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Section 1
P1 7.mp3
Man
Good morning. Smart travel, Jason speaking.
Woman
Hi, good morning. I saw your advert in today's paper about hot air balloon trips. It
sounds pretty exciting and I wonder how much it costs.
Man
Well, the price may vary depending on the location, number of participants and add-
ons. A single ride may cost you up to 280 pounds per person. But if you choose
group booking, there is a discount and the cheapest flight is (1) 125 pounds each
for a group booking of at least 10 people.
Woman
Oh, that's not too bad. What do you mean by add-ons?
Man
They are optional items like taking photos for you during the ride, champagne and
sit down breakfast after the flight. Upon completing the trip, we will provide each
participant with a (2) certificate. And that is entirely free of charge.
Woman
Can I book a ride over the phone?
Man
Yes, that's an option. Reservations can be made one year ahead of your trip by
telephone, but to pick a specific date, you must book (3) online. A confirmation e-
mail will be sent to you right afterwards.
Woman
How high can the balloons go?
Man
A hot air balloon's height is limited by the temperature of the air and how much fuel
it can carry. And the highest altitude ever recorded for a ride is (4) 1800 metres.
Most rides stay below 300 meters.
Woman
Oh boy, that's impressive. How long is a single run?
Man
The average hot air balloon ride lasts about an hour. The entire ballooning
experience, which includes ground preparation, flight and post flight, packing up
and celebration may take two to three hours.
Woman
And what time are the flights?
Man
Our flights generally meet about an hour before sunrise on the day you will be
notified of the exact meeting time the evening before your flight. (5) Night flights
are avoided due to weather conditions.
Woman
Fair enough.
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Man
(6) Autumn is the best time of year to take the trip. Not only can you see the
changing hues of the trees from above, but it is a great way to spend time with the
whole family before it gets too cold.
Woman
I see.
Man
But please note that our flight may be cancelled and you will be notified by phone
the day.
Woman
Why is that?
Man
It can be quite dangerous to fly under bad weather conditions like a (7)
thunderstorm. So our experienced pilots will not go under such conditions.
Woman
What should I wear for the ride?
Man
We suggest wearing comfortable clothing like a jacket. Multiple layers are always
better. Wearing a (8) helmet for safety concerns is also a good idea. Sandals are
not permitted.
Woman
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Can children or older people participate?
Man
All children must be above the minimum age of nine years old. And they have to be
accompanied by at least a parent or guardian. However, an adult has no (9) age
limit as long as they meet the health requirements.
Woman
What exactly are the health requirement?
Man
Participants must at least be in fair physical condition. For example, they shall have
no significant knee, hip or back problems and no recent surgeries or broken bones.
They must also (10) stand unassisted for an hour during the flight. It is the
required position during the whole flight. As the balloon comes to land, all
passengers will need to adopt the landing position with knees bent in front of.
Woman
Are those rides safe?
Man
Hot air balloon companies are required to have a commercial balloon pilot license.
And all our pilots go through rigorous training before they are allowed to fly. It is a
relatively gentle activity. However, the impact of a balloon landing can vary
drastically depending on factors like wind speed. Sometimes it is similar to the
momentum of jumping off a small chair. If you cannot jump off a small chair
speaking to your doctor before booking a balloon flight is best.
Woman
Thank you very much. I think that's all I need to know.
Man
Thanks for calling, goodbye.
Section 2
P2 7.mp3
What I'd like to do at this meeting is to tell you a bit about the facilities that
Rivermeade school offers people in the community. I'd like to start by talking about
the new theatre that we've just opened in our school. (11) B Its mission is to
maximise opportunities for local audiences to experience productions of the highest
quality. Amongst other things, this will involve offering a place where professional
drama companies in the area can perform. But there'll also be opportunities to host
national and international companies, both those which are up and coming and
those which have already established a reputation.
Details of our first Seasons Theatre program are already online. I hope you'll agree
that it looks very exciting. As well as music and dance, (12) A there'll be drama
from modern writers, and there'll also be a high proportion of shows aimed at
children and families. You'll notice that there is one empty space in November.
That's because the Chinese state acrobatic troop have had to cancel their visit, but
hopefully we'll be able to announce a replacement very soon.
