1.8 Service Encounter

A. Listen to a conversation between a student and a university employee, and answer the questions.

increment – a specified amount of something being gained

parking meter – a device that allows someone to pay for temporary

permit – written license that allows someone to do something

structure – a building

tow – the act of pulling something away, like a truck taking away a car

1. Why does the student go to the Department of Transportation?

(A) To complain about parking

(B) To buy a permit for her car

(C) To find out where to park

(D) To ask about the parking structure

2. What is the student's major concern?

(A) Inconvenient parking spots

(B) A costly ticket fee

(C) A damaged car

(D) The costs of parking.

B. Listen again and fill in the diagram with the information you hear.

Parking Problem

C. Summarize the lecture using the diagram.

D. Fill in the blanks with the key words to complete the summary below.

A student wants to buy a parking ____________ for one semester. The student does not want to pay for the whole year because she is going to graduate soon. The man explains that the university doesn't sell semester _____________ and tells her to try the _____________.

The student says she won't have time to fill the meter. She is scared her car will be ____________ or ticketed. The man says she could park at the visitor's parking lot.

1.9 Discussion on History

A. Listen to a discussion in a history class, and answer the questions.

analyze – to observe and study

core – the central or innermost part

drought – a long period of time when there's no rain

sediment –dirt and other material that settles at the bottom of water

segment – a small part of a whole

1. What is the main topic of the discussion?

(A) The economics of an ancient society

(B) The effects of a natural disaster

(C) A new theory on the Mayans

(D) An archeological experiment

2. What is the main idea of the discussion?

(A) A series of droughts destroyed the Mayans.

(B) Spanish invaders conquered the civilization.

(C) Corn was a major source of Mayan income.

(D) New methods have improved archeology.

B. Listen again and fill in the diagram with the information you hear.

Mayan's Disappearance

C. Summarize the lecture using the diagram.

D. Fill in the blanks with the key words to complete the summary below.

The professor explains to his history class that _____________ destroyed the Mayan people. They needed water to produce corn. Without water, their major food source did not survive and so their civilization perished. Scientists have made some amazing discoveries to prove this. They _____________ parts or _____________ of the ocean floor near Venezuela. The _____________ of the ocean floor are made of layers of light and dark _____________. The layers show how little rain fell there hundreds of years ago.

1.10 Discussion on Zoology

A. Listen to a discussion in a zoology class, and answer the questions.

defend – to avoid or drive away a dangerous attack

dialect – regional versions and varieties of a language

distinguish – to tell one thing apart from another

oval – an elongated circle

sophisticated – complicated and well developed

1. What is the discussion mainly about?

(A) The complex language of prairie dogs

(B) Experiments involving desert reptiles

(C) Different languages found in nature

(D) Prairie dogs' main source of food

2. Why is the professor discussing prairie dogs?

(A) To explain a new theory

(B) To show the effects of communication

(C) To contrast two major assumptions

(D) To show the pros and cons of language

B. Listen again and fill in the diagram with the information you hear.