iBT_Q5_10

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

 

 

Narrator:  Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Brad, I need some advice.

Student 2(male):  How can I help, June?

Student 1:  Hmmm. Here’s the deal. I canfinish all my major classes and graduate next semester, but I want to take a French class before I graduate. If I try to fit that French class in next semester, I would be taking more classes  than I’ve ever had in one semester. I don’t know if I could manage all that studying. I don’t want to get bad grades my last semester.

Student 2:   Well, you could just graduate one semester later, couldn’t you? Is it that big of a deal?

Student 1:  I had really hoped to graduate in four years. All my plans up until now have been on schedule, but now I want to take that extra class.

Student 2:  If you do decide to graduate one semester later, you could actually manage to take French 101 next semester and then French 102 the following semester when you graduate. And you’d actually be taking less classes each of those two semesters.

Student 1: Yeah, but I’d still be graduating a semester late. I don’t know if my parents would approve of that. It would also cost a little more to take one extra semester.

Student 2: A semester’s tuition isn’t cheap.

Student 1:  I know, but whatever I do, I’ve already decided to take French. 

 

 

Narrator:  Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

 

Narrator:  The students discuss two possible solutions to the woman’s problems. Describe the problem. Then state which solution you prefer and explain why. 

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_09

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

 

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Hey, Steve, what’s wrong?

Student 2(male): Hey, Jen. I have a problem.  I want to be two places at one time.

Student 1: Uh, I don’t think I can help you with that.

Student 2:  Well, listen. You know I am graduating soon, so I have to find a job quickly. I got a job interview with a big company next Monday afternoon at 2:00. But, there is a lecture I really want to attend on campus at the same time. I can’t go to both.

Student 1: Steve, if you are graduating soon, why would you still bother going to a school related lecture?  Wouldn’t a job interview be more important than a lecture? I think you should go to the interview.

Student 2:  You’re right, but the thing is, a very famous biology professor is coming to give the lecture, and I heard he is looking for students to help him in his next research project.

Student 1: Hey, you’re a biology major. Are you thinking you could work with him?

Student 2: Yes, I hope so. A job related to my major would be a lot more enjoyable than a boring desk job at just another big company. And maybe, if I get the job with the professor, I could use him as a reference to get into graduate school.

Student 1: I don’t know. That doesn’t sound very likely to happen.

 

 Narrator:  Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

 

Narrator:  The students discuss two possible solutions to the man’s problems. Describe the problem. Then state which solution you prefer and explain why. 

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_08

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

 

 

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Hey, Barry. How’s your study group going?

Student 2(male): Not so good. I don’t know if you can really call it a study group. We never study.

Student 1: What do you mean?

Student 2: Well, when we meet after class to study, all my group-mates do is talk about who likes who, what movies they want to go see, what parties they went to over the weekend. We never even mention our Physics class.

Student 1:  Oh yeah, aren’t all the other members of your study group roommates? They all know each other and hang-out outside of class too.

Student 2:  Yeah. I didn’t do very well on the last exam because we didn’t study so much.

Student 1: Why don’t you talk to your group-mates and see if you can get

them to actually study? Maybe they didn’t do so well on the last exam too.

Student 2: That’s an idea. But I don’t want to sound like a parent, “You all

need to stop talking so much and study!”

Student 1: How about you talk to your professor and see if he will let you change your group?

Student 2: Hmmm, I don’t know. I think I heard that last semester somebody wanted to switch study groups in the middle of the semester, and he told them it was too late.

Student 1: Well, if you don’t want to fail another exam, you’d better think of something. 

 

 

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

 

Narrator: The students discuss two possible solutions to the man’s problem. 

Describe the problem. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why. 

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_07

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

 

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female):  Hi, Ted. What’s up?

Student 2(male):  Oh, hi, June. I’m just studying as usual. I haven’t had time for anything else recently, and the near future is looking about the same.

Student 1: Is something the matter?

Student 2: It’s all this homework and test s that are coming up. I have five tests within two days of each other, and I also have several presentations and research papers to write, and they are all due within a couple of days of each other.

Student 1: Wow, that explains why I haven’t seen you around lately. Don’t you also have to work?

Student 2: Yeah, every night this week. I really don’t know what I’m going

to do. I don’t think there are enough hours in the week to finish all this stuff.

Student 1:  Well, maybe you could talk to some of your professors about this. I know, sometimes professors give extensions on papers. And some will even let you reschedule a test. Maybe if you tell them your situation they will be more lenient with you.

Student 2: That sounds like a pretty good idea. But, it also might be embarrassing for me to ask just to have my teacher say to me, “Why should I give you special treatment and not the other students?” You know?

Student 1: Hmmm, maybe talk to your boss at work and ask for a few days off or something. Or maybe just call in sick. Ha-ha

Student 2:  I don’t know if my boss will give me time off. We’ve been pretty busy lately and he d oesn’t like me too much... 

 

 

 

Narrator:  Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

 

 

Narrator: The students discuss two possible solutions to the man’s problem. Describe the problem. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why. 

