《现代大学英语听力3》 Unit 4 Agriculture (听力原文及答案)
现代大学英语听力原文及答案unit
Unit 7Task 1【答案】A.1) In a mental asylum.2) He was a member of a committee which went there to show concern for the pertinents there.3) They were cants behaving like humans.4) He was injured in a bus accident and became mentally ill.5) He spent the rest of his life in comfort.B.painter, birds, animals, cats, wide, published, encouragement, A year or two, The Illustrated London News, cats' Christmas party, a hundred and fifty, world famous【原文】Dan Rider, a bookseller who loved good causes, was a member of a committee that visited mental asylums. On one visit he noticed a patient, a quiet little man, drawing cats. Rider looked at the drawings and gasped."Good lord, man," he exclaimed. "You draw like Louis Wain!""I am Louis Wain," said the artist.Most people today have never heard of Louis Wain. But, when Rider found him in 1925, he was a household name."He made the cat his own. He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world," said H. G. Wells in a broadcast appeal a month or two later. "British cats that do not look and live like Louis Wain cats are ashamed of themselves."Before Louis Wain began drawing them, cats were kept strictly in the kitchen if they were kept at all. They were useful for catching mice and perhaps for keeping the maidservant company. Anyone else who felt affection for cats usually kept quiet about it. If a man admitted that he liked cats, he would be laughed at. The dog was the only domestic animal that could be called a friend.Louis Wain studied art as a youth and became quite a successful newspaper and magazine artist. He specialized in birds and animals, including dogs, but never drew a cat till his wife was dying. They had not been married long, and during her illness a black-and-white cat called Peter used to sit on her bed. To amuse his wife, Louis Wain used to sketch and caricature the cat while he sat by her bedside. She urged him to show these-drawings to editors, fie was unconvinced,but wanted to humour her.The first editor he approached shared his lack of enthusiasm. "Whoever would want to see a picture of a cat" he asked, and Louis Wain put the drawings away. A year or two later he showed them to the editor of The Illustrated London News, who suggested a picture of a cats' Christmas party across two full pages. Using his old sketches of Peter, Louis Wain produced a picture containing about a hundred and fifty cats, each one different from the rest. It took him a few days to draw, and it made him world famous.For the next twenty-eight years he drew nothing but cats. He filled his house with them, and sketched them in all their moods. There was nothing subtle about his work. Its humour simply lay in showing cats performing human activities; they followed every new fashion from sea bathing to motoring. He was recognized, somewhat flatteringly, as the leading authority on the feline species. He became President of the National Cat Club and was eagerly sought after as a judge at cat shows.Louis Wain's career ended abruptly in 1914, when he was seriously injured in a bus accident and became mentally ill. Finally, he was certified insane and put in an asylum for paupers.After Dan Rider found him, appeals were launched and exhibitions of his work arranged, and he spent the rest of his life in comfort. He continued to draw cats, but they became increasingly strange as his mental illness progressed. Psychiatrists found them more fascinating than anything he had done when he was sane.Task 2【答案】A.1) Because he was always trying new things and new ways of doing things just like a young painter.2) It didn’t look like her.3) It was the only picture she knew that showed her as she really was.4) People from the poorer parts of Paris, who were thin, hungry, tired, and sick.B. 1) F 2) T 3) F 4) TC. 1881, 1973, Malaga, Spain, ninety-one yearsD. fifteen, nineteen, twenty-three, colors, darker, change,soft-colored, strange, shape, human face and figure, strange 【原文】Pablo Picasso was born in 1881. So probably you are wonderingwhy we call him "the youngest painter in the world". When he died in 1973, he was ninety-one years old. But even at that age, he was still painting like a young painter.For that reason, we have called him the "youngest" painter. Young people are always trying new things and new ways of doing things. They welcome new ideas. They are restless and are never satisfied. They seek perfection. Older people often fear change. They know what they can do best, riley prefer to repeat their successes, rather than risk failure. They have found their own place in life and don't like to leave it. We know what to expect from them.When he was over ninety, this great Spanish painter still lived his life like a young man. He was still looking for new ideas and for new ways to use his artistic materials.Picasso's figures sometimes face two ways at once, with the eyes and nose in strange places. Sometimes they are out of shape or broken. Even the colors are not natural. The title of the picture tells us it is a person, but it may look more like a machine.At such times Picasso was trying to paint what he saw with his mind as well as with his eyes. He put in the side of the face as well as the front. He painted the naked body and the clothes on it at the same time. He painted in his own way. He never thought about other people's opinions.Most painters discover a style of painting that suits them and keep to it, especially if people like their pictures. As the artist grows older his pictures may change, but not very much. But Picasso was like a man who had not yet found his own style. He was still looking for a way to express his own restless spirit.The first thing one noticed about him was the look in his large, wide-open eyes. Gertrude Stein, a famous American writer who knew him when he was young, mentioned this hungry look, and one can still see it in pictures of him today. Picasso painted a picture of her in 1906, and the story is an interesting one.According to Gertrude Stein, she visited the painter's studio eighty or ninety times while he painted her picture. While Picasso painted they talked about everything in the world that interested them. Then one day Picasso wiped out the painted head though he had worked on it for so long. "When I look at you I can't see you any more!" he remarked.Picasso went away for the summer. When he returned, he went at once to the picture left in the comer of his studio. Quickly he finished the face from memory. He could see the woman's face moreclearly in his mind than he could see it when she sat in the studio in front of him.When people complained to him that the painting of Miss Stein didn't look like her, Picasso would reply, "Too bad. She'll have to look like the picture." But thirty years later, Gertrude Stein said that Picasso's painting of her was the only picture she knew that showed her as she really wasPicasso was born in Malaga, Spain, a pleasant, quiet town. His father was a painter and art teacher who gave his son his first lessons in drawing.Young Pablo did badly at school. He was lazy and didn't listen to what the teachers were saying. He had confidence in himself from the beginning. But it was soon clear that the boy was an artist and deserved the best training he could get. Not even his earliest drawings look like the work of a child.One can say that Picasso was born to be a painter. He won a prize for his painting when he was only fifteen. He studied art in several cities in Spain. But there was no one to teach him all he wanted to know. When he was nineteen he visited Paris.Paris was then the center of the world for artists. Most painters went there sooner or later to study, to see pictures, and to make friends with other painters. Everything that was new and exciting in the world of painting happened there. When he was twenty-three, Picasso returned there to live, and lived in France for the rest of his life.He was already a fine painter. He painted scenes of town life—people in the streets and in restaurants, at horse races and bull fights. They were painted in bright colors and were lovely to look at.But life was not easy for him. For several years he painted people from the poorer parts of the city. He painted men and women who were thin, hungry, tired, and sick. His colors got darker. Most of these pictures were painted in blue, and showed very clearly what the artist saw and felt. The paintings of this "blue period" are full of pity and despair.Picasso did not have to wait long for success. As he began to sell his pictures and become recognized as a painter, his pictures took on a warmer look. At the same time he began to paint with more and more freedom. He began to see people and places as simple forms or shapes. He no longer tried to make his pictures true to life.The results at first seemed strange and not real. The pictureswere difficult to understand. His style of painting was known as Cubism, from the shape of the cube. Many people did not like this new and sometimes frightening style. But what great paintings give us is a view of life through one man's eyes, and every man's view is different.Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft-colored, and beautiful. Others are strange with sharp, black outlines. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They can make our own view of the world sharper. For they force us to say to ourselves, "What makes him paint like that What does he see"Birds, places, and familiar objects play a part in Picasso's painting. But, when one thinks of him, one usually thinks of the way he painted the human face and figure. It is both beautiful and strange. Gertrude Stein wrote, "The head, the face, the human body--these are all that exist for Picasso. The souls of people do not interest him. The reality of life is in the head, the face, and the body."Task 3【答案】American Decorative Arts and Sculpture:colonial period, furniture, ceramics, ship modelsAmerican Art:The Far East, Islam, scroll painting, Buddhist sculpture, prints, the third millenniumEuropean Decorative Arts and Sculpture:Western, the fifth century, Medieval art, decorative arts, English silver, porcelain, the musical instrumentsPaintings:11th century, 20th century, impressionists, Spanish, Dutch Textiles and Costumes:high quality, a broad selection, weavings, laces, costumes, accessories【原文】Welcome to the Museum of Fine Arts. Boston has long been recognized as a leading center for the arts. One of the city's most important cultural resources is the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses collections of art from antiquity to the present day, many of them unsurpassed. Now let me introduce to you some of the collections here.The Museum's collections of American decorative arts and sculpture range from the colonial period to the present time, withmajor emphasis on pre-Civil War New England. Furniture, silver,glass, ceramics, and sculpture are on exhibition, as well as animportant collection of ship models. Favorite among museum-goersare the collection of 18th-century American furniture, the periodrooms, and the superb collection of silver.The Boston Museum's Asiatic collections are universallyrecognized as the most extensive assemblage to be found anywhereunder one roof. Artistic traditions of the Far East, Islam, and Indiaare represented by objects dating from the third millennium B.C.to the contemporary era. The collections of Japanese and Chineseart are especially noteworthy. The variety of strengths in thecollection are reflected in such areas as Japanese prints, Chineseand Japanese scroll painting, Chinese ceramics, and a renownedcollection of Buddhist sculpture.The Department of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture housesWestern European works of art dating from the fifth century through1900. Outstanding among these holdings are the collection ofmedieval art and the collection of French 18th-century decorativearts. Also of exceptional importance are the English silvercollection, the 18th-century English and French porcelain, and thecollection of musical instruments.The Museum has one of the world's foremost collections ofpaintings ranging from the 11th century to the early 20th century.This department is noted for French paintings from 1825 to 1900,especially works by the impressionists. The Museum's greatcollection of paintings by American artists includes more than 60works by John Singleton Copley and 50 by Gilbert Stuart. There isalso a strong representation of paintings from Spain, Italy, andthe Netherlands.The collection of textiles and costumes is ranked among thegreatest in the world because of the high quality and rarity ofindividual pieces and because it has a broad selection of representative examples of weavings, embroideries, laces, printedfabrics, costumes, and costume accessories. The textile arts of botheastern and western cultures are included, dating frompre-Christian times to the present.Apart from what I have mentioned, the Museum has got much moreto offer, for example, the collections of classical art, Egyptianand ancient Near Eastern art, and 20th-century art. I'll leave youto explore by yourselves and enjoy your time here.Task 4【答案】A.1) specialists, specialized settings, money, sharp division2) conventions, some societies and periods3) commodityB.1) Because they lacked opportunity: The necessary social, educational, and economic conditions to create art rarely existed for women in the past.2) Because the art of indigenous peoples did not share the same expressive methods or aims as Western art.C. 1) F 2) T【原文】The functions of the artist and artwork have varied widely during the past five thousand years. It our time, the artist is seen as an independent worker, dedicated to the expression of a unique subjective experience. Often the artist's role is that of the outsider, a critical or rebellious figure. He or she is a specialist who has usually undergone advanced training in a university department of art or theater, or a school with a particular focus, such as a music conservatory. In our societies, works of art are presented in specialized settings: theaters, concert halls, performance spaces, galleries, and museum. There is usually a sharp division between the artist and her or his audience of non-artists. We also associate works of art with money: art auctions in which paintings sell for millions of dollars, ticket sales to the ballet, or fundraising for the local symphony.In other societies and parts of our own society, now and in the past, the arts are closer to the lives of ordinary people. For the majority of their history, artists have expressed the dominant beliefs of a culture, rather than rebelling against them. In place of our emphasis on the development of a personal or original style, artists were trained to conform to the conventions of their art form. Nor have artists always been specialists; in some societies and periods, all members of a society participated in art. The modern Western economic mode, which treats art as a commodity for sale, is not universal. In societies such as that of the Navaho, the concept of selling or creating a salable version of a sand painting would be completely incomprehensible. Selling Navaho sand paintings created as part of a ritual would profane a sacred experience.Artists' identities are rarely known before the Renaissance,with the exception of the period of Classical Greece, when artists were highly regarded for their individual talents and styles. Among artists who were known, there were fewer women than men. In the twentieth century, many female artists in all the disciplines have been recognized. Their absence in prior centuries does not indicate lack of talent, but reflects lack of opportunity. The necessary social, educational, and economic conditions to create art rarely existed for women in the past.Artists of color have also been recognized in the West only recently. The reasons for this absence range from the simple--there were few Asians in America and Europe prior to the middle of the nineteenth century--to the complexities surrounding African Americans. The art of indigenous peoples, while far older than that of the West, did not share the same expressive methods or aims as Western art. Until recently, such art was ignored or dismissed in Western society by the dominant cultural gatekeepers.Task 5【答案】A.1) a) 2) c) 3) b)B.Ⅰ. observant, a dog, Leather BarⅡ. Magnificent visual memory, essentialsⅢ. Rhythm, DustmenⅣ. everyday scenes, Her salty sense of humourC. 1) T 2) F 3) T 4) T【原文】Few artists can have made such an immediate impact on the public as Beryl Cook. At one moment she was completely unknown; at the next, so it seemed, almost everyone had heard of her. First, a few paintings appeared quietly in the window of a remote country antique shop. Then there were exhibitions in Plymouth, in Bristol, in London; an article in a colour supplement, a television programme, a series of greetings cards and a highly successful book. Her rise was all the more astonishing since she was completely untrained, and was already middle-aged by the time she began to paint.Faced with such a series of events, the temptation is to discuss Beryl's art in the context of naive art. This seems to me a mistake, for she is a highly sophisticated and original painter, whose work deserves to be taken on its own terms.What are those terms If one actually meets Beryl, one comes to understand them a little better. The pictures may seem extrovert,but she is not. For example, she is too shy to turn up at her own private viewings. Her pleasure is to stay in the background, observing.And what an observer Beryl Cook is! It so happens that I was present when the ideas for two of the paintings in the present collection germinated. One is a portrait of my dog, a French bulldog called Bertie. When Beryl came to see me for the first time, he jumped up the stairs ahead of her, wearing his winter coat which is made from an old scarf. A few days later his picture arrived in the post. The picture called Leather Bar had its beginnings the same evening.I took Beryl and her husband John to a pub. There was a fight, and we saw someone being thrown out by the bouncers.The point about these two incidents is that they both happened in a flash. No one was carrying camera; there was no opportunity to make sketches. But somehow the essentials of the scene registered themselves on Beryl, and she was able to record them later in an absolutely convincing and authoritative way.The fact is she has two very rare gifts, not one. She has a magnificent visual memory, and at same time she is able to rearrange and simplify what she sees until it makes a completely convincing composition. Bertie's portrait, with its plump backside and bow legs, is more like Bertie than reflection in a mirror—it catches the absolute essentials of his physique and personality.But these gifts are just the foundation of what Beryl Cook does. She has a very keen feeling for pictorial rhythm. The picture of Dustmen, for instance, has a whirling rhythm which is emphasized by the movement of their large hands in red rubber gloves—these big hands are often a special feature of Beryl's pictures. The English artist she most closely resembles in this respect is Stanley Spencer.Details such as those I have described are, of course, just the kind of thing to appeal to a professional art critic. Important as they are, they would not in themselves account for the impact she has had on the public.Basically, I think this impact is due to two things. When Beryl paints an actual, everyday scene—and I confess these are the pictures I prefer—the smallest detail is immediately recognizable. Her people, for example, seem to fit into a kind of Beryl Cook stereotype, with their big heads and fat and round bodies. Yet they are in fact brilliantly accurate portraits. Walking round Plymouth with her, I am always recognizing people who have made an appearancein her work. Indeed, her vision is so powerful that one tends ever after to see the individual in the terms Beryl has chosen for him/her.The other reason for her success is almost too obvious to be worth mentioning—it is her marvelous sense of humour. My Fur Coat is a picture of a bowler-hatted gentleman who is being offered an unexpected treat. What makes the picture really memorable is the expression on the face of the man. The humour operates even in pictures which aren't obviously "funny". There is something very endearing, for instance, in the two road sweepers with Plymouth lighthouse looming behind them.A sense of humour may be a good reason for success with the public. It is also one which tends to devalue Beryl's work with professional art buffs. Her work contains too much life to be real art as they understand it.This seems to me nonsense, and dangerous nonsense at that. Beryl does what artists have traditionally done—she comments on the world as she perceives it. And the same time she rearranges what she sees to make a pattern of shapes and colours on a flat surface—a pattern which is more than the sum of its individual parts because it has the mysterious power to enhance and excite our own responses to the visible.I suspect Beryl's paintings will be remembered and cherished long after most late 20th-century art is forgotten. What they bring us is a real sense of how ordinary life is lived in our own time, a judgment which is the more authoritative for the humour and lightness of touch.Task 6【答案】A. objects, action or story, painted and composed, interestingB.Plate 1: symmetrical, more interesting designPlate 2: asymmetrical, shapes, colorsPlate 3: extends, the left side, pointC.Plate 4: c) d)Plate 5: a) b) d)Plate 6: a) b) d)【原文】The six pictures in your book are all what we call still life paintings—that is to say, they pictures of ordinary objects suchas baskets of fruit, flowers, and old books. There is no “action”, there is no "story" being told in any of these paintings. Yet we find these paintings interesting because of the way they have been painted, and especially because of the way they have been composed. The picture in PLATE 1 was painted by the seventeenth-century Spanish master Zurbaran. How simply Zurbaran has arranged his objects, merely lining them up in a row across the table! By separating them into three groups, with the largest item in the center, he has made what we call a symmetrical arrangement. But it is a rather free kind of symmetry, for the objects on the left side are different in shape from those on the right. Furthermore, the pile of lemons looks heavier than the cup and saucer. Yet Zurbaran has balanced these two different groups in a very subtle way. For one thing, he has made one of the leaves point downward toward the rose on the saucer, and he has made, the oranges appear to tip slightly toward the right. But even by themselves, the cup and saucer, combined with the rose, are more varied in shape than the pile of lemons on the left. All in all, what Zurbarran has done is to balance the heavier mass of lemons with a more interesting design on the right.We find a completely different sort of balance in a still life by the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Pieter Claesz (see PLATE 2). Objects of several different sizes are apparently scattered at random on a table. Claesz has arranged them asymmetrically, that is, without attempting to make the two halves of the picture look alike. The tall glass tumbler, for instance, has been placed considerably off-center, weighing down the composition at the left. Yet Claesz has restored the balance of the picture by massing his most interesting shapes and liveliest colors well over to the right. PLATE 3, a still life by the American painter William M. Harnett, seems even more heavily weighted to one side, for here two thick books and an inkwell are counterbalanced merely by a few pieces of paper. But notice the angle at which Harnett has placed the yellow envelope: How it extends one side of the pyramid formed by the books and inkwell way over to the left edge of the picture, like a long cable tying down a ship to its pier. Both the newspaper and the quill pen also point to this side of the painting, away from the heavy mass at the right, thus helping to balance the whole composition. Now turn to a still life by one of Harnett's contemporaries, the great French painter Paul Cezanne (see PLATE 4). Here the composition is even more daringly asymmetrical, for the climax ofthe entire picture is the heavy gray jug in the upper fight comer. Notice that Cezanne has arranged most of the fruit on the table, as well as a fold in the background drapery, so that they appear to move upward toward this jug. Yet he has balanced the composition by placing a bright yellow lemon at the left and by tipping the table down toward the lower left corner.Our next still life (see PLATE 5), by the famous Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, seems hardly "still" at all. As we view this scene from almost directly above, the composition seems to radiate in all directions, almost like an explosion. Notice that Van Gogh has painted the tablecloth with short, thick strokes which seem to shoot out from the very center of the picture.Finally, let us look at a painting by Henri Matisse (see PLATE 6). Here we see a number of still life objects, but no table to support them. Matisse presents each form by itself, in a world of its own, rather than as part of a group of objects in a realistic situation. But he makes us feel that all these forms belong together in his picture simply by the way he has related them to one another in their shapes and colors.Task 7【原文】Frank Lloyd Wright did not call himself an artist. He called himself an architect. But the buildings he designed were works of art. He looked at the ugly square buildings around him, and he did not like what he saw. He wondered why people built ugly homes, when they could have beautiful ones.Frank Lloyd Wright lived from 1869 to 1959. When he was young, there were no courses in architecture, so he went to work in an architect's office in order to learn how to design buildings. Soon he was designing buildings that were beautiful.He also wanted to make his buildings fit into the land around them. One of the houses he designed is on top of a high hill. Other people built tall, square houses on hills, but Wright did not want to lose the beauty of the hill. He built the house low and wide. Now other architects know how to design buildings to fit into the landscape. Frank Lloyd Wright showed them how to do it.。
