全新版大学英语听说教程

2-1-B Why Don't Y ou Join Me at the Gym Sometime?

Peter: Hi, Laura. Where are you heading with that big bag?

Laura: Hi, Peter. I'm off to the gym. I've got to stay in shape, you known. I try to go three times a week, but I'm busy so I can't always make it. Peter: I know more women who work out than men. What's the main reason you work out? For your health, or to look good?

Laura: To be honest, for both. With women, good looks are always a very important consideration.

Peter: If they were honest, most men who work out would admit that they also do it to look better, and not merely for health reasons.

Laura: How about you? Do you get any regular exercise?

Peter: I do a lot of walking, for exercise and enjoyment -- sometimes ten to twenty kilometers at a time -- but I never go to the gym like you do. Laura: Well, walking is good exercise. How about sports?

Peter: Not since my school days. I used to love playing baseball, but it's impossible to get enough people together for a game now. Mostly I just watch sports on TV.

Laura: I play tennis fairly regularly with my friends, and sometimes go swimming and cycling by myself.

Peter: Oh, I forgot about that. I go cycling sometimes too. And I often go swimming on vacation, but only recreational swimming.

Laura: Why don't you join me at the gym sometime? I can get you a guest pass.

Peter: Well, maybe someday, but I'm pretty lazy about things like that.

2-1-C Watching a Game

Alan: Going to the football game today, Betty?

Betty: No, but I'll be watching it on television with some friends.

Alan: Weren't you able to get any tickets?

Betty: I didn't try. I really don't go to games so often.

Alan: But don't you enjoy going? Don't you find it exciting to be part of the crowd?

Betty: Oh sure, nothing beats the atmosphere at a sporting event: the cheering, all that energy. But sometimes it's just too inconvenient getting into and out of the stadium before and after the game. And if you watch the game with friends, or at a bar or restaurant ...

Alan: ... you've basically created your own crowd.

Betty: That's right. Another reason why I like to watch sports on television is that I simply find it easier to follow the action on TV.

Alan: Y eah, sometimes it is a little difficult to keep track of the ball when you're sitting in the stands.

Betty: Especially when your seats are high up in the grandstand, and far from the field.

Alan: It's like you're watching from an airplane, sometimes.

Betty: Also good sports commentators on television can add to your understanding and enjoyment of the game.

Alan: After listening to you I'm starting to wonder how they are able to sell any tickets to these games!

2-2-B Did Y ou Hear the Weather Forecast?

Alan: Oh, look at the sky, Michelle! It's starting to get cloudy.

Michelle: I see it. I hope it doesn't rain. I thought it was going to be a fine day today.

Alan: That's certainly what the department was hoping for when they chose today as the date for the annual picnic.

Michelle: Y ou can't have a picnic without good weather. Y ou need sunshine for all the eating and games and entertainment.

Alan: Y eah, sunshine -- but not too much! Do you remember last year?

Michelle: I sure do. It was so hot all we did was look for shade, look for ways to escape from the sun.

Alan: And no one wanted to participate in any of the planned activities. All we wanted was cold drinks. And then dozed off.

Michelle: If there had just been the tiniest breeze to cool us off...

Alan: But there wasn't. Just that burning sun, without a cloud in the sky, and the temperature just seemed to climb higher and higher.

Michelle Well, we don't have that problem this year, apparently. Alan, did you hear the weather forecast? Is it supposed to rain?

Alan: I don't know. I didn't catch the weather report. But maybe if it rains, it will only be a short shower which cools things off a little. That might not be bad.

2-3-C Eating Out

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全新版大学英语听说教程

A: Well, here we are -- not too crowded.

B: Great! Let's order quickly so we can chat a little.

A: OK. What are you in the mood for?

B: Something light. I went out for pizza at lunch and I'm still full.

A: There are three salads. Or you could have soup and a sandwich.

B: What are you having? A hamburger, I suppose.

A: No, actually I ate out last night too, but we had fast food at McDonald's, then a late snack at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

B: Oh, dear. Well, maybe you should have the chicken salad.

A: Y es, I think so. Look, the daily special is spaghetti. That sounds good.

B: Oh, the prices are great, too. I'll have that as well.

A: Now let's decide on drinks.

B: I'll just have coffee and a glass of iced water.

A: Italian food needs red wine. you know.

B: But we have to go back to work.

A: OK, a Coke then.

B: Here comes the waitress. Let me order first.

2-4-B Going to See the Doctor

D: So what's your trouble?

P: Well, doctor, I haven't been feeling well lately. My biggest problem is that I'm having trouble sleeping.

D: Have you tried any of the sleeping medications available?

P: I've tried one or two, but they don't seem to help.

D: How long have you had this problem?

P: Three or four months -- it's been rather a long time now.

D: Are you suffering from an unusual level of stress in your life lately?

P: Not more than usual. My biggest worry is the fact I can't sleep.

D: Well, some people don't need as much sleep as others.

P: But I feel tired all day, so it is a problem for me.

D: Have you been experiencing any other symptoms?

P: I've also had a lot of indigestion lately.

D: Well, you are a little overweight, aren't you?

P: Y es. And I've gained about seven kilograms this past year.

D: Y ou really should try to lose at least that extra weight. Do you get much exercise?

P: No, not very much.

D: Physical activity is very important.

P: So what do you recommend, doctor?

D: I will give you some medication for your insomnia and your indigestion. But I also recommend that you begin a regular exercise program.

P: But I have neither the time nor the money to go to a gym.

D: Y ou don't need to go to a gym. A simple walking program would be very beneficial for you. I think you'll find that diet and exercise will be very helpful in taking care of your recent complaints.

2-5-B Background Music

Background music may seem harmless, but it can have a powerful effect on those who hear it. Recorded background music first found its way into factories, shops and restaurants in the USA. V ery soon it spread to other parts of the world. Now it is becoming difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to music.

To begin with, background music was intended simply to create a soothing atmosphere. Recently, however, it's becoming a big business. An

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全新版大学英语听说教程

American marketing expert has shown that music can boost sales or increase factory production by as much as a third.

But it has to be the light music. Lively music has no effect at all on sales. Slow music can increase receipts by 34%. This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they would like to buy. Y et, slow music isn't always the answer. T he expert found that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals, which reduced overall sales. So restaurant owners might be well advised to play faster music to keep the customers moving -- unless, of course, the resulting indigestion leads to complaints.

