历年专业四级听力原文

英语专业四级历年听写真题历年英语专业四级考试听力听写原文（1994年-2008年）The American Family (1994) The concept of family life has changed considerably over the years. / In earliest times, several generations lived together in clans, / which consisted of all living descendents and their husbands or wives. / These clans were almost totallyself-sufficient, / every member contributing in some way toward the survival of the group. / The men hunted and fished for food or sometimes maintained flocks of sheep or goats. / The women baked bread and roasted the meat their men provided. / Special members of the community were selected to make products like pottery, baskets and home weapons. / But with the development of greater varieties of food, clothing and shelter, / a single clan could no longer develop all the individual skills the group required. / Clans merged into larger societies and at the same time broke into smaller units consisting of married couples and their children. / Later the Industrial Revolution brought about even more important changes in family life. / New inventions brought shorter working hours for men and easier housekeeping routines for women. / Today a productive family life suggests not the group's cooperative efforts of working together, / but the pleasant and meaningful sharing of its leisure.Unidentified Flying Objects (1995)There are many explanations for why UFOs visit the Earth. / The most popular one is that they maybe visitors from other planets./ To fly such aircraft, their builders must develop different forms of aviation,/because they seem to fly much faster than normal aircraft./ The UFOs, it is believed, must contain scientists/ from other planets who are studying life on earth./ It is even believed that several such aircraft may have landed on earth/ and the space visitors may be living amongst us./ But there are also less fantastic explanations available./ Although some sightings of UFOs are difficult to explain, most can be explained quite easily./ In many cases the observers might have made a mistake./ They might have seen a weather balloon or an aircraft./Or the light they saw in the sky might have been light from the ground,/ reflected on to the clouds./ However, the exact cause of many sightings still remained a mystery. The Indian Medicine Man (1996)Among the Indians of North America, the medicine man was a very important person. He could cure illness and he could speak to the spirits. The spirits were the supernatural forces that controlled the world. The Indians believed that bad spirits made people ill. So when people were ill, the medicine man tried to help them by using magic. He spoke to the good spirits and asked for their help. Many people were cured, because they thought the spirits were helping them, but really these people cured themselves. Sometimes your own mind is the best doctor for you. The medicine men were often successful for another reason, too. They knew about plants that really can cure illness. A lot of medicines are made from the plants that were used by medicine menhundred of years ago. Legal Age for Marriage (1997)Throughout the United States, the legal age for marriage shows some difference. The most common age without parents' consent is 18 for both females and males. However, persons who are under age in their home state can get married in another state, and then return to the home state legally married. Each state issues its own marriage license. Both residents and non-residents are qualified for such a license. The fees and ceremonies vary greatly from state to state. Most states, for instance, have a blood test requirement, but a few do not. Most states permit either a civil or religious ceremony, but a few require the ceremony to be religious. In most states a waiting period is required before the license is issued. This period is from one to five days depending on the state.A three-day-wait is the most common. In some states there is no required waiting period.The Railways in Britain (1998)The success of early railways, such as the lines between big cities,/ led to a great increase in railway building in Victorian times. / Between 1835 and 1865 about 25000 kilometers of track were built,/ and over 100 railway companies were created. /Railway travel transformed people's lives. / Trains were first designed to carry goods. / However, a law in the 19th century forced railway companies to run one cheap train a day / which stopped at every station and cost only a penny a mile. / Soon working class passengers found they could afford to travel by rail. / Cheap day excursion trains became popular and seaside resorts grew rapidly. / The railways also provided thousands of new jobs:/ building carriages, running the railways and repairing the tracks. / Railways even changed the time. / The need to run the railways on time meant that local time was abolished/ and clocks showed the same time all over the country. /United Nations Day (1999)The 24th of October is celebrated as United Nations Day. It is a day that belongs to everyone. And it is celebrated in most countries of the world. Some countries celebrate for a week instead of a day. In many parts of the world, schools have special programs for the day. Boys and girls in some communities decorate a UN tree. In other communities, young people put on plays about the UN. Some libraries exhibit children's art works from around the world. Schools celebrate with the songs and dances of other countries or give parties where foods of other countries are served. No matter how the day is celebrated, the purpose of these celebrations is to help everyone understand the UN, and the important roles it plays in world affairs. The UN encourages people to learn about other lands and their customs. In this way, people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of peoples all over the world.What we Know about Language (2000)Many things about language are a mystery and will remain so. However, we now do knowsomething about it. First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. No human race anywhere on earth is so backward that it has no language of its own at all. Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. There are many peoples whose cultures are undeveloped but the languages they speak are by no means primitive. In all the languages existing in the world today, there are complexities that must have been developed for years. Third, we know that all languages are perfectly adequate. Each is a perfect means of expressing its culture. And finally, we know that language changes over time, which is natural and normal if a language is to survive. The language which remains unchanged is nothing but dead.Characteristics of a Good Reader (2001)To improve your reading habits, you must understand the characteristics of a good reader. First, the good reader usually reads rapidly. Of course, he does not read every piece of material at the same rate. But whether he is reading a newspaper or a chapter in a physics text, his reading rate is relatively fast. He has learned to read for ideas rather than words one at a time. Next, the good reader can recognize and understand general ideas and specific details. Thus he is able to comprehend the material within a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest. Finally, the good reader has at his command several special skills, which he can apply to reading problems as they occur. For the college student, the most helpful of these skills include making use of the various aids to understanding that most textbooks provide and skim reading for a general survey.Disappearing Forests (2002)The world's forests are disappearing. As much as 1/3 of the total tree cover has been lost since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago. The remaining forests are home to half of the world's species, thus becoming the chief resource for their survival. Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet, as well as supporting at least half of the world's species of plants and animals. These rain forests are home to millions of people. But there are other demands on them. For example,much has been cut for timber. An increasing amount of forest land has been used for industrial purposes or for agricultural development such as crop-growing. By the 1990' s less than half of the earth' s original rain forests remained, and they continued to disappear at an alarming rate every year. As a result, the world's forests are now facing gradual extinction.Salmon (2003)Every year, millions of salmon swim from the ocean into the mouths of rivers and then steadily up the rivers, passing through waters, around rocks and waterfalls, the fish finally reach their original streams or lakes. They dig out nests in the riverbed and lay their eggs. Then, exhausted by their journey, the parent salmon die. They have finished the task that nature has given them. Months, or years later, the young fish start their trip to the ocean. They live in the salt water from 2-7 years, until they, too are ready to swim back to reproduce. Their life cycle helps man provide himself with a basic food-fish. When the adult salmon gather at the river mouths for the annual trip up the rivers, they are in the best possible condition, and nearly every harbor has its salmon fishing fleetready to catch thousands for markets.Money (2004)Money is accepted across the world as payment for goods or services. People use money to buy food, clothes and hundreds of other things. In the past, many different things were used as money. People on Pacific islands once exchanged shells for goods. The Chinese used cloth and knives. In Africa, elephant tusks or salt were used. Even today, some people in Africa are still paid in salt. Coins were first invented by the Chinese. Originally, they were round pieces of metal with a hole in the center, so that a piece of string could keep them together. This made doing business much easier, but people still found coins inconvenient to carry when they wanted to buy something expensive. To solve this problem, the Chinese again came up with the solution.They began to use paper money for coins. now paper notes are used throughout the world. The Wrist Watch (2005)It is generally believed that wrist watches are an exception / to the normal sequence in the evolution of man's jewelry. / Reversing the usual order, they were first worn by women, / and then adopted by men. / In the old days, queens included wrist watches among their crown jewelry. / Later, they were worn by Swiss workers and farmers. / Until World War I, Americans associated the watch with fortune hunters. / Then army officers discovered that the wrist watch was most practical for active combat. / Race car drivers also loved to wear wrist watches, / and pilots found them most useful while flying. / Soon men dared to wear wrist watches without feeling self-conscious. / By 1924, some 30 percent of man's watches were worn on the wrist. / Today, the figure is 90 percent. / And they are now worn by both men and women / for practical purposes rather than for decoration.The Internet (2006) The Internet is the most significant progress in the field of communications. / Imagine a book that never ends, a library with a million floors, / or imagine a research project with thousands of scientists / working around the clock forever. / This is the magic of the Internet. / Yet the Internet has the potential for good and bad. / One can find well-organized, information-rich websites. / At the same time, one can also find wasteful websites. / Most websites are known as different Internet applications. / These include online games, chat rooms (chatrooms) and so on. / These applications have great power, too. / Sometimes the power can be so great / that young people may easily become victims to their attraction. / So we need to recognize the seriousness of the problem. / We must work together to use its power for better ends. Advertising (2007)Advertising has already become a very specialized activity in modern times. In today’s business world, supply is usually greater than demand. There is greater competition between manufacturers of the same kind of product, because they want topersuade customers to buy their particular brand. They always have to remind their customers of the name and qualities of the products byadvertising. The manufacturer advertises in newspapers and on the radio; he sometimes employs salesgirls to distribute samples of his products; he sometimes advertises on the internet as well. In addition, he always has advertisements put into television programs that will accept them. Manufacturers often spend huge sums of money on advertisements. We buy a particular product because we think that’s the best. We usually think so because the advertisements say so, people often don’t ask themselves if the advertisements are telling the truth, when they buy advertised products from the shops.Choosing a Career （2008）When students graduate from college, many of them do not know how they want to spen d their working lives and they sometimes move from job to job, until they find somethin g that suits them and of equal importance to which they are suited. Others never find the job in which they are really happy. They remain all their lives square pegs in round hol es. 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 exam ple, 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.专业四级考试听写评分标准1. 听写共分15小节；每节1分。

