新视野英语听力原文及答案新视野大学英语听力原文三Unit1-5

UNIT ONE THE EXPENSIVE FANTASY OF LORD WILLIAMS UNDERSTANDING SHORT CONVERSATIONS 1. M: Did you read today's newspaper? "Lord Williams" was arrested two days ago. W: Why? I heard he poured a lot of cash into a beautiful mountain village and gave jobs to many people. M: You could never have possibly guessed the truth. He stole funds from Scotland Yard, and the fund was supposed to be used to pay spies and conduct secret activities against the Irish Republican Army. Q: What is the conversation about? 2. M: Did you attend yesterday's lecture? W: Yes. M: The lecture was supposed to start at 9:00 ,'~ m., but the professor was an hour late. W: He would have arrived on time, but an accident jammed the main road for one and a half hours. Q: What does the woman mean? 3. W: Robert, what a surprise! It's nice to see you again! M: Hello, Susan! My gosh! How long has it been? Wasn't it several months ago, the last time we saw each other? W: I think you're right. You know, we bought a cottage in a mountain village. We've been transforming it from a mess into a good place to spend our holiday. M: Sounds good! Q: What can be learned from the conversation? 4. M: Did you hear that they are going to build a first-class hotel here, with furnished rooms, wood-paneled stairs and an outstanding restaurant? W: Oh, no. It's going to ruin the neighborhood. They will have to tear down all those nice old houses. Q: What is the woman's reaction to the new hotel? 5. W: How's your job going? M: Great! I'm enjoying it a lot. At first I was chosen to manage the construction work. And now I'm in charge of running the business. The only problem we have is that it's hard to obtain all the bank loans we need. Q: What is the problem the man has in his job? 6. M: Did you hear the latest about David? He is going to move to Seattle. W: To Seattle? That's a long way from here! What in the world made him decide to move there? M: He inherited a large sum of money from a rich uncle there. Q: How does the woman feel? 7. M: I know the foundation has given the community $10,000 to improve its environment. W: The money will bring the community back to life. $10,000! They gave twice that amount, I bet. Q: How does the woman feel about the money? 8. W: I can hardly believe it! Such a soft-spoken, well-dressed middle-aged man fired three shots into a crowded birthday party, killing one man. M: To be more exact, he killed one man and wounded two other people. W: Has he already been sentenced? M: Yeah, he was arrested soon after the police arrived. He has been brought into court and sentenced to thirty years in prison. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 9. W: I'm taking my daughter out for her birthday tonight -- you know, to that outstanding restaurant. M: You can't go like that. You'd better change. Q: What does the man suggest the woman do? 10. M: What's your opinion of the village? You've spent your holidays twice there. W: It captured my heart when I first saw it. M: Is it a special village? W: Yes, there are fine stone cottages, a central area of green grass and a fantastic view of rolling fields and pine forests. M: If only I had some free time. Q: What does the man mean? 11. M: More and more people are paying attention to the problem of computer crime. Have you heard about it? W: Of course. A month ago one of my colleagues was arrested because she transferred funds at our bank to accounts she had set up in other banks. M: How did they find out? W: Her bank deposits were so large that they were noticed by the bank's management. The bank notified the police. Q: What are the man and woman talking about? 12. M: How do you like our boss? W: I find him a very charming man, very friendly, considerate -- not at all proud. M: I certainly can't disagree with you on that. Q: What does the man think of the boss? 13. W: To his terrible embarrassment, there were many people around at the time. M: You're right. He was really embarrassed. He still turns red when anyone mentions what happened. The best thing to do is not to talk about it when he is around. Q: What does the man think they should do? 14. M: How did you enjoy your trip to China? W: It was a wonderful trip. We went to Beijing to see the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and Beijing' s Siheyuan. M: But I heard they have tom down a lot of such houses because people in the city need better housing. W: Yeah, I think no one goes anywhere in the world to see apartment houses. How can Beijing be Beijing without Hutongs? Q: What conclusion can be drawn from the conversation? 15. W: What made you steal so much money? Did you need so much? M: First, I discovered this huge amount of money. Then I went from the need to pay off a few debts to what can only be described as greed. W: You just couldn't hold back your greed for money? M: Yeah, there is no way to justify it. Q: What is the possible relationship between the two speakers? 16. W: Good evening. Can I help you? M: Oh, good evening. Yes, please. I'd like to have some information about nice places where I can have a drink. W: Well, you could go to the pub not far from the hotel. It's a fine place to have a glass of Scotch whisky. M: Oh, that's a good idea. Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place? 17. W: Harry, I heard you bought an estate with a fine brick house and a run-down hotel. M: Yes, indeed. I'm trying to have the hotel totally restored. W: How's it coming along? M: I'm just taking it one step at a time. Q: What does the man imply? 18. M: The city is going to put up a new shopping center in the neighborhood. W: Another shopping center? That's nothing new. Q: What does the woman mean? 19. M: I'd like to know some information about Mr. Smith. W: He was born in Scotland and educated in England. He has worked for the London police since the 1980s. M: Thanks a lot. Q: Where did Mr. Smith get his schooling? 20. M: What's your family like? W: Well, I come from the mountain area. My family has been farming the surrounding hills for generations. M: Don't your parents want to live in the city? W: No, they are used to the life there. Q: How do the woman's parents get along? Key: 1. (B) 2. (B) 3. (C) 4. (D) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (B) 8. (C) 9. (C) 10. (A) 11. (B) 12. (D) 13. (C) 14. (C) 15. (A) 16. (B) 17. (D) 18. (D) 19. (A) 20. (B) UNDERSTANDING LONG CONVERSATIONS Conversation1 (Dr. Scott and Thomas Hunt talk about a man called Martin.) M 1: Dr. Scott, I have had some problems since my father died and left me all his money. Do you remember Martin, the man who took care of my father's gardens for many years? M2: A smiling, polite fellow, right? M 1: That's the man. I told him his job ended the day my father died. Well, three days ago he came to my office, smiling as always, and demanded that I pay him $100,000. He claimed to have been taking care of the trees outside my father's room when Dad prepared another will, leaving all of his money to his brother in New Zealand. M2: You believed him? M 1: I admit the news surprised me. Sometime during the last week in November, Dad and I had argued about my plans to marry Elizabeth. Dad did not want us to marry, so it seemed possible that he had decided to change his will and leave all his money to his brother instead of to me. Martin said he had my father' s second will and offered to sell it to me and keep it a secret for one hundred thousand dollars. He told me that the second will would be considered legal because it was dated November 31, the day after the will that left my father's money to me. I refused. He tried to bargain, asking $50,000, and then $25,000. M2: You paid nothing, I hope? M 1: Nothing at all. I told him to get out of my house. M2: Quite right. The story is clearly not true! Questions 1 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. Who was Martin? 2. According to Martin, who did Thomas' father leave his money to? 3. What did Thomas and his father argue about? 4. How much did Martin demand first in order to keep the "secret"? 5. Why did Dr. Scott say the story was clearly not true? Conversation 2 M: Excuse me, madam. W: Yes? M: Would you mind letting me take a look in your bag? W: I beg your pardon? M: I'd like to look into your bag, if you don't mind. W: Well I'm afraid I certainly do mind, if it's all the same to you. Now go away. M: I'm afraid I shall have to insist, madam. W: And just who are you to insist, may I ask? I advise you to go away before I call a policeman. M: I am a policeman, madam. Here's my identity card. W: What? Oh... well.., and just what right does that give you to go around looking into people's bags? M: None whatsoever, unless I have reason to believe that there's something in the bags belonging to someone else? W: What do you mean belonging to someone else? M: Well, perhaps, things that haven't been paid for? W: Are you talking about stolen goods? I don't know what things are coming to when perfectly honest citizens get stopped in the street and have their bags examined. M: Exactly, but ifthe citizens are honest they wouldn't mind, would they? So may I look in your bag, madam? We don't want to make a fuss, do we? W: Fuss? Who's making a fuss? Stopping people in the street and demanding to see what they've got in their bags. Now go away. I've got a train to catch. M: I'm sorry. I'm trying to do my job as politely as possible but I'm afraid you're making it rather difficult. However, I must insist on seeing what you have in your bag. W: And what, precisely, do you expect to find in there? The jewels? M: Madam, if there's nothing in there which doesn't belong to you, you can go straight off and catch your train and I'll apologize for the inconvenience. W: Oh, very well. There you are. M: Thank you. And ten men's watches? W: Er, yes. I get very nervous if I don't know the time. Anxiety, you know. We all suffer from it in this day and age. M: I see you smoke a lot, too, madam. Fifteen cigarette lighters? W: Yes, I am rather a heavy smoker. And... and I use them for finding my way in the dark and...and for finding the keyhole late at night. And... and I happen to collect lighters. M: I bet you do, madam. Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to come along with me. W: How dare you! I... Questions 6 to 10 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 6. What does the man do? 7. Where does the conversation probably take place? 8. Why does the man stop the woman? 