2-5-C Celine Dion

Celine Dion is the youngest of 14 children in a working-class family in Quebec, Canada. Her parents, who both loved music, encouraged her to develop her musical talent. At 12, Celine had composed the song "It Was Only a Dream". Her mother and brother helped her to m ake a recording of that song and sent it off to an address they found on an album of a popular French singer. The address was that of Rene Angel il, who became her first conquest, but there would be millions more.

Celine's rise from a teenage singer to a pop superstar has been steady, but not without difficulties. Record companies were at first less enthusiastic about investing in a teenager than Angelil, who mortgaged his own home to pay for her first album. But her first two albums won a great success. And by 1983 she became the first Canadian ever to have a gold record in France.

In 1990, Celine made her first English language record with Unison but her real breakthrough in America came when she was selected by Disney to sing the theme song of Beauty and the Beast. The song went to No. 1 on the chart and won both a Grammy and an Academy award. In 1996 she performed at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and in 1997, she recorded the theme song for T itanic, and her name became synonymous with the enormously successful film.

Celine Dion's favorite theme is love. She sings the depth and the power of love in a great many of her hits such as "Love Can Move Mountains", "Because Y ou Loved Me", "The Power of Love" and, of course, the theme song of Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On".

2-6-C A Good Salesman

Mr S tevenson was the owner of a general appliance store. He had seen many newly-weds coming into his store to shop for their first refrigerator, washer and dryer, and air-conditioner. Pen and pencil in hand, they would ask him a lot of questions about price, features and after-sale services, but they would usually walk away at the end of their inquiry.

The other day a young couple came into his store. They asked him all the usual questions and he answered all of them patiently. But when he suggested an order at the end, they replied firmly, "We'll have to look around places first."

Although feeling a bit disappointed, Mr Stevenson did not show it. Instead, he smiled, moved closer and said, "I know you will go to Discount Dan to look at the price tags. That's perfectly understandable. I do the same. In fact, they sell the same stuff as we do. But if you buy things there, there is something you will not get. And that is me. I come with everything I sell. I've been in the business for thirty years and in a few years' time I'm going to give my store to my daughter and son-in-law. I hope they will carry on the family business. I stand behind everything I sell and I will make sure that you will never regret buying things from me."

After this short speech Mr Stevenson offered the young couple some ice cream to thank them for their interest.

Impressed by his honesty and sincerity, the young couple decided to place an order.

2-7-B Fashion -- Image or Reality?

Why do people spend so much money on fashion? Do they want to create an image or make sure they are not old-fashioned? Do people really judge each other by the clothes they wear? The billion-dollar fashion industry certainly tries to convince consumers that such judgements are made.

Unfortunately, they may be right. A recent study using elementary school students was interesting. They said that people wearing Calvin Klein designer jeans were more handsome and successful than those wearing Wranglers. Levi-wearers were seen as sporty, fashionable and fun! Obviously we learn early that "Clothes make the man." In other words, clothes show age, outlook, status and income. However, clothes that look great on professional models may look terrible on the average buyer.

Although beautiful clothes don't help physically, they are important for social and psychological effects. Expensive clothes can make the wearer feel like part of the high status group that sets taste and style. So you are buying an image of success. Y ou may really live a routine life, waking up in the morning feeling dull and ordinary. But when you dress in these expensive clothes, your mood brightens. Y ou feel good, ready to face another day with energy. Sound crazy? People who love clothes say it's true.

Of course, a lot of people don't like high fashion. They'd rather spend their money on something practical. Which would you p refer -- the image

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全新版大学英语听说教程

or the reality?

2-8-B Lottery Winners

Do you dream of winning the lottery? So have millions of other people. Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets. They are hoping to win $100,000, $1,000,000 or more. What happens after you win the lottery?

When you win a million dollars, you don't receive a check for the total amount. Y ou receive $50, 000 a year for twenty years. Also, you must pay taxes. After taxes, you receive from $25,000 to $40,000 a year for twenty years. This is a lot of extra spending money.

What have some people done with their money? Let's look at three past winners.

Lisa K wanted to be an artist, but she didn't have enough money to go to art school. She was working at a job she didn't enjoy. In August, Lisa bought one ticket and won two million dollars. She quit her job three weeks later and is now attending art school.

Mark L was a car salesman. He worked seven days a week and had little time for family life. After he won the lottery, he quit working. Now he spends his time bowling, working in the garden, and fixing things in his house. But, he's bored. He doesn't want to sell cars again, but he isn't sure what he wants to do with his life.

Jack B is one of the small number of winners who did not quit his job. Jack still teaches at a school near his home. But now he and his wife take their children on an interesting vacation every year. And they don't worry about sending their children to college. They say t hat money brings security and gives a person opportunities, but it doesn't bring happiness.

2-8-C An Abandoned Newborn Baby

A healthy newborn girl was discovered in Central Park yesterday morning. The baby was abandoned on the top of a rock shortly before dawn after the mother gave birth to her there.

The police said that the baby was healthy and weighed 7 pounds. Now they were searching for the mother. A policeman said that they had never had anything like this before. They really didn't get babies left in the park. But they were just happy the baby was all right.

The police rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. Fortunately she was OK. The police believed the baby was born less than half an hour before she was discovered. They also believed judging from the amount of blood found on the rock, that the mother might have given b irth there. It was 70 degrees when the baby was found.

Detectives were investigating whether the mother was a homeless woman who called a baby rescue hotline early yesterday. The head of Hope Foundation said that his hotline received a call about 5:30 a.m. from a young homeless woman in Manhattan. The caller asked, "How do I get rid of my baby?" She was apparently in labor. Then she was told to go to either a hospital or a fire station. But the woman was afraid she would be recognized there. The head also said that the woman wouldn't even tell him where he could possibly meet her since they had two teams that could help with the delivery, if necessary.

2-9-B A Belated Postcard

A postcard carrying a George V stamp has mysteriously arrived at its destination at least 63 years after it was first posted.

The card was sent to a baker named Richard Price of South Wales, before the outbreak of the Second World War. it was delivered to a van hire company last week, which is the current owner of the High Street house formerly used by the baker. After an appeal in the local newspaper to discover who the Mr. Richard Price of the address really was, a puzzled Mrs. Meyrick came forward.

Pam Meyrick, who is 66 years old, is a granddaughter of the baker. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the address and the name. "My grandfather died in 1970 at the age of 92," she said. "The card carries a halfpenny stamp with George V's head on it. I just don't know how it was delivered. Seeing his name brings it all back to me. But it baffled me to understand where the card, which is in mint condition, has been all this time." She said that the unexplained postcard will become a treasured keepsake to her and her family.

