剑桥12 听力test 4文本

Unit 12 Opinion PollsPart A Pre-listening TaskAdditional questions for discussion1. What factors make an opinion poll successful?There are several key factors in order to make an opinion poll successful. First, there must be a large enough sample. Second, the sample of a poll must be well selected and highly representative. Third, interview questions must be properly designed and presented. And finally, the data collected from a poll must be correctly analyzed and reported. To achieve all those things, people who conduct an opinion poll must have relevant training and experience, take their work seriously, and perform their duties in a responsible as well as skillful manner.2. Do you think opinion polls are a true reflection of public opinion? Why or why not?I believe opinion polls do reflect public opinions. As to how true the reflection is, or how reliable the poll data are, it depends to a large extent on how scientific the selection of the sample, the design of the questions, and the operation of the polling process are. There has been abundant evidence throughout the world over the years that good opinion polls give accurate results and bad polls produce unreliable information that would not be useful at all. So if you want reliable information, you have to make sure that the opinion poll is done right.3. How much can policy makers rely on opinion polls to help them make decisions?Policy makers can make good use of the information from public opinion polls to help them make decisions. Opinion polls often provide valuable information about the public's priorities and viewpoints. Policy makers may become better informed if they include the results of such polls in their assessment of the overall situation. Of course, the policy-making process is a complicated one and it involves aspects that go beyond the public sentiment. As a result, policy makers cannot be expected to make their decisions by solely relying on opinion polls.Part B Listening Tasks ILanguage and Culture:1. Background information: An opinion poll is a survey of public opinion on a certain subject. The making of a poll involves five essential steps: 1) the research design, or how to plan a poll; 2) the sample or whom to ask; 3) the question design, or what to ask; 4) techniques of collecting data, or how to ask; and 5) the analysis of the findings. Opinion polls were used as early as 1824 by two American newspapers to test the strength of the presidential candidates. The polling methods used in those polls, however, were very crude as the samples were haphazardly selected. It was not until the 1930s that more scientific methods were introduced in public opinion polling, which led to the huge popularity of polls inNational and statewide polls regularly sample public opinion on different topics and publish the results in newspapers and magazines. The best-known polls are the Harris Poll and the Gallup Poll. In our country, opinion polls have also become more widely used and accepted. And it is likely that they are to play a more important role in our life in the future.2. In some car parks it now costs ... for half an hour.Parking a car in a public car park can be very expensive, especially in downtown areas. For example, parking a car for half an hour may cost you $10 in lower Manhattan, New York City. So most people will not go to a public car park unless they can't find a parking space in the street. Or they simply take trains or other means of transport when they go downtown.3. ... I don't see what you're getting at.... I don't understand what you are trying to say.4. I don't know anyone who doesn't think they're too high.Everyone I know thinks petrol prices are too high.5. graded charging system:a charging system that is not fixed but varies (according to how far from the city center a car park is)6. So what's to stop these goods being transported by train or even via canal?Is there any reason for not transporting these goods by train or even via canal?percentage n. 百分比absurd a. 荒谬的，荒唐的inner a. 内部的nominal a. (价格或金额)微不足道的penalize v. 予以处罚prohibitive a. (价格或收费)使人望而却步的tram n. 有轨电车lorry n. (BrE)卡车，运货车via prep. 通过，凭借canal n. 运河car park (汽车)停车场Opinion PollsMan: Do you know the thing that's always struck me as odd about opinion polls? Woman: What's that?Man: The percentages. Like recently there was a survey about what people thought about traffic, and petrol prices, and public car parks. (Question 1) In some car parks it now costs something like 5 pounds to park a car for half an hour.Woman: Yeah, but I don't see what you're getting at.Man: What I mean is the percentages in the results. So there might be 70% of people whocomplained about high petrol prices, and 60% who want to see the traffic reduced, and 65% who think car park charges are too high. Does that mean that there are 35% who actually think the charges are OK and would even be prepared to pay more, (Question 2) and another 30% who think petrol prices are OK? I mean that's absurd. I don't know anyone who doesn't think they're too high.Woman: Well, actually I think we should pay more.Man: Come on, you're joking.Woman: No, seriously. I think we should pay more for petrol, even twice as much maybe, and certainly far more for inner city car parks.Man: But why?Woman: More taxes should be charged on petrol, I think, to discourage people from using cars, and a kind of graded charging system for car parks depending on how far they are from the city center.Man: What do you mean?Woman: Well, if you park your car quite far from the city center then you pay a nominal amount as a kind of reward for not polluting the city center.(Question 3 & 4) Well, the closer you get to the center, the more you are penalized. Prices in the center should be totally prohibitive. I mean with an efficient bus or tram service there's no excuse for using cars. Man: Yeah, but you can't penalize people who don't use their car to go into town. I mean if you doubled the price of petrol, it would cost people a fortune to go anywhere, even on short trips, and especially on holidays.Woman: Don't use your car then. Use a train.Man: But what about lorries? I mean they use a lot of petrol to transport goods from one place to another.Woman: So what's to stop these goods being transported by train or even via canal? Man: Well, anyway, I still can't believe (Question 5) that 30% of those people who said car park charges were OK all think the same as you.Woman: Well, maybe that's where you are wrong. Just think about what I've said and you'll realize that perhaps it's not so stupid as it sounds.Listen to the story and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. Questions:1. What items are surveyed in the opinion poll mentioned in the conversation?A. Traffic, petrol prices, and public car parks.B. Public transport, petrol prices, and car parks.C. Public transport, car parks, and vehicle taxes.D. Traffic, vehicle taxes, and road taxes.正确答案：A. Traffic, petrol prices, and public car parks.2. What does the man find absurd about the survey?A. That three different things are examined in a single survey.B. That the results of the survey are contrary to everybody's expectation.C. That it indicates there are people who are willing to pay more for petrol and car parking.D. That it indicates there are people who would rather take buses or trains than drive.正确答案：C. That it indicates there are people who are willing to pay more for petrol and car parking.3. Which of the following best reflects the woman's view about car parking?A. People should be heavily fined for parking offenses.B. The nearer to the city center you park your car, the higher the charge.C. Car park charges should be made as high as possible to deter people from using cars.D. People cannot park their cars for longer than half an hour in the city center.正确答案：B. The nearer to the city center you park your car, the higher the charge.4. Which problem is the woman most concerned about according to the conversation?A. Heavy traffic in the city.B. Pollution in the city center.C. The inefficiency of public transport.D. The high cost of building car parks in the city center.正确答案：Pollution in the city center.5. Which of the following describes the man's attitude toward opinion polls?A. Positive.B. Neutral.C. Skeptical.D. Critical.正确答案：C. Skeptical.Listen to the conversation again and decide if the statements you hear are true or false.Statements:(F) 1. Both the man and the woman have been interviewed in the poll mentioned in the text. (T) 2. The survey finds that a majority of people complained about heavy traffic.(F) 3. The woman thinks that people should pay twice as much for inner city parking. (T) 4. The woman thinks that raises in petrol price and parking charge can discourage people from using cars.(F) 5. According to the man, it's difficult for people to use public transport to go on short trips or holidays.(F) 6. The woman does not object to people's use of cars away from the town center. (F) 7. It can be inferred that 30% of those interviewed in the poll think the same as thewoman.(F) 8. The man finally agrees with the woman that opinion polls are not so stupid as he first thought.Speaking Task I:What do you think of the text you've just heard? Exchange views with your partner. Reflections:Reflections:Comment on the conversation in which two speakers were discussing the reliability of opinion polls. What does the man feel odd about the results of the poll? What is the woman's opinion with regard to petrol prices and car park charges? What does the conversation tell you about the functions and limitations of opinion polls? Exchange views with your partner. You may mention the following points in your discussion.1. different views held by the two speakers about certain poll results2. opinion polls reflecting highly diversified views3. poll results -- expressed in percentages4. interpretation of the percentages -- reasons why certain choices are made in a pollObviously the man's view that petrol prices and car park charges were too high was shared by the majority of people interviewed in the poll. What he found odd was that there was not a complete consensus. The survey seemed to suggest that there were people who were willing to pay more, which he found absurd because it was contrary to what he believed people really thought.The woman, however, held the very view that the man dismissed as absurd. She thought it would be necessary to impose higher taxes on petrol and charge more for inner city parking to discourage people from using their cars. And the survey showed that she was not alone in thinking so.From the conversation, we can see how people's views on a certain issue may differ if they approach it from different perspectives. For example, while the man responded to the survey questions from a personal perspective, the woman approached the problem from the perspective of society as a whole and therefore reached a very different conclusion. This diversity of opinion is represented in polls, which provide a platform where different voices, especially those of the minority, are heard.Of course, opinion polls also have their limitations. Polling questions usually belong to yes-or-no or agree-or-disagree types and the results, expressed in percentages, fail to inform the public of the reasons why certain answers are chosen. In the text, if the woman hadn't explained to the man what she thought about the matter, he wouldn't have had the chance to know that those with different views did have a good reason for their choice. Opinion polls might do a better job if more open questions were asked so that the public could know better why those who are interviewed in a poll think the way they do.Speaking Tasks II:Read the following table that shows the results of an opinion poll conducted amongresidents in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou on their attitudes toward different forms of education. Describe to your partner the results of the poll and analyze thereasons behind the data.The table shows that people's views on the three types of school vary at different stages of education. At the preschool stage, the percentage of people who are for private schools is 56.5%, as compared with 43.5% for public schools. Many parents favor private kindergartens because of their qualified teachers and better facilities. Apparently they think it is worthwhile to invest in education right at the beginning. The percentage of people who are for overseas study at this stage is naught, which is understandable, considering how young the children are.For the 9-year compulsory education stage, an overwhelming majority (96.5%) of the respondents are for public schools. None of the respondents in the survey is for private schools. This is because our country has a well-established compulsory education system and the public schools are generally quite good. This also explains why only 3.5% are for overseas study at this stage. Since local schools are very good, there is no point in spending a lot of money sending children abroad to study.At the senior middle school stage, the public school is still the first choice for a majority of people. The percentage of people who are for overseas study, however, increases to 18.5%. Perhaps they think that children are now mature enough to take care of themselves and are ready for some cross-cultural experience.For college and higher learning, the percentage of those who are for the public school equals that of those who are for overseas study. Both are considered advantageous at this stage. Many colleges and universities in our country have a dedicated teaching staff and a fine tradition of learning, which are what appeal to prospective students. On the other hand, overseas schools have better equipment and facilities for doing research and there is a greater chance for students to be exposed to current development in science and technology. Moreover, with the quickening pace of globalization, overseas experience can serve as a big advantage in the global labor market.The above data will be useful to educators who must decide what types of school to establish and how to raise the quality of education at every level. Part C Additional ListeningListen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear.become weary of 厌烦；疲倦pollster n. 