VOA英语听力练习
深圳大学研究生基础综合英语听力(12-13第二学期)VOA-Special English
1.allowanceThis is the VOA Special English Economics Report.Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money.At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics.Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.Allowances give children a chance to experience the three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it.Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future.Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance.A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest.Compounding works by paying interest on interest. So, for example, one dollar invested at two percent interest for two years will earn two cents in the first year. The second year, the money will earn two percent of one dollar and two cents, and so on.That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.2.e-commerceFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report in Special English.Americans are buying more products and services than ever before through the Internet. And experts say the popularity of online sales is likely to spread to other countries.Online sales now represent as much as one-tenth of all retail sales in the United States. This has led traditional stores to seek new ways to keep their customers loyal.Lynne Shaner used the Internet to buy everything she needed for her wedding and holiday gifts for her husband and step-daughter. Other than food, 90 percent of her purchases were made on her home computer."I find that, by being able to go online and choose the things that I need to choose, and have them delivered to me right at my doorstep, I eliminate all the driving, all the crowds, all the noise of that, and I usually get a better selection."There are a lot of people like her. Experts say American online shopping hit records in both November and December. Fifty-seven percent of Americans have bought something electronically.Store owners worry that this growing amount of online sales will hurt their business. Cornell University marketing professor Ed McLaughlin says they should be worried. He spoke to VOA b y Skype."Anything that can move online, will. And it's just a matter of time."Professor McLaughlin says traditional stores can keep their customers by selling goods like clothing, which buyers may want to see and try on before purchasing. He says the stores could also offer things that are difficult to ship. He also says some stores can please customers by offering to set upor repair electronic products.Bill Martin is the founder of ShopperTrak. His business helps stores learn about their customers. He told VOA by Skype that traditional stores offer a social experience that some people enjoy."There is still a lot of emotion in the buying decision, you know, that takes place. Oftentimes, you know, you need that last sense of …Boy, this is exactly what I want' -- that feeling before you're ready to part with money, and you can't always get that on-line. It's a rather cold process."Bill Martin says traditional stores can provide goods to buyers more-quickly than online stores. And some retailers are using websites to persuade people to visit their stores.While e-commerce worries some business owners, the only worry for delivery services like FedEx and UPS is keeping up with the number of packages. UPS Manager Dana Kline says her company is very busy at this time of year. UPS is so busy that it has filled 55,000 temporary worker positions during the holiday season.3.food safetyThis is the Agriculture Report in Special English.Each year, bad food sickens about one in six Americans. Proposed new rules aim to improve food safety. Officials say the changes could prevent more than one million cases of food-related illnesseseach year.The new rules were proposed this month, exactly two years after President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act. The rules are the first step in putting the law into effect, making the biggest changes in food safety since the 1930s.The law makes the Food and Drug Administration responsible for preventing foodborne illnesses. Experts say this is a change from the role that the FDA has played in the past in reacting to disease outbreaks.Congress passed the law after a series of outbreaks linked to bagged spinach, peanut butter and other foods. Margaret Hamburg is commissioner of the FDA.They occurred because of problems that would have been addressed by these kinds of approaches. So I think, you know, we‟re very optimistic that we will begin to see real change.”The agency is proposing to require food manufacturers to show that they have identified where contamination is most likely to happen. Manufacturers would also have to show that they have taken steps to prevent it. The proposed rules also deal with safety in growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables.The Congressional Budget Office estimates that establishing all of the provisions of the law will cost the government $1.4 billion. The Grocery Manufacturers of America, an industry group, has not released an estimate of what it will cost producers.But FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor says the new rules are worth the price.“Even if you just look at estimated reductions in illness, but if you also take into account avoiding disruption of the food supply and the loss of confidence in those commodities by consumers, so Ithink we‟ll see that the benefits substantially outweigh the costs of implementation.”Caroline Smith-DeWaal is director for food safety at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. She says the rules should have been released a year ago.