Archive四月 2018

2017年06月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

News Report 1
One of Google’s self-driving cars crashed into a bus in California last month. There were no injuries. It is not the first time one of Google’s famed self-driving cars has been involved in a crash, but it may be the first time it has caused one. On February 14th the self-driving car, travelling at 2mph (3km/h), pulled out in front of a public bus going 15mph (24km/h). The man in the Google vehicle reported that he assumed the bus would slow down to let the car out, and so he did not switch to the manual mode. In a statement, Google said: “We clearly bear some responsibility, because if our car hadn’t moved, there wouldn’t have been a crash.” That said, “our test driver believed the bus was going to slow or stop to allow us to merge into the traffic, and that there would be sufficient space to do that.” The company’s self-driving cars have done well over a million miles across various states in the US, and until now have only reported minor accidents.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: According to Google, what was the cause of the accident?
Question 2: How have Google’s self-driving cars performed so far?

1.
A) The man in the car was absent-minded.
B) The test driver made a wrong judgement.
C) The self-driving system was faulty.
D) The car was moving at a fast speed.

2.
A) They have done better than conventional cars.
B) They have caused several severe crashes.
C) They have posed a threat to other drivers.
D) They have generally done quite well.

News Report 2
Thousands of bees left a town after landing on the back of a car when their queen got stuck in its boot. Tom Moses who works at a nearby national park, noticed a “brown patch” on the back of the car after the owner parked it to do some shopping. When he looked closer, he realized it was a huge group of bees. Moses said: “I have never seen that many bees in one spot. It was very unusual. They were very close together and there was a lot of noise and movements. It was interesting to see such a strange sight. But there were a lot of people around and I was a bit worried about the bees and the people stopping to look. I thought that someone might do something stupid.” Moses called two local bees specialists who helped removed the bees by attracting them into a box. Moses spent three hours looking after the bees and was stung five times. He said, “My stings are a bit painful but I am pleased that all worked out and I could help. People need to realize that bees are valuable and they should be looked after.”
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What do we learn about Tom Moses?
Question 4: What do we know about the bees on the back of the car?

3.
A) He works at a national park.
B) He is a queen been specialist.
C) He removed the beyond from the boot.
D) He drove the bees away from his car.

4.
A) They were looking after the queen.
B) They were making a lot of noise.
C) They were looking for a new box to live in.
D) They were dancing in a unique way.

News Report 3
A new species of snake has been discovered on a remote island in the Bahamas. Scientists identified 20 of the one meter-long snakes during two trips to the Caribbean islands. The second trip was made in October last year. One of the creatures made a dramatic appearance by moving on to the head of the team leader as he slept. The snake has been named silver boa because it is metallic colored and the first specimen found was climbing a silver palm tree. The team was led by Dr. Graham Reynolds, from Harvard University, the scientist confirmed the snake was a previously unknown species after conducting a genetic analysis of tissue samples. Commenting on the find, snake expert Robert Henderson from the Museum of Natural History said: “Worldwide new species of frogs are being discovered and described quite regularly. New species of snakes, however, are much rarer.”
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What is the news report mainly about?
Question 6: What do we learn about the scientific team leader?
Question 7: How did the newly discovered creature get its name?

5.
A) The discovery of a new species of snake.
B) The second trip to a small remote island.
C) The finding of 2 new species of frog.
D) The latest test on rare animal species.

6.
A) A poisonous snake attacked him on his field trip.
B) He discovered a rare fog on a deserted.
C) A snake crawled onto his head in his sleep.
D) He fell from a tall palm tree by accident.

7.
A) From its genes.
B) From its length.
C) From its origin.
D) From its colour.

Section B
Direction: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Conversation 1
W: Did you enjoy your stay with us, Mr. Brown?
M: Yes, very much. I had a wonderful time here. Now I’m going to the airport. My flight leaves in less than 2 hours. So, could you tell me, what’s the quickest way to get there?
W: Well, we can call a taxi for you. We also have a free airport shuttle service.
M: That sounds great, but will the shuttle get me to the airport in time?
W: Yes, it should. The next shuttle leaves in 15 minutes. And it takes some 25 minutes to get to the airport.
M: Fantastic! I’ll just wait in the lobby. Will you please let me know when it’s leaving?
W: Of course, sir.
M: Now I would like to settle my mini-bar bill. How much is that?
W: Let’s see. It comes to $37.50. How would you like to pay for it?
M: I’ll pay with my credit card. Thanks. But I’ll need a receipt, so I can charge it to my company.
W: Absolutely! Here you are, sir. If you like, I can leave your bags with the porter. And he can load them onto the shuttle for you when it arrives.
M: That would be great. Thank you.
W: Would you like to leave a comment on our web page when you have time?
M: Sure. I had a really good stay here, and I’d like to recommend your hotel to my friends and colleagues.
W: That’s very kind of you. Thank you again for staying at Sheraton Hotel.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: Why does the man ask about the quickest way to the airport?
Question 9: How is the man going to pay his bill?
Question 10: What did the man ask the woman to do?
Question 11: What favor does the woman ask of the man?

8.
A) The security check takes time.
B) He has to check a lot of luggage.
C) His flight is leaving in less than 2 hours.
D) The airport is a long way from the hotel.

9.
A) In cash.
B) By credit card.
C) With a traveler’s check.
D) With his smart phone.

10.
A) Give him a receipt.
B) Confirm his flight.
C) Look after his luggage.
D) Find a porter for him.

11.
A) Signing up for membership of S Hotel.
B) Staying in the same hotel next time he comes.
C) Loading her luggage onto the airport shuttle.
D) Posting a comment on the hotel’s webpage.