英语四级听力材料原文As the original creator of the English CET-4 listening material, I am responsible for providing accurate and comprehensive content for students preparing for the English CET-4 exam. The listening section of the CET-4 exam is crucial for testing students' ability to understand spoken English and is often considered one of the more challenging parts of the exam. Therefore, the materials I provide must be of high quality and cover a wide range of topics and accents to adequately prepare students for the exam.The listening material for the English CET-4 exam consists of various recordings, including conversations, interviews, and lectures. These recordings are designed to test students' ability to comprehend English spoken at a natural pace and in different accents. As the creator of these materials, I ensure that the recordings are authentic and represent the diversity of English accents and speech patterns. This allows students to familiarize themselves with different English-speaking styles and be better prepared for the listening section of the exam.In addition to the recordings, the listening material also includes comprehension questions that test students' ability to understand the content, main ideas, and specific details of the recordings. These questions are carefully crafted to assess students' listening skills and ability to extract information from spoken English. As the creator of the material, I strive to provide questions that are challenging yet fair, allowing students to demonstrate their true listening abilities.Furthermore, the listening material covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to education, technology, environment, and social issues. By incorporating diverse topics into the material, I aim to expose students to various subject matters and help them become familiar with different vocabulary and expressions. This not only prepares students for the listening section of the CET-4 exam but also enhances their overall English language proficiency.In conclusion, as the creator of the English CET-4 listening material, I take great care in providing high-quality, diverse, and comprehensive content for students preparing forthe exam. The materials I produce are designed to help students improve their listening skills, familiarize themselves with different English accents, and prepare them for the challenges of the listening section of the exam. I am committed to supporting students in their English language learning journey and helping them achieve success in the CET-4 exam.。

21.Soils There are many different kinds of soils. Different soils have different types of rock and minerals in them. Some soils have more water in them than others. Some soils might have more plant and animal material in them, too.Different kinds of soils are found in different parts of the world. There are several kinds of soils found in the United States. In some areas, the soil has a lot of clay. Other soils are very sandy. Loam is a kind of soil that has a good mixture of clay and sand.In some places, soil layers are very thick. Lots of plants grow in places with a thick soil layer. In dry and windy places soil layers are much thinner. Layers of soil on mountains are thin because gravity pulls the soil downhill.The type of soil in a particular place affects what kinds of plants can grow there.22. Crisis Life is a contest! Who will win? A bluebird and sparrow both compete for space to build their nests. A fast-growing maple tree and slower-growing dogwood compete for the sunlight they both need. Oil competes with coal and nuclear power as an energy source for electric power plants!There is a problem. There is a limited amount of space for birds, sunlight for trees, and energy for people! If we do not cut back on our uses of some of our resources, someday they will be gone!How can we use energy today and know we will have enough to go around in the future? We can choose alternate, or replacement, energy resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources.Solar energy, wind energy and water energy arerenewable resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources.Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable. What other ways can we conserve our resources? How can we make sure there is always enough to go around?23. America’s Worst Surprise December 7, 1941 was one of the worst days in American history. Nearly all Americans who are old enough to remember that day can still remember what they were doing at the moment they heard “the news”. The news was that America had been attacked!Shortly before 2:00 P.M., a radio dispatch came into Washington from Honolulu, Hawaii. “Air Raid, Pearl Harbor—This is no drill.” Japanese planes had begun an a ttack on the largest American military base in the Pacific. They first destroyed planes on the ground. Then they bombed the ships in the harbor.No one had expected the attack. So no one was prepared for it. And it did not take long for Japanese to do their damage. When the smoke cleared, the Navy counted its losses. Eighteen ships had been sunk or badly damaged. Nearly 150 planes had been destroyed. More than 2,400 Americans had been killed and more than 1,200 wounded.24. Great Depression in the U.S.In 1929, the bills started to come in. American industry had produced too many goods. Americans could not afford to buy all of them. Sofactories had to cut down on their production. Many workers lost their jobs. Investors tried to get their money back. But businesses did not have enough money to pay them. Banks tried to get their money back from investors. But the investors could not pay, either. Too many people owed money. And few of them could pay their bills. During the next few years, business got worse and worse. By 1932, banks all over the country were closing.People without money could not buy goods. So more businesses closed. More and more people lost their jobs. By 1932, more than 12 million Americans were jobless. Millions more were earning barely enough to live on. The country was in a great depression they had never experienced before.25. A Place of Our Own We are all usually very careful when we buy something for the house. Why? Because we have to live with it for a long time. We paint a room to make it brighter, so we choose the colors carefully.We buy new curtains in order to match the newly decorated room, so they must be the right color. We move the furniture round so as to make more space—or we buy new furniture—and so on. It is an endless business.Rich or poor, we take time to furnish a room. Perhaps some people buy furniture in order to impress their friends. But most of us just want to enjoy our surroundings. We want to live as comfortably as we can afford to. We spend a large part of our lives at home. We want to make a small corner in the world which we can recognize as our own.26. Travel for WorkYou can see them in every airport in the world. They are businessmen and women who have to travel for their work.When they first applied for the job, they may have thought of good food and hotels, huge expense accounts and fashionable cities. Now they have to sit in airport lounges, tired and uncomfortable in their smart clothes, listening to the loudspeaker announce “The fight of Tokyo, or Berlin, o r New York is delayed for another two hours.” Some people say to me, “How lucky you are to be able to travel abroad in your work! You can go sightseeing without paying any money by yourself!” They think that my job is like a continual holiday. It is not.There are advantages, of course, and I do thin I am lucky, but only because I can go to places I would never visit if I wasa tourist.27.IntelligenceAre some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience?Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus,the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, held by most experts now, can be supported in a number of ways. As is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people is, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence.28. A Free Dress Every Week The temptation to steal is greater than ever before especially in large shops and people are not so honest as they once were.A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. The woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. Believe it or not, the girl “gave” her mother a free dress every week!29. Time Time is tangible. One can gain time, spend time, waste time, save time, or even kill time. Common questions in American English reveal this concrete quality as though time were a possession.“Do you have any time?”, “Can you get some time for this?”, “How much free time do you have?” The treatment of time as a possession influences the way that time is carefully divided.Generally, Americans are taught to do one thing at a time and may be uncomfortable when an activity is interrupted. In businesses, the careful scheduling of time and the separation of activities are common practices. Appointment calendars are printed with 15-,30-, and 60-minute time slots. The idea that “there is a time and p lace for everything” extends to American social life. Visitors who drop by without prior notice may interrupt their host’s personal time. Thus, calling friends on the telephone before visiting them is generally preferred to visitors’ dropping by.30. Cartoonists In a good cartoon, the artist can tell in a few lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs. The cartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader to his way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a political campaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues in Congress or at meetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplied with current materials.A clever cartoonist may cause laughter because he often uses humor in his drawings. If he is sketching a famous person, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, for instance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to widen an already broad grin. This exaggeration of a person’s characteristics is c alled caricature. Theartist uses such exaggeration to put his message across.。

