全新版大学英语视听说四听力原文

全新版大学英语视听说四听力原文

Unit 1 Our Earth

Listening

Audio Track 4-1-1

1. I’ve visited a few caves in Guilin. The rocks in the caves are

in different shapes and colors. If you use your imagination, the rocks can resemble many different things. It looks like a whole other world.

2. I went to the desert in Gansu once. As I stood in the middle of

the desert, I faced endless sand and felt very small. By day the desert was extremely hot, by night it got very cold. I experienced summer and winter in the same day.

3. To my knowledge, California has beautiful coastlines. People love them and thousands of volunteers often give up part of their weekends to keep the sandy Californian beaches clean.

4. The Port of Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River. It handles many millions of shipping containers each year. In fact it might even be the busiest container port in the world.

5. Japan has many hot springs. Some of them are located in mountainous areas and are great attractions to foreign tourists. Supposedly, the hot springs have healing properties.

6. The most famous mountain range in the world is the Himalayas. It contains the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest (i.e. Qomolangma), which climbs to a height of 8,848 meters.

7. The White Cliffs of Dover a re one of the United Kingdom’s most spectacular

natural sights. The cliffs are made from bright white stone. On a clear day, they are visible from France, approximately 30 kilometers away.

8. Mount Vesuvius is a famous volcano in Italy, which has not been active for about

two centuries. But people say it might erupt again, someday soon. 9. Niagara Falls crosses the border of two countries, Canada and the United States. Every year, millions of tourists observe the beauty of these magnificent waterfalls. More recently, the waterfalls have become a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Audio Track 4-1-2/Audio Track 4-1-3

Blake: What are you working on, Mary?

Mary: I’m finishing my paper. It’s due tomorrow, Blake.

Blake: What’s the topic?

Mary: It’s abo ut Greenland.

Blake: Greenland. Hmmm … that’s part of Canada, right?

Mary: I think you need to study your world geography, Blake.

Blake: Well, isn’t it near Canada?

Mary: Yes, it’s off the coast of northeast Canada, but it’s part

of Denmark.

Blake: Oh, I didn’t know that. Well, what’s your paper about exactly?

Mary: In my paper, I answer the question “Is Greenland really green?” In other words, is Greenland covered by a lot of plants and trees?

Blake: Is it?

Mary: What do you think?

Blake: Let’s see … Greenland is in the Arctic Circle — way up north. It’s cold, …

so “Is Greenland really green?” I’d answer “probably not.”

Mary: You’d be correct. It’s too cold there. In the north, a lot of the ground is frozen. The summers are short, so only the surface thaws.

Blake: That sounds tough.

Mary: It’s hard for the construction industry. It’s not easy to build in Greenland.

Blake: It sounds so harsh. Why would anyone want to go there?

Mary: There are big mountain ranges on the coasts. They’re great for hiking and

outdoor sports. And there are lots of animals there. You can sometimes see whales swimming in the harbors.

Blake: That sounds cool! OK, so if it’s not really a “green” place, why was it named “Greenland”?

Mary: The first settlers wanted to attract other people. They gave it an attractive name.

Audio Track 4-1-4/Audio Track 4-1-5

Jay: Come in here, Elise. You should see this show!

Elise: What is it?

Jay: It’s called “The Titanic of the Sky.” It’s about the Hindenburg, a great engineering feat.

Elise: The Hindenburg …

Jay: You know, that giant zeppelin that crashed in 1934. Thirty-five people died. Elise: Oh yeah, I remember now. It was flying from Germany to the United States. It crashed as it was landing.

Jay: Right. It’s so funny looking, don’t you think? It doesn’t look anything like the

airplanes we have today.

Elise: That’s true. Why would people ride in a zeppelin anyway? It seems so dangerous.

Jay: Well, some people called the Hindenburg “man’s greatest achievement in flight.” T hey thought it was safe, I guess.

Elise: Who rode in it anyway?

Jay: Mostly wealthy people. It accommodated between 30 and 40 passengers and crew. One person said it was like a “flying hotel.”

Elise: It sounds pretty great.

Jay: Yeah, and it was fast. That’s why people rode it. They wanted to get to their

destination faster.

