Wednesday, April 24, 2013

IGCSE Listening , Paper3 and Paper4




¢Introduction to listening papers
¢Both papers consists of three parts and involve listening to six short texts and four long passages.
¢Paper 3 (Core)- lasts approximately 30 minutes
¢Paper 4 (Extended) – lasts approximately 45  minutres
¢General Advice
¢You write your answers in a question paper booklet
¢You must answer in pen.
¢You can write down anything you like, at any time during the exam.
¢There are blank pages at the back of the question paper, and you should use these for rough work.
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¢Any rough notes you make should be crossed through with one diagonal line at the end of the exam.
¢Spelling mistakes are not penalised, unless the mistake produces a word with a different meaning which is not appropriate.
¢Make sure you read the introduction to each question, as this often provides clues as to what will happen in the exercise.
¢•Anticipate (predict) who’s going to speak; where they are; what they’re going to talk about.
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Remember, part of the skill of listening is to be able to predict what might be said next ( ‘pre-listening’)
You hear everything twice – concentrate all the time and make notes or underline words to help you.
Be careful with numbers – if you write a number in your answer, you should describe it – is it kilos, $, metres, tonnes?
Notice any question that needs two answers to get one mark or two marks, and make sure you separate the answers clearly.
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¢In Exercises 7 and 8, use your knowledge of grammar to help you work out what kind of word could fit in the gaps (could it be a noun, verb, adverb?)
For longer answers, make sure you have communicated the idea clearly. If you don’t know a word, try to write exactly what you hear.
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¢If a question is concerned with the cost of an item, the answer is expected to be given in the original currency. A numerical amount alone is not enough.
• You should spend some time practicing listening to numbers, particularly numbers which sound alike – e.g. fourteen and forty.
• It’s probably more important on the Listening Papers to make sure you supply the exact number of answers required. Each question will state clearly how many points are needed – e.g. Give three items which … - you should check to make sure that you have given the right number. Examiners often say that many students fail to get this right.
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¢Bear in mind that for many questions on the Paper, you will need to produce more than one point/answer to get a single mark. If you give only one point where two are required (for one mark), the Examiner will not be able to give you the mark.
¢Watch out for plurals. Millions, is not the same as million.
• Remember, you will hear everything twice. There is a chance, therefore, to try and work some answers out. You are allowed to make some notes, and you can use the blank areas on the exam paper to do this.
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¢By all means, have a guess as a last resort, but be aware that Examiners are looking to see that you really do know the words you are writing down. This means that you can make spelling mistakes, but you will only usually get the mark if your word is close to the correct word, and if it does not form another recognized English word. For example, if you answer ‘chance’ when the correct answer is ‘chants’, you will not get the mark. However, if you really do know the word ‘chant’, but you spell it incorrectly as ‘chante’, you will get the mark.
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¢For answers which require longer (sentence-length) responses, try to make sure that you have communicated the point/idea clearly. You can use some of your own words to do this, but remember, the Listening Exam is a test mainly of your ability to write down what you have heard. In other words, all the details (evidence) you need will have been given by the speakers on the tape. An example of using your own words to convey an answer would be, “Peter said that he liked to go swimming …”, in response to a question which asked what Peter did after school almost every day.

