(完整版)英语专四Dictation

Dictation 听力原文9. Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879, His father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the religion’s rules. Albert was a quite child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction—to be north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity were difficult for the boy to understand. Y et he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things.Useful expressions and words:1.device 装置，设备leave to one’s own devices 听任某人自行其是，允许某人按自己的意愿做事She left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon.她允许孩子在下午有一个小时的自由支配时间。

Package Holidays (1993)Package holidays, covering a two weeks' stay in an attractive place, are increasingly popular. Once you get to the airport, it is up to the tour operator to see that you get safely to your destination．Everything is laid on for you．There is, in fact, no reason for you to bother to arrange anything yourselves．You make friends and have a good time. But there is very little chance that you will really get to know the local people．This is even less likely on a coach tour, when you spend almost your entire time traveling．Of course, there are carefully planned stops for you to visit historic buildings and monuments. You may visit the beautiful, the historic, the ancient. But time is always short．There is also the added disadvantage of being obliged to spend you holiday with a group of people you have never met before．The American Family (1994)The American family unit is changing. There used to be mainly two types of families, the extended and the nuclear. The former included mother, father, children, and some other relatives such as grandparents, living in the same house or nearby. Then as the economy progressed from agricultural to industrial, people began moving to different parts of the country in order to search for job opportunities. These moves split up the extended family. The nuclear family consisting of only parents and children has therefore become far more wide spread. Today’s family, however, can be composed of diverse combinations. With the divorce rate nearly one in two, there's an increase in single-parent homes—a father or mother living with one or more children. Blended families occur when divorced men and women remarry and combine the children from former marriages into a new family. On the other hand, there is an increase in childless couples while one in rive Americans lives alone.Unidentified Flying Objects (1995)There are many explanations for why UFOs visit the Earth. / The most popular one is that they maybe visitors from other planets./ To fly such aircraft, their builders must develop different forms of aviation,/because they seem to fly much faster than normal aircraft./ The UFOs, it is believed, must contain scientists/ from other planets who are studying life on earth./ It is even believed that several such aircraft may have landed on earth/ and the space visitors may be living amongst us./ But there are also less fantastic explanations available./ Although some sightings of UFOs are difficult to explain, most can be explained quite easily./ In many cases the observers might have made a mistake./ They might have seen a weather balloon or an aircraft./ Or the light they saw in the sky might have been light from the ground,/ reflected on to the clouds./ However, the exact cause of many sightings still remained a mystery.The Indian Medicine Man (1996)Among the Indians of North America, the medicine man was a very important person. He could cure illness and he could speak to the spirits. The spirits were the supernatural forces that controlled the world. The Indians believed that bad spirits made people ill. So when people were ill, the medicine man tried to help them by using magic. He spoke to the good spirits and asked for their help. Many people were cured, because they thought the spirits were helping them, but really these people cured themselves. Sometimes your own mind is the best doctor for you. The medicine men were often successful for another reason, too. They knew about plants that really can cure illness. A lot of medicines are made from the plants that were used by medicine menhundred of years ago.Legal Age for Marriage (1997)Throughout the United States, the legal age for marriage shows some difference. The most common age without parents’ consent is 18 for both females and males. However, persons who are under age in their home state can get married in another state, and then return to the home state legally married. Each state issues its own marriage license. Both residents and non-residents are qualified for such a license. The fees and ceremonies vary greatly from state to state. Most states, for instance, have a blood test requirement, but a few do not. Most states permit either a civil or religious ceremony, but a few require the ceremony to be religious. In most states a waiting period is required before the license is issued. This period is from one to five days depending on the state.A three-day-wait is the most common. In some states there is no required waiting period.The Railways in Britain (1998)The success of early railways, such as the lines between big cities,/ led to a great increase in railway building in Victorian times. / Between 1835 and 1865 about 25000 kilometers of track were built,/ and over 100 railway companies were created. /Railway travel transformed people's lives. / Trains were first designed to carry goods. / However, a law in the 19th century forced railway companies to run one cheap train a day / which stopped at every station and cost only a penny a mile. / Soon working class passengers found they could afford to travel by rail. / Cheap day excursion trains became popular and seaside resorts grew rapidly. / The railways also provided thousands of new jobs:/ building carriages, running the railways and repairing the tracks. / Railways even changed the time. / The need to run the railways on time meant that local time was abolished/ and clocks showed the same time all over the country. /United Nations Day (1999)The 24th of October is celebrated as United Nations Day. h is a day that belongs to everyone. And it is celebrated in most countries of the world. Some countries celebrate for a week instead of a day. In many parts of the world, schools have special programs for the day. Boys and girls in some communities decorate a UN tree. In other communities, young people put on plays about the UN. Some libraries exhibit children’s art works from around the world. Schools celebrate with the songs and dances of other countries or give parties where foods of other countries are served. No matter how the day is celebrated, the purpose of these celebrations is to help everyone understand the UN, and the important roles it plays in world affairs. The UN encourages people to learn about other lands and their customs. In this way, people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of peoples all over the world.What We Know About Language (2000)Many things about language are a mystery and will remain so. However, we now do know something about it. First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. No human race anywhere on earth is so backward that it has no language of its own at all. Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. There are many peoples whose cultures are undeveloped but the languages they speak are by no means primitive. In all the languages existing in the worldtoday, there are complexities that must have been developed for years. Third, we know that all languages are perfectly adequate. Each is a perfect means of expressing its culture. And finally, we know that language changes over time, which is natural and normal if a language is to survive. The language which remains unchanged is nothing but dead.Characteristics of A Good Reader (2001)To improve your reading habits, you must understand the characteristics of a good reader. First, the good reader usually reads rapidly. Of course, he does not read every piece of material at the same rate. But whether he is reading a newspaper or a chapter in a physics text, his reading rate is relatively fast. He has learned to read for ideas rather than words one at a time. Next, the good reader can recognize and understand general ideas and specific details. Thus he is able to comprehend the material with a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest. Finally, the good reader has in his command several special skills, which he can apply to reading problems as they occur. For the college student, the most helpful of these skills include making use of the various aids to understanding that most text books provide and skim-reading for a general survey.Disappearing Forests (2002)The world’s forests are disappearing. As much as 1/3 of the total tree cover has been lost since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago. The remaining forests are home to half of the world’s species, thus becoming the chief resource for their survival. Tropical rain forests once covered 12% of the land of the planet, as well as supporting at l east half of the world’s species of plants and animals. These rain forests are home to millions of people. But there are other demands on them. For example, much has been cut for timber. An increasing amount of forest land has been used for industrial purposes or for agricultural development such as crop-growing. By the 1990’s less than half of the earth’s original rain forests remained, and they continued to disappear at an alarming rate every year. As a result the world’s forests are now facing gradual ex tinction.Salmon (2003)Every year, millions of salmon swim from the ocean into the mouths of rivers and then steadily up the rivers. Passing through waters, around rocks and waterfalls, the fish finally reach their original streams or lakes. They dig out nests in the riverbed and lay their eggs. Then, exhausted by their journey, the parent salmon die. They have finished the task that nature has given them. Months, or years later, the young fish start their trip to the ocean. They live in the salt water from 2-7 years, until they, too are ready to swim back to reproduce. Their life cycle helps man provide himself with a basic food-fish. When the adult salmon gather at the river mouths for the annual trip up the rivers, they are in the best possible condition, and nearly every harbor has its salmon fishing fleet ready to catch thousands for markets.Money (2004)Money is accepted across the world as payment for goods or services. People use money to buy food, clothes and hundreds of other things. In the past, many different things were used as money. People on Pacific islands once exchanged shells for goods. The Chinese used cloth and knives. In Africa, elephant tusks or salt were used. Even today, some people in Africa are still paid in salt. Coins were first invented by the Chinese. Originally, they were round pieces of metal with a holein the center, so that a piece of string could keep them together. This made doing business much easier, but people still found coins inconvenient to carry when they wanted to buy something expensive. To solve this problem, the Chinese again came up with the solution. They began to use paper money for coins. Now paper notes are used throughout the world.The Wrist Watch （2005）It is generally believed that wrist watches are an exception / to the normal sequence in the evolution of man's jewelry. / Reversing the usual order, they were first worn by women, / and then adopted by men. / In the old days, queens included wrist watches among their crown jewelry. / Later, they were worn by Swiss workers and farmers. / Until World War I, Americans associated the watch with fortune hunters. / Then army officers discovered that the wrist watch was most practical for active combat. / Race car drivers also loved to wear wrist watches, / and pilots found them most useful while flying. / Soon men dared to wear wrist watches without feeling self-conscious. / By 1924, some 30 percent of man's watches were worn on the wrist. / Today, the figure is 90 percent. / And they are now worn by both men and women / for practical purposes rather than for decoration.The Internet (2006)The Internet is the most significant progress in the field of communications. / Imagine a book that never ends, a library with a million floors, / or imagine a research project with thousands of scientists / working around the clock forever. / This is the magic of the Internet. / Yet the Internet has the potential for good and bad. / One can find well-organized, information-rich websites. / At the same time, one can also find wasteful websites. / Most websites are known as different Internet applications. / These include online games, chat rooms (chat rooms) and so on. / These applications have great power, too. / Sometimes the power can be so great / that young people may easily become victims to their attraction. / So we need to recognize the seriousness of the problem. / We must work together to use its power for better ends.2007: AdvertisingAdvertising has alre ady become a specialized activity in modern times. In today’s business world, supply is usually greater than demand. There is great competition between manufacturers of the same kind of product because they want to persuade customers to buy their particular brand. They always have to remind their customers of the name and qualities of their products by advertising. The manufacture advertises in newspapers and on the radio. He sometimes employs sales girls to distribute samples of their products. He sometimes advertises on the Internet as well. In addition, he always has advertisements put into television programs that will accept them. Manufactures often spend huge sums of money on advertisements. We buy a particular product because we think that is the best. We usually think so because the advertisements say so. People often don’t ask themselves if the advertisements are telling the truth when they buy advertised products from shops.2008: Choosing A CareerWhen students graduate from college, many of them do not know how they want to spend theirworking lives and they sometimes move from job to job, until they find something that suits them and of equally importance to which they are suited. Others never find a job in which they are really happy. They remain all their lives square pegs in round holes. When we choose our careers we need to ask ourselves two questions. First, what do we think we would like to be? Second, what kind of people are we? The idea, for example of being a painter or a musician may seem very attractive, but unless we have great talent, and are willing to work very hard. We are certain to fail in these occupations and failure will lead to unhappiness in life. So it is important to assess our suitability for a certain career in job search.2009: New Year’s EveFor many people in the west, New Year’s Eve is the biggest party of the year. It’s time to get together with friends or family and welcome in the coming year. New Year’s parties can take place in different places. Some people hold a house party; others attend street parties, while some just go for a few drinks with their friends. Big cities have large and spectacular fireworks displays. There is one thing that all New Year’s Eve parties have in common, the countdown to midnight. When the clock strikes 12, people give a loud cheer and sing songs. It’s also popular to make a promise in the New Year. This is called a New Year’s resolution. Typical resolutions include giving up smoking and keeping fit. However the promise is often broken quite quickly and people are back into their bad habits within weeks or days.2010: Freshmen’s weekThe UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, it can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing. October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar. Universities have something called freshman’s Week for their newcom ers. It's a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life. However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve-wracking. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join? Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don't rush into anything that you'll regret for the next three years.2011: British holidaying habitsIn the late 1970s, air travel became affordable for the average family in the UK, and more people started travelling abroad for their summer holidays. Afte r all, the British weather wasn’t very good, even in summer, so a lot of people left the country for a vacation. In the 1980s and 1990s, young people in the UK became wealthier on average. As a result, they started to go abroad in groups, to places such as Spain and Greece. Once they arrived at their destination, they met with other groups of young people and had one long party. British holidaying habits have begun to change, however. Climate change means that the UK now has a hotter climate, so people do not need to go overseas to find good weather. Also, going abroad is more expensive. As a result, more British people are choosing to spend their summer holidays in the UK.2012: Eco-tourismNowadays, many of us try to live in a way that will damage the environment as little as possible. We recycle our newspapers and bottles, we take public transport to get to work, we try to buy locally produced fruit and vegetables，and we want to take these attitudes on holiday with us. This is why alternative forms of tourism are becoming popular in the world. There are a lot of names for these new forms of tourism: responsible tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, educational tourism and more. Although everyone may have a different definition, most people agree that these new forms of tourism should do the following: first, they should conserve the wildlife and culture of the area; second, they should benefit the local people; third, they should make a profit without destroying natural resources; and finally they should provide an experience that tourists want to pay for.。