民意测验专家random a. 任意的，随意的digit n. 数字hypothetically ad. 假设地，假想地sampling error 取样误差census statistics 人口普查数据finalize v. 把(计划、稿件等)最后定下来anomaly n. 异常；反常buck n. (美俗)美元respondent n. 回答者How These Pollsters Do Those PollsVoters can become weary (疲倦的) of polls as a campaign winds down (接下), and in public, candidates invariably (总是) declare that they ignore them -- at least, the candidates who are losing. But the fact is, pollsters are good and getting better.Most election-eve polls in 1992 predicted the voting percentages eventually won by Clinton, Bush and Perot well within the sampling margin of error. Of some 300 such polls, none projected Bush or Perot as the winner.Typically, these polls are generated by telephone interviews with 600 to 1,000 "likely voters", who are 18 or older, as determined by answers to initial questions. The phone numbers are selected as random (任意的) digits by a phone-dialing computer.Hypothetically (假设地), almost every person in America has an equal chance of being called since most households have phones. The samples may seem small, but the techniques used in polls are proven enough to be regularly accepted as evidence by the courts when election results are legally challenged. No sample is as accurate as interviewing 100 percent of the people in an election district, of course. A "sampling error" (取样误差) or "margin of error" accompanies every significant result. It is the largest possible difference that could(Question 3) Often, after a random sample is collected, it's compared with US Census (人口普查) statistics to determine the degree of agreement before the poll is finalized. This can help polling professionals correct anomalies so that they can get clients that pay them the big bucks.The "exit polls" that play a key part in election night drama in American homes are even more accurate than other forecasts because the specially trained interviewers are using respondents who are known voters.Questions:1. How is a typical election poll conducted in the US?A. By telephone.B. By face-to-face interviews.C. By mail.D. By door-to-door interviews.正确答案：A. By telephone.2. How large is the sample for a typical election poll?A. 600 - 1,200.B. 300 - 600.C. 600 - 1,000.D. 800 - 1,200.正确答案：C. 600 - 1,000.3. If a poll shows a 50% support for a candidate with a 3% margin of error, what would be the probable percentage of support for him?A. 47%.B. 53%.C. 47 - 53%.D. It depends on how large the voting population is.正确答案：C. 47 - 53%.4. Why are "exit polls" especially accurate?A. Because the interviewers are specially trained.B. Because the respondents are known voters.C. Because the interviewers know the respondents personally.D. Because a large sample of respondents are polled.正确答案：B. Because the respondents are known voters.5. What is the passage mainly about?A. Polls are remarkably accurate in predicting election results.B. Polling organizations make a lot of money from their clients.C. American voters are losing interest in election polls.D. The development of technology contributes greatly to the accuracy of polls.正确答案：A. Polls are remarkably accurate in predicting election results.Leisure TimeQuotable Quotes1. The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion.-- Elizabeth Drew2. The only sin which we never forgive in each other is difference of opinion.-- Ralph Emerson3. New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.-- John Locke4. A government can be no better than the public opinion which sustains it.-- Franklin Roosevelt5. So many men, so many opinions.-- Terence6. It were not best that we should all think alike: it is difference of opinion that makes horse races.-- Mark TwainMovie TimePublic OpinionOprah: Recently, you all have seen the story on the news, I'm sure, a Brinks armored truck overturned on a Miami freeway, spewing over 3.7 million dollars and causing a near riot as people snatched up the cash, some standing in the streets screaming "Hallelujah, Jesus!". Um, we did an informal poll of is audience, and found out that many of you said that you would keep any cash that you had found. What did you say?Woman: I would not.Oprah: You would not keep the cash. Even if, let's say, your rent was in due, your mortgage payment...overdue...Woman: I've been there.Oprah: Been there? Would not?Woman: Lived in my car.Oprah: Lived in your car?Woman: With my children.Oprah: So if you've been living in your car at the time the Brinks truck overturned in front of you and dropped the cash all over the street...Woman: No.Oprah: You would have returned it.Woman: No, against God's rules.Oprah: It's against God's rule. OK. Yes, Ma'am?Woman 2: Uh, I would have considered it an act of God, perhaps, and kept the money. Oprah: You would have considered it an act of God?Woman 2: Yes.Oprah: An act of God? OK. I, I question that. Do the money, the truck turning over at that moment and time, in that particular, you know, part of town...Woman 2: It's a chance of a lifetime.Oprah: Chance of a lifetime, you would have thought. OK.Woman 2: Sure, sure.Oprah: So, you would have taken the money.Woman 2: I think so, yes.Oprah: OK, now, if they had done as they're doing now in Miami, going on the news, asking people to please return the money, and we have you on film, would you have still kept he money?Woman 2: Perhaps. I think I would have.Oprah: Perhaps you would have. OK, OK, whether you really needed it or not?Woman 2: It's such an opportunity.Oprah: An act of God, you say. OK, yes, yes.Woman 3: I teach a Sunday school class of 4- and 5-year-olds, and our subject class Sunday was what would we do if we were on the street and we found money? Would we return it? And, ur, the bottom line was it's God's rules. You always return money.Oprah: OK. Being on the street and returning money is a little different than the Brinks truck turning over in front of you.Woman 3: Yes, but they still...Oprah: I don't know how a Sunday school teacher explains it, but, you do see a little difference. Is there a little difference?Woman 3: Well, not really, it's still the bottom line.Oprah: OK.Woman 3: You know, they need to know what's right, what's wrong.Oprah: I agree. (The) bottom line is what's right, what's wrong.Woman 3: Right.Oprah: Brinks truck has turned over in front of you. Your gas and electric bill is due. You are two months behind in your mortgage payments; they're coming to take your car, and there it is, right in front of your face, you happen to be walking down the street, you're minding your own business, the Brinks truck overturns in front of you. What do you do?Woman 4: Oprah, I would have kept every dime I could have my hands on.Oprah: You would kept every dime.Woman 4: Yes, I would have. I have a two-year-old child, I'm a single mother. That money would provide a wonderful future in college for my child.Oprah: Even if they were on television saying: "Please, ma'am, give the money back"? Woman 4: No.Oprah: OK. If you knew that the money belonged to somebody, another person who had lost eh money, would that have made you feel differently about it?Woman 4: Yes.Oprah: Or is it because it's the Brinks truck and you think it's just the Brinks' truck money? Woman 4: And it's insured. That means a lot, too.Oprah: That means a lot, too.Woman 4: Yeah. It's insured. So...Oprah: If you found money on the street that you know belonged to somebody else? Woman 4: It would have been different, sure. I would have given it back because I would have wanted someone to do the same thing for me.Oprah: For you?Woman 4: Yes.Oprah: But it's the Brinks truck factor.Time to TalkLook at these pictures and describe them one by one. If possible, try also to find something relevant to talk about.This chart shows the results of a Gallup poll on death penalty. Opinions vary from year to year. Generally speaking, however, the number of people in favor of the death penalty kept increasing from 1972 to 1994, as the percentages rose from about 57% in 1972 to 80% in 1994. Then after that the support rate of the death penalty started to drop. In six years' time, the figures dropped from 80% to around 65% in the year 2000. The poll was done in the year 2000 and I wonder if the Americans would give the same response after 911 terrorist attacks on the US.This picture shows the result of an opinion poll on people's attitude towards the issue of immigration. About 30% of the people say they would like to keep it at the present level, while 58% would like to have it decreased; 8% hope that it will be increased and 4% give no opinion. Perhaps the people who were polled were worried that the immigrants would take the jobs away from the local people. I heard that in Germany and France, some local people are against having more immigrants and are quite hostile to them for the same reason. This picture shows Bush's approval ratings in four aspects -- overall job, international affairs, economy and environmental issues. The chart also shows that in the eyes of those who were polled, Bush has done a good job, as theapproval ratings are higher than the disapproval ones in all four aspects. Even though he is low in economy and environment issues, the president is quite impressive in the overall job and in the international affairs -- about 68% versus 32%. I suppose this has something to do with his tough international policies. Part D Home Listeningbooth n. 小亭；小房间newsworthy a. 有新闻、报道价值的methodology n. 方法论；一套方法delinquency n. 违法；不法行为socialization n. 适应社会；社会化Use of Public Opinion PollsPublic opinion polls are regularly conducted and published in many countries. They measure not only support for political parties but also public opinion on a wide range of social and political issues. They are frequently published in major newspapers and are generally accepted as useful tools by businesses, political organizations, the mass media and government, and academic research groups. Hundreds of public polling firms operate around the world. The Gallup Poll (盖洛普民意测验) and Harris Poll (哈里斯民意测验法) are among the best known in the US.In business, polls are used to test consumers' preferences and to discover what gives a product its appeal. Responses to commercial polls help businesses in planning marketing and advertising strategies and in making changes in a product to increase its sales.In politics, polls are used to obtain information about voters' attitudes toward issues and candidates, to put forward candidates with winning potential, and to plan campaigns. Polling organizations have also been successful in predicting the outcome of elections. By polling voters on Election Day, it is often possible to determine the probable winner even before the voting booths close.Newspapers, magazines, radio and television are heavy users of public opinion polling information, especially political information that helps to predict election results or measure the popularity of government officials and candidates. The public's attitude toward various social, economic, and international issues is also considered newsworthy.Governments use opinion polls to find out public sentiment (情绪) about issues of interest. They also use polling methodology (方法论) to determine unemployment rates, crime rates, and other social and economic indicators.Opinion polls have also been employed extensively in academic research, particularly in the social sciences. They have been valuable in studying delinquency (行为不良, 错失), socialization (社会主义化), political attitudes, and economic behavior. Among the prominent (卓越的, 显著的) organizations that primarily serve academic research purposes are theSurvey Research Center at the University of Michigan and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.Questions:1. By whom are public opinion polls generally accepted as useful tools?By businesses, political organizations , the mass media and government and academic research groups.2. For what are opinion polls used by businesses?To test consumers' preferences and to discover what gives a product its appeal. Responses to commercial polls help businesses in planning marketing and advertising strategies and in making changes in a product to increase its sales.3. For what are opinion polls used in politics?To obtain information about voters' attitudes toward issues and candidates, to put forward candidates with winning potential, and to plan campaigns, Polling organizations have also been successful in predicting the outcome of elections.4. For what are opinion polls used by governments?To find out public sentiment about issues of interest. They also use polling methodology to determine unemployment rates, crime rates, and other social and economic indicators.5. What new media are heavy users of the information from opinion polls? Newspapers, magazines, radio and television.6. For what are opinion polls used in academic research?To study delinquency, socialization , political attitudes, and economic behavior / behaviour.。