9. What is the woman going to do? 10. What does the man find in the woman's bag? Key: Conversation 1: 1. (D) 2. (A) 3. (B) 4. (B) 5. (A) Conversation 2: 6. (C) 7. (A) 8. (C) 9. (B) 10. (A) UNDERSTANDING PASSAGES Listening Task 1 Passage1 Are you forty years old and fat? Do you wear fine clothes? Do you look rich? If so, be careful. There is a pickpocket looking for you. World travelers, away from home and usually carrying a lot of money, are often troubled by pickpockets in foreign countries, but they should remember that there are pickpockets in their own countries, too. A typical pickpocket is under forty years of age, usually a male. He has trained himself in running. Generally, he carries a newspaper or magazine in his hand. He may appear fairly clever and pretend to be calm. He has learned his job from another pickpocket, and he pays his "teacher" back by giving him a percentage of the money or things which he steals. The good pickpocket always operates in crowded places. Very well-dressed men and slightly drunken men are the favorite objects of the pickpocket. An average-sized department store hires about six or seven men and women who are looking for pickpockets and thieves all the time. Many police districts have such people whose only job is to catch the pickpockets quickly. But a good pickpocket knows these things and is very careful. He is especially busy on buses, trains and subways between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when there are many shoppers with a lot of money to spend. He carefully remembers the payday of companies. Pickpocketing and stealing from a shop together represent about 75% of daytime crime in America. The sentence for these crimes is usually from three to five years in prison. After finishing their sentence, pickpockets and thieves usually advance to more serious crimes. Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard. 1. What does a typical pickpocket look like? 2. Where does a good pickpocket always operate? 3. What will happen to a pickpocket if he is caught in America? 4. What will a pickpocket most probably do after finishing his sentence? 5. What is the main purpose of the author of the passage? Passage2 A wise man once said that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was for good men to do nothing. So, as a police officer, I have some things to say to good people. Day after day my men and I struggle to hold back a wave of crime. Something has gone terribly wrong with our once proud American way of life. It has happened in the area of values. A key ingredient is disappearing, and I think I know what it is: accountability. Accountability isn't hard to define. It means that every person is responsible for his or her actions and for their consequences. Of the many values that hold civilization together -- honesty, kindness, and so on --accountability may be the most important of all. Without it, there can be no respect, no trust, no law -- and, ultimately, no society. My job as a police officer is to impose accountability on people who refuse, or who have never learned, to impose it on themselves. But as every policeman knows, external controls on people's behavior are far less effective than internal controls such as guilt, shame and embarrassment. Yet more and more, especially in our large cities and suburbs, these inner controls are loosening. Someone considers your property his property; he takes what he wants, including your life. The main cause of this break-down is a radical shift in attitudes. Thirty years ago, if a crime was committed, society was considered the victim. Now, shockingly, it's the criminal who is considered the victim because of the school that didn't teach him to read, because of the church that failed to reach him with moral guidance, and because of the parents who didn't provide a stable home. I don't believe it. If we free the criminal, even partly, from accountability, we become a society of endless excuses where no one accepts responsibility for anything. We in America badly need more people who believe that the person who commits a crime is the one responsible for it. Questions 6 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard. 6. According to the author, what is wrong with the American way of life? 7. What do people in large cities and suburbs tend to have? 8. What is the shift in most people's attitude towards criminals? 9. What will be the consequences if criminals are considered victims? 10. What is more effective than external controls on people's behavior? Passage3 Lillian Beard smiled while she worked. "Why are you so happy?" her coworkers asked her. "Last week some of my income tax was paid back." Lillian answered. "This morning I went to the bank and cashed the check. I have $462 in my pocket. I'm thinking about the money. How will I spend it?" After work Lillian came back home and decided to wash some clothes. She looked at the jeans she was wearing. They were dirty. So she put them in the washing machine, too. Ten minutes later she remembered the money in the pocket of her jeans. Lillian ran to the washing machine and took out the jeans. The money was still in the pocket, but it was wet. Lillian put the money on the kitchen table to dry. A few hours later the money was still wet. Then Lillian had an idea. She could dry the money in her microwave oven! Lillian put the money in it and left the kitchen. When Lillian came back a few minutes later, she saw a fire in the microwave. She opened the microwave door, blew out the fire, and looked at her money. The money was burned. The next day Lillian took the burned money to the bank. A teller at the bank told her. "If I can see the numbers on the burned bills, I can give you new money." Unfortunately, the teller found numbers on only a few bills. The teller took those bills and gave Lillian $17. A newspaper reporter heard about the burned money. He wrote a story about Lillian for the newspaper. Several people read the story and called the newspaper. "Tell Ms. Beard to send the burned money to the U.S. Department of Treasury," the people said. "Maybe she can get her money back." Lillian sent her money to the Department of Treasury. The experts looked at Lillian's burned money and sent her a check for $231. What did Lillian buy with the money? She didn't buy anything. She gave the $231 to friends who needed money. Lillian said, "When I burned the $462, I thought, 'Well, my money is gone.' The check for $231 was a big surprise. I decided to give the money to my friends. Money is important, but people are more important to me." Questions 11 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard. 11. Why was Lillian so happy that day? 12. What happened to the money? 13. How much money did she get back from the bank? 14. How did she spend the money finally? 15. What did she realize after what had happened? Passage4 American TV and movies once gave a tough and cruel picture of the American police, though now there are TV series which have policemen as heroes and defenders of society. The police are grateful for their new image, especially in cities where there are black ghettos. White policemen are now careful of how they speak and behave towards their fellow black citizens. The ordinary policeman, is a city or a state employee. He cannot arrest anyone outside his city or his state. He cannot even cross the border into a neighboring state to catch a criminal. If he does, he can be charged with breaking the law of that state. The police who have to be really tough are those that operate in big cities, like New York, Chicago and Detroit, which have large ghettos and organized criminals. Since the majority of criminals are armed, American policemen have to use their guns more often than most policemen in other places. American policemen get shot down, run over, beaten up, and their wives are often in fear that one day their men will not come home. Many policemen do a lot to help children whose parents are criminals. They understand better than most citizens the awful sufferings of the ghettos. They feel sorry for the drug users, but often treat roughly the "pushers" who sell the drugs -- when they can catch them. They have been criticized for making no serious efforts to break up the many different drug rings. They claim that such a task would be never-ending. In big cities, the Police Commissioner (Head of the Force) is often appointed by the Mayor and therefore senior police officers tend to be too closely linked to politics. Their ambitions sometimes tempt them to turn a blind eye or to accept bribes, which makes the ordinary policemen rather disappointed. Questions 16 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. How were the American police once described in American TV and movies? 17. Why do the police of New York, Chicago and Detroit have a particularly tough time? 18. In what way are American policemen different from those in other places? 19. How do American policemen treat the children of criminals? 20. What do senior police officers tend to be closely linked to? Key: Passage 1: 1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (B) 4. (D) 5. (B) Passage 2: 6. (A) 7. (C) 8. (B) 9. (D) 10. (D) Passage 3: 11. (B) 12. (C) 13. (A) 14. (B) 15. (D) Passage 4: 16. (A) 17. (D) 18. (A) 19. (C) 20. (D) UNIT 2 IRON AND THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE UNDERSTANING SHORT CONVERSATIONS 1. M: Professor Lyle, you published the result of ynur study in the journal, right'? W: Yes, a study of 62 formerly inactive women who began exercising three times a week for six months. M: What docs the study suggest? W: It suggests that even moderate exercise may lead to reduced iron levels in the blood of women. M: Could you tell me how many of women in general are affected by iron deficiency? W: Yes, certainly. One in four female teenagers, one in five women aged 18 to 45 and up to 80 percent of female endurance athletes. Q: Generally speaking, what percentage of female teenagers is not affected by iron deficiency? 2. M: What's the matter, Jane? W: I have a headache, I keel) coughing and have a running nose. M: You've caught a cold. You'd better take some medicine and go to bed. And by the way, 1 think you need more exercise since you often catch colds. W: I want to exercise but never seem to find the time. M: Why not do it first thing in the morning? Q: What does the man suggest the woman to do'? 3. W: Well, Mr. Johnson, you're at greatest risk since you smoke and drink too much. M: Am 1 in a serious condition? W: Yes, absolutely. It might be a good idea if you give up drinking and smoking altogether. M: Oh dear... I'm afraid that's out of the question. Q: How does the man feel about the doctor's advice? 4. W: I'm absolutely exhausted since there are so many things to do before everybody arrives for the party. M: What have you prepared for the party? W: I've cooked some meat, chicken and fish plus some vegetables. M: That sounds really good! When will the party begin? W: At 6: 00. M: Well, I can get the drink for you. W: Oh, can you, Mike? That'd be a great help. Q: Why is the woman so tired? 5. M: Here is the result of your blood test. It shows that you have an iron deficiency. W: Iron deficiency! That's impossible. M: It's true. So that's why you often feel weak, tired and out of breath. W: Can I correct it? M: Yes, of course. You'd better correct the problem by adding more iron-rich foods to the diet such as meat, chicken, fish, and some leafy green vegetables. I also recommend cooking in iron pans, as food can derive iron from the pan during the cooking process. Q: How can the woman solve her problem? 6. M: What would you like to have, Becky? W: Just some sliced tomatoes and a glass of juice. M: How about some beef? W: No, thanks. It is delicious, but I am restricting my diet to control weight. Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place? 