2008年11月22日托福听力真题

2008年专四听力答案PART I DICTATIONChoosing a CareerWhen students graduate from college, / many of them do not know how they want to spend their working lives, / and they sometimes move from job to job / until they find something that suits them / and of equal importance to which they are suited. Others never find a job in which they are really happy. / They remain all their lives square pegs in round holes. /When we choose our careers, we need to ask ourselves two questions. / First, what do we think we would like to be?/ Second, what kind of people are we? / The idea, for example, of being a painter or a musician may seem very attractive, / but unless we have great talent and are willing to work very hard, / we are certain to fail in these occupations, / and failure will lead to unhappiness in life. /So it is important to assess our suitability for a certain career in job search.PART ⅡLISTENING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A CONVERSATIONSQuestions I to 3 are based on the following conversation.M: Is that Anne Shaw?W:Yes, speaking?M: Hello, it is Eric from London.W: Hello, Eric. How can I help you?M;l'm fixing up on next project team meeting, and I just want to check some possible dates with you,W: Fine, let me just get my diary. Ok, which dates are you looking at?M: I've spoken to the others, (1) and they prefer either the third week of May or the second week of June.W: Yeah, (1) both of the weeks are pretty clear at the moment except for the 11th of June.M: Right, I've got that.W:So where is the meeting taking place this time?M: (2)lt was going to be in London. But I spoke to Carlos in Mexico City, and he suggested Chicago. He thinks it will be more convenient for most of the team.W:(2)He's probably right. It'll certainly be much easier for me as well. Because I can fly from Toronto, and I'm sure you can find a meeting room somewhere near the airport.M:(2) That's a good idea. I'll check up some hotels in that area and get back to you towards the end of the week.W: Fine, but I'm not in the office on Friday.M: Ok, (3) I'll call you later in the afternoon on Thursday.W:No problem, bye.Key:1.A 2. D 3.AQuestions 4 to 6 are based on the following conversation.M: We are having a debate on advertising Thursday evening, and I have to take part. W: That's interesting. I should like to hear what people think about advertising.M: What's there to say? We must have advertising, mustn't we?W:Why?M: Well, we wouldn't know what there was to buy if we didn't have advertisements. W: Yes, that's true. Up to a point, advertisements provide information that we need. If someone has produced a new article, naturally, the seller wants to tell us about it.M:Yes, and the advertisements tell us which product is the best.W:Do they? I don't think so. (4) Every manufacturer says that his product is the best, or at least tries to give the impression. Only one can be the best, so the others are misleading, aren't they?M: Well, in a way, I suppose, but we don't have to believe them, do we?W:Are you saying that advertisements aren't effective? I don't think that intelligent businessmen will spend millions of dollars on advertising if nobody believes the advertisements, do you?M: Perhaps not, but after all, it's their money that they are spending.W: (5) Is it? I think not. The cost of advertising is added to the price of the article. You and I and all the other people who buy the article pay for the advertising.M: Well, I suppose we get something for our money, some information.W:Yes, (6)but don't forget it is often misleading information, and sometimes harmful. M: Harmful?W:What about the advertisements designed to persuade young people to smoke cigarettes? Wouldn't you say they are harmful?M: You've given me a lot to think about. I'm quite looking forward to the debate now. Key: 4.D 5.B 6.DQuestions 7 to 10 are based on the following conversation.W:So Mr. Brown, this is your bed, and as you can see, there are three other beds in the ward. Have you got everything you need?M: Yes, nurse, I think so. (7) I followed the hospital's advice, and I've only brought a few belongings with me.W: Good, you can see the reasons why we ask you to do that, (7)the cupboard is really very small.M:Yes. Nurse, can you tell roe what the visiting hours are?W:Yes, of course. (8) They are in the afternoon from 2:30 to 4:30 and in the evening from 7:00 to 8:00, but remember that only two people can see you at the same .time. M:l see. What other rules are there?W:Yes. We start pretty early. (9) We wake you at 6 o'clock, and breakfast is at 8 o'clock, lunch is at noon, there is tea at 3 :30, and supper is at 6 o'clock.M:0h, that's very different from what I have been used to. You'd better tell me the rest of the rules here.W:Yes. Well, you can see the no smoking sign. (9)We don't allow smoking in the wards, and the same goes for alcohol. However, if you do need to smoke, there are special lounges.M: Oh, I don't smoke, so it doesn't affect me.W:Good.Key: 7.A 8.C 9.C 10.ASECTION B PASSAGESQuestions II to 13 are based on the following passage.In my opinion, the most important thing when choosing a hotel for an international conference is the meeting room or rooms. (11) For example, you may need a large room where everyone can be together for keynote speeches or presentations, and smaller meeting rooms for informal group discussions. Then, if people are coming from different countries, you need to find out about the rooms for them to stay in. (13) They should be spacious and comfortable, and have facilities for using email and laptops, as people have to keep in touch with their offices or headquarters even when they are away.(12)My next point is facilities for hotel 'guests, things like a bar, a good quality restaurant, preferably offering local food and fitness and sport centers. These are important, because delegates need to be able to relax after a long day of meet-ings and get to know each other in informal situations.Finally, for an international conference where delegates are coming from different countries, it can be very useful to choose a hotel that (13) has good transport connections with the nearest airport and all places of interest. This can save everybody a lot of time.Key: 11.D 12.B 13.BQuestions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage.(17) Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It's a great pleasure that I welcome you to the new Museum of Industrial and Rural life. (14) The museum provides us with a unique historical record of industrial and agricultural life in the area. Here, you find a wonderful collectiop of industrial and agricultural exhibits. Some of them date back 200 years which reflect the history of our area over the last two centuries. Until recently, the area was mainly agricultural, and the world industries and traditions were all associated with agriculture. The museum's collections bring this heritage back to life, with the fascinating blend of working and static displays. From early times, good communications with the rest of the country have lead to the industrial prosperity for the area. One example of such communications was (15) the Roman Road, Portsmouth Street which passed nearby. Later, canals came to bring new prosperity, and then the railways. Good transport systems encouraged local industries, especially those related to agriculture, and the museum has collections of national significance from many of these.Local people, too, have changed the history, and the museum will introduce you to these and other local celebrities. (16) The displays with all items collected locallyshow what local life used to be like. Many displays of local items are in context and show, for example printer's and cobbler's workshops. Whatever you are interested, we hope the museum will have something for you.Key: 14.C 15.A 16.D 17.BQuestions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage.Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you very much for inviting me here to talk about safety in dormitory and personal security.First, a few points to bear in mind. You'll notice the doors of your dorm have two types of locks, a Yale lock and a Chubb lock. Make sure you double (18) lock your door, not just one lock, both of them, however long you are going out for. Make sure when you go out, all the windows are closed. Those of you in the ground and first-floor rooms will notice that you are locking windows, make sure you use them. Lock them every time you go out; (18) lock them at night. If you have got expensive equipmenis in your room, first of all, insure it. So many people lose things and haven't got insurance. Make sure you insure it.This brings me onto personal security. Wherever possible, avoid working alone late at night, especially girl students. Avoid dark streets, and try to stick to the well-lit streets whenever possible. (19) Also if you know you are going to be up late, make sure you've got enough money for a taxi to get home again, or arrange to stay with friends for the night. It may sound absurd, but don't forget the university actually offers free self-defense classes. I hope it something you'd never have to use, but (20)it certainly was going along to a few self-defense sessions.Key: 18.D 19.B 20.ASECTION C NEW BROADCASTNews Item IThe New Year celebration in Thailand was shattered by violence, (21) when 9 bombs exploded across Bangkok around midnight. Three Thai citizens were killed and more than 30 injured. No terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombings by Tuesday. Some believe the explosions were the work of Muslim separatists. Bombings and shootings occur almost daily in Thailand's three southernmost provinces: Yala, Narathiwat and Purtonia have a dominant Muslim population and have long complained of neglect and discrimination in the largely Buddhist nation. (22) They have asked for independence and a separate Islamic state. Since 2004, the insurgences have carried out numerous attacks in the south, and more than I , 900 people have been killed. The Thai government has been unable to curb the violence, though thousands of troops have been sent to the south.Key：21.D 22.ANews Item 2U, S. President George W. Bush will layout his new policy for Iraq Wednesday night in a TV speech. However, some details of the policy have been leaked to themedia.National oil law: a date is to be announced for the release of a national oil law in Iraq. (23) The law will give the Iraqicentral government the power to distribute current and future oil revenues to provinces and regions, based on their population size. The achievement of a fair distribution of oil revenue is seen as a corner stone of Iraqi security.More troops.-the U. S. now has 132 000 troops in Iraq. The number will temporarily be increased by 20 000. A renewed construction package costing up to I billion U. S. dollars is also to be announced. (24) The money is to help create jobs and boost the Iraqi economy. Young Iraqis are to be encouraged to participate in the country's reconstruction by cleaning the streets and repairing schools.Key：23.C 24.BNews Item 3A joint committee will soon seek further cooperation between Egypt and Spain in(25) industry, trade, investment and science and technology. (26) Egyptian economic sources said the two sides will discuss the possibility of setting up a joint business council when the Egyptian-Spanish Higher Committee meets in the first half of September in Madrid, Spain. The business council is aimed at balancing bilateral trade by expanding trade volume.Key：25.A 26.DNews Item 4(27) "Japanese teenage women have grown increasinsly violent in the last 20 years. " A criminologist said yesterday." The ratio of women in their teens inflicting bodily injury has risen to more than 20 per 100,000 of the total Japanese population , more than 7 times the level 20 years ago, " said Jinsuki Kajiyama, a professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology." Japanese males have shifted increasingly to aggression previously linked with women, such as bullying others by excluding them from conversation, " he said.Key：27.C 28. BNews Item 5Despite reports of intimidation, (28) Zimbabweans swarmed to polling stations on the final day of voting in the most competitive parliamentary election in Zimbabwe's history. On the first day of voting, lines of hundreds of voters sneaked around some of the country's 4,000 polling stations. A total of 120 seats were being contested, and Mugabe appoints another 30 law makers giving him and his party a built-in advantage.Key: 28. BNews Item 6"About 40,000 Indian telecom workers called off their work to rule yesterday after reaching an agreement with the government" , officials and union leaders said. The employees of the department of telecommunication services launched their actionon Friday (29) in protest against plans to covert the department into a company, and the recent appointment of a nontechnical official as a department head. ( 30 ) Banks, major companies and long-distance customers were hit by the work to rule which involves obeying minor regulations only so as to slow down the workflow.Key：29.B 30.D。