Section A ConversationsShort Conversations11. W: I ran into Sally the other day. I could hardly recognize her. Do you remember her from high school?M: Yeah, she was a little out of shape back then. Well, has she lost a lot of weight?Q: What does the man remember of Sally?12. W: We don’t seem to have a reservation for you, sir. I’m sorry.M: But my secretary said that she had reserved a room for me here. I phoned her from the airport this morning just before I got on board the plane.Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?13. W: What would you do if you were in my place?M: If Paul were my son, I’d just not worry. Now that his teacher is giving him extra help and he's working hard himself, he’s sure to do well in the next exam.Q: What’s the man’s suggestion to the woman?14. M: You’ve had your hands full and have been overworked during the last two weeks. I think you really need to go out and get some fresh air and sunshine.W: You are right. That’s just what I’m thinking about.Q: What is the woman most probably going to do?15. W: Hello, John. How are you feeling now? I hear you’ve been ill.M: They must have confused me with my twin brother Rods. He’s been sick all week, but I’ve never felt better in my life.Q: What do we learn about the man?16. M: Did you really give away all your furniture when you moved into the new house last month?W: Just the useless pieces, as I’m planning to purchase a new set from Italy for the sitting room only.Q: What does the woman mean?17. M: I’ve brought back your Oxford Companion to English Literature. I thought you might use it for your paper. Sorry not to have returned it earlier.W: I was wondering where that book was.Q: What can we infer from the conversation?18. W: To tell the truth, Tony, it never occurs to me that you are an athlete.M: Oh, really? Most people who meet me, including some friends of mine, don’t think so either.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?Long ConversationsConversation 1M: Mary, I hope you're packed and ready to leave.W: Yes, I’m packed, but not quite ready. I can’t find my passport.M: Your passport? That’s the one thing you mustn’t leave behind.W: I know. I haven’t lost it. I’ve packed it, but I can’t remember which bag it’s in.M: Well, you have to find it at the airport. Come on, the taxi is waiting.W: Did you say taxi? I thought we were going in your car.M: Yes, well, I have planned to, but I’ll explain later. You’ve got to be there in an hour.W: The plane doesn’t leave for two hours. Anyway, I’m ready to go now.M: Now, you're taking just one case, is that right?W: No, there is one in the hall as well.M: Gosh, what a lot of stuff! You're taking enough for a month instead of a week.W: Well, you can’t depend on the weather. It might be cold.M: It’s never cold in Rome. Certainly not in May. Come on, we really must go.W: Right, we're ready. We’ve got the bags, I’m sure there's no need to rush.M: There is. I asked the taxi driver to wait two minutes, not twenty.W: Look, I’m supposed to be going away to relax. You're making me nervous.M: Well, I want you to relax on holiday, but you can’t relax yet.W: OK, I promise not to relax, at least not until we get to the airport and I find my passport.Questions 19-22 are based on the conversatoin you have just heard.Q19: What does the woman say about her passport?Q20: What do we know about the woman’s trip?Q21: Why does the man urge the woman to hurry?Q22: Where does the conversation most probably take place?Conversation 2W: Oh, I’m fed up with my job.M: Hey, there's a perfect job for you in the paper today. You might be interested.W: Oh, what is it? What do they want?M: Wait a minute. Uh, here it is. The European Space Agency is recruiting translators.W: The European Space Agency?M: Well, that’s what it says. They need an English translator to work from French or German.W: So they need a degree in French or German, I suppose. Well, I’ve got that. What’s more, I have plenty of experience. What else are they asking for?M: Just that. A university degree and three or four years of experience as a translator in a professional environment. They also say the person should have a lively and inquiring mind, effective communication skills and the ability to work individually or as a part of the team.W: Well, if I stay at my present job much longer, I won’t have any mind or skills left. By the way, what about salary? I just hope it isn’t lower than what I get now.M: It’s said to be negotiable. It depends on the applicant’s education and experience. In addition to basic salary, there's a list of extra benefits. Have a look yourself.W: Hm, travel and social security plus relocation expenses are paid. Hey, this isn’t bad. I really want the job.Questions 23-25 are based on the conversatoin you have just heard.Q23: Why is the woman trying to find a new job?Q24: What position is being advertised in the paper?Q25: What are the key factors that determine the salary of the new position?Section B Short PassagesPassage 1When couples get married, they usually plan to have children. Sometimes, however, a couple can not have a child of their own. In this case, they may decide to adopt a child. In fact, adoption is very common today. There are about 60 thousand adoptions each year in the United States alone. Some people prefer to adopt infants, others adopt older children, some couples adopt children from their own countries, others adopt children from foreign countries. In any case, they all adopt children for the same reason ---- they care about children and want to give their adopted child a happy life.Most adopted children know that they are adopted. Psychologists and child-care experts generally think this is a good idea. However, many adopted children or adoptees have very little information about their biological parents. As a matter of fact, it is often very difficult for adoptees to find out about their birth parents because the birth records of most adoptees are usually sealed. The information is secret so no one can see it. Naturally, adopted children have different feelings about their birth parents. Many adoptees want to search for them, but others do not. The decision to search for birth parents is a difficult one to make. Most adoptees have mixed feelings about finding their biological parents. Even though adoptees do not know about their natural parents, they do know that their adopted parents want them, love them and will care for them.Questions 26-29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. According to the speaker, why do some couples adopt children?27. Why is it difficult for adoptees to find out about their birth parents?28. Why do many adoptees find it hard to make the decision to search for their birth parents?29. What can we infer from the passage?Passage 2Katherine Gram graduated from University of Chicago in 1938 and got a job as a news reporter in San Francisco. Katherine’s father used to be a successful investment banker. In 1933, he bought a failing newspaper, the Washington Post.Then Katherine returned to Washington and got a job, editing letters in her father’s newspaper. She married Philip Gram, who took over his father-in-law’s position shortly after and became publisher of the Washington Post. But for many years, her husband suffered from mental illness and he killed himself in 1963. After her husband’s death, Katherine operated the newspaper. In the 1970s, the newspaper became famous around the world and Katherine was also recognized as an important leader in newspaper publishing. She was the first woman to head a major American publishing company, the Washington Post company. In a few years, she successfully expanded the company to include newspaper, magazine, broadcast and cable companies.She died of head injuries after a fall when she was 84. More than 3 thousand people attended her funeral including many government and business leaders. Her friends said she would be remembered as a woman who had an important influence on events in the United States and the worl d. Katherine once wrote, “The world without newspapers would not be the same kind of world”. After her death, the employees of the Washington Post wrote, “The world without Katherine would not be the same at all.”Questions 30-32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. What do we learn from the passage about Katherine’s father?31. What does the speaker tell us about Katherine Gram?32. What does the comment by employees of the Washington Post suggest?Passage 3Obtaining good health insurance is a real necessity while you are studying overseas. It protects you from minor and major medical expenses that can wipe out not only your savings but your dreams of an education abroad. There are often two different types of health insurance youcan consider buying, international travel insurance and student insurance in the country where you will be going.An international travel insurance policy is usually purchased in your home country before you go abroad. It generally covers a wide variety of medical services and you are often given a list of doctors in the area where you will travel who may even speak your native language. The drawback might be that you may not get your money back immediately, in other words, you may have to pay all you medical expenses and then later submit your receipts to the insurance company.On the other hand, getting student heath insurance in the country where you will study might allow you to only pay a certain percentage of the medical cost at the time of service and thus you don’t have to have sufficient cash to pay the entire bill at once. Whatever you decide, obtaining some form of health insurance is something you should consider before you go overseas. You shouldn’t wait until you are sick wit h major medical bills to pay off.Questions 33-35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. Why does the speaker advice overseas students to buy health insurance?34. What is the drawback of students buying international travel insurance?35. What does the speaker say about students getting health insurance in the country where they will study?Section C Compound DictationMore and more of the world’s population are living in towns or cities. The speed at which cities are growing in the less developed countries is alarming. Between 1920 and 1960, big cities in developed countries increased two and a half times in size, but in other parts of the world the growth was eight times their size. The sheer size of growth is bad enough, but there are now also very disturbing signs of trouble in the comparison of percentages of people living in towns and percentages of people working in industry. During the 19th century, cities grew as a result of the growth of industry. In Europe, the proportion of people living in cities was always smaller than that of the work force working in factories. Now, however, the reverse is almost always true in the newly industrialized world. The percentage of people living in cities is much higher than the percentage working in industry. Without a base of people working in industry, these cities cannot pay for their growth. There is not enough money to build adequate houses for the people that live there, let alone the new arrivals. There has been little opportunity to build water supplies or other facilities. So the figures for the growth of towns and cities represent proportional growth of unemployment and underemployment, a growth in the number of hopeless and despairing parents and starving children.听力部分参考答案：11. C）She was somewhat overweight12. D）At a hotel reception13. B）Having confidence in her son14. A）Have a short break15. D）He has been in perfect condition16. B）She still keeps some old furniture in her new house17. D）The woman forgot lending the book to the man18. C）The man doesn't look like a sportsman19. A）She has packed it in one of her bags.20. C）It will last one week.21. B）The taxi is waiting for them.22. A）At home.23. C）She is tired of her present work.24. A）Translator.25. D）Education and experience.26. A）They care a lot about children.27. B）Their birth information is usually kept secret.28. C）They have mixed feelings about finding their natural parents.29. D）Adoption has much to do with love.30. B）He bought The Washington Post.31. A）She was the first woman to lead a big U.S publishing company.32. D）Katharine had exerted an important influence on the world.33. C）It'll protect them from possible financial crises.34. A）They can't immediately get back the money paid for their medical cost.35. B）They needn't pay the entire medical bill at once.36. alarming.37. increased38. sheer39. disturbing40. comparison41. proportion42. workforce43. reverse44. The percentage of people living in cities is much higher than the percentage working in industry.45. There is not enough money to build adequate houses for the people that live there, let alone the new arrivals.46. So the figures for the growth of towns and cities represent proportional growth of unemployment and underemployment。

