Intermediate Listening Summary

1. Main Ideas

Conversations

A：Bob is frustrated because his roommate is very messy. His roommate leaves food containers, socks, papers, and toothpaste lying around. Bob is concerned that because of the unhygienic room, he might get sick. The woman convinces Bob to talk to his roommate. She says it is important because Bob has to live with his roommate for another two and a half months. The woman suggests that Bob and his roommate clean the room together once a week. Bob appreciates the woman’s help.

B：A student is looking for a book at the campus bookstore. The shopkeeper informs him that the textbook is out of stock. He says a new shipment will arrive in a week. The student panics because his professor has already assigned several chapters of reading from the book. The shopkeeper makes a suggestion. He thinks the student should see if the book is on reserve at the library. That way, the student can do his reading without getting behind while he waits for the new shipment of textbooks.

C：A librarian is orienting a student to the book borrowing process. She tells him the first step is to get a barcode attached to his student identification card. She says that it is important that he has photo identification when borrowing books because only people affiliated with the university are allowed to borrow books. The student worries about having another account attached to his ID card because it already holds his money accounts, meal plan, and dorm entrance. He’s afraid he will lose it. The librarian reassures him that he will be fine.

D：A student asks a professor for advice about receiving financial aid. Her professor tells her that in order to get a loan or a scholarship; she must fill out the financial aid form. The form can be found at the financial aid office or online. The professor urges her to fill out the form as soon as possible. He says this because there are departmental scholarships available for the following semester. The student is very grateful for her professor’s help and advice.

Lectures

A：Etchings are created by covering a copper plate with a ground compound. Then, the artist cuts an image into the compound until the copper plate is exposed underneath. Next, the artist pours acid over the compound. The parts of the copper plate that are covered with the compound remain untouched. The other parts get eaten away by the acid. This creates channels. The artist removes the compound and pours ink into the channels. Finally, the plate is pressed onto moist paper. This creates a print.

B：After food leaves the mouth, digestion goes on in the esophagus. The esophagus is a long tube that connects the mouth and the stomach. Food enters the esophagus through the upper sphincter. Then, the food is pushed through the esophagus by a process called peristalsis. Peristalsis happens when the muscles squeeze food down the tube. Food leaves the esophagus though the lower sphincter. If the lower sphincter is weak, you can get heartburn.

C：One theory about why earthquakes happen is called the plate tectonic theory. The earth’s surface is made up of plates that move against each other. The most severe quakes happen when one plate gets pushed underneath another one. Less severe quakes happen when plates rub against each other. Scientists don’t really know what causes them. There are three major earthquake zones on the earth. But sometimes earthquakes happen away from the seismic zones due to ground stress.

D：There is a long history of a lack of voting rights for women. In the mid-1800s, American women started fighting for their right to vote. This started during the anti-slavery movement. While women were fighting for rights for others, they realized that they did not have many rights themselves. American women started meeting about what to do. They realized that the only way that all American women would get the right to vote would be to push for an amendment to the Constitution. So, they created the National Woman’s Suffrage Association for that purpose.

2 Listening for Main Purpose

Conversations

A：Two students are discussing the best method for studying for their final exam. According to the syllabus, they must go over ten units of material and all their class notes. Since they both have all the class notes, they will just look over them to fill in any holes they may have. They will also split the units they have to study in half. Each student will summarize and outline five units within one week’s time. Then they will meet to go over the units and class notes together.

B：A student asks his professor for a favor. The student is applying for a study abroad program in classics in Rome. He needs his professor to turn in his grade early so that he may meet the application deadline. The professor is very pleased that her student is taking an opportunity to go abroad. The student is excited about learning new things and gaining a new perspective. The professor says she will make a note and inform her teaching assistant to get the student’s grades to the registrar early.

C：A student is inquiring about open job positions at the dining hall. A cafeteria worker tells her that the dining hall is still hiring and asks if she is eligible for work study. The cafeteria worker says that work study students will be hired first. The student confirms that she is eligible. The cafeteria worker tells the student that she will need to fill out an application and indicate her position preferences and hours of availability. Then, the dining hall staff will match their need with the student’s preferences and availability. The student will find out if she has a job in a week.