Elise: Why didn’t they just take a jet plane?

Jay: Elise! You know they didn’t have jets back then. Look, in 1934 it took five days to travel from Germany to the US by ship. The zeppelin could do it in half that time. It was speedy.

Elise: Well, maybe I’ll sit down and watch a little bit. Maybe

I’ll learn something …

Audio Track 4-1-6/Audio Track 4-1-7/Audio Track 4-1-8

Jack: I think we should buy a bigger car. Big cars are safer.

Kayla: Yes, but on the other hand, they consume more oil.

Jack: They also look really cool.

Kayla: That’s true, but there are some SUVs which are not that big but also very beautiful.

Jack: And I think big cars are more fun to drive.

Kayla: But th en again, it’s very expensive.

Jack: Well, let’s get more information about several kinds of cars, okay?

Audio Track 4-1-9

My country has two very famous buildings called the Petronas Towers. The buildings are made of glass, steel, and concrete. They were designed by an American architect, but he used a Malaysian style. They were finished in 1998, and they were the tallest buildings in the world at that time. Each tower has 88 floors, and is 452 meters high. I really like the Petronas Towers. They show both the modern and the traditional side of my country.

Audio Track 4-1-10/Audio Track 4-1-11

Modern buildings: We love them, we hate them.

The world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris is almost 500 years old, and it faced a very modern problem: There simply wasn’t enough space for

six million visitors

each year. In 1989, American architect I.M. Pei designed a striking glass pyramid in the building’s center to be a visitor’s entrance and shopping arcade. But he also started an angry debate. Some people felt his glass building was a piece of art, like the ones inside the museum. Others said it was just an ugly, modern mistake. Kyoto, Japan, is the country’s ancient capital, and the heart of its culture. Its railroad station was too small for the millions of visitors. In 1997, the city completed a new station in a huge shopping center, right in the oldest part of the city. Designed by Hiroshi Hara, the building also contains a hotel and department store. Before it was built, critics said that the high, wide, mode rn building would destroy the city’s traditional look. On the other hand, supporters said it would bring new life into the city center.

Audio Track 4-1-12/Audio Track 4-1-13

Interviewer: What do you think is the biggest problem facing our cities? Erika: I think it’s overcrowding. Talk to anyone living in a major metropolitan area

and they will say the same thing. There’s no space. Even the suburbs are getting crowded.

Interviewer: Well, in some places there simply isn’t any land left for building, right?

Erika: Yes, that’s true, but you have to think creatively. You

can’t give up so easily.

Interviewer: Think creatively? What do you suggest?

Erika: What I’m saying is that we can build more structures underground. We can add parking lots, malls, hotels and even apartment buildings. There’s plenty of space.

Interviewer: Isn’t it expensive?

Erika: Yes, it can be. In the past building underground has been

very expensive. However, we have new technology that will bring the cost down. It involves using rob ots. You don’t have to pay robots a salary.

Interviewer: Isn’t “building down” more dangerous than other

kinds of construction?

Erika: Actually, I think it’s safer than building skyscrapers, for example. Remember, we already do it. We have subways, and underground shopping malls. I’m just suggesting we invest in a variety of bigger projects and that we dig deeper. Interviewer: What would you say to people who doubt your idea? Erika: I can understand their feelings. Whenever there’s a new idea, it can cause controversy. But “building down” is not some kind of impractical idea. It makes

sense. There is so much space underground: it can accommodate a lot of traffic, storage, and people. With the new technology we have, we’d be crazy not to consider the idea —it’s the wave of the future.

Audio Track 4-1-14

1. deep cave

2. arid desert

3. long mountain range

4. active volcano

Audio Track 4-1-15

a. narrow harbor

b. long, sunny beach

c. busy vacation

d. high cliffs

Speaking & Communication

Audio Track 4-1-16/Audio Track 4-1-17

Bart: So what exactly did you do over the summer?

Gustav: We worked as volunteers at Glacier National Park.

Bart: I’ve never been there. What’s it like?

Carolina: It’s beautiful. There are mountains and lakes ... and, of course, glaciers!

Bart: How was the job?

Gustav: We had to do a lot of physical work. It was kind of hard.