The card was sent from Birmingham by a salesman for a fruit essence maker. On the card it says: "Our Mr. Gwyn Thomas will have the pleasure of waiting upon you in a few days."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said it was unlikely that the postcard was delivered by a postman. "There is a slim chance it could have slipped through the system but I don't think the postman would have missed the stamp," she said. "We'll certainly look into the matter."

2-10-C Mount S t. Helens

Most volcanoes are quiet. They rest peacefully for hundreds of years. No one pays much attention to them.

Mount St. Helens was one of these volcanoes. Until 1980, it was a beautiful recreation area. Its last eruption had been 123 years ago. N o one

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全新版大学英语听说教程

was worried about another one. Then, in March 1980, Mount St. Helens began to make noises. At first, there were tremors. Then, small eruptions occurred. Some residents left immediately. Others felt there was no danger.

But on the morning of May 18, 1980, the mountain blew its top. With the power of twenty-five atomic bombs, Mount St. Helens exploded. Clouds of dust and ash rose more than twelve miles into the sky. Rocks and mud crashed down the slopes.

Unfortunately, many people were still living, camping, or working in the area. Over forty people lost their lives. Others were rescued.

Robert Baker was fishing with his family when the explosion occurred. He reported that the morning of May 18 was strange. No birds were singing. The air was still. Then, he saw a large black cloud coming down toward them. In minutes, day turned into night. He called his family to their van and they started on the slow dark ride away from the mountain. All the time, hot ash was raining on them.

But other people were not so lucky. David Johnston, a volcano expert, was standing near the summit of the mountain. At 8:31 a. m. , he radioed, "This is it!" He was never heard from again.

Mount St. Helens is peaceful now. But its slopes are empty. It will be many years before fish, plants, and trees will again live on the mountain. 2-11B Musician-turned Economist

Alan Greenspan, who has been Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board for over a decade, is regarded as one of the most important men by many people in the world.

Greenspan was born on March 6, 1926. His father was a stockbroker and his mother worked in retailing. When he was 4 years old, his parents divorced and he was raised by his mother in New Y ork.

Y oung Alan was a shy boy but he was very good at large numbers. When he was only five, his mother would get him to add two three-digit numbers in his head.

He loved baseball and tennis. And, like his mother, he developed a deep appreciation for music. In the mid-1940s he studied briefly at a music school in New Y ork, and then toured the country for a year with a music band. Then he entered New Y ork University's Sch ool of Commerce and graduated with a degree in economics. He got a Master's degree at NYU in 1949, and shifted to Columbia University to work on his PhD. When his money ran low, he withdrew from graduate school and went to work for the National Industrial Conferen ce Board. He eventually earned a PhD from NYU in 1977.

In the mid-1950s Greenspan opened an economic consulting company. In 1987 he began to work in the Federal Government. Today his work as Chief of Federal Reserve Board is much the same as the work he did on W all Street, trying to understand how the economy is working and what dri ves it; offering suggestions for improvement. He is, however, making less money.

2-12-ADrawing Inferences

College students are familiar with the initials, WWW, which stand for W orld Wide W eb. But do you know who invented this? According to the magazine Time, Tim Berners-Lee was the creator.

Tim Berners-Lee is extremely intelligent but not good at "random connection", such as linking names and faces. In order to keep track of such links, he wrote some software -- "a memory substitute" -- in 1980. A decade later, it took a great leap, growing to cover the world. It is today's W orld Wide W eb, which could prove as important as the printing press. Y et so far, most of the we alth and fame coming from the W eb have gone to people other than him. He has not appeared on the cover of any magazine. He has a small office at M.I.T., wh ere his nonprofit group helps and guards the W eb.

2-12-B The Story of the W alkman

Akio Morita, chairman of Sony, was annoyed because his children constantly played loud music. He told his company engineers to devise some machine to make the music only audible to the user. They did, and the W alkman was born. This totally changed the way we listen to music. Morita personally insisted on using the name "W alkman" for the new machine. His advisers said the phrase meant nothing in English. But he knew it was easy to pronounce the word in nearly every language. It was also short, catching and summed up the importance of the new device!

Now the personal stereo is used by everyone. There are new designs such as CD W alkmans, recording W alkmans, etc. As size, wei ght and cost get smaller, quality gets bigger.

Socially, however, the W alkman habit may not be so good. By playing their personal stereos at full volume in small spaces, listeners may disturb others. The repeated loud beat can also be annoying. That is why in London's Underground Railway System there are signs saying,

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全新版大学英语听说教程

"Keep Y our Personal Stereo Personal." Furthermore, drivers listening to W alkmans may sometimes cause road accidents to happen. And the rise in hearing problems is often blamed on their misuse.

There is no doubt that modern society has a love-hate relationship with the W alkman. Y et even criticism proves how popular the W alkman has become. Rather like the television or the computer, it is hard to imagine how we ever lived without them.

2-13B Professor Sabbatucci's Noble Act

A thief who dropped a winning lottery ticket at the scene of his crime has been given a lesson in honesty. His victim, who picked up the ticket, managed to trace him, and handed over the cash.

The robbery happened last Saturday when maths professor V inicio Sabbatucci, 58, was changing a tire on an Italian motorway. Another motorist, who stopped to "help", stole a suitcase from his car and drove off.

The professor found the dropped ticket and put it in his pocket before dri ving to his home in eastern Italy. Next day, he saw the lottery results on TV and, unfolding the ticket, realized it was a winner. He claimed the 60 million lire prize.

Then began a battle with his conscience. Eventually, he decided he could not keep the money despite the fact that he had been robbed.

He advertised in newspapers and on radio, saying: "I'm trying to find the man who robbed me. I have 60 million lire for him -- a lottery win. Please meet me. Anonymity guaranteed."

Professor Sabbatucci received hundreds of calls from people. All of them tried to trick him into giving them the cash. But there was one voice he recognized -- and he arranged to meet the man in a park.

The robber turned out to be a 35-year-old unemployed father of two children. He gave back the suitcase and burst into tears. He could not believe what was happening. "Why didn't you keep the money?" he asked.

The professor replied: "I couldn't because it's not mine."

Then he walked off, ignoring the thief's offer of a reward.

2-14CHow Many Species Are There?