The American Family (1994)The concept of family life has changed considerably over the years. /In earliest times, several generations lived together in clans, / which consisted of all living descendents and their husbands or wives. / These clans were almost totally self-sufficient, / every member contributing in some way toward the survival of the group. / The men hunted and fished for food or sometimes maintained flocks of sheep or goats. / The women baked bread and roasted the meat their men provided. / Special members of the community were selected to make products like pottery, baskets and home weapons. / But with the development of greater varieties of food, clothing and shelter, / a single clan could no longer develop all the individual skills the group required. / Clans merged into larger societies and at the same time broke into smaller units consisting of married couples and their children. / Later the Industrial Revolution brought about even more important changes in family life. / New inventions brought shorter working hours for men and easier housekeeping routines for women. / Today a productive family life suggests not the group's cooperative efforts of working together, / but the pleasant and meaningful sharing of its leisure.✧Unidentified Flying Objects (1995)There are many explanations for why UFOs visit the Earth. / The most popular one is that they maybe visitors from other planets./ To fly such aircraft, their builders must develop different forms of aviation,/because they seem to fly much faster than normal aircraft./ The UFOs, it is believed, must contain scientists/ from other planets who are studying life on earth./ It is even believed that several such aircraft may have landed on earth/ and the space visitors may be living amongst us./But there are also less fantastic explanations available./ Although some sightings of UFOs are difficult to explain, most can be explained quite easily./ In many cases the observers might have made a mistake./ They might have seen a weather balloon or an aircraft./ Or the light they saw in the sky might have been light from the ground,/ reflected on to the clouds./ However, the exact cause of many sightings still remained a mystery.✧The Indian Medicine Man (1996)Among the Indians of North America, the medicine man was a very important person. He could cure illness and he could speak to the spirits.The spirits were the supernatural forces that controlled the world. The Indians believed that bad spirits made people ill. So when people were ill,the medicine man tried to help them by using magic. He spoke to the good spirits and asked for their help. Many people were cured, because they thought the spirits were helping them, but really these people cured themselves. Sometimes your own mind is the best doctor for you. The medicine men were often successful for another reason, too. They knew about plants that really can cure illness. A lot of medicines are made from the plants that were used by medicine men hundred of years ago.✧Legal Age for Marriage (1997)Throughout the United States, the legal age for marriage shows some difference. The most common age without parents' consent is 18 for both females and males. However, persons who are under age in their homestate can get married in anotherstate, and then return to the home state legally married. Each state issues its own marriage license. Both resident sand non-residents are qualified for such a license. The fees and ceremonies vary greatly from state to state. Most states, for instance, have a blood test requirement, but a few do not. Most states permit either a civilor religious ceremony, but a few require the ceremony to be religious. In most states a waiting period is required before the license is issued. This period is from one to five days depending on the state.✧The Railways in Britain (1998)The success of early railways, such as the lines between big cities,/ led to a great increase in railway building in Victorian times. / Between 1835 and 1865 about 25000 kilometers of track were built,/ and over 100 railway companies were created. /Railway travel transformed people's lives. / Trains were first designed to carry goods. / However, a law in the 19th century forced railway companies to run one cheap train a day / which stopped at every station and cost only a penny a mile. / Soon working class passengers found they could afford to travel by rail. / Cheap day excursion trains became popular and seaside resorts grew rapidly. / The railways also provided thousands of new jobs:/ building carriages, running the railways and repairing the tracks. /Railways even changed the time. / The need to run the railways on time meant that local time was abolished/ and clocks showed the same time all over the country. /✧United Nations Day (1999)The 24th of October is celebrated as United Nations Day. It is a day that belongs to everyone. And it is celebrated in most countries of the world. Some countries celebrate for a week instead of a day. In many parts of the world, schools have special programs for the day. Boys and girls in some communities decorate a UN tree. In other communities, young people put on plays about the UN.Some libraries exhibit children's art works from around the world. Schools celebrate with the songs and dances of other countries or give parties where foods of other countries areserved. No matter how the day is celebrated, the purpose of these celebrations is to help everyone understand the UN, and the important roles it plays in world affairs. The UN encourages people to learn about other lands and their customs. In this way, people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of peoples all over the world.✧What we Know about Language (2000)Many things about language are a mystery and will remain so. However, we now do know something about it. First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. No human race anywhere on earth is so backward that it has no language of its own at all. Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. There are many peoples whose cultures are undeveloped but the languages they speak are by no means primitive. In all the languages existing in the world today, there are complexities that must have been developed for years. Third, we know that all languages are perfectly adequate. Each is a perfect means of expressing its culture. And finally, we know that language changes over time, which is natural and normal if a language is to survive.The language which remains unchanged is nothing but dead.✧Characteristics of a Good Reader (2001)To improve your reading habits, you must understand the characteristics of a good reader. First,the good reader usually reads rapidly. Of course, he does not read every piece of material at the same rate. But whether he is reading a newspaper or a chapter in a physics text, his reading rate is relatively fast. He has learned to read for ideas rather than words one at a time. Next, the good reader can recognize and understand general ideas and specific details. Thus he is able to comprehend the material within a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest. Finally, the good reader has at his command several special skills, which he can apply to reading problems as they occur. For the college student, the most helpful of these skills include making use of the various aids to understanding that most textbooks provide and skim reading for a general survey.✧Disappearing Forests (2002)The world's forests are disappearing. As much as 1/3 of the total tree cover has been lost since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago. The remaining forests are home to half of the world's species, thus becoming the chief resource for their survival. Tropical rain forests once covered12% of the land of the planet, as well as supporting at least half of the world's species of plants and animals. These rain forests are home to millions of people. But there are other demands on them. For example, much has been cut for timber. An increasing amount of forest land has been used for industrial purposes or for agricultural development such as crop-growing. By the 1990' s less than half of the earth' s original rain forests remained, and they continued to disappear at an alarming rate every year. As a result, the world's forests are now facing gradual extinction.✧Salmon (2003)Every year, millions of salmon swim from the ocean into the mouths of rivers and then steadily up the rivers, passing through waters, around rocks and waterfalls, the fish finally reach their original streams or lakes. They dig out nests in the riverbed and lay their eggs. Then, exhausted by their journey, the parent salmon die. They have finished the task that nature has given them. Months,or years later, the young fish start their trip to the ocean. They live in the salt water from 2-7 years,until they, too are ready to swim back to reproduce. Their life cycle helps man provide himself with a basic food-fish. When the adult salmon gather at the river mouths for the annual trip up the rivers, they are in the best possible condition, and nearly every harbor has its salmon fishing fleet ready to catch thousands for markets.✧Money (2004)Money is accepted across the world as payment for goods or services. People use money to buy food, clothes and hundreds of other things. In the past, many different things were used as money.People on Pacific islands once exchanged shells for goods. The Chinese used cloth and knives. In Africa, elephant tusks or salt were used. Eventoday, some people in Africa are still paid in salt.Coins were first invented by the Chinese. Originally, they were round pieces of metal with a hole in the center, so that a piece of string could keep them together. This made doing business much easier, but people still found coins inconvenient to carry when they wanted to buy something expensive. To solve this problem, the Chinese again came up with the solution. They began to use paper money for coins. now paper notes are used throughout the world.✧The Wrist Watch (2005)It is generally believed that wrist watches are an exception例外/ to the normal sequence顺序in the evolution of man's jewelry珠宝. / Reversing the usual order与通常的顺序相反, they were first worn by women, / and then adopted by men. / In the old days, queens included wrist watches among their crown王冠jewelry. /Later, they were worn by Swiss瑞士人workers and farmers. / Until World War I, Americans associated 与。

PART Ⅱ DICTATIONMoneyMoney is accepted across the world as payment for goods or services. People use money tobuy food, clothes and hundreds of other things. In the past, many different things were used as money. People on Pacific islands once exchanged shells for goods. The Chinese used cloth and knives. In Africa, elephant tusks or salt were used. Even today, some people in Africa are still paidin salt. Coins were first invented by the Chinese. Originally, they were round pieces of metal witha hole in the center, so that a piece of string could keep them together. This made doing business much easier, but people still found coins inconvenient to carry when they wanted to buy something expensive. To solve this problem, the Chinese again came up with the solution. They began to use paper money for coins. Now paper notes are used throughout the world.PART III LISTENING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A1. Lily studied drama at the university but she used to work as a policewoman. Now she is a teacher b2. May I have your attention, please? Flight 5125 scheduled to take off at 11:30 will be delayed for20 minutes. Please check-in half an hour prior to departure.3. There is a railway strike in the south region and several trains have been cancelled, however, the4. Latest reports from the northeast provinces say that at least sixteen people lost their lives in Sunday’s floods. A further nine people, mostly children are r5. John, your paper must be revised over the weekend and handed in its final form on Monday. If you have any problem, call the office directly.6. My discovery of Mary Jackson was as a matter of fact, a gift from a friend. Years ago I wasIt’s only with7. Oh! Talking about money, it’s terrible when you think how tiring the work is.8. A lot of drugs are missing from the cupboard here in this room so I think we will have to lookSECTION B9. W: Would you mind if we discussed tomorrow’s agenda before dinner this evening?r meal.M: Not at all. I certainly don’t want to talk about it during ou10. W:11. W: It’s so hot today, I can’t work.M: So do I, I’ll fall as12. W: I can’t imagine what happened to Janet.13. W: Check in here?M: Yes, can I see your flight ticket please?W: Here it is. I14. W: I heard that PICC is going to hold interviews on campus next week.M: Yeah, what day? I’d like to talk to them and drop my resume.15. W: There must be a thunderstorm in some place because the picture isn’t very sharp and thesound isn’t very clear.M: I think you’re right, they said on the radio last night that a storm was coming in from the16. W: The party will start at 6:30 but there are a lot of preparations to make and I need your help.Can I expect you at 5:00?17. M: Excuse me, I’m enrolled to take Professor Lee’s literature course 102 and I hear somechanges have been made.W: Yes, the class has been moved to the north building. Also it is now on Tuesdays and Thursdaysfrom 2 to 4 p.m., instead of being held on Monday and Friday from 2 to 3 p.M: What changes!SECTION CNews Item One (18-A court in Zimbabwe is due to deliver its verdict today in a trial of a journalist who works forthe British newspaper The Guaidian. The trial is seen as a test case for the country’s strict new media laws. Andrew Meldrum, an American w ho’s lived in Zimbabwe for over twenty years isaccused of publishing an untrue story and faces up to two years in prison if found guilty. A dozenother journalists have also been charged with offenses relating to the new laws. In court Mr.Meldrum’s defe nse argued that his story was published in Britain. It was beyond the jurisdiction ofNews Item Two (20-withdrawal Kuala Lumpur Afghanistan will play soccer at the Asian games. Mongolia’shas given the war-torn nation a confidence boost. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)announced in a statement yesterday that Afghanistan would play in the under-twenty-threeagainst Iran on Septembertournament at the games in Bussan. Afghanistan’s first match will beother teams are Qatar and Lebanon. Afghanistan was a founding member of the28. The group’sconfederation in the 1950s, before entering long periods of war and factional fighting. The chaos was largely ended after US led forces overthrew the Taliban regime last year incountry’ｓresponse to the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States. During the Soccer World Cup-Kohistani said hein June, the President of Afghanistan’s Football Aociation (AFA), Abdul Aleemhoped his country would be able to take part in theNews Item Three (22-23)The expected life span of Beijing residents has gone up to 75.5 years old, compared with 74.4years old, a decade earlier. While the death rate of middle-aged residents increased dramatically,according to recent official report. The report made public by the Beijing Disease Control andPrevention Center said the past mortality of people age between 35 to 54 years old had gone up58.5% during the past ten years, from 158 people per 100,000 in 1991 to 251 people per 100,000last year. Infant and maternal mortality rates went down 132% and 147% respectively. Healthexperts said chronic non-infectious diseases were the main causes of death covering 60% of thetotal number of deaths. The male mortality is higher than that of females and the death rateNews Item Four (24-25)Islamabad-Pakistani President, Purvez Musherof said yesterday there was no danger of thecountry going to war with neighboring India but that Pakistani forces would be ready to repel any aggression. There is no danger of war, Musherof told reporters in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. We should have confidence in ourselves. We are not sitting idle. We are prepared for everything. There should not be any misunderstanding. Tensions were raised this week as the two accused each other of links to killings in the two countries. India suspects the two gunmen who killed twenty-based Islamic militant groups. Pakistan denied any involvement in the temple massacre and police in Karachi said there were indications of India intelligence agents behind the murder of seven Christian charity workersin the city, but India rejects the charges yesterday.。

2000 年专四听力答案PART I DICTATIONWhat We Know About LanguageMany things about language are a mystery and will remain so. / However, we now do know something about it. / First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. / No human race anywhere on earth is so backward / that it has no language of its own at all. /Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. / There are many people whose cultures are undeveloped, / but the languages they speak are by no means primitive. / In all the languages existing in the world today,/ there are complexities that must have been developed for years. / Third, we know that all languages areperfectly adequate./ Each is a perfect means of expressing its culture. /And finally, we know that language changes over time, / which is natural and normal if a language is to survive. / The language which remains unchanged is nothing but dead. PART Ⅱ LISTENING COMPREHENSIONSECTION A CONVERSATIONSQuestions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation.M:Jill,have you registered with the next semester?W:Not yet, there's still something that I'm not sure. Do you know if Professor Smith's economics 102 is still available to all undergraduate students?M: No, I don't think so. Last semester I tried to register in that course but all the other people told me not to.W: Why not?M: They said that my lack of knowledge in higher mathematics might be an obstacle in understanding Professor Smith's theory.W: Really?M: (I ) Jack tqld me that Professor Smith usually uses lots of formulas inside class. So you'd better make sure that you are extremely familiar with these formulas if you are seriously considering taking his course.W:What a shame I (2)My friends all told me that Professor Smith has lots of original ideas and he really can stimulate students to think. But I don't think I have the mathematical skills to keep up with the others.M:lf you want to take the course so much, why don't you register in a course in higher mathematics first?W. But I'm afraid that I will miss Professor Smith's course when I finish the mathematics course. M: Hey, I heard that Professor Smith would give the same course in the semester that starts next fall. ( 3 ) Why don't you take a year's higher mathematics and register in economics 102 the next fall?W:That sounds a good idea.I. [ B] 推断题。