大学体验英语听说教程3原文-Unit4
Unit 4Warm Up1. My family is a little unusual. Some people might even say we’re nuts.2. My mother is extreme when it comes to neatness. She can’t stand to see even a speck of dust in the house.3. Mom is really strict with us when it comes to household chores. Every day, we have to do a couple of hours of chores to keep things neat.4. My father loves to barbecue. He’s definitely a fanatic. He can’t live without his barbecue grill.5. One time, I accidentally broke Dad’s grill. He comp letely freaked out. He was so upset, he couldn’t even wait a day to buy another one.6. My sister, Alicia, is a vegan. She not only avoids meat, but also any animal products, like milk and eggs.7. Sometimes Alicia and Dad argue because they have opposite interests. She’s as devoted to her vegetarianism as he is to his barbecuing.8. Some of my other relatives are a little strange, too. I’ve got an aunt who thinks she can see the future and a cousin who does four hours of bodybuilding exercises every day!9. My family might be a little irritating to some people, but they don’t bother me much. After all, they’re the only family I’ve got.1. My sister is a really strict vegan. It’s not for religious or health reasons. It’s just she’s just a little nuts. Every time she comes over for a family dinner we have to make a special dish just for her. And if, like, the fork we’ve used to serve some meat even touches her plate for a split second, she freaks out and has to get another plate. Recently, she started this new thing where she can’t even eat any vegetables that are cooked. They have to be raw. And she put her cat on a vegan diet, too. The poor thing only eats vegetables. Every time I go over to her place, the cat looks at me with these sad eyes, like, “Meat … please?”2. My cousin Pat is a professional clown. He goes by the name Patty Cakes. He gets hired to do special events like kids’ birthday parties. The thing about Pat is that he just can’t stop being a clown even when he’s not working. He’ll show up at his friend’s house and start making balloon hats for everyone. And then there’s his pet duck, Phoebe. Pat uses Phoebe in his clown act, but sometimes he doesn’t have time to take her home after work, so he just brings her along wherever he’s going. It’s just so stra nge to see Pat walk in somewhere with Phoebe following behind him wearing a diaper.3. My Aunt Samantha collects dolls. She’s a real fanatic. Most people have hobbies, you know, like sports or music or movies, but Aunt Samantha spends all her money on dolls. She has one room in her apartment completely devoted to Barbie dolls. I mean, the whole room is wall-to-wall Barbies! She’s got over a thousand of them lined up on shelves from floor to ceiling. The dolls are all in perfect condition. She stores them in their boxes and never takes them out. It’s kind of scary, actually. When you walk into that room, you just feel surrounded by them. It’s like they’re all watching you or something.4. My brother Andrew is really into TV and movies and, um ... How can I put this nicely? He can get pretty extreme about it. He’s always pretending to be a character from a movie or TV show. Now, when he was twelve or thirteen, he used to watch the TV show Star Trek all the time, and he’d go around talking exactly like Mr. Spock. Like if I’d say, “Andrew, get out of my room. I’m studying. You’re so irritating.” And he’d say, “Irritating? Ah, yes, one of your earthling emotions.” Stuff like that, a line right out of Star Trek. Now, sometimes, it’s funny. Like now he’s doing Harry Potter voices. But we worry about him a lot. I mean, does he even know who he is? He’s always acting like someone else.Real World ListeningLydia: OK, Greg, I got the wedding invitations back from the printers. Let’s do this!Greg: OK, I’m ready.Lydia: Got your list?Greg: Yeah, I just have a short list, though. Just my parents, and my brother Tim, and his wife, and my sister Tanya, and Jamie, my friend from college, and that’s about it. I can’t think of anyone else that I really want to invite.Lydia: Greg, that’s like, what, ten people? Are you joking? This is our wedding. Greg: Well, I guess we could invite my mom’s cousin Abigail. She lives nearby, but I don’t know her very well, and she’s kind of crazy. She has, like, fifteen cats.Lydia: Greg, if she’s family, you should invite her.Greg: I guess.Lydia: So, including your mom’s cousin Abigail, you’ve now got a grand total of eleven guests. That just isn’t enough to fill up a rec eption room.Greg: Well, how many people are you inviting?Lydia: Um, let’s see. Here’s my list. I’ve got my brother and his wife.Greg: Right.Lydia: And her parents and relatives.Greg: You’re inviting your sister-in-law’s relatives, too?Lydia: Greg, this is a family event. Can’t leave anyone out.Greg: Can’t leave anyone out?Lydia: And then there’s my mother’s two brothers and their families.Greg: They’ll come all the way from San Francisco for this?Lydia: Oh, absolutely. And then my aunt Chia-Lin.Greg: I thought she lived in Shanghai.Lydia: She does, but she’ll come for the wedding.Greg: Really?Lydia: She wouldn’t miss it for the world, and besides, my mother would never forgive her if she didn’t come to my wedding.Greg: Ah.Lydia: And then my father will want to invite all his close friends from work.Greg: Wait a sec. Your father’s friends from work are coming? How many is that?Lydia: Oh, Greg, he’s in the restaurant business. He’s got so many friends. There must be like, one, two, three, eight people who work in the restaurantalone, and then the suppliers, and all of his regular big customers. Maybe eighty or ninety. Something like that.Greg: Eighty people!Lydia: There’s no way he wouldn’t invite all of them to his daughter’s wedding. It’d be an insult!Greg: But I thought we were just inviting family and close friends.Lydia: Believe me, my father’s business associates are like family.Greg: Wow! How many people are on that list there?Lydia: Oh, just a few. This is just like three or four hundred people. I’m trying to keep it small.。
《现代大学英语听力3》 Unit 4 Agriculture (听力原文及答案)
Unit 4 Agriculture《现代大学英语听力3》听力原文及答案Task 1【答案】A.1) They are farms that grow vegetables for city people to eat fresh.2) It’s a farm that grow plants and flowers to sell.3) They protect the plants from the cold in the winter but let them get plenty of light, so the plants can be grown all through the year.B.1) canned, frozen2) flowers, garden plants, home gardens, yards, window boxes3) buildings, furniture, firewood【原文】Grain, vegetables and fruits are found on most farms. All of them are food for animals and people. Grain can be fed to animals just as it is harvested. But before people use them grains are usually made into flour or breakfast cereal. Bread, macaroni, and cereals all come from grain. Tomatoes, beans, potatoes, beets, lettuce, carrots and onions are field and garden vegetables. Can you think of any others? Vegetables are good for people and for some animals such as pigs and rabbits.Farms that grow vegetables for city people to eat fresh are called truck farms. Truck farms are usually close to big cities. Each day hundreds of loads of fresh vegetables are brought to stores on the farmers' trucks. Without the truck farmers people in cities would not eat well. And without city people who eat fresh vegetables, the truck farmers would have no work.There are many kinds of fruit. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, oranges, grapefruit, and berries are a few kinds. You will be able to think of other kinds that you like. Most fruit is grown on specialized farms. But many general farms have some fruit to use and sell also.Like vegetables, fruit is sold fresh in markets. But a large part of both fruit and vegetable crops is sent to factories to be canned or frozen.In warm parts of our country farmers grow cotton, rice, tobacco, sugar cane, and peanuts. Specialized farms raise flowers and garden plants. They are sold to florists and to families for home gardens, or yards, or window boxes. A farm that grow plants and flowers to sell is called a nursery. Most nurseries have glass buildings, called hothouses or greenhouses. The hothouses are heated to protect the plants from cold in the winter but let them get plenty of light, so they can be grown all through the year.Some farms grow only trees. Some of these are Christmas tree farms. Others are large forests where trees are grown for their wood. The wood is used for buildings, furniture and firewood. Some tree farms grow only nut trees.Task 2【答案】A.B.1) The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars.2) The agencies called for worldwide acceptance of Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and trade in pesticides.【原文】Two United Nations agencies are expressing concern about the safety of some pesticides used to kill insects. They report that about thirty percent of all pesticides sold in developing countries fail to meet widely accepted rules for quality. They say these products are a serious threat to human health and the environment.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization gave the warning. In developing countries, pesticides are used mainly for agriculture. Pesticides kill insects and other organisms that threaten crops. Pesticides also are used for public health. They control insects that spread disease, such as mosquitoes that spread malaria.The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars. They say the estimated market value of pesticides worldwide was thirty-two thousand million dollars.Officials say poor quality pesticides often contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals often are banned or restricted in some countries.Possible causes of low quality in pesticides include production problems and failure to use the right chemicals. Officials say the active chemicals in many pesticides are stronger than those permitted by many governments. They also say poor quality pesticides may contain poisonous substances or substances that are not pure.Officials say the quality of pesticide containers and product information on the containers are other concerns. They say information on the containers often fails to explain the active chemicals and how to use the product safely.The WHO says products listing false information have been sold for years in some areas. The agencies say the problem of poor quality pesticides is widespread in parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. They called for worldwide acceptance of Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and tradein pesticides.Officials say the agencies' rules are especially important for developing countries. They say developing countries often lack systems for testing pesticides.Task 3【答案】A.1) c) 2) d) 3) b)B.That’s because they’re making an investment all the time, but are still not sure whether or not they can make profits.【原文】Interviewer: Cattle raising and beef in the US is big business, isn't it?Bob Beck: Yes, it's the largest business—cattle business.Interviewer: It must be a very profitable business then.Bob Beck: Uh, not necessarily.Interviewer: It's not necessarily a profitable business?Bob Beck: At times, it's not profitable. Your production costs get... it's a supply and demand market, and if your supply is larger than your demand...Interviewer: So the price is fluctuating all the time...Bob Beck: Right. It fluctuates, and it can get below production costs.Interviewer: But you never know. For instance, next year, you don't know what it'll bring on the market.Bob Beck: No, technically it takes a year and a half from the time you breed the cow, until you get the calf, until the calf's marketable.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: You've got a year, to a year and a half, tied up there.Interviewer: So, you're making an investment all the time.Bob Beck: Right. So you're not sure.Interviewer: It sounds like it might be a very insecure kind of existence. Wonder why it is that people want to be farmers or ranchers then...Bob Beck: I think the majority of it is you like it. It's one thing. It's a breed of people. They like it. If you don't like what you're doing, why...Interviewer: What is there about it? You live essentially in a rural area. Doesn't that feeling of isolation ever bother you?Bob Beck: No. It's getting too crowded.Interviewer: Too crowded!Bob Beck: Too many people!Interviewer: I can see that, for instance, in a city, you have restaurants to go to, movie theaters—all kinds of thingsavailable to people, a lot of conveniences which you don't have in the more rural areas. What do people who farm and ranch do for recreation and relaxation, for instance... erm...Bob Beck: Well, I think a lot of it is if you're a livestock raiser, you'll go check your cows in the evening instead of going to a movie.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: That's as much recreation as driving through a bunch or cows, and if you like them, you enjoy that.Interviewer: In terms of the way of life, to a lot of people, it would seem that it's a very hard life. It means a lot of hard work. I mean, you have a schedule—whether you feel like it or not, you have to get out and feed animals, and so forth. Would you regard that as one of the difficult things about it, or is that...Bob Beck: No.Interviewer: …just sort of... part of it?Bob Beck: For me, if I had to go to a desk every morning, that'd kill me.Task 4【答案】A. paid off, fall back on, a security, operating expenses, complete disasterB.1) Some of them cook the meals, clean the house and take care of the kids every day.2) Yes. That is especially so after they've had one or two bad years when they couldn’t make money.3) When their children are small, they were with their parents to go out to work; when they are very small, Sharon didn’t go out as much as she would later.4) She thinks that in this way the children are a lot more self-reliant. They learn to work and they learn responsibility. They learn a lot about life by being continually in life with animals.【原文】Bob Beck: I think, for a wife, the same as a husband, they like it or they wouldn't marry a farmer or a rancher.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: They'd get out. I think it's not at all wives. Some of them are just like suburban housewives.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: They cook the meals, and they clean the house and that's it... take care of the kids... Interviewer: Have you known some situations like that?Bob Beck: Oh, yeah, I know situations like that!Interviewer: Sharon, is there a problem of the feeling of security?Sharon Beck: What kind of security are you talking about—financial security?Interviewer: Uh, yeah, financial security. Uh, the thing is up and down. You don't know what the market's going to bring, er... for beef. You work all year, and so forth... Is there any problem of that sort?Sharon Beck: Sure, there's the problem of security. Especially, if you've had one or two bad years. You feel awfully insecure.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: If you've borrowed money to buy a farm or to operate, and there's no money coming in, you feel awfully insecure.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: But if you've got a fairly good amount of your ranch paid off, you've got that to fall back on. You can always think of that as a security. If everythin g else fails, if you can’t pay foryour operating expenses…Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: ...you can always sell your equity in your ranch. So it isn't complete disaster. Interviewer: But it's not something that bothers you terribly. I mean, it's a fact of life. It's sort of... Sharon Beck: Something you live with, yeah...Interviewer:... part of the thing. The role of the wife in this situation is quite different than that of a suburban housewife. You don't have much free time, do you?Sharon Beck: No.Interviewer: Because, essentially, you work in much the same way that your husband does. Sharon Beck: Yes, I'm usually with him.Interviewer: How do you handle the whole family-life situation—children? You're out almost as much as a working mother in the city, aren't you?Sharon Beck: Yes. The only difference is we're together.Interviewer: The children too...?Sharon Beck: The children too. When they're not in school, when they were small, they were with us. When they were very small, of course, I didn't go out as much.Interviewer: Do you feel that there are advantages in growing up in this way?Sharon Beck: Yeah, I definitely feel that there're advantages. There are disadvantages too, but I think the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.Interviewer: What are some of those advantages you think the children have?Sharon Beck: The advantages?Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: Well, they're a lot more self-reliant. They learn to work. Erm, they learn responsibility.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: They learn a lot about life by being continually in life, with animals, and... I think it makes them... erm... They grow up!Task 5【答案】A.1) 75 percent, half, in the east and south of England, in eastern Scotland, cereals, in hilly areas, on the richer grass of the lowlands2) 173, 703) The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Farmers' Union, 2 percent, 25 percent4) 1973, the European CommunityB.1) First, farmers complain that their work is made more difficult by rules and regulations that have been introduced. Second, they also claim that quota systems, which limit the amount of produce they can sell, make it impossible to make a profit.2) Many farmers let farm cottages, offer bed and breakfast to tourists, and grow strawberries in order to gain some extra money.3) Because the CAP’s set-aside policy is seen as helping farmers ge4t rich for doing nothing.4) Farmers are often criticized for destroying woods and hedges and for poisoning the environment with fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers may also be accused of cruelty towards their animals.【原文】About 75 percent of Britain is farmed, and British farms supply over half the country's food. Arable farms are mainly in the east and south of England and in eastern Scotland. The main crops are cereals, for example, wheat and barley, and potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape. Livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, are reared in hilly areas, though dairy cows are kept on the richer grass of the lowlands. Many cattle farmers have had a difficult time recently because of the BSE crisis. Kent, often called "the garden of England", and the Vale of Evesham are famous for horticultural produce.The average size of a British farm is 173 acres (70 hectares). Most farms are managed like other modern businesses. The word agribusiness describes the commercial aspects of farming. It is also used to refer to all the industries, including farming, which are associated with food production. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the government department responsible for agriculture. Farmers' interests are represented by the National Farmers' Union. Agriculture only employs about 2 percent of the British workforce, though this figure rises to 25 percent when food processing industries are included.In 1973, Britain's entry into the European Community led to many changes in farming. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides help for farmers through subsidies. Originally, farmers were encouraged to produce as much as they could, and any surplus was put into storage. The cost of this policy was passed on to customers, who had to pay higher prices for food. Many people are still unhappy about the CAP. Farmers complain that their work is made more difficult by rules and regulations that have been introduced. They also claim that quota systems, which limit the amount of produce they can sell, make it impossible to make a profit. In recent years many farmers have tried to find additional ways of making money, e.g. by letting farm cottages, offering bed and breakfast to tourists, or by growing strawberries.But farmers do not get much sympathy from other people, mainly because of the money they receive in subsidies. The CAP’s set-aside policy, which pays farmers to leave some fields uncultivated, is seen by some people as helping farmers get rich for doing nothing. Farmers are sometimes called "custodians of the countryside", but they are often criticized for destroying woods and hedges and for poisoning the environment with fertilizers and pesticides. Some farmers practise organic fanning without chemicals, but, although people approve of this, most are unwilling to pay higher prices for organic produce. Farmers may also be accused of cruelty towards their animals: In battery farming, for instance, chickens are reared in crowded cages.Task 6【答案】A.1) over 22 million, about 2.5 percent, in the 1950s, in the 1980s, 470, 190, 174 ,70, 1940, 1996, $51 billion2) 36 percent, 47 percent3) $200 billion, $60 billion-worthB.1) Midwest, corn, soybeans2) Canada, southern Texas on the eastern side3) the Great Lakes4) Florida, Southern California and Hawaii5) the southeastC.1) The US Department of Agriculture spends a lot of its budget on buying surpluses and paying subsidies to farmers for them not to grow certain crops.2) It will gradually end these subsidies and give farmers more freedom to respond to public demand and grow what they want.3) The Federation is involved in agricultural research, but it also protects farmers' rights and tries to influence government policy.4) They think factory farming is bad and are in favor of organic produce, but they are unwilling to pay the extra cost.