《剑12》听力原文Test 5TC employee:Hi. Can I help you?VISITOR:I'd like to find out if you have any excursions suitable for families?TC employee:Sure. How about taking your family for a cruise?We have a steamship that takes passengers out several times a day - it's over 100 year's old. VISITOR:That sounds interesting.How long is the trip?TC employee:About an hour and a half.And don't forget to take pictures of the mountains.They're all around you when you are on the boat and they look fantastic.VISITOR:Ok. And I assume there's a café or something on board?TC employee:Sure. How old are your children?VISITOR:Er, my daughter's 15 and my son's 7.TC employee:Right. Well there are various things you can do once you've crossed the lake, to make a day of it.One thing that's very popular is a visit to the Country Farm.You're met off the boat by the farmer and he'll take you to the holding pens, where the sheep are kept.Children love feeding them!VISITOR:My son would love that.He really likes animals.TC employee:Well, there's also a 40-munite trek round the farm on the horse, if he wants. VISITOR:Do you think he'd manage it?He hasn't done that before.TC employee:Sure. It's suitable for complete beginners.VISITOR:Ah, good.TC employee:And again, visitors are welcome to explore the farm on their own, as long as they take care to close gates and so on.There are some very beautiful gardens along the side of the lake which also belong to the farm - they'll be just at their best now.You could easily spend an hour or two there.VISITOR:Ok. Well that all sounds good.And can we get lunch there?TC employee:You can, and it's very good, though it's not included in the basic cost.You pay when you get there.VISITOR:Right.VISITOR:So is there anything else to do over that side of the lake?TC employee:Well, what you can do is take a bike over on the ship and then go on cycling trip. There's a trail there called the Back Road - you could easily spend three or four hours exploring it,and the scenery's wonderful.They'll give you a map when you get your ticket for the cruise - there's no extra charge. VISITOR:What's the trail like in terms of difficulty?TC employee:Quite challenging in places.It wouldn't be suitable for your seven-year-old.It needs someone who's got a bit more experience.VISITOR:Hmm. Well, my daughter loves cycling and so do I, so maybe the two of us could go, and my wife and son could stay on the farm.That might work out quite well.But we don't have bikes here…is there somewhere we could rent them?TC employee:Yes, there's a place here in the city.It's called Ratchesons.VISITOR:I'll just make a note of that, er, how do you spell it?TC employee:R-A-T-C-H-E-S-O-N-S.It's just by the cruise ship terminal.VISITOR:OK.TC employee:You'd also need to pick up a repair kit for the bike from there to take along with you, and you'd need to take along a snack and some water - it'd be best to get those in the city. VISITOR:Fine. That shouldn't be a problem.And I assume I can rent a helmet from the bike place?TC employee:Sure, you should definitely get that.It's a great ride, but you want to be well prepared because it's very remote-you won't see any shops round there, or anywhere to stay, so you need to get back in time for the last boat.VISITOR:Yeah. So what sort of prices are we looking at here?TC employee:Let's see, that'd be one adult and one child for cruise with farm tour, that's ＄117, and an adult and a child for the cruise only so that's ＄214 dollars altogether.Oh, wait a minute, how old did you say your daughter was?VISITOR:15.TC employee:Then I'm afraid it's ＄267 because she has to pay the adult fare, which is ＄75 instead of the child fare which is ＄22 - sorry about that.VISITOR:That's Ok. Er, so how do…Good morning everyone.My name’s Joy Parkins and I’m the restaurant manager.And I understand that none of you’ve had any previous experience as kitchen assistants.Well, you might be feeling a bit nervous now, but most of our kitchen assistants say they enjoy the work.Ok, they might get shouted at sometimes, but it’s nothing personal, and they’re pleased that they have so many different things to do, which means they never get bored.And I’ll tell you straighta way that if you do well, we might think about moving you up and giving you some more responsibility.Right, well, you've all shown up on time, which is excellent start.Now I'm glad to see none of you have unsuitable footwear, so that's good - you need to be careful as the floors can get very wet and slippery.Those of you with long hair have got it well out of the way, but some of you'll need to remove your rings and bracelets - just put them somewhere safe for today, and remember to leave them at home tomorrow, as they can be a safety hazard.Now it's going to be a busy day for you all today - we don't have any tables free for this evening, and only a few for lunch.Fortunately we've got our Head Chef back-he was away on holiday all last week which meant the other chefs had extra work.Now, I'll tell you a bit more about the job in a minute but first, some general regulations.For all of you, whatever your age, there's some equipment you mustn't use until you've been properly trained, like the waste disposal system for example, for health and safety reasons.Then I think there are two of you here who are under 18 - that's Emma and Jake, isn't it?Right, so for you two, the meat slicer is out of bounds.And of course none of you are allowed to use the electric mixer until you've been shown how it works.Now you may have heard that this can be a stressful job, and I have to say that can be true.You'll be working an eight-hour day for the first week, though you'll have the chance to do overtime after that as well if you want to.But however long the hours are, you'll get a break in the middle.What you will find is that you're on your feet all day long, lifting and carrying, so if you're not fit now you soon will be!You'll find you don't have much chance to take it easy - when someone tells you to do something you need to do it straightaway - but at least we do have a very efficient air conditioning system compared with some kitchens.Now let me tell you about some of the people you need to know.So as I said, I'm Joy Parkins and I decide who does what during the day and how long they work for. I'll be trying to get you to work with as many different people in the kitchen as possible, so that you learn while you're on the job.One person whose name you must remember is David Field.If you injure yourself at all, even if it's really minor, you must report to him and he'll make sure the incident is recorded and you get the appropriate treatment.He's trained to give basic treatment to staff himself, or he'll sent off somewhere else if necessary. Then there's Dexter Wills-he's the person you need to see if you smash a plate or something like that.Don't just leave it and hope no one will notice - it's really important to get things noted and replaced or there could be problems later.And finally, there's Mike Smith.He's the member of staff who takes care of all the stores of perishables, so if you notice we're getting low in flour or sugar or something, make sure you let him know so he can put in and order. Ok, now th e next thing…T:Ok, Stewart. We need to start planning our paper on public libraries.Have you thought of an angle yet?S:Well, there's so much we could look into.How libraries have changed over the centuries, for instance, or how different countries organize them.What do you think, Trudie?T:Maybe we should concentrate on this country, and try and relate the changes in libraries to external developments, like the fact that far more people can read than a century ago, and that the local population may speak lots of different languages.S:We could include something about changes in the source of funding, too.T:Yes, but remember we're only supposed to write a short paper, so it's probably best if don't go into funding in any detail.S:Right. Well, shall we just brainstorm a few ideas, to get started?T:Ok. We obviously need to look at the impact of new technology, particularly the internet.Now that lots of books have been digitalized, people can access them form their own computers at home.S:And if everyone did that, libraries would be obsolete.T:Yes.S:But the digitalized books that are available online for free are mostly out of copyright, aren't they? And copyright in this country lasts for 70 years after the author dies.So you won't find the latest best-seller or up-to-date information.T:That's an important point.Anyway, I find it hard to concentrate when I'm reading a long text on a screen.I'd much rather read a physical book.And it takes longer to read on a screen.S:Oh, I prefer it.I suppose it's just a personal preference.T:Mm. I expected that libraries will go on evolving in the next few years.Some have already become centers where community activities take place, like local clubs meeting there.I think that'll become even more common.S:I'd like to think so, and that they'll still be serving their traditional function, but I'm not so sure. There're financial implications, after all.What I'm afraid will happen is that books and magazines will all disappear, and there'll just be rows and rows of computers.They won't look anything like the libraries we're used to.T:Well, we'll see.T:I've just had an idea.Why don't we make an in-depth study of our local