D：A professor talks to his student about participating more in class. He tells the student that she is doing really well, and the student’s grades have improved a lot. The only thing the student has not improved in is class participation. The student feels really nervous about speaking in front of the class. The professor suggests that he will call on the student first a couple of times. Then, when she is more comfortable talking in front of the class, she can volunteer answers on her own. The professor finally tells the student that if she participates more, she can probably get an A in the class.

Lectures

A：The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence. All celestial bodies with atmospheres experience the greenhouse effect. The sun’s rays warm the planet. The atmosphere keeps this heat around the planet. In contrast, global warming is a problem caused by man. The problem occurs when people start creating things that problem occurs when people start creating things that produce extra heat. Global warming causes the overall temperature of Earth to increase, which has negative effects. Most notably, global warming causes polar ice caps and glaciers to melt. This raises the water level of the oceans, which can cause flooding.

B：The trickle-down effect is a debated economic theory. It involves the profits of one business positively affecting connecting businesses and individuals in the economy. An example of how this theory works can be an author who writes a bestselling novel. The author will absolutely make money off of the book. Other companies who will profit from the book are the publishers, the booksellers, and the shippers.

C：Filmmaking before the 1930s was very different from filmmaking today. During that time, there were two types of cameras – motorized cameras and crank cameras. Filmmakers generally used crank cameras because they were easier to carry. The cameraman would turn the handle on a crank camera to advance the film. This was difficult and took a lot of practice. When the cameraman had mastered this skill he could alter the pace to make special effects. Also, during most of this era, films were shot on a single reel. Then, just before 1914, the double-reel process was introduced. This is where the double-reel film icon comes from.

D：Duke Ellington was a famous jazz musician from the early twentieth century. He was born in North Carolina in the late 1800s, which was where he started taking music lessons. He got his first big gig in New York city at the cotton Club. This gig made him famous. It also made the Cotton Club the most famous jazz club in Harlem. The duke and his band traveled all around the world, including Europe and Asia. One of his most famous songs is called “Take the A Train.”

3 Major Details

Conversations：

A： Susan asks her professor for an extension on her term paper. Her sister is getting married, and she won’t have time to finish the paper before the deadline. The professor wonders how much work the student has done so far. Susan tells her that the paper is mostly written, but she is waiting for two more books from the library to finish. The professor tells her to bring what she has and an outline for th paper to class, and she will get a one-week extension.

B：A student does not like the color of his dorm room. He wants to paint it a different color. His resident advisor says he must get the paint choice approved by the Housing Department. This process can take up to a month sometimes. According to the resident advisor, most students just put up posters and wall hangings instead. The student thinks that that might be easier to do.

C：A student needs help applying for an internship. Another student gives him advice. He must make a current resume. With his resume, he should include a cover sheet to tell prospective employers why he would be a good employee. Also, he should have a reference sheet of people prospective employers can contact. At an interview, he should dress nicely and be very polite. It is also important to make follow-up calls after her gives his resume. This shows he is interested. He can also check to see if they need anything else.

D：The professor is telling her student why his creative writing assignment is not good. She tells him that the main character is talking way too much, almost like in a play. He needs to describe more. She vey rudely tells him this. In addition, he must make his other characters talk more. They do not talk enough. She uses the example of The Lord of the Rings to tell him he needs more characters and, through their words, make them come to life.

Lecture：

A：The Gettysburg Address was a famous speech given by President Abraham Lincoln. He gave this speech on the battleground at Gettysburg half a year after that battle was fought. The Gettysburg Address is famous mostly because of its content. In this address, Lincoln talked about the importance of freedom in the nation. The language he used was very important. This is because he did not exclude soldiers from either side of the war.

B：Turkish architecture usually mans Ottoman architecture. The Ottoman empire lasted from 1300 AD till 1920 AD, and its architecture flourished during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Ottomans popularized the use of domes, vaults, and semi-domes. What the Ottomans mostly used these structures for was to create beautiful mosques. Before the Ottomans, mosques were really plain and boring. Afterwards, they were very lovely.

C：Most of the United States is considered a melting pot because the different immigrants mix together. Inside the Mississippi River Valley, New Orleans is different from the rest of the USA. It is a garden salad. Its different pieces have retained their identities. New Orleans was heavily influenced from its French beginnings. Later, Spanish, American, African, and Latin immigrants all added to the culture of the city. One example of this difference is the jargon. The local jargon has a heavy French influence.