Isn't it surprising that scientists have a better understanding of how many stars there are in the galaxy than how many species there are on Earth? Their estimates of global species diversity vary from 2 to 100 million species. Most people agree on an estimate of somewhere near 10 million and yet only 1.75 million have actually been named. Current knowledge of species diversity is limited. This problem becomes more serious because there is a lack of a central database or list of the world's species.

New species are still being discovered -- even new birds and mammals. On average, about three new species of birds are found each year, and since 1990, 10 new species of monkeys have been discovered. Other groups are still far from being completely described: an estimated 40 percent of freshwater fishes in South America have not yet been classified.

Scientists were startled in 1980 by the discovery of a huge diversity of insects in tropical forests. In one study of just 19 trees in Panama, 960 new species of beetles were discovered.

As scientists begin investigating other little-known ecosystems, like the soil and the deep sea, "surprising" discoveries of species become commonplace. There is nothing strange about this, though, since as many as a million undescribed species are believed to live in the deep sea. And one gram of a small-sized piece of land might hold 90 million bacteria and other microbes. How many species these communities contain is still anyone's guess.

2-15-A The environment on our planet is a closed system: nothing new is ever added. Nature recycles its resources.

Today, the Earth is in trouble. Factories pour dirty water into our rivers. Many fish die and the water becomes unhealthy for people to drink. Cars and factories put poison into the air and cause plants, animals and people to get sick. People throw bottles and paper out of their car windows, and the roadside becomes covered with all sorts of wastes. Over the years, people have changed the environment, and we have pollution.

To continue to survive, we must learn how to use the Earth's resources wisely. W e have to change our habits and stop dumping such enormous amounts of industrial waste into the water and air. W e must cooperate with nature and learn better ways to use, not abuse, our environment.

2-15-BPlastic Bags -- A Big Problem in Hong Kong

Every day people in Hong Kong get rid of 15 million plastic bags. They weigh about 600 tons. This is not including the tens of thousands

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全新版大学英语听说教程

of plastic bags people dump at the beaches and in local waters, which have caused serious pollution.

These bags cost taxpayers over $70 million a year to deal with. Some of the bags are destroyed by burning. The problem with this is that, when they break down, they release poisonous chemicals, which can cause cancer. The chemical poisons penetrate into the earth.

In order to attract the public's attention to the problem of plastic bags and to reduce the number of bags used at the same t ime, the Retail Management Association launched the Use Fewer Bags Campaign. In the first stage of the campaign, 1,500 retail stores aimed to reduce the number of plastic bags given away to customers by 10 per cent. This has been achieved. The second stage of campaign will focus on the number of plastic bags given away in markets.

"Ideally, people going to buy food in the markets should carry their own reusable bags, such as canvas bags, that can be washed," said a campaign coordinator. She stressed that the campaign had two objectives. Besides reducing the number of plastic bags used, sh e hoped that the campaign would increase the public's overall awareness of environmental problems.

2-16-B Digital Divide

Jenny: Hi, John.

John: Hi, Jenny.

Jenny: One of the issues today is the digital divide. What does it mean?

John: It refers to the divide between who is online and who isn't.

Jenny: What's the nature of the breakdown? Who are they saying is online and who isn't?

John: They are looking at three principal portions of the American population with regard to ethnic gap, income gap and also different age groups.

Jenny: What do they discover?

John: They find that today 30% of African Americans, 33% of Hispanic Americans, and 47% of White Americans, are online, but the largest portion of the American population are Asian Americans with a 65% online.

Jenny: Do they offer any explanations about why this might be?

John: W ell, one reason of course is income. Low income population's use of the Internet is less. For example, for those who e arn $75,000 annually, over 70% have computers linked to the Internet.

Jenny: W ell, computers are still a fairly pricey item, although prices are coming down.

John: But they're predicting that within five years double the amount of people will be using them.

Jenny: Going back to this digital divide, do men and women use the Inte rnet equally? Is there a gender divide?

John: No. Not only is there not a gender divide but the prediction is this year more women will be online than men.

Jenny: Really?

John: But the difference here is the sites they visit. Men are interested in financial and technology sites. W omen tend to prefer sites dealing with more personal matters. For instance. they want to find out about women's health. So while both men and women are online, there is a difference in what they go online for.

Jenny: Y eah. Interesting. What did the study say about the future growth?

John: W ell. they're forecasting that three quarters of the country will be online within five years.

Jenny: That's fast, isn't it?

John: Sure. Let's better get involved.

Jenny: Right.

2-test1-A

Dialogue 1:

A: May I help you?

B: I'm here to apply for a library card.

A: W ould you please fill out this application card?

B: Sure. Could you tell me what time the library is open?

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全新版大学英语听说教程

A: Monday, W e dnesday and Friday, it closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, it's open till 9. It stays open till 6 on Saturday. But on Sunday it's closed all day.

Q: On which evenings is the library open?

Dialogue 2:

M: The weather is so changeable these days. The forecasts seem never to be accurate.

W: Y ou are right. It must be the wind that makes it so cold. I'm freezing.

M: Me, too.

W: It's no fun standing out here, though the sun is shining. Let's go inside.

Q: How is the weather when the conversation takes place?

Dialogue 3:

M: Hi, Linda. How are you doing these days?

W: I'm fine, Bill. Aren't you glad the semester is over?

M: Y es. I'm looking forward to going to Paris for a holiday. Now I'm busy learning some French.

W: Good idea. It's awful to visit a foreign country without being able to speak its language, don't you think? It would be no fun at all if one had to live like a deaf-mute.

Q: What are they mainly discussing?

Dialogue 4:

W: Thank you very much for inviting me here, Michael.

M: It's a pleasure.

W: The flowers are so lovely. And I like the music too.

M: Shall we have some beef soup first?

W: That'll be fine.

Q: Where does the conversation take place?

Dialogue 5:

M: Have you ever heard Professor Hall's lecture?

W: No, I haven't. But I was told he has a very good reputation among the students.

M: Y es, and a well deserved one too. The same students who fall asleep in discussion groups fight for front row seats in his lectures.

W: Then his lectures must be fascinating.

M: They certainly give you lots to think about.

Q: Which of the following best describes Professor Hall's lectures?

Dialogue 6:

M: I can't figure out why those youngsters are so eager to go after brand name clothing.

W: I feel the same way. It really doesn't make sense to spend so much money on shoes and clothes.

M: Y ou're right. Especially when they know how quickly styles change nowadays.

Q: On what do the two speakers agree?

Dialogue 7:

W: W ell, Mr. William. I've looked at your application and resume. Y ou seem to have a very good background.

