LISTENING PASSAGES FOR ASSESSMENT WITH ANSWER KEY

Choose the most appropriate answer and circle (a), (b) or (c) in each question.
One mark is awarded for each correct answer.
Task 1
Listen to this story from a British newspaper on the death of Thomas.
Thomas was born when Queen Victoria was Queen of England. Thomas lived to see the rule of four
kings and one more queen. Thomas truly lived through history! He saw World War I. He next saw
World War II. Thats when the Germans dropped a bomb on his house. Luckily for Thomas the air raid
warden rescued him from the rubble!
Thomas lived in Essex with Grace Hilditch. In 1978 Grace fell very ill. She asked her cousin June Le
Gallez to look after Thomas. So June came to Essex to take Thomas to her home in Guernsey. June and
Thomas took the train. Everyone on the train loved Thomas. They kept asking if he would have some
lettuce to eat!
One day June took Thomas to the vet for a checkup. To Junes surprise the vet told her that Thomas was
a she and not a he! June wondered if she should call her Thomasina. But she realised her tortoise was
famous and everybody in UK knew her only by the name of Thomas. Until the day she died in 2013, she
remained Thomas, at 130 years, Britains oldest pet!

1. Thomas was
a. Britains oldest pet.
b. Queen Victorias oldest pet.
c. Germanys oldest pet.
2. Thomas died in
a. during World War I.
b. during World War II.
c. after both the wars.
3. Thomas was rescued by
a. The air raid warden.
b. June.
c. Grace.
4. Thomas took a
a. boat ride from Essex.
b. train ride from Essex.
c. road trip from Essex.
5. Fellow passengers assumed Thomas liked
a. cabbage.
b. lettuce.
c. spinach.
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6. Thomas lived in Essex because

a. June lived there.
b. Grace lived there.
c. the vet lived there.
7. Grace gave away Thomas because
a. she was tired of Thomas.
b. she was afraid of fame.
c. she was sick.
8. Thomas had a long life of
a. 200 years.
b. 130 years.
c. 100 years.
9. June didnt change Thomas name because
a. Thomasina was an Italian name.
b. Queen Victoria had named her Thomas.
c. Thomas was already famous as Thomas.
10. Thomas lived through the rule of
a. four kings.
b. two kings and two queens.
c. four kings and two queens.

Task 2
Listen to this account of the train journey Gandhiji undertook.
Back in India in 1901, Gandhiji toured all of India travelling third-class. His purpose was to acquaint
himself with the hardships faced by the third-class passengers. Third-class travel, he thought, was the
mirror to the general plight of Indians. It was his Indiahelpless, subjected to shame, humiliation and
colour prejudice.
His almost uninterrupted tours in the third-class between 1915 and 1919 made him see how his
India bled. His equipment for the tour was a metal tiffin-box, a canvas bag worth twelve annas and
a long coat. A dhoti, a towel, a shirt, a blanket and a water jug formed his meagre travel kit. On his
first journey from Kolkota to Rajkot, Gandhiji did not spend more than Rs 31 on the fare and other
expenses.
As Gandhiji travelled on, the Mahatma was born, in the third-class compartment of a train.

1. Gandhiji identified the condition of India in 1901 as

a. self-pity.
b. rebelliousness.
c. helplessness.

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2. Gandhiji chose to travel third class because

a. he was the Mahatma.
b. it represented the difficulties Indians faced.
c. he wanted to convey a message.

3. Gandhiji undertook tours of India between

a. 1915 and 1919.
b. 1945 and 1947.
c. 1901 and 1905.
4. The tours helped him understand
a. the geographical layout.
b. the suffering of the people.
c. political strategy.

5. Gandhis travel kit was

a. very elaborate.
b. quite inadequate.
c. fairly sufficient.

6. Gandhijis first journey (train tours) was from

a. Kolkata to Rajkot.
b. Rajkot to Kolkota.
c. Kolkota to Ahmedabad.

7. For four years his tours were

a. almost without a break.
b. at intervals.
c. scheduled well.

8. Gandhiji identified with the India that was

a. subject to shame.
b. ruled by the British.
c. defined by its traditions.

9. The significance of Gandhijis train travel lay in

a. the third class experience.
b. the train journey itself.
c. the political experience.

10. Third class travel played a part

a. in the evolution of the Mahatma.
b. in the development of the politician.
c. in the growth of his family.

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Task 3
Listen to Dr Abraham talk to TV anchor Nikita, on the Ebola virus.
Dr Abraham: To directly answer your question, no, the Ebola virus does not spread through air.
Nikita: This is reassuring news. There are so many stories about how the virus spreads, and most of
these are completely unfounded.
Dr Abraham: Thats right. I should give you some well researched facts about Ebola. Vomiting,
diahorrea, rash and bleeding are some of the typical symptoms. The virus is most commonly spread on
contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. The 2014 West African Ebola outbreak
has been serious. One case has been reported in the US and one in Spain.
Nikita: What preventive measures must be followed?
Dr Abraham: Well, there is no vaccine yet, although tests are being conducted and are in the final
stages. We have to be very careful and report to medical authorites if there is even a hint of the virus.
This is critical because the medical authorities require rapid detection of the disease and persons who
have come into contact with the infected individual have to be traced.
Nikita: Youre really saying we need to tackle this disease at the level of the community and cooperate
so that medical services, really a chain of services, can be coordinated.
Dr Abraham: Thats right. With care and awareness and good coordination the disease can be
controlled. Or more importantly outbreaks can be controlled.

1. The Ebola virus spreads

a. from person to person.
b. through air.
c. through infected bodily fluids.
2. Two factors play an important part in containing the disease:
a. quick detection of the virus and persons in contact with the infected person
b. hygiene and vaccine
c. medical care and research
3. Community plays an important role because
a. a series of medical services have to be carried out.
b. a series of experiments have to be carried out.
c. a series of screening processes have to be verified.
4. Mostly stories about the Ebola virus are
a. typical.
b. fictional.
c. factual.
5. Typical symptoms are
a. bleeding and rash.
b. bleeding and clotting.
c. rash and infection.

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6. Dr Abraham states that the Ebola outbreak can be

a. controlled.
b. eradicated.
c. documented.
7. The Ebola vaccine is
a. nowhere near ready.
b. is a failure.
c. is almost ready.
8. The 2014 Ebola outbreak occurred in
a. United States.
b. Spain.
c. West Africa.
9. Reporting of even a hint of Ebola virus will help in
a. early cure of the disease.
b. prevention of the virus.
c. tracing the Ebola-infected.
10. The interview gives information on
a. how to control Ebola virus.
b. how to cure Ebola virus.
c. the history of Ebola virus.

Answers
Task 1
1. a 2. c 3.a 4. b 5.b 6. b
Task 2
1. c 2. b 3. a 4. b 5. b 6. a 7. a 8. b 9. a 10. a
Task 3
1. c 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. a 6. a 7. c 8. c 9. c 10. a

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