7. M: I really wish David would take more interest in medicine and become a doctor like us. I don't know why he wants to become an athlete. W: But he's grown up. I think he should do what he wants to. Q: What does the father want his son to be? 8. W: You look rather pale. Aren't you feeling well? M: Not very. I was sick most of the night. I didn't sleep very well. I think it's something I ate. W: Did you eat at Rome last night? M: No, we ate at that new restaurant. And I must have eaten something that didn't agree with me. Q: Why isn't the man feeling well? 9. W: Hello. M: Oh, Hi, Joan. It's Joe. How are you doing? W: Terrible. M: Oh, what's the problem? W: I've got a pain in the shoulder. M: Oh, that's too bad. Why don't you go to the health center and see a doctor? W: Yeah, I suppose I ought to, but you know how I hate doctors. M: Well, at least you'd better lie down and take it easy for a while. W: Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I will. Q: What's the matter with the woman? 10. W: Mr. Anderson, we think it's necessary for you to have another blood test. M: Why? I had one in our local hospital. W: Well, the traditional method of calculating the amount of iron in blood in that hospital is not sufficient. Instead, it's important to check levels of a different compound. M: A different compound? W: Yeah, the compound indicates the amount of storage of iron in the blood. M: Ok, if you think it's necessary, then go ahead. Anything to get rid of the trouble. Q: What can be concluded from the conversation? 11. W: What's your opinion of the new study conducted by that team of researchers? M: Well, I think they have really done a good job. According to their study, women who were normally inactive and then started a program of moderate exercise showed evidence of iron loss. W: So women should not ignore the amount of iron they take in. Q: What's the attitude of the man towards the researchers? 12. M: There are more and more claims that people need some iron supplements in their daily life. W: I think it depends. Firstly experts say it's advisable for people to have a yearly blood test to check blood iron reserves. Then people should talk with a physician to see if their iron deficiency should be corrected by modifying their diet or by taking supplements. M: Are they equally effective? W: No. In general, it's better to undo the problem by adding more iron-rich foods to the diet, because iron supplements can have serious shortcomings or may be poisonous in some cases. Q: What can be learned from the conversation? 13. W: Shouldn't someone go to the supermarket to select some bread and cereals with the words "iron-added" on the label? M: Don't look at me. Q: What does the man mean? 14. M: I was shocked when I heard you'd finished your research project a whole month early. W: How we managed to do it is still a mystery to me. M: So what about your findings? W: We've found that active women of child-bearing age are most likely to have low iron levels. Actually men are not safe either, especially if they don't eat meat and have a high level of physical activity. Q: What can be drawn from the conversation? 15. W: Eggs are supposed to be one of the most healthy foods. M: Next to potatoes. Q: What does the man mean? 16. M: The doctor tells me that I'm in the second stage of iron deficiency. W: The second stage? M: Yeah, there are three stages. The first and most common is having low iron reserves, a condition that typically has no symptoms. In the second stage, fatigue and poor performance may begin to appear. W: Then maybe there's nothing serious since you're not at the third stage. M: That's not true. According to the doctor, if I wait until that point, I'll be in trouble. Q: What does the man mean? 17. M: Ms. Beard, when will you suggest we meet to discuss the new study further? W: I am not really sure. What do you suggest? M: Urmn, shall we meet, say, at 10:15 on Thursday? W: Sure. Q: Why are they going to meet? 18. W: Ah, Jack, good to see you again. Everything ready in your clinic? M: Oh, yes, Miss Temple. We can start very early tomorrow. Have you told the women to be there at eight? W: They will all be there. M: Are there many women with the problem? W: Well, yes, quite a few. You see, some of them are not careful about their food choices and they don't pay attention to some warning signs. M: You can't change their habits easily. Q: What do the woman and man mainly talk about? 19. M: It seems that you've been in such a bad mood lately. W: I get up late in the morning, but I still sleep a lot and feel sleepy. M: You'd better get up early and do some running in the morning. W: But I heard exercise can result in iron loss through a variety of mechanisms. Q: What does the woman mean? 20. M: Would you like some more chicken? W: No, thanks. It is delicious, but I've had enough. I understand you've become a real cook recently, Paul. M: Well, since my wife began working, I decided to help out by making the meals every once in a while. Q: How often does Paul do the cooking at home? Key: 1. (A) 2. (B) 3. (D) 4. (B) 5. (C) 6. (C) 7. (A) 8. (B) 9. (C) 10. (C) 11. (A) 12. (A) 13. (C) 14. (D) 15. (C) 16. (D) 17. (C) 18. (A) 19. (C) 20. (D) UNDERSTANDING PASSAGES Listening Task Passage 1 The bicycle has gone through one full circle already. It began as a toy for rich people. Then it was a means of transportation. Next it became a toy again. Now the bicycle is becoming popular as a means of transportation once more. There are several reasons for the new popularity of bicycles. The cost of fuel for cars is one reason. Another is the need to keep the environment clean. The third reason is a desire for exercise. Americans are one group of people who are leaving their cars at home. In fact, there are more than 100 million bicycles in the United States alone. An institute called World Watch made a study about the future of the automobile. The researchers stated: "The bicycle is more convenient and saves more energy than the car." Furthermore, it is nearly as fast as the automobile for short city trips. Many people, however, are still using their cars. Why? Time is one reason. It is still faster to drive a car than to ride a bicycle. Another reason why people do not ride bikes is their lack of confidence. Some new bicycle riders do not trust themselves. If they are not completely certain that they can ride well enough, they decide to take their cars. New bicycle riders might be afraid of hurting themselves. They may lack confidence. A more important reason is lack of knowledge about the vehicle. For example, the average person does not know how to shift the gears of the ten-speed bicycle. One shocking statistic indicates the bicycle riders' ignorance. Researchers say that 80 percent of the ten-speed bikes in the United States have never been shifted! If bike riders knew how to ride their bikes correctly, they would make better use of them. Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard. 1. Which of the following is not a reason for the new popularity of bicycles? 2. Why do many people still use their cars instead of bicycles? 3. What may cause some people not to ride bikes? 4. What do people need to do if they want to make better use of bicycles? 5. What is the percentage of the ten-speed bicycles which have never been shifted in the United States? Passage2 Moods, say the experts, are feelings that tend to become fixed, influencing one's outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That's great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or simply lonely. Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is to talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modem doctors offer a lot of anti-anxiety drugs. What many people don't realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non-drug approaches to shake you free from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous. So next time you feel out of sorts, don't head for the drug-store -- try the following approach. Of all the mood-altering self-help techniques, exercise seems to be the most efficient cure for a bad mood. "If you could keep the exercise, you'd be in high spirits", says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty. Researchers have explained biochemical and various other changes that make exercise a better mood-raiser than drugs. Physical labor such as housework, however, does little. The key is exercise -- running, cycling, walking, swimming or other repetitive activities that boost the heart rate, increase circulation and improve the body's utilization of oxygen. Do them for at least 20 minutes each time, three to five times a week. Questions 6 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard. 6. What is the main subject of the passage? 7. What is perhaps the best way to deal with a bad mood? 8. What is the author's attitude towards drugs in dealing with bad moods? 9. According to the passage, which of the following is not true? 10. Which is useful to cure bad moods? Passage3 Maintaining body health is one of the most important tasks in life. A healthy body requires nutritional foods and liquids for growth, development, and defense against disease. A healthy body also requires fresh air, exercise, and rest. Maintaining body health requires conscious effort. You choose the foods you eat. You choose whether you get fresh air and exercise. You choose how much rest you get. Nutrition is one of the most important components of body health. When people do not eat enough food or do not take in certain essential nutrients, they can suffer from malnutrition. Sometimes, disease robs the body of the essential nutrients in the diet. This condition is called secondary malnutrition. Sometimes a diet contains too many otherwise necessary nutrients, such as too many calories which may lead to heart and blood vessel disease. The key is to keep to a proper diet. Three essential which may foods are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Carbohydrates provide body fuel. Fats are stored in the body for future energy uses. Proteins are required for growth needs and for defending the body against disease. Certain vitamins are needed in the body cells. Without them, deficiency diseases can occur. Certain minerals are also needed in the diet. Mental health is as important as bodily health. Stimulating activities should be part of everyone's everyday life. Depression can result in loss of a person's desire to accomplish realistic goals. When this happens, the body can also suffer because the person loses concern over good nutrition, proper exercise, and sufficient rest. Social workers and other behavioral scientists can help a person recognize and remove blocks in the way of sound mental health. Questions 11 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard. l 1. What does a healthy body require? 12. What is the key to avoiding heart and blood vessel disease? 13. Which of the following does not belong to the three essential food groups? 14. What is the function of proteins? 