【原文】Agribusiness in the United States employs more people than any other industry, over 22 million, but only about 2.5 percent of the American workforce are farmers. Many people got into debt and left their farms in the 1950s, and in the 1980s many more farmers sold out and moved to the cities. The average size of a farm is now 470 acres (190 hectares), compared with 174 acres (70 hectares) in 1940. In 1996 farm income was more than $51 billion, the highest ever, but despite this many farmers had large debts.Many farmers live in the Corn Belt of the Midwest where corn and soybeans are grown. The US grows 36 percent of the world's corn and 47 percent of its soybeans. Others live on the prairies of the Great Plains, in what is known as the Wheat Belt, which stretches from Canada to southern Texas on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. Most livestock farmers live around the Great Lakes in the Dairy Belt, or further south in states like Texas where cattle are bred for meat on ranches. In the South many live in the Cotton Belt. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, are grown in Florida, Southern California and Hawaii, and tobacco is grown in the southeast. In 1996 the total value of agricultural products was $200 billion, of which $60 billion-worth, mostly grain and soybeans, was exported. Farmers and ranchers are usually well respected by other people.The US Department of Agriculture spends a lot of its budget on buying surpluses and paying subsidies (in this case, money for not growing certain crops) to farmers, though in 1996 Congress passed a "Freedom to Farm" law that will gradually end these subsidies and give farmers more freedom to respond to public demand and grow what they want.Farmers are represented by the American Farm Bureau Federation and county farm organizations called Farm Bureaus. The Federation is involved in agricultural research, but it also protects farmers' rights and tries to influence government policy. Agricultural colleges attached to universities are highly respected. Extension officers act as a link between research departments and farmers.As in Britain, many people in the United States think factory farming is bad and are in favor of organic produce, but they are unwilling to pay the extra cost.Task 7【答案】B.1) Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity,2) Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer varieties of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of varieties that may have useful genetic qualities.3) Because irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas.4) Pesticides do destroy harmful insects, but they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.【原文】Agroecology is a field of ideas about how to farm productively while also protecting natural resources. It is seen in many ways as an answer to the Green Revolution that has given us modem farming methods.Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity, but they work toward this common goal in different ways. Many agroecologists question how long modem farming methods can continue.Modem farming uses land intensively. Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer varieties of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of varieties that may have useful genetic qualities.Another issue is fertilizer. Agroecologists say they would use organic materials and compost in place of chemicals. The Green Revolution has shown that chemical fertilizer can greatly increase crop productivity, but it can also pollute water supplies.To water crops, agroecologists say they would use methods that reduce the need for irrigation. Irrigation is an ancient idea. Water is drawn up from the ground or brought from another place. Irrigated crops are highly productive: 16 percent of all farmland in the world is irrigated, but this 16 percent of the farmland produces 40 percent of all food. Yet irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas. To control pests, agroecologists say they would use helpful insects to kill harmful ones. In the last 50 years, however, farmers have increased the use of insecticides. These chemical poisons do destroy harmful insects, but they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.Task 8【原文】Farming changed very little from early times until about 1700. In the 1700s an agricultural revolution took place which led to a large increase in the production of crops. This increase of crops came about in a large part by little more than the final destruction of medieval institutions and the more general adoption of techniques and crops which had been known for a long time. Included in some of these changes was also the adoption of crops from the "new world" such as corn and potatoes which produced a very large yield.In the 1850s, the industrial revolution spilled over to the farm with new mechanized methods which increased production rates. Early on, the large changes were in the use of new farm implements. Most of these early implements were still powered by horses or oxen. These new implements combined with crop rotation, manure and better soil preparation led to a steady increase of crop yield in Europe.The advent of steam power and later gas powered engines brought a whole new dimension to the production of crops. Yet, even as recently as 100 years ago, four fifths of the world population lived outside towns and were in some way dependant on agriculture.。
现代大学英语听力课堂听力Unit
Unit 8Task 1答案1 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation2 Association of Southeast Asian Nations3 European Union4 Food and Agriculture Organization5 International Atomic Energy Agency6 International Labour Organization7 International Monetary Fund8 North American Free Trade Agreement9 World Health Organization10 World Trade Organization原文1 APEC is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.2 ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.3 EU is the European Union.4 FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organization.5 IAEA is the International Atomic Energy Agency.6 ILO is the International Labour Organization.7 IMF is the International Monetary Fund.8 NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement.9 WHO is the World Health Organization.10 WTO is the World Trade Organization.Task 2答案1 recently attacked an elementary school2 have begun hunting crocodiles3 planting gardens on the tops of buildings4 resettle more than 125,000 people5 help rebuild Afghanistan6 11 million dollars in aid for the Asian nation7India has more than one billion people8 China’s population has increased to more than one billion two hundred million原文1 Giant kangaroos from a national park near Canberra, Australia’s capital, recently attacked an elementary school.2 Officials in Uganda have begun hunting crocodiles around Lake Victoria.3 Officials in Chicago, Illinois, are hoping to help the environment by planting gardens on the tops of buildings.4 China plans to resettle more than 125,000 people because of the huge dam being built on the Yangtze River.5 Delegates from more than 60 nations and organizations are gathering in Japan to open a conference to help rebuild Afghanistan.6 Officials from Mongolia and the United Nations have appealed for 11 million dollars in aid for the Asian nation.7 Early results from the government’s population count show that India has more than one billion people.8 The government says China’s population has increased to more than one billion two hundred million.Task 3答案News Item 1A.1 b,2 c,3 d, 4aNews Item 2B.Lead: Thousands of demonstrators have forced the cancellation of the opening ceremony at the World Trade Organization meeting in the American city of Seattle, Washington.1 Ministers from 135 WTO member countries2 police, demonstrators3 big businesses, workers, the environment4 aid to farmers, labor rules, trade taxesC.1 They accused the WTO of protecting the interests of big business at the expenses of those of workers and the environment.2 The WTO is criticized by both poor countries and disadvantaged groups in the Western World. In News Item 1, the WTO faces the criticism particularly from developing countries that demand more concessions from developed nations in trade talks. In News Item 2, the WTO was accused of protecting the interests of big business at the expenses of those of workers and the environment.3 Yes. Throughout history, rich people and developed countries have benefited most from the existing international trade arrangements. Now it’s time for them to give more considerations for poor countries and people.As a leading actor in the process of globalization, the WTO should do more to reduce its negative impact on the poor and the environment.原文News Item 1And this news from South Africa— Commonwealth leaders have called for fair treatment for poor nations at the World Trade Organization talks later this month. Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku read a statement from the leaders during their meeting in Durban. It calls for removal of all trade blocks for the exports of poor countries and it says that strong export growth is necessary for improving the living conditions of poor countries. Ministers from the 134-nation World Trade Organization will meet in the American city of Seattle, Washington, 2 weeks from now. They will plan a new series of trade talks for next year.News Item 2Thousands of demonstrators have forced the cancellation of the opening ceremony at the World Trade Organization meeting in the American city of Seattle, Washington. A WTO officialsaid ministers from 135 member countries will continue trade talks. However, he said the official opening ceremony will take place later. The decision was made after police clashed with demonstrators in the center of Seattle. The demonstrators accused the trade group of defending the interests of big businesses. They say it does not care about workers and the environment. Representatives at the conference will attempt to settle differences involving aid to farmers, labor rules, trade taxes and other issues.Task 4答案Mexico, 1989, America, economies, community, 21, two and one half thousand million, almost half, joint statement, terrorism, security, goods原文Leaders from many nations are attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference in the holiday area of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.APEC was established in 1989 as a trade group for the nations of Asia and the America. It was formed in reaction to the growing dependency among economies of countries that border the Pacific Ocean. Its goal was to support economic growth among those countries and to create a sense of community. APEC has 21 member economies. The combined population of APEC countries is about 2,500,000,000 two and one half thousand million people. The countries are responsible for almost half of all world trade.APEC foreign and trade ministers started talks earlier this week. On Thursday, the foreign ministers approved a joint statement that promised to suppress the financing of terrorism. The statement also promised to strengthen security for air travel and shipping of goods.Task 5答案A.1 Computer products, and particularly an operating system.2 The judge ruled that Microsoft company has acted a monopoly.3 Monopoly means blocking competition from other companies to gain control of the market.4 People who buy computer products.B.1 more than 500, 000 million2 operating3 the 9th4 blocking/ending/stopping5 harmed原文News Item 1And this news. The computer company— Microsoft has become the first company in history to be valued at more than 500,000 million dollars. Microsoft produces an operating system that is used in most of the computers in the world. Microsoft was established by Bill Gates. If the company were a country, it would have the 9th largest economy in the world.News Item 2In Washington, a judge has ruled that Microsoft Company has acted as a monopoly. Thismeans Microsoft took steps to end competition from other companies to gain total control of the market. The judge said that Microsoft’s business actions harmed people who buy computer products. The court decision is considered a major defeat for the company. Microsoft is the world’s largest maker of computer software products.Task 6答案A.1 T,2 F,3 F,4 T,5 T,6 TB.Judge Jackson’s rulings1 misusing, computer programs2 two smaller businessesThe Federal Appeals Court’s rulings1 block competition2 reconsider3 fair/being fair, Microsoft and Bill GatesLegal experts’ comments1 the Federal government, Microsoft2a The Supreme Courtb a new trial, the unresolved legal questionsc negotiations, privatelyBill Gates’ responsethe situation, solutionProspects1 an agreement2 punished, pay money原文In November, a Washington D.C. judge found the Microsoft Corporation guilty of misusing its power to control the market for computer programs. Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson announced his findings after months of trial. He said Microsoft uses its power to illegally block competition.Judge Jackson later ordered that Microsoft be divided into two smaller businesses. The Microsoft Corporation quickly appealed Judge Jackson’s ruling to a Federal Court.Last week, the Federal Appeals Court ruled on the case. It said Microsoft Corporation was guilty of creating a company that used its power to block competition. The seven Appeals Court judges agreed with Judge Jackson that Microsoft limited creativity in the computer industry and harmed the public. They said that Microsoft was guilty of violating several federal laws.However, the Federal Appeals Court also said the Washington D.C. court must reconsider its order to divide Microsoft into two smaller companies. The federal court dismissed Judge Jackson’s decision. The Appeals Court judges accused Judge Jackson of not being fair during the Microsoft Trial. They severely criticized him for comments he made about Microsoft and its chairman to reporters during the trial.The Federal Appeals Court also said Judge Jackson repeated these mistakes several times. Itsaid the public would lose its trust in a legal system that permits judges to speak their opinions to reporters during a trial.Legal experts say both the federal government and Microsoft can claim small victories with the Federal Appeals Court ruling. The experts say government lawyers were able to prove that Microsoft is guilty of violating federal laws. At the same time, Microsoft can claim a victory because it may not have to divide into two smaller companies.Legal experts say government lawyers and the lawyers for Microsoft must now choose one of three different possible paths. First, either side could appeal the Federal Court’s decision to the Supreme Court. Or, they could request a new trial before a different lower court judge to consider some of the unresolved legal questions. A third choice is for both sides to reopen negotiations to try to settle the case privately. Such efforts failed during the Clinton Administration.Bill Gates is the head of Microsoft Corporation. He says it is now a good time for all the groups involved to discuss the situation and see what kind of solution could be negotiated.Most legal experts believe that the Microsoft Company and government lawyers will come to an agreement during future negotiations. They say Microsoft may be punished by being forced to pay money.Task 7答案News Item 1A.1 It will send Destiny into Orbit.2 It is a scientific research laboratory.3 Destiny is the most technologically complex research center ever put into space.4 Over one billion dollars.5 It will last eleven Days.6 The will make three walks in space to attach the laboratory to the International Space Station’s Control Centre.News Item 2B.News Lead: The first laboratory has been connected to the International Space Station.1 launched, Wednesday, February 7th2 Destiny3 mechanical arm4 a linking device5 protective clothing, complete work原文News Item 1In space news. The space shuttle Atlantis has taken off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spaceship will send the Destiny scientific research laboratory into orbit. The laboratory is an important part of the International Space Station. NASA officials say Destiny is the most technologically complex research center ever put into space. The laboratory has cost over 1,000,000,000 dollars to build. Space shuttle astronauts will make three walks in space during an eleven-day mission to attach the laboratory to the International Space Station’s Control Center. News Item 2The first laboratory has been connected to the International Space Station. The American space shuttle Atlantis was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, February 7th. It carried the new laboratory Destiny to the space station, which is orbiting Earth. Destiny is the first of six space laboratories that will be launched and added to the space station. The five crew members of Atlantis used the space shuttle’s huge mechanical arm to take the laboratory out of the shuttle. The arm carefully moved Destiny to a linking device on the International Space Station. Two members of the Atlantis crew put on protective clothing. They left the shuttle and moved out into space to complete work on the link.Task 8答案110 stories, employing, desks, collapse, figures, recovered, crashed, dead, searching, 800原文The World Trade Center is 110 stories high. Four hundred firms had offices there employing tens of thousands of people. When the planes hit, it’s thought between 10 and 20 thousand people would have been sitting at their desks. Before the collapse of the building, many people did manage to get away, but figures aren’t yet known.So far 55 bodies have been recovered. 260 police officers and firefighters who went into the building after the planes crashed are missing and feared dead. In the Pentagon, the world’s largest office building, rescuers are still searchin g the rubble. It’s thought around 80 bodies there have been found but estimates of those who died could go up to about 800.Task 9答案A.released, number one, terrorist attack, The Rising原文Bruce Springsteen’s new album was released July 30th. It is number one in record sales in more than ten countries. Most of its songs are about the September 11th terrorist attacks. Shep O’Neal plays some of the songs on the album, The Rising.“You’re Missing” is probably the saddest song on The Rising. A woman’s husband has died. She and her children see the many things that belonged to him around the house, but he is gone.“Into the Fire” is about one of the hundreds of police, firefighters and rescue workers who died in the terrorist attacks. The song honors the love and sense of duty he showed that day. It is also a prayer for the strength and hope that his sacrifice represents.Songs on The Rising also express anger about the attacks. But, the anger is mostly a personal statement, not a political one. The song “Empty Skies” describes the desire to strike back that a person feels after a senseless loss.The album’s title song appeals to listeners to come together and heal each other. We leave you now with Bruce Springsteen’s hopeful title song, “The Rising.”Task 10答案News Item 1A.1 A four-year exhibition of the work of the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh has opened in Amsterdam.2 It is one of his early drawings in water color, pencil and ink, depicting a woman carrying a child along a windswept road.3 A German art dealer acting for an anonymous collector.4 In 1883.News Item 2B.movie industry, directing, editing, released, Oscar, metals, statue, weighs, priceless, offers, earning 原文News Item 1A four-year exhibition of the works of the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh has opened in Amsterdam with the unveiling of one of his early drawings which has only recently come to light; the drawing in water color, pencil and ink depicts a woman carrying a child along a windswept road. It was sent to the museum by a German art dealer acting for an anonymous collector. The work dated 1883 is one of the main attra ctions in the exhibition at Amsterdam’s van Gogh Museum.News Item 2Sunday will be the most important day of the year for hundreds of people in the movie industry. Filmmakers will receive Academy Awards for the best acting, directing, writing, editing, sound, music and other work on movies released last year. The winners will receive an award called an Oscar. It is shaped like a man. It is made of several metals covered with gold. The statue is only about 34 centimeters tall. It weighs less than four kilograms. But the award can be priceless to the person who receives it. Winning an Oscar can mean becoming much more famous. It can mean getting offers to work in the best movies. It also can mean earning much more money.Task 11答案News media are the means, or methods, by which people learn what is happening in their city, in their country, and in the world. The news can be classified into two general categories. The categories are print media and electronic media.Print media are usually divided into magazines and newspapers. Most newspapers print news daily. For example, the newspaper The New York Times is published every day of the year. Most news magazines are published weekly. For instance, Newsweek and Time magazines are published once a week.The electronic media are generally divided into radio and television. Radio news is news that you listen to. In the United States, many radio stations broadcast 5 minutes of news every hour on the hour. Television news is news that you not only listen to but also watch.。
现代大学英语听力3原文及答案unit1