Carolina: That’s true, but it was exciting, too! We actually saw bears!

Bart: Wow! That does sound exciting. Maybe I should apply. I’ll need a job next summer.

Carolina: Sorry, Bart, but you can’t apply to that program. It’s a special program for international students.

Audio Track 4-1-18

Conversation 1

A: I’d like to live in a city apartment. It would be near public transportation as that would sa ve a lot of time. I don’t want to waste time commuting several hours each day from home to university.

B: That’s very nice, but I’d prefer to live in the suburbs. The prices there are lower and we would be able to afford a house with bigger bedrooms.

A: It would be cheaper, but don’t you think the suburbs would be inconvenient?

B: Well, you have a point there, so we would need to get a car too.

Conversation 2

A: I’d prefer to live in the suburbs. We would enjoy the peace and quiet, away from all the city noise. Moreover, it would be a good environment for study. B: Even so, I think life in the suburbs would be boring. We’d have nothing to do on

weekends.

Audio Track 4-1-19

I’d like to visit Angel Falls most because I have never seen a real waterfall. But then again, I’m a little afraid of heights and it is the world’s highest waterfall! The Andes is the place I would least like to go to because I don’t particularly like hiking or trekking.

Audio Track 4-1-20

I think the Channel Tunnel is the most am azing feat. It’s hard to imagine a train running under the sea, but this is a reality. I think

this engineering masterpiece really shows what can be achieved when two countries work together. There is now a high-speed rail service

connecting the United Kingdom and France. Video Course

Video Track 4-1-1

Alejandra: One of the most beautiful natural wonders I’ve seen are

the glaciers in

the south of Argentina.

Nick: The Matterhorn, which is a mountain in Switzerland, is one of

the most beautiful places I’v e ever seen. My dad and I climbed about halfway, and once we got there it started snowing so we had to turn back.

Catherine: I climbed up to Everest (i.e. Qomolangma) Base Camp. All

of a sudden, you look up and there’s this huge mountain that

everyone’s talked about, that everyone’s photographed, and you’ve

seen what it’s like in pictures but you’ve never seen it in person.

Kumiko: Mt. Fuji is really beautiful from far away. When you climb

it, it’s just rocks and dirt … but it’s really beautiful from far away.

Natalie: I went to Niagara Falls for a family reunion. It was one of the most memorable times of my life because I got to be around people

who I love — my

family. And it was also one of the most beautiful sites that I’ve ever seen.

Video Track 4-1-2

Natalie: I went to Niagara Falls for a family reunion. It was one of the most memorable times of my life because I got to be around people who I love — my

family. And it was also one of the most beautiful sites that I’ve ever seen.

Video Track 4-1-3

Kevin: The most impressive man-made wonder that I have seen is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall took several thousands of people to build, it stretches many, many miles throughout

China, and it was made in a period where we didn’t have all the

tec hnological advancements … like cranes and lifts.

Gian: Last year I was in San Francisco and I had a chance to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge.

What an amazing feat of engineering! It gives you a chance to look through all of San Francisco and over Sa n Francisco Bay and it’s just a wonderful chance to see the city.

Woo Sung: I saw the Hoover Dam once and I didn’t like it very much. It was in the

middle of the desert and it’s just very hot, and there wasn’t much activity going on … and it’s just a big concrete structure.

Video Track 4-1-4

Kevin: The most impressive man-made wonder that I have seen is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall took several thousands of people to build, it stretches many, many miles throughout China, and it was made

in a period where we didn’t have all the technological advancements … like cranes and lifts.

Gian: Last year I was in San Francisco and I had a chance to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. What an amazing feat of engineering! It gives you a chance to look through all of San Francisco and over San Francisco Bay and it’s just a wonderful chance to see the city.

Video Track 4-1-5

Takeshi: Man, look at that! In New York there’s always something being built. And everything goes up so quickly … you never know what’s going to be around next

week.

Roberto: Yeah, but on the other hand, sometimes I wonder about overcrowding. Maybe they need to start building down more.

Takeshi: Building down?

Roberto: Yeah, it’s when you build underground instead of aboveground.

