2019年12月英语四级第1套听力原文及题目

2019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
New York City police captured a cow on the loose in Prospect Park on Tuesday after the animal became an attraction for tourists while walking along the streets and enjoying the park facilities. The confused creature and camera-holding humans stared at each other through a fence for several minutes. At other times the cow wandered around the 526 acre park and the artificial grass field normally used for human sporting events. Officers use soccer goals to fence the animal in. However, the cow then moved through one of the nets knocking down a police officer in the process. Police eventually trapped the cow between two vehicles parked on either side of a baseball field’s bench area. An officer then shot an arrow to put it to sleep. Then officers waited for the drug to take effect. After it fell asleep they loaded the cow into a horse trailer. It was not clear where the cow came from or how it got lost. Police turned it over to the animal control department after they caught it.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What happened in New York’s Prospect Park on Tuesday?
Question 2: What do we learn about the cow from the end of the news report?

1.
A) Many facilities were destroyed by a wandering cow.
B) A wandering cow knocked down one of its fences.
C) Some tourists were injured by a wandering cow.
D) A wandering cow was captured by the police.

2.
A) It was shot to death by a police officer.
B) It found its way back to the park’s zoo.
C) It became a great attraction for tourists.
D) It was sent to the animal control department.

News Report 2
Starting April 28 of this year, the National Museum of Natural History will begin renovating its fossil hall. The fossil hall, which displays some of the world’s oldest and largest fossil specimens, receives more than 2 million visitors each year. It’s one of the museum’s most famous attractions. As a result, the museum plans to expand the hall, as well as add to its ancient birds collection. Bird lovers, both young and old, have already responded with excitement at the news. The museum’s social media account has been flooded with messages of support. In the meantime, the current collection will be closed. However, visitors will be compensated during the closure. Museum’s special exhibition area will now be free of charge. This week, the resident exhibition is a display of ancient wall paintings on loan from Australia. They celebrate the cultural heritage of the country and will be available to view until Sunday. Next week, the exhibition will be taken over by the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. The winner of this year’s competition will be awarded a preview of the new fossil hall, as well as a cash prize.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What does the news report say about the fossil hall of the National Museum of Natural History?
Question 4: What is on display this week in the museum’s exhibition hall?

3.
A) It is the largest of its kind.
B) It is going to be expanded.
C) It is displaying more fossil specimens.
D) It is staring an online exhibition.

4.
A) A collection of bird fossils from Australia.
B) Photographs of certain rare fossil exhibits.
C) Some ancient wall paintings from Australia.
D) Pictures by winners of a wildlife photo contest.

News Report 3
Six birds have just been trained to pick up rubbish at a French historical theme park. According to the park’s manager, Mr. Villiers, the goal is not just to clear up the park. He says visitors are already good at keeping things clean. Instead, he wants to show that nature itself can teach us to take care of the environment. He says that rooks, the chosen birds, are considered to be particularly intelligent. In the right circumstances, they even like to communicate with humans and establish a relationship through play. The birds will be encouraged to clean the park through the use of a small box that delivers a small amount of bird food. Each time, the rook deposits a cigarette end or a small piece of rubbish. So far, visitors to the theme park have been excited to see the birds in action. However, some parents are concerned that it encourages their children to drop litter so they can watch the birds to pick it up. Villiers is not concerned about this criticism. He maintains most of the feedback he has received has been overwhelmingly positive. He hopes now to train more birds.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 5: What have six birds been trained to do at a French historical theme park?
Question 6: Why were rooks chosen by the park manager?
Question 7: What is the concern of some parents?

5.
A) Pick up trash.
B) Amuse visitors.
C) Deliver messages.
D) Play with children.

6.
A) They are especially intelligent.
B) They are children’s favorite.
C They are quite easy to tame.
D) They are clean and pretty.

7.
A) Children may be harmed by the rooks.
B) Children may be tempted to drop litter.
C) Children may contract bird diseases.
D) Children may overfeed the rooks.

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: The name of the TV show we wish to produce is Science Nation.
M: Please tell us more. What will Science Nation be about?
W: It will be about science, all sorts of science. Each episode will focus on a different area of science, and tell us what we know, how we know it, and what we still don’t know. The show will have one host only, and this will be Professor Susan Paul from Harvard University. She’s a great public speaker.
M: So, just to be clear, will the show its format be like that of the documentary?
W: Kind of. It will be like a documentary in the sense, that it will be non-fiction and fact-based. However, our idea is for it to be also fun and entertaining, something which traditional documentaries aren’t so much. Please keep in mind, this will be a new TV show, like nothing ever done before.
M: Okay, so it will be both educational and entertaining, and your audience will be anyone interested in science, right?
W: That’s correct, yes.
M: Right, thank you. So, I think we’re more or less clear what the show will be like. Could you please tell us now, what exactly you want from us?
W: Yes, of course. Basically, what we need from you is financial support. In order to go ahead with this idea, we need 2 million dollars. This will cover the cost of making all 12 shows in the first season for the first year. If the show is a success, we can then look at making a second season for the following year.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: What do we learn about the TV show Science Nation?
Question 9: In what way will the TV show Science Nation differ from traditional documentaries?
Question 10: Who will be the intended audience of the TV show Science Nation?
Question 11: What does the woman want the man to do for the TV show?

8.
A) It will be produced at Harvard University.
B) It will be hosted by famous professors.
C) It will cover different areas of science.
D) It will focus on recent scientific discoveries.

9.
A) It will be more futuristic.
B) It will be more systematic.
C) It will be more entertaining.
D) It will be easier to understand.

10.
A) People interested in science.
B) Youngsters eager to explore.
C) Children in their early teens.
D) Students majoring in science.

11.
A) Offer professional advice.
B) Provide financial support.
C) Help promote it on the Internet.
D) Make episodes for its first season.

Conversation 2
W: What’s up with you? You don’t look very happy.
M: I feel like I’m a failure. I can’t seem to do anything very well.
W: I wouldn’t say that. You do very well in a lot of things. That presentation you gave last week was excellent.
M: Yes, but I have this urge to strive for perfection. I really want to push harder and progress further.
W: Well, that’s very admirable. But be careful. Overconcern with being perfect can damage our confidence if we never achieve it.
M: Yes, I know. I feel awful whenever I make a mistake in whatever I’m trying to do.
W: Well, think about it. You can’t make progress without making mistakes and learning from them. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, once said “I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
M: You may well be right. I guess I should recognize my mistakes and learn the lesson they teach me and move forward.
W: Also, remember a successful ending is not the only thing worthy of a celebration. You need to recognize each step of progress you take towards achieving your goals. And no matter how tiny it is, it’s still good news.
M: I always feel down when I see others accomplishing things and I feel miserable about my own achievements. I’m always trying to be as good as others, but I never seem to get there.
W: Listen. If you always compare yourself with others, you’ll never feel good enough. You’re the only person you should be comparing yourself with. When you compare your current status with the starting point, you’ll find you’ve made progress, right? That’s good enough.
M: That’s great advice. Thank you. I’m feeling better already.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: How does the man feel about himself?
Question 13: What does the woman think is the man’s problem?
Question 14: How does the man feel when he sees others accomplishing things?
Question 15: What does the woman suggest the man do?

