Example TEM4 Oral Test #5

Task 1

Retelling a Story: Listen to the story and retell the story immediately after you have heard the passage.

Some boys join the navy when they are quite young, and then given a course of training as sailors. It is a long course, both on land and at sea, and during it the boys study things like mathematics and sciences as well as learning to tie knots, fire guns, and do other practical things.

One of the important things they are taught is, of course, how to swim. In the old days, many sailors were unable to swim, but nowadays it is rare to find one that cannot.

At one school for sailor boys, the swimming instructor was very good. He had never had a boy whom he had failed to teach to swim by the time the course ended. One year, however, there was one particular boy on the training course who seemed quite unable to learn to swim. The instructor tried giving him extra lessons, he tried throwing him into the pool at the deep end, and he tried holding him up with a rope tied to the end of a fishing-rod while he attempted to swim, but he had no success at all, whatever he did. In the end, as the time drew near when the course was due to end, he had to admit defeat.

One day, he called the boy aside after the swimming lesson and said to him, “John, I have tried very hard to teach you to swim, but I have failed for the first time in my life. Now I want to give you a piece of advice. Listen carefully.”

“Yes, sir,” answered the boy.

“Well,” the instructor went on, “ if you are ever in a ship and it sinks, just jump over the side into the sea, go right down to the bottom and run to the shore as fast as you can. That is the only way you will save your life.”

Task 2

Talking on a Given Topic: You are required to talk about an experience you have had in which you tried to learn something but failed at last. 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: Today in China, many college students are doing a part-time job. You and your partner are discussing the issue. You think doing a part-time job can improve their competence and offer them working experience. Your partner does not agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember you should start the conversation.

Student B: Today in China, many college students are doing a part-time job. You and your partner are discussing the issue. You don’t think this is advisable because doing part-time jobs interferes with their regular studies. Your partner does not agree. Try to convince him/her. Remember your partner should start the conversation.

Related posts:

1. Example TEM4 Oral Test #6
2. Example TEM4 Oral Test #3
3. Example TEM4 Oral Test #2
4. Example TEM4 Oral Test #1
5. Example TEM4 Oral Test #4