PUSAT PENGAJIAN BAHASA, LITERASI DAN TERJEMAHAN

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LITERACIES AND TRANSLATION

LSP 300

BAHASA INGGERIS AKADEMIK

ACADEMIC ENGLISH

UNIT 6 - LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRACTICES

LISTENING PRACTICE 1

You will be given 5 minutes to read the questions before the recording is played. The recording
will be played TWICE (2 times) with a three-minute (3) pause between each playing. At the end
of the second playing of the recording, you will be given 5 minutes to answer all the questions.

SECTION A (4 marks)
For the following statements, please write ‘TRUE’ or ‘FALSE’ in the boxes provided.

1. Mummifying a dead body preserves its skin and flesh.

F

2. A mummy is a dead body that was preserved only by the ancient

T
Egyptians.

3. Most of the discovered mummies were from Egypt. T

4. The ancient Egyptians preserved the body of a dead person so that his
T
soul would be reunited with his body in the afterlife.

SECTION B (16 marks)

Fill in the blanks with a word / phrase / number from the recording on the CD. Be as
accurate as possible.

1. List the steps of the process of mummification:

i) All the inner organs, except the heart, were removed. [Example]

ii) The inside of the body was washed with wine and spices.

iii) The body was covered with salt.

iv) The body was stuffed with sand or other substances.

v) The body was wrapped in cloth.

2. Besides pharaohs and noblemen, commoners were also mummified in ancient Egypt.

3. Examples of significant communist leaders who have been preserved are Mao Zedong and
Lenin.

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4. List three areas where mummies have been found:

(a) ______ cold regions / the Alps / Himalayan mountains / glacier ______________
(b) ____ deserts / regions with a dry climate ________________
(c) ____ peatlands / areas with salt water / salt water areas ________________

5. The oldest Egyptian mummy ever found dates back to ____3400___________ B.C.

6. In 1922, Howard Carter _______ discovered __________ what was probably the most
________famous________ mummy in the world.

7. Scientists who study mummies use X-ray machines and special tools to discover about

(a) (their) bodies

(b) (their) lives
(c) the food they ate
(d) the diseases they had __________________________________

LISTENING PRACTICE 2

Listen to the recordings and answer the questions which follow. For each text, the
recording will be played TWO times.
Instructions:
 For blanks, please fill in with correct words or phrases.
 For True / False statements, circle T for TRUE or F for FALSE.
 For multiple choice questions, circle the correct answer.

TEXT A (15 marks)

1. The Amazon River is located in

A. Africa B. Spain C. South America

2. What is the length of the Amazon River? _____6400 km_____________

3. The Amazon River looks brown because it carries a lot of sediment.

4. The Amazon River was discovered by _____ Spanish explorers__________________ in the

16th century.

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5. Why is the Amazon River very deep and wide?

Because it receives rain every year.__

6. The Amazon River is (i) _abundant_with millions of fish. One of these is the (ii) _

vicious_________ piranha that has (iii) sharp teeth and (iv) powerful jaws. They usually eat

other fish or attack (v) __________large_____________ animals.

7. The piranha’s fearsome reputation is a myth. T F

8. Piranhas are both predator and prey. T F

9. Piranhas will only attack when

(i) they feel threatened

(ii) their eggs are being endangered

10. Black piranhas and ____red-bellied__piranhas are believed to be the most aggressive

species.

TEXT B (15 marks)

1. Amy presented about the (i) _______________________ of the planet Mars, particularly

focusing on (ii) _______________________ robot.

2. The robot functions as a microwave oven on wheels. T F

3. The robot weighs (i) _______________________ and has a top speed of

(ii) _______________________.

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4. The robot consists of two parts, which are (i) _____________________ and a warm box.

The function of the warm box is to protect (ii) _____________________ from (iii)

_______________________.

5. All the wheels are powered by a single motor. T F

6. The robot is (i) _________________ using virtual (ii) __________________ back on Earth.

7. What is the total time taken for a command headquarter to send and receive a radio signal

from the Mars?

A. Almost 11 minutes B. Almost 30 minutes C. Almost 60 minutes

8. The photographs taken by the robot help the scientists determine its route. T F

9. It is possible for people to live on the Mars in the future. T F

LISTENING PRACTICE 3

Listen to the recordings and answer the questions which follow. For each text, the
recording will be played TWO times.
Instructions:
 For blanks, please fill in with correct words or phrases.
 For True / False statements, circle T for TRUE or F for FALSE.
 For multiple choice questions, circle the correct answer.

