英语听力教程(第2册)Unit 4 听力原文

Unit4听力原文PartIBTom:Whatkindofschooldidyougoto,Ann?Ann:Well,Iwenttoapublicprimaryschoolandthentoaprivatehighschool.Tom:Sowhichdoyouthinkisbetter?Ann:Actually,Ipreferprivateschoolsbecauseofthesmallerclassesand...usuallyyouhaveawiderchoiceofsubjects.Tom:Yeah,Isupposethat’strue.Ann:Andthenthereareusuallybettersportsfacilities.Forexample,theschoolIwenttohadaswimmingpoolandahugegym.Tom:Yeah...well,thepublichighschoolIwenttohadgreatsportsfacilities.Besides,privateschoolsarereallyexpensive.Ann:Yeah,butIthinkthey’reworthit.Tom:Idon’tknow.Ithinkyouhavetojudgeeveryschoolindividually,whetherit’spublicorprivate.Ann:Thatmaybetrue...butchildrengenerallygetabetter,more...well-roundededucationinaprivateschool.Tom:Maybe,butI’mnottotallyconvinced.Bytheway,Ann,wereyouonthedebatingteaminhighschool,byanychance?Ann:Isurewas!Iwasthecaptain!CSteve’sfirstmorningStevewasrathernervousabouthisfirstdayofthepolytechnic.Hedidn’tknowanyotherstudentsandhedidn’tknowhiswayaroundthebuilding.At9o’clock,hewasatthemainentrancewithacrowdofhundredsofotherstudents.AllofthemseemtoknowwhattodoexceptSteve.Thenhefoundanotice.Therewasameetingforallthefirst-yearstudents.Hefoundthemallwaitinginthelargehall.First,thedirectorofthePolytechnicwelcomedthem.Thentheheadofstudents’services,andfinallytheheadofphysicaleducation.Headofphysicaleducation:I’mheretotellyouaboutthesportyoucandoatthePoly.HereinEdington,wehaveafitnessroomwhereyoucandoexercisestokeepfit,andweeklyyoucandoallsortsofsports,suchastennis,football,hockeyandbadminton.Buttherearealsomanyotheractivities.Youcangosailing.Youcangodown-caves.Youcangoclimbingandmanymore.Wehopeallofyouwilltakepartinatleastoneofthese.Ifyouwanttojoin,comeonweeklyonWednesdayafternoon.Anyquestions?Astudent:Whataboutswimming?Headofphysicaleducation:Wedon’thaveourownpool.ButyoucanswiminthepublicpoolsinHanksyorMustonFerry.Afterthemeetingwasover,Stevelookedatthistimetable.Hisfirstclasswasbusinessstudies,andwasinroom316.ButwherewasRoom316?Steve:Excuseme.DoyouknowwhereRoom316is?Malestudent1:Oh,Ihaven’taclue,mate.Steve:DoyouknowwhereRoom316is?Femalestudent1:No,doyou?Steve:I’mlookingforRoom316.Malestudent2:Oh,notanotherFirstyear.Lookatthenoticeboard.Steve:Butwhereisthenoticeboard?Malestudent2:Don’taskme.Steve:CouldyoutellmewhereRoom316is?Femalestudent2:YoumeanbusinessstudiesforCateringstudents.Steve:That’sit.Femalestudent2:Oh,I’mlookingforitformyself.You’reafirst-year?Steve:Yes.Femalestudent2:SoamI.Let’sseeifwecanfindittogether.Questions:1.WherewasSteveat9o’clock?2.Howmanypeoplemadewelcomespeechesatthemeetingforallthefirstyearstudents?3.Whoarethey?4.WhatkindsofsportsareavailableinEdingtonPolytechnic?5.WhatwasSteve’sfirstclass?6.Wherewillhehavetheclass?7.HowmanystudentsdidSteveaskwhenhetriedtofindhisclass?8.Didhegettheanswer?PartIIHomeschoolingAlthougheducationiscompulsoryintheUnitedStates,itisnotcompulsoryforallchildrentogettheireducationatschool.Anumberofparentsbelievethattheycanprovideabettereducationfortheirchildrenathome.Childrenwhoareeducatedathomeareknownas“home-schoolers.”Thereareabout300000home-schoolersintheUnitedStatestoday.Interestingly,resultsshowthathome-schooledchildrentendtodobetterthanaverageonnationaltestsinreadingandmath.DavidGutersonisanAmericanwriter.Heandhiswifeteachtheirthreechildrenthemselves.Gutersonsaysthathischildrenlearnverydifferentlyfromchildreninaregularschool.Learningstartswiththechildren’sinterestsandquestions.Forexample,whenthereisheavysnowfallonawinterday,itmaystartadiscussionorreadingaboutclimate,snowremovalequipment,Alaska,polarbears,andwintertourism.Oraspringevening,whenthefamilyiswatchingthestars,isagoodtimeforsettingupatelescopeandaskingquestionsaboutsatellites,comets,meteors,andthespaceprogram.Atdinner,iftheBrazilianrainforestsareonthenews,itcouldbeaperfecttimetogetouttheatlasandencyclopedia.Thentheremightbetwohoursormoreofeating,askingquestions,lookingupanswers,discoveringhowrainforestsinfluencetheclimate,whatthe“greenhouseeffect”is,howdesertsareformedandhowthepolaricecapsaffectoceanlevels.Althoughhomeschoolingoffersanexperiencethatisoftenmoreinterestingthanregularschools,criticspointoutthathome-schoolersmissoutonmanyimportantthings.Thehome-schoolerisanoutsiderwho,becauseheorsheneverattendedschool,mightbeuncomfortablemixingwithotherpeopleinadultlife.Criticsalsosaythatmostparentsarenotwellqualifiedtoteachtheirchildrenandmaypassontheirownnarrowviewstotheirchildren.However,mostparentsdon’thavethetimeordesiretoteachtheirchildrenathome,soschoolswillcontinuetobewheremostchildrengettheirformaleducation.PartIIIAJohnJames:Idisagree,Peter.Idon’tthinkitreallymatterswhatyoureducationalbackgroundis.Anyonewhoisbrightenoughisgoingtodowellwhatevertheireducation.PeterDavies:ButJohn,...JohnJames:Infact,Ithinksomepeoplecarryonwiththeireducationwhentheywoulddoalotbettertogetoutandstartbuildingtheirowncareersbylearningthingsinreallife.PeterDavies:Yes,butthewholepointis,lifeisgettingsomuchmorecomplicatedthesedaysthatunlessyoucarryonwithyourstudiesyoujustcan’tcope.JohnJames:Forcertainthings,andcertainpeople,OK,buttomymind,thebigproblemineducationisthatyouspecializetooquickly.Imean,inEngland,youstartspecializingfromthethirdyearinsecondaryschool,whenyou’reabout14.Anditgetssteadilynarroweruntilyoudoyour“A”levelsinonlytwoorthreesubjects.Youeitherdolanguages,ornaturalsciences,orsocialsciences.PeterDavies:Butsurelythesedaysyouhaveto,John—youcan’tpossiblystudyeverythingbecausethere’sjusttoomuch.JohnJames：Yes,buthowmanykidsattheageofsixteenreallyknowwhattheywanttodo?Howmanyofthemareconvincedthatthethreesubjectsthey’vechosen,orhavebeenrecommended,aretheonesthatwillletthemfollowthecareerstheyeventuallydecideon?PeterDavies:Oh,Ithinkmostyoungpeoplewhostayonatschoolhaveafairideaofwhattheywanttodo.JohnJames：I’mnotsosure,Peter.Andafterall,that’snottheendofit.WhentheygettouniversityinEngland,thesubjectstheystudyaresonarrowthattheyareonlygoodforonething,sotheyarestuckwithit.PeterDavies:ButIdon’treallyseethatthereisanyalternativeifpeoplearegoingtolearnenoughtobecompetentintheirsubject.They’vegottospecializeearly,andIsupposethosethatrealizethey’vemadeamistakecanalwaysswaptosomethingelse.JohnJames：Ah,butthat’sjustit.Youcan’t.Supposeyoustudylanguagesatuniversityandthendecidethatyouarenotcutoutforitandwouldliketobeadoctor.You’veburntyourbridges.Youcan’tjustchangehorsesinmidstream;you’vegottogorightbacktothebeginningandyouloseyears.IthinktheAmericansystemismuchbetter.BJohnJames:...IthinktheAmericansystemismuchbetter.PeterDavies:Inwhatway?JohnJames:Well,foryourfirstdegreeyou’vegottostudyafairlywiderangeofsubjects,andyoucanchoosethemyourself,withincertainlimits.PeterDavies:Fine,butdoesn’tthatmeanthatAmericanstudentswithafirstdegreedon’thavethedepthofknowledgetheyshouldhave?JohnJames:Shouldhaveforwhat?PeterDavies:Well,theyoftenaren’tacceptedforpostgraduateworkinEnglandwithjustafirstdegree.JohnJames:Maybenot,butIdon’treallythinkthat’simportant.Theycomeoutwithaprettygoodgeneralknowledgeinawidearea.Afterall,whenyouthinkaboutalotofthestuffEnglishstudentshavetostudy,whatgoodisittothemafterwards?I’msurethemajorityofBritishstudentsneveruse90percentofwhattheystudiedatuniversity.PeterDavies:Thatmaybetrueofsomeartssubjects,butwhataboutthesciences?JohnJames:Eventhere,alotwhattheydoatuniversityissoacademicandabstrusethattheywillneverbeabletoputittoanypracticaluse.I’msuretheywouldbenefitfarmorefromon-the-jobexperience.Andifthey’vehadabroadercourseofstudythey’vegottwoadvantages.PeterDavies:Howdoyoumean?JohnJames:Firstofall,theywillhaveabetterunderstandingoftheworldingeneral,sotheywillbemoreflexibleintheirjobs,andthenifthingsdogowrongtheywillbeabletoswitchjobseasily.PeterDavies:Thatallsoundsverysimple,butIthinkyou’restillunderestimatingtheamountofpurelearningthatyouneedthesedays,particularlyintechnicalandscientificareas.Imeanevenatschoolthesedays,childrenhavetolearnfarmorethingsthanwedidwhenwewereatschool.JohnJames:Allthemorereasonweshouldnottrytoconcentrateonsuchafewthingsatsuchanearlyage.Thingsarechangingsorapidlythesedaysthatwehavetochangewiththem.Whenwewereyounger,therewasaprettygoodchancethatwewouldbeabletocarryonintheprofessionwe’dchosenuntilweretired.Butthesedays,peoplehavegottobepreparedtochangetheirjobsandlearnnewskillsastechnologymovesahead.Takejusttheareaoftheoffice,forexample.Howmanyoffices...PartⅣImaginebeingaskedtospendtwelveorsoyearsofyourlifeinasocietywhichconsistedonlyofmembersofyourownsex.Howwouldyoureact?Unlesstherewassomethingdefinitelywrongwithyou,youwouldn’tbesohappyaboutit,tosaytheleast.Itisallthemoresurprisingthereforethatsomanyparentsintheworldchoosetoimposesuchabnormalconditionsontheirchildren—conditionswhichtheythemselveswouldn’tputupwithforoneminute!Anydiscussionofthistopicisboundtoquestiontheaimsofeducation.Stuffingchildren’sheadfullofknowledgeisfarfrombeingforemostamongthem.Oneofthechiefaimsofeducationistoequipfuturecitizenswithalltheyrequiretotaketheirplaceinadultsociety.Nowadultsocietyismadeupofmenandwomen,sohowcanasegregatedschoolpossiblyoffertherightsortofpreparationforit?Anyoneenteringadultsocietyafteryearsofsegregationcanonlybeinforashock.Aco-educationalschoolofferschildrennothinglessthanatrueversionofsocietyinminiature.Boysandgirlsaregiventheopportunitytogettoknoweachother,tolearntolivetogetherfromtheirearliestyears.Theyareputinapositionwheretheycancomparethemselveswitheachotherintermsofacademicability,athleticachievementandmanyoftheextra-curricularactivitieswhicharepartofschoollife.Whatapracticaladvantageitis(togivejustasmallexample)tobeabletoputonaschoolplayinwhichthemalepartswillbetakenbyboysandthefemalepartsbygirls!Whensegregated,boysandgirlsaremadetofeelthattheyarearaceapart.Inaco-educationalschool,everythingfallsintoitsproperplace.Butperhapsthegreatestcontributionofco-educationisthehealthyattitudetolifeitencourages.Boysdon’tgrowupbelievingthatwomenaremysteriouscreatures.Girlsdon’tgrowupimaginingthatmenareromanticheroes.Yearsoflivingtogetherdispelillusionsofthiskind.Theawkwardstageofadolescencebringsintosharpfocussomeofthephysicalandemotionalproblemsinvolvedingrowingup.Thesecanbetterbeovercomeinaco-educationalenvironment.Whenthetimecomesforthepupilstoleaveschool,theyarefullypreparedtoentersocietyaswell-adjustedadults.Theyhavealreadyhadyearsofexperienceincopingwithmanyoftheproblemsthatfacemenandwomen.PartVIsChinatheworld’scleverestcountry?Chinaachieved“remarkable”resultsinthePisainternationaleducationtests,whichmeasurepupils’keyskills:reading,numeracyandscience.TheresultsindicatethatChina’seducationsystemisnotonlyaboveaverage,it’sovertakingtheperformanceofmanyWesterncountries.ButwhydoChinesestudentsgettopmarks?AndreasSchleicher,whoisresponsibleforthePisatests,saysChinesestudentsshowincredibleresiliencetobecomehigh-flyers,regardlessoftheirbackground.“NorthAmericanstellyoutypicallyit’sallluck.InEurope,it’sallaboutsocialheritage:‘MyfatherwasaplumbersoI’mgoingtobeaplumber.’InChina,morethannineoutof10childrentellyou:‘ItdependsontheeffortIinvestandIcansucceedifIstudyhard.’”MrSchleicheraddsit’saphilosophicaldifference–weshouldexpectthewholecohorttopasswithflyingcolours,ratherthanjustexpectingthecreamofthecroptosucceed.OnavisittoapoorprovinceinChina,henoticedthatschoolswereoftenthemostimpressivebuildings.HesaysintheWest,it’smorelikelytobeashoppingcentre.Soshouldothercountriesputtheirthinkingcapsoniftheydon’twanttheireducationsystemtoflunk?Whenitcomestoeducation,Chinamightbeabletoteachtheworldalesson.keyskills关键技能aboveaverage高于平均水平performance成绩topmarks高分high-flyers成功人士socialheritage社会遗产invest投入cohort有共同点的一群人passwithflyingcolours高分通过thecreamofthecrop顶尖人才puttheirthinkingcapson进入思考状态flunk失败（常指考试不及格）teach(someone)alesson给（某人）一个教训Quiz小测验