JOHN's BOARD
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Listening Comprehension Questions:
1. How did the bubonic plague end?
2. What do scientists think these days about the bubonic plague?
3. How many people died because of the plague?
4. What do survivors of the plague carry in their genes?
5. How many people carried the gene during the plague?
[Lesson Credits: Listening Building MP3 TOEFL, Track 24]
01 Biology
W: Morning, class. Today, let’s talk about the bubonic plague. Lots of people believe that the bubonic plague, a horrible disease outbreak in 14th century Europe, ended when cities found ways to get rid of the plague-carrying rats. But this may only be part of the story. Scientists now think that a special mutation may be the one responsible for, uh, ending one of the world’s worst disease outbreaks.
First, let me give you a little background history on the plague. The bubonic plague struck Europe between the years 1347 and 1352. It was spread by fleas found on rats, which carried the plague bacteria. Known as the Black Death, the bubonic plague killed over 1/3 of the European population. This was about 25 million people. Then, suddenly, the plague outbreak basically ended. Why did the plague end? And more importantly, how were certain Europeans able to survive such a deadly disease? Many of the survivors had seen their whole families wiped out by the plague, but they didn’t even get sick. Was this simply good luck? Scientists today say no. New studies have revealed that a gene mutation, known as delta 32, may have been the true reason for why people lived and died.
You may be asking how modern scientists can possibly know that some 14th century Europeans possessed this special mutation. Well, after looking at records from the Middle Ages, scientists have been able to find descendents of plague survivors. They found that lots of these descendents-I mean, lots of them, at least 14 percent-carry delta 32 in their genes. Scientists believe this mutation was passed on from their distant ancestors, including those that had survived the plague. They now estimate that 1 in 20,000 Europeans carried this gene during the time of the plague. The mutation is believed to have kept the plague from entering the victims’ cells, allowing their immune systems to effectively destroy it. As the plague killed off more people without the mutation, those with delta 32 became more common. Eventually, it is believed, the plague had fewer and fewer people it could infect. Hence, the terrible plague outbreak finally ended.
1. How did the first people come to America?
2. What connected the two continents of Asia and North America?
3. What did scientists learn about South America?
4. Do scientists believe a large migration of people crossed over the Bering Strait 12,500 years ago?
5. What theory is discussed in the reading about a boat?
[Lesson Credits: Listening Building MP3 TOEFL, Track 25]
02 History
W1: Today I want to talk about how the first people came to America. Since the 1930s, it has been believed that the first people to come into the Americas came across the Bering Strait, the small area between Russia and Alaska, about 12,500 years ago. It was during the Ice Age. At that time, there was a small land bridge connecting the two continents. Later, after the
ice melted and the oceans rose, this land bridge was covered with water. Yet despite the popularity of this theory, there are some problems with it. We’ll discuss these problems today and then go over some alternative theories of how people could’ve entered the Americas. Yes, Dana, did you have a question?
W2: Well, no. I just wanted to comment that I had heard of a theory where Asians actually came to America by boat. I’m not sure if that’s true or not.
M: I’ve heard of that too. It’s thought that they sailed to South America.
W1: You’re both correct. Let me backtrack a little. See, uh, people began to suspect that the Bering Strait theory wasn’t entirely accurate when sites were discovered in North and South America. These sites predated the time when the migration across the Bering Strait was said to occur-which, as I said, was about 12,500 years ago. So that’s one piece of evidence. Then scientists found something even more surprising. They found that some of the sites in South America were earlier than the sites in North America. Scientists estimate that at one particular site, in Monte Verde, Chile, humans may have been there as early as 33,000 years ago. You know what this means?
W2: That the first people came to South America, not to North America.
W1: Exactly. Now, if the first people had come across the Bering Strait, then the earliest settlements should’ve been in North America.
M: So does that mean the Bering Strait theory is wrong? W1: Actually, it doesn’t. See, there is still lots of evidence that suggests that a large migration of people crossed over the Bering Strait 12,500 years ago. What this alternative theory shows is that the earliest people in America probably weren’t those that crossed the
Bering Strait.
Interview Questions
11. One of your students suggested another answer instead of the answer the school suggested after mid-term exam. The school suggested the answer of the mid-term based on the text while the student did based on other materials. What would you do in this situation?
12. One of your students, Myung-su, has usually not been adjusting well to school lives but he has recently improved his academic skills a lot with the help of your effort through aftershcool program or the like. Consequently, he is quite confident and motivated in doing school work. However, during test period, he asked you to give him one more extra minute to change his answer sheet. If you consider allocating more time to Myung-su even against the school regulation, provide the three pedagogical implications to do so.
13. One of your students will be representing the school for a major competition (say swimming competition). The contest of the competition happens to fall on the same day a major exam will be held. Your school department doesn't allow you to make up classes/test because of a matter of plagirism. What do you think is the best thing to do as a teacher?