Unit 1Task 1【答案】A. unusual, whatever, escape, traditions, present, grey, moulded, shape, hereB.1) Students were forbidden to play games, to sing (except sacred music), to hunt or fish or even to dance.2) When people went anywhere on a visit, the pretty English girls all kissed them.3) Erasmus, Bacon, Milton, Cromwell, and Newton (or Wordsworth, Byron, Tennyson, etc.)【原文】My coming to Cambridge has been an unusual experience. From whatever country one comes as a student one cannot escape the influence of the Cambridge traditions---and they go back so far! Here, perhaps, more than anywhere else, I have felt at one and the same time the past, the present and even the future. It’s easy to see in the old grey stone buildings how the past moulded the present and how the present is giving shape to the future. So let me tell you a little of what this university town looks like and how it came to be here at all.The story of the University began, so far as I know, in 1209 when several hundred students and scholars arrived in the little town of Cambridge after having walked 60 miles from Oxford.Of course there were no colleges in those early days and student life was very different from what it is now. Students were of all ages and came from anywhere and everywhere. They were armed; some even banded together to rob the people of the countryside. Gradually the idea of the college developed, and in 1284, Peterhouse, the oldest college in Cambridge, was founded.Life in college was strict; students were forbidden to play games, to sing (except sacred music), to hunt or fish or even to dance. Books were very scarce and all the lessons were in the Latin language which students were supposed to speak even among themselves.In 1440 King Henry VI founded King’s College, and the other colleges followed. Erasmus, the great Dutch scholar, was at one of these, Queens’ College, from 1511 to 1513, and though he wrote that the college beer was “weak and badly made”, he also mentioned a pleasant custom that unfortunately seems to have ceased.“The English girls are extremely pretty,” Erasmus said, “soft, pleasant, gentle, and charming. When you go anywhere on a visit the girls all kiss you. They kiss you when you arrive. They kiss you when you go away and agai n when you return.”Many other great men studied at Cambridge, among them Bacon, Milton, Cromwell, Newton, Wordsworth, Byron and Tennyson.Task 2【答案】A. 1) a) 2) b) 3) a) 4) c)B.1) They usually wear black gowns—long gowns that hang down to the feet are forgraduates, and shorter ones forundergraduates.2) Women students do not play a very active part in university life at Cambridge, but they work harder than men.C.1) meadows, green, peaceful, bending into, intervals, deep coloured, reflection, contrasts, lawns2) peace, scholarship, peace, suggest, stretches, charmingly cool, graceful【原文】Now let me give you some idea of what you would see if you were to talk around Cambridge. Let us imagine that I am seeing the sights for the first time. It is a quite market town and the shopping centre extends for quite a large area, but I notice more bookshops than one normally sees in country towns, and more tailors’ shops showing in their windows the black gowns that students must wear—long gowns that hang down to the feet for graduates and shorter ones for undergraduates.In the centre of the town is the market place where several times each week country traders come to sell their produce. Everywhere there are teashops, some in modern and many in old buildings, reached by climbing narrow stairs. There is a great deal of bicycle traffic, mainly undergraduates who race along thoughtless of safety, with long scarves (in various colours to denote their college) wound round their necks.Continuing, I find my way to the river which flows behind the college buildings and curls about the town in the shape of a horseshoe. This narrow river is the Granta, and a little farther on changes in name to the Cam. It flows slowly and calmly. The “Blacks”, as thi s part of the town behind the colleges is called, have been described as the loveliest man-made view in English. It is indeed beautiful. To the felt, across the stream, there are no buildings, merely meadows, colleges’ gardens and lines of tall trees. Everything is very green and peaceful. On the river bank are willow trees with their branches bending into the water and, at intervals along the river, stone bridges cross the stream and lead into the colleges which line the bank. The deep coloured brick or stone of college walls, sometimes red and sometimes grey, is 500 years old. The walls rise out of their own reflection in the water and their colour contrasts charmingly with glimpses of the many green lawns.Walking along the river bank, where the only sound is the noise of gentle wind in the tree tops, I came to my college, King’s College. Across a bridge and beyond a vast carpet of green lawn stands King’s College Chapel, the largest and most beautiful building in Cambridge and the most perfect example left of English fifteenth-century architecture.The colleges join one another along the curve of the river. Going through a college gate one finds one is standing in an almost square space of 70 yards known as a “court”. Looking down into the court on all sides are the buildings where the students live. The colleges are built on a plan common to all. There is a chapel, a library, and a large dinning-hall. One court leads to another and each is made beautiful with lawns or a fountain or charming old stone path. The student gets a good impression of all the English architectural styles of the past 600 years---the bad as well as the good.There are 28 colleges, excluding three for women students. Women students donot play a very active part in university life at Cambridge, but they work harder than men.It is difficult to walk around the quite courts of the colleges without feeling a sense of peace and scholarship. And the sense of peace that green lawns always suggest to me is found in the town too, for often one is surprised to meet open stretches of grass in the midst of the streets and house giving a charmingly cool countryside effect and reminding one of the more graceful days of eighteenth century. I’ll finish as I began on that note, the feel ing one has here of the past in the present, of continuing tradition and firm faith.Task 3【答案】A. 1) b) 2) c)B.“Five Secrets” for Getting a Student VisaSecret One: Get free, accurate information by visiting the US Embassy website. Secret Two: Be thoroughly prepared.Bring: I-20 form or IAP form;Diploma(s);Standardized test score reports (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.);All letters and e-mails from the school, esp. those discussing financial aid;Evidence of funding f or the applicant’s studies;Business cards;Any other documents that might be important.Secret Three: Answer the questions that are asked. Don’t give the visa officer a prepared speech.Secret Four: Tell the truth.Secret Five: Come back to China in two ways:1) Come back to see your family and maintain your ties to China.2) Come back to China after graduation.【原文】On March 7, US Consul General David Hopper and three other officials from the Visa Section of the American Embassy met with students at Peking University. One of the officials presented “Five Secrets” for getting a student visa.Secret One:Get free, accurate information on applying for a student visa. Visit the US Embassy website. There is no charge for using these resources. Why pay to get the same information from other sources?Secret Two:Be thoroughly prepared. Make sure you bring:● Y I-20 form (or IAP-66 form);●Your diploma(s);●Your standardized test score reports (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.);●All letters and e-mails from the school, especially those that discuss scholarships,assistantships, fellowships and other forms of financial aid;●Evidence of funding for your studies (bank documents, etc.);●Your business cards (if you have a job);●Any other documents that you think might be important.Secret Three:Answer those questions that are asked. Don’t give the visa officer a prepared speech! Here’s an example of what to avoid.Visa officer：Hi, how are you today?Applicant：I’m going to study chemical engineering at X University.Visa officer：X University? I've been to the campus many times.Applicant：I will surely return to China and find a good job with a major multinational company.Visa officer：So tell me, what color is the sky?Applicant：I was given a teaching assistantship because the school believes my test scores and credentials are excellent．These people are not communicating, and the applicant is not advancing his cause! Secret Four：Tell the truth. If the visa officer thinks you’re lying, you won’t get a visa.Secret Five：Come back to China. We mean that in two ways：1. Come back to see your family and maintain your ties to China．Keep up yourfriendships and professional contacts here．Students returning on vacation don’t even need to come in for an interview；they can simply use the drop-box service offered at many CITIC Bank locations.2. Come back to China after you graduate. Use those advanced skills and theoriesthat you learn in the US to make China a better place．Task 4【答案】A.1) You are not well suited for it. / You do not have the necessary qualities or abilities for it.2) You cannot go back to the previous situation. /You cannot change your mind.3) You can’t change halfway the subjects you choose to study.B. 1) b) 2) a) 3) c) 4) a) 5) a) 6) b)C.References:In the text, John criticizes the British university system for being too specialized in their curriculum, and argues that the American system is a better one. But Peter, the US student, doesn’t agree. In the debate, encourage students to refer to th e points made by Peter or john in the conversation. They may also use their own experience at a Chinese university to support their viewpoints.John’s arguments for a broader course of study:—Students who follow a broader course will have a better understanding of the world in general, and they will be more flexible in their jobs, so that if things go wrong they will be able to change jobs more easily.—Things are changing so rapidly that we have to change with them. Too much emphasis on specialization makes it difficult for us to renew or update our knowledge.—The majority of British students never use 90 percent of what they have studied at university, because what they learned is too academic and difficult.Peter’s arguments against Joh n:—There are too many subjects today. You won’t be competent in anything if you don’t focus. Life is short. You can’t do everything.—People usually know what they want to do in high school.—There are not many alternatives if students want to learn enough to be competent in their subject.—American students with a first degree don’t have the depth of knowledge they should have.—Specialization is particularly important in sciences.—People need to acquire a lot of pure knowledge, particularly in technical and scientific areas. The importance of pure knowledge should not be underestimated.【原文】John: I disagree, Peter. I don’t think it really matters what your educational background is. Anyone who is bright enough is going to do well whatever their education.Peter: But John, …John: In fact, I think some people carry on with their education when they would do a lot better to get out and start building their own careers by learning things in real life.Peter: Yes, but the whole point is, life is getting so much more complicated these days that unless you carry on with your studies you just can't cope.John: For certain things, and certain people, okay. But to my mind, the big problem in education is that you specialize too quickly. I mean, in England, you start specializing from the third year in secondary school, when you're about 14. And it gets steadily narrower until you do your A-levels in only two or three subjects.You either do languages, or natural sciences, or social sciences.Peter: But surely these days you have to, John—you can't possibly study everything, because there's just too much.John: Yes, but how many kids at the age of 16 really know what they want to do?How many of them are convinced that the three subjects they've chosen, or have been recommended, are the ones that will let them follow the careers they eventually decide on?Peter: Oh, I think most young people who stay on at school have a fair idea of what they want to do.John: I'm not so sure, Peter. And after all, that's not the end of it. When they get to university in England, the subjects they study are so narrow that they are only good for one thing; so they are stuck with it.Peter: But I don't really see that there is any alternative if people are going to learn enough to be competent in their subject. They've got to specialize early, and I suppose those that realize they've made a mistake can always swap to something else.John: Ah, but that's just it. You can't. Suppose you study languages at university and then decide that you are not cut out for it and would like to be a doctor. You've burnt your bridges. You can't just change horses in midstream; you've got to go right back to the beginning and you lose years. I think the American system is much better.Peter: In what way?John: Well, for your first degree you've got to study a fairly wide range of subjects, and you can choose them yourself, within certain limits.Peter: Fine, but doesn't that mean that American students with a first degree don't have the depth of knowledge they should have?John: Should have for what?Peter: Well, they often aren't accepted for postgraduate work in England with just a first degree.John: Maybe not, but I don't really think that's important. They come out with a pretty good general knowledge in a wide area. After all, when you think about a lot of the stuff English students have to study, what good is it to them afterwards? I'm sure the majority of British students never use 90 percent of what they studied at university.Peter: That may be true of some arts subjects, but what about the sciences?John: Even there, a lot of what they do at university is so academic and abstruse that they will never be able to put it to any practical use. I'm sure they would benefit far more from on-the-job experience. And if they've had a broader course of study they've got two advantages.Peter: How do you mean?John: First of all, they will have a better understanding of the world in general, so they will be more flexible in their jobs, and then if things do go wrong they will be able to switch jobs more easily.Peter: That all sounds very simple, but I think you're still underestimating the amount of pure learning that you need these days, particularly in technical and scientific areas. I mean even at school these days, children have to learn far more things than we did when we were at school.John: All the more reason why we should not try to concentrate on such a few things at such an early age. Things are changing so rapidly these days that we have to change with them. When we were younger, there was a pretty good chance that we would be able to carry on in the profession we'd chosen until we retired. But these days, people have got to be prepared to change their jobs and learn new skills as technology moves ahead. Take just the area of the office, for example.How many offices...Task 5【答案】domestic, diversity, flexibility, more than 3,600, campuses, enrolled students, industries, about 3 million, Harvard, Stanford, community colleges, state universities, faculties, ethnic minorities, subjects and course options, student, consumer, flexibility, specialize, a higher education, postsecondary, a new career, retired people【原文】That a record 453,787 foreign students from 180 countries attended colleges and universities in the US in the past academic year is perhaps the most vivid indication that there are important advantages in American higher education.No other country receives even half as many foreign students, yet international students represent only 3% of the total enrollment at US colleges and universities. In all, some fifteen million students attend America's institutions of higher education.These statistics illustrate four major features of the American higher education system which make it attractive to both domestic and foreign students: size, diversity, flexibility and accessibility.Today there are more than 3,600 institutions of higher education in the United States. Some of the large state university systems, such as those in New York, California and Texas, comprise dozens of campuses and hundreds of thousands of enrolled students. Indeed, higher education has become one of the biggest "industries" in the US, employing some three million people.The range and diversity of institutions and programs of study in the US are evenmore impressive. The system encompasses both prestigious private universities such as Harvard and Stanford, which are among the best in the world, and local publicly-funded community colleges; both huge state university campuses enrolling 40,000-50,000 students and tiny private institutes with fewer than 100 students.American higher education is diverse in other ways, too. Not only do most colleges and universities enroll foreign students, but foreign faculty and visiting scholars play an important role on many campuses, particularly the large universities. In most comprehensive institutions, there are as many female students as male, and the numbers of students and faculty from ethnic minorities, particularly Asian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have been steadily increasing. As a result, the campus communities of many American universities reflect in microcosm the diversity of larger society.Higher education in the US is also unique in offering an enormous variety of subjects and course options, ranging from Aerospace Engineering to Women's Studies and from Art to Zoology. Because it is dependent on tuition for funding, higher education in the US is student-centered and consumer-oriented; institutions teach what students want to know and what society as a whole thinks is useful. For example, the large public universities of New York, Ohio State University, and the University of Texas at Austin offer hundreds of different degree programs and have academic catalogs listing thousands of courses.The variety of programs and courses contributes to the flexibility of the American system. Undergraduates usually begin their program taking "general education," "liberal arts," or "core curriculum" courses—in order that they might become more "well-rounded" students—and only later select their major in many cases, not until their second year.Because they do not specialize from the very beginning, undergraduate students have more options than their counterparts in other countries. Not infrequently, American undergraduates change their mind and decide to take a different major, but this does not oblige them to start over, for at least part of their course work can still be applied to the new degree.Most academic programs include "elective courses" which students can sometimes take outside their main field of study. This gives them added choice in planning their education, and enables them to broaden their perspective by learning about other subjects. Thus, much is left up to student, who is expected to choose from a bewildering variety of institutions, degree programs and courses, and often must depend on his/her academic advisors for help in planning a program of study.The size, diversity and flexibility of the American higher education system all contribute to its accessibility. Americans take for granted that everyone, regardless of their origin, should have a right to a higher education, and opportunities do exist for a large percentage of college-age young people to pursue postsecondary studies. It should be remembered that in the US the category "higher education" can encompass vocational, technical, professional and other specialized training.Fundamental to American culture is the high value it places on education. At whatever level, education is considered a form of self-improvement, which can lead to new career opportunities, economic advances and personal betterment, regardless of one's age. An increasing number of older, "non-traditional" students are attending college and university in the US, many having gone back for additional training or to prepare for a new career. Moreover, as many as fifteen million Americans, including large number of retired people, enroll in noncredit college courses (in other words, courses not leading to a degree) every year.Task 6【答案】A.1) b) 2) a) 3) a) 4) c) 5) b)B.I.A.1. little use for the liberation of African people2. to overcome the social and technological backwardnessB.1.formal education, society2. catalyst, social changeII.A. the world`s best, the most appropriateB. integrate education and life, and education and productionC. we should judge a child or and an adult by their academic abilityIII. the formal education system, society as a whole, cooperativeness, a desired to serve【原文】Part 1We know that something called “education” is a good thing. And all African states therefore spend a large proportion of government revenue on it. But, I suspect that for us in Africa the underlying purpose of education is to turn us into black Europeans, or black Americans, because our education policies make it quite clear that we are really expecting education in Africa to enable us to emulate the material achievements of Europe and America. We have not begun to think seriously about whether such material achievements are possible or desirable.The primary purpose of education is the liberation of man. To “liberate” is to “set free”. It implies impediments to freedom having been thrown off. But a man can be physically free from restraint and still be unfree if his mind is restricted by habits and attitudes which limit his humanity.Education is incomplete if it enables man to work out elaborate schemes for universal peace but does not teach him how to provide good food for himself and his family. It is equally incomplete if it teaches man to be an efficient tool user and tool maker, but neglects his personality and his relationship with his fellow human beings.There are professional men who say, "My market value is higher than the salary I am receiving in Tanzania." But no human being has a market value—except a slave. When people say such things, in effect they are saying, "This education I have been given has turned me into a marketable commodity, like cotton or sisal." And they are showing that, instead of liberating their humanity by giving it a greater chance to express itself, the education they have received has degraded their humanity. Their education has converted them into objects—repositories of knowledge like rather special computers.We condemn such people. Yet it is our educational system which is instilling in boys and girls the idea that their education confers a price tag on them—which ignores the infinite and priceless value of a liberated human being, who is cooperating with others in building a civilization worthy of creatures made in the image of God. Part 2A formal school system, devised and operated without reference to the society in which its graduates will live, is of little use as an instrument of liberation for the people of Africa. At the same time, learning just by living and doing in the existing society would leave us so backward socially and technologically that humanliberation in the foreseeable future is out of the question. Somehow we have to combine the two systems. We have to integrate formal education with the society and use education as a catalyst for change in that society.Inevitably it takes time to change. We have not solved the problem of building sufficient self-confidence to refuse what we regard as the world's best (whatever that may mean), and to choose instead the most appropriate for our conditions. We have not solved the problem of our apparent inability to integrate education and life, and education and production. We have not solved the problem of overcoming the belief that academic ability marks out a child or an adult as especially praiseworthy, or as deserving a privileged place in society.This is not a failure within the formal education system. It is a failure of society as a whole. Indeed, the educationalists have advanced in these matters more than other sections of the community. But our society has not yet accepted that character, cooperativeness and a desire to serve are relevant to a person's ability to benefit from further training.Task 7【原文】For beauty and for romance the first place among all the cities of the United Kingdom must be given to Oxford. The impression that Oxford makes upon those who, familiar with her from early years, have learnt to know and love her in later life is remarkable. Teeming with much that is ancient, she appears the embodiment of youth and beauty. Exquisite in line, sparkling with light and colour, she seems ever bright and young, while her sons fall into decay and perish. "Alma Mater!" they cry, and love her for her loveliness, till their dim eyes can look on her no more.And this is for the reason that the true lovableness of Oxford cannot be learnt at once. As her charms have grown from age to age, so their real appreciation is gradual. Not that she cannot catch the eye of one who sees her for the first time, and, smiling, hold him captive. This she can do now and then; but even so her new lover has yet to learn her preciousness.。
杨立民《现代大学英语精读(3)》(第2版)【练习答案】(Unit 7)【圣才出品】