2005-2014年英语专四听写真题原文2005年The Wrist WatchIt is generally believed that wrist watches are an exception / to the normal sequence in the evolution of man's jewelry. / Reversing the usual order, they were first worn by women, / and then adopted by men. / In the old days, queens included wrist watches among their crown jewelry. / Later, they were worn by Swiss workers and farmers. / Until World War I, Americans associated the watch with fortune hunters. / Then army officers discovered that the wrist watch was most practical for active combat. / Race car drivers also loved to wear wrist watches, / and pilots found them most useful while flying. / Soon men dared to wear wrist watches without feeling self-conscious. / By 1924, some 30 percent of man's watches were worn on the wrist. / Today, the figure is 90 percent. / And they are now worn by both men and women / for practical purposes rather than for decoration.2006年The internetThe internet is the most significant progress in the field of communications.Imagine a book that never rend, a library with milion floors,or imagine a research project with thousands of sientists working around the clock forever.This is the magic of the internet.As the internet has potential for good or bad,one can find where organized information of websites.At the same time,one can also find waste for websites.Most websites are known as different internet of applications.These include online games,check rooms and so on.These applications have great power,too.Sometimes,the power can be so great.That young people may easily become victims to their attraction.So we need to recognize the seriousness of the problem.We must work togerther to use its power for better rents.2007年AdvertisingAdvertising has already become a specialized activity in modern times. In today’s business world, supply is usually greater than demand. There is great competition between manufacturers of the same kind of product because they want to persuade customers to buy their particular brand. They always have to remind their customers of the name and qualities of their products by advertising. The manufacture advertises in newspapers and on the radio. He sometimes employs sales girls to distribute samples of their products. He sometimes advertises on the Internet as well. In addition, he always has advertisements put into television programs that will accept them. Manufactures often spend huge sums of money on advertisements. We buy a particular product because we think that is the best. We usually think so because the advertisementssay so. People often don’t ask themselves if the advertisements are telling the truth when they buy advertised products from shops.2008年Choosing 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.2009年New Year’s EveFor many people in the west, New Year’s Eve is the biggest party of the year./ It’s time to get together with friends or family/ and welco me in the coming year./ New Year’s parties can take place in different places./ Some people hold a house party;/ others attend street parties,/ while somejust go for a few drinks with their friends./ Big cities have large and spectacular fireworks display s./ There is one thing that all New Year’s Eve parties have in common--- the countdown to midnight./ When the clock strikes 12, people give a loud cheer and sing songs./ It’s also popular to make a promise in the New Year./ This is called a New Year’s resolution./ Typical resolutions include giving up smoking and keeping fit./ However, the promise is often broken quite quickly/ and people are back into their bad habits within weeks or days.2010年Freshmen's WeekBritain has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to this system, it can sometimes be confusing.October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar. Universities have something called Freshmen's Week for their newcomers. It's a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life.However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect of meeting strangers in classrooms and dormitories can be worrying.Where do you start? And who should you make friends with? Which clubs and society should you join?Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you.They worry about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don't rush into anything that you'll regret for the next three years.2011年British Holidaying HabitsIn the late 1970s, air travel became affordable for the average family in the UK, and more people started travelling abroad for their summer holidays. After all, the British weather wasn’t very good, even in summer, so a lot of people left the country for a vacation.In the 1980s and 1990s, young people in the UK became wealthier on average. As a result, they started to go abroad in groups, to places such as Spain and Greece. Once they arrived at their destination, they met with other groups of young people and had one long party.British holidaying habits have begun to change, however. Climate change means that the UK now has a hotter climate, so people do not need to go overseas to find good weather. Also, going abroad is more expensive. As a result, more British people are choosing to spend their summer holidays in the UK.2012年Eco-tourismNowadays many of us try to live in a way that will damage theenvironment as little as possible. We recycle our newspapers and bottles; we take public transport to get to work; and we try to buy locally produced fruit and vegetables. And we want to take these attitudes on holiday with us. This is why alternative forms of tourism are becoming popular in the world. There are lots of names for these new forms of tourism: responsible tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, educational tourism and more.Although everyone may have a different definition, most people agree that these new forms of tourism should do the following: first, they should conserve the wildlife and culture of the area; second, they should benefit the local people; third, they should make a profit without destroying natural resources; and finally they should provide an experience that tourists want to pay for.2013年What is a dream forOne theory is that we dream to release the deep, secret desires. We do not express these desires in real life because of the rules of polite society. Another theory is that dreams allow us to solve problems that we can’t solve in real life. We go to sleep with a problem and wake up with the solution. This may be a way to use our dreams rather than a purpose of dreaming. If you believe that your dreams are important then analyzingthem may help you to focus on the problem and help you to find the solution.The modern image is that dreams are the brain’s way of cleaning up the computer’s hard disk. Dreams organize the events of the day into folders and delete what is not needed. But we all know that very little of what we dream is concerned with what happened to us that day.2014年Limiting the Growth of TechnologyThroughout history man has changed his physical environment to improve his way of life.With the tools of technology man has altered many physical features of the earth.He has transformed woodland into farmland.He has modified the face of the earth by cutting through mountains to build roads and railways.However,these changes in the physical environment have not always had beneficial results.Today,pollution of the air and water is a danger to the health of the planet.Each day thousands of tons of gases come out of vehicles.Smoke from factories pollutes the air of industrialized areas and the surrounding countryside.The air in cities is becoming increasingly unhealthy.The pollution of water is equally harmful.In the sea pollution from oil is killing a lot of sea plants and fish.It is now necessary for man to limit the growth of technology in order to survive on earth.。

英语专业四级听力材料以下是一份可能的英语专业四级听力材料：听力材料一：There's one sound that gets a big reaction from kids on a hot day, the sound of an ice-cream truck. In the hot weather, Maria McCartney has been in the mobile ice-cream business since 2005.问题：1. What kind of business is Maria McCartney in?2. When did Maria McCartney start her mobile ice-cream business?3. Why does the sound of an ice-cream truck get a big reaction from kids on a hot day?听力材料二：Woman: Good morning. Sit down, please, Mr. Johnson.Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Ma’am. Good morning.Conversation Two: Woman: Excuse me. Could I ask you some questions?Woman: I work for an advertising agency, and I’m doing some research. It’s for a new magazine for people like you.Man: OK. Man: En… Twice a week, three t imes a week?Man: Parcel Express, Good morning. How can I help you?问题：1. What does the woman want to ask the man?2. Who does the woman work for?3. What is the man's response to the woman's questions?。

英语4级听力原文For the first section of the listening test, the topic is about sustainable development. The speaker talks about the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental concerns. He provides examples of how companies are implementing green initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.In the second section, the focus shifts to technology and its impact on society. The speaker discusses the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines to govern its use. He also mentions the role of technology in revolutionizing industries such as healthcare and transportation.The third section covers the theme of globalization. The speaker explains how advances in communication and transportation have interconnected the world, leading toincreased cultural exchanges and economic integration. He highlights the benefits of free trade agreements but also acknowledges the criticisms against them, such as concerns about job loss and income inequality.In the final section, the topic is about education and lifelong learning. The speaker emphasizes the importance of acquiring new skills to adapt to a rapidly changing global economy. He encourages listeners to take advantage of online resources and continuous education programs to enhance their knowledge and stay competitive in the job market.。

历年英语四级考试听力原文历年英语四级考试听力原文精选Part III Listening ComprehensionSection AConversation 1W：Good evening, and welcome to this week’s business world, the program for and about business people. T onight we have Mr. Steven Kayne, who has just taken over and established bicycle shop. Tell us, Mr. Kayne, what made you want to run your own store?M: Well, I always loved racing bikes and fixing them. When I was working full-time as a salesman for a big company, I seldom had time to enjoy my hobby. I knew then that as soon as I had enough money to get my own business going, I’ll do it. I had my heart set on it and I didn’t let anything stand in my way. When I went down to the bank and got a business loan, I knew I’d love being my own boss. Now my time is my own. I open the store when I want and leave when I want.W: You mean you don’t keep regular hours?M: Well, the sign on my store says the hours are ten to six, but if business is slower than usual, I can just lock up and take off early.W: Have you hired any employees to work with you yet?M: Yeah, a couple of friends of mine who love biking as much as I do. They help me out a few days a week. It’s great because we play cards or just sit around and talk when there are no customers.W: Thank you, Mr. Kayne. We wish you success in your new business.Question 19-22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19.What is the woman doing?20.What did Mr. Kayne do before he took over the bicycle shop?21.Why did the man take over a bicycle shop?22.What do we learn about the people working in the shop?Conversation 2W: Well, the main activities in the region were historically steel and paper processing, I think.M: Yes, but I’m not quite sure about the status of those industries now. Could you tell us something about that?W: Yes, of course. In fact, they are less significant, but steel-related manufacturing still accounts for 44% of industrial activity. So it’s still very important. In fact, 80% of Spain’s machine tools are from the Basque Country. As for paper processing, there’s still a little. But it’s no longer what it once was in the region. So, is that clear?M: Yes, thanks.W: Now, to get back to what I was saying, there’s a lot of unemployment as well as geographical problems in the region.M: Sorry, Victoria. What do you mean by geographical problems?W: Well, what I mean is the area is very hilly, mountainous in parts. So there used to be transport problems, now though there are new train links and better roads, but it may be that some smaller towns inland remain not very well connected, is that OK? Does that make sense? When we talk about specific location suggestions for the factory, we’ll see this in more detail, so we’ll come back t o this question, OK?M: OK, right.W: So I was about to say something about the work force in the region and the level of training and education. In general, it’s very good and improving.Question 23-25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. What does the woman say about the steel-related manufacturing in the region?24. What problems hinder the region’s development?25. What will the speakers discuss later?。

