To demonstrate a disadvantage of steel cables To give an example of the creative use of color To show that steel cables are able to resist salt water To give an example of a use of Ma
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3 What does the professor imply about the name “Manila hemp”?
<> It is a commercial brand name
<> Part of the name is inappropriate
<> The name has recently changed
<> The name was first used in the 19405
4 Why does the professor mention the Golden Gate Bridge?
<> To demonstrate a disadvantage of steel cables
<> To give an example of the creative use of color
<> To show that steel cables are able to resist salt water
<>) To give an example of a use of Manila hemp
5 According to the professor, what was the main reason that many ships used Manila hemp
"ropes instead of steel cables?
<> Manila hemp was cheaper
<> Manila hemp was easier to produce
<> Manila hemp is more resistant to salt water
<> Manila hemp is lighter in weight
6 According to the lecture, what are two ways to increase the strength of rope made from
Manila hemp fibers?
Choose 2 answers
[2 Coat the fibers with zinc-based paint [Combine the fibers into bundles
= Soak bundles of fibers in salt water {Twist bundles of fibers
Listening Script
Narrator
Listen to part of a lecture from a Botany class
Professor
Hi, everyone Good to see you all today Actually, | expected the population to be a lot lower today
It typically runs between 50 and 60 percent on the day the research paper is due Um, | was hop- ing to have your exams back today, but, uh, the situation was that | went away for the weekend, and | was supposed to get in yesterday at five, and | expected to fully complete all the exams by
midnight or so, which is the time that | usually go to bed, but my flight was delayed, and | ended
up not getting in until one o’clock in the morning Anyway, I'll do my best to have them finished by
the nexi time we meet
OK In the last class, we started talking about usefui plant fibers In particular, we talked about cotton fibers, which we said were very useful, not only in the textile industry, but also in the chem- ical industry, and in the production of many products, such as plastics, paper, explosives, and so
on Today we’ll continue talking about useful fibers, and we’ll begin with a fiber that’s commonly
known as “Manila hemp.”
Now, for some strange reason, many peopie believe that Manila hemp is a hemp plant
But Manila hemp is not really hemp it’s actually a member of the banana family—it even bears
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little banana-shaped fruits The “Manila” part of the name makes sense, because Manila hemp is
produced chiefly in the Philippine Islands and, of course, the capital city of the Philippines is Manila
Now, as fibers go, Manila hemp fibers are very long They can easily be several feet in length and they’re also very strong, very flexible They have one more characteristic that’s very important, and that is that they are exceptionally resistant to salt water And this combination of characteris-
tics—long, strong, flexible, resistant to salt water—makes Manila hemp a great material for ropes, especially for ropes that are gonna be used on ocean-going ships In fact, by the early 1940's, even
though steel cables were available, most ships in the United States Navy were not moored with steel cables; they were moored with Manila hemp ropes
Now, why was that? Well, the main reason was that steel cables degrade very, very quickly in contact with salt water If you’ve ever been to San Francisco, you know that the Golden Gate Bridge
is red And it's red because of the zinc paint that goes on those stainless steel cables That, if they
start at one end of the bridge and they work to the other end, by the time they finish, it’s already
time to go back and start painting the beginning of the bridge again, because the bridge was built with steel cables, and steel cables can’t take the salt air unless they're treated repeatedly with a zinc—based paint
On the other hand, plant products like Manila hemp, you can drag through the ocean for weeks
on end If you wanna tie your anchor to it and drop it right into the ocean, that’s no problem, because plant fibers can stand up for months, even years, in direct contact with salt water OK So
how do you take plant fibers that individually you could break with your hands and turn them into
a rope that’s strong enough to moor a ship that weighs thousands of tons? Well, what you do is
you extract these long fibers from the Manila hemp plant, and then you take several of these fibers,
and you group them into a bundle, because by grouping the fibers you greatly increase their break- ing strength—that bundle of fibers is much stronger than any of the individual fibers that compose
it And then you take that bundle of fibers and you twist it a little bit, because by twisting it, you increase its breaking strength even more And then you take several of these little bundles, and you group and twist them into bigger bundles, which you then group and twist into even bigger bundles, and so on, until eventually, you end up with a very, very strong rope
Answers and Explanations
1 @ Questions like this one that ask about what the professor mainly discusses are Gist-Content questions This question asks what aspect of Manila hemp fibers are mainly discussed, so it has a narrower focus than other Gist-Content questions The professor mainly discusses characteristics of Manila hemp and how these characteristics make Manila hemp useful to the shipping industry The best answer to this question is choice 4
2 @ This is an Understanding the Function of What Is Said replay question The professor mentions that she went away for the weekend and because a flight was delaved, she was late returning She tells this story in order to apologize for not completing marking exams The best answer to this question is choice 2
3 @ This is a Making Inferences question The professor explains that Manila hemp
is produced chiefly in the area near Manila, so the word Manila in the name is appropriate However, Manila hemp is not a type of hemp plant, so the word hemp
in the name is not appropriate The best answer to this question is choice 2