15. According to the passage, what does depression usually lead people to do? Passage 4 If you want to live a long time, there are seven golden rules, say the experts. You should be married, live in a small town and have a job that requires physical activity. And you should not smoke. Nor should you become overweight. You should drive within the speed limits, wearing a safety belt. And you should have regular medical examinations. It helps if you're a woman -- on average they live six years longer than men -- and your chances improve if your parents and grandparents each lived to a ripe old age. Currently the average lifespan for a man living within developed countries is 70 years; 76 is normal for a woman. Want to live longer? The number one killer in many countries is heart disease, caused by fatty deposits. Scientists have noticed that, while heart disease is the single biggest health problem in Britain and America, it is not a serious problem in Japan. Yet the Japanese have the world's highest cigarette-smoking rate, high average blood pressure and lead stressful lives. The difference is that they eat a lot of fish and vegetables and very little meat and dairy products. It is also true that heart problems are almost as uncommon in Mediterranean countries where they eat plenty of fish and less red meat. High blood pressure makes a heart attack more likely, and one of the most common causes is being overweight. As a guide, scientists say you should not be more than four or five kilograms heavier than you were at 20 -- assuming that you were not then overweight. The only safe, sure way to lose weight is to cut the proportion of fat and added sugar in your diet, exercise and keep your calorie intake to a reasonable level. Some try to beat nature with treatments such as the injections of sheep cells, but there's no scientific evidence that they work. Questions 16 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. Which of the following statements is not a rule to live a long time? 17. How many years do women survive men on average? 18. Why isn't heart disease in Japan as serious as that in Britain and America? 19. What should people mainly eat in order to avoid heart disease? 20. What does the author think of the injection of sheep cells? Passage 5 Today I would like to tell you about the effects of old age on health. Actually today a lot of improvements have taken place in the care of old people and old people health is not nearly so bad as it used to be. Probably many of the fears that people have of growing old are caused by the doctors. Nearly 80% of people over 65 have at least one serious illness, such as high blood pressure, hearing difficulty or heart disease. And very often to combat these they take a number of drugs and of course sometimes there are interaction among these drugs as well as simply being too many. And this can cause a lot of problems. For example, disturbance of the heart rhythm. So this is a problem that doctors have to watch out for. Probably the most ignored disorder among old people is depression. Maybe about 15% of old people suffer from this condition. A lot of it is caused by the problems which we have mentioned. Although it is better now for old people, we have to admit that the body does change as we grow older. There are changes in lungs, the senses, the brain and the skin. So what should an old person do to combat these changes? He or she should eat a balanced diet -- not too much fat -- chicken or fish should be eaten rather than eggs or beef. Eat more high fiber and vitamin rich foods, such as vegetables and fruit. The old person should give up smoking if he hasn't already done so. He should also do regular exercise -- at least half an hour, three times a week. No section of the population can benefit more from exercise than the elderly. Questions 21 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 21. How is old people's health now? 22. What is a much more common problem with old people's health? 23. What is the most ignored disorder among old people? 24. Who can benefit more from exercise? 25. What should old people do in order to reduce the effects of old age on health? Passage 6 As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through life, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body. Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, it is not the bad thing as it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of the control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health. The amount of stress a person can put up with depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first sight of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically: In fact we make a choice between "flight or fight" and in more primitive days the choices made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress, it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart diseases have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives (it would be unwise to do so even if we could), we need to find ways to deal with it. Questions 26 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. Why are people finding less and less time for relaxing themselves? 27. What is the attitude of the author towards stress? 28. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? 29. Under what situation is stress harmful to our health? 30. According to the passage, what may too much stress lead to? Key: Passage 1: 1. (D) 2. (A) 3. (C) 4. (B) 5. (A) Passage 2: 6. (A) 7. (D) 8. (B) 9. (D) 10. (A) Passage 3: 11. (A) 12. (B) 13. (D) 14. (C) 15. (D) Passage 4: 16. (C) 17. (A) 18. (B) 19. (A) 20. (D) Passage 5: 21. (A) 22. (C) 23. (D) 24. (B) 25. (A) Passage 6: 26. (A) 27. (B) 28. (A) 29. (C) 30. (D) UNIT 3 WHERE PRINCIPLES COME FIRST UNDERSTANDING SHORT CONVERSATIONS 1. M: I have just read an article in the newspaper about Hyde public school. W: Hyde school? Is it the one receiving considerable publicity for its work with troubled youngsters? M: That's right. Most graduates from the school attend four-year college. Q: What can be learned from the conversation? 2. W: My family is moving to Baltimore next month. I have to leave my school and friends here. I hate that, you know. M: Don't worry. The Hyde foundation is scheduled to begin a preliminary public school program in Baltimore. Why don't you join it and make new friends there? Q: What does the man suggest the woman do? 3. M: I'd like to know the principles on which your school operates. W: Well, we believe that if we teach students the merit of such values as truth, courage, integrity, leadership, curiosity and concern, then academic achievement naturally follows. M: Does it work? W: It proves to be very successful. Q: What does the woman mean? 4. M: There is lots of discussion on success and failure nowadays. How does a teacher measure his students' success? W: I think conscience and hard work are important factors and success should be measured by growth, not by academic achievement. Q: What is the conversation about? 5. M: I got a 7 out of 10 on my class performance today. What about you? W: I got 8. M: I challenge that. You did neither your grammar nor your spelling homework. Q: What does the man imply? 6. M: What the new teacher said impressed me deeply. W: What did he say? M: He assumes that "every human being has a unique potential" that is based on character, not intelligence or wealth. W: I quite agree with him. Character is first. Q: What are the speakers talking about? 7. M: Are you interested in the curriculum your school offers this semester? W: To be honest, I am enthusiastic about English and history. Maths and science sound a little dull. But what appeals to me is performing arts and sports. Q: What courses is the woman not interested in? 8. W: Hello, is that David? M: Yes. W: This is Mary speaking. I am very nervous about my presentation tomorrow. I will give an introduction to the famous poet, Robert Frost, during the seminar. M: Take it easy. Make full preparations and everything will be fine. Q: Why did the woman call the man? 9. M: How wonderful! You won the first prize. Can you believe it? W: No. It's almost too good to be true. Q: What does the woman mean? 10. M: We plan to go to the beach after class. Do you want to come? W: I'd love to. But the headmaster wants to speak with me. M: What a pity! Then we'll go without you. Q: What will the woman probably do? 11. M: What are you working on? W: I'm writing a story for the high-school newspaper. It's an article on the feelings about graduation. M: How do you feel? W: Me? A little scared and excited, too. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 12. M: Hi, Sue. Where have you been? W: Oh, hi, Peter. I was just at the library. I have to hand in my term paper tomorrow. M: Tomorrow? Oh, no. I thought it wasn't due till Friday. Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers? 13. M: Do you attend the lecture last night? W: No. I visited my aunt in hospital. What was it about? M: It centered on the parents' role in the education of their children. According to the speaker, children tend to do their utmost when they see their parents making similar efforts. Q: What are the two speakers mainly discussing? 14. W: Do you remember your first days at Hyde school? M: Of course. When I came here, I insulted and cursed everybody. W: I can't imagine you doing that. M: Unlike other schools that kicked me out, Hyde school admitted me and made me change a lot since then. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 15. M: I heard that faculty evaluations are conducted by students at your school. What do you think of it? W: As a teacher, I benefit from establishing a fruitful teacher-student relationship. Q: What does the woman mean? 16. M: It's worthwhile for parents to participate in the activities of their children at school, don't you think so? W: Yes, children are encouraged when they see their parents take part. But the problem is that parents' attendance is low at present. Q: What are the speakers discussing? 17. M: How is the new job going? W: Well, I'm getting used to lots of new things and working on problems associated with car design. M: Is your supervisor satisfied with your work? W: I hope he'll give me his opinion soon. Q: What does the woman mean? 18. W: America is seen as the land of opportunity. M: It depends. W: You mean ...... M: Only those who are capable can take the opportunity to achieve success. Q: What does the man mean? 19. M: Michael isn't here. He was injured by car yesterday. W: I know. This morning I went to the hospital to visit him. He seemed very upset and not willing to talk. Q: What happened to Michael? 20. M: Your sister is quite different from you in character. W: Many people share your opinion. M: You are always optimistic in dealing with problems, while your sister is different. Q: What does the man say about the woman's sister? Key: 1. (A) 2. (B) 3. (B) 4. (C) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (D) 8. (D) 9. (C) 10. (B) 11. (B) 12. (D) 13. (C) 14. (B) 15. (C) 16. (B) 17. (D) 18. (C) 19. (A) 20. (C) UNDERSTANDING PASSAGES Passage 1 High Schools in the United States Education has a very honored place in American society and, with some exceptions among the wealthy, parents of every kind of background and of all income groups send their children to the local high schools. It is an article of faith in the American Dream that a good education will enable a child to achieve a higher standard of living than his or her parents. High schools are public schools in the proper sense of the word 'public', not to be confused with English 'public schools', which are private and expensive. People have a high opinion of American high school. This is because the high schools take their responsibilities very seriously -- and not only in the classroom. They have guidance advisers to whom children can go privately if they have any special problems, especially about their future careers. Parents are encouraged to share in the school life of their children. In some lower grade classes they actually go into the class during a lesson and help the teachers with plays and class reading, and most schools have highly successful Parent-Teacher Organizations. Teachers and parents get together and discuss their children's problems. For example, John has made no progress at all during the last term, because, the teacher suspects, he is in love with a gift in the same class who has rejected him, while Gail seems to be just lazy. Between them, parents and the teacher then work out a plan of action. Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard. 1. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? 2. Why do people have a high opinion of American high schools? 3. Whom do students turn to for help when they have personal problems? 4. What are the parents encouraged to do? 5. What do teachers and parents get together for? Passage 2 Self-image Do you have a self-image that can help you succeed or one that can make you fail? Let's discover what self-image is all about. Get a picture in your mind of two empty chairs. In these two chairs let's picture two visitors. In the first chair let's seat a young man who is deaf. In the second chair let's seat a young boy who was born with part of one foot missing. The young man we picked for the first chair was a musician. He was a great artist. He composed many great songs. When he was still a young man he lost his hearing. It is generally believed that a person cannot be a professional musician or compose music without heating, but this man had a special driving force that enabled him to write some of the most beautiful music ever written. This man was Beethoven. The visitor in the second chair was a young boy who was born with part of one foot missing. This young boy loved sports, especially football. As a young boy and later as a young man he had always dreamed of playing football with a major league football team. He had a thirst that could not be quenched. Finally, he made it into the New Orleans Saints football team and one day on the football field in New Orleans he kicked the longest field goal in football history. His name is Tom Dempsey. If you try to find the special strength that turns an ordinary person into a hero it only exists in the heart or soul of man. It is called a positive self-image. A positive self-image is a great belief in yourself and your ideas. Questions 6 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard. 6. Why does the speaker talk about two empty chairs at the beginning of the passage? 7. What can be inferred about self-image? 8. What is generally believed about a deaf person? 9. What was the most exciting thing that Tom Dempsey did? 10. What is the main idea of this passage? Passage 3 Sports in American High Schools American learn sports as part of their education. They learn two or more ball games, such as football or basketball. At high school, they choose groups of boys or girls to make teams. They choose those who are best at that sport. These teams compete against teams from other schools. In many schools students learn wrestling, running, tennis, golf and swimming. They have teams for some of these sports, too. The games between schools are often very exciting. Other students, the ones not on the team, love to watch them. They let everyone know this by shouting and cheering when their team plays well. There is a special club of girls and boys, mostly girls, who jump up and down and shout for their football team. They call themselves cheerleaders, because they lead everyone in shouts and cheers. They wear clothes of a special color -- the color of their school's team. The football players wear that color, too. Each school has a team color and a team name. Cheerleaders call out the team name in their cheers. They practice many hours to learn the special jumping and cheering moves. Cheerleading is almost a sport itself. Every classroom has an American flag in it. From elementary to high school, students start each day by standing up and showing respect to the flag. They put their hands over their hearts and say the "Pledge of Allegiance". This is a promise to the country, which was written by people who came to the US over 200 years ago. By standing and showing respect to the flag people think about the United States and its freedoms. Questions 11 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard. 11. According to the passage, which sport is not learned at high schools? 12. Why are the games between schools exciting? 13. What can be learned about cheerleaders? 14. How do students start each day in elementary and high school? 15. When people stand showing respect to the American flag, what do they usually think about? Passage 4 Setting Goals Why is setting goals important? Because goals can help you do, be, and experience everything you want in life. Instead of just letting life happen to you, goals allow you to make your life happen. Successful and happy people have a vision of how their life should be and they set lots of goals, both short-term and long-range, to help them reach their vision. By setting goals you are taking control of your life. It's like having a map to show you where you want to go. Winners in life set goals and follow through on them. Winners decide what they want in life and then get there by making plans and setting goals. Unsuccessful people just let life happen by accident. Goals aren't difficult to set -- and they aren't difficult to reach. It's up to you to find out what your goals, ideals and visions really are. You are the one who must decide what to go after and in what direction to aim your life. Research tells us that when we write a goal down we are more likely to achieve it. Written goals can be reviewed regularly, and have more power. Like an agreement with yourself, they are harder to neglect or forget. Also when you write your goals in a particular fashion you are able to stimulate your subconscious to be continuously aware of situations that will further your goal. Questions 16 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. What does the significance of setting goals lie in? 17. In what way do successful people differ from unsuccessful ones? 18. According to the speaker, what is the most important thing in the whole process of realizing one's goals? 19. What are people suggested to do if they want to realize their goals without failure? 20. What is the speaker mainly discussing? Passage 5 Tests, Marks and Report Cards Do you think that tests are only for students? You're wrong. The tests that students take also test their teachers and schools. In the United States, students take many tests each year. Teachers use tests to see how well pupils are learning at school. If students pass these tests, they go on to the next grade where the work is harder. In this way, it is the students who are tested. But these tests also show if teachers are doing their job. Teachers have to give their pupils a lot of information in each grade. If they don't, their students may not learn enough. So the tests are also for teachers. There is another special test that pupils take each year in all the schools across the country. It is a different test for each grade, but the same for all students in the same grade. It shows what they have learned that year. It shows which schools are teaching well. So tests are also for testing schools. Most American schools give the following marks: A = 91-100 per cent, B = 81-90 per cent, C = 71-80 per cent, D = 65-70 per cent, E = 50-64 per cent, and F = below 50 per cent. In high schools it is possible to take some classes without marks. Then the student gets a "P" for "pass" and an "F" for "fail". Teachers keep lists of students' test and homework marks. They give students marks for how well they work. Then they list the students' marks on their report card. Students get report cards four times a year. One copy is sent to the parents and the school keeps a copy. Seventy-one percent of American students graduate from high school. And 40 percent of high school students go on to college. Questions 21 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 21. Why do teachers use tests? 22. Why are the tests for students also for teachers? 23. What does the special test taken by pupils in all the schools across the country show? 24. How many times do students get report cards a year? 25. About what percentage of high school students go on to college? Passage 6 Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down on the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference !" The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one." There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we will gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well, the world will become better. Questions 26 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What would the wise man do before he began writing? 27. What was the young man doing on the beach? 28. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? 29. What does the speaker mean by saying "There is something very special in each and every one of us"? 30. What can be inferred from the passage? Key: Passage 1: 1. (D) 2. (B) 3. (A) 4. (C) 5. (A) Passage 2: 6. (D) 7. (C) 8. (D) 9. (B) 10. (C) Passage 3: 11. (C) 12. (A) 13. (B) 14. (A) 15. (D) Passage 4: 16. (A) 17. (A) 18. (B) 19. (B) 20. (D) Passage 5: 21. (C) 22. (A) 23. (B) 24. (D) 25. (A) Passage 6: 26. (B) 27. (A) 28. (D) 29. (B) 30. (C) UNIT 4 FIVE FAMOUS SYMBOLS OF AMERICAN CULTURE UNDERSTANDING SHORT CONVERSATIONS 1. M: I plan to visit New York this summer holiday. Have you ever been there? W: Several times. M: Would you recommend some places I can visit? W: Sure. The Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, the Museum of Modem Art... Q: What are the speakers talking about? 2. W: New York is a fascinating place and it has another interesting name, the Big Apple. M: The Big Apple? Tell me where the name came from. W: The jazz musicians of the 1920s are responsible for the name. When they played a concert in a city, they called that city an apple. Of course, New York was the biggest city in the country and the best place for jazz concerts. So the musicians called it the Big Apple. Q: Who gave New York the interesting name? 3. M: What's the biggest news event in 2001 in your opinion? W: The attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11,2001. M: People all over the world were shocked by the terrorist act. Q: How did people feel when they heard the news? 4. M: My foreign teacher Mary invited me to dinner tomorrow. I'd like to bring a gift but I have no idea of what to buy. W: Does she have a child? M: Yes, a lovely girl. W: Maybe you can buy her a Barbie doll. Q: What does the woman suggest? 5. W: My father has the hobby of collecting coins. Every time I go abroad, I bring him the coins of that country. M: Does he have the Buffalo nickel of the USA? W: Yes. He said the coin was quite different from other American coins in that it honored a pair of connected tragedies in American history -- the destruction of the buffalo herds and the American Indians. Q: What is the viewpoint of the woman's father on the buffalo nickel? 