Now we're often asked about the theatre's sources of funding. Well, a limited
amount of money will come from various government subsidies, (13) C but the bulk
of the revenue will be generated by the sale of tickets, which is one reason why
we'd be grateful for your help in promoting the work of the theatre. In addition,
there are opportunities for individuals to support the theatre on a regular basis
through its sponsorship scheme. The benefits to donors include access to rehearsals
and to show previews.
But the new theatre isn't the only facility which is open to everyone. The school also
has a small museum. This holds various objects that were found when the ground
was excavated to lay the foundations for the building, as well as other historical
objects. Entrance to this is free. (14) A We also have a state-of-the-art Sports hall.
This is reserved for our students during term time, but anyone can use it in the
school holidays. And our cafeteria is worth a visit. It has a varied menu, and it's
open all day to visitors as well as staff and students.
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Right. I'll just point out some things on the map of the school campus I've given you.
First of all, (15) C the theatre that's opposite car park P2 on the South side. You're
not allowed to park anywhere. Except in the car parks.
There are two marked on your map P1 and P2 but there's a new car park, which has
only just been completed, and (16) E that's at the most northern end of the
campus.
Some people might want to consider coming by bus. There's a good service from
the city centre to the school and (17) G the bus stops at the roundabout. That's
where it turns round to go back so you have to get off there. It doesn't go up as far
as Park Rd.
Then to get to the sports hall, (18) H you take the right fork after the main
entrance and just keep going past the classroom block. You have to go straight
across the roundabout and it's further on the right hand side of that road.
Then there's the cafeteria. There are various ways to get there, because (19) F it's
at the junction of Park Road and Rennies Drive on the north side of Park Rd. In nice
Difficulty: ****
weather, you can sit outside to eat and admire the view.
Then the museum is fairly central. Just (20) B go left after the main entrance. Take
the first turning on the right, and when you reach a junction, the museum is facing
you now.
Section 3
P3 6.mp3
Peter
Lynn, I just finished reading Professor Smith's article about the benefits of online
courses. What are your thoughts on the article?
Lynn
Hi Peter. When I read that article, it was clear to me that Professor Smith does not
favour the traditional methods of classroom teaching, although I can certainly
acknowledge that there are some advantages to online course, I would say that
Internet courses are not always the best means for teaching and learning.
Peter
(21) A I think it's about time to revolutionize the old teaching style though.
Lynn
But (22) B I would hope that students consider the negatives of online learning
before enrolling in online courses.
Peter
This shouldn't be a big issue since online courses are so common these days. At
least I won't struggle so much and (23) A Professor Smith points out that computer
learning is well suited for some courses, especially the technical courses.
Lynn
Unfortunately, that theory doesn't work for me.
Peter
What a shame. I got an A for that online computing course last year anyway. Next
part is personal interaction. (24) A I think the personal interaction offered by
traditional teaching is overrated in the article and doesn't have much value. I think
it's a distraction and that time could be better spent on the subject matter of the
course.
Lynn
Oh, I disagree strongly, Peter. You're dismissing the benefits of face to face
interaction between students and teachers in traditional classroom settings. The
article says that learning is a two way street and it's much easier for students to
learn if they can ask questions and have discussions with their teachers.
Peter
I'm still not sure about that, but (25) C online courses can foster students’
technological skills in learning the subject matter online. Students will gain the
technical know how they'll need in their future endeavors.
Lynn
I can't agree more. What do you think Professor Smith means when he says online
courses should be flexible in time?
Peter
(26) C That's essential the point of learning online is to allow those who can't
attend courses at fixed time.
Lynn
I agree.
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Lynn
The second part of the article shares some thoughts about the use of Internet on
campus. I'm kind of lost in that part.
Peter
Well, I think what he's trying to say is that (27) A students are already accustomed
to doing their research on the Internet, although some people say computers could
be better used for other purposes. He emphasizes that many teachers are already
instructing students to use the computer as a research tool.
Lynn
Thanks for clarifying that. What about the next part, saying that students are
divided? Do you know what that means?
Peter
Well, it's certainly not that some students are afraid to use computers. They're
already well accustomed to that.
