English listening for Japanese high school students: the Common Test for University Admissions in 2014 DAY 2

Part 4

No.20

Which is true of Bhutanese men’s clothing?

1. It has many pockets to hold personal items.
2. It is long enough to cover the legs entirely.
3. There are some restrictions on designs and colors.
4. Traditional shoes are usually red or yellow.

In Bhutan, an Asian country, men’s fashion is quite unique. The traditional clothing for a man is a knee-length, kimono-like costume. It is tied around his waist with a cloth belt so that a large pocket is made, and in the pocket, he carries personal items like a wallet and a cellphone. Although traditional footwear exists, modern men often wear leather shoes, running shoes, or hiking boots. An interesting point is that there are some rules concerning men’s clothes. For example, men are not allowed to wear flowered patterns and only monks wear red and yellow.

Answer: 3.

No.21

According to the speaker, which items should go into the same bag?

1. Bread + Meat
2. Bread + Shampoo
3. Cans + Mouthwash
4. Meat + Mouthwash

At the supermarket, if you need to pack your groceries in two shopping bags, here is some helpful advice. In one bag, before packing fragile items like bread and eggs, put heavy items, like cans, in the center of the bag and put boxes around them. In the other bag, before packing food items, pack household cleaners and personal cleaning items, like mouthwash and shampoo, in separate small bags, so they don’t leak into the food. Into this second shopping bag, put meat items and frozen foods together, so that the meat can stay fresh until you get home.

Answer: 4.

No.22

What might some new evidence show about the earliest settlers in North America?

1. They crossed a land bridge to Europe.
2. They reached America by way of Asia.
3. They sailed to America from Europe.
4. They traveled to Asia from America.

It has been generally thought that the first people to go to North America came from Asia over a bridge of land across the Bering Sea about 15,000 years ago. Proof of their existence was found in tools discovered in Alaska. However, some new evidence may show that another group of people, who lived in Spain and France, came to North America 20,000 years ago and settled farther south. Researchers have discovered tools in the southeastern United States which are very different from those found in the north. They have suggested that these people traveled to America by boat and lived on the east coast.

Answer: 3.

No.23 to 25

No.23 What is one of the requirements for the Caldecott Medal candidates?

1. They should be approved by parents.
2. They should be written by international writers.
3. They should have original artwork.
4. They should have reasonable prices.

No.24 How many final candidates are there for the Caldecott Medal each year?

1. 1
2. 7
3. 15
4. 76

No.25 What is this passage mainly about?

1. Advice for children’s book illustrators.
2. An award for children’s books.
3. Famous writers of children’s books.
4. Suggestions for children’s book writers.

Because video games, television, and the Internet have become increasingly popular in recent years, children seem to be reading fewer books. Parents want to find a way to interest their children in good books, but how can they do this effectively?

A useful way for parents to choose books for their children is to look for those with the Caldecott Medal displayed on their covers. This prize, which will be 76 years old this year, was first awarded in 1938. In order for books to receive the Caldecott Medal, they have to meet some standards: they must be published in English by writers living in the United States; they must contain artwork that has not appeared before; and the stories should have appropriate themes for children. They should also be written at a level that children can easily understand.

Award winners are chosen by a committee of 15 members. Every year, publishers send the committee hundreds of books to review. Each month, committee members are asked to choose a number of strong candidates, and in the autumn, seven books are officially selected. Only one of these books will win the Caldecott Medal, but some of the other books may receive a different prize called the Caldecott Honor.

No.23 Answer: 3.
No.24 Answer: 2.
No.25 Answer: 2.