SECTION BINTERVIEWDirections: In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen c

SECTION B INTERVIEW

Directions: In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.

Now listen to the interview.

听力原文：Cole: Good morning, Jack. Take a seat.

Jack: Good morning, Miss Cole. I came to enquire about a grant. You see, this is my last year at high school. I want to take a course leading to a degree or a similar qualification when I leave school. I'd like to know some information about the grants. Where can I get a grant？ And how much will it be？

Cole: I see. Well, the grant system is complex. Let me think about the easiest way to explain it to you.

Jack: Well, what is the difference between an "award" and a "grant"？ People often talk about these two words.

Cole: Yes. The two words are often used interchangeably, but the regulations make a distinction between them. The award comprises of both a fee element and a maintenance element. The grant, represents only the maintenance element.

Jack: What is the fee element of the award？

Cole: The fee element of the award normally covers all tuition and other related courses for which you are liable, and is paid direct to your college or university by the local education authorities. We call these LEAs.

Jack: I see. And what's the maintenance grant？

Cole: The maintenance grant is paid to you, for your support during a term and short vacations. This part of the award is means-tested. So there is a further distinction between the gross grant and the net grant actually paid by the LEA. This of course is after any contributions from your parents or spouse have been deducted.

Jack: How many grants are there？

Cole: There are two types of grant but we deal mainly with mandatory grants. LEAs in England and Wales are required by law to pay these grants, but only to students who are attending designated courses, who are eligible, and who satisfy the qualifying conditions. If you are not eligible for a mandatory grant, or are not taking a designated course, you may still qualify for a discretionary grant. But each local authority decides its own policy on these and there are no general rules and conditions.

Jack: Well, what's the discretionary grant？

Cole: A discretionary grant is for a non-designated course and is determined by the LEA. These grants are sometimes competitive so your examination results may be taken into account. And you may be expected to study locally if a course similar to the one you want to take is available nearer your home. These restrictions do not apply to mandatory grants.

Jack: What courses would I get a grant for？

Cole: Mandatory grants are available for designated courses. In almost all cases these are full-time or sandwich courses.

Jack: Sorry, what ... what are sandwich courses？

Cole: They are the courses combining full-time study with periods of full-time training and experience in industry or commerce. Certain part-time initial teacher training courses may be designated for grant purposes. Designated courses are those leading to a first degree of a university in the UK or the CNAA, a Diploma of Higher Education, a University Certificate or Diploma, and other qualifications if the course is specifically designated as being comparable to a first degree course.

Jack: Who can get a grant？

Cole: To get a mandatory grant you have to be eligible as well as having been admitted to a designated course. The final decision on whether or not you are eligible rests with the LEA, but you will probably qualify if, A) you have been an ordinary resident in the British Islands for the 3 years preceding the academic year in which the course begins; B) you have not previously attended a course of higher education of more than 2 years with a grant. However, if you have previously attended a course

A．enquiring about a degree

B．getting some information about a grant

C．inquiring about the qualification for a degree

D．discussing the complexity of the grant system