[img]2014m3s/ct_etoefm_etoefspeaka_0264_20138[/img] [originaltext]Some people pr

Some people prefer traveling with others, like their friends or family members. Others like traveling on their own. How would you choose to travel and why? Include details and examples in your explanation.
You may begin to prepare your response after the beep. Please begin your response after the beep.
Please Listen Carefully.
Examinations are a key factor in school education, yet with regard to its function there have been many arguments. Read the news about a survey of students’ views on examinations. You will have 45 seconds to read the news.
Begin reading now.
Now listen to two students as they discuss the news.
Amanda Well, Johnson, do you feel the stress of examinations? I am really doubting the positive effects of them. Can examinations tell a person’s true ability and aptitude when they are working under pressure? I just doubt the function of exams and I wish examinations would be done away with.
Johnson No, Amanda, I don’t think so. Through the preparation for an exam, we students can comprehend better the knowledge we have acquired in class. And the result of an exam can tell us what we need to spend more time studying, and thus motivate us to work harder. Anyhow, the examination is an effective means of deciding whether a student masters a subject or not.
Amanda That’s not true. As the examination score is the only measurement of a student’s academic performance, a student is driven to memorize mechanically rather than think creatively. So examinations do not motivate us, but only induce cramming during the exam week.
Johnson But at least, the examination can help a teacher to know what his students have mastered or failed to understand. The teacher can find out what points he has missed in his lectures, and then he can work to improve his teaching.
Amanda Quite the contrary. Since teachers themselves are often judged by examination results, which have a great impact on their pay raise and promotion, they are reduced to training their students in exam techniques, instead of teaching their subjects.
Johnson I still think examinations are quite necessary, maybe just in need of reform.