6. M: Here is your letter from Uncle Sam. W: Uncle Sam? Perhaps you are mistaken. M: Uncle Sam refers to the United States. W: Interesting! Tell me how it came into being. Q: What will the man do next? 7. W: May I have your attention please? M: Shh! I think she's going to make an announcement. W: Our trip to the Statue of Liberty will be tomorrow morning. We'll go there by bus. The trip will take most of the day, so be sure to bring some lunch. The bus will leave at 8 o'clock, so please don't be late. Q: What can be learned from the conversation? 8. W: The visiting scholar Dr. Johnson is speaking tonight about the famous painting American Gothic. M: Do you know who the painter of the painting is? W: Grant Wood. From his painting we can see that he was strongly influenced by the medieval artists and inspired by the Gothic window of an old farm house. But what captures the world's attention is the faces in his composition. Q: What are the speakers mainly talking about? 9. W: My mother does not approve of my friendship with our neighbor, John. M: Why? W: She says that John often tells lies and worries that I may become dishonest if I make friends with him. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 10. M: Anything interesting in the paper? W: Umm. Nothing special in the foreign section. M: How about home news? W: Let me see. There is a report about new efficiency in the city government. M: Newspaper accounts are often exaggerated. Q: What does the man think of the news? 11. M: According to Professor Thompson, language slowly but constantly evolves from older forms into newer ones. W: That's my opinion, too. We can easily find new words, new expressions in English. M: Perhaps that's why publishers issue new dictionaries about every five years. Q: What is the main topic of the conversation? 12. M: I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. W: Oh, it's just a cold. Nothing serious. How about your job interview with IBM? M: Terrific. I have got a two-year contract of employment. Q: What does the man mean? 13. W: Have you seen the American film Love Stow? M: Not yet. W: It is a moving film and has good reviews. You really ought to see it. Q: What does the woman suggest? 14. W: Americans tend to think from the specific and small to the general and large. M: For instance? W: We have just seen an example of this in the fact that they progress from personal and local issues to the state and finally the nation -- not the other way around. Q: What is the conversation mainly about? 15. W: Did you know that all human beings have a "comfort zone"? M: Is it the distance they stand from someone when they talk? W: Right. This distance differs from person to person in interesting ways among people of different cultures. Q: What does the woman mean? 16. M: Perhaps no single monument in the USA is as famous as the Statue of Liberty. W: Yeah. Standing on a small island in New York Harbor, with the height of 151 feet, the Statue of Liberty attracts millions of visitors every year. M: It was a gift to the USA from France in 1886, as a mark of friendship and also in memory of the aid France gave the Americans during the American Revolution. Q: What is the height of the Statue of Liberty? 17. M: The American brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright built the first practical plane and in 1907 kept it in the air for more than an hour. W: But the brothers' triumph was short-lived. M: Why do you say that? W: Other inventors improved upon the Kitty Hawk, as the Wrights' plane was called. After 1909 Orville and Wilbur ceased to hove any influence on flying planes. Q: Why was the brothers' influence short-lived? 18. W: Coca-Cola is the best-selling soft drink in the world. 165 millions "Cokes" are sold every day, from all comers of the world. M: But in China Coke tends to be a young person's drink. How about in the United States? W: In the USA anybody of any age or income can drink it without embarrassment on any occasion. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 19. M: American football, not to be confused with the football called soccer, is the American national sport. W: Is it popular in other countries? M: It is played in no other country in the world except Canada. But in the US, it excites tremendous enthusiasm. Q: What are the speakers mainly talking about? 20. M: I can't wait until this week is over. All these final exams are driving me crazy. W: But why don't you take a break and do something that will take your mind off your tests? M: Like what? W: Listening to American folk songs. Q: When does this conversation probably take place? Key: 1. (A) 2. (B) 3. (A) 4. (D) 5. (B) 6. (B) 7. (A) 8. (A) 9. (D) 10. (B) 11. (B) 12. (C) 13. (A) 14. (B) 15. (D) 16. (D) 17. (B) 18. (A) 19. (C) 20. (C) UNDERSTANDING LONG CONVERSATIONS A Visit to a Restaurant Waitress: Good evening sir, good evening madam. A table for two? We have just one table in the comer unoccupied. Bob: That table's fine, thank you. Could you bring us two beers to start with. Oh, and the menu, please? Waitress: Certainly sir. (Later) Waitress: Your beers, sir, and the menu. Bob: Thank you. Bob: Right, Sarah, what do you want to eat? Jim spoke with great enthusiasm about the duck. Okay, Sarah? Sarah: Yes, maybe I'll try the duck. Bob: Do you have the duck? Waitress: Yes, sir. Bob: Right, one duck for the lady and I'll have the beef well-cooked, please. Waitress: Very good, sir, and what about vegetables? Bob: Sarah? Sarah: Carrots and potatoes, please. Bob: And peas and potatoes for me. Oh, and I'd like my potatoes fried. Waitress: Of course, sir. Would you like anything to start with? Sarah: I'll have the tomato soup, please. Waitress: And for you, sir? Bob: Yes, I'll have the same, please. And I think we'll finish with ice cream and coffee. Sarah: Oh, I'd prefer apple pie and cream. Waitress: Very good, madam. Thank you, sir. (Later) Bob: Oh, here's our soup. Thank you. How is your soup, Sarah? Sarah: Well, I hate to complain, but it isn't very hot. Bob: Yes, exactly what I am thinking. Never mind, let's hope the main meal is better. Oh here it comes. Waitress: Duck for the lady and your beef, sir. Bob: Thank you. Oh, do you think you could cook it a bit longer? I did say I wanted it well-cooked. Waitress: Of course, sir, terribly sorry, sir. Sarah: Bob, they gave me peas. Bob: Oh no! Waitress! Waitress: Yes, sir, is something wrong? Bob: Yes, I don't like to make a fuss, but I think you have got the orders mixed up. My wife wanted carrots and I wanted peas. Waitress: All right, sir, I'll change it immediately. Waitress: Your beef, sir. Bob: Oh no! I can't eat this! It's burnt! First you gave me raw beef and then you burnt it! Waitress: I do apologize, sir. Bob: Well this is just not good enough! Take it away! I'm not going to eat it and I certainly won't pay for it! Look, just bring me an egg and tomato sandwich! Questions 1 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. What do Bob and Sarah think of the restaurant? 2. What does Sarah think of the tomato soup they ordered? 3. What vegetables do Bob and Sarah order? 4. How is the beef Bob ordered when the waitress serves it again? 5. What does Bob finally order? The White House M: Hi, Jane. How is your vacation? W: Terrific! I went to Washington D. C. to visit my cousin. I saw the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution, and the White House. M: I've never been to Washington. What did you like best? W: Oh, the White House. Do you know that it's been the official home of our presidents since 1800? And every president except George Washington has lived in it. M: I didn't know it was that old. Is it really as nice as everyone says it is? W: It's only a two-storied building built of stone. But it's simple and dignified. It used to be called the president's house. But it was named the White House after the British burned it in the war of 1812. It had to be repainted, of course. M: I remember now. The president then was James Madison. And his wife Dolly ran out of the burning building carrying the portrait of Washington. W: Yes, that's right. It's hanging in the East Room now. M: How big is the White House? W: It's big. 132 rooms inside the White House and 18 acres outside. It has to be painted every four years. M: How much were you allowed to see? W: Not very much. Only 6 of the rooms are open to the public. It's a popular tour, and there are always a line of people waiting. They want to look at their property, I guess. M: Their property? W: Sure. The White House is owned by the people of the United States. We elect the leaders who live in it. M: But can just anyone go inside? W: Of course. Anyone can see our presidents' home. Questions 6 to 10 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 6. When was the White House built? 7. Which president lived in the White House at the time of the fire? 8. What did the president's wife save from the White House during the fire? 9. What part of the White House is open to the public? 10. Who owns the White House? Key: Conversation 1: 1. (A) 2. (B) 3. (B) 4. (B) 5. (A) Conversation 2: 6. (A) 7. (C) 8. (D) 9. (B) 10. (D) UNDERSTANDING PASSAGES Passage 1 Packed in Pieces: the Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty stands 151 feet (46 meters) tall and weighs 225 tons. The palm of her hand alone could contain several people. On the 4th of July, 1884, when the Statue was delivered to the American Ambassador in Paris, her enormous mass and proportions awed the people crowded around her. She looked like a 15-storied giant against the four-and-five-storied buildings of the city. People sat on rooftops to be able to take in her whole presence. To travel from Paris to New York Harbor, the Statue had to be disassembled into 300 pieces and shipped in more than 200 wooden boxes. The pieces of her torch-bearing arm alone --which had been displayed previously in Philadelphia in 1876 -- filled 21 boxes. Once the Statue was ready to be shipped to the United States, problems appeared on the other side of the Atlantic: the base on which she would stand was far from complete. Finally, on June 17, 1886 the Statue arrived, and was officially installed on a massive monument designed by Richard Morris Hunt. in October of 1886, President Grover Cleveland delivered a dedication address at the Statue's dedication ceremony, during which she was ultimately unveiled to the American people. For millions of immigrants from Europe, the Statue of Liberty was their first sight of the Promised Land. And the Statue of Liberty has become one of the symbols of the US since she stood on the small island of New York Harbor. Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard. 1. What was people's response when the Statue of Liberty was delivered to the American Ambassador in Paris? 2. Why did people sit on the rooftops? 3. How was the Statue of Liberty carried from Paris to the US? 4. What problems appeared in the US before the Statue of Liberty arrived? 