Section B
Passage One
Are you fed up with struggling to express your thoughts and opinions? These days, people want to talk and not listen! No one wants to be a shadow in the crowd. Having your thoughts and opinions heard is a priority. The very achievement of being able to express yourself, and more importantly, be listened to is an extremely rewarding feeling. Just how can you express your ideas and opinions clearly and maintain that you are being listened to?
Below are two strategies that will help you to voice your opinions and ideas:
First, you should know what your aim is. Make sure that before attempting to open your mouth and the words begin to flow, you are 100% clear on the ideas that need to be expressed. Knowing where you want to go with the conversation will help to give you that extra confidence boost. When your audience can see that you are confident then they will be more alert and want to listen.
Second, you are supposed to ignore the definition of perfection. Just sit and ask yourself, exactly what is perfect? Is there anyone out there that is 100% perfect? The fact is that we are only human and not one of us is without flaw. A small error is acceptable; there’s no need to be perfect to the point that you begin to struggle voicing your opinion! As long as you know the topic of importance, a simple error can be overlooked.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. Why do people want to talk and not listen these days?
17. How can a speaker boost his confidence during a conversation?
18. How does the speaker view making a mistake when speaking?
Passage Two
What if there was a miracle pill that if you took it each day would give you a 30% less chance of getting heart disease, and a 50% less chance of diabetes, and would help you live longer and healthier into old age. Wouldn’t you insist your children, parents, and loved ones take it, too?
The miracle cure: put on your walking shoes for an hour a day and you will reap all of these health benefits, according to recent health studies published in major medical journals.
Results from the 20-year long Nurse’s Health Study have shown significant decreases in occurrence of breast cancer and Type II diabetes in women who engaged in brisk walking or other vigorous exercise for seven hours a week, and as little as three hours a week for heart disease reduction. In this study, brisk walking was defined as 3-3.9 miles per hour, or 15-20 minutes per mile. This is really just a purposeful walking for most people.
An hour a day, or a total of seven hours a week, is associated with decreased risk for breast cancer and Type II diabetes. As little as a half hour a day, or three hours a week, is associated with decreased risk of heart disease.
Is it too late if you wait until you are 55? Studies have shown decreased risk of death in older men and women who walk regularly, so my reply would be to start now and never stop! Besides, don’t forget to add walking, exercise, and healthier eating to your life.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. What’s the miracle pill discussed in the passage?
20. What does the 20-year long study find?
21. When is the proper time for one to start doing exercises?