2007-2011大学英语四级听力原文

2007-2011大学英语四级听力原文 2007年6月听力原文 11. W: Did you watch the 7 o* clock program on channel 2 yesterday evening? I was about to watch it when someone came to see me. M: Yeah! It reported some major breakthrough in cancer research. People over 40 would find a program worth watching. Q: What do we learn from the conversation about the TV program? 12. W: I won a first prize in the National Writing Contest and I got this camera as an awards I M: It' s a good camera! You can take it when you travel. I had no idea you were a marvelous writer. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 13.M: I wish I hadn' t thrown away that reading list! W: I though you might regret it. That* s why I picked it up from the waste paper basket and left it on the desk. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 14.W: Are you still teaching at the junior high school? M: Not since June. My brother and I opened a restaurant as soon ashe got out of the amp3y. Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation? 15. : Hi, Susan! Have you finished reading the book Professor Johnsoi recommended? W: Oh, I haven' t read it through the way I read a novel. I just read a few chapters which interested me. Q: What does the woman mean? 16.M: Jane missed the class again, didn* t she? I wonder why? W: Well, I knew she had been absent all week. So I called her this morning to see if she was sick. It turned out that her husband was badly injured in a car accident. Q:What does the woman say about Jane? 17.W: I' m sure the Smiths' new house is somewhere on the street,but I don„ t know exactly where it is. M: But I? m told it' s two blocks from their old home. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 18.W: I? ve been waiting here almost half an hour! How come it took you so long? M: Sorry, honey! I had to drive two blocks before I spotted a place to park the car. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 第二部分、2007年6月英语四级听力长对话原文 Conversation One: M: Hello, I have a reservation for tonight. W: Your name, please. M: Nelson, Charles Nelson. W: Ok, Mr. Nelson. That' s a room for five and... M: But excuse me, you mean a room for five pounds? I didn' t know the special was so good. W: No, no, hold no-according to our records, a room for 5 guests was booked under your name. M: No, no---hold on. You must have two guests under the name. W: Ok, let me check this again. Oh, here we are. M:Yeah? W: Charles Nelson, a room for one for the 19th... M: Wait, wait. It' s for tonight, not tomorrow night. W: Em..., I don' t think we have any rooms for tonight. There' sa conference going on in town and---er, let' s see...yeah, no rooms. M: Oh, come on! You must have something, anything! W: Well, let---let me check my computer here...Ah! M: What? M: Oh, come on! You must have something, anything! W: There has been a cancellation for this evening. A honeymoon suite is now available. M: Great, I' II take it. W: But, I 'II have to charge you 150 pounds for the night. M: What? I should have a discount for the inconvenience! W: Well, the best I can give you is a 10% discount plus a ticket for a free continent breakfast. M: Hey, isn' t the breakfast free anyway? W: Well, only on weekends. M: I want to talk to the manager. W: Wait, wait, wait...Mr. Nelson, I think I can give you an additional 15% discount... Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you' ve just heard: 19. What' stheman' s problem? 20. Why did the hotel clerk say they didn' t have any rooms for that night? 21. What did the clerk say about the breakfast in the hotel? 22. What did the man imply he would do at the end of the conversation? Conversation Two: M: Sarah, you work in the admissions office, don' t you? W: Yes, I' nvHp ve been here ten years as assistant director. M: Really? What does that involve? W: Well, T m in charge of all the admissions of postgraduate students in the universit. M: Only postgraduates? W: Yes, postgraduates only. I have nothing at all to do with undergraduates. M: Do you find that you get particular-sort of... different national groups? I mean, do you get large numbers from Latin America or... W: Yes. Well, of all the students enrolled last year, nearly half were from overseas. They were from African countries, the Far East, the Middle East, and Latin America. M: Em. But have you been doing just that for the last 10 years, or, have you done other things? W: Well, I' ve been doing the same job. Er, before that, I was secretary of the medical school at Bimp3ingham, and further back, I worked in the local government. M: Oh, I see. W: So T ve done different types of things. M: Yes, indeed. How do you imagine your job might develop in the future? Can you imagine shifting into a different kind of responsibility or doing something... W: Oh, yeah, from October 1,I' II be doing an entirely different job. There' s going to be more committee work. I mean, more policy work, and less dealing with students, unfortunately-T II miss my contact with students. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you' ve just heard: 23. What is the woman' s present position? 24. What do we learn about the postgraduates enrolled last year in the woman' s university? 25. What will the woman' s new job be like? 第三部分、2007年6月英语四级听力段落原文 passage1 PI My mother was born in a small town in northern Italy. She was three when her parents immigrated to America in 1926. They lived in Chicago when my grandfather worked making ice cream. Mama thrived in the urban environment. At 16, she graduated first in her high school class, went onto secretarial school, and finally worked as an executive secretary for a railroad company. She was beautiful too. When a local photographer used her pictures in his monthly window display, she felt pleased. Her favorite portrait showed her sitting by Lake Michigan, her hair went blown, her gaze reaching toward the horizon. My parents were married in 1944. Dad was a quiet and intelligent man. He was 17 when he left Italy. Soon after, a hit-and-run accident left him with a pemp3anent limp. Dad worked hard selling candy to Chicago office workers on their break. He had little fomp3al schooling. His English was self-taught. Yet he eventually built a small successful wholesale candy business. Dad was generous and handsome. Mama was devoted to him. After she married, my mother quit her job and gave herself to her family. In 1950, with three small children, dad moved the family to a famp3 40 miles from Chicago. He worked land and commuted to the city to run his business. Mama said goodbye to her parents and friends, and traded her busy city neighborhood for a more isolated life. But shenever complained. 26 What does the speaker tells us about his mother's early childhood? 27 What do we learn about the speaker' s father? 28 What does the speaker say about his mother? P2 During a 1995 roof collapse, a firefighter named Donald Herbert was left brain damaged. For ten years, he was unable to speak. Then, one Saturday morning, he did something that shocked his family and doctors. He started speaking. " I want to talk to my wife." Donald Herbert said out of the blue. Staff members of the nursing home where he has lived for more than seven years, raced to get Linda Herbert on the telephone. "It was the first of many conversations the 44-year-old patient had with his family and friends during the 14 hour stretch" Herbert' s uncle Simon Menka said. "How long have I been away?" Herbert asked. "We told him almost ten years," the uncle said, "he thought it was only three months." Herbert was fighting a house fire December 29,1995 when the roof collapsed, burying him underneath. After going without air for several minutes, Herbert was unconscious for two and a half months and has undergone therapy ever since. News accounts in the days and years after his injury, described Herbert as blind and with little if any memory. A video shows him receiving physical therapy but apparently unable to communicate and with little awareness of his surroundings. Menka declined to discuss his nephew' s current condition or whether the apparent progress is continuing. "The family was seeking privacy while doctors evaluated Herbert" , he said. As word of Herbert' s progress spread, visitors streamed into the nursing home. "He' s resting comfortably," the uncle told them. 29 What happened to Herbert ten years ago? 30 What surprised Donald Herbert' s family and doctors one Saturday? 31 How long did Herbert remain unconscious? 32 How did Herbert' s family react to the public attention? P3 Almost all slates in America have a state fair. They last for one, two or three weeks. The Indiana state fair is one of the largest and oldest state fairs in USA. It is held every summer. It started in 1852. Its goals were to educate, share ideas, and present Indiana' s best products. The cost of a single ticket to enter the fair was 20 cents. During the early 1930* s, officials of the fair ruled that the people could attend by paying with something other than money. For example, famp3ers brought a bag of grain in exchange for a ticket. With the passage of time, the fair has grown and changed a lot, but it' s still one of Indiana' s most celebrated events. People from all over Indiana and from many other states attend the fair. They can do many things al the fair. They can watching the judging of the price cows, pigs, and other animals; they can see sheep getting their wool cut, and they can learn how that wool is made into clothing; they can watch cows giving birth. In fact, people can learn about the animals they would see except at the fair. The fair provides a chance for the famp3ing communities to show its skills and famp3ing products. For example, visitors might see the world' s largest apple, or the tallest sunflower plant. Today, children and adults at the fair can play new computer games, or attend more traditional games of skill. They can watch perfomp3ances perfomp3ed by famous entertainers. Experts say such fairs are important, because people need to remember that they' re connected to the earth and its products, and they depend on animals for many things. 33. What were the main goals of the Indiana' s state fair when it started? 34. How did some famp3ers gain the entrance to the fair in the early 1930's? 35. Why state fairs are important events in the America? 第四部分、2007年6月英语四级听力复合式听写原文 Students' pressure sometimes comes from their parents. Most parents are well meaning, but some of them aren' i very helpful with the problems their sons and daughters have in adjusting to college. And a few of them seem to go out of their way to add to their children' s difficulties. For one thing, parents are often not aware of the kinds of problems their children face. They don' t realize that the competition is keener, that the required standards of work are higher, and that their children may not be prepared for the change. Accustomed to seeing A' sandB' s on the high school report cards, they may be upset when their children' s first semester college grades are below that level. At their kindest, they may gently inquire why John or Mary isn' t doing better, whether he or she is trying as hard as he or she should, and so on. At their worst, they may threaten to take their children out of college, or cut off funds. Sometimes parents regard their children as extensions of themselves, and think it only right and natural that they detemp3ine what their children do with their lives. In their involvement and identification with their children, they forget that everyone is different, and that each person must develop in his or her own way. They forget that their children, who are now young adults, must be the ones responsible for what they do and what they are. 参考答案: Section C compound dictation 36 meaning 37 adjusting 38 aware 39 competition 40 standards 41 accustomed 42 semester 43 inquire 44 at their worst, they may threaten to take their children out of college or cut off funds. 45 think it only right and natural that they detemp3ine what their children do with their lives. 46 who are now young adults, must be the ones responsible for what they do and what they are. 2007年12月听力原文 注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 11. A) She used to be in poor health. C) She was somewhat overweight B) She was popular among boys. D) She didn?t do well at high school. 12. A) At he airport. B) In a restaurant. C) In a booking office. D) At the hotel reception. 13. A) Teaching her son by herself. B) Having confidence in her son. C) Asking the teacher for extra help. D) Telling her son not to worry. 