30篇短文听写原文
朗读短文30篇

1My ideal school at 8 a.m. and finishes at 3 p.m.I love sports and computers, so we have PE and computer studies every day. The classes are quite small. There are about 20 students in each class.There is a big dining hall, where we can eat and chat with our friends. There is a park on one side of our school and a shopping mall on the other. We have a big library. We also have a tennis court and a swimming pool.There are lots of clubs and after-school activities. Every month, we go on a school trip to a museum or a theatre.2The Internet can show you a lot of jobs all over the world. If you want to find a job on the Internet, use the word ‘job search’ or‘employment’ to find the websites you need. Type in what you want and where you want to work. In a few seconds, a list of jobs will appear on the screen. Or you can type in the name of a company to learn about the jobs there.Job search websites can help in other ways, too. They show how to write a good resume and how to prepare for an interview. They also tell you what to say to an interviewer on the telephone. A good employmentwebsite can be a big help in your job search.生词:1、employment n. 工作;受罪2、resume n. 简历,履历3Everyone needs friends. There is a n old saying, ‘Friends are God’s way of taking care of us.’ But how do you find real friendship and keep it?First, you should choose a friend. A good friend should be kind and helpful. For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should be kind and helpful. For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints and do his or her best to help.But friendships are not always perfect. Even best friends have fights. When you have a fight with your friend, try to talk to him or her. If he or she doesn’t want to talk, don’t be sad. You could write a letter instead.4If you want to live to be 100 years old, you need healthy food and regular exercise.In the morning, cereal and congee are good for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you can have rice, vegetables and some meat. You can have an orange or an apple after each meal.You need regular exercise too. You can exercise for about 30 minutes every day. You can swim, run and play basketball. However, do not play computer games or chat with friends on the Internet for hours every day. This is not exercise.Get out of your chair, everyone! Change your diet and lifestyle today!生词:1、cereal n. 谷物2、congee n. 米汤,粥;稀饭5All around the world, people drink tea. But tea does not mean the same thing to everyone. In different countries people have very different ideas about drinking tea.In China people like to have tea together with their friends.They drink tea at any time of the day. They put only tea leaves in their cups. They prefer tea with nothing in it.Tea is also popular in Japan. People have tea every day. But the way they drink it is different from that in China.In the USA people drink tea at breakfast or after meals. They usually use tea bags to make their tea.6New York, London, Paris and many other cities are exciting places to live. There are lots of interesting things to see and do.But there are serious problems in big cities too. It is expensive to live there, and there are too many people. Every year many people move to the cities to find work or good places to live. Also it is hard to keep big cities safe and clean.So, before people move to a big city, they should think about the problems they might have to deal with there.7I have to choose a new colour for my bedroom. It is a very important decision, because colour can change a person’s mood. I like orange, because it’s a happy, warm colour. It can make people feel comfortable. M y best friend Jack doesn’t agree though. He thinks green is better. Jack says that green represents nature and that it can make you feel energetic. I remind Jack that green is also the colour of envy. My mother recommends blue. She thinks blue creates a feeling of harmony, so it will make me less stressed and help me relax after school. Perhaps she is right.8Dear SirI would like to recommend Daniel for this year’s youth Award. Daniel is a clever boy. He knows a lot about computers. He often teaches himself new skills.Daniel is thoughtful. He plans everything carefully and works well in a team.He is also kind. He looks after our children’s group on Sundays. Last week, a small boy got lost and was crying in the street. Daniel took him to the police stati on and stayed with him until the boy’s parents came. The club members all think that Daniel should get an award. We look forward to hearing from you.Yours faithfullySandy9Halloween is on October 31st. People celebrate it in many ways. Children wear special costumes and masks on Halloween. Many children play a game called ‘trick or treat’. They knock on their neighbours’ doors and shout ‘trick or treat’. Their neighbours usually give them some candy as a ‘treat’. If the children do not get any cand y, they can play a trick on their neighbours.Some people also make lanterns out of big orange pumpkins. They cut out the eyes, the nose and the sharp teeth. They put candles in them sothe light shines through the eyes, the nose and the teeth.10We have a students’ radio station in our school. It started two years ago. I have been a member of the radio station for two years.Every morning we tell the students about the weather and the latest news, plus some special messages that the teachers want us to mention.We also have a special programme that tells students the things they should or shouldn’t do when they prepare for their exams.When parents come to visit the school, we always play songs sung by the students, and we also report special events.I will graduate soon. I’ll really miss the radio station.生词:1、mention vt. 提及2、graduate vi. 毕业11Dear editorI’m a reader of your magazine and I need help.I’m in the eighth grade.I just moved to Beijing with my parents tow months ago.Now I’m studying at a new shool.I don’t know the school very well and I don’t have any friends here.I’m not sure how to talk with my classmates.Sometimes,I feel nervous and I cannot answer their questions.I feel really uncomfortable when they talkto me.I miss my classmates from my old school.I don’t know what I sho uld do.I hope you can give me some advice.Wang Hai12My family has just moved into a new flat.it has five rooms.there is a large sitting room.my parents and i often watch TV there.opposite the living room is the kitchen.i’m good at cooking so i sometimes help my mum make the dinner in it.There are two bedrooms and a bathroom. I have my own bedroom.there is a big,comfortable bed and a small sofa in it.i can invite my friends to come and see me in my bedroom.I have put s ome beautiful flowers on the balcony.my family’s new flat is very comfortable.13I think Wang Jian is the most suitable person to be the chairperson of the Student’s Union.She has many excellent qualities.First,WangJian is outgoing:she really enjoys to talk to people.Second,she knows team work is important:she can work with people easily with people and she works very hard.Third,wang Jian is very clever.She does well in exams and often helps with our work.Finally,Wang Jian is very organized.Shearranges badminton practices after shool and she is captain of the school team.I think Wang Jian would be an excellent chairperson.I hope you will vote for her.生词:captain /n. 队长14Dear Mr WuOur class has decided to hold a charity show.We call it ‘Sunshine For All’.The show will be held at 7.30 p.m on the 29th of April.It will finish at 9.30 p.m.We want to raise money for a charity called Project Hope.We think it does a very important job.The tickets cost 20 yuan each .Many classmates have volunteered to do some work for the show.Kitty and I will design the lie will be the hostess of the show.She will also help Simon organized a play.Daniel and Kitty will sing a song.We hope to see you there!Sandy15Zhalong nature reserve is in north-east china.It has an area of more than 210,000 hectares.It is one of the world’s most importantwetlands.Zhalong is the home of a lot of plants and animals,including different kinds of birds.It provides food and shelter for the birds.There are not many red-crowned cranes in the world,but there are some in Zhalong.It is a very good place for people to go birdwatching. Wetlandsare important because they provide food and shelter for endangered birds,and they also help prevent floods. We must protect the home of plants,fish and birds in Zhalong.16This year’s Beijing Music Awards will be covered live. The presentation will be held in Beijing this coming Saturday.All the big pop stars will attend.Before the awards start,we will interview some of the most famous stars.Tow thousand fans have voted online for their favourite songs,singers and music videos.The results will be announced during the programme and the host will ask questions for the viewers to answer.As you are watching the awards,write down your answers and send text messages to 1396.If you are lucky enough, you could win tow concert tickets.17One day,when Tom came home from work,he found a diamond necklace outside his door.Tom wondered where it came from.Tom decided to take it to the police.He thought they would be able to find the owner.Just then,the police came to tom’s home and saw the necklace in his hand.Tom was shocked when he was charged with robbery.A policeman told him about a robbery at the jewellery shop.A witness said she saw someone run from the shop into Tom’s building.Tom was not guilty,but how could he prove it?18Many teenagers suffer from stress.Although they may worry a lot about their problems,there are some simple ways to deal with them.Eating a healthy diet,getting enough sleep and exercising regularly are all important for young people.At school,planning ahead can help.Making a list of all the things they need to do and planning when to do them can help students organize their time.Also,students should not worry too much about being popular.They should just bethemselves .Finally,students should make enough time for their hobbies.Playing sport,reading and watching films can help them relax.19Ten years ago,mobile phones were rather expensive.Only important or rich people had them.However,these days more people have them in their hands,even high school students.It is true that mobile phones can be very useful.They are an easy way to keep in touch with friends and family members anywhere and at any time.But we also hear mobile phones ringing in places like classrooms,cinemas and museums.The sound is very loud and can disturb people.Some drivers have accidents because they use their mobile phones while driving.So,are mobile phones really a good thing?20Dear MillieThank you for your letter.I hope I can offer you some useful advice.You said you do not have enough time to do your homework.Plan your day carefully.Make a list of all the homework you have to do.Then work out how much time you need to finish it.This will give you an idea of how much free time you have.You also said that you do not have enough time for your hobbies.Perhaps you can choose one hobby to do each day,or just focus on your favourite hobby,painting.Best wishesHelen21Hi everybodyMy name is Lucy. I am in Year 9 at Woodland School near London. It is a mixed school. Boys and girls have lessons together. My favourite subject is home Economics. I like learning how to cook and sew.Our school has a Reading Week every year. My classmates and I love it. We can read any books we likee from the school library. We can even bring in books and magazines from home. Near the end of each class we can talk to our friends about our books. The ReadingWeek is always too short because we want to read all our friends' books as well.22Dear JohnHow are you? I left school early yesterday because the sonwstorm started again in aftenroon and it got worse later.This morning I read a newspaper article about a car accident. A man named Su Ning called 110 at 7.40 p.m. using his mobile phone. His car crashed into a treewhile he was driving in the snowstorm. He and hiswife were trapped in the car. The snow was heavy and it covered everything. the policemen arrived at once and sent them to hospital. luckily, they were not hurt.What about London? Do you have snowstorms there? Please e-mail me soon.Sandy23Giant pandas are beautiful black-ang-white animals that look like bears. They eat bomboo shoots and leaves. Body giant pandas spend a lot of time drinking their mothers' milk.Mother giant pandas have only one or two babies at a time. When the babies are born, they look like little white mice.There are only about a thousand giant pandas in the world now. There number is getting smaller every year. If people kep taking the land, giant pandas will have nowhere to live. also,people hunt rhem for theil fur. If this continues to live. Also people hunt them fortheir fur. If this continues, there will be no giant pandas in the worid.24hello, everyoneI've got some great news for you today. Our school basketball team is in the final round of the basketball competition!the match will be on Sunday ,the 7 th of November, at South Hill School. Now, listen carefully tothe plan for the day.at 9 a.m., we'll meet at the school gate. We'll arrive at South hill school at 10 a.m. The match will start at 10.30 a.m. After the match finishes, there will be the presentation ot the cup and medals.the bus will leave at 12 noon from south hill school and bring you black to school.please come and support our team.25Timmy is a teenager. he lives in a small town.he survived an earthquake several years ago.First, he heard a big noise in the shopping centre. It was like the sound thunder makes. Then the noise got really loud. It sounded like bombs under the ground. Aftrr that, bricks and pieces of glass fell down.when the noise ended, Timmy was trapped and he could not get out. For a moment, he was so frightened that he could hardly think about anything. Then he calmed down and began screaming for help. finally, people moved away the bricks ang stones and saved him.26Dear SandyI have listened to a programme on the radio. It was about a newCD-ROM pack called‘Daily English’. It is a new course from Australia. The pack includes a book and five CD-ROMs. It is very good for tourists and students. I’m sure we can learn a lot from it. We can learn about how to use the telephone and how to ask and answer questions. We can also learn to talk about the weather and the time. The course covers many topics, such as travel and hotels, food and drink, and shopping and money.I am going to order apack online. Do you want me to order one for you too?RegardsMillie27During the day we work and play. At night we sleep. In the morning we are ready to work and play again. While we are asleep, our bodies grow most. We can do better at our lessons and we feel better too when we have had enough rest. Boys and girls who are eight or nine years old need ten hours of sleep every night. Our bodies need plenty of air when we sleep.If we do not get enough fresh air, we will be tired when we wake up. While in bed we must not cover our heads. If we open ourwindows at night, we can have plenty of fresh air. If we open our windows at night, we can have plenty of fresh air. Boys and girls who want to grow and be strong must get plenty of sleep.28UNICEF was set up in 1946 to help children after the war in Europe. Now, UNICEF helps children all over the word. It works in 158 countries. It helps governments and families make the world a better for children. UNICEF gets its money from donations. It raises money by selling Christmas cards and organizing other fund-raising activities. People can help UNICE by dong voluntary work.UNICE believes that all children should have clean water and food so that they can be healthy. It also believes that they should go to school instead of working to support their families.29Swimming is very popular in summer. People like swimming in summer because water cools then down. But if you swim in the wrong place, it may be dangerous. In the past few years many swimmers have died in the water. However, some people are still not careful enough when swimming. They often think they swim so well that nothing can happen to them. Summer is coming soon. If you go swimming, rememberthese two rules: don’t get into the water when you are alone and don’t get into the water if there is a ‘no swimming’sign . If you remember these rules, swimming will be safer.30Dinosaurs lived on Earth a long time ago. We now know that the first dinosaurs appeared about 230 million years ago.There were hundreds of different kinds of dinosaurs, but they didn’t live at the same time.Some dinosaurs were really small. One of smallest dinosaurs was about one metre long and weighed about three kilograms. Others were really big. Some very large ones weighed over 100,000 kilograms and some were about 40 meters long.Some dinosaurs ate plants and others ate meat, but they didn’t eat grass. All dinosaurs had four legs and lived on land。