托福听力TPO22原文Conversation1下面就让小编来为大家介绍一下托福听力TPO22原文中Conversation1的文本内容吧，大家要好好把握，这些都是非常有价值的材料，同时，大家也可以登录前程百利论坛进行TPO练习辅导，希望能够给准备托福听力的同学带来帮助。

TPO22Conversation1Student：Hi,I am sorry to bother you,but…Faculty advisor：Yes?Student：This is about the newspaper.Faculty Advisor：Oh,Ok.Well.I am only the advisor;the newspaper office is off campus on Pine Street.Eh…what was it?Did you want to work for the paper?We are always looking for writers.Student：Well,my problem was with the writing actually,with an article that was published in yesterday’s newspaper.Faculty Advisor：Oh?Which one?Student：The one about the student government and its president Sally Smith.Faculty Advisor：Is this something to do with what the editor wrote about the statue?Eh,the statue at the main entrance of the university?Student：Well,that’s part of it.But you know,the editor used the situation to say some really unfair things,about the student government,and the president Sally Smith in particular.I think the paper should publish a retraction,or at the very least an apology to Sally.Faculty Advisor：Ok.Um…if I remember correctly,what you are referring to wasn’t a news story,but an editorial,right?Eh,it was on the opinion page,it was signed by one of the editors,and was clearly labeled as commentary.Student：Well,yes.But the thing about the statue,Sally made this simple comment that was in really bad condition and should be replaced.And,well,the tone in the editorial was demeaning.It accused her of not respecting the past and it had some personal stuff that seemed unnecessary.Faculty Advisor：Wait a minute.Remind me.Student：Well,you know,it implied that Sally doesn’t know much about the university’s history and it called her a big city politician because she’s from Boston.It’s just mean-spirited,isn’t it?Faculty Advisor：Haven’t you heard the saying“all publicity is good publicity”?Student：Well…Faculty Advisor：I’d say the article is bringing attention to the student government organization,which is pretty invisible.Eh,you rarely hear about what the student government is doing.Student：But this article…Faculty Advisor：And the piece,well,yeah,it had a bit of an exaggerated tone.It was satirical,or at least it was meant to be.It wasn’t just poking fun at Sally,but the whole idea that our school is sort of rural, and you know,not cosmopolitan.Student：Well,none of us thought it was very funny.Faculty Advisor：Well,sometimes it’s best just to roll with it.It is just a cliché;everybody knows it is not true.Student：But I thought we could expect better than that here.Faculty Advisor：Well,I am certainly in favor of getting a variety of viewpoints.[so why don’t you go talk to the editor,Jennifer Hamilton,and tell her you want equal time?You or Sally could write a response.Student：Really?She would let us do that?]Didn’t she write it?Faculty Advisor：I’ll let Jennifer know you are coming,she feels the same way I do.She is journalism major.She would be happy to publish another point of view.译文：学生：嗨，不好意思打扰了，但...指导教师：怎么了?学生：是关于校刊的事情。

TOEFL学习资料听力08(10)39. What does the speaker mainly discuss?40. What is the purpose of the talk?41. What did the Hohokam do with their pottery?42. What does the speaker say about the way the Hohokam pottery was made?43---45 A talk in an American history class.I'm going to introduce two current points of view about the motivation for writing the United StatesConstitution back in 1787. The first one is called the idealist view. The idealists basically believe that thewriters of the Constitution were motivated by ideas. Which ideas? The ideas of the revolutionary war, such as liberty and democracy. The idealists remind that the young country had a lot of problems: an economicdepression, a large war debts, lawlessness and trade barriers between the states. They argue that therepresentatives needed to control these problems in order for the United States to survive. The other point of view is the economic view. The economic view is that the writers of the Constitution were concerned about their own financial interests. According to them most people were living wealth for the wealthiest people were afraid of losing their money. The writers wanted a strong central government that would promote trade protect private property and perhaps most of all collect taxes to pay off the United States' large war debts. Because a number of those who wrote the constitution had loaned money to the government during the revolution. Which view is correct? Well , historians who wrote during the calm and prosperous 1950s found reasons to believe the idealist view. Those who wrote during the trouble of 1960s found support for the economic view point. I'd say that neither view is complete, both the idealist and the economic perspective contribute a part to the whole picture.43. what is the talk mainly about?44. According to the economic view, who benefited the most from the new Constitution?45. What can be inferred about the views of the historians?46---50 Part of a speech on birds by a biologist.Many egg-laying animals merely lay their eggs and leave. Turtles for instance, the eggs hatch on their own. The current theory about birds is that the earliest birds did just that when they were cold-blooded creatures living in warm places. However when they became warm-blooded creatures living in cold places they had to remain on the eggs to keep them warm. The process we call incubation. For this they needed a place --- a nest. Very likely the first nests were just primitive depressions scrape into the ground. Even now many species still lay eggs in this sort of crude nests. In fact every spring a mother killdeer lays her in some pebbles along the edge of the parking lot just outside this building. Primitive nests on the ground were fine for some birds but others began to elevate their nests in branches perhaps to avoid predators. These early elevated nests were probably loose platf nest, you know, like a robin's nest.46. What is the main topic of the talk?47. What evolutionary change in birds led to nest building?48. According to the speaker, where were the first bird's nests located?49. What is the killdeer's nest in parking lot an example of?50.According to the speaker, what is a possible reason that birds began to build nests in trees?Key: CBCCB CCBCA ABBCD DDDBA BDCBA DBCBC BDBADBCDCB BADBC CBAAA【。

2008英语试题及答案一、听力理解（共20分）1. What is the woman going to do this evening?A. Visit her parents.B. Go to the cinema.C. Do some shopping.2. How much will the man pay for the tickets?A. $20.B. $25.C. $30.3. What time does the train leave?A. At 6:15 a.m.B. At 7:15 a.m.C. At 8:15 a.m.4. Where are the speakers?A. In a restaurant.B. At a bank.C. In a library.5. What does the woman mean?A. She doesn't like the gift.B. She thinks the gift is too expensive.C. She wants to buy something else.二、阅读理解（共30分）Passage 16. What is the main idea of the passage?A. The importance of sleep.B. The effects of sleep deprivation.C. The benefits of taking naps.7. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a sign of sleep deprivation?A. Difficulty in concentrating.B. Frequent mood swings.C. Increased appetite.8. What does the author suggest to improve sleep quality?A. Taking naps during the day.B. Reducing caffeine intake.C. Exercising before bedtime.Passage 29. What is the purpose of the article?A. To introduce a new technology.B. To discuss the impact of technology on employment.C. To predict the future of technology.10. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a benefit of automation?A. Increased productivity.B. Reduced labor costs.C. Improved job satisfaction.11. What does the author think about the future of employment?A. It will be significantly affected by automation.B. It will remain largely unchanged.C. It will be completely replaced by machines.Passage 312. What is the author's opinion about the new policy?A. It is too restrictive.B. It is necessary for the environment.C. It will have a negative impact on the economy.13. What is the main reason for implementing the policy?A. To reduce traffic congestion.B. To improve air quality.C. To encourage public transportation.14. How does the author suggest the policy could be improved?A. By providing more public transportation options.B. By allowing exceptions for certain vehicles.C. By offering financial incentives for carpooling.三、完形填空（共20分）15. A. althoughB. becauseC. unless16. A. interestedB. boredC. excited17. A. decidedB. hesitatedC. refused18. A. despiteB. in spite ofC. because of19. A. leftB. arrivedC. returned20. A. worriedB. surprisedC. disappointed四、翻译（共15分）21. 随着经济的快速发展，环境污染问题日益严重。

