Tip
• Learning an instrument is important
• They are easier to master if one starts learning at a younger age
• Learning an musical instrument makes kids smarter
• It’s a good way to relax as well
• Learning an instrument is not important
• It’s a waste of time. Kids should make better use that time such as reading and doing sports
• Learning an instrument is hard. It takes years of practice yet it’s hard being an musician
!
!
Sample response
I think it is a good idea to learn to play a musical instrument. First, music is great creative and
expressive form. Not teaching your child an instrument at a young age takes away from them
opportunities for their future. For example, I myself never learned an instrument until I came to
college. As a downside I will never have the opportunity to play in an orchestra. Also, learning
an instrument can actually help kids getting better with science. Study has shown that there’s a
correlation between music and math, in other words, music helps you increase your math skills.
!
151
Task 3 !
!
College Radio Station to Undergo Major Changes
!
The university is considering making major changes to the college radio station. Changes would
include an expansion of the station's broadcasting range, which would allow the radio's
programming to reach nearby towns. One goal of the plan is to attract more students to apply to
its communications program. Another goal is to provide the university with an extra source of
revenue. University officials expect the enhanced radio station to significantly increase the
number of listeners, which will in turn encourage businesses to place commercials on the radio.
!
 
Narrator  
 
Male student  
What do you think of the proposal?
 
Female student  
I think it’ll work. I mean, the range of the station now is basically limited to the campus, and it’s
basically just a few programs, mainly for students.
 
Male student  
Yeah?
 
Female student  
Well, if this proposal goes through, there will be more program and they would give the students
more professional experience as they experiment with programming for a much larger, you
know, real-life audience. And stuff like that will give them a better shot at getting a job after they
graduate.
!
Male student
Of course
152
!
Female student
Besides, the whole university will benefit from it. Well, you know my friend Tony, right? He told
me that the radio station at his university did something like this about five years ago.
!
Male student
And?
!
Female student  
Well, it’s a success. They are making a lot of money out of commercials and they are using it to
offer more scholarships and to help fund projects to renovate the facilities of other programs.
 
Male student  
That sounds really good.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: expansion of the campus radio station
• Reason 1: give students in the program a chance to reach more audience
• Reason 2: bring in extra revenues for the school

๏ Listening key
• Woman agrees with it
• Reason 1: it’s really good for students in the program
• Details: there will be more programs and students get to broadcast to a larger, real life audiences;
this experience will help them finding a better job after they graduate
• Reason 2: money is good news for the school
• Details: her friend Tony’s school did this which brought in a lot of money through commercials. The
money can be used to fund projects and renovate the facilities of other programs
!
Sample response
153
The university is planning to expand the radio station’s broadcasting range to attract more
students and bring in more money through commercials. The woman agrees with the school’s
plan for the following reasons. First of all, she thinks that after the change, the radio programs
can reach more people, and that’s good news for students in the program because they can get
more experience broadcasting to larger audience. The second reason she gives is it’ll be good
for the school too. Her friend Tony’s school did something like this five years ago, it was a big
success which brought in a lot of money, and the school can use the money to fund projects or
renovate facilities on campus.
!
 
!
154
Task 4 !
!
Subliminal Perception
!
Humans are constantly perceiving visual and auditory stimuli. Sometimes our perception of these
stimuli occurs consciously: we are aware of a stimulus and know that we are perceiving it. But
our perception of a stimulus can also occur without our awareness: an image might appear and
disappear before our eyes too quickly for us to notice that we saw it, or a sound might be too
faint for us to realize that we heard it. This phenomenon—the perception of a stimulus just below
the threshold of conscious awareness—is called subliminal perception. Experiments have shown
that subliminally perceived stimuli can influence people's thoughts and attitudes.
 
Narrator:  
 
Professor  
Consider this experiment. Two groups of people were asked to watch TV. And while they were
watching, a picture flashed on the screen, less than a second, very quickly so it was barely
noticeable. The picture was of a boy with a birthday cake.
 
Now like I said, there were two groups, and each group saw a slightly different version of the
picture. One group got the boy looking angry. In fact he was actually throwing the cake on the
floor. The other group got a picture of the boy smiling, happy, holding out the cake like he was
offering it. Same boy, same cake, but different emotions expressed in each picture.
 
Everyone was then asked to look at a different image. Now this is a third image, right? Again it’s
the boy and the cake, but this time the image stayed on the screen. In this picture, the boy is just
holding the cake, basically no emotion on his face, everything very neutral. Now remember,
nobody knew they’d already seen a picture of this boy.  
After a minute, everyone was asked to describe the boy’s personality. Those who’d been exposed
to the image of the angry boy, they generally described the boy’s personality negatively. Those
who’d earlier seen the happy boy described him, well, positively.
155
๏ Reading key
• Term: Subliminal Perception
• Definition: the perception of a stimulus just below the threshold of conscious awareness—is called
subliminal perception.
๏ Listening key
• A study
• Two groups of people were ask to watch TV, both program contented a quick flash of an image
• The first group got a picture of an angry boy throwing a cake on the floor
• The second group got a picture of a happy boy holding out the cake
• Then they saw a still image of the same boy without emotions, everything neutral
• The first group perceived the boy’s personality as negative
• The second group perceived the boy’s personality as positive
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about subliminal perception, which means sometimes, our
perception of a stimulus can occur without our awareness. In the study, two groups people were
asked to watch TV, while the program the first group watched contained a flash of image of an
angry boy throwing a cake on the floor, the second group of people got a picture of the boy
smiling, happily holding the cake. Then both group of people were then asked to see a third, a
still image of the boy holding the cake without emotion. When asked to describe the boy’s
personality, the first group of people described the boy’s personality as negative, the second
group described it positively.
!
!
!
156
Task 5  
!
Narrator
!
Male student  
Hey Madison! What’s wrong?
!
Female student  
Oh! I’m just struggling about what to do. I won an award from the Pacific Journalism Institute
for an article I submitted, and...
!
Male student  
doesn’t sound like anything’s wrong.
!
Female student  
Well, it’s a huge honor to win and there is an award ceremony they’ve invited me to attend,
which I’m super excited about. But, and here is what’s frustrating, I’ve got a philosophy exam
that’s scheduled to end right when the ceremony begins.
!
Male student
Oh… you are saying you’ll just be finishing up taking the exam right when the ceremony starts?
!
Female student
Exactly
!
Male student
But those ceremonies never start on time. They give long introductions, you know, have a
general speech or something before they ever get to handing out awards. I’m sure they won’t be
ready to hand out your award right at the beginning. Just go when you are done with the test. You
won’t miss anything important.
!
Female student.
157
Maybe, but that is a bit risky. I don’t want to miss being there when they announce my name.
!
Male student  
Well, have you talked to your professor about this?
!
Female student
Doctor Forester? No.
!
Male student
Maybe she’ll let you take the exam some other time.
!
Female student  
True! She lets people reschedule exams sometimes. But she always makes them take it a couple
of days early. That would mean less studying time for me, which I’m not thrilled about.
 
Male student  
Less time to study... oh...
 
Female student  
Like I said, I’m still struggling about what to do.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: woman needs to attend an award ceremony but it begins right after her philosophy exam
• Solution 1: go to the ceremony right after the exam
• Pro: she won’t miss anything important because they give out general introductions and speeches
• Con: there’s a risk that she might miss it when they announce her name
• Solution 2: reschedule her exam
• Pro: she won’t risk of being late for the award ceremony
• Con: the professor will make her take it a few days earlier. She will lose some studying time.
!
Sample response
158
The woman’s problem is that she wants to attend an award ceremony but she has a philosophy
exam scheduled to end right when the ceremony begins. She faces two solutions, the first is to go
to the ceremony after she finishes her exam, the second solution is to reschedule her exam. I
think the first solution is better. First of all, award ceremonies never begin on time, they give
general speech or introduction at the beginning of the ceremony, she won’t miss anything
important by being late for a little while. Second, if she reschedules her test, it’s highly possible
that the professor would make her take it a few days in advance, she will lose some studying time
which can have a negative impact on her grade.
!
!
159
Task 6 !
 
Narrator:  
Listen to part of a lecture in an economics class.
 
Professor  
So when we talk about the demand for a product, we are referring to how much consumers want
to buy it, right? And often the demand for a product is influenced by its price - the more
expensive it becomes, the less chance that people will want to buy it. OK, but, um that’s not the
whole story. Sometimes the demand for a product can also be influenced by the price of other
related products.
 
First, there are those products called substitute goods. If products can be substituted for one
another, then, um, well, then they are called substitute goods. They are similar enough to be
interchangeable. And an increase in the price of one means an increase in the demand for the
other, like… butter and margarine. They are pretty much used for the same purposes. Margarine
are butter substitute and you can bake equally well with either. Well, when the price of butter
goes up, it becomes less affordable and so what will people do? They buy margarine instead,
right? So, uh, you see an increase in the price of butter increases the demand for margarine.
 
Now another instance where the price of one product can influence the demand of another is uh...
is when you have two products that can’t be used without each other. Those products, we call
complement goods - they complement, or uh, complete each other if you will, like compact discs
and compact disc players. You need both products in order to use either. So if the price of either
product increases, demand for both is likely to decrease. And if the price of CDs goes up, well,
demand for them will go down, right? And because CDs and CD players complement each other,
what will also happen is that the demand for CD players will go down too.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: how the price of one product can influence the demand for another
• Substitute Goods
• Similar enough to replace one another
160
• Butter and margarine
• An increase of the price of butter will make it less affordable; people will start buying margarine
instead; the demand for margarine will increase
• Compliment Goods
• Have to work together, can’t be used without one another
• CD and CD players
• An increase of price of CD will make people buy less CD; CD has to work with a CD play; the
demand for both will decrease
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about how the demand for a product can be affected by the
price of another product. When one product is similar enough to replace the other, they are
called substitute goods. Take butter and margarine for example, because they are very similar,
when the price of either one is increased, the demand of the other would also increase. The
second kind of products are called complement goods, which are products that can’t be used
without one another. Take the CD player and CDs for example, because you need both products
in order to use either, when the price of CDs goes up, the demand for both is likely to decrease,
the same happens vise versa.
!
!
161
!
TPO 13!
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a game, sport or other group activity that is played in your country. Explain why you
think the activity is enjoyable.
!
๏ Tip
• Ping Pong
• Easy to learn
• Even kids can play; very basic equipments needed
• Doesn’t require much space
• A table isn’t very big; you can play on half a table as well
• Easy to find a partner to play
• Most Chinese people know how to play, so opponents are easy to find
!
Sample response
A sport that’s commonly played in my country is ping pong for many reasons. First of all, it’s
very easy to learn, even kids can play it, all you need is a paddle and a ball which are very cheap
to buy. Also, ping pong does not require too much space to play. A ping pong table could easily
fit in the basement. Or you can play on half a table put against the wall as well. Finally, because
so many people play ping pong in the country, it’s easy to find someone to play with, and most of
the people who knows how to play are actually pretty good at it.
!
!
163
Task 2!
!
When looking for information for a research project, some students prefer to get their
information mainly from the Internet. Others prefer to mainly use printed materials such as
books and academic journals. Which do you prefer, and why?
!
๏ Tip
• Getting information online
• Convenient
• Everything can be done on a computer with internet connection
• The amount of information is massive
• One can get massive amount of information when doing research online
• Information is always ready to use online
• You can’t find or borrow a book when it’s checked out by others
• Getting information from printed materials
• Accuracy
• Published materials are more reliable then information that’s floating online
• Prints are easier to read
• Staring at the computer screen can cause eye strains

!
Sample response
When looking for information for a research project, I prefer to get my information mainly from
the internet. First of all, when doing research online, a student can get access to massive amount
of information, and it is very easy to cross reference the information for accuracy. While in a
library, you can only checkout or carry a few books at a time. Second, some books and reference
are hard to find in a library, for example, when a book gets checked out by someone else, you
have to wait till it’s returned to read it, but resources online are always there and ready for use.
!
!
164
Task 3!
!
New Stadium
!
A university official announced plans to spend $2 million to build a new athletic stadium,
commenting that a new stadium would help the university achieve its goal of attracting more top
students. The official also said that, additionally, building a new stadium would allow the
university to strengthen its relationship with the town since a new and larger stadium would have
the space to seat not only students, parents, and alumni, but members of the local community as
well.
!
Narrator
 
Male student  
So what do you think of the university’s new plan?
 
Female student  
Oh! I don’t know. I don’t think it’s gonna work.
 
Male student  
No?
 
Female student  
I mean I can’t imagine top students being too thrilled about some of the conditions on campus.
!
Male student
What do you mean?
!
Female student
165
Like the science laboratories having such old, outdated equipment, and the library needing more
books, and the student center being so small… I think that the two million could be spent in
better places if the university is really serious about achieving its goal.
!
Male student
Ok. But what about the other reason for building the stadium? I mean right now we have so little
contact with the town.
!
Female student
Yeah. But this won’t help relations. Look, people from town hardly ever come to games because
our teams always lose and they are not suddenly going to improve overnight. Besides, adding
seats won’t make a difference. I mean if people from town didn’t come before, they won’t come
now just because the place is bigger.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: the school is planning to build a new stadium
• Reason 1: to attract more top students
• Reason 2: to strengthen relationship with the town

๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: the money should be used at somewhere else
• Details: buying books for the library; upgrading equipments in the labs; enlarging the student
center
• Reason 2: adding seat won’t attract more locals to come to the games
• Details: people don’t come because the school team always lose, not that there aren’t enough
seats for the audiences; a new stadium won’t improve the team
!
Sample response
166
The schools is planning to spend two million dollars to build a new stadium on campus to attract
top students and strengthen relationship with the local community. In the conversation, the
woman strongly disagrees with the school’s plan. The first reason she gives is that the school
should make better use of that money. Such as buying more books for the library, upgrading
equipments in the labs and renovating the student center. She thinks in doing so, the school can
attract more top students. Second, she states that the locals hardly come to see the game,
because their team always lose, not that there aren’t enough seats in the stadium. Building a new
stadium won’t change the fact that no one likes to come and see the games.
!
 
!
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Task 4  
!
Perceptual Constancy
!
How an object affects our senses depends in part on external conditions, and these conditions are
always changing. An object viewed from one angle presents a different shape to our eye than
when viewed from another angle; similarly, as the distance from which we view an object
changes, the object will appear larger or smaller. In spite of this, even as conditions change and
we see objects differently, we still recognize that they remain the same. This is what is known as
perceptual constancy. If not for perceptual constancy, we might have difficulty recognizing
familiar objects if we viewed them in a new and different context.
!
Narrator:  
Professor:  
Let’s take an everyday example - an ordinary round plate like you’d find in a kitchen. If you hold
the plate directly in front of your face and look at it, what shape do you see? A perfect circle,
right? Suppose you tilt the plate to a different angle, to a horizontal position, like you are
planning to put food on it. Still a perfect circle? No. The circle is now stretched out, flattened
into an oval. Do you conclude the plate has actually changed shape, or that it’s a different object,
not the same plate? Of course not. It looks different, but we perceive it as still being the same.
 
Here is a different example. This classroom we are in, it’s fairly large, right? Now, from up close,
from the front row, I appear to be relatively big, bigger than if you were in the back row, right?
But let’s say you are sitting in a front row today, but tomorrow you are sitting in the back row.
From back there I’m going to look smaller, but you don’t think I’ve actually gotten smaller. You
don’t think you are seeing a different professor, a guy who looks like me except he is smaller. No
matter where you are, up close or far away, you understand without even thinking about it that I
am the same size, the same person.
!
๏ Reading key
• Term: Perceptual Constancy
168
• Definition: Even as conditions change and we see objects differently, we still recognize that they
remain the same.
๏ Listening key
• Change of perspective
• Example: a plate appears to be a perfect circle when viewed up front; it looks stretched out when
tilted; we can still recognize the plate remains the same
• Change of distance
• Example: the professor will look bigger to a student sitting in the front raw, but smaller if the
student sits in back raw the next class. The student won’t have problem recognizing it is still the
same professor
!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about perceptual constancy which means we have no problem
recognizing an object when the angle or distance from which we are viewing it changes. The first
example is when we see a plate from up front, it appears to be a perfect circle, but when we tilt it,
although now the plate looks like an oval, we can still recognize it as the same plate. In the
second example, the professor will look bigger to a student sitting in the front row, let’s say the
student sits in the back row the next class, this time the professor will look smaller, but the
student will have no problem recognizing the professor.
 
!
169
Task 5 !
!
Narrator  
!
Female student  
Hey Mark! How’s it going?
!
Male student
Hm... not so good.
 
Female student  
What’s wrong?
!
Male student  
Well, you know how I’m president of the anthropology club, Well， I’m supposed to drive
everyone in the club to see a special exhibit at the museum tomorrow. My mom said I could
borrow her van, you know, so everyone would fit. But unfortunately, it broke down and it’s not
gonna he repaired in time for the trip.
 
Female student  
Oh! So what are you going to do? Can you rent a van?
 
Male student  
Yeah, that’s a possibility. It’s a little risky for me though. I’ve tried to get in touch with the club
members, but only four have gotten back to me and said they’d contribute some money to the
cost.
!
Female student
What about the other members?
!
Male student
170
I don’t know. It’d probably be OK with them too, but that’s the risk. I don’t know for sure. I
don’t want to get stuck with having to pay for most of the bill.
!
Female student 
Well, since not everyone has gotten back to you, why don’t you just postpone the trip, you know,
until your mom’s van is repaired?
 
Male student  
Yeah, I could do that, though I’m sure everyone would be real disappointed if they show up
tomorrow ready to go and find out that we are not going.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: the man needs to drive everyone to the museum but the van he was going to use broke down
• Solution 1: rent a van
• Pro: none given
• Con: risky, he might not get his money back from all the club members
• Solution 2: postpone the trip
• Pro: eliminate the risk of having to pay for most of the rental bill
• Con: club members will be disappointed to find out they are not going as planned
!
Sample response
The man’s problem is that he needs to drive everyone to the museum but the van he was going to
used broke down. There are two possible solutions, the first is to rent a van, the second is to
postpone the trip until the van gets repaired. I think the second solution is better. First of all, in
doing so, he won’t take the risk of having to pay for most of the bill, he mentioned that only four
group members have gotten back to him and agreed to contribute to the cost. Second, going to
the museum is not a seasonal thing, the displays are all the same no matter when they go, so I
think it’s not a big deal if they waited for a few days.
!
!
!
171
Task 6 !
 