初三短文听写内容

初三短文听写内容1.October 1 is our National Day. It is a great day for the Chinese people. We have a two-day holiday. We usually do some cleaning and have a get-together the day before National Day. We sing and dance and enjoy performance. On the night of National Day we watch fire works. We have a good time on National Day.2.There are twelve months in a year. Some months are long and some months are short. The long months are January, March, May, July, August, October and December. They have thirty-one days. The short months have thirty days. They are April, June, September and November. There are only twenty-nine or twenty-eight days in February. In a leap year, there are twenty-nine days in February 29th. How often do I have a birthday?3.We have two long holidays every year. They are the summer holidays and the winter holidays. The summer holidays begin in July and end in August. The winter holidays begin in February and end in the same month. We like both holidays. We often go camping and travelling during the summer holidays. We enjoy Chinese New Year’s Day in the winter holidays.4.All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help people keep healthy and happy and live longer. Some people take part in sports, and some like towatch others play games. They buy tickets or turn on their TVs to watch the games. Often they get very excited when “their” player or team wins. Sports are so interesting that peopleeverywhere go in for them. People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game together they often become good friends.5.It is cold in England in winter. It often snows and children like to play in the snow. Summer in English is not very hot. It is warm at noon. It is cool in the morning and in the evening. The weather is changeable in summer. It is fine, then it rains and soon it is fine again. Spring and autumn are cool. Sometimes it rains.6.Computers are wonderful machines. They can store information and process problems. This means they can work out problems. Computers can do things than human beings cannot do. They can store huge amounts of information and never forget it. They work out difficult problems very, very quickly—far more quickly than any human being can.7.Shanghai is larger than Beijing and Shanghai’s weather is sometimes nicer than Beijing’s. Winter is often colder in Beijing. The wind is also strong. But in summer Beijing is cooler than Shanghai. Autumn is the best season of the year. There are more interesting places in Beijing than in Shanghai, but there are more people and shops in Shanghai.8.There are seven days in a week. They are Sunday, Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday , Friday and Saturday. What day is it today? It’s Wednesday. There are twelve months in a year. They are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. By the way, there are fifty-two weeks in a year.9There are traffic lights at many crossroads. Traffic lights are important. They tell you when to go and when to stop. When the green light is on, you can go. When the red light is on, you must not go. You must stop. You watch the lights. Now the green light is on again. You can go.10There is a library in our school. It is near the reading room. It is on the first floor. Our school library is not very big, but it is nice. There are many books in the library. Some are in Chinese. Some are in English. I like reading very much. I often go there to borrow books. The librarian is a lady. She is very nice. We can choose any books from the library.11.As we all know, the three longest rivers in the world are the Nile, the Amazon, the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River is in China. It runs from west to east. It is not as long as the Nile or the Amazon, but it is the longest river in China. It isabout 6,300 kilometres long. The longest river in the world is the Nile. It is in Africa. It is 6,670 kilometres long and runs from south to north. The second longest river in the world is the Amazon. It is in South America. It is about 6,480 kilometres long and runs from west to east like the Yangtze River. It carries more water than any other river in the world. Rivers are very important in many ways.11As we all know, the three longest rivers in the world are the Nile, the Amazon, the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River is in China. It runs from wes t to east. It is not as long as the Nile or the Amazon, but it is the longest river in China. The longest river inthe world is the Nile. The second longest river in the world is the Amazon. It carries more water than any other river in the world. Rivers are very important in many ways.12.Thomas Edison was one of the greatest inventors in the world. He was born in America in 1847. As a boy, he was not interested in lessons in school., so he was in school for only three months. His mother had to teach him herself. But young Tom was very interested in science. He has a lab of his own. In it there were bottles and chemicals.13.“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is an English saying. It is true that all of us need recreation. We cannot work all the time if we want tokeep healthy and enjoy life.Everyone has his own way of relaxing. Perhaps the most popular way it to take part in sports. We know that there are two kinds of sports: team sports and individual sports. Team sports are such sports as basketball and football. Individual sports are such sports as running and swimming. Some people enjoy sports. They take an active part in them.It is important for everyone to relax from time to time and enjoy some form of recreation. So all of us should take an active part in sports and recreation.14.China is in the east of Asia. It is the biggest country in Asia. There are more people in China than in any other country. China is also one of the oldest countries in the world. We Chinese are all working very hard. We are relying on ourselves to develop our country. Our country is now developing much more quickly thanbefore. We are sure it will be much richer and stronger in the near future.15.The Zhangs are going to the zoo. They are going to take a bus. It takes them about an hour. They get up at 6:00 and have breakfast early. They are going to leave at 7:00. Mrs Zhang says it is going to rain. Mr Zhang says they need not take umbrellas. The newspaper says it is going to be fine. What about their son? He does not want to take an umbrella. Many boys do not like to takethings with them.1.To speak English well is not easy.2.It is never too late to learn. 活到老,学到老。
20篇听写练习听力原文

Passage 1Midlife CrisisUnhappiness in middle age, also known as midlife crisis, is a universal experience. People around the world seem to share an emotional design in life. That design is shaped like the letter U. Levels of happiness are the highest when people are young and when they are old. In the middle, however, most people’s happiness and life satisfaction levels drop. Some people suffer from midlife depression more than others. But it happens to men and women, to single and married people, to the rich and poor and to those with and without children. Generally speaking, people reach their lowest levels between the ages of about forty and fifty-five. But then, as they continue into old age, their happiness starts to climb back up. Why does all this happen? One possibility is that people recognize their limitations in middle age and give up some of their long-held dreams. Passage 2Good CompanionA good companion is better than a fortune, for a fortune cannot purchase those elements of character, which make companionship a blessing. The best companion is one who is wiser and better than ourselves. Greater wisdom and goodness than we possess lifts us higher mentally and morally. It’s true that we cannot always choose all of our companions. Some are thrust upon us. But the experience is not altogether without compensation. Companion is education, good or bad; it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low; it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or vice. There is no half way work about its influence. It saves or destroys lustily. Nothing in the world is surer than this. Sow virtue, and harvest will be virtue. Sow vice, and the harvest will be vice. Good companions help us to sow virtue; evil companions help us to sow vice.Passage 3Global Text ProjectBooks are a high cost of higher education. But the Global Text Project hopes to create a free library of one thousand electronic textbooks for students in developing countries. The aim is to offer subjects that students may take in their first few years at a university. The books could be printed or read on a computer or copied onto a CD or DVD. The Global Text Project is a new technology, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit on the Internet. But only one or two people will be able to make the final edits in texts. The project includes a committee of scholars, mostly from developing countries, to advice on required textbooks and their content. The group’s first book on information systems is being tested in Indonesia. Project organizers also want to offer textbooks in Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. They are working with a translation company in the United States.Passage 4HemingwayAmerican writer, Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He started his career as a writer in a newspaper office at the age of seventeen. During the 1920s, Hemingway became a member of the group Americans living in Paris, which he described in his first important work, The Sun Also Rises. Equally successful was A Farewell to Arms, the study of an American ambulance officer’sdisillusionment in the war and his role as a deserter. Hemingway used his experience as a reporter during the Civil War in Spain as the background for his most ambitious novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Among his later works, the most outstanding is the short novel The Old Man and The Sea, the story of an old fisherman’s journey, his long and lonely struggle with a fish and the sea, and his victory in defeat. Now Hemingway is the classic symbol of bravery, or strong man. Passage 5Self-ConceptThe self-concept is a complex structure. This complexity is illustrated by the idea of multiple selves. We seem to be a different person in each of many different situations. An example may clarify this concept. First, picture yourself at an athletic event. Now, contrast this image with one of yourselves taking a final exam. Finally, imagine yourself at work on a very busy day. You should probably describe yourself differently in each setting. Which image is really you? Of course, all are. We have multiple selves, each dependent on a context. Together they form our self-concept. It is the context that makes certain aspects of our self-concept more important at a particular moment. Self-concept is composed of our beliefs, values, and attitudes. Our beliefs give our self-concepts their substance, our values give them aspirations and standards, and our attitudes give them motivation. These three elements provide a structure in which we develop and build ourselves.Passage 6Family Life in IndiaFamily life is equally varied in Indian states. India is a country with many states in which people are from different cultures, and so on. The languages, clothing, customs, and traditions of people are influenced by the respective regions they live in. Most of the families in India are extended ones, in which every member has his or her own role, often influenced by age and gender. Children are cherished and considered as gifts from God. Children can look forward to continual family support throughout their lives. However, they are expected to respect their elders and parents, their wishes and family relationships. The family structure in India is typical, in which there are many wedding customs, which have to be strongly followed by people. Religion, social status, traditional practices, and regional differences influence family structures. Indians are more emotionally attached to the members of their family. Husbands and wives are not allowed to openly display their affection for one another.Passage 7Causes of Forest FiresForest fires are one of the greatest natural destroyers of our forests. It has been found that about 90% of forest fires are due to human factors. The most common cause for the forest fires is the carelessness of people. Smokers may start a forest fire by carelessly dropping lighted matches and cigarettes in a forest. Tourists sometimes throw the lighted items in the bushes around or on the ground which cause fire. There are also some natural causes of forest fires. Forest fires canoccur due to lightning which burns the trees. Earthquake is also responsible for the forest fires, while other reason for fire is volcanoes and drought. High temperature and low humidity provides favorable conditions to the fire and hence it can start in forests. Since forest fires destroy valuable trees and even kill people, we need to learn the causes and to know how to prevent them. Passage 8Choosing