CBSE Assessment of Speaking and Listening Skills (ASL)

Class XI Code XI-L-05
Audio scripts and Answer key
Time: 45 min Max Marks: 20

Task 1    5 marks

You will hear five short extracts of people talking about the need for more national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Read the statements given in your worksheet, then
listen to the extracts and match each statement A–G to each speaker 1–5. There are two
statements you do not need.
You will hear the recordings twice.

 
Speaker 1
I have no doubt about this. National parks and wildlife sanctuaries reflect the wealth of a
nation’s biodiversity. And we need to build on them to our advantage. India has a variety of
flora and fauna that can be brilliantly showcased through more of these green spots. It can
lead to twin benefits for the country. We can not only preserve unique life forms but we can
also build tourism around these parks and make money. It’s a win-win situation for all,
isn’t it?
Speaker 2
Haven’t you heard about the web of life? Everything is interlinked and interdependent. All
forms of natural life are integral to the ecosystem. We all know this, don’t we? So if we
neglect even one of them, we can pay a very heavy price for it. The more plants, trees and
wild animals we look after…the more green sanctuaries we set up for their cause, I feel, the
brighter the hope for ourselves and for our children’s children as well.

Speaker 3
We need to be pragmatic and maintain what we have as well as we can and leave the rest to
Nature. Do you know how much it costs to maintain national parks around the country? Have
you ever thought about this at all? Let me tell you, they cost a fortune! If my facts are correct, there are over 90 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries in the country. We don’t need to add any more, we don’t need to reduce them either!

Speaker 4
Here’s a cold hard fact. Biodiversity is never evenly distributed across the world. Some areas are far richer than others. And we need to take care of them better than we do any
other spots. The Himalayan region and the Western Ghats in India are two particularly rich
biodiversity hotspots that need to be closely guarded and nourished at all times. By this, I’m
not suggesting that we ignore less diverse areas. I’m only saying these pristine spots need
focussed and sustained attention all the year through.

Speaker 5
So many of our herbs that heal are disappearing and we’re not even aware of it.
Rhododendrons are a rare, endangered flowering plant that may be wiped out if we don’t read
the danger signals. They grow only in higher altitudes and have aesthetic, sacred, aromatic
and therapeutic values. Deforestation and human interference have affected them badly. We
need more reserve forests and botanical gardens to protect species like these for posterity or
we will have only ourselves to blame if they disappear from the face of the earth.

Task 2      6 marks

You will hear a student interviewing a sports coach about youth sports. Read the
sentences given in your worksheet, then listen to the interview and choose ‘a’ or ‘b’ or ‘c’
for each sentence.
You will hear the recording twice.

 

Student: Hello, Coach Ahluwalia! Thank you for joining us to tell us more about YSP or the
Youth for Sport Programme. Let’s begin straightaway…what is the aim of YSP or Youth for
Sport?

Coach: Hello, Anita! Well, first and foremost, YSP builds a strong and positive temperament
in young boys and girls. We train them in very important life lessons…about following
rules, persevering and overcoming the odds, realising goals…Above all, we train students on
developing team spirit and working together.

Student: Yes, we’ve heard so much about it. But coach, do you think enough is being done to
keep the students healthy and safe from injury?

Coach: Fitness and exercise is the best way to keep the youth healthy…that’s an obvious
benefit, isn’t it? I agree that safety is a big concern at all levels of sports…more so for
growing children who go through a lot of physical changes.
Well, at YSP, we inform the parents of the choices they must make for their children…of the
rigour of the course and the consequences of the training on their bodies… We make sure they
understand the positive and negative effects. We are open and clear to them. They make the
final decisions.

Student: How involved are parents in YSP? Are there any challenges you face?

Coach: That’s a good question. Some parents don’t realise how much they affect their
children by their behaviour. We have had parents at youth games who take things far too
seriously! They throw tantrums, abuse coaches, or worse, scream at their own children for
under-performance. That’s been a big challenge to deal with.
It’s good to be enthusiastic about your child’s performance, but when the enthusiasm becomes
obsessive, it can be damaging. I feel parents must find the right balance…it’s their duty, I
would say!