Narrator:  
Now listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.
 
Professor  
Now many sea animals, in order to hide from predators, have, over time, developed different
kinds of camouflage to help them blend in with their environment and avoid detection by
predators. Picture the surface of the sea floor. It’s as varied as the land we live on. It’s got peaks
and valleys, vegetation, rocky areas, and some sea animals have developed permanent colors or
shapes to resemble these environmental features.  
!
This camouflage helps disguise them from predators by enabling them to blend into a specific
part of the sea. For instance, take a kind of fish, like the leafy sea dragon. Well the name says it
all. It resembles a small green dragon with leaf-like protrusions sticking out like arms. And
because of its color and shape, it blends in extremely well with green sea plants. So when the
leafy sea dragon is swimming through these plants, predators have trouble seeing it. But when it
enters other environments without these green plants, its camouflage doesn’t work any more.
 
Now other sea animals are difficult to spot anywhere in the sea because their type of camouflage
enables them to change color. Take the cuttle fish, a fish that’s closely related to the squid and
octopus. Unlike leafy sea dragons, cuttle fish have not developed any particular shape to hide
from predators, but they have a lot more mobility because their camouflage allows them to blend
into any environment because cuttle fish have shifting pigments that allow them to change color
in a matter of seconds. And so they can almost instantaneously match the color of their
surroundings. If they are swimming by green sea plants, they’ll turn green, and if they are
swimming over the brown sea floor, they’ll turn brown.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: two kinds of camouflage
• First kind: Permanent Camouflage
• Example: leafy sea dragon
172
• Leaf like arms sticking out of it’s body; blends in really well with leaf part of the ocean; can be
spotted pretty easily when it leaves it’s surrounding
• Second kind: Temporary Camouflage
• Example: cuttlefish
• Color shifting pigments allows it to change color according to the environment; when it’s near sea
plants→turn green; when it’s on the sea floor→turn brown
!
Sample response
The professor talks about two kinds of camouflage which are permanent camouflage and
temporary camouflage. She talks about permanent ones first. Leafy sea dragon has leaf-like
protrusions sticking out its body. When it’s near the leafy part of the ocean floor, it blends in
really well, but because this camouflage is permanent, when the sea dragon leaves the leafy
surrounding, it can be spotted very easily. The second kind of camouflage is temporary, meaning
it can change according the environment. Take the cuttlefish for example, it has color shifting
pigments in its skin, so it can change color. When it’s near green sea plant, it’ll turn green, when
it’s on the seafloor, it’ll turn brown. 
!
!
!
173
!
TPO 14 !
!
Task 1!
!
People enjoy reading many different types of books such as mystery, biography, romance, etc. Of
all the different types of books that there are, what type do you most enjoy? Explain why.
!
๏ Tips
• Mystery Books
• Fun to read; engaging; surprises; never know what’s coming; storyline is hard to guess
• Biography
• Nothing beats real; what’s learned in the book can be applied to one’s life; a chance to get to
know your personal hero or idol (Steve Jobs)
• Romance
• Relaxing to read; fulfill an impossible dream; get swept off my feet; get what people seem to be
missing in their life or what they hope to gain in a relationship
!
Sample response
Of all the different types of books that there are, I like to read mystery books the most. First of
all, mystery books keep you interested, they are engaging. A good mystery book is hard to put
down once you start, because you always want to know what happens next, and time passes by so
fast when you get into it. Also, stories in mystery books are usually very unpredictable. You never
know what’s gonna happen next. The worst thing that can happen when reading a book is that
you can guess what will happen before you get to the part.
!
!
175
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
One of the best ways to learn is by making mistakes.
Use specific examples and details to support your opinion.
!
๏ Tip
• People learn more about things from doing corrections
• Learning through mistakes is the best way for one to improve his or her English
• If you succeed at something, it’s probably something you already knew how to do. You haven’t really
grown much from that success
• Talk about a mistake you’ve made in real life. It can be something small. For example, putting too much
salt in a dish when you learn how to cook
!
Sample response
I strongly believe that the best way to learn is by making mistakes. First of all, as the old saying
goes, mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious
life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. This is so true when you’re trying to learn
English, especially the speaking part of it, if you’re afraid of making mistakes then it’s almost
impossible for you to improve. All the people that I know of who can speak English like a native
speaker weren’t shy, or afraid of saying something incorrectly when they first started learning. 
176
Task 3 !
!
University Should Allow Eating in Class
!
Currently, there is a university-wide policy that prohibits eating in the classroom. I disagree with
this policy. I think students should be allowed to eat in class. This change would be good for two
reasons. For one thing, if students were permitted to eat, they would be able to concentrate better,
because students often get hungry during long classes, and hunger makes it difficult to
concentrate. Also, if food were allowed in classrooms, it would be possible for us to have in-
class parties on the last day of class—with snack foods and beverages—to celebrate the end of
each semester.
!
Narrator:  
Now listen to two students discussing the letter
 
Student A:  
Did you see this letter, Jim?
 
Student B:  
Yeah.
 
Student A:  
It’d be kinda nice to be able to do that, huh?
 
Student B:  
No, actually I don’t think it’s a good idea.
 
Student A:  
Why not?
 
Student B:  
Well, like the part about how it would help students concentrate. I mean maybe a little snack will
help the person who’s eating it, but the trouble is that it makes it hard for everyone else to
177
concentrate ‘cuz they have to listen to someone munching on chips or biting into an apple or
crinkling paper wrappers.
 
Student A:  
I guess it can be kind of disruptive.
 
Student B:  
Yeah. It would interfere with everyone’s concentration. You wouldn’t be able to pay attention
with all the noises going on.
 
Student A:  
OK. I guess I have to agree with you on that. But what about her other reason? It would be nice
to be able to have some fun at the end of the semester, right?
!
Student B:  
No, there’s a problem with that too.
 
Student A:
Why?
 
Student B:  
Well, I don’t think it’s appropriate to use class time for that kind of thing. I mean, the last classes
are usually pretty important. That’s when we will do a lot reviewing for final exams.
 
Student A:  
True.
 
Student B:  
If we use that time for that, we probably wouldn’t have time to do as much reviewing, which
means we wouldn’t be as well prepared for exams.
 
Student A:  
Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that.
178
!
๏ Reading key
• Proposal: students should be allowed to eat in class
• Reason 1: it helps students to concentrate in long classes
• Reason 2: the last class of the semester can be used to have a party
๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: eating creates too much noise that’ll break students’ concentration
• Details: the noise of people biting into an apple; munching on chip and crinkling paper wrappers is
very distracting
• Reason 2: using the last class to party is inappropriate
• Details: the last class should be used to do reviewing for final exams so students can get ready
for them 
!
Sample response
The author of the letter suggests that the school should allow students to eat in classroom, so
students can concentrate better during class, and have in class parties at the end of the semester.
In the conversation, the man disagrees with the letter for the following reasons. First of all,
eating in class will create a lot of noise which can be very distracting. Such as the sound of
someone biting into an apple or munching on chips. Second, he thinks it’s not right to have an in-
class party at the end of semester. That class should be used to do reviewing for final exams, so
that students can be better prepared for them.
!
179
Task 4 !
!
Comfort Zone Bias
!
Psychologists have found that when people make important decisions, they often choose to stay
in their "comfort zones"; that is, they prefer remaining in comfortable, familiar situations, rather
than entering into new, unfamiliar ones. This tendency is often referred to as the comfort zone
bias. When people are reasonably content, they often decide not to pursue a new opportunity,
even if it attracts them and offers more advantages. Psychologists believe that the comfort zone
bias exists not only because we have a natural preference for what we already know, but also
because we want to avoid taking risks.
!
 
Narrator:  
Now listen to part of lecture in a psychology class.
 
Professor:  
OK. So this comes up a lot when people make career decisions. A friend of mine from college
always wanted to be a film reviewer. He was a film major and he loved movies. Most of all, he
loved to write about movies. So when he graduated, he looked for a job as a film reviewer for a
newspaper, because as a film reviewer, he’d get to see films for free and would be paid to write
about them. That’s what he loved. But he couldn’t find a job as a film reviewer. So he took a
position as a news reporter instead, for a newspaper, investigating stories, writing about events-
what news reporters do.
 
Now, at first, my friend wasn’t sure he’d be any good at this. He’d never been a news reporter
before. But eventually he adjusted and gained confidents and he got used to the job. And he
realized he was actually a pretty good reporter. Anyway, here’s the thing. After a few years, the
film reviewer for the newspaper where he worked quit and my friend was offered her job. This
was his dream, right? His opportunity to be a film reviewer had finally come and the new job
would actually pay more, too. But did he take the job? Nope, he turned it down. He told me he’d
gotten used to being a news reporter. And he just didn’t want to try something else. It seemed
like too big of a change, since, well, there was a chance that the new job might not work out.
180
!
๏ Reading key
• Term: Comfort Zone Bias
• Definition: people prefer remaining in comfortable, familiar situations, rather than entering into new,
unfamiliar ones.
๏ Listening key
• Professor’s friend wanted to be a film reviewer
• He ended up being a news reporter because he couldn’t find a job as film reviewer
• He became a good reporter
• When a film reviewer position opened up, he turned it down
• His reason was he’s used to being a news reporter. He didn’t want to take the risk of not being able
to handle the new job
!
Sample response
The professor talks about comfort zone bias which is when people prefer to remain in
comfortable, familiar situations, rather than entering into new, unfamiliar ones. For example, a
friend of the professor had always wanted to be a film reviewer. But it was really hard to find a
job as one, so he ended up being a news reporter instead. As time went by, he got familiar with
the routine, and became a good news reporter. But when a film reviewer’s position opened up, he
turned it down. His reason was that he’s gotten used to being a news reporter and he didn’t want
to try something else, he didn’t want to take a risk of not being able to handle the new job,
although he’d alway dreamed of being one.
 
!
!
181
Task 5 !
 
Narrator:  
 
Student A:  
Hey, Matt. How’s it going?
 
Student B:  
Uh, so so. I’ve got a problem with my housing for next semester, and I have to make a decision
soon.
 
Student A:  
What’s going on?
 
Student B:  
All, I live in a dormitory and I’ve got a great roommate for the last two years, but he’s moving
off campus next semester.
 
Student A:  
Oh. So...
 
Student B:  
So now I have to make a big decision, you know, about my living arrangements.
 
Student A:  
Well, couldn’t you just get a new roommate? Doesn’t the university automatically assign
someone to take his place?
 
Student B:  
Yeah, they do. The thing is I’m concerned about sharing a room with somebody new. There
could be problems like what if he wanted to go to sleep at 10 o’clock. I’m used to studying late
at night and that would throw off my whole study schedule.
182
 
Student A:  
I guess that’s possible. But it is convenient to be on campus, easy to get to class and all. What
else could you do?
 
Student B:  
Well, my roommate found a house off campus with some other friends and there’s another
bedroom available. I could have it but I have to let them know by the end of the week.  
!
Student A:  
A house sounds like a good idea. It’d be fun to live with a group of people.
 
Student B:  
True. And it would definitely be economical with everyone splitting the rent. But it’s just that
this house is really far from campus. I’d have to wake up much earlier to get to class. It’d just be
a lot more inconvenient than living in the dorm.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: the man’s roommate is moving out of the dorm, changes needs to be made about his living
arrangement
• Solution 1: getting a new roommate
• Pro: stay in the dorm, the school will assign him a new roommate
• Con: he might not get along with the new roommate; such as different study schedule
• Solution 2: move off campus to share a house with some friends
• Pro: fun to live with a bunch of people; economical
• Con: far away from campus, he needs to wake up early in the morning
!
Sample response
183
The man’s problem is that his roommate is moving off campus next semester, and now he has to
make a big decision about his living arrangement. The first solution is to get a new roommate.
The second is to move off campus to share a room in a house with some other friends. I think the
second solution is better. First of all, he’ll have more space if he has a room to himself, when
living in a house, there’s no need to worry about studying late will disturb others as long as he
keeps his door shot. Second, it’s a lot of fun living with a bunch of people, life will be more
exciting. Last but not least, sharing a house with others is much more economical than living in
the dorms.
!
!
184
Task 6 !
 
Narrator:  
Listen to part of lecture in marine biology class
 
Professor:  
A lot of plants and animals live near the surface of the ocean and that means there’s a lot of food
near the surface, because there are lots of plants and animals to eat. But if you go down to the
deepest parts of the ocean, it’s cold and dark. And there’s not a lot living down there. So food is
very scarce. So organisms that live down at these great depths have developed special
adaptations to help them survive in this environment where food is so hard to find.
 
For example, many deep-sea organisms have body features that enable them to eat prey that are
larger than themselves. A good example, um, there’s a species of eel that has an enormous mouth
and a large stomach that’s capable of expanding, and these unusual features allow this eel to eat
prey larger than itself. That’s a big advantage because if the eel eats something big, that’s a lot of
food, a lot of nutrition. So the eel can go for quite a while before it has to find food again.
 
Another helpful adaptation in some deep-sea organisms is the ability to generate light. And some
organisms use that light to help them capture food. For example, there’s a kind of fish called the
angler fish, and on its head this fish has a little structure that produces light that glows in the
dark. This little structure, this little light is positioned close to the fish’s mouth. Other fish are
attracted to this light. They think it’s something small they can eat. So they swim straight toward
it and that brings them close enough for the angler fish to capture them and eat them.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: two adaptations deep sea animals use to survive the harsh environment
• First adaptation: eat as much as possible
• Example: a kind of eel that has large mouth and stomach. This body feature allows it to eat prays
that are larger than itself. Lots of food=lots of nutrition, so it can go one without eating for a long
time
185
• Second adaptation: use light to attract food
• Example: angler fish can produce a little light that glows in the dark. Other fish will think the light
is something small the can eat. When they get close enough, the angler fish can capture and eat
them very easily

!
Sample response
The professor talks about the two techniques deep sea animals use to survive in the harsh
environment. The first is to eat as much as possible. For example, a kind of eel that lives in the
depth has large mouth and stomach, this allows it to eat animals that are bigger than itself, so
it’s able to get a lot of nutrition, therefore it can go for quite a while until it finds food again. The
second technique is to generate light to attract prey. For example, a fish that’s called angler fish.
Part of its head can produce a light that glows in the dark, when other fish sees it, they think it’s
something small to eat, so they swim straight toward it and when they get close enough, the
angler fish can capture and eat them easily. 
186
!
TPO 15!
!
Task 1!
!
People make friends in many different ways. What do you think is a good way to make new
friends? Use specific details and examples in your response.
!
๏ Tips
• Making friends through common interests
• Same interest can nurture great discussion topics
• Easier to start a conversation with people alike
• One doesn’t need much effort to click and connect with someone similar
!
Sample response
I think a good way of making new friends is to indulge in the activity that you really like. For
example, if you are a bookworm, you can join a book club, if you are a music fan, you can join a
chorus. Because first, in those clubs, people around you all shares the same interest with you,
and its much easier for you to start a conversation. Second, this relaxing atmosphere enables you
to fully disclosure your great personality, and makes you more attractive to other people.
!
!
188
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is important to remember and learn
from the past. Use details and examples to explain your opinion.
!
๏ Tips
• History helps us understand people and societies
• History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be
• History is fun! History books are full of interesting stories

!
Sample response
I think it is important for everyone to remember what we and our country has been through.
First, learning from the past is a way of inheriting the history. Every book of history is made by
events that changed the development of our nation, like the birth of PRC, so it’s worth our
attention. Second, we can learn from the past as well, those history events sometimes are very
similar with what we encounter in our modern life, being familiar with our history means that
you acknowledge the way of solving tough problems before anyone else knows the solution.
Based on these reasons, I believe it is important for us to learn from the past. 
189
Task 3!
!
University Should Pave Running Trails
!
The university has about three miles of unpaved dirt running trails that pass through the forest
near campus. I think these trails should be paved with cement. One reason for paving the trails
would be to increase their safety. When it rains, the dirt turns to mud and becomes very slippery,
so the runners who use them can slip and fall. Pavement would solve this problem. Also, paving
would make the trails look nicer, which would encourage students to use them. Bumps in the
trail would be smoothed out and weeds would be paved over, making the trail more attractive to
runners.
!
Narrator:  
Listen to two students discussing the letter.
 
Female student  
Hey, Ted! You are a runner. Did you see this letter in the paper?
 
Male student  
Yeah, I did, and I used those.
 
Female student  
And?
 
Male student  
I think it’s a terrible idea.
 
Female student  
How come?
 
Male student  
190
Well, she really hasn’t thought it through, like the thing about making them safer. What she is not
thinking about is the long-term consequences of running on a hard surface.
 
Female student  
What do you mean?
 
Male student  
I mean it’s not good for you. It’s too hard on your bones and joints. If you run repeatedly on a
hard surface, it can lead to injuries, or that’s what I’ve been taught anyway. It’s better to run on a
soft surface. It does less damage to your body.
 
Female student  
Oh’ I wasn’t aware of that.
 
Male student  
Yeah, so actually it wouldn’t be safer, and her second point...
 
Female student  
About changing the way they look?
!
Male student  
Yeah, I don’t think people will like it.
 
Female student  
So they’d use them less?
 
Male student  
Yeah, I mean one of the main reasons people enjoy them now is it’s a way of taking a break from
the rest of campus, from buildings and streets and stuff. It’s, you know, a chance to feel like you
are out in nature.
 
Female student  
Oh, so you wouldn’t get that effect anymore.
191
 
Male student  
Right, it’d be just like you are on a regular street or sidewalk. It wouldn’t be as relaxing.
!
๏ Reading tip
• Proposal: the university should pave the running trail with cement
• Reason 1: pavement will make it safer to used
• Reason 2: paving the trail will make it prettier

๏ Listening tip
• The man disagrees with it
• Reason 1: running on a hard surface is not good for you.
• Details: a hard surface will put too much pressure on runners’ bones and joints. It could lead to
injuries. Running on a soft surface is much safer
• Reason 2: the new look will make students use it less
• Details: people run there now to get away from campus settings, they want the nature when they
run. A cement surface will make the trail look like a regular street or sidewalk
!
Sample response
The student letter suggests the school to pave the running trail with cement to increase it’s safety,
and make it look prettier. The man disagrees with the proposal for two reasons. His first reason
is that it’s actually not safe to run on a hard surface because that’ll put too much pressure on the
runner’s bones and joints. It could lead to injuries over time. Second, the new look will make
people use the trail less. People run there now to get away from the campus. They want the
nature when they run. Pavement will make the trails look like regular streets or sidewalks on
campus.
 