the Perfect Hair ColorColoring your hair is one way to express your individuality. Choosing the right hair color can be confusing whether you want to cover gray hair or give yourself a new fresh look. If you are clear about what you want exactly, it can help while choosing the hair color that is right for you. You can achieve the most flattering look, if you consider your skin makeup and eye color. Hair color that balances your complexion gives the best results. For covering gray hair, you can select a shade close to your natural hair color. Hair highlights are another way to improve your overall look. Highlights can look fascinating and make an attractive impression. They add depth and dimension to the base color or natural hair. Different hair colors suit different complexions. In order to choose a suitable hair color, you need to identify the right combination.Passage 9E-educationE-education, which stands for electronic education, has at least four advantages. First, with access to the Internet, students can overcome barriers of space and time. For example, we can make educational resources in Washington available to students in Tokyo. The second is the easy access. For example, we can put multimedia resources libraries on the Internet and students can have access to these libraries just by clicking the mouse. The third is the optimization of resources. For example, we can tape the lectures given by very prominent professors and broadcast them live through the Internet. Because of these three advantages, there is another big advantage, that is, the Internet technology makes mass education possible. As you know, it is simply impossible for the whole population to receive education on campuses. And this is where the greatest advantage of E-education lies. It offers mass education and education for lifetime.Passage 10CosmeticsCosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. A subset of cosmetics is called makeup, which refers primarily to colored products intended to alter the user’s appearance. Cosmetic use was frowned upon at many points in Western history, especially during the 19th century when social etiquette was rigid. During the 20th century, however, the popularity of cosmetics increased rapidly. Cosmetics are now in widespread use by women in nearly all industrial societies around the world. In the United States, cosmetics are used by girls at an increasingly young age. The social consequences of younger and younger beautification have had much attention in the media over the last few years. The cosmetic industry is a profitable business for most manufacturers of cosmetic products. Given the technological development and the improvement of the manufacturing process, and not least due to the constantly increasing demand of such products, this industry reported an important growth in terms of profit.Passage 11Spy Cell PhonesA spy phone is a mobile phone or a spy device that allows a user to monitor and hear or record conversations and other activities taking place over the phone. Spy phones can function in different ways. They can be used as listening devices whereby secretive conversations can be tracked. They are popularly used by secret agencies to track criminal activities that are carried out over networks. They can be used for tracking periodic calls and recording the frequency of calls from certain suspicious numbers. Also, they can be used for monitoring business and household activities while the cell phone user is away. Although spy cell phones have many positive sides, they give rise to legal as well as moral concerns, because spy cell phone software is easily available. Cell phones are easily transferable to spy phones. Their ready availability makes them subject to illegal use.Passage 12A Popular Pastime of the English PeopleOne of the best means of understanding the people of any nation is watching what they do with their non-working time. Most English men, women and children love growing things, especially flowers. Visitors to England in spring, summer or autumn are likely to see gardens all the way along the railway lines. There are flowers at the airports and flowers in factory grounds, as well as in gardens along the roads. Each English town has at least one park with beautifully kept flower beds. Public buildings of every kind have brilliant window boxes and sometimes baskets of flowers are hanging on them. But what the English enjoy most is growing things themselves. If it is impossible to have a garden, then a window box or something growing in a pot will do. Looking at each other's gardens is a popular pastime with the English.Passage 13Health Benefits of Red wineWe all know drinks containing alcohol are not good for health, but when it comes to drinking red wine, it is the other way around. Recent studies have concluded that there are no negative effects on the body, if red wine is not consumed excessively. Certain compounds in red wine can play a very important role in protecting the heart. It is a heart-healthy drink that can be enjoyed during evening meals. If you think that red wine is only good for the heart, then you are wrong. Studies have revealed that the substance found in the skin of red grapes can restrict cancer’s development. However, the ideal consumption is not 7 to 8 glasses of red wine. Scientific studies on the potential benefits of red wine recommend that women should not have more than one drink per day; whereas men can have two drinks per day. The word “moderate” is the key to maximize health benefits of red wine.Passage 14SleepWhy is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired? There is no one answer that applies to every individual. It is possible to feel “tired” physically and still be unable to fall asleep, because while your body is exhausted, you do not feel sleepy. It is not so easy to simply “turn off”. Lack of sleep complicates matters even more. Experts say adults need at least seven to eight hoursof sleep a night to function properly. When you get less sleep than that on consecutive three nights, you begin to owe four “sleep debt”. As sleep debt increases your body experiences a stress response. Now a vicious cycle has been created: You experience the feeling of being more and more tired, but your body is increasingly stimulated. “Power sleeping” for more hours on weekends is only a temporary solution. There is no substitute forgetting a good night's sleep on a regular basis.Passage 15Holidays in the USLike other nations, the United States sets aside a number of days each year to commemorate events, people or public occasions. These holidays typically are marked by a general suspension of work and business activity, and by public or religious ceremonies. Technically, the United States does not celebrate national holidays. However, Congress has designated 10 legal public holidays. During such public holidays, most federal institutions are closed and most federal employees are excused from work. Although the individual states and private businesses are not required to observe these, in practice all states and nearly all employers observe the majority of them. Since 1971, a number of these holidays have been fixed on Mondays rather than on a particular calendar date so as to afford workers a long holiday weekend. Meanwhile, there are some US state holidays particular to individual US states.Passage 16Celebrity WorshipersAre you a celebrity worshiper? If so, that might say something about the kind of person you are. Psychologists have found that people who believe in a just world are more likely to worship celebrities. Whereas people more critical of society are less likely to obsess over a celebrity. People who strongly believe in a just world believe that life is fair, that good things happen to good people and bad things to bad people. People who believe in a just world are expressing acceptance of society and its institutions. Since the celebrity system is one of these institutions, researchers suggest that it makes sense that those believing in a just world would be satisfied with how celebrities are made and thus more likely to admire and even obsess over them. Vice versa, people who do not believe in a fair world might resist worshipping celebrities, and in fact question or criticize the system that produces them and decides who gets to be a celebrity.Passage 17Organic CoffeeToday many agricultural products are grown using organic methods and coffee is no exception. Organic products have a very minimal effect on the environment because there is no use of pesticides and fertilizers. All organic produces are certified to ensure that their products are grown in such a way. Organic coffee is a multimillion dollar industry and each year the sales of this coffee are increasing. Exports of organic coffee are up in most of Europe and North America. Organic coffee is usually grown in many countries such as Africa, Asia and South America. All over the world people have become organic coffee drinkers, but Americans consume the majority of it. All organic coffee products in the USA are certified for quality. The organic coffee is produced in a very specific way and all operators are at random inspected to ensure that they meetUS Department of Agriculture standards.Passage 18Red WolvesRed wolves present a characteristic red colored fur which is more obvious behind the ears and in the neck and legs. Other than these parts, the fur color of red wolves is brown with black shading in the back and tail. Their big ears help them overcome hot and humid climatic conditions. The average size of red wolves is 4 feet in length, 20 inches tall and weight about 45 to 80 pounds. Generally, red wolves attain sexual maturity at the age of 22 months; however, there are some species that attain within 10 months. The breeding season of red wolves is during February and March and their pregnancy period is about 2 months. Females give birth to about 1 to 10 children one time around March to April. The newly borns usually stay with their parents about two years, after which, they spread around the wild. The lifespan of red wolves is around 7 or 8 years in the wild and about 15 years in captivity.Passage 19Vertical FarmsBy the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will have resided in urban centers. An estimated 109 hectares of new land will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. So, an entirely new approach to farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The concept of indoor farming is not new. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate a fast growing number of people. Vertical farming was thus invented. Rice on the seventh floor, wheat on the twelfth, and enough food within an eighteen-story tower to feed a small city of 50,000.Vertical farms must be cheap to construct and safe to operate. If successfully implemented, they will offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply, and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.Passage 20The NecktieThe necktie or tie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. The necktie is one of the few fashion accessories to have survived nearly 400 years of social change. Neck decorations have been worn since ancient times to signify title or wealth. Modern decorative neckwear dates from the 17th century in France. The Industrial Revolution helped spread the style to the masses, as millions of workers migrated from farmlands to factories and the business class was born. By the 1950s, it was said that a man wasn’t fully dressed until he had put on his tie. The tie had later come to symbolize individuality as much as conformity. Neckties are available in varied size. Men and boys wear neckties as part of regular office dress or formal wear. Neckties can also be worn as part of a uniform.。
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Passage 1Educational TechnologyHow do American schools use educational technology? There is not a simple answer. It depends on the subject and level of students, of course. But it also depends on the interest and training of the teachers, and the goals and budgets of the schools. Schools are almost all connected to the Internet. But some have more technology, and use it more than others. For example, some schools use computers for activities like video conferencing, to bring the world into the classroo m. And some classrooms are equipped with things like an interactive whiteboard. Interactive whiteboards are large displays for presentations. They connect to a computer and can operate by touch. They can be used for documents or writing or to project video. Some teachers are trying creative new ways to teach with devices like mobile phones. But educators say the most important thing is the content. Passage 2TOEICTOEIC, which stands for the Test of English for International Communication, measures the ability of people to communicate in the workplace using everyday English. More than 9,000 organizations use the test in more than 90 countries. Non-native English speakers take the test to demonstrate their English skills when seeking a new job or a promotion. Some organizations use the TOEIC to measure progress in English training programs and as a placement test. The cost of the test is set locally in each country. The TOEIC is really two tests. People can take one or both of them. One is a paper-and-pencil test, which measures listening and reading skills. The other test given on a computer measures speaking and writing skills. Eleven questions on the computer test require speaking. For example, the test taker is asked to read out loud or describe a picture. Eight other questions require written answers, including an opinion essay.Passage 3DictionaryA dictionary is a reference book that focuses on defining words and phrases, including multiple meanings. The most frequently used dictionary is a language dictionary that includes the majority of frequently used words in a language. Language dictionaries are made for different types of users: scholars, office workers, schools, and second language learners. There are many competing dictionaries put out by different companies. Not only do they have different forms - paperback, hardback, and online editions but they differ in other ways. Each company, for example, uses its own version of phonetic respelling based on the research done by its experts. Other differences between dictionaries show up in other features. Many dictionaries include their experts' guidance on grammar, usage, and the history of the language. Definitions differ slightly, and sample sentences may be the work of the editorial staff or taken from real-world usage, perhaps the first known written use./ Passage 4Medical EducationIt is not easy to become a doctor in the United States. Students must attend a college or university and do well in their studies. Students who want to become doctors usually study large amounts of biology and chemistry in college. Some students work for a year or two in a medical or research job before they attempt to enter