12.
A) Unsure.
B) Helpless.
C) Concerned.
D) Dissatisfied.

13.
A) He is too concerned with being perfect.
B) He loses heart when faced with setbacks.
C) He is too ambitious in achieving goals.
D) He takes on projects beyond his ability.

14.
A) Embarrassed.
B) Unconcerned.
C) Miserable.
D) Resentful.

15.
A) Try to be optimistic whatever happens.
B) Compare his present with his past only.
C) Always learn from others’ achievements.
D) Treat others the way he would be treated.

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
Single-sex education can have enormous benefits for female students. Numerous studies have shown that women who attend single-sex schools tend to have stronger self-confidence, better study habits and more ambitious career goals than women who attend coeducational schools. Girls who graduate from single-sex schools are three times more likely to become engineers than those who attend coeducational schools. The reason is that all-girls schools encourage women to enter fields traditionally dominated by men such as science, technology and engineering. In coeducational schools, girls are often expected to succeed only in humanities or the art. Research has also shown that in coeducational settings, teachers are more likely to praise and give in-depth responses to boys’ comments in class. In contrast, they might only respond to a girl’s comments with a nod. They are also more likely to encourage boys to work through problems on their own, while they tend to step in and help girls who struggle with a problem. In an all girls setting, girls are more likely to speak up frequently and make significant contributions to class than in a coeducational setting. Girls studying in a single-sex setting also earn higher scores on their College Board and advanced placement exams than girls who study in coeducational settings. All girls schools tend to be smaller than coeducational schools, which means teachers would be able to tailor the materials to girl students’ personal learning styles and interest.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What advantage does the speaker say girls from single-sex schools have over those from coeducational schools?
Question 17: What do teachers tend to do in coeducational settings?
Question 18: What are teachers more likely to do in an all-girls’ school?

16.
A) They have a stronger sense of social responsibility.
B) They are more likely to succeed in the humanities.
C) They are more likely to become engineers.
D) They have greater potential to be leaders.

17.
A) Praise girls who like to speak up frequently.
B) Encourage girls to solve problems on their own.
C) Insist that boys and girls work together more.
D) Respond more positively to boys’ comments.

18.
A) Offer personalized teaching materials.
B) Provide a variety of optional courses.
C) Place great emphasis on test scores.
D) Pay extra attention to top students.

Passage 2
Today I found out that Seattle doesn’t really get that much rain compared with most US cities. In fact, Seattle ranks 44th among major US cities in average annual rainfall. Cities that get more rainfall than Seattle include Huston, Memphis, Nashville, and pretty much every major city on the eastern coast, such as New York, Boston, and Miami. So, why does everyone think of Seattle as a rainy city? The primary root of this misconception lies in that Seattle has a relatively large number of days per year with rainfall compared with New York and Boston, which get an average of about 16% more rain per year than Seattle, but also average between them about 36 fewer days a year of rainfall. So it rains a lot less in Seattle. And the rain is spread out over more days than those cities. This is why few locals in Seattle carry an umbrella generally. When it does rain, it tends to be a very light rain that isn’t troublesome. It almost never really rains as most people think. On top of that, it never really storms in Seattle, either. Seattle gets an average of a mere 7 days a year with thunder. So in short, if you like sunny but not too hot summers, mild winters but with lots of cloudy days, Seattle’s the place to be. Anyway, if you visit Seattle, don’t bring an umbrella. People will look at you, thinking you are funny.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What does the speaker find out about Seattle?
Question 20: Why do local people in Seattle seldom carry an umbrella?
Question 21: Why does the speaker say ‘Seattle is a good place to be’?

19.
A) It often rains cats and dogs.
B) It seldom rains in summer time.
C) It does not rain as much as people think.
D) It is one of the most rainy cities in the US.

20.
A) They drive most of the time.
B) The rain is usually very light.
C) They have got used to the rain.
D) The rain comes mostly at night.

21.
A) It has a lot of places for entertainment.
B) It has never seen thunder and lighting.
C) It has fewer cloudy days than any other coastal city.
D) It has mild weather both in summer and in winter.

Passage 3
After tough workout or a day full of physical activity, it’s common to find your muscles aching, but where do these pains come from? According to a German professor, the soreness comes from straining your muscles in an uncommon way, for example, jumping on a bicycle for a ride, because you haven’t ridden in a long time. Soreness occurs since your leg muscles aren’t used to that movement. When muscles perform an activity they aren’t regularly expose to, the tiny fibers that are inside them are being torn apart. As muscle soreness develops, the body has to work to repair the muscle tears, but this doesn’t happen immediately. First, the body must realize the muscles are damaged. When the body realizes the muscles are hurt, the response is to increase blood flow to the area and increase body heat, damaged cells are then cleaned up and the body sends cells specially designed to break down the large muscle fiber fragments. Healing can take place after this. It takes about a day until these cells make it to your aching muscles. That’s why there is most often a delay associated with muscle soreness. Repair of damaged cells takes about two days, and afterwards the soreness disappears. Unfortunately, there is little that can be down to relieve muscle soreness. Pain relieving creams don’t work, but a hot shower, or warm bath can provide some relief.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the German professor say about muscle soreness?
Question 23: What happens when muscles are damaged according to the passage?
Question 24: How long does it take for damaged cells to heal?
Question 25: What does the speaker suggest one do to relieve muscle soreness?

22.
A) It occurs when people are doing a repetitive activity.
B) It results from exerting one’s muscles continuously.
C) It happens when people engage in an uncommon activity.
D) It comes from staining one’s muscles in an unusual way.

23.
A) Blood flow and body heat increase in the affected area.
B) Body movements in the affected area become difficult.
C) They begin to make repairs immediately.
D) They gradually become fragmented.

24.
A) About one week.
B) About two days.
C) About ten days.
D) About four weeks.

25.
A) Apply muscle creams.
B) Drink plenty of water.
C) Have a hot shower.
D) Take pain-killers.

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2019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
The British government has called for more men to consider a career in nursing. Figures show the number of male nurses has fallen in the last three years. Now, the number of men working in the nursing sector has reached a seven-year low. Numbers of male nurses increased between 2011 and 2014 and reached a peak of 7168. This figure has dropped to only 6924 in 2017. The UK Health Secretary said this is clearly a cultural problem, and probably one that exists in many parts of the world. But we can make efforts to change that now. We want to persuade males to think about career options of going into nursing. There is absolutely no reason why men can’t go into this profession. The health secretary said that the government already has plans to attract a more varied workforce into nursing. She stated, we are leading the way on workforce planning. We will become the first nation in Europe to publish a national health and care workforce plan.
Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 1: What problem is Britain facing?
Question 2: What is the cause of the problem according to the UK Health Secretary?

1.
A) The number of male nurses has gone down.
B) There is discrimination against male nurses.
C) There is a growing shortage of medical personnel.
D) The number of nurses has dropped to a record low.

2.
A) Working conditions.
B) Educational system.
C) Inadequate pay.
D) Cultural bias.

News Report 2
A man from Libya was enjoying a walk along the sands at Southport beach. When he was about half a mile out from the dock, he felt a bit tired. So he lay down and fell asleep, but the tide swept in quickly at the beach. And the man was shocked to wake up and find the tide had come in and completely surrounded him, cutting him off from the shore. Fortunately for him, the beach lifeguards were quickly on the scene to stop him from drowning. They act professionally to ensure the man was comfortable until an ambulance arrived. He was then taken to hospital. He is now in a stable condition. When interviewed, Keith porter of the Southport beach said, our beach is so flat that it’s very common for the tide come around the back of people and cut them off from the beach. Thankfully the emergency services have again worked well together to ensure a positive outcome. And we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.
Question 3: What does the news report say about the Libyan man?
Question 4: What did Keith Porter say at an interview?

