Unit 1 Our Earth
Listening
Audio Track 4-1-1
1. I’ve visited a few caves in Guilin. The rocks in the caves are in different shapes and colors. If you use your imagination, the rocks can resemble many different things. It looks like a whole other world.
2. I went to the desert in Gansu once. As I stood in the middle of the desert, I faced endless sand and felt very small. By day the desert was extremely hot, by night it got very cold. I experienced summer and winter in the same day.
3. To my knowledge, California has beautiful coastlines. People love them and thousands of volunteers often give up part of their weekends to keep the sandy Californian beaches clean.
4. The Port of Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River. It handles many millions of shipping containers each year. In fact it might even be the busiest container port in the world.
5. Japan has many hot springs. Some of them are located in mountainous areas and are great attractions to foreign tourists. Supposedly, the hot springs have healing properties.
6. The most famous mountain range in the world is the Himalayas. It contains the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest . Qomolangma), which climbs to a height of 8,848 meters.
7. The White Cliffs of Dover are one of the United Kingdom’s most spectacular natural sights. The cliffs are made from bright white stone. On a clear day, they are visible from France, approximately 30 kilometers away.
8. Mount Vesuvius is a famous volcano in Italy, which has not been active for about two centuries. But people say it might erupt again, someday soon.
9. Niagara Falls crosses the border of two countries, Canada and the United States. Every year, millions of tourists observe the beauty of these magnificent waterfalls. More recently, the waterfalls have become a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Audio Track 4-1-2/Audio Track 4-1-3
Blake: What are you working on, Mary?
Mary: I’m finishing my paper. It’s due tomorrow, Blake.
Blake: What’s the topic?
Mary: It’s about Greenland.
Blake: Greenland. Hmmm … that’s part of Canada, right?
Mary: I think you need to study your world geography, Blake.
Blake: Well, isn’t it near Canada?
Mary: Yes, it’s off the coast of northeast Canada, but it’s part of Denmark. Blake: Oh, I didn’t know that. Well, what’s your p aper about exactly?
Mary: In my paper, I answer the question “Is Greenland really green?” In other words, is Greenland covered by a lot of plants and trees?
Blake: Is it?
Mary: What do you think?
Blake: Let’s see … Greenland is in the Arctic Circle —way u p north. It’s cold, …
so “Is Greenland really green?” I’d answer “probably not.”
Mary: You’d be correct. It’s too cold there. In the north, a lot of the ground is frozen. The summers are short, so only the surface thaws.
Blake: That sounds tough.
Mary: It’s hard for the construction industry. It’s not easy to build in Greenland. Blake: It sounds so harsh. Why would anyone want to go there?
Mary: There are big mountain ranges on the coasts. They’re great for hiking and outdoor sports. And there are lots of animals there. You can sometimes see whales swimming in the harbors.
Blake: That sounds cool! OK, so if it’s not really a “green” place, why was it named “Greenland”?
Mary: The first settlers wanted to attract other people. They gave it an attractive name.
Audio Track 4-1-4/Audio Track 4-1-5
Jay: Come in here, Elise. You should see this show!
Elise: What is it?
Jay: It’s called “The Titanic of the Sky.” It’s about the Hindenburg, a great engineering feat.
Elise: The Hindenburg …
Jay: You know, that giant zeppelin that crashed in 1934. Thirty-five people died. Elise: Oh yeah, I remember now. It was flying from Germany to the United States. It crashed as it was landing.
Jay: Right. It’s so funny looking, don’t you think? It doesn’t look anything like the airplanes we have today.
Elise: That’s true. Why would people ride in a zeppelin anyway? It seems so dangerous.
Jay: Well, some people called the Hindenburg “man’s greatest achievement in flight.” They thought it was safe, I guess.
Elise: Who rode in it anyway?
Jay: Mostly wealthy people. It accommodated between 30 and 40 passengers and crew. One person said it was like a “flying hotel.”
Elise: It sounds pretty great.
Jay: Yeah, and it was fast. That’s why people rode it. They wanted to get to their destination faster.