Conversation 2
M: You know, Ben’s given up making those terrible faces he used to make. The other day, he came home from school almost in tears. His teacher said if he went on like that, his face would get stuck when the winds changed.
W: And he believed her?
M: Yeah, he’s only a little boy. Don’t you remember all those things we used to believe when we were little? I remember my aunt Mary used to say if you swallow a cherrystone, a tree would grow out of your mouth. And I’m still terrified today, sort of subconsciously. You know, if I swallow one by mistake…
W: Yeah, I suppose you’re right. The one that used to get me was that swans could break your leg when they blow of the wing.
M: They can, can’t they? I always thought they could.
W: No, they are not that strong. But there’s another one even more terrifying. That is, if you put a post stamp on upside down, you will go to prison.
M: No, never heard of that. But my grandmother was a terror for that kind of thing. For example, she would say, you will get a spot on your tongue if you tell a lie. If you eat stale bread, your hair will curl. And here’s one more. We went on a camping trip once in Italy, and my wife spent the whole time worrying about bats getting into her hair. She said her grandmother reckoned you had to shave your head to get it out. My wife was really terrified.
W: Silly, isn’t it? But that’s how some parents try to keep their kids from doing the wrong thing or getting into trouble.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What does the man say about Ben?
Question 13: What did aunt Marry used to do when the man was a child?
Question 14: What does the woman believe swans could do?
Question 15: What did the grandmother of the man’s wife say?

12.
A) He is the only boy in his family.
B) He becomes tearful in wind.
C) He has stopped making terrible faces.
D) He is his teacher’s favorite student.

13.
A) Tell him to play in her backyard.
B) Do something funny to amuse him.
C) Give him some cherry stones to play with.
D) Warn him of danger by making up a story.

14.
A) They could break people’s legs.
B) They could sometimes terrify adults.
C) They could fly against a strong wind.
D) They could knock people unconscious.

15.
A) One would get a spot on their tongues if they told a lie deliberately.
B) One would have to shave their head to remove a bat in their hair.
C) One would go to prison if they put a stamp on upside down.
D) One would have curly hair if they ate too much stale bread.

Section C
Direction: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Passage 1
If I could go back in history and live when I liked, I wouldn’t go back very far. In fact, I’d like to relive a period I’ve already lived—the 1960s. I was in my twenties, and everything was being renewed. People were coming out of a formal and almost Victorian attitude, and you really felt anything was possible. Meeting people was the thing, and you went to coffee bars where you met friends and spent the evening. The cinema, the theater, all that was every exciting with new things coming out. In fact, we seemed to be out, all the time! I don’t really remember working—of course, I was a student—or sitting around at home very much. That just wasn’t where the scene was, even eating! It was the first time, ordinary people started going out to eat. We were beginning to be adventurous about food, but we were more interested in meeting people than in eating or drinking. And dress, yes, that was the revolution. I mean, girls went around in really short skirts, and wore flowers in their hair. And men were in jeans, and could wear their hair long too. It was a wonderful period. It was like living in an age you could never have imagined, and that never has come back. We didn’t have much money, but it didn’t matter. And there was plenty of opportunity to do whatever you felt like doing.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: Why does the speaker say he would like to relive the 1960s?
Question 17: What does the speaker say was the most popular thing to do at that time?
Question 18: What do we learn about the speaker?

16.
A) Everything seemed to be changing.
B) People were formal and disciplined.
C) People were excited to go travelling overseas.
D) Things from the Victorian era came back alive.

17.
A) Watching TV at home.
B) Meeting people.
C) Drinking coffee.
D) Trying new foods.

18.
A) He was interested in stylish dresses.
B) He was able to take a lot of money.
C) He was a young student in the 1960s.
D) He was a man full of imagination.

Passage 2
Dogs, man’s best friends, have a clear strategy for dealing with angry owners—they look away. New research shows that dogs limit their eye contact with angry humans. The scientists suggest this may be an attempt to calm humans down. This behavior may have evolved as dogs gradually learned they could benefit from avoiding conflicts with humans. To conduct the tests, the University of Helsinki researchers trained 31 dogs to rest in front of a video screen. Facial photos of dogs and humans were displayed on the screen for 1.5 seconds. They showed threatening, pleasant and neutral expressions. Nearby cameras tracked the dogs’ eye movements. Dogs in the study looked most at the eyes of humans and other dogs to sense their emotions. When dogs looked at expressions of angry dogs, their eyes rested more on the mouth, perhaps to interpret the threatening expressions. And when looking at angry humans, they tended to turn away their gaze. Dogs may have learned to detect threat signs from humans and respond by trying to make peace, according to researcher Sanni Somppi. Avoiding conflicts may have helped dogs develop better bonds with humans. The researchers also note that dogs scan faces as a whole to sense how people are feeling, instead of focusing on a given feature. They suggest this indicates that dogs aren’t sensing emotions from a single feature, but piecing together information from all facial features just as humans do.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What do dogs do when they are faced with angry humans?
Question 20: What does a dog do when it sees the expressions of angry dogs?
Question 21: How does a dog sense people’s feelings?

19.
A) They avoid looking at them.
B) They run away immediately.
C) They show anger on their faces.
D) They make threatening sounds.

20.
A) It turns to its owner for help.
B) It turns away to avoid conflict.
C) It looks away and gets angry, too.
D) It focuses its eyes on their mouths.

21.
A) By observing their facial features carefully.
B) By focusing on a particular body movement.
C) By taking in their facial expressions as a whole.
D) By interpreting different emotions in different ways.

Passage 3
Winter in many places is very cold. There is lots of snow around, and the ground freezes, which can make life difficult for animals. People in cold places live in warm houses and have learned to adapt. What do animals do? There are three main ways that animals survive the cold in winter: sleep, adapt or migrate. Some animals, such as bears, frogs and snakes, sleep all winter. They sleep very deeply and need little or no food. While sleeping, their body temperature drops, and their heart beat slows down. To prepare for this before winter, these animals eat extra food to become fat, which gives them the energy they need while they sleep. Other animals adapt. For example, by staying active in winter. It is often hard for them to find food. So some animals, such as mice, collect extra food before winter, and hide it. When winter comes, they return to their hiding places to eat the food. Some animals grow thicker fur, or live in tree holes or underground to stay warm. Some birds migrate by flying to a warmer place for the winter, where they can find more food. Some fly very long distances, including one kind of bird that flies from the remote north of the world, all the way to the distant south. Some birds fly in groups for safety, while others fly alone.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the speaker say about animals in winter?
Question 23: What do we learn about animals that sleep through winter?
Question 24: How do animals like mice adapt to the severe winter?
Question 25: Why do some birds fly in groups when migrating, according to the speaker?

22.
A) They have to look for food and shelter underground.
B) They take little notice of the changes in temperature.
C) They resort to different means to survive the bitter cold.
D) They have difficulty adapting to the changed environment.

23.
A) They have their weight reduced to minimum.
B) They consume the energy stored before the long sleep.
C) They can maintain their heart beat at the normal rate.
D) They can keep their body temperature warm and stable.