3.
A) He fell out of a lifeboat.
B) He was almost drowned.
C) He lost his way on a beach.
D) He enjoyed swimming in the sea.

4.
A) The lifeboats patrol the area round the clock.
B) The beach is a good place to watch the tide.
C) The emergency services are efficient.
D) The beach is a popular tourist resort.

News Report 3
A raccoon, a small cat-like animal climbed to the top of a 25-story skyscraper early on Wednesday. It was captured after becoming an online star across the world. At a little before three a. m., the animal made it to the roof of the building, after it took a long break on a 17th-floor window edge. At the top of the building, animal control officers put cat food in traps and captured the raccoon. A private wildlife management company will release the animal into the wild. The raccoons’ upward journey began on Monday. The brown animal was spotted stuck on a narrow window edge of the office tower. On Tuesday, the raccoon slowly climbed the building. It reached the 23rd floor, and its legend continued to grow on social media with every floor it climbed. As it went up, people gathered on the sidewalk below to take photos and cheer for its safety. Online office workers posted photos and videos of the raccoon, resting on window edges and climbing up the building’s concrete exterior. One online post said that the raccoon has succeeded in uniting the country the way no politician could.
Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard:
Question 5: What does the news report say about the raccoon, a small cat-like animal?
Question 6: What will the wildlife management company do with the captured raccoon?
Question 7: What did one online post say?

5.
A) It climbed 25 storeys at one go.
B) It broke into an office room.
C) It escaped from a local zoo.
D) It became an online star.

6.
A) Release it into the wild.
B) Return it to its owner.
C) Send it back to the zoo.
D) Give it a physical checkup.

7.
A) A racoon can perform acts no human can.
B) A racoon can climb much higher than a cat.
C) The raccoon did something no politician could.
D) The raccoon became as famous as some politicians.

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: I have really amazing news. I just got a text message from my bank, saying my salary has been deposited in my account.
M: Getting paid is good. But I don’t understand why you’re so excited. It happens every month.
W: Well, I’ve been working for a few years. In fact, I worked all through university, but I only had part-time jobs then. So this is the first time I’ve ever been paid for a month of full-time work.
M: Well, then you must feel great. I mean, it’s been two decades, but I can still remember when I got my first real salary. I was happy for days. And I felt like it was a small fortune, even though it wasn’t.
W: Yeah, I’ve never earned so much money before. And there are so many things I’d like to do with it. What did you do with your first pay?
M: I bought a new suit for work and took my parents to a nice restaurant to celebrate. Maybe you could do the same.
W: I have enough professional clothes. And my parents are across the country. So seeing them is impossible. But some people from the office are members of a gym I want to join. And my university classmates are arranging a trip to visit our old campus, and I’d love to go with them, but I can’t afford both.
M: If I were you. I join the gym because it’s a good way to stay healthy, and it might help you build a stronger relationship with your colleagues. And good relationships are key to a successful career.
W: Hm. You’re right. Thanks for the advice. I’m taking it.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 8: Why did the woman feel excited?
Question 9: When did the man get his first full-time job?
Question 10: What did the man do when he got his first pay?
Question 11: What does the woman say she is going to?

8.
A) She received a bonus unexpectedly.
B) She got a well-paying job in a bank.
C She received her first monthly salary.
D) She got a pay raise for her performance.

9.
A) Two decades ago.
B) Several years ago.
C) Just last month.
D) Right after graduation.

10.
A) He sent a small check to his parents.
B) He treated his parents to a nice meal.
C) He took a few of his friends to a gym.
D) He immediately deposited it in a bank.

11.
A) Join her colleagues for gym exercise.
B) Visit her former university campus.
C) Buy some professional clothes.
D) Budget her salary carefully.

Conversation 2
W: What’s going on with you lately? You seem so distracted. Like you aren’t really listening to anything I say.
M: I know. I’m sorry. I can’t seem to focus on anything, because I still haven’t decided if I should accept the offer for that Ph. D. program in London, or if I should take the job offer in New York.
W: Look, it’s a tough decision, but you’re running out of time, aren’t you? I thought you said the company expected an answer by the end of the month.
M: Actually, it’s the beginning of next month for the job, but the university needs a decision by the end of the week. So I have to act quickly.
W: You definitely need advice for the important decision like this. So who have you talked to about it? What does your family think? Any adviser for your Master’s program?
M: I’ve asked their advice and that’s part of the problem. My parents want me to get a degree, but my advisor thinks it’s time for me to get more work experience.
W: What do you mean by part of the problem? Oh, wait, it’s your girlfriend, isn’t it? You’ve been dating since your first year of university, so that six years now. She must have an opinion about all this. I mean isn’t it time for you to think about getting married?
M: Well, I do want to get married, but she thinks we need to wait until we’ve launched our careers. Plus, she’s not sure what she’ll be doing next year. She’s considering a job in England and one in Australia. And her parents are pushing for the latter.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 12: Why does the man seem to be distracted?
Question 13: What does the woman say the man should do?
Question 14: What does the man say is part of his problem?
Question 15: Why doesn’t the man’s girlfriend agree to get married right now?

12.
A) He has just too many things to attend to.
B) He has been overworked recently.
C) He has a difficult decision to make.
D) He has just quarreled with his girlfriend.

13.
A) Turn to his girlfriend for assistance.
B) Give priority to things more urgent.
C) Think twice before making the decision.
D) Seek advice from his family and advisor.

14.
A) His girlfriend does not support his decision.
B) He is not particularly keen on the job offered.
C) He lacks the money for his doctoral program.
D) His parents and advisor have different opinions.

15.
A)They need time to make preparations.
B) They haven’t started their careers yet.
C) They need to save enough money for it.
D) They haven’t won their parents’ approval.

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
Analytical skills are our ability to understand and solve problems using information we have available. These skills are extremely important for our professional, social, and intellectual lives. What are the best ways to improve them? One way is to expand your world view. Unfortunately, this takes time. Ultimately, it will help you better evaluate information and analyze different ideas and outcomes. Traveling is a great way to expand your world view, although it can be expensive. An entertaining way of enhancing your analytical skills is to engage them by playing brain games. These are games that challenge you to think deeply and to develop your analytical skills. These games will get you used to thinking in a certain way. As a result, they will help improve your ability to think. However, opinions vary on whether video games are effective. The general consensus is that the best ones avoid mindless violence, and instead focus on strategy and challenge us to solve problems and achieve broad goals. Joining a debate or reading club or group is also a good idea. This provides people with the opportunity to come together and discuss ideas, literature and problems. Groups like these will help you refine your analytical skills and enable you to express yourself better. Any social group that encourages free exchange of ideas and pursuit of knowledge is beneficial. It helps you to actively develop your analytical skills.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 16: What kind of ability do analytical skills refer to in the passage?
Question 17: What does the passage say is an entertaining way of enhancing one’s analytical skills?
Question 18: What else does the speaker advise people to do to improve their analytical skills?

