CBSE Assessment of Speaking and Listening (ASL)
Class IX Code IX-L-01

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Time: 40 min                                                                                                                   Max Marks: 20

Audio scripts and Answer key

Task 1 4 marks

You will hear some tips on how to learn more effectively. Read the notes given in your worksheet, then listen to the tips and complete the notes with one or two words only You will hear the recording twice.

Tips to learn more effectively

It’s exam time again and we have some simple tips to help you learn more effectively. Start by studying one topic at a time. Read, repeat aloud and write down the main points. This definitely sharpens your memory. Another method is to use graphic organisers or mind maps to understand complex concepts in a simple and effective way. With these tools you can quickly edit and add information as you go along.

One student who is good in a topic instructing another student promotes active learning. Hence, experts say peer instruction is yet another useful strategy.

Finally, getting the right amount of sleep, exercise and healthy food improves brain power and
fights memory loss.

Follow these tips and achieve your goals! Good luck!

Task 2 5 marks

You will hear two friends having a conversation about the benefits of the neem tree. Read the statements given in your worksheet, then listen to the conversation and choose five of the options A-H which are correct. Write the letters in the blank boxes. You will hear the recording twice. Which FIVE of the following statements are true?

Girl: Hey! What’s happened, Rakesh? Why are you on the floor?
Boy: I was running and I don’t know how…but I suddenly slipped and…

Girl: Oh! You’ve hurt your knee. You’re bleeding. Wait, let me help you.
Boy: Aah… aaah…that feels better. What did you put on my wound, Gauri?
Girl: It’s a paste made from neem leaves…it helps in healing wounds.
Boy: That’s interesting. I’ve heard people use the stem of the neem to clean their teeth and for healthy teeth and gums…This…is so cooling! It isn’t so painful now. Thanks, Gauri!

Girl: You’re welcome! That’s because neem helps in reducing swelling and pain. I believe it also helps in the prevention and cure of many diseases.
Boy: Really? What kind of diseases?
Girl: Hmmm…diseases like diabetes and liver and heart diseases. In fact, the neem leaf helps us stay healthy in many ways.
Boy: That’s remarkable!
Girl: Are you feeling better now? Can you walk to the car?
Boy: Hmmm…Yes, I think I can…but tell me, how do you know so much about it?
Girl: Well…uh…actually, it’s what I gathered from my mother. My mother says she learned all this from my grandmother who advised her about using neem in home remedies.
Boy: Ahhh…!
Girl: I’ve seen my mother place dried neem leaves in drawers and cupboards to keep out moths and cockroaches.
Boy: That’s really interesting! I’m going to try it out.
Girl: It really works!
Boy: Looks like almost every part of the neem has a use!
Girl: (laughs)True. You know, neem leaf pastes are used to even treat skin infections and more serious diseases such as chickenpox.
Boy: (laughs) And to soothe cuts and wounds when you fall down!
Girl: (laughs) You’re right. Neem oil is also great for the hair. I feel it’s made my hair softer
and more manageable.
Boy: (laughs) I haven’t got long hair…but I’m going to suggest this to my sister…she’s
always complaining about her unmanageable hair.
Girl: True! In fact, neem oil is part of many beauty products, including soaps, shampoos, creams and hand and body lotions.
Boy: And what about its wood? Is that useful too?
Girl: Actually, yes. Neem timber is hard and aromatic and resistant to termites.
Boy: Is that true? Don’t pests attack it at all?

Girl: Grandmother would say that wood from old neem trees is so bitter that no insects will attack it!
Boy: Ha! Ha! What an amazing tree! I must get going now. Thanks a lot. Bye, Gauri!
Girl: Bye, Rakesh!

Task 3                                                                                                                                            5 marks

You will hear five short extracts of people talking about dance. Read the statements given in your worksheet, then listen to the extracts and match each statement A-G to each speaker 1-5. You will hear the recordings twice.

Speaker 1: Why waste time at a gym! Dance is the most enjoyable way to get some exercise. Regular dancing is great for maintaining strong bones, improving posture and muscle strength. It also increases balance and co-ordination and beats stress. The best thing about dancing is that while you’re having fun moving to music, you’re getting all the health benefits of exercising.
Speaker 2: I am a classical dancer and I love dance because it helps me express my inner feelings. This has made me very perceptive and developed my sense of awareness. As most Indian classical dances are based on mythology and ancient scriptures, I also get to learn about Indian literature and my cultural heritage. It’s not the oldest form of dance for nothing!
Speaker 3: I’ve become part of this huge circle of contacts through my dance classes. Everybody loves dancing with new people, especially if you are a beginner. No matter where you are, dancers are great people to spend time with. I am still considering which dance style is right for me. Maybe I should just experiment because it’s so refreshing to make new acquaintances!
Speaker 4: I tried a new form of dance recently, called the Zumba. I was really nervous at first; however, everyone in the class was having so much fun I stopped being self conscious. It really makes you laugh a lot! I now go twice a week and I think I’m addicted to it. What’s more, I feel I have gained confidence and a positive attitude.
Speaker 5: I love dancing to elaborate Bollywood numbers which blend various dance forms, including Indian classical dance, folk, jazz influences and hip-hop. The best part is the timing and rhythm. It is so energetic and exciting! I can do it in the privacy of my own home or with my family and friends during festivals and weddings and…I don’t need to learn it!