四级真题听力原文及解析Four-level true test listening text and analysisIn the listening test of the four-level exam, students are required to listen to various audio recordings and answer questions based on the information they hear. This section of the exam aims to assess the students' listening comprehension skills and their ability to understand spoken English in different contexts. In this article, we will analyze a listening text from a previous four-level exam, providing a detailed discussion of the original content and additional explanations.The listening text begins with a conversation between two people, discussing their plans for the weekend. Person A suggests going to the beach, while Person B prefers staying at home and watching movies. They both present their arguments and try to convince each other to choose their preferred option. This conversation highlights the importance of effective communication and negotiation in daily life situations.Person A argues that going to the beach would be a great way to relax and enjoy the sunny weather. They mention activities such as swimming, sunbathing, and playing beach volleyball, which can all be fun and refreshing. Person B, on the other hand, believes that staying at home and watching movies would be a more comfortable and enjoyable choice. They mention the convenience of staying indoors, the availability of snacks, and the opportunity to watch their favorite movies without any distractions.This conversation reflects the common dilemma people face when making plans for leisure activities. It prompts listeners to consider their ownpreferences and the factors that influence their decision-making process. It also demonstrates the importance of considering other people's opinions and reaching a compromise.Expanding on the original content, it is important to analyze the language and expressions used in the conversation. Person A uses phrases like "It would be great to..." and "We could have so much fun." These expressions show enthusiasm and an optimistic attitude towards the proposed plan. Person B, on the other hand, uses phrases like "I'd rather..." and "I find it more enjoyable to..." These expressions indicate a preference for a different option and a desire for comfort.Furthermore, the conversation invites listeners to think about the advantages and disadvantages of both options. Going to the beach allows for physical activity, exposure to nature, and social interaction with friends or family. On the other hand, staying at home and watching movies provides a relaxed and cozy environment, personal comfort, and the ability to choose preferred entertainment.To illustrate the points made in the conversation, let's consider a real-life scenario. Imagine a group of friends planning a weekend getaway. Some friends may prefer going to the beach, while others may enjoy staying in and watching movies. Through effective communication and negotiation, they can reach a consensus and find a suitable compromise, such as spending the morning at the beach and returning home for a movie night.In conclusion, the listening text from the four-level exam provides a brief conversation between two individuals discussing their plans for the weekend. By delving into the language, expressions, and underlying themesof the conversation, we can better understand the importance of effective communication and compromise in decision-making processes. Additionally, analyzing real-life scenarios can help us apply the lessons learned from this conversation to situations in our daily lives.。

Natural ResourcesThrough the changes in the ways of making a living in a family over several generations, the cartoon aims at sounding a warning against man’s wasteful use of natural resources and emphasizing the urgent need to preserve these resources.Ever since man appeared on the earth, man’s survival has been heavily dependent on nature. Almost everything we use in our everyday life comes from nature, ranging from the food we eat, the water we drink, to the wood which is turned into furniture. With the development of technology and population growth, the amount and range of materials used has increased at an alarming rate.However, natural resources are not inexhaustible. Some reserves are already on the brink of exhaustion and there is no hope of replacing them. The widespread water shortage is an example in point. If man continued to squander natural resources with no thought for the future, the whole world would be in a mess.Useful Words and Expressions:1. make a living 谋生2. aim at 瞄准3. aim high 胸怀大志4. alarming使人惊动的5. inexhaustible无穷无尽的6. squander浪费7. be in a mess 乱七八糟House and Home“House” and “home” are two words that have similar meanings.“House” and “home” both refer to places where people live. However, there is a difference between them. “Home” is often referred to as the place that we live in with our families. Sadly, in our society, people can hardly distinguish a home from a house because they often see no difference between them. This confusion can be traced back to the indifference between family members. Therefore, we can say that love is an important factor in a home. A home is a shelter, not only for our bodies but also for our minds. Whenever we are depressed, we can go home for comfort. Everyone in the family will do his best to take care of each other and share their happiness as well as sorrow. Without love, a home is merely a house where loneliness is all that can be found. And a house can never be a home unless there is love.Useful words and expressions:1. refer to 提到2. distinguish区别，辨别3. confusion混乱，混淆4. trace back 追溯到5. indifference不关心6. depressed沮丧的AutomobilesIt is impossible to say that any one man invented the automobile. Many individuals living and working in different countries and at different times contributed to its development. Many of the discoveries that went into the creation of the automobile were small in themselves. But together they were important. Here are two examples.“Carriage is running at a speed of 8 to 9 miles an hour.” It was almost unheard of in those days. According to automobile historians, this was the first practical use of mechanical power to move a vehicle. After its first run, the machine reportedly burned up while the inventor and his friends were celebrating its success at a pub.Henry Ford is considered the father of modern automobiles mass production. His famous Model-T car, because of its low price, made it possible to produce cars on a large scale and his efforts made it accessible to ordinary people. Useful words and expressions:1. reportedly 据传说，据传闻2. mass production大规模生产3. on a large scale大规模地4. accessible易接近的，可到达的accessible to 与……接近The Influence of LifeIn the early times when human beings hunted and gathered food, they were not in control of their environment. They could only interact with their surroundings as the other lower animals did.When they learned to make fire, however, they became capable of altering their environment. To provide themselves with fuel, they cut down trees. They also burned clearings in forests to increase the growth of grass and to provide a greater grazing area for the wild animals that human beings fed upon. This development led to farming and the domestication of animals. Fire provided the means for cooking plants which had previously been inedible. Only when the process of meeting the basic need for food reached a certain level was it possible for humans to follow other pursuits such as setting up families, forming societies and founding cities.Useful words and Expressions:1. interact with 与……组合2. clearing 空旷地3. grazing放牧，牧草4. domestication驯养，驯服5. previously先前，以前6. inedible 不能吃的，不适于食用的7. pursuit 追击8. set up 设立Population GrowthIt is well-known that there has been a drastic increase in world population. But it is probably les well-known that the extinction rate of wildlife species isexperiencing a parallel trend.Take the United States for instance. In 1990, U.S. population reached an unprecedented level of 250 million, which is approximately 250 times of that of 1800. On the other hand, wildlife species are disappearing from the country at an alarming rate. By 1990, about 70 wildlife species would never be seen in U.S. We are fully justified in declaring that the explosive population growth has had an adverse effect on the survival of wildlife species and will be a constant threat to the wildlife resources if no immediate actions are taken. Nothing has ever equaled the magnitude and speed with which the human species is altering the physical and chemical world. It has been demolishing the environment we are living in.Useful words and expressions:1. drastic 激烈的2. parallel平行的3. trend倾向4. unprecedented空前的5. magnitude大小，数量6. alter改变7. demolish毁坏Don’t give upIf we would ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere. If we would learn our lessons in school, we must be diligent and not give up whenever we come to anything difficult.We shall find many of our lessons very hard, but let us consider that the harder they are the better they will do to us if we will preserve and learn them thoroughly.But there are some among us who are ready to give up when they come to a hard example in mathematics, and say, “I can’t do this.” They never will if they feel so. “I can’t” never does anything worthwhile, but “I’ll try” accomplishes wonders.Let us remember that we shall meet with difficulties all through life. They are in the pathway of everyone. If we will only try and keep trying, we shall be sure to conquer and overcome very difficulty we meet.Our ConcernThe history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings. To a large extent, the physical form and the habits of the earth’s vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Only in the present century has one species of man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.The rapidity of change follows the pace of man rather than the pace of nature. Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man’s tampering with the atom. The chemicals are the creations of man’s inventive mind, having no counterparts in nature.We have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals into the hands ofpersons largely ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons, without their consent and often without their knowledge. We have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern.Useful Words and Expressions:1. interaction交互作用，交感2. vegetation 植被3. mold塑造，浇铸4. species种类5. unnatural 不自然的6. temper with 损害，影响7. counterpart配对物8. poisonous有毒的9. potent 有力的，有效的10. consent同意，赞成SleepWhy is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired? There is no one answer that applies to every individual. It is possible to feel “tired” physicallyand still be unable to fall asleep, because while your body may be exhausted, you do not feel sleepy. It is not so easy to simply “turn off”.Lack of sleep complicates matters even more. Experts say adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night to function properly. When you get less sleep than that on consecutive three nights, you begin to accrue four “sleep debt”. As sleep debt increases your body experiences a stress response. Now a vicious cycle has been created: You experience the feeling of being more and more tired, but your body is increasingly stimulated. “Power sleeping” for more hours on weekends is only a temporary solution. There is no substitute for getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.Useful Words and Expressions:1. overtire 使过度疲劳2. apply to 将……应用于3. consecutive 连续的，连贯的4. accrue 自然增加，产生5. vicious恶的vicious cycle 恶性循环6. stimulate刺激，激励7. substitute for 代替……，替换……Apology HelpsIt is never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how often you have judged roughly, you said unkind things, and pushed yourself ahead at theexpense of a friend. Then count the occasions when you indicated clearly and truly that you were so sorry. A bit frightening, isn’t it? It is frightening, isn’t it? It is frightening because some deep wisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is disturbed; and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and regret expressed.A heartfelt apology can not only heal a damaged relationship but also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or judged too roughly, or just neglected, do something about it right now.Useful Words and Expressions:1. push ahead 捉紧进行2. at the expense of 在损害……的情况下3. mysterious神秘的4. moral 道德的5. disturbed扰乱的6. stay out of 不参与……，置身于……之外7. heartfelt衷心的，真心真意的8. roughly粗糙地，概略地How High Can You Jump?Fleas trainers have observed a strange habit of fleas while training them. Fleas are trained by putting them in a cardboard box with a top on it. The fleaswill jump up and hit the top of the cardboard box over and over and over again. As you watch them jump and hit the lid, something very interesting becomes obvious. The fleas continue to jump, but they are no longer jumping high enough to hit the top.When you take off the lid, the fleas continue to jump, but they will not jump out of the box. They will not jump out because they cannot jump out. Why? The reason is simple. They have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high, that is all they can do!Many times, people do the same thing. They restrict themselves and never reach their potential. Just like the fleas, they fail to jump higher, thinking they are doing al they can do.Useful Words and Expressions:1. cardboard纸板2. lid盖子3. conditioned 有条件的，习惯于……的4. restrict限制，约束be restricted within narrow limits 限于狭窄的范围内be restricted in one’s movements 行动受限制。