public library as background to our paper?S:Yes, that'd be interesting, and raise all sorts of issues.Let's make a list of possible things we could ask about, then work out some sort of structure.For instance, um, we could interview some of the staff, and find out whether the library has its own budget, or if that's controlled by the local council.T:And what their policies are.I know they don't allow food, but I'd love to find out what types of noise they ban - there alwaysseems to be a lot of talking, but never music.I don't know if that's a policy or it just happens.S:Ah, I've often wondered.Then there are things like how the library is affected by employment laws.I suppose there are rules about working hours, facilities for staff and so on.T:Right. Then there are other issues relating to design of the building and how customers use it. Like what measures does the library take to ensure their safety?They'd need floor coverings that aren't slippery, and emergency exits, for instance.Oh, and another thing-there's the question of the kind of insurance the library needs to have, in case anyone gets injured.S:Yes, that's something else to find out.You know something I've often wondered?T:What's that?S:Well, you know they've got an archive of local newspapers going back years?Well, next to it they've got the diary of a well-known politician from the late 19th century.I wonder why it's there.Do you know what his connection was with this area?T:No idea.Let's add it to our list of things to find out.Oh, I've just thought - you know people might ask in the library about local organizations, like sports clubs?Well, I wonder if they keep a database, or whether they just look online.S:Right. I quite fancy finding out what the differences are between a library that's open to the public and one that's part of a museum, for example - they must be very different.T:Mmm. Then something else I'd like to know is…In public discussion of business, we take certain values for granted.Today, I am going to talk about four of them: collaboration, hard work, creativity and excellence. Most People would say they are all good things.I'm going to suggest that's an over-simple view.The trouble with these values is that they are theoretical concepts, removed from the reality of day-to-day business.Pursue values by all means, but be prepared for what may happen as a result.They can actually cause damage, which is not at all the intention.Business leaders generally try to do the right thing.But all too often the right thing backfires if those leaders adopt values without understanding and managing the side effects that arise.The values can easily get in the way of what is actually intended.Ok. So the first value I am going to discuss is collaboration, Er, let me give you an example.On a management training course I once attended, we were put into groups and had to construct a bridge across a stream, using building blocks that we were given.The rule was that everyone in the team had to move at least one building block during the construction.This was intended to encourage teamwork.But it was really a job best done by one person.The other teams tried to collaborate on building the structure, and descended into confusion, with everyone getting in each other's way.Our team leader solved the challenge brilliantly.She simply asked everyone in the team to move a piece a few centimeters, to comply with the rule, and then let the person in the team with an aptitude for puzzles like this build it alone.We finished before any other team.My point is that the task wasn't really suited to teamworking, so why make it one?Teamwork can also lead to inconsistency - a common cause of poor sales.In the case of a smartphone that a certain company launched, one director wanted to target the business market, and another demanded it was aimed to consumers.The company wanted both directors to be involved, so gave the product a consumer-friendly name, but marketed it to companies.The result was that it met the needs of neither group.It would have better to let one director or the other have this way, not both.Now industriousness, or hard work.It's easy to mock people who say they work hard: after all, a hamster running around in a wheel is working hard and getting nowhere.Of course hard work is valuable, but only when properly targeted.Otherwise it wastes the resources that companies value most - time and energy.And that's bad for the organization.There's a management model that groups people according to four criteria: clever, hard-working, stupid and lazy.Here 'lazy' means having a rational determination not to carry out unnecessary tasks.It doesn't mean trying to avoid work altogether.Most people display two of these characteristics, and the most valuable people are those who are both clever and lazy: they possess intellectual clarity, and they don't rush into making decisions. They come up with solutions to save the time and energy spent by the stupid and hard-working group.Instead of throwing more man-hours at a problem, the clever and lazy group looks for a more effective solution.Next we come to creativity.This often works well - creating an attention-grapping TV commercial, for example, might lead to increased sales.But it isn't always a good thing.Some advertising campaigns are remembered for their creativity, without having any effect on sales. This happened a few years ago with the launch of a chocolate bar; subsequent research showed that plenty of consumers remembered the advert, but had no idea what was being advertised.The troubles is that the creator derives pleasure from coming up with the idea, and wrongly assumes the audience for the campaign will share that feeling.A company that brings out thousands of new products may seem more creative than a company that only has a few, but it may be too creative, and make smaller profits.Creativity needs to be targeted to solve a problem that the company has identified.Just coming up with more and more novel products isn’t necessarily a good thing.And finally, excellence.We all know companies that claim they 'strive for excellence', but it takes a long time to achieve excellence.In business, being first with a product is more profitable than having the best product.A major study of company performance compared pioneers - that is, companies bringing out the first version of a particular product - with followers, the companies that copied and improved on that product.The study found that the pioneers commanded an average market share of 29 percent, while the followers achieved less than half that, only 13 percent - even though their product might have been better.Insisting on excellence in everything we do is time-consuming, wastes energy and leads to losing out on opportunities.Sometimes, second-rate work is more worthwhile than excellence."Make sure it's excellent" sounds like a good approach to business, but the "just get-started" approach is likely to be more successful.Test 6man:Good morning, Kenton Festival box office.How can I help you?woman:Oh, good morning. I'm coming to Kenton for a few days' holiday next month, and a friend told me there's a festival.She gave me this number to find out about it.man:That's right, the festival begins on the 16th of May and goes on till the 19th.woman:Oh, that's great.I'll be there from the 15th till the 19th.So could you tell me the programme, please?man:Well, on the first day, there's the opening ceremony, in the town centre.People start gathering around 2 o'clock, to get a good place to see from, and the events will start at 2.45, and finish about 5.30.woman:OK, thanks. I'll make sure I get there early to get a good spot.man:The festival will be officially opened by the mayor.He'll just speak for a few minutes, welcoming everyone to the festival.All the town councillors will be there, and of course lots of other people.woman:Right.man:Then there'll be a performance by a band.Most years we have a children's choir, but this year the local army cadets offered to perform, and they're very good.woman:Uhuh.man: After that, a community group from the town will perform a play they've written themselves, just a short one.It's about Helen Tungate.I don't know if you've heard of her?woman:I certainly have.She was a scientist years ago.man:That's right. She was born in Kenton exactly 100 years ago, so we're celebrating her centenary. woman:I'm a biologist, so I've always been interested in her.I didn't realise she came from Kenton.man:Yes. Well, all that will take place in the afternoon, and later, as the sun sets, there'll be a firework display.You should go to the park to watch, as you'll get the best view from there, and the display takes place on the opposite side of the river.It's always one of the most popular events in the festival.woman:Sounds great.woman:And what's happening on the other days?man:There are several events that go on the whole time.For example, the students of the art college have produced a number of videos, all connected with relationships between children and their grandparents.woman:That sounds interesting.It makes a change from children and parents, doesn't it!man: Exactly. Because the art college is in use for classes, throughout the festival, the videos are being shown in Handsworth House.woman:How do you spell the name?man:H-A-N-D-S-W-O-R-T-H, Handsworth House.It's close to the Town Hall.woman:Right.man:Now