专项练习Dictation 1Old AgeMany people mistakenly believe that old age is a time of increased illness and loneli ness./ In fact,people do not suddenly change /when they reach the age of 60 or 65. /Consequently , we shouldnot expect more mental illness/ among the 60to 70 age group than among the50 to 6 0. /Furthermore, although more parents and their married children live in separate house holds than ever before,/ this is usually by choice. It is not because children now tend to neglect their parents /when they become old. /Itis also wrong to believe that old age seriously affects a person’s mental abilities. /Th ere is clearproof that people who were eager to learn and who welcomed new experiences in th eir middle age,/ continue to do so in old age. /It is true that older people tend to take l onger to learn somethingnew than young people. /Nevertheless, if they are given sufficient time, /they learn a s well as young people do.Dictation 2GardeningGardening is one of the oldest of the arts. /The Chinese with their deep sensitiveness to beauty /laid the foundation for a form of garden art /which was later to have great influences upon other lan ds. /The Greeks gave to the world a new concept of gardening. /Their homes were decorated with flowers/but it was in their civic design that they most skillfully applied their garden art. /Their temp les were surrounded by rows oftrees, /and trees lined the important streets and market places in thei r principal cities. /TheRomans acquired much of the knowledge and skill in garden craft from Gree ks. /In the second century AD the Romans began to build gardens of great scale, /inspired by the va st palace gardens they had conquered./ They bought water from great distances to supply the orna mental foundations which decorated their villa gardens./ these great villas were later to inspire the Italian garden architects to follow the Roman style.Dictation 3Being UnemployedMost people are much more frightened by being unemployed than they need to be. /Being unempl oyed certainly has disadvantages,/ but there are good things about it too. /One advantage is that you don’t have to get up early to work in the rush hour. /You can stay in bed as long as you like, /and there is plenty of time to read the newspaper /and have a leisurely breakfast./ But the best thing of a ll is that you are your own boss /and there is no one to tell you what to do and when to do it. /One drawback of being unemployed is that you haven’t got much money coming in. /Having a job at le ast enables you to save a lot of money to go on holiday./ On the other hand, when you are unemplo yed, /you needn’t go on holiday /because you are on holiday already. /In fact, the main trouble is th at you have to spend much time looking for a job./Dictation 4The Credit Card in the U.S.Today, more and more people in the U.S. are using credit card/instead of money to buy what they need./Almost anyone who has a steady income and a continuous work record/can apply for a credit card. With a credit card, you can buy a car, eat a dinner, take a trip/ and even get a haircut by charging the cost to your account./ In this way, you can pay for purchases a month or two later./ Or you may choose to spread out your payments over severalmonths/ and pay only part of the total amount each month./With a credit card,you don’t have to carry much cash/ and you don’t have to be concerned about losing your money through carelessness or theft./ The card user only has to worry about paying the final bill./ This of course can be a problem/ if you charge more than you can pay for.Dictation 5A Woman at HomeIn Japan, most people still feel that a woman’s right place is in the home /and most women willingly accept their traditional role as wives, /leaving the business of making a living to their husbands. / For those who do want a career of their own, opportunities are limited. /And working women usual ly have to settle for lower wages and less responsible positions. /In America, on the other hand, m ost women, including wives and mothers, work most of their lives. /But until recently, few have ha d real careers. /As in Japan, most fields are dominated by men /and opportunities for women have been restricted, /salaries low, chances for promotion rare. /American women work mainly because they have to./ In these days of inflation and expensive living, /only one income per family is simpl y not enough. /So American women actually have two jobs: /one outside the home, and the other ro und-the-clock job such as wife, cook and nurse.Dictation 6SuccessSuccess in life depends to a great extent on what is meant by success. /To some peop le, money is the only real indication /of achievement in the modern world and theref ore/ their judgment of success is based on the state/ of their bank balance and the po wer that goes with it. /Their life is devoted to making money/ and they are at a loss t o understand people whose ideas are different from their own./ There are people, ho wever, who consider their lives successful/ if they are doing what they enjoy doing/ t hat may not bring them any great financial reward./A man who spends his time gardening might consider himself successful/ if the flowers blossomed and his trees gave fruit. /Nursing and teaching can also bring their own ki nd of successto those engaged in them. /Success can be found in painting a picture nobody will ev er see. /Thegreat thing is to believe that success is not necessarily public.Dictation 7People’s Way of Seeing ThingsThe way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe. /For those people who bel ieved in the physical existence of Hell in the Middle Ages, /the sight of fire must have meant somet hing quite different from what it means today. /Nevertheless, their idea of Hell owed a lot to the sig ht/ of fire consuming and the ashes remaining as well as to their experience of the pain of burns. / We only see what we look at. /To look is an act of choice. /As a result of this act, what we see is br ought within our reach,/ though not necessarily within arm’s reach. /To touch something is to situat e oneself in relation to it./ We never look at just one thing. /We are always looking at the relation b etween things and ourselves. /Our vision is continually active, continually moving, /continually hol ding things in a circle around itself.Dictation 8EducationSome people may say that it is energy that makes the world go round, /but in my opinion thereis something else which is equally important. /That is education. /Education makes it possible to pa ss on /the invaluable knowledge of our ancestors and, at the same time, /makes it easier to explore the contemporary world. /Most great inventions have been brought about by educated people. /So we can say that education makes the world go round. /A poorly educated nation can never be a rich one. /The most advanced countries in the world all place great emphasis on education. /Nations w hich have a low percentage of educated people can, /in most cases, barely produce the basic necessi ties of life,/ let alone develop their science, technology and economics. /Such nations are facing the possibility of extinction in this highly developed world. /Therefore, education cannot be emphasiz ed enough in a developing country.。

1. Town and Country Life in EnglandThere is a big difference between town life and country life in England. In the country, everybody knows everybody else. They know what time you get up, what time you go to bed and what you have for dinner. If you want help, you will always get it and you will be glad to help others.In a large town like London, however, it can sometimes happen that you have never seen your next door neighbor and you do not know his name or anything about him. People in London are often very lonely. This is because people go to different places in the evenings and at weekends. If you walk through the streets in the centre of London on Sunday, it is like a town without people. One is sorry for old people living on their own. They could die in their homes and would not be discovered for weeks or even months2. A Change in Women’s LifeThe important change in women’s life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls leftschool at the first opportunity, and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to the abilities and interests of each of them.Useful Words and Expressions:1. life-pattern生活方式2. share3. A Popular Pastime of the English PeopleOne of the best means of understanding the people of any nation is watching what the do with their non-working time.Most English men, women and children love growing things, especially flowers. Visitors to England in spring, summer or autumn are likely to see gardens all they way along the railway lines. There are flowers at the airports and flowers in factory grounds, as well as in gardens along the roads. Each English town has at least one park with beautifully kept flower beds. Public buildings of every kind have brilliant window boxes and sometimes baskets of flowers are hanging on them.But what the English enjoy most is growing things themselves. If it is impossible to have a garden, then a window box or something growing in a pot will do. Looking at each other’s gardens is a popular pastime with the English.Useful Words and Expressions:1. window box:窗台上的花盆箱2.pastime 消遣，娱乐Swimming is my favorite pastime.4. British and American Police OfficersReal policemen, both in Britain and the U.S., hardly recognize any common points between their lives and what they se on TV—if they ever get home in time. Some things are almost the same, of course, but the policemen do not think much of them much of them. The first difference is that a policeman’s real life deals with the law. Most of what he learns is the law. He has to know actually what actions are against the law and what facts can be used to prove them in court. He has to know nearly as much law as a lawyer, and what’s more, he has to put it into practice on his feet, in the dark and, running down a narrow street after someone he wants to talk to.Little of his time is spent in talking with beautiful girls or in bravely facing cruel criminals. He will spend most of his working life arranging millions of words on thousands of forms about hundreds of sad, ordinary people who are guilty--- or not of stupid, unimportant crimes.Useful Words and Expressions:1. think much of 重视，尊重2. in court 在法庭上3. criminal 罪犯，犯罪者4. guilty 犯罪的，有罪的5. Living SpaceHow much living space does a person need? What happens when his space needs are not met? Scientists are doing experiments on rats to try to determine the effects of overcrowded conditions on man. Recent studies have shown that the behavior of rats is greatly affected by space. If rats have enough living space, they eat well, sleep well and produce their young well. But if their living conditions become too crowded, their behavior and even their health change obviously. They can not sleep and eat well, and signs of fear and worry become clear. The more crowded they are, and more they tend to bite each other and even kill each other. Thus, for rats, populations and violence are directly related. Is this a natural law for human society as well? Is enough space not only satisfactory, but necessary for human survival? These are interesting questions.6. The United NationsIn 1945, representatives of 50 nations met to plan this organization. It was called the United Nations. After the war, many more nations joined.There are two major parts of the United Nations. One is called the General Assembly. In the General Assembly, every member nation is represented and has an equal vote.The second part is called the Security Council. It has representatives of just 15 nations. Five nations are permanent members: the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and China. The 10 other members are elected every two years by the General Assembly.The major job of the Security Council is to keep peace in the world. If necessary, it can send troops from member nations to try to stop little wars before they turn into big ones.It is hard to get the nations of the Security Council to agree on when this is necessary. But they did vote to try to stop wars.Useful Words and Expressions:1. representative 代表2. General Assembly 联合国大会3. permanent 永久的，持久的4. Security Council 联合国安全理事会7. PlasticWe use plastic wrap to protect our foods. We put our garbage in plastic bags or plastic cans. We sit on plastic chairs, play with plastic toys, drink from plastic cups, and wash our hair with shampoo from plastic bottles!Plastic does not grow in nature. It is made by mixing certain things together. We call it a produced or manufactured material. Plastic was first made in the 1860s from plants, such as wood and cotton. That plastic was soft and burned easily.The first modern plastics were made in the 1930s. Most clear plastic starts out as thick, black oil. That plastic coating inside a pan begins as natural gas. Over the years, hundreds of different plastics have been developed. Some are hard and strong. Some are soft and bendable. Some are clear. Some are many-colored. There is a plastic for almost every need. Scientistscontinue to experiment with plastics. They hope to find even ways to use them!8. Display of GoodsAre supermarkets designed to persuade us to buy more? Fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed near supermarket entrances. This gives the impression that only healthy food is sold in the shop. Basic foods that everyone buys, like sugar and tea, are not put near each other. They are kept in different aisles so customers are taken past other attractive foods before they find what they want. In this way, shoppers are encouraged to buy products that they do not really need.Sweets are often placed at children’s eye level at the checkout. While parents are waiting to pay, children reach for the sweets and put them in the trolley. More is bought from a fifteen-foot display of one type of product than from a ten-foot one. Customers also buy more when shelves are full than when they are half empty. They do not like to buy from shelves with few products on them because they feel there is something wrong with those products that are there.Useful Words and Expressions:1. aisle 走廊，过道2. trolley 手推车3. checkout 收款台9. Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879, His father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the religion’s rules. Albert was a quite child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction—to be north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity were difficult for the boy to understand. Yet he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things.Useful expressions and words:1. device 装置，设备leave to one’s own devices 听任某人自行其是，允许某人按自己的意愿做事She left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon.她允许孩子在下午有一个小时的自由支配时间。

DICTATION 1[00:50.44]Dining Customs in the USA[00:54.14]Americans, like many people elsewhere in the world, [00:58.12]like to invite friends to their homes for an evening of food, [01:02.10]drink and conversation.[01:04.90]Formal dinners in fine homes and hotels in the US[01:08.90]are much the same as formal dinners anywhere in the world. [01:13.50]But as most people in the US have no servants,[01:17.42]their dinner parties at home tend to be informal.[01:21.34]Guests may sit down at a table,[01:23.77]or as many new small homes have no[01:26.25]separate dining room or very small dining space.[01:30.48]Guests can also serve themselves and eat in the living room, [01:34.65]holding their plates or trays on their knees.[01:37.76]A more enjoyable form of entertainment is the picnic. [01:41.79]Americans are great picnickers and[01:44.23]almost every family has a picnic basket.[01:47.90]Summer invitations are often for[01:49.96]a picnic at a park or in the open countryside,[01:53.63]and less hamburgers or hot dogs are cooked over a fire. [01:57.86]Picnic food is usually cold.DICTATION 2[00:50.31]Costs in Colleges and Universities[00:54.66]Nearly all American students in colleges and[00:57.71]universities pay for their educations.[01:01.07]There are many costs.[01:03.44]First of all, there is tuition.[01:06.31]At some schools, the tuition is very high,[01:09.67]ten thousand dollars a year or more.[01:12.80]At other schools,[01:14.18]it may only be a few hundred dollars a year.[01:17.74]At some community colleges, tuition is free.[01:22.11]There are other costs as well.[01:24.85]Many students leave their homes to[01:26.86]go to schools in other cities.[01:29.84]They may live in dormitories or apartments,[01:32.83]and they must pay for it.[01:35.13]Finally, students must buy textbooks for their courses. [01:39.80]Going to college or university can be a big expense. [01:44.67]Some families start saving money for[01:47.25]their children's education when the children are small. [01:51.67]Many students work to save money for tuition.[01:55.71]They can also get loans from the government.[01:58.95]They pay the money back to the government[02:01.12]when they finish their education.DICTATION 4[00:49.96]Rainbow[00:51.51]You will not always see a rainbow[00:53.63]when it rains while the sun shines.[00:56.62]The sun must be in the right position over the horizon. [01:00.72]And remember to turn your back to the sun[01:03.85]when you look toward the sky.[01:05.90]A rainbow will never appear[01:07.92]in the path between you and the sun.[01:10.91]If you are on the ground,[01:13.08]you will only see a part of the rainbow.[01:16.27]This is because the earth blocks the rest of the circle. [01:20.07]You can see the whole circle[01:21.94]if you are flying high in a plane when a rainbow happens. [01:26.43]The shadow of the plane would be in the center.[01:30.22]Rainbows hold an important place[01:32.85]in the traditional stories and beliefs[01:35.75]that make up many cultures.[01:37.94]For example, some cultures say the rainbow[01:40.74]represents a bridge between life and death.[01:44.28]Still others see the rainbow as a sign of good things to come.PART I DICTATION text 1[01:02.23]Plastic[01:03.41]We use plastic wrap to protect our foods.[01:06.40]We put our garbage in plastic bags or plastic cans.[01:10.55]We sit on plastic chairs, play with plastic toys,[01:14.30]drink from plastic cups,[01:16.43]and wash our hair with shampoo from plastic bottles.[01:20.62]Plastic does not grow in nature.[01:23.51]It is made by mixing certain things together.[01:27.01]We call it a produced or manufactured material.[01:31.52]Plastic was first made in the 1860s from plants,[01:35.41]such as wood and cotton.[01:37.72]That plastic was soft and burned easily.[01:41.55]The first modern plastics were made in the 1930s.[01:46.00] Most clear plastic starts out as thick, black oil.[01:50.93]That plastic coating inside a pan begins as natural gas.[01:56.53]Over the years,[01:57.79]hundreds of different plastics have been developed.[02:01.15]Some are hard and strong. Some are soft and bendable. [02:05.91]Some are clear. Some are many-colored.[02:09.90]There is a plastic for almost every need.[02:13.79]Scientists continue to experiment with plastics.[02:17.73]They hope to find even more ways to use them.PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION1-10 C A D C A C B C B C11-20 A D D D B B B C B D21-30 C B C C C D D C C D[00:16.16]PART I DICTATION text 2[01:01.98]Music[01:02.85]Music is the abstract art of arranging vocal or[01:06.28]instrumental sounds[01:07.62]in a manner that produces a flowing,[01:10.08]unified and thoughtful composition that has melody,[01:14.32]harmony, rhythm.[01:16.25]In contrast to the other arts,[01:18.43]music is not a readily tangible form of expression.[01:22.86]Music may be called both the most mathematical and [01:26.36]the most abstract of the arts.[01:29.30]Unlike words, images, or dance, however,[01:32.82]musical tones in themselves have no concrete associations, [01:37.55]and only gain meaning when they are combined into patterns. [01:42.04]Through the centuries various philosophers have[01:44.79]attempted to integrate theories[01:46.78]on the essence of music with their particular world views. [01:50.92]Many non-Western cultures and some Western writers [01:54.53]as well have perceived it as an inherently mystical force, [01:58.85]able to unlock elemental truths or principles[02:02.27]that cannot be translated into written or graphic form. [02:06.83]Music is an important part of our lives,[02:09.44]and has been an important part of[02:11.50]every civilization known to man.PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION1-10 A D C C B C D B A D11-20 C C A B A A C C B A21-30 D C D D C D B D A C。