Unit7一、练习答案Answers to Test PaperI.Spelling1.investment environment2.primitive society3.explosive situation4.interior decoration5.parental approval6.intensified agriculture7.insufficient evidence8.immune system9.cruel suppression10.genetically modified food11.immature adolescents12.parallel structure13.haunting memory14.melancholy music15.elaborate plan16.nonviolence advocate17.domino effect18.social disharmony19.ethnic identity20.interpersonal relationshipII.Word-Formation1.预见；不加甄别的2.互动；反应过度；不满3.独家的；有关哲学的；娱乐的4.过于乐观；低估；在竞争中超过5.营养不足的；过于劳累的6.人员过多的；学历太高了7.流动工；令人沮丧的8.强制的；自愿的9.势利的；使人生气的；极其令人讨厌的10.举棋不定的；反应堆III.Cloze(1)sat(2)floor(3)hurt(4)shouted(5)outside(6)would(7)what(8)investigation(9)about(10)diedIV.TranslationChinese→English1.Let’s face the fact that no country can be immune to environmental problems.If we only pay lip service to environmental protection today,our eventual losses will far outweigh the present economic gains.2.For the law to be respected and supported,it must be designed in such a wayas to benefit the general public and must be vigorously enforced.Otherwise it will create a general contempt for the law and result in social instability.3.Political science tells us that it is a real paradox.If the government is too weak,it is useless；if it is too powerful,it begins to abuse power and becomes corrupt.But no individual should ever be permitted to possess absolute power.Power must be restrained,shared and controlled.4.I wish that our university can set the stage for our creative intellectual pursuits.I believe that natural curiosity is a greater power than discipline.I am also awareof the importance of creative reading for pleasure,and being free fromexcessive assigned work.5.As I gazed at my dead brother’s picture,a haunting memory unfolded.I saw uslying,well after midnight,in the only double bed our sister had in the house, recalling our happy childhood,the time when we were surrounded by love and care,promising each other that we would go back to our hometown which we had not visited for half a century.English→Chinese实验结果十分有趣：如果只给实验者片刻时间来看屏幕，答对率高达95％，可是，如果给他们时间分析和研究屏幕，答对率只有70％。
现代大学英语听力3原文及答案unit4
Unit 4Task 1【答案】A.1) They are farms that grow vegetables for city people to eat fresh.2) It’s a farm that grow plants and flowers to sell.3) They protect the plants from the cold in the winter but let them get plenty of light, so the plants can be grown all through the year.B.1) canned, frozen2) flowers, garden plants, home gardens, yards, window boxes3) buildings, furniture, firewood【原文】Grain, vegetables and fruits are found on most farms. All of them are food for animals and people.Grain can be fed to animals just as it is harvested. But before people use them grains are usually made into flour or breakfast cereal. Bread, macaroni, and cereals all come from grain.Tomatoes, beans, potatoes, beets, lettuce, carrots and onions are field and garden vegetables. Can you think of any others? Vegetables are good for people and for some animals such as pigs and rabbits.Farms that grow vegetables for city people to eat fresh are called truck farms. Truck farms are usually close to big cities. Each day hundreds of loads of fresh vegetables are brought to stores on the farmers' trucks. Without the truck farmers people in cities would not eat well. And without city people who eat fresh vegetables, the truck farmers would have no work.There are many kinds of fruit. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, oranges, grapefruit, and berries are a few kinds. You will be able to think of other kinds that you like. Most fruit is grown on specialized farms. But many general farms have some fruit to use and sell also.Like vegetables, fruit is sold fresh in markets. But a large part of both fruit and vegetable crops is sent to factories to be canned or frozen.In warm parts of our country farmers grow cotton, rice, tobacco, sugar cane, and peanuts.Specialized farms raise flowers and garden plants. They are sold to florists and to families for home gardens, or yards, or window boxes. A farm that grow plants and flowers to sell is called a nursery. Most nurseries have glass buildings, called hothouses or greenhouses. The hothouses are heated to protect the plants from cold in the winter but let them get plenty of light, so they can be grown all through the year.Some farms grow only trees. Some of these are Christmas tree farms. Others are large forests where trees are grown for their wood. The wood is used for buildings, furniture and firewood. Some tree farms grow only nut trees.Task 2【答案】A.Problems Concerned The safety of some pesticides used to kill insects, especiallyin developing countries:1.poor quality pesticides, which often contain harmfulchemicals2.the poor quality of pesticide containers and productinformation on the containersAdvantages of Pesticides 1.pesticides kill insects and other organisms that threatenarops.2.pesticides also are used for public health. They controlinsects that spread disease, such as mosquitoes that spread malaria.Possible Causes ofLow QualityPesticidesProduction problems and failure to use the right chemicals.B.1) The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars.2) The agencies called for worldwide acceptance of Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and trade in pesticides.【原文】Two United Nations agencies are expressing concern about the safety of some pesticides used to kill insects. They report that about thirty percent of all pesticides sold in developing countries fail to meet widely accepted rules for quality. They say these products are a serious threat to human health and the environment.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization gave the warning.In developing countries, pesticides are used mainly for agriculture. Pesticides kill insects and other organisms that threaten crops. Pesticides also are used for public health. They control insects that spread disease, such as mosquitoes that spread malaria.The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars. They say the estimated market value of pesticides worldwide was thirty-two thousand million dollars.Officials say poor quality pesticides often contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals often are banned or restricted in some countries.Possible causes of low quality in pesticides include production problems and failure to use the right chemicals. Officials say the active chemicals in many pesticides are stronger than those permitted by many governments. They also say poor quality pesticides may contain poisonous substances or substances that are not pure.Officials say the quality of pesticide containers and product information on the containers are other concerns. They say information on the containers often fails to explain the active chemicals and how to use the product safely.The WHO says products listing false information have been sold for years in some areas. The agencies say the problem of poor quality pesticides is widespread in parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. They called for worldwide acceptance of Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and trade in pesticides.Officials say the agencies' rules are especially important for developing countries. They say developing countries often lack systems for testing pesticides.Task 3【答案】A.1) c) 2) d) 3) b)B.That’s because they’re making an investment all the time, but are still not sure whether or not they can make profits.【原文】Interviewer: Cattle raising and beef in the US is big business, isn't it?Bob Beck: Yes, it's the largest business—cattle business.Interviewer: It must be a very profitable business then.Bob Beck: Uh, not necessarily.Interviewer: It's not necessarily a profitable business?Bob Beck: At times, it's not profitable. Your production costs get... it's a supply and demand market, and if your supply is larger than your demand... Interviewer: So the price is fluctuating all the time...Bob Beck: Right. It fluctuates, and it can get below production costs. Interviewer: But you never know. For instance, next year, you don't know what it'll bring on the market.Bob Beck: No, technically it takes a year and a half from the time you breed the cow, until you get the calf, until the calf's marketable.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: You've got a year, to a year and a half, tied up there.Interviewer: So, you're making an investment all the time.Bob Beck: Right. So you're not sure.Interviewer: It sounds like it might be a very insecure kind of existence. Wonder why it is that people want to be farmers or ranchers then...Bob Beck: I think the majority of it is you like it. It's one thing. It's a breed of people.They like it. If you don't like what you're doing, why...Interviewer: What is there about it? You live essentially in a rural area. Doesn't that feeling of isolation ever bother you?Bob Beck: No. It's getting too crowded.Interviewer: Too crowded!Bob Beck: Too many people!Interviewer: I can see that, for instance, in a city, you have restaurants to go to, movie theaters—all kinds of thingsavailable to people, a lot of conveniences which you don't have in the morerural areas. What dopeople who farm and ranch do for recreation and relaxation, for instance...erm...Bob Beck: Well, I think a lot of it is if you're a livestock raiser, you'll go check your cows in the evening instead of going to a movie.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: That's as much recreation as driving through a bunch or cows, and if you like them, you enjoy that.Interviewer: In terms of the way of life, to a lot of people, it would seem that it's a very hard life. It means a lot of hard work. I mean, you have aschedule—whether you feel like it or not, you have to get out and feedanimals, and so forth. Would you regard that as one of the difficultthings about it, or is that...Bob Beck: No.Interviewer: …just sort of... part of it?Bob Beck: For me, if I had to go to a desk every morning, that'd kill me.Task 4【答案】A. paid off, fall back on, a security, operating expenses, complete disasterB.1) Some of them cook the meals, clean the house and take care of the kids every day.2) Yes. That is especially so after they've had one or two bad years when they couldn’t make money.3) When their children are small, they were with their parents to go out to work; when they are very small, Sharon didn’t go out as much as she would later.4) She thinks that in this way the children are a lot more self-reliant. They learn to work and they learn responsibility. They learn a lot about life by being continually in life with animals.【原文】Bob Beck: I think, for a wife, the same as a husband, they like it or they wouldn't marry a farmer or a rancher.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: They'd get out. I think it's not at all wives. Some of them are just like suburban housewives.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: They cook the meals, and they clean the house and that's it... take care of the kids...Interviewer: Have you known some situations like that?Bob Beck: Oh, yeah, I know situations like that!Interviewer: Sharon, is there a problem of the feeling of security?Sharon Beck: What kind of security are you talking about—financial security? Interviewer: Uh, yeah, financial security. Uh, the thing is up and down. You don't know what the market's going to bring, er... for beef. You work all year,and so forth... Is there any problem of that sort?Sharon Beck: Sure, there's the problem of security. Especially, if you've had one or two bad years. You feel awfully insecure.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: If you've borrowed money to buy a farm or to operate, and there's no money coming in, you feel awfully insecure.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: But if you've got a fairly good amount of your ranch paid off, you've got that to fall back on. You can always think of that as a security. Ifeverything else fails, if you can’t pay for your operating expenses…Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: ...you can always sell your equity in your ranch. So it isn't complete disaster.Interviewer: But it's not something that bothers you terribly. I mean, it's a fact of life. It's sort of...Sharon Beck: Something you live with, yeah...Interviewer:... part of the thing. The role of the wife in this situation is quite different than that of a suburban housewife. You don't have much free time, doyou?Sharon Beck: No.Interviewer: Because, essentially, you work in much the same way that your husband does.Sharon Beck: Yes, I'm usually with him.Interviewer: How do you handle the whole family-life situation—children? You're out almost as much as a working mother in the city, aren't you?Sharon Beck: Yes. The only difference is we're together.Interviewer: The children too...?Sharon Beck: The children too. When they're not in school, when they were small, they were with us. When they were very small, of course, I didn't goout as much.Interviewer: Do you feel that there are advantages in growing up in this way? Sharon Beck: Yeah, I definitely feel that there're advantages. There are disadvantages too, but I think the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Interviewer: What are some of those advantages you think the children have? Sharon Beck: The advantages?Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: Well, they're a lot more self-reliant. They learn to work. Erm, they learn responsibility.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: They learn a lot about life by being continually in life, with animals, and... I think it makes them... erm... They grow up!Task 5【答案】A.1) 75 percent, half, in the east and south of England, in eastern Scotland, cereals, in hilly areas, on the richer grass of the lowlands2) 173, 703) The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Farmers' Union, 2 percent, 25 percent4) 1973, the European CommunityB.1) First, farmers complain that their work is made more difficult by rules and regulations that have been introduced. Second, they also claim that quota systems, which limit the amount of produce they can sell, make it impossible to make a profit.2) Many farmers let farm cottages, offer bed and breakfast to tourists, and grow strawberries in order to gain some extra money.3) Because the CAP’s set-aside policy is seen as helping farmers ge4t rich for doing nothing.4) Farmers are often criticized for destroying woods and hedges and for poisoning the environment with fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers may also be accused of cruelty towards their animals.【原文】About 75 percent of Britain is farmed, and British farms supply over half the country's food. Arable farms are mainly in the east and south of England and in eastern Scotland. The main crops are cereals, for example, wheat and barley, and potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape. Livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, are reared in hilly areas, though dairy cows are kept on the richer grass of the lowlands. Many cattle farmers have had a difficult time recently because of the BSE crisis. Kent, often called "the garden of England", and the Vale of Evesham are famous for horticultural produce.The average size of a British farm is 173 acres (70 hectares). Most farms are managed like other modern businesses. The word agribusiness describes the commercial aspects of farming. It is also used to refer to all the industries, including farming, which are associated with food production.The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the government department responsible for agriculture. Farmers' interests are represented by the National Farmers' Union. Agriculture only employs about 2 percent of the British workforce, though this figure rises to 25 percent when food processing industries are included.In 1973, Britain's entry into the European Community led to many changes in farming. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides help for farmers through subsidies. Originally, farmers were encouraged to produce as much as they could, and any surplus was put into storage. The cost of this policy was passed on to customers, who had to pay higher prices for food. Many people are still unhappy about the CAP. Farmers complain that their work is made more difficult by rules and regulations that have been introduced. They also claim that quota systems, which limit the amount of produce they can sell, make it impossible to make a profit. In recent years many farmers have tried to find additional ways of making money, e.g. by letting farm cottages, offering bed and breakfast to tourists, or by growing strawberries.But farmers do not get much sympathy from other people, mainly because of the money they receive in subsidies. The CAP’s set-aside policy, which pays farmers to leave some fields uncultivated, is seen by some people as helping farmers get rich for doing nothing. Farmers are sometimes called "custodians of the countryside", but they are often criticized for destroying woods and hedges and for poisoning the environment with fertilizers and pesticides. Some farmers practise organic fanning without chemicals, but, although people approve of this, most are unwilling to pay higher prices for organic produce. Farmers may also be accused of cruelty towards their animals: In battery farming, for instance, chickens are reared in crowded cages.Task 6【答案】A.1) over 22 million, about 2.5 percent, in the 1950s, in the 1980s, 470, 190, 174 ,70, 1940, 1996, $51 billion2) 36 percent, 47 percent3) $200 billion, $60 billion-worthB.1) Midwest, corn, soybeans2) Canada, southern Texas on the eastern side3) the Great Lakes4) Florida, Southern California and Hawaii5) the southeastC.1) The US Department of Agriculture spends a lot of its budget on buying surpluses and paying subsidies to farmers for them not to grow certain crops.2) It will gradually end these subsidies and give farmers more freedom to respond to public demand and grow what they want.3) The Federation is involved in agricultural research, but it also protects farmers' rights and tries to influence government policy.4) They think factory farming is bad and are in favor of organic produce, but they are unwilling to pay the extra cost.【原文】Agribusiness in the United States employs more people than any other industry, over 22 million, but only about 2.5 percent of the American workforce are farmers. Many people got into debt and left their farms in the 1950s, and in the 1980s many more farmers sold out and moved to the cities. The average size of a farm is now 470 acres (190 hectares), compared with 174 acres (70 hectares) in 1940. In 1996 farm income was more than $51 billion, the highest ever, but despite this many farmers had large debts.Many farmers live in the Corn Belt of the Midwest where corn and soybeans are grown. The US grows 36 percent of the world's corn and 47 percent of its soybeans. Others live on the prairies of the Great Plains, in what is known as the Wheat Belt, which stretches from Canada to southern Texas on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. Most livestock farmers live around the Great Lakes in the Dairy Belt, or further south in states like Texas where cattle are bred for meat on ranches. In the South many live in the Cotton Belt. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, are grown in Florida, Southern California and Hawaii, and tobacco is grown in the southeast. In 1996 the total value of agricultural products was $200 billion, of which $60billion-worth, mostly grain and soybeans, was exported. Farmers and ranchers are usually well respected by other people.The US Department of Agriculture spends a lot of its budget on buying surpluses and paying subsidies (in this case, money for not growing certain crops) to farmers, though in 1996 Congress passed a "Freedom to Farm" law that will gradually end these subsidies and give farmers more freedom to respond to public demand and grow what they want.Farmers are represented by the American Farm Bureau Federation and county farm organizations called Farm Bureaus. The Federation is involved in agricultural research, but it also protects farmers' rights and tries to influence government policy. Agricultural colleges attached to universities are highly respected. Extension officers act as a link between research departments and farmers.As in Britain, many people in the United States think factory farming is bad and are in favor of organic produce, but they are unwilling to pay the extra cost.Task 7【答案】A.Agroecology The Green RevolutionLand used Use less land andgrow more kinds ofplant. Use land intensively and grow the same crop on the same land year after year.Fertilizer used Use organic materialsand compostUse chemical fertilizer.The way to water crops Reduce the need forirrigation.Use irrigation intensively.The method to control pests Use helpful insects tokill harmful ones.Use insecticides.B.1) Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity,2) Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer varieties of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of varieties that may have useful genetic qualities.3) Because irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas.4) Pesticides do destroy harmful insects, but they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.【原文】Agroecology is a field of ideas about how to farm productively while also protecting natural resources. It is seen in many ways as an answer to the Green Revolution that has given us modem farming methods.Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity, but they work toward this common goal in different ways. Many agroecologists question how long modem farming methods can continue.Modem farming uses land intensively. Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer varieties of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of varieties that may have useful genetic qualities.Another issue is fertilizer. Agroecologists say they would use organic materials and compost in place of chemicals. The Green Revolution has shown that chemical fertilizer can greatly increase crop productivity, but it can also pollute water supplies.To water crops, agroecologists say they would use methods that reduce the need for irrigation. Irrigation is an ancient idea. Water is drawn up from the ground or brought from another place. Irrigated crops are highly productive: 16 percent of all farmland in the world is irrigated, but this 16 percent of the farmland produces 40 percent of all food. Yet irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas.To control pests, agroecologists say they would use helpful insects to kill harmful ones. In the last 50 years, however, farmers have increased the use of insecticides. These chemical poisons do destroy harmful insects, but they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.Task 8【原文】Farming changed very little from early times until about 1700. In the 1700s an agricultural revolution took place which led to a large increase in the production of crops. This increase of crops came about in a large part by little more than the final destruction of medieval institutions and the more general adoption of techniques and crops which had been known for a long time. Included in some of these changes was also the adoption of crops from the "new world" such as corn and potatoes which produced a very large yield.In the 1850s, the industrial revolution spilled over to the farm with new mechanized methods which increased production rates. Early on, the large changes were in the use of new farm implements. Most of these early implements were still powered by horses or oxen. These new implements combined with crop rotation, manure and better soil preparation led to a steady increase of crop yield in Europe.The advent of steam power and later gas powered engines brought a whole new dimension to the production of crops. Yet, even as recently as 100 years ago, four fifths of the world population lived outside towns and were in some way dependant on agriculture.。
现代大学英语听力3 U4 答案
1. The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars.
2. The agencies called for worldwide acceptance of the Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and trade in pesticides.
