2008-2005年听力原文

2008-2005年听力原文 2008年12月听力原文 Short Conversations 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I 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II 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 works. 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? Passages Passage One 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? 27. What does the speaker say about Mr. Robert Washington? 28. What is the idea behind the Community Policing Program? 29. How has the Community Policing Program turned out to be? Passage Two 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. Question30. Why does the speaker say there are great possibilities for communication breakdowns? Question31. What is Chomsky’s point on the ability to learn a language? Question32. What does Chomsky’s theory fail to explain according to the speaker? 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? Compound Dictation: 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. 2008年6月听力原文 Section A: Short Conversation: 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 activities for a while. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do? 12. W: May I see you ticket, please? I think you’re sitting in my seat. M: Oh, you’re right. My seat is in the balcony. I’m terribly sorry. Q: Where does conversation most probably take place? 13. W: Do you hear Mr. Smith die 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 Yang’s exam before? I’m kind of nervous. W: Yes. Just concentrate on the important ideas she’s talked about in the class and ignore the details. Q: How does the women suggest the man prepare for Professor Yang’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? 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 the lecture. Q: What contributes to the woman’s high score? 18. W: Have you heard about the 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? Long conversation Conversation One: W: Gosh! Have you seen this, Richard? M: See what? W: In the paper. It says, there is a man going around pretending he’s from the electricity board. He’s been calling at people’s homes, saying he is coming 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’re expecting them. 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 ID 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. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19. What does the woman want the man to read in the newspaper? 20. How did the man mention in the newspaper try to win further trust from the victims? 21. What is the warning from the police? 22. What does the woman speaker tell us about the old lady? Conversation Two: M: Miss Jones, could you tell me more about your first job with hotel marketing concept? W: Yes, certainly. I was a marketing consultant responsible for marketing 10 UK hotels. They were all luxury hotels in a 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 months in Japan 2006. I met all the key people in the tourist industry, the big tour operators and the 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. Cruises 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 the luxury train, the Orient Express, for example? W: No, I haven’t. But I’ve traveled on the Glacial Express through 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. 23. What did the woman do in her first job? 24. What give the woman an advantage during her business trip in Japan? 25. Why is the woman applying for the new job? Passage 1 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, and never-ending frustration and an unwinnable 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 workforce, 55 percent of employees say they don't have enough time for themselves, 63 percent don't have enough time for their spouses or partners, and 67 percent 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 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 three organizations. They set up to find and warn 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. Question 26. What is the speaker complaining about? Question 27. What does the speaker say about our ancestors? Question 28. Why does the speaker suggest all bosses read the report by the three organizations? Passage 2 Loving a child is a circular business. The more you give, the more you get, the more you want to give, *** said. What she said proves to be true of my blended family. I was born in 1931. As the youngest of six children, I learned to share my parents' love. Raising six 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 two sons, one of them still at home. Under her influence, we became a blended family and a good relationship developed between the two 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 step mother. 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 have just heard. Question 29. According to the speaker, what contributed to her parents' divorce? Question 30. What brought the father closer to his own children? Question 31. What message does the speaker want to convey in this talk? Passage 3 In February last year, my wife lost her job. Just as suddenly, the owner of the Green House 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 a "going out of business" sign at the green house, the door opened and in walked a customer. She was an office manager whose company had just moved into the new office park on the edge of the town. She was looking for potted plants to place in the reception areas in offices. "I don't know anything about plants", she said, "I am sure in a few weeks, they'll all be dead.” While I was helping her select her purchases, my mind was racing. Perhaps as many as a dozen firms that recently opened offices in the new office park and there were several hundred more acres with construction under way. That afternoon, I drove up to the office park. By 6 o'clock that evening, I had signed contacts with 7 companies to rent plants from me and pay me a fee to maintain them. Within a week, I had worked down to an agreement to lease the Green House from the owner's family. Business is now increasing rapidly. And one day we hope to be the proud owners of the Green House. Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 32. What do we learn about the green house? Question 33. What was the speaker doing when the customer walked in one morning? Question 34. What did the speaker think of when serving the office manager? Question 35. When was the speaker's hope for the future? Compound Dictation We are now witnessing the emergence of an advanced economy based on information and technology. 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 workforce 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 4 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 be 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, life-time security, predictable promotions and even a conventional workplace as you are familiar with. Don't expect the companies to provide you with a clearly-defined career path and don't wait for someone to empower you. You have to empower yourself. 2007年12月听力原文 Section A Conversations Short Conversations 11. W: I ran into Sally the other day. I could hardly recognize her. Do you remember her from high school? M: Yeah, she was a little out of shape back then. Well, has she lost a lot of weight? Q: What does the man remember of Sally? 12. W: We don’t seem to have a reservation for you, sir. I’m sorry. M: But my secretary said that she had reserved a room for me here. I phoned her from the airport this morning just before I got on board the plane. Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place? 13. W: What would you do if you were in my place? M: If Paul were my son, I’d just not worry. Now that his teacher is giving him extra help and he's working hard himself, he’s sure to do well in the next exam. Q: What’s the man’s suggestion to the woman? 14. M: You’ve had your hands full and have been overworked during the last two weeks. I think you really need to go out and get some fresh air and sunshine. W: You are right. That’s just what I’m thinking about. Q: What is the woman most probably going to do? 15. W: Hello, John. How are you feeling now? I hear you’ve been ill. M: They must have confused me with my twin brother Rods. He’s been sick all week, but I’ve never felt better in my life. Q: What do we learn about the man? 16. M: Did you really give away all your furniture when you moved into the new house last month? W: Just the useless pieces, as I’m planning to purchase a new set from Italy for the sitting room only. Q: What does the woman mean? 17. M: I’ve brought back your Oxford Companion to English Literature. I thought you might use it for your paper. Sorry not to have returned it earlier. W: I was wondering where that book was. Q: What can we infer from the conversation? 18. W: To tell the truth, Tony, it never occurs to me that you are an athlete. M: Oh, really? Most people who meet me, including some friends of mine, don’t think so either. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? Long Conversations Conversation 1 M: Mary, I hope you're packed and ready to leave. W: Yes, I’m packed, but not quite ready. I can’t find my passport. M: Your passport? That’s the one thing you mustn’t leave behind. W: I know. I haven’t lost it. I’ve packed it, but I can’t remember which bag it’s in. M: Well, you have to find it at the airport. Come on, the taxi is waiting. W: Did you say taxi? I thought we were going in your car. M: Yes, well, I have planned to, but I’ll explain later. You’ve got to be there in an hour. W: The plane doesn’t leave for two hours. Anyway, I’m ready to go now. M: Now, you’re taking just one case, is that right? W: No, there is one in the hall as well. M: Gosh, what a lot of stuff! You’re taking enough for a month instead of a week. W: Well, you can’t depend on the weather. It might be cold. M: It’s never cold in Rome. Certainly not in May. Come on, we really must go. W: Right, we're ready. We’ve got the bags, I’m sure there's no need to rush. M: There is. I asked the taxi driver to wait two minutes, not twenty. W: Look, I’m supposed to be going away to relax. You’re making me nervous. M: Well, I want you to relax on holiday, but you can’t relax yet. W: OK, I promise not to relax, at least not until we get to the airport and I find my passport. Questions 19-22 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Q19: What does the woman say about her passport? Q20: What do we know about the woman’s trip? Q21: Why does the man urge the woman to hurry? Q22: Where does the conversation most probably take place? Conversation 2 W: Oh, I’m fed up with my job. M: Hey, there’s a perfect job for you in the paper today. You might be interested. W: Oh, what is it? What do they want? M: Wait a minute. Uh, here it is. The European Space Agency is recruiting translators. W: The European Space Agency? M: Well, that’s what it says. They need an English translator to work from French or German. W: So they need a degree in French or German, I suppose. Well, I’ve got that. What’s more, I have plenty of experience. What else are they asking for? M: Just that. A university degree and three or four years of experience as a translator in a professional environment. They also say the person should have a lively and inquiring mind, effective communication skills and the ability to work individually or as a part of the team. W: Well, if I stay at my present job much longer, I won’t have any mind or skills left. By the way, what about salary? I just hope it isn’t lower than what I get now. M: It’s said to be negotiable. It depends on the applicant’s education and experience. In addition to basic salary, there's a list of extra benefits. Have a look yourself. W: Hm, travel and social security plus relocation expenses are paid. Hey, this isn’t bad. I really want the job. Questions 23-25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. Q23: Why is the woman trying to find a new job? Q24: What position is being advertised in the paper? Q25: What are the key factors that determine the salary of the new position? Section B Short Passages Passage 1 When couples get married, they usually plan to have children. Sometimes, however, a couple can not have a child of their own. In this case, they may decide to adopt a child. In fact, adoption is very common today. There are about 60 thousand adoptions each year in the United States alone. Some people prefer to adopt infants, others adopt older children, some couples adopt children from their own countries, others adopt children from foreign countries. In any case, they all adopt children for the same reason ---- they care about children