Question

Final exams are just around the corner. Liu Haoxuan, 14, who studies at Beijing Dayu School, is quite busy However, he still had to find time to practice his spoken English. That’s because he had to take a new English listening and speaking test.

Liu is not alone. This is a new test for all students who are taking senior high school entrance exams (中考) in Beijing, Junior 3 students have to take an English listening and speaking test that counts for 40 points on their full English exam. The test is taken on a computer. They can take the test twice—once in December and again in March -to try to get the highest score possible. The test was just introduced last year.

During the 30-minute test, students have to fill in blanks, answer questions and retell stories after listening to different materials. “It pushes us to speak. Though it was hard at the beginning, it’s a good thing,” Liu said. He got a low score when he first took it last semester. But he kept working hard in order to improve his pronunciation and other skills. He pracised speaking in front of a mirror every day. Later, he got a score of 39 on the test.

LiTianyou, 14, from Beying Yuying Middle School, has his own way to prepare for the spoken English test. He uses apps to take practice tests every day. “The apps will score your performance so that you can improve accordingly,” he said. “Also, the practice tests help me learn to take notes properly. They help me grasp topic sentences and connection words.”

1.How many times can they take the English listening and speaking test?

A.Only once B.Twice C.Three times D.Four times

2.According to the passage, we know ________.

A.All the students have to take the test.

B.The test was introduced this year.

C.It is worth 40 points on the full English exam.

D.Most of the students can get high scores on the test.

3.What do we know about Li Tianyou?

A.He got a score of 39 on the test.

B.He prepared for the test by using apps.

C.He was afraid of speaking English in class.

D.He still finds it hard to grasp topic sentences.

4.What’s the passage mainly about?

A.The difficulties students face in learning English

B.The research of English education in China

C.An oral English class that students in Beijing have to take

D.a new oral English test for Beijing Junior 3 students

Answer 1