TEXT A (15 marks)

1. Fruitcake is always taken without condiments due to its ________________________.

2. Complete the table below.

 Fruitcakes were offered to the dead as

Ancient Egyptians
______________________________.

Romans  Seeds and nuts ________________________ together to

form a ring-shaped ________________________.

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  Soldiers brought the cake to battlefields because of its
_____________________ and _____________________.

 Preserved fruit, spices and ________________________

________________________ were added to the mix.
 Fruitcakes gained its ________________________.

 ________________________ were cheaper.

16th Century  Sugar was added to boost up the
________________________ of the cake

________________________  Alcohol was added to the cake.

3. The blend of spices used in fruitcakes are not shared with others. T F

4. Why is alcohol used in the fruitcake mix?

A. To be kept longer. C. To add weight to the mix.

B. To preserve the natural flavour. D. To add health benefits to the mix.

5. Fruitcakes are the healthiest option compared to other types of desserts. T F

Text B (15 marks)

1. Frilled dragons are the most common lizards in Australia. T F

2. They change colour to brown and gray when threatened. T F

3. Complete the table below.

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 Frilled Dragons Bearded Dragons

 need high humidity in the  high level of humidity causes

enclosure. __________________ issues.

 insectivores but may include  omnivores

__________________ in their
diet.

 stay up top in the trees most of  stay __________________ because

the time. they are __________________.

 can be kept in a _________________  should be kept __________________.

or group because they are more
__________________.

T F
4. Frilled dragons can fall sick easily compared to bearded dragons.

T F
5. A male and female frilled dragon can be kept together in a tank.

6. In forums, people often ________________________ to ask questions because

they are ________________________ of being made fun of or yelled at.

7. It is important to always ________________________ your pet with

________________________ and love.

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LISTENING PRACTICE 4

Listen to the recordings and answer the questions which follow. For each text, the
recording will be played TWO times.
Instructions:
 For blanks, please fill in with correct words or phrases.
 For True / False statements, circle T for TRUE or F for FALSE.
 For multiple choice questions, circle the correct answer.

TEXT A (15 marks)

1. People in the past had great respect for memory. T F

2. A powerful _____________________ called loci method was discovered about

_________________ years ago when memory was seen as a skill.

3. Simonides found that it was harder to remember ______________________as compared to

remembering ___________________ and ______________________.

4. A memory palace refers to an imagined place that one knows well. T F

5. Visualization and imagination are key to using the loci method. T F

6. What did Peter of Ravenna memorize?

(i) ___________________________

(ii) All of the laws of the time

(iii) ___________________________

(iv) ___________________________

7. Ancient and medieval people thought memory to be an art and a great virtue. T F

8. Our internal memory is fully replaced with external memory now. T F

9. What are some of the technological crutches people use today?

(i) __________________________

(ii) __________________________

(iii) __________________________

(iv) __________________________

TEXT B (15 marks)

1. Bacteria are simple, small organisms that make you happy. T F

2. The presence of bacteria in your gut influences your mental state. T F

3. The mice in the Kyushu University research showed more stress because no bacteria was

found in their body. T F

4. Many food products these days ________________________ that they are

_______________ in good bacteria.

5. Good bacteria is found in many __________________________ foods.

6. Fermentation is the process where sugars in food are turned into ______________ and

________________ resulting in _________________ and __________________ taste.

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7. Complete the table

FERMENTED FOOD MEDITERRANEAN DIET

 miso soup, kimchi, ______________,  olive oil, oily fish, _______________,

sauerkraut lots of fruits and vegetables

 Benefit: contains high amounts of good  Benefit: contains high amounts of omega
bacteria that is good for your gut. 3 which make it a
______________________ food.

8. The best way to lose weight is by following the Mediterranean diet. T F

9. The Japanese diet is another example of a good diet because it is a combination of two types

of food that makes you feel good. T F

10. The amount of bacteria in the human body does not change throughout our life time. T F

11. According to the Wiezmann Institute, there are more human cells in the body than bacterial

cells. T F

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