Elise: Why didn’t they just take a jet plane?
Jay: Elise! You know they didn’t have jets back then. Look, in 1934 it took five days to travel from Germany to the US by ship. The zeppelin could do it in half that time. It was speedy.
Elise: Well, may be I’ll sit down and watch a little bit. Maybe I’ll learn something …
Audio Track 4-1-6/Audio Track 4-1-7/Audio Track 4-1-8
Jack: I think we should buy a bigger car. Big cars are safer.
Kayla: Yes, but on the other hand, they consume more oil.
Jack: They also look really cool.
Kayla: That’s true, but there are some SUVs which are not that big but also very beautiful.
Jack: And I think big cars are more fun to drive.
Kayla: But then again, it’s very expensive.
Jack: Well, let’s get more information about sev eral kinds of cars, okay?
Audio Track 4-1-9
My country has two very famous buildings called the Petronas Towers. The buildings are made of glass, steel, and concrete. They were designed by an American architect, but he used a Malaysian style. They were finished in 1998, and they were the tallest buildings in the world at that time. Each tower has 88 floors, and is 452 meters high. I really like the Petronas Towers. They show both the modern and the traditional side of my country.
Audio Track 4-1-10/Audio Track 4-1-11
Modern buildings: We love them, we hate them.
The world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris is almost 500 years old, and it faced a very modern problem: There simply wasn’t enough space for six million visitors each year. In 1989, American architect . Pei designed a striking glass pyramid in the building’s center to be a visitor’s entrance and shopping arcade. But he also started an angry debate. Some people felt his glass building was a piece of art, like the ones inside the museum. Others said it was just an ugly, modern mistake. Kyoto, Japan, is the country’s ancient capital, and the heart of its culture. Its railroad station was too small for the millions of visitors. In 1997, the city completed a new station in a huge shopping center, right in the oldest part of the city. Designed by Hiroshi Hara, the building also contains a hotel and department store. Before it was built, critics said that the high, wide, modern building would destroy the city’s traditional look. On the other hand, supporters said it would bring new life into the city center.
Audio Track 4-1-12/Audio Track 4-1-13
Interviewer: What do you think is the biggest problem facing our cities?
Erika: I think it’s overcrowding. Talk to anyone living in a major metropolitan area and they will say the same thing. There’s no space. Even the suburbs are getting crowded.
Interviewer: Well, in some places there simply isn’t any land left for building, right?
Erika: Yes, that’s true, but you have to think creatively. You can’t give up so easily.
Interviewer: Think creatively? What do you suggest?
Erika: What I’m saying is that we can build more structures underground. We can add parking lots, malls, hotels and even apartment buildings. There’s plenty of space.
Interviewer: Isn’t it expensive?
Erika: Yes, it can be. In the past building underground has been very expensive. However, we have new technology that will bring the cost down. It involves using robots. You don’t have to pay robots a salary.
Interviewer: Isn’t “building down” more dangerous than other kinds of construction?
Erika: Actually, I think it’s safer than building skyscrapers, for example. Remember, we already do it. We have subways, and underground shopping malls. I’m just suggesting we invest in a variety of bigger projects and that we dig deeper. Interviewer: What would you say to people who doubt your idea?
Erika: I can understand their feelings. Whenever there’s a new idea, it can cause controversy. But “building down” is not some kind of impractical idea. It makes sense. There is so much space underground: it can accommodate a lot of traffic, storage, and people. With the new technology we have, we’d be crazy not to consider the idea —it’s the wave of the future.
Audio Track 4-1-14
1. deep cave
2. arid desert
3. long mountain range
4. active volcano
Audio Track 4-1-15
a. narrow harbor
b. long, sunny beach
c. busy vacation
d. high cliffs
Speaking & Communication
Audio Track 4-1-16/Audio Track 4-1-17
Bart: So what exactly did you do over the summer?
Gustav: We worked as volunteers at Glacier National Park.
Bart: I’ve never been there. What’s it like?
Carolina: It’s beautiful. There are mountains and lakes ... and, of course, glaciers!