14. A) Have a short break. B) Take two weeks off. C) Continue her work outdoors. D) Go on vacation with the man. 15. A) He is taking care of this twin brother. B) He ha been feeling ill all week. C) He is worried about Rod?s health. D) He has been in perfect condition. 16. A) She sold all her furniture before she moved house. B) She still keeps some old furniture in her new house. C) She plans to put all her old furniture in the basement. D) She brought a new set of furniture from Italy last month. 17. A) The woman wondered why the man didn?t return the book. B) The woman doesn?t seem to know what the book is about. C) The woman doesn?t find the book useful any more. D) The woman forgot lending the book to the man. 18. A) Most of the man?s friends are athletes. B) Few people share the woman?s opinion. C) The man doesn?t look like a sportsman. D) The woman doubts the man?s athletic ability. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have heard. 19. A) She has packed it in one of her bags. B) She has probably left it in a taxi. C) She id going to get it the airport. D) She is afraid that she has lost it. 20) A) It ends in winter. B) It will cost her a lot. C) It will last one week. D) It depends on the weather. 21. A) The plane is taking off soon. B) There might be a traffic jam. C) The taxi is waiting for them. D) There is a lot of stuff to pack. 22. A) At home. B) In the man?s car. C) At the airport. D) By the side of a taxi. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 23. A) She is thirsty for promotion. B) She wants a much higher salary. C) She is tired of her present work. D) She wants to save travel expenses. 24. A) Translator. B) Travel agent. C) Language instructor. D) Environment engineer. 25. A) Lively personality and inquiring mind. B) Communication skills and team spirit. C) Devotion and work efficiency. D) Education and experience. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passage. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a questions , you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. 注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 Passage One Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26(A. They care a lot about children. B. They need looking after in their old age. C. They want to enrich their life experience. D. They want children to keep them company. 27. A. They are usually adopted from distant places. B. Their birth information is usually kept secret. C. Their birth parents often try to conceal their birth information. D. Their adoptive parents don?t want them to know their birth parents. 28. A. They generally hold bad feelings towards their birth parents. B. They do not want to hurt the feelings of their adoptive parents. C. They have mixed feelings about finding their natural parents. D. They are fully aware of the expenses involved in the search. 29. A. Early adoption makes for closer parent-child relationship. B. Most people prefer to adopt children from overseas. C. Understanding is the key to successful adoption. D. Adoption has much to do with love. Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 30. A. He suffered from mental illness. B. He bought the washing on post. C. He turned a failing newspaper into a success. D. He was once a reporter for a major newspaper. 31. A. She was the first woman to lead a big U.S. publishing company. B. She got her first job as a teacher at the University of Chicago. C. She committed suicide because of her mental disorder. D. She took over her father?s position when he died. 32. A. People came to see the role of women in the business world. B. Katharine played a major part in reshaping Americans? mind. C. American media would be quite different without Katharine. D. Katharine had exerted an important influence on the world. Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 33. A. It?ll enable them to enjoy the best medical care. B. It?ll allow them to receive free medical treatment. C. It?ll protect them from possible financial crises. D. It?ll prevent the doctors from overcharging them. 34(A. They can?t immediately get back the money paid for their medical cost. B. They have to go through very complicated application procedures. C. They can only visit doctors who speak their native languages. D. They may not be able to receive timely medical treatment. 35(A. They don?t have to pay for the medical services. B. They needn?t pay the entire medical bill at once. C. They must send the receipts to the insurance company promptly. D. They have to pay a much higher price to get an insurance policy. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. 注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。 More and more of the word?s population are living in towns or cities. The speed at which cities are growing in the less developed countries is(36) ____. Between 1920 and 1960 big cities in developed countries(37) _____two and a half times in size, but in other parts of the world the growth was eight times their size. They(38) ____size of growth is bad enough, but there are now also very(39)____signs of trouble in the(40) _____of percentages of people living in towns and percentages of people working in industry. During the nineteenth century cities grew as a result of the growth of industry. In Europe the(41)_____of people living in cities was always smaller than that of the (42)_____working in factories. Now, however, the(43)_______is almost always true in the newly industrialized world:(44) ______________________________________ . Without a base of people working in industry, these cities cannot pay for their growth;(45)________________ _______________________________________ . There has been little opportunity to build water supplies or other facilities. (46) _________________________ a growth in the number of hopeless and despairing parents and starving children. 2008年6月听力原文 11.M: Today is a bad day for me; I fell off a step and twisted my ankle. W: Don't worry, usually ankle injuries heal quickly if you stop regular activity for a while. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do? 12. W: May I see your ticket please? I think you are sitting in my seat. M: Oh, you are right. My seat is in the balcony. I'm terribly sorry. Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place? 13. W: Did you hear Mr. Smith died in his sleep last night? M: Yes, it's very sad. Please let everybody know that whoever wants to, may attend the funeral. Q: What are the speakers talking about? 14. M: Have you taken Professor Young's exam before? I'm kind of nervous. W: Yes, just concentrate on the important ideas she's talked about in class and ignore the details. Q: How does the woman suggest the man prepare for Professor Young's exam? 15. W: I'm so sorry sir, and you'll let me pay to have your jacket cleaned, won't you? M: That's all right, it could happen to anyone. And I'm sure that coffee doesn't leave lasting marks on clothing. Q: What can we infer from the conversation? www.hxen.com 16. W: Have you seen the movie the departed? The plot was so complicated that I really got lost. M: Yeah, I felt the same, but after I saw it a second time, I could put all the pieces together. Q: How did the two speakers find the movie? 17. M: I'm really surprised you got an "A" on the test. You didn't seem to have done a lot of reading. W: Now you know why I never missed a lecture. Q: What contributes to the woman's high score? 18. W: Have you heard about a new digital television system? It lets people get about 500 channels. M: Yeah, but I doubt they'll have anything different from what we watch now. Q: What does the man mean? Conversation One W: Gosh! Have you seen this Richard? M: Seeing what? W: In the paper, it says there's a man going round pretending he's from the electricity board. He's been calling at people's homes, saying he's come to check that all their appliances are safe. Then he gets around them to make him a cup of tea and while they are out of the room, he steals their money, handbag, whatever and makes off with it. M: But you know Jane, it's partly their own fault. You should never let anyone like that in unless you are expecting them. source: Hxen.com W: It's all very well to say that, but someone comes to the door and says electricity or gas, and you automatically think they are ok, especially if they flash a card to you. M: Does this man have an I. D. then? W: Yes, that's just it! It seems he used to work for the electricity board at one time. According to the paper, the police are warning people, especially pensioners not to admit anyone unless they have an appointment. It's a bit sad. One old lady told them she'd just been to the post office to draw her pension when he called. She said he must have followed her home. He stole the whole lot. M: But what does he look like? Surely they must have a description. W: Oh, yes, they have. Let's see. In his thirties, tall, bushy dark hair, slight northern accent, sounds a bit like you actually. Q19. What does the woman want the man to read in the newspaper? (A theft case) Q20. How did the man mentioned in the newspaper try to win further trust from the victims? www.Hxen.com (Flashing his I.D. to them) Q21. What is the warning from the police?( not to admit anyone unless they have an appointment) Q22. What does the woman speaker tell us about the old lady?(Her pension has been stolen by the man) Conversation Two M: Miss Jones, could you tell me more about your first job with hotel marketing concepts? W: Yes certainly. I was a marketing consultant, responsible for marketing ten UK hotels. They were all luxury hotels in the leisure sector, all of a very high standard. M: Which markets were you responsible for? W: For Europe and Japan. M: I see from your resume that you speak Japanese. Have you ever been to Japan? W: Yes, I have. I spent a month in Japan in 2006. I met all the key people in the tourist industry, the big tour operators and tourist organizations. As I speak Japanese, I had a very big advantage. M: Yes, of course. Have you had any contact with Japan in your present job? W: Yes, I've had a lot. The truth is I have become very popular with the Japanese, both for holidays and for business conferences. In fact, the market for all types of luxury holidays for the Japanese has increased a lot recently. M: Really, I'm interested to hear more about that, but first, tell me, have you ever traveled on a luxury train? The Orient Express, for example. W: No I haven't, but I have traveled on a glacier express to Switzerland and I traveled across China by train about 8 years ago. I love train travel. That's why I'm very interested in this job. Q23. What did the woman do in her first job?(marketing consultant) Q24. What gave the woman an advantage during her business trip in Japan?(She can speak Japanese) Q25. Why is the woman applying for the new job? (She loves train travel.) Compound dictation We're now witnessing the emergence of the advanced economy based on information and knowledge. Physical labor, raw materials and capital are no longer the key ingredients in the creation of wealth. Now the vital raw material in our economy is knowledge. Tomorrow's wealth depends on the development and exchange of knowledge. And individuals entering the work force offer their knowledge, not their muscles. Knowledge workers get paid for their education and their ability to learn. Knowledge workers engage in mind work. They deal with symbols, words, figures, and data. What does all this mean for you? As a future knowledge worker, you can expect to be generating, processing as well as exchanging information. Currently, three out of four jobs involve some form of mind work. And that number will increase sharply in the future. Management and employees alike will be making decisions in such areas as product development, quality control, and customer satisfaction. In the new world of work, you can look forward to being in constant training to acquire new skills that will help you keep up with improved technologies and procedures. You can also expect to be taking greater control of your career. Gone are the nine to five jobs, lifetime security, predictable promotions, and even the conventional workplace as you're familiar with. Don't expect the companies will provide you with a clearly defined career path, and don't wait for some one to empower you. You have to empower yourself. HxEn.com Passage one: Time I think a lot about time and not just because it's the name of the news organization I work for. Like most working people, I find time or the lack of it, are never ending frustration and an unwinable battle. My every day is a race against the clock that I never ever seem to win. This is hardly a lonesome complaint, according to the families and work institutes, national study of the changing work force, 55% of the employees say they don't have enough time for themselves, 63% don't have enough time for their spouses or partners, and 67% don't have enough time for their children. It's also not a new complaint. I bet our ancestors returned home from hunting wild animals and gathering nuts, and complained about how little time they had to paint battle scenes on their cave walls. The difference is that the boss of the animal hunting and the head of nut gathering probably told them to "Shut up!" or "No survival for you!" Today's workers are still demanding control over their time, the difference is: today's bosses are listening. I've been reading a report issued today called When Work Works, produced jointly by 3 organizations. They set out to find and award the employers who employ the most creative and most effective ways to give their workers flexibility. I found this report worth reading and suggest every boss should read it for ideas. Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What is the speaker complaining about? He's in a hurry to work everyday and doesn't have enough spare time. 27. What does the speaker say about our ancestors? They were busy with finding food outside in order to survive. 28. Why does the speaker suggest all bosses read the report by the 3 organizations? Because this report may help them keep their most creative and effective workers working without too much complaint. Passage 2 Loving a child is a circular business. The more you give, the more you get. The more you want to give, Penalapy Leach once said. What she said proves to be true of my blended family. I was born in 1931as the youngest of 6 children, I learn to share my parents' love. Raising 6 children during the difficult times of the Great Depression took its toll on my parents' relationship and resulted in their divorce when I was 18 years old. Daddy never had very close relationships with his children and drifted even farther away from us after the divorce. Several years later, a wonderful woman came into his life, and they were married. She had 2 sons. One of them is still at home. Under her influence we became a blended family and a good relationship developed between the 2 families. She always treated us as if we were her own children. It was because of our other mother, daddy's second wife, that he became closer to his own children. They shared over 25 years together before our father passed away. At the time of his death, the question came up of my mother, daddy's first wife, attending his funeral. I will never forget the unconditional love shown by my stepmother, when I asked her if she would object to mother attending daddy's funeral. Without giving it a second thought, she immediately replied, "of course not, honey, she is the mother of my children." Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you've just heard. www.hxen.com 29. According to the speaker, what contributed to her parents' divorce? The difficult time of the Great Depression 30. What brought his father closer to his children? A wonderful woman, his stepmother 31. What message does the speaker want to convey in this talk? Unconditional love may contribute greatly to keeping closer relationship between family members. Passage three In February last year, my wife lost her job. Just as suddenly, the owner of the greenhouse where I worked as manager died of a heart attack. His family announced that they were going to close the business because no one in the family wanted to run it. Things looked pretty gloomy. My wife and I read the want-ads each day. Then one morning, as I was hanging out "Going out of Business" sign at the greenhouse, the door opened and in walked a customer. She was an office manager whose company has just moved into the new office park on the edge of town. She was looking for petite plants to place in the reception areas and offices. "I don't know anything about plants," she said. "I'm sure in a few weeks they'll all be dead." Why was I helping her select her purchases? My mind was racing. Perhaps as many as a dozen firms have recently opened offices in the new office park, and there were several hundred more acres with construction under way. That afternoon, I drove out to the office park. By six o'clock that evening I had signed contracts with seven companies to rent plants from me and pay me a fee to maintain them. Within a week, I had worked out an agreement to lease the greenhouse from the owner's family. Business is now increasing rapidly. And one day, we hope to be the proud owners of the greenhouse. 32(What do we learn about the greenhouse? It is a place where we can buy plants. 33. What was the speaker doing when the customer walked in one morning? He just finish making a phone call. 34 What did the speaker think of when serving the office manager? He does not know for sure why he helps her 35. What was the speaker's hope for the future? He hopes to be the proud owner of the green house. 2008年12月听力原文 11(M: I just received an Email from one of my former classmates. I was surprised, I hadn?t heard from him for ages. W: Well, I?ve been out of touch with most of my old friends, only one or two still drop me a line occasionally, Q: What does the woman mean? 12. M: If you can make up your mind about the color, I can start on the outside of your house early next week. W: Well, right now I think I want white for the window frames and yellow for the walls, but I?ll let you know tomorrow. Q: Who is the woman talking to? 13. W: Excuse me, do you have any apartments available for under 500 dollars a month? I need to move in next week when my new job starts. M: The only vacant one I have is 600 dollars, have you inquired at the apartment complex down the street? Q: What does the man suggest the woman do? 14. W: You bought a pair of jeans yesterday, didn?t you? What are they like? M: Oh, they are pretty much like my other ones, except with a larger waist. I guess I haven?t spent much time exercising lately. Q: What can we infer from the conversation about the man? 15. W: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think? M: I guess it?s something I haven?t acquired a taste for yet. Q: What does the man imply? 16. W: You haven?t seen a blue notebook, have you? I hope I didn?t leave it in the reading room. M: Did you check that pile of journals you?ve borrowed from the library the other day? Q: What is the man trying to say to the woman? 17. M: How about joining me for a cup of coffee? W: I?d love to, but I?m exhausted. I was up till 3 this morning, writing a paper for my literature class. Q: Why does the woman decline the man?s invitation? 18. W: You had a job interview yesterday, didn?t you? How did it go? M: Not too bad, I guess. There were about 20 candidates competing for the sales manager?s job. And finally it was down to three of us, but the other two seemed better qualified. Q: What does the man imply? 长对话1: F: Simon, how does it feel to be retired? M: Well, not so bad. F: How have you been spending your time? M: I have been spending more time with my family. I?ve also travelled a bit, you know, off season when everywhere is less crowded and hotels cost less. F: Great. M: You know I haven?t stopped work completely. F: Yes, could you tell us more about this? M: I?m on a scheme that?s called phased retirement; I had a six-month break from work, after that I could apply for project work with the company I used to work for. F: How does the scheme work? M: Well, it?s a trial at the moment. Instead of hiring temporary stuff, the company advertises posts on its website that retired employees like myself can access. F: What sort of works advertised? M: Well, all sorts of things, really. Administrative work and more specialized work, the sort of thing I can do. Some of the projects can last five or six months, and others can just be a couple of days. I can decide more or less when to work. So I can manage my own time. F: I can see it?s good for you. What is your company get out of this? M: Well, I still have all my old contacts at work, so I know who to contact to get something done. The company gets flexibility, too. Once the job?s over, that?s it. I?m not on their books any more. Questions 19-21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. Why does Simon find his retired life enjoyable? 20. How does Simon get to know about the company?s available posts? 21. Why does the company adopt the phased retirement scheme? 长对话2 W: Oh, where are we going? M: I want to show you something. W: I know, but what is it? M: A farm. It?s just down this road. It?s a small place, but at least it would be our own. W: A farm? How can we afford to buy a farm? M: It isn?t very large, only 40 acres. We wouldn?t have to pay very much right now. W: Is there a house on the place? M: A small one, two bedrooms, but it needs to be fixed up a little. I can do the job myself. W: OK. Is there enough space for a kitchen garden? M: There is about half an acre around the house. That?s plenty of space. W: Then we can grow our own fresh vegetables. And maybe keep a few chickens, couldn?t we? M: Yes, and we can probably grow a lot of our own food. W: What are you thinking about growing, if we do take this place? M: Well, it really isn?t big enough for corn. I thought we might try to raise a crop of potatoes. W: Potatoes? There are a lot of work. M: We are used to hard work, aren?t we? W: Yes, we are, but the money. Do we have enough to get started? It seems like a dream. M: I think we?ve saved enough. We can pay a little on the farm and maybe put a few dollars down on the tractor, too. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Q 22: What are the speakers going to do at the time of the conversation? Q 23: What does the man say about the farm? Q 24: Why does the man intend to grow potatoes rather than corn on the farm? Q 25: What is the woman?s greatest concern about the man?s plan? 2008年12月大学英语四级听力Passage One 20分11秒——23分36秒 Members of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today Mr. Robert Washington, chief of our city?s police force. He will address us on the subject of the Community Policing Program. Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master?s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the Community Policing Program 8 years ago. The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies, such as schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers. And the program seems to be working: crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today Mr. Washington is going to tell us more about this program. Now let?s welcome Mr. Robert Washington. 26. What is the purpose of the speaker?s remarks? He will address us on the subject of community policing program. 27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington? Most of you know that Mr. Washington has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than ten years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master?s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with the international police force which deals with crimes around the world. Mr. Washington first introduced the community policing program 8 years ago. 28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program? The idea behind the program is to get the police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. 29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be? And the program seems to be working, crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. 四级篇章2 There are between 3000 and 6000 public languages in the world, and we must add approximately 6 billion private languages since each one of us necessarily has one. Considering these facts, the possibilities for breakdowns in communication seem infinite in number. However, we do communicate successfully from time to time. And we do learn to speak languages. But learning to speak languages seems to be a very mysterious process. For a long time, people thought that we learned a language only by imitation and association. For example, a baby touches a hot pot and starts to cry. The mother says, “Hot, hot!” And the baby, when it stops crying, imitates the mother and says, “Hot, hot!” However, Noam Chomsky, a famous expert in language, pointed out that although children do learn some words by imitation and association, they also combine words to make meaningful sentences in ways that are unique, unlearned and creative. Because young children can make sentences they have never heard before, Chomsky suggested that human infants are born with the ability to learn language. Chomsky meant that underneath all the differences between public and private languages, there is a universal language mechanism that makes it possible for us, as infants, to learn any language in the world. This theory explains the potential that human infants have for learning language. But it does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways. Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns? There are numerous public and private languages. Question 31. What is Chomsky?s point on the ability to learn a language? Human infants are born with the ability to learn language and the potential to learn any language in the world. Question 32. What does Chomsky?s theory fail to explain according to the speaker? It does not really explain how children come to use language in particular ways. 四级听力 Passage Three When US spacewoman Joan Higginbotham is not flying and working in space, she might be found somewhere on earth giving a speech. Higginbotham, who grew up in Chicago and became an engineer before joining NASA, that is the National Air and Space Administration, gives about a dozen speeches a year. Each speech is different because she tailors her remarks to each audience. Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners' educational level and what information they want to know. On the subject of space walks, for example, audiences vary in their interests and how much complexity they can comprehend. To elementary school children, Higginbotham may discuss a problem that many kids want to know about. "How do spacemen in a spacesuit eat, drink, and go to the bathroom?" Her answer is “the spacesuit is really a small spacecraft with room for food and water-containers, and a waste-collection system.” To a high school audience, she might satisfy a curiosity that often arises in her pre-speech interviews with students who obviously have seen many science fiction movies. “Do spacemen carry weapons in case they encounter enemies in space?” Her answer is "No". To scientists, she might provide technical details on such topics as the design of spacesuits that protects spacemen from the deadly temperature extremes of space. Just as elaborate preparation is required for success in space, Higginbotham says that it?s important for speakers to learn as much as possible about their listeners before a speech because every audience is different. 33. What did Joan Higginbotham do before joining in NASA? 34. How does Higginbotham prepare her speech on space walks? 35. What does the high school audience want to know about space travel? 2008.12 CET-4 Listening Script Compound Dictation: (31?43??-33?55??) Crime is increasing worldwide. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue through the next few decades. Crime rates have always been high in multi-cultural industrialized societies such as the United States. But a new phenomenon has appeared on the world scene: rapidly rising crime rates in nations that previously reported few offences. Street crimes such as robbery, rape, murder and auto theft are clearly rising, particularly in Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, and in Western European nations, such as the Untied Kingdom. What is driving this crime explosion? There are no simple answers. Still, there are certain conditions associated with rising crime. Increasing heterogeneity of population, greater cultural pluralism, higher immigration, democratization of governments, changing national borders, greater economic growth and the lack of accepted social ideas of right and wrong. These conditions are increasingly observable around the world. For instance, cultures that were previously isolated and homogenous, such as Japan, Denmark and Greece, are now facing the sort of cultural variety that has been common in America for most of its history. Multiculturalism can be a rewarding, enriching experience, but it can also lead to a clash of values. Heterogeneity in societies will be the rule in the 21st century, and failure to recognize and plan for such diversity can lead to serious crime problems. 2009年6月听力原文 11. W: There were more than a hundred people at Kate's birthday party. How come she's got so many friends? M: It's really no surprise. You know she was popular even when she was a child Q: What does the man imply about Kate? 12. M: They say there'll be a snow-storm tonight, and the cold weather will last quite a few days. W: Oh! We're so lucky, we'll be getting away for a while, and having a holiday in Florida. But let's call right now to confirm our flight. Q: What do we learn about the two speakers? 13. W: Tony was awarded a medal for rescuing several families from the forest fire. M: I really admire his courage. Q: What do we learn about Tony from the conversation? 14. M: My washing machine is more than fifteen years old and it has worked just fine until last night. W: You’ll never be able to get parts for it, even from Japan. So it might be time to invest a more recent model. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do? 15. W: I heard about your promotion, you must be thrilled. M: Not really, the new office is huge, but the word load has doubled. Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation? 16. W: I can’t decide what to do about the party tomorrow. M: You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but I’ll be glad to give you a ride if you do. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 17. M: Now if you have any questions about the contract. I’ll be happy to answer them. W: Nothing comes to mind right now, but I’d like to go over all the articles of the contract once more before signing it. Q: What are the speakers doing right now? 18. M: We are out of paper for the printer. Can you please order some? W: I completed the order form online yesterday and it will be here by noon. I’ll let you know when it comes in. Q: What did the woman do? Long Conversation Conversation One W: Bob, do you know who I saw the other day? Old Jake, looking terribly depressed. Did he get pensioned off at last? M: Yes. They made him retire after 50 years at sea. He is pretty upset about it, but what can you do? He really is pasted. W: He is all alone, isn?t he? M: Yes, his wife has been dead for years. They had one daughter, Dories. But she went off to town as soon as she left school. And he hasn?t heard from her since. I hear she is making good money as a model. W: Maybe someone could get in touch with her. Get her to come back for a while to help? M: I don?t suppose she come. She never got on with her father. He is bit of a tough character and she is rather selfish. Oh, I expect old Jake will get by. He is healthy at least, comes into a clinic for a check regularly. W: Are you his doctor? M: No, my partner doctor Johnson is. W: That bad-tempered old thing? M: Oh, he isn?t bad-tempered. He just looks it. He is an excellent doctor, taught me a lot, and he has a very nice family. His wife invites me over there to supper every week. Very pleasant. W: yes. I teach their daughter Pen at school. She is a bit careless and lazy about her school work, but a bright little thing and very popular with her age group. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you?ve just heard. 19. Why does old Jake look terribly depressed? 20. What do we learn about Jake?s wife? 21. What does the man say about Jake?s daughter? 22. What does the man say about Jake?s doctor? Conversation Two W: Hello, Mr. Summerfield. How are you today? M: Very well. Thank you, Ms. Green. W: What can I do for you? M: Well, unfortunately, there is a problem with the order we received from you yesterday. It seems we haven?t seen the right quantity of manuals to support the telephone system. W: Oh, dear, that?s bad news. I?m very sorry to hear that, and you don?t know how many packs are without manuals? M: No, because we haven?t opened every pack. But in several of those that have been opened there are none, no manuals. W: I?m very sorry about this inconvenience, Mr. Summerfield. We?ll send out the manuals this afternoon by express mail entirely at our cost, and the manuals should arrive tomorrow or the day after at the latest. M: All of them, right? W: Yes. It maybe that some have them already, but we cannot be sure. So the best thing is to send out the manual for every pack. M: Yes. Yes, I see. That would be great. W: Please accept our apologies for this mix-up. I assure you we will do everything possible to find out why the mistake happened M: Right. Thanks for your swift action. W: Not at all. Thank you and goodbye for now. Do call if there is anything else. M: All right. Thank you. Goodbye, Ms Green. W: Goodbye. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you?ve just heard. 23. What problems are the speakers discussing? 24. What does the woman promise to do? 25. What does the man think of the solution? Passage Passage 1 Attracting and feeding wild birds are entertaining activities that have long been enjoyed by people all over the world. Feeding birds has become so popular that prepared feed mixtures are readily available. We feed birds for many reasons. Many pleasant hours can come from watching birds. A hobby often develops into a serious study of their habits. Accurate identification of birds is usually the first goal. But observations that an amateur bird-watcher can make are really limitless. There is, however, responsibility associated with bird feeding, including a disease hazard. Attracting numbers of birds continually to the same spot can be harmful to them, particularly species that pick food from the ground contaminated by the droppings of other birds. In winter feeding efforts are most satisfying to people and are of greatest benefit to birds. During this time when fewer natural foods are available and air temperatures are lower, extra feeding can keep a bird warm and well. Once begun, feeding should never stop during these lean months. If you start a local increase of birds, be prepared to do what may be required to eliminate hazards to those you want to befriend. A constant supply of food should be given until the cold is over and spring has come. If feeding is stopped during severe weather, birds used to relying upon the feeders must starve. Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you’ve just heard. Q26 What does the speaker say about bird watching? Q27 What does the speaker say about birds fed continually on the same spot? Q28 What does the speaker suggest we do in feeding birds in winter? Passage 2 My friend Leo makes up weak and poor excuses whenever there is something he doesn’t want to do. Just two weeks ago, he was at my house when he decided he didn’t want to go into work. He called his boss and said he had to get a new set of tires put on his truck. Then he sat down and watched TV with me. Not only had he lied but his excuse wasn’t a very convincing one. Another time, he cancelled a date with his girlfriend at the last minute telling her he had to get a new battery for his truck. She was angry and refused to go out with him again until he apologized. Last weekend, Leo offered the poorest excuse yet. He’d promised he’d help me move some furniture, from my parents’ house to my new apartment. He was supposed to bring his truck over about 8 o’clock Saturday morning. I waited, and then called and left a message on his machine. About 11:30, he called and said he was sorry but he’d been getting a new set of tires put on his truck. I guess he’d forgotten he used the same excuse when he called his boss from my house. I think I need a new set of friends. I’m beginning to get tired of Leo’s excuses. Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you’ve just heard. Q29 What does the speaker tell us about her friend Leo? Q30 What did his girlfriend do when Leo canceled a date with her at the last minute? Q31 What favor did the speaker ask Leo to do last weekend? Passage 3 In Hollywood, everybody wants to be rich, famous and beautiful. Nobody wants to be old, unknown and poor. For Hollywood kids, life can be difficult because they grow up such an unreal atmosphere. Their parents are ambitious and the children are part of the parents’ ambitions. Parents pay for wasteful grand parties, expensive cars and designer clothes. When every dream can come true, kids don’t learn the value of anything because they have everything. A thirteen-year-old boy, Trent Maguire, has a driver, credit cards and unlimited cash to do what he wants when he wants to. “One day, I’ll earn more than my dad!” he boasts. Parents buy care and attention for their children because they have no time to give it themselves. Amender’s mother employs a personal trainer, a bodyguard, a singing coach and a councilor to look after all her fifteen-year-old daughter’s needs. Often, there is no parent at home most days, so children decide whether to make their own meals or go out to restaurants, when to watch television or do homework. They organize their social life. They play no childhood games. They become adults before they’re ready. Hollywood has always been the city of dreams. The kids there live unreal lives where money, beauty and pleasure are the only gods. Will children around the world soon start to think the same? Or do they already? Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you’ve just heard. Q32 Why is life said to be difficult for Hollywood kids? Q33 What does the speaker say about Trent Maguire, a thirteen-year-old boy? Q34 Why does Amender’s mother employ other people to look after her needs? Q35 What will probably have negative effects on the lives of Hollywood kids? Compound Dictation Around 120 years ago, Ebbinghaus began his study of memory. He concentrated on studying how quickly the human mind can remember information. One result of his research is known as the total time hypothesis, which simply mean the amount you learn depends on the time you spend trying to learn it. This can be taken as our first rule of learning. Although it is usually true that studying for 4 hours is better than studying for 1, there is still the question of how to use the 4 hours. For example, is it better to study for 4 hours straight or to study for 1 hour a day for 4 days in a row? The answer, as you may have suspected, is that it is better to spread out the study times. This phenomenon through which we can learn more efficiently by dividing our practice time is known as the distribution of practice effect. Thus, our second rule of learning is this. It’s better to study fairly briefly but often. But we are not finished yet. We haven’t considered how we should study over very short periods of time. Let’s say you are trying to learn some new and rather difficult English vocabulary using a stack of cards. Should you look at the same word in rapid succession or look at the word and then have some delay before you look at it again? The answer is it is better to space up the presentations of the word you are to learn. 2009年12月听力原文 Section A 11. Man: Excuse me, do you have change for a ten-dollar note? I need to pay the parking meter. Woman: I’m sorry. But I think you can get it through the money changer, in the shopping center across the street. Question: What is the man trying to do? 12. Man: Can you recommend something that a school boy of seven or eight will really like? Woman: I suggest this toy train, sir. It’s an excellent brand, very popular, all over the world these days. Question: What is the man doing? 13. Woman: Do you let people know when you are taking pictures of them? Man: I try not to. You know, any picture of a person who poses for the camera would look dull and unnatural. Question: What are the speakers talking about? 14. Woman: I need to talk to someone who knows Baltimore well. I’m told you lived there. Man: Oh, but I was really young at the time. Question: What does the man mean? 15. Woman: Aren’t you disappointed that you didn’t get the promotion? Man: Maybe a little. But I know I need more experience before I’m ready for that kind of responsibility. Question: What do we learn about the man from this conversation? 16. Woman: I’ve been working out the gym since January. I was a bit out of shape. Man: You look terrific! It seems that your effort has paid off. Question: What does the man imply about the woman? 17. Woman: Prof. Clark suggested that I get a tutor for advanced physics. Man: Well, that might help. Advanced physics is a pretty difficult course. Question: What does the man mean? 18. Woman: Bill, have you heard the latest news? It appears we two won’t be laid off after all. Man: Oh, I’m somewhat tired of working here. I’ve been wondering whether I should resign. Anyway, the news seems to be good for you. Question: How does the man feel about the news? Conversation One Woman: Hello, Parkson college. May I help you? Man: Yes. I’m looking for information on courses in computer programming. I would need it for the fall semester. W: Do you want a day or evening course? M: Well, it would have to be an evening course since I work during the day. W: Aha. Have you taken any courses in data processing? M: No. W: Oh. Well, data processing is a course you have to take before you can take computer programming. M: Oh, I see. Well, when is it given? I hope it’s not on Thursdays. W: Well, there’s a class that meets on Monday evenings at seven. M: Just once a week? W: Yes. But that’s all most three hours from seven to nine forty-five. M: Oh. Well, that’s all right. I could manage that. How many weeks does the course last? W: Mmmm, let me see. Twelve weeks. You start the first week in September, and finish, oh, Just before Christmas. December 21st. M: And how much is the course? W: That’s three hundred dollars including the necessary computer time. M: Aha. Okay. Ah, where do I go to register? W: Registration is on the second and third of September, between 6 and 9 in Frost Hall. M: Is that the round building behind the parking lot? W: Yes. That’s the one. M: Oh, I know how to get there. Is there anything that I should bring with me? W: No, just your check book. M: Well, thank you very much. W: You are very welcome. Bye! M: Bye! 19. Why does the man choose to take an evening course? 20. What does the man have to do before taking the course of computer programming? 21. What do we learn about the schedule of the evening course? 22. What does the man want to know at the end of the conversation? Conversation Two W: So, why exactly does your job have a reputation for being stressful? M: Stress is generally driven by the feeling of being out of control of a situation, and the feeling of a situation controlling you. Trading in financial markets combines both. W: How do you relax in the evening? M: I very rarely do anything work related. So it’s easy to escape the markets. I generally go to the gym or go for a run, especially If I’ve had a bad day. I always cook a meal rather than have a takeaway. To do something my brain would regard as creative. W: Do you think what you do to relax is an effective way to beat stress? M: I don’t think there’s a specific rule about how to beat stress. I generally find that what I do is effective for me. W: Would you consider changing your job because of the high stress factor? M: I have considered leaving my job due to stress related factors. However, I do think that an element of stress is a good thing, and if used the right way, can actually be a positive thing. W: What do you enjoy about the stressful aspects of your job? M: Having said all that, I do actually enjoy an element of uncertainty. I enjoy a mental challenge. Trading generates a wide range of emotions second by second. How you deal with and manage those emotions dictates short, medium and long term trading performance and success. 23. What is the man’s job? 24. Why does the man prefer to cook a meal rather than have a takeaway? 25. What does the man say about an element of stress in his job? Section B Passage One Since early times, people have been fascinated with the idea of life existing somewhere else besides earth. Until recently, scientists believed that life on other planet was just a hopeful dream. But now they are beginning to locate places where life could form. In 1997, they saw evidence of planets near other stars like the sun. But scientists now think that life could be even nearer in our own solar system. One place scientists are studying very closely is Europa, a moon of Jupiter. Space probes have provided evidence that Europa has a large ocean under its surface. The probes have also made the scientists think that under its surface Europa has a rocky core giving off volcanic heat. Water and heat from volcanic activity are two basic conditions needed for life to form. A third is certain basic chemicals such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Scientists believe there might be such chemicals lying at the bottom of Europa’s ocean. They may have already created life, or maybe about to. You may wonder if light is also need for life to form. Until recently, scientists thought that light was essential. But now, places have been found on earth that are in total in blackness, such as caves several miles beneath the ocean. And bacteria, primitive forms of life have been seen there. So the lack of light in Europa’s subsurface ocean doesn’t automatically rule out life forming. 26. What did scientists once believe according to the passage? 27. What have scientists found about Europa, a moon of Jupiter? 28. What have scientists come to know recently about the formation of life? Passage Two In her early days as an emergency room physician, Dr. Joanna Meyer treated a child who had suffered a second degree burn. After the child had been treated, and was being prepared for discharge, Dr. Meyer talked to the parents about how they should care for the child at home, also listening to her were half a dozen family members. A few hours later, when she came to say goodbye, the family asked her to settle an argument they’ve been having over exactly what advice she had given. “As I talked to them, I was amazed.” she said, “All of them had heard the simple instructions I had given just a few hours before. But they had three or four different versions. The most basic details were unclear and confusing. I was surprised, because these were intelligent people.” This episode gave Dr. Meyer her first clue to something every doctor learns sooner or later – most people just don’t listen very well. Nowadays, she says, she repeats her instructions, and even conducts a reality check with some patients. She asks them to tell her what they think they’re supposed to do. She also provides take-home sheets, which are computer printouts, tailored to the patients’ situation. Dr. Meyer’s listeners are not unusual. When new or difficult material is presented, almost all listeners are faced with a challenge, because human’s speech lacks the stability and permanence of the printed word. Oral communication is fast-moving and impermanent. Question 29-31 Q29. What did the child’s family members argue about in the hospital? Q30. What does Dr. Meyer do to ensure her patients understand her instructions? Q31. What does the speaker say about human speech? Passage 3 It is logical to suppose that things like good labor relations, good working conditions, good wages and benefits, and job security motivate workers. But one expert, Frederick Herzberg argued that such conditions do not motivate workers, they are merely satisfiers. Motivators, in contrast, include things such as having a challenging and interesting job, recognition and responsibility. However, even with the development of computers and robotics, there are always plenty of boring, repetitive and mechanical jobs, and lots of unskilled people who have to do them. So how do managers motivate people in such jobs? One solution is to give them some responsibilities, not as individuals, but as a team. For example, some supermarkets combine office staff, the people who fill the shelves, and the people who work at the checkout into a team. And let them decide what product lines to stock, how to display them, and so on. Many people now talk about the importance of a company shared values or culture, with which all the staff can identify. For example, being the best hotel chain, or making the best, the most user friendly, or the most reliable products in a particular field. Such values are more likely to motivate workers than financial targets, which ultimately only concern a few people. Unfortunately, there is only a limited number of such goals to go around. And by definition, not all the competing companies in an industry can seriously play in to be the best. Question 32-35 Q32. What can actually motivate workers according to Frederick Herzberg? Q33. What does the speaker say about jobs in the computer era? Q34. What do some supermarkets do to motivate employees? Q35. Why does the speaker say financial targets are less likely to motivate workers? Section C In the humanities, authors write to inform you in many ways. These methods can be classified into three types of informational writing: factual, descriptive and process. Factual writing provides background information on an author, composer or artist, or on a type of music, literature or art. Examples of factual writing include notes on a book jacket, or album cover and longer pieces, such as an article describing a style of music, which you might read in a music appreciation course. This kind of writing provides a context for your study of the humanities. As its name implies, descriptive writing simply describes, or provides an image of a piece of music, art or literature. For example, descriptive writing might list the colors an artists used in the painting, or the instrument a composer included in a musical composition, so as to make pictures or sound in the readers’ mind, by calling up specific details of the work. Descriptive writing in the humanities, particularly in literature, is often mixed with critical writing. Process writing explains a series of actions that bring about result. It tells the reader how to do something. For example, explaining the technique used to shoot a film. This kind of writing is often found in art, where understanding how an art has created a certain effect is important. Authors may actually use more than one type of technique in a given piece of informational writing. 