!
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Task 4  
!
Experimenter Effect
!
One objective of any experiment is, of course, to obtain accurate results. Sometimes, however,
problems occur that lead to inaccurate results. One such problem is the experimenter effect. The
experimenter effect occurs when a researcher’s expectations affect the outcome of the
experiment. The researcher expects a particular result from the experiment, and that expectation
causes the researcher to act in ways that influence the behavior of the experiment participants,
thereby invalidating the results of the experiment.
!
Narrator:  
Now listen to part of a lecture on this topic in a psychology class.  
!
Professor  
For example, I recently read about a case in which a researcher was given two groups of
monkeys and he was asked to train these monkeys to pick up a ball and put it in a box. And he
was told to record how many hours it took to train each monkey to learn to do this.
 
Now before he started the training, the researcher was told that one group of monkeys was highly
intelligent, and that the other group was less intelligent. In truth, there was no difference between
them. All the monkeys were actually very similar in terms of intelligence. But the researcher
didn’t know that. He thought one group was smarter. So he expected that that group would be
easier to train.
 
So what happened? Well, the researcher trained the monkeys to perform the action and it turned
out that on average it took him two hours less time to train the supposedly smart monkeys than
these supposedly less intelligent monkeys. Why? Well, it turns out that with the supposedly smart
monkeys, the researcher smiled at them a lot, gave them a lot of encouragement, talked to them a
lot, worked hard to communicate with them. But with the monkeys he thought were less
intelligent, he wasn’t as enthusiastic. He didn’t try quite as hard, wasn’t quite as optimistic.
!
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๏ Reading key
• Term: Experimenter Effect
• Definition: The experimenter effect is a problem that occurs when a researcher’s expectations affect
the outcome of the experiment.
๏ Listening key
• Researcher was asked to train two groups of monkeys to teach them how to pick up some balls and
put them in a box
• The researcher was told one group of monkey was smarter than the other, although they are equally
intelligent.
• Result: monkeys from the supposedly smarter group learn to finish the task in two hours less compare
to the monkeys from the other group
• Why? The researcher expected the smarter group to be easier to train so he smiled to those monkeys
and encouraged them a lot during the experiment. But he didn’t work as hard with the monkeys from
the other group
!
Sample response
The professor talks about experimenter effect which occurs when a researcher’s expectation
affect the outcome of an experiment. In the study, researcher was asked to train two groups of
monkeys. He was told that one group of monkey was smarter than the other, although they are
equally intelligent. It turned out monkeys from the first group took two hours less to train on
average. The reason was that the researcher expected the smarter group to be easier to train so
he smiled to those monkeys and encouraged them a lot during the training. But he didn’t work as
hard with the monkeys from the other group. 
194
Task 5 !
!
Narrator:  
 
Male student  
Hey, Kerry! What’s the matter?
 
Female student  
Well, you know I’m in a choir right? And we have a concert tonight in an hour, just an hour from
now. 
!
Male student  
I know I am going! Really looking forward to hearing you sing! What’s the trouble?  
!
Female student  
Well we are all supposed to wear white shirts and black pants at the concert, you know, so we all
look the same.
 
Male student  
Right?
 
Female student  
Well I wore my white shirt to dinner. And I spilt spaghetti sauce all over it.  
!
Male student  
Oh no!
195
 
Female student  
Yeah... there is a huge red stain on it. I can’t wear it for the concert now. It’s the only white shirt I
have and there is no time to go to the store to buy another one.
 
Male student  
Wow, what are you going to do?
 
Female student  
Well I just called the choir director and he is obviously unhappy about all this. But I told him
about another shirt I have. It’s not exactly white, not white like the others, sort of off white, sort
of cream colored? And he says it’s OK for me to wear it but...  
!
Male student
But it’s not exactly the same color as the others.

 
Female student  
Right. I’ll feel kind of funny. Some people in the audience would probably be able to tell!  
!
Male student  
Um...don’t any of the other choir members have an extra white shirt you could borrow?  
!
Female student  
No. I’ve already asked around. But my roommate has one.  
!
Male student  
Great! Use hers!  
!
Female student  
Well the thing is she’s out of town. I’ve tried calling her but haven’t been able to reach her. She
196
probably wouldn’t mind, but you know I’ve never borrowed any of her stuff before. And I really
don’t like taking things without asking.
!
๏ Listening tip
• Problem: woman needs to perform in a concert but her white shirt is stained with spaghetti sauce
• Solution 1: wear another shirt that’s off-white to the concert
• Pro: the director says it’s okay; it’s close to white
• Con: she will look different than the other. That’ll make her feel funny knowing the audiences can
tell the difference
• Solution 2: take her roommate’s white shirt
• Pro: it’s white. She’ll look exactly the same as the others
• Con: no way to get permission from her roommate before the concert. It’s not nice to take her
stuff without asking
!
Sample response:
The woman’s problem is that she needs to perform in a concert but her white shirt is stained with
dinner sauce. The first solution is for her to wear an cream-colored shirt to the concert, or she
can take her roommate’s white shirt and use it first. I think the first solution is better for the
following reasons. First of all, a cream colored shirt will look almost the same as a white shirt
under the bring stage light, very few people will be able to make out the difference. Also, the
second solution is not a good idea because it’s not polite to take other people’s belonging without
asking.  
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Task 6 !
 
Narrator  
Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.
 
Professor  
Birds have some of the best vision capabilities in the animal kingdom. Some bird species have
vision that is 8 to 10 times greater than humans. Overall a bird’s eyes are extremely important for
its survival. One aspect of birds’ eyes that plays a role in helping them survive, in other words to
find food or to avoid predators, is the position of the eyes in the skull.
 
Some birds have eyes that face forward on the skull, kind of similar to how humans’ eyes are
positioned. Forward-facing eyes allow a bird to clearly see and judge distances because it can
focus on objects with both of its eyes and correctly perceive height, width and depth. One type of
bird with eyes positioned in the front of the skull is the hawk. Hawks eat animals like mice.
Hawks have such good eyesight that they can spot a tiny mouse in the field from high up in the
air. They spot the mouse and swoop down to catch it. Without such good eyesight, they would
not be able to spot or catch their food.
 
Other birds have eyes that are located on each side of the skull. This positioning of the eyes can
help a bird to avoid predators. Instead of just seeing what’s directly in front, they can see things
that are on either side, permitting them to watch for danger in all directions. Imagine a duck
waiting near the edge of a lake. It needs to spend time eating grasses and insects. But it also is on
constant lookout for danger from its predator like the fox. An eye on each side of the duck’s head
allows it to see a fox approaching from either side. If it spots a fox, it can then fly away to safety.
The placement of the eyes are critical in helping the duck avoid predators.
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: how the position of a bird’s eyes helps them survive
• First kind: forward facing eyes that help birds find food
198
• Example: hawks have forward facing eyes that allow them to clearly see and judge distances, they
can correctly perceive height, width and depth. That’s why they can spot a mouse high up in the
sky, and swoop down to catch it when they do
• Second kind: eyes locate on both side that help animals to avoid predators
• Example: ducks’ eyes are located on both side of their skull. So when they are eating grasses and
insects by the lake, it can see predators like fox approaching from either side. That would give
them a chance to fly away to safety.
!
Sample response
The professor talks about how the location of a bird’s eyes is so important for it’s survival. For
example, hawks have forward facing eyes that are located on the front of their skull. This eye
location allow hawks to clearly see and judge distance. And because they can correctly perceive
height, width and depth, they can spot a mouse from high up the sky and dive down to catch it
successfully. On the other hand, animals like duck have eyes that locate on both sides of their
skull. This means when they are eating grasses and insects by the lake, they can see fox coming
from either side. And that will give them a chance to fly away before it’s too late.
!
199
TPO 16 
Task 1!
!
If you could have any job or career you wanted, which would you choose and why? Give
specific details to explain your response.
!
๏ Tips
• Dream of being a teacher
• Passionated about teaching
• Teaching experiences
• Enjoy the teaching process, have fun spending time with students
• Teaching is meaningful
• Teacher shapes a student’s future
• I was born to be a teacher
• I love explaining things to others
• I have the patience to do it

!
Sample answer
Well, speaking of a job or career that I would choose, it would definitely choose teacher for the
following reasons. First, I have a great passion for teaching. For example, last summer, I
volunteered for an educational organization called PEER as a teacher. I taught students English.
I enjoyed the teaching process, and had a lot getting to know students. Second, teaching is a
meaningful career. I believe an educator plays an importan role in shaping a student’s future.
What’s more, I believe I was born to be a teacher because I have great patience, and I enjoy
explaining things to other. All my friends and families have been telling me that I’d make a great
teacher since I was young.
!
201
Task 2!
!
Some people who unexpectedly receive a large amount of money spend it on practical things,
while others spend it for pleasure only. Which do you think is better and why?
!
๏ Tips
• Spending money on practical things
• It’s wise to spend money on things that last
• Small things like kitchen cooking wares, major purchase like a house
• Pleasures don’t last forever
• Pleasures fade away quickly
• Spending money on pleasure
• Life is short and you must live it to the fullest
• Travel the entire world when money isn’t a problem
• Things you own end up owning you
• People who get caught up with buying things for pleasure end up shopaholics
!
Sample answer
I prefer spending my money for pleasure only if I unexpectedly receive a large amount of it. First
of all, I believe that life is short and I must live it to the fullest. I’ve always wanted to travel the
entire world before I’m too old to do so. Nothing’s more exciting than meeting people from
different cultures and listening to their stories. Also, spending money on buying things isn’t the
thing for me. Because I believe that things you own end up owning you. It’s so easy for people to
get caught up on buying stuff they don’t need, and spend all the time attending to them so they
remain pristine.
!
202
Task 3!
!
Student Health Services Need Improvement
!
The situation at the health center is unacceptable: you sit in a crowded waiting room for hours
waiting to get treatment for minor ailments. Then when it's your turn, you get about three
minutes with an overworked doctor. I have two suggestions. First: the health center needs to hire
more doctors so that each patient receives quality treatment. And as far as the wait time issue is
concerned, the health center is currently open only Monday through Fridays, which means that
people who get sick over the weekend wait until the following week to get treatment. So,
opening the health center on weekends should solve that problem too.
!
Sincerely, Megan Finch
!
!
Woman: Did you read that letter in the paper ？
Man: Sure, and though she’s right about the problem, I don't think what she proposes will do
much good
Woman: Really?
Man: Yeah, take her first suggestion. I mean, have you seen the health center?
Woman: Of course. why?
Man: Well, it's tiny, right? The center suffers from lack of space, so, unless they built more
treatment room or offices or something...
Woman: Now, I see.
Man: And also, her second suggestion.
Woman: Seems like that'll help things out.
Man: Well, not necessarily. I mean, think about it. A lot of students aren't even here on the
weekends.
Woman: That's true.
Man: They leave town and get away. There are not a lot of people here.
Woman: Yeah, like me. I go home probably at least twice a mouth.
Man: Right and a lot of us leave campus for the weekend even more often than that. So there is
just not a lot of demand for treatment then .See what I mean?
203
!
๏ Reading key
• Proposal: changes need to be made at the Student Health Services
• Suggestion 1: hiring more doctors
• Suggestion 2: keep the center open seven days a week

!
๏ Listening key
• Man disagrees with the suggestions
• Reason 1: the real problem is the lack of space
• Details: he suggests the health center to built more treatment room or offices
• Reason 2: students don’t stay on campus on the weekends
• Details: they leave town and get away. There isn’t much demand for the center to stay open on
the weekends
!
Sample answer:
The student proposal suggests that changes need be made to improve the Student Health Center.
She thinks they should hire more doctors and keep the center open seven days a week. The man
disagrees with the proposal for the following reasons. First of all, the real problem is the lack of
space. He thinks the center should build more treatment rooms or office instead of hiring more
doctors. Second, students don’t stay on campus on the weekends, they leave two or get away.
Keeping the center open is a waste of resource because no one’s there during the weekends.
!
!
!
204
Task 4!
!
Social Loafing
!
When people work in groups to perform a task, individual group members may feel less
motivated to contribute, since no person is held directly responsible for completing the task. The
result is that people may not work as hard, or accomplish as much, as they would if they were
working alone and their individual output were being measured. This decrease in personal effort,
especially on a simple group task, is known as social loafing. While it is not a deliberate
behavior, the consequence of social loafing is less personal efficiency when working in groups
than when working on one's own
!
!
!
Narrator：
Listen to part of a lecture in a psychology class.
Professor :
Now, a study was done that illustrated this phenomenon. in the study, people were given an
ordinary task that everyone has probably done before. They were simply asked to peel potatoes
and to peel as many potatoes as possible in a given amount of time.
OK, so some people worked alone and they were told that the number of potatoes they each
people would be recorded. Others peeled potatoes together as part of group and they were told
that only the total number of potatoes peeled would be recorded, so it would be impossible to tell
how many any one person had done.
Then researchers compared the results of the people who worked alone and those that worked
together to see if there was any difference, that is they took the average score of the people
working alone and compared it to the average score of the people working together in a group.
And they did discover a difference .It turns out that people working as a group peeled
significantly fewer potatoes than people who worked alone.
!
๏ Reading key
• Term: Social Loafing
• Definition: A decrease in personal effort, especially on a simple group task
205
๏ Listening key
• People were asking to peel potatoes in a given amount of time
• Some worked alone and were told their personal result will be recorded
• Some worked as groups and were told their group result will be recorded
• And a personal average was taken for participants who worked as a group
• Result: People who worked alone peeled a lot more potatoes than the people who worked as a group
• Reason: people worked harder when being held directly responsible for completing the task
!
Sample answer
The professor talks about Social Loafing in the lecture which is a decrease in personal effort,
especially on a simple group task. In the study, test participants were asked to peel potatoes.
Some of them worked alone, and was told their personal results will be recorded. Others worked
as groups and was told their team results will be recorded. After the test, researchers took the
average score of the people who worked as groups . The result shows that people working alone
peeled a lot more potatoes than those worked as groups. Because people work harder when
being held responsible directly.
!
!
!
206
Task 5!
!
Narrator：
Listen to part of a conversation between two students.
Woman: Hey Steve! Did you get that book on the Russian Revolution professor Harper wants us
to read?
Man: No, none of the bookstores in the campus area had it in stock .they'll get it in about two
weeks.
Woman:Hmm...so what are you gonna do in the meantime ? Remember we are going to be
discussing the book starting next Tuesday.
Man: Well, I was thinking of placing a rush order with bookseller on the internet, so I'd have the
book in about a day or two .
Woman: Yeah, but rush order delivery is expensive. You could easily spend twice as much
money for the book that way.
Man: I know, but what choice do I have?
Woman: Well since we only have to read a few chapters at a time, you are welcome to share my
copy for a few weeks, you know, until you can get yours at the bookstore.
Man: You mean, you would read the chapters assigned, give the book to me ,I'd read those
chapters then give the book back to you to read the next set of chapters ,and so on?
Woman: Exactly.
Man: Thanks! But, what if I don't get the book back to you in time? Wouldn't you get behind in
your reading?
Woman: Yeah, maybe, but it should work if we are careful.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: the man can not find a course book in all the bookstores in the campus area
• Solution 1: placing a rush order with bookseller on the internet
• Pro: he can get the book in a day or two
• Con: rush orders are expensive, sometimes twice as expensive
• Solution 2: sharing a book with the woman until he can buy a copy at the bookstore
• Pro: he and the woman can work out a system so none of them misses the reading
207
• Con: the woman could get behind in her reading if the man get the book back to her late
!
Sample answer
The man’s problem is that he needs to read a required book before the next Tuesday but none of
the bookstores in the campus area had it in stock. There are two possible solutions. The first is
placing a rush order with bookseller on the internet. The second solution is sharing the woman’s
copy until he can buy one from the bookstore. I think the second solution is better for the
following reasons. First of all, he can save a lot of money, because rush orders are very
expensive, sometimes twice as expensive. Second, he can work out a system with woman. As long
as they are careful, no one’s going to miss the reading.
!
!
208
Task 6!
!
Narrator：
Now Listen to part of a talk in a psychology class.
Professor :
OK, Ever thought about the things that happen to you and what's responsible for them? We
psychologists have a term, locus of control. Locus of control refers to ...um ...where people think
control over their lives comes from, whether it comes from themselves or from somewhere else.
People who think that control is in themselves are internals and people who think it comes from
somewhere else are externals.
Let's say there are two people going for job interviews. One of them is an internal. She has an
internal locus of control. Since she thinks that control comes from within herself, she will believe
that her success and her preparation are really her responsibility. So she is likely to really work
on her interview skills ahead of time. Then if she gets the job, she will believe that it's because
she's worked so hard and if she doesn't get it, well, she'll probably be disappointed with herself
and try to figure out how she can improve for the next time.
OK. And another job candidate is an external. He perceives other things, say his interviewers, to
have more influence. After all, it's their decision. It depends on what mood they are in, and you
know, luck. Now with his external locus of control, he is not as hard on himself. So he is more
likely to take risks. He might interview for a job that he's not completely qualified for. And if he
gets it, he'll think he is really lucky, and because he believes external forces are in control, he
might think it's because the interviewers were having a good day. And if he doesn't get it, he'll
probably blame the interviewers or bad luck rather then look at himself and try to figure out what
he could have done better.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: two types of locus of control
• First type: internal locus of control, people think it comes from people themselves
• Example: a woman goes to a job interview thinking she’s in control of the result. She will work hard
and prepare ahead.
• If she gets the job→she will think it’s her hard work that got her the job
209
• If she doesn’t→she will be disappointed in herself and try to improve the next time
• Second type: external locus of control, people think it comes from elsewhere
• Example: a man goes to a job interview thinks the result depends on the mood of the interviewer or
luck. He won’t be too hard on himself, he might even take risks of applying for a job that his not
qualified for.
• If he gets the job→he will think the interviewers are having a good day
• If he doesn’t→he will blame the interviewer or bad luck. He won’t try to improve himself
!
Sample answer
The professor talks about the two types of locus control in the lecture. The first type is internal
locus control. For example, a woman goes to an interview thinking she’s responsible for the
result. She will work hard to get prepare ahead. If she gets the job, she’ll think she gets the job
because of the hard work. If she doesn’t, she’ll take responsibility and try to figure out what went
wrong so she can improve the next time. On the other hand, there’s external locus control. For
example, a man goes to a job interview believing the result depends on luck. He won’t work hard
and might even apply for a position he’s not qualified for. If he gets the job, he’ll think it’s
because the interview is having a good day. If he doesn’t, he’ll blame it on bad luck and not do
anything to improve. 
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TPO 17 
!
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a special opportunity that was given to you. Explain why the opportunity was
important.
!
๏ Tips
• Going aboard to study or visit
• Experiencing the culture first hand
• Movies, music or TV shows
• Learn from, and work with the best
• Professors, students
• Meeting people from all over the world
• Talk with them, learn about their life and story