Bart: How was the job?
Gustav: We had to do a lot of physical work. It was kind of hard.
Carolina: That’s true, but it was exciting, too! We actually saw bears!
Bart: Wow! That does sound exciting. Maybe I should apply. I’ll need a job next summer.
Carolina: Sorry, Bart, but you can’t apply to that program. It’s a special program for international students.
Audio Track 4-1-18
Conversation 1
A: I’d like to live in a city apartment. It would be near public transportation as that would save a lot of time. I don’t want to waste time commuting several hours each day from home to university.
B: That’s very nice, but I’d prefer to live in the suburbs. The prices there are lower and we would be able to afford a house with bigger bedrooms.
A: It would be cheaper, but don’t you think the suburbs would be inconvenient? B: Well, you have a point there, so we would need to get a car too.
Conversation 2
A: I’d prefer to live in the suburbs. We would enjoy the peace and quiet, away from all the city noise. Moreover, it would be a good environment for study.
B: Even so, I think life in the suburbs would be boring. We’d have n othing to do on weekends.
Audio Track 4-1-19
I’d like to visit Angel Falls most because I have never seen a real waterfall. But then again, I’m a little afraid of heights and it is the world’s highest waterfall! The Andes is the place I would least like to go to because I don’t particularly like hiking or trekking.
Audio Track 4-1-20
I think the Channel Tunnel is the most amazing feat. It’s hard to imagine a train running under the sea, but this is a reality. I think this engineering masterpiece really shows what can be achieved when two countries work together. There is now a high-speed rail service connecting the United Kingdom and France.
Video Course
Video Track 4-1-1
Alejandra: One of the most beautiful natural wonders I’ve seen are the glaciers in the south of Argentina.
Nick: The Matterhorn, which is a mountain in Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. My dad and I climbed about halfway, and once we got there it started snowing so we had to turn back.
Catherine: I climbed up to Everest . Qomolangma) Base Camp. All of a sudden, you look up and there’s this huge mountain that everyone’s talked about, that everyone’s photographed, and you’ve seen what it’s like in pictures but you’ve never seen it in person.
Kumiko: Mt. Fuji is re ally beautiful from far away. When you climb it, it’s just rocks and dirt … but it’s really beautiful from far away.
Natalie: I went to Niagara Falls for a family reunion. It was one of the most memorable times of my life because I got to be around people who I love — my family. And it was also one of the most beautiful sites that I’ve ever seen.
Video Track 4-1-2
Natalie: I went to Niagara Falls for a family reunion. It was one of the most memorable times of my life because I got to be around people who I love — my family. And it was also one of the most beautiful sites that I’ve ever seen.
Video Track 4-1-3
Kevin: The most impressive man-made wonder that I have seen is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall took several thousands of people to build, it stretches many, many miles throughout
China, and it was made in a period where we didn’t have all the technological advancements … like cranes and lifts.
Gian: Last year I was in San Francisco and I had a chance to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge.
What an amazing feat of engineering! It gives you a chance to look through all of
San Francisco and over San Francisco Bay and it’s just a wonderful chance to see the city.
Woo Sung: I saw the Hoover Dam once and I didn’t like it very much. It was in the middle of the desert and it’s just very hot, and there wasn’t much activity going on … and it’s just a big concrete structure.
Video Track 4-1-4
Kevin: The most impressive man-made wonder that I have seen is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall took several thousands of people to build, it stretches many, many miles throughout China, and it was made in a period where we didn’t have all the technological advancements … like cranes and lifts.
Gian: Last year I was in San Francisco and I had a chance to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. What an amazing feat of engineering! It gives you a chance to look through all of San Francisco and over San Francisco Bay and it’s just a wonderful chance to see the city.
Video Track 4-1-5
Takeshi: Man, look at that! In New Yo rk there’s always something being built. And everything goes up so quickly … you never know what’s going to be around next week. Roberto: Yeah, but on the other hand, sometimes I wonder about overcrowding. Maybe they need to start building down more.
Takeshi: Building down?