Task 4                                                                                                                          6 marks

You will listen to a talk about why it is important to have a hobby. Read the questions given in your worksheet, then listen to the extracts and choose ‘a’ or ‘b’ or ‘c’ for each question. You will hear the recording twice.

Dear children, it’s wonderful to be here with you on the occasion of the ‘Craft Week’ celebrations in your school. I am going to talk to you about the importance of hobbies.

A hobby is an activity you choose to do because you enjoy it. It can bring you endless hours of pleasure and relaxation and make you a better person. We all have creative energy in us and this should not be repressed. Research tells us that people who cultivate hobbies are less likely to suffer from anxieties, rage, depression and other negative feelings.

Let’s be more specific. I believe that it’s important to have a hobby for the following reasons:

A hobby is the easiest way to restore your balance whenever you are over-worked or stressed. It can be what they call a stress-buster. Since you are doing an activity of your choice, it will always give you pleasure. A good way to get de-stressed is by playing games such as football.

Secondly, it’s a chance to connect with yourself. Perhaps one of the best ways to get in touch with your inner self is by doing what you like. You may like reading books, painting or even singing. Doing what you like is the key. Besides, you cannot always depend on others to spend your free time and ward off boredom.

Thirdly, it can become an alternative career option. Many people have made a flourishing career out of their hobby. What can be more rewarding than the fact that your career is also the source of relaxation! When you pursue your passion it becomes not only a source of joy but brings money as well. If you love designing, then it is your hobby and, as you grow, it can become your vocation too.

Hobbies can be a source of life-long pleasure. Most people think that the time to pursue their hobby is when they retire. But the fact is that by the time one retires one’s ability to acquire a hobby is reduced. Whereas, those who have cultivated a hobby when they are young would continue to do so well into their old age.

Lastly, I would like to say it also helps you meet people with similar interests. If we love reading, for instance, then there are these Reading Clubs where people meet once a week and share what they read during the week. There is so much of interaction and discussion that happens during these meetings and it is very motivating.

So it’s time to cultivate a hobby if you don’t have one!

Worksheet

CBSE: Assessment of Speaking and Listening Skills (ASL)
Class IX Code IX-L-01
Time: 40 min               Max Marks: 20
LISTENING TEST

Task – 1                     4 mar ks

You will hear some tips on how to learn more effectively. Read the notes below, then listen to the tips and complete the notes with one or two words only. You will hear the recording twice.
Tips to learn more effectively
1. The ‘Look-Say-Write’ method __________ your recall. 

2. Complex __________ are easier to study through graphic organisers or mind maps.
3. _________ __________ helps students learn from each other.
4. A balanced approach increases __________ ____________ and memory.

Task – 2                             5 marks
You will listen to two friends having a conversation about the benefits of the neem tree. Read the statements below, then listen to the conversation and choose five of the options A-H which are correct. Write the letters in the blank boxes. You will hear the recording twice.
Which five of the following statements are true?
A. A mixture of neem leaves eased the boy’s wound.
B Chewing neem stems strengthens the teeth and the gums.
C The girl’s grandmother used neem leaves to keep away cockroaches.
D Oil extracted from neem nourishes the hair.
E The girl did a project on the medicinal uses of neem.
F Neem oil is used in a variety of cosmetics.
G The girl uses neem oil for radiant skin.
H Neem wood is fragrant and hardy.

Task – 3                        5 marks

You will hear five short extracts of people talking about dance. Read the statements below, then listen to the extracts and match each statement A-G to each speaker 1-5. You will hear the recordings twice.

Task – 4                             6 marks

You will hear a talk about why it is important to have a hobby. Read the questions below, then listen to the extract and choose ‘a’ or ‘b’ or ‘c’ for each question. You will hear the recording twice.

1. The speaker says that pursuing a hobby
a. makes us perform well academically.
b. makes us more positive as individuals.
c. makes us more efficient and energetic.

2. Your stress levels drop when you pursue a hobby because
a. you use your talents well.
b. you become a better individual.
c. you do something you enjoy.

3. According to the speaker, you cannot always find pleasure
a. from external sources.
b. by going out a lot.
c. by being alone with yourself.

4. When you make a career out of your hobby,
a. you derive a lot of satisfaction.
b. you make a lot of money.
c. you get both satisfaction and money.

5. If we cultivate a hobby early in life,
a. we can teach it to others as we grow older.
b. we can go on to enjoy it all our lives.
c. we can develop our talent more in our old age.

6. Finally, the speaker says that hobbies give us an opportunity to
a. meet others who are interested in the same activity.
b. meet many people socially and form friendships.
c. share your ideas about the books you read.