五颗星范围考前必看：2008年8月～12月08.08.23(北美)农业革命对工业革命的影响：¨工业革命期间：第一段：农业发展：肥料使用，从事农业人口减少，农场主有钱投资到工业界（有except题，农业发展有哪些方面。

）第二段：人口增多，不是因为疾病被克服，是因为儿童的食物增多（有单词题conqured，选defeated）第三段：商业发展，贸易范围变为远程的（有题，问欧洲trande对工业的影响：人们开始将产品向离产地很远的地方出售）第四段：手工业分工变详细，提高了效率。

将工业制造每一步都分别交给熟练的作坊做，有个system（有题）第五段：道路，运河等修建，使得运输方便，降低了工业成本。

¨讲农业革命对工业革命的影响，讲工业化形成前的impetus（有词汇题，impetus=impuls）。

有几点。

先是外来物种还有肥料的使用使产量提高，然后人口就扩张了，并且有更多资本可以投入工业生产还有基础建设。

另一方面农业技术革新也减少了农业人口需求，所以就有了很多人力可供工业生产。

关于资本讲到了对于织厂的投资以及道路的建设。

然后交通发展了，运输成本自然下降了所以工业进一步发展。

美洲早期的挤奶文化：¨ milk animal的发展过程。

南美地区的骆驼类动物，也可以产奶,可是之前当地人却不挤奶，专家对此表示困惑，猜测原因如下：1. 这个动物除了喂自己的幼仔以外，产奶很少；有人反驳：其他牛之类的动物一开始情况也是这样，但人们想办法掌握了一些挤奶技术以后，慢慢就有产量了，又说可能是因为这个地方的的人没有看过挤奶的先例，所以自己不会挤，也没想过挤；反驳：其他地方如亚洲\欧洲／非洲也是自己发展的这种技术，而且已经使用很久了。

2. 这种动物很排斥别人来挤奶，只给自己的幼仔产奶；反驳；其他产奶动物最初也排斥，但人们想办法按着某种方向，慢慢驯服这些动物来产奶了，当然现在有些动物还是没有完全驯服，要借助幼仔才产奶；3. 当地人不挤这种奶，可能因为生奶里的一种成分对成人的消化问题有影响，引发疾病；反驳：这种成分别的地方的人一开始也会有不适应，但慢慢就适应了，而且这个地方的人也采用西班牙人的方法：母亲母乳不够时会使用这种动物的，小孩子吃得也挺好，所以当地人不是因为这个原因不挤奶。