16.
A) Expressing ideas and opinions freely.
B) Enriching social and intellectual lives.
C) Acquiring information and professional knowledge.
D) Using information to understand and solve problems.

17.
A) Traveling to different places in the world.
B) Playing games that challenge one’s mind.
C) Improving mind-reading strategies.
D) Reading classic scientific literature.

18.
A) Participate in debates or discussions.
B) Expose themselves to different cultures.
C) Discard personal biases and prejudices.
D) Give others freedom to express themselves.

Passage 2
There’s an endless amount of scientific data proving that dogs can develop strong bonds with their owners. People aren’t kidding when they say they love their dog or their dog loves them, but were rather ignorant about the nature of the relationships that form between dogs. In an effort to understand the matter further, I spoke with doctors Mark Beckhoff, a researcher and former professor of animal behavior. The doctors’response to the question of whether or not dogs can fall in love like humans do was a straight “Of course!” He went on to say that if love is defined as a long-term commitment, meaning dogs seek one another out when they’re apart, they’re happy when they’re reunited, they protect one another, they feed one another, they raise their children together. Then, of course, dogs love each other. Now our furry friends don’t really experience romantic love, like in the movies, but they can form deep and lasting bonds with their fellow dogs as well as humans. In fact, evidence shows almost dogs stay with one partner their whole lives. In actuality, love between dogs can be even more intimate than human relationships. When they interact, they aren’t afraid to smell each other and will express themselves clearly and honestly. Once again, it seems we have a lot to learn from dogs.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 19: What does the passage say we don’t know much about?
Question 20: What does Dr. Mark Beckhoff say about dogs?
Question 21: What does the speaker say about most dogs?

19.
A) Why dogs can be faithful friends of humans.
B) The nature of relationships between dogs.
C) The reason a great many people love dogs.
D) How dogs feel about their bonds with humans.

20.
A) They behave like other animals in many ways.
B) They have an unusual sense of responsibility.
C) They can respond to humans’ questions.
D) They can fall in love just like humans.

21.
A) They stay with one partner for life.
B) They have their own joys and sorrows.
C) They experience true romantic love.
D) They help humans in various ways.

Passage 3
A piece of history has been found thanks to a boy tripping on a rare, 1.2-million-year-old animal fossil. In November 2016, Jude Sparks, now 10, was on an outing with his family near their New Mexico home, when he tripped over what he thought was a cow bone. Now, researchers at New Mexico State University preserving this discovery, which was identified as an ancient elephant-like animal. Kyle Sparks, father of Jude, said he let his son decide what to do with the fossil. So Jude reached out to Peter Houde, a professor at New Mexico State University who had experience with the same type of fossil in the past. The next day, Houde came out to see the fossil for himself. Houde told ABC News that he was quite excited about the find. It was fortunate that the family didn’t try to dig up the fossil because that could destroy the specimen; they did the right thing by calling someone who would know what to do. “It’s great for the community because now everybody can appreciate it,” he added. Houde and his fellow faculty members dug up the fossil in late May. They hope to return to the site with geologists for an additional search as there could be more fossils near the site. Jude and his family had been invited by the researchers to see the fossil being preserved at the university.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 22: What did the boy Jude Sparks think he had discovered?
Question 23: What are the researchers at New Mexico State University doing with the boy’s discovery?
Question 24: What did professor Peter Houde say when interviewed by ABC News?
Question 25: What do the researchers plan to do?

22.
A) A rare animal.
B) A historical site.
C) A cow bone.
D) A precious stone.

23.
A) Dating it.
B) Preserving it.
C) Measuring it.
D) Identifying it.

24.
A) The channel needs to interview the boy.
B) The boy should have called an expert.
C) The boy’s family had acted correctly.
D) The site should have been protected.

25.
A) Conduct a more detailed search.
B) Ask the university to reward Jude.
C) Search for similar fossils elsewhere.
D) Seek additional funds for the search.

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2018年06月英语六级第1套听力原文及题目

Section A
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 I with a single line through the centre.

Conversation 1
M: What’s all that? Are you going to make a salad?
W: No, I’m going to make a gazpacho.
M: What’s that?
W: Gazpacho is a cold soup from Spain. It’s mostly vegetables. I guess you could call it a liquid salad.
M: Cold soup? Sounds weird.
W: It’s delicious. Trust me. I tried it for the first time during my summer vacation in Spain. You see, in the south of Spain, it gets very hot in the summer, up to 40℃. So a cold gazpacho is very refreshing. The main ingredients are tomato, cucumber, bell peppers, olive oil and stale bread.
M: Stale bread? Surely you mean bread for dipping into the soup?
W: No. Bread is crushed and blended in like everything else. It adds texture and thickness to the soup.
M: Mm. And is it healthy?
W: Sure. As I said earlier, it’s mostly vegetables. You can also add different things if you like, such as hard-boiled egg or cured ham.
M: Cured ham? What’s that?
W: That’s another Spanish delicacy. Have you never heard of it? It is quite famous.
M: No. Is it good too?
W: Oh, yeah, definitely. It’s amazing. It’s a little dry and salty, and it’s very expensive because it comes from a special type of pig that only eats a special type of food. The ham is covered in salt to dry and preserve it, and left to hang for up to two years. It has a very distinct flavor.
M: Mm. Sounds interesting. Where can I find some?
W: It used to be difficult to get Spanish produce here. But it’s now a lot more common. Most large supermarket chains have cured ham in little packets, but in Spain you can buy a whole leg.
M: A whole pig leg? Why would anybody want so much ham?
W: In Spain, many people buy a whole leg for special group events, such as Christmas. They cut it themselves into very thin slices with a long flat knife.
Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 1: What do we learn about gazpacho?
Question 2: For what purpose is stale bread mixed into gazpacho?
Question 3: Why does the woman think gazpacho is healthy?
Question 4: What does the woman say about cured ham?

1.
A) It is a typical salad.
B) It is a Spanish soup.
C) It is a weird vegetable.
D) It is a kind of spicy food.

2.
A) To make it thicker.
B) To make it more nutritious.
C) To add to its appeal.
D) To replace an ingredient.

3.
A) It contains very little fat.
B) It uses olive oil in cooking.
C) It uses no artificial additives.
D) It is mainly made of vegetables.

4.
A) It does not go stale for two years.
B) It takes no special skill to prepare.
C) It comes from a special kind of pig.
D) It is a delicacy blended with bread.

Conversation 2
M: Hello, I wish to buy a bottle of wine.
W: Hi, yes. What kind of wine would you like?
M: I don’t know. Sorry, I don’t know much about wine.
W: That’s no problem at all. What’s the occasion and how much would you like to spend?
M: It’s for my boss. It’s his birthday. I know he likes wine, but I don’t know what type. I also do not want anything too expensive, maybe mid-range. How much would you say is a mid-range bottle of wine approximately?
W: Well, it varies greatly. Our lowest prices are around $6 a bottle, but those are table wines. They are not very special. And I would not suggest them as a gift. On the other end, our most expensive bottles are over $150. If you are looking for something priced in the middle, I would say anything between $30 and $60 would make a decent gift. How does that sound?
M: Mm, yeah. I guess something in the vicinity of 30 or 40 would be good. Which type would you recommend?
W: I would say the safest option is always a red wine. They are generally more popular than whites, and can usually be paired with food more easily. Our specialty here are Italian wines, and these tend to be fruity with medium acidity. This one here is a Chianti, which is perhaps Italy’s most famous type of red wine. Alternatively, you may wish to try and surprise your boss with something less common, such as this Zinfandel. The grapes are originally native to Croatia but this winery is in eastern Italy and it has a more spicy and peppery flavor. So to summarize, the Chianti is more classical and the Zinfandel more exciting. Both are similarly priced at just under $40.
M: I will go with Chianti then. Thanks.
Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 5: What does the woman think of table wines?
Question 6: What is the price range of wine the man will consider?
Question 7: Why does the woman recommend red wines?
Question 8: What do we learn about the wine the man finally bought?