!
Sample response
A special opportunity that was given to me was that I got the chance to go to America to study.
I’m super excited about it because I’m a big fan of American culture. I watch a lot of Hollywood
movies here in China. For example, Forest Gump and Devil Wears Prada. I can’t wait to go live
there and experience American culture first hand. Second, Students can find the best professors
in the world in America. They are the most experienced group of scholars a student can learn
from. Also, America has a diverse culture, I’m sure I can meet people from all over the world
there. 
212
Task 2!
!
State whether you agree or disagree with the following statement. Then explain your reasons.
Using specific details in your explanation.
Students should not be allowed to bring cell phones (mobile phones) into classroom.
!
๏ Tips
• Banning cellphones in class
• Cellphone is distracting
• Students check social network during class
• Playing games during lecture
• Ringtones and vibrations are distractive
• Break other students’ concentration
• Break the teacher’s train of thought
• Allowing cellphones in class
• Inconvenient
• People use their cellphones all the time for all purposes
• Nowhere to leave the phone when class starts
• Use the phone without distracting others
• Turn off or silent the phone during class
• Not playing with it during lectures

!
Sample response
213
I disagree with the statement that students should not be allowed to bring cell phones into
classroom. First of all, let’s be practical, where would students leave their cell phones when
classes begin? Does it mean that I can’t bring my cell phones to school everyday just because it’s
banned in classrooms? It would be a big inconvenience for me if that’s the case, because I use
my phone a lot, for example, I need it to keep in touch with family and friends, not to mention all
my class schedules are on my phone. Second, I can just turn off or silent my phone during
classes, that way, it won’t make any noise or distract anyone, and I can still use it to do my things
during the breaks. 
214
Task 3!
!
New Library Workspaces
!
Say good-bye to the big, multi person study tables in Turner Library. This summer, the tables
will be exchanged for new personal study cubicles—small, one-person desks enclosed by walls.
These new units will allow students to have privacy and work in isolation and will therefore
eliminate noise in the library so students can concentrate. Additionally, the cubicles will enable
the library to accommodate the recent increase in the number of students attending our
university. Although the current tables seat six students each, they make poor use of the available
floor space. The cubicles, on the other hand, are designed for maximum space efficiency, and the
library can therefore add 50 new seats.
!
!
Narrator:
!
Male student:
They're making a mistake.
!
Female student:
What do you mean?
!
Male student:
Look, they are trying to do away with distractions so we can study better. But with this change,
we won't have anywhere in the library to get together to work on group projects.
!
Female student:
True. Group project work is common these days.
!
Male student:
So instead of buying these new units, they should use the money to build meeting rooms. And
that will reduce any noise in the main library areas.
215
!
Female student:
Yeah, that's what we could really use. There's just not as much need to work in isolation.
!
Male student:
Exactly. And the other thing is what is this about overcrowding? Sure we have more students
enrolled at the university this year, but do we really have a problem with overcrowding?
!
Female student:
I don't think so. I always get a whole table to myself.
!
Male student:
Right! I see empty tables there all the time. It'll just be a waste of money to replace what we have
since what we have now is sufficient for the amount of students that use the library.
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: library to replace multi person study tables with personal study cubicles
• Reason 1: give students more privacy for better concentration
• Reason 2: make better use of the space

!
๏ Listening key
• Reason 1: students won’t have anywhere to work on group projects
• Details: group projects are common these days. He suggest the library to use the money to build
more meeting rooms to reduce noise in the main library area
• Reason 2: the library isn’t over crowded at all
• Details: there are empty tables all the time. It’s a waste of money to replace the tables. What
students have now is sufficient
!
Sample response
216
The school is planning to replace the big study tables with study cubicles in the library to reduce
noise in the library, and to serve more students. In the conversation, the man thinks the school is
making a mistake for the following reasons. First of all, a lot of students don’t work in isolation.
If the round tables are gone, they won’t be able to work on group projects. He suggests the
school to use the money to build more study rooms in order to get rid of the noise in the library.
And also, he points out that the library isn’t over crowded at all, students don’t have problems
finding table to study despite the enrollment increase. He thinks there are enough tables in the
library for all the students.
 
!
217
Task 4 !
!
Ritualization
!
Sociobiologists believe that some communicative behavior in animals is developed through a
process called ritualization. In this process, the purpose of a given behavior changes over time—
a behavior that originally had a practical purpose develops into one that communicates a specific
message. For example, a certain movement or physical feature might evolve to serve as a signal
or a warning that other animals will understand. Once a behavior is ritualized, it becomes a form
of communication; therefore, if an animal engages in this behavior, other animals will be able to
interpret the meaning of the behavior quickly and respond appropriately.
!
 
Narrator:
Now listen to part of a lecture on this topic in a zoology class.
!
Professor:
Let's start with an example you may be familiar with. What's one thing dogs typically do when
they feel threatened, when they want to protect themselves? That's right. They show their teeth
and when we see this, we know this behavior means basically stay away.
!
Now, here's how this behavior became a recognizable warning. A long long time ago, a dog
sensing danger would get ready to bite whatever animal was threatening him. It started by baring
its teeth. But the purpose of doing this was something very simple - the dog instinctively was
making sure it wouldn't bite its own lips when it bit the other animals. OK? But what happened?
Other dogs, other animals, over time, they learned that this teeth baring always came before a
dog was going to bite. And so they started to read it as a signal to be careful, to keep away or risk
getting bitten.
!
This scenario repeated time after time also led to the dog's awareness that by simply showing its
teeth, a lot of the time that was protection enough. What had been a simple physical preparation
to bite had developed into a kind of defense mechanism in and of itself. The dog learnt it did not
218
need to actually attack but could get the right result from just communicating the possibility of
an attack through showing its teeth. It started to use this behavior as a warning signal.
!
๏ Listening key
• Term: Ritualization
• Definition: an animal behavior that had practical purpose can develop into something that can deliver a
specific message.
๏ Listening key
• Example of why dogs bare their teeth
• In the beginning, dogs bared their teeth to avoid biting their lips when they fight
• Other animals took a hint this means the dog is ready to attack
• Dogs realized teeth baring can make the other animals back off
• By doing this dogs can scare others off without actually attacking
• Dogs started using it as a warning signal

!
Sample response
In the lecture, the professor talks about ritualization which means some animal behaviors change
over time, a behavior that had practical purpose can develop into something that can deliver a
specific message. And she talks about why dogs show their teeth to warn others. In the very
beginning, the purpose of this action was very simple, dogs would bare their teeth so they won’t
bite their own lips when engaging in a fight. Over time, other animals have learned that lip-
baring means that the dog is ready to attack. And that led the dog to realize that by simply
showing it’s teeth, other animals will back off, it’s learned that it did not have to actually attack
to get the same results. That’s how dogs begin to use this behavior as a warning signal.
!
219
Task 5!
!
The speakers discusses two possible solutions to the man's problem. Briefly summarize the
problem. Then state which solution you recommend and explain why.
!
Narrator:
!
Male student:
Hey, Sally. I just got the first draft of my research paper back from Professor Stone.
!
Female student:
Just now? I got mine back a few days ago.
!
Male student:
Yeah. Everyone else in the class that I know of got theirs a few days ago, too.
!
Female student:
But the deadline. You’re running out of time.
!
Male student:
Yeah, I’m worried. I only have one day to review all these comments and write my final draft.
He made a lot of suggestions.
!
Female student:
You should definitely ask Professor Stone for a deadline extension. He should take some
responsibility for this situation. It is sort of his fault you won’t have much time to work on it
before the due date.
!
Male student:
I’ve thought about that but…Would he think I was being pushy or criticizing him for not getting
the paper back to me right away. I don’t want to offend him
!
220
Female student:
True. But it’s your grade we are talking about. You’ve got a legitimate concern. But it’s
understandable if you’re uncomfortable asking.
!
Male student:
Yeah. I’m not a tough Spartan.
!
Female student:
You know, you could always just do your best with the time you have left. You are a good
student. I bet you can finish quickly, work really fast and it’ll still turn out good.
!
Male student:
Do my best for the time I have left. Well, if I worked really hard, I imagine I might do OK but
I’d have to be sure to deal with all these comments. I need a good grade.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: the man got his research paper late from the professor and he worries he won't have enough
time to deal with all the comments the professor made
• Solution 1: ask the professor for a deadline extension
• Pro: he has the right because it's the professor who didn't leave him with enough time to work on
the final draft
• Con: the professor might get offended, he might think the man is accusing him of getting back the
paper late
• Solution 2: work with the time he's got left
• Pro: he's a good student, he can pull it off if he works extra hard
• Con: there might not be enough time to deal with all the comments made by the professor
!
Sample answer:
221
The man’s problem is that he got his paper from the professor later than most other students, he
might not have enough time to deal with all the comments made by the professor. There are two
possible solutions. The first is asking the professor for a deadline extension. The second solution
is to work as quickly as possible with the time left. I think the first solution is a better idea for the
following reasons. First of all, him not having enough time to work on the paper is caused by the
professor not getting his paper back in time. As long as he ask the professor nicely, the professor
will understand. Also, the other solution is not a good choice because rushing the work will
affect his grade, and he needs a good one.
!
222
Task 6!
!
Using points and examples from the talk, explain the concept of diffusion.
!
Narrator:
Listen to part of the talk in a sociology class.
!
Professor:
Now let’s talk about a particular cultural process-diffusion. Since the beginning of human
history, diverse cultures have taken advantage of one another’s innovations when they’ve come
into contact. Diffusion is the process whereby something cultural like a custom, a type of food or
an invention is spread from one group to another or from one society to another. One group adopt
a cultural item or, more selectively, just part of a cultural item of another group, you see. Now
diffusion can occur through a variety of ways, military conquest or tourism or even something
like the influence of satellite TV shows around the world.
!
For example, take something like reading a modern newspaper here in the U.S. Have you ever
thought about where the letters, the characters on the page are reading? Where they came from?
They were borrowed from another culture many centuries ago. Then the printing of the words,
well, that process was invented in Germany. And finally the paper itself; paper was invented in
China. These innovations from all over the world were shared across cultures overtime and so
today we have newspapers in the U.S. So the process of diffusion might take place over long
distances and over long periods of time.
!
Now I’m not saying that diffusion happens easily. As I mentioned, sometimes it’s selective. For
instance, many people in the U.S. have accepted the practice of acupuncture, the Chinese
practice of using needles to cure a disease or relieve pain. So lots of people in the U.S. have
realized that acupuncture is effective. But few of them fully understand or have committed
themselves to the philosophy behind acupuncture. Cultures tend to resist ideas which seem too
foreign, too different from their own beliefs and values. But the ideas which aren’t perceived as
too different are often incorporated, absorbed, diffused into their culture. So the practice of
acupuncture has been absorbed into U.S. culture, but not the philosophies of Chinese medicine.
223
๏ Reading key
• Main topic: diffusion: when a cultural item is borrow from one culture to another, sometime they can be
selective
• First example: newspaper in the US
• Printing was invented in Germany; paper was invented in China
• It happened over a long period of time and distances
• Second example: acupuncture
• Americans accepted the practice of acupuncture
• But not the philosophy of Chinese medicine
• Because the Chinese medicine philosophy too different and foreign from what the Americans
believe
!
Sample answer:
Diffusion is a culture process whereby one group or society adopts another’s item such as a
custom, a type of food or an invention. Take the modern newspaper in the US as an example, the
newspaper only exists because of innovations from other countries, the printing of words was
invented in Germany and paper in China. These innovations were shared across cultures over
long distances and over long periods of time. But diffusion is sometimes selective. For example,
people in the US accept the practice of acupuncture, but few of them fully understand it. Because
cultures tend to resist ideas that are too different from their own beliefs and values. If ideas are
close to their own, they will incorporate, absorb and diffuse them. So American culture only
accepts the practice of acupuncture but not the philosophy of Chinese medicine. 
224
TPO 18 
!
Task 1!
!
Imagine your life ten years in the future. Talk about one way you think your life will be different
in ten years than it is now. Use details to explain your answer.
!
๏ Tips
• Job
• Having a great job
• Save up some money for a more relaxing life
• Learn stuff and see the world
• Reading all kinds of books
• Expanding knowledge base
• Pick up an musical instrument
• Be able to play a song or two when I’m blue
• Appreciate the beauty of the world

!
Sample response
The life in ten years occurring in my imagination is living in a all new circumstance, being a
freelancer, and owning more time to enjoy my life rather than being tied to work day and night. I
can read more books, from classic literatures to romantic novels, from historical records to
contemporary affairs, expanding my knowledge and broadening my horizon. Besides that I can
also take up a musical instrument, at least be capable to playing several songs when I am blue.
Music always helps me feel the beauty of the world. This is what I imagine my life will be in ten
years.
!
!
226
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is important to learn about other
cultures.
!
๏ Tips
• Why we should learn about other cultures
• As an individual
• Serving appropriate items when inviting a foreign friend over
• As a company
• KFC serving local items such as porridge and egg tarts
• The mixture of items it one of the largest fastfood chain in the country
!
Sample response
I totally agree with the statement that it’s important to learn about other cultures because the
increasing pace of globalization. As an individual, it’s crucial to learn about other cultures. If
you intend to invite a foreign friend to dinner, Knowing about his or her eating habits means a
lot of respect. Not to mention an enterprise that expects great overseas development. Such as the
KFC, which has been incorporating Chinese cuisine alongside the traditional KFC menu for
years. Getting its menu to cater to local tastes, such as offering porridge and egg-tarts has made
KFC one of the largest fastfood chain in China.
!
!
!
!
227
Task 3!
!
!
University Choir to Enter Off-Campus Singing Competitions
Currently, the university choir gives singing concerts only on campus. Next year, however, the
choir will add competitive events at other locations to its schedule. The choir’s new director feels
that entering singing competitions will make the quality of the choir’s performance even better
than it is now. “Competitions will motivate students in the choir to pursue a higher standard of
excellence in singing.” He said. In addition, it is hoped that getting the choir off campus and out
in the public will strengthen the reputation of the university’s music program. This in turn will
help the program grow.
!
!
W: Jim, you are in the choir right? What do you think about what they’re doing next year, this
article?
M: I really like it.
W: Yeah?
M: Yeah! The new director is right that it would motivate us.
W: How’s that?
M: Well, some of the other schools are really good, so we’ll really have to work hard to go up
against them.
W: Yeah…
M: I mean right now we don’t rehearse more than once a week, but if we know we’d be
competing with other schools, we probably rehearse more often and improve our singing aligns.
W: That’s true, the more you practice the better you get. So um, what about the article said about
how this will help the program?
M: I hope it works. Right now our program is pretty small, but we have some really talented
people and it’ll be great to attract even more people.
W: So, how will this plan help?
M: Well, if we go to these off-campus events, then other people hear us and think we are really
good. We might be able to get some new students interested in coming to this university, to be a
part of our music program and perform in our choir concerts.
W: You’re right. I haven’t really thought about that.
228
!
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: school choir to enter off campus singing competition
• Reason 1: improve the quality and standard of performance
• Reason 2: strengthen the reputation of the choir to help the program grow
๏ Listening key
• The man agrees with it
• Reason 1: the plan will motivate students to improve
• Details: right now the choir don’t rehears more than once a week, the competition will motivate
students in the choir to practice more often
• Reason 2: the plan can attract more talents to the now very small program
• Details: it will give the choir a chance to perform at off-campus events, to show how good they
are, to impress people. That’ll generate student interests in the school’s music programs.
!
Sample response
The university choir is determined to participate in off-campus singing competitions to make the
quality of the choir’s performance better and strengthen the reputation of the university’s music
program. The man likes it very much. Firstly, the school choir don’t rehearse more than once a
week. He thinks competing with other schools will motivate his choir to rehearse more often and
improve the singing aligns. Secondly, to perform at these off-camps events might help attract
more new students to come to his university, even to be a part of the music program. And that’ll
really help the music programs to grow.
!
!
229
Task 4!
!
Relict Behavior
In general, animals act in ways that help them to survive within their specific habitats. However,
sometimes an animal species may display a behavior that no longer serves a clear purpose. The
original purpose for the behavior may have disappeared long ago, even thousands of years
before. These behaviors, known as relict behaviors, were useful to the animal when the species’
habitat was different: but now, because of changed conditions, the behavior no longer serves its
original purpose. Left over from an earlier time, the behavior remains as relict, or remnant, long
after the environmental circumstance that influenced its evolution has vanished.
!
!
Ok, um, so a good example of this found right here in North America is something an animal
called the American pronghorn does. Pronghorns, as you may know are a kind of deer-like
animal. They live out on the open grassy plaints, somewhat in the middle of North America, and
they are super fast. Pronghorns are in fact noted for being the fastest animal in the western
hemisphere. Once a pronghorn starts running, zoom, none of its present-day predators, like the
bobcat or coyote can even hope to catch up with it. It’s off in a flash. Ok, so why then do
pronghorns run so fast? That’s the question. Well, it turns out that quite a long time ago; I’m
talking tens of thousands of years. Sense on the grassy plaints used to be very different for the
pronghorns, because back then, lions used to live on the plaints, chasing and preying upon the
pronghorns. And lions of course are very swift moving mammal, much faster than the bobcat or
coyote, or other predators that you find on the plaints today. But now, however, lions are all
extinct in North America, there are no longer a predator of the pronghorn. Tens of thousands of
years ago, though, the lions were there, chasing the pronghorns, so back then, the pronghorn’s
speed was critical to its survival.
!
Using the example of the pronghorn and lion, explain the concept of a relict behavior.
!
๏ Reading key
• Term: Relict Behavior
230
• Definition: Relict Behavior are animal behaviors that don’t serve it’s original purpose anymore because
of the change of conditions.
๏ Listening key
• Example:
• pronghorn runs so fast that none of its present day predators like coyotes stand a chance of catching
them when they run off
• This behavior originated from the past.
• Pronghorns needed to run from fast running predators in the past like lions who was much faster
runners compare to coyotes.
• Although lions are all extinct in North America
• Pronghorn kept this fast running behavior although it isn’t necessary for it’s survival anymore
!
Sample response
Relict behaviors are the behaviors that once were useful to the animal but left over from an
earlier time, no longer serving its original purpose as condition changed. At presents,
pronghorns are the fastest animals in the western hemisphere. Because tens of thousands of
years ago, lions used to live on the grassy plaits of North America where pronghorns are living
nowadays. Lions chased and preyed upon pronghorns and pronghorns’ speed was very critical to
their survival at that time. Even though lions are extinct in North America, pronghorns still run
that fast. The speed doesn’t serve its original purpose but becomes a relict behavior.
!
!
!
231
Task 5!
!
!
W: Hey matt, you got your paper done for class today?
M: No, I just realized it’s sitting on my desk. I wrote it last night but I forgot to bring it with me.
W: Ah- oh, so what are you gonna do?
M: Well, I could drive home and get it. I live off-campus. But if I hurry, I probably get home and
bring the paper back before class was over. You know how strict she is about late submissions.
W: Yeah, but you’d miss part of the class.
M: I know.
W: Maybe you could talk to the professor, explain what happened and ask her if you can send it
later by email.
M: I know, but I have to do it after class, cuz she always starts class right on time. There
wouldn’t be time to talk to her until after class.
W: Well, why don’t you do that and hope she doesn’t consider the paper late.
!
๏ Listening key
• Problem: the man forgot to bring his papar to class
• Solution 1: drive home to get it
• Pro: he can make it before the class is over if he hurries
• Con: he’ll miss part of the class
• Solution 2: explain the situation to the professor, ask permission for handing it in by email later
• Pro: there won’t be time to talk to the professor until after class
• Con: she might not consider the paper late

