新编大学英语视听说教程4 听力原文及答案.doc

视听说4 听力原文及答案

Unit 1 Leisure activities

Part 1 listening one

Ever wish you could do magic tricks, or introduce yourself as “magician” at a party? Imagine, everybody wants to have fun, but nothings’ really happening, it’s time for you to show one of your new tricks. Here, you can learn how, and without any need for special materials or much practice.

A trick with a coin, a handkerchief and a friend:

Put the coin on your palm. Cover the coin with the handkerchief. Ask several people to put their hands beneath the handkerchief and feel the coin, to make sure that it is still there. Then take the corner of the handkerchief and pull it rapidly off your hand. The coin has gone! How? You must make sure the last friend who feels the coin knows the trick and removes the coin when he seems to be just feeling it. And nobody knows where it has gone!

A trick with a piece of paper and a pencil:

Tell your friend that you can communicate your thoughts without speaking to other people. Write on the piece of paper the word No. Don't let your friends see what you have written. Say, "Now I will communicate this word into your minds." Pretend to concentrate. Ask them if they know what is written on the paper. They will say, "No!" And you say, "Quite correct! I wrote No on the paper!"

A trick with an egg and some salt:

Ask your friends to stand the egg upright on the table. They won't manage to do it. Say that you can speak to the chicken inside. Say, "Chicken! Can you hear me? Get ready to balance your egg!"

When you first get the egg back from your friends, pretend to kiss the egg at the base. Make the base wet. Then put the base into salt which is in your other hand. The salt will stick to the egg. Then put the egg on the table. Twist the egg around a few times as this will arrange the grains of salt. Then it will stand up. Don't forget to thank the chicken.

Questions:

1.What does the magician ask people to do in the first trick

2.What happens to the coin?

3.How does the magician prove that he can communicate his thoughts to the

audience in the second trick?

4.What is the first step to make the egg stand upright?

5.What else is needed to make the egg stand upright?

Keys: 1. B 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. D

(The following is an interview from a weekly sports program.)

Presenter: Good morning, listeners. Welcome to our weekly sports program aimed at all those underactive youngsters with time on their hands! Listen to what

our two guests have to say about their hobbies and how their hobbies have

made a difference to their lives. Adrienne first, then, Jonathan. Adrienne: I collect very interesting jewelry. I tend to travel a lot as most of my family do, so whenever I have a holiday, I like to go traveling. Whenever I travel

somewhere, I like to pick up something to remind me of the place that I

visited. And, the easiest thing to do is to pick up a small piece of jewelry

instead of getting a poster or a T-shirt that won’t last. I like the idea of

having something small and also, I find whenever I wear jewelry from

somew here, it’s a good conversation piece. Usually people ask you, “Where

did you get this?” I then have a story to tell, and it’s a good way to meet and

talk to people. It’s just interesting. I have jewelry that I picked up when I

traveled to Thailand, when I traveled to Africa and when I traveled to

Europe.

Presenter: Wow! Sounds nice. You’ll have to show your collections to us. Adrienne: I’d love to.

Presenter: Thank you, Adrienne. Now Jonathan.

Jonathan: I prefer canoeing because you've always got the water there for support. If you're a good swimmer, have a good sense of balance and strong arms,

you'll like canoeing! The main trouble is transporting your canoe to the

right places—my father takes it on the roof of the car—or sometimes I put it

on the roof of the club’s Land Rover. What it has taught me most is to be

independent. It's just you and the canoe against the wind, the weather and

the water. It gives you a lot of self-confidence and it can be really exciting

as long as you don't mind getting soaked, of course! It makes you feel close

to nature somehow. Last year, when I was qualified, I began to run my own

canoeing center.

Presenter: So you are making your hobby work for you.

Jonathan: People are usually very skilled at their hobbies. The combination of interest and skills is a very compelling reason to choose a particular career. Presenter: Then, Adrienne, do you have a similar plan?

Adrienne: Yes, I love making beaded jewelry. I’ve decided to get some formal training. I want to learn how to be a jewelry designer.

Questions:

1. Who is the target audience in the program?

2. What is Adrienne’s hobby?

3. What does Adrienne usually buy when she visits a place?

4. How does Jonathan benefit from canoeing?

5. What should be the major concern in choosing a career according to Jonathan? Keys: 1. A 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. B

Gerry: I've just been to see Gone with the Wind. It was fantastic. Well worth seeing.

Have you ever seen it?

Judy : N o, but I've read the book. I don't think I would like to see the film really. It would spoil the story for me.

Gerry: Really? Oh, give me a film any day. Honestly, if I had to choose between the film of a story and the book of it, I'd go for the film.

Judy : Would you?

Gerry: Yes. It's much more real. You can get the atmosphere better. You know, the photography and location shots, period costumes, the right accents. Don't you

think so?

Judy : Not really. I much prefer to use my own imagination. I can imagine how I want it, rather than how someone makes me see it. Anyway, I think you get much more insight into the characters when you read a book. Part of a person's character is lost on film because you never know what they are thinking. Gerry: True, but I don't know. It's much easier going to the cinema. It takes less time.

