1. What do you miss most about your home when you are away? Use specific details in your explanation.

I miss food most when I am away from my home, particularly the noodles cooked by my father. When I was in high school, my father always cooked noodles for me at night. Every day after evening self-study classes, I came home and had the noodles. The noodles were delicious, coz you know, after long-time study, it’s easy to be tired and hungry. So the first thing I did when I got home at that time was to eat noodles. Sometimes, my father would add beef to the noodles and beef is kind of my favorite meat. The most important ingredient of the noodles is the specially-made sauce. Sadly, I don’t know how exactly my father makes the sauce. But whenever I go back home, I need to have the noodles cooked by my father.

2. Many universities now offer academic courses over the Internet. However, some people still prefer learning in traditional classrooms. Which do you think is better? Explain why.

I think learning in traditional classrooms is better. The reason why I think so is that there are more interactions in traditional classrooms than in online courses. Students can have discussions and they see each other face to face. It’s highly probable that some of them will become friends. While in the online courses, students don’t know each other, they miss a chance of making friends. Also, in a traditional classroom, if a student doesn’t understand a concept or an idea, he or she can raise hand to ask the teacher directly. While in an online course, there is no chance for students to raise hands or to throw out questions immediately. Students in traditional classrooms not only learn the academic knowledge but also learn basic interpersonal interactions.

I prefer to take academic courses on the Internet. Since the courses are offered online, I don’t have to live near campus. All I need is a computer and a well-connected Internet. I can study at home and anywhere convenient. Besides, I don’t have to worry about my housing, nor do I need to drive back and forth. So it saves me money and time. Also, it’s easier to record online courses so I can review the part I don’t understand.  With the recorded courses, I can have a good review before final examination.

3. The computer department is considering a scheduling change. Explain the man's opinion of the change and the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.

The Computer Department proposes to add evening computer classes because daytime computer classes have become overcrowded. But the man in the conversation thinks it’s a bad proposal. The man says that most of the students have already got their own plans in the evenings. They have jobs, family, clubs and social events so they won’t have time to attend the evening classes. The man also says that it’s actually going to cost more to open evening classes than to simply buy more computers, since to open new classes need to hire new teachers. However, computer is not expensive now. Plus, the computer classrooms are big enough to hold more computers. So he thinks buying more computers is a better way to solve the problem. 

4. Explain how the examples from the professor's lecture illustrate the relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication.

The professor uses his two experiences to illustrate the relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication. In his first experience, his uncle visited him. Since he hadn’t seen his uncle for a long time, when he saw his uncle, he said“What a surprise！” and because he was so happy that he jumped like a little boy and had a huge smile on his face. His uncle felt good because of his words and actions. Since the professor’s verbal message agrees with his nonverbal signals, the verbal message is enhanced. In his second experience, when he was showing his daughter how to use a hammer, he smashed his thumb. He said to his daughter “Don’t worry, honey. It’s nothing.” but at the same time he was shaking his hand and his face was contorted. His daughter kept asking him if he was okay. Because the professor’s verbal message doesn’t agree with his nonverbal message, the communication is totally different.

5. The speakers discuss two possible solutions to the man's problem. Briefly summarize the problem. Then state which solution you recommend and explain why.

The man didn’t take his class schedule with him and it’s his first day in the college, so he couldn’t find his classroom. The woman offers two possible solutions. The first solution is that he can go to use the computer in the computer center to check the schedule. But it’ll take sometime to go there and he doesn’t want to be late for his first class. The second solution is that he can just go to big classrooms in the building to check which one is the class he is going to take. But he thinks it’ll be embarrassing if he goes into a classroom and asks if he is in the right room. I would recommend he to go to the computer center, since he didn’t take his class schedule, it’s necessary to check all classes for the whole day. Maybe he’ll be late for his first class, but at least he won’t feel embarrassed for the rest of the day.

6. Using points and examples from the lecture, explain the importance of visual elements in painting.

In the lecture, the professor says in order for art to express meaning or emotion, artists need to combine various visual elements such as color and texture. Different colors can evoke different moods. Red is a strong color so it evokes strong emotions such as extreme joy, excitement and anger, whereas blue is a cool color so it evokes calming effect. As for texture, a rough texture can evoke strong emotions and strength, while a smooth texture is more calming and less emotional. Artists need to combine these elements to express meaning or convey message. For example, if a painting uses strong colors such as red and orange and uses brush strokes to give a rough texture, it will convey a wilder and more chaotic emotion in a viewer than a painting with soft colors and smooth texture.