ðə fˈɜːst kwˈɛstʃən ɪz bˈeɪst ˌɔn ɐn ɛksˈɜːpt fɹʌm ɐ wˈɜːk ɔnðə ɹᵻkwˈaɪɚd ɹˈiːdɪŋ lˈɪst, ænd stˈuːdənts mˈʌst nˈeɪm ðɪ ˈɔːθɚ, aɪdˈɛntᵻfˌaɪ ðə tˈaɪm pˈiəɹɪəd, ænd, mˈoʊst ɪmpˈoːɹtəntli, ᵻlˈæbɚɹˌeɪt ɔnðə θˈiːm pɹɪzˈɛntᵻd ɪnðə pˈæsɪdʒ fˈɪftiːn mˈɪnɪts.
The first question is based on an excerpt from a work on the required reading list, and students must name the author, identify the time period, and, most importantly, elaborate on the theme presented in the passage (15 minutes).