I can get the whole story in two hours but it might take me a week to read the

book.

Judy : I know, but it's so expensive to go to the cinema nowadays.

Gerry: I know, but it's a social event. It's fun. You can go with your friends. When you read a book you have to do it on your own.

Judy : All right. Let's agree to differ. I'll get some coffee.

Keys:

1.1.spoil the story 1.

2. and day

1.3. Honestly choose the film

1.4. Atmosphere photography location period

1.5. insight into the characters 1.6. social event

1.7. agree to differ

2.Films: get the atmosphere better---photography/location shots/period

costumes/right accent

easier

take less time: two hours

an social event: fun, go with friends

Books: take more time: one week

not a social event: do it on your own

books: use readers’ own imagination

get much more insight into the characters

films: spoil the story

expensive

Part 1 listening four

Sally Marino gets married. After the wedding, there is a big party—a wedding

reception. All the guests eat dinner. There is a band and, after dinner, everyone dances. Sally's mother and father pay for everything. At the end of the reception, Sally and her new husband cut the wedding cake and all the guests get a piece.

Pete and Rose buy a new house. After moving in, they invite their friends and family to a party—a housewarming party. Everybody comes to see the new house. They look at the bedrooms, the dining room, even the garage. Pete and Rose serve drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. The party is on a Saturday afternoon.

It is Christmas time. Ted and Sarah Robinson want to see many of their friends over the holiday. So they invite their friends to an open house. The hours of the party are from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The guests arrive and leave whenever they want. The Robinsons serve sandwiches, drinks, and snacks. Some guests stay for just 20 minutes, others stay for 3 hours. About fifty people come to the open house.

Mr. and Mrs. Todd ask their neighbors to come to an evening party. They don't serve much food, just snacks—pretzels, chips, peanuts and many types of drinks. No one dances. Conversation is important with people asking questions like "What's new with you?".

Keys:

1.√2 √3

2.4.dinner band dances piece

2.5. house drinks snacks

2.6. Invite arrive fifty/50

2.7. snacks Conversation new with you

Part 4 Listening 1

Receptionist: Good morning. Can I help you?

Cathy: Er...a friend told me that you have exercise and dance classes here. Receptionist: That's right.

Cathy: OK. Can you give me some information about days and times, please? Receptionist: Yes, there are four classes a day, every day from Monday to Saturday with nothing on Sunday.

Cathy: Yeah, can you tell me the open hours?

Receptionist: The first one is an aerobics class from 8:30 to 9:30 in the morning. Then there's another aerobics class at lunchtime from 12:30 to 1:30.

Cathy: Right.

Receptionist: Then in the evening from 5:30 to 6:30—another aerobics class too. And there's a jazz dance class from 6:30 to 7:30.

Cathy: Right. And what level are they for? I mean, would they be OK for a beginner?

Receptionist: The morning aerobics—8:30 to 9:30—is advanced. All the others are at the beginner to intermediate level. But let me give you a schedule. Cathy: Thanks. And how much does it cost for a class?

Receptionist: You pay a ￡1 entrance fee and then the classes are ￡2.50 each and ￡3.50 for the jazz dancing. It's there on the sheet.

Cathy: Oh, yes, I see.

Receptionist: If you become a member, entrance is free and...

Cathy: Oh, no, it's OK. I'm only in London for two weeks.

Receptionist: Oh, right. That's no good then.

Cathy: And I guess you have showers and everything?

Receptionist: Yes, sure, and in the evenings you can use the sauna free, too.

Cathy: Oh, great. So the next class is at 5:30? Well, I'll see you then. Receptionist: Fine. See you later!

Questions:

1. Where does the dialog most likely take place?

2. How many classes are there every day except Sunday?

3. At what time does the last class end?

4. How much is the entrance fee?

5. Which class will Cathy most probably attend?

6. What can we learn about Cathy from the conversation?

Keys: 1. A 2.C 3.C 4. A 5. C 6. B

Listening 2

Woman: W hy don't we go abroad for a change? I'd like to go to France, Spain, or even Italy.

Man: Mm. I'm not all that keen on traveling really. I'd rather stay at home. Woman: O h, come on, Steve. Think of the sun!

Man: Yes, but think of the cost! Going abroad is very expensive.

Woman: O h, it isn't, Steve. Not these days.

Man: Of course it is, Juliet. The best thing about having a holiday here in Britain is that it's cheaper. And another thing, traveling in Britain would be easier.

No boats, planes or anything.

Woman: Even so, we've been to most of the interesting places in Britain already.

What's the point in seeing them again? Anyway, we can travel round Britain

whenever we like. There's no point in wasting our summer holiday here. Man: Mm, I suppose you're right. Nevertheless, what I can't stand is all the bother with foreign currency, changing money and all that when we go abroad. I

hate all that. And it's so confusing.

Woman: O h, don't be silly, Steve.

Man: And what's more, I can't speak any of the languages—you know that. It's all right for you. You can speak some foreign languages.

Woman: Exactly. You see, what I'd really like to do is practice my French and Spanish. It would help me a lot at work.

