Preparation Manual

Domain I—Interpretive Listening

Competency 001—Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of formal and informal oral messages in the target language from across the target-language-speaking world.

1. Listen carefully to the following dialogue; then answer the questions. You will hear the dialogue twice.

(PAUSE 20 seconds)

(one male speaker and one female speaker)

[Simplified]

建平：这几个星期真是太忙了。我想这个周末去哪儿走走。

肖宁：你想去哪儿？

建平：杭州怎么样？好几年没去了？上次还是你妹妹来的时候去的。三年了吧？

肖宁：去杭州啊？不是图个清静吗？去杭州也不要周末去？又赶上是长周末。杭州可能比上海南京路的人还多。上次在苏堤上，差点儿没把我挤死。再说，杭州也太远了点儿。来回路上就得四个多小时。找个清静点儿的地方吧。

建平：那么去苏州。

肖宁：苏州名气也还是太大了。去个名气小点儿的地方。我看嘉兴的西塘不错。再说你也没去过。

建平：西塘有什么好玩儿的？

肖宁：西塘是座有千年历史文化的古镇。西塘古镇临河的街道有近千米的廊棚，就像颐和园的长廊一样。在西塘旅游，雨天不淋雨，晴天不晒太阳。而且西塘猪蹄膀非常好吃，可以尝尝。安镜桥下的鲜肉小混沌和阿婆豆腐花，又好吃又便宜。

建平：听著好像还不错。

肖宁：主要是图个清静，出去休闲。我觉得去嘉兴的西塘古镇走走就挺好。

[Traditional]

建平：這幾個星期真是太忙了。我想這個週末去哪兒走走。

肖寧：你想去哪兒？

建平：杭州怎麼樣？好幾年沒去了？上次還是你妹妹來的時候去的。三年了吧？

肖寧：去杭州啊？不是圖個清靜嗎？去杭州也不要周末去？又趕上是長周末。杭州可能比上海南京路的人還多。上次在蘇堤上，差點兒沒把我擠死。再說，杭州也太遠了點兒。來迴路上就得四個多小時。找個清靜點兒的地方吧。

建平：那麼去蘇州。

肖寧：蘇州名氣也還是太大了。去個名氣小點兒的地方。我看嘉興的西塘不錯。再說你也沒去過。

建平：西塘有什麼好玩兒的？

肖寧：西塘是座有千年曆史文化的古鎮。西塘古鎮臨河的街道有近千米的廊棚，就像頤和園的長廊一樣。在西塘旅遊，雨天不淋雨，晴天不曬太陽。而且西塘豬蹄膀非常好吃，可以嚐嚐。安鏡橋下的鮮肉小混沌和阿婆豆腐花，又好吃又便宜。

建平：聽著好像還不錯。

肖寧：主要是圖個清靜，出去休閒。我覺得去嘉興的西塘古鎮走走就挺好。

You will now hear the dialogue again.

(Repeat dialogue)

Now answer the two questions.

According to the dialogue, Xitang is the best choice to visit due to its:

1. active nightlife.
2. many tourist attractions.
3. good weather and food.
4. proximity to big cities.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct. This question requires the examinee to identify the main idea of an oral message. In this dialogue, the two individuals are discussing where to go for the weekend. The main focus of the discussion is on why the city of Xitang is a good location to visit due to its nice weather, good food, and interesting history.

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Competency 002—Demonstrate inferential and analytical comprehension of a variety of formal and informal oral messages in the target language from across the target-language-speaking world.

2. Listen carefully to the following dialogue; then answer the questions. You will hear the dialogue twice.

(PAUSE 20 seconds)

(one male speaker and one female speaker)

[Simplified]

建平：这几个星期真是太忙了。我想这个周末去哪儿走走。

肖宁：你想去哪儿？

建平：杭州怎么样？好几年没去了？上次还是你妹妹来的时候去的。三年了吧？

肖宁：去杭州啊？不是图个清静吗？去杭州也不要周末去？又赶上是长周末。杭州可能比上海南京路的人还多。上次在苏堤上，差点儿没把我挤死。再说，杭州也太远了点儿。来回路上就得四个多小时。找个清静点儿的地方吧。

建平：那么去苏州。

肖宁：苏州名气也还是太大了。去个名气小点儿的地方。我看嘉兴的西塘不错。再说你也没去过。

建平：西塘有什么好玩儿的？

肖宁：西塘是座有千年历史文化的古镇。西塘古镇临河的街道有近千米的廊棚，就像颐和园的长廊一样。在西塘旅游，雨天不淋雨，晴天不晒太阳。而且西塘猪蹄膀非常好吃，可以尝尝。安镜桥下的鲜肉小混沌和阿婆豆腐花，又好吃又便宜。