let me see, what else can I tell you about?woman:Are there any displays of ballet dancing?I'm particularly interested in that as I do it as a hobby.man:There isn't any ballet, I'm afraid, but there'll be a demonstration of traditional dances from all round the country.woman:Oh, that'd be nice.Where's that being held?man:It's in the market in the town centre - the outdoor one, not the covered market.And it's on at 2 and 5 every afternoon of the festival, apart from the first day.woman:Lovely. I'm interested in all kinds of dancing, so I'm sure I'll enjoy that!man:Mmm. I'm sure you will.woman:And I'd really like to go to some concerts, if there are any.man:Yes, there are several.Three performed by professionals, and one by local children.woman:And where is it being held?man:It's in the library, which is in Park Street, on the 18th, at 6.30 in the evening.woman:I presume I'll need tickets for that.man:Yes, you can book online, or you can buy them when you arrive in Kenton, either at the festival box office, or from any shops displaying our logo in the windows.woman:Well, I think that'll keep me busy for the whole of my stay in Kenton.Thank you so much for all your help.man:You're welcome, I hope you enjoy your stay.woman:Thank you. Goodbye.Right. I’ve now almost succeeded in finalising plans for our tour, so I’ll b ring you up to date with what I knowAs you know, we're flying first to Munich, on Monday the 4th.The flight is at 11.30, so it's too early to have lunch at the airport.I suggest we meet there for coffee at 10, which should give us plenty of time for breakfast before we leave home.When we arrive in Munich, we'll be met at the airport by Claus Bauer.Claus works for a tour operator, and he'll look after us for the time we'll be in Germany.He's already liaised with the managers of the theatres we're going to visit, and he's also arranged for an officer of the National Theatre in Munich to show us round the theatre one afternoon during our stay.Now last time we discussed this trip, I didn't have the precise cost for hotel rooms, but now I have. The normal rate at the hotel where we're staying is 150 euros a night for a double room.I'd hoped to get that down to 120 euros, but in fact I've been able to negotiate a rate of 110.That'll be reflected in the final payment which you'll need to make by the end of this week.On Tuesday, the day after our arrival, I had hoped we could sit in on a rehearsal at one of the theatres, but unfortunately that's proved very difficult to arrange, so instead we'll have a coach trip to one of the amazing castles in the mountains south of Munich.On Tuesday evening, we'll all have dinner together in a restaurant near our hotel.From talking to you all about your preferences, it was clear that a typical local restaurant would be too meat-oriented for some of you.Some of you suggested an Italian restaurant, but I must confess that I decided to book a Lebanese one, as we have plenty of opportunities to go to an Italian restaurant at home.On Wednesday afternoon, the director of the play we're going to see that evening will talk to us at the theatre.She'll describe the whole process of producing a play, including how she chose the actors, and, as the play we're going to see is a modern one, how she worked with the playwright.Right. Now I'd just like to make a few points about the plays we're going to see, partly because it might influence your choice of clothes to take with you!The play we're seeing on Wednesday evening is a modern one, and we're going to the premiere, so it'll be quite a dressy occasion, though of course you don't have to dress formally.I gather it's rather a multimedia production, with amazing lighting effects and a soundtrack of electronic music, though unfortunately the playwright is ill and is unlikely to be able to attend.On Thursday we're seeing a play that was first performed last year, when it was commissioned to mark a hundred years since the birth in the town of a well-known scientist.We're going to see a revival of that production, which aroused a lot of interest.Friday's play will really make you think hard about what clothes to pack, as it'll be in the garden of a palace.It's a beautiful setting, but I'd better warn you, there won't be much protection from the wind.On Saturday, we're going by coach to a theatre in another town, not far from Munich.This will be the opening of a drama festival, and the mayor and all the other dignitaries of the town will be attending.After the performance, the mayor is hosting a reception for all the audience, and there'll be a band playing traditional music of the region.And after having a day off on Sunday, our final play is on Monday, and it's in the stunning setting of the old Town Hall, which dates back to the 14th century.The performance marks the fifty years that the lead actor has been on stage, and the play is the one where he made his first professional appearance, all those years ago.And the day after that, we'll be flying back home.Now have you got any questions before I…Beth:Oh good morning. You must be James.I’m Beth Cartwright - please call me Beth.James:Thank you.Beth:Now as this is your first tutorial since you started on the Scandinavian Studies course, I'd like to find out something about you.Why did you decide to take this course?James:Well, my mother is Danish, and although we always lived in England, she used to talk about her home a lot, and that made me want to visit Denmark.We hardly ever did, though - my mother usually went on her own.But whenever her relations or friends were in England they always came to see us.Beth:I see. So I assume you already speak Danish, one of the languages you'll be studying. James:I can get by when I talk to people, though I'm not terribly accurate.Beth:Now you probably know that you'll spend the third year of the course abroad.Have you had any thoughts about that?James:I'm really looking forward to it.And although Denmark seems the obvious place to go, because of my family connections, I'd love to spend the time in Iceland.Beth:Oh, I'm sure it can be arranged.Do you have any plans for when you graduate?A lot of students go on to take a master's degree.James:I think the four years of the undergraduate course will be enough for me.I'm interested in journalism, and I quite like the idea of moving to Scandinavia and writing for magazines.I'd find that more creative than translating, which I suppose most graduates do.Beth:OK. Now how are you finding the courses you're taking this term, James?James:Well, I'm really enjoying the one on Swedish cinema.Beth:That'll continue next term, but the one on Scandinavian literature that's running at the moment will be replaced by more specialised courses.Oh, and by the way, if you're interested in watching Danish television programmes - there's going to be a course on that the term after next.James:That sounds good.Beth:Have you started thinking about the literature paper that you have to write in the next few weeks?James:Yes, my first choice would be to do something on the Icelandic sagas.Beth:Hmm. The trouble with that is that a lot of people choose that topic, and it can be difficult to get hold of the books you'll need.Why not leave that for another time?James:Right.Beth:You might find modern novels or 19th century playwrights interesting.James:I've read or seen several plays in translation, so that would be a good idea.Beth:Fine. I'll put you down for that topic.James:Right. So what would you advise me to aim at in the paper?Beth:First I suggest you avoid taking one writer and going into a great deal of detail.That approach certainly has its place, but I think you first need to get an understanding of the literature in the context of the society in which it was produced - who it was written for, how it was published, and so on.I also think that's more fruitful than placing it within the history of the genre.James:OK, that sounds reasonable.James:Could I ask for some advice about writing the paper I'm working on about the Vikings?I have to do that this week, and I'm a bit stuck.Beth:Of course. Have you decided yet what to write about?James:No, I haven't. There’s so much that seems interesting - Viking settlement in other countries, trade, mythology...Beth:Well, what I suggest is that you read an assignment a student wrote last year, which is kept in the library.It's short and well focused, and I'm sure you'll find it helpful.I'll give you the details in a moment.Textbooks usually cover so many topics, it can be very difficult to choose just one.James:OK. I've got a DVD of the film about the Vikings that came out earlier this year.Should I watch that again?Beth:If it's the one I am thinking of, hmm, I'd ignore it - it's more fantasy than reality.But I've got a recording of a documentary that you should watch.It makes some interesting and provocative points, which I think will help you to focus your topic. James:Right.James:So then should I work out an outline?Beth:Yes. Just headings for different sections, at this stage.And then you should start looking for suitable articles and books to draw on, and take notes which you organise according to those headings.James:I see.Beth:Then put short phrases and sentences as bullet points under each heading.Make sure that this skeleton makes sense and flows properly, before writing up the paper in full. James:OK. Thanks, that's very helpful.。

