ELKE STEINWENDER: "It is a place where kids can build their own social community online and they can really engage in some fun and cool scientific discovery and really allow them to turn[r]
(1)REVISION FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION (LISTENING) A I Listen to the conversation about the news of the soccer match and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F): 1/ According to the man, his team lost the first match due to injuries 2/ His team lost their second game because the referees made some terrible calls 3/ The man’s team was winning the final match until the last minute 4/ The man wanted the host nation to win the World cup 5/ The man has become interested in an online chess tournament II Listen to the conversation again and fill one word for each blank: 1/ The man’s favorite team was bounced out of the _ round of play 2/ The rest of the players just couldn't up with the opposing team 3/ The referees must have been _ in their sleep! 4/ You just not understanding _ I'm saying 5/ Because your got bounced out of the tournament? B I Listen to the conversation about the English Language Center and choose the best options A, B, C or D: 1/ Which was not mentioned as part of the purpose of the English Language Center? A.to master basic functional language skills B to study intensively to enter a US college or university C to provide work opportunities for graduating students in the community D to provide language learning opportunities to this area's community 2/ What is one course taught at the English Language Center? A.bussiness English B US culture C TOEFL D US sciense 3/ If the fall semester begins on August 29 th, by what date should one apply to the program? A.April 29th B May 29th C June 29th D July 29th 4/ What is the tuition for a full-time student? A.$2030 B $2300 C $2013 D $2031 5/ Which was not mentioned as part of the application packet a student must send to the center? A.sponsorship form B high school transcripts C application fee D credit cards II Listen to the conversation again and fill one word for each blank: 1/ That's the kind of instruction that we _ 2/ We are giving for the student to study in our program 3/ You can _ out our application that's online at our Web site 4/ You or your sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition expenses and living costs for the entire _ of study 5/ You can just call and ask me C 1.Listen to the news about science websites for chilren and choose the correct sentences among A, B, C or D: 1/ _ of children around the world use the Internet every day A.Hundreds B Thousands C Millions D Billions 2/ Which not mentioned A.explore the World Wide Web B play Video games C research school projects D watch films 3/ According to the report, one company hopes to use this interest in social networking to _ A increase children’s interest in science B.help students review their lessons C make children relax D increase children’s number of friend 4/ Mad Science Group website is designed for children between the ages of four and _ A.six B sixteen C sixty D seven-six 5/ Cosmic Adventures group is for children who interested in _ A.space B peace C maths D literature II Listen to the news again and fill one word for eah blank: 1/ We will tell about a few websites for children 2/ Some young people _ the Web to make new friends 3/ The Mad Science Group launched what it the first-ever science-based social network for children 4/ Children explore science with other boys and girls _ the world 5/ They can join existing groups to meet _ friends (2) Answer keys: I.1/T II.1/ first 2/ T 2/ keep PART A 3/ F 3/ walking 4/ F 4/ anything 5/ T 5/ team 4/ A 4/ year 5/ B 5/ for 4/ B 4/ around 5/ A 5/ new PART B I.1/C II.1/ provide 2/ A 2/ permission 3/ C 3/ fill PART C I.1/C II.1/ science 2/ D 2/ use 3/ A 3/ called Tapescrip: A Woman: Hey Have you been watching any of the World Cup soccer matches? Man: Well, I was watching until my favorite team was bounced out of the first round of play I mean, they should have made all the way to the second round, but a whole series of events cost the team the opportunity to prove themselves on the world stage Woman: What you mean? Man: Well, in the first match, two of their star players were out with nagging injuries, so the rest of the players, unfortunately, just couldn't keep up with the opposing team Woman: Well, that's just life I mean every team is going to have players out with injuries Man: Yea, but that's beside the point And, and then, in the second game, the refs made some terrible calls, allowing the opposing team to slip by with a victory I mean, we were robbed on that one The refs must have been walking in their sleep! Woman: But, didn't one of your own players accidentally kick the ball twice into his own goal? I mean that doesn't sound like a bad call to me Man: That's just beside the POINT! Woman: Really? Man: And finally, our team was ahead in the final match -I mean they were way out ahead until the other team rallied in the final three minutes of play to squeak out a victory It was a total