2010年6月听力原文 Section A Short Conversation 11. W: Just imagine! We have to finish reading 300 pages before Monday! How can the professor expect us to do it in such a short time? M: Yeah, but what troubles me is that I can’t find the book in the library or in the university bookstore. Q: What does the man mean? 12. M: Do you think I could borrow your car to go grocery shopping? The supermarkets outside the city are so much cheaper. I’d also be happy to pick up anything you need. W: Well, I don’t like to let anyone else drive my car. Tell you what, why don’t we go together? Q: What does the woman mean? 13. M: Forgive the mess in here, we have a party last night. There were a lot of people and they all brought food. W: Yeah, I can tell. Well, I guess it’s pretty obvious what you’ll be doing most of today. Q: What does the woman think the man will do? 14. W: What time would suit you for the first round talks with John Smith? M: Well, you know my schedule. Other than this Friday, one day is as good as the next. Q: What does the man mean? 15. W: I was so angry yesterday! My biology teacher did not even let me explain why I missed the field trip. He just wouldn’t let me pass! M: That doesn’t seem fair. I’d feel that way too if I were you. Q: What does the man imply? 16. M: I really can’t stand the way David controls the conversation all the time. If he is going to be at your Christmas party, I just won’t come. W: I’m sorry you feel that way, but my mother insists that he come. Q: What does the woman imply? 17. W: You’re taking a course with Professor Johnson. What’s your impression so far? M: Well, many students could hardly stay awake in his class without first drinking a cup of coffee. Q: What does the man imply? 18. W: Have you ever put a computer together before? M: No, never. But I think if we follow these instructions exactly, we won’t have much trouble. Q: What are the speakers going to do? Long Conversations Conversation 1 W: What sort of hours do you work, Steve? M: Well I have to work very long hours, about eleven hours a day. W: What time do you start? M: I work 9 to 3, then I start again at 5:30 and work until 11, six days a week. So I have to work very unsocial hours. W: And do you have to work at the weekend? M: Oh, yes, that’s our busiest time. I get Wednesdays off. W: What are the things you have to do and the things you don’t have to do? M: Uh, I don’t have to do the washing-up, so that’s good. I have to wear white, and I have to keep everything in the kitchen totally clean. W: What’s hard about the job? M: You are standing up all the time. When we are busy, people get angry and sharp, but that’s normal. W: How did you learn the profession? M: Well, I did a two-year course at college. In the first year we had to learn the basics, and then we had to take exams. W: Was it easy to find a job? M: I wrote to about six hotels and one of them gave me my first job, so I didn’t have to wait too long. W: And what’s the secret of being good at your job? M: Attention to detail. You have to love it. You have to show passion for it. W: And what are your plans for the future? M: I want to have my own place when the time is right. Q19. What does the man say about his job? Q 20. What does the man think is the hardest part of his job? Q 21. Where did the man get his first job after graduation? Q 22. What does the man say is important to being good at his job? Conversation 2 W: Now you’ve seen this table of figures about the pocket money children in Britain get? M: Yes. I thought it was quite interesting, but I don’t quite understand the column entitled change. Can you explain what it means? W: Well, I think it means the change from the year before. I am not a mathematician, but I assume the rise from 70p to 90p is a rise of 25 percent. M: Oh yes, I see. And the inflation rate is there for comparison. W: Yes. why do you think the rise in pocket money is often higher than inflation? M: I am sorry I’ve no idea. Perhaps parents in Britain are too generous. W: Perhaps they are. But it looks as if children were not better off in 2001 than they were in 2002. That’s strange, isn’t it? And they seem to have been better off in 2003 than they are now. I wonder why that is. M: Yes, I don’t understand that at all. W: Anyway, if you had children, how much pocket money would you give them? M: I don’t know. I think I’ll probably give them 2 pounds a week. W: Would you? And what would you expect them to do with it? M: Well, out of that, they have to buy some small personal things, but I wouldn’t expect them to save to buy their own socks, for example. W: Yes, by the way, do most children in your country get pocket money? M: Yeah, they do. Q23 What is the table of figures about? Q24 What do we learn from the conversation about British children’s pocket money? Q25 Supposing the man had children, what would he expect them to do with their pocket money? Section B Passage 1 As the new sales director for a national computer firm, Alex Gordon was looking forward to his first meeting with the company’s district managers. Everyone arrived on time, and Alex’s presentation went extremely well. He decided to end the meeting with the conversation about the importance of the district managers to the company’s plans. “I believe we are going to continue to increase our share of the market,” he began, “because of the quality of the people in this room. The district manager is the key to the success of the sales representatives in his district. He sets the term for everyone else. If he has ambitious goals and is willing to put in long hours, everyone in his unit will follow his example.” When Alex was finished, he received polite applauses, but hardly the warm response he had hoped for. Later he spoke with one of the senior managers. “Things were going so well until the end”, Alex said disappointedly. “Obviously, I said the wrong thing.” “Yes”, the district manager replied. “Half of our managers are women. Most have worked their way up from sales representatives, and they are very proud of the role they played in the company’s growth. They don’t care at all about political correctness. But they were definitely surprised and distressed to be referred to as ‘he’ in your speech.” Q26 Who did Alex Gordon speak to at the first meeting? Q27 What did Alex want to emphasize at the end of his presentation? Q28 What do we learn about the audience at the meeting? Q29 Why did Alex fail to receive the warm response he had hoped for? Passage 2 The way to complain is to act business-like and important. If your complaint is immediate, suppose you got the wrong order at a restaurant, make a polite but firm request to see the manager. When the manager comes, ask his or her name. And then state your problem and what you expect to have done about it. Be polite! Shouting or acting rude will get you nowhere. But also be firm in making your complaint. Besides, act important. This doesn’t mean to put on airs and say “do you know who I am?” What it means is that people are often treated the way they expect to be treated. If you act like someone who expects a fair request to be granted, chances are it will be granted. The worst way to complain is over the telephone. You are speaking to a voice coming from someone you cannot see. So you can’t tell how the person on the line is reacting. It is easy for that person to give you the run-around. Complaining in person or by letter is generally more effective. If your complaint doesn’t require an immediate response, it often helps to complain by letter. If you have an appliance that doesn’t work, send a letter to the store that sold it. Be business-like and stick to the point. Don’t spend a paragraph on how your uncle John tried to fix the problem and couldn’t. Q30 What does the speaker suggest you do when you are not served properly at a restaurant? Q31 Why does the speaker say the worst way to complain is over the telephone? Q32 What should you do if you make a complaint by letter? Passage 3 Barbara Sanders is a wife and the mother of two children, ages 2 and 4. Her husband, Tom, is an engineer and makes an excellent salary. Before Barbara had children, she worked as an architect for the government, designing government housing. She quit her job when she became pregnant, but is now interested in returning to work. She's been offered an excellent job with the government. Her husband feels it's unnecessary for her to work since the family does not need the added income. He also thinks that a woman should stay home with her children. If Barbara feels the need to do socially important work, he thinks that she should do volunteer work one or two days a week. Barbara, on the other hand, has missed the excitement of her profession and does not feel she would be satisfied doing volunteer work. She would also like to have her own income, so she does not have to ask her husband for money whenever she wants to buy something. She does not think it's necessary to stay home every day with the children and she knows a very reliable babysitter who's willing to come to her house. Tom does not think a babysitter can replace a mother and thinks it's a bad idea for the children to spend so much time with someone who's not part of the family. Q33 What was Barbara's profession before she had children? Q34 What does Barbara's husband suggest she do if she wants to work? Q35 What does Tom think about hiring a babysitter? Section C Almost every child, on the first day he sets foot in the school building, is smarter, more curious， less afraid of what he doesn't know, better at finding and figuring things out, more confident, resourceful, persistent and independent, than he will either be again in his schooling or, unless he is very unusual and very lucky, for the rest of his life. Already, by paying close attention to and interacting with the world and people around him, and without any school-type formal instruction, he has done a task far more difficult, complicated and abstract than anything he will be asked to do in school, or than any of his teachers has done for years-he has solved the mystery of language. He has discovered it. Babies don't even know that language exists. And he has found out how it works and learnt to use it appropriately. He has done it by exploring, by experimenting, by developing his own model of the grammar of language, by trying it out and seeing whether it works, by gradually changing it and refining it until it does work. And while he has been doing this, he has been learning other things as well, including many of the concepts that the schools think only they can teach him, and many that are more complicated than the ones they do try to teach him. 短对话 11. C He can not get access to the assigned book. 12. A She will drive the man to the supermarket. 13. C Tidy up the place. 14. A The talks can be held any day except Friday. 15. A He understands the woman's feelings. 16. D She has to invite David to the party. 17. C Many students find Prof. Johnson's lectures boring. 18. D Assemble the computer. 长对话 19. B It requires him to work long hours. 20. D It demands physical endurance and patience. 21. D In a hotel. 