M: Thank you, Mrs. Allen.

W: Y ou realize that we're looking for a salesman for our export division?

M: Y es, that's why I'm interested in the job.

Q: Who is the woman?

Dialogue 8:

M: Everything is becoming computerized these days.

W. Y ou said it. If you don't understand the computer, you're in trouble.

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全新版大学英语听说教程

M: Y ou know I'm majoring in business and I really need to study computer science. But the trouble is I hate the computer and it's so complicated.

W: It's not so difficult once you understand it. Y ou need to know something about the computer. I can guarantee you that.

2-test1-B

It is no exaggeration to say that modern technology is controlled to a large extent by computers. Many industrial processes a re now operated by remote control, and we can be sure that in the future many more products will be manufactured by this technique. This is what we call automation, and it has been made possible by the use of computers.

The scheduling of the super-express rail network in China, and the seating capacity of most airlines have been computerized, so ticket reservations can be made or confirmed in just a few seconds. These are only a couple of examples of what can be done by these amazing machines.

A computer has the power to make calculations at tremendous speed, and it has a memory for storing much more information than the human brain. It can quickly solve problems that would take years of work by mathematicians, but it must not be forgotten that computers are still only machines.

2-test1-CPassage1

Sam Johnson works for an insurance company in New Y ork City. The company has just opened a branch office in San Francisco and Mr. Johnson will be the manager of the new office.

Sam is very happy about the move. He says that San Francisco has a better climate than New Y ork. The winters are milder and t he summers are cooler. And there isn't as much pollution in San Francisco as there is in New Y ork. Sam's wife, Susan, is eager to move into their new house in San Francisco. It's about the same size as their present house, but it's more modern. The garden is bigger, too. The house is in the suburbs, only half a mile from the Pacific Ocean, so it's less convenient for shopping. But Susan doesn't mind driving a little further to the stores.

The Johnsons' three kids are very excited, especially their eldest son, David. David's favorite s port is surfing. He says the west coast is better for surfing than the east coast, because the waves are higher on the Pacific side. Of course, the water isn't as warm on the Pacific side as on the Atlantic side. But David isn't worried about that.

The Johnsons' other two kids, Carol and Betty, are happy, too. They're happy because they will live in a new house. They will lea rn to play the piano after they get to San Francisco.

In fact moving to San Francisco has been the dream of the Johnson family. Now it has come true.

Passage2 Recently the term "health" has come to have a wider meaning than it used to. It no longer means just the absence of illness. Today, health means the well-being of your body, your mind and your relationship with other people. This new concept of health is closely related to another term -- quality of life. Quality of life is the degree of overall satisfaction that a person gets from life.

Why has the emphasis of health shifted from the absence of disease to a broader focus on the quality of a person's life? One reason for this has to do with the length and conditions of life that people can now expect. Medical advances have made it possible for people today to live longer, healthier lives. Imagine for a moment that you were born in the year 1900. Y ou could have expected on average to live until about the age of 47. In contrast, if you were born in the year 1999, you could expect to live to the age of 75.

2-test2-A Passage 1:

Born in January 1756 in Salzburg, Vienna, Mozart is one of the greatest musicians of all time. He began learning to play the violin when he was 4 years old and by 6 he was already composing music and performing in his first concert throughout Europe. In his life time he wrote a tremendous amount of music. The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute are two of his greatest works. Everybody praised Mozart for his wonderful music, but nobody paid him any money. He became so poor that he couldn't pay his bills. In 1791, he suddenly fell ill. He was only 35 years old when he died. His grave is not even marked.

Passage 2:

There are three activities that are especially helpful in improving our ability to understand English. These three activities are listening comprehension, reading comprehension and dictation. Dictation involves the activity of writing down every word we hear. This helps us understand more fully what we listen to. Full understanding does not begin until we hear almost everything and forget what we do not need.

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But the benefits of doing dictation go beyond just helping us understand better. It also helps us with grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, punctuation, etc. When there is no teacher around, dictation can effectively help us find out misunderstood points and other mistakes.

2-test2-B

Recent figures show that around 5 billion dollars' worth of energy is wasted in Hong Kong each year. There are, however, a fe w sensible things that we can do to save energy in our homes. Firstly a 30% energy saving can be made by regularly cleani ng the filters on air-conditioners. Y ou can keep costs down by setting air-conditioners to 25 degrees C since every one degree decrease adds 10% to the amount of energy used. Make sure that all leaks are fixed immediately because even a small drip can waste up to 500 litres of water in a month. The temperature of refrigerators should be set to 3 degrees C because each degree lower than this adds 5% to the amoun t of energy consumed.

2-test2-C

1) Dear Polly,

I've got a problem, and I can't solve it unless you help me. Y ou remember Mrs. Y oung, our next-door neighbor. W ell, Mrs. Y oung decided to visit her son in Australia, and she asked me to take care of her pets for her while she was away. I was crazy enou gh to say yes, and now I've got three dogs on my hands, a white one, a brown one and a white and black one.

When Jack got home from work, he was really mad. Jack doesn't like dogs, and, for some reason, dogs don't like Jack. Perhaps they think he smells funny or something. Anyway, the next morning while we were having our breakfast, the white dog bit Jack on the leg. "Get that animal out of here, or else I'll kill it," he yelled. The next evening, the brown dog bit him when he was coming back from work. Now he says that, unless I get rid of the dogs, he's going to move into a hotel until Mrs. Y oung gets back. On top of that, I'm really worried about the third dog, the white and black one. When I pick up the baby -- the dog growls as if it were jealous.

Polly, I know that you and Alex love dogs. And besides, you have a lovely big yard. Could you possibly take care of them for me until Mrs. Y oung gets back in two weeks? Just two weeks, Polly -- please! If you can't take the dogs, maybe you could take Jack and the baby.

Y our friend in need, Alice

2)

Nowadays the computer is no longer an inaccessible piece of high-tech machinery. Instead, it is part of the common everyday equipment of the home, school or office. If you do not know how to use a computer, you are certainly behind the times. What can you do with a computer, then? First, you can be linked to the Internet and get access to an unlimited source of information. Second, you ca n do word processing. Third, you can also do designing and store information. And then, you can use your computer to play games.

Although computers are very useful, we need to exercise some care when using them. For example, computers can damage your eyesight if you do not take frequent rests. Computer users can also get backaches if they do not sit properly. Then, th ere is the danger that people will become addicted to computers and lose their social skills. These people will become socially awkward because they do not get enough real face-to-face contact. So bear in mind that while computers are useful they are not without disadvantages.

