Section One: Listening Test

Part A: Spot Dictation

Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear a passage and read the same passage with blanks in it. Fill in each of the blanks with the word or words you have heard on the tape. Write your answer in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET. Remember you will hear the passage ONLY ONCE.

Now let us begin Part A with Spot Dictation.

British people are far more sophisticated about beverages¹ than they were 50 years ago. Witness the Starbucks revolution, and you'll know where the trend goes. However, spurred on by recent studies suggesting that it can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease, and retard² the aging process, tea is enjoying a similar and a reviving jolt³.

Although tea is available in more places than ever, it remains⁴ to be a long tradition of a typical British family. If you're invited to an English home at five o'clock in the morning, you get a cup of tea. It is either brought in by a heartily⁵ smiling hostess, or an almost malevolently⁶ silent maid. When you are disturbed in your sweetest morning sleep, you must not say: "Go away! You deserve to be shot!" On the contrary, you have to declare with your best 5 o'clock smile, "Thank you very much! I do adore a cup of tea, especially in the morning!" If they leave you alone with the liquid, you may pour it down the wash basin.

Then, you have tea for a breakfast. Then, you have tea at 11 o'clock in the morning. Then, after lunch. Then, you have tea for tea. Then, after supper. And again, at 11 o'clock at night. You must not refuse any additional cups of tea under the following circumstances. If it is hot. If it is cold. If you are exhausted⁷. If you are nervous. If you are watching TV. Before you go out. If you have just returned home. If you feel like it. If you do not feel like it. If you have had no tea for some time. If you have just had a cup. You definitely must not follow my example. I sleep at 5 o'clock in the morning. I have coffee for breakfast. I drink innumerable cups of black coffee during the day. I have the most unusual drinks even at tea time.