176 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE NEW TOEFL iBT
Trang 34 @ This is an Understanding Organization question The professor mentions the Golden Gate Bridge in order to make a comparison between the steel cables of the bridge and Manila hemp ropes The fact that the steel cables must be constantly repainted is a disadvantage The best answer to the question is choice 1
5 @ This is a Detail question It is related to the professor's main point about Manila hemp The professor says that Manila hemp is “exceptionally resistant to salt water.” Much of the listening passage deals with the professor's reinforcing and exemplifying this point The best answer to this question is choice 3
6 @ @ Near the end of the listening passage, the professor describes how Manila hemp ropes are made The answer to this Detail question can be found there The professor talks about grouping fibers into bundles and then twisting the bundles
to make them stronger Note that this question requires two answers The best answers to this question are choices 2 and 4
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PRACTICE TOEFL iBT LISTENING SECTION
This section measures your ability to understand conversations and lectures in English You should listen to each conversation and lecture only one time
After each conversation or lecture, you will answer some questions about it The questions typically ask about the main idea and supporting details Some questions ask about a speaker's purpose or attitude Answer the questions based on what is stated or implied by the speakers
You may take notes while you listen You may use your notes to help you answer the questions Your notes will not be scored
In some questions, you will see this icon: | This means that you will hear, but not see, part of the question
Most questions are worth 1 point If a question is worth more than 1 point, it will have special directions that indicate how many points you can receive
You will have 55 Minutes to listen to the Conversations and Lectures and to answer the questions You should answer each question, even if you must guess the answer
Listen to Track 11 on the CD
Questions
Directions: Mark your answer by filling in the oval next to your choice
1 Why does the student go to see the professor?
To prepare for her graduate school interview
To get advice about her graduate school application
To give the professor her graduate school application
To find out if she was accepted into graduate school
Ð According to the professor, what information should the student include in her statement of purpose?
Choose 2 answers
(i Her academic motivation
[1 Her background in medicine [ Some personal information
[ The ways her teachers have influenced her
3 What does the professor consider unusual about the student’s background?
<> Her work experience
<> Her creative writing experience
<> Her athletic achievements
‘> Her music training
4, Why does the professor tell a story about his friend who weni to medical school?
=> To warn the student about how difficult graduate school can be
To illustrate a point he is making
178 SHE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE NEW TOEFL iBT
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To help the student relax
To change the subject
What does the professor imply about the people who admit students to graduate school?
They often lack expertise in the fields of the applicants
They do not usually read the statement of purpose
They are influenced by the appearance of an application
They remember most of the applications they receive
00009
7
| Listen to Track 12 on the CD Beds
Questions What are the students mainly discussing?
Drugs that are harmful to the human body
Bacteria that produce antibiotics DNA that is related to athletic performance
Genes that protect bacteria from antibiotics
QO000
7 Listen again to part of the conversation by playing track 13 S#sis
Then answer the question
<> To find out if the man has done his assignment
<> To ask the man to find out if the library is open
<> To let the man know that she cannot study much longer
<>) To ask if the man has ever met her roommate
8 According to the conversation, why are transposes sometimes called “jumping genes”?
<> They are able to move from one bacteria cell to another
<> They are found in people with exceptional jumping ability
<> They occur in every other generation of bacteria
<> Their movements are rapid and unpredictable
9 According to the conversation, what are two ways in which bacteria cells get resistance
genes?
Choose 2 answers
f! The resistance genes are carried from nearby celis
= The resistance genes are carried by white blood cells
© The resistance genes are inherited from the parent cell
"] The resistance genes are carried by antibiotics
10 What can be inferred about the resistance genes discussed in the conversation?
> They are found in all bacteria cells
> They are not able to resist antibiotics
> They make the treatment of bacterial diseases more difficult
> They are essential to the body’s defenses against bacteria
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Listen to Track 14 on the CD
Questions
11
1
14
15
16
What is the talk mainly about?
A common method of managing water supplies The formation of underground water systems Natural processes that renew water supplies Maintaining the purity of underground water systems
What is the professor’s point of view concerning the method of “safe yield’?
it has helped to preserve the environment
It should be researched in states other than Arizona
it is not an effective resource policy
It ignores the different ways people use water
According to the professor, what are two problems associated with removing water from an underground system?
Choose 2 answers
Pollutants can enter the water more quickly
The surface area can dry and crack
The amount of water stored in the system can drop
Dependent streams and springs can dry up
Listen again to part of the lecture by playing track 15 :
Then answer the question
To find out whether the students are familiar with the issue
To introduce a new problem for discussion
To respond to a student’s question
To encourage the students to care about the topic
What is a key feature of a sustainable water system?