5.
A) They come in a great variety.
B) They do not make decent gifts.
C) They do not vary much in price.
D) They go well with Italian food.

6.
A) $30 – $40.
B) $40 – $50.
C) $50 – $60.
D) Around $150.

7.
A) They are a healthy choice for elderly people.
B) They are especially popular among Italians.
C) They symbolize good health and longevity.
D) They go well with different kinds of food.

8.
A) It is a wine imported from California.
B) It is less spicy than all other red wines.
C) It is far more expensive than he expected.
D) It is Italy’s most famous type of red wine.

Section B
Direction: In this section, you will hear two 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
Many people enjoy secret codes. The harder the code, the more some people will try to figure it out. In wartime, codes are especially important. They help army send news about battles and the size of enemy forces. Neither side wants its code broken by the other. One very important code was never broken. It was used during World War II by the Americans. It was a spoken code, never written down, and it was developed and used by Navajo Indians. They were called the Navajo code talkers. The Navajos created the code in their own language. Navajo is hard to learn and only a few people know it. So it was pretty certain that the enemy would not be able to understand the code talkers. In addition, the talkers used code words. They called a submarine an iron fish and a small bomb thrown by hand a potato. If they wanted to spell something, they used code words for letters of the Alphabet. For instance, the letter A was ant or apple or ax. The code talkers worked mostly in the islands in the Pacific. One or two would be assigned to a group of soldiers. They would send messages by field telephone to the code talker in the next group. And he would relay the information to his commander. The code talkers played an important part in several battles. They helped troops coordinate their movements and attacks. After the war, the U.S. government honored them for what they had accomplished. Theirs was the most successful wartime code ever used.
Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 9: What does the speaker say many people enjoy doing?
Question 10: What do we learn about the Navajo code talkers?
Question 11: What is the speaker mainly talking about?

9.
A) Learning others’ secrets.
B) Searching for information.
C) Decoding secret messages.
D) Spreading sensational news.

10.
A) They helped the U.S. army in World War Ⅱ.
B) They could write down spoken codes promptly.
C) They were assigned to decode enemy messages.
D) They were good at breaking enemy secret codes.

11.
A) Important battles fought in the Pacific War.
B) Decoding of secret messages in war times.
C) A military code that was never broken.
D) Navajo Indians’ contribution to code breaking.

Passage 2
If you are young and thinking about your career, you’ll want to know where you can make a living. Well, there’s going to be a technological replacement of a lot of knowledge-intensive jobs in the next twenty years, particularly in the two largest sectors of the labor force with professional skills. One is teaching, and the other, healthcare. You have so many applications and software and platforms that are going to come in and provide information and service in these two fields, which means a lot of healthcare and education sectors will be radically changed and a lot of jobs will be lost. Now, where will the new jobs be found? Well, the one sector of the economy that can’t be easily duplicated by even smart technologies is the caring sector, the personal care sector. That is, you can’t really get a robot to do a great massage or physical therapy, or you can’t get the kind of personal attention you need with regard to therapy or any other personal service. There could be very high-end personal services. Therapists do charge a lot of money. I think there’s no limit to the amount of personal attention and personal care people would like if they could afford it. But the real question in the future is how come people afford these things if they don’t have money, because they can’t get a job that pays enough. That’s why I wrote this book, which is about how to reorganize the economy for the future when technology brings about destructive changes to what we used to consider high-income work.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 12: What does the speaker say will happen in the next twenty years?
Question 13: Where will young people have more chances to find jobs?
Question 14: What does the speaker say about therapists?
Question 15: What is the speaker’s book about?

12.
A) All services will be personalized.
B) A lot of knowledge-intensive jobs will be replaced.
C) Technology will revolutionize all sectors of industry.
D) More information will be available.

13.
A) In the robotics industry.
B) In the information service.
C) In the personal care sector.
D) In high-end manufacturing.

14.
A) They charge high prices.
B) They need lots of training.
C) They cater to the needs of young people.
D) They focus on customers’ specific needs.

15.
A) The rising demand in education and healthcare in the next 20 years.
B) The disruption caused by technology in traditionally well-paid jobs.
C) The tremendous changes new technology will bring to people’s lives.
D) The amazing amount of personal attention people would like to have.

Section C
Direction: In this section, you will hear three recordings of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The recordings will be played 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.

Recording 1
American researchers have discovered the world’s oldest paved road, a 4,600-year-old highway. It linked a stone pit in the Egyptian desert to waterways that carried blocks to monument sites along the Nile. The eight-mile road is at least 500 years older than any previously discovered road. It is the only paved road discovered in ancient Egypt, said geologist Thomas Bown of the United States Geological Survey. He reported the discovery on Friday. “The road probably doesn’t rank with the pyramids as a construction feat, but it is a major engineering achievement,” said his colleague, geologist James Harrell of the University of Toledo. “Not only is the road earlier than we thought possible, we didn’t even think they built roads.” The researchers also made a discovery in the stone pit at the northern end of the road: the first evidence that the Egyptians used rock saws. “This is the oldest example of saws being used for cutting stone”, said Bown’s colleague James Hoffmeier of Wheaton College in Illinois. “That’s two technologies we didn’t know they had”, Harrell said. “And we don’t know why they were both abandoned.” The road was discovered in the Faiyum Depression, about 45 miles southwest of Cairo. Short segments of the road had been observed by earlier explorers, Bown said, but they failed to realize its significance or follow up on their observations. Bown and his colleagues stumbled across it while they were doing geological mapping in the region. The road was clearly built to provide services for the newly discovered stone pit. Bown and Harrell have found the camp that housed workers at the stone pit. The road appears today to go nowhere, ending in the middle of the desert. When it was built, its terminal was a dock on the shore of Lake Moeris, which had an elevation of about 66 feet above sea level, the same as the dock. Lake Moeris received its water from the annual floods of the Nile. At the time of the floods, the river and lake were at the same level and connected through a gap in the hills near the modern villages of el-Lahun and Hawara. Harrell and Bown believe that blocks were loaded onto barges during the dry season, then floated over to the Nile during the floods to be shipped off to the monument sites at Giza and Saqqara.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.
Question 16: What do we learn from the lecture about the world’s oldest paved road in Egypt?
Question 17: What did the researchers discover in the stone pit?
Question 18: For what purpose was the paved road built?

16.
A) It was the longest road in ancient Egypt.
B) It was constructed some 500 years ago.
C) It lay 8 miles from the monument sites.
D) It linked a stone pit to some waterways.

17.
A) Saws used for cutting stone.
B) Traces left by early explorers.
C) An ancient geographical map.
D) Some stone tool segments.