and want to give their adopted child a happy life. Most adopted children know that they are adopted. Psychologists and child-care experts generally think this is a good idea. However, many adopted children or adoptees have very little information about their biological parents. As a matter of fact, it is often very difficult for adoptees to find out about their birth parents because the birth records of most adoptees are usually sealed. The information is secret so no one can see it. Naturally, adopted children have different feelings about their birth parents. Many adoptees want to search for them, but others do not. The decision to search for birth parents is a difficult one to make. Most adoptees have mixed feelings about finding their biological parents. Even though adoptees do not know about their natural parents, they do know that their adoptive parents want them, love them and will care for them. Questions 26-29 are based on the passage you have just heard. Q26. According to the speaker, why do some couples adopt children? Q27. Why is it difficult for adoptees to find out about their birth parents? Q28. Why do many adoptees find it hard to make the decision to search for their birth parents? Q29. What can we infer from the passage? Passage 2 Katherine Gram graduated from University of Chicago in 1938 and got a job as a news reporter in San Francisco. Katherine’s father used to be a successful investment banker. In 1933, he bought a failing newspaper, the Washington Post. Then Katherine returned to Washington and got a job, editing letters in her father’s newspaper. She married Philip Gram, who took over his father-in-law’s position shortly after and became publisher of the Washington Post. But for many years, her husband suffered from mental illness and he killed himself in 1963. After her husband’s death, Katherine operated the newspaper. In the 1970s, the newspaper became famous around the world and Katherine was also recognized as an important leader in newspaper publishing. She was the first woman to head a major American publishing company, the Washington Post company. In a few years, she successfully expanded the company to include newspaper, magazine, broadcast and cable companies. She died of head injuries after a fall when she was 84. More than 3 thousand people attended her funeral including many government and business leaders. Her friends said she would be remembered as a woman who had an important influence on events in the United States and the world. Katherine once wrote, “The world without newspapers would not be the same kind of world”. After her death, the employees of the Washington Post wrote, “The world without Katherine would not be the same at all.” Questions 30-32 are based on the passage you have just heard. Q30. What do we learn from the passage about Katherine’s father? Q31. What does the speaker tell us about Katherine Gram? Q32. What does the comment by employees of the Washington Post suggest? Passage 3 Obtaining good health insurance is a real necessity while you are studying overseas. It protects you from minor and major medical expenses that can wipe out not only your savings but your dreams of an education abroad. There are often two different types of health insurance you can consider buying, international travel insurance and student insurance in the country where you will be going. An international travel insurance policy is usually purchased in your home country before you go abroad. It generally covers a wide variety of medical services and you are often given a list of doctors in the area where you will travel who may even speak your native language. The drawback might be that you may not get your money back immediately, in other words, you may have to pay all you medical expenses and then later submit your receipts to the insurance company. On the other hand, getting student heath insurance in the country where you will study might allow you to only pay a certain percentage of the medical cost at the time of service and thus you don’t have to have sufficient cash to pay the entire bill at once. Whatever you decide, obtaining some form of health insurance is something you should consider before you go overseas. You shouldn’t wait until you are sick with major medical bills to pay off. Questions 33-35 are based on the passage you have just heard. Q33. Why does the speaker advise overseas students to buy health insurance? Q34. What is the drawback of students buying international travel insurance? Q35. What does the speaker say about students getting health insurance in the country where they will study? Section C Compound Dictation More and more of the world’s population are living in towns or cities. The speed at which cities are growing in the less developed countries is alarming. Between 1920 and 1960, big cities in developed countries increased two and a half times in size, but in other parts of the world the growth was eight times their size. The sheer size of growth is bad enough, but there are now also very disturbing signs of trouble in the comparison of percentages of people living in towns and percentages of people working in industry. During the 19th century, cities grew as a result of the growth of industry. In Europe, the proportion of people living in cities was always smaller than that of the work force working in factories. Now, however, the reverse is almost always true in the newly industrialized world. The percentage of people living in cities is much higher than the percentage working in industry. Without a base of people working in industry, these cities cannot pay for their growth. There is not enough money to build adequate houses for the people that live there, let alone the new arrivals. There has been little opportunity to build water supplies or other facilities. So the figures for the growth of towns and cities represent proportional growth of unemployment and underemployment, a growth in the number of hopeless and despairing parents and starving children. 2007年6月听力原文 Short Conversations 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 breakthroughs in cancer research. People over 40 would find the program worth watching. Q: What do we learn from the conversation about the TV program? 12. W: I won the first prize in the national writing contest and I got this camera as an award. 