 

 

iBT_Q5_06

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

Narrator:  Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Matt, I need your help.

Student 2(male): What do you need help with?

Student 1:  I need to talk with my advisor about my schedule for next semester, but he hasn’t been around lately. I don’t know what to do.

Student 2: Well, why don’t you just schedule an appointment with him? Student 1: I tried that several times, but he always misses them. Either his assistant tells me he just had to rush out the door for a meeting, or he’s out of town doing research.

Student 2:  How about you schedule an appointment with one of the other advisors, or find out when the walk-in appointment hours are for the office?

Student 1: One of the reasons I chose my current advisor is because he’s

a little famous, and he’s really really helpful with my classes. He’s also very knowledgeable about my major concentration.

Student 2: Well, it might be useless, but why don’t you try sending him an

e-mail explaining your situation, and note to him how many appointments he has missed with you?

Student 1: Yeah, I could try that.

Student 2: Another idea is finding out when he teaches class, and then show up right after his class to talk to him.

Student 1:  Hmmmm.

Student 2: And I know you might not want to think about it, but maybe you should just consider changing your advisor all-together to someone more  reliable and less famous. 

 

 

 

Narrator:  Now get ready to answer the question.

Narrator:  The students discuss several possible solutions to the woman’s problems. Describe the problem. Then state which solution you prefer and explain why. 

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_05

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

 

 

Narrator:  Listen to a conversation between two students.

 

Student 1(female): Ryan, I’m thinking about dropping our Chinese class and going back to Spanish.

Student 2(male): What? Why? I thought you really enjoyed taking Chinese?

Student 1:  Well, I do. It’s really fun; it just takes so much extra time to study. I feel like I have to neglect my other classes so I can keep up with the work in Chinese, and I think my grades are starting to slip.

Student 2: That’s really horrible. You’ve already taken two semesters of  Chinese. It seems like a waste if you just quit now. Couldn’t you drop one of your other classes so that you’d have more time to study?

Student 1: Maybe, but I also hoped that someday I could be able to get a job where I could speak Chinese. I don’t know if I’ll ever be good enough for that.

Student 2:  Well, you’re fairly fluent in Spanish, aren’t you? Didn’t you even work at a Mexican restaurant?

Student 1: Yes, I studied Spanish for four years and got a job where I could speak Spanish.

Student 2: Have you considered studying abroad or taking some courses over the summer? Maybe working at a Chinese restaurant would help you too?

Student 1: Studying abroad can be expensive, and have you ever seen a white person working at a Chinese restaurant? I don’t know... 

 

 

 

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

 

Narrator: The students discuss several solutions to the woman’s problem. 

Describe the problem. Then state which of the solutions you prefer and why. 

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_04

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.

 

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(male): Wow, I always get fired up and excited when I hear one of those political speeches by Senator Bill.

Student 2(female): Well, if you enjoy them so much, then why don’t you go  work on his campaign? I think they’re looking for people to help.

Student 1:  I really want to, but I already have a job, and lots of classes. I don’t think I’d be able to juggle two jobs, going to class, and studying.

Student 2:  Why don’t you quit your job and go work for the senator if you believe in him so much?

Student 1:  Well, I’ve been working at the bookstore for so long now. It’d feel like I was abandoning my boss. I really don’t make so much there, but after graduation, that reference will look really good on my résumé.

Student 2: Don’t you think a recommendation from a political candidate would be even better for a résumé then a local bookstore owner’s?

Student 1: Yeah, it would, but working at the bookstore is also a good job to  have while I’m in school. It’s usually pretty slow around there, so I can catch up on my homework while I’m at work. I think working on a campaign would be rather time consuming.

Student 2:  Well, I don’t think that would be a problem for you. It’s like you love to stay busy. Whenever I come get you to go to a party or to go out, you’re  always working or studying.  I think you enjoy being so busy. 

 

 

Narrator:  Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

Narrator:  The woman tries to persuade the man to do something. Say what she tries to persuade him to do . Then state which of the solutions you prefer and why. 

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_03

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Hey, Jason, what’s wrong?

Student 2(male): Oh, hi, Carrie. I just got my report card for this semester. It isn’t exactly as good as I thought it would be. And I really studied hard this  semester!

Student 1: Let me see. Oh!...They’re not so bad. I would be happy to have your grades in those classes. Are your grades good enough to keep financial aid?

Student 2: I hope so, but it’ll be really close. I think they’re border-line. What should I do? I always made perfect grades in high school. I thought my first semester of college would be the same.

Student 1: If I were you, I don’t think I’d take such hard classes my first year. If you’re most worried about your grades and keeping financial aid, take easier classes.

Student 2: I could take easier classes, but I want to challenge myself. 

Student 1: Well, don’t challenge yourself right out of college! Maybe you could take fewer classes. That would give you more time to concentrate on the tougher classes.

Student 2: I could do that, I guess, but then I’d be in school longer than I’d hoped, and my financial aid only covers 4 years of school.