!
Sample response
232
The man’s problem is he left his paper back home but his suppose to hand it in during today’s
class. There are two possible solutions. The first one is driving home to get the paper, or he can
explain his situation to the professor and hope for an extension. I think the first solution is better.
First of all, if he hurries he can make it back to the class before it ends, and that means he won’t
get any penalties for handing in the paper late. Second, missing part of the class won’t affect his
grade as much as handing in paper late because the professor is very strict about late
submissions.
!
!
!
!
233
Task 6!
!
!
People who are likely to buy a company’s product are called target customers. And its target
customers influence the company’s marketing strategy. In order to develop a marketing strategy,
a company would look at certain characteristics of the target customers to decide when and
where to advertise, so that it will reach the target customers most effectively. I’d like to talk to
you today about two characteristics of target customers that can influence marketing strategy:
specifically, age and geographic location of the target customers. Say a company makes toy cars.
Who are its target customers? Kids, right? So if the company wants to make sure its television
advertising reaches its target customers, it wants to advertise during time when kids are actually
watching television, like during children’s television shows. That way it can make sure that kids
see the advertisements. And that way the company would get people in that age group to go buy
toy cars or just ask their parents to buy them at least. Now another important characteristic to
consider is geographic location, places where the company’s target customers live. Think about
companies that make some boats. Its target customers are people who own homes near oceans or
lakes, places where they can use boats. After all, people who don’t live near water don’t have
much use for boats. So by placing advertisements on signs along the road or on television in
cities and towns that are near oceans or lakes, the companies would be more likely to reach the
target customers for its boats and sell more of them as a result.
!
Using points and examples from the lecture, explain how the characteristics of target customers
influence marketing strategy for products.
!
๏ Listening key
• Main idea: the two strategies
• First kind: age of the target customers
• Example: a company selling toy cars would air their commercials during children’s television
shows. So kids will go or ask their parents to buy the toy cars
• Second kind: geographic location of the target customer
234
• Example: a company selling would target people who live near an oceans or lakes. They place
signs along the road or air commercials on TV in the cities or towns near oceans or lakes for
more sells because people from these areas are likely to own boats
!
!
Sample response
Two characteristics of the target customers influence a company when and where to advertise its
products. The first is age. If a company makes toy cars, then its target customers are kids. So it’d
better advertise during the children’s television shows to make sure the kids can see the
advertisements and go to buy the toy cars. The second characteristic is geographic location that
places the target customers live. Say the boat building companies. The people who own homes
near oceans or lakes are absolutely the target customers, who will have much use of the boats.
So placing advertisements on signs along the road or on television in cities and towns that are
near oceans or lakes would help the companies to reach the target customers for its boats and
sell more of them. 
235
!
TPO 19!
!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a skill or ability that you consider especially important for a student to have. Use
details and examples to explain your answer.
!
๏ Tips
• Communication skill
• On campus
• Class discussion
• Talk with the professor
• Off campus
• Social networking
• Making friends
• Job hunting
• During interviews
• Present an idea during a meeting

Sample response
I think the most important skill for a student to have is communication skill. First of all, students
need strong communication skill to survive college. One needs to know how to speak in public in
order to participate in class discussions and deliver presentations during classes. Also, a great
personality would help students to make friend off campus. My friend Bob’s never shy to
approach someone and start a conversation at parties. He’s made so many friends over the
years. Whenever he’s in trouble, he can get plenty of help. Most importantly, students can do will
at interviews after they graduate. And they will be able to communicate and present their
opinions while they work with others at the office.
!
237
Task 2!
!
More and more people are buying items on the Internet and from magazines or catalogs. Other
people prefer shopping in a store. Which do you prefer and why?
!
๏ Tips
• Buying online
• Convenient
• Shop for everything in front of a computer
• What you buy is delivered to the door step
• Easy to compare price
• No need to drive to different stores
• There are websites that are designed for the very purpose
!
Sample response
I prefer buying items mainly from the internet for the following reasons. First of all, it’s so
convenient to shop online. For example, I can shop for everything I need right in front of my
computer no matter snacks or electronics. And the best part is what I buy get delivered right to
my door step. Second, it’s very easy to find the lowest price online. It used to be the case that I
have to drive around the city to visit two or three retailers to compare prices which is very time
consuming. But when shopping online, I can compare prices from hundreds sellers with a click of
mouse.
!
!
!
238
Task 3!
!
Fee Increase for Recreation Center Use
!
The university administration today announced a $25 increase in the student fee for using the
campus recreation center. The higher fee, which all students are required to pay, will provide
funds to upgrade the facility and provide newer, more modern exercise equipment at the center.
“We expect the improvements to increase student use of the facility,” explained David Smith,
director of the student activities office. Mr. Smith also noted that the decision was approved
because “We feel that $25 is a reasonable increase that will be affordable for individual
students.”
!
Task 3 Listening
M: Did you see the announcement in the newspaper? It sounds like a great idea.
W: You really think so? Not many people even use the place.
M: I know. That’s the point, people don’t go there because the facilities are old and the exercise
equipment breaks down. I think the director is right that they get more use out of it this way.
Right now, the place is usually empty, and that’s too bad. Students can get pretty stressed out if
they don’t get some exercise.
W: That’s a good point, but doesn’t it seem like a lot of money?
M: It’s not really all that much, if you figure a lot of people spend that kind of money on a CD or
when they go out to the movies. This is just one charge for the whole year.
W: That’s true, and instead of some little thing, we get a recreation center people might actually
use.
M: Right, so considering the benefits, it’s really not that much to pay.
W: Yeah, I guess you are right.
!
The man expresses her opinion about the university’s plan. State his opinion and explain the
reasons he gives for holding that opinion.
!
!
!
239
๏ Reading key
• Announcement: there will be a $25 increase in the student fee for using the campus recreation
center.
• Reason 1: upgrading facilities and equipments in the center
• Reason 2: $25 is reasonable and affordable

๏ Listening key
• The man agrees with the plan
• Reason 1: the upgrades can attract more people to use the center
• Details: the reason not many people use the center is that the facilities are old and exercise
equipment breaks down. If the condition is improved, students will have somewhere to work out
and relax
• Reason 2: $25 isn’t much
• Details: people spend that kind of money on a CD or going to the movies all the time. A place for
students to work out will benefit them a lot more
!
Sample response
The school is planning to increase the student fee by $25 for using the campus recreation center
to upgrade facilities in the center, and the school believes $25 is reasonable. The man thinks this
plan is a great idea. First of all, he thinks new equipments will encourage more students to use
the center, because the facilities are now old and sometimes broken. The second reason is a $25
increase is vert affordable. Students spend that kind of money on CDs and movies all the time. If
one charge of $25 can really give the them a better place to work out, that’ll be really worth it. 
240
Task 4!
!
Social Learning
!
One way people learn is by watching the behavior of others. Sometimes called social learning,
this type of learning involves the process of learning to copy---or not copy---the action of
another. By observing the results, or consequences, of another’s behavior, people tend to imitate
the behavior of another when they see that it leads to a desirable consequence---hoping to repeat
it for themselves. Of course, the opposite is also true---people tend to avoid imitating the
behavior of another when they see it result in an undesirable consequence.
!
!
Ok, so, an example to illustrate this. You often see this happen in families. Let’s say…there’s
these two kids, a sister and a brother. Let’s say the girl is 6 and the boy is 4. And one day, they
are all out shopping with their mother, and they are in a store, and the girl sees a toy she wants.
She asks her mother to buy it…to buy the toy for her, but the mother says ‘NO’. So, what does
the little girl do? She starts crying and screaming, and you know, ‘Mommy I want it!’ And finally
mom gives in and says ‘Okay fine, you can have it’, and buys the girl the toy.
!
Now, don’t forget the little brother is there, and he’s watching all this happen. And…maybe he
sees these sorts of things happen a lot. As mother giving in, when his sister cries and screams,
what do you think he’ll gonna start doing when he wants something from mom? He’ll probably
cry and scream. Right?
!
But, what if the opposite happened? The same mom didn’t give in, and didn’t buy the girl the
toy. In fact, same mom instead, discipline the girl for screaming and crying, when they got home,
she didn’t let the little girl watch her favorite TV program. Again, the little boy is watching. Now
what’s the little boy likely to do if he founds himself in the similar situation and he wants mom
to buy him something? Chances are, he’s not gonna cry and scream, right?
!
Use the examples from the lecture to explain concept of social learning.
241
๏ Reading key
• Term: Social Learning
• Definition: Social learning is a type of learning when people learn from watching and copying what
others do
๏ Listening key
• Sister cries and screams when her mom refuse to buy toys for her in a store. Mom gives in and buys
her what she wants
• The little boy is likely to copy her sister’s crying and creaming to try to get what he wants in the
future
• On the other hand, if the mom stands her ground and doesn’t give in when the girl cries and screams,
even not allowing her to watch her favorite show when they get home
• The boy will not cry when he’s in the situation in the future
!
Sample response
The professor talks about social learning which is a type of learning when people learn from
watching and copying what others do. For example, A little girl cries and screams in a store
when her mom refuses to buy her the toys she want. The mom gives in and buy it for her. Her
baby brother sees that the crying works, he is likely to cry and scream when he wants something
from her mom in the future. On the other hand, if the mom stands her ground when the little girl
cries and screams, even not allowing her to watch TV when they get back home. The boy sees
this, he is less likely to do what his sister does in the store in the future.
!
!
!
242
Task 5!
!
M: How’s it going Mary? Got your schedule all worked out for this semester?
W: It’s coming together. Actually, I just heard about my student teaching assignment.
M: Teaching assignment, you are student teaching?
W: Yeah, you know I am majoring in education. So one of the requirements is to teach for a
semester in a classroom, usually at the local school in town. We help teach the kids at the school
one day a week. I just got my class assignment.
M: Wow that’s good.
W: Yeah, but I’ve got a scheduling problem.
M: Oh-oh!
W: The day I’ve been assigned to teach at the school in town will be the same day my Chinese
History course meets here at the university.
M: Mm…well, could you wait to take the Chinese History course? Sign up for another semester
or something.
W: Yeah, but this one is taught by professor John, he’s a visiting professor, he’ll only be here for
one semester, and he’s suppose to be amazing. I’m really interested in the class, since I might be
visiting China.
M: Is there another option?
W: Yeah, actually, the teaching assignment is on a day, when I will be working with older kids,
teenagers. But the school also needs a student teacher to work in a classroom with little kids, like
5 and 6 year-olds. And it’s on a different day, when I am free. So I could do it.
M: So, you could change your teaching assignment to a different day.
W: Yeah, it’s just that I really wanna teach older kids.
M: Oh~
W: I’m planning on teaching older kids when I graduate, so it would be better experience for me.
For my career.
!
Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which solution you would
recommend and explain the reasons for your recommendation.
!
!
!
243
๏ Listening key
• Problem:
Sample response
In the dialogue, the woman has a problem with her schedule. She was supposed to take a
Chinese History course on the same day she should be teaching in a local school. And she has
two solutions, the first one is to drop out of the course, and chose it in a different semester, the
second one is to change her teaching schedule and teach other group of kids. I think the woman
should take the second suggestion. Because as she has mentioned, the Chinese History course
was taught by a visiting professor, who only came to the school for this semester, and since his
class was amazing, she shouldn’t miss it. Second, even though she will be teaching the elder kids
as her career, it won’t hurt her to teach the smaller kids, for they can provide you with a more
creative vision, and a more active class atmosphere. What’s more, it’s very important for a
teacher to handle students from all age levels, instead of a single level. so I personally suggest
her to take the second suggestion.
!
!
244
Task 6!
!
Today, I wanna talk about seabirds. Now, seabirds hunt and eat fish. And well, their food can be
hard to find, because their food source is spread out over a large spans of water. So what seabirds
have done, is that over time, they’ve made adaptations; they’ve developed special characteristics
and find food. One adaptation involves the length of the birds’ wing.
!
The Albatross for example, is a large seabird that spends most of its life flying over ocean waters
and search of food, fish to feed itself, and to carry back to the nest to feed it’s chicks. Now most
of birds flap their wings up and down when they fly, which uses up a lot of energy. But the
albatross has this special long wings, that they can hold perfectly still, it’s able to fly without
moving its wings up and down. These long wings allow it to glide or float on a wind, and this
uses very little energy. This is important, because, as I have said, the albatross has to cover a
huge expands of ocean to locate food. Sometimes up to 11-hundread miles a day. Because of its
long wings, it can glide along over the ocean, using little energy as it searches for food.
!
Another important adaptation of many seabirds is an acute, highly developed sense of smell.
Take the fulmar, like the albatross, the fulmar needs to find food that scattered far out over the
ocean. But the fulmar has a rather unusual advantage, it has tiny tubes inside the nose holes in its
peak. And these special tube shape nostrils help it to pick up the scent of food. Now this highly
developed sense of smell is especially important, because the fulmar’s main source of food,
plankton, are tiny organisms that are hard to see. But they give up a very sharp, distinctive odor.
So when fulmars are flying around looking for food, they might not able to see them, but they
can find the plankton by smelling them, even from far away.
!
Using the examples of the albatross(信天翁) and the fulmar(管⿐鼻蕾), explain two special
adaptations that have developed to help seabirds find food.
!
Sample response
245
In the lecture, the professor illustrates 2 special adaptions that helps seabirds to find food. The
first example is the albatross. It needs to fly a long distance in the ocean to search for food, and
carry it back to their nest, so it has developed a long, perfectly hold, wings, which facilitates
them to glide and flow in the wind without swinging up and down. It is also very energy saving.
!
The second example is the fulmar, it has a highly developed sense of smell, with tubes inside the
nose holes. So when they cannot see the food, they can locate their location by simply following
their scent. This also enables them to find food in the wide sea.  
246
!
TPO 20 
Task 1!
!
Choose a quality that you think makes someone a good member of a team. Explain why you
think it is an important quality for a team or group member to have.
!
Sample response:
I think a good team member should have a proper sense of team spirit, in other words, they
should be highly corporative. Well, we work on a daily basis with other people in class
assignment and stuff like that. It is sometimes impossible to achieve something totally on you
own. And when we work in-group, it is no longer about how good a single person can be; rather
it is about how well the group can work together. In the case of the opening ceremony of 2012
London Olympic, it is the ultimate end product of the staff and volunteers rather than the effort
of a superb individual. I guess that says loads on this topic than any plain word.

!
!
248
Task 2!
!
Some people prefer to learn about current events from watching television news programs.
Others prefer to read about current events in newspapers or on the Internet. Which do you think
is better: watching the news or reading the news? Explain why.
!
Sample response:
I prefer to read news, especially from the Internet. With the widespread of smart-phones, it is a
lot more convenient to maintain easy access to the Internet, which means we can have instant
news updates at the tips of our fingers. We can read news riding the subway, during class
intervals, well, almost wherever and whenever we want. What’s more, when we read news, we
can choose to pause to organize our thought, which is impossible when we are watching the
news, coz if we wander off, we will lose track of the news report.