“We‟re really happy that the new rules have come out. They‟re a little late.”And she notes that they are not finished.“The bigger question is, where are the rules on imports that haven‟t been released yet?”The FDA says about 15 percent of food eaten by Americans is imported, and that share is growing. Rules have not been released yet to require imported foods to meet the same standards as food produced in the United States. But the agency says they are coming soon.4.IphonesFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.The iPhone has become one of the most popular mobile phones in the United States. An 18-year-old student in California has used his knowledge of the device to create his own business. And he has gained national recognition for his work.Vincent Quigg is the chief executive officer of TechWorld. His company is kind of like a hospital for iPhones."I'm 18 years old. I'm a college student. And I'm the CEO and founder of TechWorld, where we specialize in customizing and repairing iPhones."Vincent Quigg launched TechWorld while in high school."My mom became single a couple of years ago and I had to grow up. And in order to keep my lifestyle, I had to find different ways to stay financially ahead of the game [to] keep my phone, keep a car, transportation and all that stuff. So I had to find ways to be entrepreneurial."An organization called the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, or NFTE, helped the young man get started. Both he and his mother, Carla Quigg, admit that he had a hard time developing a business plan."He quit the class, which I was very disappointed.""It was extremely hard for myself to find a business to start and run with it. But once I had that 'aha moment' or what I knew I wanted to go with, it was really easy and extremely fun."At the time, Vincent worked for the electronics store BestBuy. He says people always came into the store with broken electronic devices. He decided that repairing those devices was what he wanted to do. He not only re-registered for the NFTE class, but he also won the organization's national competition for best young entrepreneur.Estelle Reyes is executive director for NFTE in Los Angeles."He has an incredible gift for presenting himself and his dreams in a very compelling way that engages everyone to rally around him."His business has grown through word-of-mouth. Vincent says he now fixes up to 10 phones per week. He earns about $1,500 each month in sales. Brisa Munoz is one of his satisfied customers."I actually looked him up on the Internet because I had heard so much about this kid, how he won entrepreneur of the year. So I looked him up, and I was like, whoo, I want him to fix my phone.'"TechWorld has two other employees. Kacee Wheeler is one of them."He's such an amazing kid, and you always see his wheels turning with ideas every day. And it's really inspiring for him to be so young and pushing and have the drive. It's amazing to me."Kacee Wheeler works on the technical side of the business. Vincent Quigg now deals with finances and planning. He says he wants to continue to grow his business. His biggest goal, he says, has always been to work for himself.ughingThis is the VOA Special English Health Report.Imagine this situation. You pass a group of people. The people are talking to each other. You cannot hear what they are saying. But suddenly they start laughing. What would you think? Would you think they were laughing at something funny that one of them said? Or -- be honest with yourself -- would you think they were laughing at you? Yes, you.Being laughed at is a common fear. But a major study published in two thousand nine found that this fear is not the same around the world. It differs from culture to culture.People in Finland were the least likely to believe that people laughing in their presence were making fun of them. Less than ten percent of Finns in the study said they would think that, compared to eighty percent of people in Thailand.Some people in the study said they felt unsure of themselves in social situations but hid their feelings of insecurity. Others said they avoided social situations where they had been laughed at before.The study found that people in Turkmenistan and Cambodia were more likely to be in the first group. They would hide their feelings of insecurity if they were around other people's laughter. But peoplein Iraq, Egypt and Jordan were more likely to try to avoid such situations if they felt they had been laughed at before.Shy people often avoid situations that would force them into close contact with other people. They worry that something they say or do will make other people laugh at them. But some people worry much more than others. They may have a disorder called gelotophobia. Gelos is a Greek word. It means laughter. Phobia means fear. This fear of laughter can be truly sad for those who live with it. It can affect how they lead their lives.In the study, a team from the University of Zurich led more than ninety researchers from around the world. They wanted to understand the difference between normal shyness and true gelotophobia. Another purpose of the study was to compare the levels of fear of being laughed at in different cultures. The researchers surveyed more than twenty-two thousand people in forty-two different languages. The findings appeared in the scientific journal Humor.And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. Is shyness a serious problem for you or someone you know? It was for a university student who asked people in our audience for advice on how to deal with it. You can find out what they said at -- where you can also