VOCABULARY FOR DESCRIPTIVE WRITING


VOCABULARY FOR DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

HOUSE - VOCABULARY

Unless you live in a block of flats or a bungalow (one-storey house with or without an attic), British houses normally have two or three floors or stories. On the ground floor you're likely to find the living room, kitchen and dining room, while on the first floor you'll probably find bedrooms and a bathroom.
On the second or top floor is the attic, or loft. On the roof of many houses you can still see a chimney and chimney pot – even if the house now benefits from central heating.The floors of a house are connected by stairs, with a landing (area) on the upper floor which leads to the upstairs rooms.
Most British houses are made of brick and cement. In a row of terrace houses (houses joined together), the interconnecting walls are cavity walls: they have a space between them to allow air to circulate. On the interiors, the walls are covered in plaster, and then either painted or decorated with wallpaper. The internal walls of a house fall into two categories: load-bearing walls (those that are structural and support the weight of the floors) and partition walls (those walls that divide rooms, but can be knocked down.) Floors and roofs are supported by strong>beams, which are long, heavy pieces of wood or metal.
Floors can be covered in a variety of materials, such as parquet (wooden squares), laminate flooring (a type of thin wooden plank), or tiles (either ceramic or vinyl). In living rooms and bedrooms, the floors are generally covered with carpets.
Houses are normally connected to local utilities, such as mains water, electricity and gas supply. In the countryside, not everyone is connected to mains gas, and some houses have gas tanks in their gardens. The vast majority of people are connected to the local sewage system (for waste water), but some people have their own septic tanks in their gardens to treat waste water. Houses that are connected to utilities have separate meters to show how much they consume. Representatives of these utility companies visit houses regularly to take meter readings – with which they can then bill their customers.
Some electrical jobs (such as wiring or rewiring = installing the electrical cables) should only be done by professional electricians, although you can still change a plug, or change a socket (the hole in the wall where you put the plug in to connect to the electricity supply). For safety reasons, the wiring in the house is on more than one circuit: lighting usually is on one circuit, and the sockets are on another circuit.
Some plumbing (water piping) jobs should also be done by professional plumbers. For example, although you can change taps, you should get a professional to install a gas boiler.
Some building work can be done without supervision. Many people enjoy doing DIY, such as putting up shelves, fitting cupboards and doors, assembling furniture and so on. However, for the big jobs, such as loft conversions and building extensions, you need to first apply for and obtain planning and building permission (from the local authorities) then employ a firm of builders.
In Britain, damp winter weather causes many problems to houses. For example, some houses can suffer from damp (humidity) or dry rot, caused by water seeping into walls and timber (wood). For this reason, houses have gutters (tubes attached just under the roof that run along the length of the house to catch rain water) and some may need regular damp proof treatment (special chemicals to prevent damp from spreading). Window sills (the piece of the wall – internal or external – in which the window is set) and window frames (the wood that goes around the window) should be made waterproof (so that water cannot get in), and most people have central heating via radiators to keep the air inside warm and dry. Special thermostats set on the wall help to regulate the temperature in the room. In addition, most people have insulation in the loft to keep warm air in, and cold air out
VOCABULARY FOR TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY

your family tree

Your closest relatives are your parents: your mother and father; and your siblings (brothers or sisters). If your mother or father is not an only child, you also have aunts and / or uncles. An aunt is the sister of your mother or father, while an uncle is the brother of your mother or father. Your female child is called your daughter, and your male child is your son.
If your aunts or uncles have children, they are your first cousins. Your female cousin is your mother (or father's) niece, while a male cousin is the nephew of your mother and father.
In-laws
When you marry, your husband (or wife's) family becomes your in-laws. The mother of your spouse (husband or wife) is your mother-in-law and his or her father becomes your father-in-law. The term in-law is also used to describe your relationship with the spouses of your siblings. So the husband of your sister becomes your brother-in-law, while the sister of your husband becomes your sister-in-law. If you are a woman, you become the daughter-in-law of your husband's parents, and if you are a man, you become the son-in-law of your wife's parents.
Grandparents / grandchildren
The parents of your parents are your grandparentsgrandmother and grandfather. You are their grandchildren – either a granddaughter or a grandson. If your grandparent has a sister, she is your great-aunt. If your grandparent has a brother, he is your great-uncle. (And you are either his or her great-niece or great-nephew.)
The mother of your grandmother or grandfather is your great-grandmother. The father is your great-grandfather.
Second families
If your mother or father remarries, you can acquire a new family and set of relatives. For example, if your father marries a second wife, she becomes your step-mother. Any children she already has become your step-sisters or step-brothers.
If your mother or father remarries and has children, they become your half-brothers or half-sisters.

Types of family

nuclear family = mother, father and children: "The traditional British family unit is a nuclear family."
single-parent / one-parent family = a family which only has one parent (because the parents are divorced, or because one of the parents has died): "There are more and more single-parent families in the UK."
immediate family = your closest relatives: "Only immediate family members attended the funeral."
extended family = your entire family: "The wedding invitations were sent to the entire extended family."
close-knit family = a family where the members have close relationships with each other: "They are a close-knit family."
dysfunctional family = a family where the members have serious problems with each other: "He comes from a rather dysfunctional family."
blood relative = a relative connected to you by "blood" rather than through marriage: "She's not a blood relative, but we're still very close."

 

Expressions with family

family gathering = a meeting / celebration of family members: "There's a small family gathering next week."
family resemblance = where members of the family look / act similar: "You can see a distinct family resemblance between the father and the son."
to start a family = to start having children: "They want to wait a couple of years before starting a family."
to run in the family = a characteristic that is common among family members: "Baldness runs in his family."
to bring up / raise a family = to have and look after children: "It's difficult to raise a family on one income."
a family car = a car big enough to transport a family: "The Volvo Estate is a popular family car."
family-size = large quantity item: "We need to buy family-size packets of biscuits!"
family-friendly = a policy that favours families: "This hotel is family-friendly."
family doctor = a doctor who looks after general medical needs: "There are a number of good family doctors in this area."
family man = a man who prefers to spend his time with his family: "John is a family man."
family values = traditional ideas about what a family should be: "Some political parties often emphasise family values and the importance of marriage."
family name = surname: "What's your family name?"

