Model Test 1DictationMaking a ComplaintComplaning about faulty goods or bad services is never easy. / But if something you have bought is faulty or of poor quality, / you have to ask for a favor to get it right. / Complaints should be made to a responsible person. / Go back to the shop where you bought the goods, / taking with you any receipt you may have. / In a small store the assistant may also be the owner so youcan complain directly. / In a chain store, ask the manager. / If you telephone, ask the name of the person who handles your enquiry; / otherwise you may never find out who dealt with the complaint later. / If you do not want to do it in person, write a letter. / Stick to the facts and keep a copy of what you write. / At this stage you should give any receipt numbers, / but you do not need to give receipts or other papers to prove you bought the article.CompositionAn Electronic Dictionary or a Traditional Paper One?Dictionaries play a very important role in language study. When it comes to whether to choose an electronic dictionary or a traditional paper one, different people will offer different opinions. Though electronic dictionaries are more popular now and often quicker and easier to use, traditonal paper dictionaries are the better tool for study, especially of a foreign language.Traditional dictionaries, by providing more detailed definitions and examples, have greater capacity of vocabulary and better serve for study purposes. Some famous publishing houses have issued a lot of authoritative dictionaries like Oxford and Webster. People can choose any paper format from many different publishers as a study tool while there are frequently many errors in electronic ones. In addition, electronic dictionaries do not necessarily provide enough detail to provide accurate information.Though paper dictionaries are generally much heavier than electronic ones, students can use them at any time and in any place because they do not rely on electricity. Though the size of the letters in some dictionaries is very small, it does not consume energy unless some count the energy a person uses to carry it around! Think of all the money people could save on batteries, too!When people travel, an electronic dictionary may be more convenient. However, if somebody wants to read a book in a foreign language, a traditional dictionary is the perfect tool. Paper dictionaries are not merely a tool to check the meaning of words, but also a book which can be used to increase your vocabulary. (252 words)Note-writingMarch 2, 2012 Dear Mr. Maxim,I take great pleasure in sending my most ardent and earnest congratulations on your promotion to professor at the university! You are absolutely worthy of this new professional title since your lectures are always academically interesting and easy to understand. My best wishes for you continued success!Yours,JohnModel Test 2DictationComputersA computer is a machine that is able to handle information very quickly. / Hundreds of problems can be solved in just a few seconds with it. / The information that is needed to solve a problem is translated into numbers by the computer. / The computer solves the problem, and then the answer is translated into words. / Special machines are used to put information and instructions into the computer. / The computer records the information and stores it. / A large amount of information can be stored in a very small space. / This information is stored in the computer’s memeory unit. / Computers are used in many different ways. / Business and banks use computers to keep financial records. / In many industries computers are used to control other machines that make products. / Governments, hospitals, schools, and communication companies work with computers. / Special computers have been developed for rockets, airplanes, ships, and cars. / Some people have small computer systems in their homes. / Because computers have so many uses, the computer industry has become one of the largest industries in the world.CompositionLiving on Campus or Living Outside School?Nowadays, choosing a right living place became an important issue for college students. Some of them prefer to live alone by renting a room near school, while others prefer to live with classmates on campus. As for me, I like to live with classmates in group domitory on campus.There are several vital reasons for my opinion. First, it is very convenient to ask classmates questions about courses and have various discussions with them. The main task of students is to achieve outstanding academic performance rather than anything else. Living on campus benefits not only me but also my classmates as we can help each other. Second, it can make me have better personal relations. It is not enough to communicate with classmates and friends just in classroom. Instead we need see and talk to each other frequently in spare time so as to maintain friendship. Third, it can save me much time. Living outside school will absolutely cost me more time to go to classes and get back. Put all the wasted time together, and that is really a considerable amount. With the saved time, I can study longer to improve my GPA (Grade Point Average平均绩点；平均分). Meanwhile, I can also participate in more association activities in order to make new friends and enrich my school life.In conclusion, living on campus is the best choice for college students. It helps them to perform better in study and establish better personal relations. Contrarily, living off campus would produce adverse impact and therefore should be avoided. (264 words)Note-writingJan. 