Lynn
You're right about that. Most students already use the Internet as their primary
source for news and information.
Peter
Difficulty: ****
Professor Smith probably (28) B intends to say that computers are not easily
accessible and available to all students.
Lynn
Yes, not all students can afford computers. And as Professor Smith note, with online
courses, the student support system is already in place. Instead of asking fellow
students or the professor for assistance. (29) B Students would be able to get any
information they need online and this assistance would be available immediately.
Peter
So why do you think Professor Smith is recommending the use of computers as the
school's main means of educating students? Do you think he is interested in
reducing some of the fees associated with traditional classroom courses?
Lynn
I think it's all about the money he is promoting online courses simply because (30)
C he thinks it will enable the school to make more money.
Peter
I never thought of it that way.
Lynn
Many schools already have limited space for classrooms. If the school board wants
to enroll more students, they can do that through distance learning mode instead of
recruiting more teachers. The same course resources can be sold to both online and
offline students, plus some computer companies are willing to financially support
the schools that promote this type of learning.
Peter
I see this is profitable in every sense. All right. Now we'll have something to write
about in the research paper.
Section 4
P4 6.mp3
Hello and welcome to today's seminar about education. Education is a life long
process. There is no limit on when to start and stop, and we have been using
technology so much these days in each and every sector of our lives, including
education. Have we ever taken out a second to wonder if it's leaving a positive
impact on our work or, it's just that we have been relying on it so much that we've
become used to it.
Earlier, there was a lot of debate about technology in education amongst the faculty
at our school. Everyone had their own views at first. Some believe that the use of
(31) e-mail between students and teachers made them interact with each other
less, and this was not a good thing. But gradually, as technology was embraced by
more educational institutes. They realized the importance of technology in
education. Technology and education are a great combination if used together with
the right reason and vision. Moreover, there is a strong (32) relationship with the
local economy when it comes to the effectiveness of the use of it in education. In
the more developed areas, the schools and institutions have better access to more
advanced technology. And the teachers are better trained to use the technology to
improve the quality of their classes. In contrast, in some less developed regions and
remote areas where technology is not so common, the effectiveness can't be
guaranteed. However, wherever they are. The most common example for teachers
using technology in education is the usage of computers in their teaching (33)
methods. In most classrooms, you can see teachers using computers to present
teaching notes and other materials.
This year, the IT school of Westbrook University has implemented a brand new
education mode since its implementation. Both teachers and students have been
praising this new mode. It involves a kind of software which allows students as well
as teachers to talk and discuss with each other more easily. And they said they
enjoy this way of (34) communication. Once more, the mode offers students a
channel to post any work that they are proud of. Whether it's a nice photograph that
they take, a case study they do, a song they record, or even just a great idea they
have, so it gives them a chance to showcase their strength. And build up their (35)
confidence. Many students use this feature to show the best of themselves.
It also provides students an opportunity to choose what they learn on the Internet
so they no longer have to sit in the classroom listening to something they aren't
bored with. And they don't have to wait all night trying to register for their favorite
elective courses, compared with the traditional platform, it is more (36) flexible.
The open source, which the new mode provides, is free for students to use when
they are trying to look up for online materials for their papers or researchers, and
the data will not easily be found on the Internet because only registered users have
access to the database, by the way. All the (37) materials are original works of
teachers or scholars, so there is no need to worry about the quality of the content
and with the overwhelming amount of unwanted information on the Internet, this
mode gives students a new search engine they can use on campus. So information
like advertisements and skeptical sources will be filtered easily. This is a perfect
example of new solutions to new (38) problems.
Apart from that, students can arrange their daily active. And improve their (39)
time management skills by simply ticking the boxes in the timetable online. They
can set up their own starting time and their deadline for each assignment based on
statistics. The use of this function has a positive effect on the students who
constantly procrastinate. By the end of the first term, the number of students who
asked for extension for their pay had decreased by 10%, which was quite an
achievement.
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Another feature that seems very creative to me is that students can help people
who have questions or problems relating to their field of studies on a special
platform. They can even have some (40) income by providing people with good
solutions. So this new mode is making the most of the IT.