5. What did President Grover Cleveland do on the dedication ceremony? Passage 2 The American Family In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision-making. When the children are old enough, they take part as well. Foreigners are often surprised by the American way of family life. The old rule that children should be seen and not heard is rarely followed, and children are often allowed to do what they wish without strict parental control. The father seldom expects his children to obey him without question, and children are encouraged to be independent at an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom too far. Others think that a strong father image would not suit the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to break away from their parental families by the time they have reached their late teens or early twenties. Indeed, not to do so is often regarded as a failure, a kind of weak dependence. This pattern of independence often results in serious problems for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live beyond the age of 70. The job retirement age is usually 65. The children have left home, married, and set up their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement income. But the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic. They feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation nor a close family group. Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage you have just heard. 6. Who makes important decisions in the American family? 7. How does an American father expect his children to react to his words? 8. Why do American young people usually break away from their parental families? 9. For whom does the pattern of independence result in serious problems? 10. What is the major problem of many elderly couples? Passage 3 The Barbie Dolls In the mid 1940s, the young ambitious Ruth and Elliot Handler owned a company that made wooden picture frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson in forming a company that would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named Mattel, MATT for Mattson, and El for Elliot. In the mid 1950s, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lilli was a shapely, pretty fashion doll first made in 1955. She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character. Lilli is the doll that inspired Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of her technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. This was a fashion doll unlike any of her time. She was long-limbed, shapely, beautiful, and only 11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot named their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie. In 1959, the Barbie doll made her way to the New York Toy Show and received a warm reception from the buyers. Barbie has experienced a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market. Barbie has universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent with their dolls. Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage you have just heard. 11. What did Ruth Handler buy when she visited Switzerland? 12. How was the Barbie doll born? 13. What does the Barbie doll look like? 14. When did the Barbie doll first become popular? 15. Why is Barbie doll a reflection of the history of fashion? Passage 4 American Money American money can be quite confusing. The bills -- or paper money are all the same color and size. One has to look carefully to be sure he is giving out a $1 bill and not a $10 bill, for example. Furthermore, new bills stick together easily. Be sure this does not happen to you. Coins are also confusing. This is partly because some of them have two names, partly because the size does not indicate the value. The ten-cent coin is smaller than the five-cent coin, for example. In addition all coins are silver-colored except for the penny (one cent) which is brown color or copper-colored. 1 cent, or penny, is the coin of smallest value, equal to 1/100 of a dollar. It is useful for some parking meters and some sales taxes but a penny does not buy very much! Five pennies are equal to one nickel. A coin of 10 cents, the smallest in size of all the coins, is one of the most useful. It is used for pay-phones, buying newspapers, coin-operated machines, and some bus fares. The 25 cent coin, or quarter, is larger than the nickel but is easily mistaken for it. This is the normal tipping coin, also commonly used for paying bridge and road tolls. One has to keep considerable change on hand, especially in cities which require exact change for their buses. Sales taxes also require a lot of small coins, although stores will give change. Bus drivers, however, are often not allowed to give change in many cities. Bills come in the following denominations: $1, $5, $10 and $20. They also come in $50 and $100 bills, but these are seen less often by most of us! Keep small-value bills with you. Taxi drivers and some store clerks will not change anything larger than a $5 bill; most big department stores will, however. Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage you have just heard. 16. Why are the American bills, or paper money, quite confusing? 17. What color is the penny coin? 18. Which coin is the smallest in terms of size? 19. Which coin is the normal tipping coin and commonly used for paying bridge and road tolls? 20. In how many denominations do we find American bills? Key: Passage 1: 1. (B) 2. (A) 3. (A) 4. (A) 5. (B) Passage 2: 6. (D) 7. (A) 8. (B) 9. (A) 10. (B) Passage 3: 11. (A) 12. (B) 13. (D) 14. (C) 15. (B) Passage 4: 16. (C) 17. (B) 18. (B) 19. (D) 20. (A) UNIT 5 GRACEFUL HANDS UNDERSTANDING SHORT CONVERSATIONS 1. W: What am I suffering from? M: I'll answer your question in a minute. Please stretch out your arm over to me and let me feel your pulse. Q: What is the possible relationship between the two speakers? 2. W: ! have just read in the newspaper that Mrs. Clark died yesterday. M: Do you mean Mrs. Clark, the piano teacher? W: That's right. She's been teaching for over thirty years. M: She was such a nice teacher that almost all students liked her. Q: What are the two speakers talking about? 3. W: The temperature has reached 31 ~C below zero. I can't bear it. M: Neither can I. My hands are ice cold. The newspaper says many people died last month, and 71 percent of them are over 65. Q: Why did so many old people die last month? 4. M: I'm afraid his right arm will have to be taped to a board to secure a needle so that fluid may enter his body. W: You are quite right, doctor. Billy is still too young to control himself. Q: Why will Billy's arm be taped to a board? 5. W: Hi, Bob. M: Hi Helen. It's my shift now. Is there anything for attention today? W: Yeah. Mr. Kent is getting worse. Here is my report. M: O.K. I'll give close attention to him. Q: Where is the conversation most likely to have taken place? 6. M: What's wrong with Tony? W: One of his pet birds died this morning. He has been sitting motionless for quite a long time and is still crying in his room. M: Don't worry. I'll buy him another one. Q: Why is Tony crying? 7. W: I wonder if Mrs. Fisher has any family. Her room is always quiet. M: Actually she is a mother of three. Her children all live abroad. That's why the nurses take care of her. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 8. W: Have you heard about Laura? M: No. What happened to her? W: She committed suicide. M: What! Committed suicide? W: In fact she suffered from mental illness and ran away from the hospital. The doctors and nurses had seen her last letter, but they did nothing. I can't help feeling angry at their attitude. Q: Why is the woman angry? 9. W: Hush, Mum has just fallen asleep. M: It's so silent here that I can hear my breathing. W: We must be quiet. She hasn't fully recovered from her illness and needs rest. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation? 10. W: Now more and more people think that mercy killing should be made legal in China. M: In my opinion, people have the right to live, and to die. So it's reasonable that mercy killing should be made a choice available to everyone. Q: What does the man mean? 11. M: Look at this picture. W: Oh poor children! They are so thin and seem too weak to stand up. M: Actually they are the victims of a terrible famine. Q: What can be learned about the children from the conversation? 12. W: If a patient has cancer or another kind of life-threatening illness, we don't know whether he is equipped to handle it. Is it appropriate to tell him the truth then, Dr. Smith? M: That depends. First of all, I think you should get to know the patient. Talk with him, not about his illness, but about general topics. And very soon you will learn whether he wants to know or not. Q: What does the man mean? 13. M: I wonder why Mark seems a different person recently. Do you have any idea? W: That's because of his brother's death. He has come to understand what life really means to him and is determined to enjoy life more. Q: How different is Mark now? 14. M: Hi, Amy, I wonder if you could give me some advice. I am invited to a farewell party, but I don't know whether or not to accept the invitation. W: Why do you hesitate? M: Well, actually my friend Jack is seriously ill. Doctors say he could live for no more than six months. So he has planned a farewell party for himself this weekend. W: I'm sorry to hear that. But I think what he needs most is love and comfort from friends. If I were you, I would regard this as a privilege he has allowed me. Q: What should the man do according to the woman? 15. W: Mr. Johnson, I wonder if I could possibly ask for leave tomorrow morning. My father had a heart attack yesterday and is in hospital at present. I want to go and see him. M: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. You can take the day off. W: Thank you very much. I'll make up the work as soon as I return. Q: Who is the man? 16. M: What do you think of mercy killing? W: Emotionally, I am firmly against it. I don't think a doctor has the right to end a patient's life. And if mercy killing is made legal, there is the possibility that some criminals would take advantage of it. Q: Why is the woman against mercy killing? 17. M: I suppose I should find a doctor of my own. Could you recommend one for me? W: Well, why don't you go to Dr. Mead? He has been taking good care of me these last few years and given me some good advice on diet and the kind of exercise that suits me. Look, I'm quite healthy. M: That's certainly not a bad idea. Q: What does the man want to do? 18. W: This box smells of decay. What's in it, Jack? M: My small pet ducks. And I'm sure they are all right. W: Let me have a look. Oh, this yellow one is motionless and dead. Let's take it out and bury it, OK? Q: Why does the box have an awful smell? 