新挑战大学英语听力教程 （第三册） 听力原文及练习答案
主 编：梁亚平/卢凌 副主编：李瑞林/徐宏亮 编 写：夏炎青/卢凌/杨玉芳/陈英/徐宏亮/吴永泉
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Unit 1 Childhood (1)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. W: You bought some new toys. How much do they cost? M: Mum, I bought them this morning. They are 15 dollars each and three makes a total of 45 dollars. But today they offered a 20% discount. Q: How much does the boy have to pay for these toys? (C) 2. M: Hi, Jane. Have you finished reading the book? I can only keep it a week. W: Oh, I haven‘t read it through the way I read a fairy tale. Perhaps we can go to the library to renew it. Q: What does the girl mean? (C) 3. M: Our school will celebrate its 40 anniversary next Friday. We can have a day off. W: Great! But I also want to go back to school to see some old schoolmates. Perhaps I can find some interesting stories about our school history. Q: Why does the girl want to go to school? M: Yeah, Mum. But nothing like this. Q: What does the boy mean? M: The sooner the better. Q: What does the man mean? (B) 6. W: Jim, could you remember your childhood? M: Not much. But I clearly remember the infant swimming lessons I took. I remember being thrown in the pool by a nurse. Q: What can the boy remember in his childhood? (D) 7. M: Catherine, it‘s time to go to school. Wake up! You‘re going to be late. W: Did you forget it‘s Saturday? I don‘t need to go to school. I can have more sleep today.
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(C)
4. W: Tom, you have been given so much homework to do this weekend. Hurry up! (A)
5. W: When shall we hand in term paper you assigned last week?
Q: Who is the man most likely to be? an English class?
(B)
8. W: Hi, Johnson. Do you know the maths class this afternoon has been replaced by M: Oh, terrible. I have prepared every subject but that one. Q: Which class hasn‘t the man prepared for? (B) 9. M: I dreamed of my trip to London when I was a child last night. Do you have the most memorable family vacation in your childhood? W: Yeah. I also remember hanging out on the beach with my favorite cousin where we talked about our future. Q: Where did the man go when he was a child in this dialogue? 10. M: Where‘s Carol, Mom? W: She is still in the living room. She is fast asleep. Q: What is true about Carol? (C) (B)
Part B
Task One
Long Conversation
In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: Hi, Amy. Where are you going? W: Hi, Jim. I‘m going to the sports center. I‘ve got a training every afternoon. M: What training are you taking? W: Gym. M: Oh, really? Is it hard? W: Not very hard. I had been in the gym club for many years. M: Someone once told me gym belongs to ―the thinking person‘s sports‖. Do you think so? W: It does require lots of concentration, and if you want to win the matches, tactics are very important. M: So you should be strong and smart. W: Yeah. And speed is also very important. Otherwise, you can‘t keep the pace. And
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you‘ll fall onto the ground. M: Then do you like it? W: I find an hour of gym is as good as an hour of playing basketball. I like it very much. M: Amy, did you take any more classes in the club? W: Yeah, I also joined Yoga classes and keep fit classes. You also can join my club. You can take any class just as soon as you enroll. It really does you good. M: OK, I will. I have to go to the library. See you later, Amy. W: See you. Questions: 1. Why does the woman go out? (B) (A) 2. What training does the woman take? (C) 4. Why does the woman compare gym to playing basketball? 5. How many classes did Amy take in the club? Task Two Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the conversation. Key: (1) sports center (4) basketball (2) hard (3) concentration (5) Yoga classes and keep fit classes (A) (C)
3. Why does gym belong to ―the thinking man‘s sports‖ according to the woman?
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). As my daughter grew, she was always on the high end of the growth chart. We
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hoped she would grow into her weight as her brother did; but by age 14 she was diagnosed as morbidly obese. We knew we had to take action, but she was afraid --afraid of how hard it would be, afraid of making changes in what she ate, afraid that she really couldn't lose weight. I didn't know how to help her, though I knew that I was partially responsible for her dilemma. I've never had a weight problem and have always indulged my kids and myself with whatever we wanted to eat, including homemade sweets, sodas, and fast food. We visited our family doctor and asked for her help. She made a referral to the only child obesity clinic in our state. It took five months to get the first appointment and the clinic is over two hours from our home. We were still worried when the appointment day finally came, and we arrived without a clue what to expect. Thankfully, we left feeling very relieved and hopeful. The doctor was confident that she will lose the weight, and started us off with a few simple rules. Surprisingly, weight loss was not the clinic's first goal for my daughter. Stopping the weight gain is our first three-month goal. She will have to go on a weight loss plan later because after puberty she has nearly reached her adult height. If we had started this process a few years ago, she would be maintaining her weight as she grew. That's why it is so important to seek professional help for your child's weight problem early. Don't put it off as we did. Questions: 1. Which of the following is not included in the things that my daughter are afraid of? (D) 2. What‘s my doctor‘s suggestion when we asked her for help? 3. What‘s the result of this visit? (A) (B) (B) 4. What can be concluded from the whole passage? (A)
5. According to the doctor, which of the following is our first goal? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. T
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Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). To check their understanding, students often wish to ask their teacher questions in class. However, many students would rather not ask in class because they may be concerned about being embarrassed or concerned about slowing the class down. For the benefit of everyone in the class, especially for the benefit of those who ask the questions, students should not hesitate to ask meaningful questions during a lecture or a presentation. Don‘t be overly concerned about embarrassing yourself in the eyes of the teacher. Throughout the teacher‘s career, the teacher has been asked questions in class probably far more embarrassing than yours. Furthermore, don‘t be too sensitive about embarrassing yourself in the eyes of your classmates, especially your friends. In all likelihood, the other students in the class have a question similar to yours, and they may admire you for having the courage to ask in class. Moreover, your question may benefit the students who have not thought of it. An instructor may not answer your question immediately. Don‘t view this as an indication that your question is not important. Your question may be answered by subsequent material presented during that class, or perhaps the instructor is waiting for a more relevant and appropriate class time to respond to your question. In addition, some instructors set aside brief time periods, throughout their lecture, to deal with questions. Keep in mind that the instructor may choose to discuss your question with you after class, perhaps in private. Both the teacher and the students benefit a great deal from students‘ questions during the class. Most teachers welcome and appreciate students‘ questions in class primarily because such questions guide the instructor toward a better presentation and improve lecture delivery. Questions: 1. According to the passage, why do the students often ask questions in class? (C)
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2. Why don‘t many students want to ask questions in class? theirs? (A)
(D)
3. What may be the other students‘ response if you ask teacher a question similar to 4. Why doesn‘t the teacher answer you question immediately? (D) (B)
5. What‘s the author‘s attitude towards asking questions in class? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. ―When asked what they (1) learnt from those early stories, people‘s (2) responses were, ‗I learnt about good and bad‘, or ‗right and wrong‘, or ‗I learnt about how to make the right decisions‘,‖ Dr Roeper said. ―The stories we (3) encounter in childhood are important in establishing our feelings about how our lives should be lived. They (4) influence the way we see the world and how we see ourselves in the world,‖ she said. Dr Roeper‘s research suggests that stories play the same (5) role in people‘s lives across the different generations, but the way that people (6) access those stories has changed. For the elderly (7) participants, who grew up between the wars, children‘s books were scarce and television didn‘t exist, so most of the stories that they remembered from their childhood were from storytelling around the dinner table in large family
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groups. ―It was like living in a soap opera. The family stories from their childhood were the same stories that they recalled 50 to 60 years later, and (8) the values that they learnt from them had a major impact on their lives,‖ Dr Roeper said. Radio was important for baby boomers and many more had access to children‘s books after World War II. (9) By the time they reached their teenage years, they had established a pattern of reading. ―Some of the people, who grew up watching soaps such as Neighbours and Home and Away, (10) talked about those stories in exactly the same way that the older participants talked about stories told around the dinner table. The medium of delivery had changed but the role of the story and the message had remained with them.‖
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Unit 2
Part A Short Conversations
Childhood (2)
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Can I go to the sports center this afternoon? I want to play football with my classmates there. W: OK, if you can finish your homework. I will check before you go out. Q: Can the boy go to play football this afternoon? M: Yeah, and pig can fly. Q: What does the boy mean? (C) 3. W: You don‘t look so happy. Haven‘t you passed the examination? M: No. I broke my toy last night. I like it very much. Q: Why is the boy unhappy? nervous right now. M: Stay calm. Best of luck! I‘ve got my fingers crossed for you. Q: Why does the man say he crossed his fingers for the woman? made mistakes in my pronunciation. W: Don‘t worry. I also wish I had paid more attention to my pronunciation every time I had English class. Q: What does the woman mean? 6. M: Why are you so happy? W: I have been given a baker‘s dozen instead of an even dozen when I bought the cake. Q: Why is the lady so happy? (B) 7. W: Would you prefer a window or an aisle seat, Jack? M: Aisle, please. If there is none left, then a window seat is what I like. But I don‘t
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(D)
2. W: Tom told me his class football team can win yours in this sports meeting.
(B)
4. W: Jim, I have to make a presentation this afternoon in the lecture. But I‘m really
(C)
5. M: I really worried about my pronunciation. My English teacher said I always
(B)
like the middle seats. Q: What is the order of the boy‘s preference? shop? M: Sorry. I can‘t help you. I‘m also a new comer. Q: what does the man mean? (D) 9. W: The story about the blind singer is so moving. M: Yes. And I think everyone feels the same. Q: How did the man think about the story? (B) 10. W: Hi, Jack. We‘ll have table tennis match this weekend. Do you like it? M: Not yet. There is no sport I enjoy more than swimming. Q: Which sports does the man like most? (A) (D) 8. W: Excuse me, It‘s so urgent. Could you tell me how to find the Ginsbon Cosmetic
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). W: Hi, David. M: Hi, Jean. How are you? W: Not bad. What did you get in the examination? M: C. What about you? W: The same as you. I can‘t believe Jason got the top mark. He has never stuck me as particularly smart. M: No, I‘ve always thought he was a bit dim（指人迟钝的). But there you go. I mean you just can‘t tell, can you? W: You‘re right. It goes to show, doesn‘t it? Just because some doesn‘t say much in class doesn‘t mean that they don‘t know what they are doing. M: That‘s true. Our time here seems to have flown by. Don‘t you think? W: Yes, I suppose it has really, although it has dragged a bit this year. I now feel that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, no more homework or exams to do. M: Then are you going on the outing to the Park this weekend? W: Yes, I think it will be really interesting to the park. And of course we can see all
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the famous sights there. Have you put your name down? M: Yes, I‘ve paid up. It will make a change from staying in one place. We should go out and about a bit more. It‘s stupid coming all this way to another country and only seeing the same old things all of the time. W: You‘re right. I admit we‘ll have a really good time. I‘m looking forward to it. Questions: 1. What did Jean get in the examination? 2. What do they think about Jason? 3. Where did they go on Saturday? 4. What does Jean think of the time? (B) (A) (B) (A) (A)
5. What do they expect the coming weekend?
Task Two Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the conversation. Key: (1) top mark (4) tunnel (2) dim (3) flown by (5) homework or exams
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Like most parents, Cooper and her 6-year-old son Chii start every school day bright and early. Unlike parents who send their children off to school each morning to learn reading, writing and arithmetic from a standardized classroom teacher, Chii's school is also his home — and his mother doubles as his teacher. Cooper has turned her elegant Chicago home into a school featuring a room with
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pint-sized comfortable furniture, brightly colored walls and bookcases filled with tantalizing reads. "He does have his structure," says Cooper, who also runs a day care center from home in the afternoons. She educates her son from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. As teacher-mom, she says that she has been able to make observations about Chii that might have gone unnoticed or been misinterpreted by teachers in a traditional classroom. "My son was reading from top to bottom instead of from left to right," says Cooper, who has a degree in biology and was on her way to medical school before she and her husband discovered that she was pregnant. "I've been learning through my research that people who read that way are very creative. It's my job to support him in his creativity. I get to understand and connect with him on a deeper level." Cooper also noticed something else about her son as he grew older — the way he was treated by different races. One day she took Chii along to court to pay a parking ticket when she witnessed a White police officer yell at him. "That was when I realized that I had a Black man," recalls Cooper, who says that the behavior was representative of how some races and authority figures react to Black males. "It's my job to love and nurture him and give him what I can right now." Questions: 1. How old is Chii now? 2. Where does Chii study? (C) (A) (A)
3. How long does Chii study every day? herself? (D) (B)
4. Which of the following is not the reason that Cooper decides to educate her son 5. How does Chii read? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: 1. pint-sized comfortable; brightly colored; filled with tantalizing reads; 2. might have gone unnoticed; been misinterpreted; 3. something else about her son; 4. from top to bottom; 5. love and nurture.
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Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). To be able to successfully and effectively participate in a group discussion, students need to develop the ability to support. For this skill one of the most important things for students to do is to learn when it is and isn‘t appropriate to interrupt and how to do it. Very often students will talk over each other in an effort to get their point across and forget to listen. To practice this, you can get your students to make a list in small groups of when it is and isn‘t appropriate to interrupt other speakers. They should include things like ‗not appropriate during the middle of a point, if the speaker has not said very much previously or when you are feeling angry and liable to say something you‘ll regret‘. It is appropriate when the speaker has been dominating the discussion for too long, what the speaker is saying is completely irrelevant to the topic, or you don‘t understand the point he / she has made. You can then give them a list of phrases which they might use to interrupt politely. The students then write five of these on slips of paper and have a group discussion on a given topic. The aim is to use all of the language on their slips. When they have used a phrase, they put the slip in the middle of the table. The other students in the group judge whether the interruption was appropriate / polite. If not, they take the slip back and try again. Questions: 1. What are most students like according to the passage? discussion? (D) 4. Which of the following condition is not included if you want to interrupt other speakers? (C) (D) (C) 2. Which of the following is (are) very important to the students before participating a 3. When is it not appropriate to interrupt other speakers according to the passages?
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5. What will we do when the phrase on the paper slip is not appropriate to interrupt others? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then answer the following questions. (B)
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. As the child obesity epidemic rears its (1) overweight head across the nation, affecting one in five children, camps can play a (2) vital role in the rescue efforts by being a knowledgeable, safe support system. All sectors of camps can (3) offer assistance to parents and children through nutritional support, (4) educational programs, and leadership that promote good health and (5) physical activity. Research has shown that poor diet and (6) lack of exercise are the leading causes of preventable adult death in the U.S. and are (7) surpassed only by tobacco use. A study in the March New England Journal of Medicine found that as childhood obesity becomes increasingly prevalent, the current generation of children may (8) "live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents" for the first time in United States history. World experts have recognized that obesity "is a complex disease with genetic, metabolic, and behavioral determinants," (USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion), and (9) camps can definitely be a part of the behavioral determinant sector of the solution. As the world is now acknowledging that obesity affects life expectancy, diabetes, high blood pressure, self-esteem, and many other crucial life issues, (10) recognizing the public health problem and epidemic that it is can help correct the path our nation's children are on. Researchers from the University of
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Illinois in Chicago contend that if the current levels of childhood obesity remain "unchecked," obesity-related complications such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease will result in today's children living "two to five years less than they otherwise‖.
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Unit 3
Part-time Job (1)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. W: Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you? M: Yes, I‘m leaving today. I want to check out, please. My name is David Hawkins. My room is No. 1625. Q: Where does this conversation most likely take place? 2. W: You seem very busy these days, don‘t you? M: Yeah, I have three part-time jobs. From Monday to Friday, I work 12 hours daily. Q: How long does the man work every week? 3. M: Hi, can I have a few words with Mr. Edgar? W: Mr. Edgar is only a part-time worker here. And he is not at work until 6 o‘clock pm. Q: What do we learn about Mr. Edgar? certificate for me. W: Why bother him? Though I‘m a new hand here, I also can show you how easy it is to operate this machine. Q: What does the woman mean? (C) 5. M: When will you finish your work, Jane? W: Who knows? My boss often finds something more for me to do at the last minute. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? (B) 6. W: I have worked nights and weekends for years, but now my daughter is starting 1st grade and will be in school for a full day. I want to find a part-time job
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(B)
(C)
(C)
4. M: I‘m still waiting for the manager to come back and make some copies of this
matching the school time. M: You can go to www.volition.com to search the information you want. Some mall stores look for part-time workers during weekday daytime hours. Q: What kind of job does the woman want to find? (C) 7. W: Are you still working in the restaurant as a part-time worker? M: Not since November. I opened my own restaurant after I knew all the matters of running a restaurant. Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation? impossible for me to make it the bar at 4 o‘clock. M: This is the 3rd time this week. Perhaps we should arrange it in your spare time. Q: What will the woman do first after class? 9. M: When shall we begin our work, Kari? W: At 14 o‘clock. And we should hurry because we must finish everything before 17 o‘clock. Q: How long will they work? (B) 10. W: Well, I thought you work for a chemical company. M: Yeah I did for a few months, but now I change it for the accounting wasn‘t what I like best. Q: Why did the man change his job? (D) (C) (A) 8. W: I‘m sorry, sir. Professor Wu asked me to go to his office after class. So it‘s
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear a long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear the question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). W: Good morning, my name is Martin. You've applied for the Laboratory Assistant's position, right? M: Yes, Ms Martin. When I saw it advertised, I thought it would really suit me. W: So, why do you want to be a laboratory assistant? M: Well, I don't like working in a fast food restaurant, and I want to make more money. W: I see. Do you have any experience?