Task4: A
paid off fall back on a security
operating expenses complete disaster
B
1. Some of them cook the meals, clean the house and take care of the kids every day.
Task5:A
1. 75 percent half in the east and south of England in eastern Scotland cereals in hilly areas on the richer grass of the lowlands
2. 173 70
Task6: A
1. over 22 million about 2.5 percent in the 1950s in the 1980s 470 190 174 70 1940 1996 $51 billion
《听力教程3》听力原文及参考答案
《听⼒教程3》听⼒原⽂及参考答案Book ThreeUNIT 1Section OnePart 1Spot DictationHouses in the FutureWell, I think houses in the future will probably be (1) quite small but I should think they'll be (2) well-insulated so that you don't need so much (3) heating and (4) cooling as you do now, so perhaps very economical (5) to run. Perhaps they will use (6) solar heating, although I don't know, in this country, perhaps we (7) won't be able to do that so much. Yes, I think they'll be full of (8) electronic gadgets: things like very advanced televisions, videos, perhaps videos which take up ... the screen (9) takes up the whole wall. I should think. Yes, you'll have things like (10) garage doors which open automatically when you (11) drive up, perhaps electronic (12) sensors which will (13) recognize you when you, when you come to the front door even. Perhaps (14) architects and designers will be a bit more (15) imaginative about how houses are designed and perhaps with the (16) shortage of space people will think of putting gardens (17) on the roof and, and maybe rooms can be (18) expanded and, and (19) contracted* depending on what you use them for, so perhaps there'll be a bit more (20) flexibility about that. Part 2Listening for GistA: Tuesday two fifteen. Let me look inmy diary. B: No, Thursday.A: Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said Tuesday.B: Thursday two fifteen. No, I'm sorry. I've got an appointment until three. Could we make it later?Say three fifteen?A: Well, there's a lot to talk about. It'll take a couple ofhours, at least. B: Shall we say Monday morning, then?A: Monday morning. All right. Nine o'clock?B: Nine. I think that will be all right. I'll ring you backand confirm. A: All right. But ring before five, couldyou?B: All right.A: Right you are. Bye. B: Bye.Exercise. Directions: Listen to the dialogue and write down the gist and the key words that help you decide.1.This dialogue is about making an appointmentWoman: Listen! I'm terribly sorry I'm late. Man:Man: Oh, that's all right. It doesn't really matter, does it? I haven't got anything better to do, have I?Woman: Just let me explain, will you?Man: I've only been waiting for over an hour. That's all.Woman: Yes. I know, and I would have ...Man: After all, my time isn't really that important, is it?Woman: Please don't be like that. Just let meexplain. (Silence. Man says nothing.)Woman: I ... I tried to get here in time but just after I left home, the car broke down.Man: The car broke down?Woman: Yes, and ... well ... luckily ... there was a garage near me. And ... and it took them a whileto repair it.Man: Why didn't you at least phone?Woman: I would have! But I didn't know the number of the restaurant.Man: You could have looked it up in the telephone book!Woman: Yes, but ... you'll never believe this ... I couldn't remember the name of the restaurant. I knew where it was, but forgot the name.Man: I see. Well, at least it was lucky you found a garage to repair your car. Woman: Yes. It was something I couldn't do myself. It didn't take too long, but that's why I'm late,you see.Man: Uh-huh. Which garage, by the way?Woman: Pardon?Man: Which garage did you take it to?2.The key words are Tuesday. Thursday. two fifteen. three fifteen. Mondaymorning. nine o'clock.Section Two Listening comprehensionPart 1 DialogueI'm terribly sorry I'm late.Woman: Listen! I'm terribly sorry I'm late. Man:Man: Oh, that's all right. It doesn't really matter, does it? I haven't got anything better to do, have I?Woman: Just let me explain, will you?Man: I've only been waiting for over an hour. That's all.Woman: Yes. I know, and I would have ...Man: After all, my time isn't really that important, is it?Woman: Please don't be like that. Just letme explain. (Silence. Man says nothing.)Woman: I ... I tried to get here in time but just after I left home, the car broke down.Man: The car broke down?Woman: Yes, and ... well ... luckily ... there was a garage near me. And ... and it took them a whileto repair it.Man: Why didn't you at least phone?Woman: I would have! But I didn't know the number of the restaurant.Man: You could have looked it up in the telephone book!Woman: Yes, but ... you'll never believe this ... I couldn't remember the name of the restaurant. I knew where it was, but forgot the name.Man: I see. Well, at least it was lucky you found a garage to repair your car. Woman: Yes. It was something I couldn't do myself. It didn't take too long, but that's why I'm late,you see.Man: Uh-huh. Which garage, by the way?Woman: Pardon?Man: Which garage did you take it to?Woman: Uh ... the one near my flat. You know. Lewis Brothers.Man: Yes, I know that garage. It's the only one near your flat.Woman: Hmm, well now, let's have something to eat. Uh, what about some ... Man: I know the garage very well! Woman: Yes. Let's see now. Yes, I think I'll have some ...Man: A pity it's Sunday.Woman: Pardon?Man: A pity it's Sunday. That garage is closed on Sunday!Exercise Directions: Listen to the dialogue and answer the following questions."Well, at least it was lucky you found a garage to repair your car."4.Because she wants to stop the conversation like this.Because he knows the girl is lying.Part 2 PassageThe Oscar Statuette1 Industry insiders and members of the press called the award "the Academy statuette", "the golden trophy" or "the statue of merit", but the term never stuck.2. No hard evidence exists to support that tale, but in any case, by the sixth Awards Presentation in 1934, a Hollywood columnist used the name in his column.3. Walt Disney was honored with one full-size and seven miniature statuettes on behalf of his animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.1.T hey are possibly boyfriend and girlfriend.2.In a restaurant.3."It doesn't really matter, does it? I haven't got anything better to do, have I?""I've only been waiting for over an hour.That's all" "After all, my time isn't reallythat important, is it?" well, at least It waslucky you found a barrage to repair yourcar4. If the statuettes don't meet strict quality control standards, they are immediately cut in half and melted down.5.The large boxes are shipped to the Academy offices via air express, with no identifiable markings.The Oscar statuette, designed by MGM's* chief art director Cedric Gibbons, depicts* a knight holding a crusader's* sword, standing on a reel of film with five spokes, signifying the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.Born in 1928, years would pass before the Academy Award of Merit was officially named "Oscar". Industry insiders and members of the press called the award "the Academy statuette", "the golden trophy" or "the statue of merit". The entertainment trade paper, Weekly Variety, even attempted to popularize "the iron man". The term never stuck.A popular story has been that an Academy librarian and eventual executive director, Margaret Herrick, thought the statuette resembled her uncle Oscar and said so, and that as a result the Academy staff began referring to it as Oscar.No hard evidence exists to support that tale, but in any case, by the sixth Awards Presentation in 1934, Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky used the name in his column in reference to Katharine Hepburn's first Best Actress win. The Academy itself didn't use the nickname officially until 1939.Since its conception, the Oscar statuette has met exacting uniform standards - with a few notable exceptions. In the 1930s, juvenile players received miniature replicas* of the statuette; a ventriloquist* Edgar Bergen was presented with a wooden statuette with a moveable mouth; and Walt Disney was honored with one full-size and seven miniature statuettes on behalf of his animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Between 1942 and 1944, in support of the war effort, Oscars were made of plaster. After the War, winners turned in the temporary awards for golden Oscar statuettes.The traditional Oscar statuette, however, hasn't changed since the 1940s, when the base was made higher. In 1945, the base was changed from marble to metal and in 1949, Academy Award statuettes began to be numbered, starting with No. 501.Approximately 50 Oscars are made each year in Chicago by the manufacturer, R. S. Owens. If they don't meet strict quality control standards, the statuettes are immediately cut in half and melted down.Each award is individually packed into a Styrofoam* container slightlylarger than a shoebox.Eight of these are then packed into a larger cardboard box, and the large boxes are shipped to the Academy offices in Beverly Hills via air express, with no identifiable markings.On March 10, 2000, 55 Academy Awards mysteriously vanished en route from the Windy City* to the City of Angels. Nine days later, 52 of stolenstatuettes were discovered next to a Dumpster* in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles by Willie Fulgear, who was later invited by the Academy to attend the Oscar 2000 ceremonies as a special guest.For eight decades, the Oscars have survived war, weathered earthquakes, and even managed to escape unscathed* from common thieves. Since 1995, however, R. S. Owens has repaired more than 160 statuettes. "Maybe somebody used chemicals on them to polish them and the chemicals rubbed right through the lacquer* and into the gold," explains the company president. "Or maybe people stored them someplace where they corroded." Although he stresses that the statuette is made to endure, Siegel offers this sage advice to all Oscar winners: "If it gets dusty, simply wipe it with a soft dry cloth." Exercise A Pre-listening QuestionEvery January, the attention of the entertainment community and of film fans around the world turns to the upcoming Academy Awards, the highest honor in filmmaking. The annual presentation of the Oscars has become the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' most famous activity. The Oscar Statuette is a knight holding a crusader's sword, standing on a reel of film with five spokes.Exercise B Sentence DictationDirections: Listening to some sentences and write them down. You will hear each sentence three times.Exercise C Detailed ListeningDirections: Listen to the passage and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Discuss with your classmates why you think the statement is true or false.----I...- 1. There were five original branches of the Academy.(Because the five spokes on the reel of film signify the original branchesof the Academy:Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.)~ 2. The Academy Award of Merit was officially named "Oscar" in 1928.(Born in 1928, years would pass before the Academy Award of Meritwas officially named "Oscar.")----I...- 3. The Academy staff began referring to the Academy statuette as Oscar because Margaret Herrick said the statuette was like her uncle Oscar.(An Academy librarian and eventual executive director, MargaretHerrick, thought the statuette resembled her uncle Oscar and said so,and as a result the Academy staff began referring to it as Oscar.)4. Since its conception, the Oscar statuette has met exacting uniform standards. (There were a few notable exceptions. In 1930s, juvenile players received miniature replicas of the statuette and a ventriloquist Edgar Bergen gained a wooden statuette with a moveable mouth. Walt Disney was honored with one full-size and seven miniature statuettes. )----I...- 5. Oscars were made of plaster in the 1940s because of the War. (Between 1942 and 1944, in support of the war effort, Oscars were made of plaster.) ----I...- 6. The manufacturer, R. S. Owens makes about 50 Oscars each year in Chicago. (Approximately 50 Oscars are made each year in Chicago by the manufacturer, R. S. Owens.)~ 7. 55 Academy Awards were stolen by a mysterious person en route from the Windy City to the City of Angels on March 10, 2000.(On March 10,2000,55 Academy Awards just mysteriously vanished en route from the Windy City to the City of Angels, but how and by whom was unknown.) ~ 8. For eighty years, the Oscars have survived war, weathered earthquakes, managed to escape unscathed from common thieves and even chemical corrosion.(Since 1995, however, R. S. Owens has repaired more than 160 statuettes. "Maybe somebody used chemicals on them to polish them and the chemicals rubbed right through the lacquer and into the gold."Exercise D After-listening DiscussionDirections: Listen to the passage again and discuss the following questions.1.T he traditional Oscar statuette hasn't changed since the 1940s, when the basewas made higher.In 1945, the base was changed from marble to metal and in 1949, Academy Award statuettes began to be numbered, starting with No.501.2.(Open)Section ThreeNewsNews Item1Bush-NATO-IraqMr. Bush says he hopes America's NATO allies will stand with the United States if he decides to take military action against Iraq.All the same, the president says no action is likely in the near future. He says for now the focus is on implementing the new UN resolution that calls for a tough weapons inspection regime* and warns of consequences if Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein fails to comply*.Administration official say they expect the NATO summit to release a political statement backing the UN resolution. They say President Bush will bring up Iraq in his bilateral meetings in Prague*, but they also say they do not believe the Iraqi threat will be the focus of the summit.In Prague, the alliance plans to take steps toward the creation of a rapid deployment force that can playa role in combating terrorism. The president said even the smallest NATO member nations can contribute something to the causeExercise A Directions: Listen to the news item and complete the summary.Exercise B Directions: Listen to the news again and answer the following questions1.He hopes America's NATO allies will stand with the United States if hedecides to take militaryaction against Iraq.2.No, the president says no action is likely in the near future.3.They expect the NATO summit to release a political statement backing the UNresolution.4.The NATO summit is held in Prague.No, it will not be the focus of the NATO summit.Bush-IraqPresident Bush says everyone knows the real power in Iraq lies with Saddam Hussein: "There is no democracy. This guy is a dictator and so we have to seewhat he says." The president says the Iraqi leader has a choice to make: disarm peacefully or be disarmed by force: "If Saddam Hussein does not comply to the detail of the resolution, we will lead a coalition to disarm him. It is over. We are through with negotiations. There is no more time. The man must disarm. He said he would disarm. He now must disarm." Mr. Bush spoke with reporters while touring the Washington D.C. police department, a tour designed to highlight his plan to create a cabinet level Department of Homeland Security. He left no doubt his patience regarding Iraq is wearing very thin*, stressing the United States will no longer tolerate any efforts by Saddam Hussein to circumvent* demands to disarm. Exercise BExercise ADirections: Listen to the news item and complete the summary.This news item is about the Bush administration's attitude towards Iraq. Directions: Listen to the news again and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a radio address late Thursdayto the Iraqi people warning that Saddam Hussein must comply with UN demands or suffer the consequences.Prime Minister Blair said Saddam Hussein must cooperate with UN weapons inspectors, or be prepared to face military action. In an interview with Radio Monte Carlo's Arabic service Thursday, Mr. Blair said war could be avoided, if Iraq agreed to disarm."The situation is very clear. If Saddam Hussein agrees to disarm Iraq of all chemical, or biological or nuclear weapons programs and capability, then conflict would be avoided, and his duty is to cooperate fully with the inspectors to tell them exactly what material he has, to cooperate and comply with them in the eradication of that material."The prime minister said he wanted to speak directly to the Iraqi people to try to dispel* what he called myths that have arisen between Christians and Muslims. He said the dispute with Iraq is not about the West versus the East or about oil, but about weapons of mass destruction.Exercise ADirections: Listening to the news item and complete the summary.This news item is about British Prime Minister's stand on the Iraqi issue.Exercise BDirections: Listen to the news again and complete the following sentences.1.Prime Minister Blair warned that Saddam Hussein would suffer theconsequences unless he cooperated with the UN weapons inspectors. Saddam Hussein should cooperate fully with the inspectors to tell them exactly what material he has, and comply with them in the eradication of that material.2.On Thursday Tony Blair had an interview with Radio Monte Carlo's Arabicservice.3.According to the Prime Minister, the conflict can be avoided if SaddamHussein agrees to disarm Iraq of all chemical. or biological or nuclearweapons programs and capability.4.Mr. Blair said the dispute with Iraq is not about the West versus the East orabout oil, but about weapons of mass destruction.Section Four Supplementary ExercisesPart 1 Feature reportBlix’s Iraq InspectionThe chief UN arms inspector has been assigned the task of searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The Security Council gave Iraq this last opportunity to disarm or face serious consequences, a euphemism* for possible war. The United States says it will make sure Iraq disarms, one way or another.But Mr. Blix* emphasizes that his inspectors will not determine the courseof events in the region. He says they will visit suspected sites, conduct interviews with Iraqi scientists, ferret* out information and report back to the Security Council for its members to decide.As for US and British intelligence reports, which the Bush administration says proves that Iraq has banned weapons, Mr. Blix says he is not going into Iraq with pre-conceived ideas of what is there.The next test for Iraq will be December 8th, the deadline for Iraq to present a full accounting of its weapons programs. If Iraq presents, in effect, a blank sheet, Mr. Blix says, he would expect the United States to put its evidence on the table, so it can be verified.Iraq has persistently maintained it does not have the banned weapons. The latest such assertion came in a letter to the UN this week, in which Baghdad accepted the latest Security Council resolution setting out the parameters* for what experts say will be the most intrusive inspections in Iraq, so far.After the preliminary technical work starting Monday, Mr. Blix says, he expects the first wave of inspections to start November 27th. Two months later, he is required to report to the Security Council on Iraq's performance.Exercise ADirections: Listening to the news report and complete the summary.This news report is about Mr. Blix's weapons inspections in Iraq.Exercise BDirections: Listen to the news again and fill in the blanks with the missing words.Mr. Blix emphasizes that his inspectors will not determine the course of events in the region. He says they will visit suspectedsites, conduct interviews with Iraqi scientists, ferret out information and report back to the Security Council for its members to decide.The next test for Iraq will be December eighth, the deadline for Iraq to present a full accounting of its weapons programs. If Iraq presents, in effect, a blank sheet, Mr. Blix says, he would expect the United States to put its evidence on the table, so it can be verified.Iraq has persistently maintained it does not have the banned weapons. The latest such assertion came in a letter to the UN this week, in which Baghdad accepted the latest Security Council resolution setting out the parameters for what experts say will be the most intrusive inspections in Iraq, so far.Part 2 PassageRise and Fall of Egypt1.The Nile River was a kind friend but occasionally a hard taskmaster of the。
现代大学英语听力3原文及答案unit3