剑桥12 听力test 4文本－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－剑12 听力test 4 Section 1 (12-4-1)Hello, Pembroke Cycling Holidays, Bob speaking、Oh hello、I've seen your advert for people to lead cycle trips、oXApoEf。

VVXKELy。

Are you the right person to speak to?Yes, I am、Could I have your name, please?It's Margaret Smith、Are you looking for a permanent job, Margaret?No, temporary、I've got a permanent job starting in a few months' time, and I want to do something else until then、yxScPd4。

M0aAsmC。

What work do you do?This will probably sound crazy - I used to be a lawyer, and then I made a plete career change and I'm going to be a doctor、SNP7PC7。

MAoALKr。

I've just finished my training、Right、And have you had any experience of leading cycle trips?laKRSax。

W6D8niM。

Yes, I've led several bike tours in Africa、The trip to India that I had arranged to lead next month has now been cancelled,IPa4imY。

2023英语四级12月听力原文The following is the transcript for the listening section of the December 2023 English proficiency exam (CET-4) in China. Please note that this content is for reference only and should not be used for practicing actual test questions.Part I. Conversation1. W: Hey, did you hear about the new library opening on campus next week?M: Yeah, I heard about it. It’s supposed to be astate-of-the-art facility with a huge collection of books.Q: What does the man think of the new library?2. M: I’m thinking of going to the concert on Saturday. Would you like to come with me?W: I’d love to, but I already have plans for the weekend. Maybe next time.Q: What is the woman’s response to the man’s invitation?3. W: Have you seen the latest movie everyone is talking about?M: No, not yet. Is it any good?W: It’s amazing! You have to see it to believe it.Q: What does the woman think of the latest movie?4. M: I’m thinking of changing my major to Economics. What do you think?W: That’s a great idea! I think you’ll excel in that field.Q: What does the woman think of the man’s decision?5. W: I can’t find my phone anywhere! I swear I just had it a minute ago.M: Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s aro und here somewhere. Let’s look for it together.Q: What does the man suggest they do?Part II. PassageNarrator: Good morning, everyone. Today I’m going to talk about the importance of time management for students. As a student, you have to balance your academic responsibilities with your personal life, and having good time management skills is essential for success. One way to improve your time management is to create a schedule and prioritize your tasks. This will help you stay organized and focused on what needs to be done. Another tip is to avoid procrastination as much aspossible. Procrastinating will only lead to unnecessary stress and poor performance. Lastly, make sure to take breaks and relax during your study sessions. It’s important t o give your brain time to rest and recharge. Remember, managing your time effectively is the key to academic success.Q: According to the passage, what is important for students to balance?Q: What is one tip for improving time management mentioned in the passage?Q: Why is it important for students to take breaks during study sessions?This is the end of the listening section. Please turn to the next page for the reading and writing sections. Thank you.。

2012年12月四级英语听力真题原文（第一套）College English Test Band 4Short Conversation11.W: Have you finished that painting for the new student center?M: Just this morning. I’ve been working extra hours all week. You know, the building opens tomorrow.Q: What does the man mean?12.M: Do you sell camping gear?W: Yes, we have tents, sleeping bags, just about everything you might need, including stoves.Q: What is the man probably going to do?13.M: Hi Jenny. Have you talked to Mr. Wright about the new sports program?W: Well, I contacted his office half an hour ago, and his secretary said he was out for lunch until 2:00.Q: What does the woman mean?14.M: Bill says he’s not working so hard on his biology project.W: But he spends a lot of time in the lab, doesn’t he?Q: What does the woman imply about Bill?15.M: I have to say I find the new smoking regulations too strict.W: Well, they are for everyone’s health. I have no complaints.Q: What are the speakers talking about?16.W: Jack asked me to drop off this report. He’s tied up in meetings all morning.M: I was hoping he brings it in himself. I need to talk with him about it.Q: Why can’t Jack come in person?17.M: Should we invite Mr. Smith to join us for dinner this weekend? He’s just come backfrom England.W: You can have a try, but as far as I know, he seldom accepts invitations from his employees.Q: What can we infer about Mr. Smith?18.W: This place doesn’t look familiar at all. We must be lost.M: Yeah, it seems so. Let’s pull in here. While I’m filling the tank, you g o ask the way and get me something to drink, please.Q: What is the man going to do first?Long Conversation 1M: Well, did you enjoy it?W: Yes, I enjoy it much more than I thought I would.M: Really?W: Yes, I don’t usually go to science fiction films. I don’t think they are much better than comics on film, if you know what I mean.M: yes, sure. And a few years ago, they were certainly like that. But they’ve got a lot better now. W: Yes, and historical films–that’s what I really like. I never miss a goo d film set in the Middle Ages. Oh, and love stores—I never miss one on TV.M: Funnily enough, I don’t like those kinds of films at all. But to come back to this one, I personally didn’t think it was very good. It certainly wasn’t as good as other science f iction filmsI’ve seen/W: Wasn’t it?M: No, not at all. Oh, the effects were very good.W: Yes, I thought they were marvelous, especially the battle in space, incredible.M: Yes, but I was going to say I thought the acting was terrible.W: Yes, I suppose Jason was too good to be true. And what was the name of baddy?M: Cargon?W: Yeah, Cargon was really evil, wasn’t he? But I suppose that’s what these films are all about—good triumphing over evil. And the characters have to be black and white.M: Well, yes, but not always. War of worlds wasn’t like that, for example. Anyway, you enjoyed the film. That’s most important.W: Yes, I did. Thanks for taking me.19. What does the man say about science fiction films?20. What opinion do the speakers share about the film they have just seen?21. What do we learn about Jason and Cargon?Long Conversation 2M: Can I ask you about your evening class? What class do you go to?W: Car maintenance.M: What night of the week is it on?W: Wednesday night.M: And how long does it last?W: Well, it's supposed to start at 6:00, but that's a bit of problem because people have difficulty getting through the traffic. So we start at 6:30 and then it goes on until 9 o'clock.M: And what was your reason for wanting to do the class?W: Wel, I just bought my first car and I don't know anything about the cars. So I thought it was a good opportunity to learn. I guess most people in the class are in the same situation.M: Um, and what do you actually do? Do you bring the car along to the class?W: Yes, we do. And in the first part of the lesson, the first half hour, hte man who runs the class will go though some particular part of the car, and we'll learn about it. And then we spend the rest of the time, actually working on our own cars, the same problem.M: And how many peope are there in the class?W: Um, I think 16, but three quarters of them are women. It's quite interesting because the man is obviously used to teaching men. And he always starts his sentence by saying, "Wow, you chaps will know..." And then he stops and says,"Oh, and you women, you ladies, but...er..."M: Um, sounds funny.22. What does the woman say about her evening class?23. Why did the woman want ot attend the class?24. What do the peopl who attend the class do in the first part of the lesson?25. What do we learn about the participants in the class?Passage OneWe don't choose friends on the basis of how much money they have, of course, but vast differences can be disturbing to both sides. Erin, for example, is single, and earns a very good salary. Her friend, Pat, a divorced mother of three, is struggling to make ends meet. " We are both frequent theater-goers," Erin explains, " and I'd glady par for two tickets, just to have Pat'scompany at plays in concerts, but she won't go anywhere unless she can pay her own way.I hate to go alone, so we both stay home. It all seems so silly." Pat sees the situation differently. After an unhappy marriage to a man who tried to control her without considering her wishes and feelings, she says, "it's very important to me to carry my own weight. I'm not comfortable in any relationship where all I do is take."The difficult situation finally changed when Erin moved recently. Pat's children were with their father, so she took a picnic lunchto her friend's new place, then spent the day helping her unpack and get settled."I was so grateful," Erin says, "that I persuaded Pat to let me return the favour in my own way with season tickets to our little theater group. I think she's beginning to recognize that she contributes as much to our friendship as I do."26. What do we learn about Pat?27. What draws Erin and Pat together?28. What does Erin do to return Pat's favor?29. What do we learn about friendship from the passage?Passage TwoSun school in the won of Ashbert in England is a day school for children aged 10 to 18. It is based on the value of social equality between students and staff, and has few rules. Sun School believes that the healthy growth of a child is more important than academic success. It offers a variety of lessons and activities for students to choose from and free time for children to follow their own interests. Classes are small, and based on the individual needs of each child. The imetable is fixed, but democratically decided, and students makes all the decisions that affect the school, including rules, the timetable adn accepting or rejecting new stuents and teachers.Participating in these meetings gives the children an understanding of democratic decision-making and helps them develop their skills of augument and persuation. The most important advantage of the school meeting is that it shows the children that the school is really theirs. They have the right to decide on changes. And the school's success or failure depends on their decisions and their behavior.Sun School employs no cooking or cleaning staff. These jobs are done by students and teachers. Decorating and simple repairs are also done by the students. It is believed that for the school to truly belong to those who use it, they must take responsibility for its maintenance.30. What value is Sun Scholl based on?31. What is characteristic of the school's decision-making process?32. Why does Sun School ask students to do its maintenance?Passage ThreeWell, to continue, as I mentioned earlier, there is also research that demonstrates that individuals perform worse, not better, on tasks when other people are there. R. W. Harburt did an interesting experiment. He had his subjects learn a finger maze. Thi is a game in which you indicate with your finger the way through a complex system of passages or paths. The subjects who had an audience did worse than the subjects who did alone.Now how can we explain these very different results? It seemed very confusing for a long time. Social psychologist, John Roberts, finally cleared up the confusion about why people sometimes perform better and sometimes worse in front of an audience. Roberts found that the presence of an audience facilitates what you already know how to do. That is, if you know what you are doing,having an audience helps you do it better. But if you don't already know how to do something, you will probably make some mistakes and you will make mistakes for a longer time if you have an audience. That's exactly what happened to the subjects who were learning the finger maze.So, if you are doing well, having an audience increases the chances that you will continue to do well. If you are doing badly, having an audience increase the chances that you will continue to do badly. Roberts cleverly pointed out that when you are first learning something, you are better off working alone than practicing with other people.33. What did the speaker probably discuss before coming to this part of the talk?34. When does the presence of an audience facilitate your performance according to Roberts?35. What does Roberts think is a better way to learn new things?。