Man: Mm, but that's no use to me.

Woman: B ut just think of the new places we'd see, the people we'd meet!

Man: But look, if we stayed here, we wouldn't have to plan very much. Woman: I'm sorry, Steve. No. I don't fancy another cold English summer. Questions:

1. Where does the man want to spend the summer holiday?

2. According to Steve, what is considered important in planning vacation?

3. What does Steve find confusing about traveling abroad?

4. What will help Juliet in her work?

5. What does Juliet think of summer in Britain?

Keys:

1. C

2. B

3. D

4. C

5. B

Listening 3

The game of football may have started in Roman times. It seems that the Romans played a game very much like our modern rugby but with a round ball.

English villagers played football in the 16th century and they often had almost a hundred players on each side. It was a very common game, which was very rough and even dangerous until the early part of the 19th century. In the 18th century a Frenchman who had watched a rough game of football in a village wrote, "I could not believe that those men were playing a game. If this is what Englishmen call playing, I would not like to see them fighting!"

From the mid-19th century, it was played in schools in England and soon spread all over Britain and Europe. Until in 1850, it was not possible to have football matches between one school and another, because each school had different rules! So set rules had to be made. They were not improved though until, in 1863, when those who preferred to play with hands as well as feet formed the Rugby Union while the others started the Football Association (F.A.). It was only in 1863 that the first set of rules for all football clubs was agreed upon.

Nearly 150 years later, football has become by far the most popular sport in the entire world. Would that 18th century Frenchman have believed it possible? Questions:

1. According to the passage, when may the game of football have first started?

2. How many team members were often involved in the game when the English began to play the game?

3. What did the speaker say about the earliest football game in England?

4. Why was it NOT possible to have football matches between two schools until 1850?

5. What happened to football in 1863?

Keys:

1. D

2. D

3. A

4. C

5. C

Listening 4

In one town, there were three longtime friends, Pat, Mike and Bob. Pat and Bob were quite bright, but Mike was rather dull.

One day as Pat and Mike were walking down the sidewalk together, Pat put his hand on a solid brick wall and said, "Mike, hit my hand as hard as you can." Mike

struck a hard blow, but Pat pulled his hand away from the wall just before Mike's fist hit it. Of course, it hurt Mike's hand very much when he hit the wall, but Pat said, "That was a good joke on you, wasn't it?" Mike agreed, but was not too happy.

The following day Mike and Bob were walking in the town square. Mike decided to play the joke on Bob. He looked around, and seeing no solid object, he placed his hand over his face and said, "Bob, hit my hand as hard as you can." Bob agreed, and as he struck a hard blow with his fist, Mike quickly pulled his hand away and was knocked to the ground, unconscious. After a few minutes Mike recovered, and saw Bob worriedly looking down at him. Mike said, "That was a good joke on you, wasn't it?"

Questions:

1.Who was NOT clever?

2.What did Pat ask Mike to do?

3.Who was hurt finally?

4.On whom was Mike going to try this joke?

5.Where did Mike put his hand when he asked Bob to hit him?

6.What happened to Mike after Bob struck a hard blow with his fist?

Keys:

1.1A

2. C

3. A

4.B

5. C

6. B

2.√2 √5

Unit 3 Gender Differences

Part 1 listening one

Three guys are out having a relaxing day fishing. Out of the blue, they catch a mermaid who begs to be set free in return for granting each of them a wish.

Now one of the guys just doesn't believe it, and says, "OK, if you can really grant wishes, then double my IQ." The mermaid says, "Done." Suddenly, the guy starts to recite flawless Shakespeare followed by a short pause and an extremely insightful analysis of it. The second guy is so amazed that he says to the mermaid, "Hey, triple my IQ." The mermaid says, "Done." The guy begins pouring out all the mathematical solutions to problems that have puzzled scientists in all fields.

The last guy is so impressed by the changes in his friends that he says to the mermaid, "Quintuple my IQ." The mermaid looks at him and says, "You know, I normally don't try to change people's minds when they make a wish, but I really wish you'd reconsider."

The guy says, "No, I want you to increase my IQ five times, and if you don't do it, I won't set you free." "Please," says the mermaid, "you don't know what you're asking... It'll change your entire view of the universe. Won't you ask for something else? A million dollars or anything?"

But no matter what the mermaid says, the guy insists on having his IQ increased by five times its usual power. So the mermaid sighs and says, "Done." And he becomes a woman.

Keys: 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. T

2.1. set free in return 2.2 extremely insightful analysis

2.3 pouring out, puzzled, in all fields

2.4 normally, change people’s minds, reconsider 2.5 usual power

Part 1 listening two

(Dr. Herring, author of a book on language and communication, is being interviewed by Bob White, a writer for an academic journal on communication.) Bob White: Good morning, Dr. Herring! We both know that many communication specialists believe that gender bias exists in language, culture and

society. Do you think this is really so?

Dr. Herring: Yes, I certainly do. How we talk and listen can be strongly influenced by cultural expectations, and these begin during childhood. Children

usually play together with other children of the same gender, and this

is where our conversational style is learned.