D：English is an evolving language. One way a language can evolve is through technology. Cell phones have changed how we speak. Cell phones allow us to speak in public places. This has changed what we consider private. Many things we discuss in public were once considered private and should not be spoken in public. Also, people talk quickly on cell phones to save money. This has shortened conversations. We often do not greet people the same as we did, and we end conversations without saying “bye.”

4. Understanding the Function of What Is Said

Conversations：

A：A graduate student at Boston College needs three copies of her transcripts. The worker at the Registrar’s Office tells her that she must come to the office, fill out a form, pay a fee of six dollars, and she can get the transcripts the next day. The student wants the transcripts mailed to her, but the office will only mail them to alumni, not current students. The student also needs the transcripts sealed in an official envelope. To get that, she must write it on the request form.

B: A student talks to a professor about his grade on a paper. He believes his paper was good, and he deserved an A on it. He tells the professor why his paper was good: he had few grammatical errors, a clear thesis, and lots of evidence, he cited his work, and he wrote the appropriate length. The professor asks him the details of his paper, which was about the War of 1812. The student did not do the assignment properly because he did not discuss the people affected by the war.

C：A student made an appointment to talk to her counselor. She is currently a history major, but she wants to change to become a chemistry major. She needs permission to change her major. The counselor asks her some basic questions to make sure she is making the right decision the counselor determines the student has thought about I long enough, the change will help her future, and the student has performed well. The counselor decides the change in majors is good for the student and grants her permission.

D：Two students are brainstorming for a project. They decide to split the work in half. One student will present background information, and the other student will present the German invasion of Poland. They need three visual aids. The first visual aid will be a map of Poland with army units to move around the map. The second will be a list of all the units involved and their commanders. The last will be a map of Poland with the names of all the important locations written very clearly on it.

Lecture

A：Airplanes have three axed. Each axis has its own set of fins built into the aircraft’s wings. The fins turn and react with the air stream to enable the airplane to turn. Three basic turns are capable. The airplane can turn up or down on the lateral axis, left or right on the vertical axis, or it can spin on the longitudinal axis. For the first two types of turns, the fins turn in the direction of the desired turn. For a spin, the fins turn in opposite directions.

B：Volcanoes have three basic categories of effects on the Earth. First, volcanoes produce lava. Lava can destroy or severely damage anything that lies in its path. Later, lava works as a good fertilizer. Second, volcanoes emit several gasses into the atmosphere. Some of the gasses are beneficial. They can help to increase the albedo. Other gases can damage the ozone or create acid rain. Last, there are several other side effects, such as geysers and earthquakes.

C：Two different species f the Marmot genus are the Olympic Marmot and the Bobak Marmot. The Olympic Marmot lives near the Olympic Mountains in the Olympic Peninsula of? Washington State. The Bobak Marmot lives in open grasslands in Central Asia and Russia. Both animals have calls to warn other marmots of a predator, but the Olympic Marmots’ calls are more advanced and recognize different kinds of predators. The Bobak Marmot has been eaten by Russian people during famine, and it has also been used as a source of fur for clothes.

D：American Football is derived from European soccer. In the 1820s, American universities made the sport popular, but they played a game similar to soccer. Harvard played a game more like rugby. They then played a Canadian football team and adopted the Canadian style of football. Harvard passed on this style to the rest of the American universities. Walter Camp changed the game even further by adding downs and the line of scrimmage and reducing the number of players. The large number of deaths resulted in more changes, like the forward pass and a fourth down.

5 Understanding the Speaker’s Attitude

Conversations：

A：Mary tells her professor that she is working on a final project for her international business development class. She needs to make a campaign to increase tourism to Guatemala. She asks her professor if has any supplements she could use in the presentation. He offers her some archeological antiques, but those are not what she’s looking for. Then he offers to connect her with the Guatemalan Embassy. He says that they will probably have some materials for her to use. She thanks him. Then he tells her a story about the time when his friend at te Guatemalan Embassy helped him recently.