3)Passage:

Do you have any singers you like? I'm sure you have. When you listen to them sing, you will feel happy or sad, peaceful or ex cited. Talented singers have the power to affect you in many ways -- emotionally, physically and mentally.

But becoming a great singer isn't as easy as listening to one. It takes practice, devotion and strong lungs. Just ask the wel l-known American opera star Carol V aness.

At the Metropolitan Opera House in New Y ork City where she often sings, Carol's voice must be loud enough to be heard by 4,000 people. It must reach every person in the theater, without a microphone, even when she's singing softly. The reason Carol can project her voice that far is the way she breathes.

Carol says, "When you breathe, it's like a swimmer taking a deep breath before going underwater. Y ou have to take a lot of air into your lungs."

According to Carol, the main difference between pop singing and opera is "how you breathe, how much air you take in, and ho w you control it coming out. Regular singing is more like speaking, and it's a lot softer

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Unit1Part B The Hospital Window

Jack and Ben, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. Jack, whose bed was next to the room's only window, was al lowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. But Ben had to spend all day and night flat on his bed. To kill time the two men began to talk. They talked for hours about their wives, families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, and where they had been on vacation. As days went by, a deep friendship began to develop between them.

Every afternoon when Jack could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to Ben all the things he could see outside the window. And Ben began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans play ed on the water while children sailed their model boats. Y oung lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees beautified the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As Jack described all this in exquisite detail, Ben would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scenes.

One warm afternoon Jack described a parade passing by. Although Ben couldn't hear the band -- he could see it in his mind's eye as Jack portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of Jack, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

Ben was heart broken. Life without Jack was even more unbearable. How he longed to hear Jack's voice and his melodious descriptions of the outside world! As he looked at the window, an idea suddenly occurred to him. Perhaps he could see for himself what it was like outside. As soon as it seemed appropriate, Ben asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself! He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall!

'What could have compelled my roommate to describe such wonderful things outside this window?' Ben asked the nurse when she returned.

'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you to live on,' she said. 'Y ou know, he was blind and could not even see the wall.'

Questions:

1. What does the story mainly tell us?

2. Which of the following adjectives can best describe Jack?

3. What did Jack describe to Ben according to the story?

Part C Conversation 1:

M: How do you like your roommate, Debby?

W: Ever since we met on the first day of college, we've been inseparable.

Q: What do you know about Debby and her roommate?

Conversation 2:

M: Have you heard from Linda lately? Y ou two were so intimate in college.

W: Well, honestly, I haven't heard from her as much as I used to since she moved to the east coast two months ago. But I'm sure the friendship between us is as strong as it was before.

Q: What can you infer from the woman’s response?

Conversation 3:

W: Do you keep in touch with your old friends back home now that you don't see them regularly?

M: Frankly, after I moved to this city, I'm out of touch with most of them except a few close ones.

Q: What does the man mean?

Conversation 4:

W: It's polite to call a friend before we visit, isn't it?

M: Y ou're right. People usually don't like surprise visits. But close friends often drop in on each other.

Q: What does the man mean?

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Conversation 5:

M: Cathy, it seems that you and Sally do almost everything together.

W: That's true. Y ou see, we were born on the same day. We both majored in fashion designing. And we even have the same love for using bright-colored material in our designs. Isn't it amazing!

Q: What can we learn from the conversation?

Unit 2Part B

Interviewer: Rob, you went to Brazil, didn't you?

Rob: Y es, I did.

Interviewer: So, what happened?

Rob: Well, I went into this meeting and there were about, er... seven or eight people in there and I just said 'Hello' to everybody and sat down. Apparently, what I should have done is to go round the room shaking hands with everyone individually. Well, you know, it's silly of me because I found out later it upset everyone. I mean, I think they felt I was taking them for granted.

Kate: Well, I know that because when I was in France the first time, I finished a meeting , with 'Goodbye, everyone!' t o all the people in the room. There were about half a dozen people there but I was in a hurry to leave, so I just said that and left. Well, I later found out that what I should have done is shake hands with everyone in the group before leaving. Now, apparently, it's the polite thing to do.

Interviewer: Well, people shake hands in different ways, don't they?

Rob: Oh, yes, that's right, they do. See, normally I shake hands quite gently when I meet someone. So when I went to the US for the first time, I think people there thought my weak handshake was a sign of weakness. Apparently, people there tend to shake hands quite firmly.

Kate: Oh, gosh, you know, that reminds me: on my first trip to Germany, it was a long time ago, I was introduced to the boss in the company when he passed us in the corridor. Well, I wasn't prepared, and I mean, I had my left hand in my pocket. And when we shook hands I realized my left hand was still in my pocket. Well, that was, you know, very bad manners and I was quite embarrassed.

Interviewer: And how about using first names? Have you made any mistakes there?

Rob: Oh, yes, I have! When I first went to Italy I thought it was OK to use everyone's first name so as to seem friendly. And I later discovered that in business you shouldn't use someone's first name unless you are invited to. Oh, and you should always use their title as well.

Kate: Hm, yeah, well, when I met people in Russia, you know, they seemed to be puzzled when I shook hands with them and said 'How do you do?' Well, what they do when they greet a stranger is to say their own names, so I had that all wrong!

Rob: Oh, yes, I agree with that. Remembering names is very important.

Interviewer: Shall we take a break? When we come back we'll move on to our next topic.

Kate & Rob: OK.

Questions:

1. What is the conversation mainly about?

2. Who might be the people Rob and Kate met in various countries?

3. What can we infer about Kate and Rob from the conversation?

4. Which countries has Kate visited, according to the conversation?

5. Which countries has Rob visited, according to the conversation?

6. What is the main message that the speakers want to tell us?

Part CAmerican Parties

As you would imagine, Americans move about a great deal at parties. At small gatherings they may sit down, but as soon as there are more people than chairs in a room - a little before this point - you will see first one and then another make some excuse to get to his feet to fetch a drink or greet a friend or open a window until soon everyone is standing, moving around, chatting with one group and then another. Sitting becomes static beyond a certain point. We expect people to move about and be "self-starters". It is quite normal for Americans to introduce themselves; they will drift around a room , stopping to talk wherever they like, introducing themselves and their companions. If this happens, you are expected to reply by giving your name and introducing the person with you; then at least the men generally shake hands. Sometimes the women do so as well, but often they merely nod and smile. A man usually shakes a woman's hand only if she extends it. Otherwise he too just nods and greets her.