Takeshi: Nah, that’s too much like living in a cave. I love the skyscrapers! They are the most incredible feats of engineering!

Roberto: True. And some of the first ones were built right here in New York City. Takeshi: That’s right! You know, I wonder wha t New York looked like before all these buildings popped up.

Roberto: I don’t know, but I’d like to see this one when it’s finished.

Takeshi: Yeah. I’ll bet it’ll be something fantastic!

Roberto: Maybe … what do you think it’s going to look like?

Takes hi: I don’t know … but you know what? I’m going to remember what it looked like.

Roberto: What are you talking about? And why are you taking pictures? There’s

nothing there.

Takeshi: OK. You know how some people get famous because they have pictures of movie stars or performers before they make it big?

Roberto: Yeah?

Takeshi: Well, some buildings and architectural structures get to be famous too, like the

Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building … right?

Roberto: Yeah, and …? There’s nothing here!

Takeshi: Right! But there will be. Someday this very spot may become really well-known —like maybe it’ll be some incredible hotel that the rich and famous

stay at. And I’ll be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. Cool, huh?

Roberto: Uh … you are too much. Hey, let’s ask this guy what your “famous” building’s going to be. (to passing construction worker )

Excuse us, can you tell us what this is going to be when it’s finished? Maybe a fancy hotel or something?

Construction worker: Fancy h otel? (laughs ) No, this isn’t going to be a hotel. It’s going to be a parking garage.

Roberto: A parking garage. Uh … huh. Thanks.

Takeshi: Well … maybe … someone rich and famous will park here.

Video Track 4-1-6

Takeshi: Man, look at that! In New Yor k there’s always something being built. And everything goes up so quickly … you never know what’s going to be around next week.

Roberto: Yeah, but on the other hand, sometimes I wonder about overcrowding. Maybe they need to start building down more.

Takeshi: Building down?

Roberto: Yeah, it’s when you build underground instead of aboveground.

Takeshi: Nah, that’s too much like living in a cave. I love the skyscrapers! They are

the most incredible feats of engineering!

Roberto: True. And some of the first ones were built right here in New York City. Takeshi: That’s right! You know, I wonder what New York looked like before all these buildings popped up.

Roberto: I don’t know, but I’d like to see this one when it’s finished.

Takeshi: Yeah. I’ll bet it’ll be something fantastic!

Roberto: Maybe … what do you think it’s going to look like?

Takeshi: I don’t know … but you know what? I’m going to remember what it looked

like.

Video Track 4-1-7

Roberto: What are you talking about? And why are you taking pictures? There’s nothing there.

Takeshi: OK. You know how some people get famous because they have pictures of movie stars or performers before they make it big?

Roberto: Yeah?

Takeshi: Well, some buildings and architectural structures get to be famous too, like the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building … right?

Roberto: Yeah, and …? There’s nothing here!

Takeshi: Right! But there will be. Someday this very spot may become really well-known —like maybe it’ll be some incredible hotel that the rich and famous stay at. And I’ll be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. Cool, huh?

Roberto: Uh … you are too much. Hey, let’s ask this guy what your “famous” building’s going to be.

Video Track 4-1-8

Roberto: … (to passing construction wo rker ) Excuse us, can you

tell us what this is going to be when it’s finished? Maybe a fancy

hotel or something?

Construction worker: Fancy hotel? (laughs ) No, this isn’t going to be a hotel. It’s going to be a parking garage.

Roberto: A parking garage. Uh … huh. Thanks.

Takeshi: Well … maybe … someone rich and famous will park here.

Audio Track 4-1-21

Takeshi and Roberto walked by a construction site and started

talking about all the buildings that were being built in New York. Takeshi then talked about how much he admired the skyscrapers. Suddenly, Takeshi started taking pictures of the site, but Roberto couldn’t understand why because nothing had been built yet. Takeshi explained that he thought something famous might be there someday, like a fancy hotel where the rich and famous would stay, and he wanted to be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. But later, Takeshi felt very embarrassed when Roberto asked one of the construction workers what was being built on the site —

and Takeshi learned it was to be a parking garage!

Unit 2 Technology Today

Listening

Audio Track 4-2-1/Audio Track 4-2-2

Situation 1

Man: Oh no!