专四dictation原文Thanksgiving day 如果您想帮助孩子学习，并且希望您能教他们最好的学习方法。

我们的目标是用我们的学习方法和学校的教学资源来帮助您和您的孩子。

我们不会因为您太年轻而忘记学习技能而让您成为职业教师或老师。

我们会让您成为一名教育工作者或教师。

我们还会为孩子们提供课外补习或学习计划。

我们还会鼓励您参与学校的日常教学并帮助您提高自己的专业技能甚至是技能。

当您开始教授婴儿英语时您会发现一个惊人的发现：在我们给婴儿补习和辅导期间孩子们仍然能够说英语！一、当您刚开始学习英语时，孩子们可能会表现得非常不喜欢自己使用母语而感到困惑。

您可以问问孩子们是否对母语感兴趣。

他们是否愿意自己说母语并与母语朋友一起学习？您是否了解他们喜欢这个词？当然是有的。

而且还能和小伙伴一起玩耍，一起打篮球甚至一起玩电脑游戏？有的人还希望在父母或老师面前显示自己的英语口语能力并告诉他们如果你们是最好的朋友，你将有多棒！我要向各位介绍我们学校的婴儿英语教学模式。

我认为我可以教婴儿英语和婴儿口语，我想要我孩子最好的英语培训方法。

您可以告诉我和许多其他家长一起进行婴儿英语辅导并分享您的经验。

二、每个人都想有一天能学会用英语说话，但是在大多数情况下我们的帮助都是有限的，并且每个人都很难。

如果您不是学外语的，那么您需要准备一些简单的指导，并且在您学习之前应该完成。

我们在学校有大量的帮助，因此不能完全依赖。

在我们学校有一个帮助你开始学习英语的视频：在视频中这位母亲通过一段简单的谈话来表达她对儿子说方言感觉很棒：“我的宝贝！她只会说英语？”当看到那些孩子在没有老师指点下就说方言的时候，这位母亲非常开心。

她不会为了自己所做了什么而感到遗憾。

当这封信展示给她时，孩子说了一句“good do”。

接下来她对儿子说：“谢谢你。

”接下来，儿子开始用他的语言说话了：“good living?”（我很喜欢你，让我们一起去练习吧!)三、有些孩子可能无法自己表达自己，但是我们知道他们可以使用简单但有趣的表达方式来帮助他们顺利完成学习过程。

TEM4 --- Dictation1997 Legal Age for MarriageThroughout the United States, the legal age for marriage shows some difference. The most common age without parent s’consent is 18 for both females and males. However, persons who are under age in their home state can get married in another state, and then return to the home state legally married. Each state issues its own marriage license. Both residents and non-residents are qualified for such a license. The fees and ceremonies vary greatly from state to state. Most states, for instance,have a blood test requirement, but a few do not. Most states permit either a civil or religious ceremony, but a few require the ceremony to be religious. In most states a waiting period is required before the license is issued. This period is from one to five days depending on the state. A three-day wait is the most common. In some states there is no required waiting period.1998 The Railway in BritainThe success of early railways, such as the lines between big cities, led to a great increase in railway building in Victorian Times. Between 1835 and 1865 about 25,000 kilometers of track was built, and over 199 railway companies were created. Railway travel transform ed people's life. Trains were first designed to carry goods. However, a law in the 19th century forced railway companies to run one cheap train a day, which stopped at every station and cost only a penny a mile. Soon working-class passengers found they could afford to travel by rail. Cheap-day-excursion trains became popular，and seaside resorts grew rapidly. The railways also provided thousands of new jobs: building carriage s, running the railways and repairing the tracks. Railways even changed the time. The need to run the railways on time meant that local time was abolish ed, and clocks showed the same timeall over the country.1999 United Nations’ DayThe 24th. of October is celebrated as United Nations’Day. It is the day that belongs to everyone, and it is celebrated in most countries of the world. Some countries celebrate for a week instead of a day. In many parts of the world, schools have special programs for the day. Boys and girls in some communities decorate a UN tree. In other communities, young people put on plays about the UN. Some libraries exhibit children’s art works from around the world. Schools celebrate with the songs and dances of other countries, or give parties where foods of other countries are served. No matter how the day is celebrated, the purpose ofthese celebrations is to help everyone understand the UN and the important roles it plays in world affairs. The UN encourages people to learn about other lands and their customs. In this way, people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of peoples all over the world.2000 What We Know about LanguageMany things about language are all mystery and will remain so. However, we now do know something about it. First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. No human race anywhere on earth is so backward that it has no language of its own at all. Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. There aremany peoples whose cultures are undeveloped, but the languages they speak are by no means primitive. In all the languages existing in the world today, there are complexities that must have been developed for years. Third, we know that all languages are perfectly adequate. Each is a perfect means of expressing its culture. And finally, we know that a language changes over time, which is natural and normal if a language is to survive. The language which remains unchanged is nothing but dead.2001 Characteristics of a Good ReaderTo improve your reading habits, you must understandthe characteristics of a good reader. First, the good reader usually reads rapidly. Of course he does not read every piece of material at the same rate. But whether he is reading a newspaper or a chapter in a physics text, his reading rate is relatively fast. He has learnt to read for ideas rather than words one at a time. Next, the good reader can recognize and understand general ideas and specific details. Thus he is able to comprehend the material with a minimum of effort and a maximum of interest. Finally, the good reader has at his command several special skills which he can apply to reading problems as they occur. For the college student, the most helpful of these skills include making use of the various aids to understanding that most text books provide and skim reading for a general survey.2002 Disappearing ForestsThe world’s forests are disappearing. As much as 1/3 of the total tree cover has been lost since agriculture began some 10,000 years ago. The remaining forests are home to half of the world species, thus becoming the chief resource for their survival. Tropical rainforests once covered 12% of the land of the planet. As well as supporting at least half of the world’s species of plants and animals, these rainforests are homes to millions of people. But there are other demands on them. For example, much has been cut for timber. An increasing amount of forestland has been used for industrial purposes or for agriculture development such as crop growing. By the 1990’s less than half of the earth original rainforests remained, and they continued to disappear at the alarming rate every year. As a result, the world’s forests are now facing gradual extinction.2003 SalmonEvery year millions of salmon swim from the ocean into the mouth of rivers and then steadily up the rivers. Passing through waters, around rocks and waterfalls, the fish finally reach their original streams or lakes. They dig out nests in the riverbed and lay their eggs. Then, exhausted by their journey, the parent salmon die. They have finished the task that nature has given them. Months or years later, the young fish start their trip to the ocean. They live in the salt water from two to seven years until they too are ready to swim back to reproduce. Their life cycle helps man provide himself with a basic food --- fish. When the adult salmon gather at the river mouths for the annual trip up the rivers, they are in the best possible condition, and nearly every harbor has its salmon fishing fleet ready to catch thousands for markets.2004 MoneyMoney is accepted across the world as payment for goods or services. People use money to buy food, clothes and hundreds of other things. In the past, many different things were used as money. People on Pacific islands once exchanged shells for goods. The Chinese used cloth and knives. In Africa, elephant’s tusks or salt were used. Even today some people in Africa are still paid in salt. Coins were first invented by the Chinese. Originally they were round pieces of metal with a hole in the center, so the piece of string could keep them together. This made doing businessmuch easier. But people still found coins inconvenient to carry when they wanted to buy something expensive. T o solve this problem, the Chinese again came up with a solution. They began to use paper money for coins. Now paper notes are used throughout the world.2005 The Wrist WatchIt is generally believed that wrist watches are an exception to the normal sequence in the evolution of man's jewelry. Reversing the usual order, they were first worn by women and then adopted by men. In the old days, queens included wrist watches among their crown jewelry. Later, they were worn by Swiss workers and farmers. Until WorldWar I, Americans associated the watch with fortune hunters. Then army officers discovered that the wrist watch was most practical for active combat. Race car drivers also loved to wear wrist watches, and pilots found them most useful while flying. Soon men dared to wear wrist watches without feeling self-conscious. By 1924, some 30 percent of man's watches were worn on the wrist. Today, the figure is 90 percent. And they are now worn by both men and women for practical purposes rather than for decoration.2006 The InternetThe Internet is the most significant progress in the field of communications. Imagine a book that never ends, alibrary with a million floors, or imagine a research project with thousands of scientists working around the clock forever. This is the magic of the internet. Yet the Internet has the potential for good and bad. One can find well-organized, information-rich websites. At the same time, one can also find wasteful websites. Most websites are known as different Internet applications. These include online games, chat rooms and so on. These applications have great power, too. Sometimes, the power can be so great that young people may easily become victims to their attraction. So we need to recognize the seriousness of the problem. We must work together to use its power for better ends.2007 AdvertisingAdvertising has already become a specialized activity in modern times. In today’s business world, supply is usually greater than demand. There is great competition between manufacturers of the same kind of product because they want to persuade customers to buy their particular brand. They always have to remind their customers of the name and qualities of their products by advertising. The manufacturer advertises in newspapers and on the radio. He sometimes employs sales girls to distribute samples of his product. He sometimes advertises on the Internet as well. In addition, he always has advertisements put into television programs that will accept them. Manufacturers often spend huge sums of money on advertisements. We buy a particular product because we think that is the best. We usually think so because the advertisements say so. People often don’t ask themselves if th e advertisements are telling the truth when they buy advertised products from shops.2008 Choosing a CareerWhen students graduate from college, many of them do not know how they want to spend their working lives, and they sometimes move from job to job until they find something that suits them and of equally importance to which they are suited. Others never find a job in which they are really happy. They remain all their lives square pegs in round holes(不得其所的人). When we choose our careers, we need to ask ourselves two questions: First, what do we think we would like to be? Second, what kind of people are we? The idea, for example, of being a painter or a musician may seem very attractive, but unless we have great talent and are willing to work very hard, we are certain to fail in these occupations and failure will lead to unhappiness in life.So it is important to assess our suitability for a certain career in job search.2009 New Year's EveFor many people in the west, New Year’s Eve is the biggest party of the year. It’s time to get together with friends or family and welcome in the coming year. New Year’s parties can take place in different places. Some people hold a house party; others attend street parties, while some just go for a few drinks with their friends. Big cities have large and spectacular fireworks displays. There is one thing that all New Year’s Eve parties have in common:the countdown to midnight. When the clock strikes 12, people give a loud c heer and sing songs. It’s also popular to make a promise in the New Year. This is called a New Year’s resolution. Typical resolutions include giving up smoking and keeping fit. However, the promise is often broken quite quickly and people are back into their bad habits within weeks or days.For lots of people in Britain, the 31st of December, or New Year's Eve as we call it, is the biggest party of the year. It's a time to get together with friends or family and welcome in the coming year. New Year's parties can take place at a number of different venues. Some people hold a house party; others attend street parties, while some just go to their local for a few drinks with their mates. Big cities, like London, have large and fireworks displays. There's one thing that all New Year's Eve parties have in common: the countdown to midnight. When the clock strikes twelve, revelers give a loud cheer, pop champagne corks and give each other a kiss. They then link arms and sing a songcalled Auld Lang's Syne, by a Scottish poet called Robert Burns. Not many people can remember all the lyrics, but the tune is well known, so lots of people just hum along. The parties then continue into the early hours of the morning with lots of dancing and drinking. Because of this, for a lot of people New Year's Day starts with a hangover. Other people might spend the day visiting relatives or friends they haven't managed to catch up with for a while. Whatever happens, New Year's Day tends to be very relaxed. In Britain, it's popular to make a promise to yourself about something you are going to do, or want to stop doing, in the New Year. This is called a New Year's . Typical s include giving up smoking and joining a gym to get fit. However, the promise is often broken quite quickly and people are back into their bad habits within weeks or days. New Year's Day is the last bank holiday of the festive season, which means most people have to go to work the next day: bright and fresh and ready for the new year ahead!。

