TEST 8 – TRANSCRIPT

Direction: This is the listening test for levels from 3 to 5 of the Vietnam 6 Level Language
Proficiency Test. There are 3 parts to the test. You will hear each part once.

For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions and time for you to
check your answers. Write your answers on the question paper. You will have 5 minutes at the end of
the test to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

The recording will now be start. Please ask any question now, because you must not speak during the
test.
Now open your question paper and look at part 1. There are 8 questions in this part.

For each question there are 4 options and a short recording. For each question, choose the correct
answer A, B, C or D. You now have 45 seconds to look through the questions and the options in each
question. Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.

Part 1

Question 1:
Hello, this is Gloria with Dr. Baum's office. This is a reminder of your dental appointment for
Thursday, May 22nd at 1pm. Since you have several cavities to fill, please allow yourself at least 3
hours for the visit.
Question 2: Why has the meeting been relocated?
Because the South Tower is undergoing renovations, the design team meeting scheduled for
tomorrow morning has been moved to the North Tower conference room on the 12th floor. The
meeting will still be held at 10.
Question 3: What is the main cause of decreased domestic sales?
Unfortunately, I must report that domestic sales have dropped by 17% over the last two quarters.
Although the sluggish domestic economy is a factor, the primary cause of this worrying
development is increasing competition in the retail clothing sector.
Question 4: What should the listeners do before they skate?
This weekend is the first outing of the inline skating club for this season. Remember, you are not
allowed to skate with the club unless you wear an approved safety helmet. You can ask Rhea, the
safety coordinator, if you are unsure about your gear.
Question 5: What profession does the speaker work in?
As a woman and sports announcer, I'm often approached about giving speeches on women in
sports.
Question 6: What is the purpose of Ricardo's visit?
Ricardo will be here in the U.S. for three months observing some of the managerial techniques and
procedures we use at this office.
Question 7: What kind of business would be making this announcement?
In order to improve customer service, we will be initiating a customer satisfaction survey. The
survey will focus on several different areas, including courtesy and promptness by waiters or
waitresses, cleanliness, and food quality and selection.
Question 8: Why has confidence increased?
Investor confidence was bolstered by government data, inflation rose by barely two-tenths of one
percent last quarter, meaning that the national bank is unlikely to raise interest rates.

That is the end of part one. Now turn to part two. In part 2, you will hear three different
conversations.
In each conversation there are four questions. For each question, choose the correct answer A, B, C or
D. You will hear the conversations only once.

Now open your question paper and look at the conversation one.
You now have 25 seconds to look through the questions and the options in each question.

Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.

Part 2:

Conversation 1:
A: Our copier has been acting strangely today. Could you come and take a look at it for us?
B: OK, but did you check to see if any paper is jammed inside?
A: Yes, I did, but that's not the problem. I think the problem may be more serious.
B: All right, but I have to run across town this morning to fix a machine there, so I don't think I
can make it to your office until after lunch.
Now open your questions paper and look at conversation 2. You now have 25 seconds to look through
the questions and the options in each question.

Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.

Conversation 2:
A: Hi there. I'm having trouble finding this certain book on medieval German nobility.
B: Let me check on the computer. Hmm, it appears that we don't have it.
A: Oh, no. It was really important for an essay I'm working on right now.
B: Well, we have a central computer system that is connected to the other university libraries in the
state. I can search them all to see where your book is, then order it from the nearest university. You
could borrow it from another library.
A: That would be great. How long will it take?
B: We can usually get a book here in two or three days, but the lending period is shorter than for a
normal book, only ten days instead of two weeks. And if you're late returning books from other
libraries, the overdue fine is a lot larger.
A: I won't be late, but does it cost anything to sign out books from other libraries?
B: Not for up to five books, any more than that, and you would have to pay a small service charge.
Now open your questions paper and look at conversation 3. You now have 25 seconds to look through
the questions and the options in each question.

Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.

Conversation 3:
A: What's the matter, Jane?
B: Oh, I was supposed to meet James for a study session at four, but he's late.
A: James is like that. I always give myself an extra 15 minutes or so whenever I have an
appointment with him.
A: That's not a bad idea. I'd like to have him waiting for me for a change.
B: Yeah, some people are just irresponsible like that. I remember once he was actually late for the
exam, nearly 20 minutes late, and he just comes walking in like there's nothing wrong. He wasn't
worried or anything.
A: I can't imagine myself being like that. I always leave myself extra time just to make sure I'm
always ready and on time.
B: Oh, there he comes now.
A: It's about time.
B: How long are you guys planning on studying?
A: Pretty late. We have a big chemistry test tomorrow, and I'm really behind.
B: Well, maybe I'll see you later. I have to get some work done at the library, too.
That is the end of part two. Now turn to part three. You will hear three different talks or lectures.

In each talk or lecture there are five questions. For each question, choose the correct answer A, B, C or
D. You will hear the talks or lectures only once. Now open your questions paper and look at talk or
lecture one.
You now have 35 seconds to look through the questions and the options in each question.

Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.