B: Marcy Walker tells her dorm manager that her telephone line has been shut off. She is upset because she can’t access the Internet or call her parents. He tells her that the phone was shut off because she didn’t pay her bill for two months. Then he tells her she will have to pay a late fee and a reconnection fee. He scolds her for not paying her bill. She admits that she didn’t pay her bill because she spent her money on other things. Then the dorm manager offers her a part-time job working at the front desk. He tells her she can work 20 hours per week for minimum wage. She is happy and agrees.

C：Dr. Simmons and Fred meet. Dr. Simmons tells Fred that he was in the hospital for an appendectomy. He says his body is fully recovered now. Fred says he enjoys being a student teacher. Dr. Simmons tells Fred that the university administration is sending him to observe Fred’s class. Dr. Simmons asks Fred about what he’s teaching. Fred tells Dr. Simmons about a unit he’s teaching that compares and contrasts novels and their Hollywood adaptations. Fred asks Dr. Simmons if he thinks this syllabus is overambitious. Dr. Simmons says it is a little overambitious.

D：Sheila and Ryan meet. Sheila is mad at Ryan for not calling her. He says he didn’t call her because he was busy being chewed out by the resident manager of his dorm. His resident manager was angry because he played music too loudly. Some students next door called and complained. Sheila says her resident manager never scolds her. Sheila tells Ryan he should leave the dorms and move into an apartment. She hates living in the dorm. She thinks they are old and dirty. Ryan says he thinks there are rats living in the ceiling and walls of his dorm. But his father will not help him get an apartment.

Lecture:

A：The Effel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel. It is still the tallest structure in Paris. The iron structure of the tower weighs 7,300 tons. It took 300 workers to join 18,038 pieces of puddle iron and three and a half million rivets to erect the tower. It held the record for tallest building in the world for over 40 years. The Eiffel Tower was the entrance arch for the 1898 World’s Fair. Only one worker died during its construction. By the time the tower’s permit expired, it was so firmly entrenched in French history that the government could not tear it down.

B：The professor uses the movie Lord of the Rings as an example of a successful advertising campaign. He says that the advertisers of LOTR were successful because they used the four Ms. The first M is for marketing. LOTR employed various marketing strategies, such as selling t-shirts, posters, toys, and drinking glasses. The second M is for media. The advertisers of LOTR saturated as many forms of media as possible. The third M is for money. The producers of LOTR had enough money to invest heavily in their project. The fourth M is for message. LORT had a positive message that people liked. All of these Ms added up to success for LOTR.

C：EI Nino and La Nina signify a temperature change of 0.5°Celsius higher or lower than normal for more than five months. Countries on the continents of South America and Africa are the most affected by EI Nino. These episodes occur irregularly every 2-7 years. They reverse normal climates. An example of EI Nino in action is when the warm water flows towards the South American coast. The absence of cold water upswelling sends the fish population out to sea. This is due to the fact that fish follow the cool nutrient-rich water. The causes of EI Nino are still not fully understood by scientists.

D：The professor begins the lecture with the quote, “I think, therefore I am.” It is from Rene Descartes. Descartes was a natural philosopher. He was also a mathematician who believed math could be used to prove truth about the universe. Soren Kierkegaard was an early existentialist. He said, “All truth is subjective.” The professor and students then discuss the meaning of truth to individual people. Kierkegaard’s statement on truth led to the doctrine of Solipsism, that all individuals are alone with the rest of the universe. Solipsism has suffered much criticism from other branches of philosophy for being selfish and egotistical.

6 Understanding Organization

Conversations：

A： A student wants to change his schedule so he can join a recreational hockey league. He wants to shift his classes to different times. He also wants to drop his Chemistry 101 class. The assistant tells him that the classes he wants to change into are either full or too advanced for him. She also tells him that he might not be able to graduate in four years if he drops Chemistry 101. The student changes his mind and decides not to play hockey.

B：Sally was absent from class. She tells the professor she was sick all weekend. She asks for some important review sheets for an upcoming exam. The professor tells her she’s all out. She recommends Sally ask her classmates. Sally is upset because her classmates won’t help her. Professor tells Sally that she saw her on television at the football game. Sally confesses she wasn’t really sick. The professor tells her that she can get the handouts from her website online.