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 waiting list. W: I thought 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 as he got out of the army. Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation? 15. M: Hi, Susan. Have you finished reading the book Prof. Johnson recommended? W: Oh, I haven’t read it through the way I’d read a novel. I just read a few chapters which interested me. Q: What does the woman mean? 16. M: Jane missed 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 that Smith’s new house is somewhere on this 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 it 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? Long Conversation 1: -Hello, I have a reservation for tonight. -Your name, please? -Nelson, Charles Nelson. -Ok, Mr. Nelson, that’s a room for 5 and … -Excuse me? You mean a room for 5 pounds? I didn’t know the special was so good. -No, no, no, according to our records, a room for 5 guests was booked under your name. -No, no, hold on. You must have two guests under the name. -OK, let me check this again. Oh, here we are. -Yes? -Charles Nelson, a room for one for the nineteen… -Wait, wait, it was for tonight, not tomorrow night. -Ehm, hmm, I don’t think we have any rooms for tonight. There is a conference going on in town and, er, let’s see, yeah, no rooms. -Oh, come on, you must have something, anything! -Well, let, let me check my computer here. Ah! -What? -There has been a cancelation for this evening. A honeymoon suite is now available. -Great, I’ll take it. -But I’ll have to charge you a hundred and fifty pounds for the night. -What? I should get a discount for the inconvenience! -Well, the best I can give you is a 10% discount, plus a ticket for a free continental breakfast. -Hey, isn’t the breakfast free anyway? -Well, only on weekends. -I want to talk to the manager. -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 have just heard. 19. What is the man’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? Long Conversation 2: -Sarah, you work in the admission’s office, don’t you? -Yes, I’m, I’ve been here 10 years as an assistance director. -Really? What does that involve? -Well, I’m in charge of all the admissions of post graduate students in the university. -Only post graduates? -Yes, post graduates only. I have nothing at all to do with undergraduates. -Do you find that you get a particular...sort of different national groups? I mean you get larger numbers from Latin America or… -Yes, well, of all the students enrolled last year, nearly half were from overseas. They were from the African countries, the far east, the middle east and Latin America. -Ehm, but have you been doing just that for the last 10 years or have you done other things? -Well, I’ve been doing the same job, ehm, before that I was a secretary of the medical school at Birmingham, and further back I worked in the local government. -Oh, I see. -So I’ve done different types of things. -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…? -Oh, yeah, from October 1st I’ll be doing an entirely different job. There is going to be more committee work. I mean, more policy work, and less dealing with students unfortunately. I’ll miss my contact with students. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 23. What is the woman’s present position? 24. What do we learn about the post graduates enrolled last year in the woman’s university? 25. What will the woman’s new job be like? Section A Compound Dictation Students’ pressure sometimes comes from their parents. Most parents are well-meaning, but some of them aren’t 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 As and Bs on 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 enquire 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 determine 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. Short Passages Passage 1 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, where my grandfather worked making ice-cream. Mama thrived in the urban environment. At 16, she graduated first in her high school class, went on to secretarial school and finally worked as an executive secretary for a rare wood 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 wind-blown, her gaze reaching towards 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 permanent limp. d worked hard selling candy to Chicago office workers on their break. He had little Da formal schooling. His English was self-taught. Yet he eventually built a small successful whole-sale 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 farm 40 miles from Chicago. He worked the land and commuted to the city to run his business. Mama said good-bye to her parents and friends and traded her busy city neighborhood for a more isolated life. But she never complained. Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard: 26: What does the speaker tell 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? Passage 2 During a 1995 roof collapse, a fire fighter named Donald Herbert was left brain damaged. For 10 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 7 years rose 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 Manka said. “How long have I been away?” Herbert asked. “We told him almost 10 years.” The uncle said. He thought it was only three months. Herbert was fighting a house fire Dec. 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. Manka declined to discuss his nephew’s current condition or whether the apparent progress was 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 is resting comfortably,” the uncle told them. Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29: What happened to Herbert 10 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? Passage 3 Almost all states 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 the United States. 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 people could attend by paying something other than money. For example, farmers 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 is still one of the Indiana’s celebrated events. People from all over Indiana and from many other states attend the fair. They can do many things at the fair. They can watch the judging of the priced 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 animals they would never see except other fair. The fair provides the chance for the farming community to show its skills and fun products. For example, visitors might see the world’s largest apple or the tallest sun flower plant. Today, children and adults at the fair can play new computer games or attempt more traditional games of skill. They can watch performances put on by famous entertainers. Experts say such fairs are important because people need to remember that they are connected to the earth and its products and they depend on animals for many things. Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard: 33: What were the main goals of the Indiana state fair when it started? 34: How did some farmers give entrance to the fair in the early 1930’s? 35: Why are state fairs important events in the America? Students’ pressure sometimes comes from their parents. Most parents are well-meaning, but some of them aren’t 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 As and Bs on 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 enquire 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 determine 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. 2006年12月听力原文 Section A: Conversations Short Conversations短对话 11. M: Christmas is around the corner. And I’m looking for a gift for my girlfriend. Any suggestions? W: Well you have to tell me something about your girlfriend first. Also, what’s your budget? Q: What does the woman want the man to do? 12. M: What would you like for dessert? I think I’ll have apple pie and ice cream. W: The chocolate cake looks great, but I have to watch my weight. You go ahead and get yours. Q: What would the woman most probably do? 13. W: Having visited so many countries, you must be able to speak several different languages. M: I wish I could. But Japanese and of course English are the only languages I can speak. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 14. M: Professor Smith asked me to go to his office after class. So it’s impossible for me to make it to the bar at ten. W: Then it seems that we’ll have to meet an hour later at the library. Q: What will the man do first after class? 15. M: It’s already 11 now. Do you mean I ought to wait until Mr. Bloom comes back from the class? W: Not really. You can just leave a note. I’ll give it to her later. Q: What does the woman mean? 16. M: How is John now? Is he feeling any better? W: Not yet. It still seems impossible to make him smile. Talking to him is really difficult and he gets upset easily over little things. Q: What do we learn about John from the conversation? 17. M: Do we have to get the opera tickets in advance? W: Certainly. Tickets at the door are usually sold at a higher price. Q: What does the woman imply? 18. M: The taxi driver must have been speeding. W: Well, not really. He crashed into the tree because he was trying not to hit a box that had fallen off the truck ahead of him. Q: What do we learn about the taxi driver? Long Conversations: 长对话 Conversation 1 W: Hey, Bob, guess what? I’m going to visit Quebec next summer. I’m invited to go to a friend’s wedding. But while I’m there I’d also like to do some sightseeing. M: That’s nice, Shelly. But do you mean the province of Quebec, or Quebec City? W: I mean the province. My friend’s wedding is in Montreal. I’m going there first. I’ll stay for five days. Is Montreal the capital city of the province? M: Well, Many people think so because it’s the biggest city. But it’s not the capital. Quebec City is. But Montreal is great. The Saint Royal River runs right through the middle of the city. It’s beautiful in summer. W: Wow, and do you think I can get by in English? My French is OK, but not that good. I know most people there speak French, but can I also use English? M: Well, People speak both French and English there. But you’ll hear French most of the time. And all the street signs are in French. In fact, Montreal is the third largest French speaking city in the world. So you’d better practice your French before you go. W: Good advice. What about Quebec City? I’ll visit a friend from college who lives there now. What’s it like? M: It’s a beautiful city, very old. Many old buildings have been nicely restored. Some of them were built in the 17th or 18th centuries. You’ll love there. W: Fantastic. I can’t wait to go. Questions: 19. What’s the woman’s main purpose of visiting Quebec? 20. What does the man advise the woman to do before the trip? 21. What does the man say about the Quebec City? Conversation 2 M: Hi, Miss Rowling, how old were you when you started to write? And what was you r first book? W: I wrote my first Finnish (finished) story when I was about six. It was about a small animal, a rabbit, I mean. And I’ve been writing ever since? M: Why did you choose to be an author? W: If someone asked me how to achieve happiness. Step One would be finding out what you love doing most. Step two would be finding someone to pay you to do this. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be able to support myself by writing M: Do you have any plans to write books for adults? W: My first two novels were for adults. I suppose I might write another one. But I never really imagine a target audience when I’m writing. The ideas come first. So it really depends on the ideas that grasp me next. M: where did the ideas for the “Harry Potter” books come from? I’ve no ideas where the ideas came from. And I hope I’ll never find out. It would spoil my excitement if it turned out I just have a funny wrinkle on the surface of my brain, which makes me think about the invisible train platform. M: How did you come up with the names of your characters? I invented some of them. But I also collected strange names. I’ve got one from ancient saints, maps, dictionaries, plants, war memoirs and people I met. M: Oh, you are really resourceful. Questions: 22. What do we learn from the conversation about Miss Rowling’s first book? 23. Why does Miss Rowling consider her so very lucky? 24. What dictates Miss Rowling’s writing? 