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M: No, but I'm a fast learner. W: Are you good at using computer? M: Computer? Uhm, let me see. I did well in Microsoft Office. I also used Windows XP once. W: That's good. M: May I ask a question? W: Please, go ahead. M: Will I be able to find a job as a computer programmer? W: Umm, err, ahh..... That depends. M: That‘s great. Then what are the hours like? W: We start at 8:30 and finish at 4. M: Well. At my previous work I could see few people throughout the day, so the time really drags especially when we are not very busy. W: Normally we are not so busy here. If you are efficient enough, you can fulfill your work on time. M: OK, I will take it. Can I see you tomorrow? W: Of course. Welcome to our company. Questions: 1. What job does the man want? 2. Where did the man work? (A) (C) (C) (A) (D)
3. Why does the man want a new job? 4. Will the man get the new job?
5. What about the man‘s experience when applying for this position? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One
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You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Good news for entrepreneurs who need help but aren't ready to hire full-time employees: The number of people working part time is going up. From January to July 2004, the ranks of part-time workers grew from 24.3 million to 25.5 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And from June to July 2004, there was an increase in workers who were working part-time because they wanted to, not because they couldn't find full-time work, says BLS economist Marisa DiNatale. "The number of people working part time for economic reasons was actually down for [July 2004]," she says. John Challenger, CEO of Chicago outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, notes that 1.7 million part-timers hold two or more part-time jobs, up from 1.6 million a year ago. Such workers may be harder to convert to full-timers, since they like the diversity of different jobs. That's one benefit of hiring part-timers. "Look at part-timers as an opportunity to conduct an extended interview, later fighting to keep the top performers," he says. Increased preference for part-time work isn't short-term, says Don Schackne, president of consulting firm Personnel Management & Associates in Delaware, Ohio. He believes it's due to the appeal that a reduced schedule has for seniors and baby boomers at or near retirement. Parents who have interrupted careers to care for their kids but still want to work may also explain the boom. Employers should eagerly accept these part-time applicants. A big reason is that employer-paid health insurance and other benefits --- which few part-timers get --add costs equal to more than 50 percent of the average employee's gross earnings. Says Schackne, "A part-time employer can get by with a low-cost factor and still find somebody reliable." Questions: 1. What is very popular these days? (B) (D) 2. Why do so many people work part-time according to BLS? Challenger? (B)
3. How many part-timers hold two or more part-time jobs according to John
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4. Who prefer(s) to work part time?
(D) (A)
5. What are the health insurance and other benefits like? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then answer the following questions. Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Are you looking for part-time work? Here are some time-saving tips that will help you find a part-time job fast: Use Job Search Engines. Search the part-time job sites. These sites focus on part-time and hourly jobs or they have a sophisticated search engine that will enable you to search quickly for part-time jobs in your location. In many cases, you will be able to apply online. Apply Direct Online. Many major employers of part-time workers, like JC Penny, FedEx and Walmart, accept online applications. Visit the website of companies you are interested to see if you can apply online. Be Alert. If you are interested in retail employment, keep your eye out for ―help wanted‖ signs in store windows when you're at the mall or in town. Ask the manager if the store is hiring if you don't see a sign. Check the Ads. Review the Help Wanted ads in your local newspaper and penny-saver regularly. Many small employers advertise in the paper, rather than listing online. Apply In Person. Applying in person is often the best mechanism for finding a part-time job. When you apply, your attire should be neat and tidy, hair and fingernails well groomed and your shoes moderate. Know What to Bring. Bring the information you'll need to fill out an application, including names and addresses of previous employers, dates of employment, references, and a resume if you have one. If you're a teen, bring your working papers. Be prepared for a brief on-the-spot interview. Know when you are available to start
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the job and what hours you can work each week.
Use Your Network. Be aware of the fact that many, if not most, job openings aren't advertised. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Ask them if they can help. Just recently, I have heard about someone getting hired for a position that her dentist told her. Someone else got an internship because he mentioned that at a birthday party. And an acquaintance was also offered a job over the phone by an employer his friend had given his resume to. Networking really does work!
Questions: 1. Which of the following is not included in the three companies accepting online applications? (A) 3. What should we do when applying in person? application? (B) (B) (D) 4. Which of the following is not included in the information you‘ll need to fill out an 5. Why is the network very important to the job hunters? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the chart according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key:
Time-saving tips Description
(D)
2. Who always advertise in the paper instead of listing online according to the passage?
Job Search Engines Apply Direct Online Be Alert Check the Ads Apply In Person
Sophisticated search engine will enable you to search quickly for part-time jobs in your location Visit the website of companies you are interested to see if you can apply online. Keep your eye out for "help wanted‖ signs in store windows when you're at the mall or in town. Review the Help Wanted ads in your local newspaper and penny-saver regularly. Applying in person is often the best mechanism for finding a part-time job.
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Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Walk into any of the more than 800 Starbucks coffee shops and you'll (1) experience a carefully engineered marketing environment. The subdued (2) lighting, muted music, mellow aroma and cheery employees are all (3) meant to make you feel coddled and unrushed as you stop to enjoy a steaming latte or an ice-cold cappuccino. Starbucks Coffee Co. puts a huge premium on customer service, (4) knowing that when you plunk down a couple of bucks for a cup of coffee, the way you're (5) treated may well determine how eager you are to repeat the experience. That people-first philosophy (6) extends to Starbucks' 15,000 employees, 12,000 of whom work part time. They're all referred to as "partners" and indoctrinated into the company philosophy from the get-go. New hires attend 24 hours of training before they're put to work --- and usually end up liking their jobs. Not because they earn great (7) wages or can get their fill of free espressos and a free pound of coffee a week but because any Starbucks partner, whether full or part time, gets premium perks. Among them: paid vacation and sick leave, subsidized health benefits, stock options and a 401(k) plan. (8) Hardly any other U.S. company is as generous with its part-time workers. While many retailers and other firms with large part-time workforces might view the Seattle-based company's efforts as West Coast feel-good philanthropy that's too costly for them, (9) Starbucks has shown that its strategy makes good business sense. The proof of its success is in its annual report in black and white. For the fiscal year ending Oct. 1, 1995, Starbucks had sales of $465 million and earnings of $26 million, or 36 cents a share --- up from sales of $248 million and earnings of $10.2 million the prior year. (10) The company has grown from 17 stores in fiscal 1987 to 842 now, and the numbers keep growing.
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Unit 4
Part-time Job (2)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: I‘d like to drive to my company. I only work two hours there at weekdays. I can‘t miss it. But your sister will use my car this afternoon. W: Who needs a car? We can take the bus if we go a little earlier. Q: What does the lady suggest? (A) 2. M: How about my food? I‘ve been sitting here for twenty minutes. And I had asked the waiter to check several times. W: I‘m sorry, sir. He‘s a new hand here. It must be ready by now. Q: Where does the conversation most likely take place? (C) 3. W: I‘m very tired now, and I want to go back home to have a rest. M: Oh, really? You only work 2 hours every night. How can it be? Q: What is true of the woman? things going there? M: Great, I really enjoyed the trip in London. Q: Why was the man gone for a long time? long time. M: Yeah, I know. Three part-time jobs makes me too busy to phone him. Q: What happened to the woman yesterday? (B) 6. M: How delicious this biscuit is! Where did you buy it? W: Thanks a lot. It‘s my own creation. I learned the skill when I worked in the biscuit shop. Q: Who made this biscuit? (C)
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(B)
4. W: It‘s good to have you back at work again. Ten days is a long time. How are
(B)
5. W: I saw your friend William yesterday in a pub. He said he hadn‘t seen you for a
7. M: Julie, My convenience store was held up last night. You don‘t have to come to work this afternoon. W: Really, I‘m sorry to hear that. Q: What happened the convenience store last night? 8. W: Where do you live? Is it far from our company? M: The distance is about 10 miles. The road is very good and there isn‘t too much traffic in the early morning. Therefore, it doesn‘t seem that far. Q: How does the man feel about driving to his work? 9. M: How much are these jackets? W: They are on sale this weekend. Thirty-five dollars each, or two for sixty dollars. Q: How much does one jacket cost if you buy two? (D) 10. W: Fred, you have two part-time jobs. How did you go to work every day? M: I go to the first job by the street car because the buses are too crowded. Then I take the subway to the second job. Q: Why doesn‘t Fred take the bus? (B) (C) (A)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
M: Hello, Madam. I have received your phone yesterday. You asked me to come for a job interview this afternoon. W: Oh, so you are Mr. Smith. M: Yes, I am Edgar Smith. W: Sit down, please. In fact, I was expecting you. Your application says you have had 3 years‘ experience in office work. M: Yes. W: Which company are you with now? M: I‘m out of work at the time being. W: Then, what about your last job?
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M: I used to work in a Japanese company. But it closed down 2 months ago. W: Well. That‘s good. If you can work for our company, how much will you expect? M: 2,000 dollars a month. W: Well. I can give you 2,000 dollars now. And if you work harder, it will be adjusted according to your achievements. M: Thanks a lot. Then what‘s the work like? W: En… Perhaps you need work a little longer every day. But you will get overtime for any time worked after 5 o‘clock because we are really busy and rarely finish until at least 7 p.m. M: Oh, I got it. Then do I have to work on weekends? W: Well, that‘s optional. But it‘s worth doing because the company will pay double time. It‘s only time and a half for overtime worked during the week. M: That‘s pretty good. Thanks a lot. And could I work from tomorrow. W: No problem. Questions: 1. What‘s the purpose for the man‘s coming? 2. How long experience did the man have? (B) (D) (B) (A) (C)
3. What kind of employer does the company need?
4. What company did the man work for 2 months ago?
5. How much can the man get if he works hard and makes great achievements. Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key： 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. F
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C)
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and D). Christine's husband was seriously injured in accident in 1996, and, two years later, when he was still unable to hold a job, she hit the pavement to look for part-time work. "I had three kids in school and couldn't work full time," she explains. Christine turned down several offers before taking a job as a package sorter at the United Parcel Service (UPS) hub at Philadelphia International Airport. The UPS job was part time, she says, but more important, after six months she became eligible for full family health care coverage at no cost to her. "I would have worked here for free just for the medical insurance," she says. Although Christine's experience --- receiving benefits as a part-time employee --is still the exception rather than the rule, it could become more prevalent. Part-timers' share of the workforce has been growing and is likely to continue growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers putting in fewer than 35 hours per week accounted for 23.9 percent of the workforce in 2001, up from 18.3 percent in 1996. Competition for part-time employees is already fierce among consumer-driven organizations, which depend heavily on such workers. Companies such as Atlanta-based UPS; the Starbucks coffee company, headquartered in Seattle; and the Wegmans Food Markets chain, based in Rochester, N.Y., are among the firms already known for giving their part-time workers generous benefits packages, including health insurance. As the share of part-time workers grows --- and particularly if baby boomers continue to work part-time into their retirement years, as is predicted --- offering benefits to part-timers could become a more widespread tool for attracting and retaining quality workers. Questions: 1. Why did Christine try to find a part-time job? (C) (C) (B) 2. What happened to her after six months‘ working? 3. What can we learn from Christine‘s experience? (A) 5. Which of the following companies has not been mentioned in the passage? (D)
4. According to statistics, how many workers work less than 35 hours a week in 2001?
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Task Two Listen to the passage again and then answer the following questions.
Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Moonlighting or working part-time has long been an option for many full-time workers seeking a little more income. However, what has long been overlooked are the fringe benefits that working part-time provides. Working this way reduces spending and is more than worthwhile for the minimum numbers of hours required. A friend of mine works for a large nationwide video rental store. By working a minimum of four hours per week, he receives five free video rentals per week along with discounts on games and other goods sold by the store. Movie rentals on average cost around $4, so he is able to save $20 per week on rentals. Most importantly, he also receives low-cost health insurance for himself, his wife, and child, which is something he does not have at his full-time job. These are just a couple of the many fringe benefits available to part-time moonlighters. To make the most of a part-time job opportunity, it is essential to ask yourself a very important question: What is most important to you in terms of what adds value to your life or what needs you have? For me, this meant finding a way to eliminate the high premiums of health insurance. Another important and essential requirement for me was to reduce costs associated with buying gifts for others and needed goods for my home and myself. Moonlighting has added a great deal to my life in terms of meeting my needs and reducing my overall expenses. Questions: 1. Why do many full time workers try to find part-time job? (C) (D) (A) 2. How much does my friend save by working part time per week? 3. Which of the following doesn‘t my friend have at full time job?
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4. What is very important before considering a part-time opportunity? 5. What does taking a part-time job mean to the narrator? Task Two (D)
(D)
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. T
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Sooner or later, most teens think about taking a part-time job. Unless you're independently (1) wealthy, or you're too busy with sports or other activities, (2) chances are that you will consider it. But have you thought about just how part-time (3) employment might enhance your future career prospects? "It's very important for high school students to (4) hold part-time jobs," says Steven Rothberg, president of CollegeRecruiter.com, an Internet (5) career site. "Simply put, those who do, accomplish more." He says students who work become better at time management and their grades may actually improve. Work (6) experience can also be a plus in the future when you're (7) applying for college admission or internships, as well as a job in your chosen field. "Your work attitude and behaviors begin with your first job," says Arlene Vernon, a human resource consultant and owner of her own personnel firm in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. "It is your first exposure to the work world, and the place to start shaping your view of employment. As a student, (8) an employee can learn everything from the importance of reporting to work on time to how to work alongside other employees, and more."
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Shalanna Herbert, a New York high school student, notes that (9) her part-time job offers more than just a chance to earn some extra money. She works as a media administration assistant for Pierce Mattie Public Relations in New York. Her work includes tasks such as assembling press kits, preparing mass mailings, copying press releases, and answering the phone. "Working here is a very valuable experience," she says. (10) "I want to pursue a career in public relations, and starting at a very young age will help me."
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Unit 5
Environment (1)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Have your heard the news about the snow disaster last winter? W: Sure, I was in Hunan province then. And no other city is damaged more seriously. Q: Which province is most seriously affected by the snow disaster? you list some kinds of pollution for us? M: Of course. There are air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and others. Q: How many kinds of pollution are specifically mentioned? 3. W: Are humans more intelligent than animals? M: Sometimes, humans are too intelligent to protect themselves. They go mad to destroy their only planet. But animals did not disturb the balance of nature. Q: What is the man‘s opinion toward humans? (B) 4. M: With over 2 million species, and many more awaiting identification, animals are the most diverse forms of life on earth. And they are different from each other by size. W: Yes, Professor Li told us they range in size from 30-meter-long whales to microscopic organisms only 0.005mm long. Q: What‘s the range of the size of animals? (A) 5. W: What‘s the difference between animals and plants? M: Plants obtain energy directly from sun light through the process of photosynthesis. Animals, on the other hand, eat other living things or their dead ruins. Q: What is the energy of animals? (A) 6. M: Human hunted animals for food and raw material primarily. Do you know how
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(C)
2. W: Hello, John, we are doing some research about environmental pollution. Can
(B)
the relationship changed about 12,000 years ago? W: Yes, a little. That is the beginning of domestication. Some animals were kept for food or clothing; others for muscle power, and some simply for companionship. Q: When did the relationship between people and animals change? (C) 7. W: Oh, my goodness. The noises coming from this plant is driving me mad. M: Don‘t be angry about that. You‘ll be crazy if you are annoyed by smelly water in the river every minute. I really want a new house. Q: What‘s the man‘s annoyance? reached 90%. W: Yeah, the environment is much improved. But I heard that in Singapore every city is covered by forests at 90%. That‘s really a dream to us Chinese. Q: Which city is covered by forest at 90%? impresses you most? M: I am impressed by the way the Japanese dealing with the garbage. Every household puts different kinds of garbage in different bags. Q: How do the Japanese do with the garbage? 10. W: Have you watched TV last night? M: No, what‘s going on? W: It is reported that we are more likely to die from the natural carcinogens in peanut butter than from living next to a nuclear power plant. Q: What‘s inferred in the dialogue is more likely to cause death? (C) (B) (D) 9. W: Long time no see, Jill. I heard you have studied in Japan for half a year. What (C) 8. M: The 2008 Olympic is coming. It is said that the forest coverage of Beijing has
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
M: Yesterday it is reported that there‘s a big problem about food safety in China. W: Yes. I have heard about it a little bit. It is so serious that the government can by no
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means overlook the problem of food safety. After all, it will affect everybody‘s life. Do you mind telling me some details about it? M: Of course not. I know that there is one kind of chicken feed can fatten a newly hatched chick into a plump five-kilogram chicken in 41 to 45 days. W: 41 to 45 days? What about the grain-fed birds? M: It takes the grain-fed birds around 150 days only to reach three kilograms. W: Oh, what a difference! M: Not only the chicken. Rapid-growth fodder has also been used by farmers raising pigs. Pig can be raised in four months. W: Oh, my goodness. Usually pigs are raised for at least eight months before go to the butchers, aren‘t they? M: Yes, absolutely. W: Will food like this be allowed to be sold? M: Oh, when it enters the human food chains, markets and supermarkets are filled with this ―rapid-growth food‖: meat, eggs and seafood, and fruit and vegetables grown out of season. W: Fruit and vegetables? My God! You mean we can hardly keep away from this kind of food? M: I think so if the government don‘t take any action about it. But, hopefully, recently, our government has attached great importance to the food safety problem. W: Sure. It is urgently important to ensure our health from what we are eating every day. Questions: 1. What problem was mainly talked about in the dialogue? 3. Which is true according to the dialogue? 4. Which food may be bad for our health? 5. How is the problem now? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. F (B) (D) (D) (D) (C) 2. How long can grain-fed birds reach about three kilograms?