C：Two friends meet and chat. Doug wants to go to the recreation room on campus to play some games. Benny tells Doug that the recreation room has been closed. It is being changed into a Student Employment Center. Doug is upset. He wants to stage a protest. Benny doesn’t think the protest would be effective. He wants to write angry letters to the president of the university. Doug likes the idea, but doesn’t think it would work. Benny tells Doug about a time when a student protest stopped the administration from removing some benches that students liked.

D：Mark is interested in studying abroad. He talks to Mr. Jones, who is in charge of the student exchange program. Mr. Jones asks Mark where he would like to study. Mark says he would like to study in the Sudan. Mr. Jones says it is an unrealistic idea because the country is in civil war. Mark says his second choice is Budapest because he speaks Hungarian fluently. Mr. Jones thinks it’s a good idea. He offers to introduce Mark to some Hungarian exchange student s at the school.

Lectures：

A：Pollination is important for the reproduction of seed plants. Many plants will not develop if their ovules are not fertilized. The process of pollination requires pollinators to act as agents and carry pollen grains from the anther to the carpel. Pollination can either be carried out by biotic or abiotic means. Biotic refers to pollination by other living organisms. This often includes hummingbirds, bees, and bats. Abiotic refers to pollination by natural means, such as wind or water. Most pollination is biotic.

B：Coordinating the brain and nervous system to do two different actions at the same time is called splitting attention. Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one thing while ignoring other things. William James was one of the first major psychologists. He defined attention as “the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem to be several simultaneous possible objects or trains of thought.” The attention of one’s mind is linked to the cerebral cortex, which controls fine motor skills.

C：The first American schools opened during the Colonial Era. After the revolution, a heavier emphasis was placed on education. School systems remained private until the 1840s. then educational reformers began calling for public education systems. They believed everyone was entitled to the same content in education. By 1900, 31 states required 8-to-14- year olds to attend school. Secondary education progressed more slowly. In the early 20th century, strict child labor laws and growing acceptance of higher education caused the number of high school graduates to skyrocket.

D：Mars is the 4th planet from the sun. Canals on the planet’s surface that were once believed to exist do not. But Mars is still the most likely place in the solar system, besides Earth, to harbor liquid water and possibly life. Mars has seasonal periods similar to Earth’s. But its year is almost twice as long. The Martian atmosphere contains only traces of oxygen. During the winter months, the atmosphere gets so cold that it condenses into dry ice. Whether living organisms exist on Mars is still an open question.

7 Connecting Content

Conversations：

A: A student has suddenly been called for a job interview. The problem is he has a group class presentation at the same time as the interview. The student asks his professor is he can change the presentation time so that he can attend the job interview. The professor is willing to change the date on the condition that she can find another group who is willing to change their presentation date. The professor calls another group she thinks is willing to change dates. After communicating the problem, the other group is willing to change dates, and the student is thankful.

B：Two students are going to study for a test. One of the students has lost her notebook. She is worried that she will not be able to study for the test. The male student offers a solution. First, the female student should photocopy his notebook then they should study together, making notations as they go along. Finally, the male student suggests that she also study the highlighted sections in her textbook. The female student is grateful for all of his suggestions.

C：A female student who is new to the university is looking for a classroom but is hopelessly lost. She asks a university worker for directions. The worker explains she is in the wrong building and has about a six-minute walk to the building she needs to get to. So the worker gives the student walking directions to the correct building. The worker is careful to make sure the student understands the directions he is giving her. The student is very thankful for the directions as well as knowing where her next class is.

D：A student needs to get her student ID card renewed. Unfortunately, there was a delay, so she had to wait. This caused her many problems, including not being able to buy discounted textbooks and supplies as well as not being able to use the university’s student service. She is told her Change of Major Form was initially not processed, which led to her being denied a student ID card. Upon her next visit, she is told the problem has been corrected. She is issued a new student ID card and is now entitled to all of the benefits of having a valid ID card.

Lectures：

A：Not long ago, humans were thought to be distinctly set apart from apes. Recent research has shown that this is not the case. For example, the DNA content of apes and humans is very similar, as well as the fact that some studies of apes in the wild have shown conclusive evidence of apes being capable of learning. We now know that certain species of apes are able to use tools. What is not known is the extent of apes’ learning capabilities as well as the limit to what they can actually learn. Further studies are needed to answer these questions although this could be quite difficult to do.

