THE LANGUAGE TRAINING & TESTING CENTER

GENERAL ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST

HIGH-INTERMEDIATE LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

Form: HL-0001P

This listening comprehension test will test your ability to understand spoken English.  In this test, each conversation, short talk and question will be spoken JUST ONE TIME.  They will not be written out for you.  There are three parts to this test.  Special instructions will be given to you at the beginning of each part.

Part A

In part A, you will hear 15 questions.  After you hear a question, read the four choices in your test book and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard.

Example:

You will hear:    Ms. Lewis has worked here for a long time, hasn't she?

You will read:   A.    Yes, at three o'clock.

B.         No, I don't have a watch.

C.         Yes, more than twenty years.

D.        No.  She's working overtime.

The best answer to the question "Ms. Lewis has worked here for a long time, hasn't she?" is C: "Yes, more than twenty years."  Therefore, you should choose answer C.

Please open your test book to page 1.  Now let us begin Part A with question no. 1.

1.      Hey, Linda, what do you think of this yellow shirt?

2.   How often do you write to your parents?

3.      John, would you leave this book with me this week?  I found something useful in it for my report.

 4.   Did you see the police officers in the lobby?

 5.   Mrs. Lee, allow me to introduce you to Mr. William Grant.

6.      Well, Jenny, why don’t you think it over and let me know your decision tomorrow

morning?

7.   Gosh, one of my teeth is really killing me!

 8.   Excuse me.  Do you have change for a fifty-dollar bill?

 9.    Can you tell me if the hotel is conveniently situated?

10.   So, Vincent, how have you been lately?

11.   Tom should be home by now, but no one is answering the phone.

12.   Believe it or not, Fred’s new novel has been selling like hot cakes.

13.   You’re not going to drive your own car all the way to Hualien, are you?

14.   Are you aware that Maggie has been doing a lot of research on that project?

15.   When is the president going to hold the press conference?

Part B

In part B, you will hear 15 conversations between a man and a woman.  After each conversation, you will hear a question about the conversation.  After you hear the question, read the four choices in your test book and choose the best answer to the question you have heard.

Example:

You will hear:      Woman:   Hey, I think we should make the frame first.

Man:        Right!  I have some strips of light metal and some wood.  Which do you think would be better?

Woman:   Wood is better.  Metal is dangerous to use because it might attract lightning.  We can use either paper or cloth to cover the frame.

Question: What are they going to use to make the frame?

You will read:      A.    Wood.

B.         Metal.

C.         Cloth.

D.        Leather.

The best answer to the question "What are they going to use to make the frame?" is A: "Wood."  Therefore, you should choose answer A.

Please turn to the next page.  Now let us begin Part B with question no. 16.

16. M:      Excuse me, do you mind if I sit by the window?

W:      No.  I’ll trade places with you if you’d like.

M:      Thank you.  You see, I’d like to take some pictures while we’re landing.

W:      I hope they turn out O.K.  I think the wing’s going to block your view though.

Question:   Where are these people?

17. M:      You wouldn’t believe what a mess our house is in.

W:      Why?  What’s going on?

M:              My wife decided that she was tired of looking at white walls, so she hired some painters to come in.

W:      That’s great!

M:              It will be great when they’re finished.  But right now the furniture is in the center of every room, covered with old sheets.

W:      Ha-ha!  Yes, it does sound like a mess.

Question:   What’s going on at the man’s house?

18. W:     How long have you had these symptoms?

M:      For about a week, I think.

W:      It appears to be an infection.  I’ll give you a prescription for an antibiotic.  If the symptoms don’t clear up in about 7 days, come see me again.

   M:     O.K. 

Question:   Where did this conversation probably take place?

19    M:      Hey, Jane.  What’s the hurry?

W:      Oh, hi, Phil.  What time is it?

M:      It’s 2:30.  Why?

W:      2:30?  Oh, my goodness!  I’m already 30 minutes late for my meeting with

          Professor Davis.  I’ll be in trouble again!

Question:   When was the woman scheduled to meet Professor Davis?

20. M:    I’m back, Cindy.

W:    How was your lunch meeting, Mr. Smith?

M:    Fine.  Any messages while I was out?

W:   Yes, Mr. Waverley called, from the factory.  He says that some stores are still complaining about the supply problem.

M:    Does he want me to call him?

W:    He said he’d be out this afternoon, but he’ll try to call you at 6:30.

M:    6:30?  Doesn’t he realize we’re off at six?

Question:   What message did Mr. Waverley leave?