Bob White: Can you give some specific examples?

Dr. Herring: Certainly. We find that girls use language mainly to develop closeness or intimacy as a basis for friendship. Boys, on the contrary, use

language mainly to earn status in their group.

Bob White: But, in communication through electronic devices like e-mail discussion groups, there should be no gender distinction if writers'

names are not used in the messages.

Dr. Herring: One might think so, but in fact, email writing style is more comparable with spoken language, so basic language styles are still

evident.

Bob White: I thought e-mail messages were gender neutral!

Dr. Herring: No. While theoretical gender equality exists for the Internet, in reality women are not given equal opportunity because of different

communication and language styles between the sexes.

Bob White: How does that happen? Do you have any hard facts to back up this impression?

Dr. Herring: Yes. I've done a research project using randomly selected e-mail messages from online discussion groups. I found that females use

language that is more collaborative and supportive such as "Thanks

for all your tips on...", "Good point." and "Hope this helps!". Men

tend to use more aggressive or competitive language such as "Do you

understand that?", "You should realize that...", "It is absurd to

think...".

Bob White: How great are these gender differences?

Dr. Herring: Males write messages using aggressive, competitive language more than twice as often as females did, while females use collaborative

and supportive language three times as often as males did. In this

study, it is clear that there is a gender difference in e-mail messages

just as in other communication media.

Bob White: So the "battle of the sexes" is still with us, even online.

Questions:

1. According to Dr. Herring, when is children’s conversational style learned?

2. Which of the following is most similar to e-mail writing in style?

3. Why is there still no equality on the Internet?

4. What comparison did Dr. Herring make in her speech?

Keys: 1. C 2. B 3. A 4. B

2.1. language, culture, society, cultural expectations

2.2 closeness intimacy, earn status

2.3 collaborative supportive, aggressive competitive

Part 1 listening three

John: Cathy, do you think it's appropriate for females to continuously expect guys to behave in a standard gentlemanly fashion like opening car doors?

Cathy: Well, I think it would be nice if men could do such things.

John: My side of the theory is that we all have to admit that we are living in the world of change. Right? Sometimes the equation changes if the driver is a girl and the passenger is a guy who doesn't drive. So what happens? Should the girl open the door for the guy or should the guy open the door for the girl?

Maybe we should just adopt an "open your own door" policy.

Cathy: Yes, I agree, John. But...sometimes it's just a matter of courtesy. It doesn't matter who opens the door for whom. Maybe females just should not expect too much. Life isn't a fairy tale after all.

John: It's absolutely true. Sometimes I feel that there isn't any difference in the roles both genders can perform. Of course I'm not saying that men can give birth.

Rather what I meant was except for the physical and natural differences between both sexes, there isn't much difference between them.

Cathy: But honestly, although I don't expect guys to open doors for me, or to pull out

a chair for me, I am usually quite impressed if they do so, as many guys don't

do it nowadays. If the guy was walking in front of me and went through the

door first, I'd appreciate it if he could hold the door and not let it slam in my

face.

John: Well, if I'm the one walking in front, I will open the door and hold it for the people behind me, be it a girl or a boy. I actually had the door slam right in my face a number of times though, when the person walking closely in front of me

didn't hold the heavy glass door and let it swing back in my face. Of course, I tried to hold the door, but it was too heavy and too late. But I think it was more embarrassing for him than me as everyone was looking at him, while I was rubbing my squashed nose.

Cathy: So being a gentleman does not stop at opening doors. There are many other aspects I believe.

Keys:1. T T F F T 2. D A B A B

Part 1 listening four

Do you know how you learned to be a woman? Do you know how you learned to be a man? What makes the difference in terms of gender and our roles in society? Even when our physical structures are revealed to be really similar, women and men "tend" to play different roles in society. In an article in the latest issue of Psychology Today, we find a study that reflects how parents of fifteen girl babies and fifteen boy babies differed in their descriptions of their babies. Despite the fact that objective data such as birth length, weight, irritability, etc. did not differ, when the parents were asked to describe their babies, they said that girl babies were softer, littler, more beautiful, prettier, cuter than boy babies. Based on these facts, we could conclude that parents' attitude is influencing their children.

Our parents and later our school, television and the Internet are showing us a whole set of expected behaviors that create our patterns. Thus, a simple cartoon can suggest to children how they are supposed to act. Male cartoon characters are not only more prominent than female characters, but they also portray a broader range of masculine traits. Male characters are powerful, strong, smart and aggressive.

Of course roles have been changing over the past decades. Nowadays, women are not necessarily expected to stay home raising their family and supporting their husbands. In the same way, men are no longer expected to be the only breadwinners like they used to be; now women and men share these responsibilities. But traditional roles still have a big influence.

Keys:

2. F F T T F

2.1reflects descriptions 2.2 parents’ attitudes

2.3suggest, act 2.4 raising their family, supporting their husbands

2.5used to be, share these responsibilities

Part 4 Listening 1

"Equal" does not always mean "the same". Men and women are created equally but boys and girls are not born the same.

