Part III Listening Comprehension
Section A
11. B 12. B 13. B 14. B 15. D 16. A 17. C 18. D 19. C 20. B 21. A 22. D 23. C 24. B 25. A
11. W: If I am not mistaken, your birthday is coming up. Has your brother sent you something?
M: Not yet. He never forgets it though.
Q: What does the man imply?
12. W: I'm not swimming in the lake unless it warms up outside today.
M: Me neither. Unfortunately I think it's supposed to stay as cold as this all day.
Q: What can be inferred about the speakers?
13.M: That sweater is so unusual, and yet it looks familiar. Did I just see you wearing it yesterday?
W: Well, not me, but...see, it belongs to my roommate Jill, and she is in your chemistry class.
Q: What does the woman imply?
14. M: Do you want to go to a lecture tonight over in the science auditorium? It's some guy who spent a year living in Antarctica.
W: No kidding! I'm doing a report on Antarctica for my geography class. Maybe I can get some good information to add to it.
QWhat does the woman mean?
15. W: I'd really like to learn how to play chess, but it looks so complicated. It seems like it will take a really long time to learn.
M: Well, it takes a long time to get good at it. But we can go over the basics this afternoon if you want.
Q: What does the man imply?
16. M: Do you think you can lend me that novel when you are finished with it? I've been looking all over for a copy, but apparently it was sold out at all the bookstores.
W: Oh, it's not mine. It belongs to Alice. But I'll see what she says.
Q: What will the woman probably do?
17. W:Umm...are you going to try some of this chocolate pudding? It's incredible.
M: Well, to be honest with you, I've never been a big fan of chocolate.
Q: What does the man imply?
18. W: So, how was the drama club's new production last night? Did I miss out on anything good?
M: Hardly, I kept looking at my watch the whole time.
QWhat does the man mean?
Now you'll hear two long conversations.
Conversation One
M: What are you doing?
W: I'm ordering some filing cabinets out of a catalog.
M: What do you need them for?
W: There's so much stuff piling up in my dormitory room. If I don't do something soon, I won't be able to move in there.
M: Do you usually order from a catalog?
W: Sometimes. Why?
M: Oh, it's just in the history class today we were talking about how the catalog sales business first got started in the USA Chicago retailer, Montgomery Ward started it in the late 1800s. It was really popular among farmers. It was difficult for them to make it to the big city stores so they ordered from catalogs.
W: Was Ward the only one in the business?
M: At first, but another person named Richard Sears started his own catalog after he heard how much money Ward was making.
W: What made them so popular?
M: Farmers trusted Ward and Sears for one thing. They delivered the products the farmers paid for and even refunded the price of things the farmers weren't satisfied with. The catalog became so popular, some counties school teachers even used them as textbooks.
W: Textbooks?
M: Yeah. Students practice spelling the names and adding up the prices of things in the catalogs.
W: Was everybody that excited about it?
M: That's doubtful. It is said they drove some small store owners out of business. Sears and Ward sold stuff in such large quantities. They were able to undercut the prices at some small family owned stores.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19. Why was the woman reading a catalog?
20. Who were the main customers of Sears and Ward's business?
21. In what unusual ways were the catalogs used?
22. What was one of the negative effects of the catalog business?
Conversation Two
W: I'm not optimistic about finding a job after I finish college.
M: Oh? Why not?
W: The economy is going down-hill fast.
M: I know. What is this would coming to? It's getting to the point where even a degree won't help you anymore.
W: That's right. And the way things are going, I'll be lucky to even move out of my parents house.
M: I know what you mean. First they raised taxes, then they cut education, and the salaries haven't gone up in years-it's just one thing after another.
W: By the way, how's your business coming along?
M: Oh, it's getting there. Our sales are up only 2 percent, but it's a step in the right direction.
W: I remember when you opened 10 years ago you almost went bankrupt. The company certainly has come a long way.
M: Yeah, but it's got a long way to go. Say, maybe you'd like to come work for me!
W: Well, I'm not sure I want to work as a clothes-hanger inspector.
M: No, I mean as a manager.
W: That's more like it.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
23. What is the woman worrying about?
24. What do we know about the man's business from the conversation?
25. What will the woman most probably do after she graduates from college?