Roberto: Yeah, it’s when you build underground instead of aboveground. Takeshi: Nah, that’s too much like living in a cave. I love the skyscrapers! They are the most incredible feats of engineering!
Roberto: True. And some of the first ones were built right here in New York City. Takeshi: That’s right! You know, I wonder what New York looked like before all these buildings popped up.
Roberto: I don’t know, but I’d like to see this one when it’s finished. Takeshi: Yeah. I’ll bet it’ll be s omething fantastic!
Roberto: Maybe … what do you think it’s going to look like?
Takeshi: I don’t know … but you know what? I’m going to remember what it looked like.
Roberto: What are you talking about? And why are you taking pictures? There’s nothing there.
Takeshi: OK. You know how some people get famous because they have pictures of movie stars or performers before they make it big?
Roberto: Yeah?
Takeshi: Well, some buildings and architectural structures get to be famous too, like the
Eiffel Tower or th e Empire State Building … right?
Roberto: Yeah, and …? There’s nothing here!
Takeshi: Right! But there will be. Someday this very spot may become really well-known —like maybe it’ll be some incredible hotel that the rich and famous stay at. And I’ll be th e only one with pictures of it before it was built. Cool, huh?
Roberto: Uh … you are too much. Hey, let’s ask this guy what your “famous” building’s going to be. (to passing construction worker ) Excuse us, can you tell us what this is going to be when it’s finished? Maybe a fancy hotel or something? Construction worker: Fancy hotel? (laughs ) No, this isn’t going to be a hotel. It’s going to be a parking garage.
Roberto: A parking garage. Uh … huh. Thanks.
Takeshi: Well … maybe … someone rich and famous wi ll park here.
Video Track 4-1-6
Takeshi: Man, look at that! In New York there’s always something being built. And everything goes up so quickly … you never know what’s going to be around next week. Roberto: Yeah, but on the other hand, sometimes I wonder about overcrowding. Maybe they need to start building down more.
Takeshi: Building down?
Roberto: Yeah, it’s when you build underground instead of aboveground. Takeshi: Nah, that’s too much like living in a cave. I love the skyscrapers! They are the most incredible feats of engineering!
Roberto: True. And some of the first ones were built right here in New York City. Takeshi: That’s right! You know, I wonder what New York looked like before all these buildings popped up.
Roberto: I don’t know, but I’d like to see this one when it’s finished. Takeshi: Yeah. I’ll bet it’ll be something fantastic!
Roberto: Maybe … what do you think it’s going to look like?
Takeshi: I don’t know … but you know what? I’m going to remember what it looked like.
Video Track 4-1-7
Rob erto: What are you talking about? And why are you taking pictures? There’s nothing there.
Takeshi: OK. You know how some people get famous because they have pictures of movie stars or performers before they make it big?
Roberto: Yeah?
Takeshi: Well, some buildings and architectural structures get to be famous too, like the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building … right?
Roberto: Yeah, and …? There’s nothing here!
Takeshi: Right! But there will be. Someday this very spot may become really well-known — lik e maybe it’ll be some incredible hotel that the rich and famous stay at. And I’ll be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. Cool, huh?
Roberto: Uh … you are too much. Hey, let’s ask this guy what your “famous” building’s going to be.
Video Track 4-1-8
Roberto: … (to passing construction worker ) Excuse us, can you tell us what this is going to be when it’s finished? Maybe a fancy hotel or something? Construction worker: Fancy hotel? (laughs ) No, this isn’t going to be a hotel. It’s going to be a parking garage.
Roberto: A parking garage. Uh … huh. Thanks.
Takeshi: Well … maybe … someone rich and famous will park here.
Audio Track 4-1-21
Takeshi and Roberto walked by a construction site and started talking about all the buildings that were being built in New York. Takeshi then talked about how much he admired the skyscrapers. Suddenly, Takeshi started taking pictures of the site, but Roberto couldn’t understand why because nothing had been built yet. Takeshi explained that he thought something famous might be there someday, like a fancy hotel where the rich and famous would stay, and he wanted to be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. But later, Takeshi felt very embarrassed when Roberto asked one of the construction workers what was being built on the site —and Takeshi learned it was to be a parking garage!