Professioanl Sports in the U.S.Professional sports are not only very popular in the United States, but also a big business. The most popular sports are baseball, football and basketball. Each sport has its own season and individual teams have millions of supporters. Professional teams are named for the cities where they are located. For example, the Lakers are in Los Angeles. The strongest supporters of the Lakers are residents of Los Angeles and Southern California. When the Lakers play, many people in Los Angeles enthusiastically follow the game. When we mention “NBA”, almost every one knows it ahs some relationship with U.S. professional basketball. However, what does it really stand for? N.B.A is gaining new fans and supporters around the world. Basketball has been called the “national pastime”. However, football is the most popular professional sport in the U.S.. American football is different from international football, which Americans call “soccer”. Both games require strength and specialized skills.Useful Words and Expressions:1.be named for 被指定为2.be short for 是……的简称3.stand for代表“How to” BooksBooks which give instructions on how to do things are popular in the United States today. Thousands of these “how to” books are available. In fact, there are about for thousand books with titles that begin with the words “how to’.Many “how to” books give advice on careers. They tell you how to choose a career and how to succeed in it. Many of these books help people to use their free time better. Some people want book which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. They prefer books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like plumbing and electrical wiring or on how to redecorate or enlarge a house.Why have “how to”books become so popular? Probably because life has become more complex. Today people have far more free to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve, “how to” books help people to deal with modern life.Useful words and Expressions:1.step-by-step 按部就班的2.redecorate 重新装饰，再装饰plex 复杂的，综合的Don’t give upIf we would ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere. If we would learn our lessons in school, we must be diligent and not give up whenever we come to anything difficult. We shall find many of our lessons very hard, but let us consider that the harder they are the better they will do to us if we will preserve and learn them thoroughly.But there are some among us who are ready to give up when they come to a hard example in mathematics, and say, “I can’t do this.”They never will if they feel so. “I can’t”never does anything worthwhile, but “I’ll try” accomplishes wonders.Let us remember that we shall meet with difficulties all through life. They are in the pathway of everyone. If we will only try and keep trying, we shall be sure to conquer and overcome very difficulty we meet.How High Can Y ou Jump?Fleas trainers have observed a strange habit of fleas while training them.Fleas are trained by putting them in a cardboard box with a top on it. The fleas will jump up and hit the top of the cardboard box over and over and over again. As you watch them jump and hit the lid, something very interesting becomes obvious. The fleas continue to jump, but they are no longer jumping high enough to hit the top.When you take off the lid, the fleas continue to jump, but they will not jump out of the box. They will not jump out because they cannot jump out. Why? The reason is simple. They have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high, that is all they can do!Many times, people do the same thing. They restrict themselves and never reach their potential. Just like the fleas, they fail to jump higher, thinking they are doing al they can do. Useful Words and Expressions:1.cardboard 纸板2.lid 盖子3.conditioned 有条件的，习惯于……的4.restrict 限制，约束be restricted within narrow limits 限于狭窄的范围内be restricted in one’s movements 行动受限制Apology HelpsIt is never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how often you have judged roughly, you said unkind things, and pushed yourself ahead at the expense of a friend. Then count the occasions when you indicated clearly and truly that you were so sorry. A bit frightening, isn’t it? It is frightening, isn’t it? It is frightening because some deep wisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is disturbed; and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and regret expressed.A heartfelt apology can not only heal a damaged relationship but also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or judged too roughly, or just neglected, do something about it right now.Useful Words and Expressions:1.push ahead 捉紧进行2.at the expense of 在损害……的情况下3.mysterious神秘的4.moral 道德的5.disturbed 扰乱的6.stay out of 不参与……，置身于……之外7.heartfelt 衷心的，真心真意的8.roughly粗糙地，概略地SleepWhy is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired? There is no one answer that applies to every individual. It is possible to feel “tired” physically and still be unable to fall asleep, because while your body may be exhausted, you do not feel sleepy. It is not so easy to simply “turn off”.Lack of sleep complicates matters even more. Experts say adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night to function properly. When you get less sleep than that on consecutive three nights, you begin to accrue four “sleep debt”. As sleep debt increases your body experiences a stress response. Now a vicious cycle has been created: Y ou experience the feeling of being more and more tired, but your body is increasingly stimulated. “Power sleeping”for more hours on weekends is only a temporary solution. There is no substitute for getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.Useful Words and Expressions:1.overtire 使过度疲劳2.apply to 将……应用于3.consecutive 连续的，连贯的4.accrue 自然增加，产生5.vicious恶的vicious cycle 恶性循环6.stimulate 刺激，激励7.substitute for 代替……，替换……Our ConcernThe history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings. To a large extent, the physical form and the habits of the earth’s vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Only in the present century has one species of man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.The rapidity of change follows the pace of man rather than the pace of nature. Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man’s tampering with the atom. The chemicals are the creations of man’s inventive mind, having no counterparts in nature.We have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals into the hands of persons largely ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons, without their consent and often without their knowledge. We have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or noadvance investigation of their effect. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern.Useful Words and Expressions:1.interaction 交互作用，交感2.vegetation 植被3.mold 塑造，浇铸4.species 种类5.unnatural 不自然的6.temper with 损害，影响7.counterpart 配对物8.poisonous 有毒的9.potent 有力的，有效的10.consent 同意，赞成Gardening in AmericaBelieve or not, 43,000,000 Americans are gardening. That is about one in six. Gardeners, of course, come in many varieties. Not surprisingly, most of them are people who live in the suburbs, and enjoy planting flowers, or maybe a small vegetables garden.The average age of gardeners in America is about 45 years old; they usually fall somewhere in the middle class. But the fastest growing groups are city dwellers. Urban residents are finding ways of gardening even in their crowded areas. Many go to large public gardens, as a place designed by the city for garden, and you can actually ranch your own plot.Still other people use their balconies or roof tops, wherever they can find the space to plant small patches of green.Useful Words and Expressions:1.suburb 郊区2.dweller 居民3.ranch 经营牧场4.balcony 阳台5.patch小块地The Influence of LifeIn the early times when human beings hunted and gathered food, they were not in control of their environment. They could only interact with their surroundings as the other lower animals did.When they learned to make fire, however, they became capable of altering their environment. To provide themselves with fuel, they cut down trees. They also burned clearings in forests to increase the growth of grass and to provide a greater grazing area for the wild animals that human beings fed upon. This development led to farming and the domestication of animals. Fire provided the means for cooking plants which had previously been inedible. Only when the process of meeting the basic need for food reached a certain level was it possible for humans to follow other pursuits such as setting up families, forming societies and founding cities.Useful words and Expressions:1.interact with 与……组合2.clearing 空旷地3.grazing 放牧，牧草4.domestication 驯养，驯服5.previously 先前，以前6.inedible 不能吃的，不适于食用的7.pursuit 追击8.set up 设立T own and Country Life in EnglandThere is a big difference between town life and country life in England. In the country, everybody knows everybody else. They know what time you get up, what time you go to bed and what you have for dinner. If you want help, you will always get it and you will be glad to help others.In a large town like London, however, it can sometimes happen that you have never seen your next door neighbor and you do not know his name or anything about him. People in London are often very lonely. This is because people go to different places in the evenings and at weekends. If you walk through the streets in the centre of London on Sunday, it is like a town without people. One is sorry for old people living on their own. They could die in their homes and would not be discovered for weeks or even months.A Henpecked Husband and His WifeThere was once a large, fat woman who had a small, thin husband. He had a job in a big company and was given his weekly wages every Friday evening. As soon as he got home on Fridays, his wife used to make him give her all his money, and then she used to give him back only enough to buy his lunch in his company every day.One day, the small man came home very excited. He hurried into the living-room. His wife was listening to the radio and eating chocolates there.“Y ou will never guess what happened to me to day, dear.” he said.He waited for a few seconds and then added, “I won ten thousand dollars on the lottery!”“That is wonderful! ” said his wife delightedly. But then she pulled a long face and added angrily, “But how could you afford to buy the ticket?”Useful Words and Expressions:1.henpecked 怕老婆的，妻管严的2.lottery 彩票a great lottery 虚无缥缈的事3.pull a long face 拉下脸来have a face to say that脸皮厚得竟能讲出这种话A Change in Women’s LifeThe important change in women’s life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity,and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. V ery many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to the abilities and interests of each of them.Useful Words and Expressions:1.life-pattern生活方式2.shareA Popular Pastime of the English PeopleOne of the best means of understanding the people of any nation is watching what the do with their non-working time.Most English men, women and children love growing things, especially flowers. V isitors to England in spring, summer or autumn are likely to see gardens all they way along the railway lines. There are flowers at the airports and flowers in factory grounds, as well as in gardens along the roads. Each English town has at least one park with beautifully kept flower beds. Public buildings of every kind have brilliant window boxes and sometimes baskets of flowers are hanging on them.But what the English enjoy most is growing things themselves. If it is impossible to have a garden, then a window box or something growing in a pot will do. Looking at each other’s gardens is a popular pastime with the English.Useful Words and Expressions:1. window box:窗台上的花盆箱2.pastime 消遣，娱乐Swimming is my favorite pastime.British and American Police OfficersReal policemen, both in Britain and the U.S., hardly recognize any common points between their lives and what they se on TV—if they ever get home in time.Some things are almost the same, of course, but the policemen do not think much of them much of them.The first difference is that a policeman’s real life deals with the law. Most of what he learns is the law. He has to know actually what actions are against the law and what facts can be used to prove them in court. He has to know nearly as much law as a lawyer, and what’s more, he has to put it into practice on his feet, in the dark and, running down a narrow street after someone he wants to talk to.Little of his time is spent in talking with beautiful girls or in bravely facing cruel criminals. He will spend most of his working life arranging millions of words on thousands of forms about hundreds of sad, ordinary people who are guilty--- or not of stupid, unimportant crimes.Useful Words and Expressions:1.think much of 重视，尊重2.in court 在法庭上3.criminal 罪犯，犯罪者4.guilty 犯罪的，有罪的Living SpaceHow much living space does a person need? What happens when his space needs are not met? Scientists are doing experiments on rats to try to determine the effects of overcrowded conditions on man. Recent studies have shown that the behavior of rats is greatly affected by space. If rats have enough living space, they eat well, sleep well and produce their young well. But if their living conditions become too crowded, their behavior and even their health change obviously. They can not sleep and eat well, and signs of fear and worry become clear. The more crowded they are, and more they tend to bite each other and even kill each other. Thus, for rats, populations and violence are directly related. Is this a natural law for human society as well? Is enough space not only satisfactory, but necessary for human survival? These are interesting questions.The United NationsIn 1945, representatives of 50 nations met to plan this organization. It was called the United Nations. After the war, many more nations joined.There are two major parts of the United Nations. One is called the General Assembly. In the General Assembly, every member nation is represented and has an equal vote.The second part is called the Security Council. It has representatives of just 15 nations. Five nations are permanent members: the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and China. The 10 other members are elected every two years by the General Assembly.The major job of the Security Council is to keep peace in the world. If necessary, it can send troops from member nations to try to stop little wars before they turn into big ones.It is hard to get the nations of the Security Council to agree on when this is necessary. But they did vote to try to stop wars.Useful Words and Expressions:1.representative 代表2.General Assembly 联合国大会3.permanent 永久的，持久的4.Security Council 联合国安全理事会PlasticWe use plastic wrap to protect our foods. We put our garbage in plastic bags or plastic cans. We sit on plastic chairs, play with plastic toys, drink from plastic cups, and wash our hair with shampoo from plastic bottles!Plastic does not grow in nature. It is made by mixing certain things together. We call it a produced or manufactured material. Plastic was first made in the 1860s from plants, such as wood and cotton. That plastic was soft and burned easily.The first modern plastics were made in the 1930s. Most clear plastic starts out as thick, black oil. That plastic coating inside a pan begins as natural gas.Over the years, hundreds of different plastics have been developed. Some are hard and strong. Some are soft and bendable. Some are clear. Some are many-colored. There is a plastic for almost every need. Scientists continue to experiment with plastics. They hope to find even ways to use them!Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879, His father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the religion’s rules. Albert was a quite child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction—to be north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity were difficult for the boy to understand. Y et he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things.Useful expressions and words:1.device 装置，设备leave to one’s own devices 听任某人自行其是，允许某人按自己的意愿做事She left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon.她允许孩子在下午有一个小时的自由支配时间。

