Listening audioscript

1. WHY IS THE STUDENT TALKING WITH THE PROFESSOR? 
2. LISTEN AGAIN TO PART OF THE PASSAGE. THEN ANSWER THE 
 QUESTION. 
 (Professor)
Well, look. If you had some personal favorite in mind, someone you know 
and love, then I’d say definitely go for it. In your case, though, a 
composer from class would mean you’d have some basic knowledge. 
You wouldn’t be starting from scratch…but ultimately it’s up to you. 
WHAT DOES THE PROFESSOR MEAN WHEN HE SAYS THIS? 
 (Professor)
In your case, though, a composer from class would mean you’d have 
some basic knowledge. You wouldn’t be starting from scratch…but ultimately it’s up to 
you. 
3. WHICH OF THESE MUST THE STUDENTS DO TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT? 
4. WHY DOES THE PROFESSOR BRING UP THE MUSIC OF SCHUBERT? 
5. HOW DOES THE PROFESSOR SEEM TO FEEL ABOUT THE STUDENT’S 
ABILITY TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT? 
Page 212
[ mp3 089-090]
 
Questions 6 through 11.
Listen to a discussion in a geography class. 
(Professor)

Today we’re going to be reviewing some information about the Great 
Lakes, and we’re going to see that traditional beliefs about the Great 

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LPREP IBT 3 E AudioScript 
67
Lakes do not reflect scientific reality.  First of all, can you identify the 
Great Lakes on this map? OK…Hannah? 
(Student 1)
Well, Lake Superior is the largest and um…northernmost of the Great 
Lakes. The two smaller lakes to the southeast of the others are Lake Erie 
and um…Lake Ontario. And then the two lakes in the middle are Lake 
Michigan and Lake Huron. Five in all. 
(Professor)
All right. Now I’m going to ask a question that sounds like an easy 
question but really isn’t. This deceptively easy question is, which of the 
Great Lakes is the largest?
(Student 2)
Oh, it seems like an easy question because, on the map, you can clearly 
see that Lake Superior is the largest, and if you went to any almanac of 
world information, it would list Lake Superior as the world’s largest 
freshwater lake. But I know Lake Superior really isn’t the answer you 
want. 
(Professor)
Right, it is not the answer I’m looking for. Can anyone tell me why? 
(Student 2)
Yes, I think so. I believe I read that scientists who’ve studied the 
uh…interactions of the lakes have found that Lake Michigan and Lake 
Huron actually interact as one lake. 
(Professor)
That’s exactly right…. So, in reality, which of the Great Lakes is the 
largest? 
(Student 2)
In reality, Lakes Michigan and Huron together are one lake. You could 
say that Lake Michigan-Huron is the largest of the Great Lakes and the 
world’s largest freshwater lake. 
(Professor)
OK. Now, let’s go over the arguments for considering Lake Huron and 
Lake Michigan one lake rather than two. Does anyone want to begin? 
(Student 3)
I will. OK, we know Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are at the same 
elevation, and they are connected by the Mackinac Strait, which is also 
at the same elevation. If they were two distinct lakes, they might be 
divided by a stream or a river. However, the Mackinac Strait is not a 
stream or a river. It’s a body of water nearly 100 meters deep and 5 to 8 
kilometers wide—wider than most lakes. 
(Professor)
That’s right. So what does this mean? 
(Student 3)
Well, since the Mackinac Strait is not a river that separates the two lakes, 
it could be argued that there is one giant lake…um…Michigan-
Huron…and this one giant lake narrows at the spot known as Mackinac 
Strait. 
(Professor)
Not bad at all. I couldn’t have done better. Now let’s see if some of the 
rest of you can match that. What about the flow of water between Lake 
Michigan and Lake Huron? 
(Student 1)
Oh, I know! The flow of water between the two lakes can reverse. 
Whenever there’s an imbalance in the water levels in the two lakes, the 
water levels can equalize rapidly, in either direction. 
(Professor)
Very good. And what does this mean? 
(Student 1)
Well, it means that if the water level becomes higher in Lake Huron, 
water will flow from Lake Huron into Lake Michigan, and if the water level 
becomes higher in Lake Michigan, water will flow from Lake Michigan 
into Lake Huron. 
(Professor)
So the flow of water between the two lakes can move in either direction, 
from Lake Huron into Lake Michigan or from Lake Michigan into Lake 

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LPREP IBT 3 E AudioScript 
68
Huron, and the water levels in Huron and Michigan will always equalize. 
Now, what conclusion can be drawn from this information?
(Student 3)
Uh…this means that the two lakes, Michigan and Huron, are, in reality, 
acting like one lake instead of two. 
(Professor)
Exactly. You all seem to have a good understanding of this material. I’ll 
see you at the next session.