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Listening Skills Quiz 4
Semester 1 2014
1. Watch the speech about the Rakuten company’s growth as a company (“Rakuren’s Growth as a
Company). Circle the peripheral details of the speech (hint: there are more than one).
a) Hiroshi Mikitani’s partner was a graduate student in 1997.
b) Rakuten’s founders started from their own capital, 200,000 dollars.
c)Rakuten is number 1 in e-commerce and number 2 in online brokerage.
d) Rakuten’s competitors are Google, Amazon, and eBay.
e) There aren’t many Japanese companies who have English as their internal language.
f) Rakuten believes they can use their unique business model in other countries.
2. Listen to the following report and answer the questions.
- Here are some vocabulary items to help with your understanding:
19th century= Years from 1800 – 1899 Advocate=supporter
Fluctuate= change
Tangible= real
Accountable = responsible
Over the top = too much
a. What is the topic of this report?
The history of homework in America
b. What are the main ideas of this report (there are 3)? Provide one supporting detail for each main idea.
1. Homework was not common in the 19th century and early 20th century
support: - many students did not go to high school
- Homework had few supporters in the early 20th century (it was considered illegal in
some places). not seen as a foundation for learning, no homework standards, amount of homework
fluctuated from school to school.
2. In the late 20th century educators saw that homework had tangible benefits
support: - strong homework habits linked to self-esteem, students expected to sacrifice to make
academic progress, doing large amounts of homework considered a student’s duty
3. In the early 21st century, teachers assigned more homework and more demanding
assignments/homework
support: - standardized tests more common, teachers held accountable for students’ progress,
some students have so much homework that they become distraught (upset) when they can’t complete it,
even some parents think that the amount of homework that is expected is over the top (too much)
3. The World’s English Mania
- Watch the speech and decide if each detail below is central (write “C”) or peripheral (write “P”).
a) Manias can be good. Manias can be alarming. Or manias can be deadly. _P__
b) There are 2,000,000 people learning English worldwide. __C__
c) English is important because of the opportunity it provides. _C__
d) Chinese students study 12 hours a day for 3 years for the Gaokao test. _P_
e) 80 million students have already taken the Gaokao. _P__
f) 25 percent of the grade on the Gaokao is based on English. _C__
g) The world has other universal languages. _P__
h) English is becoming the language of problem solving. _C_
4. Mixed Sounds
Read the following passages and try to guess where there may be mixed sounds. Next, listen to the
passages and UNDERLINE the places where you heard mixed sounds.
NOTE: If you do not hear a mixed sound where you guessed, do not underline.
a) What you need to do is turn right at the end of the road. You are going to stop at the last house.
b) Last year was fantastic. It was the third year in a row that the company saw a profit.
c) Would you mind driving me to the bus station? I am going to visit my friends in Busan.
d) This is the last time we can help you. Do you understand?
e) Mr. Thompson? OK. He is busy at the moment, but you have an appointment, don’t you?
5. Mixed Sounds & Changing Sounds
Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks.
What is a BETTER solution to the problem our town is facing? Ladies and GENTLEMEN, it is quite clear.
What I need to do, WHAT YOU need to do, is invest. We must invest RIGHT AWAY. The town treasury
will be empty in just a few years. After that, we will have very LITTLE to spend on investments. However,
if we invest now, we can see our funds grow. I know some people are thinking “BUT IF we invest the
money now, WE’LL have nothing.” That may be true, the town will have to operate on a small budget for
a short time. If we invest now, though, by next year, we will have 5% more money, by the second year,
15%, and by the THIRD YEAR, we will have a THIRTY PERCENT increase in available funds. This is why we
must invest. WON’T YOU join me in this plan? MIGHT I suggest we PUT ALL out efforts into this and save
our town? Thank you.