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Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Nearly all energy comes from the sun, either in a roundabout way or straight from it in the form of heat and light ray. The light from the moon, too, comes from the sun. The moon can be looked on as a large mirror which throws back the sun‘s light to the earth. Electrical energy comes from the sun in a roundabout way. It can come from the power of water falling down mountainside. The water fell there as rain, and we know that rain is made by the sun‘s heat evaporating to water on the earth‘s surface. This water vapor rises, condense on cooing, and falls as rain. The light and heat energy from coal also come from the sun in a roundabout way. Coal wad made by the rocks pressing on trees and of sunlight, from which they made carbohydrates, in this way changing the sun‘s energy into chemical energy. When we burn coal, some of this energy is set free. Energy which we use to drive car engines comes from petrol, which also was made with the aid of the sun in a roundabout way. Plants, and animals which ate the plants, died millions of years ago, and the parts of them that were left were pressed under the rocks in the earth. These parts left from dead animal made petroleum, from which petrol and ail are now obtained. Thus we can say that the sun is the place where nearly all energy comes from, and that without the sun‘s heat and light, there could be no life on earth. Questions: 1. What is the form of all energy when it is derived from the sun? 3. How is the chemical energy changed when coal is burnt? 4. Which of the following is NOT true? (D) (A) 5. What is the main purpose of the passage? (C)
(D) (C)
2. Why the power of water falling down mountainside comes from the sun?
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Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. T
Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Chinese reports increasingly describe the country‘s weather as unusual: ―worst flood in a century,‖ ―the worst drought in decades‖ and ―the worst snows in half a century‖ in the past winter. Now let‘s take the weather of last winter as an example. The winter brought unprecedented cold weather to south China; sustained sub-zero temperatures, freezing rain and snow left citizens struggling to keep warm. The extreme weather resulted in power cuts and paralyzed road and rail links across the country, standing millions at bus and rail stations and on ice-covered roads. The timing exacerbated the situation: the Lunar New Year is always the busiest time for China‘s transport networks. In the worst-affected provinces of Hunan and Guizhou, large areas were without power or even water. One hundred million people were affected across 19 province, causing economic damages of 50 million RMB (almost US $7 million), the State Council said. Just a snow disaster cost us so much money, let alone flood disaster and drought disaster. These disasters bring people a lot of hardships and loss in money. They also worsen and accelerate the effects of weather disaster, and introduce new complexity and uncertainty in China‘s process of modernization. After the sequence of disaster being cleaned up, we should ask ourselves why we are so weak in the face of these events. Extreme weather may become an unavoidable part of global climate change, but that doesn‘t mean it has to have such serious consequences. We need to consider the cause of the problem, but also look at the social and structural factors that worsen its effects. What we will do, to some extent, affect our own life in the future.
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Questions: 1. What is the weather like in the southern cities in China last winter? 2. What is the destruction caused by the snowstorm? 3. What element made the situation worse? 4. What is urgently requested? (C) (C) (A) (D) (B)
5. What is the problem exposed in this passage? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then answer the following questions. 1. How many disasters mentioned in the passage and what are they? 2. Which two provinces were the worst affected by the sub-zero temperatures, freezing rain and snow? 3. During the winter disaster last winter, how much did we lose? 4. What did the disaster bring to our life and the country? 5. According to the passage, what shall we do next? Key: 1. Three: flood disaster, drought disaster and snow disaster. 2. Hunan and Guizhou provinces. 3. 50 million RMB (US $7 million). 4. It brought hardships of any kind to our life and cause loss in economy. 5. We shall consider the cause of the problem and look at the social and structural factors that worsen its effects.
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the missing information. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Malcolm Greenway is thirty-five years old, married with two children. He lives in a town about twenty kilometers away from the school in which he (1) teaches, and goes to work every morning by car. (2) The village school was built about forty years ago by the local education authority for a hundred children. But, with the methods of teaching now in use, it can (3) accommodate only about sixty. A new room has
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recently been added as a dining-room, and the playground has been (4) enlarged and (5) improved. A woman teaching now is in charge of the youngest children, that is to say, those from five to seven. The second class is taught by a woman, but Mr. Greenway himself teaches the oldest groups. He prepares them for the next stage of their education, for children only stay at this little school until they are eleven years old. (6) Then they must go to another kind of school for education. All three teachers in this school enjoy their lessons and they certainly make good progress. (7) Up-to-date methods of teaching, and even the dull or slow children seem to enjoy their lessons and they certainly make good progress. (8) This school has a very happy atmosphere, because Malcolm Greenway is a musical man, and so the children enjoy singing, dancing and listening to recordings by good musicians. Every year a music festival is held in the nearby town, and the children travel there by bus to (9) compete with other schools. It is a very happy time for all when the bus returns to the village with its load of children proudly showing the (10) certificates they have been given.
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Unit 6
Environment (2)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Oh, it is such bad news. Almost 3 thousand villagers had to be evacuated because a chemical factory was on fire in the northwest of India. W: How comes that? M: The police said the gatekeeper was too drunk so he overlooks somewhere. Q: Who is responsible for the fire? (C)
2. W: Is the global environment really as bad as everybody says? M: Worse, believe it or not. Q: What does the man mean? (B) 3. W: People are equally exposed to pollution. M: Haven‘t you noticed the toxic-waste sites are more often seen in poorer communities? Q: What does the man mean? chemicals to China? M: More often than not. Q: What does the man mean? (A) 5. W: Hey, John, I just bought a new fridge for my new house. M: It will further destroy the ozone layer. Q: What does the man mean? automobiles. M: What is worse is it can cause serious health problems. Q: Where is smog from? (A) 7. W: Where are you planning to travel during the May Day holidays？ M: To the cities of of Zhaoyuan and Huizhou in Guangdong Province, because they
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(A)
4. W: Have you heard the news that American corporations shipped dangerous
(D)
6. W: I am sick of the smelly smog from the overwhelmingly large numbers of
have been named "model cities" of environmental protection. Q: Why does the man choose the cities of Zhaoyuan and Huizhou? protect the environment. M: By I am afraid his policies are heading in the wrong direction. Q: What does the man mean? (B) 9. M: We held essay competitions in our college to celebrate the World Environment Day last week. What did you guys do？ W: The freshmen planted trees and the sophomores held the bicycle parades. Q: What was the celebration in the man‘s college? (C) 10. M: Stop wasting water like that. Remember the World Environment Day theme for 2003: Water – Two billion people are dying for it! W: I‘m dying for your smelly socks. Q: What was the woman probably doing? (D) (C) 8. W: President Bush says he is continuing an enduring national commitment to
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: Morning, Jenny. W: Good morning, Mr. Black. I have already prepared the documents. Here you are. M: Thank you. Something seemed depressing you. Are you OK? W: I‘m fine. Thanks. I come to work by the crowded bus everyday, and it makes me feel sick. M: Oh, poor you. You need to take the bus for about 2 hours! W: I lived a bit far from the city, because I dislike the smog here. And, everyday I have to get up at 5 o‘clock. The bus 687 comes at every one hour. M: I don‘t like the smog here too. But I have a car. It‘s quick. Why don‘t you buy a car? W: I‘m afraid of the smelly gas. A flat tire will kill me.
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M: Let‘s come down to business. What‘s your proposal for the recycling program? Make it brief. W: Oh, my goodness, it is the bus… ooh… firstly, encourage the residents to recycle, to set aside certain materials that won‘t go to the landfill. Secondly, some recycling trucks are needed to collect the trash with a fixed time schedule. Thirdly, an empty land is spared to pull off the garbage. Next, some people are needed to sort through the garbage. This is the preparation steps for the program. M: Sounds great! Tell me the rest. W: Contract with a private company to process the recyclables. Here is a detailed contract I‘ve drafted. M: Good. I will have a look later. I‘m sure with the success of the program, this city can run out of landfill space. W: Hopefully. M: I can not wait any longer to work on some of the details. W: So do I. Questions: 1. What depressed the woman? (C) (B) (C) (C) 2. How does the man go to work everyday? 4. Which is the bus the woman took? (A)
3. Why doesn‘t the woman go to work by car?
5. What is the relationship between the man and the woman? Task Two
Listen to the conversation again and then answer the following questions. 1. Why did the woman live far from the city? 2. Did the man live in the center of the city? 3. What is the program they are going to work on? 4. In the proposal what is the last step after the preparation steps? 5. Is the man satisfied with the proposal? Key: 1. She dislikes the smog (in the center of the city). 2. No, he didn‘t like the smog here, too. 3. Recycling program.
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4. To contract with a private company to process the recyclables 5. Yes, he is.
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
The problems facing the environment are vast and diverse. Global warming, the ozone depletion in the atmosphere, and destruction of the world‘s rain forests are just some of the problems that many scientists believe will reach critical proportions in the coming decades. All of these problems will be directly affected by the size of the human population. Human population growth is at the root of all of the world‘s environmental problems. Although the growth rate of the world‘s population has slowed slightly since the 1990s, the world‘s population increases by about 77 million human beings each year. As the number of people increases, crowding generates pollution, destroys more habitats, and uses up additional natural resources. The Population Division of the United Nation (UN) predicts that the world‘s population will increase from 6.23 billion people in 2000 to 9.3 billion people in 2050. The UN estimates that the population will stabilize at more than 11 billion in 2200. Other experts predict that numbers will continue to rise to as many as 19 billion people by the year 2200. Although rates of population increase are now much slower in the developed world than in the developing world, it would be a mistake to assume that population growth is primarily a problem of developing countries. In fact, because larger amounts of resources per person are used in developed nations, each individual from
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the developed world has a much greater environmental impact than does a person from a developing country. Conservation strategies that would greatly lessen environmental impact are essential in the developed world. Questions: 1. Which of the following is NOT some of the problems many scientists believe will reach critical proportions in the coming decades? passage? (A) (D) (B) (A) (C) 2. What will directly affect the environmental problems listed at the beginning of the 3. What are the problems generated by increasing population? 5. Which of the following is true about population increase? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. F
4. What is the size of the world‘s population in 2050 estimated by the UN?
Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). In the United States, federal environmental legislation often faces heated debates between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans believe industry and development are being unnecessarily stifled, and Democrats contend that the environment is being irreparably damaged. Often, when each piece of environmental legislation was modified or came before Congress for reauthorization, battles developed between Republicans and Democrats. Conservatives in Congress successfully argued that too much public money was being spent on the environment and that the federal government should play a much-reduced role in environmental regulation. The federal government took a more active role in protecting the environment when Democrat Bill Clinton was American President (1993-2001). During Clinton‘s
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administration, the United States participated in the development of international agreements targeting global warming, logging and mining were prohibited in areas that had no roads. Clinton also protected more federal lands from development than any president since Theodore Roosevelt. President George W. Bush, elected in 2001, advocated that government should be less involved in environmental protection and that environmental restrictions are bad for the economy. Bush refused to support the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement that limits emissions of heat-trapping gases. Bush argued that the emissions reductions called for by the Kyoto Protocol are unfair because they do not affect nations, especially China and India, that are also major producers of gas emissions. Bush also argued that the emissions reductions would be too costly and would adversely affect the U.S. economy. Questions: 1. In the US, who are much concerned with environmental protection? 2. In the US, what is believed to be prior by the Republicans? (C) (B) (C) (B)
3. Which of the following is NOT something done by Clinton‘s government? 4. Which of the Presidents played a positive role in environmental protection? 5. Why did Bush declined to support Kyoto Protocol? Task Two (D)
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.
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I arrived in the United States on (1) February 6, 1996, but I remember my first day here very clearly. My friend was waiting for me when my plane landed at Kennedy Airport at three o‘clock in the afternoon. The weather was very cold and it was snowing, but I was too (2) excited to mind. From the airport, my friend and I took a taxi to my hotel. On the way, I saw the skyline of Manhattan for the first tine and I stared in (3) astonishment at the famous skyscrapers and their man-made beauty. My friend helped me (4) unpack at the hotel and then left me because he had to go back to work. He promised to return the next day. Shortly after my friend had left, I went to a (5) restaurant near the hotel to get something to eat. Because I couldn‘t speak a word of English. I couldn‘t tell the waiter what I wanted. I was very (6) upset and started to make some (7) gestures, but the waiter didn‘t understand me. Finally, I ordered the same thing the man at the next table was eating. After dinner, I started to walk along Broadway until I came to Times Square with its movie theatres, neon lights and huge crowds of people. I didn‘t feel tried, so I continued to walk around the city. (8) I wanted to see everything on my first day. I knew it was impossible, but I wanted to try. When I returned to the hotel, (9) I was exhausted, but I couldn‘t sleep because I kept hearing the fine and police sirens during the night. (10) I also decided right then I had to learn to speak English.
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Unit 7 Culture (1)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each
conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer.
1. W: What‘s the date today? M: It‘s July 4, 2006. W: Oh! 230 years ago, America was founded. Q: When was America founded? 2. M: What‘s the time? W: It‘s 11:45. M: We would have a lunch a quarter later. It‘s fit for American meal‘s custom. Q: When would they have a lunch? (C) 3. M: Hi! Have you read the newspaper? There is a newly scientific report about the King Tut‘s death. He was not really murdered. W: Oh! I know. I have just read the report. It is said that the recent study with a CAT scan show that a skull fracture occurred after Tut‘s death. Q: What‘s the real reason about the King Tut‘s death? the balance of Yin and Yang. M: Yes. Actually, Yin and Yang were two kinds of forces that keep life going on. They were two opposite ideas. One was male, one female; one was light, one dark. Q: What is Yin and Yang? (D) 5. W: According to Chinese myths, it was Pan Gu who made the world. He just used a few simple tools to create the world. M: But it took him 18,000 years to finish the task of creation. Q: How many yeans did Pan Gu spend to finish the task of creating the world?
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(A)
(B)
4. W: Do you know something about Yin and Yang? It is believed by Chinese to keep
(B) 6. W: I suppose the name of Los Angeles has something to do with Spanish Missions. M: Yes, it means the city of the Angels. Q: Why does Los Angeles mean the City of the Angels? (A) 7. W: Washington is the most important city in the United States, isn‘t it? M: Yes, it is in the political sense, although it cannot compete with cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia or Los Angeles in size and population. Q: In which way is Washington the most important city in America? 8. W: What race do you belong to and what is your religion? M: I‘m so sorry! I can‘t answer your question, they are my personal questions. Q: What‘s the relationship between the speakers? It‘s my country‘s custom of hospitality. M: Oh! But as Europeans, we do not usually invite guests to restaurants as people do in China, but invite them to homes. But thank you for your invitation. Q: What‘s the nationality of the woman? (A) 10. W: Could you please tell me something about Chicago? M: It‘s the second largest city in the United States with a population of about four million. It is located at the southern end of Lake Michigan and is the principal city of the Middle West. Q: Which of the following is true about the city of Chicago? (B) (C) 9. W: Hi, Tom! I invite you to restaurant to have a meal to show my welcome to you. (C)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: I have just read an article about culture. It is said that different communities have different cultures, so culture can distinguish one human group from others. B: Yes, and it also can distinguish humans from other animals. M: But I am curious of the diverse contents of culture? B: You are talking to the right person. It is on my fingertips. A people‘s culture
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includes their beliefs, rules of behavior, language, rituals, art, styles of dress, ways of producing, cooking, religion, political and economic systems. M: Much more than my expectation. But, do animals also have cultures? We all know that some animals live in societies. Such as swarms of bees or packs of wolves. Do they have their cultures? B: Oh, no, no…. Culture is human-specific. M: Are people born with culture? It seems not. But, I don‘t know the details. Would you like to explain it to me? B: My pleasure! Listen, people are not born with culture; they have to learn it. In all human societies, children learn culture from adults. Anthropologists call this process ―enculturation‖, or cultural transmission. Families commonly protect and enculturate children in the households of their birth for 15 years or more. People also continue to learn it throughout their lifetimes. M: Cultural differences are the spice of life. B: Yes. That is interesting. Such as what are considered ―good manners‖ in one country may be considered ―bad manners‖ in another. M: It‘s time for going back to work. Look forward to another talk with you next time. Glad to have talked with you. Thanks! B: My pleasure. Questions: 1. How many years for children to learn culture in the family? 2. What are included in culture? (D) (A) (A) 3. What is the distinguishable function of culture? 4. Which of the following is the feature of culture? 5. What is enculturation? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. F (D) (C)
Part C Passages
Passage One
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Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). The variations of rhythm, beat, tone quality, and embellishments in traditional Chinese music are highly distinctive and unlike the western counterparts. This is mainly due to the unique sounds and playing styles of traditional Chinese musical instruments. Chinese musical instruments can be divided into four basic categories based on the method by which they are played. The first category includes the bowed-string, or Hu Qin, which are made of wood with a piece of snake skin stretched over the sound box. They have two strings, and the bow is permanently caught in between the two strings. The second category includes the plucked-strings, of which there are 3 types: dulcimers, lutes and harps. The harp is made of either wood or bamboo with steel strings. In the past, the strings were made of silk. The third category encompasses the wood with section. There are flutes, pipes, and Chinese trumpets which use double reeds like the oboe but sound like a trumpet. The final category encompasses the percussion section. The main instruments include drums, timpani, gongs, and cymbals. For some songs, bells, xylophones, turned goings, and the triangle are used. The percussion section is called the wu-ch‘ang, or martial scene, in traditional Chinese opera. In traditional Chinese orchestras, the combination of all the different instruments served to create a harmonious and beautiful auditory atmosphere. Unbelievingly beautiful music was made and is still made many Chinese instruments can produce purely unique and amazing sounds. Questions: 1. Which of the following is not the category of Chinese musical instruments? instruments? (B) (A) (C) (D) (D) 2. How many types of the plucked-string category are there in Chinese musical 3. What is made up of Hu Qin?
4. What is also called wu-ch‘ang or material scene in traditional Chinese opera? 5. By which are Chinese musical instruments divided into four categories?