18.
A) To transport stones to block floods.
B) To provide services for the stone pit.
C) To link the various monument sites.
D) To connect the villages along the Nile.

Recording 2
The thin, extremely sharp needles didn’t hurt at all going in. Dr. Gong pierced them into my left arm, around the elbow that had been bothering me. Other needles were slipped into my left wrist and, strangely, into my right arm, and then into both my closed eyelids. There wasn’t, any discomfort, just a mild warming sensation. However, I did begin to wonder what had driven me here, to the office of Dr. James Gong in New York’s Chinatown. Then I remembered—the torturing pain in that left elbow. Several trips to a hospital and two expensive, uncomfortable medical tests had failed to produce even a diagnosis. “Maybe you lean on your left arm too much”, the doctor concluded, suggesting I see a bone doctor. During the hours spent waiting in vain to see a bone doctor, I decided to take another track and try acupuncture. A Chinese-American friend recommended Dr. Gong. I took the subway to Gong’s second-floor office marked with a hand-painted sign. Dr. Gong speaks English, but not often. Most of my questions to him were greeted with a friendly laugh, but I managed to let him know where my arm hurt. He asked me to go into a room, had me lie down on a bed, and went to work. In the next room, I learned a woman dancer was also getting a treatment. As I lay there a while, I drifted into a dream-like state and fantasized about what she looked like. Acupuncturists today are as likely to be found on Park Avenue as on Mott Street. In all, there are an estimated 10,000 acupuncturists in the country. Nowadays, a lot of medical doctors have learned acupuncture techniques. So have a number of dentists. Reason? Patient demand. Few, though, can adequately explain how acupuncture works. Acupuncturists may say that the body has more than 800 acupuncture points. A life force called qi circulates through the body. Points on the skin are energetically connected to specific organs, body structures and systems. Acupuncture points are stimulated to balance the circulation of qi. “The truth is, though acupuncture is at least 2,200 years old, nobody really knows what’s happening,” says Paul Zmiewski, a Ph.D. in Chinese studies who practices acupuncture in Philadelphia. After five treatments, there has been dramatic improvement in my arm, and the pain is a fraction of what it was. The mainly silent Dr. Gong finally even offered a diagnosis for what troubled me. “Pinched nerve,” he said.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.
Question 19: What does the speaker find especially strange?
Question 20: Why did the speaker go see Dr. Gong?
Question 21: What accounts for the growing popularity of acupuncture in the United States according to the speaker?

19.
A) Dr. Gong didn’t give him any conventional tests.
B) Dr. Gong marked his office with a hand-painted sign.
C) Dr. Gong didn’t ask him any questions about his pain.
D) Dr. Gong slipped in needles where he felt no pain.

20.
A) He had heard of the wonders acupuncture could work.
B) Dr. Gong was very famous in New York’s Chinatown.
C) Previous medical treatments failed to relieve his pain.
D) He found the expensive medical tests unaffordable.

21.
A) More and more patients ask for the treatment.
B) Acupuncture techniques have been perfected.
C) It doesn’t need the conventional medical tests.
D) It does not have any negative side effects.

Recording 3
Ronald and Lois married for two decades consider themselves a happy couple. But in the early years of their marriage, both were distilled by persistent arguments that seem to fade away without ever being truly resolved. They uncovered clues to what was going wrong by researching a fascinating subject: How birth order affects not only your personality, but also how compatible you are with your mate. Ronald and Lois are only children, and “onlies” grow up accustomed to being the apple of their parents’ eyes. Match two “onlies” and you have partners who subconsciously expect each other to continue fulfilling this expectation, while neither has much experience in the “giving” end. Here’s a list of common birth-order characteristics—and some thoughts on the best and worst marital matches for each. The oldest tends to be self-assured, responsible, a high achiever, and relatively serious and reserved. He may be slow to make friends, perhaps content with only one companion. The best matches are with a youngest, an “only”, or a mate raised in a large family. The worst match is with another oldest, since the two will be too sovereign to share a household comfortably. The youngest child of the family thrives on attention and tends to be outgoing, adventurous, optimistic, creative and less ambitious than others in the family. He may lack self-discipline and have difficulty making decisions on his own. A youngest brother of brothers, often unpredictable and romantic, will match best with an oldest sister of brothers. The youngest sister of brothers is best matched with an oldest brother of sisters, who will happily indulge these traits. The middle child is influenced by many variables, however, middles are less likely to take initiative and more anxious and self-critical than others. Middles often successfully marry other middles, since both are strong on tact, not so strong on the aggressiveness and tend to crave affection. The only child is often most comfortable when alone. But since an “only” tends to be a well-adjusted individual, she’ll eventually learn to relate to any chosen spouse. The male only child expects his wife to make life easier without getting much in return. He is sometimes best matched with a younger sister of brothers. The female only child, who tends to be slightly more flexible, is well matched with an older man, who will indulge her tendency to test his love. Her worst match? Another “only”, of course.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
Question 22: What does the speaker say about Ronald and Lois’s early years of married life?
Question 23: What do we learn about Ronald and Lois?
Question 24: What does the speaker say about the oldest child in a family?
Question 25: What does the speaker say about the only children?

22.
A) They were on the verge of breaking up.
B) They were compatible despite differences.
C) They quarreled a lot and never resolved their arguments.
D) They argued persistently about whether to have children.

23.
A) Neither of them has any brothers or sisters.
B) Neither of them won their parents’ favor.
C) They weren’t spoiled in their childhood.
D) They didn’t like to be the apple of their parents’ eyes.

24.
A) They are usually good at making friends.
B) They tend to be adventurous and creative.
C) They are often content with what they have.
D) They tend to be self-assured and responsible.

25.
A) They enjoy making friends.
B) They tend to be well adjusted.
C) They are least likely to take initiative.
D) They usually have successful marriages.

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2018年06月英语六级第2套听力原文及题目

Section A
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 I with a single line through the centre.

Conversation 1
M: Tonight we have a special guest from a local establishment, the Parisian Café Welcome!
W: Hi, thanks for having me on your show.
M: Thank you for joining us. So please tell us, why did you decide to open a café?
W: Well, we saw the opportunity to offer something a little special and different from other establishments. Cafés certainly are a very competitive market sector. There are more than plenty in our city, and we felt they are all rather similar to each other. Wouldn’t you agree?
M: Certainly yes. So how is your establishment any different?
W: Well, simply put, we have rabbits wandering freely around the place. Our customers come in and enjoy their food and drinks while little rabbits play about and brush against their legs. There is no other place like it.
M: That’s amazing! How did you come up with the idea?
W: We saw other cafés with cats in them. So we thought, why not rabbits? People love rabbits. They are very cute animals.
M: But is it safe? Do the rabbits ever bite people? Or do any customers ever hurt the rabbits?
W: It’s perfectly safe for both rabbits and our customers. Rabbits are very peaceful and certainly do not bite. Furthermore, our rabbits are regularly cleaned and have all received the required shots. So there is no health risk whatsoever. As for our customers, they are all animal lovers, so they would never try to hurt the rabbits. Sometimes a young child may get over-excited, and they are a little too rough, but it’s never a serious matter. On the contrary, the Parisian Café, offers a great experience for children, a chance for them to learn about rabbits and how to take care of them.
M: Well, it’s certainly the first time I’ve heard of a café like that.
Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 1: What do we learn about the woman?
Question 2: What does the woman say about Cafés in her city?
Question 3: How does the Parisian Café guarantee that its rabbits pose no health threat?
Question 4: What does the woman say about their customers?

