2005 National English Contest for College Students
(Level A - Final)
Section A Dialogues (10 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short dialogues. At the end of each dialogue, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the dialogue and the question will be read only once. After each question, there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 1. A. A son and two daughters. B. Two sons and two daughters. C. Two sons and a daughter. D. A son and three daughters. 2. A. Freshman. B. Sophomore. C. Junior. D. Senior. 3. A. To cancel a meeting. B. To arrange a meeting. C. To confirm a meeting. D. To send a fax. 4. A. College education. B. Educational psychology. C. Family education. D. Behavioral psychology. 5. A. They will go skiing. B. They will stay home.
C. They will buy ski equipment. D. They will take ski lessons. 6. A. Tony. B. Laura. C. Megan. D. Brian. 7. A. He was caught in the rain. B. He just had a shower. C. He was sick.
D. He failed the exam.
8. A. The man's secretary. B. A manager. C. A job applicant. D. A waitress.
9. A. In a butcher's. B. In a hotel. C. On the plane. D. In a fast food restaurant. 10. A. A manager and a secretary. B. A lecturer and a student. C. Two friends.
D. A doctor and a patient.
Section B News Items (10 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short pieces of news from BBC or VOA. After each news item and question, there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the three choices marked A, B and C, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 11. A. Young children. B. Middle-aged people. C. Old people. 12. A. In Beijing, 2005. B. In New York, 1995. C. In Beijing, 1995. 13. A. Yes. B. No. C. Not mentioned in the news. 14. A. China and India. B. China and Iceland. C. Ukraine and Poland. 15. A. Sri Lankan children who survived the tsunami.
B. Indonesian children who survived the earthquake. C. American children who survived the tornado. 16. A. Lack of support from the government. B. Lack of sports facilities.
C. Shortage of transportation facilities. 17. A. Sony. B. Samsung. C. Apple. 18. A. Film stars. B. Engineers and scientists. C. Film directors. 19. A. Some animals can live longer by reducing food intake. B. Diabetes can be cured if the patient eats less.
C. People can increase life spans by eating less meat. 20. A. Pakistan. B. India. C. Palestine.
Section C Passages (10 points) Directions: In this section, you will hear 2 passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear 5 questions. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 21. A. In 1933. B. In 1960. C. 33 years ago. D. 60 years ago. 22. A. He thought that they would enjoy losing money.
B. He thought that they would enjoy pretending to be millionaires. C. He thought that they would enjoy spending time with their families. D. He thought that they would enjoy buying and selling in the game. 23. A. No, they weren't interested in it. B. No, but his friends liked it. C. Yes, they loved it.
D. Yes, and they became millionaires by playing the game. 24. A. Parker Brothers. B. Charles Darrow's family. C. Charles Darrow. D. Charles Darrow's friends. 25. A. Over 100 million. B. 5,000. C. 19. D. Over a million.
Passage Two
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. A. Bussiness and sports.
B. Hollywood and the Internet. C. Religion and education. D. Sports and marriage.
27. A. Teachers still do not recognize American English as standard English. B. British English is chosen by more English learners. C. Only British English is taught in the classroom.
D. The Internet is the main reason for the wider spread of American English.
28. A. 75 percent of the world's satellite TV programs were produced in the United States in 1993. B. European, Asian and South American countries import a great number of Hollywood movies. C. Americans are more fond of traveling than the British people.
D. The population of the United States is about five times as large as that of Britain. 29. A. In the 18th century. B. In the 19th century. C. Before World War I. D. After World War II.
30. A. The United States had the greatest educational influence all over the world. B. The United States had the strongest political influence in the world. C. Britain had the greatest commercial influence all over the world. D. Britain had the strongest political influence in the world.
Part II Vocabulary and Structure (5 minutes, 10 points) Directions: There are 10 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
31. My husband and I need to _________ our investments in order to plan for our retirement. A. elevate B. schedule C. coordinate D. prescribe 32. I really _________ when I asked him how his wife was—they got divorced last year! A. landed on his feet B. got off the wrong foot C. found my feet D. put my foot in it 33. The total of such areas gets divided _________ between the total number of flats per floor: the larger the number of flats per floor, the lesser is this area _________ gets added to the area of the flat.
A. sufficiently; where B. proportionately; that C. equally; as D. adequately; when 34. Therefore, whoever tells a lie, however well intentioned he might be, _________ the consequences, however unforeseeable they were, and pay the penalty for them even in a civil tribunal.
A. will step into B. shall run into C. have to abide by D. must answer for 35. Our enthusiasm differs from that of young men only _________ it is less demonstrative—still, we would have its existence acknowledged. A. but that B. so that C. in that D. provided that
36. Despite the _________ hope that she could pass on her wisdom and her story posthumously, as Mammy and Lowly have done with her, still Ella seems to find no substitution for children, _________ through the novel with her inability to reproduce. A. essential; scrabbling B. obtainable; suffered C. potential; struggling D. claimable; anguished
37. Though the movie purports to be a satirical examination of capitalism (as was the original 1974 version), its vague discussion of money and power _________ very little. A. adds up to B. comes up with C. puts up with D. makes up for 38. _________ it seems that there is a discrepancy between your expectations and his behaviour. A. Whatever be the reason B. Whatever reason is C. The reason be such D. Such to be the reason
39. “I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner _________ me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.” Pietro Aretino quotes. A. made you dislike B. to let you admire C. have you hate D. you distaste for
40. There had been windows on the westerly side of the school, but they appeared to have been built up for a long time _________ of the workmanship on the outside. A. estimated in the outlook B. to presume upon the clue C. to be detected in the trace D. judging from the appearance
Part III Situational Dialogues (5 minutes, 10 points) Directions: There are 10 incomplete dialogues in this part. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the dialogue. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. 41. Frank: You'll never believe what I saw on the train today! Peter: What?
Frank: Some guy got on with a monkey on his shoulder! Peter: You're kidding! ______________
Frank: He had it on a chain, but yeah, I think it is. A. I don't think so. B. That will be expensive. C. It must be plastic. D. I don't agree with you.
42. Nancy: I'd like to withdraw some money, but I've never used a bank machine. Roger: OK. ______________
Nancy: Thanks. That would be nice.
Roger: First, you put your card in here. Next, ... A. Remember to turn to the policeman. B. Let me show you how it works.
C. Why don't you borrow some money? D. Do you mind me taking you to the bank? 43. Nadia: Welcome to Shanghai Hotel!
Brown: My name is Brown. ______________
Nadia: Yes, Mr. Brown. You reserved a single room for three nights. Brown: Yes, that's right.
A. I need a confirmation number. B. Mr. Smith just took the last one. C. I'd like to ask about my reservations. D. I would like to make a reservation.
44. Bellboy: Come this way, please. Let's take the elevator. Guest: Oh my! It's a glassed elevator!
Bellboy: Don't be frightened, Miss. Enjoy the view!
Guest: It's beautiful. ______________ So many people are enjoying the sun. A. I really feel at ease working here. B. What's the name of that street?
C. Can you see the wall of the next building? D. You can see the whole beach.
45. Mike: You know, I'm a little uncomfortable with speaking English to foreigners.
Jane: Why? How're you ever going to become fluent if you don't try to use the language? Mike: ______________
Jane: Don't worry. You can become good at English if you learn to be a little more active. A. But I always feel that people are watching me!
B. You must develop a feeling of being more comfortable. C. I will try to practice pronunciation more. D. I want to visit my English teacher.
46. Flora: Billy, would you like to join our ride-sharing group to and from work? Billy: Why not? It'll save me some money, and the company would welcome it.
Flora: ______________
Billy: I'll be waiting, and thanks.
A. Well, let me know why you gave me a call.
B. We'll pick you up tomorrow morning at your place at seven. C. I'll be back later today to find out your decision.
D. Come by later and I'll show you which are the best trains to take. 47. Boss: Would you mind working morning shift next month? Ella: Oh, I just hate getting up early. I know I'll come in late.
Boss: Yes, I do remember now. Last year, you were always late in the mornings. Ella: ______________
Boss: The problem is I'm really shorthanded now. Ella: Could you ask somebody else?
A. I'm sorry I always forgot to do something. B. I have to work second shift next year.
C. But you will have to pay for the extra salary. D. That's why I switched to the afternoon shift.
48. Kerry: Good morning! I'd like to book a cheap spring tour.______________ Joann: There's a splendid tour in Paris. Kerry: But I prefer to go in April.
Joann: Well, April in Paris is beautiful. But it's very popular. Most package tours in April are fully booked.
Kerry: Alright, I'll think about it and come back tomorrow. A. Which sort of tour interests you? B. Why don't you give me a brochure? C. What package tours are available? D. What other tours would you suggest? 49. Kerry: Hi, Joanne. How's it going?
Joanne: Terrible. I just found out I have a chemistry test tomorrow. Kerry: Your professor didn't tell you until now? Joanne: He told us—I just didn't hear it.
Kerry: What're you going to do?______________
Joanne: I'll have to, because I also have an exam in French tomorrow. A. Don't be nervous. B. Pull an all-nighter? C. Want to go bowling tonight? D. You look really out of it.
50. Steve: Excuse me. Could you help me, please? I have a problem with this disc player. I bought it here last night.
Clerk: Let me check the batteries. No, they're all right. There must be something wrong inside. I'll have to send it back to the manufacturer. I'm very sorry. Would you like a replacement model? Steve: Yes, I would.
Clerk: OK. Please wait here a moment and I'll get you another one.______________ Steve: Yes, I do. Here it is.
A. You will be able to get a new disc player. B. Do you still have the original receipt? C. I hope you are satisfied with this new one. D. Is there anything wrong with your disc player?