24.
A) By staying in hiding places and eating very little.
B) By seeking food and shelter in people’s houses.
C) By growing thicker hair to stay warm.
D) By storing enough food beforehand.

25.
A) To stay safe.
B) To save energy.
C) To keep company.
D) To protect the young.

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2017年06月英语四级第2套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

News Report 1
Automakers and tech companies are working hard to offer the first true self-driving car, but 75% of drivers say they wouldn’t feel safe in such a vehicle. Still, 60% of drivers would like to get some kind of self-driving feature, such as automatic braking or self-parking, the next time they buy a new car. The attitudes are published in a new AAA (Triple A) survey of 1,800 drivers. Advocates of self-driving cars argue they would be safer than cars driven by humans because they wouldn’t get distracted or drive when tired. But those surveyed by AAA say they trust their own driving skills. Many feel the technology is too new and unproven. John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of automotive engineering and repair, said tests suggest drivers may be overestimating their own abilities. He also believes they will be more likely to trust self-driving cars as they become more familiar with features such as automatic braking or parking. He estimated that the “comfort level” will increase considerably in five to ten years.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What is the finding of the AAA survey?
Question 2: What does John Nielsen say about self-driving cars?

1.
A) The majority of drivers prefer to drive and park themselves.
B) Human drivers become easily distracted or tired while driving.
C) Most drivers feel uncertain about the safety of self-driving cars.
D) Most drivers have test driven cars with automatic braking features.

2.
A) Their drivers would feel safe after getting used to the automatic devices.
B) They would be unpopular with drivers who only trust their own skills.
C) Their increased comfort levels have boosted their sales.
D) They are not actually as safe as automakers advertise.

News Report 2
One dog has been killed and multiple dogs have been injured by a snowmobile driver in what appears to be an intentional attack on competitors in the Iditarod Race in Alaska. Aliy Zirkle was the first to report an attack. A snowmobile driver had repeatedly attempted to harm her and her team, and one of Zirkle’ s dogs had received a non-life-threatening injury. Zirkle reported the attack when she arrived in Nulato, Alaska, in the early hours of the morning. Then Jeff King, a four-time champion, reported a similar attack. His team was hit by a snowmobile driver, injuring several dogs and killing a 3-year-old male dog. Reporter Zachariah Hughes says that neither King nor Zirkle was injured. Although this incident very much alters the race of the two participants competing for a win, both are going to continue on their way toward the finishing line. Alaska State Troopers released a statement saying they’ve arrested Arnold Demoski. He faces a trial on several charges.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What is the news report mainly about?
Question 4: What do we learn about Jeff King?

3.
A) Thefts of snowmobile dogs in Alaska.
B) A series of injuries to snowmobile drivers.
C) Attacks on some Iditarod Race competitors.
D) A serious accident in the Alaska sports event.

4.
A) He stayed behind to look after his injured dogs.
B) He has won the Alaska Iditarod Race four times.
C) He received a minor injury in the Iditarod Race.
D) He has quit the competition in Alaska for good.

News Report 3
A tour boat turned over off the coast of Nicaragua, killing at least 13 people and leaving more passengers missing, officials said. The boat was carrying 32 people—25 Costa Ricans, four Americans and three Nicaraguans. The 13 dead were all Costa Rican, the foreign ministry said. The boat, traveling between Nicaragua’s Big Com Island and Little Com Island, turned over Saturday near the larger island. Some passengers remain missing, the Costa Rican foreign ministry said, but did not specify how many. A local radio said an unspecified number of people were rescued, including the tour boat’s owner, Hilario Blandon. Nicaraguan naval authorities had banned sea travel in the area because of bad weather and strong winds, but the tour boat proceeded anyway. Blandon, the boat’s owner, has been arrested by Nicaraguan authorities, the state-run news agency said. Both he and a crew member, are being investigated for unintentional murder and exposing people to danger, according to police.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What happened to the tour boat sailing off the Nicaraguan coast?
Question 6: How many people was the boat carrying?
Question 7: What do we know about the owner of the boat?

5.
A) It sank into the sea due to overloading.
B) It ran into Nicaragua’s Big Corn Island.
C) It disappeared between two large islands.
D) It turned over because of strong winds.

6.
A) 13.
B) 25.
C) 30.
D) 32.

7.
A) He has helped with the rescue effort.
B) He is being investigated by the police.
C) He was drowned with the passengers.
D) He is among those people missing.

Section B
Direction: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Conversation 1
M: Hi, Susan! You’re looking very smart today.
W: I always look smart, James. Actually I’m on my way to a job interview.
M: What job? Oh, you mean for the summer holidays?
W: Yeah, there is only two weeks to go. I’ve got a second interview with that big foreign accountancy firm in the city center. You know the one.
M: That’s fantastic!
W: The work is just helping out with the data input, you know, but the pay isn’t too bad. It might suit you too. I know they have released two temporary positions available. And I don’t think they have anyone else yet.
M: Um, if they take you on, tell them you know a friend who’d be really good too. I really need the money and the experience will look good on my resume. Maybe we’ll be working together, the dream team.
W: OK, we’ll do. If the boss likes me, I’ll mention it. It will be good to have someone around who I know. I’ll phone you afterwards. But perhaps you should put in an application anyway.
M: Thanks, Susan. That’s great! Listen, do you want a lift to the city? I have my dad’s car today and nothing else to do this morning.
W: Sure. Thanks, James.
M: Let’s go then. The car is over there.
W: By the way, how is your knowledge of accountancy? The interviewer may ask you about it.
M: No problem. I think I can survive. I might just have to review a few accountancy terms. Maybe you can give me a practicing interview first.
W: Of course. Let’s go then. Don’t want to be late!
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: Where will Susan probably get a job?
Question 9: What will Susan’s future job involve?
Question 10: Why does James want the job in that company?
Question 11: What does James say he will have to do to prepare for the interview?

8.
A) At a shopping centre.
B) At a community college.
C) At an accountancy firm.
D) At an IT company.

9.
A) Helping out with data input.
B) Arranging interviews.
C) Sorting application forms.
D) Making phone calls.

10.
A) He enjoys using computers.
B) He needs the money badly.
C) He wants to work in the city centre.
D) He has relevant working experience.