21.   M:    Hey, look at Susan, all dressed up.  Any special occasion today?  Her birthday, maybe?

W:    No, I don’t think so.  Haven’t you noticed?  She’s never been late or worn the same dress twice since she got promoted.  I’d say she’s fishing for compliments.

Question:   What does the woman think about Susan?

22.   M:    I hear you’re looking for a new apartment.

W:    Yeah, that’s right.  Linda, Kathy and I are hoping to find a place near our office.

M:    There’s a three-bedroom place available in my building for only twenty thousand a

month.

W:   How many bathrooms?

M:    One, I think.

W:    Hmm.  With three women, one isn’t really enough.

Question:   Why isn’t the woman interested in the apartment?

23. M:   It was entirely your fault.  I signaled my turn.  You should have allowed me to change lanes so that I could turn left at the intersection.  Now look at that big dent!

        W:   That’s ridiculous!  I was right beside you when you started to change lanes.  It was impossible for me to get out of the way!  Besides, you ran into me!

        Question:   What are the speakers arguing about?

24.   W:    How was class today?

        M:    Oh, so-so.  We’re having a big test on Friday, so I figure I’ll spend the whole week cramming.

        W:    Why bother?  You know what they say, if you don’t know it by now, you never will.

        M:    Still, a quick flip through the books wouldn’t hurt.

        Question:   What does the man plan to do during the week?

25.   W:    How do you like your new job?

M:    Well, it’s interesting being the only man in the office.

W:    All of your co-workers are women?

M:    Not only my colleagues, even my boss!

W:    Hey, that must be kind of nice.  Or is it?

        M:    Well, when I go home at night, I only see my wife and two daughters.  So my life

seems to be missing something!

Question:   What does the man imply that he needs?

26.   M:    Do you have trouble understanding Professor Wu’s lectures?

        W:    No.  His accent isn’t too bad.

        M:    No, I mean the material itself.  I can’t follow his ideas.  He just seems to jump

                from one topic to the next.  I’ve given up trying to take notes.

        W:    Well, my notes are pretty good.  Would you like to borrow them?

        M:    I’d sure appreciate that.

  Question: What is the man’s complaint?

27.   W:    Look at what I bought at the jade market.  It’s an antique jade bracelet, more than 100 years old.

        M:    It’s very nice.  How much did you pay for it?

        W:    The vendor wanted 600 dollars for it, so I offered him 300.  We bargained some more and we finally settled on 400 dollars.  Do you think it’s a good buy?

        M:    Yes, if it’s real jade.

        Question: How much did the woman pay for the jade bracelet?

28.   M:    Larry was talking about going out to eat on Saturday.  Maybe we could go to one of those hot-pot places.

  W:    I have a better idea.  Let’s eat here.

  M:    You mean buy our own hot-pot ingredients?

  W:    Well, hot-pot would be nice another time.  What I had in mind was trying a new chicken recipe I found.

  M:    Let me suggest it to Larry.  I’m sure that’d be fine with him.

  Question: What will the speakers most probably do on Saturday?

29.   M:    Oh, you’re back.  How was the opera?

W:    The performance was terrific.  All of the singers were in great form, and the orchestra was superb.  But I didn’t think much of the set and some of the costumes looked pretty shabby.

  M:    That’s probably because of the funding cuts I told you about.  It’s a real shame!

        Question: What did the man say about the opera?

30.      M:    Now, about the CE-10 microphones… I’d like to order 1,000 units but only if you can deliver them by the end of March.

W:    I’m afraid that doesn’t give us enough time.  We’ve received several other orders already.  What about the first week of April?

        M:    Let’s make this arrangement: if the shipment arrives after the end of March, the price will be discounted 5%.

        W:    All right.  It’s a deal.

        Question: Why might the shipment not be delivered by the end of March?

Part C

In part C, you will hear several short talks.  After each talk, you will hear 2 to 3 questions about the talk.  After you hear each question, read the four choices in your test book and choose the best answer to the question you have heard.

Example:

You will hear:      Folks, we're just pulling in to our stop at Scotsburg.  We'll be here for ten minutes to take on some more passengers.  You're all welcome to get out and stretch your legs a little.  Remember to take your valuables with you.  There are restrooms and snack machines inside the station.  Don't go far, though.  It's 1:20 now, and we'll be pulling out again at 1:30.

Question number 1:   Where is the speaker?

You will read:      A.    On a bus.

B.         At a store.

C.         In a train station.

D.        In a hospital.

The best answer to the question "Where is the speaker?" is A: "On a bus."  Therefore, you should choose answer A.

