The passage looks to be a part of literary piece and it is written in past tense

Testing Techniques

Listening can also be tested objectively. Therefore, the techniques should not demand on writing. Multiple Choice Questions are objective by nature but they may not be appropriate for testing listening skills. They require candidates to retain a lot of information in mind and thus involve cognitive skills. They take a relatively more reading time too. As an alternative binary choice items seem better but they do not reflect a real life situation. The following techniques are suggested:

1. 
   Short Answer Technique
   

The students listen to the text and write answers to the given questions. It is important that the questions demand on minimal writing, minimal retention of information, and less reading time. The marks should not be deducted for any grammar or spelling errors.

2. 
   Transfer of Information
   

These tasks require candidates to listen to the text for completion of information on a chart, table, form, grid, diagram etc. For example, they may label a diagram, picture or a map in one activity through the information in the listening text. They are objective in that they enable the tester to maintain reliability in the test paper. These activities are authentic, leading the candidates to do something that they perform in real life situations.

3. 
   Note taking
   

Ability to listen and take down notes is a complex skill. The passage selected should contain redundancy so that the candidate can move on at a pace which allows him to take down important or specific information in the text. The tester may provide clues for taking down notes. The length of the clues may be made longer to help candidates of intermediate classes. After taking down notes, the candidates can respond to the test items.

4. 
   Partial Dictation
   

The candidates complete gaps in the written version provided to the while they listen to the text. This is an integrated skill, where both listening and writing are tested. The reliability is relatively low, since this includes testing of grammar and spelling.

4.