新标准大学英语视听说 教程听力原文U n i t+ Document number【AA80KGB-AA98YT-AAT8CB-2A6UT-A18GG】
Unit 1-Conversation 1**（1）Janet: So this is the Cherwell Boathouse — it's lovely! And look at those people punting! It looks quite easy. Mark: I'm not so sure about that! Janet, there's something Kate and I wanted to discuss with you. Some people in college are organizing charity events this term. We've decided to get involved. Janet: Raising money for charity Right. In China, people raise money for charity but students don't usually do that. Mark: Students often do that here. Anyway, we're thinking of doing sponsored punting. Janet: Sponsored punting! What's that Kate: Sponsoring is when people pay you to do something — like run a long distance. So people would be sponsoring students to punt. Janet: What a great idea! I'd love to join you! Mark: That's why we're telling you about it. So that's decided then. Let's make a list of things we need to do. Kate: I'll do that. One of the first things we should do is choose the charity. Mark: Yes. And choose a day for the event. And we need to design the sponsorship form. I've got one here. Kate: That looks fine, but we must change the wording. Who wants to do that Mark: I'll do that. What have we got so far Kate: Choose a charity. Also a day for the event. Change the wording on the sponsorship form... Um ...
Kindergarten: a school or class for young children, usually four to six years old, that prepares them for Nursery school: a school for very young children, usually 3 to 5 years of age Coo: speak gently and lovely wedding: the act or ceremony of becoming married Bride: a woman who has just been married or is about to be married relationship: Pick up: stop for and take or bring(person) along with one a romantic or sexual involvement Stability: steadiness, the state of being not likely to separate, break down or fall apart Discipline: strict control to enforce obedience; punishment / control, train, punish Lenient: merciful, not severe in disciplining, punishing, judging, ect. Spare the rod, spoil the child: a child who is not punished will become undisciplined and unruly. Harsh: unpleasant, unkind, cruel or more severe than is necessary Foldaway: that can be folded together for easy storage.Detached: not connected, separate Blind: anything that keeps out light, as a window shade or shutter. Estate: landed property; individually owned piece of land containing a residence. Sink:any of various basins, as in a kitchen or laundry, connected with a drainpipe and usually, with Appliance: a device or machine for performing a specific task, esp. one that is worked mechanically Property: a building or area of land, or both together Mortgage: an agreement that allows you to borrow money from or similar organization, Tenant: a person who pays rent for the use of land or a building Counselor: someone who is paid to listen to people’s problems and provide support and advice. Make the grade: succeed; reach the necessary standard quit: stop (doing something) and leave Goody-goody: a person who likes to appear faultless in behavior so as to please others, not because Emblazon: decorate something with a design, a symbol or words so that people will notice it easily Go to pieces: lose the ability to think or act clearly because of fear, sorrow, ect. Potter about: do things or move without hurrying, especially when you are doing something that Plough through: make slow progress through something difficult or boring especially a book Small hours: the early morning hours just after midnight.Regulate: make work at a certain speed Well-rounded: complete; well-planned for proper balance Abstruse:deep; hard to understand Compulsory: required; obligatory; that must be done Be cut out for: be fitted for; be suited for Burn one’s bridges: destroy all means of going back, so that one must go forward Segregation: separation; isolation; the policy or practice of compelling racial groups or people of Dispel: scatter or drive away; cause to disappear Cohort: a group of people who share a common feature or aspect of behavior High-flyer: a person who has the desire and the ability to be very successful in their job or their Flunk: fail to reach the required standard in (an exam, test, or course of study) Career: the general course of a person’s working life. Client: a person who buys goods or services Personnel: the department of a company or organization that deals with its employees when they need Make a fortune: earn a great amount of money, possessions, etc. Torture: severe pain or suffering caused in the mind or body Shift: a group of workers who take turns with one or more other groups Teamwork: the ability of a group of people to work together effectively Survey: a general examination or study (of conditions, opinions, etc.), especially carried out by Cross-section: a part or group that is typicalor representative of the whole Brainstorming: a way of making a group of people all think about sth at the same time, often in order