You throw a little girl a ball, and it will hit her in the nose. You throw a little boy a ball, and he will try to catch it. Then it will hit him in the nose.

A baby girl will pick up a stick and look in wonder at what nature has made. A baby boy will pick up a stick and turn it into a gun.

When girls play with Barbie dolls, they like to dress them up and play house with

them. When boys play with Barbie dolls, they like to tear their hair off.

Boys couldn't care less if their hair is untidy. But for girls, if their hair got cut a quarter-inch too short, they would rather lock themselves in their room for two weeks than be seen in public.

Baby girls find mommy's makeup and almost instinctively start painting their faces. Baby boys find mommy's makeup and almost instinctively start painting the walls.

Boys grow their fingernails long because they're too lazy to cut them. Girls grow their fingernails long—not because they look nice—but because they can dig them into a boy's arm.

Girls are attracted to boys, even at an early age. At an early age, boys are attracted to dirt.

Most baby girls talk before boys do. Before boys talk, they learn how to make machine-gun noises.

Girls turn into women. Boys turn into bigger boys.

Keys: 1. 1 hit 1.2 try to catch 1.3 in wonder 1.4 turn…into

1.5 dress, play house 1.6 tear…off 1.7 care less 1.8 lock, in public

1.9 painting their face 1.10 painting the walls 1.11 lazy, cut 1.12 dig…into 1.13 boys 1.14 dirt 1.15 talk 1.16 make machine-gun noises

Listening 2

In order to understand this story, you have to know the nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock. In this nursery rhyme, the words in the title have no meaning. The rhyme goes like this:

Hickory Dickory Dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,

The mouse ran down!

Hickory Dickory Dock.

Here is the story:

One day I took my seven-year-old son with me to shop for an electric wall clock for the kitchen and found a whole counter full of them on sale at a discount store. I had trouble deciding which clock to buy. While I held one clock in my hand and looked at another, I asked my son which one he liked better.

“The one you’re holding with the mouse in it, Mom,” he said.

Before I understood his words, a real, live mouse jumped out onto the counter and ran away. I screamed so loud everyone turned to see what was wrong. I was so embarrassed. I tried to make my way quietly out of the store. Everyone was looking at me. On the way out the door, my delighted son recited Hickory Dickory Dock. What a naughty boy!

Questions:

1.Where did the story take place?

2.Why did the mother ask her son which clock he liked better?

3.Which clock did the boy like best?

4.Why did the mother feel embossed?

5.Why did he boy recite Hickory Dickory Dock?

Keys:

2. B 2. D

3. A

4. C

5. D

Listening 3

Men, it is said, are generally more aggressive than women and enjoy taking risks. They play fighting games and enjoy "dares". More men than women are convicted for crimes, especially crimes of violence.

Some say that this is simply a matter of biology; others suggest that it is a function of the way we organize the sex and gender roles in our society. In fact, many of the findings, in this area, have turned out to be unsatisfactory, and often there turns out to be very small differences with a large degree of overlap.

Biologically, men certainly seem to be the weaker sex. On average, men experience heart attacks 10 years earlier than women, but have a better rate of survival if they survive the first year after an attack. Symptoms also vary by sex: Women experience shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain; most male heart attacks come on as a sudden, striking pain in the chest. In adulthood, men are more likely to be infected with viruses and have a shorter average lifespan.

In recent years, a great many biological sex differences have been found throughout the body, including the brain. However, regardless of the findings that sex differences really do exist after all and despite the pressure to deny them, socially, we still expect women to behave like women and men like men.

Keys:

1) aggressive 2) taking risks 3) crime 4) biology 5) function 6) roles

7) unsatisfactory 8) weaker 9) heart attacks 10) rate of survival 11) vary 12) be infected with 13) average lifespan 14) do exist 15) deny

16) behave

Listening 4

It is my belief that gender stereotypes are very real gender characteristics that are exaggerated to the extreme ends with no gray areas. So in truth a woman is "weak" physically only because a man is in reality "stronger". A woman is "submissive" only because a man in reality is more "aggressive". A woman is "emotional" only because a man is "less emotional". All these are observed facts.

Are there ways to avoid the stereotyping? This is hard to do. We as males and females love to exaggerate our differences. It seems we love to do this in many ways. We love to exaggerate gender traits as if to say "Look how female I am" or "Look how male I am". Do we go so far as to actually create differences that do not exist? Not from what I see. I think we like to exaggerate our differences because the more male we feel or the more female we feel the more attractive we feel.

So all in all I believe stereotypes are true differences that are exaggerated. I don't

think stereotypes should be avoided because they are real. I do think that we should not place extremes of a trait to a gender as a whole and most certainly not limit someone's potential abilities based on a stereotype. Stereotypes should apply in general but not to an individual. They should serve to help make judgment but not as an absolute.