1.
A) She advocates animal protection.
B) She sells a special kind of coffee.
C) She is going to start a café chain.
D) She is the owner of a special café.

2.
A) They bear a lot of similarities.
B) They are a profitable business sector.
C) They cater to different customers.
D) They help take care of customers’ pets.

3.
A) By giving them regular cleaning and injections.
B) By selecting breeds that are tame and peaceful.
C) By placing them at a safe distance from customers.
D) By briefing customers on how to get along with them.

4.
A) They want to learn about rabbits.
B) They like to bring in their children.
C) They love the animals in her café.
D) They give her café favorite reviews.

Conversation 2
M: Hey, there. How are you?
W: Oh, hi. I’m great! Thanks. And you look great, too.
M: Thank you. It’s good to see you shopping at the organic section. I see you’ve got lots of healthy stuff. I wish I could buy more organic produce from here, but I find the kids don’t like it. I don’t know about yours, but mine are all about junk food.
W: Oh, trust me! I know exactly how you feel. My children are the same. What is it with kids these days and all that junk food they eat? I think it’s all that advertising on TV. That’s where they get it.
M: Yes, it must be. My children see something on TV and they immediately want it. It’s like they don’t realize it’s just an advertisement.
W: Right. And practically everything that’s advertised for children is unhealthy processed foods. No surprise then it becomes a battle for us parents to feed our children ordinary fruit and vegetables.
M: That’s just the thing. One never sees ordinary ingredients being advertised on TV. It’s never a carrot or a peach. It’s always some garbage, like chocolate-covered sweets. So unhealthy.
W: Exactly. And these big food corporations have so much money to spend on clever tactics designed to make young children want to buy their products. Children never stand a chance. It’s really not fair.
M: You are so right. When we were children, we barely had any junk food available, and we turned out just fine.
W: Yes, My parents don’t understand any of it. Both the TV commercials and the supermarkets are alien to them. Their world was so different back when they were young.
M: I don’t know what will happen to the next generation.
W: The world is going crazy.
M: You bet.
Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
Question 5: What do the speakers say about the food their children like?
Question 6: According to the speakers, what affects children’s choice of food most?
Question 7: What do the speakers believe big food corporations are doing?
Question 8: What do we know about the speakers when they were children?

5.
A) It contains too many additives.
B) It lacks the essential vitamins.
C) It can cause obesity.
D) It is mostly garbage.

6.
A) Its fancy design.
B) TV commercials.
C) Its taste and texture.
D) Peer influence.

7.
A) Investing heavily in the production of sweet foods.
B) Marketing their products with ordinary ingredients.
C) Trying to trick children into buying their products.
D) Offering children more varieties to choose from.

8.
A) They hardly ate vegetables.
B) They seldom had junk food.
C) They favored chocolate-coated sweets.
D) They liked the food advertised on TV.

Section B
Direction: In this section, you will hear two 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
At some 2,300 miles in length, the Mississippi is the longest river in the United States. At some 1,000 miles, the Mackenzie is the longest river in Canada. But these waterways seem minute in comparison to the world’s two lengthiest rivers-the Nile and the Amazon. The Nile, which begins in central Africa and flows over 4,100 miles north into the Mediterranean, hosted one of the world’s great ancient civilizations along its shores. Calm and peaceful for most of the year, the Nile used to flood annually, thereby creating, irrigating and carrying new topsoil to the nearby farmland on which ancient Egypt depended for livelihood. As a means of transportation, the river carried various vessels up and down its length. A journey through the unobstructed part of this waterway today would pass by the splendid Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of many of these ancient monarchs have stood for over 3,000 years. Great civilizations and intensive settlement are hardly associated with the Amazon, yet this 4,000-mile-long South American river carries about 20 percent of the world’s fresh water more than the Mississippi, Nile, and Yangtze combined. Other statistics are equally astonishing. The Amazon is so wide at some points that from its center neither shore can be seen. Each second, the Amazon pours some 55 million gallons of water into the Atlantic; there, at its mouth, stands one island larger than Switzerland. Most important of all, the Amazon irrigates the largest tropical rain forest on Earth.
Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 9: What can be found in the Valley of the Kings?
Question 10: In what way is the Amazon different from other big rivers?
Question 11: What does the speaker say about the Amazon?

9.
A) Stretches of farmland.
B) Typical Egyptian animal farms.
C) Tombs of ancient rulers.
D) Ruins left by devastating floods.

10.
A) It provides habitats for more primitive tribes.
B) It is hardly associated with great civilizations.
C) It has not yet been fully explored and exploited.
D) It gathers water from many tropical rain forests.

11.
A) It carries about one fifth of the world’s fresh water.
B) It has numerous human settlements along its banks.
C) It is second only to the Mississippi River in width.
D) It is as long as the Nile and the Yangtze combined.

Passage 2
How often do you say to people “I’m busy” or “I haven’t got time for that,” It’s an inevitable truth that all of us live a life in the fast lane, even though we know that being busy is not always particularly healthy. Growing up in New Zealand, everything was always calm and slow. People enjoyed the tranquility of a slower pace of life. After I moved to Tokyo and lived there for a number of years, I got used to having a pile of to-do lists, and my calendar always looked like a mess, with loads of things to do written across it. I found myself filling my time up with endless work meetings and social events, rushing along as busy as a bee. Then, one day, I came across a book called In Praise of Slowness and realized that being busy is not only detrimental, but also has the danger of turning life into an endless race. So I started practicing the various practical steps mentioned by the author in the book, and began to revolt against the very idea of being too busy. It doesn’t mean that my to-do lists no longer exist, but I’ve become more aware of the importance of slowing down and making sure that I enjoy the daily activities as I carry them out. From now on, when someone asks you how your life is, try responding with words like “exciting and fun” instead of the cultural norm that says “busy.” See if you experience the tranquility that follows.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 12: What does the speaker think is an inevitable truth?
Question 13: What does the speaker say about her life in Tokyo?
Question 14: What made the speaker change her lifestyle?
Question 15: What happened after the speaker changed her lifestyle?

12.
A) Living a life in the fast lane leads to success.
B) We are always in a rush to do various things.
C) The search for tranquility has become a trend.
D) All of us actually yearn for a slow and calm life.

13.
A) She had trouble balancing family and work.
B) She enjoyed the various social events.
C) She was accustomed to tight schedules.
D) She spent all her leisure time writing books.

14.
A) The possibility of ruining her family.
B) Becoming aware of her declining health.
C) The fatigue from living a fast-paced life.
D) Reading a book about slowing down.

15.
A) She started to follow the cultural norms.
B) She came to enjoy doing everyday tasks.
C) She learned to use more polite expressions.
D) She stopped using to-do lists and calendars.

Section C
Direction: In this section, you will hear three recordings of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The recordings will be played 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.