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

TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2019)-GRADE FOUR-TIME LIMIT: 130 MINPART I DICTATION [10 MIN] Listen to the following passage. Altogether the passage will be read to you four times. During the first reading, which will be done at normal speed, listen and try to understand the meaning. For the second and third readings, the passage, except the first sentence, will be read sentence by sentence, or phrase by phrase, with intervals of fifteen seconds. The last reading will be done at normal speed again and during this time you should check your work. You will then be given ONE minute to check through your work once more.Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE. The first sentence of the passage is already provided.Now, listen to the passage.PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [20 MIN] SECTION A TALKIn this section you will hear a talk. You will hear the talk ONCE ONLY. While listening, you may look at ANSWER SHEET ONE and write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap. Make sure what you fill in is both grammatically and semantically acceptable. You may use the blank sheet for note-taking.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the gap-filling task.Now listen to the talk. When it is over, you will be given TWO minutes to check your work.SECTION B CONVERSATIONSIn this section you will hear two conversations. At the end of each conversation, five questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversations and the questions will be spoken ONCE ONLY. After each question there will be a ten-second pause. During the pause, you should read the four choices of A, B, C and D, and mark the best answer toeach question on ANSWER SHEET TWO.You have THIRTY seconds to preview the questions.Now, listen to the conversations.Conversation OneQuestions 1 to 5 are based on Conversation One.1. A. Writer. B. Wells. C. Writer Wells. D. Susan Writer Wells.2. A. She was a career woman. B. She was then a feminist.C. She didn’t like her maiden name.D. She took her husband’s surname.3. A. She named herself after her profession. B. She named herself after her home town.C. She named herself after a day of the week.D. She named herself after the sculptor.4. A. It gives women greater equality. B. It is a good solution to an old problem.C. The problem troubling feminists still remains.D. The surname problem has partly been solved.5. A. History of surnames in America. B. Feminist movement in the 1960s.C. Traditional surnames in Europe.D. Reasons for inventing surnames.Conversation TwoQuestions 6 to 10 are based on Conversation Two.6. A. A reporter from a weekly program. B. An executive director from a company.C. A guest on a weekly program.D. A magazine editor from San Diego.7. A. To prepare a list of things that you have done. B. To let your boss know that you want a pay rise.C. To let everybody know your achievement.D. To shamelessly promote yourself to your boss.8. A. Because the boss has the data on your work B. Because you will be given more work to do.C. Because it is unprofessional to do so.D. Because others may lose trust in you.9. A. We could earn praise from our boss. B. We may forget the good things we’ve done.C. Things change quickly in work situations.D. The boss will review our performance data.10. A. Websites. B. Radio programs. C. Research reports. D. Government documents.PART III LANGUAGE USAGE [10 MIN] There are twenty sentences in this part. Beneath each sentence there are four words, phrases or statements marked A, B, C and D. Choose one word, phrase or statement that best completes the sentence. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET TWO.11. Moving from beginning to end by order of time, narration relies on a more natural pattern of organization than ________.A. will other types of writingB. do other types of writingC. On other types of writingD. other types of writing12. ________ the attempted rescue mission, the hostages might still be alive.A. If it not had been forB. If had it not been forC. Had it not been forD. Had not it been for13. Members of the Parliament were poised ________ ahead with a bill to approve construction of the oil pipeline.A. to moveB. movingC. to movingD. at moving14. Writers often coupled narration with other techniques to develop ideas and support opinions that otherwise ________abstract, unclear, or unconvincing.A. may remainB. could remainC. must have remainedD. might have remained15. Protocol was ________ enabled him to make difficult decisions without ever looking back.A. whoB. whatC. whichD. that16. The woman had persuaded him to do ________ he was hired never to do -- reveal the combination for the lock on theentrance.A. one thingB. such one thingC. any one thingD. the one thing17. The bad news was that he could be a very dangerous person ________ he choose to be.A. shouldB. couldC. mightD. must18. “If not us, who? If not now, when?” These two questions are used as a ________.A. sign of angerB. call for actionC. refusal to changeD. denial of commitment19. What is the function of the present progressive in “They are always calling me by the wrong name”?A. To express unfavorable feelings.B. To alleviate unnecessary hostility.C. To indicate uncertainty.D. To dramatize a fact.20. “Harry was compelled to resign and to come down to London, where he set up as an army coach.” The relative clause inthe sentence serves to ________.A. supply additional information about LondonB. describe the antecedent “London”C. put restrictions on the identity of HarryD. narrate a sequential action taken by Harry21. A group ________ casinos has urged officials not to grant a license to a facility in the city.A. opposed toB. objected toC. posed againstD. protested against22. After the war, he worked on an island in the Pacific, helping the natives and medical ________ understand each other’sbehavior and cultures.A. facultyB. personsC. membersD. personnel23. The subject of manners is complex. If it were not, there would not be so many ________ feelings and so muchmisunderstanding in international communication.A. injuriousB. injuredC. injuringD. injury24. To illustrate the limits of First Amendment free speech, many have noted that the Constitution does not give you the rightto falsely ________ “Fire!” in a crowded theater.A. yelpB. yankC. yellD. yield25. The company announced that it has achieved its mission to create a local food economy that is ________ to anyenvironment.A. AdoptableB. amendableC. alterableD. adaptable26. Although Patterson acknowledges the disappointing season he had with the Vikings, he has no second ________ abouthow he went about his business.A. thoughtsB. opinionsC. concernsD. reasons27. Electronic cigarettes should be subject ________ the same taxes and limitations on public use as traditional tobaccoproducts.A. aboutB. atC. toD. on28. FC Barcelona, ________ the most iconic club in world soccer, beat Manchester United 2-0 to claim the UEFA ChampionsLeague title.A. controversiallyB. arguablyC. debatableD. finally29. The store sells liquid vitamins ________ designed for children under 3.A. explicitlyB. speciallyC. speculativelyD. specifically30. The three law ________ officers on the plane came to the rescue of a fellow passenger who was allegedly trying to killherself.A. enforcementB. reinforcementC. impositionD. coercionPART IV CLOZE [10 MIN] Decide which of the words given in the box below would best complete the passage if inserted in the corresponding blanks. The words can be used ONCE ONLY. Mark the letter for each word on ANSWER SHEET TWO.A.daydreamB.disagreementC.f actuallyD.ifE.inevitableF.inseparableysH.makingI.perspectiveJ.residesK.that L.thinking M.thoughtful N.ultimately O.wakeTo some thinkers, it is machines and their development that drive economic and cultural change. This idea is referred to as technological determinism. Certainly there can be no doubt that machines contributed to the Protestant Reformation and the decline of the Catholic Church’s power in Europe or ________ (31) television has changed the way family members interact. Those who believe in technological determinism would argue that these changes in the cultural landscape were the ________ (32) result of new technology.But others see technology as more neutral and claim that the way people use technology is what gives it significance. This________ (33) accepts technology as one of many factors that shaped economic and cultural change; technology’s influence is ________(34) determined by how much power it is given by the people and cultures that use it.This ________ (35) about the power of technology is at the heart of the controversy surrounding the new communication technologies. Are we more or less powerless in the ________ (36) of advances such as the Internet, the World Wide Web, and instant global audio and visual communication? If we are at the mercy of technology, the culture that surrounds us will not beour ________ (37), and the best we can hope to do is make our way reasonably well in a world outside our own control. But ifthese technologies are indeed neutral and their power ________ (38) in how we choose to use them, we can utilize them responsibly and ________ (39) to construct and maintain whatever kind of culture we want. As film director and technophileSteve Spielberg explained, “Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party pooper of our lives. It interrupts our own story, interrupts our ability to have thought or ________ (40), to imagine something wonderful.”PART V READING COMPREHENSION [35 MIN] SECTION A MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONSIn this section there are several passages followed by ten multiple-choice questions. For each question, there arefour suggested answers marked A, B, C, and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer and mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET TWO.PASSAGE ONE(1) Life can be tough for immigrants in America. As a Romanian bank clerk in Atlanta puts it, to find a good job“you have to be like a wolf in the forest – able to smell out the best meat.” And if you can’t find work, don’t expect the taxpayer to bail you out. Unlike in some European countries, it is extremely hard for an able-bodied immigrant to live off the state. A law passed in 1996 explicitly bars most immigrants, even those with legal status, from receiving almost any federal benefits.(2) That is one reason why America absorbs immigrants better than any other rich countries, according to a newstudy by the University of California. The researchers sought to measure the effect of immigration on the native-born in20 rich countries, taking into account differences in skills between immigrants and natives, imperfect labor markets andthe size of the welfare state in each country.(3) Their results offer ammunition for fans of more open borders. In 19 out of 20 countries, the authors calculatedthat shutting the doors entirely to foreign workers would make the native-born worse off. Never mind what it would doto the immigrants themselves, who benefit far more than anyone else from being allowed to cross borders to find work.(4) The study also suggests that most countries could handle more immigration than they currently allow. In America, a one-percentage point increase in the proportion of immigrants in the population made the native-born 0.05% better off. The opposite was true in some countries with generous or ill-designed welfare states, however. A one-pointrise in immigration made the native-born slightly worse off in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. In Belgium, immigrants who lose jobs can receive almost two-thirds of their most recent wagein state benefits, which must make the hunt for a new job less urgent.(5) None of these effects was large, but the study undermines the claim that immigrants steal jobs from native ordrag down their wages. Many immigrants take jobs that Americans do not want, the study finds. This “smooths” the labor market and ultimately creates more jobs for locals. Native-owned grocery stores do better business because thereare immigrants to pick the fruit they sell. Indian computer scientists help American software firms expand. A previousstudy found that because immigrants typically earn less than locals with similar skills, they boost corporate profits, prompting companies to grow and hire more locals.41. Increase in immigration in Austria fails to improve locals’ life mainly because of ________.A. low wages for localsB. imperfect labor marketsC. the design of the welfare systemD. inadequate skills of immigrants42. Who will favor the study results by researchers from the University of California?A. People who have legal status.B. People who run business.C. People who receive state benefits.D. People who are willing to earn less.43. It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s attitude is ________ towards immigration.A. cautiously favorableB. slightly negativeC. strongly negativeD. quite ambiguousPASSAGE TWO(1) There was something in the elderly woman’s behavior that caught my eye. Although slow and unsure of step, the woman moved with deliberation, and there was no hesitation in her gestures. She was as good as anyone else, her movements suggested. And she had a job to do.(2) It was a few years ago, and I had taken a part-time holiday-season job in a video store at the local shopping mall. From inside the store, I’d begun to see the people rushing by outside in the mall’s concourse as a river of humanity.(3) The elderly woman had walked into the store along with a younger woman who I guessed was her daughter. The daughter was displaying a serious case of impatience, rolling her eyes, huffing and sighing, checking her watch everyfew seconds. If she had possessed a leash, her mother would have been fastened to it as a means of tugging her along to keep step with the rush of other shoppers.(4) The older woman detached from the younger one and began to tick through the DVDs on the nearest shelf. After the slightest hesitation, I walked over and asked if I could help her find something. The woman smiled up at me andshowed me a title scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper. The title was unusual and a bit obscure. Clearly a person looking for it knew a little about movies, about quality.(5) Rather than rushing off to locate the DVD for the woman, I asked her to walk with me so I could show her where she could find it. Looking back, I think I wanted to enjoy her company for a moment. Something about her deliberate movements reminded me of my own mother, who’d passed away the previous Christmas.(6) As we walked along the back of the store, I narrated its floor plan: old television shows, action movies, cartoon, science fiction. The woman seemed glad of the unrushed company and casual conversation.(7) We found the movie, and I complimented her on her choice. She smiled and told me it was one she’d enjoyed when she was her son’s age and that she hoped he would enjoy it as much as she had. Maybe, she said with a hint of wistfulness, he could enjoy it with his own young children. Then, reluctantly, I had to return the elderly woman to her keeper, who was still tapping her foot at the front of the store.(8) I escorted the older woman to the queue at the cash register and then stepped back and lingered near the younger woman. When the older woman’s turn in line came, she paid in cash, counting out the dollars and coins with the same sureness she’d displayed earlier.(9) As the cashier tucked the DVD into a plastic bag, I walked over to the younger woman.(10) “Is that your mom?” I asked.(11) I halfway expected her to tell me it was none of my business. But possibly believing me to be tolerant of her impatience, she rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah.” There was exasperation in her reply, half sigh and half groan.(12) Still watching her mother, I said, “Mind some advice?”(13) “Sure,” said the daughter.(14) I smiled to show her I wasn’t criticizing. “Cherish her,” I said. And then I answered her curious expression by saying, “When she’s gone, it’s the little moments that’ll come back to you. Moments like this. I know.”(15) It was true. I missed my mom still and remembered with melancholy clarity the moments when I’d used my impatience to make her life miserable.(16) The elderly woman moved with her deliberate slowness back to her daughter’s custody. Together they made their way toward the store’s exit. They stood there for a moment, side by side, watching the rush of the holiday current and for their place in it. Then the daughter glanced over and momentarily regarded her mother. And slowly, almost reluctantly, she placed her arm with apparently unaccustomed affection around her mother’s shoulders and gently guided her back into the crowds.44. What does “she had a job to do” (Para. 1) mean according to the context?A. She had a regular job in the store.B. She was thinking of what to buy.C. She wanted to ask for help.D. She wanted to buy a DVD.45. What does the title of the DVD reveal according to the shop assistant?A. The elderly woman had some knowledge about movies.B. The elderly woman liked movies for young children.C. The elderly woman preferred movies her son liked.D. The elderly woman liked both old and new movies.46. In the passage the elderly woman’s daughter is described as being ________.A. impoliteB. uncaringC. na?veD. miserly47. While looking for the DVD with the old woman, the shop assistant was ________.A. hesitantB. indifferentC. frustratedD. patientPASSAGE THREE(1) Reading award-winning literature may boost your ability to read other people, a new study suggests. Researchers at the New School for Social Research, in New York City, found that when they had volunteers read worksof acclaimed “literary fiction”, it seemed to temporarily improve their ability to interpret other people’s emotions. The same was not true of nonfiction or “popular” fiction, the mystery, romance and science-fiction books that often dominate bestseller lists.(2) Experts said the findings, reported online in Science, suggest that literature might help people to be more perceptive and engaged in their lives.(3) “Reading literary fiction isn’t just for passing the time. It’s not just an escape,” said Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto. “It also enables us to better understand others, and then take that into our daily live.”(4) Oatley was not involved in the new research, but worked on some of the first studies to suggest that reading literature can boost people’s empathy for others. His team has found that those who read a lot of fiction tend to show greater empathy for others. His teams has found that those who read a lot of fiction tend to show greater empathy on standard tests, but the same is not true of avid nonfiction fans.(5) But, the study by Oatley and his team cannot prove that literature boosts empathy – empathetic folks may just be drawn to reading fiction, whereas the new study does offer some “cause-and-effect” evidence, Oatley said. For the study, researchers set up a series of five experiments in which participants read either literary fiction, popular fiction, nonfictionor nothing at all before taking some standard tests. One of the tests is known as “Reading the Mind in the Eyes”. People have to look at photos of actors’ eyes, and then guess what emotion is being expressed in each. The test is considered a measure of empathy. Overall, study participants fared better on the test after reading literary fiction, versus the other three conditions.(6) It was a small improvement, according to the principal researcher David Comer Kidd, “It’s not alike taking people from a (grade) ‘C’ to an ‘A’,” he said. But Kidd added, the effect was seen after only about 10 minutes’ reading, and it was a statistically strong finding, meaning it’s unlikely to have been due to chance.(7) “Literary” fiction has no hard-and-fast definition. So Kidd and his colleagues chose contemporary works thathave won or been finalists for outstanding literary awards. They included “The Round House”, by Louise Erdrich, “Salvage the Bones”, by Jesmyn Ward and the short story “Corrie”by Alice Munro. And “popular”fiction included best-sellers like “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn, and Danielle Stell e’s “The Sins of the Mother”.(8) What’s so special about literary fiction? “For one, it’s usually more focused on characters than on plot,” Kidd noted. But beyond that, he said there is usually no single “authoritative narrator”who takes us through the story. “It demands that the reader almost become a writer and fill in the gaps. You really have to think about the characters,” Kidd said.(9) Oatley agreed. “Alice Munro doesn’t tell you what to think,” he said. “You, yourself, have to make inferences about characters. And that’s often what we’re doing in our real-life conversations.” Or at least that’s what people could do.(10) Reading literary fiction could also offer a way to “practice” your social skills and use them more in real life,according to another researcher not involved in the study. “It’s like how pilots train in a flight simulator,” said Raymond Mar, an associate professor of psychology at York University, in Toronto, who has collaborated with Oatley. “This is a great study,” Mar said of the new study. But he added that the overall research in this area is “still in its infancy” and one key question is whether literary fiction really is better than other fiction.(11) Mar and his colleagues recently found that fans of romance novels tended to do best on tests of empathy. Unlike the current study, Mar’s study did not test people after having them read different types of fiction. So it’s possible that there is something else about romance-novel reader that makes them more understanding of others.(12) Still, according to Mar, it’s too early to tell people to trade in their Danielle Steel for Alice Munro, at least if the goal is boosting empathy.(13) It’s also possible that plays, movies or even TV shows could build your empathy muscles, according to Kidd.But reading may be special, he said, because it provides no visuals and you have to engage your imagination more.(14) Everyone agreed that the findings suggest literature is important beyond entertainment or improving vocabulary. “There’s a common belief that reading literature is frivolous, or not practical,”Mar said. “But there is a growing body of evidence that it’s important in skills that we need in our lives.”48. According to the new study, what kind of books are likely to help people better understand others’ feelings?A. Science fiction.B. Romance novelsC. Literary fictionD. Nonfiction.49. Which of the following statements is CORRECT according to the passage?A. Oatley and his colleague were involved in the new study.B. Mar and his team also tested people after reading fiction.C. Kidd and his team had people read prestigious fiction.D. Kidd and his team were uncertain about their study results.50. Which of the following is NOT a special feature of literary fiction?A. More focus on character description.B. Presence of an authoritative narrator.C. Demand on readers’ ability to infer.D. Presence of readers’ empathetic feelings.SECTION B SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONSIn this section, there are five short answer questions based on the passages in Section A. Answer the questions with NO MORE THAN TEN WORDS in the space provided on ANSWER SHEET TWO.PASSAGE ONE51. Why did the statement “…, don’t expect the taxpayer to bail you out.” mean? (Para. 1)PASSAGE TWO52. Why did the shop assistant lead the elderly woman to find the DVD instead of finding it for her?53. What does the last sentence in Para. 16 imply about the daughter’s attitude towards her mother?PASSAGE THREE54. What are the two main advantages of reading literary fiction according to the passage?55. Why is reading special when compared with plays and movies?PART VI WRITING [45 MIN]Read carefully the following excerpt and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 200 WORDS, in which you should:1) summarize the main message of the excerpt, and then2) comment on Brewer’s view that parents should join in with their kids rather than limit their media consumption.You can support yourself with information from the excerpt.Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure tofollow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.Write your response on ANSWER SHEET THREE.How much screen time is too much for kids?Parents have been advised to limit media consumption of their children, but research suggests it’s the nature of it that matters.For any parents in the digital age, battles with their kids over screen time and devices have become a depressing part of family life. Many parents will now be relieved to hear that recent research suggests that it’s not so much the length, but the nature of the screen time that matters.Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specializes in the concept of “digital nutrition”, likens media diets to what’s on our plates: rather than counting calories (or screen time), think about what you’re eating.“It’s not just about whether you consume any potential digital junk foods, but also your relationship to technology and the role it plays in your family life,” say Brewer.For young children, the most important thing is whether parents and kids are playing, watching and browsing together.A study of 20,000 parents published late last year by the Oxford Internet Institute and Cardiff Universitylead determined that there was no correlation between limiting device use and children’s well-being. The study’ｓauthor Dr Andrew Pryzbylski said: “Our findings suggest the broader family context, how parents set rules about digital screen time, and if they’re actively engaged in exploring the digital world together, are more important than the raw screen time.“The consensus is that screen time, in and of itself, is not harmful –and reasonable restrictions vary greatly, depending on a child’s behavior and personality. There is little point in worrying about how man minutes a day your kids are spending with screens,” say Brewer. “Instead, parents should be doing what they can do to ensure that what they’re watching, playing and reading is high-quality, age-appropriate and safe – and joining in wherever possible.”PART I DICTATION[听写]从此处开始作答SLANGWe often use slang expressions when we talk because they are so vivid and colorful._________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________。