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Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: (1) combination Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). It is part of good manners to know how to behave at the table. Here are some tips: 1. Don‘t tuck the napkin in your vest or put it under your chin like a baby‘s bib. 2. Don‘t use your handkerchief for wiping your mouth when eating. Use the napkin. 3. Don‘t put the napkin on the table when you must leave during the meal. It should be put on your chair. The napkin should be put back on the table only when the meal is finished. Don‘t fold it carefully. Just leave it in the natural manner as you have used it. 4. Don‘t bent over your food. Keep the plate close to you and pull up you chair so that you don‘t have to lean forward. Sit up straight all the time. 5. Don‘t bite a small piece out of a larger piece of food and return the rest to your plate. 6. Don‘t cut bread with a knife. Nor do you spread butter or marmalade on a whole slice of bread. 7. Don‘t lift your plate or saucer from the table. 8. Don‘t drink with the spoon in your cup. 9. Don‘t stir too soon when you put sugar into your tea or coffee. Allow enough time for the sugar to melt, then stir a few times and place the spoon on the far side of the saucer. 10. Don‘t dip bread, doughnuts, cookies, etc. into tea, milk or any other liquid food. (2) served (3) atmosphere (4) is (5) purely
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11. Don‘t make noises with your mouth. Close your mouth when eating. People make mouth noises because they eat without closing their mouths. When you drink your soup, don‘t sip it, but swallow it all in one mouthful. 12. Don‘t talk with your mouth full. If someone talks to you, wait until the mouth is empty before answering. 13. Don‘t test tea or coffee to see if it id too hot by taking a spoonful. Never blow food to cool it. 14. Don‘t try to reach the salt or pepper in front of others. Ask your neighbor to pass it. 15. If you are a man, don‘t eat with your hat or cap on in a restaurant. But never put a hat or cap on the table. It should be hung up or put on a chair beside you. Questions: 1. What is the right use of napkin? (B) (A) (C) (C) 2. Which of the following is inappropriate table manner? 3. What is appropriate when coffee is served? 4. How to drink soup appropriately? (B)
5. When you must leave during the meal, what should you do with the napkin? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then answer the following questions. Questions: 1. What should you do with the napkin when the meal is finished? 2. Is it all appropriate to cut bread with a knife? 3. What should be used to wipe your mouth when eating? 4. What should you do when you need the salt in front of others? 5. What should a man do with his hat when he eats in restaurant?
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the missing information. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.
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The term ―Geomancy‖ is also applied to the Chinese practice of feng-shui (wind and water), and was employed by 19th century writers to (1) translate feng-shui. This Chinese art is concerned with the relationships between human beings and the (2) subtle energies of nature. (3) In classical Chinese sources, the term ti li (land position) was likewise used, another related term is kan tu (cover and support) which has special reference to the relationships between (4) heaven and (5) earth. Feng-shui and ti li are concerned with the ―dragon lines‖ or the (6) subtle interaction between human life and earth currents. Feng-shui experts would determine the most advantageous locations for roads, bridges, canals, wells, mines, cities, villages, buildings, and dwelling in relationship to earth energies. (7) Sites of graves were also often an important consideration, bodies were not buried until the proper burial site was determined; sometimes bodies were unearthed and reburied. In recent years, it has been applied in the US (8) to guide people in making business decisions. The scattering of pebbles，grains of sand, or seeds on the earth should have a (9) system of divination to interpret their shape and position. However, the position of pebbles, sand or seeds has something in common with the acupuncture pressure points on the ―body‖ of geomancy originates from feng-shui. (10) Likewise, the Chinese concepts of subtle earth energies parallel western concepts of lay lines.
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Unit 8
Part A Short Conversations
Culture (2)
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each
conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer.
1. W: Did you watch the Olympic Games? M: I wouldn‘t have missed it for anything. Q: What can we infer from the man‘s reply? art museum on Saturday. W: I‘m not too crazy about art myself, but what about Mary? Q: What does the woman suggest the man do? myself now. M: Well, they say laughter is the best medicine. Q: What can be inferred about the show the woman just watched? 4. W: There‘s a great movie on TV tonight. Do you want to watch it? M: I‘d rather not if it‘s on the same time as the football match. Q: What does the man imply? (A) 5. M: How was your dinner at the new French restaurant yesterday? W: We didn‘t eat there. We drove all the way down there only to find it‘s not open on Monday, so we had our dinner at the small Chinese restaurant next door. Q: What did the woman say about the new French restaurant? disabled artists in the Rall at 8 o‘clock? W: If I were you, I would stay at the dormitory and watch it on the campus net. Q: What does the woman mean? did. W: I must admit that I felt sleepy during the two hours.
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(C)
2. M: I‘m trying to find someone to come with me to the new sculpture exhibit in the
(B)
3. W: I don‘t know why, but since I saw Williams on TV, I don‘t feel so bad about
(B)
(D)
6. M: I‘m really exhausted. But I really don‘t want to miss the performance of the
(C)
7. M: I have never seen such an interesting show. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I
Q: How did the woman feel about the show?
(D)
8. W: You Americans are funny. It seems as if you were married with cars. M: Yeah. I guess that‘s true. The country is becoming one big highway. I was reading that there are four million miles of roads and highways in this country now. Q: What are they talking about? (D) 9. M: I knew Linda played the piano, but I didn‘t know she played the guitar. W: Neither did I. It seems she just picked it up on her own over this summer. Q: What does the woman mean? 10. M: Shall we go to John‘s house–warming party this weekend? Everyone is invited. W: Well, you know what John‘s parties are like. Do you think I will go again? Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? (B)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One Directions: In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
W: So you really believe that clothes carry a kind of message for other people and that what we put on is in some way a reflection of what we feel? M: Oh yes, very much so. People are beginning now to take seriously the idea of a kind of psychology of clothing, to believe that there is not past individual taste in our clothes but also a thinking behind what we wear, which is trying to express something we may not even be aware of ourselves. W: But surely this has always been the case. We all dress up when we want to impress someone, such as for a job interview with a prospective employer. M: True, but that‘s a conscious act. What I‘m talking about is more of a subconscious act. Take for example, the student who is away from home: if he tends to wrap himself up more than the others, this is because he is probably feeling homesick,
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similarly, a general feeling of insecurity can sometimes take form of over–dressing in warmer clothes than are necessary. W: Can you give any other examples of this kind? M: Yes, I think people who are sociable and outgoing tend to prefer brighter or more dazzling colors --- yellows, bright reds and so on. And aggressive clothes might indicate an aggressive personality or attitude to life. W: Do you think the care --- or lack of it --- over the way we actually wear our clothes has anything to tell us? M: Yes, indeed. The length, for example, of man‘s trousers speaks volumes about his awareness of his own image or if his trousers are hanging down, this probably means he‘s absorbed by other things. W: Oh, very interesting. Tell me more about it. M: OK. Questions: 1. What are people now beginning the take seriously about clothing according to the man? (C) (D) 2. What does the man think of the act of dressing up for a job interview? others? (C) 5. What does it mean if a man‘s trousers are hanging down? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T (A) (B)
3. What does it probably reflect if a student tends to wrap himself up more than the 4. What sort of clothes do those people who are sociable and outgoing often prefer?
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some
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questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Cellular phones are becoming popular among teenagers. Industry experts estimate that 5 percent of teenagers own a cellular phone, and one recent survey by a market research group found that 28 percent of parents with teenagers plan to buy a cell phone for their child within a year. But on the question of why this new teen accessory is needed, the two generations are at opposite ends. Parents envision it as an expansion of their protective age. Can‘t locate the wandering teen? Just dial. Teenagers, on the other hand, see the cell phone as a gift of freedom, a device that instantly connects them to their friends, to every part and to the very latest piece of gossip. Many teenagers agreed that wearing cell phones has changed several of their habits. In addition to spend more time on the phone, they‘re also out of the house more often. They find out from friends about last-minute get-togethers they otherwise would miss. Most cell phones cost between $ 90 and $ 250, and the typical calling plan is $ 30 for 300 minutes. To tap into the teenager market, companies are sell prepaid calling cards for $ 25, $ 50 or $ 75. Most companies also have introduced family calling plans where teenagers and their parents pay about $ 50 a month for two lies of service and 200 minutes, and the calls between family members are free. Girls are getting the phones more than boys, mostly because parents tend to worry more about their daughters‘ safety. But the tread is spreading to boys as well. Questions: 1. How many teenagers own a cellular phone? 3. How much do most cell phones cost? 4. What is the typical calling plan? (A) (C) (C) (B) (C) 2. How many parents plan to buy cell phones for their children within a year?
5. What is the price of prepaid calling cards? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then answer the following questions.
Questions:
1. Why do parents think teenagers need a cell phone? 2. What do the teenagers think of the cell phone?
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3. Do parents have the same view as teenagers on the matter of the cell phone? 4. How do the cell phones change teenager‘s habits? 5. Why are girls getting the phones more than boys? Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Once upon a time, Wu Song was on his way back to join his elder brother. At the foot of a mountain, he stopped at a wine shop for a meal. After he had a lot of meat and three bowls of wine, the shopkeeper would not sell him any more. But Wu Song got very angry and insisted on having more. Altogether he finished eighteen bowls of wine. After a hearty meal, Wu Song was to leave. But the shopkeeper stopped him. He said that in recent months there was a tiger on the mountain and had taken the lives of around twenty passers-by. He also told Wu Song that local government only allowed people to cross the mountain during the few hours before and after noontime, and they must do so in large groups. Wu Song took little notice of the warning and set out alone. Half way up the mountain he came across an official notice. He read it and realized what the shopkeeper had said was true. But to save face, he would not turn back. He was a little drunk and felt dizzy. So he rest on a rock. He fell into a sound sleep, suddenly a tiger jumped out. It sprang at Wu Song with ferocity. He jumped aside subconsciously. Then he tried to strike the tiger with a heavy stick but missed it. It hit a tree and broke into two. The struggle lasted for some time. Then Wu Song grasped the tiger by the back of the neck and pressed its head down. With all his might, he kicked the tiger in its face and eyes. Soon the tiger was tired. Wu Song clenched his hand and struck the tiger‘s head again and again until the tiger was dead. Questions: 1. What is the destination of Wu Song‘s journey? (A) (C) 2. When did the shopkeeper refused to sell Wu Song any more wine?
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3. How many passers-by had been eaten by the tiger according to the shopkeeper? (A) 4. Why didn‘t Wu Song turn back when he read the notice? 5. How did Wu Song kill the tiger? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. F (D) (B)
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the missing information. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. The Ant and the Grasshopper One summer‘s day an ant was carrying food into his storehouse. As he walked back and forth, he passed a grasshopper (1) sunning himself beside a stalk of (2) grain. (3) From time to time the grasshopper chirped a happy little song. But the ant seemed not to hear him. At last, the grasshopper said, ―Why don‘t you come and talk with me instead of working so hard?‖ ―I am (4) laying up food for the winter,‖ replied the ant. ―Why (5) bother about the winter?‖ said the grasshopper, ―We have enough to eat today. Why think about tomorrow?‖ The months passed. Winter came with its snow covering the fields. The grasshopper was (6) left without food. He made his way to the home of the ant. ―What brings you here?‖ asked the ant. ―I am cold and in real need of food,‖ said the grasshopper. ―Indeed,‖ replied the ant, ―Didn‘t you tell me in the summer not to bother about getting ready for winter?‘ ―I had no idea that food could be so (7) scare in winter,‖ said the grasshopper. ―I am too hungry and cold,‖ grasshopper went on. ―Of that I have no doubt,‖ said the ant. ―(8) I am sorry I can spare you nothing. All that I was able to gather in the summer I need for my own family. If you, too, had
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spent the summer in working as I did, you won‘t go hungry like now.‖ ―That I could,‖ said the grasshopper turning (9) sadly from the ant‘s door. At last, he had learned to his great discomfort that (10) it always pays to prepare in days of plenty for the days of need.
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Quiz 1
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: How do most college students find a job after they graduate? W: They usually look for a job by searching the want-ads in the newspapers. Q: What does the woman mean? (B) 2. M: I forgot to bring my pen and paper to take notes. W: That‘s all right, I have enough for both of us. Q: What will the woman most probably do next? (A) 3. W: It‘s a shame to spend Saturday evening at home. Let‘s go to the movies now. M: That‘s exactly what I have been thinking about. Let me get the paper and see what‘s on tonight. Q: What are they going to do first? 4. M: Are you ready to check out? W: Yes. I‘ll pay the bill and you‘ll call the desk and have our baggage taken out to the taxi. Q: Where are the man and woman? heard from you for half a year. W: Yes, I know, but I have too much work to do and always forget to phone him. Q: What can be inferred from this conversation? anyway. W: Why not? We‘ve got nothing to lose. Q: What are these people going to do? you come? W: I wish I could, but I work at the hospital on weekends.
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(C)
(B)
5. M: I came across my friend Jack yesterday in the supermarket and he said he hadn‘t
(D)
6. M: It‘s already 7, and the movie started 15 minutes ago. But let‘s try to make it
(A)
7. M: The International Students Association is having a party Saturday night. Can
Q: Why can‘t the woman go to the party? W: But it turned out well, didn‘t it? Q: What does the woman mean? (A)
(B)
8. M: I was really worried about the Math exam last week.
9. M: I can‘t understand why my friend Mary isn‘t here yet. We agreed to meet at 10:30, but it‘s almost 11:00. Do you think we should try to call her or go to look for her? W: She probably just got tied up in traffic. Let‘s give her a few more minutes. Q: What are these people going to do? (C) 10. M: The camera costs 60 dollars but I only have 50 dollars. W: I have 24 dollars, I would like to lend you 10 dollars. Q: How much money do they have together? (B)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). W: Mr. Fisher, you are a sociologist. Do you think there is a need to control population in the developed countries? M: Yes, the reason is that they‘re running out of food and they‘re running out of resources. W: In America, for instance? M: The people in America and Europe consume a far greater proportion of the world‘s resources and the world‘s food than the people do in other countries and population is directly related to consumption. W: Do you think there is a deed to control population in the developing countries? M: Yes, of course. W: In your opinion, what are the problems in these countries like Brazil and India? M: The problems in these countries which are underdeveloped and which have expanding populations is that they try to get more material benefits. But as soon as they do this, the population expansion has wiped out any benefits that they may have achieved.
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W: What sections of the population do you think birth control techniques should be available to? M: They should be available to all sections of the community. Personally, I think that not only should birth control methods be available to all sections of the community, but indeed should be compulsory. W: Could you explain in more detail? M: There should be some kind of law, for instance, which says that a family should not have more than three children, a complete maximum of three children. If they have three children, then they must be obliged by law to use birth control. W: But surely this is very explosive in social terms. M: It‘s a little oppressive notion, but alternatively, if we look around us in the world outside, there are millions of people in the poor areas starving to death. Questions: 1. According to the man, why do the developed countries need to control population? (C) 2. According to the man, why do the developing countries need to control population? (D) 3. According to the man, what will happen, if a family has more than three children? (C) 4. With which of the following would the man agree? than three children, what will happen? Task Two Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the conversation. Key: 1. available 2.community 3. compulsory. 4. says 5. obliged (B) (B) 5. According to the man, if there is a law saying that a family should not have more
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some
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questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Some people say that in the United States the most academically fulfilled college students are those who have fallen in love. Love is a kind of motivation for learning. They even say that a student on a US campus will be regarded as eccentric if without a boy/girl friend and that dating is the most indispensable part of campus life. Most college students are young adults who are discovering their place in the world. They discover ideas, information, and opportunities, but they also often discover each other. Everyday on campus, I see students in love, students hoping for love, and students mourning lost or unrequited love. Love is a kind of motivation for learning --- this would be hard to be prove or disprove, but real, solid love between two students definitely can bring clarity and focus to a student‘s work. Suddenly, doing well in school may be twice as meaningful. They have each other to impress and look to for help and support when thing get difficult. I‘ve seen this happen, and like all aspects of true love; it is beautiful sight. However, love does not arrive fully formed, as if it is something for college students to pick up when they pay their tuition or buy their books. Getting to know potential romantic partners requires the awkward, time-consuming, and frequently frustrating process called dating. At this stage, relationships are new, unstable, and often chaotic. Do you go on that date or study for the test? Do you sit where you can hear the teacher and participate in the class discussion, or do you sit in the back of the room where you can see the object of your desire and possibly exchange those all-important glances? Do you risk missing a crucial bit of information or being caught unaware with a question while you plan your next step in the relationship? Where is your attention, really? On calculus or on how to land that date? Questions: 1. Which is the main idea of this passage? (D) (A) 2. In what condition will a student on a US campus be regarded as eccentric? relationship going to be? academically fulfilled? (C) (B)
3. According to this passage, when love does not arrive fully formed, how is the 4. In the United States, what kind of college students are said to be the most
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5. According to this passage, what can real and solid love between two students bring? (A) Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: (1) young adults (4) mourning Passage Two Task One Listen to the passage and choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Newspapers, along with reporting the news, instruct, entertain, and give opinion. An important way for reading a large, big-city newspaper is knowing how to take it apart. Can you find these separate sections: world news, national and local news, sports, business, entertainment, opinions, classified ads? Does your paper have other sections? News stories give facts, not the author‘s opinions. Editorials do the opposite: you can expect an editorial to take sides. Some newspaper editorials have a by-line with the author‘s name, but many newspapers have unsigned editorials. These reflect the opinions of the publisher or editor. You can be a better reader if you know what to expect in a newspaper. For example, you can expect headlines to omit unnecessary words. You can expect to find the most important facts in the lead paragraph (the first paragraph) of a news story. You can expect important news items to be on the front page. You can expect less important items to be on the inside pages. Most of all, the more you know about the current news, the more you will understand what is in the newspaper; important stories are generally presented one day and followed up on following days. So, an important way for reading newspapers is reading one frequently. Key: 1. C 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. D
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(2) place
(3) opportunities
(5) unrequited love.
Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. F
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. China's cultural heritage protection has made progress, but many problems still exist and need to be solved. China has (1) established over 30 regulations based on the law of cultural (2) relics protection. A law on intangible cultural relics protection was also put on the (3) drafting schedule of China's top legislature. China has also joined four international conventions concerning cultural heritage protection and investment in cultural heritage protection has also increased. Statistics show that from 2000 to 2005 when China carried out its 10th Five-Year Development Plan, total investment in the field reached (4) 7.889 billion yuan (around 0.9 billion U.S. dollars). With financial support from government, China also (5) launched a nationwide campaign to search and protect cultural heritage in 2003. China has so far included a total of 2,351 cultural relics sites and 518 intangible cultural heritages on the list of national protection sites. Restoration and (6) maintenance have been carried out on important cultural heritage sites such as Potala Palace in Tibet and Palace Museum in Beijing. China has more than 2,300 museums staging nearly 10,000 expositions every year and (7) attracting audience of 150 million. However, (8) cultural relics in China now face great challenges posed by
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economic globalization and urbanization. Many historic cities and scenic spots have been destroyed. (9) Illegal trade and smuggling activities have not been curbed, which has led to the loss of national treasures overseas. What's worse, many important cultural heritage sites have declined or are hard to pass on due to excessive exploration and inappropriate use. (10) And cultural relics held by minority ethnic groups have lost their identity due to the changing lifestyle of the people.
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Unit 9
Weather and Climate
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Britain is an island country. It has little sunshine. W: The weather there is neither too cold not too hot. Q: What‘s the weather like in Britain? (C) 2. M: This has been an unusually cool summer. W: Uh huh! I actually had to get out my wool sweaters in August. Q: What does the woman imply? W: Haven‘t we, ever? Q: What do we learn from the woman‘s response? 4. M: It will snow today. W: Will snow? Look, the grounds are already white. Q: What does the woman mean? (C) 5. W: The forecast says the sunny day is coming. M: If all goes well, we‘ll also have some time to enjoy it for a change. Q: What does the man imply about the weather? M: Well, it‘s that time of year again. Q: What happened to the flowers? M: It‘s already the end of December. Q: What does the man imply? (B) 8. W: We can‘t complain about the weather these days, can we? M: You‘re right. Sunshine day after day. Neither too hot, nor too cold. I suppose the farmers wish it would rain though. Q: What does the man imply? (B) 9. W: You‘ve been here several years. Have you traveled a lot?
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(B)
3. M: We‘ve never had such a lot of rain as lately. (C)
(C)
6. W: Oh, terribly, the flowers are damaged by the frost. (A)
7. W: It‘s terribly cold this morning. The hedges and paths are covered with frost.
M: Not much. Last year I planned to go to Beijing in December, but I had to change my mind because of the bad weather. Then three months later, I finally made it there. Q: When did the man go to Beijing? 10. W: Wow! Here comes the rain again! M: You haven‘t got an umbrella, let‘s share the same one? Q: What does the man mean? (D) (C)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). W: It is said to be really cold this winter. We‘d better buy jackets and underwear in advance. M: Well, you didn‘t expect it to be warm, did you? W: Of course not, but I just heard the national weather services predicted it‘s supposed to be much colder weather than usual. M: Yeah, maybe. Personally, I don‘t think those long-range forecasts are useful. W: Not as useless as you think. M: Oh, come on, when you are talking about what‘s going to happen three months later, you can not count on the long-range weather forecasting. W: Well, perhaps you are right. They aren‘t very good for rainfall. But they are a lot better for temperatures especially for this time of the year. M: Really, so I should take them seriously about the cold but not too much on a lot of extra snow? W: Ha-ha. M: But what did you say about this time of the year? In which season it is difficult for them to make forecast? W: Autumn is the worst; apparently weather patterns change so much then. Just think how variable our weather has been the last three months. M: That‘s true. It probably would have been hard to predict all those changes back in
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the summer, you know, you are beginning to convince me of the value of weather forecasting. How come you know so much about it? W: I get my information from an expert, who has been working at weather bureau for a long time. Questions: 1. Why did the woman suggest buying jackets and underwear in advance? (C) (B) 2. Why didn‘t the man believe the forecast in the beginning of the conversation? (D) 4. Why is it difficult to predict the weather far in advance for autumn? (B) (C) 5. What is the man‘s attitude toward forecasting at the end of the conversation? Task Two Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the conversation. Key: 1. three months later, 2. summer , convince count on
3. According to the woman, what does a three-month forecast predict fairly accurate?
3. take them seriously about
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Earthquakes are something that most people fear. There are some places that have few or no earthquakes. Most places in the world, however, have them regularly. Some places, like Iran and Guatemala, have them frequently. Countries that have a lot of earthquakes are usually quite mountainous.
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The most talked about earthquake in the United States was in San Francisco in 1906. Over 500 people died in it. The strongest one in North America was in 1964. It happened in Alaska. Strong earthquakes are not always the ones that kill the most people. In 1755 one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded was felt in Portugal. Around 20,000 people died. In 1923 a very powerful earthquake hit the Tokyo-Yokohama area of Japan. 140,000 people died. Most of them died in fires which followed the earthquake. One of the worst earthquakes ever was in China in 1976. It killed over 665,000 people. The worst earthquake ever reported was also in China. 830,000 people were killed in this quake which happened in 1556. Earthquakes are not the only acts of nature which people fear. Floods and tidal waves also cause people to be afraid. So do bad storms like typhoons and cyclones. Sometimes these things cause lots of deaths. In 1970 a cyclone (a violent tropical storm or wind in which the air moves very fast in a circular direction) and tidal ( a tidal wave is an extremely large wave caused by movement of the earth under the sea when there is an earthquake or a volcanic eruption) wave killed over 200,000 in Pakistan. These kinds of things make people afraid and they are very dangerous. But they probably do not worry people as much as earthquakes, especially in these modern times. The reason is that we often know they are coming, we have some warning. Someday we may be able to know an earthquake is coming. So far, however, no sure way is known to predict an earthquake. When one comes it is a surprise. People cannot prepare for it, so thousands of people still die in earthquakes such as the one in China in 1976. Questions: 1. In what kind of countries are earthquakes likely to occur? (C) 3. In which country was the worst earthquake ever reported? 1976? (A) (C) (B) 4. According to the passage, why did so many people die in earthquakes in China in 5. Which is the most frightened act of nature which people fear in the following? (C) 2. Which of the following is not the reason for earthquakes to worry people so much?
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Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the chart according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: Earthquake 1556 1755 1906 1923 1976 China Portugal. San Francisco in America Tokyo-Yokohama Japan. China area of Location Number of people killed 830,000 Around 20,000 Over 500 140,000 665,000
Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Canada experiences weather systems arriving from the dry continental interior as well as from the sea. The combined influence of these systems creates some of the most variable day-to-day weather conditions to be encountered anywhere in Canada. Most of the Atlantic Canada has a humid climate owing to its maritime character. The most moderate place of Canada is its west coast. Summers are cool and fairly dry and winter are mild, cloudy and wet. Even in the second month of winter, average temperatures are usually above freezing. The long, cold and dry winters appear in the central plain from the Rocky Mountains to Great Lakes. Here the summer is short but hot with light rain. The large water surfaces of Central and Eastern Canada produce considerable modification in the climate. Southern Ontario and Quebec experience cold, damp winters and hot, humid summers. The north-central part of Canada is covered with snow for more than half of the year, with a frost-free period of barely two months. Rain is relatively light. Further
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north, on the islands along the Arctic coast and round Hudson Bay, the land is always frozen. Average temperatures stay above freezing for only a few weeks of the year. The Arctic Islands and the northern border of the mainland do not have a summer season. Questions: 1. Which part of Canada is the most moderate according to this passage? (B) 3. What characteristic does the north-central part have? (A) (D) (B) 4. Which of the following can summarize the climate of Canada? 5. Why does most of the Atlantic Canada have a humid climate? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. T (A) 2. According to the passage, in which part of Canada is the climate most changeable?
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. One of the best ways to celebrate Mother‘s Day is to give your mom the day off. Let her take it easy and (1) relax while the rest of the family does the work. Many families begin Mother‘s Day with (2) breakfast in bed. Usually dad and the kids will let mom sleep late as they go into the (3) kitchen and prepare her (4) favorite meal. A Mother‘s Day breakfast can (5) consist of anything your mom likes. After the food is cooked (6) arrange everything nicely on a tray. Don‘t forget the
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(7) vase with a single flower. With spring here, the children can pick a tulip or daffodil from the garden outside. When everything is ready (8) carefully carry the tray and mom‘s favorite sections from the newspaper up to her bedroom. Cards and small presents from the children can be placed on the tray before it is presented to mom in bed. Many families make a special Mother‘s Day dinner or (9) take mom out to her favorite restaurant for a meal. It is a good day to let your mom have a good rest and let her see what a wonderful family she has. (10) Children who are away from home can send one of those Mother‘s Day telegrams to show how much you care for your mother. These telegrams can be sent from any post office in this country.
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Unit 10 Entertainment (1)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each
conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer.
1. M: Oh, my dear, what about going dancing or going to the movie for a change? W: Well, honestly speaking, I don‘t really feel like them tonight. I‘d like to play bridge or take a good rest at home? Q: What does the wife suggest? (C) 2. M: I‘m just wondering if you‘d like to go to a Beethoven concert this Tuesday. W: Oh, I‘d love to, but I have an important meeting this Tuesday. Could we make it this Thursday? M: Ok, I‘ll pick you up by then. Q: When will they go to the concert? (A) 3. M: Which sort of movies do you prefer, westerns or science fiction films? W: Science films are all right, but they aren‘t so fine as westerns in the aspects of classic conflicts. Q: How does the woman think of westerns and science fiction films? 4. W：Mark is playing computer games. M：Should he do that when the final exam is drawing near﹖ Q：What does the man think Mark should do? (C) 5. W: It is a pity you missed the concert yesterday evening. It was wonderful! M: I am not a classical music fan anyway. There was a football game at the same time. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 6. M: What about going to the movies tonight? W: All right. But we‘d better not spend a lot of money. Is there a good movie in the neighborhood?
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(A)
(C)
Q: What does the woman imply? a change.
(D)
7. W: I'm tired of movies about romantic stories. I prefer a different type of movie for M: I agree. Let's go and see a new movie at the Royal theatre. I hear it's a real story of two prison breakers. Q: What kind of movie does the woman find boring? 8. W: It‘s‘ amazing that you can play the piano so well. M: My mother began to teach me when I was four years old. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? (C) 9. M: I don‘t like this movie, may I change the channel? W: Sorry, but I think the movie is quite interesting. Q: What are the man and the woman probably doing? 10. W: Max is watching a football game on TV. M: Should he be doing that now, with an exam coming up? Q: What does the man imply that Max should be doing? (D) (B) (A)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: Excuse me, madam, but can you tell me where I can find the line for concert tickets this Sunday? W: It‘s here, I‘m waiting and so are all these people in front of me. M: Wow, so many people. I want to buy tickets, too, but I don‘t have much time. Have you been waiting long? W: I‘ve been waiting for about two hours and so far I‘ve moved a total of five feet in that time. M: You‘re joking! W: I‘m not. There was a young man waiting in front of me who got so annoyed that he finally gave up and got out of here. He said that he had been in line for over three hours.
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M: My God! It shouldn‘t be taking so long. Do you know what‘s causing all of this? W: I don‘t know. Maybe they don‘t have enough people here to sell the tickets. I just hope that there are still tickets by the time I get to the counter. M: I just hope the concert hasn‘t been canceled. W: It would be so frustrating if that happened. M: I wish I came here before lunch instead of now. I thought I had enough time to eat first. Has it been like this all day? W: Apparently so. I originally wanted to call and do all of this over the phone, but they said they weren‘t taking phone orders. M: There are three more hours until the ticket booth closes; I guess I better stay. Tickets to a good concert are worth the wait. Questions: 1. What are the man and woman doing? 2. When does this conversation occur? 4. What will the man probably do next? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. F 6. F (C) (C) (D) (A)
3. What‘s the woman‘s attitude toward the situation?
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Nowadays children are exposed to many influences other than that of their families. Television is the most significant of these influences. Most children plug into the world of television long before they enter school: 70% of child-care centers use
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TV during a typical day. In a year, the average child spends 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV. Second, the degree of violence in many of TV programs worries parents. Studies indicate that, kids who view violent events, such as a kidnapping or murder, are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them. Third, parents are concerned about the commercials that their children set on television. Many parents would like to see fewer commercials during programs for children. And some parents feel that these shows should not have commercials at all because young minds are not mature enough to deal with the claims made by advertisers. Even though educational television has no commercials and has programs for children that many parents approve of. Some critics argue that all television, whether educational or not, is harmful to children. These critics feel that the habit of watching hours of television every day turns children into bored and passive consumers of their world rather than encouraging them to become active explores of it. Questions: 1. Which of the following statements best gives the main idea of the passage? television every day? to children? (C) (A) (A) (B) 2. What will be the consequence if a child forms a habit of watching hours of 3. Why do some critics argue that all television, whether educational or not, is harmful 4. What‘s the reason for some parents‘ protest against commercials? programs worry parents? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: (1) exposed (2) influences Passage Two (3) plug into （4）average (5) 1,023 (A)
5. According to the material, why does the degree of violence in many of TV
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Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Nowadays computer games have transformed pop culture. Many college students immersed themselves in playing games. Computer games are surely fun, but they may do more harm than good to you. First, it is very time-consuming. Almost half of college students who play video, computer or online games admit that it keeps them from studying ―some‖ or a ―lot‖. They often have difficulty getting their homework done because computer games occupy a great deal of their time. In addition, about one in ten admitted that their main motivation for playing games was to avoid studying. They spend too much time on games and have less time to attend classes, to take exercises, or even to date. Upon graduation many will regret that they have wasted the precious college time on nothing. Second, those who play computer games excessively would easily fall victim to various illnesses. For example, game fans always fix their eyes on the screen, therefore they are likely to suffer from near-sighted, dry eyes, back aches or neck aches, even severe headaches and sleep disturbances. Third, the games fans, who spend their time before the lifeless computers, usually overlook their relationship with others. They spend most of their time on-line talking instead of making new friends at college. Every form of addiction is bad, no matter what they are. Computer games are fun, but do not spend too much time on them. There are simply a lot of more important things in life. Questions: 1. What is the main idea of this passage? the passage? (B) (C) (B) 2. Which of the following illnesses caused by computer addiction is not mentioned in 3. How many college students who play video, computer or online games admitted that their main motivation for playing games was to avoid studying? 4. According to this passage, why have computer games transformed pop culture?
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(B) 5. What kind of bad influences caused by computer games is NOT mentioned in the passage? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the chart according to what you have just heard in the passage. Conditions on computer games, on games screen, time on-line talking, on games, Effects his or her homework classes, to take exercises, or even to date. illnesses friends at college. he or she has wasted the precious college time on nothing. (B)
If a college student spends too much time he or she will have difficulty in finishing If a college student spends too much time he or she will have less time to attend If game fans always fix their eyes on the they are likely to suffer from various If a college student spends most of his He or she will have less time to make If a college student spends too much time upon graduation, he or she will regret that
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Have you ever seen a movie in which a building was (1) burned down or a bridge was destroyed? Have you ever seen a film in which a train (2) crashed or a ship sank into the ocean? If so, you may have wondered how these things could happen without
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harming the people in the film. The man who knows the answer is the ―special–effect‖ man. He has one of the most important jobs in the film industry. He may be ordered to create a flood or to make a (3) battlefield (4) explode. But he may also be asked to create a special effect which is much less exciting, though just as important to the success of the film. In a (5) scene for one movie there was a big glass (6) bowl filled with water in which small fish were swimming. The director of the movie wanted the fish to stop swimming. Then the director wanted the fish to stop (7) staring and swim away. (8) But suddenly while they seemed to stare the director realized that the fish can‘t be ordered to do anything. It was quite a problem. The special-effect man thought about this problem for quite a long time. (9) The result was an idea for controlling the fish a harmless use of electricity. First, he applied electricity to the fish bowl, causing the fish to be absolutely still. Then he rapidly reduced the amount of electricity, allowing the fish to swim away. (10) Thus he got the humorous effect that the director wanted.
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Unit 11 Entertainment (2)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each
conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer.
1. W: I went to a concert last night. They played beautifully. Do you like classical music? M: I like classical music, but not as much as jazz. Q: What did the man say about classical music? 2. W: Mike is the best singer on the campus. M: You said it. Q: What does the man mean? (C) 3. M: I can‘t stand this program. Will you please change this channel? W: Wait a minute, the news will be on next. I want to be sure to see it tonight. Q: What are these people doing? you? M: Classical music is my favorite. But I used to like pop music very much. Pop music, you see! Q: What do the man and the woman have in common? (A) 5. M: Are you busy Friday night? If not, would you like to go to the concert? W: I have a few commitments, but I think I can postpone them for another time. Q: What will the woman probably do? (A) 6. M: The tickets for that rock concert finally go on sale next Saturday at 5 o‘clock. W: I heard that anyone who wants one had better get there sooner than that. Q: What does the woman imply? (B) 7. W: I‘m so soaked from the rain. I would go back to my room to change clothes if there were more time before the performance. M: I could use drying-off too. But I hate the idea of missing even a few minutes of this concert. Q: What can be inferred about the speakers? (D)
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(C)
(D)
4. W: Well, I like classical music, and I go to the concert every weekend. What about
8. W: I‘d like to go to the concert tonight, but it starts at 7, and I have to work until 5. There won‘t be enough time to go home for dinner. M: I‘ve got an idea. I‘ll pick you up after work and we‘ll eat in a restaurant. That‘ll give us plenty of time to get to the concert. Q: What do we learn from this conversation? (C) 9. W: Stop for a minute. I‘d like to look at this exhibition in the window. M: Why not go inside and see if we can get something on literature and sports? Q: Where are they standing? (A) 10. W: What do you think of the film on channel 5 last night? It was about how a couple went through the hardships in their life. M: I wish I‘d stayed awake long enough to see the whole thing. Q: What does the man mean? (C)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
M: Dear, what‘s on the television tonight? W: Why ask me that? You know I never watch it. M: Too busy with the latest hobby, are you? What is it this time, knitting socks for your nephews? Or collecting buttons? I really wish I had as much free time as you do. W: As a matter of fact, you probably have more time than I do. But you waste it all watching television. M: That‘s not a waste of time. I‘ve got to relax sometimes. W: Sometimes, maybe, but not all the time. And anyway, I relax with my hobbies. A change is as good as a rest. M: Well, watching TV is my hobby, and I learn a lot from it. W: But it doesn‘t teach you to do anything, does it? You must sit there and stare at it. That‘s not learning.