Student: Which brings me to my next question…What is ethical coaching?

Coach: Yes…this is a very important part of YSP. How a young athlete develops both within
the sport and as a person has a lot to do with the coaching. Young people are very easily
influenced. It is the coach who builds the physical and emotional quotients of each athlete.
Often, a coach drives players very hard in order to motivate or shape talent. However, some
athletes do not respond well to this approach. They cannot take that kind of pressure. So the
coaching must be designed sensitively for each athlete. That is YSP’s basic, ethical obligation.

Student: That’s good to hear. And finally, my last question. What’s your opinion about
winning, coach? Do you think everyone deserves to win?

Coach: A very difficult question for a coach! There’s a big debate today on who should get
awards. Some argue that sports for young people should be about having fun and encouraging
talent. They feel everyone deserves a trophy…because ultimately they all succeed just by
trying. I agree. I think that’s the best way to keep youngsters motivated!

Student: Thank you, Coach Ahluwalia! What a positive note to conclude this interview on!
Task 3    4 marks

You will hear a speech by a professor on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Read the
statements given in your worksheet, then listen to the extract and choose four of the
options A–G which are correct. Write the correct letters in the blank boxes provided.
You will hear the recording twice.

Which FOUR of the following statements does the speaker believe to be true?
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for this honour to deliver a keynote address
on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.

With over three decades of serving the student community, I have been fortunate to interact
with several generations of bright young minds. I will never underestimate their ability to
question, to divert or to provoke! And I will also never misjudge their haste to grow up and
take on the world!
Students today want many things from their parents and teachers, but what they want the
most are elders who are their friends. They don’t want teachers who just ‘teach to the test’ but
mentors who steer them along the right path, who empathise and respect them and who accept
students for who they are.
Connecting students to real life is an important part of education. I would encourage you
to try what I have done. Invite experts in the field into the classroom. Encourage ‘job
shadowing’―an activity in which students can learn about a specific job while observing
the actual workspace. Let them learn in the real world.
Learning through outdoor experiences provides the maximum fun AND the maximum
learning. More importantly, the relaxed surroundings offer you the best opportunity to
observe, understand and connect to students.
As I mentioned, many teachers focus on teaching only with the exams in mind. I am uneasy
about this kind of an approach because rote learning is not the kind of ‘thinking’ that helps
students succeed. Teaching methods must encourage independent thinking that can be applied
in any test or examination and in life. We must not create mechanical entities but lively…
vigorous…dynamic personalities who can face life with confidence.
I deem it a great privilege to belong to this fraternity. I think teaching is endless learning. It’s a journey of endless possibilities for the teacher and the student alike.
In conclusion, let me wish you great joy and greater success in your individual journeys in the
years ahead.
Happy Teachers’ Day to you all!

Task 4     5 marks
Hello, everyone! Thank you for inviting me to speak to you on planning terrace gardens in
apartment complexes.
To give you a little background information, there are two types of terrace gardens. One is
the garden that you find on the terrace or roof of a home. Another is a type of garden built in
a series of raised or terraced beds against sloping land. This would be what you call ‘terrace
agriculture’. But today, I will be focussing on the first variety, which is becoming very popular
in today’s congested urban environments.
High-rise buildings, like this complex, have swallowed up most of the green spots in the
neighbourhood. Gardens feel like a thing of the past, don’t they? I’m really glad the residents
of this complex are working to bring back some greenery to the area and fight the menace of
concrete jungles.
It’s a very good move in the right direction because terrace gardens provide many advantages.
They cool the building…they change micro-climates with an increased production of oxygen
and a reduction of carbon dioxide. They offer a good form of exercise. Above all, they
become happy retreats for people to unwind with Nature.
Depending on what you are looking for, terrace gardens can be ornamental or functional.
You can design a green retreat with a range of potted plants that are easy to maintain. Or you
can plan a herb and vegetable garden to feed the family! Think of the health benefits with
chemical-free, fresh produce all the year round! If you are really keen, you can blend a bit of
both in your terrace garden.
Terrace gardening is not very expensive. The set-up costs are minimum. All you need
is a good waterproof roof, pots or boxes, good soil, water, a variety of seeds and lots of
enthusiasm!
You will hear a speech by an expert on terrace gardens. Read the statements given in
your worksheet, then listen to the extract and complete the sentences using one or two
words only. You will hear the recording twice.