视听说4 听力原文及答案 Unit 1 Leisure activities Part 1 listening one Ever wish you could do magic tricks, or introduce yourself as “magician” at a party? Imagine, everybody wants to have fun, but nothings’ really happening, it’s time for you to show one of your new tricks. Here, you can learn how, and without any need for special materials or much practice. A trick with a coin, a handkerchief and a friend: Put the coin on your palm. Cover the coin with the handkerchief. Ask several people to put their hands beneath the handkerchief and feel the coin, to make sure that it is still there. Then take the corner of the handkerchief and pull it rapidly off your hand. The coin has gone! How? You must make sure the last friend who feels the coin knows the trick and removes the coin when he seems to be just feeling it. And nobody knows where it has gone! A trick with a piece of paper and a pencil: Tell your friend that you can communicate your thoughts without speaking to other people. Write on the piece of paper the word No. Don't let your friends see what you have written. Say, "Now I will communicate this word into your minds." Pretend to concentrate. Ask them if they know what is written on the paper. They will say, "No!" And you say, "Quite correct! I wrote No on the paper!" A trick with an egg and some salt: Ask your friends to stand the egg upright on the table. They won't manage to do it. Say that you can speak to the chicken inside. Say, "Chicken! Can you hear me? Get ready to balance your egg!" When you first get the egg back from your friends, pretend to kiss the egg at the base. Make the base wet. Then put the base into salt which is in your other hand. The salt will stick to the egg. Then put the egg on the table. Twist the egg around a few times as this will arrange the grains of salt. Then it will stand up. Don't forget to thank the chicken. Questions: 1.What does the magician ask people to do in the first trick 2.What happens to the coin? 3.How does the magician prove that he can communicate his thoughts to the audience in the second trick? 4.What is the first step to make the egg stand upright? 5.What else is needed to make the egg stand upright? Keys: 1. B 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. D
Unit 6-Conversation 1 Janet: What are you reading, Kate Kate:Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Do you know it Janet: I've heard of it, yes, but I've never read it. It's a 19th century children's story, isn't it K a te: That's right. It's very famous. It's set in Oxford. It starts with this young girl sitting on a river bank. The interesting thing is, the author, Lewis Carroll, he was an Oxford professor and he used to have tea with the girl's family on this river bank. Ja net: Oh, that's fascinating! I'll put it into my diary. Kate: Is that what you're writing I know you've been keeping a diary all the year. Janet: It's been a great year. I've had such a good time — so lucky to have Mark and Kate as friends. Feel I've been doing well with work. Much happier about asking questions in tutorials. Janet: My screen's gone dark. Mark: You're using the battery, remember. It's run out, obviously. Janet: It can't be the battery. It's still charged. Oh no it's still black. Oh dear, I hope it's nothing serious. I haven't backed anything up recently. Kate: That's not like you, Janet. Janet:I know, but I lost my memory stick. I really should have backed things up. How stupid of me not to do that! Supposing I've lost everything! Mark: Let me take a look. The power is still on. And also the operating system still seems to be working ... I think it has to be the graphics card ... But maybe that's not the problem ... Janet: If only I'd backed things up! Kate: Relax, Janet! We'll take it to the computer shop this