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Statements:

1. We can't imagine that Americans do not like big parties and they prefer going around at parties.

2. At small parties they may sit down, but as more people come, they would stand up and move about.

3. The reason why Americans like to stand is that they like the free atmosphere of the party.

4. The meaning of "self-starters" is that Americans help themselves to drinks during the parties.

5. Americans are more open-minded than British people according to the passage.

6. If a woman doesn't extend her hand to a man at the party, he should not shakes hands with the woman.

7. The passage shows a unique aspect of American culture.

Unit5PartB

How Our Memory Works

Try to imagine a life without a memory. It would be impossible. Y ou couldn't use a language, because you wouldn't remember the words. Y ou couldn't understand a film, because you need to hold the first part of the story in your mind in order to understand the later parts. Y ou wouldn't be able to recognize anyone - even members of your own family. Y ou would live in a permanent present. Y ou would have no past and you wouldn't be able to imagine a future.

Human beings have amazing memories. Apart from all our personal memories about our own lives, we can recall between 20,000 and 100,000 words in our own language as well as possibly thousands more in a foreign language. We have all sorts of informat ion about different subjects such as history, science, and geography, and we have complex skills such as driving a car or playing a musical instrument. All these things and countless others depend on our memory.

How well you remember things depends on many different factors. Firstly, some people naturally have better memories than others, in just the same way as some people are taller than others, or have different color eyes. Some top chess players, for example, can remember every move of every game that they have ever seen or played.

Secondly, research shows that different things are stored in different parts of the brain. Ideas, words, and numbers are stored in the left-hand side, while the right-hand side remembers images, sounds, and smells. In most people one side of the brain is more developed than the other, and this may explain why some people can remember people's faces easily, but can't remember their names.

Thirdly, we all remember exciting, frightening, or dramatic events more easily. This is because these experiences produce chemicals such as adrenaline, which boost your memory. They say that anyone who is old enough to remember knows exactly where they were on Tues day, September 11, 2001, when radio and TV programs around the world were interrupted with the shocking news that the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New Y ork were hit.

Fourthly, the context in which you learn something can affect how well you remember it. Tests on divers, for example, showed that when they learned things underwater, they could also remember those things best when they were underwater.

Lastly, the more often you recall a memory the more likely you are to remember it. If you don't use it, you'll lose it. A telephone number that you dial frequently will stay in your memory easily, but you will probably have to write down one that you use only now and again.

Questions:

1. What does the passage mainly tell us?

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

3. Which of the following is stated to be true?

4. Why can we remember exciting, dramatic, or frightening events better?

Unit6PartB The Embarrassment of Riches

The meaning of wealth today is usually defined as the amount of money and material goods that one has accumulated and the abi lity to purchase more goods at an ever-increasing rate. A wealthy person possesses so much money that it would be difficult for him to spend it all in his lifetime without being wasteful and extravagant.

Speaking from a strictly practical point of view, the trouble with wealth is not that it arouses envy in the hearts of others but that it weighs very heavily upon the resources of its owner. Those who have never tasted luxury imagine that a new Porsche, a Picasso in the draw ing room, an apartment in the Trump Tower, will bring them ease and happiness. If that were true, owners of the Porsches, Picassos, and Trumps of the world

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would all be happy souls. One glance at history tells you they are not.

The problem is not simply that owning goods feeds upon itself, generating desires to possess more and to outdo other owners in a competitive madness. It's that goods themselves are an endless responsibility. They must be not only paid for but also stored, insured, and publicly admired. All of those cost not just money but personal freedom. As James Boswell, the famous British biographer, once wrote in his diary, "If a man with a fortune cannot make himself easier and freer than those who are not, he gains nothing. Nothing except glittering baggage that must be attended to."

In some Oriental countries poverty has never been such a disgrace as it is in the "get-rich-quick" zone. Wise men from these lands often remark on the tyranny of goods. According to an old Persian proverb, "The larger a man's roof, the more snow it collects." And in his discussion of "Houses", a Lebanese poet and philosopher compares the lust for comfort to a "stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host, and then a master."

The same sentiment is also expressed here in America by the great philosopher Ralph Emerson, who scorns the acquisitiveness of his day with the famous line "Things are in the saddle, and ride mankind."

Questions:

1. Which of the following best defines the meaning of wealth today?

2. Why does the speaker mention a Porsche, a Picasso, and an apartment in the Trump Tower?

3. What would owning expensive goods do to wealthy people?

4. What does the speaker mean by "owning goods feeds upon itself"?

5. Which of the following views would the speaker most probably agree with?

6. What is the main idea of the passage?

PartC Perspectives

One day a father took his young son on a trip to the country with the purpose of showing him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip to their fine house the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"V ery good, Dad!" answered the son.

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Y eah!"

"And what did you learn?" the father asked, thinking he had fulfilled his purpose.

To his astonishment, the son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, but they have a whole horizon."

When the little boy finished, his father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!"

Isn't it true that whether you are rich or poor depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything! Y ou can't buy any of those things. Y ou can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing.

Questions:

1. What was the father's purpose for the trip?

2. Why did the son thank his father?

3. Why do the father and son have such different views on poverty and wealth?

4. According to the story, what kind of people are poor?

5. Which of the following can be inferred from the story?

Unit7Part B Last Gasp for Smokers

It was a normal day and in their New Y ork office, Ken and his colleagues stopped for their coffee break. But while his colleagues were able to sit at their desks and drink their coffee, Ken had to go outside. He couldn't stay inside, because he wanted to smoke. If the smokers of the Big Apple want to enjoy a cigarette, the authorities have decided they must go out into the street or up onto the rooftops.

Throughout the United States, the number of places where people are allowed to smoke has gradually dwindled. First it was banned on trains,

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buses, and planes, then in public places such as theaters and airports. Now you can't smoke in any workplace. Nonsmokers are definitely winning the battle. "Why should we breathe their smoke?" they say.

If they're lucky, smokers can still find some bars and restaurants or parks and recreation centers where they can light up a cigarette, but it may soon be banned there, too. In fact, smoking in parks and recreation centers is already banned in California. On August 9, 2001, Los Angeles City and County officials announced the implementation of a smoke-free park policy, officially designating smoke-free zones in all 375 parks and recreation centers in the city. And since January 1, 2002 all parks in California have become smoke-free to safeguard children from the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke and dangerous tobacco waste. Anti-smoking groups even think that smoking ought to be banned in people's homes. Under new plans you won't be able to smoke in any house where there are more than ten visitors in a week, or where there are children.

