英语视听说对话练习

Unit 1 Enjoy your turn.

Jim: You look down in the dumps. What can I do to cheer you up? Wallace: It’s not going to work. I’m depressed.

Jim: Come on. Tell me what’s on your mind.

Wallace:Everything. I can’t find an internship, my dog ran away, my wallet was stolen…

Jim: Don’t worry. I’ll help you solve the big problem:finding you a new internship.

Wallace:Thank you. Anyway, I’m getting bad grades, and I was told that I have to repeat a lot of courses next year. When I heard that, I almost lost it.

Jim: Look, relax. I’ll help you with those courses.

Wallace:Yeah, but I also want to eat breakfast.

Jim: Forget it. You’re on your own.

Wallace:Come on. What are friends for?

Jim: To keep you in high spirits, not to buy breakfast.

Unit 2 Beauty can be bought.

Laura: Hi, Susan.

Susan: Eh, sorry, but who are you?

Laura: Come on! Don’t you recognize me? I’m Laura.

Susan: What a surprised, so it's you.

Laura: OK. I think liposuction is really necessary. It’s the right way for me to be attractive.

Susan: Honestly, I won’t go as far as that. With surgery, I might look glamorous, but it’s against nature.

Laura: Yeah, but I’m also concerned about the crow’s feet around my eyes. I think my face needs to be tightened up.

Susan: But, Laura, you wouldn’t do that, would you?

Laura: Darned right I would! I don’t expect my skin to be as smooth as a baby’s, but I really should look young.

Susan: Isn’t makeup enough?

Laura: Of course not, I really hope surgery can wipe out the tired look. Unit 3 Watch out when nature strikes back. Kate: Well, nowadays there seem to be many natural disasters.

Jack: For example, firestorms occur here and there, now and then. Kate: Firestorms are a pretty interesting phenomenon. They generate so much heat that they create their own weather. Nothing you can do about it.

Jack: Once a fire develops into a firestorm, you simply can’t put an end it. Some people think we shouldn’t try.

Kate: You mean, just let the forests burn? We simply can’t stand by watching homes in flames.

Jack: Some experts argue that it’s natural to have forest fires and that we shouldn’t try to interfere, except, of course, to save homes and lives. Kate: It seems wrong to permit fires to devour trees. What a waste that would be!

Jack: But that’s nature’s way of cleaning up the debris that collects on the forest floor and creating new kinds of growth.

Kate: Perhaps you’re right, but it still seems wrong to just let fires burn. Jack: After all, there have been verdant forests for millions of years without man’s help fighting the fires.

Kate: I admit there’s something in what you said, but I still think it’s wrong to not put out forest fires.

Unit 4 Is work just another four-letter word? Bob: Bob Smith here.

Helen: Hi, Bob, it’s Helen. I’m calling to make an appointment with you. Bob: Hi,Helen. Glad to hear from you again. What’s on your mind? Helen: We’ve produced a new battery that is inexpensive, but powerful. It can last a long time.

Bob: We’ve already got a goof selection. What’s so special about your new product?

Helen: Well, could you arrange for me to meet your boss Linda? Then I’ll go into details.

Bob: OK, when can you come?

Helen: I was hoping to get together with Linda this week, if possible. I want to get going on this right away.

Bob: Let me check her timetable…Yes, she’s completely free Thursday. Helen: OK. I’m sure it’ll be a rewarding meeting. Thank you. Good-bye. [Later]

Bob: Hello. Is Helen there, please?

Helen: Hello. Helen speaking.

Bob: Hi, Helen, this is Bob. Something unexpected has come up. I’m afraid we have to postpone the meeting with you on Thursday. Helen: That’s disappointing. When can we meet?

Bob: Linda has to put the meeting off until sometime on Friday. Will that suit you?

Helen: I’m afraid I can’t go on Friday. I’ll be flying to another city on

business.

Bob: Then could you come after five on Thursday?

