Listening comprehension

10 Form

Variant 4

Read the selection once, then let the pupils read the 10 true/false questions, then read the selection a second time and then give the pupils the ten multiple variant questions. Remember, this is a listening test. Do not give the pupils the text to read to themselves - they must get all the information from listening!

The technology of the North American colonies did not differ strikingly from that of Europe, but in one respect, the colonists enjoyed a great advantage. Especially by comparison with Britain, Americans had a wonderfully plentiful supply of wood.

The first colonists did not, as many people imagine, find an entire continent covered by a climax forest. Even along the Atlantic seaboard, the forest was broken at many points. Nevertheless, there was an abundant supply of fine trees of all types, and through the early colonial period, those who pushed westward encountered new forests. By the end of the colonial era, the price of wood had risen slightly in eastern cities, but wood was still readily available.

The availability of wood brought advantages that have seldom been appreciated. Wood was a foundation of the economy. Houses and all manner of buildings were made of wood to a degree unknown in Britain. Secondly, wood was used as a fuel for heating and cooking. Thirdly, it was used as the source of important industrial compounds, such as potash, an industrial alkali; charcoal, a component of gunpowder; and tannic acid, used for tanning leather.

The supply of wood conferred advantages, but had some negative aspects as well. Iron at that time was produced by heating iron ore with charcoal. Because Britain was so stripped of trees, she was un¬able to exploit her rich iron mines. But the American colonies had both iron ore and wood; iron pro¬duction was encouraged and became successful. Britain had to abandon the charcoal method and went on to develop coke smelting. The colonies did not follow suit because they had plenty of wood and, besides, charcoal iron was stronger than coke iron. Coke smelting led to technological innovations and was linked to the emergence of the Industrial Revolution. The former colonies lagged behind Britain in industrial development because their supply of wood led them to cling to charcoal iron.

Task 1. For each of the questions 1-10 decide which of the statements are true or false on the basis of what is stated or implied in what you have heard and put a "+" if a statement is true and a if a statement is false next to the corresponding number.

1. The passage mainly describes the first British colonies in North America.

2. The technological development in Britain was higher than in the North American colonies.

3. The first colonists found the entire continent covered by forest.

4. The price of wood went up in the eastern cities.

5. Wood was a foundation of the British economy.

6. Potash was a component of gunpowder.

7. The abundant supply of wood had some negative aspects.

8. Britain had both wood and iron ore.

9. Coke iron was better than charcoal iron.

10. Technological innovations in Britain were caused by the demand for iron ore.

Task 2. For each of the questions 11-20 decide which of the answers (a, b, c or d) best complete the statements on the basis of what is stated or implied in what you have heard and mark the corresponding letter.

11. One can make a conclusion that the colonists enjoyed a great:

A holiday;

B benefit;

C disadvantage;

D fame.

12. Through the early colonial period the supply of wood was:

A scarce;

B profuse;

C bounty;

D interlude.

13. In the end of the colonial era wood was still:

A on hand;

B on make;

C onsite;

D on demand.

14. The availability of wood brought advantages that have seldom been:

A valued;

B considered;

C apprehended;

D regarded.

15. The word “manner” in line 10 is most likely to mean:

A mode;

B method;

C approach;

D style.

16. Houses in the colonies were made of wood to a degree ... in Britain.

A unspecified;

B useless;

C unheard of;

D mysterious.

17. To produce gunpowder you need:

A alkali;

B acid;

C coal;

D potash.

18. The supply of wood had some negative aspects such as:

A stagnation;

B water pollution;

C iron ore deficit;

D redundancy.

19. Britain had to abandon the charcoal method and went on to develop:

A smoke smelting;

B snow melting;

C cow smelling;

D coke smelting.

20. The industrial development in Britain was caused by:

A conquest of firewood;

B altered form of wood;

C shortage of timber;

D abundance of lumber.