2008年英语试题及答案TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS(2008)-GRADE EIGHTTIMELIMIT:195MINPARTI LISTENING COMPREHENSION(35 MIN)SECTION A MINI-LECTUREIn this section you will hear amini-lecture.You will hear the lectureONCE ONLY.While listening,take notes on the important points.Your notes will not be marked,but you will need them to complete agap-filling task after themini-lecture.When the lecture is over,youwill be given two minutes to check your notes,and another ten minutesto complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET e the blank sheet for note-taking.SECTION B CONVERSATIONIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY.Listen carefullyand then answer the questions that follow.Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Questions1to5are based on a conversation.At the end of the conversation you will be given10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.Now listen to the conversation.1.Mary doesn't seem to favour the idea of a new airport becauseA.the existing airports are to beC.more oil will be consumed.D.more airplanes will be purchased.2.Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Mary as a potential disadvantage?A.More people in the area.B.Noise and motorways.C.Waste of land.D.Unnecessary travel.3.Freddy has cited the following advantages for a new airport EXCEPTA.more job opportunities.B.vitality to the local economy.C.road construction,D.presence of aircrew in the area.4.Mary thinks that people don't need to do much travel nowadaysas a result ofA.less emphasis on personal contact.B.advances in modern telecommunications.C.recent changes in people's concepts.D.more potential damage to the area5.We learn from the conversation that Freddy is Mary's ideas,383A.strongly in favour ofdly in favour ofC.strongly againstdly againstSECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY.Listen carefullyand then answer the questions that follow.Mark the correct answer to each question on your coloured answer sheet.Now listen to the news.6.What is the main idea of the news item?A.A new government was formed after Sunday's elections.B.The new government intends to change the welfare system.C.The Social Democratic Party founded the welfare system.D.The Social Democratic Party was responsible for high unemployment. Questions7and8are based on the following news.At the end of the news item,you will be given20seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.7.The tapes of the Apollo-11mission were first stored inA.a ernment archives warehouse.B.a NASA ground tracking station. 384C.the Goddard Space Flight Centre.D.none of the above places.8.What does the news item say about Richard Nafzger?A.He is assigned the task to look for the tapes.B.He believes that the tapes are probably lost.C.He works in a NASA ground receiving site.D.He had asked for the tapes in the 1970s.Questions9and10are based on the following news.At the end of the news item,you will be given20seconds to answer the questions.Now listen to the news.9.The example in the news item ishave to pay huge compensations.C.that language barriers might lower the quality of treatment.D.that language barriers can result in fatal consequences.10.According to Dr.Flores, hospitals and clinicsA.have seen the need for hiring trained interpreters.B.have realized the problems of language barriers.C.have begun training their staff to be bilinguals.D.have taken steps to provide accurate diagnosis.385PART II READING COMPREHENSION(30 MIN)In this section there are four reading passages followed by a totalof20multiple-choice questions.Read the passages and then mark your answers on your coloured answer sheet TEXT AAt the age of16,Lee Hyuk Joon's life is a living hell.The South Korean 10th grader gets up at6in the morning to go to school,and studiesmost of the day until returning home at6p.m.After dinner,it's timeto hit the books again—at one of Seoul's many so-called cram schools. Lee gets back home at1in the morning, sleeps less than five hours,then repeats the routine—five days a week.It's a grueling schedule,but Lee worries that it may not be good enough to get him into a top university.Some of his classmates study even harder.country,high-school studies have gotten even more intense.That's because South Korea has conceived a newcollege-entrance system,which will beimplemented in2008.This year's10th graders will be the first group evaluated by the new admissions standard,which places more emphasis on grades in the three years of high school and less on nationwideSAT-style and other selection tests, which have traditionallydetermined which students go to the elite colleges.The change was made mostly to reduce what the government says is a growing education gap in the country: wealthy students go to the best colleges and get the best jobs, keeping the children of poorer familieson the social margins.The aim is to reduce the importance of costly tutors and cram schools,partly to help students enjoy a more normal high-school life.But the new system has had the opposite effect.Before, students didn't worry too much about their grade-point averages;thebig challenge was beating the standardized tests as high-school seniors.Now students are competing against one another over a three-year period, 386and every midterm and final test is crucial.Fretful parents are relying even more heavily on tutors and cramEducation Ministry complaining that the new admissions standard is setting students against each other. "One can succeed only when others fail,”as one parent said.Education experts say that South Korea's public secondary-school system is foundering,while private education is thriving.Accordingto critics,the country's high schools are almost uniformly mediocre—the result of an egalitarian government education policy.With the number of elite schools strictly controlled by the government,even the brightest students typically have to settle for ordinaryschools in their neighbourhoods, where the curriculum is centred on average students.To make up for the mediocrity,zealous parents send their kids to the expensive cram schools.Students in affluent southern Seoul neighbourhoods complain that the new system will hurt them the most. Nearly all Korean high schools will be weighted equally in thecollege-entrance process,and relativelyweak students in provincial schools, who may not score well on standardized tests,often compile good grade-point averages.Some universities,particularly prestigious ones,openly complain thatthey cannot select the best students under the new system because ittools as essay writing or interviews. President Roh Moo Hyun doesn't like how some colleges are trying to circumvent the new system.He recently criticized"greedy" universities that focus more on finding the best students than faying to"nurture good students".But amid the crossfire between the government and universities,the country's10th graders are feeling the stress.On online protest sites, some are calling themselves a “cursed generation”and“mice in a lab experiment”.It all seemsa touch melodramatic,but that's the South Korean school system.38711.According to the passage,the new college-entrance system isdesigned toA.require students to sit for more college-entrance tests.B.reduce the weight ofcollege-entrance tests.C.select students on their high school grades only.D.reduce the number of prospective college applicants.12.What seems to be the effect of introducing the new system?A.The system has given equal opportunities to students.B.The system has reduced the number of cram schools.C.The system has intensified competition among schools.D.The system has increased students' study load.13.According to critics,theB.insufficient number