read, listen and learn English with our stories. I'm Faith Lapidus.6.living longerFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report in Special English.A new study says people are living longer, but many are living longer in poor health. Researchers found that life expectancy has increased by about five years since 1990. On average, men worldwide can expect to live 67 and a half years. Women can expect to live to age 73.Almost 500 researchers in 50 countries took part in the study of global disease and disability. The findings appear in a series of articles in the Lancet. Richard Horton is the medical journal's editor-in-chief."All of us in the world of health focus on diseases and often bad news. Actually, the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study broadly presents very good news."The research found that far fewer people died of measles, tetanus, respiratory problems and diarrheal diseases in 2010 than in 1990. Deaths from infections, childbirth-related problems and malnutrition fell about 17 percent to 13.2 million.Global efforts have focused on reducing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. HIV/AIDS deaths have dropped since 2006, and TB deaths fell almost 20 percent since 1990. But each of these diseases still kills more than a million people every year. The number of malaria deaths increased by an estimated 20 percent, to almost 1.2 million in 2010."Those three big, big diseases are not just going to go away."Mike Cohen is the head of global health research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was not involved in the research, but says it shows a change taking place worldwide."As infectious diseases have been better controlled and people live longer, and as their diets change and lifestyles change, the inevitable consequence in health is, you have to deal much more broadly with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes."The study found that these kinds of non-communicable diseases caused more than half of the global burden of disease in 2010.The two biggest killers -- heart disease and stroke -- caused one-fourth of all deaths in 2010. That was up from one-fifth in 1990.There was a 48 percent increase in the number of deaths from lung cancer, which is commonlycaused by smoking tobacco.The top causes of disability in 2010 were physical conditions like arthritis and back problems, and mental and behavioral problems like depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Harvard University professor Joshua Salomon was a co-author of the disability research."I think in general we've been more successful at reducing mortality and less successful at actually addressing chronic disability."7.SahelFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report in Special English.In Africa, severe food shortages have affected eighteen million people in nine Sahel countries this year. This was the third severe food crisis in four years in the area bordering the Sahara. How can the Sahel break its cycle of food insecurity? Aid workers are asking that question as this year's emergency eases. David Gressly is the United Nations regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel."If we don't seize the opportunity in two thousand thirteen, there's a good chance that this whole issue will be forgotten until the next drought, and then we'll be asking ourselves the same set of questions."Mr. Gressly says during a crisis, families eat just one or two meals a day, take their children out of school, sell their animals and go into debt. These actions put them at greater risk in a future crisis. In fact, many of the families affected by this year's food crisis had yet to recover from the earlier ones.Aid agencies sent food and emergency assistance. They supplied farmers with drought-resistant seeds, improved fertilizers and medicine for livestock. Aid groups also worked to improve irrigation systems and grain storage. These measures dealt with short-term needs, but David Gressly says thework should not stop when the crisis eases."And I think now there's an understanding [of the need for] a very targeted program looking at these eighteen million people affected this year, working with them to find ways so that they don't have to make the kinds of decisions to survive in a crisis of a drought, for example, that compromises their long-term future."Aid groups say they are working to build the "resilience" of communities, to make them stronger during a crisis. David Gressly says this means taking steps like reducing child malnutrition and changing cultural practices that may be harmful.For example, he says there is a practice in many communities across the Sahel to give water to babies under six months of age because of the heat. But the water is often dirty and makes the children sick. This starts a cycle toward severe malnutrition. It can be prevented by feeding babies only breast milk.This year's food crisis followed unpredictable and insufficient rains. High food prices only made the situation worse. David Gressly says aid agencies in Chad have been building dams to store water during the rainy season. This water can later be used to irrigate fields.Al Hassan Cisse from the British aid group Oxfam says building the resilience of poor people also means investing in food reserves and social protections like health care. Aid groups say prevention costs less than treatment.8.SchoolFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report in Special English.Funerals began this week for the school shooting victims in Newtown, Connecticut. Last Friday a20-year-old local man killed 20 children, six educators and himself at Sandy