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M: But I do learn. There are lots of educational programs. W: But you don‘t watch them, do you? Whenever an educational program comes on, you either switch to the other channel or go to sleep. M: When I come home from work, I need to put my feet up, at least for a while. Life‘s not all work, you know. W: Hobbies aren‘t work. I like putting my feet up, too, at the end of the day, but I like doing things while I rest. Life‘s too short for us to waste time. M: Dear, as I‘ve said many times, we‘re different. There are two kinds of people in the world. W: I know. Those who are never happy unless they‘re running about doing things.
M: That‘s right, and those who are never happy unless they‘re doing nothing. I‘m one of the latter and you…
W: I know, dear. I‘m one of the former, and proud of it. M: So now we agree. Live, and let live. You can go peacefully back to your buttons collection, and I can watch TV. W: If only you organized yourself better, there‘s so much you could do, really. You‘re wasting your talents. And one last thing --- I‘m not collecting buttons. M: What are you doing then? Making sculptures from potatoes? W: No, I‘m learning how to make Turkish cakes, and the first ones came out very well. Of course, if you‘re too tired, I won‘t insist on you trying them. Questions: 1. When does the woman watch TV? (C) (C) (A) 2. Which of the following is NOT one of the woman‘s latest hobbies? 3. What are the woman‘s comments on the man‘s hobby? 4. Which of the following is the man unwilling to do? 5. What is the woman learning to do now? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. F (B) (B)
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Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). The sports programs enjoy a boom among TV viewers. According to a survey, 78 percent of viewers frequently watch sports programs, which is obviously far ahead of other televised events. News follows second with 68 percent of viewers, compared with 54 percent movie watchers. Documentary seems preferable among people than specials does, with 42 percent and 26 percent respectively. Why do so many people like to watch sports games? One of the reasons perhaps is that sports provide a way of venting pent-up emotions. People extract themselves from routine life and fully express their feeling towards sports. Stimulated by the excitement, they applaud for the victory and hold their breath for the very exciting competition. In a sense, sports are a heaven for people to escape from boredom and tension. Enthusiasm for sports also reflects people‘s desire to go beyond geographical and cultural limits. Free from border and language difference, sports are accessible to everyone. People will no longer be confined to a certain living circle. They can share the same fantasy with the viewers at another hemisphere. Taken by sports, they can float freely from country to country, continent to continent. Sports thus become a common language for all the people throughout the world. Questions: 1. Which sentence of the following can express the main idea of the passage? throughout the world? (D) (B) (D) 2. Why does the author say sports become a common language for all the people 3. Why do so many people like to watch sports games? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the chart with the correct chosen from A to E. Key:
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1.
E
2. D
3. C
4. B
5. A
Passage Two Task One Listen and choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Is there such a thing as a typical American film? There are many features that mark a movie as American, but perhaps the most essential is the theme of the loner-hero. From the earliest days of silent films until the recent science fiction ones, the American movie has concentrated on the role of one individual who spends his or her life combining the forces of evil – and the good guy, the hero, usually wins. In the western movie, which comes out of many legends of the American West, a typical figure is the lonesome cowboy. He wanders into a town and straightens out his troubles. Then the strong and independent hero rides off into the sunset alone. Americans like this image in their films because they are highly independent, and individualism counts a great deal with them. An individual who is able to correct the evils of the world, or of a small town, is someone to admire. Even the gangster movie, a very popular form of the typical American film, usually has a hero. Either he is a lawman out to catch the criminals or a gangster who suddenly sees the light and tries to go straight. These films kept the same tone as the western --- the bad cannot triumph! One good person can save the innocent. Recent science fiction films deal with the same themes. Against the forces of alien powers, people will fight to protect their ideals. Here, too, the action centers around a single individual, but now he or she must save the world. The hero battles the unknown, trusting in inner capabilities and in the power of good over evil. Fearless, the hero of a typical American movie does not hesitate to jump into the action. This dominant theme of the American movie is familiar to people around the world. Key: 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. D 5. A
Task Two Listen to the passage again and answer the following questions. Key: 1. 4 types.
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2. Silent film, science fiction films, western movies, gangster movies. 3. The bad cannot triumph.
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. A film named ―The Gods Must Be Crazy‖ (1) described the social change caused by the introduction of a (2) single item from the outside world. While a (3) pilot was flying in a light plane over a (4) remote desert in South Africa after drinking a bottle of soda he threw the bottle out of the window (5)randomly. It fell to the ground in the remote area where an African (6) tribe lived. The people there had almost no (7)possessions or sense of private property. No one here had seen a soda bottle before. And, because it came from the sky, (8) they believed that it must be a unique gift from the gods. When the bottle was first found, it was something new and people of all ages enjoyed appreciating it, playing with it and thinking about its purpose. However, (9) after a short period arguments and conflicts arose among group members about who should possess the bottle and why. (10) The harmony of this peaceful society was disturbed by the introduction of a new item of technology and, as it was told in the film, ties of affection were broken and people‘s trust in each other destroyed.
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Unit 12 Social Work
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Q: 2. I thought you would have the repairman come to fix the water heater. Why didn‘t the woman have the repairman come? (A)
W: I tried calling him all day but his phone apparently was out of order.
W: Are you going to the Smith‘s party tomorrow? M: Q: I‘m afraid not. I have to work on my paper and my wife will visit her parents. Why isn‘t the man going to the party? (A)
3.
M:
Mark said he was looking for a job in the book store. he?
W: But then, when he had the chance to work there, he turned it down, didn‘t Q: 4. What can be inferred about Mark? (B)
W: I hear you are joining that expedition across Alaska. Did you get much funding for it? M: Q: You must be joking! I have to pay my own airfare and contribute towards the cost of supplies. What does the man say about the expedition? (A)
5.
M: Q:
Mike certainly shows a lot of enthusiasm on the tennis courts. What does the woman imply about Mike? (D)
W: If only he showed as much for the studies.
6.
W: I am proud of you, building that bridge. It‘s the greatest thing I have ever
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seen in my life. M: Q: Oh, I am only a small part of a team. There are more than 200 professional people on this job. What does the man think of his contribution to the building of the bridge? (C) 7. M: Q: 8. Good morning, Mrs. Patrick. What seems to be the trouble? What is the relationship between the two speakers? (C)
W: I woke up this morning with a pain in my left leg.
W: Good evening, sir. Is anything wrong? M: Q: I‘m afraid there is. The service here has been terrible. We had to wait 40 minutes for the soup and then it was stone cold. Where does this conversation most probably take place? Where will I be able to buy souvenirs? later. Q: What most probably is the woman‘s occupation? (C) (C)
9.
M:
W: I‘m sure you‘ll find some souvenirs you like at the crafts market we‘ll visit
10. W: Good afternoon, sir. What can I do for you? M: Q: Some travelers are coming for dinner this evening. I want to reserve three tables for four and three for two, please. How many people are coming for dinner? (D)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: Hi, Mary. Do you what to start writing a lab report after we finish this
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experiment? W: I can‘t. In fact, I need to finish early because I‘m going over to the Psychology Department to talk to Professor Smith about the job opening. M: You mean a job on campus? W: Yeah. And it sounds pretty interesting. It involves helping with her study on learning styles. You know, some people learn best by sight, while others learn best by hearing or touch. M: Yes. I know that‘s her area of expertise. W: Right! Anyway, for her study, she‘s taking some high school students who‘re doing very well in the classes and testing them to find out what their learning styles are. Then tutors, people like me, will work with them, presenting materials to them in their particular learning styles. M: Hay, that is interesting. Now, will you mostly do the testing or the tutoring? W: Both I hope. I want to be involved from start to finish. M: Are you going to be paid for this? W: I‘m sure we‘ll get something though probably not much. Anyway, it doesn‘t matter to me. I just want to have some hands-on experience. M: Yeah, and that‘ll be nice to help the high school students too. W: That‘s what I thought when I saw the ad. You know you could do it too. You don‘t have to be in her class to work or to study. M: Really? You have any idea what the schedule is like? W: Late afternoon and evening for tutoring. I think, after all, the kids have regular classes until 3:30. M: Actually, that‘s perfect for me. W: Then come along. We‘ll save the lab report for later. But we‘d better make sure we do a good job on our experiment first. M: Yeah, first things first. Questions: 1. What the speakers mainly discussing about? (D) (B) (C) 2. Why is the woman interested in working with Professor Smith? 3. What will the college students do for high school students? 4. What will the speakers probably do next? (D) (B) 5. How did the woman know about the job opening?
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Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Child labor --- the employment of children in industry, often against their will --has been a problem for many years. Over a hundred years ago, Charles Dickens shocked many of his readers when he described the conditions under which young children worked in British factories. The condition Dickens described continues almost unchanged today in many parts of the world. The only difference is that today employment of children is confined to small industries and family businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and particularly farms, rather than large factories. Girls suffer more from child labor practices than boys. Many of them are forced to start work when they are only ten years old. Although the work they are given to do is often light, it is often harmful to the health. Recently, children as young as six years old were found to be working in Asian factories, and the children were working from eight to fourteen hours a day in overcrowded and unhealthy working conditions. Sometimes a whole family group is employed, with the payment going to a parent or older relative. The children not only receive nothing or very little for their long hours of work, but also they are prevented from attending school. Therefore, when they become older they are unable to do any other kind of work. Solutions to the problem of child labor are clear better laws to protect young children, greater supervision of industry and heavier fines for those who break the laws. Only in these ways can young boys and girls be allowed to enjoy the most valuable time of their lives — childhood.
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Questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is the passage mainly about? (B) (A) (B) Which of the following statements is NOT true?
How old are the youngest children found to be working in Asian factories? working? (D) (D)
Which of the following describes the conditions under which young children are What does the writer suggest to solve the problem of child labor?
Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: 1. against 2. shocked 3. overcrowded 4. relative 5. solutions
Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Social workers spend their days helping people with complicated psychological, health, social, or financial problems. They assist families in need and people who are the victims of abuse. They provide counseling, advice, and direction for people who would otherwise have no way of bettering their situations. While seeing people who are confused, scared, and troubled by problems all day long may sound disheartening, social workers told us that they were uplifted by their job and that they truly felt they were doing work of value. Social workers, around half of whom work for local and federal governments, have to be familiar with all assistance programs and services available for those in need. This requires continuing education to keep abreast of programs, their funding, and their efficacy. Social workers have to be prepared for disappointments from their clients as well. Over 30 percent of urban families assigned a social worker miss one of their first three appointments. Still, most professionals invest themselves heavily in
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the fates of their clients, and a number of our respondents called this involvement emotionally draining. More and more, social workers are being asked to find an area of focused responsibility, such as criminal justice issues, or medical issues. This can leave the social worker a bit dissatisfied, as often a client will have a number of problems, and they have a very prescribed range of duties they can perform. Questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is this passage mainly about? (A) (C) (D) (A) Which of the following statement is false?
Which of the following is true of social workers? How do social workers look at their own jobs? of responsibility? (C)
What is the possible consequence of asking social workers to find a focused area
Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: 1. psychological 2. bettering 3. value 4. abreast 5. fates
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. For many women, choosing whether to work or not to work outside their home is a luxury: They must work to survive. Others face a hard decision. Perhaps the easiest choice has to do with (1) economics. One husband said,
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―Marge and I decided after careful (2) consideration that for her to go back to work at this moment was an extravagance we couldn‘t afford.‖ With two preschool children, it soon became clear in their figuring that with babysitters, transportation, and increased taxes, rather than having more money, they might (3) actually end up with less. Economic factors are usually the first to be considered, but they are not the most important. The most important aspects of the decision have to do with the (4) emotional needs of each member of the family. It is in this area that husbands and wives find themselves having to face many (5) confusing and conflicting feelings. There are many women who find that (6) homemaking is boring or who feel imprisoned if they have to stay home with a young child or several children. On the other hand, there are women who think that homemaking gives them the deepest (7) satisfaction. From my own experience, (8) I would like to suggest that sometimes the decision to go back to work is made in too much haste. There are few decisions that I now regret more. (9) I wasn‘t mature enough to see how much I could have gained at home. I regret my impatience to get on with my career. (10) I wish I had allowed myself the luxury of watching the world through my little girl‘s eyes.
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Unit 13 Employment (1)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: When shall we start our work, Mary? W: Tomorrow at 9 o‘clock. But we must work quickly, for we have to finish everything before 2 in the afternoon. Q: 2. For how long can they work? (D)
W: Do you live very far from your work? M: It‘s about twenty miles, but it doesn‘t seem that far. The road is good and there‘s not much traffic. Q: How does the man feel about driving from his home to work? (D)
3.
M: Paul wants to move to California and find a job there. W: I hope he can work here in New York. He‘s our only child. Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers? (B)
4.
W: If I were you, I‘d live in the city instead of travelling to work by train. M: But the country is so beautify in the spring and fall. Q: Where does the man prefer to live? (B)
5.
M: Hello, Jane. I hear that you have a job as a typist at the university. W: Yes, I work at the office every morning. I also do filing and sometimes write letters. Q: What kind of job does the woman have? (D)
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6.
W: Shall I lock the language lab now before I go home? M: Don‘t bother. I‘ll check it myself later. Q: What will the man probably do? (A)
7.
W: You must have said the right things during your interview. They‘re very selective about whom they hire. M: I know how to make a good impression. Q: What can we infer from the conversation? (D)
8.
M: I can‘t find my application forms. I‘ll have to send them to the company first thing tomorrow. W: I‘ll look for it later. Right now I need your help moving the bed upstairs. Q: What will they do first? (B)
9.
W: Are you going to tell Mr. Smith that you‘re looking for another job? M: No, not yet. Besides, if I don‘t find one, I‘ll probably stay here a while longer. Q: What is the man doing? (A)
10. W: It‘s good to have you back at work again. Two weeks is a long time. M: I really enjoyed my trip. Of course, there‘s nothing like taking it easy once a year. Q: Why was the man gone for two weeks? (C)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: W: Mary, were you able to get that report all typed up? Not yet, Mr. Smith. Mrs. Black asked me to type some letters for her. I‘ll be finished pretty quick and then I‘ll start on that.
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M: W:
Don‘t forget I need it first thing in the morning. I have to take it along to Chicago to the regional meeting. Don‘t worry, I‘ll get it done. My husband‘s on a business trip too. He‘s in Detroit today, and tomorrow he‘ll be in Boston. So I‘m planning to stay late. After it‘s typed up, I‘ll leave it on your desk. I should be finished by 8:00 pm.
M: W: M: W: M: W: M: W: M: W:
I‘m sorry to keep you so late. It‘s all right, Mr. Smith. I don‘t mind at all. Besides, I can use a little extra money. My husband‘s birthday is next month. I want to buy him a new watch. What kind are you going to get him, a Bulova? No, I thought I‘d get a Rolex, or an Elgin. I don‘t really know much about watches. I‘ve got one of those Seiko digitals. I really like it. Do you think my husband would like one like that? I‘m sure he would. The only problem is that it‘s a little bit heavy. If it‘s that good, I think I‘ll go ahead and get him one. Well, at least he won‘t get a tie. That‘s what I usually get. Remember, it‘s the thought that counts.
Questions: 1. Where is Mr. Smith going? (A) (D) (C) (B) (A) 2. When will Mary finish the report?