of schools:C.curriculums of average quality.D.low cost of private education.14.According to the passage,there seems to be disagreement overthe adoption of the new system between the following groups EXCEPTA.between universities and the government.388B.between school experts and the government.C.between parents and schools.D.between parents and the government.15.Which of the following adjectives best describes the author'streatment of the topic?A.Objective.B.Positive.C.Negative.D.Biased.TEXT BWilfred Emmanuel-Jones was a teenager before he saw his first cow inhis first field.Born in Jamaica,the 47-year-old grew up in inner-city Birmingham before making a career as a television producer andlaunching his own marketing agency. But deep down he always nurtured every true Englishman's dream of a rustic life,a dream that his entrepreneurial wealth has allowed him to satisfy.These days he's the owner of a thriving12-hectare farm in deepest Devon with cattle,sheepand pigs.His latest business venture: pushing his brand of Black Fanner gourmet sausages and barbecue sauces.And of how to sell it.Emmanuel-Jones joins a herd of wealthy fugitives from city life who are bringing a new commercial know-how to British farming.Britain's burgeoning farmers'markets-numbers have doubledto at least500in the last five years—swarm with specialty cheesemakers,beekeepers or organic smallholders who are redeployingthe business skills they learned in the city."Everyone in the rural community has to come to terms with the fact that things have changed."389Says Emmanuel-Jones."You can produce the best food in the world,butif you don't know how to market it,you are wasting your time.We are helping the traditionalists to move on."The emergence of the new class of superpeasants reflects some old yearnings.If the British were the first nation to industrialize,they were also the first to head back to the land."There is this romanticimage of the countryside that is particularly English,"says Alun Howkins of the University of Sussex, who reckons the population of rural England has been rising since1911. Migration into rural areas is now running at about100,000a year,and the hunger for a taste of the rural life has kept land prices buoyant even as agricultural incomes tumble. About40percent of all farmland is now sold to"lifestyle buyers"What's new about the latest returnees is their affluence and zeal forthe business of producing quality foods,if only at a micro-level.A healthy economy and surging London house prices have helped to easethe escape of the would-be rustics. The media recognize and feed the fantasy.One of the big TV hits of recent years,the"River Cottage" series,chronicled the attempts of a London chef to run his own Dorset farm.Naturally,the newcomers can't hope to match their City salaries,but many are happy to trade any loss of income for the extra job satisfaction.Who cares if there's no six-figure annual bonus when the land offers other incalculable compensations? Besides,the specialist producers can at least depend on a burgeoning market for their products.Today's eco-aware generation loves to seek out authentic ingredients."People like me may be making a difference in a small way,"Jan McCourt,a onetime investment banker now runninghis own40-hectare spread in the English Midlands stocked with rare breeds.Optimists see signs of far-reaching change:Britain isn't catching up with mainland Europe;it's leading the way.“Unlike most other countries,where artisanal food production is being eroded,here it 390is being recovered,"says food writernot an investment banker.16.Which of the following details of Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is INCORRECT?A.He was born and brought up in Birmingham.B.He used to work in the television industry.C.He is wealthy,adventurous and aspiring.D.He is now selling his own quality foods.17.Most importantly,people like Wilfred have brought totraditional British farmingA.knowledge of farming.B.knowledge of brand names.C.knowledge of lifestyle.D.knowledge of marketing,18.Which of the following does NOT contribute to the emergence ofa new class of farmers?A.Strong desire for country life.B.Longing for greater wealth,C.Influence of TV productions.D.Enthusiasm for quality food business.19.What is seen as their additional source of new income?391A.Modern tendency to buy natural foods.B.Increase in the value of land property.C.Raising and selling rare live stock. VD.Publicity as a result of media coverage.20.The sentence in the last paragraph “...Britain isn't catchingB.more authentic foods are being produced in Britain.C.the British are heading back to the countryside.D.the Europeans are showing great interest in country life.TEXT CIn Barcelona the Catalonians call them castells,but these aren't stereotypical castles in Spain.These castles are made up of human beings,not stone.The people who perform this agile feat of acrobatics are called castellers,and to see their towers take shape is to observe a marvel of human cooperation.First the castellers form what looks like a gigantic rugby scrummage. They are the foundation blocks of the castle.Behind them,other people press together,formingoutward-radiating ramparts ofinward-pushingmuscle:flying buttresses for the castle.Then sturdy but lighter castellers scramble over the backs of those at the bottom and stand, barefoot,on their shoulders—then still others,each time adding a higher"story".These human towers can rise higher than small apartment buildings:nine “stories”,35feet into the air.Then, just When it seems this towerof humanity can't defy gravity any longer,a little kid emerges from the crowd and climbs straight up to the top.Arms extended,the child392grins while waving to the cheeringbecame a world metropolis arid the Mediterranean's most dynamic city. But when you observe-them tip close, in their street clothes,at practice, you see there's nothing easy about what the castellers do-and that they are not merely reenacting anancient ritual.None of the castellers can-give a logical answer as to why they love doing this.But Victor Luna,16, touches me on the shoulder and says in English:"We do it because it's beautiful.We do it because we are Catalan."Barcelona’s mother tongue is Catalan, and to understand Barcelona,you must understand two words of Catalan:seny and rauxa.Seny pretty much translates as common sense,or the ability to make money,arrange things,and get things done.Rauxa is reminiscent of our words“raucous”and“ruckus”.What makes the castellers revealing of the city is that they embody rauxa and seny.The idea of a human castle is rauxa—it defies common sense—but to watch one going up is to see seny in action.Success is based on everyone working together to achieve a shared goal.The success of Carlos Tusquets'bank, Fibanc,shows seny at work in everyday life.The bank started as a family concern and now employs hundreds.Tusquets said it exemplifies how the economy in Barcelonais different.the rest of Spain yet essential to Spain's emergence,after centuries of repression,as a prosperous, democratic European country. Catalonia,with Barcelona as its dynamo,has turned into an economic powerhouse. Making up6percent of Spain’s territory,with a sixth of its people, it accounts for nearly a quarter of Spain's production—everything from textiles to computers—even though the rest of Spain has been enjoyingits own economic miracle.393Hand in hand with seny goes rauxa,and there's no better place to see rauxa in action than on the Ramblas, the venerable,tree-shadedboulevard that,in gentle stages, leads you from the centre of Barcelona down to the port.There are two narrow lanes each way for cars and motorbikes,but it’s the wide centre walkway that