Hook ElementarySchool. Officials say Adam Lanza used guns owned by his mother after shooting her to death at their home.The shooting was the second deadliest ever at an American school. In 2007 a student at Virginia Tech killed 32 people and then himself.What happened in Newtown has once again reopened debate about gun control and issues like mental health services. President Obama spoke Sunday at a memorial service in the town. He said he will use whatever power he has as president "in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this."On Wednesday, he named Vice President Joe Biden to lead an administration team in developing proposals to reduce gun violence.Students at Sandy Hook Elementary are expected to return to school in a neighboring town in January after winter break. Sandy Hook will remain closed until further notice.In the gunfire last week, a community lost a school for the most tragic of reasons. Days earlier, another community not very far away regained a school in a story of hope, renewal and the strength of the human spirit.Flooding from Hurricane Sandy nearly destroyed Saint Camillus School in the Rockaway area of Queens, in New York City. The Catholic school stands just a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean. The more than 200 students and teachers went to another school while Saint Camillus was closed for six weeks.Many people remain displaced in the area. But the reopening of the school on December 10 was a victory for the community."So good morning boys and girls."Good morning, Sister Agnes!"Sister Agnes White is principal of Saint Camillus."We're all together. We're back home, and we are ready to start anew."Earlier, Sister Agnes gave cut-out paper stars to students to tape anywhere they wanted on the school walls."Between now and Christmas, this building should be filled with stars, a symbol of light. We all lost light. We know what it's like to be without light. But now we have light in this building and we need the light that you're going to put up with the stars, a symbol of the light of Jesus Christ."Parts of the school remain damaged beyond repair. Some students lost their homes as a result of the storm.School secretary Kerry Montero says the message from Hurricane Sandy is clearest in the many recent acts of kindness."It's touching, you know, the outpouring of help that we've received from everyone. I mean, we've had people from Connecticut, California, Brooklyn, all over the place, coming and helping us."9.sun powerFrom VOA Learning English, this is the TECHNOLOGY REPORT in Special English.Officials say the islands of Tokelau in the South Pacific Ocean have become the world's first territory totally powered by the sun. The move is expected to save money and ease the environmental burdenof depending on imported fossil fuels.New Zealand's foreign affairs minister released a statement about The Tokelau Renewable Energy Project. Murray McCully said Tokelau's three main atolls, or islands, now have enough solar capacity to meet all of their electricity needs. He said until now, Tokelau has been one hundred percent dependent on diesel for producing electricity. That, he said, has burdened the country with heavy economic and environmental costs.The three atolls of Tokelau are Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo. The group o f islands is about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and is administered by New Zealand. Together they have about one thousand five hundred citizens.Each atoll received its own solar power grid system. New Zealand officials estimated the cost of the project to build the three solar grids at around seven million dollars. The last of the grids was completed earlier this month.It is estimated that oil imports make up to thirty percent of national income in some parts of the Pacific. The move to solar power could save Tokelau about one million dollars a year. One project coordinator said Tokelau would now be able to spend more on social programs to help its citizens.Other South Pacific islands are attempting similar projects. The island nations of Samoa and Tuvalu are aiming to get all of their electricity from renewable sources by twenty-twenty. The Cook Islands plans to start moving to solar panels and wind turbines. And most houses in the South Pacific groups of islands will begin to use solar water heaters.East Timor's government has promised that no households in the capital, Dili, would be using firewood for cooking by twenty fifteen. It also says fifty percent of the country's electricity will come from renewable sources by the end of the decade.New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the country will hold a Pacific energy summit in March next year. He said the meeting would build on the success of clean and affordable energy solutions for Tokelau, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.10.UnemploymentFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report in Special English.The International Labor Organization says nearly 200 million people are without jobs. And the ILO is warning of even higher unemployment this year.The United Nations agency this week released a report called "Global Employment Trends 2013". It says the number of unemployed worldwide rose by more than four million last year, compared with 2011. The report says one fourth of this increase was in developed economies. The remaining 75 percent were in mainly developing economies in Asia, and in African countries south of the Sahara Desert.The report says an estimated 39 million people stopped looking for work last year. It says the average length of unemployment increased sharply