Keys:

1.T F F F T T

2.1 physically, in reality, aggressive

2.2 avoid, differences, attractive

2.3 extremes, potential abilities

Unit 4 Creativity

Part I Listening 1

In China, education is considered a race. Students have to begin as early as possible and have to proceed as quickly as possible around the track. Success is measured by how many students cross the finish line in the short time .In America, we recognize the race too, but we feel that the students have a chance to explore things for themselves, even if not all of them reach the finish line. As a result of their exploring, some of the participants may have more to offer by the end of the race.

The advantage of the Chinese way is that more students become proficient and reach the finish line. The disadvantage is that they may have less to say or to show once they get there. The disadvantage of the American way is that some students never finish the race. The advantage, however, is that some who do go "all the way" have very interesting and original things to say when they get there.

1. F T T T F F

2.1) race 2) race 3 ) proceed 4) explore things for themselves 5)

proficient 6)interesting 7) original 8) less 9) finish the race Listening II

Once Wealth and Poverty approached a merchant and introduced themselves as Goddesses. The merchant greeted both of them and said, "May I ask why you have come to my humble home?" The Goddess of Wealth said, "We want you to judge between us who is the most beautiful."

The merchant did not know what to say. He knew he was between the devil and the deep blue sea. If he said that Wealth was more beautiful than Poverty, Poverty would curse him. If he said that Poverty was more beautiful than Wealth, Wealth would abandon him. However, he became calm and said, "I have great respect for you both. Would you please do what I ask of you? It is the only way I can judge properly." The Goddesses agreed. He said, "Mother Wealth, would you please walk towards my

house? Mother Poverty, Would you please walk away from my house? This way I can see you both better, from near and far." The two Goddesses did what the merchant had asked them to do. Then the merchant confidently declared, "Mother Wealth! You appear most beautiful when you are nearest my house. Mother Poverty! You look most beautiful when you are farthest from my house." The Goddesses appreciated the wit and wisdom of the merchant. The Goddess of Wealth happily stayed in his house while the Goddess of Poverty cheerfully departed.

Whenever we have a serious problem, if we look within and think calmly, a solution will come in answer to the problem.

1. F T F F F

2. 1. Why did the two Goddesses go to the merchant’s place? C

2. What would happen if the merchant declared the Goddess of Wealth to be more

beautiful than the Goddess of the Poverty? B

3. What did the merchant ask the Goddesses to do? D

4. What was the reaction of the Goddesses? A

5. What does the story tell us? C

Listening III

There is an old and common saying in the United States that "There is nothing new under the sun." I thought of that today when I read an article in a magazine. The article tells about the growing number of people who are building earth-sheltered houses, which are partly underground. I had known about modern earth-sheltered houses, but I had never thought about their roofs before. Instead of having metal or tiles on the roofs, many of these houses now have living roofs. The wooden top of the house is covered with a special waterproof plastic material. On top of this there is soil, in which grass and flowers are planted. Such a roof can be very beautiful. But this really is not a new idea. When the early settlers came to the United States, they often made their houses by digging into the ground. Their roofs were made of wood, and covered by large areas of soil with grass or turf. They were warm, though not always waterproof. People replaced these houses and roofs as soon as they could live in regular wooden homes with wooden or metal roofs. Now, 200 years later, some people think of this as a new idea. But I think, "There is nothing new under the sun."

1. 1) partly underground 2) living 3 ) digging into the ground 4) grass waterproof

Questions:

1. What does the speaker mean by saying "There is nothing new under the sun"?

2. What makes the speaker think of "earth-sheltered houses"?

3. What is a living roof?

4. How many years ago did the early settlers first build earth-sheltered homes?

5. Why did People replace these earth-sheltered houses with regular wooden ones? 2. C D A B D

Listening IV

Man: It is said that the first sandwich was made in 1762 by the Earl of

Sandwich. He didn't want to take time away from his card games to eat, so

he ordered his butler to make sandwiches instead.

Woman: Is that so? Hey, look at this. The first beauty contest was held in Belgium in 1888. Why in Belgium of all places?

Man: Why not? Oh, here's one I bet you're proud of. The electric chair was used for the first time in 1890 in the United States. Yes, you're first to diagnose

AIDS, too. The first recorded case was in New York.

Woman: Plus and minus signs were used in 1514 in Holland. Yeah, there was no way we could have guessed that one. And the equals sign, you'll be

pleased to hear, was first used in Oxford , in 1557. You'd have thought

they'd all have been invented at the same time.

Man: Well, we both got these right .coffee was in Arabia around 1,000 AD, and just before that, playing cards were invented in China.

Woman: Well, I got this one right. First diagram of a flying machine, was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci, as I said, in 1492.

Man: Yeah, but the first air flight wasn't made until 1903, and it was in the United States.

Woman: But that wasn't the question, was it? Also, England was also the first to transmit television.

Man: Garbage! It was the Italians.

Woman: No, it says here, the first TV transmission was in London, 1925. And here we are again, the first traffic lights were in London, in 1868.

Man: But they didn't even have cars then, so why would they have needed traffic lights?

1．D A A F C E A B B

2．1)1762 2)1888/Belgium 3)1890/the United States 4)New York

5)1514/Holland 1557 6) 1903 7) 1868

Part 4 Listening 1

Juan comes up to the Mexican border on his bicycle. He's got two large bags over his shoulders. The guard stops him and says, "What's in the bags?"