 

Describing family relationships

Children often quarrel with each other, and these arguments – or squabbles – are often quickly resolved. In fact, sibling rivalry (the competition between brothers and sisters) is quite common.
More seriously, if arguments continue into adulthood, family feuds can develop where both sides can end up hating each other and even trying to hurt or destroy each other.
A person who no longer speaks to a family member is estranged from his / her family. Often estrangement is voluntary. However, if parents decide they no longer want anything to do with their children, they cut them off (= break off communiation), or even disinherit them. (Decide not to leave them anything when they die.)
Most people feel loyalty to their family, and will defend family members saying "He / She's family". There's also a saying "Blood's thicker than water" which means that your family ties are stronger than any other relationships.
VOCABULARY - PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Age
My grandfather is quite old. In fact, as he has a pension, he is an old age pensioner, or a senior citizen.
His daughter, my aunt, is 55, and middle-aged. She has three sons. One is a young adult, at 24 years of age, and the other two are both teenagers. They are 16 and 17. My sister also has two children – one toddler who is a two-year old, and a baby who is 6 months old.
Build
People are built in all shapes and sizes. There are those who are fat and overweight. Some people are extremely overweight and are obese. Other people are naturally slim, but others look /have absolutely no fat on them and are thin, or skinny.
Personally, I am stockysmall, but well-built. My father is tall and lean – with very little fat. My sister is short, but wiry – she is quite thin, but muscular. Both my brothers are athletic and well-proportioned. My mother looks like a 1940's film star. She is curvaceous, with an hour-glass figure.
My grandfather is fit for his age and takes plenty of exercise. He doesn't want all his muscles to get flabby.
Colouring
My sister is an English rose – she has fair hair and fair skin. She doesn't tan easily and has to be careful in the sun. My mother is blonde, also with a fair complexion. I am a red-head – with red hair. Like many other people with a pale complexion, I get freckles from the sun – small brown dots on my face and arms. In contrast, my father has dark-brown hair and he is quite dark-skinned. You are born with a colour – white or Caucasian, black or Asian. People whose parents are of different ethnic origin are mixed-race. Southern Europeans are sometimes described as Mediterranean.
Face
Some people have oval faces – their foreheads are much wider than their chins. Other people have heart-shaped, square or round faces.
Features also vary. My grandfather has bushy eyebrows (he has lots of hair!), a hooked nose and high cheekbones. His eyes are large and set quite far apart. My mother has a broad nose, which she hates, as she prefers narrow noses. But she is lucky to have even or regular teeth. My sister corrected her crooked teeth by wearing a brace which straightened them. She has rosy cheeks, small ears and a snub nose, which goes up at the end.
I have long, curly hair, though my sister is the opposite, with short, straight hair. Her hair is fine and doesn't weigh very much, but mine is thick and heavy. My mother's hair is wavy – in between straight and curly. It's cut in a bob and she also has a short fringe, where it is cut horizontally across her forehead. My father is losing his hair – in fact he is going bald, which makes him very sad. My brother looks like he is going to lose his hair too – it is receding.

WAYS TO DESCRIBE FRIENDSHIP IN ENGLISH

BFF (best friends forever) used onle in informal situations like chatting/sms

best mate = your best friend.
a good friend = someone in your "inner circle" of friends.
to be really close to someone = be good friends with
pal = friend (UK slang)
buddy (best buddy) = friend (mainly US English)
to go back years = to know someone for a long time: "Steve and I go back years."
an old friend = a friend you've known for a long time: "He's an old friend of Dave's."
a friend of the family / a family friend = someone close to your family: "John was an old family friend."
a trusted friend = someone you can trust
a childhood friend = a friend from when you were very young
a circle of friends = all the friends in your group: "She's got a great circle of friends."
be just good friends = when you want to say you're only friends with someone of the opposite sex: "We're not going out. We're just good friends, that's all."

More casual friendships

penpal / epal = someone you know from corresponding / writing: "Find a penpal on our Penpals forum!"
someone you know from work (or another interest group): "Andy? Oh, he's someone I know from work."
someone you know to pass the time of day with = someone you know to say "hello" to.
casual acquaintance = someone you don't know very well: "She's just a casual acquaintance of mine."
a friend of a friend = someone you only know because they're a friend of one of your friends. "Dave's a friend of a friend."
a mutual friend = someone that two people know: "Karen's a mutual friend of both me and Rachel."

MATES

classmate = someone in your class at school.
workmate = someone you work with
flatmate (UK English) roommate (US English) = someone you share a flat or house with
soul mate = someone you're very close to because you share the same opinions and beliefs

Not good friends

on-off relationship = where you're sometimes friendly, and sometimes not: "Cath and Liz have an on-off relationship."
fair-weather friend = a friend who's never around when you need help: "She's only a fair-weather friend."
a frenemy = someone who's a friend and an enemy at the same time.

Other expressions

strike up a friendship with = make friends with someone
be no friend of = not like someone / something: "I'm no friend of his!"
have friends in high places = know important / influential people: "Be careful what you say. He's got friends in high places."