Now listen to another question based on the same talk.

You will hear:      Question number 2:   When will the passengers depart?

You will read:      A.    In half an hour.

B.         In ten minutes.

C.         In an hour.

D.        In forty-five minutes.

The best answer to the question "When will the passengers depart?" is B: "In ten minutes."  Therefore, you should choose answer B.

Please turn to the next page.  Now let us begin Part C with question no. 31.

[Questions number 31 and 32 are based on the following story.]

Ms. Osceola McCarty is an 88-year-old woman living in Mississippi.  She worked for over 75 years as a washer woman.  One day after she retired, she went to the bank and discovered, to her great surprise, that her meager monthly savings had grown to over $150,000.  Then to everyone’s great surprise, she donated almost all of her savings to the University of Southern Mississippi to establish a scholarship fund for African-American students.  Her donation made national headlines.

Question number 31: What did Ms. McCarty do that made her famous?

Question number 32: What did the speaker say about Ms. McCarty?

[Questions number 33 to 35 are based on the following talk.]

(Woman’s voice) Please sit down, Mr. Sanders.  I asked my secretary to have you come in just as soon as you got back from lunch, and I see that it’s now 1:20.  Now I’m not going to ask why you’re back twenty minutes late today, because you may have an excellent reason.  The point is that this has become a regular thing.  You’ve gotten into the habit of taking more than an hour for your noon break.  It’s been happening two or three times a week.  Why you have been doing this I don’t know or care.  But this has to stop now.  Have I made myself clear?

Question number 33: Who is the speaker talking to?

Question number 34: What is the speaker mainly talking about?

Question number 35: What does the speaker want the listener to do now?

[Questions number 36 and 37 are based on the following news report.]

Welcome back to News Nightline.  It’s nine-thirty.  For those parents who are watching our program, where are your children now?  Are they celebrating the end of examination week with their friends?  The big question is, what are they drinking?  Are you sure it isn’t beer?  Today’s news included the results of a study by Tri-Service General Hospital on the rise in alcoholism across the country, and guess what they found out.  It’s bad news, folks.  25% of the alcoholics in this country are teenagers.  And most of them are getting drunk on beer.  Did you know it’s not even legal for most teenagers to buy beer?  But they pick it up in convenience stores and order it from menus every day.

Question number 36: What is the speaker’s purpose?

Question number 37: What aspect of beer does the speaker emphasize?

[Questions number 38 and 39 are based on the following talk in a library tour.]

OK, students.  Let’s begin today’s library tour with the facilities on the first floor.  As you can see, on your right are current issues of magazines and journals.  If you need to find back issues, such as last year’s TIME magazines, please go to the fourth floor.  Now look to your left.  There’s the circulation desk and our computer facilities.  All of the computers are connected to our Library Network System.  If you want to check out a book, you can use the system to place a request and then pick it up at the circulation desk.  Are you interested in learning more about the system?  Great!  Please follow me and I’ll show you how it works.

Question number 38: Where should a person go if he needs to find back issues of TIME

                                  magazines?

Question number 39: What is the speaker going to do now?

[Questions number 40 to 42 are based on the following radio commercial.]

Are you tired of unwanted pounds?  Did you spend money on a health club, only to find that you have no time or energy to go?  If so, then E-Z Off Weight Loss Powder is the answer to your problems!  Developed by Swiss scientists after years of research into natural plant remedies, E-Z Off is a totally natural, healthy alternative to diet pills or long hours of exercise.  Just stir one spoonful of E-Z Off into a glass of water two times a day--once in the morning and once at night--and you can say goodbye to sweating and being hungry, and say hello to ice cream!  Pick up some E-Z Off today from your local pharmacy.

Question number 40: Who would be most interested in the product advertised?

Question number 41: How often should a person use this product?

Question number 42: Where can we buy this product?

[Questions number 43 to 45 are based on the following talk.]

All right, that’s basically it.  To wrap up, I want you to understand one key point: because different animals use their muscles in different ways, a variety of muscle systems are required in the animal kingdom.  Today we’ve looked at the example of jumping frogs.  Their actions require explosive energy, which must be supplied by a fast-contracting muscle that produces maximum power momentarily.  Another example we’ve discussed is migratory swimming by fish.  Remember, this activity depends on a muscular system that can provide power for very long periods of time.  If you can remember all these points, I think that’s enough for today.

Question number 43: When was the talk most probably given?

Question number 44: How many examples did the speaker just mention?

Question number 45: What does the speaker say about the muscle system of frogs?

This is the end of the listening comprehension test.