B: Dolphins are considered one of the most intelligent animal species on Earth. This is because of their ability to communicate by using a variety of clicks, whistles, and other vocalizations. For example, the most effective method of communication they use is a form of echolocation, where they emit a series of clicking sounds to locate a target. This is done much like a submarine’s sonar system. They also use whistles, which are unique for each individual. The use of body movements and vocal bursts is still not fully understood.

C: Some of the greatest American detective novels written were created by three authors: Samuel Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Mickey Spillane. Each of these authors created at least one memorable detective character that has endeared readers for over fifty years. Characters like Sam Spade, Mike Hammer, and Philip Marlowe had many similar attributes, yet each character has at least one major characteristic which sets them apart from all others. All three of these detective characters were characterized as tough guys, which probably makes them so memorable.

D: Cave paintings were an important communication tool used by our ancestors for thousands of years. Cave paintings were unknown to modern man until Europeans first encountered them in 1879. The best example is the Chauvet Cave, which is uncharacteristically large and has the best quality and quantity of cave art discovered so far. For example, the walls of the Chauvet Cave are covered with predatory animals such as lions, panthers, bears, owls, rhinos, and hyenas. As is typical of most cave art, there are no paintings of complete human figures.

8 Making Inferences

Conversations:

A: Gloria and Adam are talking about their P.E. grades. They both flunked the class, and they don’t understand shy. They participated in every class and believe the professor liked them a lot. When they decide to go and talk to the professor, the truth comes out. Gloria realizes that Adam forgot to tell her about the final test they were supposed to take. Because Adam forgot, they missed the test and failed the class. Once she finds this out, Gloria becomes really aggravated with Adam for his mistake.

B: A professor is telling two students about a summer job opportunity they have been chosen for. The professor explains how much they will make and what the duties of the job will be. Most importantly, the professor emphasizes how valuable the experience will be for the student’s futures. The students are very excited about the chance and realize what an excellent opportunity it is for them. Both students decide to accept the jobs with great enthusiasm.

C: A student is discussing a test he took in the professor’s class the previous week. The student is not satisfied with his performance and is afraid he will lose his scholarship. He asks the professor if he can take it again. The professor asks the student why he believes he did so poorly. The student explains that he was too busy with a part-time job that he recently quit. Because of his honesty, the professor decides not to allow him to retake the exam but to do some extra credit work instead.

D: An anxious student is speaking to a mailbox manager who has just locked up the office for the weekend. The student is expecting a birthday gift and hopes the manager will allow her to check her mail. Unfortunately, the door locks on an electric timer and will not open up until Monday morning. The student wants to use her gift over the weekend and implores the manager to help her. The manager finds an alternative way to get inside. The student is very grateful.

Lectures:

A: Warm-blooded animals are able to keep their body temperatures at a constant level. They use means such as shivering and sweating to do this. Another term for this temperature control is endothermy. Endotherms spend a great amount of energy to maintain body temperature, and if they don’t, they could perish. Advantages of this regulation are increased enzyme activity and increased activity in cold weather situations.

B: English is a West-Germanic language that originated in German and the Netherlands and was brought to England by settlers. Two later invasions by the Scandinavians and Normans heavily influenced the language by making it more diverse and elaborate, Modern English began around the 15th century. It was affected by the standardized dialect of the government. By the time of Shakespeare, modern English was a clearly recognized language which stood on its own.

C: The Amazon River experiences a large surge about once a year. This occurs between the months of November and May. Some areas reported increases in the waterline by as much as 40 to 50 feet in the late 80s. During the other half of the year, the water recedes, exposing sandbars and beach-like white sand. The average discharge of the river is between 3 and 8.5 million cubic feet per second. Finally, contrary to some published accounts, the Amazon holds less than one ten-thousandth of all the world’s fresh water.

D: Water purification is important when camping or doing other outdoor activates. If it isn’t done, dirty or polluted water can be harmful to human beings. There are four main methods of purifying what in the outdoors: boiling, filtering, chemically, and with the sun. Boiling is the easiest and most complete while filtering might not kill all of the viruses. Iodine is a chemical for killing most pathogens in water, and sunlight, though time consuming, is another.

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