Task 1

Listen to the story twice and retell the story immediately after you have heard the story.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams had always spent their summer holidays in England in the past, in a small boarding-house at the seaside. One year, however, Mr. Williams made a lot of money in his business, so they decided to go to Rome and stay at a really good hotel while they went around and saw the sights of that famous city.

They flew to Rome, and arrived at their hotel late one evening. They expected that they would have to go to bed hungry, because in the boarding houses they had been used to in the past, no meals were served after seven o’clock in the evening. They were therefore surprised when the clerk who received them in the hall of the hotel asked them whether they would be taking dinner there that night.

“Are you still serving dinner then?” asked Mrs. Williams.

“Yes, certainly, madam,” answered the clerk. “We serve it until half past nine.”

“What are the times of meals then?” asked Mr. Williams.

“Well, sir.” answered the clerk, “we serve breakfast from seven to half past eleven in the morning, lunch from twelve to three in the afternoon, tea from four to five, and dinner from six to half past nine.”

“But that hardly leaves any time for us to see the sight of Rome!” said Mrs. Williams in a disappointed voice.

Task 2

Talking on a Given Topic: You are required to talk about your experience in which you were in an embarrassing situation because of your ignorance. Your preparation time is three minutes and your talk is limited to three minutes.

Task 3

Role-Playing: The task involves two students, Student A and Student B. Each has a specified role as is indicated as follows. Although the situation is the same, your roles are different. Learn about the role you want to play. Your preparation time is three minutes. Your conversation is limited to four minutes.

Student A: In Chinese colleges and universities, students are required to get up and go to bed at a fixed time. You and your partner are discussing the issue. You think there should be rules regulating students’ daily schedule. Your partner does not agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember you should start the conversation.

Student B: In Chinese colleges and universities, students are required to get up and go to bed at a fixed time. You and your partner are discussing the issue. You think there should not be rules like this. Your partner doesn’t agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember your partner should start the conversation.