Test 1 will cover units 1-8 in the “Contemporary College English” book 2. The test will have two sections, and the procedure and format will be identical to the first tests (2007-1Y and 2007-2Y have not taken my tests before, so read below).

Section 1 will be listening to me read a passage and then answering questions about it (multiple choice, fill in the blanks, or true / false questions could all be on the exam). I will allow students one minute to review the questions about the passage before I read it and two minutes to answer the questions once I have finished reading. Section 1 will test the student’s ability to focus on key words and phrases, take accurate notes, and then answer questions.
Section 1 will be worth 75% of the test grade.

Section 2 will be dictation. I will read a short passage (less than 100 words) once only, and students will write down what they hear. Students will have five minutes to go back and add functional words to what they took notes on while listening. Although Section 2, dictation, will have only a few sentences, it will be challenging. Section 2 will test the student’s ability to listen carefully, write down content words, and then put the passage back together using only what they wrote during the dictation.
Section 2 will be worth 25% of the test grade.

The time and date for Test 2 for all classes is during normal class time for your class in week 9.

How to Study

Listen to the MP3s for the book, reading the questions before listening.

The questions from the second book are more challenging than book one. First, the answers to questions don’t appear in order in the passage. This means you have to take good notes using content words. Second, the key words don’t always help you because sometimes the key words in the questions use a “synonym” in the passage. That means that another word is used that means the same thing. Third, there are more questions that require you to make a judgment or inference based on what you hear. In other words, you won’t actually hear the answer. I will not put any questions on Test 2 which require students to guess what the answer might be. All questions will have only one possible best answer. Fourth, the fill in the blanks questions are more like the dictation section, which most of you find more difficult than the other questions, because you have to fill in longer blanks with phrases and sentences at times. For all of the above reasons, Test 2 is more difficult than test one.

Of course, if students need help, they should contact me.
I am available during office hours and will do what I can to help everyone prepare.