可编辑修改精选全文完整版Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversationsand 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both of the conversation 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. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the center. Now let’s begin with the 4eight short conversations.1. M: I hear you have got a role in a play. How on earth did you get it? W: Well, when I heard the role was coming up, I read the book until I could learn the lines by heart and understood the character, and I had an interview and got it.Q: How did the woman get the role in the play?2. W: You seem to have had perfect health all your life.M: Yeah. I don’t remember ever having to see a doctor. I eat healthy food and take plenty of exercise. Most of all, I look at the sunny side even when things aren’t going so well.Q: What is the most important reason for the man’s perfect health?3. M: Susan, how long have we known each other?W: Let’s see. We met when you interviewed me for a teaching job. I wasthen in my senior year at college, and it has already been eight years since I graduated.Q: What can we learn from the conversation?4. W: It seems my pet dog doesn’t like the new place. He seemed to be happy all day in the countryside.M: Just ignore it. I still remember you were unhappy when you first moved here, but you are happy now. He is sure to overcome in a week or two.Q: What should the woman do according to the man?5. M: You said you got a bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Where did you get it?W: From Iowa State University. And I’m now working on my master’s. That’s part of the reason I applied for this position.Q: What can we learn about the woman?6. W: Do you daydream? Scientists recently say its advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.M: Even if it is true, I don’t think you can achieve success without hard work. It can at most make you feel happy.Q: What does the man probably agree with?7. M: Did you see the Oscar ceremony last night? It was also a fashion show when the stars stepped onto the red carpet. There were all types of fancy gowns and dresses.W: That is a great help for you and I believe you will be inspired by the show.Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?8. W: You are late again. Haven’t I told you that you should be away from home half an hour earlier?M: I’m sorry. I did do that and the traffic is OK, but I can’t do nothing in my car when I saw an old man in need of help.Q: What accounts for the man’s being late?Now you will hear the two long conversations.Conversation OneW: Tom, I suppose you must have heard about that great piece of concrete falling onto a car in that terrible accident in South Street yesterday, haven't you?M: Yes, I saw it in the paper. From a 200-foot-high building, wasn't it? W: Oh, yes. I saw the car; it was totally damaged.M: You usually park your car around there, don't you, Brenda?W: Yes, I left it in that very spot a couple of days ago, but yesterday it was parked up the road.M: You are lucky then.W: Out of luck, you mean! I'd be very pleased if my old car were smashed to bits. I could claim from the insurance company then.M: But you used to be so proud of your car, weren't you?W: It was years ago, but now there are all sorts of repairs to be done, and I just haven't got enough spare cash to put it right.M: You can always sell it, can't you?W: Few people are stupid enough to buy a car in that condition.M: The woman whose car was crushed yesterday was very annoyed about it. She will be given a new car by the builders, though.W: Yes, but her car was a specially built model that can't be replaced, and there was hardly anything wrong with it.M: Well, that's life! When people actually want to get rid of their cars, this sort of thing seldom happens, does it?Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. What happened in South Street yesterday?10. Why does the woman consider herself unlucky in terms of yesterday's accident?11. How did the owner feel when she knew her car was crushed? Conversation TwoW: Good morning, sir. I understand that you have been robbed.M: I certainly have.W: When did that happen?M: About two hours ago.W: Why didn't you report it?M: I couldn't. I was bound.W: Please tell me exactly what happened.M: I was sitting in this room watching television when someone knocked on the door. Without thinking, I opened it.W: That wasn't very wise, sir.M: I know. I was expecting my wife, you see, and thought it was her.W: You should never open a door without looking to see who it is.M: Yes, I know, I regret it very much.W: What happened?M: Two men pushed into the flat. One of them threatened me with a knife while the other bound me.W: Can you remember what they look like?M: I'm afraid not. They were both wearing stockings over their faces. W: What did they take?M: My wallet, with $300 in it, my wristwatch, some of my wife's jewelry from our bedroom, and a silver photo frame.W: They don't seem to have done much damage to the flat.M: No. They had just begun to search my house when the dogs next door began to bark. They ran off then leaving me bound. It was some time before my wife returned and released me. I phoned the police at once.W: My men began searching the area as soon as we received your call. I can't promise you that we'll recover your property but we'll certainly doour best.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. What does the woman do?13. Why did the man open the door without thinking?14. Why can't the man remember what the robbers look like?15. Why did the robbers leave in a hurry?Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages, at the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the center.Passage OneOld age may not sound exciting. But recent findings offer good news for older people and for people worried about getting older. Researchers found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of 50. In fact, they say by the age of 85, people are happier with their life than they were 18 years old. The findings came from a survey of more than 340 000 adults in the United States. The researchers asked questions about emotions like happiness, sadness and worry. They also asked about mental or emotional stress. Arthur Stone in theDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of 22 and 25. The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their 50s. Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early 70s. The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their 70s and 80s. The study also showed that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men. The findings appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older. One theory proposed by some sociologists is that, as people grow older, they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. What does the speaker say about the recent findings?17. What can be inferred about happiness from the passage?18. According to the researchers, why do people become happier when they get older?Passage TwoBarbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and member of Congress.She was well known for her powerful, thoughtful speeches. Barbara Charline Jordan was born in the southern city of Houston, Texas in 1936. Her father was a Baptist minister. In high school, Barbara heard a speech from a black woman lawyer. She decided to become a lawyer herself. Later, Miss Jordan attended the all-black college, Texas Southern University in Houston. She led a championship debating team and became known for her speaking skills. She finished at the top of her class. Then she went onto Boston University law school in Boston, Massachusetts. After she finished law school, Miss Jordan returned to Texas. She began to work as a lawyer. She also discovered she was interested in politics. In 1966, she decided to seek a seat in the Texas Senate and won. Barbara Jordan became the first black person to serve in the Texas Senate since 1883. After eight years in the Texas Senate, Miss Jordan campaigned for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. She won easily. She became the first woman and first black to be elected to Congress to represent Texas. In Congress, Miss Jordan spoke for the poor, for women, for African-Americans and Latin-Americans. She believed strongly, however, in being loyal to her state and her political party. She considered the interests of the people of Texas before those of any other group. Then, in 1977, Miss Jordan returned to Texas. Barbara Jordan began teaching about political values at the University of Texas. Her classes were so popular that students hadto be chosen from a long list.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. What's the passage mainly about?20. Why did Barbara Jordan decide to become a lawyer?21. What do we learn about Barbara Jordan when she was in Congress?22. What did Barbara Jordan do after she returned to Texas in 1977? Passage ThreeRoute 66 was once very famous in America. It has been called "The Main Street of America." The idea for Route 66 started in Oklahoma. Citizens there wanted to link their state with states to the east and west. By the 1920s, federal officials wanted to connect state roads to provide a shorter, faster way across the country. So a plan was developed to connect existing state roads into one long national highway. United States Highway 66 was established on November 11, 1926. It was one of the first federal highways. It crossed eight states. It was 3 800 km long. It passed through the center of many cities and towns. It crossed deserts, mountains, valleys and rivers. In the 1930s, people suffered through the Great Depression. In Oklahoma, many poor families lost their farms because of dust storms. So they traveled west to California on Route 66 in search of a better life. In the 1950s,holiday travel brought more and more families out West to explore. Route 66 represented the spirit of movement and excitement. Later, people were getting fewer and fewerkicks on Route 66. By 1962, parts of the road were closed because they were in poor condition. The federal government was building bigger highways. Cars and trucks could travel at higher speeds. People started driving on these new interstate highways instead of the old Route 66. Finally, in 1985, Route 66 was officially removed from the national highway system. People have formed groups to save parts of the old 66 and many of the interesting places to eat, stay and see along the way. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. What do we learn about Route 66?24. Why did Route 66 represent the spirit of movement and excitement?25. What can be inferred about Route 66 from the passage?Section C3Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Now listen to the passage. New Year in the United States is celebrated on January 1, the first day of the Gregorian Calendar. This is a federal holiday in the US. On this day, many people make resolutions to give away bad deeds and renew life with good ones. It's the time to remember the achievements and make merry for theNew Year. New Year is expected to bring good luck and charm for people and this is the reason why Americans love to celebrate it with fun and enjoyment. New Year's Eve celebration is a festival affair for the people of the US. They love to enjoy even the last minute of the going year and welcome the New Year with a blast. Midnight parties, luxury dinners, live music and the dance floors make a perfect New Year's Eve bash. Every year, a huge ball is organized at Times Square in New York City, which is watched over by large number of Americans. A minute before the New Year's Day, a brightly lighted ball is dropped slowly from the top of a pole. As soon as the ball reaches the ground, it gives a signal of New Year and everybody hugs and kisses each other wishing Happy New Year. Elsewhere, many of the New Year's parties in the US have a dress code or a theme. People cover their faces with masks. To have some merriment with the family members at the beginning of the New Year, people prefer to celebrate it at their homes. There is also a tradition to open champagne bottles as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. They unmask themselves only when the clock strikes 12. Now the passage will be read again. New Year in the United States is celebrated on January 1, the first day of the Gregorian Calendar. This is a federal holiday in the US. On this day, many people make resolutions to give away bad deeds and renew life with good ones. It's the time to remember the achievements and make merry for the New Year. New Year is expected to bring goodluck and charm for people and this is the reason why Americans love to celebrate it with fun and enjoyment. New Year's Eve celebration is a festival affair for the people of the US. They love to enjoy even the last minute of the going year and welcome the New Year with a blast. Midnight parties, luxury dinners, live music and the dance floors make a perfect New Year's Eve bash. Every year, a huge ball is organized at Times Square in New York City, which is watched over by large number of Americans. A minute before the New Year's Day, a brightly lighted ball is dropped slowly from the top of a pole. As soon as the ball reaches the ground, it gives a signal of New Year and everybody hugs and kisses each other wishing Happy New Year. Elsewhere, many of the New Year's parties in the US have a dress code or a theme. People cover their faces with masks. To have some merriment with the family members at the beginning of the New Year, people prefer to celebrate it at their homes. There is also a tradition to open champagne bottles as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. They unmask themselves only when the clock strikes 12. Now the passage will be read for the third time. New Year in the United States is celebrated on January 1, the first day of the Gregorian Calendar. This is a federal holiday in the US. On this day, many people make resolutions to give away bad deeds and renew life with good ones. It's the time to remember the achievements and make merry for the New Year. New Year is expected to bring good luck and charm forpeople and this is the reason why Americans love to celebrate it with fun and enjoyment. New Year's Eve celebration is a festival affair for the people of the US. They love to enjoy even the last minute of the going year and welcome the New Year with a blast. Midnight parties, luxury dinners, live music and the dance floors make a perfect New Year's Eve bash. Every year, a huge ball is organized at Times Square in New York City, which is watched over by large number of Americans. A minute before the New Year's Day, a brightly lighted ball is dropped slowly from the top of a pole. As soon as the ball reaches the ground, it gives a signal of New Year and everybody hugs and kisses each other wishing Happy New Year. Elsewhere, many of the New Year's parties in the US have a dress code or a theme. People cover their faces with masks. To have some merriment with the family members at the beginning of the New Year, people prefer to celebrate it at their homes. There is also a tradition to open champagne bottles as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. They unmask themselves only when the clock strikes 12.This is the end of listening comprehension.。