Unit 3Task 1【答案】A. 1) F 2) T 3) T 4) F 5) T 6) TB.1) She takes care of the Jotmsons' children when their mother is sick.2) When they got to the theater, they found that the G movie wasn’t there any more. The theater was showing an X-rated movie called GIRLS.3) Since she didn’t know what X meant, she thought a movie about "girls" would befine for little girls.【原文】Jack: Did you hear what happened to Helga? She almost lost her job.Mary: I didn't know she had one.Jack: Well, it's just a part-time job. Helga takes care of the Jotmsons' children when their mother is sick. Mrs. Johnson hasn't been well lately.Mary: What happened? Why did Helga almost lose her job?Jack: Well, there was a children's movie advertised at the neighborhood theater last Saturday. It was one of those G movies, for general audiences.Mary: I suppose Helga took the Johnson children to the movie. Wasn't that all right? Jack: Yes, but here is what happened. When they got to the theater, they found that theG movie wasn't there any more. The theater was showing an X-rated moviecalled GIRLS.Mary: X-rated movies are really bad, aren't they?Jack: They're even worse than R-rated ones which teenagers aren't supposed to see.But Helga didn't know what X meant, and she thought a movie about "girls"would be fine for little girls.Mary: Did the theater let her in?Jack: No, but Helga tried to make them let her in. The manager had to call Mrs.Johnson. That's how she almost lost her job.Task 2【答案】A. 1) F 2) T 3) T 4) F 5) F 6) FB.Judy watched a bit of TV last night. Before the football came on, she switched over just to protest, for she couldn’t bear football, and thus she saw the end of the film The Graduate. When the football came on, she turned over to a programme on foxes. After the foxes, she turned over back to see who won the football, but only saw the beginning of the News. Then she packed up and went to bed.【原文】Stuart: What did you do last night then? Did you work all night?Judy: Yes, I did some work, but I watched a bit of TV ... Got to relax, you know. Stuart: Did you watch the football?Judy: No, no I didn't. I can't bear football.Stuart: Really?Judy: Yes. I really hate it. Well, actually, just before the football came on, I switched over just to ... just to protest.Stuart: What did you see then?Judy: Well, I saw the programme before ... just the end of a film that was on beforethe football. It looked quitegood actually. It's a shame I didn't switch on earlier. It was some kind of love story ... with Dustin Hoffman, you know, The erm ...Stuart: The Graduate?Judy: That's it. The Graduate.Stuart: Yes. I know. I've seen that. Yes, good film.Judy: Yes, and nice music. And then, when the football came on I turned over. Stuart: Terrible, terrible!Judy: I hate it! I really can't stand it.Stuart: It was a great game!Judy: Yes? Who was playing?Stuart: England, of course. What did you see then, that was more important than football?Judy: Foxes. Yes, a good programme on foxes. Yes, they spent ages watching these foxes in a house. They werewatching them all night and these little baby foxes. It was tremendous. Stuart: Yes, sounds all right.Judy: Yes, it was good—better than football ... and then, then I turned over, back to the other channel to see whowon the football, but I missed it and I just saw the beginning of the news and packed up and went to bed.Stuart: Well, I'm sorry you missed it. It was a good game.Judy: Who did win?Stuart: England, of course. Who do you think? Six nil. Yes.Judy: Must have been quite good then!Stuart: Yes, it was good, actually. It was very good.Task 3【答案】A. 1) b) 2) c)B. 1) F 2) F 3) FC.Topic: How the movies are producedThesis:There are six basic steps that are normally followed in the production of a full-length film.Steps: First step—finding a property; two types of properties1) An original storye.g. Star Wars, Back to the Future, Rocky2) A property from a novel, play, or musicale.g. The Sound of Music, Tess, The GodfatherSecond step—writing the script; two options1) The original writer takes part in the production of the script2) Directors write the scripts themselves【原文】Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Let's start this introduction to filmmaking with a simple question: How many of you have seen a movie this week? It doesn't matter if it was at the theater or just on your own TV... Uhhuh, just as I thought, almost all of you have.Of course, most of us love the movies—the magic, the escape that they provide, but most of us rarely stop to think about the process of making a movie. Just whatdoes it take to get that movie from the idea stage to the final product? What are the decisions that must be made? What problems are encountered? Exactly how does a movie studio go about making a movie? These are precisely the topics that we will be exploring today.There are six basic steps that are normally followed in the production of a full-length film. I'll outline them for you.The first step is rather obvious--to make a film you must have an idea.., a story...some topic for the project. The studio must find a property. That's a key word, folks—property, p-r-o-p-e-r-t-y. You all know the common meaning of this word, of course, but in filmmaking the word "property" has a very specific meaning. A property is the story on which the movie will be based. Okay, it's the story on which the movie is based. You are probably wondering why we call it a property. Well, it belongs to someone; it is that person's "property" and must be acquired by the studio, sometimes for quite a large sum of money.There are basically two kinds of properties. The first is an original story that has never appeared anywhere before—never been in a book, or magazine, or another film. In other words, the story is intended from the very beginning to be made into a movie.Star Wars is one good example of this type of property—you do remember that famous science fiction film, don't you? Another example is Back to the Future—oh, and also Rocky. All of these were based on a story written only for the purpose of making a movie.Actually though, the majority of properties, for famous films at least, come from novels, plays, or musicals that are already published. Examples of this type of property include The Sound of Music, which was originally a play, Tess, a famous novel, and The Godfather, which was also first a novel.Okay, that's step number one—finding a property.Well, now we have the property. The next step is to prepare a script from that property. This part of the process can take several months or sometimes even a year or more. It's quite a lengthy and time-consuming process. During this time, the scriptwriter, producer, and director usually work very closely with each other.Recently, there has been a trend to also have the original writer—the original property owner—take part in the production of the script. This means that if the property is taken from a book or play, the original author of the book or play is involved in writing the script. This is a good trend, I think. Who could possibly know the story better or understand it more clearly than its original creator?Another option, however, is for directors to write scripts themselves. This often occurs because scriptwriters are not only responsible for the dialog, but they also must specify what kind of camera shots they want used. For instance, in all scenes, and especially long scenes that don't have any dialog, the scriptwriter must describe what the camera should focus on, what should be in the center of the shot, what mood the image should present. Directors have much more experience with camera work and often prefer to write the script themselves for this reason.So that's step number two—writing the script.Task 4【答案】A. 1) a) 2) a)B. 1) F 2) F 3) TC.Topic: How movies are producedThesis:There are six basic steps that are normally followed in the production of a full-length film.Steps: Third step—casting the film; two types of casting1) Building the movie around a famous starAdvantages: A famous star is a great asset to the film. It attracts fansautomatically. Financial success of the movie depends onhow many people come to see it.Disadvantages: Famous star are very expensive. They take attentionaway from the story itself. They distract the audience.2) Casting movies with unknown actors and actressesAdvantages: Movie centers around the story itself. Make the movie more believable.Fourth step—filming the movie; done in two types of places1) Soundstages—both pictures and dialogs are recorded.2) Partially filmed on location—in a real setting.Note: all the scenes with a big star can done first, or all the scenes shot at the same location can be filmed at the same time.【原文】Okay, now the script is finished and approved, and we are ready for the next step—a very critical step indeed—the casting of the film.The success or failure of a movie can depend on the ability of the actors and actresses to convince us that they really are the characters that they are portraying. The producer and the director must choose the cast very, very carefully. This step of choosing the actors and actresses is called casting. Got it? Casting is choosing the actors and actresses, the cast of the movie.There are, in general, two types of casting. The first and the most common approach is to build the movie around a famous star. It is obvious that having a well-recognized name in the cast is a great asset to the film. Having someone, like Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, or Harrison Ford will automatically attract large numbers of their fans to the movie. And of course, the financial success of the movie depends on how many people come to see it.Now, there is also a second type of casting, and it has worked very well at times. Although it is true that top stars can attract audiences, they are also very, very expensive. With this in mind, some producers and directors cast their movies with unknown actors and actresses, concentrating on who fits the part the best, not who has the biggest name.Actually, this approach, as I said, can work quite well because sometimes a big star can actually take attention away from the story itself. In other words, the stars distract the audience! The audience focuses on the star, not on the story. One example of this second type of casting is the movie E. T., which is, in fact, one of the most popular movies of all time.Unknown child actors and actresses were hired and the movie centered around the story itself. The producer and director probably thought that unknown actors would make the movie more believable. A big star might actually hurt that movie.Well, on to the next step.After the casting has been completed, the fourth step, filming the movie, can begin. Filming any kind of major motion picture usually takes about six to eight months. Now, you might not know this, but filming rarely takes place in the same order as the story. The reason for shooting in a different time order is that all the scenes with a big star can be done first, or all the scenes shot at the same location canbe filmed at the same time. So what happens is this: The order scenes are filmed in and the order they appear in the movie are almost always completely different. It would be inconvenient and costs would increase dramatically if scenes were filmed in the order that we see them in the finished movie.The filming itself is done in two types of places. The first is studio buildings called soundstages. They were given this name because both pictures and dialogs are recorded there. These soundstages can be made to appear like almost anything—from a fourteenth-century town to a small hotel room.In addition to soundstages, most movies are partially filmed on location—in a real setting. On location means that the actors, actresses, film crew, and other necessary personnel must travel to a place like, maybe, a South American jungle or downtown Paris, or wherever, for filming certain scenes.This makes the movie more interesting and realistic. Indoor scenes can easily be filmed on a soundstage, but scenes that require extensive use of outdoor scenery or use famous places as backgrounds must be done on location to be realistic.As you can imagine, the costs of filming on location are enormous. People and equipment must be flown to the place, living accommodations must be found, and food has to be provided for a large number of people. There are lots of practical problems like these. The added realism of filming on location adds a lot of expense to a film.Task 5【答案】2) we never fond it difficult to occupy our spare time3) We used to enjoy civilized pleasures4) All our free time is regulated by TV5) It demands and obtains absolute silence and attention6) Whole generations are growing up addicted to it7) It is a universal pacifier8) rubbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence9) vast quantities of creative work10) they can’t keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as we ll11) becomes a village, is reduced to preliterate communities, utterly dependent on pictures and the spoken word12) It encourages passive enjoyment13) It cuts us off from the real world14) from communicating with each other15) how totally irrelevant television is to real living【原文】“Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television?” How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn’t been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never fond it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilized pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies; we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them; we used to go outside for our amusements to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talks occasionally. All that belongs to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the “goggle box”. W e rush home or gulp down our meals to be in time for this or that programme. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. Asandwich and a glass of beer will do anything, providing it doesn’t i nterfere with the programme. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.Whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The telly is a universal pacifier. It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn’t matter that the children will watch ru bbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence – so long as they are quiet. There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Every day, television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is why most of the programmes are so bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programmes, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in preliterate communities. We become utterly dependent on the two most primitive media of communication: pictures and the spoken word.Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with second-hand experiences. It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy – we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be s splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains, far away from civilization. In quiet, natural surroundings, we quickly discover how little we miss the hypnotic tyranny of King Telly.Task 6【答案】A.1) It came from Alan’s eldest son.2) Because there were lots of children in a film about gangsters in New York.3) They visited ordinary schools and stage schools and Christmas shows all overAmerica, and looked forAmerican children in Britain, too. Alan saw about 100 videos of Christmas shows and auditioned over 10,000children.4) All the clothes had to be in the right style but in small sizes, even the gangster hats.B. 1) c 2) e 3) a 4) b 5) f 6) d【原文】Mike: Welcome to Radio Time, and this month's edition of Film World. I'm very pleased to have Alan Parker with me for today's program. Alan, you made one of the most famous and popular children's films of all time—Bugsy Malone.Tell me, when did you first think of the idea for Bugsy Malone?Alan: Well, I have to say that I didn't think of the idea myself. It came from my eldest son.Mike: Ah, so you knew it was a good idea for a children's film.Alan: Yes. I took the idea and wrote the full story. That was in 1973.Mike: Was it difficult to write?Alan: No, it was more difficult to get the money to make the film. A lot of people thought it was a strange idea—lots of children in a film about gangsters in NewYork.Mike: Is it a true story?Alan: Not quite. But there were two gangs in New York in 1929, the year of my story. Mike: How did you choose the actors?Alan: That was a lot of work. We visited ordinary schools and stage schools and Christmas shows all over America. And we looked for American children in Britain, too. I saw about 100 videos of Christmas shows, and we auditioned over 10,000 children for the cast.Mike: So there was a lot of competition to get a part?Alan: Oh yes, but there always is.Mike: How long did it take to film Bugsy Malone?Alan: Eleven weeks. The filming was quite quick in fact. But we had to do a lot of work first. We needed 300 costumes, I remember. And all the clothes had to be in the right style but in small sizes, even the gangster hats.Task 7【答案】A.1)T 2)F 3)T 4)T 5)F 6)F 7)F 8)FB.1) a) 2) b) 3) a) 4) c) 5) b) 6) b) 7) b) 8) c)【原文】Matthew: Television is undoubtedly a great invention, but one of the main criticisms of it is that people just aren't sel ective enough. Lesley, you’ve got atelevision; how do you pick out the sorts of programmes you want towatch?Lesley: I try and look at the prograxnmes that are on to decide which particular ones interest me, rather than you turning it on a seven o'clock and youleaving it on until half-past eleven when the programmes finish. Matthew: Do you think of television though as a great time-waster?Lesley: Un ...I think it can be a time waster and it depends on how particular people are about…what you know, what they want to see. Um, it can just be a sortof total amusement for someone and totally consuming without reallyconsidering what it is they're watching.Matthew: Aha, but how do you prevent it coming into your life and taking over your evenings and at the same time perhaps get…get out of the television someof the sort of best things—best programmes that... that undoubtedly are ontelevision?Lesley: Well, I suppose one of the problems is...will depend on what a person's life style is, and that if he has other outside interests which are equallyimportant to him as television, he will then, you know, be more carefulabout which programmes he wants to watch because he has time which heuses…wants to use for other things.Matthew: Do you think thoug h that... that in…in a sense television has killed people's own er...sort of , creativity or their ability to entertain themselvesbecause…well, if they're bored all they do is just turn on the television? Lesley: Yes, I think that is a danger, and I thi nk that’s…in fact…is what is happening to a lot of people who use it as their...their main field ofamusement and... because they don't have other outside interests and evenwhen people come round, they'll leave the television on and not be, youknow, particularly interested in talking to them. You know the televisionwill be the main thing in the room.Matthew: Henrietta, would you let your children spend many afternoons and evenings watching television or would you encourage them to go out and play?Henr ietta: Well, it’s interesting. This... in fact, we really have had a policy of um...almost total restriction of viewing. I mean, my children are very small,they're four-and-a-half and two-and-a-half, and it's only very recently thatwe have even got into the habit of watching Playschool. I do tend to... um...I do try to... in fact I succeed in restricting their viewing solely to that and acouple ofprogrammes that follow it, but I don't like to see a child sit with anopen mouth in front of a television set hour after hour, but I'm notanti-television at all. I myself watch quite a lot; I watch some comedy, Iwatch um... serials.., um the recent serialization of Jane Eyre wasbeautifully done and very interesting. I watch the news avidly.Matthew: Peter, have you got a television?Peter: I have, in fact I've got two televisions.Matthew: Do you watch them a lot?Peter: Er...no I...I watch very seldom. In fact, I find that I watch television most when I'm most when I'm working hardest and I need some sort of passiveway of relaxing, something which requires nothing of me, then I watchtelevision a lot. When I've got more energy left...um ...in my own privatetime, in my free time, then I find I do more different things. I do things likeum reading, or going out, or working on anything…my hobbies.Matthew: Do you think though that people can live a perfectly happy life if they haven't got a television?Peter: Oh, yes, I think people who don't have a television or people who don’t watch television can be expected to be happier. You can…if they neverwatch television, you can assume, I think, or you can guess that they arehappier people than the people who watch a lot of television, because Ithink that television goes with the kind of life which leaves you withnothing to spare, nothing left. You have to be given potted, passiveentertainment.Matthew: But in that case you ...you seem as though you're completely against television. Is that true?Peter: No, it's not. I...I have a television, in fact I have two as I said, but I...I (I)think there's a dilemma, a difficult situation. Television in itself is very good;a lot of the information and a lot of the programmes are very instructive;they introduce you to things you may never have thought of before or neverhave heard about before. But in watching, it makes you very passive; you sitfor hour after hour and you get very receptive and very unquestioning and itseems to me the important thing in life is to be active, to do things, to thinkthings and to be as creative as possible, and television prevents this.Task 8【答案】1) d) 2) d) 3) c) 4) b) 5) a)【原文】Michael: I want to do something tonight for a change, let's go out.Brian: All right, let's go to the movies.Jane: In this heat? Are you joking?Brian: We can go to an outdoor movie. Do you think I'd suggest an indoor one in the middle of the summer inSan Diego?Michael: I'd rather go out for a meal.Jane: Yes, that sounds a better idea. The outdoor movies are so uncomfortable. Brian: Why don't we do both at the same time? We could pick up some take-away food and eat it in the movie.Michael: That sounds like fun. What a good idea.Jane: But they never show any good films in the summer. At least not any of the new ones. All you get is the oldclassics.Brian: And what's wrong with them?Jane: Oh nothing, it's just that we've seen them all half a dozen times.Brian: But that's why they're classics. They're worth seeing again and again. Michael: You've got a point there, Brian. My main objection to outdoor movies is that you can never hear properly.You hear all the traffic from outside.Brian: Well, we can find a foreign film with subtitles; then you don't need to hear the sound.Jane: Supposing it's a musical.Brian: Oh, trust you to say that! I think it would be fun to sit watching an old film and eating a meal at the sametime.Jane: Last time I went to an outdoor movie, I bought a bar of chocolate to eat as I went in. It was a horror filmand I was so shocked I just sat there holding my bar of chocolate until the interval when I found it hadmelted in my hand and run all down my dress. That was an expensive evening out.Michael: Well, we won't go and see a horror film, darling, and take-away meals don't melt.Task 9【答案】1) It is taken from a Greek word and a Latin word.2) TV provides jobs for hundreds of thousands who make TV sets and broadcasting equipment. It also provides work for actors, technicians, and others who put on programs.3) Some hospitals use TV to allow medical students to get close-up view of operations.4) By the mid-1960s, 90 percent of the households in the United States had at least one TV set5) Communications satellites televise programs “live” from all over the world.6) By the middle 1960s, the national networks were broadcasting most of their programs in color.【原文】Television, or TV, the modern wonder of electronics, brings the world into your own home in sight and sound. The name television comes from the Greek word tele, meaning “far”, and the Latin word videre, meaning “to see”. Thus, television means “seeing far”. In Great Britain, the popular word for television is “telly”.As an industry, TV provides jobs for hundreds of thousands who make TV sets and broadcasting equipment. It also provides work for actors, technicians, and others who put on programs. As an art, television brings the theater and other cultural eventsinto the homes. Its influence on the life of average Americans is calculable: It can influence their thoughts, their likes and dislikes, their speech, and even their dress. It can also add to their store of knowledge. Through advertising television helps businesses and manufacturers sell their products to millions of persons. Television has brought political campaigns closer to the voters than in former days. Educational TV stations offer teaching in various subjects ranging from home nursing to art appreciation. Many large schools and universities have “closed—circuit” television equipment that will telecast lectures and demonstrations to hundreds of students in different classrooms; and the lecture can be put on video tape to be kept for later use. Some hospitals use TV to allow medical students to get close-up view of operations.In 1946, after World War II, TV began to burst upon the American scene with a speed unforeseen even by the most optimistic leaders of the industry. The novelty of seeing TV pictures in the home caught the public’s fancy and began a revolution in the world of entertainment. By 1950, television had grown into a major part of show business. Many film and stage stars began to perform on TV as television audiences increased. Stations that once telecast for only a few hours a day sometimes telecast around the clock in the 1960s.With the development of programming also came the introduction of television in full color. By the middle 1960s, the national networks were broadcasting most of their programs in color. The obvious appeal of television, whether in color or black-and-white, can be documented by the increasing number of TV sets in homes around the country. By the mid-1960s, 90 percent of the households in the United States had at least one TV set, and 12 percent had two or more sets. TV had become a part of the daily life of the adults and children of America.The programs that people watch are not only local and national ones. Since the launching of the first communications satellite, more and more programs are televised “live” from all over the world. Television viewers i n San Francisco were able to watch the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo by means of a communication satellite named Syncom. The Olympic Games in Mexico City and in Munich, Germany, were also telecast live as were parts of the historic visit of President Nixon t o the People’s Republic of China.It looks as if the uses of television—in education, entertainment, and communication—appear to be endless. Certainly it is one of the major modern wonders of electronics in our changing world.Task 10【原文】Watching television is the most popular leisure-time activity in Britain. Peak viewing time is between 7:30 and 10 o’clock in the evenings.The two age groups which watch television most are children between 5 and 14 and people over 50. Children aged 5 to 14 watch television on average for 23 hours a week. The over-fifties watch on average for 17 hours a week.Television is divided between BBC1, BBC2 and the commercial station, ITV. There is no great difference between BBC1 and BBC2 and ITV, but programmes on BBC2 tend to be of a more intellectual or cultural nature.Programmes before 9 pm are also suitable for children, so programmes with scenes of violence or sex are usually shown after this time. Most viewers in Britain switch off the television after about 10:30 and go to bed. Those who want to stay up can often watch a film or a "chat show", an interview with a famous personality, until 1 am.。
