SECTION A
In this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening to the lecture, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them to-complete a gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE after the mini-lecture. Use the blank paper for note-taking.
Now listen to the mini-lecture.
Ben Buchanan and A, Magic Book
The Texas teen is devouring the 672 pages of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince written by J. K.
Rowling. When Buchanan got the first Harry Potter book in 1998, he was struggling with difficulty in reading.
But when his mom read the first chapter aloud to him, he was determined to conquer his first "real" book.
I. The success of Rowling’s books:
1) over (1)______ of Rowling’s books printed in U.S..(1) ______
2) kids’reading and (2)______ each title fervently. (2) ______
However, whether all of this hype of countdowns and midnight trips to book-
stores translates into a lifelong reading habit remains unclear.
II. Our society now needed a reading renaissance:
1) A study shows: adult (3)______ have dropped 10 percentage points. (3) ______
A. the loss of readers possiblly (4)______ to the booming world of technology;(4) ______
B. (5)______ offer experience that can’t be gained from these other sources. (5) ______
2) Thr facts reflect: fewer kids are reading for (6)______. (6) ______
A. This (7)______ retreat from books not taken a toll on reading ability. (7) ______
B. this indicates a poor future in reading ability development—the
very reason why many educators are hoping the Harry Potter
series can work some (8)______. (8) ______
III. The Harry Potter series has "broken the rules":
1) the book was as exciting as a video game;
2) 59 percent of U.K. kids think the books have (9)______ their reading skills; (9) ______
3) (10)______. say the books are the reason they read more. (10) ______
Part of the allure of The Harry Potter is the thrilling story, with well-developed characters and an avalanche of magical moments.