medical school. Once in medical school, students spend their first two years mainly in classroom study. They learn about the body and all its systems. Theyalso begin studying how to recognize and treat disease. By the third year, students begin working with patients in hospitals. Experienced doctors who have treated many patients guide them as they work. During the fourth year, students begin applying to programs in hospitals for the additional training they will need after medical school. Competition to work at a top hospital can be fierce. Passage 5The English LanguageEnglish is the most widespread language in the world /and is more widely spoken and written than any other language. / More people are trying to lean English in the world. / English is the language of political negotiations and international business. / It has become the international language of science and medicine. / International treaties say passenger airplane pilots must speak English. / English is the major foreign language taught in most schools in South America and Europe. / School children in the Philippines and Japan begin learning English at an early age. / English is the official language of more than 75 countries / including Britain, Canada, the United States, Australia, and South Africa. / In countries where many different languages are spoken,/ English is often used as an official language to help people communicate./ India is a good example./ English is the common language in this country/ where at least 24 languages are spoken by more than one million people./ Passage 6DatingDating is the traditional first step toward marriage. /But dating and establishing a relationship can be hard work. . /So a lot of people want to go where they can meet people with similar interests. /They might look for someone/ who share a common interest in religion or books, for example. / A lot of bookstores now have places that serve coffee and food. /Many offer special programs and social activities for single people. /Singles may join health clubs, or sports teams or maybe even a group for people who like to take long walks in the wood. /If nothing else, at least they will have gotten some exercise. /Some people use dating services, /which help people choose a person they might like. /Many newspapers and magazines publish message/ from people who are seeking someone to date./ There are also telephone dating services, video dating services and online dating services./Passage 7National Spelling BeeEvery year, the best young English language spellers from around the world / gather in Washington, D.C. for the National spelling Bee. / They spell complex words / that most English speakers have never even heard of'. /The national spelling bee takes place over two intense days of competition in a large hotel meeting room. / The spellers sit together in front of several judges./ Each speller stands when it is his or her turn. / When the judge calls out the word, / spellers can ask for help. / They can ask for the definition of the word or for it to be used in a sentence. / They can also ask which language the word came from. / This can often help them decide how it is spelled. / Students who spell the word correctly remain in the competition. / But if the speller makes a mistake, / a bell rings and the child must leave the group. /Passage 8SalesWhen a store sells goods or services at a cost lower than usual, it is called a sale./ Sales last fora limited time. / Then the cost is retuned to its usual amount. /There are many kinds of sales. / For example, a “back-to-school sale” is held near the beginning of the school year. / Parents can save m oney on clothes and school supplies for their children. / A “midnight madness” event Starts very late at night. / An “early bird special” sale starts very early in the morning, /usually before the sunrises. /This kind of sale is popular the day after Thanksgiving in November. / A favorite sale among many people is the “buy one, get one free,” sale. / Y ou buy one thing and get a second one with out cost. / Another kind of sale is a “going out of business” sale. / This is when a store owner tries to sell all the goods in the store / before closing the business permanently. /buy one, get one free买一送一permanently 永久地Passage9Test of English as a Foreign LanguageIt is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, / recognized by more than 8,000 colleges and universities in more than 130 countries. / It is called TOEFL, which stands for Test English as a Foreign Language. / TOEFL is an important test for foreign students who want to study America. / More than 4,000 American universities and other schools / require students seek admission to take the test. / Each year, nearly a million individuals of all ages take the TOEFL level to demonstrate their English-language proficiency. / It measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. / And it evaluates how well you combine your four skills, / listening reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. / There are two formats for the TOEFL test. / The format you take depends on the location of your test center. / Nowadays, most test takers take the Internet-based Test. / Test centers that do not have Internet access offer the Paper-based TestTOEFL 托福考试demonstrate 说明,显示evaluate评估;评价format形式Internet-based 基于互联网的proficiency 熟练,精通Passage10Heat StressThe most common health problem linked to hot weather is heat stress. / The causes of heat stress include wearing heavy clothing, / physical work or exercise, hot weather and high humidity./If several of these conditions are present at the same time, / a person's body temperature may rise above safe levels. /Most people suffer only muscle pain because of heat stress. / The pain is a warning that the body is becoming too hot. / Doctors say those suffering muscle pains should stop all activity and rest in a cool place. / Doctors say not to return to physical activity for a few hours / because serious conditions could develop. /Some people face an increased danger from heat stress. / They may have a weak or damaged heart, / high blood pressure or other problems of the blood system. / Severe heat is also dangerous for people who weigh too much and have too much body fat, / and for people who drink alcohol. /humidity 湿度,潮湿Passage11Foreign Language Study in AmericaForeign language study starts at a very young age for many students in America. / Some students start language training at age six. / States do not require foreign language training this early in education. / But many students choose to study languages in elementary school. / The mostpopular languages for young students are Spanish, French and German. /Almost 7 million students in public secondary schools in the United States / are studying a foreign language. / Each state sets its own requirements for foreign language study / at the junior high and high school level. / Many students graduate high school with at least two years of foreign language study. / Some study a foreign language for four years. / There are different foreign language requirements at colleges and universities. / Some universities require students to have had several years of language education in high school. / In addition, many colleges and universities require students / to complete at least two years of foreign language study before graduating. /Passage 12Variations in British AccentsLanguage changes over time as people try to express themselves in different ways to different people. / And English, although broadly the same language, / is spoken in lots of different ways buy lots of different people. / Normally this is because people live far apart. / However, even in Britain, a relatively small place, / there are huge variations in the way people speak English. / And that is not to forget the large numbers of people who speak other languages as their first language. /Written English is much more fixed, / and changes much less quickly than spoken English. / People across Britain speak English using not only different accents, but different expressions. /For example, people of different ages and from different parts of Britain / may greet you with as many different words. / As people migrate into Britain, and as people move around Britain more freely, / accents change more quickly. / However, most British people can guess where another British person from because of their accent. /broadly 广泛地relatively 相对地variation 变化,变体migrate 移居Passage 13Teaching AssistantsForeign students at American colleges and universities may earn money / after they successfully complete an entry-level study program. / Those wishing to continue their education could work as a teaching assistant, or T.A /A teaching assistant usually works about twenty hours each week. / Teaching assistants are paid to help professors teach students in entry-level study programs. /Generally, the professor gives a talk, or lecture, / to a large group of students one or two times a week. / The teaching assistant meets with smaller groups of students during the week. / The T.A. gives tests and reads any homework or reports the students may be required to write. /Teaching assistants also meet with students who seek help. / They attend teaching meetings / And some working with science professors help to organize laboratory equipment. /Most American colleges and universities must honor legal requirements / when employing foreign students as teaching assistants. / One of these is that the T.A. must speak English well. / entry-level入门级的legal requirement 法定条件Passage 14Open-source SoftwareOpen-source software is computer software / that is available to the general public in source code form. / If a person has enough knowledge about computers and computer programming, / he or she can change the program's source code. / The source code is like a set of directions that show the gram how to operate. /People change the codes so that the program will operate / in a way that will meet their needs. / Some changing the code will make the program run faster. / Or it will takeproblems out of the program. / These problems can cause a computer program to shut down. /People who change the source code of a computer program / share these programs with each other on the Internet. / Programmers enjoy being able to improve computer programs on their own. / They enjoy being able to ask other people on the Internet for help with their programs. / Working together, people can improve computer programs for the good of the group. /source code 源代码the general public 公众operate 运行shut down (机器)关闭on one's own 独自地Passage 15Party TimeAmericans plan parties for marry reasons. / As in other cultures, many Americans attend parties for weddings and religious and national holidays. / But some parties a re especially American. /For example, a group of neighbors may gather on their street to eat food, play music and visit with one another. / This is called a block party. / A woman might invite a group of women to a party / called a baby shower for a friend who is about to give birth. / Guests bring presents for the new baby. /Birthday parties are also very popular. / Many parents organize a party for their child around a theme. / Rock star parties axe very popular for young girls and boys' / Birthday parties usually include gifts and a birthday cake with candles. / Birthday parties can be low cost or very costly. /Some parents take their children's birthday parties very seriously, / even when the child is too young to fully understand the celebration. /block party街头聚会give birth (to) 产生costly 昂贵的Passage 16TimeIf you can read a clock, you can know the time of day. / But no one knows what time itself is. / For all our success in measuring the smallest parts of time, / time remains one of the great mysteries of the universe. /One way to think about time is to imagine a world without time. / There could be no movement, / because time and movement cannot be separated. / A world without time could exist only as long as there were no changes, / for time and change are linked. / We know that time has passed when something changes. /In the real world with time, however, changes never stop. /Some changes happen only once in a while, like an eclipse of the moon. / Others happen repeatedly, like the rising and setting of the sun. / Humans always have noted natural events that repeat themselves. / When people began to count such events, they began to measure time. /eclipse(日,月)食rising and setting of the sun日出和日落Passage 17PatentPatents are meant to protect the chances of inventors / to make money from their creations. / The term of a patent is up to 20 years. / During that time, the inventor controls the legal right / to make, use or sell the invention. / After 20 years, anyone can make or sell the invention. /A pate nt gives both inventors and investors time to develop and market a product. / Patents also provide a way to share and spread technical information. /Suppose you have an idea for an invention. / How do you get a patent to protect your rights? / The first step is to record your idea on paper. / Y ou must be sure no one else has invented a device just like yours. / So you must examine the descriptions of similar devices that already have patents. / This can be a big job and take a long time. / Many inventors pay patent lawyers to do this job. /patent 专利up to 到达……之多Passage l8Central ParkCentral Park in New Y ork City is the first m4ior city park in America. / It contains more than 340 hectares of land. / The designer's goal is to make a beautiful natural environment / with lakes, woods and open areas for all the people of New Y ork to enjoy. /About 25 million people visit Central Park each year. / These include people from other areas of America and from foreign countries. / Millions of people who live in New Y ork love Central Park / as a place to escape from their small apartments in high-rise buildings. /Every day, people walk, run or ride bicycles along the paths in Central Park. / Others walk their dogs, play baseball, / row a boat on the lake or eat a meal on the grass. / Bird-watchers can observe more than 200 kinds of birds in the park. / Many people also use the park for special events. / For example, some people choose one of the beautiful natural areas in the park / as the perfect place to get married. /hectare 公顷special event 特别事件Passage l9Y ard SalesY ard sales do not have to be huge. / One family, or even one person, can hold a yard sale People simply collect some things they no longer want / and put them in the yard outside their home. / They might also place handmade signs on nearby streets to direct people to the sale. /Y ard sales are a good way for people without much money / to find things for their family. / But even people with a lot of money like to look around. / Professional dealers might also go to yard sales. / If they find something valuable at a low price, they can re-sell it for more. / Still other people go to yard sales because they enjoy the hunt. / They like to find beautiful or unusual things / that are being sold for less than the value. / For example, they may find a piece of old furniture / that is worth a lot of money after it is repaired. /dealer 商人Passage 20Pressing Oil from SeedsOil is separated from seeds by using pressure. / A machine called a press is often used. / The first step in pressing the oil from seeds is to crush the seeds between two stones./ A cloth container or bag is filled with the crushed seeds. / Then the bag is hung up. / Some of the oil will flow out of the bag and can be collected. / But some oil will remain in the crushed seeds inside the bag. / The easiest way to get the rest of the oil out / is to place heavy rocks on the crushed material. /Another method is to place several cloth bags on top of each other in a box, / Then a long wooden stick is used to slowly push a heavy cover down on the bags' / Great pressure is produced in this way. / Much greater pressure can be produced by using a machine. / The greater the pressure, / the more oil will be produced. /seed 种子hang up 挂起来press 榨油机,压榨flow out of 从……中流出Passage 21University DaysBritish universities start in September or October. / Courses normally last 3 years, / but some,such as languages, engineering or medicine, can take much longer to complete. /Students usually go to university in a different town, / so they need to get used to living alone, paying bills and washing their own clothes! / For many, this is a difficult time, but everyone soon becomes used to it! /Universities in Britain used to be free, / but many students now have to pay for part of their course. / Similarly, students used to receive a grant from the government. / Nowadays, they have to apply for student loans or take part-time jobs. / Either way, it can be difficult and many students have money problems. /University life is not just about studying, however. / Many students take part in drama productions or play music. / Others, of course, take part in a wide range of sports, / such as football, rugby and cricket. /grant 助学金,补助金loan 贷款cricket 板球rugby 橄榄球Passage 22American Education SystemThe education system in the United States is controlled by state and local governments. / But education laws are similar in each state. / For example, in all 50 states and 6 territories, / all children must attend school from the age of 6 or 7 to the age of 16. / Public schools are free of charge for grades 1 through 12. /Private schools also operate in a1l states and territories. / Some private schools are operated by churches and religious groups./ Other private schools are not linked to any religious organization/. Private schools must be approved by the state in which they operate. / Most private schools do no receive government money. / The parents of private school students p ay the school. / The school year usually begins in September and continues until June. / Most states require a school year of 180 days. / Some schools have changed this schedule / and require students to attend school throughout the year. /territory领土,领域Passage 23Universities in the USThere are thousands of colleges and universities in the United States. / Nearly half of the high school graduates in America go on to college. / Most go to large state universities. / Some of these universities have 40,000 or more students. / There are also many small universities with only a few hundred students. / Large universities have many buildings, / each building for a particular subject. / Students often must go from one class in one building to the next class in another building across campus. / They may have only a few minutes between classes to go from one building to another. /When students begin the university, they must take classes in many subjects. / These are the required courses. / English and math are usually required courses, / and often a history and a science course are required too. / Students will study mostly required courses during their first year. / Later, they will specialize, and take courses in one subject. /graduate 毕业生specialize 专攻state university 州立大学required course 必修课Passage 24Music in British SchoolsMusic plays a big part in British schools. / Pupils can learn an instrument at school. / Traditionally, school children learn classical instruments. / Y ounger children often learn the recorder. / As they get older, they start to play the violin or piano. / In fact, nearly one out of five musicstudents is learning the violin. / The piano, or keyboard, is more popular with older children at secondary school, / However, more pupils than ever before are now learning the guitar, / as they think playing the guitar is cool. /British schools do not just offer lessons for instruments, / but they have music classes for all pupils. / In the past, the focus of classes was very much Western classical music. / But the classes now cover a far wider range of styles, including folk music and world music. / Many schools have orchestras and put on concerts each term. / It is also common for pupils themselves to form their own bands. /recorder八孔长笛folk music 民乐orchestra 管弦乐队Passage 25Summer School and Online ClassesIn the United States, summer school used to be seen mainly as a place / for high school students to repeat classes they failed. / But summer programs have expanded. / Stude nts often go to summer school / so they can ease their class load during the school year. / Or it might give them more freedom / to choose the classes they want during the regular term. /Summer school students do the same amount of work / as if they took the class during the school year. / But they do it in just one to two months. /Another choice for many students is to take classes online. / However, some online classes require students to come to a classroom to take tests. / Students may also have to take part in group discussions with the teacher online. / And there may be a required number of hours to spend logged on each day. / Y et there may also be freedom to do the work anytime, day or night. / summer program暑假课程ease the class load 减轻学业负担regular term常规学期log on 登录Passage 26American MoviesAmerican Movies do not attempt to show the lives of all the people of the United States. / Many movies contain some truth. / But even a movie that deals with true subjects / represents the ideas of the person who wrote it, / the people who acted in it and the person who directed it. /Over the years, some Americans have tried to ban some kinds of movies. / These include movies that are violent or show people having sexual relations. / People have taken legal action to stop such movies. / But court decisions have said that the right to make any kind of movie / is protected by the part of the United States Constitution / that guarantees freedom of speech. / In the United States, people have the right / to produce a bad movie or write a bad book. /People who make movies try to provide entertainment and excitement. / However, entertainment are excitement often have nothing to do with the real world. /the United States Constitution 美国宪法Passage 27The Library of CongressThe Library of Congress is America's national library. / It has more than 120 million books and other objects. / It has newspapers, popular publications and letters of historical interest. / It also has maps, photographs, art prints, movies, sound recordings and musical instruments. /The Library of Congress is open to the public Monday through Saturday, / except for government holidays. / Anyone may go there and read anything in the collection. / But no one is permitted take books out of the building. /The Library of Congress provides books and materials to the United States Congress. / It also lends books to other American libraries, government agencies and foreign libraries. / It buyssome of its books and gets others as gifts. / It also gets materials through its copyright office. / Anyone who wants copyright protection for a publication / must send two copies to the library. / This means the Library of Congress receives almost everything published in the United States. / of historical interest 有历史意义的sound recording 录音copyright protection 版权保护United States Congress 美国国会Passage 28TheatreIn many parts of the world, "going to the theatre" is seen as an activity / which only a very few people do. /"Theatre" is not often seen as being a pastime that many ordinary people do. / Ordinary people watch TV, or go to the cinema, / or go out to eat with friends. / The theatre is for rich, upper-class intellectuals. /Like a lot of obvious remarks, there is some truth in this. / Theatre tickets are quite expensive. /They cost more than cinema tickets. / Theatres which show new plays are usually only in big cities. /However, even though this is true, / there are a lot of theatre companies who are challenging this idea. / And the way they are challenging this idea is by working with schools. / In the UK, many theatre companies now have an "educational department". / They go into schools and help students to understand and e4ioy the plays they do. /intellectual 知识分子pastime 消遣娱乐upper-class 上层社会的remark /话语Passage 29GuitarProbably no other musical instrument is as popular around the world as the guitar. / Musicians use the guitar for almost every kind of music. / Country and western music would not be the same without a guitar. / The traditional Spanish folk music could not exist without a guitar. / The sound of American blues music would not be the same / without the sad cry of the guitar. / And rock and roll music would almost be impossible without this instrument. / Music experts do not agree about where the guitar first was played. / Most agree it is ancient. /Some experts say an instrument very much like a guitar / was played in Egypt more than 1,000 years ago. / Some other experts say that the ancestor of the modem guitar was brought to Spain / from the ancient Iran sometime in the 12th century. / The guitar continued to develop in Spain. / In the 1700s it became similar to the instrument we know today. /folk music民间音乐Iran 伊朗Passage 30American's Leisure ActivitiesLeisure activities include things like watching television, seeing friends or exercising. / Both men and women reported that they spent about half their leisure time watching television. / Visiting friends and attending social events / was the next most common leisure activity for both sexes. / The average adult spends almost two hours a day on household activities / like cooking, cleaning and paying bills. /Women spend more time on child care and housework than men do / even when the women are employed. / Men, however, spend more time at work. / Men also spend more time on leisure activities and sports. / They average five hours twenty minutes a day, half an hour more than women. /Older Americans spent more of their leisure time watching TV and reading than younger people. / Y ounger people reported spending more time with friends, / using the computer and playing sports./ In all, nineteen percent of men and sixteen percent of women played sports on any given day.。
听写16-30篇文本

听写16-30篇文本16. The Statue of LibertyThe Statue of Liberty represents a woman holding a torch of fire. It stands on an island at the entrance to the New York City harbor. It is almost 93 meters tall, one of the tallest statues ever built. Its complete name is "Liberty Enlightening the World".The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France. It was an expression of friendship and the goal of liberty shared by the people of both countries.The statue was designed and built in France. France officially presented the statue to the United States Minister to France in Paris on July 4th, 1884. The statue was then taken apart and sent to the United States. New York City celebrated with a huge parade. Since then, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of freedom for people all over the world.17. Universities' Grading SystemsMost American colleges and universities use the grading system of A, B, C, D and F. An A is worth four points, a B three points, a C two points and a D one point. Getting a grade like a B-plus or a C-minus adds or subtracts a few tenths of a point. An F is a failing grade worth zero toward a student's grade point average.A small number of colleges reject the traditional grading system. They are organized into programs taught by teams of professors. Each program brings together different subjects and extends in length over 2 or 3 quarters. Students are required to do a major research project at the end of each program.The professors write detailed evaluations of the students.These are combined with evaluations written by the students themselves.Most teachers would probably agree that traditional grades are sometimes unfair. But professors at big schools say there is not enough time to write evaluations for each student in large classes.18. Strange FestivalsEvery country has its strange festivals. Cheese Rolling is a much-loved event traditionally held in Britain. Participants chase an eight-pound cheese down a long slope, hoping to catch it and become the champion. In Spain, baby jumping is a famous ritual, in which local men jump over all the babies born that year. It is believed to rid the babies of sin and serves as a kind of baptism. There is a naked festival held at various times in Japan. Wearing just a small piece of cloth, the freezing participants run around a city, competing for lucky charms. From chasing cheeses to running naked, it is hard to explain where most of these ideas came from and what they mean to us now. However, they are part of our cultures. Despite our different traditions, languages and histories, we do seem to have one thing in common: our love of celebrations.19. Teaching AssistantsForeign students at American colleges and universities may earn money after they successfully complete an entry-level study program. Those wishing to continue their education could work as a teaching assistant, or T.A.A teaching assistant usually works about twenty hours each week. Teaching assistants are paid to help professors teach students in entry-level studyprograms.Generally, the professor gives a talk, or lecture, to a large group of students one or two times a week. The teaching assistant meets with smaller groups of students during the week. The T.A. gives tests and reads any homework or reports the students may be required to write.Teaching assistants also meet with students who seek help. They attend teaching meetings. And some working with science professors help to organize laboratory equipment.Most American colleges and universities must honor legal requirements when employing foreign students as teaching assistants. One of these is that the T.A. must speak English well.20. American Education SystemThe education system in the United States is controlled by state and local governments. But education laws are similar in each state. For example, in all 50 states and 6 territories, all children must attend school from the age of 6 or 7 to the age of 16. Public schools are free of charge for grades 1 through 12. Private schools also operate in all states and territories. Some private schools are operated by churches and religious groups. Other private schools are not linked to any religious organization. Private schools must be approved by the state in which they operate. Most private schools do not receive government money. The parents of private school students pay the school. The school year usually begins in September and continues until June. Most states require a school year of 180 days. Some schools have changed this schedule and require students to attend school throughout the year.21. ThanksgivingThe American Thanksgiving, by law on the fourth Thursday of November, has a long tradition in the United States. The firstAmerican Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, with early North American settlers celebrating their first harvest after a harsh winter in the new world. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made it an official holiday. Today, Thanksgiving serves as a day for family gatherings with luxurious turkey feasts, accompanied by a wide array of side dishes and pies. So this holiday is one of the busiest times for travel in America. Millions of people travel by car, train, or air, to feast with family. Besides, other traditional Thanksgiving events are prominent in the United States as well, including religious services and key youth and professional football games. What's more, the US president pardons a single turkey every year on this holiday. It is a tradition begun by former president Harry Truman in 1947.22. Music in British SchoolsMusic plays a big part in British schools. Pupils can learn an instrument at school. Traditionally, school children learn classical instruments. Younger children often learn the recorder. As they get older, they start to play the violin or piano. In fact, nearly one out of five music students is learning the violin. The piano, or keyboard, is more popular with older children at secondary school. However, more pupils than ever before are now learning the guitar, as they think playing the guitar is cool. British schools do not just offer lessons for instruments,but they have music classes for all pupils. In the past, the focus of classes was very much Western classical music. But the classes now cover a far wider range of styles, including folk music and world music. Many schools have orchestras and put on concerts each term. It is also common for pupils themselves to form their own bands.23. University DaysBritish universities start in September or October. Courses normally last 3 years, but some, such as languages, engineering or medicine, can take much longer to complete. Students usually go to university in a different town, so they need to get used to living alone, paying bills and washing their own clothes! For many, this is a difficult time, but everyone soon becomes used to it!Universities in Britain used to be free, but many students now have to pay for part of their course. Similarly, students used to receive a grant from the government. Nowadays, they have to apply for student loans or take part-time jobs. Either way, it can be difficult and many students have money problems.University life is not just about studying, however. Many students take part in drama productions or play music. Others, of course, take part in a wide range of sports, such as football, rugby and cricket.24. Test of English as a Foreign LanguageIt is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by more than 8,000 colleges and universities in more than 130 countries. It is called TOEFL, which stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL is an important test for foreign students who want to study inAmerica. More than 4,000 American universities and other schools require students seeking admission to take the test. Each year, nearly a million individuals of all ages take the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English-language proficiency. It measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. And it evaluates how well you combine your four skills, listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. There are two formats for the TOEFL test. The format you take depends on the location of your test center. Nowadays, most testtakers take the Internet-based Test. Test centers that do not have Internet access offer the Paper-based Test. 25. In-service Education and Vocational DevelopmentMany people feel that finding a job successfully is the end of their schooling. This idea is rarely true, however, as each field of work requires a thorough knowledge of it. This may go beyond what could be learned in high school or university. Universities, with their complete curriculum, are intended to first teach us about everything. Later studies fill in the gap of knowledge by offering more specialized courses. Universities, however, are meant to teach the theories of any particular field, not the practical knowledge needed to do our jobs. Vocational schools has risen to fill this gap of practical knowledge. Vocational schools can aid us in this by teaching us to be especially good at one thing. If a person has enough health and energy, as well as determination, he may go to night school to take a self-teaching program.26. DictionaryA dictionary is a reference book that focuses on defining words and phrases,including multiple meanings. The most frequently used dictionary is a language dictionary that includes the majority of frequently used words in a language. Language dictionaries are made for different types of users: scholars, office workers, schools, and second language learners. There are many competing dictionaries put out by different companies. Not only do they have different forms - paperback, hardback, and online editions - but they differ in other ways. Each company, for example, uses its own version of phonetic respelling based on the research done by its experts. Other differences between dictionaries showup in other features. Many dictionaries include their experts' guidance on grammar, usage, and the history of the language. Definitions differ slightly, and sample sentences may be the work of the editorial staff or taken from real-world usage, perhaps the first known written use.27. The Graduation CeremonyIn American high schools and colleges, the last day of the school year is graduation day. The students who finish their last year in the school will graduate. The graduation ceremony is often in the school gymnasium. The people who come to watch the graduation are teachers, parents and friends of the graduates. Those students who will graduate will wear long robes and caps with square tops. The graduate who has the best record in school will make a speech. The school principal and other officials will also make speeches. Then each graduate will receive a diploma or a degree, which has his name and the name of the school. After the ceremony, students often chat with their teachers, friends and relatives who come to congratulate them. They take pictures of eachother and will show each other these pictures a few nights later at the graduation party. Graduation is a memorable event.28. The International Student Exchange ProgramThe International Student Exchange Program, or ISEP, was started in 1979. ISEP is a group of colleges and universities around the world. They cooperate to provide international educational experiences for their students.Students can study for up to one year in the United States or any of the other countries involved. They do not have to go through the usual application process to get into a school. And they pay only what they would have to pay for a term at theirown school at home.To take part in the ISEP program, students must attend a member college or university. Each school has an ISEP coordinator, who helps students apply to the ISEP office in Washington, D.C. To be accepted, students must have good grades. They are asked to list up to ten choices of American schools they would like to attend. Officials at the ISEP office then place students in the openings offered in colleges and universities.29. On-campus HousingHousing policies differ from school to school in American universities. Some schools have limited housing or none at all.Dormitory buildings might house a small number of students or many hundreds. Some dorms have suites. A suite has several bedrooms, a common area and a bathroom. Other dorms have rooms along a common hallway. Two, three or four students might share a room.Males and females often live on different floors of the same building. Or they might live on the same floor, or in some cases even share a suite if permitted. But single-sex housing is usually also available.Different groups and organizations such as fraternities might have their own houses where their members live. And there is often housing for married students.Some dorms are nice, others are not so nice. But many students say they like the chance to make friends and be near their classes.30. Working While Studying in the USInternational students are permitted to work for the college or university they attend or for a business at the school. But thebusiness must directly provide a service to students. You could work at the bookstore, for example, but not for a construction company that is building something on campus. Also, a foreign student cannot displace an American citizen in a job.Foreign students normally cannot take a job that has no connection to their school. But the government may give permission if students are suddenly faced with a situation that is out of their control. Examples include large medical bills, the loss of financial aid or an unexpected change in the financial condition of their source of support.Students must also meet other conditions. They must have attended their American school for at least one year. Government approval is given on a case-by-case basis. Students must re-apply after a year if they want to continue an off-campus job.。
英语30篇小短文

一、My Pet(我的宠物)I have a pet dog. Its name is Doubao. It is very cute. It has soft fur and big eyes. Doubao likes to play with me. We often go for a walk in the park. Doubao is my best friend.二、My Family(我的家庭)I have a happy family. There are four people in my family, my parents, my brother and me. My father is a doctor. My mother is a teacher. My brother is a student. We love each other very much.三、My Hobbies(我的爱好)I have many hobbies. I like reading books, listening to music and playing sports. Reading books can make me learn a lot of knowledge. Listening to music can make me relax. Playing sports can make me healthy.四、My School(我的学校)My school is very beautiful. There are many trees and flowers in it. The teachers are very kind and the students are very friendly. I love my school.五、A Day at the Zoo(在动物园的一天)Yesterday, I went to the zoo with my parents. We saw many animals there, such as lions, tigers, elephants and monkeys. The animals are very cute. We had a great time at the zoo.六、My Favorite Season(我最喜欢的季节)My favorite season is spring. In spring, the weather is warm and sunny. The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. It is a beautiful season.七、A Trip to the Beach(去海滩的一次旅行)Last summer, I went to the beach with my friends. We swam in the sea, played volleyball on the beach and had a picnic. It was a wonderful trip.八、My Dream(我的梦想)My dream is to be a teacher. I want to teach students knowledge and help them grow up. I will study hard to achieve my dream.九、My Bedroom(我的卧室)My bedroom is small but very clean. There is a bed, a desk and a chair in it. I like to read books and do my homework in my bedroom.十、A Good Habit(一个好习惯)I have a good habit of getting up early. Every morning, I get up at six o'clock and do some exercise. Then I read English for half an hour. Getting up early makes me feel energetic all day.十一、My Favorite Food(我最喜欢的食物)My favorite food is pizza. It is delicious. There are many kinds of pizza, such as cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza and vegetable pizza. I like to eat pizza with my friends.十二、A Beautiful Place(一个美丽的地方)There is a beautiful park near my home. There are many trees and flowers in the park. There is also a lake. We can go boating on the lake. It is a very relaxing place.十三、My Best Friend(我最好的朋友)I have a best friend. Her name is Lily. We have known each other since we were in kindergarten. We often play together and help each other. Lily is very kind and smart. I am very lucky to have her as my friend.十四、A Funny Story(一个有趣的故事)One day, a little rabbit went to the forest to pick mushrooms. Suddenly, it saw a big wolf. The little rabbit was very scared. But it was very clever. It thought of a good idea. It pretended to be dead. The wolf saw the little rabbit and thought it was dead. So the wolf left. The little rabbit was very happy. It picked up the mushrooms and went home.十五、My Favorite Sport(我最喜欢的运动)My favorite sport is swimming. Swimming is good for my health. It can make me stronger and more flexible. I go swimming with my friends every weekend.十六、A Great Person(一个伟大的人)I think Martin Luther King Jr. is a great person. He fought for the rights of black people. His speech "I Have a Dream" inspired many people. He made a great contribution to the world.十七、My Weekend(我的周末)I had a great weekend. On Saturday morning, I did my homework. In the afternoon, I went to the park with my friends. We played games and had a picnic. On Sunday, I visited my grandparents. We had a delicious dinner together.十八、A Happy Day(快乐的一天)Today is Sunday. The weather is very nice. I went to the park with my family. We had a picnic and played games. We also flew kites. It was a very happy day.十九、My Favorite Book(我最喜欢的书)My favorite book is "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". It is a very interesting book. The story is about a boy named Tom Sawyer. He is very naughty but also very brave. I like Tom Sawyer very much.二十、A Beautiful Flower(一朵美丽的花)There is a beautiful flower in my garden. It is red and yellow. It has a sweet smell. I like to look at it every day. It makes me happy.二十一、My Favorite Animal(我最喜欢的动物)My favorite animal is the panda. Pandas are very cute. They have black and white fur. They like to eat bamboo. Pandas are rare animals. We should protect them.二十二、A Good Deed(一件好事)Yesterday, I saw an old man crossing the street. He was very slow.So I helped him cross the street. The old man was very grateful. I felt very happy.二十三、My Favorite Color(我最喜欢的颜色)My favorite color is blue. Blue is the color of the sky and the sea. It makes me feel calm and peaceful. I like to wear blue clothes and use blue stationery.二十四、A Busy Day(忙碌的一天)Today is Monday. I am very busy. I have classes all day. After school, I have to do my homework and practice the piano. I don't have much time to play. But I know that studying hard is important.二十五、My Future(我的未来)I think my future will be very bright. I want to be a scientist. I will study hard and do research to make the world a better place.二十六、A Beautiful Sunset(美丽的日落)Yesterday evening, I saw a beautiful sunset. The sky was orange and red. The clouds were like cotton candy. It was very beautiful. I took a picture of it.二十七、My Favorite Festival(我最喜欢的节日)My favorite festival is Spring Festival. During Spring Festival, we can get together with our family and have a big dinner. We can also set off fireworks and get red envelopes. It is a very happy time.二十八、A Rainy Day(雨天)Today is a rainy day. The rain is falling gently. I like to listen to the sound of the rain. It makes me feel relaxed. On rainy days, I like to stay at home and read books or watch movies.二十九、My Favorite Subject(我最喜欢的科目)My favorite subject is English. I like learning English because it is very useful. I can talk to people from different countries in English. I also like reading English books and watching English movies.三十、A New Beginning(一个新的开始)Today is a new day. It is a new beginning. I will study hard and make progress every day. I will be kind to others and help those in need. I believe that I can make a difference.。