3. What kind of watch is Mary going to buy?
4. What is the problem with Mr. Smith‘s watch? 5. What is the relation between the two speakers? Task Two
Listen to the conversation again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. T
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some
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questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). There are times that you will be asked a hard question during a job interview. Don‘t panic, they just want to see how you handle a difficult situation. Being prepared is always the best policy. Here are some samples of questions and some advice on how to handle them properly. Why should we choose you? To this question, you can ask yourself why you applied, what makes you suitable for this position, what the company can gain from hiring you, what you have to offer, how you would handle this job, and so on. Often they ask you to tell them about yourself. You can split your answer into two, the professional and the personal level. Both are important, and how you move from one to the other depends on what you have to say. You can give a brief summary of your life, professional and personal, with less emphasis on the early past, and more emphasis on the present and the future. When asked ―What are your weaknesses?‖ don‘t say, ―I don‘t have any.‖ Everyone has weaknesses, and it takes strength to recognize them. Say something relevant but not hugely important to the specific position, and always add something positive like, ―I haven‘t had a lot of exposure to the onsite work, but I‘m looking forward to being more involved in dealing with customers directly and learning their needs.‖ Another common question is: ―What are your strengths?‖ You should customize your answer to meet the position requirements. Keep in mind the things they asked for in the advertisement. Tell them your strengths, but also show them how they would apply to this job. To show how your strengths were valuable, use the ―why, where, when, how‖ to demonstrate and prove your strengths. Questions: 1. What is the passage mainly about? choose you?‖ (D) 3. What does the speaker say you should emphasize when introducing yourself? weaknesses?‖ (D) (A) 4. What does the speaker advice you NOT to say when asked ―What are your (D) 2. What does the speaker NOT mention as an answer to the question ―Why should we
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5. What should you say when asked about your strong points? Task Two
(B)
Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: 1. panic Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). There are laws against discrimination on racial grounds. Racial grounds include color, race, nationality and ethnic/national origin. Discrimination can come from anywhere. It could be a colleague, department supervisor, your manager or your employer. Discrimination does not have to be proven as intentional --- the fact that it has taken place is enough for action to be taken. If you feel that an employer is treating you unfairly, there are a number of steps to take. If you think you are being treated less favorably than others due to your color, race, nationality or ethnic/national origin, the first thing to do is to find out if other colleagues are receiving similar treatment. You should also ask your colleagues if they have noticed your less favorable treatment. Find out if anyone is willing to stand by you. If you can, try to speak personally to the person who has been discriminating against you and ask them to stop or warn them that you will complain officially. If things do not improve, talk to your union if you are a member, and, if need be, raise a written grievance with your employer. Keeping a record of events, dates and times of the discriminatory behavior will help you if you need to do this, as your grievance should be as detailed and accurate as you can make it. The grievance should be signed and dated, and you should keep a copy. It is likely that you will be met with vigorous denials by the person you are accusing and you may have to prove that your allegations of racial discrimination are serious. If you do not get satisfaction through your initial actions, the final step would be 2. professional 3. positive 4. involved 5. requirements
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to take the case to an Employment Tribunal. You will need some advice and support to proceed further, for example from an organization like the Equality and Human Rights Commission or a trade union. If you wish to take the case to an Employment Tribunal, you must apply within three months of the date of the last discriminatory act, although this time limit may be extended if you have raised a written grievance. Questions: 1. Which of the following does not belong to racially-grounded discrimination? (B) 2. Which of the following statements is false? (D) (A) 3. When unfairly treated, what is the first thing for one to do? (C) 5. What is mainly talked about in this passage? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: 1. intentional 2. favorable 3. discriminatory 4. initial 5. extended (D)
4. If you wish to take the case to an Employment Tribunal, how soon must you apply?
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. An employer is a person or (1) institution that hires employees or workers. Employers offer wages or a salary in exchange for the worker's labor power, depending upon whether the employee is paid by the hour or a set rate per pay period. A salaried employee is typically not paid more for more hours worked than the (2)
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minimum, whereas wages are paid for all hours worked, including (3) overtime. Employers include everything from individuals hiring a (4) babysitter to governments and businesses which may hire many thousands of employees. In most western societies governments are the largest single employers, but most of the work force is employed in small and medium businesses in the private (5) sector. Although employees may contribute to an (6) enterprise, the employer maintains control over the productive base of land and capital, and is the entity named in contracts. The employer typically maintains ownership of (7) intellectual property created by an employee within the scope of employment and as a function thereof. These are known as ―works for hire‖. (8) An employers‘ relative level of power over employees is dependent upon numerous factors; the most influential being the nature of the employment relationship. The relationship employers share with employees is affected by three significant factors --- interests, control and motivation. (9) It is up to employers to effectively manage and balance these factors to ensure a harmonious and productive working relationship. The employment relationship is a difficult challenge for employers to manage, as (10) all three facets are often in direct competition with each other, with interests, control and motivation often clashing in the equally important quest for individual employee autonomy, employer command and ultimate profits.
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Unit 14 Employment (2)
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Does the boss check up on you often? hour, although I‘m sure it‘s not that often. Q: 2. M: What does the boss do? (D) If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house by early next week. W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frame and yellow for the wall, but I‘ll let you know tomorrow for sure. Q: 3. Who is the woman talking to? and working overtime. M: Q: 4. M: That‘s true, but it‘s no bother to me. The work is interesting and fun. I don‘t mind the extra hours at all. How does the man feel about his job? (A) Did you get the job you interviewed for? I think I‘ll like the people better, too. Q: 5. M: Q: 6. M: How does she feel about working? (B) W: I heard Peter has been to the interview today. How did it go? Oh, if he had just relaxed, he would have done fine. What can we learn about Peter? (D) Jim seemed to be bored with his new job. (A) W: You seem to have a lot of work at your office. You re always staying late
W: Indeed she does. It seems as though she‘s in here three or four times an
W: Yes, and I‘m very excited about it. It pays much better than my old job, and
W: That‘s just like him.
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Q: 7. M:
What can be inferred from the conversation?
(A)
How did you find your new job? Was it advertised in the paper? told me about this job. So I applied and got it.
W: I looked and looked for months without finding anything. Then a friend Q: 8. M: Q: 9. M: Q: M: Q: How did the woman learn about the job opening? Helen doesn‘t take a part-time job this semester. What is implied about Helen? (B) (B)
W: No. Her grades enabled her to earn a scholarship. W: If Jane‘s watch had not been slow, she would have been on time. That‘s true. But her watch used to tell the right time, you know. What do we learn from the conversation? (A)
10. W: Speed up. You‘re driving so slowly that we‘ll never get where we‘re going. You‘re criticizing my driving so frequently that you‘d better stop it. Otherwise, you might end up walking. What can you conclude from this conversation? (C)
Part B Long Conversation
Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). W: M: W: M: W: M: W: M: W: M: Please sit down. Let‘s see, you‘re Mr. Walsh, is that right? Right. And you are looking for a job? Yes, I am. I‘ll graduate from college next June. I‘m majoring in architecture. I see. Have you ever done any work in this field? No, nothing. We did some practice work in class though. Do you have copies of your letters of recommendation with you? Yes. One‘s from Dr. Hilton and one‘s from Mr. Phelps. Good. Now what kind of salary are you hoping to get? From what I‘ve read it seems that a starting salary would be around $12,000 a year.
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W:
Here you would start at $10,500 for the first year—a kind of training period. Then you would go to $15,000. After that your raises would depend on how well you work.
M: W: M: W: M: W: M: W:
That sounds fair enough. What about other benefits, things like vacation? Those are all explained in this pamphlet. You can take it along and look at it. Is it all right if I send in the rest of the things for my application? That would be fine. After Mr. Sheehan looks all the applications over he‘ll make the final decision. What do you think are the chances of my getting the job? Well, I‘m taking to three people today and four tomorrow. We‘ll be hiring two people. I surely hope that I can work here. But I guess I‘ll just have to go home and wait. You‘ll hear sometime next month. Good luck and thanks for coming today.
Questions: 1. What salary does the company pay the first year? 2. How many people are applying for the job? 3. When will the man find out if he gets the job? 4. What subject is the man majoring in? (C) (C) (C) (A) (B)
5. How many people does this company want to hire this time? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. F
Part C Passages
Passage One Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
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A typical job interview has a single candidate meeting with between one and three persons representing the employer; the potential supervisor of the employee is usually involved in the interview process. A larger interview panel will often have a specialized human resources worker. The meeting can be as short as 15 minutes; job interviews usually last less than two hours. The bulk of the job interview will be the interviewers asking the candidate questions about their history, personality, work style and other relevant factors to the job. The candidate will usually be given a chance to ask any questions at the end of the interview. Questions are strongly encouraged, not only do they allow the interviewee to acquire more information but they also demonstrate the candidate‘s strong interest in the position and company. A candidate should follow up the interview with a thank you letter expressing their appreciation for the opportunity of meeting with the company representative. The thank you letter ensures that the candidate will stay fresh in the interviewer‘s mind. The primary purpose of the job interview is to assess the candidate‘s suitability for the job, although the candidate will also be assessing the corporate culture and demands of the job on offer. Lower paid and lower skilled positions tend to have much simpler job interviews than more prestigious positions; a lawyer‘s job interview will be much more demanding than that of a retail cashier. Most job interviews are formal; the larger the firm, the more formal and structured the interview will tend to be. Candidates generally dress slightly better than they would for work, with a suit being appropriate for a white-collar job interview, but jeans being appropriate for an interview as a plumber. Questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How many candidates are often involved in a typical job interview? How long do job interviews often last? (B) (B) (D) (C) Why do interviewees often ask questions at the end of an interview? What is the principal purpose of a job interview? (A)
What suggestions can be concluded for interviewees from this passage?
Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage.
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Key: 1. potential 2. specialized 3. candidate 4. prestigious 5. structured
Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). A growing number of white-collar workers and other job seekers are so discouraged that they‘re giving up. Instead of looking for work, they‘re living off severance or buyout packages, moving back in with Mom and Dad or relying on a spouse‘s income to get by. They‘re gray-haired managers who are going back to school and working mothers who are becoming stay-at-home moms after being laid off. Some disheartened job seekers are making money on e-Bay, selling their poetry or doing odd jobs for neighbors instead of sending out more résumés. About 4.7 million Americans want jobs but are not looking for work, up from 4.6 million in January of 2003, according to the Department of Labor. There are a variety of reasons they may be unable to look for work. They may be unable to job hunt because they don‘t have a car or can‘t find child care. But some aren‘t looking because they believe there are no jobs out there: More than 400,000 workers are so discouraged by the job market that they‘ve given up looking for work. More and more workers are jumping out of the game. While some are trying to develop new skills or make career changes, others are so demoralized that they‘re doing nothing. The unemployment rate dipped to 5.6% in January, and December marked the lowest unemployment rate in 14 months. But some economists don‘t believe the decline is good news. Rather, they say, the rise in discouraged job seekers is what‘s driving down the jobless rate. Questions: 1. 2. What is the passage mainly about? (A) (D) What do people do for a living when giving up looking for work?
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3. 4. 5.
Why some people are unable to job hunt? What is the unemployment rate in January? news? (B)
(D) (C)
Why do some economists believe the decline of unemployment rate is not good
Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: 1. discouraged 2. Gray-haired 3. disheartened 4. hunt 5. career
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Attention to detail is something everyone can and should do especially in a (1) tight job market. Bob Smith, a human resources expert notices this in the job applications that come across his desk every day. ―It‘s amazing how many candidates (2) eliminate themselves,‖ he says. ―Resumes arrive with (3) stains. Some candidates don‘t bother to spell the company‘s name correctly. Once I see a mistake, I eliminate the candidate,‖ Smith concludes. ―If they cannot take of these details, why should we trust them with a job?‖ Can we pay too much attention to detail? Absolutely not. Perfectionists (4) struggle over little things at the cost of something larger they work toward. ―To keep from losing the forest for the trees,‖ says Charles Garfield, associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, ―We must (5) constantly ask ourselves how the details we‘re working on fit into the larger picture. If they don‘t, we should drop them and move to something else.‖ Garfield (6) compares this process to his work as a computer scientist at NASA. ―The Apollo II moon (7) launch was
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slightly off-course 90 percent of the time,‖ says Garfield, ―But a successful landing was still likely because we knew the exact coordinates of our goal. (8) This allowed us to make adjustments as necessary.‖ Knowing where we want to go helps us judge the importance of every task we undertake. (9) Too often we believe what accounts for others‘ success is some special secret or a lucky break. But rarely is success so mysterious. Again and again, (10) we see that by doing little things within our grasp well, large rewards follow.
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Unit 15
Part A Short Conversations
Woman’s Status
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Do women get married young in Korea? W: Not really. Very few get married before the age of 20. Q: What can we learn about the women in Korea from the conversation? woman. M: You should air your views more emphatically and demand that your voice be heard. Q: What is the woman complaining about? (D) 3. W: While I‘m scrambling the eggs, could you put the flour into the bowl? M: You bet, darling. I‘ll also turn the oven on so that it gets warmed up. Q: Where does this conversation probably take place? (B) 4. M: Hmm. Do women usually work after they get married in your country? W: No, a lot of women stay home and take care of their families. But some work. Q: What can we learn from the conversation? (D) 5. W: I‘m your waitron, you know, a non-sexist word for a person who waits on you. In this restaurant we‘re waitrons. What drinks would you like? M: I‘d like to have a beer and orange juice for my spouse, please. Q: Where does the conversation probably take place? (D) 6. M: How do you think a home should be organized when the wife goes out to work? W: Well, of course, nowadays it… it‘s not true any more that men go out to work and women don‘t because most working-class women… ahm … either go out to work or have to go out to work. And yet still the pattern remains that most men come home to a house and to a woman where everything is expected. She … she is expected to do everything. Q: What is no longer true nowadays according to the woman? (B)
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(C)
2. W: I get furious at work when my opinions aren‘t considered just because I‘m a
7. M: Julia, come and see the Miss America contest on TV. All those beautiful girls are walking around in bathing suits, so the judges can decide who has the best figure. W: Bah! That‘s the worst kind of exploitation. They are treating women like toys for people to enjoy. I would never take part in this kind of contest. Q: What do the man and the woman think about the beauty contest? (A) 8. W: The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the workplace. Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work. M: Yeah. In the United States, women earn only 70 percent of what men do for the same job. It‘s a situation that has to be changed. Q: What does the man say about women? (A) 9. M: Nowadays women are showing their different attitudes to marriage and job. W: Yes, indeed. If I can take myself, which is the … perhaps the easiest thing to do … ahm … 28, single, with a very satisfying job, prospects of moving around in this job, opportunities to go abroad for a short time, a few months and so on. Now, at the moment I have … um … absolutely no desire to acquire a husband or two or half a dozen children. Q: What is the first thing you learn about the woman here? salary is low—otherwise I feel it isn‘t worth doing. M: In other words, Miss Burns, work plays one of the most important roles in your life? Q: What can we learn the woman from the conversation? (C) (B) 10. W: Personally, I couldn‘t work to live. I must enjoy whatever I do — even if the
Part B Long Conversation
Women’s Liberation Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: You can say a lot of women are tied to the kitchen sink. On the other hand, they are free from the necessity to work.
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W: M: W: M: W: M: W: M:
To work? In what sense? To work in the sense of work carrying responsibility; earning a living supporting a family. D‘you think their work in the home doesn‘t carry responsibility? Yes, but they are free from the responsibility of actually going out to work. Is that a responsibility? If you go out to work and sit and file papers all day is that more responsible…? Yes, but you‘re faced with the responsibility of the mortgage, the … Yes, it‘s your own choice though. Yes, it‘s easy to say that to people after they‘ve been trapped, but freedom of choice just disappears after a while. Women get trapped by children, the house; men get trapped by their jobs, the mortgage, the burden of it all. To say one lot is more privileged than the other lot is nonsense.
W: M: W: M: W:
But to pretend that you can go through life without being trapped in any way, to want this complete freedom is just a misconception of what life‘s all about. Yes, sure. At least you‘re given the freedom to choose which trap you‘re going to let yourself fall into. All this is very nice theory but it ignores the fact that the woman is designed by nature to have and look after children. Well. I agree. I couldn‘t possibly dispute ‗have‘ (laughter) but I could dispute ‗look after‘…
Questions: 1. What does the man mean by ‗work‘? 3. What ties women down? (C) (D) (A) (A) (B) 2. In what ways, according to the man, do men get trapped?
4. Is either group (men or women) more privileged? What‘s the man‘s view? 5. What kind of freedom does the woman say men have? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. T 6. F
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Part C Passages
Passage One Women in Business Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Most women in France work. Their average salary is about 75% that of their male co-workers, even though laws passed in 1972 require ‗professional equality‘ between the sexes. The good news is that women are increasingly moving into middle management. A handful is top executives. The higher their position, the harder it is to balance family and career. A 38-year-old woman who graduated from the prestigious National School of Administration remembers that when she took a senior post in a ministry, her male colleagues assured her, ‗You are one of us, one of the guys.‘ But when she became a mother, they stuck to age-old traditions that she couldn‘t follow — long lunches and late-night meetings. ‗It was too much pressure and I felt like I was being sabotaged,‘ she says. For those who want to balance family with a job, as opposed to a high-pressure, high-visibility career, France is a heaven. Women marry later, on average, than those in America—at age 25. And they stay in the workforce. Part-time jobs are easy to find. Maternity benefits are generous, with over six months of paid leave. Women who‘ve raised three or more children are entitled to a state-funded pension. The quality of publicly funded education for children is high. And abortion is not only legal, but it‘s paid for by the state. French businesswomen dress elegantly, argue intelligently and play hardball at the negotiating table. They show their wit, intellect, ability to make puns and understanding of politics, history and literature. Unlike most American female executives who dress conservatively in a dark, not particularly flattering, suit, with no jewelry and little makeup, Frenchwomen see no need to abandon femininity and elegance in the business world. They prefer soft colors, stylish clothes, silk scarves,
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manicured nails, light makeup, and simple but elegant jewelry. Questions: 1. What do you know about French businesswomen? businesswomen? (A) (C) (B) (C) 2. What does the speaker intend to say through the passage about French 3. What is implied in the passage about French businesswomen? 4. According to the speaker, for whom is France a heaven? (A) Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: Disadvantages: 1. equal pay Advantages : 1. middle management Passage Two Are Women the Weaker Sex? Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Women and men are not created equal. Mother Nature favors her own sex when it comes to longevity, with women living about seven years — or 10% — longer than men. Still, men actually get a head start in the battle of the sexes, since male babies outnumber female babies by 115 to 100. But by about age 30, women have caught up with men numerically, and they then leave men in the dust, with three women alive for man by age 85. 2. part-time jobs 3. six; three or more; quality; legal 2. small; top executives 3. family
5. What is the consequence of the good news for women according to the speaker?
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But there‘s the paradox: While women live longer than men, they‘re generally sicker. Men tend to die from rapidly fatal health problems such as heart attacks, accidents, suicides and homicides. Women, on the other hand, tend to develop lingering illnesses that often cause years of discomfort. Women spend twice as much money on health care as men do. They also consult doctors more frequently, take more drugs, spend more days in hospitals and have more operations. They also take more sick time off from work. Why? The chief causes seem to be genes, hormones and interactions of the two. Many women suffer from chronic conditions like muscle and joint pain, sleep disorder, anxiety, headaches, and fatigue. There is no known cause for them, but they probably result from the body‘s abnormal response to stress. Women may be more likely than men to have these diseases simply because they are under more stress. A woman is often under tremendous stress to fulfill what she sees as her obligations to her family, her community and her employer. Researchers still know little about women‘s health. There is clearly a need for more research into why women come down with chronic illnesses and what can be done about it. Questions: 1. What is the main idea of the passage? (D) (B) (B) 2. What is the speaker‘s attitude toward women‘s health problems? 4. What is the paradox according to the speaker? muscle and joint pain, anxiety, and fatigue? Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. F 6. T 7. T (D) (B)
3. What kind of illness do women often develop according to the speaker?
5. Why, according to the speaker, do many women suffer from chronic conditions like
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is
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read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Elizabeth Blackwell Early in the 19th century, no medical college would (1) accept a woman student. Elizabeth Blackwell, however, was (2) determined to become a doctor. The young American wrote again and again to a number of medical colleges, asking if she could be (3) enrolled, but each time the answer was No. Then one day, to her surprise, she got a letter from the dean of a college in Geneva, which said Yes. At first Geneva College, like the other colleges, was not (4) willing to enroll Lisa. But later several important people at the college learned that Lisa‘s (5) application had the support of a famous doctor, and they were afraid to (6) offend this man. So the dean decided to play a (7) trick by turning the matter over to the students at a student body meeting, thinking that the students would be the last to agree to take Lisa. (8) When the student body met, most students took no interest in the matter. Of the rest, some considered the young American‘s idea interesting and (9) some thought by having Lisa they could be proud of their college training the world‘s first woman doctor. Very soon the students all agreed to accept Elizabeth.