afternoon. I'm sure it'll be OK. Janet: I hope so. Unit 6-Conversation 2 Janet: Tell me about Alice in Wonderland. Kate: I tell you what, I'll read it to you. Kate: Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and having nothing to do: Once or twice, she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversation" So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid) ... Janet: Kate, Mark, where are you going You've got my laptop! Kate: It's all right, Janet, we're taking it to the computer shop. We'll be back soon. Mark: It's not like Janet to forget to back up her work. Kate: She should have been more careful. Janet: It was stupid of me, I know! Stupid, stupid! Janet: Oh! It was a dream! What a relief! Kate: You were talking in your sleep. Janet: What was I saying Kate: "Stupid, stupid." M ark: I've sorted out your computer. Janet: Have you Oh, thank goodness! What was the problem Mark:It was the graphics card, as I predicted ... Janet: Is that what it was! I'm so relieved! Thanks, Mark. Kate: He's great, isn't he Janet: Yes. So are you, Kate. Kate: You're such a good friend. Unit 6-Outside view Computers are a very important part of our lives. They tell us about delays to transport. They drive trains, analyze evidence and control buildings. Did you know that 60 per cent of homes in Britain have got a PC (a personal computer) For many young people, playing computer games is their favorite way of spending spare time. Computers are a very important part of most areas of life in Britain-libraries, the police and in school. But they are becoming more important in our homes as well. They’ll even control the way we live-in “smart homes” or computer-controlled houses. The smart home is now a real possibility. It will become very common. A central computer will adjust the temperature, act as a burglar alarm and switch on lights, ready for you to come back home. And of course you will be able to give new instructions to the computer from your mobile phone. So if your plans change, your home will react to match. Many homes have got lots of televisions and several computers. The smart home will provide TV and Internet sockets in every room, so you’ll be able to do what you want whenever you want. If the temperature outside changes, the smart home will adjust the temperature levels inside. The computer will also close the blinds when it gets dark or to stop so much sun from entering a room. And if you want to eat when you get home, the computer will turn the oven on for you! Are computers taking over our lives In a survey, 44 per cent of young people between 11 and 16 said their PC was a trusted friend. Twenty per cent said they were happier at their computer than spending time with family or friends. Another survey found that people in Britain spend so much time on the phone, texting and reading emails that they no longer have time for conversation. What do you think about that Unit 6-Listening in
Unit 4 Section One Tactics for Listening Part 1 Phonetics Stress, Intonation and Accent Script Listen to some short conversations. Has the second speaker finished talking? Tick the right box. 1. A: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the secretary’s off ice is, please? B: Yes. It’s up the stairs, then turn left, …↗ 2. A: Excuse me. Can you tell me where the toilets are? B: Yes, they’re at the top of the stairs. ↘ 3. A: What did you do after work yesterday? B: Ah, well, I went for a drink in the pub opposite the carpark. ↘ 4. A: What did you do after work yesterday? B: Oh, I ran into Jane and Tom, …↗ 5. A: Excuse me, can you tell me how the machine works? B: Certainly. Erm, first of all you adjust the height of the stool, and then put four 10-pence pieces there, ... ↗ 6. A: Excuse me, can you tell me how the machine works? B: Yes. You put 30 pence in the slot and take the ticket out here. ↘Key Part 2 Listening and Note-Taking Frog Legs Script A. Listen to some sentences and fill in the blanks with the missing words. 1. Many Asian cultures have included frog legs in their diets for centuries. 2. By 1977 the French government banned commercial hunting of its own amphibians. 3. Indian scientists have describ ed as “disastrous” the rate at which frogs are disappearing from the rice fields and wetlands. 4. The United States imported more than 6.5 million pounds of frozen frog meat each year between 1981 and 1984.