小学生诵读美文30篇注音版

1春chūn 笋sǔn一yì 声shēn ɡ 春chūn 雷léi ,唤huàn 醒xǐn ɡ 了le 春chūn 笋sǔn 。
它tā 们men 冲chōn ɡ 破pò 泥ní 土tǔ ,掀xiān 翻fān 石shí 块kuài ,一yí 个ɡe 一yi 个ɡe 从cón ɡ 地dì 里lǐ 冒mào 出chū 来lái 。
春chūn 笋sǔn 裹ɡuǒ 着zhe 浅qiǎn 褐hè 色sè 的de 外wài 衣yī ,像xiàn ɡ 嫩nèn 生shēn ɡ 生shēn ɡ 的de 娃wá 娃w ɑ 。
它tā 们men 迎yín ɡ 着zhe 春chūn 风fēn ɡ ,在zài 阳yán ɡ 光ɡuān ɡ 中zhōn ɡ 笑xiào ,在zài 春chūn 雨yǔ 里lǐ 长zhǎn ɡ 。
一yì 节jié ,一yì 节jié ,又yòu 一yì 节jié 。
向xiàn ɡ 上shàn ɡ ,向xiàn ɡ 上shàn ɡ ,再zài 向xiàn ɡ 上shàn ɡ 。
2小xiǎo 池chí 塘tán ɡ春chūn 风fēn ɡ 姐jiě 姐jie 轻qīn ɡ 轻qīn ɡ 吹chuī 了le 一yì 口kǒu 气qì ,小xiǎo 池chí 塘tán ɡ 就jiù 醒xǐn ɡ 来lái 了le 。
池chí 塘tán ɡ 里lǐ 的de 水shu ǐ 波bō 一yì 闪shǎn 一yì 闪shǎn 的de ,像xiàn ɡ 一yì 只zhī 明mín ɡ 亮liàn ɡ 的de 大dà 眼yǎn 睛jin ɡ 。
简单英语文章听力5篇

简单英语文章听力5篇1.简单英语文章听力篇一我们需要梦想We all want to believe that we are capable of great feats, of reac hing our fullest potential. We need dreams. They give us a vision of a better future. They nourish our spirit。
我们都相信自己有成就伟业的能力,能发挥出自己的最大潜能,我们需要梦想,它会给我们展现一番更好的前景,它能滋养我们的灵魂。
They represent possibility even then we are dragged down by realit y. They keep us going. Most successful people are dreamers Dreamers are not content with being merely mediocre, because no one ever dreams of going halfway.梦想代表一种可能性,尽管它会受现实的羁绊。
梦想让我们勇往直前。
多数成功人士都是梦想家。
梦想家不满足于平庸,因为谁也不希望半途而废。
When we were little kids, we didn’t dream of a life of struggle a nd frustration. We dreamed of doing something big and splashy, somethi ng significant. We dreamed big.孩提时,我们不曾梦想过自立而充满挫折的生活,却梦想做一些轰轰烈烈而又意义的大事。
我们梦想成为伟人。
We know now that we have to put in the effort to reach our dreams, but the tough part is that most of us don’t know where to start worki ng. We might have every intention of becoming Vice Presid ent in five years or running across the finish line in a marathon or c ompleting the novel we started years ago. But often we have no idea ho w to translate these dreams into actions.如今,我们知道,要实现梦想必须全力以赴,可多数人却不知从何入手。
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Passage 1Digital Cameras[00:45.70]①According to a standard definition, /[00:48.34]a digital camera is a camera that produces digital images /[00:53.63]that can be stored in a computer, displayed on a screen and printed. / [01:00.17]②Years ago people used to possess two different devices /[01:04.47] in order to take pictures and make videos. /[01:08.42]③The creation of digital cameras was motivated mainly by two factors. / [01:14.04]④First, need to spare space. /[01:17.78]⑤Second, make it more comfortable for people[01:21.07]to do both things with higher quality results. /[01:25.49]⑥The multi-functionalism of digital cameras[01:28.62]and the combination of several devices in one /[01:32.12]make it a popular choice for a modern man. /[01:35.99]⑦For years a digital camera has been unaffordable for many families. / [01:41.39]⑧However, the variety of digital cameras and various prices nowadays / [01:47.06]make it possible for almost every single family to buy a digital camera. / [01:52.92]⑨With increasingly fierce competition, /[01:55.51] the digital camera manufacturers satisfy customers[02:00.35]with lower prices but best quality standards.Passage 2The Migration of Birds[00:48.91]①The most obvious feature of birds is that they can fly. /[00:52.81]②This facility gives them great mobility and control over their movements. /[00:58.39]③Many species can travel quickly and economically over long distances —/[01:04.28]up to thousands of kilometers, /[01:07.14]if necessary, crossing seas, deserts or other inhospitable areas. /[01:13.46]④They also have great orientation and navigational skills, /[01:18.14]and are able to remember and re-find[01:21.42]remote places they have previously visited. /[01:24.61]⑤Birds can thereby occupy widely separated areas at different seasons, / [01:30.80]returning repeatedly to the same localities from year to year. /[01:35.76]⑥Although migration is evident in other animal groups, /[01:40.09]including insects, mammals, and fish, /[01:43.49]in none is it as widely and well developed as in birds. /[01:48.22]⑦The collective travel routes of birds span almost the entire planet. / [01:53.69]⑧As a result of migration, bird distributions are continually changing—/ [02:00.05]on regular seasonal patterns, and on local, regional or global scales. Passage 3Benefits of Becoming a Teacher[00:48.55]①Becoming a teacher gives you a chance /[00:50.69]to spend a major portion of your day with children or youngsters. / [00:55.26]②With kids around,[00:56.63]you are a part of their world of innocence and purity. /[01:01.01]③It indeed creates a healthy work environment for you. / [01:05.14]④On becoming a teacher, /[01:07.19]you get a chance to be with children,[01:09.38]laugh with them, think their way /[01:12.00]and enjoy their innocently silly and healthily naughty behavior. / [01:18.17]⑤Apart from this, the nature of your job is that /[01:22.11]you do not work on weekends and you get your share of holidays. / [01:28.07]⑥Becoming a teacher entitles you /[01:31.03]for receiving private scholarships and sponsorships[01:35.23]for teaching programs. /[01:37.10]⑦However, one of the most important benefits[01:40.69]of becoming a teacher is that /[01:43.17]teachers contribute to the shaping of the future generations. / [01:48.39]⑧They make a difference to society /[01:51.09]by playing a vital role in nurturing young minds.Passage 4Computer[00:47.10]①With the development of computer technology, /[00:51.02]computers are becoming increasingly popular all over the world. / [00:55.78]②The computer is being used in many fields. /[00:59.64]③In industry, business, education, medicine,[01:04.59]nearly all walks of life, /[01:06.99]computers have made their appearance,[01:09.32]providing great speed and accuracy for our work. /[01:13.85]④Computers have been used in the home, offices,[01:17.45]laboratories and research institutions, /[01:21.25]acting as the most efficient and multifunctional instruments / [01:25.94]for calculating, sorting, filing, recording and distributing. / [01:32.70]⑤And they have also become a window[01:35.23]through which we can understand the world better. /[01:39.17]⑥During the past fifty years,[01:41.61]the computer has been rapidly advanced. /[01:45.21]⑦Ever since the computer came into being,[01:48.42]it has experienced the development of several generations. / [01:53.74]⑧The earliest computers were of great size, /[01:57.04]and had no match for the latest electronic computers[02:00.93]in speed and accuracy. /[02:03.60]⑨Now efforts are being made[02:05.83]not only to bring the hardware to perfection, /[02:08.84]but also to improve the quality of the software.Passage 5Computer Addiction[00:45.84]①Nowadays, computer users have started developing[00:49.94]some bad habits regarding using computers, /[00:53.41]which have led to significant problems in their lives. /[00:57.32]②The negative consequences from computer addiction / [01:01.30]are similar to those of many other known addictive disorders / [01:05.62]that cause mental and physical disturbances. /[01:09.00]③As a result, the term “computer or Internet addiction”[01:14.39] has come into use. /[01:16.39]④It is also known as cyberspace addiction[01:19.55]and Internet addiction disorder. /[01:22.47]⑤It's not an easy task[01:24.59]to identify which type of computer addiction[01:27.40]is responsible for most computer addicts, /[01:30.81]as there are many types of computer addictions, /[01:34.24]such as online games, chat, e-mail, online shopping,[01:39.50]online gambling and so on. /[01:42.11]⑥No one knows in the future, /[01:44.40]which technology would attract more people[01:47.31]to become computer addicts. /[01:49.29]⑦However, there are various organizations /[01:52.55]that specifically deal with computer addiction /[01:55.50]and have helped many thousands of people[01:57.95]to get rid of this damaging addiction.Passage 6Listening Skills[00:47.69]①Communication with others involves learning listening skills. / [00:52.92]②It's a good feeling when someone listens to you /[00:56.64]when you're talking to them. /[00:58.54]③It makes you feel like they care about you[01:01.04]and what you're saying. /[01:02.92]④The same respect should be given to people[01:05.33]that are speaking to you. /[01:07.03]⑤Controlling the conversation or interrupting constantly [01:11.74]with your views or suggestions /[01:14.30]is not listening to the other person. /[01:17.39]⑥Listening closely and then responding at the appropriate time [01:22.06]makes a good conversation. /[01:24.64]⑦Making comments at the correct time[01:27.10]lets the speaker know you're interested /[01:29.94]and can help you stay centered on the conversation. /[01:34.24]⑧Asking good questions about the subject[01:37.00]will show you want to know more about it. /[01:40.44]⑨Try not to ask too many questions with the word “why”. / [01:44.71]⑩People might not know the answer[01:47.12]and won't be able to respond to the question. /[01:50.65]⑪Always, let people finish what they're saying /[01:54.03]before you talk about something else.Passage 7Book Review[00:48.11]①The determination of the book review[00:50.69]is to communicate to the readers’ mind /[00:53.49]the ideas and sensations book reviewer experienced /[00:58.35] while researching the content. /[01:00.76]②Professional book reviews are important in all professions. / [01:06.17]③But they are especially important in the sciences, /[01:10.22]which define the specialization of the book reviewer. /[01:15.11]④That is because the basic unit of scientific communication, [01:20.64]the primary research paper, /[01:23.12]is typically five to eight printed pages in most fields, /[01:28.58]which is short and narrowly specific. /[01:32.50]⑤Therefore, to provide a general overview[01:36.16]of a significant slice of science, /[01:39.15]professional writers of scientific books have to[01:43.03]organize and join the reported knowledge in a field /[01:46.85]into a much larger, more meaningful package. /[01:51.26]⑥In other words, new scientific knowledge is made meaningful / [01:56.99]by sorting the bits and pieces into book reviews[02:00.81]to provide a larger picture. /[02:03.49]⑦Thus, the individual plants and flowers,[02:07.18]and even the weeds, become a landscape.Passage 8Television Advertisements[00:46.76]①A television advertisement or television commercial[00:51.00]is a span of television programming /[00:54.43]produced and paid for by an organization[00:58.32]that conveys a message. /[01:00.88]②Advertisement revenue provides[01:02.71]a significant portion of the funding /[01:06.23]for most privately owned television networks. /[01:10.14]③The vast majority of television advertisements today[01:14.33]consist of brief advertising spots, /[01:18.17]ranging in length from a few seconds to several minutes. /[01:23.45]④Advertisements of this sort have been used to[01:26.96]sell every product imaginable over the years, /[01:31.32]from household products to goods and services,[01:35.12]to political campaigns. /[01:37.79]⑤The effect of television advertisements upon the viewing public / [01:42.84]has been greatly successful and pervasive. /[01:46.97]⑥In some countries, like the United States, /[01:49.96]it is considered impossible for a politician[01:53.77]to wage a successful election campaign /[01:57.20]without the purchase of television advertising. /[02:00.97]⑦In other countries, such as France,[02:03.98]political advertising is strictly limited on television. /[02:08.76]⑧Some countries, like Norway, even completely ban it. Passage 9Waste[00:46.63]①Waste is sometimes a subjective concept, /[00:50.53]because items that some people discard may have value to others. / [00:56.78]②It is widely recognized that waste materials[01:00.77]are a valuable resource, /[01:03.41]while there is debate as to how this value is best realized. /[01:09.99]③Governments need to define what waste is /[01:14.04]in order that it can be safely and legally managed. /[01:18.65]④Different definitions need to be combined /[01:22.48]in order to ensure the safe and legal disposal of the waste. /[01:27.89]⑤The European Union has started a discussion /[01:31.60]that will end in an End-of-Waste directive. /[01:36.44]⑥It will clarify the distinction between waste[01:39.29]that shall be treated for disposal /[01:42.04]and raw materials that can be reused for other purposes. /[01:47.58]⑦All over the world, America generates more waste[01:51.36]than any other nation in the world, /[01:54.17]with 4. 