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Unit 4 Agriculture《现代大学英语听力3》听力原文及答案Task 1【答案】A.1) They are farms that grow vegetables for city people to eat fresh.2) It’s a farm that grow plants and flowers to sell.3) They protect the plants from the cold in the winter but let them get plenty of light, so the plants can be grown all through the year.B.1) canned, frozen2) flowers, garden plants, home gardens, yards, window boxes3) buildings, furniture, firewood【原文】Grain, vegetables and fruits are found on most farms. All of them are food for animals and people. Grain can be fed to animals just as it is harvested. But before people use them grains are usually made into flour or breakfast cereal. Bread, macaroni, and cereals all come from grain. Tomatoes, beans, potatoes, beets, lettuce, carrots and onions are field and garden vegetables. Can you think of any others? Vegetables are good for people and for some animals such as pigs and rabbits.Farms that grow vegetables for city people to eat fresh are called truck farms. Truck farms are usually close to big cities. Each day hundreds of loads of fresh vegetables are brought to stores on the farmers' trucks. Without the truck farmers people in cities would not eat well. And without city people who eat fresh vegetables, the truck farmers would have no work.There are many kinds of fruit. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, oranges, grapefruit, and berries are a few kinds. You will be able to think of other kinds that you like. Most fruit is grown on specialized farms. But many general farms have some fruit to use and sell also.Like vegetables, fruit is sold fresh in markets. But a large part of both fruit and vegetable crops is sent to factories to be canned or frozen.In warm parts of our country farmers grow cotton, rice, tobacco, sugar cane, and peanuts. Specialized farms raise flowers and garden plants. They are sold to florists and to families for home gardens, or yards, or window boxes. A farm that grow plants and flowers to sell is called a nursery. Most nurseries have glass buildings, called hothouses or greenhouses. The hothouses are heated to protect the plants from cold in the winter but let them get plenty of light, so they can be grown all through the year.Some farms grow only trees. Some of these are Christmas tree farms. Others are large forests where trees are grown for their wood. The wood is used for buildings, furniture and firewood. Some tree farms grow only nut trees.Task 2【答案】A.B.1) The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars.2) The agencies called for worldwide acceptance of Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and trade in pesticides.【原文】Two United Nations agencies are expressing concern about the safety of some pesticides used to kill insects. They report that about thirty percent of all pesticides sold in developing countries fail to meet widely accepted rules for quality. They say these products are a serious threat to human health and the environment.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization gave the warning. In developing countries, pesticides are used mainly for agriculture. Pesticides kill insects and other organisms that threaten crops. Pesticides also are used for public health. They control insects that spread disease, such as mosquitoes that spread malaria.The UN agencies report that the market value of pesticides in developing countries last year was about three thousand million dollars. They say the estimated market value of pesticides worldwide was thirty-two thousand million dollars.Officials say poor quality pesticides often contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals often are banned or restricted in some countries.Possible causes of low quality in pesticides include production problems and failure to use the right chemicals. Officials say the active chemicals in many pesticides are stronger than those permitted by many governments. They also say poor quality pesticides may contain poisonous substances or substances that are not pure.Officials say the quality of pesticide containers and product information on the containers are other concerns. They say information on the containers often fails to explain the active chemicals and how to use the product safely.The WHO says products listing false information have been sold for years in some areas. The agencies say the problem of poor quality pesticides is widespread in parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. They called for worldwide acceptance of Food and Agriculture and World Health Organization pesticide rules. They say this would help guarantee the safe production of and tradein pesticides.Officials say the agencies' rules are especially important for developing countries. They say developing countries often lack systems for testing pesticides.Task 3【答案】A.1) c) 2) d) 3) b)B.That’s because they’re making an investment all the time, but are still not sure whether or not they can make profits.【原文】Interviewer: Cattle raising and beef in the US is big business, isn't it?Bob Beck: Yes, it's the largest business—cattle business.Interviewer: It must be a very profitable business then.Bob Beck: Uh, not necessarily.Interviewer: It's not necessarily a profitable business?Bob Beck: At times, it's not profitable. Your production costs get... it's a supply and demand market, and if your supply is larger than your demand...Interviewer: So the price is fluctuating all the time...Bob Beck: Right. It fluctuates, and it can get below production costs.Interviewer: But you never know. For instance, next year, you don't know what it'll bring on the market.Bob Beck: No, technically it takes a year and a half from the time you breed the cow, until you get the calf, until the calf's marketable.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: You've got a year, to a year and a half, tied up there.Interviewer: So, you're making an investment all the time.Bob Beck: Right. So you're not sure.Interviewer: It sounds like it might be a very insecure kind of existence. Wonder why it is that people want to be farmers or ranchers then...Bob Beck: I think the majority of it is you like it. It's one thing. It's a breed of people. They like it. If you don't like what you're doing, why...Interviewer: What is there about it? You live essentially in a rural area. Doesn't that feeling of isolation ever bother you?Bob Beck: No. It's getting too crowded.Interviewer: Too crowded!Bob Beck: Too many people!Interviewer: I can see that, for instance, in a city, you have restaurants to go to, movie theaters—all kinds of thingsavailable to people, a lot of conveniences which you don't have in the more rural areas. What do people who farm and ranch do for recreation and relaxation, for instance... erm...Bob Beck: Well, I think a lot of it is if you're a livestock raiser, you'll go check your cows in the evening instead of going to a movie.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: That's as much recreation as driving through a bunch or cows, and if you like them, you enjoy that.Interviewer: In terms of the way of life, to a lot of people, it would seem that it's a very hard life. It means a lot of hard work. I mean, you have a schedule—whether you feel like it or not, you have to get out and feed animals, and so forth. Would you regard that as one of the difficult things about it, or is that...Bob Beck: No.Interviewer: …just sort of... part of it?Bob Beck: For me, if I had to go to a desk every morning, that'd kill me.Task 4【答案】A. paid off, fall back on, a security, operating expenses, complete disasterB.1) Some of them cook the meals, clean the house and take care of the kids every day.2) Yes. That is especially so after they've had one or two bad years when they couldn’t make money.3) When their children are small, they were with their parents to go out to work; when they are very small, Sharon didn’t go out as much as she would later.4) She thinks that in this way the children are a lot more self-reliant. They learn to work and they learn responsibility. They learn a lot about life by being continually in life with animals.【原文】Bob Beck: I think, for a wife, the same as a husband, they like it or they wouldn't marry a farmer or a rancher.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: They'd get out. I think it's not at all wives. Some of them are just like suburban housewives.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Bob Beck: They cook the meals, and they clean the house and that's it... take care of the kids... Interviewer: Have you known some situations like that?Bob Beck: Oh, yeah, I know situations like that!Interviewer: Sharon, is there a problem of the feeling of security?Sharon Beck: What kind of security are you talking about—financial security?Interviewer: Uh, yeah, financial security. Uh, the thing is up and down. You don't know what the market's going to bring, er... for beef. You work all year, and so forth... Is there any problem of that sort?Sharon Beck: Sure, there's the problem of security. Especially, if you've had one or two bad years. You feel awfully insecure.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: If you've borrowed money to buy a farm or to operate, and there's no money coming in, you feel awfully insecure.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: But if you've got a fairly good amount of your ranch paid off, you've got that to fall back on. You can always think of that as a security. If everythin g else fails, if you can’t pay foryour operating expenses…Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: ...you can always sell your equity in your ranch. So it isn't complete disaster. Interviewer: But it's not something that bothers you terribly. I mean, it's a fact of life. It's sort of... Sharon Beck: Something you live with, yeah...Interviewer:... part of the thing. The role of the wife in this situation is quite different than that of a suburban housewife. You don't have much free time, do you?Sharon Beck: No.Interviewer: Because, essentially, you work in much the same way that your husband does. Sharon Beck: Yes, I'm usually with him.Interviewer: How do you handle the whole family-life situation—children? You're out almost as much as a working mother in the city, aren't you?Sharon Beck: Yes. The only difference is we're together.Interviewer: The children too...?Sharon Beck: The children too. When they're not in school, when they were small, they were with us. When they were very small, of course, I didn't go out as much.Interviewer: Do you feel that there are advantages in growing up in this way?Sharon Beck: Yeah, I definitely feel that there're advantages. There are disadvantages too, but I think the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.Interviewer: What are some of those advantages you think the children have?Sharon Beck: The advantages?Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: Well, they're a lot more self-reliant. They learn to work. Erm, they learn responsibility.Interviewer: Uh-huh.Sharon Beck: They learn a lot about life by being continually in life, with animals, and... I think it makes them... erm... They grow up!Task 5【答案】A.1) 75 percent, half, in the east and south of England, in eastern Scotland, cereals, in hilly areas, on the richer grass of the lowlands2) 173, 703) The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the National Farmers' Union, 2 percent, 25 percent4) 1973, the European CommunityB.1) First, farmers complain that their work is made more difficult by rules and regulations that have been introduced. Second, they also claim that quota systems, which limit the amount of produce they can sell, make it impossible to make a profit.2) Many farmers let farm cottages, offer bed and breakfast to tourists, and grow strawberries in order to gain some extra money.3) Because the CAP’s set-aside policy is seen as helping farmers ge4t rich for doing nothing.4) Farmers are often criticized for destroying woods and hedges and for poisoning the environment with fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers may also be accused of cruelty towards their animals.【原文】About 75 percent of Britain is farmed, and British farms supply over half the country's food. Arable farms are mainly in the east and south of England and in eastern Scotland. The main crops are cereals, for example, wheat and barley, and potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape. Livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, are reared in hilly areas, though dairy cows are kept on the richer grass of the lowlands. Many cattle farmers have had a difficult time recently because of the BSE crisis. Kent, often called "the garden of England", and the Vale of Evesham are famous for horticultural produce.The average size of a British farm is 173 acres (70 hectares). Most farms are managed like other modern businesses. The word agribusiness describes the commercial aspects of farming. It is also used to refer to all the industries, including farming, which are associated with food production. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the government department responsible for agriculture. Farmers' interests are represented by the National Farmers' Union. Agriculture only employs about 2 percent of the British workforce, though this figure rises to 25 percent when food processing industries are included.In 1973, Britain's entry into the European Community led to many changes in farming. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides help for farmers through subsidies. Originally, farmers were encouraged to produce as much as they could, and any surplus was put into storage. The cost of this policy was passed on to customers, who had to pay higher prices for food. Many people are still unhappy about the CAP. Farmers complain that their work is made more difficult by rules and regulations that have been introduced. They also claim that quota systems, which limit the amount of produce they can sell, make it impossible to make a profit. In recent years many farmers have tried to find additional ways of making money, e.g. by letting farm cottages, offering bed and breakfast to tourists, or by growing strawberries.But farmers do not get much sympathy from other people, mainly because of the money they receive in subsidies. The CAP’s set-aside policy, which pays farmers to leave some fields uncultivated, is seen by some people as helping farmers get rich for doing nothing. Farmers are sometimes called "custodians of the countryside", but they are often criticized for destroying woods and hedges and for poisoning the environment with fertilizers and pesticides. Some farmers practise organic fanning without chemicals, but, although people approve of this, most are unwilling to pay higher prices for organic produce. Farmers may also be accused of cruelty towards their animals: In battery farming, for instance, chickens are reared in crowded cages.Task 6【答案】A.1) over 22 million, about 2.5 percent, in the 1950s, in the 1980s, 470, 190, 174 ,70, 1940, 1996, $51 billion2) 36 percent, 47 percent3) $200 billion, $60 billion-worthB.1) Midwest, corn, soybeans2) Canada, southern Texas on the eastern side3) the Great Lakes4) Florida, Southern California and Hawaii5) the southeastC.1) The US Department of Agriculture spends a lot of its budget on buying surpluses and paying subsidies to farmers for them not to grow certain crops.2) It will gradually end these subsidies and give farmers more freedom to respond to public demand and grow what they want.3) The Federation is involved in agricultural research, but it also protects farmers' rights and tries to influence government policy.4) They think factory farming is bad and are in favor of organic produce, but they are unwilling to pay the extra cost.【原文】Agribusiness in the United States employs more people than any other industry, over 22 million, but only about 2.5 percent of the American workforce are farmers. Many people got into debt and left their farms in the 1950s, and in the 1980s many more farmers sold out and moved to the cities. The average size of a farm is now 470 acres (190 hectares), compared with 174 acres (70 hectares) in 1940. In 1996 farm income was more than $51 billion, the highest ever, but despite this many farmers had large debts.Many farmers live in the Corn Belt of the Midwest where corn and soybeans are grown. The US grows 36 percent of the world's corn and 47 percent of its soybeans. Others live on the prairies of the Great Plains, in what is known as the Wheat Belt, which stretches from Canada to southern Texas on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. Most livestock farmers live around the Great Lakes in the Dairy Belt, or further south in states like Texas where cattle are bred for meat on ranches. In the South many live in the Cotton Belt. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, are grown in Florida, Southern California and Hawaii, and tobacco is grown in the southeast. In 1996 the total value of agricultural products was $200 billion, of which $60 billion-worth, mostly grain and soybeans, was exported. Farmers and ranchers are usually well respected by other people.The US Department of Agriculture spends a lot of its budget on buying surpluses and paying subsidies (in this case, money for not growing certain crops) to farmers, though in 1996 Congress passed a "Freedom to Farm" law that will gradually end these subsidies and give farmers more freedom to respond to public demand and grow what they want.Farmers are represented by the American Farm Bureau Federation and county farm organizations called Farm Bureaus. The Federation is involved in agricultural research, but it also protects farmers' rights and tries to influence government policy. Agricultural colleges attached to universities are highly respected. Extension officers act as a link between research departments and farmers.As in Britain, many people in the United States think factory farming is bad and are in favor of organic produce, but they are unwilling to pay the extra cost.Task 7【答案】B.1) Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity,2) Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer varieties of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of varieties that may have useful genetic qualities.3) Because irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas.4) Pesticides do destroy harmful insects, but they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.【原文】Agroecology is a field of ideas about how to farm productively while also protecting natural resources. It is seen in many ways as an answer to the Green Revolution that has given us modem farming methods.Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity, but they work toward this common goal in different ways. Many agroecologists question how long modem farming methods can continue.Modem farming uses land intensively. Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer varieties of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of varieties that may have useful genetic qualities.Another issue is fertilizer. Agroecologists say they would use organic materials and compost in place of chemicals. The Green Revolution has shown that chemical fertilizer can greatly increase crop productivity, but it can also pollute water supplies.To water crops, agroecologists say they would use methods that reduce the need for irrigation. Irrigation is an ancient idea. Water is drawn up from the ground or brought from another place. Irrigated crops are highly productive: 16 percent of all farmland in the world is irrigated, but this 16 percent of the farmland produces 40 percent of all food. Yet irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas. To control pests, agroecologists say they would use helpful insects to kill harmful ones. In the last 50 years, however, farmers have increased the use of insecticides. These chemical poisons do destroy harmful insects, but they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.Task 8【原文】Farming changed very little from early times until about 1700. In the 1700s an agricultural revolution took place which led to a large increase in the production of crops. This increase of crops came about in a large part by little more than the final destruction of medieval institutions and the more general adoption of techniques and crops which had been known for a long time. Included in some of these changes was also the adoption of crops from the "new world" such as corn and potatoes which produced a very large yield.In the 1850s, the industrial revolution spilled over to the farm with new mechanized methods which increased production rates. Early on, the large changes were in the use of new farm implements. Most of these early implements were still powered by horses or oxen. These new implements combined with crop rotation, manure and better soil preparation led to a steady increase of crop yield in Europe.The advent of steam power and later gas powered engines brought a whole new dimension to the production of crops. Yet, even as recently as 100 years ago, four fifths of the world population lived outside towns and were in some way dependant on agriculture.。