In 1996, nicotine was classed as a drug, like cannabis, cocaine or heroin. And scientists all over the world agree that expos ure to secondhand smoke poses a serious health risk and there is no safe level of exposure. It is esp ecially dangerous for children because when they are exposed to tobacco smoke, they have much higher rates of lung diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia and are also at greater risks of developing asthma.

In the country that gave tobacco to the world, smoking might one day be illegal. And then Ken will have to give up.

Questions:

1. What is the main idea of the passage you've heard?

2. What does the speaker think about banning smoking in public places?

3. Where is smoking not banned according to the passage?

4. Which of the following is true about nicotine?

5. What can be inferred from the sentence "In the country that gave tobacco to the world, smoking might one day be illegal"?

Unit 8 Part B A Terrible Disease

The phone rang and it was my husband Jack asking me to take some lunch to his office. As I drove off, I noticed a new shopping center. Strange I hadn't noticed it before. Near his office I also saw a fire station I didn't recognize.

'When did they build that new shopping center?' I asked Jack. 'And I'm glad to see that new fire station. It'll give a good landmark.'

'Diana, they've been there for ages,' Jack scolded.

Bewildered, I became angry and, starting up the engine, began to pull away. Then I braked. Where was the exit? Suddenly, nothing was familiar. I realized I had no idea how to get home. I had to stop again and again to ask for directions. Eventually, I got home. A 30-minute drive had taken me four hours.

Two months later, at the office where I worked as a legal researcher, a smart young man approached me.

'Hi, Diana. Good to see you,' he said, smiling.

I hesitated, then smiled with resignation. 'Please forgive me, it's one of those days. I simply can't bring your name to mind.'

'Diana, I'm your cousin Richard,' he said very slowly.

After that, I was constantly making mistakes and kept forgetting my way around the building. In the end, I made the painful decision t o resign from work. I also started pretending to be a tourist when I got lost because residents tend to give much better directions to visitors.

Desperate to discover what was wrong with me, I made an appointment with a neurologist. After various tests he told me I had Alzheimer's disease. I felt numb. I'd hoped to find I was worrying about nothing, but now my worst fears were confirmed. And I was only 53!

When I told Jack and my three grown-up children about my disease, their reaction was quiet but supportive. 'Stop worrying,' Jack said. 'We'll take good care of you.'

That night, I was looking through some papers belonging to my mother, who'd died of cancer years before, when I saw her maps. They were hand-drawn and covered every place my mother went, including my house. As I examined them, I remembered Mother's other eccentric habits. She wouldn't drive out of her neighborhood or at night. One day, she hadn't even recognized me. Could she have had Alzheimer's, t oo, without anyone realizing?

Now at 57, on good days I'm filled with hope and determination, but on bad days I have the worst sense of being alone. I've started a support group for other sufferers, for I know it's essential to have contact with people who are walking through the same maze.

Jack's coping well. While he still dreams of waking up to find all this has been a horrible nightmare, he's assured me that I can depend on him. When we married he didn't know 'for better or worse' included Alzheimer's. But neither did I.

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Questions:

1. What does the story mainly tell us?

2. Which of the following is one of the symptoms of the speaker's disease?

3. What can we learn from the story?

4. What do you know about the speaker from the story?

5. What can be inferred about the speaker's mother?

Part C Old Age's Problems and Opportunities

Old age in the United States presents many problems and opportunities. As a result of improved medical services , people live longer than they used to. This increase in longevity creates a wide range of social needs. The medical specialty of gerontology (老年医学) has opened up new research areas and careers related to the elderly.

Because of changes in the family structure from extended to nuclear, the elderly have to create existences apart from basically small family units. This situation is complicated by the fact that many of their friends may have died and their children may have moved away.

The elderly must set up a new life. Often, the elderly must rely on a fixed income - Social Security and pensions - and gradually diminished savings. While some live with their children, many more live by themselves, with a friend or in a nursing home.

However, the increasing proportion of elderly people in society has given them a new political power. They have formed organizations to voice their own needs and concerns to local state and federal agencies. Lobbying(游说)for such issues as increased Social Security benefits, better health care, income tax benefits and rent controls has brought to the public an increased awareness of the determination of the elderly to assert their ability to deal effectively with their own lives.

Unit 9 Part B Life Goes On

The city of Y pres in Belgium has been invaded 19 times, most famously in World War I. Some time ago I went with two friends t o visit the battlefields and cemeteries there, and particularly to see the tomb of my uncle who was killed in the war at the age of 20.

Michael, our silver-haired guide, took us first to a British cemetery, just outside the town. I stared at the lines of gravestones, neatly planted with herbs and flowers, the low surrounding walls blooming with wisteria. Michael pointed out my uncle's grave to me.

I walked hesitantly toward it, wondering what I would feel. And suddenly there it was, and there were hundreds of others. Nothing could have prepared me for the realization that in this area alone about 250,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers were killed. There are 75 British cemeteries, of which we visited just a few.

Next, Michael took us to a place on the other side of the city. The names of 55,000 missing soldiers are engraved on its walls. We stared in awe. "More than half a million horses and mules were lost, and fifteen tons of unexploded ammunition are still collected each year from the fields," Michael told us.

Some way on we came to the largest British cemetery in the world. Some headstones have words of love or gratitude: "He died t hat we might live," "Gone from our sight but not from our hearts."

"I'd like you to visit a German cemetery before finishing," Michael said. The cemetery is in wooded land. But there are no headstones, only slabs in the grass. There are no flowers, either. The whole place is dark and dank.

With some relief we returned to the car. After some time, we drew up at a gat e. Here, hidden from the road, lies the Pool of Peace. "It was created by an explosion so loud it was heard in Downing Street," said Michael. We looked at the still water reflecting the trees surrounding it. There is hardly a sound.

By the time we returned to Y pres, it was evening. The city was preparing for the annual Festival of the Cats, which dates from medieval times. Soon there would be dancing in the square.

Questions:

1. What did the speaker especially want to see during his visit to Y pres?

2. Who was Michael?

3. Which of the following is true about the British cemetery the speaker first visited?

4. About how many British and Commonwealth soldiers died in the battles of Y pres?

5. About how many tons of unexploded ammunition are still collected from the fields each year?

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