建平：听著好像还不错。

肖宁：主要是图个清静，出去休闲。我觉得去嘉兴的西塘古镇走走就挺好。

[Traditional]

建平：這幾個星期真是太忙了。我想這個週末去哪兒走走。

肖寧：你想去哪兒？

建平：杭州怎麼樣？好幾年沒去了？上次還是你妹妹來的時候去的。三年了吧？

肖寧：去杭州啊？不是圖個清靜嗎？去杭州也不要周末去？又趕上是長周末。杭州可能比上海南京路的人還多。上次在蘇堤上，差點兒沒把我擠死。再說，杭州也太遠了點兒。來迴路上就得四個多小時。找個清靜點兒的地方吧。

建平：那麼去蘇州。

肖寧：蘇州名氣也還是太大了。去個名氣小點兒的地方。我看嘉興的西塘不錯。再說你也沒去過。

建平：西塘有什麼好玩兒的？

肖寧：西塘是座有千年曆史文化的古鎮。西塘古鎮臨河的街道有近千米的廊棚，就像頤和園的長廊一樣。在西塘旅遊，雨天不淋雨，晴天不曬太陽。而且西塘豬蹄膀非常好吃，可以嚐嚐。安鏡橋下的鮮肉小混沌和阿婆豆腐花，又好吃又便宜。

建平：聽著好像還不錯。

肖寧：主要是圖個清靜，出去休閒。我覺得去嘉興的西塘古鎮走走就挺好。

You will now hear the dialogue again.

(Repeat dialogue)

Now answer the two questions.

The speakers most likely have which of the following relationships?

1. teacher and student
2. husband and wife
3. tour guide and tourist
4. hotel owner and customer

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct. This question requires the examinee to infer the relationship between speakers in a conversation. This dialogue takes place between two people who clearly have a history of traveling together. Of the options given, the most likely relationship between the speakers is that of husband and wife.

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Domain II—Interpretive Reading

Competency 003—Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of authentic materials written in the target language from across the target-language-speaking world.

3. Read the passage presented below in either Simplified characters or Traditional characters; then answer the two questions that follow.

[Simplified]

近日获悉，华裔导演李安凭借电影获得奥斯卡最佳导演奖。

李安生于1954年生于台湾。读中学时，李安不喜欢读书，心里只想着当导演。两次高考落榜之后，李安考进了艺术专科学校读戏剧，从此确定了一生的方向。后来，李安进入伊利诺大学戏剧系，并于1980年毕业。1981年，他进入纽约大学电影研究所，并以第一名的成绩取得硕士学位。

此后，李安得不到拍片的机会，在家带小孩六年，直到1991年，在台湾的中央电影公司找他拍摄《推手》，方才一举成名。

李安的贡献在于他充分接受西方电影技巧，以隐约的批判观点來表达个人对自由的追求，同时又重新与传统华人文化展开了对话。李安的电影具有浓厚的现代感和生活感，与华人社会因经济巨变所带來的社会发展非常吻合。此外，他对西方文化也有细腻的体验。更可贵的是，赞赏李安的并非少数影评家，而是一般大众。

[Traditional]

近日獲悉，華裔導演李安憑藉電影獲得奧斯卡最佳導演獎。

李安生於1954年生於臺灣。讀中學時，李安不喜歡讀書，心裡只想著當導演。兩次高考落榜之後，李安考進了藝術專科學校讀戲劇，從此確定了一生的方向。後來，李安進入伊利諾大學戲劇系，並於1980年畢業。1981年，他進入紐約大學電影研究所，並以第一名的成績取得碩士學位。

此後，李安得不到拍片的機會，在家帶小孩六年，直到1991年，在臺灣的中央電影公司找他拍攝《推手》，方才一舉成名。

李安的貢獻在於他充分接受西方電影技巧，以隱約的批判觀點來表達個人對自由的追求，同時又重新與傳統華人文化展開了對話。李安的電影具有濃厚的現代感和生活感，與華人社會因經濟巨變所帶來的社會發展非常吻合。此外，他對西方文化也有細膩的體驗。更可貴的是，讚賞李安的並非少數影評家，而是一般大眾。

According to the passage, Ang Lee had which of the following setbacks in his career?

1. His lack of academic ambition during high school kept him from further study.
2. His first films received negative reviews by movie critics.
3. He initially focused too much on traditional Chinese culture.
4. It took him several years to get his first opportunity to direct a film.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct. This question requires the examinee to identify supporting details in a passage. The author of this passage describes how Ang Lee had a six-year gap between graduating from New York University and making his first film.

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Competency 004—Demonstrate inferential and analytical comprehension of a variety of authentic materials written in the target language from across the target-language-speaking world.

