研究生英语听力2(新疆财经大学研究生考试)

1 Emily: Okay, here's the place. Vicky: The Multiple Organic Diner? Emily, do you really want to eat in this hole in the wall? - Larry: Now, Vicky, Emily is trying to help us get back into shape. Besides, this place doesn't look so bad. It's a little dark maybe, but I'm sure it's clean. Emily: That's the spirit. Let's take that table over there. Vicky: I suppose there's no smoking allowed in here. Emily: Of course not, big sister. This is a health food restaurant. Besides, I thought you said you were going to kick the habit. Vicky: Well, Emily, I've tried. But, every time I stop smoking, I gain ten pounds. I don't think I'll ever be able to give up smoking. Emily: But you'll feel so much better when you do! I've been eating well and exercising every day. I run two miles every other day and play tennis every Sunday. I feel wonderful and everybody tells me I a look great. Larry: Yeah, Vicky, I think Emily is right. By the way, where's the waiter? I'd like to order a drink before we eat. Emily: Larry, it's only three o'clock in the afternoon. Besides, health food restaurants don't serve alcohol. Vicky: Wait a minute, Larry. I thought we agreed that you'd stop drinking if I quit smoking. Emily: I think you should both quit. Doesn't this restaurant make you want to start living a healthy life? Why, just look at this menu. Everything they serve here is natural and nutritious. Larry: Never mind nutritious. What are the burgers like? I'm starving! Emily: Oh, Larry. You must know that hamburgers have a lot of fat and are high in calories. Vicky: And the doctor told you that you have to lower your cholesterol and lose at least 25 pounds. Smoking isn't the only way to have a heart attack early in life, you know. I'm your wife and I'm too young to dress all in black! @ Larry: Don't worry, dear, I'm not going to die any time soon. Besides, I'm going to start my new diet on Monday. Emily: That's great, Larry, but I think the only real way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Vicky: I agree with Emily. All you have to do is stop eating desserts and fried foods and no more alcohol. Larry: You know, maybe you're right. Emily can help me plan a diet. Emily: And don't forget the exercise. Why don't you two come running with me. I'd love to have the company and we could play tennis together, too. Vicky: No, running hurts my knees. I think swimming would be the best exercise for me. Larry: Well, I don't like swimming or running. But, I would like to get back into playing handball. I was a really good player when I was younger. Emily: Well, the important thing is that you two make some serious changes in your lifestyle. I'm really glad you're doing this. Now, let's celebrate your decision by ordering a nice tall glass of carrot- onion juice. Vicky and Larry: Carrot-onion juice? !? Emily: Of course! It's chock full of vim and vitality! It's rich in vitamins and minerals. There's vitamin C, B, and of course A for the eyes. Larry: Wait a minute. Our diet doesn't start until Monday, If we're going to do any celebrating, I say we should go over to the Burger Palace and have a real celebration. Emily: But-- Vice: I'm with you, Larry. Come on, I'm starving. See you later, Emily. 2 Reiko: Excuse me. I need to interview someone for my Communications Skills class. Could I ask you questions? It will only be a few minutes. Kitty: Well, okay. Sure. Reiko: Thank you so much. Okay, um uh, I'm sorry; I'm a little nervous. Uh, do you have a lot of midterm tests that you are studying for? Kitty: I sure do. I have two tests next Tuesday that I haven't had time to begin studying for. Reiko: Oh! Maybe you want to study now. I don't, Kitty: Don't worry. I can talk to you for a few minutes. Please, ask me your questions. Reiko: Thank you. I will try to hurry. Please tell me first, are you a full- time or part-time student? Kitty: I'm just taking classes part time. Reiko: You are part-time. So, you are working now? Kitty: '~ Working now? No, I'm a student. A part-time student. Reiko: Yes. Sorry. I mean do you have a job? Kitty: Uh huh. I'm a receptionist at a downtown law firm. Reiko: I see. What is your major? Are you studying law? Kitty: Oh no. I don't want to be a lawyer. I'm working on a certificate in retail floristry. Reiko: Retail floristry? Kitty: No, it's pronounced retail floristry. Reiko: Thank you. Floristry is flowers, right? Kitty: Yes. , Reiko: And, you are getting a certificate, not a degree. How long does it take to get this certificate? Kitty: The program takes about a year for most people, but at the rate I'm going, it will probably take me three. Reiko: Ah. Question four: What attracted you to this field? @ Kitty: Well, I've always really enjoyed working with flowers and having gardens, so I started taking some courses because someday I'd like to open my own flower shop. UFS has a really good reputation for its retail floristry department. That's why I decided to start taking classes here. I'm sorry; was I speaking too quickly? Did my answer make sense? Reiko: Oh, yes, thank you. Now, I want to know have you ever worked at a jo b that is related to this major? Kitty: No. I've just always had a green thumb and loved working with plants and flowers. Reiko: And, could you tell me what kinds of jobs are possible for someone with a major in retail floristry? Kitty: Well, in the beginning, you could work as a salesperson in a flower shop or a designer depending on your skill level. Reiko: I'm sorry; could you explain what you mean by designer? Kitty: That's someone who designs and arranges flowers. Flower arranging is