Student 1: You know, I had a friend in the same situation. She took a semester off to clear her head. When she came back, she was refreshed and ready to tackle anything. She also had a little extra money saved up from working.

Student 2: Hmm, I don’t know if I’d like that. Seems kinda drastic. 

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question. 

Narrator: The students are discussing the man’s problem. Describe his problem and then decide what you think is best for him. Give reasons to support your decision. 

iBT_Q5_02

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Hey, Ryan, are you going to be Dennis’s roommate again next semester?

Student 2(male): Actually, Tara, I’m not so sure. I might not be back at school next semester. I’m having some money issues and might take a semester or two off and move back home.

Student 1: But, what happened to your scholarship? I thought it covered your tuition and housing?

Student 2: Well, it does, but I let my grades slip and now they are just below what I need to keep my scholarship. I don’t think I studied hard enough this semester.

Student 1:  Wow. I’m sorry. School just won’t be the same without you. Isn’t there something you can do? Maybe you could apply for a loan?

Student 2:  I thought about that. I could take out a student loan to pay for tuition and all, but that is so much money that I have to repay. I’m not sure if I want to have that responsibility. Some people are still paying off student loans even 20 year s after they graduate!

Student 1:  Well, I suppose you could get a few jobs over the summer and save up some money. Right?

Student 2: I guess so, but it still might not be enough. I might have to work for a full year to save up enough to pay for tuition and housing at the university. I don’t know what to do, but I know I want to finish my degree. 

 

 

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question. 

 

Narrator: The students are discussing the man’s problem. What do you think the man should do? Give reasons to support your choice.

 

 

 

iBT_Q5_01

Directions: For this task, you will listen to a dialogue. You will hear a question about it. You will then have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. 

 

Student 1(male): Hey, Denise. Are you ready for spring break?

Student 2(female): You bet I am Charlie. I’m just not sure where I’ll be going yet. My roommates and I have been talking about going to the beach in the Bahaman Islands since last spring break, but it isn’t exactly cheap, and only Pat and I were able to save up enough money to go. These last few weeks Bo worked extra shifts at the restaurant, but he still couldn’t make enough money. We all feel really bad because we all wanted to go together. I don’t think we could go without him.

Student 1: Well, can’t you let him borrow some money so that you can all go together?

Student 2: I think we could do that. If me and Pat both pitched in and lent him some money, he might have enough. But I don’t know if he’d want to borrow money from us. He doesn’t usually do that.

Student 1: Well, maybe you just need to find another place to go then. If you all already have some money saved up, you should be able to find a closer, cheaper destination for spring break, right?

Student 2: I suppose we could, but it really just wouldn’t be the same.

Student 1: You should look around. Maybe you can find a place like the

Bahamas, just without the Bahamas price. 

 

 

Narrator:  Now get ready to answer the question.

Narrator: The students discuss two solutions to the woman’s problem. Which solution do you prefer and why? Provide examples to support your choice. 

 

 

 

 

iBT_Q4_10

Directions: In this question, you will read a short passage and then listen to a talk on the same academic topic. You will then answer a question about them. After you hear the question, you will have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. You have 45 seconds to read the passage. 

 

 

                                                Animal Domestication 

 

                     Humans have been domesticating, ortaming, animals for thousands of years. The cow, pig, horse and other animals that once lived in the wild are now used by humans. These large domesticated mammals are used for a variety of jobs in fields such as agriculture and transportation. Attempts have been made to domesticate many different types of animals,but not all attempts were successful. Animals that were not able to be succesfully domesticated generally share certain characteristics. An animal that is non-territorial, or an animal that doesn’t think it has its own area, has a much better chance of being domesticated. Animals that live in herds and have a specific leader are also easier to domesticate because the master, or human, can function as this leader. 

 

 

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture from an ecology class.

 

Professor: In this chapter we are discussing the aptness of certain types of animals for domestication and the characteristics that make them this way. Animals that live in herds, such as the horse, yes...the horse is a perfect example, are much easier to domesticate than animals that don’tlive in herds. These herds generallyconsist of an alpha male horse, who is the boss, several female horses, and a few foals. The females and young foals follow the alpha male around and listen to him. When the herd moves to a different location, all of the horses of the herd follow the male. This willingness to follow others makes horses perfect in pulling objects or when several are harnessed together: all following the first. Horses also have overlapping territories, and they don’t fight with the other herds. But with a large mammal like the bear, well, how often do you see a large group of bears all sitting around with each other? You don’t, because they are not animals that live in herds, and they don’t follow any other bear in particular. If bears can’t get along with each other, how can they get along with a human who is telling them what they can

or cannot do? Bears are also highly territorial and mark their territory in the wild. If you are walking through the woods and see some large scratch marks above eye-level, that means you are walking around some marked territory. It’d probably be best to leave, unless you wantto fight with the bear over his territory. 

 

 

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question.

 

 

Narrator:The professor describes the behavior of horses and bears. Explain how their behavior is related to their aptness for domestication.