22. B Paying attention to every detail. 23. A The pocket money British children get. 24. C It often rises higher than inflation. 25. B Pay for small personal things. 段子题 26. A District managers. 27. D The important part played by district managers. 28. B Fifty percent of them were female. 29. B He was not gender sensitive. 30. C Ask to see the manager politely but firmly. 31. D You can't tell how the person on the line is reacting. 32. D Stick to the point. 33. B Architect. 34. A Do some volunteer work. 35. A Few baby-sitters can be considered trustworthy. 听写 36. Curious 37. Figuring 38. Independent 39. Interacting 40. Formal 41. Abstract 42. Mystery 43. he has found out how it works and learnt to use it appropriately. 44. by trying it out and seeing whether it works, by gradually changing it and refining it 45. including many of the concepts that the schools think only they can teach him, 2010年12月听力原文 Section A 短对话 (11~18) 11. M: Oh my god! The heat is simply unbearable here. I wish we’ve gone to the beach instead. W: Well, with the museums and restaurants in Washington I’ll be happy here no matter what the temperature. Q:What does the woman mean? 12. M: How’s the new job going? W: Well, I’m learning a lot of new things, but I wish the director would give me some feedback. Q:What does the woman want to know? 13. M: Can you help me work out a physical training program John? W: Sure, but whatever you do be careful not to overdo it. Last time I had two weeks’ worth of weight-lifting in three days and I hurt myself. Q: What does the man suggest the woman do? 14. M: I have an elderly mother and I’m worried about her going on a plane. Is there any risk? W: Not if her heart is all right. If she has a heart condition, I’d recommend against it. Q: What does the man want to know about his mother? 15. M: Why didn’t you stop when we first signaled you at the crossroads? W: Sorry, I was just a bit absent-minded. Anyway, do I have to pay a fine? Q: what do we learn from the conversation? 16. M: I’m no expert, but that noise in your refrigerator doesn’t sound right. Maybe you should have it fixed. W: You’re right. And I suppose I’ve put it off long enough. Q: What will the woman probably do? 17. M: I did extremely well on the sale of my downtown apartment. Now, I have enough money to buy that piece of land I’ve had my eye on and build a house on it. W: Congratulations～Does that mean you’ll be moving soon? Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation? 18. W: My hand still hurts from the fall on the ice yesterday. I wonder if I broke something. M: I’m no doctor, but it’s not black and blue or anything. Maybe you just need to rest it for a few days. Q: what do we learn about the woman from the conversation? 长对话 (19~21) M: Mrs. Dawson, thanks very much for coming down to the station. I just like to go over some of the things that you told police officer Parmer at the bank. W: All right. M: Well, could you describe the man who robbed the bank for this report that we’re filling out here? Now, anything at all that you can remember would be extremely helpful to us. W: Well, just, I can only remember basically what I said before. M: That’s all right. W: The man was tall, six foot, and he had dark hair, and he had moustache. M: Very good. All right, did he have any other distinguishing marks? W: Um, no, none that I can remember. M: Do you remember how old he was by any chance? W: Well, I guess around 30, maybe younger, give or take a few years. M: Mm, all right. Do you remember anything about what he was wearing? W: Yes, yes, he had on a dark sweater, a solid color. M: OK. Um, anything else that strikes you at the moment? W: I remember he was wearing a light shirt under the sweater. Yes, yes. M: All right. Mrs. Dawson, I really appreciate what you’ve been through today. I’m just going to ask you to look at some photographs before you leave if you don’t mind. It won’t take very long. Can you do that for me? W: Oh, of course. M: Would you like to step this way with me, please? W: OK, sure. M: Thank you. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. What do we learn about the woman? 20. What did the suspect look like? 21. What did the man finally asked the woman to do? 长对话 (22~25) W: Good morning, I’m calling about the job that was in the paper last night. M: Well, could you tell me your name? W: Candider Forsett. M: Oh yes. What exactly is it that interests you about the job? W: Well, I thought it was just right for me. M: Really? Um„ Could you tell me a little about yourself? W: Yes. I’m 23. I’ve been working abroad. M: Where exactly have you been working? W: In Geneva. M: Oh, Geneva. And what were you doing there? W: Secretarial work. Previous to that, I was at university. M: Which university was that? W: The University of Manchester. I’ve got a degree in English. M: You said you’ve been working in Geneva. Do you have any special reason for wanting to come back? W: I thought it would be nice to be near to the family. M: I see, and how do you see yourself developing in this job? W: Well, I’m ambitious. I do hope that my career as a secretary will lead me eventually into management. M: I see. You have foreign languages? W: French and Italian. M: Well, I think the best thing for you to do is do reply a writing to the advertisement. W: Can’t I arrange for an interview now? M: Well, I’m afraid we must wait until all the applications are in, in writing, and we’ll then decide on the short list. If you are on the short list, of course we should see you. W: Oh, I see. M: I look forward to receiving your application in writing in a day or two. W: Oh, yes, yes, certainly. M: Ok, thank you very much. Goodbye. W: Thank you. Goodbye. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22. How did the woman get to know about the job vacancy? 23. Why did the woman find the job appealing? 24. What had the woman been doing in Geneva? 25. What was the woman asked to do in the end? Section B Passage One One of the greatest heartbreaks for fire fighters occurs when they fail to rescue a child from a burning building because the child, frightened by smoke and noise, hides under a bed or in a closet and is later found dead. Saddest of all is when children catch a glimpse of the masked fire fighter but hide because they think they have seen a monster. To prevent such tragedies, fire fighter Eric Velez gives talks to children in his community, explaining that they should never hide during a fire. He displays fire fighters’ equipment, including the oxygen mask, which he encourages his listeners to play with and put on. “If you see us,” Velez tells them, “don’t hide! We are not monsters. We have come to rescue you.” Velez gives his presentations in English and Spanish. Growing up in San Francisco, he learnt Spanish from his immigrant parents. Velez and other fire fighters throughout North America, who give similar presentations, will never know how many lives they save through their talks. But it’s a fact that informative speaking saves lives. For example, several months after listening to an informative speech, Pete Gentry in North Carolina rescued his brother who is choking on food, by using the method taught by student speaker, Julie Paris. In addition to saving lives, informative speakers help people learn new skills, solve problems and acquire fascinating facts about the exciting world in which they live. 26 Why do some children trapped in a burning building hide from masked fire fighters? 27 What does the passage tell us about fire fighter Eric Velez? 28 What do we learn about Pete Gentry? 29 What message is the speaker trying to convey? Passage Two Some people want to make and save a lot of money in order to retire early. I see people pursuing higher paying and increasingly demanding careers to accomplish this goal. They make many personal sacrifices in exchange for income today. The problem is that tomorrow might not come. Even if it all goes according to plan, will you know how to be happy when you are not working if you spend your entire life making money? More importantly, who will be around for you to share your leisure time with? At the other extreme are people who live only for today. Why bother saving when I might not be here tomorrow, they argue. The danger of this approach is that tomorrow may come after all. And most people don't want to spend all their tomorrows working for a living. The earlier neglect of saving, however, makes it difficult not to work when you are older. You maybe surprise to hear me say that if you must pick an extreme I think it's better to pick the spend-all approach. As long as you don't mind continuing to work, assuming your health allows, you should be OK. At least, you are making use of your money, and hopefully deriving value and pleasure from it. Postponing doing what you love and being with people you love until retirement can be a mistake. It may never come. Retirement can be a great time for some people. For others, it is a time of boredom, loneliness and poor health. 30 Why do some people pursue higher paying but demanding careers? 31 What is the danger facing people who live only for today? 32 What does the speaker seem to advocate? Passage Three Imagine that someone in your neighborhood broke the law, and the judge put the whole neighborhood under suspicion. How fair will that be? Well, it happens everyday to high schoolers. Just because some students have stolen things in shops, all of us are treated like thieves. Even though I’d never steal. Store employees looked at me like I’m some kind of hardened criminal. For example, during one lunch period, my friend Denny and I went to the Graben Gore Restaurant to have a hot dog. We arrived to find a line of students waiting outside. A new sign in the window told the story. “No more than two students at a time”. After 15 minutes, we finally got in. But the store manger laid the evil eye on us. I asked him about the new sign, and he said, “You kids are stealing too much stuff.” You kids? Too much stuff? We were not only assumed to be thieves, but brilliant, greedy thieves. The most annoying thing though, is the way employees watched my friends and me. It’s horrible. Once, at a drug store, I was looking around and found a guy standing on a large box, stocking the shelves. He was watching my hands, more than he was watching his own. I showed him that my hands were empty. He got down off his box and rushed off, as if he was going to get the store manger. How crazy is that! 33. What does the speaker find to be unfair? 34. What measure did the Graben Gore Restaurant take to stop stealing? 35. What happened in a drug store that greatly annoyed the speaker? Section C Writing keeps us in touch with other people. We write to communicate with relatives and friends. We write to preserve our family histories so our children and grandchildren can learn and appreciate their heritage. With computers and Internet connections in so many households, colleges, and businesses, people are e-mailing friends and relatives all the time -- or talking to them in writing in online chat rooms. It is cheaper than calling long distance, and a lot more convenient than waiting until Sunday for the telephone rates to drop. Students are e-mailing their professors to receive and discuss their classroom assignments and to submit them. They are e-mailing classmates to discuss and collaborate on homework. They are also sharing information about concerts and sports events, as well as jokes and their philosophies of life. Despite the growing importance of computers, however, there will always be a place and need for the personal letter. A hand-written note to a friend or a family member is the best way to communicate important thoughts. No matter what the content of the message, its real point is, "I want you to know that I care about you." This writing practice brings rewards that can’t be seen in bank accounts, but only in the success of human relationships. 2011年6月听力原文 Part III Listening Comprehension Section A 11. M: Shawn's been trying for months to find a job. But I wonder how he could get a job when he looks like that. W: Oh, that poor guy! He really should shave himself every other day at least and put on something clean. Q: What do we learn about Shawn? 答案:A. He is careless about his appearance. 12. W: I wish Jane would call when she know she'll be late. This is not the first time we've had to wait for her. M: I agree. But she does have to drive through very heavy traffic to get here. Q: What does the man imply? 