19. M: Aunt Lucy, are you better today? W: Thanks for your concern. I'm better now, for it's the third day after the operation. The only trouble is I can't move my head a lot. M: I can help you. Would you like me to bring you some water? W: Yes, please. And I want a straw, too. Q: What will the woman do? 20. W: Is my disease serious, doctor? M: No, it's nothing serious. W: So I won't die, will I? M: Oh, come on, Miss Connors. You will certainly be better in a few days. In fact, what you need is plenty of exercise and a relaxing vacation. Q: What is the woman's problem? Key: 1. (C) 2. (A) 3. (D) 4. (B) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (B) 8. (D) 9. (A) 10. (C) 11. (C) 12. (D) 13. (C) 14. (B) 15. (A) 16. (A) 17. (D) 18. (C) 19. (B) 20. (C) UNDERSTANDING PASSAGES Passage 1 The white-haired man sat quietly beside his dying wife's bed. He took meals on a tray and returned home only to sleep. Several days later she was gone, and so was he. They had been married 55 years, the nurse said. Down the hall, two young men played loud music and watched video -- it was a send-off party. The young men stayed deep into the night. One brought his friend's dog to say goodbye. The first hospice opened in the United States in 1974. Since then, hospice use has grown strikingly. As Americans get old, hospital costs rise sharply and patients decide that death, like birth, is a natural process rather than a medical procedure. Hospices neither accelerate nor delay death. Instead, they wish to give the patients and their families the most comfortable, painless, decent death possible. "That really has been the feature of the hospice. Managing the emotional aspects of dying is as important as managing the physical pain of the patient," said Rosemary Crowley, head of the Illinois State Hospice Organization. In the last five years, the number of US hospices jumped by nearly half, to 2510 last July from 1743 in 1990, according to the National Hospice Organization. In 1994, there were 340,000 patients, up 62 percent from 1990. Most patients enter hospice care on a doctor's introduction when they have six months or less to live. Although 70 percent have cancer and most are elderly, hospices care for all ages and hopeless illnesses. Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage you have just heard. 1. Why did some people play music and watch video down the hall? 2. Which of the following statements is true about the hospice? 3. What is a typical feature of hospices? 4. When did the number of hospice patients reach 340,000? 5. Which of the following is not a possible patient of the hospice? Passage 2 I studied to be a nurse in England and finally came to the United States. After several years of working in hospitals in the country, I noticed some differences in the nursing practice between Britain and the US. A nurse licensed in Britain may practice anywhere in the country and in some foreign countries, but in the United States, the nurse must apply in every state where she hopes to work. In Britain, a nurse is a highly respected, devoted woman, or occasionally man with a vast amount of responsibility. The patients have great belief in her judgment and advice. The doctor relies on her reports and seldom interferes in a nursing duty. What's more, the nurse is always consulted about the patient's requirements and his progress. And the nurse is a member of the health team who sees the patient most frequently. So to the patient, she is the most familiar person in the strange hospital world. But in the United States, the patient is likely to be under the care of the same doctor in and out of the hospital. So the doctor is the person the patient knows best and the one he trusts most easily., Although the patient's treatment and care are discussed with the nurse, a nurse is not allowed much freedom to advise a patient. But I myself found nursing practice easier in the US. I didn't need to write, several charges or care for the needs of the patient. Medicines were always kept at hand, and all charges were met by "National Health". And the patient didn't have much anxiety and so was more easily cared for while he was in hospital. Questions 6 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard. 6. How could the speaker know about the nursing differences in Britain and the United States? 7. What will a nurse do in the U. S. if she wants to move to and practice nursing in another state? 8. Which of the following is not true about a nurse in Britain? 9. How is a nurse in the U. S. different from one in Britain? 10. Why was nursing easier in the US according to this report? Passage 3 Euthanasia is often called "mercy killing" . It has been a topic of controversy in Europe since at least 1936. At that time, a group of prominent people from Britain held the first meeting of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, and a bill was introduced in the House of Lords that would have made mercy killings legal under very tightly supervised conditions. But that bill failed. Since then three other bills have been introduced in the Lords. Mercy-killing legislation was also introduced in the French Senate in 1978 but it was rejected. But pressure groups favoring euthanasia and "assisted suicide" have grown steadily in Europe over the years. It's not hard to find why people are interested in euthanasia. Like Americans, Europeans are now living longer. The average European male now lives to the age of 72, women to almost 80. As Derek Humphrey, a leading British advocate of "reasonable euthanasia" says, "chronic diseases have replaced critical illnesses as the main cause of death." The supporters of euthanasia argue that every human being should have the right to "die with dignity", and that usually means the right to escape the horrible experience of a painful or embarrassing period of treatment in hospital. Most advocates of voluntary euthanasia think the right to die should be granted only to the critically and hopelessly ill. But some supporters of the movement believe euthanasia is for anyone who reasonably decides to take his or her own life. Questions 11 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard. 11. What happened in 1936 according to the speaker? 12. What is the position of mercy-killing legislation in the French Senate? 13. Why are Europeans interested in euthanasia according to Humphrey? 14. What do the advocates mean when they mention the right to "die with dignity"? 15. Who should be granted the right to die according to the advocates? Passage 4 Dad was the kindest and most generous man I have ever met. Yet I was never able to know him as well as I had wished. He was a man of few words. He never spoke of the things close to his heart. I know that he loved all his children. But because in our family outward signs of affection were never shown, somehow I have never or at any time been able to express my love for him. I was with dad on the night he died and I longed to be able to kneel by his bedside and say, "Dad, thank you for being so good to us. ! love you, Dad." Every time I tried to, but I was embarrassed. Even at that time I felt he would think it wrong for me to try to express my feelings in words. After dad died, all of us gathered round Mum. We thought that to have her children calling her would be a way to make up for the loss. It was so at first. I'd visit her twice a day and listen while she talked about her life with dad. She would relate their lives and relationship together from the time she first met him. I think it was right that she did. It was far better to talk about dad to keep him alive in spirit. After all, death is inevitable. The great thing about mum was that she didn't talk endlessly. All she wanted to do was live their lives together again. I remember once when Pat and I had listened to her all afternoon, mum said, "Now I've talked to you both and I feel ten years younger. Questions 16 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16. How well had the speaker known her father before he died? 17. Why hasn't the speaker been able to express her love for her parents? 18. Which of the following is true about the speaker on the night her father died? 19. What did the children do to comfort their mother after their father's death? 20. Why did the mother say that she felt ten years younger? Passage 5 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated yesterday by a band of soldiers who attacked a military parade reviewing stand with automatic rifles and hand grenades. Seven other persons were killed and 22 were wounded, including four Americans. The parade was a grand show with both American and older Soviet military equipment on display. No one enjoyed it more than Sadat -- he smiled and laughed noisily for the watching reporters. It was 12:40 p.m. local time that Associated Press photographer William Foley said, "All hell broke loose." From a truck in the parade, a group of soldiers began firing what appeared, from photographs, to be Soviet-made AK-47 automatic titles. "I thought it was part of the show at first," said AP reporter Steve Hindy. One of the soldiers jumped from the truck and threw a grenade at the reviewing stand. Others joined him. They held their rifles to their shoulders, fired continuously and began running toward the reviewing stand. A second grenade was thrown. One soldier with rifle walked right up to the rail within four feet of Sadat and fired into the reviewing stand. The firing lasted at least a minute. , According to one government source, Sadat lost his senses after being wounded. He was flown from the site to Maddi Military Hospital and arrived at 1:20 p.m. local time. Doctors said he was unconscious when he arrived. Sadat was finally pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m. Questions 21 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 21. What was Sadat doing when the soldiers attacked? 22. How many people were victims of the attack besides Sadat? 23. Where had the soldiers been before their attack? 24. When did the attack begin? 25. Which of the following was not used by the soldiers in the attack? Passage 6 What can hospitals do to help patients recover faster from illness? Apart from nursing and medicine, one way that is getting more attention is to improve the quality of the environment in hospitals. Now some of Britain's most talented artists have been called in to transform older hospitals. Of the 2,500 National Health Service hospitals in Britain, almost 100 now have large collections of contemporary art in corridors, waiting areas and treatment rooms. These recent creative ideas owe a great deal to one artist, Peter Senior. He set up his studio at a Manchester hospital in northeastern England during the early 1970s. He felt the artist had lost his place in modem society, and that art should be enjoyed by a wider audience. A typical hospital waiting room might have as many as 5,000 visitors each week. What a better place to hold regular exhibitions of art! Senior was so popular that he was soon joined by six young art school graduates. The effect was striking. Now in the corridors and waiting rooms the visitors have a full view of fresh colors, amusing images and peaceful courtyards. The quality of the environment may reduce the expensive drugs when a patient is recovering from an illness. According to a study, patients who had a view of a garden needed half the number of strong pain killers compared with patients who had only a brick wall to look at. Questions 26 to 30 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What new method is helping patients in their recovery? 27. Why are some artists invited to hospitals? in words. 28. What can we learn about Peter Senior? 29. What does Peter Senior think of art? 30. How can patients benefit from the improvement of the hospital environment? Key: Passage 1: 1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (D) 4. (D) 5. (A) Passage 2: 6. (B) 7. (A) 8. (D) 9. (B) 10. (C) Passage 3: 11. (D) 12. (B) 13. (B) 14. (D) 15. (A) Passage 4: 16. (C) 17. (B) 18. (D) 19. (A) 20. (C) Passage 5: 21. (C) 22. (D) 23. (A) 24. (A) 25. (B) Passage 6: 26. (C) 27. (D) 28. (C) 29. (A) 30. (B)