2023年12月大学英语四级参考真题（第一套）Section Anetworks are still in testing and trial phases.This means that a 5G network may not yet be stable enough to work on the moon’s surface.Question1: What are scientists planning to do?Question2: Why did scientists choose to set up a 4G network in their mission?News Report TwoFirefighters responded to a fire Wednesday night at an abandoned mall in Heywood.The fire was reported at 9:26 p.m.at an old shopping center on Michigan Avenue near St.Mary’s Church.Six fire engines, two trucks and two chiefs responded to the scene.Crews had the fire under control in about 45 minutes and managed to contain the fire to its point of origin.There were some people inside the building when the fire broke out, (3) but there were no reports of any injuries.Fire investigators have responded to the scene but have not yet determined the cause of the fire.Firefighters will remain on the scene until later this morning to ensure that the fire doesn’t start up again.The shopping mall had not been in use since 2023.(4)In 2023,Question6: Why does Japan limit the import of potatoes？Question7: What might affect Japanese domestic produce？Section BConversation OneM: (8) Mr.Brown’s lectures are so boring.W: Yes, he is not a very exciting speaker.But the subject is interesting.M: During every one of his lectures, I try to listen.I really try.But after about 10 minutes my mind begins to wander and I lose concentration.But I see that you seem to be OK.How do you stay focused through the entire hour?W: Well, (9-1) what I do is keep my pen moving.M: What do you mean?W: It’s a method of active concentration I read about.(9-2)One of the most effective ways to concentrate is to write things down.But it has to be done by hand, not typing on a keyboard.You see writing by hand forces you to actually engage with what you’re learning in a more physical way.M: Do you review your notes afterwards then?W: Sometimes, but that’s not important.My notes may or may not be useful but the point is that by writing down what Mr.Brand says I can follow his line of thinking more easily.In fact, sometimes I draw a little too.M: You draw in class and that helps me pay attention?W: (10) Yes, honestly it works for me.I just draw little lines and nonsense really.It was also in that article I read.It can keep the mind active, prevent getting bored and help to concentrate.Again the point is to listen hard while keeping the pen moving.（11） If I’m at home and I need to study what I do is read out loud.It has a similar effect to writing by hand.It helps memorize information in a physical way.Question8: What does the man think of Mr.Brown’s lectures?Question9: What does the woman do during Mr.Brown’s lectures?Question10: Why does the woman draw in class?Question11: What does the woman say about reading out loud?Conversation TwoM: And where is this?W: These photos are from the Taj Mahal in India.(12)We went there about ten years ago for our honeymoon.M: Was it romantic.W: Yeah.The Taj Mahal was a very romantic place.The guide told us there is a famous love story behind this building that all Indians learn in school.(13)I think it was during the 1600 and the princess at that time died while giving birth to her 14th child.The Emperor loved the princess so much and was so sad when she died that he ordered the palace to be built in her honor.M: Wow.That sounds very romantic.It looks amazing.W: Yes, it’s gorgeous.It’s also larger in real life than it looks in the photos.The building is very tall and there are gardens in a wall around it all.It’s all built in this white stone (14)And some walls of the building are decorated with jewels.M: It must have been very crowded when you were there.W: Yes, it’s a very famous tourist destination.So there are thousands of visitors every day.M: Was the rest of India crowded?W: Yes, very crowded in many cities.It was sometimes so crowded that it was difficult to walk along the streets especially through busy markets.And there are so many cars.Traffic was terrible but the people were friendly.The culture is amazing and we had a great time.M: What about the food?W: The Indian food is great.There are lots of different dishes to try and every region has its own special food.Question12: For what purpose did the woman go to India?Question13: Why was the Taj Mahal built?Question14: What does the woman say about the Taj Mahal?Question15: what is the woman’s impression of Indian cities?Section CPassage OneA Pew Research Center survey of more than 1000 Americans conducted in April 2023 finds that Americans continue to express largely positive views about the current state of their local public libraries.(16)For instance, around three quarters say that public libraries provide them with the resources they need.And 66% say the closing of their local public library would have a major impact on their community.Although notably just 33% say this would have a major impact on them personally or on their family.A majority of Americans feel libraries are doing a good job of providing a safe place for people to hang out or spend time as well as opening up educational opportunities for people of all ages (17)And roughly half think their librariescontribute “a lot” to their communities in terms of helping spark creativity among young people. And providing a trusted place for people to learn about new technologies.As in past Pew Research Center surveys of library use the April 2023 survey also measured Americans usage of and engagement with libraries.Overall, 53% of Americans ages 16 and older have had some interaction with the puppet library in the past year either through an in person visit or using a library website (18) Some 48% of adults specifically visited a library in the past 12 months, a modest increase from the 44% who said that in late 2023.Question16: What do most Americans say about local public libraries?Question17: How can local public libraries benefit young people?Question18: What does the 2023 survey show about adult library users?partnership between parents and teachers.A child’s year splits fairly neatly into thirds: a third at school, a third asleep and a third awake at home or onholiday.(25)Irrespective of the quality of a school, a child’s home life is of key importance.It is the determining factor of their academic success.Your child may have started on a new journey but your work is far from finished.Question22: How do parents feel when their children start going to school?Question23: What does the passage say about children’s education?Question24: What should parents do for the success of their children’s education?Question25: What does the passage say is the key factor of children’s academic success?。

Section 11. Why was the woman visiting Cambridge? A. To take a walk along the River Cam B. To visit the Fitzwilliam Museum C. To see the Corpus Christi College Chapel Answer: C2. What did the woman like about the Corpus Christi College Chapel? A. The stained glass windows B. The wooden carvings C. The vaulted ceiling Answer: A3. What are the hours of the Fitzwilliam Museum? A. 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday B. 11am-6pm, Monday-Saturday C. 12pm-7pm, Wednesday-Friday Answer: A4. What type of art does the Fitzwilliam Museum have? A. Ancient Egyptian artifacts B. Renaissance paintings C. Modern sculptures Answer: B5. What is the name of the woman’s friend? A. Sarah B. Jessica C. Emily Answer: ASection 26. What is the name of the company that the man works for? A. GreenTech B. EcoTech C. CleanTech Answer: A7. What is the name of the project that the man is working on? A. The Green Building Project B. The Sustainable Energy Project C. The Carbon Footprint Reduction Project Answer: A8. What is the purpose of the project? A. To design and construct a new office building that is environmentally friendly B. To retrofit an existing office building to make it more energy-efficient C. To develop new technologies for reducing carbon emissions Answer: A9. What are some of the features of the new office building? A. Solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and natural ventilation B. Geothermal heating and cooling, and LED lighting C. Double-glazed windows, and low-flow plumbing fixtures Answer: A10. When is the project expected to be completed? A. In 2023 B. In 2024 C. In 2025 Answer: BSection 311. What is the name of the woman who is giving the lecture? A. Dr. Sarah JonesB. Dr. Jessica SmithC. Dr. Emily Brown Answer: A12. What is the topic of the lecture? A. The history of the English language B. The structure of the English language C. The evolution of the English language Answer: C13. What are the three main periods in the history of the English language? A. Old English, Middle English, and Modern English B. Anglo-Saxon, Norman, and Middle English C. Old English, Norman, and Modern English Answer: A14. What are some of the features of Old English? A. It used a lot of Latin words B. It had a complex system of noun declensions C. It was spoken by the Anglo-Saxons Answer: C15. What are some of the features of Middle English? A. It was influenced by Norman French B. It was spoken by the Normans C. It used a lot of Old English words Answer: ASection 416. What is the name of the man who is giving the talk? A. Professor John SmithB. Professor David BrownC. Professor Michael Jones Answer: C17. What is the topic of the talk? A. The history of the computer B. The evolution of the computer C. The future of the computer Answer: C18. What were some of the early computers like? A. They were large and expensive B. They were slow and unreliable C. They used vacuum tubes Answer: C 19. What are some of the recent advances in computer technology? A. The development of microprocessors B. The invention of the internet C. The rise of artificial intelligence Answer: C20. What does the speaker predict the future of computers will be like? A. Computers will become smaller and more powerful B. Computers will become more integrated into our lives C. Computers will eventually become sentient Answer: B。

12月英语四级考试听力原文Part 1 短对话Question 1- M：Do you remember the wonderful film on space exploration we watched together last month?- W：Sure。

It’s actually the most impressive one I’ve seen on that topic。

Q：What do we learn about the speakers?A) They admire the courage of space explorers.B) They enjoyed the movie on space exploration.C) They were going to watch a wonderful movie.D) They like doing scientific exploration very much.Question 2- W： Are you looking for anything in particular?- M：Yes. My son is graduating from high school，and I want to get him something special.Q：Where does the conversation most probably take place?A) At a gift shop.B) At a graduation ceremony.C) In the office of a travel agency.D) In a school library.Question 3- M： Mike told me yesterday that he had been looking in vain for a job in the art gallery.- W： Really? If I remember right， he had a chance to work there， but he turned it down。

Cet412月听力原文、答案与详解12月Cet-4听力原文、答案与详解Part III Listening ComprehensionSECTION A11. A) The man should visit the museums.B) S he can’t stand the hot weather.C) The beach resort is a good choice.D) She enjoys staying in Washington.M: Oh my god! The heat is simply unbearable here. I wish we’ve gone to the beach instead.W: Well, with the museums and restaurants in Washington I’ll be happy here no matter what the temperature.Q: What does the woman mean?答案：D解析：Woman最后说到I’ll be happy here no matter what the temperature. 这表明了她待在这里很愉快，很享受待在华盛顿，故选D。

12. A) Her new responsibilities in the company.B) W hat her job prospects are.C) What the customers’ feedback is.D) The director’s opinion of her work.M: How’s the new job going?W: Well, I’m learning a lo t of new things, but I wish the director would give me some feedback.Q: What does the woman want to know?答案：D解析：Woman说到but I wish the director would give me some feedback. 这表明了她希望得到director的意见(即反馈)，故选D。