in developed economies. One-third of all job seekers there were unemployed for a year or more.The ILO's Director-General, Guy Ryder, is concerned about the world economy. He says the recovery is not expected to be strong enough to reduce unemployment quickly."We see that unemployment is set to rise again. Our projection would be for 5.1 million more in 2013 and still a further 3 million in 2014. So the trends are very much in the wrong direction."The ILO report says the labor market is especially difficult for young people. It says almost 74 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 are unemployed worldwide. That represents anunemployment rate of 12.6 percent.The report says more and more young people who experience long-term unemployment stop looking for work. It says this prevents young people from gaining on-the-job experience.Guy Ryder says the ILO has been warning about the risks of what it calls a "lost generation." He has called on policy makers to support youth employment.Mr. Ryder says all countries, especially developed ones, must provide more predictable policies. He says these policies must include measures to increase wages and support stronger consumption. And he says countries should enact reforms to strengthen the banking industry, so banks can support investment and provide credit.While the I.L.O. believes there is reason to be concerned about the world economy, the International Monetary Fund expects the international economy to grow slowly this year. A new IMF report predicts that international growth will reach 3.5 percent in 2013. That would be three tenths of a percent better than the rate last year.11.waste plasticFrom VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
英语听力练习材料
英语听力练习材料English Listening Practice MaterialsIn today's fast-paced world, the ability to understand spoken English is crucial for both personal and professional growth. Whether you are preparing for an English proficiency test, looking to improve your language skills for travel, or simply want to enhance your communication abilities, a well-structured English listening practice is essential. Here are some materials that can help you get started on your journey to better listening comprehension.1. News BroadcastsListening to English news broadcasts is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with a variety of accents and speaking speeds. Start with slower-paced news segments and gradually move to live broadcasts to challenge your listening skills.2. PodcastsPodcasts cover a wide range of topics and are available at different difficulty levels. Choose podcasts that interest you to keep your practice engaging. Some popular educational podcasts include TED Talks, BBC's The English We Speak, and VOA Learning English.3. AudiobooksAudiobooks are a great way to practice listening tonarratives and descriptive language. Choose books that are slightly above your current reading level to push your comprehension skills.4. Language Learning AppsApps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and FluentU offerlistening exercises that are designed to improve your understanding of spoken English. These apps often include interactive quizzes to test your comprehension.5. English SongsMusic is a fun way to practice listening skills. Start by listening to songs with clear lyrics and then move on to more complex tracks. Try to understand the lyrics and the emotions conveyed through the music.6. Movies and TV ShowsWatching English-language movies and TV shows can be both entertaining and educational. Use subtitles initially to aid understanding and then challenge yourself by watching without them.7. Online CoursesPlatforms like Coursera and edX offer online courses that include listening components. These courses often come withtranscripts, which can be helpful for reviewing the material.8. Conversation PracticeEngaging in conversations with native speakers or fellow learners is invaluable. Language exchange platforms and local language meetups can provide opportunities for real-life listening practice.9. Radio ShowsListening to English radio shows can expose you to informal language and slang. BBC Radio and NPR are popular choicesthat offer a variety of shows.10. Academic LecturesFor those aiming to study in English-speaking countries, listening to academic lectures can be particularly useful. Many universities post recorded lectures online, which can be a great resource.Remember, consistency is key when it comes to language learning. Regular practice with a variety of listening materials will help you improve your English listening skills over time. Happy listening!。
高中英语 VOA常速听力11月合辑(文本)ChinasNewLeadersFaceEconomicChallenges素材
VOA常速英语听力2012年11月合辑（文本）：Chinas-New-Leaders-Face-Economic-ChallengesWilliam IdeNov ember 01, 2012China's modern cities are built on a massive scale, with architecture in places such as Beijing that ranges from avant-garde to out of this world. But, just above Beijing's busy street corners are signs of the threats China's economy is facing.Beijing based-economist Patrick Chovanec says "I think that the empty buildings that you see cut to the core of how China has been driving growth over the past few years," says . It's been an investment boom and so China has been driving growth by creating capacity, capacity in housing, in infrastructure, in production. And, in order for that growth to be real, there has to be an end user and that's the challenge, where does the end user come from.When the global financ ial crisis hit in 2008, China insulated itself from the slowdown by launching a nearly $590 billion stimulus. But now, as the country's annual growth