4. Read the passage presented below in either Simplified characters or Traditional characters; then answer the two questions that follow.

[Simplified]

近日获悉，华裔导演李安凭借电影获得奥斯卡最佳导演奖。

李安生于1954年生于台湾。读中学时，李安不喜欢读书，心里只想着当导演。两次高考落榜之后，李安考进了艺术专科学校读戏剧，从此确定了一生的方向。后来，李安进入伊利诺大学戏剧系，并于1980年毕业。1981年，他进入纽约大学电影研究所，并以第一名的成绩取得硕士学位。

此后，李安得不到拍片的机会，在家带小孩六年，直到1991年，在台湾的中央电影公司找他拍摄《推手》，方才一举成名。

李安的贡献在于他充分接受西方电影技巧，以隐约的批判观点來表达个人对自由的追求，同时又重新与传统华人文化展开了对话。李安的电影具有浓厚的现代感和生活感，与华人社会因经济巨变所带來的社会发展非常吻合。此外，他对西方文化也有细腻的体验。更可贵的是，赞赏李安的并非少数影评家，而是一般大众。

[Traditional]

近日獲悉，華裔導演李安憑藉電影獲得奧斯卡最佳導演獎。

李安生於1954年生於臺灣。讀中學時，李安不喜歡讀書，心裡只想著當導演。兩次高考落榜之後，李安考進了藝術專科學校讀戲劇，從此確定了一生的方向。後來，李安進入伊利諾大學戲劇系，並於1980年畢業。1981年，他進入紐約大學電影研究所，並以第一名的成績取得碩士學位。

此後，李安得不到拍片的機會，在家帶小孩六年，直到1991年，在臺灣的中央電影公司找他拍攝《推手》，方才一舉成名。

李安的貢獻在於他充分接受西方電影技巧，以隱約的批判觀點來表達個人對自由的追求，同時又重新與傳統華人文化展開了對話。李安的電影具有濃厚的現代感和生活感，與華人社會因經濟巨變所帶來的社會發展非常吻合。此外，他對西方文化也有細膩的體驗。更可貴的是，讚賞李安的並非少數影評家，而是一般大眾。

The author of this passage would most likely agree with the statement that Ang Lee's success is due to his:

1. ability to make films with broad appeal.
2. focus on one genre of films.
3. humor and wit that are evident in his films.
4. novel and unusual filmmaking techniques.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct. This question requires the examinee to analyze an author's assumptions, intent, perspective, or point of view. The author of this passage describes how Lee's movies address contemporary life and are popular among both audiences and critics. It is clear that the author feels that Lee's success comes primarily from the fact that his movies appeal to such a broad range of viewers.

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Domain III—Language Structures

Competency 005—Understand the language structures of the target language.

5. When writing an address in English, the house number and street name appear before the city, state, and country. In Chinese, which of the following elements traditionally appears first?

1. district
2. city
3. province
4. country

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the sociolinguistics of Chinese. The custom in Chinese for ordering information in something like an address or date is to progress from largest scale to smallest scale. Thus, in the case of a mailing address, the country is the first element given.

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Competency 006—Apply knowledge of the language structures of the target language.

6. Which of the following measure words correctly completes the phrase below?

一________ blank 袜子 / 一________ blank 襪子

1. 节 / 節
2. 双 / 雙
3. >杯
4. 条 / 條

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct. This question requires the examinee to analyze sentences in Chinese to determine grammatically correct words to complete them. The only appropriate measure word to use in a phrase involving the noun 袜子 / 襪子 is the measure word 双 / 雙. This is equivalent to the use of the word pair in the English phrase a pair of socks.

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Domain IV—Cultural Understanding

Competency 007—Understand the geography and major developments in the history of the target-language-speaking world and their cultural impact.

7. Which of the following occupations was most highly valued in traditional Confucian China?

1. merchant
2. scholar
3. farmer
4. artisan

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural trends and developments that have shaped and continue to shape the history and perspectives of the Chinese-speaking world. In ancient China, there were four occupations that were ranked in a hierarchy according to social status. Of the four occupations, the gentry/scholars were the most highly ranked in the hierarchy.

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Competency 008—Understand the practices, products, and perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures and how they relate to one another.

8. Which of the following animals symbolizes long life in Chinese culture?

1. tiger
2. horse
3. goldfish
4. crane

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of characteristic practices of daily life and customs in Chinese-speaking cultures and ways in which such practices reflect the perspectives of Chinese-speaking cultures. In Chinese culture, many objects, foods, and animals are considered symbols of more abstract concepts, such as luck, long life, fortune, or health. The crane is considered to be a symbol of long life due to the long life span of the bird itself. It is often seen in works of art and is incorporated into the myths and legends of Chinese culture.

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