Unit One Tr a ck 4-1-O L-l A. Jay and Elise are talking about an accident. Listen and check the correct picture. Jay: Come in here, Elise. You should see this show! Elise: What is it? Jay: It's called "The Titanic of the Sky." It's about the Hindenburg, a great engineering feat. Elise: The Hindenburg ... Jay: You know, that giant zeppelin that crashed in 1934. Thirty-five people died. Elise: Oh yeah, I remember now. It was flying from Germany to the United States. It crashed as it was landing. Jay: Right. It's so funny looking, don't you think? It doesn't look anything like the airplanes as have today. Elise: That's true. Why would people ride in a zeppelin anyway? It seems so dangerous. Jay: Well, some people called the Hindenburg "man's greatest achievement in flight." They thought it was safe, I guess. Elise: Who rode in it anyway? Jay: Mostly wealthy people. It accommodated between 30 and 40 passengers and crew. One person said it was like a "flying hotel." Eise: It sounds pretty great. Jay: Yeah, and it was fast. That's why people rode it. They wanted to get to their destination faster. Elise: Why didn't they just take a jet plane? Jay: Elise! You know they didn't have jets back then. Look, in 1934 it took five days to travel from Germany to the U.S. by ship. The zeppelin could do it in half that time. It was speedy. Elise: Well, maybe I'll sit down and watch a little bit. Maybe I'll learn something ... Tr a ck 4-1-O L-2 B. Listen again. How was the zeppelin described? Check your answers. Track 4-1-OL-3 A. Listen to the conversation and check the correct picture. Jack: I think we should buy a bigger car. Big cars are safer. Kayla: Yes, but on the other hand, they consume more oil. Jack: They also look really cool. Kayla: That's true, but there are some SUVs which are not big but also very beautiful. Jack: And 1 think big cars are more fun to drive. Kayla: But then again, it's very expensive. Jack: Well, let's get more information about several kinds of cars, okay? T r a c k4-1-O L-4 Listen to another person talking about famous buildings in his country and fill in the blanks with information you hear. My country has two very famous buildings called the Petronas Towers. The buildings are made of glass, steel, and concrete. They were designed by an American architect, but he used a Malaysian style. They were finished in 1998, and they were the tallest buildings in the world at that time. Each tower has 88 floors, and is 452 meters high. I really like the Petronas Towers. They show both the modern and the traditional side of my country. T r a c k4-1-O L-5 A. Listen to a talk on controversies about modern buildings. Then fill in the blanks to complete the sentences. Modern buildings: We love them, We hate them The world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris is almost 500 years old, and it faced a very modern problem: There simply wasn't enough space for six million visitors each year. In 1989, American architect I.M. Pei designed a striking glass pyramid in the building's center to be a visitor entrance and shopping arcade. But he also started an angry debate. Some people felt his glass building was a piece of art, like the ones inside the museum. Others said it was just an ugly, modern mistake. Kyoto, Japan, is the country's ancient capital, and the heart of its culture. Its railroad station was too small for the millions of visitors. In 1997, the city completed a new station in a huge shopping center, right in the oldest part of the city. Designed by Hiroshi Hara, the building also contains a hotel and department store. Before it was built, critics said that the high, wide, modern building would destroy the city's traditional look. On the other hand, supporters said it would bring new life into the city center. Track 4-1-OL-6
Directions: In this section, you will hear several conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversations and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. A: How are you getting along, Julie B: After the vacation Much refreshed. A．It is interesting. B．It is tiring. C．It is exciting. D．It is refreshing. A: Why are you so cheerful while I'm so stressed all day B: Well, you should work off your stress. A．work not so hard B．work on easier problems C．eat healthy D．get rid of her stress I see you laughing all the time. B: Oh Eric. I'm ... reading a comic book. A: Comic book I didn't know you are interested in it. B: Well, it's a recent interest. When I was low in spirit three months ago, a friend gave me a comic book to read. And I became instantly addicted to such books. You know ... the pictures are so funny ... now I feel much better. A: I didn't know that. No wonder you are always in good spirits these days. B: Yes, and maybe you should read them, too, Eric. A: I ... I don't know. I'm just too busy with my thesis. It's for my master's degree and time is running out ... Ah, pretty much stress on me. B: Now you see Eric That's why you need to give yourself a break to read something amusing. It helps, I promise. A: Really Can reading comic books reduce your stress B: Of course. I'm a living example. Actually I'm having stress too ... you know, the tests, the job, things like that. But when reading the fun stuff, I just forgot all my worries. Later I find myself more powerful to deal with the issues in my life. A: That sounds magical. I'd like to try. Er ... what are you reading now B: Garfields, the cat. It's good. There's another one and you can borrow it. A: Oh, thank you, Penny. You're very helpful. Questions 3 to 5 are based on the conversation you have just heard. months ago, a friend gave Penny _____ when she was in low spirits. （岭师分享群4发布） A．a flower B．a comic book C．a comic DVD