makes the Ramblasa front-row seat for Barcelona's longest running theatrical event. Plastic armchairs are set out on the sidewalk.Sit in one of them,and an attendant will come and charge you a small fee.Performance artists throng the Ramblas—stilt walkers, witches caked in charcoal dust, Elvis impersonators.But the real stars are the old women and happily playing children,millionaires on motorbikes,and pimps and women who, upon closer inspection,prove not to be.Aficionados(Fans)of Barcelona lovetold me."The balcony was on the second floor.He was naked,and he was talking into a cell phone."There you have it,Barcelona's essence.The man is naked(rauxa),but he is talking into a cell phone(seny).21.From the description in the passage,we learn thatA.all Catalonians can perform castells.B.castells require performers to stand on each other.C.people perform castells in different formations.D.in castells people have to push and pull each other.22.According to the passage,the4mplication of the performance is thatA.the Catalonians are insensible and noisy people.B.the Catalonians show more sense than is expected.394C.the Catalonians display paradoxical characteristics.D.the Catalonians think highly of team work.23.The passage cites the following examples EXCEPT__________toshow seny at work.A.development of a bankB.dynamic role in economyC.contribution to national economyparison with other regions24.In the last but two paragraph,the Ramblas is described as“afront-row seat for Barcelona’s longest running theatrical event”. What does it mean?C.The Ramblas is preferred as an important venue for the events.D.Theatrical performers like to perform on the Ramblas.25.What is the main impression of the scenes on the Ramblas?A.It is bizarre and Outlandish.B.It is of average quality.C.It is conventional and quiet.D.It is of professional standard. TEXT D395The law firm Patrick worked for before he died filed for bankruptcy protection a year after his funeral. After his death,the firm'sletterhead properly included him: Patrick nigan,1954-1992.He was listed up in the right-hand corner, just above the paralegals.Thenthe rumors got started and wouldn't stop.Before long,everyonebelieved he had taken the money and disappeared.After three months,no one on the Gulf Coast believed that he was dead.His name came offthe letterhead as the debts piled up. The remaining partners in the law firm were still together,attached unwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mortgages and the bank notes, back when they were rolling and on the verge of serious wealth.Theyhad been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits;thus the bankruptcy.Since Patrick's departure,they had tried every possibleway to divorce one another,but nothing would work.Two were ragingbrink of sobriety.He took their money.Their millions. Money they had already spent long before it arrived,as only lawyers can do.Money for their richlyrenovated office building in downtown Biloxi.Money for new homes, yachts,condos in the Caribbean.The money was on the way,approved,the papers signed,orders entered; they could see it,almost touch it when their dead partner—Patrick—snatched it at the last possiblesecond.He was dead.They buried him on February11,1992.They had consoled the widow and put his rotten name on their handsome letterhead.Yetsix weeks later,he somehow stole their money.They had brawled over who was to blame. Charles Bogan,the firm's senior partner and its iron hand,had insisted the money be wired from its source into a new account offshore, and this made sense after some discussion.It was ninety million bucks,a third of which the firm would keep,and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi, population fifty thousand.Someone at the bank would talk.Sooneveryone would know.All four vowed secrecy,even as they made plansto display as much of their new wealth as possible.There had even been 396talk of a firm jet,a six-seater. So Bogan took his share of the blame.and for this he had receivedno small amount of grief.Doug Vitrano,the litigator,had made the fateful decision to recommend Patrick as the fifth partner.The other three had agreed,and when Patrick Lanigan was added to the firm name,he had access to virtually every file in the office.Bogan, Rapley,Vitrano,Havarac,and Lanigan,Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law.A large ad in the yellow pages claimed "Specialists in Offshore Injuries." Specialists or not,like most firms they would take almost anything if the fees were lucrative.Lots of secretaries and paralegals.Big overhead,and the strongest political connections on the Coast.They were all in their mid-to late forties.Havarac had been raisedby his father on a shrimp boat.His hands were still proudly calloused, and he dreamed of choking Patrick until his neck snapped.Rapley was severely depressed and seldom left his home,where he wrote briefs ina dark office in the attic.26.What happened to the four remaining lawyers after Patrick's disappearance?A.They all wanted to divorce their wives.B.They were all heavily involved in debts.C.They were all recovering from drinking.D.They had bought new homes,yachts, etc.B.…they could see it,almost touch it when their dead partner...397C.…,attached unwillingly at the hip by the bondage of mortgages...D.…,and for this he had received no small amount of grief.28.According to the passage,what is the main cause of Patrickstealing the money?A.Patrick was made a partner of the firm.B.The partners agreed to have the money transferred.C.Patrick had access to all the files in the firm.D.Bogan decided to hire Patrick nine years earlier.29.The lawyers were described as being all the following EXCEPTA.greedy.B.extravagantC.quarrelsome.D.bad-tempered.30.Which of the following implies a contrast?A.…,and it would be impossible to hide that kind of money in Biloxi, population fifty thousand.B.They had been joint defendants in several unwinnable lawsuits;thus the bankruptcy.C.There had even been talk of a firm jet,a six-seater.D.His name came off the letterhead as the debts piled up.398PART III GENERAL KNOWLEDGE(10MIN) There are ten multiple-choice questions in this section.Choose theA.Vancouver.B.Montreal.C.TorontoD.Ottawa.32.According to the United States Constitution,the legislativepower is invested inA.the Federal Government.B.the Supreme Court.C.the Cabinet.D.the Congress.33.Which of the following is the oldest sport in the United States?A.Baseball.B.Tennis.C.Basketball.D.American football.34.The head of the executive branch in New Zealand is399A.the President.B.the Governor-General.C.the British monarch,D.the Prime Minister.35.The Canterbury Tales,acollection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury, is an important poetic workbyA.William Langland.B.Geoffrey Chaucer.C.William Shakespeare.D.Alfred Tennyson.36.Who wrote The American?A.Herman Melville.B.Nathaniel Hawthorne.C.Henry James.D.Theodore Dreiser.37.All of the following arewell-known female writers in20th400D.Muriel Spark.38.Which of the following is NOT a design feature of human language?A.Arbitrariness.B.Displacement.C.Duality.D.Diachronicity.39.What type of sentence is“Mark likes fiction,but Tim isinterested in poetry.”?A.A simple sentence.B.A coordinate sentence.C.A complex sentence.D.None of the above.40.The phenomenon that words having different meanings have the same form is calledA.hyponymy.B.synonymy.C.polysemy.D.homonymy.PART IV PROOFREADING&ERROR CORRECTION(15MIN)401Proofread the given passage on ANSWER SHEET TWO as instructed.PART V TRANSLATION(60MIN) SECTION A CHINESE TO ENGLISH Translate the underlined part of the following text into English.Write your translation on ANSWER SHEET THREE.都市寸土千金，地价炒得越来越高，今后将更高。