Part 3

Talk 1:
A: Can you believe Professor Kensington postponed the due date for the term paper this morning?
It's unbelievable.
B: Yeah, it was crazy. I've been spending days and nights learning all the different subjects in the
computer lab writing up that paper. I only did that because he kept on emphasizing that he won't
take any paper that's not in his office by noon today.
A: I heard that too. Jessica and I stayed up half the night trying to finish it. I think it was three
o'clock in the morning when we finally had the third draft. I barely had any sleep.
B: You had Jessica to help you? At least you had someone to proofread your paper and help you
with the research. It was a nightmare for me. I didn't even have time to proofread my paper.
A: Well, I'm really upset that Professor Kensington was so inconsiderate. Don't you agree?
B: I guess it was a hasty change, but I think he did it for us students.
B: You really didn't get enough sleep, did you? You're not thinking straight. I can't possibly see
how I can understand his hasty decision that way.
A: Well, as much as I'm unhappy with his last-minute decision, I think he did it so that we could
have one more chance to look over our work before turning it in. Besides, an extension of two days
isn't going to change anything drastic in our papers.
B: I suppose. Still, I would have had more time to study for the calculus exam, which was today, if I
hadn't had to spend so much time and energy on that paper.
A: Oh, well. At least he didn't tell us to hand it in earlier.
B: That's right. Anyway, I'm not going to spend another two days on the assignment. I'm handing
it in after the next class.

Now open your question paper and look at Talker Lecture 2. You now have 35 seconds to look through
the questions and the options in each question.

Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.

Talk 2:
A: Professor Atkins, could I get some help with my chemistry lab?
B: Certainly, Julie. What's the problem? Are you having trouble understanding some of the
experiments?
A: Oh, no, I understand the experiment. Perhaps I only think that I understand it.
B: What do you mean? Do you or don't you?
A: Well, I tried the latest experiment by myself, based on what I understood from your lectures and
lab session, but I seem to come up with really different results from what the textbook indicates I
should be getting.
B: That certainly is a possibility. Remember, the textbook tends to give you an ideal explanation of
the experiments, but in real life, any number of factors can cause you to get results that might not
be the ideal or preferred outcome.
A: Oh, that's good. So, any result is acceptable?
B: No, of course there is a range. For this particular experiment, I'd expect your answer to be
within, let's see now, perhaps 4 or 5 percent of the textbook.
A: Really? My answer was nearly 10 percent off. Wouldn't that be all right?
B: I'm sorry, but that would be a problem. If your answer were that far from the proper answer,
and say that even if you could explain the difference, I would have to lower your grade
significantly.
A: I see. All right. I guess I'm going to have to redo it. I want to do well in your class and can't
afford to get a bad grade.
B: Very good, but you'll have to hurry. The lab is due Friday, and I won't be giving any extensions.
A: Oh, I was hoping...
B: Yes?
A: Oh, it's nothing. Well, could you please sign a permission slip for me to use the lab after hours? I
only have time during late evenings this weekend.
B: Sure, I'll do that for you right now. Here you go. And a tip. Before you start the experiment,
wipe the test tubes with alcohol. There might be unwanted residue inside that might be affecting
the result.

Now open your question paper and look at Talker Lecture 3. You now have 35 seconds to look through
the questions and the options in each question.
Now we are ready to start. Listen carefully.
Talk 3:
If you look at the location of Alaska on the map, you can see that it is bordered by Canada on the
east, the Arctic Ocean on the north, the Bering Strait and Bering Sea to the east, and the Gulf of
Alaska. Wait a minute. Sorry about that.
To the west, and the Gulf of Alaska to the south. And as you can see on the map, Alaska has a
greater land area than California and Texas combined. Now, although there are many cities in
Alaska, the population is so low that an average number of students in a middle school classroom is
only about ten.
You can imagine many desolate small towns scattered around Alaska. It's probably because roads
and railways serve only certain portions of the state. So it's natural that Alaskans rely heavily on
airplanes for transportation, since many parts of Alaska are accessible only via air.
Well, of course, there is a railway operating between Fairbanks, a relatively big city in central
Alaska, and Seward, a city on the southern coast. It is much more popular than the only major
highway in Alaska, the Alaska Highway, which is open throughout the year. Not that there's much
traffic.
One does not need to venture far to understand the reason for its sparse population. Even though
cold climate and other factors make most of Alaska a less-than-desirable location for farming,
agriculture is conducted in a few areas between Fairbanks and the southern coast. Most of the food
Alaskans need, however, must be imported from outside the state.
Also, Alaska is subject to strong earthquakes and occasional volcanic activity. Your textbook
describes the explosion of the Alaskan volcano Mount Katmai in the early 20th century as one of
the most famous and violent volcanic eruptions in history. I strongly suggest you read up on that
chapter, as we'll be touching on some of that the next time.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, earthquakes. These occasional earthquakes generate seismic sea
waves called tsunamis. As you may have heard, these waves can reach far inland and destroy
communities along the shore. It wasn't much different from the terrible tsunami of 2004.

That is the end of Part 3. Now you have 5 minutes to check your answers and transfer your answers
onto the answer sheet.