(10) The dean of Geneva College was of course very sorry to learn this, but
seeing that he could do nothing to keep Elizabeth out, he gave in.
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Unit 16 Science and Technology
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: Scientists claim the world population has 99.5% of the same DNA. W: But this doesn‘t tell us there is no such thing as race. Q: What is true of the DNA of different races? know where to go with it? M: Your map seems to differ largely from my geographical map! Q: What does the man imply? get us where we are today. W: Yes, but now that we have genetic engineering, we seem to have decided that we want to be God. Q: What does the woman imply? hopes of perfection. W: It‘s too late to turn back the clock. We‘ll just have to depend on common sense to solve uncommon problems. Q: What does the woman mean? (A) 5. W: In America, many prisoners are having their cases reviewed, and some have even been freed through DNA testing. M: Except for the ones whose death sentence has already been carried out. Q: What can we learn about DNA testing from the dialogue? morning. W: Is that really a good reason to drop the class, Tony? Q: What does the woman mean? (A)
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(B)
2. W: With the advent of the genetic map, we know where everything is, but do we
(C)
3. M: As you know, it has taken millions of years of evolution and natural selection to
(D)
4. M: I think the research into cloning will lead us into dangers, filling us with false
(C)
6. M: I‘m going to drop my information science class. It meets too early in the
7. M: What do you think of the prospects for on-line education? Is it going to replace the traditional school? W: I doubt it. Schools are here to stay, because they are much more than just book learning. Even more and more kids are going on-line, I believe fewer of them will quit school altogether. Q: What does the woman think of conventional schools? (C) 8. M: Now we have satellites and high-powered microscopes, it‘s easy to think we know everything about the world; but we still don‘t understand El Nino. W: Right. Scientists all over the world over are even uncertain about the cause of the warm Pacific current that brings storms or drought — the mysterious El Nino. Q: Which of the following is true according to the conversation? (B) 9. M: Recently, scientists were able to help a man who lost a jawbone for cancer. They recreated bone material for his jaw from stem cells, but there are people who think we should not interfere with nature and manipulate ―what is natural‖. W: It‘s easier to hold such a narrow view if you‘re not in a position to need the benefits of the research. If you‘re missing a jawbone because of cancer, you probably would support the research. Q: According to the woman, when does one support stem cell research? there any comments about? M: Well, to begin with, I was surprised to find out there was so much going on in bones and I found so fascinating about the article the way the bones repair themselves. Q: What is the main comment in the article about human bones according to the man? (D) (C) 10. W: Ok, last night you were supposed to read an article about human bones. Are
Part B Long Conversation
On a Great Natural Wonder Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
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M: It‘s good to see you back. How was your trip to Arizona? Did you see the Grand Canyon? W: Yes, it was fantastic. Now I know why it is listed together with the Nile River as one of the great natural wonders of the world. Here, want to see the picture I took? M: Oh, what a view! It is even bigger than I had imagined. I remember reading about the Great Canyon and I think it said that it was formed suddenly when the earth‘s crust split open during an earthquake. W: Well, not that quickly. Look, here is the picture of the Colorado River. See way down at the bottom of the canyon, that river and its tributaries have been wearing the canyon floor away for ten million years. M: Then the canyon is the result of soil erosion. I‘ll bet geologists have made some interesting discoveries there. W: Not only the geologists, archaeologists have found the bones of extinct animals in caves in the canyon walls. In a cave one hundred and forty feet above the river, they found drift wood that dated back as far as thirty seven thousand years. M: That means the river must have been a hundred and forty feet higher up when it carried the drift wood into the cave. W: It‘s very possible, but of course who knows. The Grand Canyon is full of mysteries. Wouldn‘t you like to go to Arizona some day? M: You bet I would. Questions: 1. Where has the woman been? (B) (A) (A) 2. What type of scientific discoveries does the woman mainly talk about? 3. Where does the woman say the drift wood was found? 4. What would the man like to do some day? the world according to the man? Task Two Listen to the conversation again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). (C) (B)
5. What is Grand Canyon listed together with as one of the great natural wonders of
Key:
1. T 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. T 6. T
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Part C Passages
Passage One Latest Breakthroughs in Technology Task One Listen to the passage and answer the following questions. Everybody thinks of technology as somebody in a lab coat, you know, tinkering with computer chips, but technology is really about how we live and how we communicate. The most fanciful dream of mankind is today a startling reality. Remember when television was considered a fad of the future? It may not be long before our news events and current world happenings will be witnessed in thousands of homes. T-Bo‘s personal TV, an NBC investment, is one of the products that caught many people‘s eye. One of the benefits of having a computer recording video is that the computer can read the video broadcast as it comes in so is the phone rings, you can hit pause on a live broadcast. And not only that, this sort of smart VCR learns which TV shows and characters you like to watch and records them for you. This device is only one of a hundred items, best represents the future. And while we couldn‘t show you all of them, here are a few that reflect some of the new trends. Like Ericsson‘s R380. You can make calls, browse the web, check your calendar and send and receive email, all in this one device. This cell phone actually shows us the future of integrated devices. And I bet you can‘t guess what this is? Although it looks like a watch, in fact, it‘s a camera. That‘s right. A camera. The P3 wrist sort of talks to that whole concept of miniaturization and having devices integrated into things that you wouldn‘t think of. And while the pictures are pretty good, only you can decide whether they‘re worth too grand. When you look at new technologies, they‘re based on the past and what we think that we need, but a lot of times it‘s just sheer human inventiveness that takes it to this next step. And there‘s nothing more exciting than finding a new way of being able to reach out and share information. Key:
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1. Integrated, smaller, faster, better. 2. The combination of computers and communications and then having them disappear from our sight.
Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the chart according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: (1) video broadcast (5) the calendar (2) records them for you (3) calls (6) email (7) pictures (4) the web (8) $2,000
Passage Two The View from Space Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). The Pictures from outer space now show us how much land has changed on earth. These images are taken by Landsat 7, a government satellite. The satellites have been used for 27 years. They reveal the clear-cutting of forests in the northwestern part of the United States. Pictures show the loss of rain forests in South America. NASA's Darrel Williams speaks about the Landsat 7 Project. He said that an eruption caused trees to burn up in a large forest. Fifteen years later, pinkish images from space show that the trees and plant life are growing again. Williams says that clear-cut areas easily show up in the pictures. He wants Americans to look at how much land is being cleared of forests in our country. Satellites have provided other information about changes on earth. In the past ten years, more than four miles have shrunk from glaciers in Alaska. Landsat 7 received these computer images of Glacier Bay in Alaska.
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Hurricanes Floyd and Irene have damaged the coastline in North Carolina. Runoff from farms and silt has gone into the ocean according to satellite images. Loss of trees and forests has caused hotter summers in southern cities such as Atlanta, Georgia. The Landsat 7 images are like pictures in a photo album. Instead of pictures of the family, the album shows changes around the globe in the past 25 years. A new satellite, Terra, is going to be launched by NASA soon. It will be more advanced than Landsat 7 and will take important global pictures. Ocean temperatures and energy loss will be provided by Terra daily. Questions: 1. What is Landsat 7? (B) (D) (C) (A) 2. What does Darrel Williams say occurred after the eruption? 3. How have Alaskan glaciers been affected in the last decade? 4. Why is the Landsat 7 record so unique according to Williams? 5. Which of the following things will Terra be able to do? Task Two Listen to the passage again and number the items below in the correct order in which they occurred in time. Key: 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 6, 7 (D)
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Bioinformatics It‘s a complex name for a complex subject. Bioinformatics is the key to figuring
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out the wealth of (1) information in the human genome project. Researchers have nearly (2) mapped out all of the 30,000 genes that make up human DNA, but making (3) sense of useful data is not easy. The company Double Twist is a (4) pioneer in the business of bioinformatics. Double twist works mainly with information that is also available to the public, sifting through data to find what may help (5) link a biological problem like cancer, to its possible cure. The company then sells (6) software and data to pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, and academic institutions, which use them in their work. This provides a solution to help people better (7) understand data from the human genome project. Bioinformatics speeds up drug development and provides more accurate research. Human Genome Sciences takes the process one step further. (8) It uses bioinformatics to develop drugs using its own genomic information. Right now, Human Genome Sciences has four new drugs being tested that are the results of genomic research. (9) Bioinformatics systems developed within the company played an important role in discovering these drugs. Bioinformatics can also bring much quicker returns for investors. Even though its role is crucial, bioinformatics is only a small part of the overall $ 305 billion biotech sector, accounting for only about $2.23 billion. (10) But some investors believe that bioinformatics has great potential. So unless companies start developing their own bioinformatics systems or partner with companies that can provide them, they may get left behind in the race to discover new drugs.
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Quiz 2
Part A Short Conversations
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. 1. M: The students English Club is having a party on Saturday night. Can you come? W: I would like to, but I work at a restaurant on weekend Q: Why can‘t the woman come to the party? 2. W: Hey, Mike, what‘s that you‘re reading? M: It‘s a letter from a company where I applied for a job. They‘re offering me a job after I graduate. Q: What do we learn about Mike? (B) 3. M: Let‘s see if the basketball game has started yet. W: Started? It must be clear who is winning by now. Q: What does the woman mean? (C) 4. W: Winter is pretty cold here, don‘t you think? M: But I‘m used to cold weather. I‘m from Chicago, you know. It can be very cold in winter there. But my wife doesn‘t quite like the weather here. She‘s from Los Angeles. It‘s much warmer there in winter. Q: What do they think of the weather there? (D) 5. W: When will you be through with your work, John? M: Who knows? My boss usually finds something for me to do at the last minute. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? (B) 6. W: Mr. Brown, I tried to memorize the script but I keep forgetting the lines. M: Look, Jane, You‘ll be fine if you stop putting so much pressure on yourself. Q: What does the man mean? (C) 7. W: I hope you enjoyed the movie last night. I wasn‘t sure I would. M: I wasn‘t either, but once it started, I simply got glued to the screen. Q: What can you learn from the conversation? (D) (C)
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8. M: You don‘t have enough experience or qualifications for this role. What makes you believe you could handle the position? W: I‘m a fast learner and enjoy learning on the job. My natural skills lie in this area, and I‘m confident that I could handle the challenge. Given a chance, I would prove myself. Q: What is the woman saying? (D) 9. W: We lived in Beijing some years ago. It was always difficult to keep the house clean with the wind from the north blowing sand from the desert at us. M: That‘s why the Chinese government has been encouraging people to plant trees along the edges of the Gobi Desert. Now those trees act as wind barriers. Q: What did the government encourage people to do? (A) 10. M: I used to love giving my mother a present on Mother‘s Day. It always made her cry, then she‘d hug me hard enough to squeeze the breath out of me. W: Mothers are really no different from anyone else. They love to be loved, that‘s all. Q: What was the mother‘s response to her son‘s gift? (A)
Part B Long Conversation
Career Planning Task One In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). M: Well, some people seem to feel that their jobs are often misunderstood by others. Do you think this sort of thing is very common? W: Oh, absolutely. Most jobs or professions seem to have an image or a stereotype attached to them, often much to the irritation of the job-holders. But there is a serious point to all this, too, that maybe young people actually choose their careers under the influence of these false images. And certainly, there is evidence that they may even avoid certain careers that have a negative image. Well, on a large scale, as you can imagine, this could cause problems for the economy. M: Er, you say there‘s evidence?
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W: Oh most definitely. There was a survey recently into children‘s attitudes to different professions. M: How was that done, though? Because, after all, children don‘t know much about the world of work before they get into it. W: Well, exactly. What the investigators wanted to get at was their impressions and their prejudices. They used a very simple technique. They gave the children twelve pairs of statements. In each pair one statement was positive, the other was its opposite. M: For example? W: Well, for example, ―Such and such a person is likely to be boring or interesting company.‖ M: I see, what professions did they ask about? W: Do you want the whole list? M: Well, why not? W: OK. Here it goes. They looked at: physicists, lawyers, economists, accountants, sales representatives, estate agents, biologists, and three types of engineers — mechanical engineers, electrical and civil. The children were asked to say which of the statements was ―most true‖ about each profession. Questions: 1. Why do some people seem to feel that their jobs are often misunderstood by others according to the woman? image? (C) (D) (B) (A) 2. What may be the effect of avoiding choosing certain careers that have a negative 3. Who were the respondents of the survey mentioned by the woman? 4. What is the purpose of the survey? (A) Task Two Listen to the passage again and then decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Key: 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. F
5. Which of the following may be the best choice for the title of the conversation?
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Part C Passages
Passage One High-tech Helpers for Travelers Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). What is coming up for travelers, technologically speaking? One kind of the new equipment will be an electronic voice mail system option at some hotels. The computerized system is designed to enable each guest to record and receive messages through the room phone by using any touch-tone phone any hour of the day. In effect, this system will answer your room phone when you cannot or you‘re not there and play a personally recorded message. Incoming calls can be played back through the room phone by using an individually created four-digit security code. If you are away from the hotel, you can call your room from any touch-tone phone, input your code to get your messages. In addition, guests will be able to change their messages at any time to let others know where they are. At the end of each stay the guest‘s messages will be wiped out. This direct message system will allow callers to leave a message of any length and in any language, so there is more accuracy than in hotel operators taking the messages. A computerized dashboard navigational map may be another new option for travelers. The map system is fixed on a four-inch video screen above the dashboard and comes with an electronic compass and a map database. Basically, the map can help drivers find an unfamiliar place and shift routes if a primary route is filled with traffic. They can locate another way to get to the place they want to go. Questions: 1. As far as the ease of travel is concerned, what can we know from the passage? (D) 2. According to the passage, which of the following about an electronic voice mail
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system option is not true? (A)
(B)
3. Which of the following about the guest‘s messages at the end of each stay is true? 4. Why does the message system mentioned in the passage have advantages over the operators delivering messages? way while driving? Task Two Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks according to what you have just heard in the passage. Key: (1) record and receive messages (4) play a personally recorded message (7) wiped out Passage Two Task One You are going to hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear each question, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). On March 26, 2000, the Kingdome in Seattle was destroyed. It was taken down to make room for a new stadium. The blast from the falling Kingdome caused the Earth to shake as if an earthquake had happened. Scientists placed more than 200 seismic recorders in the Earth to measure the movement. They found which parts of the city shook the most. This information helped them predict which parts of the city would be damaged in a real earthquake. On February 28, 2001, the real thing happened. The Nisqually earthquake was 6.8 on the Richter scale. It damaged the same parts of Seattle that scientists had predicted from the Kingdome blast. It was a slab quake. It started deep in the Earth, 37 miles below the surface on the Juan de Fuca plate. There are huge plates under the Earth‘s crust that move very slowly, sometimes they bend causing earthquakes. (8) allow callers (2) any hour (5) input (9) accuracy (3)answer your room phone (6) at any time (10) operators (C) (A) 5. How does a traveler make use of the map on the video screen to choose the best
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Scientists have learned that deep earthquakes have very few aftershocks. The Nisqually earthquake had only 4. Another earthquake in California that was close to the surface had over 120 aftershocks. Scientists do not know why the deep earthquakes have fewer aftershocks. Scientists plan to set off explosives in the ground near Seattle aimed at the slab (plate). The shockwaves from the blast will bounce off the slab and give them an idea of where the plate is and how it is moving. This will give them more information in case another real earthquake hits the area. Questions: 1. Why were the scientists interested in the demolition of the Seattle Kingdome? 2. What do scientists predict will happen after a deep earthquake? plate? (A) (B) (C) (B) (D)
3. What do scientists hope to learn from setting off explosives above the Juan de Fuca 4. Which type of earthquakes has the most aftershocks?
5. Why do earthquakes tend to happen where the Earth‘s plates meet? Task Two
Listen to the passage again and number the items below in the correct order in which they occurred in time. Key: 3, 6, 4, 1, 2, 5
Part D Compound Dictation
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 1 to 7 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered 8 to 10 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Tests Show Women Suited for Space Travel Between 1977 and 1981, three groups of American women, numbering 27 in all,
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between the age of 35 and 65, were given month-long tests to (1) determine how they would respond to conditions resembling those (2) aboard the space shuttle. Though carefully selected from among many (3) applicants the women were volunteers and the pay was barely above the minimum wage. They were not allowed to (4) smoke or drink alcohol during the tests, and they were expected to (5) tolerate each other‘s company at close quarters for the entire period. Among other things they had to stand (6) pressure three times the force of gravity and carry out both physical and (7) mental tasks while exhausted from strenuous physical exercise. At the end of ten days, (8) they had to spend a further twenty days absolutely confined to bed, during which time they suffered backaches and other discomforts, and when they were finally allowed up, the more physically active women were especially subject to pains due to a slight calcium loss. (9) Results of the tests suggest that women will have significant advantages over men in space. They need less food and less oxygen and they stand up to radiation better. (10) Men‘s advantages in terms of strength and stamina, meanwhile, are virtually wiped out by the zero-gravity condition in space.
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