!
!
249
Task 3!
!
Energy costs reach sky-high levels
!
Heating prices, and the university’s heating bills, reached record-high level this year. In an effort
to reduce heating costs, the university decides to lower the temperature in classroom buildings on
weekends and on workdays after five P.M., when the day’s classes have officially ended.
Because class will not be in session at these times, the reduced heat will not have negative
impact on students and their studies. The university considers it essential that the cost-saving
measures not interfere with student activities.
!
Woman: What on earth is the university thinking?
Man: Er? What do you mean?
Woman: well, those buildings aren’t just used for classes. That’s where my evening study group
usually meets.
Man: Oh, oh, of course that’s true. But you could go to the library instead.
Woman: Yeah. But the library only has a few rooms that people can use for group meetings,
which is why classrooms have been so convenient. But now if it's winter and cold, where can we
go?
Man: Right. In the middle of winter, forget it, or even if it’s just kind of cold out…
Woman: It will be pretty unpleasant.
Man: But still they obviously have to do something about the situation.
Woman: Oh, I agree. They have to do something but they should find a solution that isn’t so
destructive to academics nevertheless.
Man: Such as?
Woman: Well, for one if they replaced all those old windows, they are so drafty, they let the cold
in and if they insulated the buildings better, these are really old buildings. Charming but…
Man: But not all energy-efficient. Yeah, you are probably right.
Woman: There are some really basic improvements they could make that’d made a huge
difference in the long term that could solve the problem and still leave us somewhere to study.
!
The woman expresses her opinion about the plan described in the article. State her opinion and
explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
250
Sample response:
!
According to the reading, in order to reduce the heating cost, the university has decided to lower
the temperature in classrooms after 5 P.M. when classes all end. In the dialogue, the woman
disagrees for the following reasons. To start with, those classrooms are always used for group
meetings. The library has limited meeting rooms. If they make this change, students will have
nowhere to go for their group meeting in the cold winter days. What’s more, the school should
make some basic improvements, such as changing the old windows to make the buildings more
energy efficient. That will make a huge difference.
!
!
!
251
Task 4!
!
Franchising
!
Many popular and well-known businessesiness chains, such as fast food restaurants, use a
practice known as franchising. In franchising, someone who wants to open a store or a restaurant
pays an established company for the right to use the company’s name and sell the company’s
products. Selling an established, in-demand product that has immediate name recognition
benefits the new business by reducing the risk that the business will fail. In exchange, the new
business agrees to follow all of the standard practices of the company with the name it wants to
use.
!
Professor:
OK, so we’ve been talking about starting a business. Let's say I want to open up a pizza
restaurant. Well, I know how tough it is to make a new business succeed and I want a sure thing
so I contact a big company that owns a chain of pizza places. Let’s say it’s called “Pizza Town”
and I pay for the rights to call my restaurant “Pizza Town” and sell “Pizza Town” special one-of-
a-kind pizza. Now since everyone has heard of “Pizza Town”, it’s really popular, I don’t have to
worry about whether people will want to eat my pizza or not. I already know this pizza will sell
well because it’s known thing and that means that there’s a better chance my business will
succeed. Now in exchange for being able to call my restaurant “Pizza Town”, I have to agree to
run the business the “Pizza Town” way. And pizza town trains me to do this. They show me how
to do everything: how to make my pizzas taste like “Pizza Town” pizzas; how to advertise; even
how to make my store look like a “Pizza Town”. Now this means that I don’t have a lot of
freedom or choice in the way I run my business, but in a lot of ways, this is great for me. After
all, Pizza Town’s way generally works: they sell a lot of pizzas.
!
Using the example given by the professor, explain how franchising works.
!
!
Sample response:
252
The reading talks about franchising, which is a practice that many large business chains use.
Then the professor gives an example of opening a pizza store. If he wanted to succeed, he could
contact the famous Pizza Town, he could pay them money to use their name and sell their
products. He didn’t have to worry about whether people would like it or not, coz it was a sure
thing that people loved it. In exchange, he would have to follow their standard practices. Pizza
Town people would train them to do so, such as how to advertise, how to decorate the store, and
so on. They had less freedom, but Pizza Town’s way generally worked.
!
!
253
Task 5!
!
Man: Are you still working in Professor Green’s laboratory?
Woman: Yeah. He’s been supervising my research on eating behavior in mice.
Man: Sounds interesting.
Woman: It’s fascinating. I’ve got more observations and experiments to do. It’s another three
months of work and then I will start writing my paper.
Man: Whoa. Sounds like it will be a great paper.
Woman: Thanks. I hope so. There is a problem though.
Man: What?
Woman: Professor Green’s been invited to teach at a university in France for a semester and
obviously I still need a lot of help with the project.
Man: what are you going to do?
Woman: Well, Professor Green suggested Professor… Professor Baker that I could work with.
Man: Oh, I’ve heard of her. Professor Baker is quite famous.
Woman: Yeah. But I don’t know her at all and my research isn’t in her area of expertise. She
works with fish; my work is on mice, not exactly the best match.
Man: well, you get to know her eventually and she’s a great biologist so she’s still be able to help
you even if your topic isn’t exactly her specialty. She may give you some new perspective on
your work.
Woman: I know, I am considering it, but still I am thinking about asking Professor Green if he
could advise me long distance.
Man: That’s a thought. You think he’d do it?
Woman: He probably would. But I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I mean he could always look at
my data and read my write-ups through e-mail. But the thing is he wouldn’t be here to supervise
my experiments.
Man: Yeah, well, I am sure you’ll figure out the best thing to do.
!
Briefly summarize the woman’s problem, then state which solution you would recommend.
Explain the reasons for your recommendation.
!
Sample response:
254
In the dialogue, Professor Green, who has been supervising the woman in her research paper,
was invited to go to France next year. But the woman still has a lot of work to do. There are two
solutions for the woman. She can work with another professor instead, who is also very famous;
or she can keep in touch with Professor Green through Email. I think the second option is better.
Since Professor Green has guided her through all those time, he is most familiar with her work.
This is something working with another professor cannot compete. And current modern
technology has made communications so much easier. The woman will have to work on her own
from time to time, but she will conduct independent research. That is valuable experience for a
student.
!
!
!
255
Task 6!
!
Professor:
When people are in difficult situations, sometimes they experience feelings of helplessness or
psychological pain. So what’ll they do? They unconsciously use strategies called defense
mechanisms to protect themselves psychologically form their painful emotions. Let's say a
woman has a pet dog. She’s had this dog for a long time and he’s kept her company and guarded
her for years. But one day he runs away. This woman looks everywhere and asks other people if
they’ve seen her dog but she just can't find him. Now she feels helpless and sad because she
missed her dog. So she’ll unconsciously find ways to deal with her painful feelings. One defense
mechanism she might use is fantasy. With fantasy, the woman uses her imagination. So instead of
just feeling helpless and sad about her lost dog, she invents a happy story in her mind. She might
imagine that a nice family found him and feeds him and that he is really happy with them. She
will picture the dog playing running around, having fun. Because of this fantasy, she doesn’t
have to feel sad about her dog running away. It’s fantasy, it’s not real, but it keeps her pain away.
Another defense mechanism she might use is what we call sublimation. Sublimation is different
from fantasy because sublimation isn’t about pretending. It’s about turning negative emotions
into something useful, practical. So, err, the woman start a dog training school. That way, by
training dogs, perhaps she can help prevent other people’s dogs from running away like hers did.
In other words, with sublimation as a defense mechanism, the woman redirects her negative
feelings about losing her dog into a positive constructive activity.
!
Using points and examples from the talk, describe the two defense mechanisms mentioned by the
professor.
!
Sample response:
256
According to the lecture, the professor talked about two defense mechanisms, fantasy and
sublimation. When people come across psychological pain, they will use defense mechanisms to
protect themselves. Such as a woman who lost her dog, she felt helpless and sad. There are two
ways that she can deal with her internal pain. To begin with, she can use fantasy. She can invent
a happy story in her head, imagining her dog has found a happy family and the dog lived very
happily. It is not real, but it keeps her pain away. Also, she can use the defense mechanism called
sublimation. It isn’t about pretending. She will turn her negative emotions into something
practical. She can start a dog training school to prevent other people’s dog from running away. 
257
TPO 21 
Task 1!
!
Talk about an important news event that happened recently in your country. Describe the event
and explain why it was important.
!
!
Sample response
!
The China Tennis Open 2012 concluded in Beijing on 7, October with a wealth of global stars'
participation. Chinese superstar Li Na managed to defeat the defending champion. I think the
meaning is multi-fold. But the most important thing is, just as this year’s Olympic Game slogan
suggests, inspire a generation, I hope it will be a good start for Chinese people to take part in
sports and benefit from sports. Especially those young people, who are currently buried in books
or drawn by work, sports will improve their health and their state of mind.
!
!
259
Task 2 !
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Your friends are the most important
influence in your life. Use details and examples to explain your opinion.
!
!
Sample response
I disagree with this statement. Family has this long and lasting influence on an individual.
Parents are our first teachers. Through words and deeds, we adopt behavior patterns, learn to be
polite and establish our own belief system. The most important lesson we learn from our family is
to love unconditionally. We receive love and affection from our parents and then pass it on to our
kids. Somehow, my mom said that the traditions and the affections would be our legacy when
they are long gone. You know it is so such for me that I have a very loving family as my safe net.
!
!
260
Task 3!
!
Daily E-mail with campus activities
The university will now send all students a daily email containing information about campus
events and activities. Rather than get information about campus events once a week in the
campus newspaper, students will get the information every day, thus ensuring that it is always
up-to-date. According to the university spokesman who announced the plan, “For all of us now,
e-mail is part of our daily lives”. Students in particular have become used to relying on email and
the Internet for most communication, so it is a logical change that will benefit everyone.
!
!
Woman: Did you read about the new plan?
Man: Yeah, what do you think?
Woman: I think it’s a great idea.
Man: Really? Why?
Woman: Well, I just don’t think the newspaper gets the most up-to-date information about
activities.
Man: well, the newspaper comes out weekly. What’s the problem?
Woman: The fact that it comes out just once a week is the problem. I read the newspaper every
Monday. But then I forgot that they are having a concert or showing a film or whatever, like on
Thursday or Friday and this’ll always give me a reminder, on the day of the event.
Man: Yeah, that way you wouldn’t forget.
Woman: And like if something gets cancelled at the last minute. Well that way you’d know and
you wouldn’t waste time showing up and no one’s there.
Man: I haven’t thought of that. That would be really helpful. But do you think students are
actually going to read the E-mail?
Woman: Are you kidding? Everyone checks their E-mail at least once a day. And If maybe they
also include the cafeteria menu for the day in the E-mail, well, then people are definitely going to
read it.
Man: You are so right. I can’t wait until they start.
!
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s plan. Briefly summarize the plan. Then
state her opinion of the plan and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
261
!
Sample response
According to the reading, the school has decided to send students daily emails containing
campus activities because it is more up to date and email is an important part of everyone’s daily
life. Then in the dialogue, the woman agrees for the following reasons. Firstly, for the time being
students learn about current event from the weekly newspaper. They will read it and forget it
shortly afterwards. So these emails will serve as a daily remainder. Even if some event is
cancelled last minute, no body will show up. In addition, everyone check the email inbox at least
once a day. If the school can add the cafeteria menu inside, that would be even better.
!
!
262
Task 4!
!
Questioning Awareness of Effect
When a student engages in disruptive behavior in the classroom, it negatively impacts on both
the teacher’s ability to teach and other students’ ability to learn. One way a teacher can correct
disruptive behavior is by questioning awareness of effect. With this technique, when a student
disrupts the class, the teacher asks a question that draws attention to the negative effect of the
student’s behavior. The teacher then does not wait for an answer, but immediately continues
teaching. By thus simply drawing attention to the effect of the student’s behavior, the teacher can
often lead the student to discontinue the behavior.
!
Professor:
So I use to teach a class of eight years olds and one problem I sometimes had was getting the
kids to raise their hands when they wanted to answer a question. Like lots of teachers, I had the
rule that if a student wanted to answer a question, they needed to raise their hand in the air and
wait till I call their name before speaking. That gave all the students a chance to participate,
which helped everyone get more out of the discussion. But some kids had trouble following the
rule. I remember there was on girl Sarah who didn’t raise her hand when she wanted to answer a
question. She would just call out the answer and this was frustrating for the other children who
were waiting patiently with their hands raised. So one day when Sarah called out, I asked her if
she knew that calling out was unfair to the other students. I said to her “Sarah, do you realize that
when you call out answers without raising your hand you’re not being fair to the other students?”
And I didn’t wait for her to answer. I just continued teaching the class and after that anytime I
asked the class a question, Sarah didn’t call out the answer. She raised her hand along with
everyone else.
!
Explain how the example from the lecture illustrates the technique of questioning awareness of
effect.
!
Sample response
263
The reading talks about questioning awareness of effect, which is a technique that many teachers
use to correct disruptive behaviors in classrooms. In the examples, the professor used to have the
rule of students raising hands before answering questions. But one girl called Sarah had some
trouble following the rule. She called out the answers every time, leaving other kids
disappointed. Then one day, she did it again, the professor just asked a question that drew
attention to the negative impact of her behavior, didn’t wait for an answer and just continued
teaching. This corrected her behavior, and the next time she raised her hand along with other
kids.
!
!
264
Task 5!
!
Man: Hey Sarah, when did your play open? The one you wrote and are directing?
Woman: In one week.
Man: And how is it coming along?
Woman: well, the rehearsals have been going on pretty well. There is just one problem.
Man: What’s that?
Woman: We have a guy named Bill playing one of the supporting roles, one of the minor
characters.
Man: OK?
Woman: And he just can’t remember his lines. All the other actors have their parts memorized
except Bill. We will be in the middle of rehearsing a big scene and he will forget what he is
supposed to say next. I thought he’d eventually improve, but now I am not sure he’ll be ready for
the opening night.
Man: Oh, no, that’s not so good. What can you do at this point?
Woman: well, I could red place him. There are other actors on campus, actors who could play the
part.
Man: Yeah, since it’s such a minor role, another actor could probably learn the part in time.
Woman: That’s true. It’s just that I don’t know how he’d feel about that. Removing him from the
play could hurt his feelings and he was really looking forward to being in it.
Man: I see, well, could you work with him to help him learn and remember his lines?
Woman: Yeah, I could do that. But there are other parts of the production I try to take care of
after rehearsals, so it would take away from other things that I need to do before opening night.
!
recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation.
!
Sample response
265
According to the dialogue, the woman has a play to be put on in a week, but there is a minor role
named Bill, he just cannot remember his lines. There might to two solutions for the woman. She
could replace Bill, since it is minor character, other people could learn it quickly. Or she could
work after rehearsals with Bill to help him remember the lines. I think the woman should take the
second option. Replacing Bill will hurt his feelings, and it is not right for a leader to give up on a
team member so easily. By spending some extra few hours with Bill after rehearsals, she can
help Bill to remember the lines, and also show others her dedication into her play.
!
!
266
Task 6!
!
Professor
Back in the 18th century in a time known as the industrial revolution, some countries, well,
England, in particular, started using new technology like steam-powered machines to produce
goods and the use of these machines brought about some significant changes. Let’s go over two
main changes that occurred. One change was that the center of production moved from homes to
factories. Let’s take fabric or cloth as an example. Historically, for a very long time, people had
made cloth by hand in their homes earning a little money from their home-based cloth
production. But then these new steam-powered machines for weaving cloth were invented and
placed in factories and these machines could weave cloth much more quickly and efficiently so
there wasn’t any reason to keep making cloth slowing in homes when it could be made faster on
factory machines. Thus the majority of cloth production shifted from home-based businesses to
factory production. Another result of the new technology is that cities stated forming around the
factories. Like let’s say there was a cloth factory that was built in a certain small village. Now of
course the factory needed workers to operate the machines used in cloth production. So the
factory would hire a lot of rural workers who would then move from the countryside to the
village. So instead of being spread out all over the countryside, the workers started to congregate
in the village with the factory. As a result, the village got bigger and bigger and eventually grew
into a city.
!
Using points and examples from the talk, describe the two changes that occurred after machines
began to be used for manufacturing goods.
!
Sample response
According to the lecture, the professor talked about the two changes that occurred after
machines began to be used for manufacturing goods. The first change is the center of production
shifted from home to factory. Previously, cloth was made by hand in homes. But since machines
could weave cloth much faster than humans, the center of production shifted from home based
business to factories. The other change is that city started to form around the factories. If there
were a factory in a village, they would hire a lot of rural workers. So workers would move from
countryside to this village, and the population grew bigger and bigger, and eventually it became
a big city. 
267
!
!
!
!
TPO22 !
Task 1!
!
Talk about one way your personality has changed since you were a child. Use examples and
details to explain your answer.
!
Sample response
When I was little, I used to rely on my parents too much because they always took good care of
me. But as I grew older, I came to realize that you have to, step by step, learn to live on your
own. It was especially true when I went to boarding school. I had to get up on time and get well
dressed for the day, attend classes on time. It was challenging at first, since it was really a
handful suddenly taking charge of all those things, but I survived. I became more independent
and I have learnt the art of taking care others.

!
!
269
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. Children should be required to learn
practical skills, such as cooking or personal finance, in addition to academic subjects.
!
Sample response
I agree with this statement. Well, learning about academic knowledge can hone our ability of
critical thinking and broaden our knowledge span, which is very important for us, still mastering
essential practical skills can help us live a better and easier life. Financial management skills
can be applied to our daily life in so many ways, from paying the bills to balancing bank account
and so on. As for cooking techniques, cooking at home is a much healthier lifestyle, also when
you invite friends over for a little get-together; it can be a great show-off. Still another practical
skill that is quite essential for our generation is driving. I don’t need to expand on how
convenient it would be if you have a driver’s license. Also, it is a symbol of us entering
adulthood.