is expected to slow to below eight percent this year, economists caution that same strategy will not work."That investment boom that has kept the Chinese economy growing in the face of the global economic slowdown, that investment boom is breaking down, it is buckling under its own weight," says Chovanec. "The bad debt and to some extent, the i nflation that has been created by pumping the economy full of money has created an unsustainable situation.Economists say about 80 percent of China's massive 2008 stimulus package went to state-owned enterprises, which still dominate the economy. Weakening their influence is a key challenge for China's new leaders, says economics professor Hu Xingdou. Hu says that state enterprises account for about a third of t he Chinese economy."But, even with that proportion, they lead the Chin ese economy," said Hu. "Even though they constitute only 30-40 percent of the Chinese economy, they control China's economy and all of those sectors where money is made.Breaking the monopoly that state-run enterprises have over the economy will not be easy, especially because of the political power and influence they wie ld."Because there are two main problems with the Chinese economy," Hu added. "One isthat power interferes too much in economic issues, the second issue is monopolies, and the i mpact they have on the structure of the economy.It remains unc lear what plans China's new leaders have for the state-owned enterprises, but the stakes are high. Maintaining a stable economy is a key reason why Chinese remain willing to accept the party's continued monopoly on political power.。
VOA等英语广播的听力技巧有哪些
VOA等英语广播的听力技巧有哪些VOA等英语广播的听力技巧有哪些例如：OilministersoftheOrganizationofPetroleumExportingCountri eswillboldanemergencymeetingFridaytodiscussWhat：AnemergencymeetingvailbeheldWhen：FridayWho：OilMinistersOftheOrganizationofPetroleumEx—poringCountries(2)扩大词汇量，熟记新闻报道中的常用词汇①普通词汇。
尽管新闻报道所使用的词汇量很大，但是语言的基本词汇是稳定的。
如VOA广播中的specialEnglish(特别节目)的新闻报告中常用词汇约1500个，这的重复率在报道中是很高的，如cease-fire，presidentialeleation等政治性词汇，financebankinggroup等经济词汇以aceshuttle，robot等科技词汇。
而新闻英语中的特有用语就更具稳定性。
若能掌握这些词汇，再加上一些听力技巧，基本听懂新闻报道就不是件难事了。
②专有词汇。
新闻报道是有关世界范围的最新消息，因在报道中常涉及许多人名、地名、国名。
除此之外，新闻报道中还常常出现一些河流、山脉及名胜古迹等专有名词熟悉这些专有名词可使听者更快更准确地了解所听的新(3)掌握一定数量的缩略语(acronym)由于新闻报道时间的限制，不少机构的名称常采用其缩略形式，即由该名称中数个词的首字母的大写形式组成，如：PLO是thePalestineLiberationOrganization的缩写形式。
需要注意的是，听者不仅要了解这些缩略语的确切含义，而且还应知道它们的正确读音。
(4)掌握数字的不同读法在新闻报道中经常出现许多数字，大到几十亿，上百亿，小到分数或小数。
尤其对一些多位数的.数字，要想立刻听准这些数字的确不容易，其主要难点在于位数过多。
VOA慢速英语听力原文-劳动者之歌
美国劳动之歌Most of the world observes Labor Day on May 1. Butthe United States has its workers holiday on the firstMonday in September. Steve Ember and BarbaraKlein have a few songs from the history of theAmerican labor movement.Labor songs are traditionally stories of struggle and pride, of timeless demands for respect and the hopefor a better life.Sometimes they represent old songs with new words. One example is "We Shall Not Be Moved."It uses the music and many of the same words of an old religious song.Here is folksinger Pete Seeger with "We Shall Not Be Moved."Many classic American labor songs came from workers in the coal mines of the South. Mineowners bitterly opposed unions. In some cases, there was open war between labor activistsand coal mine operators.Once, in Harlan County, Kentucky, company police searched for union leaders. They went to oneman's home but could not find him there. So they waited outside for several days.The coal miner's wife, Florence Reece, remained inside with her children. She wrote this song, "Which Side Are Y ou On?"Again, here is Pete Seeger.Probably the most famous labor songwriter in America was Joe Hill. He was born in Sweden andcame to the United States in the early 1900s. He worked as an unskilled laborer.Joe Hill joined the Industrial Workers of the World, known as the Wobblies. More than any otherunion, they used music in their campaigns, urging members to "sing and fight."One of Joe Hill's best-known songs is "Casey Jones." It uses the music from a song about atrain engineer. In the old song, Casey Jones is a hero. He bravely keeps his train running in verydifficult conditions.In Joe Hill's version, Casey Jones is no hero. His train is unsafe. Y et he stays on the job afterother workers have called a strike against the railroad company.Pete Seeger and the Song Swappers sing "Casey Jones (The Union Scab)."Another American labor song is called "Bread and Roses." That term was connected with thewomen's labor movement.The song was based on a poem called "Bread and Roses" by James Oppenheim. The poem waspublished in The American Magazine in December of 1911.The following month there was a famous strike by textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts.They won higher pay and better working conditions. Oppenheim's poem gained more attention.At that time, conditions in factories were already a national issue. In 1911, a fire at a clothingfactory in New Y ork had taken the lives of 146 people. The victims were mostlyimmigrantwomen.Here is Pat Humphries with "Bread and Roses."Union activists know that labor songs can unite and help people feel strong. This can be trueeven when the music has nothing to do with unions."De Colores" is a popular Spanish folksong. It talks about fields in the spring, little birds,rainbows and the great loves of many colors.This song is popular with supporters of the United Farm Workers union. We listen as BaldemarV elasquez leads the band Aguila Negra in "De Colores."For many years, folksinger Joe Glazer was a union activist with a guitar. He was also a laborhistorian. Labor's Troubadour was the name of a book he about his life. He believed in organized labor and preserving the musical history of the American labor movement. JoeGlazer died in 2006 at the age of 88.Here is Joe Glazer with "Solidarity Forever," written by Ralph Chaplin.From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