"Sand," answered Juan.

The guard says, "We'll just see about that. Get off the bike." The guard takes the

two bags and rips them apart; he empties them out and finds nothing in them but sand. He detains Juan overnight and has the sand analyzed, only to discover that there is nothing but pure sand in the bags.

The guard releases Juan, puts the sand into new bags, hefts them onto the man's shoulders and lets him cross the border.

A week later, the same thing happens. The guard asks, "What have you got?" "Sand," says Juan.

The guard does his thorough examination and discovers that the bags contain nothing but sand. He gives the sand back to Juan, and Juan crosses the border on his bicycle.

This sequence of events is repeated every week for three years. Finally, Juan doesn't show up one day and the guard meets him in a bar in Mexico.

"Hey, buddy," says the guard. "I know you are smuggling something. It's driving me crazy. It's all I think about. I can't sleep. Just between you and me, what are you smuggling?"

Juan sips his beer and says, "Bicycles."

1) border 2) rips 3) overnight 4) analyzed 5) release 6) cross 7) weekly 8 ) thorough 9) show up 10) bicycles

Listening II

Pottery has been found in the remains of every ancient civilization. The oldest known piece of pottery was found in China and dates back to 7,900 BC. That's almost 10,000 years ago!

The first pots were large bowls, formed by taking a lump of clay and making a bowl shape. Pottery doesn't just include pots, but anything made from clay that can hold things, such as jugs, vases and cups. Pottery was used to hold water, milk, seeds and grains.

Later, people learned to mix different clays together to make stronger pottery and to put the pottery in a fire oven so that the clay would harden faster. The potter's wheel was invented in China around 3,100 BC. The wheel spins clay like a top. It allows people to make pottery much more quickly and make shapes that were perfectly symmetrical—bowls that were really round, rather than lumpy or uneven. Pottery is not only considered one of the first inventions but also one of the first art forms. Most types of pottery have been painted with figures or designs; some even tell a story!

1. B A C

2. 1.The oldest known piece of pottery was found in china and dates back to 7900

BC(and was made almost 10,000 years ago).

2. It was used for holding water ,milk ,seeds, and grains.

3. To make stronger pottery and to make the clay harden faster.

4. It allowed people to make pottery much more quickly and to make symmetrical

shapes.

5. Because most types of pottery have been painted with figures or designs; some

even tell a story.

Listening III

(Students are in a classroom waiting for the teacher to arrive. Two are talking.) Cathy: I've enjoyed talking about creativity in our English class. I wish I had

been encouraged more when I was in elementary school.

Michael: I know what you mean. I always liked drawing, but my teachers and parents insisted I was just wasting my time with it. My father said I

should work on mathematics.

Cathy: Maybe you still will still use your artistic talent some day.

Michael: Oh, I don't know. After all, I'm in university now. Perhaps I'm too old to be creative.

Cathy: I don't think so. I read an interesting article about a lady who wanted to be an artist but the whole family wanted her to work in their candy

business.

Michael: What happened?

Cathy: Well, Jean, the lady, knew painting was what she wanted to do , not making candy. After graduating from college she tried various jobs to

support herself, though none of her jobs was in the candy business.

And she kept painting in her spare time.

Michael: Then what?

Cathy: About 20 years ago a worker in the family candy business quit

around Valentine's Day, one of their busiest seasons. Her father

needed Jean to come to help with the business.

Michael: Did she?

Cathy: Yes, although she didn't like it.

Michael: So, how did she cope?

Cathy: She got an idea of putting art and candy together.

Michael: How?

Cathy: First she experimented with making an edible paint. She found that powdered food coloring mixed with vodka would work.

Michael: That's quite a combination.

Cathy: Then, for her "canvas", she melted white chocolate and molded it flat.

She even learned how to make chocolate frames.

Michael: What kind of art did she create?

Cathy: She copied the works of famous painters. She displayed her candy art in the candy shop and customers would come in just to look at the art.

Michael: What did her family think then?

Cathy: They didn't take her seriously until the Toledo Museum of Art heard about her works and paid her to paint 77 reproductions of works in

their collection. That was her first big job. Now she works full-time

on her candy creations.

Michael: Does she do anything besides copying art masterpieces?

Cathy: Yes, she's done some portraits. However, people love her

reproductions.

Michael: What are the prices for her candy art creations?

Cathy: From $150 to $200 each.

Michael: Well, her creativity has brought her success.

1.What did the male speaker like to do ? B

2.How did jean make a living right after graduating from college? B

3.Why did she begin to help with the family business ? C

4.How did she paint ? A

Listening IV

For over 30 years, "Sesame Street" has been the most popular TV program for young children in the United States. The characters on this show are mainly puppets, and probably the most loved of the puppets is a gigantic yellow bird called "Big Bird".