It is able to satisfy short-term and long-term needs
it is not affected by changing environmental conditions
it usually originates in lakes, springs, or streams
It is not used to supply human needs
What does the professor imply about water systems managed by the “safe yield” method?
They recharge at a rapid rate
They are not sustainable
They must have large storage areas
They provide a poor quality of water
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17
20
Emotion is usually controlled by the faculty of desire
Listen to Track 16 on the CD
Questions
Why does the professor talk about Plato’s description of society?
To explain why societies face certain problems
To point out problems with Plato’s ethical theory
To introduce students to the political structure of ancient Greece
To help explain Plato’s view about the nature of the human soul
Listen again to part of the lecture by playing track 17 Assis
Then answer the question
it may be familiar to some of the students
it will be discussed in more detail in a later class
it is not an interesting theory
It is not a very complicated theory
Listen again to part of the lecture by playing track 18 Audio, Then answer the question
To find out if students have understood what she just said
To suggest an answer to a question that she just asked
To express disagreement with a point made by Plato
To explain why harmony is difficult for a society to achieve
What are two points that reflect Plato’s views about education?
Choose 2 answers
All people can be trained to become leaders
All people should learn to use their intellect
Leaders should be responsible for the education of workers and soldiers
All people should learn about the nature of the human soul
Based on information in the lecture, indicate whether the statements below about human
emotion reflect beliefs heid by Plato
For each sentence, put a checkmark in the YES or NO column
Emotion ought to be controlled by the faculty of intellect
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According to Plato, what is the main characteristic of a good or just person?
The parts of the person’s soul exist in harmony
The person does not try to control other people
The person’s relationships with other people are harmonious
The person does not act in an emotional manner
Piay -
Listen to track 19 on the CD Susi
Questions
23 What is the main topic of the lecture?
The size of root systems
Various types of root systems
The nutrients required by rye plants
Improving two types of plant species
According to the professor, why did one scientist grow a rye plant in water?
» To expose the roots to sunlight
To be able to fertilize it with gas
> To be able to see its entire root system
To see how minerals penetrate its roots
on
Play
Listen again to part of the lecture by playing track 20 Audio
Then answer the question
> She wanted to correct the wording of a previous statement
She wishes she did not have to bubble gas through it
She realized the odor of gas could be unpleasant
She forgot to tell the students about a step in the experiment
The professor mentions houseplants that receive too much water Why does she mention them?
> To show that many different types of plants can grow in water
> To explain why plants grown in water should have a gas bubbled through them
> To remind the students of the importance of their next experiment
> To make a point about the length of houseplants’ roots
~~
Điay
Lislen again to part of the lecture by playing track 21 ®els
Then answer the question
> Why a mistake made in textbooks was never corrected
Why she does not believe that the roots of rye plants extend to 1,000 km
How the roots of rye plants develop to such a great length
How plants grown in water make use of fertilizer
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28 According to the professor, what similarity is there between crabgrass and rye plants?
a
< Both start growing in the month of May
oof
<> Both have root systems that require a lot of water
<> Both have more shoot surface than root surface
oof,
<> Both produce many shoots from a single seed
Play |
Listen to track 22 on the CD, 4##s
Questions
29 What is the lecture mainly about?
<> Technological innovations in the automobile industry
<> The organizational structure of companies
<> Ways to improve efficiency in an engineering department
<> Methods of resolving conflicts in organizations
30 Why does the professor talk about a construction company that has work in different cities?
<> To give an example of functional organization
<> To give an example of organization around projects
To illustrate problems with functional organization
<> To illustrate the types of conflict that can arise in companies
nay,
31 Lisien again to part of the leciure by playing track 28 ®w3'5
Then answer the question
<> He does not understand why the student is talking about engineers
<> He wants to know how the engineers will communicate with their coworkers
The student has not provided a compiete answer to his question
<> He wants the student to de more research on the topic
32, What is an example of a violation of the “unity of command” principle?
<> More than one person supervises the same employee
<> A company decides not to standardize its products
<> Several project managers are responsible for designing a new product
<> An employee does not follow a supervisor's instructions
ight there be @ conflict in an organizational structure
Ge G3 + œ oO _ 9 a) a ot
Oo come a D ae oe oO te œ@ cA OQ li =
Between arcoiiecis a
Between the need to speciali nd the need fo siandardize
Between two engineers who work on the same project
Between ine needs of ects in diferent cities
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34 Indicate whether each sentence below describes functional organization or project
organization Place a checkmark in the correct box
sFunctional Project
Organization Organization
It encourages people with similar expertise to work
closely together
It helps the company to adapt quickly and meet
changing needs
184 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TG THE NEW TOEFL iBT