Listening audioscript

 
1. WHAT DOES THE PROFESSOR IMPLY ABOUT THE NEXT UNIT? 
2. WHAT DOES THE PROFESSOR IMPLY ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF ALIENS? 
’ 
LISTENING EXERCISE 6 
PASSAGE ONE 
 
Page 203
[ mp3 075-076]
Questions 1 and 2.
Listen to a conversation between an advisor and a student. 
(Professor)
Alright, so you’re thinking of psychology as your major, right? 
(Student)
Yeah, that’s what I already decided in high school. 
(Professor)
So, before we get into exactly which classes you may want to take this 
semester, let’s talk about placement tests. 
(Student)
What are those? 
(Professor)
They’re the tests that you can take before you start college to see which 
classes you should start with...um, to see if you need to review math or 
English Composition before you get into the classes required for your 
major.
(Student)
Oh, I see. So before I take a psychology class I have to know basic 
math. 
(Professor)
Yes, there’s that, but some people are also going to have to take a lot 
more math classes, for example…um, like an engineering major. They 
need to see what level of math they can start at. 
(Student)
OK. But I took math in high school. Doesn’t that count? 
(Professor)
Well, since you’ve been out of high school for a few months, the 
department needs to see how much you remember. Plus not every high 
school program is, um… adequate preparation for college.
(Student)
Hmm 
(thinking)…so, how long are these tests? 
(Professor)
An hour and a half. 
(Student)
Really? Is that the math and the English test, or is that just the math 
test? 
(Professor)
Each of the placement tests is an hour and a half. 

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(Student)
Wow…they’re kind of long. Do I really have to take them? 
(Professor)
I…well, uh…you don’t have to take the math test, but it’s to your 
advantage to take it. 
(Student)
Why? 
(Professor)
If you don’t take the math placement exam, you have to take the math 
review course before you register for any science courses. It’s a 
semester long. 
(Student) 
Oh. But if I pass the placement test I don’t have to take the review 
course? I can start my psychology courses right away? 
(Professor)
Yes, 
exactly. 
(Student)
So, what about the English placement test? If I pass that, can I skip the 
English courses? 
(Professor)
I’m afraid not. Everyone has to take English Composition their first year. 
And the other difference is that the English test isn’t optional. You have 
to take it before you register for any classes. 
(Student)
Oh. Then I should probably do that soon. 
(Professor)
Yes, you should. Since it’s getting close to the beginning of the semester, 
a lot of people are trying to take them and it can be difficult to get in. 
(Student)
Do I have to make an appointment? 
(Professor)
No, you just need to go down to the testing lab and they’ll try to get you 
access to one of the computers. But if there are dozens of people 
there… 
(Student)
Right, I get the picture. So, do I get my score right away? 
(Professor)
For the math, you do. For the English test you have to wait a week so 
they can check your writing and clear you for registration. 
(Student)
Ah. I see why you want me to take them soon. 
(Professor)
That’s part of it. The English test has a wait time for results, and it’s more 
to verify that you have basic skills, so you shouldn’t need to study for it. 
But before you take the math test you really should do the review 
problem sets online. You don’t want to fail it, and you’d be surprised how 
much math you can forget, even in a short time. 
(Student)
I doubt I’ve forgotten that much, but it couldn’t hurt to have a look at the 
review sets. I’ll do that before I come down next week. It’d be nice to take 
the English test today, but I already have something I need to do. I’ll just 
have to pick a day when I have a full three hours free. 
(Professor)
More. Just in case you have to wait. You should also consider taking the 
Spanish placement test. A year of foreign language is required to 
graduate, but you can get out of some or all of it by taking the placement 
test. 
(Student)
I knew that I would have to take a foreign language class, and it will 
probably be Spanish again, like in high school, but I’m not planning on 
doing it now.
(Professor)
If you take it soon, before you get too rusty…uh, it’s more likely you’ll do 
well enough to…place out of a semester or two. 
(Student)
Actually, my high school Spanish was all grammar exercises and I hardly 
remember a thing now anyway. I’ll just start all over when it comes time. 
(Professor)
OK. So now that that’s settled, let’s talk about what courses you want to 
take.