Caroll Spinney has played Big Bird all the years of Big Bird's existence on American television. Spinney's love of puppets and his own creativity led him to this career. When he was five years old, he saw his first puppet show. He loved the show and never forgot it. When he was seven he bought a used monkey puppet for five cents. His mother had made him a stuffed snake from green material, so he got the idea of making his own puppet show. He made a stage from wooden orange boxes and his mother's old curtains. He charged 2 cents for admission and earned 32 cents for his first performance.

Spinney's family liked his creativity and encouraged him to do more . For Christmas when he was nine, his older brother made him a better puppet theater and his mother secretly sewed eight colorful puppets for him. Spinney later wrote, "The more I gave shows, the more I felt the power that one has when performing. All these people would sit in a room and listen to everything I said. I did all the character voices: little girl voices, an old lady voice, and a ghost voice. The audience listened and clapped at the end, and also paid me to do it. What could be a better way to make a living than to perform? I knew that I would wind up in the world of entertainment."

Spinney continued giving puppet shows. When he decided to go to art school, puppet shows helped him pay for his tuition. Even when he was in the army, he managed to continue giving puppet shows. He knew he wanted to do this as his life's work and that he wanted his audience to be children. When he was given the

opportunity to create the character of Big Bird on "Sesame Street", he accepted it and over the years has made Big Bird one of the most beloved characters on American television.

T T T F F T T T F F

Unit 5 Athletes

Part 1 Listening I

I'm Ted. Well, I've been playing it since I was quite young. My father was very keen on it and he used to give me lessons. We didn't have to go far to play, so we used to play together quite a lot. Unless you have to join a club, it's not an expensive sport. You just need a racket and some balls. When I was in university, I played for an hour or so every morning. Sometimes it was not easy for us to book a court because it was so popular. For most people, i t’s great exercise and requires a lot of energy. Of course, you have to be fit, as it demands a lot of running and speed around the court. Usually, there’s not a lot of standing around; one is constantly moving. But that’s why it’s a sport I like to play and watch so much.

I'm Mike. I think I've been playing it for nearly 40 years now, ever since I was a little kid. It has always been a great interest of mine. When I watch a game, I appreciate the athletic skills of the players: the strategies of the manager or coach; and the excitement of the uncertainty. I enjoy not knowing how the game is going to end, even when a very strong team is playing against a very weak team. There's always that possibility of surprise, and of the unexpected changing the game.

I'm Lisa. Well, I've been doing it every winter holiday for as long as I can remember.

I love doing it because you can get better every time. It's fast and exciting and although it's really cold, you can still get a tan. Of course, the scenery is beautiful and it's really nice when you're tired to go and have a hot drink afterwards. The problem is that it's very expensive and really dangerous. But apart from getting hurt occasionally,

I still thoroughly enjoy it.

1. 1) tennis 2 ) quite young 3)soccer 4) a little kid 5) nearly 40 years 6)skiing 7) remember

2. tennis 1,5,7 football/soccer 2,9,10 skiing 3,4,6,8

Listening II

During the 1930s and 1940s, when someone asked a kid whom his role models were, he would often respond with the names of baseball players. Advertisers trying to sell a product would often turn to baseball stars because the public knew them and loved them. Now looking at today's baseball players, the only time we seem to hear about them is when they are complaining about their salaries. Baseball is no longer the great

national pastime, and kids are looking elsewhere for their role models.

Back in the 1930s and 1940s, money wasn't such an important issue. Players played baseball because they loved the game. They rarely complained about money. And they earned very little in comparison with players today.

Most players back then were also positive role models both on and off the field. They did a lot of things for the neighborhood, from visiting sick children in hospitals to signing autographs—not for the publicity, but just one of the kindness of their hearts. Parents then could be proud when their children said that they wanted to grow up and play major league baseball. Today, however, most baseball players visit hospitals only when they need care, and some of them charge even 20 dollars for their autograph.

In the past, players always tried to be positive role models for America's youth. Today, it is a totally different story. It seems that we can't get through a week without some baseball player doing something stupid or illegal.

If today’s players would just grow up and stop worrying about who's making the most money, they would start feeling better about themselves; the public would start respecting the game again; and kids could start finding some role models on the baseball field again.

1. B D A C

2.T T F F F F F T T T

Listening III

Building team spirit is always the focal point of what I try to do as a manager. When I first went to Crystal Palace, players would finish training and then go straight home. There was no atmosphere. So we brought in a pool table and fruit machines. When players choose to spend time together, it generates a better atmosphere.

The team spirit is very important, but I don't believe in motivating the team as a team.

I don’t give team talks. I try to motivate the team as individuals. I speak to the players individually and try not to put too much pressure on anyone. I believe players perform best when they are relaxed. If they're too tense, I can guarantee they won't play well.

I also believe in giving people autonomy. I like all the people who work for me to be autonomous. I very rarely interfere. I feel people should be judged on their results. If they prove incompetent, then I'm incompetent if I continue employing them.

It's like that with the team. I get criticized for not interfering during a game and for not making more substitutions. But I feel if I've chosen those 11 players to get a result, then I should leave them alone to get on with it.

If I'm dropping a player from the team, I don't feel I have to explain it to them. If they