答案:A. Jane maybe caught in a traffic jam. 13. M: Congratulations! I heard your baseball team is going to the Middle Atlantic Championship. W: Yeah, we're all working real hard right now! Q: What is the woman's team doing? 答案:A. Training for the Mid-Atlantic Championship. 14. W: John's been looking after his mother in the hospital. She was injured in a car accident two weeks ago and still in critical condition. M: Oh, that's terrible. And you know his father passed away last year. Q: What do we learn about John? 答案:D. He has been having a hard time. 15. M: What a boring speaker! I can hardly stay awake. W: Well, I don't know. In fact, I think it's been a long time since I've heard anyone is good. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 答案:D The woman thinks highly of the speaker 16. W: I'm having a lot of trouble with logic and it seems my professor can't explain it in a way that makes sense to me. M: You know, there is a tutoring service on campus. I was about to drop statistics before they helped me out. Q: What does the man mean? 答案:C. The woman should seek help from tutoring services. 17. M: This is a stylish overcoat. I saw you wearing it last week, did't I? W: Oh, that wasn't me. That was my sister Jill. She's in your class. Q: What does the woman mean? 答案:C. Jill wore the overcoat last week. 18. M: Jane, suppose you lost all your money while taking a vacation overseas, what would you do? W: Well, I guess I'd sell my watch or computer or do some odd jobs till I could afford a return plane ticket. Q: What are the speakers talking about? 答案:B. An imaginary situation. Conversation One 听力原文 M: Hello, professor Johnson. W: Hello, Tony. So what shall we work on today? M: Well, the problem is that this writing assignment isn't coming out right. What I thought I was writing on was to talk about what particular sport means to me when I participate in, W: What sport did you choose? M: I decided to write about cross-country skiing. W: What are you going to say about skiing? M: That's the problem. I thought I would write about how peaceful it is to be out in the country. W: So why is that a problem? M: As I start describing how quiet it is to be out in the woods. I keep mentioning how much effort it takes to keep going. Cross-country skiing isn't as easy as some people think. It takes a lot of energy, but that's not part of my paper. So I guess I should leave it out. But now I don't know how to explain that feeling of peacefulness without explaining how hard you have to work for it. It all fits together. It's not like just sitting down somewhere and watching the clouds roll by. That's different. W: Then you'll have to include that in your point. The peacefulness of cross-country skiing is the kind you earn by effort. Why leave that out? Part of your point you knew before hand but part you discovered as you wrote. That's common, right? M: Yeah, I guess so. Q19: What is the topic of the man's writing assignment? C) Pain and pleasure in sports Q20: What problem does the man have while working on his paper? D) He can't decide whether to include the effort part of skiing. Q21: What does the woman say is common in writing papers? A) New ideas come up as you write. 19. D) A sport he participates in 20. D) He can't decide whether to include the effort part of skiing. 21. A) New ideas come up as you write. Conversation Two W: Good evening and welcome to this week's Business World. It program for and about business people. Tonight we have Mr. Angeleno who came to the US six years ago, and is now an established businessman with three restaurants in town.Tell us Mr. Angeleno, how did you get started? M: Well I started off with a small diner. I did all the cooking myself and my wife waited on tables. It was really too much work for two people. My cooking is great. And word got around town about the food. Within a year, I had to hire another cook and four waitresses. When that restaurant became very busy, I decided to expand my business. Now with three places my main concern is keeping the business successful and running smoothly. W: Do you advertise? M: Oh yes. I don't have any TV commercials, because they are too expensive. But I advertise a lot on radio and in local newspapers. My children used to distribute ads. in nearby shopping centres, but we don't need to do that anymore. W: Why do you believe you've been so successful? M: Em, I always serve the freshest possible food and I make the atmosphere as comfortable and as pleasant as I can, so that my customers will want to come back. W: So you always aim to please the customers? M: Absolutely!Without them I would have no business at all. W: Thank you Mr.Angeleno.I think your advice will be helpfull to those just staring out in business. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22 What is the woman's occupation D) Hostess of the weekly “Business World” 23 what do we learn about Mr.Angeleno's business at its beginning B) He and his wife did everything by themselves. 24 what does Mr. Angeleno say about advertising his business. B) He advertises a lot on radio and in newspapers. 25 What does the man say contribute to his success? B) The restaurant atmosphere 22. D) Hostess of the weekly “Business World” 23. B) He and his wife did everything by themselves. 24. B) He advertises a lot on radio and in newspapers. 25. B) The restaurant atomsphere Section B Passage One There are many commonly held beliefs about eye glasses and eyesight that are not proven facts. For instance, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weakens the eyes. But there is no evidence to show that the structure of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at a young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that for adults there is no danger, but children can develop loss of vision if they have glasses inappropriate for their eyes. We have all heard some of the common myths about how eyesight gets bad. Most people believe that reading in dim light causes poor eyesight, but that is untrue. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained. Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. However, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not permanently damage eyesight. Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced, or transferred from one person to another. There are close to one million nerve fibres that connect the eyeball to the brain, as of yet it is impossible to attach them all in a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, some day a full transplant may be possible. Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What does the speaker want to tell us about eyesight? 答案:C)There are many false notions about it. 27. What do studies about wearing the wrong glasses show? 答案:C)It can lead to the loss of vision in children. 28.What do we learn about eye transplanting from the talk? 答案:D)It can only be partly accomplished now. Passage Two When people care for an elderly relative, they often do not use available community services such as adult daycare centers. If the caregivers are adult children, they are more likely to use such services, especially because they often have jobs and other responsibilities. In contrast, a spouse usually the wife, is much less likely to use support services or to put the dependent person in a nursing home. Social workers discover that the wife normally tries to take care of her husband herself for as long as she can in order not to use up their life savings. Researchers have found that caring for the elderly can be a very positive experience. The elderly appreciated the care and attention they received. They were affectionate and cooperative. However, even when caregiving is satisfying, it is hard work. Social workers and experts on aging offer caregivers and potential caregivers help when arranging for the care of an elderly relative. One consideration is to ask parents what they want before they become sick or dependent. Perhaps they prefer going into a nursing home and can select one in advance. On the other hand, they may want to live with their adult children. Caregivers must also learn to state their needs and opinions clearly and ask for help from others especially brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters are often willing to help, but they may not know what to do Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29. Why are adult children more likely to use community services to help care for elderly parents? 答案:D)They have jobs and other commitments. 30. Why are most wives unwilling to put their dependent husbands into nursing homes? 答案:A) They don't want to use up all their life savings. 31. According to the passage, what must caregivers learn to do? 答案:C)Be frank and seek help from others. Passage Three Since a union representative visited our company to inform us about our rights and protections. My coworkers have been worrying about health conditions and complaining about safety hazards in the workplace. Several of the employees in the computer department, for example, claim to be developing vision problems from having to stare at a video display terminal for about 7 hours a day. The supervisor of the laboratory is beginning to get headaches and dizzy spells because she says it's dangerous to breathe some of the chemical smoke there. An X-rays technician is refusing to do her job until the firm agrees to replace its out-dated equipment. She insists that it's exposing workers to unnecessarily high doses of radiation. She thinks that she may have to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and asked that government agency to inspect the department. I've heard that at a factory in the area two pregnant women who were working with paint requested a transfer to a safer department, because they wanted to prevent damage to their unborn babies. The supervisor of personnel refused the request. In another firm the workers were constantly complaining about the malfunctioning heating system, but the owners was too busy or too mean to do anything about it. Finally, they all met an agree to wear ski-clothing to work the next day. The owner was too embarrassed to talk to his employees. But he had the heating system replaced right away. Questions 32- 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 32 What does the talk focus on? A) Health and safety conditions in workplace. 33 What did the X-ray technician ask her company to do? Replace its out-dated equipments. 答案:A)Replace its out-dated equipments. 34 What does the speaker say about the two pregnant women working with paint? A) They requested to transfer to a safer department. 答案:A) They requested to transfer to a safer department. 35 Why did the workers in the firm wear ski-clothing to work? C) To protest against the poor working conditions. 答案:C)To protest against the poor working conditions. Section C Compound Dictation Contrary to the old warning that time waits for no one, time slows down when you are on the move. It also slows down more as you move faster, which means astronauts(宇航员) some day may survive so long in space that they would return to an earth of the distant future. If you could move at the speed of light, your time would stand still, if you could move faster than light, your time would move backward. Although no form of matter yet discovered, moves as fast as or faster than light, scientific experiments has already confirmed that accelerated motion causes a traveler's time to be stretched. Albert Einstein predicted this in 1905, when he introduced the concept of relative time as part of his special theory of relativity. A search is now under way to confirm the suspected existence of particles of matter that move at a speed greater than light, and therefore, might serve as our passports to the past. An obsession with time - saving, gaining, wasting, losing and mastering it - seems to have been a part of humanity for as long as human have existed. Humanity also has been obsessed with trying to capture the meaning of time. Einstein used a definition of time for experimental purposes, as that which is measured by a clock. Thus time and time's relativity are measurable by any hour glass, alarm clock, or atomic clock that can measure a billionth of a second. 36. survive 37. distant 38. backward 39. discovered 40. scientific 41. motion 42. predicted 43. introduced 44. that move at a speed greater than light, and therefore, might serve as our passports to the past. 45. seems to have been a part of humanity for as long as human have existed. 46. used a definition of time for experimental purposes, as that which is measured by a clock.