!
!
270
Task 3!
!
University announces changes in campus tour guide
Traditionally, staff from the admission office has led the secondary-students who are considering
attending the university. Beginning the next semester, however, current students will lead these
guided walks around campus instead. “The staff of the admission office no longer have the time
to lead campus tour, we need to focus our resources on our other responsibilities,” explained
Christine Tanner, the director of admission. “Furthermore, we feel that current student will offer
unique and valuable insight to our visitors during these campus tours”.
!
Man: So what do you think of this?
Woman: well, I think it’s a good idea, necessary too.
Man: Why is that?
Woman: Well, you know I’ve actually been up to the admissions office a couple of times, like to
pick up some information for a friend, you know, and every time I’ve been there, wow, you can
tell they are really busy.
Man: Oh, really?
Woman: yeah. Those staff members are running around like crazy: on the phone, doing
interviews, dealing with tons of paperwork so I can totally believe what they’re saying about the
time factor. Seems like having one last thing to worry about would be a good thing.
Man: Sounds like it.
Woman: Yep. Oh, and about the other point.
Man: The different perspective thing?
Woman: Uh-huh. I think people like us would be really good at this. Unlike, you know, I
remember when I was first shown around the campus, the guy leading was, well, he was super
nice but there were some questions that he couldn’t really answer from experience.
Man: like what?
Woman: Well, practical things: which are the noisier dorms or which ones are the quietest?
Which student cafeteria he’s recommend? Stuff he didn’t have first-hand knowledge about. I
mean, how could he?
Man: I see, our point of view might be more useful.
!
271
The woman expresses her opinion about the university’s plan. Briefly summarize the plan. Then
state her opinion about the plan and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
!
Sample response
According to the reading, the university plans to let current students lead the guided walks
around the campus instead of the staff from admission office, because the staff have no time and
students can offer valuable advice. Then in the dialogue, the woman agrees for the following
reasons. Firstly, she has been to the admission office. The staff members were talking on the
phones, doing interviews, they were really busy. Secondly, students offer insight based on their
first-hand experience. They can answer questions such as, which is the noisiest dormitory and
which cafeteria to recommend to those incoming students.
!
!
!
272
Task 4!
!
Irrational Commitment
When people have devoted time and resources to a certain project, they generally wanted to see
it succeed. However, they may grow so attached to the idea of a successful outcome that even if
it starts to look like the project will fail, and the disadvantages are outweighing the benefits; they
will nevertheless increase their attachment to the project rather than give up. This is known as
irrational commitment. This tendency to continue with a project when it would make better sense
to quit can be especially strong when people feel they may be judged by others for their eventual
success or failure with the project.
!
Professor:
So I have a personal example. Some years back, my wife and I were looking for a house to buy.
We found this great old house out in the country but my wife had her doubts about it. She noticed
the house wasn’t in very good condition: it was a little rundown and probably needed some
repairs but I really fell in love with the architecture of the house: the unusual way it was designed
and built so I convinced my wife that we could hire people to fix it up and you know make the
house nice. We decided to buy it and live there after the repairs were finished. Well, the workers
we hired to repair the house soon discovered things were worse than I thought. It turned out that
the roof was damaged and needed expensive repairs. After the roof was repaired, the workers
discovered that the house had electrical problems: most of the wiring was bad and would have to
be replaced at a huge cost. Well, at this point my wife reminded me of her earlier doubts about
the house and wondered if we could ever get it in shape but I just became more determined than
ever. I paid for all the wiring to be replaced by an electrician. But it gets worse, the electrician
noticed that insects had eaten some of the walls and they would also have to be torn out and
replaced. This was going to be more expensive than all the other repairs but by this point I felt
determined to keep going. I kept thinking I have to do it. If I stopped now, my wife will think I
was wrong for not following her advice.
!
Explain how the example from the professor’s lecture illustrates the irrational commitment.
!
Sample response
273
The reading talks about irrational commitment, which is when people devote time and energy
into a project, they will go along with the project even if it will fail. Then the professor talked
about his personal experience. When he and his wife looked for a house to buy, he loved an old
house, but his wife had some doubts. He bought it anyway and promised he would fix it. But soon
he found that things were worse than he thought. He had to fix the roof, change the electrical
wires and tear down the walls. The cost was huge. When his wife reminded him of her earlier
doubts, he didn’t want to admit he made a bad decision. He had devoted time and money into this
repair work, he was afraid of being judged by its outcome, so he continued with it anyway.
!
!
274
Task 5!
!
Man: Jane, did you finish your research paper for class?
Woman: Yeah, I printed it out this morning.
Man: Why do you look so worried?
Woman: Well, I was just in the cafeteria eating lunch and reading it over one last time and I
spilled some soup on it and the class starts in 15 minutes.
Man: How bad is it?
Woman: It’s not so huge but you can definitely see it and several of the pages got wet.
Man: what are you going to do?
Woman: I could just go ahead and hand it in like this and explain to the professor what happened.
I mean you can still read the paper and the page should dry out a little by the class begins. But
there will still be sort of sticky and wrinkled.
Man: well, not all professors care that much about how the paper looks. At least, it’s be in on
time.
Woman: I know. It’s just the professor Adams is kind of strict when it comes to handing in our
research papers. I mean the format he gave us for putting this paper together was really specific,
so the way it looks seems important.
Man: Yeah, well, how about going to the computer lab to print another copy?
Woman: I could. Then I’d have a clean copy to hand in and I wouldn’t have to worry about how
the paper looks.
Man: you’d better hurry though because there’s usually a line over there.
Woman: I know. And by the time I get there, wait in line for a computer, print the paper out and
come back for class, I’d be late for class and professor Adams is strict about lateness too.
Man: I see what you mean.
!
!
Sample response
275
According to the dialogue, the woman has a paper due today, and the class starts in 15 minutes.
But she spilled some soup on her paper. There are two solutions for her problem. She could go
ahead and hand it in just like this, or she could go down to the computer lab to print another
copy, but she would miss part of the class. I think I will choose the second solution. She could
have an open and honest conversation with her professor to explain her special situation. I think
the professor would understand her dilemma and forgive her. Also, missing part of the class for
one clean copy of the paper, well, it just isn’t worth it. Being late for classes is also as much
unforgivable.
!
!
276
Task 6!
!
Many animals live underground in the soil, not just little animals like worms but also bigger
animals like mammals. Living underground has advantages: it protects animals from
aboveground predators. However, the underground environment also presents challenges and
animals that live underground have developed physical adaptations to deal with them. One
challenge is well, simply how to move underground through the dirt. Another challenge for the
animal is to protect its vulnerable parts of its body from the environment that it’s moving
through. Now moving through soil is not like moving through air or water because soil, earth is
thick and dense, so animals that live underground have evolved physical features that help them
move through dirt efficiently. For example, the mole, a small furry mammal has really wide
super strong front feet with big claws. The mole’s feet act like…err…like shovels so it can dig
through the dirt. The claws cut into the dirt, loosen it up, and then once the dirt is loosened up,
the broad feet throw the dirt behind the mole as it moves forward. These shovel-like front feet
allow a mole to dig tis way through the dirt astonishingly quickly. But even for an animal that
can move efficiently through the dirt, living underground can still be problematic because it’s
easy for particles to get caught in sensitive parts of the animal’s body. Like for mammals in their
eyes, so underground animals have developed adaptations to prevent this. Again, let’s take the
examples of the mole. To begin with, moles have tiny eyes and these eyes are covered with a
thick sin, a protective membrane that’s actually got hair on it. These hairs protect the mole’s eye
from dirt particles, so as the mole goes digging through the dirt with its head pushed forward, the
dirt particles come into contact with the hairy membrane covering the mole’s tiny eyes and the
particles just slide by, don’t get caught in the mole’s eyes. So the eyes, the mole’s sensitive parts
are protected.
!
Using the example of the mole, explain the two different types of underground adaptation.
!
Sample response
277
In the lecture, the professor uses the example of mole to talk about two underground adaptations
of mammals.The first adaptation is moving efficiently through dirt. Moles have super strong front
feet, and this can help them to loose up the soil easily and throw the dirt behind. So they are able
through dirt astonishingly fast.The second adaptation is to help protect its vulnerable body part.
Moles have tiny eyes, and they have protective skin over their eyes. Those protective skins are
membranes with hairs on it. So when dirt particles come into contact with its eyes, the particles
will just slide by.
!
!
278
!
TPO23!
Task 1!
!
There can be several advantages to spending time living in another country. Talk about one
advantage and explain how living in another country provides that advantage. Use details and
examples in your response.
!
Sample response
I think you can truly get to know a culture by living in another country. We learn about the
customs and traditions of another culture from books and documentaries, but there is nothing
like experiencing it first-hand. And living in another country just offers you that chance to cross
the borders and get to chat with local people and know how ordinary people live their lives. Such
as if you can spend Spring Festival with a Chinese family, you can better understand the
meaning behind this grand celebration. How we go through thorough cleaning for our houses to
clean up all the ill fortunes, and what is the cultural meaning and history behind our traditional
food.

!
280
Task 2!
!
Some people enjoy spending their free time alone in activities such as reading, thinking, or
writing. Others enjoy spending their free time in shared activities with other people. Which do
you prefer and why?
!
Sample response
I prefer shared activities. I love to be around with other people, whether it is hanging around or
traveling. I am a social animal. Such as for the graduation travel we went to Taiwan together.
Well, when you are in a group, you know, laughter can be contagious and the joy is shared and
doubled, in one word, it is more fun. Also, you’ll always have someone to watch your back, in
case of emergencies. You are never alone, so it saves you loads of trouble.

!
!
281
Task 3!
!
No More International News
For the past few years, the daily campus newspaper has included a one-page international news
section covering a few of the major stories in world news. Starting next month, the section will
be eliminated. One of the reasons the newspaper editors gave for the decision to cut the section is
that other news sources are better able to provide wider and more up-to-date international news
coverage. The editors also noted that change would create space for a new calendar page that will
list events and activities around campus.
!
Man: Hey, what do you think of this?
Woman: You mean the editor’s decision?
Man: Right.
Woman: Oh, I think they are right. It’s the thing to do.
Man: Really? Why?
Woman: Well, hardly anyone reads that section.
Man: You don’t think so?
Woman: Not really. I mean they only cover a couple of stories and most people already know
about them before they even get around to reading the campus paper.
Man: True, if you get the local paper, or use the Internet, you already know about the major
stories.
Woman: Exactly. And the coverage is better. I think we should just stick with campus news and
stuff.
Man: So do you think what they are going to replace it with better?
Woman: Definitely. Right now how do you learn about what’s happening on campus?
Man: Mostly from posters in the different buildings or in the student center.
Woman: Right. The information is everywhere. But it’s hard to keep track of it. I see stuff posted
but then I forget about it half the time.
Man: So you are saying that with this new section…
Woman: You could just cut it out from the newspaper and carry it around and check it anytime
and know what’s taking place, when and where.
!
282
The woman expresses her opinion about the plan announced in the article. Briefly summarize the
plan. Then state her opinion about the plan and the reasons she gives for that opinion.
!
Sample response
According to the reading, the university has decided to cancel the international section, because
other sources are better and they could use it for a new calendar page. In the dialogue, the
woman agrees for the following reasons. First, hardly anyone reads that section. When people
use other news sources, such as the local newspapers, or if they check the Internet, they already
knew about the major stories when the newspaper came around. Also, currently, students learn
about campus events from posters everywhere. If they had this calendar page, students could cut
it out, and carry it around with them to check it anytime.
!
!
283
Task 4
!
Reference Group
Our thinking and behavior are often influenced by other people. When we admire and respect
someone, we naturally try to imitate their behavior and attitudes. Group of people whom we
admire and whose behavior and attitudes we tend to imitate are known as reference groups.
Reference groups provide a model—a frame of reference—that we can shape how we think and
behave. Over the course of a lifetime, we may be influenced by many different reference groups.
As we grow older, or encounter new circumstances, our reference group may change, and our
attitudes and behavior may change accordingly.
!
Professor:
I have an example from my own life to illustrate this. When I first began my university studies, I
became friends with a bunch of art students. They were older and fun and very creative and I
thought they were really cool and they all liked to dress really casually in T-shirts and jeans and
sneakers. That’s what they wore all the time, to class, to the library, to dinner, everywhere. So
that’s what I started wearing too and I fit right in and I felt really cool. But then I graduated,
moved to Chicago and got a job and I started working with some really bright young people
who’d already been working at the company for a few years, who were already handling major
responsibilities for the company, really impressive and sometimes some of us would get together
on the weekend, maybe for a concert or baseball game or something. And at first, I just wear a T-
shirt and jeans and sneakers. That was, you know, how I was used to dressing. But I soon noticed
that my co-workers prefer to dress us a little bit. They men would wear a nice pair of pants,
button-up shirts; the woman might wear a fashionable dress and some nice shoes. They dressed
in clothes a lot nicer than what I was used to wearing. And I started thinking, you know, that
looks really classy, really sharp. And so I started to dress the same way they did. You know, nicer
and a little more formal. And I don’t know, somehow my T-shirt and jeans and sneakers don’t
seem as cool to me anymore.
!
Using the example from the lecture, explain how people’s behavior is affected by reference
groups.
!
Sample response
284
The reading passage talks about reference group, which is the group of people we admire and
tend to imitate. Then the professor gives his personal experiences. When he was in college, he
was friend with some art students. They liked to dress very casually, in T-shirt and jeans and
sneakers. So the professor thought they looked cool and he dressed himself the same way, and he
fit right in. But after graduation he went in a big company. His co-workers all liked to dress up a
little bit, even on weekends when they were hanging out. He saw them as classy and sharp, his
old style just suddenly didn’t look cool anymore. So, that is how we may adopt different reference
group as we grew older and our attitudes and behaviors would change accordingly.
!
!
!
285
Task 5!
!
Woman: How’s it going?
Man: Ok, I am just trying to figure out what to do about this new bus schedule.
Woman: New bus schedule?
Man: Yeah. I take a bus from campus to my job downtown. I work there Tuesday afternoons but
the bus schedule changed. The bus I was taking is leaving earlier now and I can’t get to it in time
because I’ve got chemistry class then.
Woman: Yeah, they do change this bus schedule sometimes. It’s inconvenient. So what are you
going do?
Man: Well, I talked to my boss and she said I could change my work hours and work at night
instead. I start late in the afternoon and then work till around midnight and there is a bus that’ll
get me there on time.
Woman: That sounds good. So you can just take a later bus to your job.
Man: Yeah. The only thing is if I work late at night, I will be really tired and I have class early
the next morning.
Woman: Yeah. But do you have another choice?
Man: Well, yeah. Another option is just to ride my bike to work after chemistry. I’ll be able to get
work on time so I can keep same hours. It’s not that far and it’ll take about 15 minutes.
Woman: Hum, that might be nice coz you get some exercise, but it’d be uncomfortable riding a
bike on days when there is bad weather.
Man: Yeah. I’ll have to think about it.
!
!
Sample response
286
According to the dialogue, the man used to take the bus from campus to his job downtown. But
the bus schedule changed. There are two options for him. He can ride a bicycle to work after
chemistry class; it will take him only 15 min. Or he can change his working hours to work the
night shift. There is another bus that can take him there, but he has early classes for the next day.
I think the first solution is better. Study is still the single most important thing for a student. If he
worked the night shift, he would be too tired for his early classes. And that will influence his
study. So riding a bike to his work and keeping the original work hours is the best solution out of
his trouble. Besides, if there were really bad weather, he could always use other transportation
systems.
!
!
287
Task 6!
!
Professor:
Now, plants, like animals and like us for that matter, need nutrients, substances that provide
nourishment to survive, thrive and grow. We get our nutrients from the food we eat. Plants,
though, most plants anyway, absorb their nutrients from the soil, right, through their root
systems? Ok, but there are plants that don’t get their nutrients from the soil. The places they
grow, the soil is bad. So they get their nutrients from insects instead, from trapping and digesting
insects. They are called carnivorous plants. Carnivorous plants capture insects in different ways.
They have different trapping mechanisms—active traps and passive traps. A plant with an active
trap, a good example is the Venus flytrap. The Venus flytrap actually moves to catch its prey or
parts of it do anyway. Its leaves, it has special leaves that are hinged in the middle. The two
halves of the leaf open and close, sort of like a mouth to catch insects and on these leaves is
sweet nectar that attracts insects. Insects like this sweet stuff and when they get lured and land on
the leaf, wham, the leaves sprung shut. It’s an active trap and the insect springs it, so to speak.
The leaves quickly close and form a little cage, trapping the insect between the leaves. Then
Venus flytrap is then able to digest the insect and get its nutrients. But the other carnivorous
plants, their methods are passive, they don’t have any moving parts to trap things, they have
passive traps like the sundew plant. The sundew plant also produces sweet nectar that attracts
insects. Its leaves are full of little hairs that secrete the sweet substance. But what happens when
insects land on sundew’ leaves to get at this sweet nectar? Well, unfortunately for the insects, the
hairs on the leaves also produce a super sticky glue-like substance so an insect get stuck in them
and can’t get away. It basically gets glued there, allowing the sundew to digest it and absorb its
nutrients.
!
Using the examples of the Venus flytrap and sundew, describe the two ways that carnivorous
plants get their nutrients.
!
Sample response
288
The lecture introduces two ways that carnivorous plants get their nutrients. The first way is
active traps, the plant’s body or part of its body moves to catch preys. Such as Venus flytrap, they
have sweet nectar to lure insects and have leaves that can close like a mouth. When insects land
on its leaves, the leaves close to form a cage and shut the insects inside. Then they will be able to
digest the insects and get the nutrients. The second way is passive traps, such as sundew plant.
The sundew plant has sweet substance and sticky stuff on its leaves; insects that were attracted
by the scent will get stuck on its leaves. In this way, they catch the insects to get the nutrients they
need.
!
!
!
289
!
TPO24!
Task 1!
!
Talk about a popular gathering place in your town where people like to go. Describe the place
and explain why people enjoy going there.
!
Sample response
The place people often go to in my town is the library. Well, it is open to the public almost all
year round. It is quiet and clean. The library has long benches and pagodas outside. It is
impeccable. Students may go there to study, other people go there to read books for knowledge,
or maybe just to enjoy some quiet moment, you know, read for fun. Various people may go there
for different reasons, but I think they all come out with a new sensation inside.

!
!
291
Task 2!
!
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students benefit more from classes with
a large number of students than they do from smaller classes. Use specific examples and details
to support your opinion.
!
Sample response
I disagree with this statement. I think smaller classes are much better. Students will get direct and
adequate personal attention from teachers, which is essential, so teachers can offer instant
feedback when students have doubts or questions on the topic. Also, students will be more
involved in classroom activities, which is beneficial to their study. And in a smaller classroom,
classmates would get to know each other better. They can make more friends, improve their
social skills.