practically an art form, especially in some Asian countries like Japan. Do you know what I mean? Reiko: Yes. I think you are talking abc~t Ikebana. Kitty: Right! Ike--lke Reiko: Ikebana. Kitty: Yes. You might also be able to get a job in a nursery, where you'd grow large numbers of plants from seedlings, maybe develop new and stronger species, and, of course, help gardeners with their everyday needs and problems. Reiko: That sounds very interesting. Do you like the program in retail floristry here at UFS? Kitty: Oh, yes, so far, I like it very much. Reiko: Are the classes difficult? Kitty: No, not really. I'm just taking two classes this semester, and I'm acing both of them. o Reiko: You are lucky. My classes are difficult. Kitty: Well, it's easier for me. You see, I already have a degree, so I'm used to the amount of work. It's not like I'm starting college for the first time. Reiko: I understand. Please tell me, what do you think are some of the most helpful courses in your program? Kitty: Definitely the design classes because that's really what this major is all about. Also, the identification courses, where you can learn the names of the plants and flowers. That is really crucial if you are going to work in a shop or work with flowers. Reiko: Yes, it would be. For my next question, please tell me what kind of related subjects would help somebody studying retail floristry? @ Kitty: There are other courses in the horticulture department which would be beneficial, such as landscape design or nursery operation. Also, maybe courses in art, art history, or even architectural design would help. If you're trying to create an artistic floral arrangement to go in a particular room or with a particular painting, it would probably be useful to have some knowledge of art and architecture. Reiko: That is very interesting. Now, what is the best part of the UFS program in retail floristry? Kitty: I think the practical experience you get working with the flowers is the best part of the program. Part of the time is lecture, but you also spend three hours designing arrangements and critiquing them with your classmates. It's really important to have time to work with the flowers and then critique your arrangement and get feedback from the instructor and from everybody else in the class. The practical experience is really wonderful. Reiko: And, what about the worst part? What would you say is the worst part of the program? Kitty: I guess I'd have to say it's the memorization. A lot of the work involved with plant and flower identification is just strict memorization. You have to constantly practice the botanical names, saying them and learning what they mean so that you'll know them by the end of the course. There are really so many difficult Latin names. It's not something you can just study right before a test. Reiko: Yes, that sounds hard. Kitty: What am I saying? You know how hard it is to learn new vocabulary words! Reiko: Yes, but Latin is so difficult! I have one more question: Do you think your major is one that a foreign student would be able to handle? Kitty: Yes, I think so. I do know, however, that some of the foreign students in my classes have been having trouble following the instructor because of the language difficulties. But, if they got some help from English-speaking classmates, or, perhaps if the instructor had some assistants available to help them, I think they could do it. I'm not saying they would breeze through the class, but, with hard work and help, I'm sure they'd be successful. Reiko: That's good to know. Well, those are my questions. Thank you very much for helping me with my project. Kitty: Oh, sure. It was my pleasure. I hope I was able to give you enough information. Reiko: Yes, thank you. I'm sure my teacher will give me an A plus! @ 3 Reporter: And now we'll switch to highlights of last night's debate between the city's two candidates for mayor, Bella Porter and Dan Shmankie. The debate lasted more than an hour and was at times rather loud and contentious. The crowd interrupted the speakers several times showing their strong disagreement. Here's what the candidates had to say on some of the issues. The first point that was hotly debated was in response to a question regarding the current homelessness problem in our city. Bella Porter, who has been active in city politics for over a decade and is currently serving as president of the city council, answered the question first. B. Porter: I feel that Mr. Shmankie's solution to the homeless problem is to sweep it under the rug. Mr. Shmankie believes that putting the homeless in jail will solve the problem. If we don't see homeless people sleeping on our streets, the problem doesn't exist, right? Wrong! Mr. Shmankie appears to be more concerned with the comfort of tourists and visitors to our city than with actually helping some of our poorest and neediest citizens. A night in jail will not help a homeless person get his or her life back together. We need to provide real job training for these people in addition to affordable housing and medical services. Reporter: Dan Shmankie, a local businessman for over twenty years, then gave his response to the homeless question. D. Shmankie: As usual, Councilwoman Porter's solution to any problem is to throw money at it. The people we see on the streets are for the most part lazy drunks or drug addicts who don't want to get a job and contribute to society. We hear stories every day from good hard-working citizens who are constantly harassed by panhandlers who come up to them and demand spare change. People have been attacked in