2008年新托福口语测试全面辅导(十)Review 11. What type of music do you like most. Include details and examples in your explanation.Various musicHip-hop (Rap music)classical musicrock music (heavy metal)pop musicTSTT---Topic: rock musicS---Supportingideas full of energy ,strong beatmetallicaworld peaceJohn Lennon give peaces a chanceMichael Jackson we are the worldrockandrolljackT---- Transition first, Also, becauseSample answer：I like all kinds of music but if I had to choose one type of music it would be rock. First, because rock music is full of energy and plays with strong beat. I am an energetic person. So that’s why I love rock music. My favorite rock musician is Metallica. Their music is so cool that I just can’t believe it. Also, rock music usually deals with the global concern like the world peace and food shortage etc.No other kind of music can function as rock music does. For example, “we are the world ”by Michael Jackson and va rious artists and “Give peaces a chance ” by John Lennon. Finally ,just because I am crazy about rock music. So my email account is rockandrolljack@. I love it so much.Review 2 (paired-choice response)2. you have agreed to visit a friend who lives about 145km away. Would you prefer to travel by car or would you take the train? Include details and examples in your explanation.TSTT---Topic: carS---Supportingideas private car comfortableCD player whateverroom to spread outtrain uncomfortable (disadvantage)Stops along the way (no way, train)T---- Transition first, Also, becauseSample answer：I prefer to drive my car. First, because my car is really comfortable. I enjoy my own personal space. When driving alone, I can listen to any radio program I like or put on my favorite CD’s. Also, I have room to spread out which I can’t do if I take a train. Like last time, I took a train. Because there stood a whole lot of people.I didn’t even have space to stand. That’s terrible. Finally, if I drive, I can stop at any beautiful place I want to take a look at. There is no way you can do this if you take a train.TSTT---Topic: trainS---Supportingideas company shortens journeytalk with anyonecheapersoaring price of gasno traffic jamsaferT---- Transition first, Also, because (two points) Sample answer：I prefer taking a train. First, because to be able to have a company will greatly shorten the distance. You know, it really takes some time to cover 145km. Also, it is much cheaper. You see, with the soaring price of oil , the price of gasoline has been nearly doubled. Traveling by train will save a lot of money. Nearly 70% of the expense you would pay if you drive your car. Finally, if I take a train, I don’t have to worry about any traffic jam. I get tired of this which happens everyday in my life. I wanna get away from this.。