11.
A) Purchase some business suits.
B) Learn some computer language.
C) Improve his programming skills.
D) Review some accountancy terms.

Conversation 2
W: There is new data out today that confirms that many Americans are not good at math. And when it comes to everyday technology skills, we are did last compared to other developed countries. Here is Gabriele Emanuel of National Public Radio.
M: Let’s start with the bad news that Americans are terrible at technology skills, using email, naming a file on the computer, using the link on a webpage or just texting someone.
W: No country scored below the U.S.?
M: Only one country, Poland performed as poorly as we did. Who came out the first? Japan did the best and then Finland. If you look at data about reading and math, you’ll notice something interesting. Younger adults who went to college or graduate school were doing pretty well. In literacy, they were actually doing better than the peers in any other countries.
W: So that’s a bit of good news!
M: But when you look at Americans who have a high school diploma, they look a lot like other countries’ high school dropouts. We have a lot of work to do. That’s especially true when it comes to math. You go to the store and there is a sale. Buy one, get the second one, half off. You decide to buy two, how much do you pay?
W: You mean high school graduates cannot do this task in general?
M: You are right. What does that tell us about our education system? Well, it tells us that we need to think about the preparedness of our students as they are leaving high school.
W: Right. And schools, employers, in fact, we all need to do something about it. Thank you, Gabriel.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What does the man say about Americans?
Question 13: Who performed the best in technology skills according to the man?
Question 14: In what aspect did American college students perform well?
Question 15: What do we learn from the conversation about American high school education?

12.
A) They are keen on high technology.
B) They are poor at technology skills.
C) They often listen to National Public Radio.
D) They feel superior in science and technology.

13.
A) Japanese.
B) Germans.
C) Poles.
D) Americans.

14.
A) Emailing.
B) Texting.
C) Science.
D) Literacy.

15.
A) It is undergoing a drastic reform.
B) It lays emphasis on creative thinking.
C) It has much room for improvement.
D) It prioritizes training of practical skills.

Section C
Direction: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Passage 1
Wild carrots probably evolved with the other flowering plants, about 360 million years ago. Like apples, carrots are native to Central Asia. That’s why horses, which also come from Central Asia, like both apples and carrots so much. With wild carrots, the roots are white, small and skinny, so we have to pick a lot of wild carrots to get enough to eat. Doctors used carrot seeds and roots as medicine, on the theory that foods that taste bad must be good for you. Around 800 AD, people in Central Asia, managed to develop a new kind of carrot-a purple carrot that attracted more interest from international traders. Then in the late 1500s, food scientists in the Netherlands cultivated large, straight, sweet, red carrots like the ones we eat today, but people still mostly fed carrots to horses,donkeys and pigs, and didn’t eat them themselves. In the 1600, people in China used carrots as medicine, but they also ate carrots boiled in soup. The red color was popular for Chinese New Year celebrations. But carrots got their biggest boost during the two World Wars when food shortages force people to eat them and governments told everyone how healthy carrots were. Today, cooler countries grow most of the world’s carrots. Machines do most of the planting and picking. And carrots are easy to store and ship, so they are cheap almost everywhere.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What do we learn from the talk about wild carrots?
Question 17: What does the speaker say about carrots in the late 1500s?
Question 18: Why did people turn to carrots for food during the two world wars?

16.
A) They have small roots.
B) They grow white flowers.
C) They taste like apples.
D) They come from Central Africa.

17.
A) They turned from white to purple in color.
B) They became popular on the world market.
C) They became an important food for humans.
D) They began to look like modern-day carrots.

18.
A) They were found quite nutritious.
B) There were serious food shortages.
C) People discovered their medicinal value.
D) Farm machines helped lower their prices.

Passage 2
Catherine loved Facebook. With Facebook she could stay connected with her family no matter how far away they were. She could see their photos and read their status updates. With Facebook she could keep her relatives up to date on what she was doing. Another thing Catherine loved about Facebook was that she didn’t have to think about time zones when updating family. Whenever she called her parents or other relatives, she always had to think about the time difference so that she wouldn’t wake someone up or call when she knew they were in church. Facebook was so convenient. When Catherine joined Facebook, some of her classmates at high school started to add her as a friend. At first, this didn’t bother her. She loved learning about the success of people she knew when she was just a teenager. She loved finding out people were getting married, having babies and traveling. Soon, however, Catherine found herself comparing herself with the people she was reading about on Facebook. It began to make her feel bad that some people seemed to be doing so much better than she was. She was also spending a lot of time on Facebook. It took a lot of time and energy to keep up with everyone’s status updates. Catherine started to think. She looked at the list of over 500 friends she had on Facebook and realized some of them were not really friends at all.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What was one particular convenience Catherine loved about Facebook?
Question 20: How did Catherine feel when her classmates added her as a Facebook friend?
Question 21: What made Catherine feel bad about herself later on?

19.
A) She could update her family any time she liked.
B) She could call up her family whenever she liked
C) She could locate her friends wherever they were.
D) She could download as many pictures as she liked.

20.
A) She liked to inform her friends about her success.
B) She enjoyed reading her friends’ status updates.
C) She felt quite popular among them.
D) She felt she was a teenager again.

21.
A) She could barely respond to all her 500 Facebook friends.
B) She spent more time updating her friends than her family.
C) She could barely balance Facebook updates and her work.
D) She didn’t seem to be doing as well as her Facebook friends.

Passage 3
Do you know where a mule comes from? It is the child of a donkey and a horse. Mules have strong muscles like horses, but they eat less, can work longer, and are gentler, like donkeys. George Washington was the first person in the United States to own mules. He had heard that mules made good farm animals and he contacted the US ambassador in Spain to ask about them. In 1785, King Charles III of Spain sent Washington a male donkey as a gift. That male donkey became the father of the mule industry in the US. Every April, Maury County holds a Mule Day celebration. Held in Columbia, Tennessee, Mule Day had its beginning as “Breeder’s Day” in the 1840s. Farmers and farm animal breeders would bring their animals to market every April to show, buy, and trade. This was an important business before the days of tractors, when many families made a living from farming and mules were used as work animals. Eventually, tractors began to replace mules, making them less in demand. A parade was added to Mule Day in 1934 to attract more people. Over the years other activities have been added and today more than 200,000 people show up each year to watch and participate. If you visit the Mule Day celebrations, you might see mule-driving contests, square dances, horse shows, or even tree-cutting competitions.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the speaker say about mules?
Question 23: What do we learn about the donkey which is said to be the father of the U.S. mule industry?
Question 24: What did farmers usually do on Mule Day in the 1840s?
Question 25: What made mules less in demand in America?