Recording 1
Governments, private groups and individuals spend billions of dollars a year trying to root out non-native organisms that are considered dangerous to ecosystems, and to prevent the introduction of new intruders. But a number of scientists question the assumption that the presence of alien species can never be acceptable in a natural ecosystem. They say that portraying introduced species as inherently bad is an unscientific approach. “Distinctions between exotic and native species are artificial,” said Dr. Michael Rosenzweig, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, “because they depend on picking a date and calling the plants and animals that show up after that date ‘exotic.'” Ecosystems free of species defined as exotic are, by default, considered the most natural. “You can’t roll back the clock and remove all exotics or fix habitats,” Dr. Rosenzweig said. “Both native and exotic species can become invasive, and so they all have to be monitored and controlled when they begin to get out of hand.” At its core, the debate is about how to manage the world’s remaining natural ecosystems and about how, and how much, to restore other habitats. Species that invade a territory can harm ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. They can threaten some native species or even destroy and replace others. Next to habitat loss, these invasive species represent the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, many ecologists say. Ecologists generally define an alien species as one that people, accidentally or deliberately, carried to its new location. Across the American continents, exotic species are those introduced after the first European contact. That date, rounded off to 1500 AD, represents what ecologists consider to have been a major shift in the spread of species, including crops and livestock, as they began to migrate with humans from continent to continent. “Only a small percentage of alien species cause problems in their new habitats,” said Don Smith, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee. “Of the 7,000 alien species in the United States-out of a total of 150,000 species-only about 10 percent are invasive,” he pointed out. The other 90 percent have fit into their environments and are considered naturalized. Yet appearances can deceive, ecologists caution, and many of these exotics may be considered acceptable only because no one has documented their harmful effects. What is more, non-native species can appear harmless for decades, then turn invasive.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.
Question 16: What assumption about introduced species is challenged by a number of scientists?
Question 17: What does Dr. Michael Rosenzwei think of exotic and native species?
Question 18: What does Professor Don Smith say about alien species?

16.
A) They will root out native species altogether.
B) They contribute to a region’s biodiversity.
C) They pose a threat to the local ecosystem.
D) They will crossbreed with native species.

17.
A) Their classifications are meaningful.
B) Their interactions are hard to define.
C) Their definitions are changeable.
D) Their distinctions are artificial.

18.
A) Only a few of them cause problems to native species.
B) They may turn out to benefit the local environment.
C) Few of them can survive in their new habitats.
D) Only 10 percent of them can be naturalized.

Recording 2
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! And welcome to the third in our series of business seminars in the program-Doing Business Abroad. Today we are going to look at intercultural awareness, that is, the fact that not everyone is British, not everyone speaks English, and not everyone does business in the British way. And why should they? If overseas business people are selling to us, then they will make every effort to speak English and to respect our-traditions and methods. It is only polite for us to do the same when we visit them. It is not only polite. It is essential if we want to sell British products overseas. First, a short quiz. Let’s see how interculturally aware you are.
Question 1: Where must you not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of every month?
Question 2: Where should you never admire your host’s possessions?
Question 3: How should you attract the waiter during a business lunch in Bangkok?
And Question 4: Where should you try to make all your appointments either before 2:00 or after 5:30 p.m.?
OK. Everyone had a chance to make some notes? Right. Here are the answers—although I am sure that the information could equally well apply to countries other than those I have chosen.
So No.1, you must not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of the month in India. In international hotels you may find it served, but if you are having a meal with an Indian colleague, remember to avoid asking for a beer if your arrival coincides with one of those dates.
2. In Arab countries, the politeness and generosity of the people is without parallel.
If you admire your colleague’s beautiful golden bowls, you may well find yourself being presented with them as a present. This is not a cheap way to do your shopping, however, as your host will, quite correctly, expect you to respond by presenting him with a gift of equal worth and beauty. In Thailand, clicking the fingers, clapping your hands, or just shouting “Waiter!” will embarrass your hosts, fellow diners, the waiter himself and, most of all, you! Place your palm downward and make an inconspicuous waving gesture, which will produce instant and satisfying results. And finally, in Spain, some businesses maintain the pattern of working until about 2 o’clock and then returning to the office from 5:30 to 8:00, 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.
Question 19: What should you do when doing business with foreigners?
Question 20: What must you avoid doing with your Indian colleague?
Question 21: What do we learn about some Spanish business people?

19.
A) Respect their traditional culture.
B) Attend their business seminars.
C) Research their specific demands.
D) Adopt the right business strategies.

20.
A) Showing them your palm.
B) Giving them gifts of great value.
C) Drinking alcohol on certain days of a month.
D) Clicking your fingers loudly in their presence.

21.
A) They are very easy to satisfy.
B) They have a strong sense of worth.
C) They tend to be friendly and enthusiastic.
D) They have a break from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Recording 3
Shortly after he took over the Reader’s Digest Association in 1984, George Grune unlocked the company’s boardroom and announced that the room was now open to the employees. It was a symbolic act, indicating that under Grune’s leadership, Reader’s Digest was going to be different. True to his word, Grune has shaken up the culture here. To get an idea of the culture we’re talking about, consider the boardroom Grune opened up. It has artworks that any museum in the world would want to collect, paintings by many world-famous artists like Monet and Picasso. Its headquarters houses some 3,000 works of art. The main building is topped with a Georgian Tower with four sculptures of the mythical winged horse, the magazine’s corporate logo. It sits on 127 acres of well-trimmed lawns. The editor’s office used to be occupied by founder Dewitt Wallace, who, along with his wife, Lila Acheson Wallace, launched Reader’s Digest in 1922 with condensed articles from other publications. It has become the world’s most widely read magazine, selling 28 million copies each month in 17 languages and 41 different editions. The Wallaces, both children of church ministers, had a clearly defined formula for their “little magazine” as Reader’s Digest was originally subtitled. Articles were to be short, readable and uplifting. Subjects were picked to inspire or entertain. The Wallaces didn’t accept advertising in the US edition until 1955 and even then they didn’t allow any ads for cigarettes, liquor or drugs. The Wallaces also had a clear sense of the kind of workplace they wanted. It started as a mom-and-pop operation, and the childless Wallaces always considered employees to be part of their family. Employees still tell stories of how the Wallaces would take care of their employees who had met with misfortunes and they showered their employees with unusual benefits, like a turkey at Thanksgiving and Fridays off in May. This cozy workplace no longer exists here. The Wallaces both died in their nineties in the early 1980s. George Grune, a former ad salesman who joined Reader’s Digest in 1960 has his eye focused on the bottom line. In a few short years, he turned the magazine on his head. He laid off several hundred workers. Especially hard hit were the blue- and pink-collar departments, such as subscription fulfillment.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
Question 22: What did George Grune do in 1984?
Question 23: How did the Wallaces define the formula for Reader’s Digest?
Question 24: What do we learn about the founder of Reader’s Digest Dewitt Wallace?
Question 25: What change took place in Reader’s Digest after the Wallaces’ death?

22.
A) He completely changed the company’s culture.
B) He collected paintings by world-famous artists.
C) He took over the sales department of Reader’s Digest.
D) He had the company’s boardroom extensively renovated.

23.
A) It should be sold at a reasonable price.
B) Its articles should be short and inspiring.
C) It should be published in the world’s leading languages.
D) Its articles should entertain blue- and pink-collar workers.

24.
A) He knew how to make the magazine profitable.
B) He served as a church minister for many years.
C) He suffered many setbacks and misfortunes in his life.
D) He treated the employees like members of his family.

25.
A) It carried many more advertisements.
B) George Grune joined it as an ad salesman.
C) Several hundred of its employees got fired.
D) Its subscriptions increased considerably.

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