2, 2012 Dear Bill,As the Spring Festival is drawing near, I am very gald to invite you to a dinner party with several other friends of ours. Would you like to come on time at 5: 00 pm today, to Room 6 ofHoliday Inn Hotel? I’m sure we will have a very good time and enjoy ourselves thoroughly.Yours,FredModel Test 3DictationLet Him Do It HimselfLet children learn to evaluate their own work. / A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time. / He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language those around him use. / Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like the other people’s. / In the same way, when children learn to do all the other things, / for example, to walk, run, climb, ride a bicycle, they learn to do them without being told. / They compare their performance with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes. / But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his own mistakes for himself, let alone correct them. / We do it all for him as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake / unless it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. / Soon he became dependent on the teacher. / Let him do it himself.CompositionThe Effects of Technology on LearningThe technological advances of the last few years have been amazing. Never before have students had such a wide variety of resources to help them with their studies. Those who can take advantage of these resources have the opportunity to learn about more subjects and to acquire more in-depth knowledge. In my opinion, students can indeed learn more quickly with the help of modern technology.The piece of technology most important as a learning tool must be the computer. Paired with the Internet, it allows students to research topics more quickly and thoroughly and to write up their findings more rapidly as well. Furthermore, advances in many fields are being made so fast these days that it is impossible for textbooks to keep up. Technology allows students to keep breast of the latest development. Also, it cannot be denied that many students enjoy using resources in their studies. Because of this, they are more likely to pursue subjects in greater depth.For all these reasons, I believe that technology can bring about great benefit to today’s students. Of course, it is still possible without the aid of such devices, but I believe that those students who are fortunate enough to have access to technological resources should take every advantage of them. (211 words)Note-writingMarch 2, 2012 Monitor,I have been asked by the dean of our department to inform you that the British and American History class tomorrow morning has to be put off until sometime next week because Mr. Huge is ill. Please notify the other students of your class and make sure that everybody knows it.Yours,AlbertModel Test 4DictationHow to Avoid ShynessMany people consider themselves shy. / In fact, 40 percent of people who took part in our survey said they were shy. / That’s two out of every five people. / And there are studies to indicate that the tendency toward shyness may be inherited. / But certain timid children don’t mean that they are bound to be shy forever. / There is something parents, teacher, and the children themselve can do / to overcome this tendency and even to prevent it. / Our researchers found that if parents gently push their shy children to try new things, / they can help these children become less afraid and less inhibited. / Another way to help shy children is to train them in social skills. / For example, there are special training programs / where children are taught things like looking at other children / while talking to them, / talking about others’ interests, and even smiling. / These groups have been very successful / in giving shy children a place to feel safe and accepted, and building up their self-esteem.CompositionBeing an Only Child Is More AdvantageousMore and more people are concerned with the number of children in a family. From my point of view, being an only child offers more adavantages than disadvantages.In comparison with the life in a big family, the life of being an only child has four obvious advantages. Firstly, the child enjoys the privilege of being the centre of attention and can get all the love and care of the parents. Secondly, the parents are usually ablt to satisfy all the marerial needs of the child. Thirdly, the child is completely free from the possible conflicts often found in a big family. Lastly, because of lack of mutual help and because the parents cannot be with the child all the time, the child is likely to develop an independent character that will enable him or her to succeed more easily in society.Although the disadvantages of being an only child are also obvious, such as lack of playmates at home and the possible overindulgence in some cases, it seems to me that being an only child is more advantageous. (179 words)Note-writingApril 21 Dear Mr. Wang,Yesterday I caught a bad cold. Now I am running a fever and the doctor suggested that I take two days’ leave. I am afraind I can’t attend today’s and tomorrow’s classes. Therefore, I ask for two days’ sick leave, from April 21 to April 22. The doctor’s certificate for sick leave will be delivered to you later.Your kind permission will be greatly appreciated.Yours respectfully,Li PingModel Test 5DictationChanges in Famili Life in BritainThere are many reasons why family life in Britain has changed so much in the last 50 years./ The liberation of women in the early years of the 20th century / and the social and economic effects of World War II had a great impact on traditional family life. / Women became essential to industry and the professions. / During the war they had worked in factories and proved their worth, / then, with the death of millions of men, their services were indispensable to the nation. / More recently, great advances in scientific knowledge, and particularly in medicine, / have had enormous social consequences./ Children are better cared for and are healthier. / Infant death rate is low. / Above all, parents can now plan the size of their family / through more effective means of birth control if they wish. / Different attitudes to religion, authority and tradition / have also greatly contributed to the changes in family life.CompositionThe Best Way of Reducing StressStress is one of the biggest enemies for a modern person. Different people have different ways to beat stress, anf my remedies depend on the type of pressure I have. Ususally the most common stresses I encounter are related to work, friends and myself.The way I deal with work-related stress is to stop working for a while. If I find myself getting tired of the work, I would stop and talk to my colleagues for a while. And then I will get back to work again with enthusiasm. And when I encounter stress brought by my friends, I often talk about the problem with them openly and work out a solution together in an honest way. Through this way, I can mostly be understood by my friends and our relationship will probably turn out to be better than before. The last type of stress is actually caused by myself. If I feel exhausted and anxious about my future, I would adjust myself and tell myself that I can do my best. Sometimes, I would ask for advice from my friends. And often, their encouragement helps me re-establish