2008考研英语真题一、听力理解（共四节，每小题1.5分，满分30分）第一节听下面5段对话。

每段对话后面有一个小题,从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。

听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。

每段对话仅读一遍。

听下面一段对话，回答第1-3题。

1. What are the speakers mainly talking about?A. The woman's new job.B. The man's work experience.C. The woman's interview.2. What did the man do before he went abroad?A. He was a salesman.B. He was a student.C. He was an engineer.3. Why did the man want to go abroad?A. To start his own business.B. To meet new people.C. To take up a new job.第二节听下面2段对话。

每段对话后面有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。

听每段对话前，你将有时间阅读各个小题,每小题5秒钟：听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。

每段对话读两遍。

听下面一段对话，回答第4至6题。

4. What does the woman ask the man to do?A. Accompany her to the concert.B. Buy her some concert tickets.C. Find someone to go to the concert with her.5. What did the man get for his birthday?A. A book.B. A ticket for the concert.C. A voucher for a music store.6. What does the man offer to do?A. Buy a new gift for the woman.B. Trade his gift with the woman.C. Give some money to the woman.听下面一段对话，回答第7至9题。

2008年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试(北京卷)听力试题部分第一部分听力理解(共两节，满分30分)第一节(共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分)听下面5段话。

每段对话后有一道小题，从每题所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。

听完每段对话后，你将有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。

每段对话你将听一遍。

1．What did the man win in his dream?A．A holiday.B．A new car.C．Some money.2．Will the woman come to the party?A．Maybe. B．No. C．Certainly.3．How long has the woman been an author?A．About 30 years.B．About 40 years.C．About 70 years.4．What does the woman want?A．A radio.B．Some pens.C．Some batteries.5．What is the woman doing?A．Asking for information.B．Asking for an apology.C．Asking for help.第二节(共15小题；每小题1.5分，共22.5分)听下面6段对话或独白。

每段对话或独白后有几道小题，从每题所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。

听每段对话或独白前，你将有5秒钟的时间阅读每小题。

听完后，每小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。

每段对话或独白你将听两遍。

听第6段材料，回答第6,7题。

6．How many coats does the woman want?A．25. B．30. C．50.7．What is the order number for gloves?A．P25G5. B．P26T5. C．P28D5.听第7段材料，回答第8,9题。

2008年11月9日托福听力真题Part1Conversation1Version：1、男的不能理解课上讲的"Language Poem"，跑去问教授, 教授就跟他解释, 说一般的诗人们看的时候会考虑它有什么含义, 而LP则只有字面意义, 鼓励读者自己去构架诗的意境。

2、学生问老师有关学生问老师language poem,老师先提到了一个writer’s conference,最后还推荐William的书让学生看,还说了一句There is no hidden meaning in poem.这里有考题问为什么老师这么说?学术段子：1、1816年的北美变冷, 造成农业萧条, 还提到了Thomas Jefferson的日记, 记录了这个异常气候(一开始还好, 到了6月开始下雪, 7,8月下巨狠). 解释: 1）太阳磁场变化, 被教授否了学术段子。

2）火山爆发, 印度尼西亚的火山喷出的颗粒遮蔽了太阳, 造成北美变冷2、蝴蝶生命的四个阶段, 卵, 幼虫, 蛹, 成虫, 举了个例子BROWN CULFI(好象这么拼的), 它们一年暖和的话产两次卵, 冷的话产一次, 产一次的时候成虫比较大, 然后说例外, 比如说它们有时候在蛹里会呆很久, 由于干旱, 洪水等原因Part2Conversation女的把ID卡丢了, 整个钱包也丢了, 所以还无法靠身份证件进入学生服务中心补办. 前台大叔发EMAIL问安全主管, 要求女的背出ID号, 然后到数据库里搜, 最后把女的放进去了. 一个细节: 女的饭卡也丢了, 大叔说这个你也可以在这里补办.学术段子：1、英国浪漫主义诗人William Wordsworth , 指出诗歌要反应人的内心, 反对新古典主义的浮华, 开辟了英国诗歌新纪元2、神经原和另一种神经系统的细胞"Gli..."什么, 拼写忘了, 1950s以前人们只研究神经原, 认为他们是神经系统的主导, 而后来才发现G也有很重要作用, 而不是象原先认为的那样只负责供给营养和保护神经原, 造成之前错误的原因是因为学术界认为信号都是靠电传导的, 而事实上G则是靠化学物质传导信息的.Part3Conversation女的丢了宿舍钥匙, 要补办一个, 20美圆, 下周才能拿, 于是周末要跟室友商量好免得被锁外面, 但室友要出去, 所以女的只好要求提前拿钥匙, 再加$10学术段子1、讲土地价值及开发. 最早土地富裕, 人们去一块耕一块,后来土地少了, 就开始围起来, 例证: 英国圈地运动. 当时的一个哥们(名字忘了)认为土地的价值取决于在上面的耕种放牧, 所以圈了地的人就使土地有了价值, 然后他们就有权拥有土地. 但这个是有缺陷的, 因为土地耕种会减损土地的肥沃程度, 这种时候不是增加价值反而是减少价值了2、早期电影的actually风格到讲故事的转变，及之后出现的低消费的电影院类型"Nicola"，就是说用一个臬币就能看场电影的地方, 4个细节, 一个是projector范围变广, 所有电影院都开始能放电影, 一个是1903年的火车大劫案, 成功的剧情片, 一个是外来移民由于电影无声所以都去看电影, 还经营电影行业, 还一个是当时美国市场供不应求, 欧洲电影商进入。