2000-2010年大学英语四级听力短对话文本集2010年6月四级第一部分听力Short conversations11. W: Just imagine we have to finish reading 300 pages before Monday, how can the professor expect us todo it in such a short time?M: Y eah, but what troubles me is that I can't find the book in the library or in the university bookstore.Q: what does the man mean?12. M: Do you think I could borrow your car to go grocery shopping? The supermarkets outside the city areso much cheaper. I'd also be happy to pick up anything you need.W: Wow, I don't like to let anyone else to drive my car. Tell you what, why don't we go together?Q: What does the woman mean?13. M: Forgive the mess in here. We had a party last night. There were a lot of people and they all broughtfood.W: Y eah, I can tell. Well, I guess it's pretty obvious what you'll be doing most of today.Q: What does the woman think the man will do？14. W: What time would suit you for the first round talks with John Smith?M: Well, you know my schedule. Other than this Friday, one day is as good as the next.Q: What does the man mean?15. W: I was so angry yesterday. My biology teacher did not even let me explain why I missed the field trip.He just wouldn't let me pass.M: That doesn't seem fair. I'd feel that way too if I were you.Q: What does the man imply?16. M: I really can't stand the way David controls the conversation all the time. If he's going to be at yourChristmas party, I just won't come.W: I'm sorry you feel that way. But my mother insists that he come.Q: What does the woman imply?17. W: Y ou're taking a course with Professor Johnson. What's your impression so far?M: Well, many students can hardly stay awake in his class without first drinking a cup of coffee.Q: What does the man imply?18. W: Have you ever put a computer together before?M: No, never. But I think if we follow these instructions exactly, we won't have much trouble.Q: What are the speakers going to do?长对话原文第一篇：W: What sort of hours do you work, Steve?M: Oh, I have to work very long hours, about 11 hours a day.W: What time do you start?M: I work 9 to 3. Then I start again at 5:30 and work until 11. Six days a week. So I have to work very unsocial hours.W: And do you have to work at the weekend?M: Oh, yes, that's our busiest time. I get Wednesdays off.W: What are the things you have to do, and the things you don't have to do?M: Eh, I don't have to do the washing-up, so that's good. I have to wear white and I have to keep everything in the kitchen totally clean.W: What's hard about the job?M: Y ou're standing up all the time. When we're busy, people get angry and sharp. But that's normal.W: How did you learn the profession?M: Well, I did a two year course at college. In the first year, we had to learn the basics. And then we had to take the exams.W: Was it easy to find a job?M: I wrote to about six hotels. And one of them gave me my first job. So I didn't have to wait too long.W: And what's the secret of being good at your job?M: Attention to detail and you have to love it. Y ou have to show passion for it. And what are your plans for the future?M: I want to have my own place when the time is right.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. What does the man say about his job?20. What does the man think is the hardest part of his job?21. Where did the man get his first job after graduation?22. What does the man say is important to being good at his job?长对话原文第二篇：W: Now you've seen this table of figures about the pocket money children in Britain get?M: Y es. I thought it was quite interesting, but I don't quite understand the column entitled “change”. Can you explain what it means?W: Well, I think it means the change from the year before. I'm not a mathematician, but I assume the rise from 72p to 90p, is the rise of 25%.M: Oh, yes, I see. And the inflation rate is there for comparison.W: Y es. Why do you think the rise in pocket money is often higher than inflation?M: I'm sorry, I've no idea. Perhaps parents in Britain are too generous.W: Perhaps they are. But it looks as if children were a lot better off in 2001 than they were in 2002. That's strange, isn't it? And they seemed to have been better off in 2003 than they are now. I wonder why that is.M: Y es, I don't understand that at all.W: Anyway, if you had children, how much pocket money would you give them?M: I don't know. I think I probably give them two pounds a week.W: Would you? And what would you expect them to do with it?M: Well, out of that they have to buy some small personal things. But I wouldn't expect them to save to buy their own socks for example.W: Y es. By the way, do most children in your country get pocket money?M: Y eah, they do.Questions 23 to question 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard:Q 23: What is the table of figures about?Q 24: What do we learn from the conversation about British children's pocket money?Q 25: Supposing the man had children, what would he expect them to do with their pocket money? Passage1 原文As the new sales director for a national computer firm, Alex Gordon was looking forward to his first meeting with the company's district managers. Every one arrived on time and Alex's presentation went extremely well. He decided to end the meeting with a conversation about the importance of the district managers to the company's plans. “I believe we're going to continue to increase our share of the market”, he began, “Because of th e quality of the people in this room. The district manager is the key to the success of the sales representatives in his district. Hesets the tone for everyone else. If he has ambitious goals and is willing to put in long hours, everyone in his unit will follow his example.” When Alex was finished, he received polite applause but hardly the warm response he had hoped for. Later, he spoke with one of the senior managers. “Things were going so well until the end”, Alex said disappointedly, “Obviously I said the wrong thing.” “Y es”, the district manager replied, “ Half of our managers are women. Most have worked the way up from sales representatives and they are very proud of the role they've played in the company's growth. They don't care at all about the political correctness but they are definitely surprised and distressed to be referred to as ”he“ in your speech.”Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. Who did Alex Gordon speak to at the first meeting?27. What did Alex want to emphasize at the end of his presentation?28. What do we learn about the audience at the meeting?29. Why did Alex fail to receive the warm response he had hoped for?Passage2The way to complain is to act business-like and important. If your complaint is immediate, suppose you got the wrong order at a restaurant, make a polite but firm request to see the manager. When the manager comes, ask his or her name and then state your problem, and what you expect to have done about it. Be polite. Shouting or acting rude will get you nowhere. But also be firm in making your complaint. Besides, act important. This doesn't mean to put on airs and say, “Do you know who I am?” What it means is that people are often treated the way they expect to be treated. If you act like someone who expects a fair request be granted, chances are it will be granted. The worst way to complain is over the telephone. Y ou are speaking to a voice coming from someone you can not see, so you can't tell how the person on the line is reacting. It is easy for that person to give you a run-around. Complaining in person or by letter is generally more effective. If your complaint does not require an immediate response, it often helps to complain by letter. If you have an appliance that doesn't work, send a letter to the store that sold it. Be business-like and stick to the point. Don't spend a paragraph on how your Uncle Joe tried to fix the problem and couldn't.Question 30: What does the speaker suggest you do when you are not served properly at a restaurant?Question 31: Why does the speaker say the worst way to complain is over the telephone?Question 32: What should you do if you make a complaint by letter?Passage3 原文：Barbara Santos is a wife and the mother of 2 children, ages 2 and 4. Her husband, Tom, is an engineer and makes an excellent salary. Before Barbara had children, she worked as an architect for the government, designing government housing. She quit her job when she became pregnant, but is now interested in returning to work. She's been offered an excellent job with the government. Her husband feels it's unnecessary for her to work since the family does not need the added income. He also thinks that a woman should stay home with her children. If Barbara feels the need to do socially important work, he thinks that she should do volunteer work one or two days a week. Barbara, on the other hand, has missed the excitement of her profession, and does not feel she would be satisfied doing volunteer work. She would also like to have her own income, so she does not have to ask her husband for money whenever she wants to buy something. She does not think it's necessary to stay home every day with the children, and she knows a very reliable babysitter who's willing to come t o her house. Tom does not think a babysitter can replace a mother, and thinks it's a bad idea for the children to spend so much time with someone who's not part of the family.Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. What was Barbara's profession before she had children?34. What does Barbara's husband suggest she do if she wants to work?35. What does Tom think about hiring a babysitter?以下是2010年6月19日四级答案复合式听写“原文”Almost every child, on the first day he sets foot in the school building, is smarter, more curious, less afraid of what he does not know, better in finding and figuring things out, more confident, resourceful, persistent, and independent than he will ever be again in his schooling or unless he is very unusual and very lucky for the rest of his life. Already, by paying close attention to and interacting with the world and people around him, and without any school type formal instruction, he has done a task far more difficult, complicated, and abstract than anything he will be asked to do in school or than any of his teachers have done for years. He has solved the mystery of language. He has discovered it. Babies do not even know that language exists and he has found out how it works and learned to use it appropriately. He has done it by exploring, by experimenting, by developing his own model of the grammar of language, by trying it out and seeing whether it works by gradually changing it and refining it until it does work. And while he has been doing this, he has been learning other things as well, including many of the concepts that the schools think only they can teach him and many that are more complicated than the ones they do try to teach him.2009年12月大学英语四级Part ⅢListening ComprehensionSection A试题详解11. A) Get some small change. A)换取零钱。