专四真题及答案解析(高清详细版)PART I DICTATIONMale and Female Roles in MarriageIn the traditional marriage, the man worked to earn money for the family. / The woman stayed at home to care for the children and her husband. / In recent years, many couples continue to have a traditional relationship of this kind. / Some people are happy with it. But others think differently. /There are two major differences in male and female roles now. / One is that both men and women have many more choices. / They may choose to marry or stay single. / They may choose to work or to stay at home. / A second difference is that, within marriage many decisions are shared. / If a couple has children, the man may take care of them /some of the time, all of the time or not at all. / The woman may want to stay at home / or she may want to go to work. / Men and women now decide these things together in a marriage.听写指导：由题目可以判定，文章围绕男性和女性在婚姻中的角色展开，第一段介绍了传统婚姻中两性的角色，而第二段对当今社会中两性在婚姻中的角色进行了具体的论述。

1.Town and Country Life in EnglandThere is a big difference between town life and country life in England. In the country, everybody knows everybody else. They know what time you get up, what time you go to bed and what you have for dinner. If you want help, you will always get it and you will be glad to help others.In a large town like London, however, it can sometimes happen that you have never seen your next door neighbor and you do not know his name or anything about him. People in London are often very lonely. This is because people go to different places in the evenings and at weekends. If you walk through the streets in the centre of London on Sunday, it is like a town without people. One is sorry for old people living on their own. They could die in their homes and would not be discovered for weeks or even months2.A Change in Women’s LifeThe important change in women’s life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity, and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, manygirls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to the abilities and interests of each of them.Useful Words and Expressions:1. life-pattern生活方式2. share3.A Popular Pastime of the English PeopleOne of the best means of understanding the people of any nation is watching what the do with their non-working time.Most English men, women and children love growing things, especially flowers. Visitors to England in spring, summer or autumn are likely to see gardens all they way along the railway lines. There are flowers at the airports and flowers in factory grounds, as well as in gardens along the roads. Each English town has at least one park with beautifully kept flower beds. Public buildings of every kind have brilliant window boxes andsometimes baskets of flowers are hanging on them.But what the English enjoy most is growing things themselves. If it is impossible to have a garden, then a window box or something growing in a pot will do. Looking at each other’s gardens is a popular pastime with the English.Useful Words and Expressions:1. window box:窗台上的花盆箱2.pastime 消遣，娱乐Swimming is my favorite pastime.4.British and American Police OfficersReal policemen, both in Britain and the U.S., hardly recognize any common points between their lives and what they se on TV—if they ever get home in time.Some things are almost the same, of course, but the policemen do not think much of them much of them.The first difference is that a policeman’s real life deals with the law. Most of what he learns is the law. He has to know actually what actions are against the law and what facts can be used to prove them in court. He has to know nearly as much law as a lawyer, and what’s more, he has to put it into practice on his feet, in the dark and, running down a narrow street after someone hewants to talk to.Little of his time is spent in talking with beautiful girls or in bravely facing cruel criminals. He will spend most of his working life arranging millions of words on thousands of forms about hundreds of sad, ordinary people who are guilty--- or not of stupid, unimportant crimes.Useful Words and Expressions:1. think much of 重视，尊重2. in court 在法庭上3. criminal 罪犯，犯罪者4. guilty 犯罪的，有罪的5.Living SpaceHow much living space does a person need? What happens when his space needs are not met? Scientists are doing experiments on rats to try to determine the effects of overcrowded conditions on man. Recent studies have shown that the behavior of rats is greatly affected by space. If rats have enough living space, they eat well, sleep well and produce their young well. But if their living conditions become too crowded, their behavior and even their health change obviously. They can not sleep and eat well, and signs of fear and worry become clear. The more crowded they are, and more they tend to bite eachother and even kill each other. Thus, for rats, populations and violence are directly related. Is this a natural law for human society as well? Is enough space not only satisfactory, but necessary for human survival? These are interesting questions.6.The United NationsIn 1945, representatives of 50 nations met to plan this organization. It was called the United Nations. After the war, many more nations joined.There are two major parts of the United Nations. One is called the General Assembly. In the General Assembly, every member nation is represented and has an equal vote.The second part is called the Security Council. It has representatives of just 15 nations. Five nations are permanent members: the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and China. The 10 other members are elected every two years by the General Assembly.The major job of the Security Council is to keep peace in the world. If necessary, it can send troops from member nations to try to stop little wars before they turn into big ones.It is hard to get the nations of the Security Council to agree on when this is necessary. But they did vote to try to stop wars.Useful Words and Expressions:1. representative 代表2. General Assembly 联合国大会3. permanent 永久的，持久的4. Security Council 联合国安全理事会7.PlasticWe use plastic wrap to protect our foods. We put our garbage in plastic bags or plastic cans. We sit on plastic chairs, play with plastic toys, drink from plastic cups, and wash our hair with shampoo from plastic bottles!Plastic does not grow in nature. It is made by mixing certain things together. We call it a produced or manufactured material. Plastic was first made in the 1860s from plants, such as wood and cotton. That plastic was soft and burned easily.The first modern plastics were made in the 1930s. Most clear plastic starts out as thick, black oil. That plastic coating inside a pan begins as natural gas.Over the years, hundreds of different plastics have been developed. Some are hard and strong. Some are soft and bendable. Some are clear. Some are many-colored. There is a plastic for almost every need. Scientists continue to experiment with plastics. They hope to find even ways to use them!8. Display of GoodsAre supermarkets designed to persuade us to buy more?Fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed near supermarket entrances. This gives the impression that only healthy food is sold in the shop. Basic foods that everyone buys, like sugar and tea, are not put near each other. They are kept in different aisles so customers are taken past other attractive foods before they find what they want. In this way, shoppers are encouraged to buy products that they do not really need.Sweets are often placed at children’s eye level at the checkout. While parents are waiting to pay, children reach for the sweets and put them in the trolley.More is bought from a fifteen-foot display of one type of product than from a ten-foot one. Customers also buy more when shelves are full than when they are half empty. They do not like to buy from shelves with few products on them because they feel there is something wrong with those products that are there.Useful Words and Expressions:1. aisle 走廊，过道2. trolley 手推车3. checkout 收款台9.Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879, His father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the re ligion’s rules. Albert was a quite child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction—to be north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity were difficult for the boy to understand. Yet he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things.Useful expressions and words:1. device 装置，设备leave to one’s own devices 听任某人自行其是，允许某人按自己的意愿做事She left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon.她允许孩子在下午有一个小时的自由支配时间。