Helen: Certainly, Can we make it five thirty then?

Bob: Five thirty’s perfect. Linda will be waiting for you at five thirty on Thursday.

Helen: OK. Great! Thanks. Bye.

Unit 5 Distant pastures are always greener. Jane: Mr. Johnson, I’m sorry, but I have to tell you I’m leaving.

Mr. Johnson: Why, Jane? When are you leaving?

Jane: Well, uh…Thank you very much for offering me a permanent job. But now I’ve received a notice of admission to a Master’s degree program in my university. I’m afraid I have to leave in three weeks.

Mr. Johnson: Oh, what a pity. You did an excellent job here, and everyone likes you.

Jane: I really enjoyed working here. But further studies will give me more opportunities to grow professionally.

Mr. Johnson: In that case, I won’t keep you, Jane. I just want to tell you that I’m sad you’ll be leaving us.

Jane: I hope this one-month notice will give you time to hire and train a replacement.

Mr. Johnson: Thanks for the notice, Jane. Assistant like you are rare. I guess we’d better start looking as soon as possible.

Jane: With your approval, I’ll post notice today and interview applicants for you.

Mr. Johnson: That would be great. Schedule them in as you see fit. Jane, without you, things here will be different.

Jane: Thank you for your kind words. If you have any problem, please feel free call me.

Unit 6 The truth can be stranger than fiction. Tim: It’s interesting to note that so many people are superstitious nowa days.

Ginger: Yeah. Many psychologists are researching the relationship between superstition and luck.

Tim: What did they find? Most people would be interested. At least I would.

Ginger: They polled 4000 people and found that positive superstitions often attract those who believe themselves to be lucky. They may wear a ring as a talisman or often say, ”touch wood” for good luck.

Tim: Then, what about the unlucky people? Do you mean if they think

they are unlucky, they tend to believe in superstitions about bad luck? Ginger: Yeah. Broken mirrors make them anxious, a black cat running across their path, and so on.

Tim: So what’s their point?

Ginger: Their point is that people make their own luck by their attitude to life. So, 49 percent of lucky people regularly cross their fingers, compared to 30 percent of unlucky people. And only 18 percent of lucky people are anxious if they break a mirror.

Tim: So, our fate has something to do with our attitude, not superstitions.

Ginger: I think that’s what they are suggesting.

Tim: This research seems too complicated. If I were a psychologist, I’d conduct a survey to find whether 13 really is an unlucky number. If there were more traffic accidents or murders on the 13th than on other days, then we’d have to believe in superstitions.

Ginger: What if there weren’t?

Tim: Then I’ll view superstition as rubbish.

Ginger: What a brilliant idea! I never expected you to be as wise as Solomon.

Tim: Well, as long as you don’t think I’m a fool.

Unit 7 What shall we do when there’s nothing to do?

David: Would you like to play a game of tennis?

Emma: Thank you for asking, but it’s so hot.

David: Look at you! You’re fat and flabby. You’d better get more exercise in your leisure time, or you’ll never be Governor of California.

Emma: That’s right. I’m no Schwarzenegger, no Mr. Universe, so don’t bug me.

David: He shows what exercise can do. He used to be a skinny kid from Austria.

Emma: He likes exercise; I don’t. I was born tired, and I’ve been resting ever since.

David: Seeing a fine specimen like him, don’t you feel like exercising vigorously to stay in good shape?

Emma: Whenever I feel like exercising, I lie down and rest until the feeling passes.

David: Ha ha, very funny. Surely you’re read about the dangers of obesity.

Emma: Scientists constantly find dangers-smoking, cholesterol. What

else is new?

David: You must know an exercise like walking benefits the mind and body.

Emma: I do, and I walk every day-from my office to the parking lot, non-stop.

David: OK, have it your way. Eventually you’ll be a burden on our health system.

Emma: And just what do you mean by that? I’m not sick. My appetite is good.