专四真题听力原文公司内部档案编码：[OPPTR-OPPT28-OPPTL98-OPPNN08]听写Think Positive and Feel PositiveAre you confident or insecure in a difficult situation Do you react positively or negatively The answer may depend in part on whom you're around.A study found that negative thinking can be contagious in some cases. For example, the researchers studied 103 college roommates. They measured each roommate's tendency towards negative thinking. It was found that thinking patterns can be contagious.Students with a negative-thinking roommate became more depressed themselves. And students with more positive-thinking roommates were more likely to become more positive as well.TalkWhat Is GritGood afternoon, everyone. （1）Today, I would like to talk about my research project concerning the key to success. I would like to start my topic with my own story.When I was 27 years old, I left for a demanding job: teaching seventh graders math in the New York City public schools. And like any teacher, I made quizzes and tests. I gave out homework assignments. When the work came back, I calculated grades.What struck me was that IQ was not the only difference between my best and my worst students. Some of my strongest performers did not have super IQ scores. Some of my smartest kids weren't doing so I feltvery interested in knowing the reason why the students' math performance is not that closely related to their IQ scores. （2）I started studying kids and adults in all kinds of challenging settings, and in every study my question was, who is successful here and research team and I went to West Point Military Academy. We tried to predict which students would stay in military training and which would drop out. (3)We went to the National Spelling Contest and tried to predict which children would advance furthest in competition. We worked with private companies, asking, which of these salespeople is going to keep their jobs And who's going to earn the most went to many places, and finally one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn't social intelligence. It wasn't good looks, physical health, and it wasn't IQ. It was grit.What is grit(4)Well, grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. (5)Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make future a reality.(6) Grit is living your life like it's a marathon, not a sprint.A few years ago, I started studying grit in the Chicago public schools. I asked thousands of high school juniors to take grit questionnaires, and then waited around more than a year to see who would graduate. (7)It turned out that grittier kids were significantly more likely to graduate, even when I matched them on everycharacteristic I could measure, things like family income, test scores and so on.To me, the most shocking thing about grit is how little we know, how little science knows, about building it. Every day, parents and teachers ask me, "How do I build grit in kids How do I keep them motivated for the long run "Our data shows very clearly that there are many talented individuals who simply do not follow through on their commitment. (8)In fact, in our data, grit is usually unrelated to measures of talent.So far, the best idea I've heard about building grit in kids is something called "growth mindset." (9)Growth mindset is the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed, that it can change with your effort.(10) Kids with grit are much more likely to persevere when they fail, because they don't believe that failure is a permanent condition.So growth mindset is a great idea for building grit. But we need more. And that's where I'm going to end my talk, because that's where we are. That's the work that stands before us. We have to be willing to fail, to be wrong, to start over again with lessons learned.As a conclusion, we need to be gritty about getting our kids time, I would like to share with you my experience in building up students' grit.CONVERSATION ONEW:Hello, This is Kate Smith, I'm calling from ABC Company.M:Oh, hello, Kate. Great to hear from you.W:You've already been told that you've been shortlisted for interview... M:Oh, yes...W:Well, we're very excited about meeting you. （1）OK, I just want to talk you through the procedure for the day. Someone will meet you when you arrive, and then bring you up to meet myself and Arthur Miller, the CEO.M:OK, sounds good. So will you be the only members of the interview panel there thenW:Yes, it'll be just me and Arthur who will talk to you. The interview will be in three parts---first of all we'll ask you some general questions about yourself and your educational and professional background, and then we'll move on to specifics.M:Oh, um, specifics Well er, what kind of questions will you be asking W:Well, it'll be very similar to the personal statement you submitted with your CV — we'll be expecting you to... to give actual examples of problems you've faced and solved, and of what you feel are the major successes in your career so far.M:OK. Well, yeah, that sounds great — can't wait!W:（2）Then there'll be a chance for you to ask us any questions —about the job itself, or ABC Company in general...M:Oh, um, OK... I'll think of something!W:（3/4）After that, we'd like you to give a short presentation on how you see ABC Company as a company progressing, and how you see yourself taking us there.M:OK, so will I be expected to give like a formal style presentation W:It can be as formal or informal as you like. There'll be a computer and a data projector there available. If you need anything else, just let us know.M:Oh, um... OK, a presentation! I'll think of something. I haven't done one of those in a while...W:Is that all clearM:Yes.W:（5）Great! So, Daniel, I'll see you at 11 ., Thursday next week.M:OK, great. I look forward to meeting you! Thanks, bye.W:Bye.Questions 1 to 5 are based on Conversation One.1. Why does the woman call the man2. What kind of questions can the man ask in the interview3. Which is the last part of the interview4. What might be expected from the man's presentation5. When is the interview scheduledCONVERSATION TWOW: It says a growing number of students are making a major hole fromthe minute they enter the real world because they are already, some ofthem, more than 100, 000 dollars in debt. With us now is Mark Spencer,he is the senior financial analyst for SBC Bank. Welcome to you.M: Thank you. Nice to be with you.W: Now I guess there are two kinds of debts: good debt and bad debt. Where does this goM: (7)Well, student loan debt is traditionally considered good debt,but the problem for many students and their families is that the costof colleges has been going up at 6 to 8% a year, far faster than the income, far faster than the standard of living. That means debt'staking on a bigger and bigger role in financing education.W: (6-1)How much debt is too much debt for, for one studentM: (8)Well, one guideline is that you look at the first year's salaryin your field after graduation, and use that as a barometer, but even then...W: Is that rightM: Well, you are talking big payments even in that instance, for example, 30, 000 dollars worth of debt. If you are gonna repay thatover 10 years, you are talking more than 300 dollars a month at, in payments every month for 10 years.W: (6-2)But there is surely more than one way to get a loan for college. There are government programs. There are so many kinds of grants.What's, what's the best advice for people who are looking for theseloans to try to keep themselves from going under.M: I understand that loans are just one way of college finance. Take advantage of the other opportunities. (9)Things like a college savings plan, let, let you save on a tax advantage basis. So you can put money away in these accounts and withdraw tax-free to pay for that education. W: So it's important to start early and that really reduces that reliance on debt later.M: (6-3)Another thing, leave no stone unturned, looking at grants, scholarships, even on-campus jobs. I mean every dollar you get that way is seen as another dollar you don't have to borrow later.W: (10-1)The kinds of jobs that so many students, the fresh off students, like to go into, er, charity stuff, volunteer work. This debt is eliminating a lot of that, isn't itM:(10-2) I think that's the social cost. Really, I mean, you know, when you consider that, you know, people may pass up a rewarding career in charitable work, or non-profit organization because they have to get a higher salary someplace else to pay off that debt.W: Yeah, that's for sure. Mark Spencer, senior financial analyst from SBC Bank.Mark, good you could be here.M: Thank you.6. What is the interview mainly about7. How does the cost of college education change every year8. What is used to measure student loan debt as a guideline9. What is the advantage of joining a college savings plan10. What is the possible social cost of a college loan。

四级真题听力原文与译文第一部分：听力原文Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation 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. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) The woman is not feeling well.B) The man is concerned about the woman's health.C) The woman is visiting the man's house.D) The man is inviting the woman to dinner.M: Are you feeling all right, Mary? You look a bit pale.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?2. A) The man wants to go to the concert.B) The woman is going to the concert.C) The man doesn't want to go to the concert.D) The woman doesn't want to go to the concert.M: I'd love to, but I have to work late tonight.Q: What does the man mean?3. A) The woman is a good cook.B) The man likes the food.C) The woman is cooking dinner.D) The man is cooking dinner.W: I've cooked dinner for you. How do you like it?M: Delicious! You're a good cook.Q: What does the man mean?4. A) The woman is a student.B) The man is a teacher.C) The woman is a teacher.D) The man is a student.M: Good morning, professor. May I ask you a few questions about the course?W: Certainly. I'm glad to help.Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers?5. A) The man is a doctor.B) The woman is a patient.C) The man is a patient.D) The woman is a doctor.W: What's wrong with you, sir?Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers?6. A) The woman is a librarian.B) The man is a librarian.C) The woman is a student.D) The man is a student.W: Can I help you?M: Yes. I'd like to borrow a book.Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers?7. A) The man is a taxi driver.B) The woman is a taxi driver.C) The man is a passenger.D) The woman is a passenger.W: Can you take me to the airport, please?M: Sure. Get in, please.Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers?8. A) The man is a salesperson.B) The woman is a salesperson.C) The man is a customer.D) The woman is a customer.M: Good morning, madam. Can I help you?W: Yes. I'd like to buy a pair of shoes.Q: What is the relationship between the two speakers? Long Conversation 1M: Hi, Linda. How are you doing?W: Fine, thanks. How about you?M: Not bad. I've been busy with my studies lately. W: Really? What are you studying?M: I'm majoring in English.W: That's great. I'm majoring in business. Do you like your major?M: Yes, I do. I enjoy learning about different cultures and languages.W: Me too. I'm interested in international business.M: That sounds interesting. Have you traveled abroad?W: Yes, I have. I've been to several countries in Europe.M: That's amazing. I hope to travel abroad someday.W: You should. It's a great way to learn about different cultures.M: I agree. Thanks for talking to me, Linda.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. What is the man's major?10. What is the woman's major?11. What does the woman say about traveling abroad?Long Conversation 2M: Hi, John. How's everything going?W: Pretty good. I've been busy with my work lately.M: Really? What do you do for a living?W: I'm a software engineer.M: That sounds interesting. What do you like about your job?W: I like solving problems and creating new things.M: Do you work long hours?W: Yes, sometimes I do. But I enjoy my work, so itdoesn't bother me.M: That's good. Do you have any hobbies?W: Yes, I like playing basketball and reading.M: That's cool. I like playing basketball too.W: Really? We should play sometime.M: Sure, that would be fun.W: Great. Let's make a plan.M: Sounds good. I'll call you later.W: Okay, see you then.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. What does the man do for a living?13. What does the woman like about her job?14. Does the woman work long hours?15. What are the hobbies of the two speakers?。