confidence and support to go further.Conclusively, my ways of reducing stress are avoiding, talking and facing it. It’s with these methods that I maintain physical and spiritual health and guarantee good relationships with others. (223 words)Note-writingMarch 25, 2012 Dear Philip,I went to Xinhua Bookstore the other day and happened to find the book about ancient Indian culture that you have long wanted to have. The book store is in East Street, not far from the second crossing. The book is on the second row of No. 8 shelf. You won’t miss it!Yours,JohnModel Test 6DictationAs a young artist, Walt Disney often worked late in his studio. / One night he heard some mice in his wastebasket. / He captured them and kept them in a small cages on his desk. / One of these little creatures became his particular friend / and gave him the idea for the famous cartoon character Micky Mouse. / In 1928 Micky Mouse first appeared in a cartoon film. / When sound was starting to be used in movies, Disney immediately made his Micky Mouse talk on the movie screen / Spectators, old and young, were delighted. / Micky became a great success and has since won the hearts of millions. / Micky is a wonderful clean mouse in a cleaned-up world created by Walt Disney. / Movies about Micky Mouse have been popular with spectators / everywhere around the world ever since it was created. / In the following years, / so many characters have brought great amusement / and laughter to children and adults as well. / Walt founded his Disney Empire on his popuar cartoon characters.CompositionThe Popularity of Western HolidaysIt seems that some Western holidays are getting more and more popular in China. For example, weeks before Christmas, countless shops, restaurants and hotels have got ready with Christmas decorations. However, certain traditional Chinese festivals are being neglected.In fact, the Western festivals are celebrated in China quite differently from in the West. For example, Christmas in the Western world is mainly a spiritual festival. Then why have the Western holidays taken root in China? The chief reason is that businessmen know that they can make money by producing holidays or encouraging extra dining and celebrating.I think the popularity of Western holidays does indicate the success of the economic reform. Certainly economic development has brought extra money to many people in China, but we should not waste our money on useless things. We should not be led by those businessmen, rather, we should take the opportunity to relax and enjoy ourselves. Remember, holiday means happiness, not spending. (158 words)Note-writingMarch 25, 2012 Dear Jane,I am sorry to learn that you failed in the final exam. I know you must be feeling very unhappy. I’m writing to tell you that you should not worry too much about the result, for one’s performance in a certain exam cannot always show his aptitude and competence. What’s more, you still have another chance. You will be sure to pass the exam, so long as you work harder.Yours,AliceModel Test 7DictationArtificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence is the area of computer science / focusing on creating machines that can engage in behavious / that human beings consider intelligent. / The ability to create machineshas intrigued humans since ancient times, / and today with the advent of the computer / and 50 years of research into Artificial Intelligence programming techniques, / the dream of smart machines is becoming a reality. / Researchers are creating systems which can mimic human thought, / understand speech, beat the best human chess-player, / and countless other feats never before possible. / With the growth of modern science, / the search for Artifical Intelligence has taken two major directions: / psychological and physiological research into the nature of human thought, and the technological develpoment / of increasingly sophisticated computing systems.CompositionAdvantages and Disadvantages of Studying AbroadSome people believe that attending a college or university in a foreign country has many disadvantages. They think this can help them learn more than they can from universities in their own country, especially when they go to a developed country where they can catch up with the pace of scientific and technical advance of the world from that country’s modern lab facilities. In addition, they can pick up the latest development of the living language there more quickly, develop their ability of coping with the routine matters such as finding a part-time job, renting a house and helping with the housework, and learn many new things to widen their views and broaden their minds.But some people don’t agree to it. They think that attending a college or university abroad also has many disadvantages which outweigh the advantages. They hold that students studying in a foreign country will have more difficulties in both life and study. The most serious problem is the language barriers. They have to spend much time learning a foreign language and even if they have learned the language, they still can’t understand thoroughly what the foreigners and teachers say just because of the unfamiliar culture background and social customs. So if they are not persons full of courage, flexibility, and determination, they are most likely to fail and learn nothing eventually. Besides, since costs and expenditure are much higher than those in their native country, most overseas students have to work for a living, and will find it impossible for them to pay all attention to studying. So it is of benefit to them if they study in their own country.The above two viewpoints, I should say, are all reasonable in some aspects. But I support the first kind of people. People should attend a college or university in a foreign country if they can. In this way they can learn not only the useful knowledge of science but also the culture and customs of other nations. Besides, they can learn some new ideas, bring in some fresh air in our way of thinking and promote the development of our country. (357 words)Note-writingMarch 25, 2012 Dear Schoolmates,I’ve decided to part with my bike, and sell it to someone in need before I leave our university. It is half new, dark and light. With curved bars, it is mainly for lady’s use. A s far as the price is concerned, I’ d like to sell it at 80 yuan. Whoever is interested in it can call me at my mobile phone 1360000000 and have a look at it before making a decision.Yours,Alice。