TEST FOR ENGLISH MAJORS (2023)PART I DICTATION [15 MIN]Please write the whole passage on ANSWER SHEET ONE.PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION [20 MIN]SECTION A CONVERSATIONSQuestions 1 to 3 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions. Now, listen to the conversation.1. According to the conversation, an example of “Christmas trimmings” could beA. presents.B. fruitsC. sauceD. meat2. A Christmas lunch would include all the following EXCECTA. roast turkeyB. sweet potatoesC. meatD. carrots3. Why did Helen come to Rob’s house?A. She wanted to talk to Bob.B. She had come to help Bob.C. She had been invited to lunch.D. She was interested in cooking.Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions.4. Why did the woman phone the club?A. She wanted to know more about it.B. She was a new comer and felt lonely.C. She wanted to learn a new language.D. She was interested in social activities.5. We learn from the conversation that the clubA. mainly organize language activities.B. accepts members from local students.C. has been set up for a long time.D. is increasing its membership.6. According to the conversation, the woman might come to practice German onA. Wednesday.B. Tuesday.C. Monday.D. Friday.7. What is the man going to do after the conversation?A. Call up the woman for her address.B. Wait for the woman to call him again.C. Mail the woman some information.D. Wait for the woman to pick up a form.Questions 8 to 10 are based on the following conversation. At the end of the conversation you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.8. According to the woman, what actually makes her job difficult?A. Difficult questions from interviewees.B. Embarrassing requests from interviewees.C. Lack of professional background.D. Lack of interviewing skills.9. The woman uses all the following adjectives when talking about attending job fairs EXCEPTA. prospective.B. useful.C. important.D. tiring.10. We learn from the conversation that the womanA. works better at job fairs.B. prefers honest people.C. often works on her own.D. is experienced in her work.SECTION B PASSAGESIn this section, you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.11. According to today’s weather forecast, which part of Europe has dry weather?A. Scandinavian mountain.B. Northwestern Europe.C. Northern Europe.D. Southern Europe.12. In which part of Europe does the weather stay both fine and cool?A. Southern Europe.B. Northern Europe.C. Eastern Europe.D.Northwestern Europe.13. In which region will the weather change tomorrow?A. Northern parts of the Mediterranean.B. Eastern parts of the Mediterranean.C. Central parts of the Mediterranean.D. Southern parts of the Mediterranean.Questions 14 to 17 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage you will be given 2014. According to the passage, what benefit can technology bring to people?A. Closer contact with modern devices.B. Greater changes in social organization.C. Better understanding of mass media.D. More useful information to better their life.15. The speaker questions about everybody’s access to technological advances. The main reason isA. illiteracy.B. poverty.C. food shortage.D. ignorance.16. According to the UN plan, all the following will be achieved within ten years EXCEPTA. giving everyone a radio or TV.B. starting to carry out the scheme in ten years.C. offering internet service to more people.D. providing more job opportunities.17. What could be topic of the passage?A. Growth in telecommunications.B. Technology and the developing world.C. Education and medical care.D. Building an information society.Questions 18 to 20 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.18. People in Latin America wear something ______ to express their hopes for wealth in the New Year.A. newB. redC. whiteD. yellow19. Which of the following New Year’s traditions signals friendship?A. Throwing old dishes.B. Wearing something red.C. Wearing something white.D. Eating round fruits.20. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one’s own New Year’s tradition?A. Watching TV at home.B. Going to bed early.C. Visiting friends.D. Running and shouting outside.SECTION C NEWS BROADCASTIn this section, you will hear several news items. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.Questions 21 to 22 are based on the following news. At the end of each news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.21. What is happening to the schools in Fairfax County this school year?A. 15 schools have started social studies.B. 15 schools have used digital textbooks.C. Students are ready to use electronic resources.D. Digital textbooks are used for social studies.22. With digital textbooks, schools have saved about ______ million dollars.A. 1B. 2C. 3D. 4Questions 23 to 24 are based on the following news. At the end of each news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.23. Who found the suspicious item at the airport?A. TSA agents.B. FBI agents.C. The police.D. Passengers.24. Which of the following statement is INCORRECT?A. The terminal was closed temporarily afterwards.B. There was a thorough search inside the airport.C. Passengers at the airport were safe and sound.D. The security authorities identified the explosives.Questions 25 to 26 are based on the following news. At the end of each news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.25. According to the news item, doctors use art therapy to treat the following problems EXCEPTA. alcohol abuse.B. smoking.C. depression.D. schizophrenia.26. Why did doctors introduce art therapy in the first place?A. To prevent patients from smoking.B. To better understand patients.C. To get patients occupied.D. To teach patients some skills.Questions 27 to 28 are based on the following news. At the end of each news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.27. What is the main purpose of the new rules?A. To reduce the number of pilots on duty.B. To prevent pilots from working overtime.C. To ensure an adequate amount of sleep.D. To fix the amount of work for each pilot.28. The Independent Pilots Association was unhappy about the new rules because theyA. had only covered cargo plane pilots.B. had failed to cover all the pilots.C. would be put into effect in two years.D. would be too costly if implemented.Questions 29 to 30 are based on the following news. At the end of each news item, you will be given 10 seconds to answer the questions.29. Why is increase in livestock production necessary?A. Because livestock production is highly efficient.B. Because more people will become wealthier.C. Because it may help double food production.D. Because it has fewer ecological risks.30. What does the word “challenge” mean in the news item?A. Balance between human survival and ecology.B. Conflict between less land and more production.C. Difference between present and future needs.D. Calls by environmental critics to consume less meat.PART 3 CLOZE 15 MINEveryone knows that taxation is necessary in a modern state:without it,it(31)____ _not be possible to pay the soldiers and policemen who protect us;(32)_____the workers in government offices who(33)_____our health,our food,our water,and all the other things th at we cannot do for ourselves.(34)_____taxation,we pay for things that we need just(35)_ ____we need somewhere to live and something to eat.But(36)_____everyone knows that taxation is necessary,different people have different ideas about(37)____taxation should be arranged.In most countries,a direct tax on(38)_____,which is called income tax,(39)_____.It is arranged in such(40)______that the poorest people pay nothing,and the percentage of tax gro ws(41)____as the taxpayer's income grows.In some countries,for example,the tax on the r ichest people(42)______as high as ninety-five per cent!(43)_____countries with taxation nearly(44)_____have indirect taxation too.Many things imported into the country have to p ay taxes or“duties.”Of course,it is the men and women who buy these imported things in th e shops(45)______really have to pay the duties,in the(46)______of higher prices.In some countries,(47)_____,there is a tax on things sold in the shops.If the most necessary things a re taxed,a lot of money is(48)____but the poor people suffer most.If unnecessary things (49)___jewels and fur coats are taxed,less money is obtained but the tax is(50) ______a s the rich pay it.Probably this last kind of indirect tax,together with a direct tax on incomes which is low for t he poor and high for the rich,is the best arrangement.31. A. can B. may C. could D. would32. A. nor B. neither C. never D. not33.A. look into B. look over C. look over D. look through34.A. In accordance with B. By means of C. With reference to D. On account of 35. A. as well as B. as good as C. as such as D. as much as36. A. if B. when C. though D. as37. A. when B. how C. why D. which38. A. personst B. sectors C. communities D. classes39.A. remains B. stays C. exists D. happens40.A. form B. way C. measure D. method41. A. quicker B. speedier C. more D. larger42. A. grows up B. increases up C. goes up D. lifts up43. A. But B. Consequently C. Similarly D. And44.A. periodically B. almost C. often D. always45. A. which B. who C. what D. whom46. A. manner B. form C. means D. way47.A. either B. also C. too D. often48. A. lent B. saved C. borrowed D. collected49. A. alike B. like C. as D. for50.A. heavier B. fairer C. finer D. betterPART4GRAMMAR&VOCABULARY15MINThere are thirty sentences in this section.Beneath each sentence there are four words or p hrases marked A,B,C and D.Choose one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Mark your answers on Answer Sheet Two.51.Facing the board of directors,he didn‟t deny________breaking the agreement.A.himB.itC.hisD.its52.Xinchun returned from aboard a different man.The italicized part functions as a(n)____ __.A.appositive(同位语)B.objectC.adverbialplement.53.Which of the following is a compound word(复合词)? ______.A.Nonsmoker.B.Deadline.C.Meanness.D.Misfit.54.Which of the following sentences contains subjunctive mood? ______.A.Lucy insisted that her son get home before5o’clock?B.She used to drive to work,but now she takes the city metro.C.Walk straight ahead,and don't turn till the second traffic lights.D.Paul will cancel his flight if he cannot get his visa by Friday.55.The following determiners(限定词)can be used with both plural and uncountable nouns EXCEPT______.A.moreB.enough.C.many.D.such.56.Which of the italicized parts indicates CONTRAST?______.A.She opened the door and quietly went in.B.Victoria likes music and Sam is fond of sports.C.Think it over again and you‟ll get an answer.D.He is somewhat arrogant,and I don't like this.57.Which of the following CANNOT be used as a nominal substitute(名词替代词)? ______.A.Much.B.Neither.C.One.D.Quarter.58.All the following sentences definitely indicate future time EXCEPT______.A.Mother is to have tea with Aunt Betty at four.B.The President is coming to the UN next week.C.The school pupils will be home by now.D.He is going to email me the necessary information.59.Which of the following sentences is grammatically INCORRECT?______.A.Politics are the art or science of government.B.Ten miles seems like a long walk to me.C.Mumps is a kind of infectious disease.D.All the furniture has arrived undamaged.60.Which of in the following phrases indicates a subject-predicate relationship? ______.A.The arrival of the touristsB.The law of NewtonC.The occupation of the islandD.The plays of Oscar Wilde61.Which of the following italicized parts serves as an appositive? ______.A.He is not the man to draw back.B.Tony hit back the urge to tell a lie.rry has a large family to support.D.There is really nothing to fear.62.Which of the following is NOT an imperative sentence? ______.A.Let me drive you home,shall I?B.You will mind your own business!e and have dinner with us.D.I wish you could stay behind.‘63.If it______tomorrow,the match would be put off.A.were to rainB.was to rainC.was rainingD.had rained64.Which of the following sentences expresses a fact?______.A.Mary and her son must be home by now.B.Careless reading must give poor results.C.It‟s getting late,and I must leave now.D.He must be working late at the office.65.The following are all dynamic verbs(动态动词)EXCEPT______.A.remain.B.turn.C.write.D.knock.66.____to school life was less difficult than the pupil had expected.A.AdheringB.AdoptingC.AdjustingD.Acquainting67.He is fed up with the same old dreary routine,and wants to quit his job.The underlined p art means_________.A.dullB.boringC.longD.hard68.At last night‟s party Larry said something that I though was beyond me.The underlined p art means________.A.I was unable to do C.I was unable to stopB.I couldn’t understand D.I couldn’t tolerate69.The couple______their old house and sold it for a vast profit.A.did forB.did inC.did withD.did up70.Sally contributed a lot to the project,but she never once accepted all the____for herself.A.creditB.attentionC.focusD.award71.The child nodded,apparently content with his mother‟s promise.The underlined part me ans_________.A.as far as one has learntB.as far as one is concernedC.as far as one can seeD.as far as one is told72.The________that sport builds character is well accepted by people nowadays.A.issueB.argumentC.pointD.sentence73.Everyone in the office knows that Melinda takes infinite care over her work.The underlined part means________.A.limitedB.unnecessaryC.overdueD.much74.The new measure will reduce the chance of serious injury in the event of an accident.The underlined part means_________.A.if an accident happensB.if an accident can be preventedC.before an accidentD.during an accident75.Traditionally,local midwives would________all the babies in the area.A.handleB.produceC.deliverD.help76.No food or drink is allowed on the premises.The underlined part means________A.prop osition B.advertisement C.building D.street77.The court would not accept his appeal unless________evidence is provided.A.conclusiveB.definiteC.eventualD.concluding78.As soon as he opened the door,a________of cold air swept through the house.A.flowB.movementC.rushD.blast79.She really wanted to say something at the meeting,but eventually________from it.A.preventedB.refrainedC.limitedD.restricted80.The couple told the decorator that they wanted their bedroom gaily painted.The underlin ed part means_________.A.brightlyB.light-heartedlyC.cheerfullyD.lightlyPART V READING COMPREHENSION25MINIn this section there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements,eac h with four suggested answers marked A,B,C and D.Choose the one that you think is the best answer.Mark your answers on Answer Sheet Two.TEXT AThe art of public speaking began in ancient Greece over2,000years ago.Now,twitter,instan t messaging,e-mail,blogs and chat forums offer rival approaches to communication - but non e can replace the role of a great speech.The spoken word can handle various vital functions:persuading or inspiring,informing,payi ng tribute,entertaining,or simply introducing someone or something or accepting something. Over the past year,the human voice has helped guide us over the ups and downs of what wa s certainly a stormy time.Persuasion is used in dealing with or reconciling different points of view.When the leaders m et inCopenhagen in December2023,persuasive words from activists encouraged them to com mit themselves to firmer action.Inspirational speeches confront the emotions.They focus on topics and matters that are close to people's hearts.During wars,generals used inspiring speeches to prepare the troops for battle.A speech that conveys knowledge and enhances understanding can inform us.The informatio n must be clear,accurate,and expressed in a meaningful and interesting way.（流行病）announced,the idea of“swine flu”many rmative speeches from World Health Or ganization officials helped people to keep their panic under control so they could take sensibl e precautions.Sad events are never easy to deal with but a speech that pays tribute to the loss of a loved on e and gives praise for their contribution can be comforting.Madonna's speech about Michael Jackson,after his death,highlighted the fact that he will continue to live on through his musi c.It's not only in world forums where public speaking plays an important role.It can also be sur prisingly helpful in the course of our own lives.If you‟re taking part in a debate you need to persuade the listeners of the soundness of your a rgument.In sports,athletes know the importance of a pep talk（鼓舞士气旳发言）before a match to inspire teammates.You yourself may be asked to do a presentation at college or work to inform the others about an area of vital importance.On a more personal level,a friend may be upset and need comforting.Or you might be asked to introduce a speaker at a family event or to speak at a wedding,where your language will b e needed to move people or make them laugh.Great speaking ability is not something we're born with.Even Barack Obama works hard to p erfect every speech.For a brilliant speech,there are rules that you can put to good use.To learn those rules you have to practice and learn from some outstanding speeches in the past.81.The author thinks the spoken word is still irreplaceable because______.A.it has always been used to inspire or persuade people.B.it has a big role to play in the entertainment business.C.it plays important roles in human communication.D.it is of great use in everyday-life context.82.Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the role of public speaking? __ ___A.Speeches at world forums can lead to effective solutions to world problems.B.Speeches from medical authorities can calm people down in times of pandemics.C.The morale of soldiers before a battle can be boosted by senior officers'speeches.D.Speeches paying tribute to the dead can comfort the mourners.83.Public speaking can play all the following roles EXCEPT______.A.to convince people in a debate.B.to inform people at a presentation.C.to advise people at work.D.to entertain people at a wedding.84.According to the passage,which of the following best explains the author's view on____ __ “great speaking ability”?A.It comes from observing rules.B.It can be perfected with easy effort.C.It can be acquired from birth.D.It comes from learning and practice.85.What is the main idea of the passage?______.A.Public speaking in international forums.B.The many uses of public speaking.C.Public speaking in daily life context.D.The rules of public speaking.TEXT BEvery business needs two things,says Skullcandy CEO Rick Alden:inspiration and desperat ion.In2023,Alden had both.He'd sold two snowboarding businesses,and he was desperatel y bored.But he had an idea:He wanted to make a new kind of headphone.“I kept seeing pe ople missing their cell phone calls because they were listening to music,”he explains.Then I' m in a chairlift,I've got my headphones on,and I realize my phone is ringing.As1take my g loves off and reach for my phone,I think,“It can't be that tough to make headphones with tw o plugs,one for music and one for your cell phone.”Alden described what he wanted to a des igner,perfected a prototype,and outsourced（外包）manufacturing overseas.Alden then started designing headphones into helmets,backpacks - anywhere that would mak e it easy to listen to music while snowboarding.“Selling into board and skate shops wasn't a big research effort,”he explains.“Those were the only guys I knew!”Alden didn‟t want to b e a manufacturer.And by outsourcing,he'd hoped he could get the business off the ground without debt.But he was wrong.So he asked his wife,“Can I put a（抵押贷款）on the house?She said,…What is the worst thing that can happen?We lose the house,w e sell our cars,and we start all over again.‟I definitely married the right woman!”For the next two years,Alden juggled mortgage payments and payments to his manufacturers .“Factories won't ship your product till they get paid,”he says.“But it takes four or five mon ths to get a mortgage company so upset that they knock on your door.So we paid the factory first.”Gradually,non-snowboarders began to notice the colorful headphones.In2023,the company started selling them in1,400FYE(For Your Entertainment)stores.“We knew that nine out of ten people walking into that store would be learning about Skullcandy for the first time.Why would they look at brands they knew and take home a new brand instead?We had agreed to buy back anything we didn’t sell,but we were dealing with huge numbers.It’d kill us to take back all the productsAlden‟s fears faded as Skullcandy became the No.1headphone seller in those stores and tri pled its revenue to$120million in one year.His key insight was that headphones weren’t ga dgets;they were a fashion accessory.“In the beginning,”he says,“that little white wire that s aid you had an iPod ---that was cool.But now wearing the white bud means you’re just like everyone else.Headphones occupy this critical piece of cranial real estate and are highly visi ble.”Today,Skullcandy is America's second-largest headphone supplier,after Sony.With79emplo yees,the company is bigger than Alden ever imagined.86.Alden came up with the idea of a new kind of headphone because he______.A.was no longer in snowboarding business.B.had no other business opportunities.C.was very fond of modern music.D.saw an inconvenience among mobile users.87.The new headphone was originally designed for______.A.snowboarders.B.motorcyclists.C.mountain hikers.D.marathon runners.88.Did Alden solve the money problem?______.A.He sold his house and his cars.B.Factories could ship products before being paid.C.He borrowed money from a mortgage company.D.He borrowed money from his wife's family.89.What did Alden do to promote sales in FYE stores?______.A.He spent more money on product advertising.B.He promised to buy back products not sold.C.He agreed to sell products at a discount.D.He improved the colour design of the product.90.Alden sees headphones as______.A.a sign of self-confidence.B.a symbol of status.C.part of fashion.D.a kind of device.TEXT CI was standing in my kitchen wondering what to have for lunch when my friend Taj called.“Sit down,”she said.I thought she was going to tell me she had just gotten the haircut from h ell.I laughed and said,“It can't be that bad.”But it was.Before the phone call,I had30years of retirement saving in a“safe”fund with a brilliant financial guru（金融大亨）.When I put down the phone,my savings were gone.I felt as if I had died and,for some unknown reason,was still breathing.Since Bernie Madoff‟s arrest on charges of running a$65million Ponzi scheme,I'veread many articles about how we investors should have known what was going on.I wish I c ould say I had reservations about Madoff before“the Call”,but I did not.On New Year's Eve,three weeks after we lost our savings,six of us Madoff people gathered at Taj's house for dinner.As we were sitting around the table,someone asked,“If you could h ave your money back right now,but it would mean giving up what you have learned by losin g it,would you take the money or would you take what losing the money has given you?”My husband was still in financial shock.He said,“I just want the money back.”I wasn't cert ain where I stood.I knew that losing our money had cracked me wide open.I’d been walking around like what the Buddhists call a hungry ghost:always focused on the bite that was yet t o come,not the one in my mouth.No matter how much I ate or had or experienced,it didn’t satisfy me,because I wasn’t really taking it in,wasn't absorbing it.Now I was forced to payattention.Still,I couldn't honestly say that if someone had offered me the money back,I wou ld turn it down.But the other four all said that what they were seeing about themselves was incalculable,and they didn’t think it would have become apparent without the ground of financial stability bei ngripped out from underneath them.My friend Michael said,I’d started to get complacent.It’s as if the muscles of my heart starte d to atroph（萎缩）.Now they‟re awake,alive—and I don‟t want to go back.”These weren’t just empty words.Michael and his wife needed to take in boarders to meet their expenses.Taj was so broke that she was moving into someone’s garage apartment in three weeks.Three fri ends had declared bankruptcy and weren't sure where or how they were going to live.91.What did the author learn from Taj‟s call?A.had got an awful haircut.B.They had lost their retirement savings.C.Taj had just retired from work.D.They were going to meet for lunch.92.How did the author feel in the following weeks?A.Angry.B.Disappointed.C.Indifferent.D.Desperate.93.According to the passage,to which was she“forced to pay attention”?A.Her friends.B.Her husband.C.Her lost savings.D.Her experience.94.Which of the following statements is CORRECT about her friends?A.Her friends valued their experience more.B.Her friends felt the same as she did.C.Her friends were in a better financial situation.D Her friends were more optimistic than she.95.What is the message of the passage?A.Desire for money is human nature.B.One has to be decisive during crises.C.Understanding gained is more important than money lost.D.It is natural to see varied responses to financial crises.TEXT DIn the19th century,there used to be a model of how to be a good person.There are all these to rrents of passion flowing through you.Your job,as captain of your soul,is to erect dams to k eep these passions in check.Your job is to just say no to laziness,lust,greed,drug use and th e other sins.These days that model is out of fashion.You usually can’t change your behaviour by simply resolving to do something.Knowing what to do is not the same as being able to do it.Your willpower is not like a dam that can block the torrent of self-indulgence.It's more like a。