22.
A) They have strong muscles.
B) They live a longer life than horses.
C) They eat much less in winter.
D) They can work longer than donkeys.

23.
A) It was a pet of a Spanish king.
B) It was bought by George Washington.
C) It was brought over from Spain.
D) It was donated by a U.S. Ambassador.

24.
A) They met and exchanged ideas on animal breeding.
B) They participated in a mule-driving competition.
C) They showed and traded animals in the market.
D) They fed mules with the best food they could find.

25.
A) The wider use of horses.
B) The arrival of tractors.
C) A shrinking animal trade.
D) A growing donkey population.

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2017年12月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

News Report 1
A 9-year-old girl in New Mexico has raised more than $500 for her little brother who needs heart surgery in Houston, Texas this July. Addison Witulski’s grandmother Kim Allred, said Addison probably overheard a conversation between family members talking about the funds needed to get her little brother to treatment. “I guess she overheard her grandfather and me talking about how we’re worried about how we’re going to get to Houston, for my grandson’s heart surgery,” said Allred. She decided to go outside and have a lemonade stand and make some drawings and pictures and sell them. That’s when Addison and her friends Erika and Emily Borden decided to sell lemonade for 50 cents a cup and sell pictures for 25 cents each. Before Allred knew it, New Mexico State Police Officers were among the many stopping by helping them reach a total of $568. The family turned to social media expressing their gratitude saying, “From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to deeply thank each and every person that stopped by”!
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: Who did Addison raise the money for?
Question 2: How did Addison raise the money?

1.
A) Her grandfather.
B) Her grandmother.
C) Her friend Erika.
D) Her little brother.

2.
A) By taking pictures for passers-by.
B) By selling lemonade and pictures.
C) By working part time at a hospital.
D) By asking for help on social media.

News Report 2
Last week, France announced that the country will pave 621 miles of road with solar panels over the next five years with the goal of providing cheap, renewable energy to five million people. Called “the Wattway”, the roads will be built through joint efforts with the French road building company Colas and the National Institute of Solar Energy. The company spent the last five years developing solar panels that are only about a quarter of inch thick and are strong enough to stand up to heavy highway traffic without breaking or making the roads more slippery. The panels are also designed so that they can be installed directly on top of the existing roadways, making them relatively cheap and easy to install. France isn’t the first country to kick around the idea of paving its roads with solar panels. In November 2015, the Netherlands completed a 229-foot-long bike path paved with solar panels as a test for future projects. However, this is the first time a panel has been designed to be laid directly on top of existing roads and the first project to install the panels on public highways.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What was France’s purpose of constructing the Wattway?
Question 4: What is special about the solar panels used in the Wattway?

3.
A) Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel.
B) Providing clean energy to five million people.
C) Generating electric power for passing vehicles.
D) Finding cheaper ways of highway construction.

4.
A) They are made from cheap materials.
B) They are only about half an inch thick.
C) They can be laid right on top of existing highways.
D) They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements.

News Report 3
Lions have disappeared from much of Africa, but for the past few years scientists have wondered if the big cats were hanging on in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia. Continuous fighting in the region has made surveys difficult. But scientists released a report Monday documenting, with hard evidence, the discovery of “lost lions”. A team with Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, supported by a charity organization, spent two nights in November camping in a national park in northwest Ethiopia, on the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The researchers set out six camera traps, capturing images of lions, and they identified lion tracks. The scientists concluded that lions are also likely to live in a neighboring national park across the border in Sudan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature had previously considered the area a “possible range” for the species, and local people had reported seeing lions in the area, but no one presented convincing evidence.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What has made it difficult to survey lions in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia?
Question 6: What was the main purpose of the research?
Question 7: What did the researchers find in the National Park?

5.
A) The lack of clues about the species.
B) Inadequate funding for research.
C) Endless fighting in the region.
D) The hazards from the desert.

6.
A) To observe the wildlife in the two national parks.
B) To study the habitat of lions in Sudan and Ethiopia.
C) To identify the reasons for the lions’ disappearance.
D) To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.

7.
A) Lions’ tracks.
B) Lions walking.
C) Some camping facilities.
D) Traps set by local hunters.

Section B
Direction: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Conversation 1
M: I bet you’re looking forward to the end of this month, are you?
W: Yes, I am. How did you know?
M: David told me you had a special birthday coming up.
W: Oh, yes. That’s right. This year would be my golden birthday.
M: What does that mean? I’ve never heard of a golden birthday.
W: I’ve actually just learnt this concept myself. Fortunately, just in time to celebrate. A golden or lucky birthday is when one turns the age of their birth date. So, for example, my sister’s birthday is December 9th and her golden birthday would have been the year she turns 9 years old. Come to think of it, my parents did throw her a surprise party that year.
M: Interesting. Too bad I missed mine. My golden birthday would’ve been four years ago. I assume you got big plans then.
W: Actually yes. My husband is planning a surprise holiday for the two of us next week. I have no idea what he’s got in mind, but I’m excited to find out. Has he mentioned anything to you?
M: He might have.
W: Anything you’d like to share? I’m dying to know what kind of trip he has planned on where we’re going.
M: You know nothing at all?
W: Not a clue. Hard to imagine, isn’t it! Though I must say, I think he’s been even more fun keeping the secret from me in the past few weeks.
M: I’m sure both of you will have a fantastic time. Happy golden birthday! I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What is the woman looking forward to?
Question 9: What did the woman’s parents do on her sister’s lucky birthday?
Question 10: What is the woman eager to find out about?
Question 11: What does the man say at the end of the conversation?

8.
A) A special gift from the man.
B) Her wedding anniversary.
C) A call from her dad.
D) Her ‘lucky birthday’.

9.
A) Threw her a surprise party.
B) Took her on a trip overseas.
C) Bought her a good necklace.
D) Gave her a big model plane.

10.
A) What her husband and the man are up to.
B) What has been troubling her husband.
C) The trip her husband has planned.
D) The gift her husband has bought.

11.
A) He wants to find out about the couple’s holiday plan.
B) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.
C) He will tell the women the secret if her husband agrees.
D) He will be glad to be a guide for the couple’s holiday trip.

