SECTION A In this section you will hear a
mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening, take notes
on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them
to complete a gap.filling task after the mini-lecture. When the lecture is over,
you will be given two minutes to cheek your notes, and another ten minutes to
complete the gap-falling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for
note-taking. ANSWER SHEET ONE Complete the
gap-filling task. Some of the gaps below may require a maximum of THREE words.
Make sure the word(s) you fill in is (are) both grammatically & semantically
acceptable. You may refer to your notes.
Five Common Mistakes in Conversations and Their Solutions
Ⅰ. Not listening A. Problem: most people don’t
listen —wait eagerly for their turn to talk
—only care for themselves B. Solutions
—Avoid (1) ______ question.
(1) ______ —Listen to the
content. Ⅱ. Asking (2) ______
(2) ______ A.
Problems —conversation sounds like an
interrogation —you don’t have much to
contribute B. Solutions —(3) ______
questions with statements.
(3) ______ Ⅲ. Poor
delivery A. Problems —Speak too fast and
unclear. —Speak lowly and breathlessly.
—Speak (4) ______
(4) ______ B. Solutions
—Slow down. —Speak loudly.
—Do not (5) ______
(5) ______ —Don’t use
a monotone voice. —Try to use pauses.
—Improve your (6)______, e.g. laughter, posture, etc.
(6) ______ Ⅳ. Talking about a weird or (7)
______ topic
(7) ______ A. Problem B.
Solutions —Steer clear of topics such as bad health or
relationships, crappy job or boss, serial killers,
technical lingo that only you and some other guy
understands. —Avoid talking about religion and (8)
______ (8)
______ Ⅴ. Being boring A. Problem: clinging to
one topic for hours B. Solutions —Lead
an interesting life, and focus on (9) ______
(9) ______ —Be genuinely interested, and make the
conversation feel more (10) ______
(10) ______