However, there are some conditions where terrace gardening is not possible. If your roof is
weak or leaking, it is unfit for terrace gardening. The other major limitation is if your roof is
surrounded by tall buildings and does not allow enough sunshine on the roof. Then you can’t
grow vegetables. You can, however, grow flowers like anthurium or orchids.
At this point, I must mention one more challenge posed by terrace gardens. A common
complaint is people with terrace gardens use precious drinking water supplies for their
gardens’ needs. We need to remember that thousands of people do not have access to daily
drinking water. So, we need to be responsible and adopt simple methods of rainwater
harvesting or recycling water for gardening purposes. This will be environmentally friendly
and build more value for terrace gardens in the long run.
In conclusion, I would urge you all to take up terrace gardening. Keep yourself positively
engaged. Watch your hobby change into an all-consuming passion! Make your terrace the best
part of your home. Enjoy it. Take pride in it. Let it bring you and your family much peace and
joy.
Happy gardening!

CBSE Assessment of Speaking and Listening Skills (ASL)

Class XI Code XI-L-05
LISTENING TEST
Time: 45 min Max. Marks: 20

Task 1    5 marks

You will hear five short extracts of people talking about the need for more national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Read the statements below, then listen to the extracts and
match each statement A–G to each speaker 1–5. There are two statements you do not
need. You will hear the recordings twice

Statements

A. It is enough if we look after the existing parks and sanctuaries well.
B. We need to do something urgently for our vanishing medicinal plants.
C. New wildlife zones can benefit nature and the economy as well.
D. More sanctuaries in each state of the country are an impossible task.
E. Setting up eco zones are an investment for us and for future generations.
F. Conserving India’s two main biodiverse zones will be the best thing to do.
G. We need more protected greenhouses in as many states as possible.
Task 2    6 marks

You will hear a student interviewing a sports coach about youth sports. Read the
sentences below, then listen to the interview and choose ‘a’ or ‘b’ or ‘c’ for each sentence.
You will hear the recording twice.

 
1. According to the sports coach, YSP promotes
a. a spirit of competition among the youth.
b. the all-round development of young athletes.
c. the cause of sport in rural areas of the country.

2. The training programme at YSP is
a. tough with high impact.
b. flexible and innovative.
c. graded and easy on the athletes.

3. The coach feels parents can be
a. blind to their child’s potential.
b. uninformed of the true benefits of sports.
c. difficult and set the wrong example.

4. An athlete is moulded by the
a. training programme.
b. coach.
c. parents.

5. The coach feels the principles of fair coaching
a. offers the right training programme for each athlete.
b. decides the role and importance of the coach.
c. is a neglected issue that needs urgent attention.

6. The coach is convinced that
a. athletes need more prize money.
b. sports is a lucrative business.
c. all athletes are winners.

Task 3     4 marks

You will hear a speech by a professor on the occasion of Teacher’s Day. Read the
statements below, then listen to the extract and choose four of the options A–G which are
correct. Write the correct letters in the blank boxes.
You will hear the recording twice.

 

 
Which FOUR of the following statements are true?
A The speaker has explored ways to connect students to actual life.
B The speaker wants parents to work together with teachers.
C The speaker supports practices that promote thinking skills in students.
D The speaker has faced unpredictable or impulsive student behaviour.
E The speaker insists good classroom management builds success.
F The speaker believes the teacher must be comrade, counsellor and guide.
G The speaker feels assessment must help students experience success.

Task 4    5 marks

You will hear a speech by an expert on terrace gardens. Read the statements below,
then listen to the extract and complete the sentences using one or two words only. You
will hear the recording twice.

1. With cities becoming _________________ ___________, terrace gardens are the only way ahead.
2. Terrace gardens can alter _________________ of the area they are located in.
3. They can be ______________ or practical, depending on individual preferences.
4. A herb and vegetable terrace garden offers many savings and ______________________, too.

5. One must _______________ sensible water management techniques in terrace gardening.