Conversation 2
W: Mr. Green, what do you think makes a successful negotiator?
M: Well, it does hard to define, but I think successful negotiators have several things in common. They are always polite and rational people. They are firm, but flexible. They can recognize power and know how to use it. They are sensitive to the dynamics of the negotiation, the way it raises and falls, and how it may change direction. They project the image of confidence, and perhaps most importantly, they know when to stop.
W: And what about an unsuccessful negotiator?
M: Well, this probably all of us when we start out. We are probably immature and over-trusting, too emotional or aggressive. We are unsure of ourselves and want to be liked by everyone. Good negotiators learn fast. Poor negotiators remain like that and go on losing negotiations.
W: In your opinion, can the skills of negotiation be taught?
M: Well, you can teach someone how to prepare for negotiation. There perhaps six stages in every negotiation, get to know the other side, state your goals, start the process, clarify areas of disagreement or conflict, reassess your position, making acceptable compromise, and finally reach some agreements in principal. These stages can be studied, and strategies to be used in each can be planned beforehand. But I think the really successful negotiator is probably born with the sixth sense about responding appropriately to the situation at hand.
W: The artistic sense you’ve just described?
M: Yes, that’s right.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What’s the man say about good negotiators?
Question 13: What does the man say maybe the most important thing to a successful negotiator?
Question 14: How is a good negotiator different from a poor one?
Question 15: What’s the first stage of a negotiation according to the man?

12.
A) They take the rival’s attitude into account.
B) They know when to adopt a tough attitude.
C) They see the importance of making compromises.
D) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.

13.
A) They know when to stop.
B) They know how to adapt.
C) They know when to make compromises.
D) They know how to control their emotion.

14.
A) They are patient.
B) They learn quickly.
C) They are good at expression.
D) They uphold their principles.

15.
A) Clarify items of negotiation.
B) Make clear one’s intentions.
C) Get to know the other side.
D) Formulate one’s strategy.

Section C
Direction: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Passage 1
Some people wonder why countries spend millions of dollars on space projects. They want to know how space research helps people on earth. Actually, space technology helps people on earth every day. This is called “spin-off technology”. Spin-off technology is space technology that is now used on earth. In early space programs, such as the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, and in the Space Shuttle missions today, scientists developed objects for the astronauts to use on the moon and in space. We now use some of these objects every day. For example, we have Quartz Crystal clocks and watches accurate to within one minute a year. We purify the water we drink with the water filter designed for the astronauts’use in space. The cordless, hand-held tools we use in our homes, such as vacuum cleaners, flashlights, drills came from the technology of these early space programs. On cold winter days, we can stay warm with battery-operated gloves and socks, and especially made coats and jackets. All of these clothes are similar to the spacesuit designs that kept astronauts comfortable in the temperatures of the moon, and are spin-offs from space technology. These products are only a few examples of the many ways space technology helps us in our everyday lives. No one knows how new spin-off technology from the International Space Station will help us in the future.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What do some people want to know about space exploration?
Question 17: What did scientist do for the space shuttle missions?
Question 18: What does the speaker say about the Quartz Crystal clocks and watches?

16.
A) How space research benefits people on Earth.
B) When the International Space Station was built.
C) How many space shuttle missions there will be.
D) When America’s earliest space program started.

17.
A) They tried to make best use of the latest technology.
B) They tried to meet astronauts’ specific requirements.
C) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.
D) They accurately calculated the speed of the orbiting shuttles.

18.
A) They are expensive to make.
B) They are extremely accurate.
C) They were first made in space.
D) They were invented in the 1970s.

Passage 2
Well, if I could go back in history and live, I’d like to go back to the 18th century and perhaps in colonial America in Yankee, New England, where one of my ancestors lived, because it was the beginning of something. By the 18th century, there was a feeling of community that had grown. My ancestor was a preacher traveling around the countryside. People lived in small communities. There were fisherman and farmers who provided fresh food that tasted and looked like food, unlike that in today’s supermarkets, and there were small towns and New York wasn’t that far away. I’m deeply attached to the Puritan tradition, not in a religious sense. But they believed in working for something, working for goals. And I like that. They worked hard at whatever they did, but they had a sense of achievement. They believed in goodness, in community, and helping one another. I love the colonial fabrics all the silver works, the furnishings, the combination of elegance and simplicity. I love it. The printing, the books, I’m very attached to all that kind of thing that may not all be very entertaining in the modern sense of the world. But I would have enjoyed spending my evenings in that environment, discussing new ideas, building a new world, and I can see myself sitting on a small chair by the fire doing needle work.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19. Why does the speaker say she would like to go back and live in the 18th century America?
Question 20. What does the speaker say about the Puritans?
Question 21. What would the speaker like doing if she could go back to the past?

19.
A) Everything was natural and genuine then.
B) People had plenty of land to cultivate then.
C) It marked the beginning of something new.
D) It was when her ancestors came to America.

20.
A) They were known to be creative.
B) They enjoyed living a life of ease.
C) They had all kinds of entertainment.
D) They believed in working for goals.

21.
A) Chatting with her ancestors.
B) Doing needlework by the fire.
C) Furnishing her country house.
D) Polishing all the silver work.

Passage 3
If you are lost in the woods, a little knowledge can turn what some people called a hardship into an enjoyable stay away from the troubles of modern society. When you think you’re lost, sit down on the log or a rock, or lean against the tree, and recite something that you have memorized, to bring your mind to a point where it is under control. Don’t run blindly. If you must move, don’t follow stream unless you know it, and in that case, you’re not lost. Streams, normally flow through wetland before they reach a lake or river. Though there are more eatable plants, there may also be wild animals, poisonous snakes, and other hazards. Many experts feel that it is the wisest to walk uphill. At the top of most hills and mountains are trails living back to civilizations. If there are no trails, you’re much easier to be seen on top of the hill. And you may even spot a highway or a railroad from this point. Nowadays, the first way someone will search for you is by air. In a wetland or in dense growth, you are very hard to spot. Anytime you go into to the woods, somebody should know where you’re going, and when you are expected to return. Also, when someone comes looking, you should be able to signal to them.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the speaker advise you to do first if you are lost in the woods?
Question 23: What will happen if you follow an unknown stream in the woods?
Question 24: What do many experts think is the wisest thing to do if you’re lost in the woods?
Question 25: What should you do before you go into the woods?