25. According to Miss Rowling where did she get the ideas for the Harry Porter books? Section B: Passages Passage 1 Reducing the amount of sleep students get at night has a direct impact on their performance at school during the day. According to classroom teachers, elementary and middle school students who stay up late exhibit more learning and attention problems. This has been shown by Brown Medical School and Bradley Hospital research. In the study, teachers were not told the amount of sleep students received when completing weekly performance reports, yet they rated the students who had received eight hours or less as having the most trouble recalling all the material， learning new lessons and completing high-quality work. Teachers also reported that these students had more difficulty paying attention. The experiment is the first to ask teachers to report on the effects of sleep deficiency in children. Just staying up late can cause increased academic difficulty and attention problems for otherwise healthy, well-functioning kids, said Garharn Forlone, the study’s lead author. So the results provide professionals and parents with a clear message: when a child is having learning and attention problems, the issue of sleep has to be taken into consideration. “If we don’t ask about sleep, and try to improve sleep patterns in kids’ struggling academically, then we aren’t doing our job”, Forlone said. For parents, he said, the message is simple, “getting kids to bed on time is as important as getting them to school on time”. Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 26: What were teachers told to do in the experiment? Question 27: According to the experiment, what problem can insufficient sleep cause in students? Question 28: What message did the researcher intend to convey to parents? Passage 2 Patricia Pena never wanted to be a public figure. All she wanted to be was a mother and home-maker. But her life was turned upside down when a motorist, distracted by his cell phone, ran a stop sign and crashed into the side of her car. The impact killed her 2-year-old daughter. Four months later, Pena reluctantly but courageously decided to try to educate the public and to fight for laws to ban drivers from using cell phones while a car is moving. She wanted to save other children from what happened to her daughter. In her first speech, Pena got off to a shaky start. She was visibly trembling and her voice was soft and uncertain. But as she got into her speech, a dramatic transformation took place. She stopped shaking and spoke with a strong voice. For the rest of her talk, she was a forceful and compelling speaker. She wanted everyone in the audience to know what she knew without having to learn it from a personal tragedy. Many in the audience were moved to tears and to action. In subsequent presentations, Pena gained reputation as a highly effective speaker. Her appearance on a talk show was broadcast three times, transmitting her message to over 40 million people. Her campaign increased public awareness of the problem, and prompted over 300 cities and several states to consider restrictions on cell phone use. Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 29: What was the significant change in Patricia Pena’s life? Question 30: What had led to Pena’s personal tragedy? Question 31: How did Pena feel when she began her first speech? Question 32: What could be expected as a result of Pena’s efforts? Passage 3 Many people catch a cold in the spring time or fall. It makes us wonder if scientists can send a man to the moon, why can’t they find a cure for the common cold. The answer is easy. There’re actually hundreds of kinds of cold viruses out there. You never know which one you will get, so there isn’t a cure for each one. When a virus attacks your body, your body works hard to get rid of it. Blood rushes to your nose and causes a blockade in it. You feel terrible because you can’t breathe well, but your body is actually eating the virus. Your temperature rises and you get a fever, but the heat of your body is killing the virus. You also have a running nose to stop the virus from getting into your cells. You may feel miserable, but actually your wonderful body is doing everything it can to kill the cold. Different people have different remedies for colds. In the United States and some other countries, for example, people might eat chicken soup to feel better. Some people take hot bath and drink warm liquids. Other people take medicines to relieve various symptoms of colds. There was one interesting thing to note. Some scientists say taking medicines when you have a cold is actually bad for you. The virus stays in you longer, because your body doesn’t develop a way to fight it and kill it. Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. Question 33: According to the passage, why haven’t scientists found a cure for the common cold? Question 34: What does the speaker say about the symptoms of the common cold? Question 35: What do some scientists say about taking medicines for the common cold, according to the passage? 2006年6月听力原文 Section A 1. M: I think the hostess really went out of her way to make the party a success. W: Yes, the food and drinks were great , but if only we had known a few of the other guests. Q: What did the two speakers say about the party? 2. M: Can you stop by the post office and get me some envelopes and 39 cents’ stamps? W: Well, I am not going to stop by the post office, but I can buy you some at the bookstore after I see the dentist on Market street. Q: Where will the woman go first? 3. M: How do you like the new physician who replaced Dr. Andrews? W: He may not seem as agreeable or as thorough as Dr. Andrews, but at least he doesn’t keep patients waiting for hours. Q: What can we infer from the woman’s answer? 4. W: Tom must be in a bad mood today. He hasn’t said half a dozen words all afternoon. M: Oh, really? That’s not like the Tom we know. Q: What does the man imply? 5. W: Do you have the seminar schedule with you? I’d like to find out the topic for Friday. M: I gave it to my friend, but there should be copies available in the library. I can pick one up for you. Q: What does the man promise to do? 6 W: I wonder if you could sell me the Psychology textbooks. You took the course last semester, didn’t you? M: As a matter of fact, I already sold them back to the school bookstore. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 7. W: Here is this week’s schedule, Tony. On Monday, there is the board meeting. Your speech to the lion’s club is on Tuesday afternoon. Then on Wednesday you have an appointment with your lawyer and… M: Wait, you mean the business conference on Tuesday is cancelled? Q: What will the man do this Tuesday? 