Woman: What happened?

Man: I can’t believe it! I was sending a message and I accidentally clicked on “Reply to All.”

Woman: So?

Man: It was a personal message for my friend, Jerry. I wanted to send it to his e-mail address only.

Woman: Oops.

Man: Exactly. … Instead I sent it to everyone on the list. How embarrassing!

Situation 2

Man: I see you have a new keyboa rd. That’s nice.

Woman: Yes, the company bought me a new one.

Man: That’s good.

Woman: Well, actually … I spilled coffee on my old keyboard, and it stopped working.

Man: Oh, I see.

Woman: Don’t tell anyone. Drinking coffee near the computers is not allowed!

Situation 3

Woman: Have you finished working on my computer?

Man: Yes, I have. I’m afraid I don’t have good news for you.

Woman: Really?

Man: Really. The problem is with your hardware.

Woman: Oh. What do you suggest? Man: I think you should probably buy a new computer. This one can’t be fixed. Woman: Well, I have had it for five years. It’s time to replace it, I guess. Audio Track 4-2-3/Audio Track 4-2-4 Conversation 1

Pam: Well, Lynn, I must be going. It was great to see you —

Lynn: Bye, Pam.

Pam: What’s that?

Lynn: Oh … that’s Ollie.

Pam: Ollie? I didn’t know you had a dog!

Lynn: Well, we don’t … really.

Pam: What do you mean?

Lynn: Come here.

Pam: Oh my goodness. It’s a robot!

Lynn: That’s right. It’s a dog robot. They call it a “dogbot.”

Pam: How interesting! … But it’s a little strange, don’t you think?

Lynn: Well, I wanted to get an interactive toy for the kids. They love it. So I’m

happy.

Pam: How much did it cost?

Lynn: Don’t ask. It wasn’t very affordable. It’s cheaper tha n having a real dog,

though. We don’t ever have to buy dog food! And the batteries are rechargeable.

Conversation 2

Juliana: Hey, Henrik. Look.

Henrik: What is it, Juliana?

Juliana: What’s that guy doing over there?

Henrik: Which guy?

Juliana: The o ne over there. Wearing a suit. He’s punching so many buttons on his cell phone.

Henrik: Oh, him. He’s probably playing a game.

Juliana: Really?

Henrik: A lot of people have games on their cell phones. It’s

really popular here in Finland. They play them everywhere.

Juliana: Do you play them, too?

Henrik: Yes, I do.

Audio Track 4-2-5/Audio Track 4-2-6

In today’s report, we look at a new technology called pervasive computing.

Pervasive computing means putting tiny computers into everyday electronic appliances, such as toasters and microwaves. With pervasive computing, appliances can communicate with their users — and with other appliances! Some companies

now sell pervasive computing products like a “smart” toaster. It remembers your favorite kind of toast: light or dark. Companies are designing a “smart” coffee maker and a “smart” clock. The coffee maker can measure the water and coffee. It can even put milk in your breakfast coffee and make black coffee in the afternoon. The clock will check the time on other clocks in your house, and give information about other appliances. For example, it can tell you, “Your coffee maker needs more water.”

And that’s only the beginning. One company is now advertising

“Save time —

phone your washing machine!” Engineers are making a “smart” house. In this house,

the lights, heater, and air conditioner change automatically when family members come home. This makes the home comfortable, and it saves a lot of energy. Pervasive computing could change many parts of our

daily lives.

But do people really want pervasive computing? Do they really need technology everywhere? One company asked people about their opinions on “smart” appliances. There were surprises. A “smart” refrigerator can buy more food on the Internet, but

p eople didn’t want it, because it might make mistakes.

“Pervasive computing is as important as a tele phone,” says Rebecca Blair, president

of InnoTech Corporation. But some of these products are not useful,

or even practical. Companies should learn more about the technology that people really want.

Audio Track 4-2-7/Audio Track 4-2-8

The appetite for newer, smarter mobile technology is growing. Hungry consumers are no longer satisfied with making calls and sending text messages, and phone developers are taking notice. Your modern day smartphone is not just a communication device; it also offers a banquet of features such as a music player, gaming apps, Internet browser,