22.
A) Sit down and try to calm yourself.
B) Call your family or friends for help.
C) Use a map to identify your location.
D) Try to follow your footprints back.

23.
A) You may end up entering a wonderland.
B) You may get drowned in a sudden flood.
C) You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.
D) You may find a way out without your knowing it.

24.
A) Walk uphill.
B) Look for food.
C) Start a fire.
D) Wait patiently.

25.
A) Check the local weather.
B) Find a map and a compass.
C) Prepare enough food and drink.
D) Inform somebody of your plan.

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2017年12月英语四级第2套听力原文及题目

Section A
Direction: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

News Report 1
A New Jersey black bear that walks upright on its two back legs and has become a social media darling has reemerged and has been captured on video month after its last sighting. The bear named Pedals was spotted in a town of Oakrage, in a video posted to Facebook featuring the bear it appear to be in relatively good health and was moving quickly. “Pedals apparently hasn’t injured leg or pool that doesn’t allow it to walk comfortably on all fulls”, according to experts. Laurence Hajna spokesman of the state for the state department environmental protection said, “Officials expect the bear to make it through next winter.” The bear first gained fame after was sported the wondering around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and showed on national television. Last year, supporters pushed for Pedals to be moved to a shelter. But New Jersey officials have said they won’t allow the bear to be captured and transferred to the facility. “The bear would do better in its natural habitat and the agency would step in if its condition deteriorated,” they said.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What’s the probable reason the bear walks upright on its back legs?
Question 2: How is the bear first known for the public?

1.
A) It tries entertain its audience.
B) It tries to look into the distance.
C) It wants to catch people’s attention.
D) It has got one of its limbs injured.

2.
A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.
B) It was filmed by a local television reporter.
C) Its videos were posted on social media.
D) Its picture won a photography prize.

News Report 2
It is not your imagination. Traffic in the U.S. is actually getting worse. Americans drove more miles last year than any other year on record. The U.S. Department of Transportation says Americans drove nearly 3,150 billion miles last year. That’s about the same distance as 337 round trips from Earth to Pluto. The previous record was 3,003 billion miles in 2007 before the economic recession in high gas prices. The traffic increase comes at the same time as gas crisis drop significantly, the current average gas price in U.S. is 1.77$ per gallon. A year ago, it was 2.31$ per gallon, it was often much higher in recent years. A transportation expert told the report the job growth likely plays a part as well, along with some people driving longer distances to and from work. And so all this means more traffic jams on the road. The taxes A&M travel institute found rush-hour travellers spent extra 42 hours on the road lasts year because of travel delays. Now that is depressing.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What new record did the American driver set last year?
Question 4: What is depressing according to the speaker?

3.
A) The distance travelled.
B) The incidence of road accidents.
C) The spending on gas.
D) The number of people travelling.

4.
A) Fewer people are commuting.
B) Gas consumption is soaring.
C) Job growth is slowing down.
D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.

News Report 3
A 16-year-old asked a stranger at a grocery store to buy him and his mother some food in exchange for carrying the man’s groceries to his car. What happened next will pull at your heartstrings. A wonderful bond formed between the two, and within a couple of weeks, the stranger named White helped raise $190,000 on the website to support the Memphis teenager and his disabled mother. “When Chauncy approached me, it just pulled at my heart,” White said, “Here comes Chauncy, just trying to get food for him and his mom of the grace of other people”. “When I looked at him and saw what he was doing and what he was asking for, I said he was my hero”. “Chauncy is a top student who is doing his best to make it in a world with no money and very few resources,” White explained on the crowdfunding site. “He wants to work and help his mother financially”. “It’s so rare that we get an opportunity to affect so much change on one life,” White wrote. “I cannot thank you enough for caring about Chauncy. This is his big chance, and you’re making it possible”.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What did the teenager Chauncy do at the grocery story to get some food?
Question 6: What did the stranger do for Chauncy?
Question 7: What do we learn about Chauncy?

5.
A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.
B) He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.
C) He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.
D) He washed a stranger’s car in return for some food.

6.
A) He ordered a lot of food for his family.
B) He gave him a job at his own company.
C) He raised a large sum of money for him.
D) He offered him a scholarship for college.

7.
A) He works hard to support his family.
B) He is an excellent student at school.
C) He is very good at making up stories.
D) He has been disabled since boyhood.

Section B
Direction: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Conversation 1
M: That was my last week economic lecture of the week, and here is the weekend again.
W: What are you up to tonight? I was just wondering if we could try out the new restaurant on Charles Street, then go on to Queen Victoria for a drink.
M: Sorry, I’m heading home this weekend for my brother’s 18th birthday.
W: Oh, that’s great.
M: All of my relatives will be there, as well as my brother’s horrible friends, of course. Listen, why won’t you come along? Mom would be absolutely delightedly to see you again. She’s always asking after you.
W: Yes, I’d love to see her too.
M: So, please, do come. It would be great. And besides, with Jonathan’s wild game to contend with, I’d really welcome an ally.
W: That sounds tempting, but I won’t be ready till 5, as I’ve got my statistic seminar now. What time are you heading off?
M: Well, I’m going to leave right away. However, I can hang around for you if you like. It just means that I’ll need to change my ticket.
W: But wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?
M: No, not at all. I’ll go to the station first, and see if I can get tickets for us on the 6:30 train. Then, you can join me there. I’ll text you when it’s done.
W: Brilliant. Are you absolutely positive if it’s Ok? I wouldn’t want to impose.
M: Don’t worry, you are most welcome to join our party, and as I always say “the more, the merrier”.
W: Look, I’d better go or I’ll be late. So, I’ll meet you down at the station around 6.
M: Fine, see you later.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What has the man just done?
Question 9: What is the man going to do this weekend?
Question 10: What does the man ask the woman to do?
Question 11: How will they go to the man’s home?

8.
A) Attended an economics lecture.
B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.
C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.
D) Had dinner at a new restaurant.

9.
A) Treat a college friend to dinner.
B) Make preparations for a seminar.
C) Attend his brothers birthday party.
D) Visit some of his high school friends.

10.
A) Gather statistics for his lecture.
B) Throw a surprise birthday party.
C) Meet with Jonathan’s friends on the weekend.
D) Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration.

