Listening audioscript

THE STUDENTS ARE DISCUSSING A PROBLEM THE MAN HAS. DESCRIBE HIS 
PROBLEM AND SAY WHICH OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS YOU PREFER. 
MINI-TEST 3 
 
 
LISTENING 
 
Page 406
[ mp3 176-177] 
Questions 1 through 5.
Listen as a student consults with an advisor. 
(Advisor) 
Yes, Sean, what can I do for you? Do you have a question? 
(Student) 
Yes, I do. 
(Advisor) 
Then come on in and take a seat.… OK, what’s your question? 
(Student) 
I’m working on planning my schedule for next quarter, and I’m trying to 
decide which biology class to take. There are two that seem pretty 
similar. 
(Advisor) 
Which two courses are you considering? 

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(Student) 
One is Introduction to Biological Science and the other is Biology 101. I 
thought that a 101-numbered course was a beginning course, so Biology 
101 should be an introductory-level course, but then this other one, 
Introduction to Biological Science, um it also looks like an introductory-
level course. 
(Advisor) 
I guess you could say that Introduction to Biological Science is an 
overview of biology in a more general way, and Biology 101 is a more 
detailed and scientific view of the material. 
(Student) 
Uh, what do you mean exactly? 
(Advisor) 
Well, uh, probably the biggest difference is the fact that there’s work in 
the lab as part of Biology 101, but there’s no lab work in Introduction to 
Biological Science. Introduction to Biological Science is a lecture class, 
while Biology 101 includes both lecture and lab. 
(Student) 
Is the only difference between them that there’s lab work for Biology 
101? 
(Advisor) 
No. The lectures are also different. Introduction to Biological Science 
has much more descriptive lectures. Both of the courses have problem 
sets to complete, but the problems you have to solve for Biology 101 are 
much more in-depth. You have to use more math and it’s integrated 
more with the lab work.
(Student) 
OK, so you mean that in Introduction to Biological Science, the students 
read and talk about science, but in Biology 101, the students actually 
take part in science by doing experiments in the lab. 
(Advisor) 
Oh, uh… I suppose that’s not totally off the mark. 
(Student) 
It seems like Biology 101 is a lot more work than Introduction to 
Biological Science, with the lab work and all. 
(Advisor) 
It certainly is. That’s why Biology 101 is a four-unit course, and 
Introduction to Biological Science is only a three-unit course. . . . Um, 
listen, there’s another really important difference between these two 
courses, and it has to do with your major. What is your major, by the 
way? 
(Student) 
I’m not actually sure, yet. . . . Is that . . . um . . . a problem? 
(Advisor) 
Since you’re in your first year you don’t have to declare a major at all this 
year. Not until the end of next year, but by then it should be kind of a 
declaration of where you’re already going. 
(Student) 
Where I’m going? 
(Advisor) 
I mean, when you declare your major, it’s based on what classes you’ve 
been taking and the plan you have – you’ll start making decisions about 
your plan right away, even though you don’t have to declare for a while. 
(Student) 
Sorry, I’m not following you. 
(Advisor) 
What I mean is that Biology 101 is the first step toward a major in 
Biology, and it’s required for some other science majors. On the other 
hand, Introduction to Biological Science satisfies a general education 
requirement in science for students who’re majoring in subjects outside 
of science. . . . I know you haven’t decided on your major, but have you 
at least decided whether you’ll be majoring in some area within the 
sciences or an area outside of science? 
(Student) 
No, I…uh, I haven’t gotten that far, but I am considering science. 
(Advisor) 
OK, well, what I can suggest to you is that you really should start 
narrowing down your choices for a major area of study. Perhaps if you’re 

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considering a major in science, you should take Biology 101 as a way of 
helping you to decide whether or not you enjoy studying science. 
(Student) 
If I take Biology 101 and then decide not to major in science, it will still 
satisfy the general education requirement in science, won’t it? 
(Advisor) 
Absolutely! Biology 101 will also satisfy the general education 
requirement for non-science majors. So if you decide you don’t want to 
major in science, then you’ll at least have your science requirement out 
of the way. 
(Student) 
OK, that makes sense. It’ll be a good way to help me decide if I like 
science enough to major in it.