General Listening Quiz

How do people go about selecting a college major or future career? Are there job fairs in high schools in your area to help students learn about different careers? Is it a common practice for children to ask parents for guidance in choosing a college major?

1. 1. Choosing a major at 18 is too early for most students.
   2. Students should follow their passion when choosing a major, even if it doesn’t lead to a high-paying job.
   3. Some majors are a waste of time and money.
   4. Switching majors is a normal part of college life.
   5. Every major should require some basic courses in math, writing, and communication.
   6. Majors in science and technology are more valuable than those in the arts.
   7. Employers care more about skills than the specific major you studied.
   8. Students should choose a major based on job market demand.
   9. Double majors are always worth the extra work.
   10. Your major determines your career path.

“whip through” = finish a job or study very quickly
“He whipped through the driving test without any problems.”

“have hard knocks” = have problems or trouble
“My sister had a few hard knocks during her first semester of college, but things settled down, and she did well the rest of the year.”

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:

• so: often used when changing the topic of the conversation
  – So, what do you want to do after you graduate?
• bat around (idiom): consider different choices, including the positive and negative points of each option
  – My daughter batted around a few ideas on where to travel over the holidays until she settled on Hawaii.
• you can say that again (idiom): used when completely agreeing with someone
  – So, you think the teacher is too difficult? You can say that again.
• help out (phrasal verb): help someone who is in need, especially when they have problems
  – Because my parents are old, I try to help them out whenever I can.
• see the light at the end of the tunnel (idiom): something that gives you hope for the future after a period of difficult problems or challenges
  – College life was difficult, but by my last semester, I felt more relaxed because I could see the light at the end of the tunnel: graduation was just around the corner.
• line up (phrasal verb): arrange
  – I need to line up an appointment with my school advisor by the end of the week.
• realistic (adjective): actually possible
  – My younger brother isn’t very realistic; he thinks he can get a great-paying job right out of high school without any training.
• bad-mouth (idiom): criticize
  – He always bad-mouths people behind their backs. If you have anything to say about people, it’s best to say it to their faces.
• sermon (noun): a talk with moral advice about life
  – The minister gave an interesting sermon at church this past week about serving others in need.

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

• Mixed-Up Sentence  | Multiple-Choice Questions |  Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

What are the most important factors in choosing a college major for you? Rank the following ideas in order of preference and discuss your opinions with a partner:

• job prestige
• earning potential of future job
• opportunities for advancement in the field
• availability of work
• personal interest

Do an internet search to identify the top five college majors in your country or city based on any of the following criteria: employment outlook, earning potential, and working conditions/environment.