embarrassment for our team Our team was booed All I can say is that the sun must have been in our players' eyes Woman: Uh, wasn't it a night game? Man: That's beside the point, too You just not understanding anything I'm saying Woman: So, who are you rooting for now, seeing that your team has been eliminated? Man: Ah, I can't watch any more soccer, so I've been following an online chess tournament Woman: What?! Now, that has to be the most ridiculous reaction I have ever heard of So, you're going to completely boycott the rest of the play just because your team got bounced out of the tournament? Man: Ah, forget it You just don't understand B Receptionist: English Language Center How may I help you? Caller: Yes I'm calling to find out more information about your program For example, what kind of courses you offer? Receptionist: Well, first of all, the purpose of our program is to provide language learning opportunities to this area's community [Uh-hum], whether a student's goal is to master basic functional language skills, let's say, for his or her job, or to study intensively to enter a US college or university Caller: Okay I'm calling for a friend who is interested in attending a US university Receptionist: And that's the kind of, uh, instruction that we provide, from basic communication courses to content-based classes such as computer literacy, intercultural communication, and business English Caller: Great What are your application deadlines for the next semester? (3) Receptionist: Well, we ask applicants to apply no later than two months before the semester begins [Uhhum] This gives us time to process the application and issue the student's I-20 Caller: An I-20? Receptionist: Oh, an I-20 is a form that indicates that we are giving permission for the student to study in our program, and then the student takes this form to the US embassy in his or her country to apply for the F-1 student visa Caller: Alright What is the tuition for a full-time student? Receptionist: It's two thousand thirty dollars Caller: And how does one apply? Receptionist: Well, we can send you an application and you can mail it back to us, or you can fill out our application that's online at our Web site Caller: And are there other materials I would need to send in addition to the application form? Receptionist: Uh, yes You would need to send in a $35 non-refundable application fee [Uh-huh], a sponsorship form indicating who will be responsible financially for the student while studying in our program, and a bank statement showing that you or your sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition expenses and living costs for the entire year of study Caller: And how can I send these materials to you? Receptionist: You can either send the application packet by regular mail or you can fax it Caller: And the application fee? Receptionist: We accept money orders, travelers checks, or credit cards Caller: Alright I think that's about it Receptionist: Okay great Caller: Oh and what is your name? Receptionist: Ok My name is Tony Nelson You can just call and ask for me Caller: Great Thank you for help Receptionist: No problem and please don't hesitate to call again if you have any other questions C FAITH LAPIDUS: This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English I’m Faith Lapidus BOB DOUGHTY: And I’m Bob Doughty Many boys and girls like science Some of them go to the Internet to find answers to scientific questions Today, we will tell about a few science websites for children FAITH LAPIDUS: Millions of children around the world use the Internet every day Many boys and girls have better computer skills than their parents They explore the World Wide Web, play video games and research school projects Some young people use the Web to make new friends through social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter One company hopes to use this interest in social networking to increase their interest in science Earlier this year, the Mad Science Group launched what it called the first-ever science-based social network for children It is known as the Mad Science Kids Club BOB DOUGHTY: Elke Steinwender is Marketing and Promotions Manager for the Mad Science Group She says the website is designed for children between the ages of six and fourteen ELKE STEINWENDER: "It is a place where kids can build their own social community online and they can really engage in some fun and cool scientific discovery and really allow them to turn their home into a lab if they choose to so." The Mad Science Kids Club lets children explore science with other boys and girls around the world Like Facebook, the children are able to invite people they know to become their friends Or, they can join existing groups to meet new friends There are several groups One, called the Counting Club, is for children who love working with numbers They share different information about mathematics This includes advice about solving math problems and jokes involving numbers Another group, called Cosmic Adventures, is for children who are interested in space (4)