David: If you stay fat, heart trouble or high blood pressure could hospitalize you.

Emma: Well, you may have a point there. I suppose we could go for a walk after dinner, slowly.

Unit 8Is biotechnology our friend or enemy? Sam: The cloning technology is developing fast, and I think we’ll soon be able to clone humans.

Zoe: Oh, I have some reservations about it. There’re still many scientific problems to solve before human cloning starts.

Sam: There’s an easier way. The Clonaid Company Says they’ve produced human clones.

Zoe: Oh, my God! These guys claim aliens from another planet taught them human cloning.

Sam: A woman gave them half a million dollars to clone her dead daughter.

Zoe: Clearly that woman doesn’t know much about cloning. How dangerous it is!

Sam: I know it’s inefficient. It took 276 tries to produce Dolly. But why is it risky?

Zoe: Cloned animals are abnormal in size and grow old fast.

Sam: In other words, that woman may not be happy with her cloned daughter.

Zoe: Then there are the emotions. It’s still unknown if cloning damages the brain.

Sam: Do you think human cloning should be legally prohibited?

Zoe: To my mind, the cloning of human organs should be allowed. It may help solve medical problems.

Sam: I see what you mean: Cloning should be regulated if it’s to benefit humanity.

Unit9 You can learn how to ride the business

cycle.

Marry: What are you reading, Jack?

Jack: Well, an article about the export volume of the largest foreign trade company in our city. Hey! Look at this headline! China’s foreign trade should reach $1 trillion this year!

Marry: Are you sure the figure is correct? How can they keep up such rapid growth for so many years running?

Jack: A senior offcial of the Ministry of Commerce said so in Beijing Wednesday.

Marry: As far as I know, China’s foreign trade volume was already $851.2 billion last year, up 37.1 percent from the previous year. That volume raned fourth in the world, following only the United States, Germany, and Japan.

Jack: But the Chinese are working miracles. In the first half of this year, foreign trade came to $523 billion, up 39.1 percent over last year. Marry: I wonder how it can grow so fast.

Jack: The U.S. economy has been very good. Booming consumption has provided opportunities for China’s exports.

Marry: Is that the only reason China’s exorts have increased? Nor other factors?

Jack: China encourages exports. The customs department refunds some export expenses.

Marry: What’s happening with Chinese imports?

Jack: Well, China has met her commitments to the World Trade Organization since she joined two and a half years ago. It has been gradually reducing tariffs and reinforcing intellectual property rights. She has opened her doors to the outside world wider. All these changes have led to an increase in her imports.

Marry: You seem to be looking at China through rose-colored glasses. Jack: China is not without her problems. Some state companies can’t deal with the keen competition around the world. They have a weak anti-risk capability. Trade protectionism is widespread in some industries. Marry: Jack, I really admire your wide knowledge. I think you’ll be in line for Nobel Prize in Economics some day.

Jack: You’re just pulling my leg again.

Unit10Learn how to manage your wealth.

Bill: Hey, Jack, I hear you became a millionaire by investing in the stock market. But I always lose money in the market. Can you give me some suggestions?

Jack: Well, you’d better observe the market closely.

Bill: That’s a good point; perhaps I should be more open-mindedabout this.

Jack: Don’t you think you’re a little short of funds at the moment?

Bill: That’s true.

Jack: You simply can’t afford to upgrade your facilities without considerable outside investment. The bank won’t lend you the money. Bill: I haven’t tried it.

Jack: Even if it did, the interest rate on that much capital would be more than we could afford. I’m convinced: The only way to generate the funds we need is to go public.

Bill: What should I do then?

Jack: A consultant will be coming in next week to explain the registration procedure for an IPO.

Bill: That’s great because I want to have a thorough understanding of what this entails before any decisions are made.

Jack: The important point is that you have to demonstrate that you’re financially qualified to be listed on the stock market.