!
!
292
Task 3!
!
Close the Campus Coffee house
I propose that the university close the campus coffeehouse. Coffeehouses are great if people
actually use them, like to socialize with friends, while enjoying a cup of coffee and a snack. But
students are not using our campus coffeehouse. There are usually lots of empty tables when I
pass by the place. It is just a waste of space that could be used for other things. Also, the food at
the coffeehouse is not very good. The last time I was there, the cakes and muffins my friends and
I ordered were dry and didn’t have much flavor.
Sincerely, Greg Smith
!
Woman: I don’t like his proposal.
Man: Why not?
Woman: but that’s what I like about it, that it’s never crowded.
Man: Really?
Woman: Yeah. So it’s a great place to study. I go there a lot: I’ll read a book or bring my laptop
computer and work on a paper for class. It’s never very noisy.
Man: You are able to get work done there?
Woman: Absolutely. In fact I actually prefer it to the library as a place to study than a lot of other
students do to. We even study for our final exams there. And you can eat there while you work,
something you can’t do at the library.
Man: Ok, but you don’t actually like the food there, do you. I mean he said…
Woman: Well, I don’t think he has been there recently. I mean it’s true that it wasn’t that great in
the past. But I think it’s a lot better now.
Man: what’s changed?
Woman: They have a new manager and I guess she’s made some improvements in the quality of
the food. I was there last week and the food was delicious.
Man: really?
Woman: Yeah, really. And the new manager has also added a lot of really healthful foods and
snacks so the food doesn’t just taste god now, it’s good for you too.
Man: umm, I’ll have to try the place.
!
293
The woman expresses her opinion about the student’s proposal. State her opinion and explain the
reasons she gives for holding that opinion.
!
Sample response
The reading is a proposal that asked the school to close the campus coffeehouse, because
students are not using it and the food is not very good. Then in the conversation, the woman
disagrees for the following reason. First, the coffeehouse is a great place to study because there
is only very few people going there. Some students actually prefer it to the library because they
can eat while getting their work done. And for the food there, they have new manager now, and
they have made some improvements in the quality of the food. So the food doesn’t just taste
delicious now, also they have added some healthful snacks.
!
!
294
Task 4!
!
Flagship Species
Environmental organizations work to protect plants and animals whose natural habitats are
threatened by human activity. One way they do this is by selecting a particular species to
represent the threatened habitat to the general public. This species, called a flagship species, is
one that people are likely to find attractive and interesting. The flagship species is used to raise
public awareness and motivate people to take action to protect the threatened habitat. People’s
support of the flagship species results in protection for all the plant and animal species living in
the threatened area.
!
So one example of this is the mascaw, the great green mascaw. Now the great green mascaw is a
beautiful bird, a fairly large-sized parrot known for its colorful feathers, gorgeous green feathers
with some red and blue feathers too. The mascaw lives in the South American rainforest, in the
part of the rainforest where a lot of trees have been cut down, trees that the macaw relies on for
its food and nesting. So the mascaw was in trouble. And of course, along with the trees, a lot of
other animals were in trouble too. Lots of birds, bats and frogs also lived in these trees. So when
the trees were cut down and cleared away, these animals also didn’t have a place to live anymore.
And their populations drastically declined. So what a concerned group of people in the area did
was they started spreading the word about how the mascaw, you know, this really beautiful bird,
needed help. They made little books with information about the mascaw, with pictures, full-
colored pictures of the mascaw that showed off its beautiful features. And they passed out these
little books, these informational brochures. They distributed them to people in schools and
community centers. And a lot of people responded. They contributed money and helped the
group set up some protected land, a special area where no one could cut down the trees so the
mascaw would be safe. And the mascaw’s population started to increase. And other birds and
bats and frogs came back to the area too. Their numbers increased along the trees.
!
Using the example of the macaw from the lecture, explain the concept of flagship species.
!
Sample response
295
The reading introduces flagship species, which means that people will select a species to
represent a threatened habitat to the public to raise their awareness. Then he talked about
macaw. Macaw is a beautiful bird that lives in South American rainforest. The trees that macaw
relied on were cut down by humans, and their populations drastically declined, so as other
species. Group of people who were concerned about this situation started making books about
this beautiful bird and sending the books to schools and community centers. So people contribute
money to set up protective land for the bird. Their population increased, and other species
returned too.
!
!
296
Task 5!
!
Man: Hey, Amy, have you finished moving out of your dorm room yet?
Woman: Yeah, I’m all done. I moved into my new apartment off campus yesterday.
Man: how do you like it?
Woman: It’s great. There is just one problem.
Man: What’s that?
Woman: well, I don’t have an Internet connection at my new apartment so I can’t use the
computer to access the Internet from my room.
Man: And that’s really important.
Woman: Right. I need it to do research for classes, email people, stuff like that. I use it almost
every day.
Man: So are you going to pay to get it installed at the apartment?
Woman: Well, I’ve called a couple of the Internet companies in the area and it’s no trouble for
them to send someone out to my apartment to install Internet service. It’s just the cost. I’d have
to pay every month for the service.
Man: well, you know there is always the computer center on campus. The computers there have
free Internet access. Couldn’t you use them?
Woman: I could. It’s just that I don’t have classes every day, so I’d have to go to campus on
Sundays just to use the Internet. And that computer center can’t get crowd sometimes.
Man: Umm…
Woman: So I’m not sure what to do.
!
!
Sample response
297
In the dialogue, the woman has just moved in her new apartment, but there is no Internet
connection. And she needs Internet everyday. So there are two solutions for her. The first solution
is, she can pay to get the service installed. Or the other one, she can use the free Internet service
at the computer center. I think the woman should take the first solution. Obviously, Internet is
important for her daily use and study. By having it installed at her apartment, she will be able to
use it whenever she wants. It will be money well spent. And for the extra cost, she can always
find some part time job to earn more money to fill in the gap. 
298
!
Task 6!
!
Professor:
Authors of fiction, en, short stories and novels, of course have many decisions to make, when
they are writing their works. One of those decisions is how they are going to narrate, or tell the
story. What perspective, or what point of view the story will be told from? So authors need to
choose a type of narrator, some person or voice to tell the story, and this narrator can affect the
readers’ experience when they read the story. Now the author might choose to have an objective
narrator. An objective narrator can describe what people, the characters in the story do and what
they say, but that’s about all. So suppose we have a story, for example that a man and a woman
about to take a trip. When the story is told by an objective narrator, the only information that we
get as readers is that the characters say to each other, what they do. They get on the train, they sit
down, they look out the window, that’s all. And this leaves questions that force the reader to
interpret the events, to fill in information, and decide what the characters’ conversation and
actions might mean. Another kind of narrator an author might use is an omniscient narrator. In
this case, the narrator, the voice that is telling the story, knows everything. And I mean
everything about the characters. So let’s imagine our same man and woman travelling, but
described by an omniscient narrator. Not only do we, the readers, know what they do and say, but
we also know what they are thinking. For example, we are told that the couple is going to visit an
old friend of the man’s, and we learn what the man is thinking that he is nervous because he
hasn’t seen his friend in a long time, that he is worried if his wife will like the friend. So an
omniscient narrator provides more information and answers questions that the reader might have
about characters or the actions.
!
Using the examples from the lecture, discuss two types of narrators that an author of fiction
might use.
!
Sample response
299
The lecture talks about the two types of narrator fiction writers might use. The first type is
objective narrator. The narrator knows only what the characters do and what they say. For
example a man and a woman taking a trip together, they get on the train, and they sit down. That
is all we know. Readers have to interpret the events and fill in the other information. The second
type is omniscient narrator. The narrator knows about everything, what the characters do, what
they say to each other and what they think. Still about the same man and woman taking the trip,
we know the man is really nervous, and he is afraid that his wife may not like his friend. The
omniscient narrator can offer more information about the characters. 
300
TPO 25 
!
!
Task 1!
!
Students often want to get better grades in their classes. Explain what students should do in order
to improve their performance in a class.
!
Sample Response:
If students want to improve their performance in class, I would suggest the following two ways.
First of all, ask questions more frequently, especially the professors. When a student confronts
with tough math problems after the new class and cannot figure them out individually, he could
try to contact with the professor to explain the concept as well as several solutions to the
question. Secondly, practice often. As an old Chinese saying tells us, “Practice makes perfect”.
For example, if he does more practice in the concept of Newton’s law of motion in physics, he
would deeper his understanding of it, as a result, increasing his ability of solving such physical
problems. These are two ways I’d like to advise to get better grades.
!
!
!
302
Task 2!
!
Some people do not enjoy shopping and shop only when they have a specific purchase to make.
Others like to go shopping for pleasure whether or not they have something to buy. Which do
you prefer and why?
!
Sample Response:
I prefer go shopping when I need to buy something. First of all, it would save money. Being a
student, I only have 1000 yuan budget every month. If I go shopping often without any specific
purposes, I would waste my pocket money simply because of the cost that is not that necessary.
Second, it would save time. I’m often swamped by the schoolwork, like, lately, I have to finish the
papers on media development, presentations of cinema management and team discussion about
the human right movement. If I go shopping without certain needs and just hang around, I would
waste the precious time for study or rest.
!
!
303
Task 3!
!
Split Graduation
Traditionally, the university holds one ceremony for all graduating students, during which
students are awarded their diplomas. Beginning this year, however, the university will hold two
graduation ceremonies. Under the new arrangement, half the graduating students will participate
in the first ceremony, and the other will participate in a second ceremony to be held the following
day. Administrators cite two reasons for the change. First, the number of students and increased
in recent years, and since diplomas are awarded individually, the single ceremony has become
uncomfortably long. Also, the hall where the ceremony is held is too small to accommodate the
growing audience of friends and family members.
!
Student A: You know, I wish they wouldn’t do this.
Student B: Why?
Student A: Well, I think it’s unnecessary. I mean, as far as the first reason goes, yeah, sure, it
takes a long time to have everyone receive their diploma individually, especially now that there
are more students. But there is an easy way to make it shorter.
Student B: What’s that?
Student A: Reduce the number of speeches. I mean, a lot of people give speeches, students,
professors, administrators, the president of the university. Do we really need that many speeches?
Student B: Probably not. And a lot of the speeches are pretty boring anyway. So yeah, we
probably could cut out a few.
Student A: Yeah. And I don’t think their second reason is really good either, about the space.
Student B: How’s that?
Student A: The problem isn’t the size of the hall, is that they allow students to invite too many
people to come and watch. All they need to do is reduce the number of guests each graduating
student gets to invite.
Student B: Yeah, I guess that could solve the problem.
Student A: Yeah. I mean, right now each graduating student can invite up to ten people, that’s too
many. At most schools, students only get to invite like four or five people. If we just say, “OK,
you can only invite six people.” That is still being more than most other schools and the
ceremony could stay the way it is.
!
304
Sample Response:
The university is going to split the graduation ceremony, which means students will be divided
into two parts to participate in it. However, the woman disagrees with this plan, and she has two
reasons for that. Firstly, even though students are granted individually, which takes a lot of time,
they would have a shorter ceremony simply by university reducing the number of speeches made
by professors, administrators, president and so on. Secondly, she denies the excuse of size of the
hall. She thinks that the core issue why the ceremony is crowded lies on the number of people,
because right now university allows students to invite up to ten guests, which is far more than the
other universities. Students will no longer suffer if they can only invite at most six family
members or friends.
!
!
305
Task 4!
!
Cultural Lag
Technological change occurs very rapidly in modern society-sometimes more rapidly than many
people are prepared for. As a result, when new technology emerges, people may struggle for a
time to adapt to it. This period of transition, when people are adjusting to technological change,
is known as cultural lag. At first, people are not accustomed to the new technology and may not
understand it, they may therefore have a negative attitude toward it. Over time, however, their
attitudes change, and they successfully incorporate the new technology into their daily lives.
!
Professor
Now, the invention of the telephone was revolutionary. It was a much easier and faster way of
communicating than anything else available of the time. However, when the telephone first
became widely available towards the end of the nineteenth century, only businesses used
telephones because businesses realized how telephone could benefit them, how it could help
them be more productive. But a lot of people in the general public didn’t think the phone should
be used for personal communication. Some people didn’t like to listen to someone’s voice
without being able to see them. Also, a lot of people thought that it was rude to call someone on
the telephone instead of visiting them in person. They missed the sense of personal connection
they got from meeting someone.
!
However, as we all know, people gradually changed their minds about the telephone. It took
about thirty years. But eventually, most homes came to have telephones and everyone came to
depend on them. Talking to someone you couldn’t see began to seem more and more normal.
Friends began to call each other just to chat, just for fun. And after everyone agreed on certain
rules of politeness, such as not calling someone late at night, no one consider it rude anymore to
make personal phone calls.
!
Using the example of the telephone, explain the concept of cultural lag.
!
Sample Response:
306
Cultural lag is a period of transition, when people get used to a technological change. The
professor gives an example of the telephone. At the end of the nineteenth century, when telephone
became widely available, only businesses used it. But the majority of the public didn’t value its
use for personal communication, because, for example, some of them didn’t like to communicate
without face-to-face, others considered it rude to call someone without visiting him or her in
person. However, this attitude towards telephone changed over the 30 years thereafter. Talking to
someone on the phone is no longer rude or abnormal. For example, friends like to call each
other just for a chat, and the rules of politeness have also changed, like no one would consider
the personal call impolite unless it is made late at night.
!
!
!
307
Task 5!
!
Student A: Hey, Frank. How is it going?
Student B: Well, I just found out my roommate Jim is moving out of our off-campus apartment
into a bigger place with a whole bunch of friends next semester.
Student A: Oh, really?
Student B: Yeah.
Student A: Does this mean you will be living by yourself next semester?
Student B: Yeah, but that’s OK, ‘cause I really wanted to live alone next semester anyway. I have
to concentrate on my senior project for the history department. I have a lot to write and I don’t
want any distractions. The only major problem though, is how I’ll be getting to campus.
Student A: Oh, yeah?
Student B: see, the apartment is a little far from campus and Jim has a car and he gives me rides
to and from campus every day, but I can’t afford a car now.
Student A: So have you thought about taking public transportation? Uh, the bus to campus?
Student B: Yeah, I have. The thing is that there’s no bus going directly to the campus from that
part of town. I’ll have to change buses a couple of times on the way.
Student A: I see. That could take a lot of time.
Student B: Right.
Student A: Hmmm… Well, maybe you should move back into a dormitory on campus, request a
single room. There are lots of them.
Student B: Yeah. I thought about that. You know, I could live alone to get my work done. But I
don’t know, I would miss my apartment.
Student A: I know, but you’ve got to make some choice.
!
Sample Response:
The man confronts with a problem that he doesn’t know how he will be getting to campus after
his roommate moving out who used to give him a ride. There are two solutions to the problem.
The first one is to take public transportation, like the bus, to school. The second one is to move
back to a dorm on campus. I recommend the man should adopt the second way out. The reasons
are as follows. Firstly, it will not bother him to commute during which he has to change buses a
couple of times, which takes a lot of trouble and wastes time. Secondly, living in the dormitory,
he will have a brand new way of life, like making lots of friends; take more exercises and so on.
In that way, he won’t miss his life living off-campus. 
308
Task 6!
!
Professor
Rocks near the earth’s surface are directly exposed to elements in the environment such as air
and water, and also to conditions such as temperature change, as well as to living organisms. And
this exposure to the environment can actually cause even huge rocks to break into smaller pieces.
This process is called weathering. Uh, let’s talk about a couple of ways weathering occurs.
!
First of all, rocks are often exposed to water. In cold, wet environments, rocks can break due to
water freezing inside of them. How does this happen? Well, ‘cause I am sure you know, when
water freezes, it expands. And over time, this can lead to weathering. Um… imagine a rock with
a small opening or crack in it. It rains, and water gets into the crack and stays there. Then at
night, the temperature drops. And the water inside the crack freezes. This growing expanding ice
pushes outward on either side of the crack, causing it to get slightly bigger. When this happens
again and again, the crack becomes larger. And eventually, pieces of the rock break off.
!
Ok. Weathering can also be caused by plants, by plant growth. If a plant seed gets blown into the
crack of a rock, it may take root. And its roots will grow down into the rock. The plant roots can
cause the rock to break down, uh, fracture. You may have seen this with large trees growing on
top of a rock, a great example of this. Usually there is enough dirt in the crack of a rock or on top
of a rock to allow a tree to start growing there. As the tree grows over the years, the tree’s roots
extend down well into the cracks and crevasses of the rock in search of water and nutrients. Over
time, the roots get bigger and grow deeper, widening and enlarging the cracks causing the rock to
break apart.
!
Using points and example from the lecture, explain two ways weathering occurs.
!
Sample Response:
309
The professor explains two ways weathering occurs. Firstly, the exposure to water, which means
that the rock breaks because of freezing water inside it which would then expand. To be more
specific, if the rains get into cracks, it will freeze due to low temperature. Then the growing
expanding ice pushes outward, causing the rock to break off little by little. The second way of
weathering happens under plant growth, which means after the plant seeds get down to take a
root, it will grow into the rock, causing it to fracture. A good example for it is big trees growing
on the top of a rock. They gradually extend down their roots for nutrients and water, as a result,
widening and enlarging the cracks they grow and breaking it apart at last.
310

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TPO !

• Books that are easy to talk about

• Lord of the Rings

• Devil Wears Prada

• Any other English book that you’ve actually read before

• Books that you should avoid

• News, real time updates, breaking news

• Entertainments, music videos, movies

• Many channels to choose from

• On demand/ pay per-views

• HD channels and contents

• Voilent, sex, drugs and crime

• Easy to lose track of time

• Better to read or go out, travel

• Unhealthy life style

• Proposal: student opposing school’s plan of acquiring a new sculpture

• Reason 1: expensive, waste of money

• Reason 2: large, takes up too much space

• The woman disagrees with it

• Reason 1: the school isn’t paying

• Reason 2: Paul is upset for not wanting to move

• Desire to be liked, fear of losing a job

• Not wanting to be the only one that’s holding up the vote

• Professor and coworker wanted to change the look of their computer

• Coworker changed his mind

• Did not want to leave a bad impression on the managers

• Professor changed his mind as well

• They were all wrong

• First solution: borrow two cars and get a second driver

• Pro: volunteers are not hard to find

• Second solution: take the kids to the zoo by bus

• Pro: there’s bus that goes right past the zoo

• A baby is shown a doll on a table

• A screen is lowered between the baby and the doll

• A second doll is very obviously placed behind the screen

• One of the dolls is secretly taken away

• Screen is raised back up

• We know it’s surprised because it stared

• When a baby is surprised, it would stare

• Choose to talk about a place you’re familiar with!

• Who do you go to this place with?

• What kind of activities do you do at this place?

• Targeted course selection

• Studying similar courses actually saves time and efforts

• Become more competitive on the job market

• Better networking - coworkers and professional contacts

• Casual course selection

• It’s fun to switch to a different subject once in a while

• It opens one’s mind; offers different points of views and perspectives

• Become a better problem solver

• Find out what you really love to do

• Opens up more career possibilities

• Announcement: elimination of bus service

• Reason 1: not many students take it

• Reason 2: money saved can be used to build more parking lots

• The man disagrees with it

• Reason 1: the bus route is out of date

• Reason 2: building more parking lots is not a good idea

• Term: Audience Effect

• Two groups of students were ask to tie their shoes

• One group knew they were being watched

• The other group didn’t