11.
A) By car.
B) By train.
C) By taxi.
D) By bus.

Conversation 2
M: Hi, Jane. How’s everything going?
W: So far so good. I’ve just finished my last exam.
M: Good. The term is coming to an end. Do you think we should take a holiday overseas to relax and have fun? I’ve saved my tips from my waiter job these past few months, and I should have enough by July.
W: Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. I’ve got a little put aside for a rainy day, but I might need to earn a little more before we go. By the way, what is it like working in the restaurant?
M: Well, it’s really tough, as working a 10-hour shift is like hell. I’m not sure if it’ll suit you. But it’s pretty cool if your boss is all right. Do you think we should invite some others to come along?
W: Yes, we could ask Tom and Tracy if they are interested. I haven’t been abroad for a long while. And it would be great to go somewhere by the sea. I can’t wait, and if Tom goes, we could go sailing. He has a lot experience with boats, and it’ll work out a lot cheaper to hire one if there’s more of us to share the cost.
M: So, that’s the plan. We’ll save as much as we can, and go sailing next July. Let’s say, Spain, or anywhere cheap would be fine.
W: Ok. But first we’d better contact Tom and Tracy, and see if they are up for it. If not, it’ll be back to the drawing board.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: What does the man think of doing?
Question 13: What has the man been doing for the past few months?
Question 14: What does the woman say she needs to do before departure?
Question 15: Why does the woman want to invite Tom?

12.
A) Taking a vacation abroad.
B) Reviewing for his last exam.
C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.
D) Finding a better way to earn money.

13.
A) Preparing for his final exams.
B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.
C) Working part time as a waiter.
D) Helping the woman with her courses.

14.
A) Finish her term paper.
B) Save enough money.
C) Learn a little bit of Spanish.
D) Ask her parent’s permission.

15.
A) He has rich sailing experience.
B) He speaks Spanish fluently.
C) He is also eager to go to Spain.
D) He is easy to get along with.

Section C
Direction: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.

Passage 1
Most people know Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner. Irene Currie was born on September 12th, 1897. At the age of ten, Irene’s talents and interests in mathematics were apparent. Irene entered Sorbonne University in October 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, she left Sorbonne University to help her mother who was using x-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued this work by developing x-ray facilities for military hospitals in France and Belgium. After the war, she received a military medal for her work. In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot visited the institute and met Marie Curie. Frederic became one of her assistants, and Irene taught him the techniques required to work with radioactivity. Irene and Frederic soon fell in love and got married on October 29th, 1926. Their daughter was born in 1927 and their son in 1932. Like her mother, Irene combined family with career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband Frederic in 1935, for producing new radioactive elements. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed blood cancer because of her exposure to radiation. Irene Joliot Curie died on March 17th, 1956.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What does the speaker say about Marie Curie’s daughter?
Question 17: For what was Irene Curie awarded a military medal?
Question 18: In what way were Marie and Irene similar?

16.
A) She went to the same university as her mother.
B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.
C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.
D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.

17.
A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.
B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.
C) She helped to set up several military hospitals.
D) She made donations to save wounded soldiers.

18.
A) Both died of blood cancer.
B) Both fought in World War I.
C) Both won military medals.
D) Both married their assistants.

Passage 2
Have you ever heard of the Vikings? They were sea travelers from Norway. More than 1,000 years ago, they made three important geographical discoveries. The Vikings’ first major discovery occurred in the 9th century. A man called Naddodd was on his way from Norway to the Faroe Islands, north of England, when his ship was caught in a storm. The storm blew the ship west for several days. When the weather cleared, Naddodd found himself on the coast of a new land. Later, Viking travelers named it Iceland. In 982, a Viking called Eric the Red, sailed west in search of new land. 500 miles west of Iceland, he and his men reached an icy rocky massive land. They sailed around it until they reached the western side. Here, they found some green areas, so they named the island Greenland. Then, in 1001, the Vikings made their most important discovery. The son of Eric the Red named Leif Erikson had heard the rumors about the land west of Greenland. He sailed west and soon found it. He and his men landed in three places. They called the first one Helluland, which means land of flat stone. The Vikings then sailed south and made their second landing. They named this place Markland. Their third landing was at a place they called Vinland. Leif Erikson and his men were the first Europeans to walk on the shores of North America, almost five hundred years earlier than Columbus.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What do we learn about the Vikings?
Question 20: What does the passage say about the Greenland?
Question 21: What does the speaker mainly talk about?

19.
A) They were the first settlers in Europe.
B) They were the conquerors of Norway.
C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.
D) They settled on a small island north of England.

20.
A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.
B) It was covered with green most time of the year.
C) It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.
D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.

21.
A) The Vikings’ ocean explorations.
B) The making of European nations.
C) The Vikings’ everyday life.
D) The Europeans’ Arctic discoveries.

Passage 3
Where do you think you will be in ten years? It is difficult to know exactly where you will be and where you will be doing. But everyone dreamed about the future. You might imagine the job you will get, when you finish school. You may daydream about meeting your life partner or living in a big house by the sea. In my dreams, I would have twins, a boy and a girl. We would live in a large two-story house with floors and staircases made of wood. Now at the age of 46, I look back on those dreams and smile. Things haven’t turned out exactly as I imagined, but I would not change what I have now for that imaginary world. In college, I studied international business and planned to enter a law school. In my third year of university, I realized that I didn’t want to become a lawyer. Instead, I chose to become language teacher. I did get married, but had more than two children. We have five. Do I live in the dream house with wood floors? No, I don’t, but I love my home and I wouldn’t want to live in any other place. I believe it, as a young person, it’s important to dream and make plans. However, it’s also important to realize that not all of your plans turned out exactly as you wish. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in life is this: “Be happy with what you have.”
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the speaker think everyone tends to do?
Question 23: What does the speaker say he would refuse to do?
Question 24: What does the speaker major in during the first two years of college?
Question 25: What is one of the biggest lessons the speaker has learned in life?

22.
A) Work hard for a better life.
B) Make mistakes now and then.
C) Dream about the future.
D) Save against a rainy day.

23.
A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life.
B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.
C) Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.
D) Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.

24.
A) Criminal law.
B) City planning.
C) Oriental architecture.
D) International business.

25.
A) Dream and make plans.
B) Take things easy in life.
C) Be content with what you have.
D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.

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