VOA Special English 听力突破
VOA Special English 听力突破VOA Special English 节目由美国本土资深专业播音员录制，如果想有效提高自己的英语听力，还有什么比听原汁原味的英语节目会更有效呢？VOA Special English 节目资料是非常好的听力练习素材。
而最快最有效的提高英语听力的方法就是做听写，怎么听呢？下面分几个层次介绍听写的方法。
（一）初级英语水平学生（相当于高中生和大学新生英语水平）做听写的方法1、从 / 网站下载一个 5 分钟的 report 到电脑里（包括下载report的MP3录音和文本），准备好一本英汉词典或电子词典。
2、认真阅读report文本一至两遍，遇到不懂的单词请立即查词典。
3、将文本放在一边，开始听report的MP3录音，并将听到的写下来，就是做听写练习。
一直循环播放，尽可能的将自己能听写出来的，全部写出来。
4、将自己的听写稿和原稿对照，找出没有听写出来的词句，并标上记号，这些没有听出来的词句可能很简单，但事实是你没有听写出来，这些就是你听力的盲点，所以要特别留意。
5、再反复地听report的MP3录音，这次不用纸笔听写，而是在脑袋里做听写，就是指当你听到一句的时候，脑袋里把这一句给拼出来，确保听清每一个词句，并留意你在听写时没有写出来的词句的发音。
6、第二天再听上面的report的MP3录音，并采用上面第5点所用的听法。
第四天再听上面的report的MP3录音，等到第七天再听几篇，仍采用上面第 5点所用的听法。
为什么要反复地听？因为我们之所以听不懂，是因为听的太少了。
反复听的目的在于强化，让你形成一种听力条件反射，就是让你拥有一听到某些词句就能立即条件反射式地在脑袋里写出来你所听到的词句。
练习听力有点像练习电脑打字里的盲打，花时间多做练习自然就会盲打，如果只是想着如何学习盲打而不加以练习，那你永远也学不会盲打。
（二）中级英语水平学生（相当于低年级英语专业，非英语专业大学本科，硕士水平）做听写的方法基本方法与初级英语水平学生采用的方法类似，选择听写材料时先初听一遍，如果已经真真正正能完全听懂，说明这篇对你来讲太容易了，请换一遍难点的，采用上述方法的1、3、4、5、6条的顺序做听写练习。
VOA慢速英语听力：英语21世纪的挑战
VOA慢速英语听力：英语21世纪的挑战Thank you. Thank you, President Chen, Chairmen Ren, Vice President Chi, Vice Minister Wei.We are delighted to be here today with a very large American delegation, including the First Lady and our daughter, who is a student at Stanford, one of the schools with which Beijing University has a relationship. We have six members of the United States Congress; the Secretary of State; Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Chairman of our Council of Economic Advisors; Senator Sasser, our Ambassador; the National Security Advisor and my Chief of Staff, among others. I say that to illustrate the importance that the United States places on our relationship with China.谢谢。
陈校长、任书记、迟副校长、韦副部长，谢谢你们。
今天，我很高兴率领一个庞大的美国代表团来到这里，代表团中包括第一夫人和我们的女儿，她是斯坦福大学的学生，该校是和北大具有交流关系的学校之一。
此外，我们的代表团中还包括六位美国国会议员、国务卿、商务部长、农业部长、经济顾问理事会理事长、我国驻华大使参议员尚慕杰、国家安全顾问和我的办公厅主任等。
VOA慢速英语听力材料
VOA慢速英语听力材料的提高需要靠学习者离自己自觉地长期坚持听英语听力，给耳朵创造一个良好的英语环境。
In a landmark address in Riyadh to Arab and many other Muslim leaders, President Donald Trump called for a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out the plague of extremism and providing the next generation in the Middle East with a hopeful future.Starving terrorists of their territory, their funding, and the false allure of their craven ideology, President Trump said, will be the basis for the terrorists' defeat: “But no discussion of stamping out this threat would be plete without mentioning the government that gives terrorists all three -- safe harbor, financial backing, and the social standing needed for recruitment. It is a regime that is responsible for so much instability in that region.I am speaking, of course, of Iran.”President Trump noted that from “Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region. For de cades,” he said, “Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror:”“Among Iran's most tragic and destabilizing interventions have been in Syria. Bolstered by Iran, Assad has mitted unspeakable crimes. And the United States hastaken firm action in response to the use of banned chemical weapons by the Assad regime – launching 59 missiles at the Syrian air base from where that murderous attack originated.”Mr. Trump urged responsible nations to work together to end the humanitarian crisis in Syria, eradicate ISIS, and restore stability to the region.He also pointed out that in addition to the havoc the Iranian regime has helped wreak throughout the region, “the Iranian regime's longest suffering victims are its own people:”“Iran has a rich history and culture, but the people of Iran have endured hardship and despair under their leaders' reckless pursuit of conflict and terror.”President Trump urged “all nations of conscience” to work together “to isolate Iran, deny it funding for terrorism, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they deserve.”VOA内容相关链接：模板,内容仅供参考。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性，平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益，请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间：9:00-18:30)。
VOA英语听力练习
慢速VOA对于英语初学者来说是很好的听力演习材料，较慢的语速可许可进修者有较多的时光反响所听单词的含义；并且还可以用来演习白话，模仿其发音，对于完美美式发音的声调语调等，有很大年夜益处。
常速VOA则是英语国度人日常平凡措辞的语速，多听些这类材料可以使本身怀孕临其境，固然不在外国，却似身在国外的宝贵语境。
若何应用这些听力资本也是有必定讲究的：
我简单的说说小我的一些实践与领会：
第一步，我会下载VOA常速的MP3，然后遴选一些有翻译，词语解释，语法分析的篇章，进行精听。
所谓精听，就是针对一篇较短的听力材料进行反复听力演习，直到能大年夜部分听懂。
第二步，这也是至关重要的一部，也是很多英语进修者忽视或是并不看重的一步。
讲本身所听的内容写下来，可以边听边写，没听清楚或没明白的处所，可以倒归去，再听过。
固然这有些逝世板，然则在反复的听力过程中，我们不只加深了对很多单词的懂得，语法的实际应用，语篇的融合，并且培养语感。
看着本身写下的听力材料然后再和原文比较，发来岁夜部分甚至全部都是一样的，那种骄傲感，知足感真是满满的，信赖只有实践，亲自领会的人才能明白。
第三步，温故而知新。
在开端今天的听力前，再回想一下昨天的内容，会有很多不测的收成哦~
听力演习过程中，存在如许的问题，边听边写的时刻，写得不敷快，老是让一段听力过了我才写完，中心就忽视很多没听到。
针对这个问题，我建议下载一个复读软件，应用后果和日常平凡复读机一样。
可以在听了一句话，或是8到9个单词的时刻就让它复读，如许就可以在复读时安闲的把听到的单词写下来，心里就不会认为很急促，不知所措了。
O(∩_∩)O~英语进修没有捷径，也没有独一的门路。
贵在不懈尽力。
欲望本身一点浅见能与大年夜家分享，合营进步！加油，加油！！！！
若何听懂VOA等英语广播
很多学英语的人都欲望收听VOA，BBC等英语消息广播，想以此来进步听力和白话程度，但不少人认为听英语消息广播比较艰苦。
从这几年的中等以上英语听力测验来看，都涉及到测试英语消息广播的内容。
从教授教化上来说，很多大年夜专院校的英语系的听力课都增长
了听英语消息报道的内容。
那么如何才能根本上听懂外台的英语消息报道呢?我们认为，除了多听以外，还必须控制英语消息报道的特点和一些收听技能。
(1)控制消息报道的构造消息报道往往采取“倒金字塔体”。
所谓“倒金字塔体”，也称为倒途法，即按消息事实重要性的程度由要点到细节慢慢扩大，安排全文。
把最重要的事实置于全文的第一个句子中，这个句子被称为消息导语(the news lead)。
它告诉听众最关怀最重要的事实，如事宜(what)、时光(when)、地点(where)、人物(who)，以及原因和方法(why，how，即消息导语包含了我们常说的五个WH和一个H构成的“消息六大年夜要素”。
消息导语是整条消息的高度浓缩情势，听懂了导语，也就听懂了消息的重要内容。
当然，因为消息报道的侧重点不合，有时消息导语也可能只包含个中几个要素。
例如：
Oil ministers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will bold an emergency meeting Friday to discuss.