8. M: Can you believe it? Jessie told her boss he was wrong to have fired his marketing director W: Yeah, but you know Jessie. If she has something in mind, everyone will know about it. Q: What does the woman mean? 9. M: We’ve got three women researchers in our group: Mary, Betty and Helen. Do you know them? W: Sure. Mary is active and sociable. Betty is the most talkative woman I’ve ever met. But guess what? Helen’s just the opposite. Q: What do we learn from the woman’s remark about Helen? 10. W: Jimmy said that he was going to marry a rich French businesswoman. M: Don’t be so sure. He once told me that he had bought a big house. Yet he’s still sharing an apartment with Mark. Q: What does the man imply? Section B Passage 1 Unless you have visited the southern United States, you probably have never heard of Kudzu. Kudzu, as any farmer in the south will sadly tell you, is a super-powered weed. It is a strong climbing plant. Once it gets started, Kudzu is almost impossible to stop. It climbs to the tops of the tallest trees. It can cover large buildings. Whole barns and farm houses have been known to disappear from view. Wherever it grows, its thick twisting stems are extremely hard to remove. Kudzu was once thought to be a helpful plant. Originally found in Asia, it was brought to America to help protect the land from being swallowed by the sea. It was planted where its tough roots which grow up to five feet long could help hold back the soil. But the plant soon spread to places where it wasn't wanted. Farmers now have to fight to keep it from killing other plants. In a way, Kudzu is a sign of labor shortage in the south. Where there is no one to work the fields, Kudzu soon takes over. The northern United States faces no threat from Kudzu. Harsh winters kill it off. The plant loves the warmth of the south, but the south surely doesn't love it. If someone could invent some use for Kudzu and remove it from southern farmland, his or her fortune would be assured. 11. What do we learn about “Kudzu” from the passage? 12. What will happen if the fields are neglected in the southern United States? 13. Why isn't Kudzu a threat to the northern United States? Passage 2 The word “university” comes from the Latin word “universities”, meaning “the whole”. Later, in Latin legal language, “universities” meant a society or corporation. In the Middle Ages, the word meant “ an association of teachers and scholars”. The origins of universities can be traced back to the 12th to14th centuries. In the early 12th century, long before universities were organized in the modern sense, students gathered together for higher studies at certain centers of learning. The earliest centers in the Europe were at Bolonia in Italy, founded in 1088. Other early centers were set up in France, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany from 1150 to 1386. The first universities in Britain were Oxford and Cambridge. They were established in 1185 and 1209 respectively. The famous London University was founded in 1836. This was followed by the foundation of several universities such as Manchester and Birmingham, which developed from provincial colleges. It was in the 1960's that the largest expansion of higher education took place in Britain. This expansion took 3 basic forms: existing universities were enlarged, new universities were developed from existing colleges and completely new universities were set up. In Britain, finance for universities comes from three source: the first, and the largest source, is grants from the government, the second source is fees paid by students and the third one is private donations. All the British universities except one receive some government funding. The exception is Buckingham, which is Britain's only independent university. 14. What did the word "Universities" mean in the Middle Ages? 15. Why was the 1960s so significant for British Higher Education? 16. What is the main financial source for British universities? Passage 3 One of the biggest problems in developing countries is hunger. An organization called Heifer International is working to improve the situation. The organization sends farm animals to families and communities around the world. An American farmer Dan West developed the idea for Heifer International in the 1930s. Mr. West was working in Spain where he discovered a need for cows. Many families were starving because of the Civil War in that country. So Mr. West asked his friends in the Unites States to send some cows. The first Heifer animals were sent in 1944. Since that time more than 4 million people in 115 countries have had better lives because of heifer animals. To receive a Heifer animal, families must first explain their needs and goals. They must also make a plan which will allow them to become self-supporting. Local experts usually provide training. The organization says that animals must have food, water, shelter, health care and the ability to reproduce. Without them, the animals will not remain healthy and productive. Heifer International also believes that families must pass on some of their success to others in need. This belief guarantees that each person who takes part in the program also becomes a giver. Every family that receives a Heifer animal must agree to give that animal's first female baby to other people in need. Families must also agree to pass on the skills and training they receive from Heifer International. This concept helps communities become self-supporting. 17: What does the speaker tell us about Mr. West? 18: What is the ultimate goal of Heifer International? 19: What are families required to do after they receive support from Heifer International? 20: What is the major achievement of Heifer International? 2005年12月听力原文 Part I Listening Comprehension Section A 1. W: Carol told us on the phone not to worry about her. Her left leg doesn’t hurt as much as it did yesterday. M: She’d better have it examined by a doctor anyway. And I will call her about it this evening. Q: What does the man think Carol should do? 2. M: There is a non-stop train for Washington and it leaves at 2:30. W: It is faster than the 2 o’clock train. Besides, we can have something to eat before getting on the train. Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 3. M: Hi, Melissa, how is your project going? Have you thought about going to graduate school? W: Everything is coming along really well. I have been thinking about graduate school. But I’ll talk to my tutor Doctor Garseer first and see what she thinks. Q: What do you learn about the woman from the conversation? 4. W: Did you attend Alice’s presentation last night? It was the first time for her to give a speech to a large audience. M: How she could be so calm in front of so many people is really beyond me! Q: What do we learn from the conversation? W: You’ve been doing weather reports for neatly 30 years. Has the weather got any worse in all these years? M: Well, not necessarily worse. But we are seeing more swings. Q: What does the man say about the weather? 6. M: Excuse me, I am looking for the textbook by Professor Jordon for the Marketing course. W: I am afraid it’s out of stock. You’ll have to order it. And it will take the publisher 3 weeks to send it to us. Q: Where did this conversation most probably take place? 7. M: I am going to New York next week, but the hotel I booked is really expensive. W: Why book a hotel? My brother has 2 spare rooms in his apartment. Q: What does the woman mean? 8. W: In my opinion, watching News on TV is a good way to learn English. What do you think? M: It would be better if you could check the same information in English newspapers afterwards. Q: What does the man say about learning English? 9. M: I hear a newly-invented drug can make people tell the truth and it may prove useful in questioning terrorists. Isn’t it incredible? W: Simple solutions to complex problems rarely succeed. As far ad I know, no such drugs are ever known to work. Q: What does the woman think of the new day? 10. M: You know the electronics company is coming to our campus to recruit graduate students next week. W: Really? What day? I'd like to talk to them and hand in my resume. Q: What does the woman want to do? Section Two Passage one A new study reports the common drug aspirin greatly reduces life threatening problems after an operation to replace blocked blood vessels to the heart more than 800,000 people around the world have this heart surgery each year. The doctors who carried out this study say giving aspirin to patients soon after the operation could save thousands of lives. People usually take aspirin to control pain and reduce high body temperature. Doctors also advise some people to take aspirin to help prevent heart attacks. About 10-15 percent of these heart operations end in death or damage to the heart or other organs. The new study shows that even a small amount of aspirin reduced such threats. The doctors said the chance of death for patients who tool aspirin would fall by 67%. They claimed this was true if the aspirin was given within 48 hours of the operation. The doctors believe aspirin helps heart surgery patients because it can prevent blood from thickening and blood vessels from being blocked. However, the doctors warned that people who have stomach bleeding or other bad reactions from aspirin should not take it after heart surgery. Q11. What is the finding of the new study of aspirin? Q12. In what way can aspirin help heart surgery patients according to the doctors? Q13. What warning did the doctors give about the use of aspirin? Passage Two Were you the first or the last child in you family? Or were you a middle or an only child? Some people think it matters where you were born in you family. But there are different ideas about what birth order means. Some people say that oldest children are smart and strong-willed. They are very likely to be successful. The reason for this simple parents have a lot of time for their first child, they give him or her a lot of attention. So this child is very likely to do well. An only child will succeed for the same reason. What happens to the other children in the family? Middle children don’t get so much attention, so they don’t feel that important. If a family has many children, the middle one sometimes gets lost in the crowd. The youngest child, though, often gets special treatment. He or she is the baby. Often this child grows up to be funny and charming. Do you believe this idea of birth order too? A recent study saw things quite differently. The study found that first children believed in family rules. They didn’t take many chances in their lives. They usually followed orders. Rules didn’t mean as much to later children in the family. They went out and followed their own ideas. They took chances and they often did better in life. Q14. According to common belief, in what way are the first child and the only child alike? Q15. What do people usually say about middle children? Q16. what do we learn about later children in a family from a recent study of birth order? Passage Three When my interest shifted from space to the sea, I never expected it would cause such confusion among my friends, yet I can understand their feelings. As I have been writing and talking about space flight for the best part of 20 years, a sudden switch of interest to the depth of the sea doer seem peculiar. To explain, I’d like to share my reasons behind this unusual change of mind. The first excuse I give is an economic one. Underwater exploration is so much cheaper than space flight. The first round-trip ticket to the moon is going to cost at least 10 billion dollars if you include research and development. By the end of this century, the cost will be down to a few million. On the other hand, the diving suit and a set of basic tools needed for skin-diving can be bought for 20 dollars. My second argument is more philosophical. The ocean, surprisingly enough, has many things in common with space. In their different ways, both sea and space are equally hostile. If we wish to survive in either for any length of time, we need to have mechanical aids. The diving suit helped the design of the space suit. The feeling and the emotions of a man beneath the sea will be much like those of a man beyond the atmosphere. Q17. How did the speaker’s friends respond to his change of interest? Q18. What is one of the reasons for the spears to switch his interest to underwater exploration? Q19. In what way does the speaker think diving is similar to space travel? Q20. What is the speaker’s purpose in giving this talk?