5 pounds of municipal solid waste per person per day, / [02:01.38]55 percent of which is contributed as residential garbage. Passage 10Getting Paid to Shop[00:48.71]①Advertising in our days has joined our lives quite well. /[00:53.16]②Getting paid to shop is another form of advertising. / [00:57.61]③A contractor evaluates products and services[01:01.87]offered by various companies /[01:04.55]in order to become known to the public /[01:07.12]with the main purpose to increase their sales. /[01:12.56]④Getting paid to shop,[01:14.67]users have the opportunity to shop favorite products /[01:19.40]like jewelry, handbags, clothes, shoes and other things, / [01:26.26]and create an income[01:28.28] that might later lead them to financial freedom. /[01:31.74]⑤To be more clear and specific, /[01:34.34] anyone who joins a getting paid to shop program /[01:37.97]will have the opportunity to shop things that you wish for free / [01:42.50]while at the end of the campaign[01:44.63]might those things become yours. /[01:47.14]⑥In addition, those companies that offer such opportunity [01:51.63]will pay their members to do that. /[01:54.39]⑦Getting paid to shop is certainly the ideal solution / [01:58.19]that fits perfectly with most women[02:00.59]who like to shop often or see shopping as a hobby.Passage 11Negative Effects of Television[00:49.82]①Spending too many hours watching television[00:53.23]wastes the precious time /[00:55.67]that can rather be spent in fruitful and healthy activities [01:00.37]like exercise or reading. /[01:03.27]②It also uses up the time /[01:05.63]that you can rather spend with your family and friends. / [01:09.99]③Chatting with your near ones,[01:12.88]spending time with your close ones /[01:15.27]is a better way of spending time than watching TV. /[01:19.01]④People watching television,[01:21.51]especially children and youngsters, /[01:24.24]start identifying with what is shown on TV. /[01:28.06]⑤They relate to television shows and films to such an extent / [01:33.15]that they get bored of living a normal and simple life. / [01:37.70]⑥They are eager for fame and money; /[01:40.33]they long for living the lives of their favorite TV characters. / [01:44.94]⑦This may lead to a high amount of dissatisfaction[01:49.08]for the real world. /[01:51.11]⑧As real life is the contrast of the life shown on TV, / [01:56.08]such TV addicts become hungry for power, money and status.Passage 12Culture Shock[00:47.96]①Culture shock isn’t a clinical term or medical condition. / [00:51.89]②It’s simply a common way to describe[00:54.48]the confusing and nervous feelings a person may have /[00:57.87]after leaving a familiar culture[00:59.88]to live in a new and different culture. /[01:02.73]③When you move to a new place, /[01:05.25]you’re bound to face a lot of changes. /[01:07.72]④That can be exciting and stimulating, /[01:10.45]but it can also be overwhelming. /[01:13.33]⑤You may feel sad, anxious, frustrated, and want to go home. / [01:18.69]⑥It’s natural to have difficulty adjusting to a new culture. / [01:22.76]⑦People from other cultures may have grown up[01:25.69]with values and beliefs that differ from yours. /[01:28.96]⑧Because of these differences, /[01:30.97]the things they talk about, the ways they express themselves, / [01:34.53]and the importance of various ideas /[01:37.10]may be very different from what you are used to. /[01:40.88]⑨But the good news is that culture shock is usually temporary. Passage 13Environmentally Friendly Cars[00:48.54]①Environmentally friendly cars are supposed to be[00:52.42]the vehicles of future generations. /[00:55.93]②Nevertheless, such cars exist now /[00:59.29]and are becoming more popular in the modern car market [01:03.28]than traditional vehicles /[01:05.47]which work on fossil fuels. /[01:07.96]③The advantages of such cars[01:10.27]are not only in their lower harmfulness[01:13.39]for the environment and people’ s health /[01:16.29]but also in the lower fuel costs. /[01:19.28]④However, their production is rather expensive, /[01:23.14]so it is still a controversial point /[01:26.01]both for the customers and the automobile manufacturers. / [01:30.31]⑤Although they are more expensive to buy, /[01:32.95]they pay for themselves in a period of about 5 years /[01:37.47]because they consume less expensive fuels. /[01:41.31]⑥The common types of environmentally friendly cars[01:44.95]include electric cars, fuel-cell-powered cars,[01:49.79]crossbreed cars and solar cars. /[01:53.47]⑦And environmentally friendly cars[01:56.46]have become the choice of many people /[01:59.20]who decided to reduce the influence[02:01.90]of burning fossil fuels on the nature.Passage 14The Earth Day[00:47.84]①Our Planet Earth has so much to give us. /[00:50.71]②From the beautiful natural surroundings[00:53.64]to the rich types of creatures, /[00:56.16]Planet Earth has loads of things to offer /[00:59.74]that only make the life more beautiful. /[01:02.76]③However, have you given a thought to[01:05.94]how many individuals actually respect this planet? /[01:11.20]④April 22nd is known the world over as Earth Day. /[01:16.60]⑤It is celebrated to create more awareness about our planet / [01:21.81]and situations that we need to take care of /[01:24.83]to ensure our Planet Earth is well loved and cared for. /[01:29.64]⑥As things are, we need to celebrate it on one day /[01:33.84]to remind us of the responsibilities[01:36.33]we need to handle in the coming years. /[01:39.47]⑦The importance of Planet Earth is something /[01:42.44]that should be taught to children in their early years,[01:46.24]at home and in the school. /[01:49.22]⑧Only then will the young and old alike,[01:52.39]understand the issues /[01:54.37]such as global warming, energy conservation[01:59.30]and the importance of recycling.Passage 15Differences Between Chinese and Western Eating Habits[00:50.52]①There are great differences[00:52.18]between Chinese and Western eating habits. /[00:55.74]②Unlike the West, where everyone has their own plate of food, / [01:00.16]in China the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares. / [01:05.46]③If you are being treated by a Chinese host, /[01:09.13]be prepared for a ton of food. /[01:12.45]④Chinese are very proud of their culture of cuisine /[01:16.07]and will do their best to show their hospitality. /[01:19.90]⑤And sometimes the Chinese hosts use their chopsticks [01:23.70]to put food in your bowl or plate. /[01:26.99]⑥This is a sign of politeness. /[01:30.07]⑦The appropriate thing to do would be to eat whatever-it-is / [01:34.80]and say how tasty it is. /[01:37.63]⑧If you feel uncomfortable with this, /[01:40.04]you can just say a polite thank-you and leave the food there. / [01:44.95]⑨And you should never tap on your bowl with your chopsticks, / [01:48.79]which can be very insulting to the host.Passage 16Artificial Intelligence[00:48.81]①Artificial Intelligence is the intelligence of machines[00:52.45]and the branch of computer science[00:54.47]which aims to create it. /[00:56.92]②Textbooks define it[00:58.55]as the study and design of intelligent agents, /[01:01.90]where an intelligent agent is a system[01:04.96]that perceives its environment /[01:07.03]and takes actions which maximize its chances of success. / [01:12.23]③The field was founded on the claim that[01:15.23]human intelligence can be so precisely described /[01:18.89]that it can be simulated by a machine. /[01:22.32]④The discipline of Artificial Intelligence was born[01:25.92]in the summer of 1956. /[01:29.16]⑤Half of a century has passed, /[01:31.51]and Artificial Intelligence has come a long way[01:34.86]since its beginning. /[01:37.29]⑥It has turned into an important field, /[01:39.59]whose influence on our daily lives[01:42.71]can hardly be underestimated. /[01:45.64]⑦Many specialized Artificial Intelligence systems[01:49.30]exist that are at work in our cars, /[01:51.87]in our laptop computers,[01:54.28]and in our personal and commercial technologies. /[01:57.71]⑧There is no doubt that the impact of Artificial Intelligence [02:01.96]on our lives in the future /[02:03.85]will become even more general and universal.Passage 17Idioms[00:46.45]①An idiom is defined as a group of words /[00:49.47]whose meaning must be known as a whole, /[00:53.14]because it cannot be learned from the meaning[00:56.00]of the same words used separately. /[00:58.98]②Obviously, there is a problem /[01:01.12]when you cannot look up individual words in a dictionary [01:04.96]and find the meaning, /[01:06.87]the usual strategy we all employ[01:09.60]when we come across a word or words that are unfamiliar. / [01:14.10]③With idioms, however, we must learn the group of words. / [01:18.69]④In everyday English, idioms are in common use. /[01:23.16]⑤In fact, idioms are so common /[01:26.13]that most native speakers do not even realize[01:30.02]that they are using idioms. /[01:32.62]⑥It is particularly important to recognize idioms /[01:36.83]when you hear them or read them. /[01:38.92]⑦When you are able to use them comfortably[01:41.39]in your own speech and writing, /[01:43.46]then you have achieved a higher level of mastery /[01:47.43]and fluency in the language.Passage 18Chi ldren’s Health[00:49.40]①It seems we have developed[00:50.95]such a fast paced society of convenience /[00:55.01]that kids today don’t play outside much anymore. /[00:59.08]②They would rather stay inside and have things done for them. / [01:04.04]③They spend too much time inside on the sofa /[01:07.87]and neglect any kind of physical activity, /[01:11.46]which causes a state of being inactive and unhealthy. /[01:16.94]④Inactive kids have a higher risk of becoming obese, /[01:21.56]having high blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease. / [01:26.12]⑤Along with being inactive, /[01:29.62]kids today don’t get enough personal interaction with other kids, / [01:35.16]causing them to have a lack of interpersonal skills. /[01:39.31]⑥Besides, their parents and grandparents[01:42.77]allow children to have everything they want. /[01:45.99]⑦Parents’spoiling only makes for an attitude of selfishness. / [01:51.93]⑧To avoid this situation, parents should encourage their kids [01:56.53]to spend more time out of the house, /[01:59.86]such as playing basketball in a community basketball team. Passage 19Customer Service[00:49.90]①Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. / [00:55.65]②You can offer promotions and slash prices[00:59.30]to bring in as many new customers as you want. /[01:02.92]③But unless you can get some of those customers to come back, / [01:07.49]your business won’ t be profitable for long. /[01:11.34]④Good customer service is all about bringing customers back / [01:16.45]and about sending them away happy, /[01:19.00]happy enough to pass positive feedback[01:21.91]about your business along to others, /[01:24.55]who may then try the product or service you offer for themselves / [01:29.77]and in their turn become repeat customers. /[01:33.80]⑤If you’re a good salesperson, /[01:36.72]you can sell anything to anyone once. /[01:40.66]⑥But it will be your approach to customer service that determines / [01:45.55]whether or not y ou’ ll ever be able to sell that person anything else. / [01:51.24]⑦The essence of good customer service[01:54.20]is forming a relationship with customers, /[01:57.60]a relationship that the individual customer feels[02:01.37]that he would like to pursue.Passage 20AIDS[00:48.48]①When AIDS first emerged, /[00:50.77]no one could have predicted[00:52.80]how the epidemic would spread across the world /[00:56.01]and how many millions of lives it would change. /[00:59.75]②There was no real idea what caused it /[01:03.08]and consequently no real idea how to protect against it. /[01:08.42]③Now we know from bitter experience /[01:11.33]that AIDS is caused by the virus HIV, /[01:15.61]and that it can destroy families,[01:17.75]communities and whole continents. /[01:20.98]④However, experience has also shown us[01:24.56]that the right approaches can[01:26.78]and do result in lower national HIV infection rates /[01:32.48]and less suffering for those affected by the epidemic. /[01:36.98]⑤Already, more than twenty-five million people[01:39.93]around the world have died of AIDS-related diseases. /[01:45.02]⑥33 million people around the world are now living with HIV, / [01:50.86]and most of these are likely to die over the next decade or so. / [01:56.84]⑦It is disappointing that the global numbers of people[02:00.43]infected with HIV continue to rise, /[02:04.22]despite the fact that effective prevention strategies already exist. Passage 21[00:44.73]Homeschooling[00:46.67]①More and more parents are feeling /[00:48.95]that the schools are not up to a suitable standard[00:52.36]required to meet their children’s needs. /[00:55.51]②Therefore, homeschooling becomes[00:58.32]an appealing prospect for parents /[01:00.78]who want to remain in control of their children’s learning. / [01:04.82]③There are both benefits and drawbacks[01:07.78]to homeschooling a child, /[01:09.94]but the positives seem to outweigh the negatives[01:13.67]in the minds of parents. /[01:15.55]④In UK homeschooling has increased in recent years [01:20.36]as the gap between the best-[01:22.33]and worst-performing schools has grown. /[01:25.67]⑤Parents increasingly feel excluded from[01:29.24]their children’s education, /[01:31.02]for schools have turned into examination factories. / [01:35.06]⑥In schools, teaching to the test is the norm, /[01:39.40]instead of allowing children to explore their own creativity. / [01:43.72]⑦Schools need to achieve good examination results [01:47.88]in order to have their higher status recognized, /[01:51.94]which obviously has implications[01:54.17]for the level of funding they receive. /[01:57.42]⑧Hence, it would almost seem that[01:59.62]students are seen as a means to an end, /[02:03.58]rather than as the whole reason for a school’s existence. Passage 22Mail Fraud[00:49.47]①Mail fraud occurs when someone asks for[00:53.00]something of value to be sent through the mail, /[00:55.37]promising something in return, then fails to deliver. / [01:00.37]②Fraud can also be committed by wire, phone, or e-mail, / [01:05.39]but is only considered mail fraud /[01:08.21]when it involves things being sent by mail. /[01:11.93]③This fraud can take the form of[01:14.07]offering a product or service /[01:16.09]which is then not provided or offering employment[01:20.33]that turns out to be a scam. /[01:23.05]④It can also be offering a product or service for a price / [01:27.39]that is already provided for free by the government. / [01:31.76]⑤Sometimes, you may receive an advertisement[01:35.55]for something designed to look like an invoice. /[01:39.53]⑥Some Internet domain registration providers[01:43.07]are known for sending mail to owners of domains /[01:47.27]registered through competing companies, /[01:50.71]urging them to renew their domains. /[01:54.11]⑦But in the process of renewing, /[01:56.18]the domain registration would be transferred[01:59.18]to the provider sending the mail, /[02:02.30]often at a higher cost.Passage 23Online Shopping[00:47.90]①With just a click of the mouse, /[00:50.58]shoppers can buy nearly any product online, /[00:54.31]from groceries to cars, /[00:56.34]from insurance policies to home loans. /[01:00.07]②The world of electronic commerce,[01:02.79]also known as e-commerce, /[01:05.17]enables consumers to shop at thousands of online stores [01:09.79]and pay for their purchases /[01:12.10]without leaving the comfort of home. /[01:14.82]③For many, the Internet has taken the place of[01:17.90]Saturday afternoon window shopping at the mall. /[01:22.63]④Consumers expect merchants to[01:25.08]not only make their products available on the Web, /[01:28.28]but to make payments a simple and secure process. /[01:33.10]⑤However, the same things can go wrong[01:35.90]in cyberspace as in the real world. /[01:39.16]⑥Sometimes it is simply a case of a computer bug[01:42.69]or poor customer service. /[01:45.64]⑦Other times, shoppers are cheated by clever scam artists. / [01:51.80]⑧Therefore, online shoppers need to[01:54.74]take sensible precautions /[01:57.53]to make their online shopping experiences enjoyable and safe. Passage 24Aliens[00:49.54]①For a long time, aliens have often been in the news. / [00:53.33]②They have always been surrounded by mystery /[00:56.42]and interest of people all around the world. /[00:59.72]③People have claimed to have been abducted by aliens. / [01:04.59]④Some have claimed to have actually seen them. /[01:08.25]⑤But is there a sound proof that can prove aliens to be real? / [01:14.03]⑥Alien sightings have mostly been accompanied by[01:17.76]sightings of lights in the night sky. /[01:21.36]⑦Some of them have also believed /[01:23.66]that the lights came from the spaceships used by the aliens. /。