这一消息导语包含了以下几个要素：
What：An emergency meeting vail be held
When：Friday
Who：Oil Ministers Of the Organization of Petroleum Ex—poring Countries
(2)扩大年夜词汇量，熟记消息报道中的常用词汇
①通俗词汇。
尽管消息报道所应用的词汇量很大年夜，然则说话的根本词汇是稳定的。
如VOA广播中的special English(特别节目)的消息申报中常用词汇约1 500个，这的反复率在报道中是很高的，如cease-fire，presidential eleation等政治性词汇，financebankinggroup等经济词汇以aceshuttle，robot等科技词汇。
而消息英语中的特有效语就更具稳定性。
若能控制这些词汇，再加上一些听力技能，根本听懂消息报道就不是件难事了。
②专有词汇。
消息报道是有关世界范围的最新消息，因在报道中常涉及很多人名、地名、国名。
除此之外，消息报道中还经常出现一些河道、山脉及名胜事迹等专有名词熟悉这些专有名词可使听者更快更精确地懂得所听的消息。
(3)控制必定命量的缩略语(acronym)
因为消息报道时光的限制，不少机构的名称常采取其缩略情势，即由该名称中数个词的首字母的大年夜写情势构成，如：PLO是thePalestineLiberationOrganization的缩写情势。
须要留意的是，听者不仅要懂得这些缩略语切实其实切含义，并且还应知道它们的精确读音。
(4)控制数字的不合读法
在消息报道中经常出现很多半字，大年夜到几十亿，上百亿，小到分数或小数。
尤其对一些多位数的数字，要想急速听准这些数字切实其实不轻易，其重要难点在于位数过多。
是以在听多位数的数字时，应对billion(十亿)、million(百万)、thousand(千)、hundred(百)等词尤为看重。
同时，要留意一个数字的多种读法，如播音员把两个足球队比赛成果2：0读作two to nothing而不是读成two to nought或two to zero．
(5)控制循序渐进，从慢到快的原则
今朝，很多外台(如BBC，VOA)的消息英语报道有特别英语(Special English)和标准英语(Standard English)两种。
所谓Special English也可称为慢速英语，即消息播放的语速较慢。
就VOA而言，慢速英语每分钟不跨越90个单词，并且消息报道均是由简单易懂的英语缩写的，是以较合适初级阶段的消息英语练习。
然而它毕竟有其局限性，只能作为听力练习的一种手段，而不是消息英语练习要达到的最终目标。
要想过真正经由过程消息英语这一关，还必须进行Standard English的练习。
Standard English也可称为常速英语，即消息英语是用正常的语速播送的。
就VOA而言，常速英语每分钟为135个单词，并且句法和词汇方面的难度也大年夜些。
经由从慢速英语到常速英语相当长一段时光演习后，收听消息英语的才能必定会有很大年夜进步。
(6)要密切留意国表里形势的变更
日常平凡应养成多看报纸，常听广播的习惯，如许就可以掌国际、国内的一些阶段性的热点话题及一些有争辩的问题。
如有可能的话，最好在收听消息英语之前，先听一下汉语消息广播。
对于当天堂际、国内产生的一些大年夜事做到心中稀有，然后，再收听外台的消息英语报道。
因为已有了必定背景常识，这些消息英语报道就轻易听懂了。
当然在更高层次上也可以先听英语消息，然后验之以汉语消息。
收听英语消息广播时有两点要留意：
①听懂英语消息广播必须要有必定的听力懂得程度，因对于外语初学者来说，应侧重进步本身的英语听力程度，不要急于收听外台消息广播，到了中高等阶段开端收听英语消息广播较为合适。
②听者除控制以上提到的技能外，还必须多听多练，持之以恒地保持听下去，就能最终达到“能听懂外台英语消息广播”这一目标。
最佳VOA进修办法。