Passage 1Weather in BritainIn Britain the weather is news. /A television weather forecast often begins with an interesting fact /– the town with the top temperature of the day or the place with the most rain. /The public like that kind of information. /But the BBC forecasters do not have an easy job. /They are the only presenters on the television who do not use a script, /and they cannot see the map they are describing. /Viewers are often critical, especially of female presenters. /One woman left her job after rude letters and press reports about her clothes. /The British talk about the weather more than almost any other subject, /so it is a surprise to discover /that seventy percent of television viewers cannot remember /what they saw on the weather forecast. /What happens is that people like watching and hearing the forecasts, /but they probably only take real notice when they need to. / (152 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 3Asian ElephantThe Asian elephant is one of the world’s rarest animals. /Unfortunately, its sad condition has not been as well publicized as that of the African elephant. /This is because Asian elephant’s ivory supplies only a small percentage of the world ivory trade. /In fact, we know very little about the Asian elephant. /They live in the remote forests of southern Asia /and it is therefore very difficult to study them. /Most knowledge of Asian elephants is from those that have been captured, or tamed. / Asian elephants are easier to tame than African elephants. /The major reason for the decline of Asian elephants is the harm to their forests. /The huge increase in the human population/ has caused the destruction of the Asian forest. /As a result, the Asian elephants are compelled to scatter in different areas./Originally they lived all over the continent, /but now there are only small isolated populations left. /They are vulnerable to extinction. / (159 words)___________________________________________________________________ Passage 4Happy CommutersThe Golden Gate Bridge joins the beautiful city of San Francisco /with the suburbs to the north. /Each day about one hundred thousand automobiles cross the bridge /taking people to and from the city. /More than half of them cross the bridge during the morning and evening rush hours. /When traffic is so heavy, the trip is not pleasant. /Now, however, there is at least one group of happy commuters. /These are people who travel under the bridge instead of on it. /They go to work by boat /and enjoy it so much that most of them say they will never go by car again. /The ferry they take is spacious, quiet and comfortable. /Commuters can enjoy the sun on deck. /The trip takes only 30 minutes and is not very costly. /Best of all, being on boat seems to make people more friendly toward each other. /There has always been a marriage of two commuters who met on the ferry. / (162 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 5The Red CrossThe worldwide Organization of the Red cross stems from the ideal of Henri Dunant, a Swiss Banker. /On 24th, June 1859, on his way from Geneva to France, /Dunant witnessed a battle. /It was one of the fiercest battles of the 19th century. /Shocked by the lack of medical supplies and attention given to the wounded, /Dunant decided that volunteer service had to be organized. /He gathered together a number of women /who attended the hundreds of wounded soldiers of all nationalities /and helped the surgeons as best they could. /He determined to form a body of people /who would rally together in times of war and attend to the needs of the wounded and thedying. /Many Europeans states supported him /and on 22nd, August 1864 the first Geneva Convention was signed. /This lays down that once a soldier is wounded /everyone else who comes to his help ceases to be an enemy. / (154 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 6Cars in the FutureWhat kind of care will we be driving by the year 2030? /Rather different from the type we know today. /With the next decade bringing greater change than the past 50 years, /the people who will be designing the models of tomorrow believe that /environmental problems may well accelerate the pace of the car’s deve lopment. /The vision is that of a machine with 3 wheels instead of 4, /electrically-powered, environmentally clean and able to drive itself along intelligent roads, /equipped with built-in power supplies. /Future cars will pick up the fuel during long journeys /from a power source built into the road. /This view of future cars is based on a much more sophisticated road system. /Cars will be automatically controlled by a computer. /All the driver will have to do is to say where to go /and the computer will do the rest. /It will be impossible for cars to crash into one another. / (155 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 7Dogs as PetsMost people have had a dog or wanted one as their companion at some time in their life. /If you are thinking of buying a dog, /you should first decide what sort of companion you need. /You must also be ready to devote a good deal of time to train the dog when it is young /and give it the exercise it needs throughout its life. / Dogs are demanding pets. /Whereas cats identify with the house /and so are content if their place is secure, /a dog identifies with its master /and consequently wants him to show proof of his affection. /The best time to buy a baby-dog is when itis between 6-8 weeks old /so that it can transfer its affection from its mother to its master. /If baby-dogs have not established a relationship with the human being /until they are over 3 months old, /their strong relationship will always be with dogs. / (156 words)_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 8Why Do We Cry?Why do we cry? /Can you imagine life without tears? /Not only do tears keep your eyes lubricated, /they also contain a substance that kills certain bacteria so they cannot infect your eyes. /Give up tears, and you will lose this on-the-spot defense. /Nobody wants to give up the flood of extra tears you produce /when you get something physical or chemical in your eyes. /Tears are very good at washing this irrit ating stuff out. /Another thing you couldn’t do without your tears is cry from joy, anger or sadness. /Humans are the only animals that produce tears in response to emotions, /and most people say a good cry makes them feel better. /Many scientists, therefore, believe that crying somehow helps us cope with emotional situations. /It may be that tears discharge certain chemicals from your body, /chemicals that build up during stress. /What do you think will happen to people who restrain their tears? / (155 words)_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 10The MarsScience fiction writers have often imagined humans going to live on the Mars. /But these days, scientists are taking the idea seriously. /It has a great deal to recommend it, /since it might solve the problem of overcrowding on the earth. /But obviously, it would not be worth making the effort /unless people could live there naturally. /If the atmosphere were like that of the earth, /this might be possible. /Apartfrom that, there are other problems to overcome. /For example, the temperature would have to be raised from 6 degrees below zero to 15 degrees above it. /Scientists who study Mars have laid down the program that they can follow. /To begin with, they will have to find out /whether life has ever existed on the planet of Mars in the past. /Secondly, they will have to make a reliable map of its surface. /And finally, they will have to make a list of the gases on Mars. / (159 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 11SharksTo most of us sharks are the most dangerous fish in the sea and they attack humans. /However, according to Doctor Clark, who has studied the behavior of sharks for 12 years, /humans are not normally on the shark’s menu. /She also found that sharks don’t eat as much as people think. /For instance, a 9-year-old shark only needs two pounds of food a day to keep healthy. /But she says, sharks sometimes starve /and at other times they fill themselves with what they have killed. /Around the world, there are only about one hundred shark attacks on humans each year, /ten of which proved fatal. /If you went underwater-fishing and saw a shark, /you could be in trouble. /The shark might go for the injured fish you have attacked /and take a bite of you at the same time. /If you go into a shark’s territory and threaten it, /it might try to bite you because sharks are territorial. / (160 words)_____________________________________________________________________Passage 12Waterways in the USIn the early 19th century, waterways in the middle of the United States /providedNorth America the most popular form of long distance transport. /Travel by river was often more convenient than taking a wagon over country roads, /especially when shipping heavy loads of farm products or household goods. /When the natural waterways were not adequate, /shallow canals were built. /The Erie Canal, opened in 1825, /connected the Great Lakes with the upper Hudson River. /It allowed residents in the Great Lakes region /to send their crops eastward to New York City at a much lower cost. /The construction of the Erie Canal also encouraged people to move westward. /The city of Detroit and Chicago became flourishing cities. /By the mid 1800, faster and cheaper railroads became more popular /and the canal system declined. /During the first third of the century, however, /transport on the rivers, lakes and canals aided greatly in the growth of the United States. /(158 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 13The English LanguageEnglish is increasingly significant in the globalization of the world. /Generally, English is the most important linguistic vehicle in all the human activities carried out worldwide. /These activities include application of science and technology /in medicine, transport, entertainment and information technology /and all the other fields related to human life. /Science and technology cannot do without languages, /which are symbolic systems though not the only ones. /In a world where there are global human enterprises, /a language that is widely understood, /and that can be used across the boundaries of different countries, is a necessity. /English has been extensively used for the purposes of exchanging information. /No matter whether English is more suited to be used as an international language or not, /it is really suited to a great variety of scientific and technological purposes. /It has a very large vocabulary /and all sorts of ways of extending its vocabulary that is already much ample to meet changing needs. /(159 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 14GlobalizationPeople around the globe are more connected to each other than ever before. /“The Era of Globalization” is fast becoming the preferred term for describing the current times. /Globalization is a process of interaction and integration /among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, /a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. /This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, /on economic development and prosperity, /and on human physical well-being in societies around the world.Policy and technological developments of the past few decades /have spurred increases in cross-border trade, investment, and migration so large that / many observers believe the world has entered a qualitatively new phase in its economic development.Technology has been the other principal driver of globalization. /Advances in information technology, in particular, have dramatically transformed economic life. /Information technologies have given consumers, investors and businesses /valuable new tools for identifying and pursuing economic opportunities. /(158 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 17British Pub CultureVisitors to Britain may find the best place to sample local culture is in a traditional pub. / Most pubs have no waiters / --you have to go to the bar to buy drinks. / This may sound inconvenient, / but there is a hidden purpose. / Pub culture is designed to promote sociability in a society known for its reserve. / Standing at the bar for service / allows you to chat with others waiting to be served. / The bar counteris possibly the only site in the British Isles / in which friendly conversation with strangers is considered really quite normal behavior. / The trouble is that if you do not follow the local rules, / the experience may fall flat. / For example, if you are in a big group, / it is best if only one or two people go to buy the drinks. / Nothing irritates the regular customers while they chat about what to order.（163 words）_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 18 CoffeeCoffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted seeds, / commonly called coffee beans. / Due to its caffeine content, / coffee has a stimulating effect in humans. / Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. /Coffee was first consumed in the ninth century, / when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. / Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout history. / In Africa, it was used in religious ceremonies. /Coffee is an important export commodity. / In 2004, coffee was the top agricultural export for 12 countries, / and in 2005, it was the world's seventh largest legal agricultural export by value. /Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment. / Many studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain medical conditions. / Whether the overall effects of coffee are positive or negative is still disputed. （159 words）_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 19Buses in LondonThe London Bus is one of London's principal icons. / Although the Routemaster has now been largely phased out of service, / with only two heritage routes still using the vehicles,/ the majority of buses in London are still red / and therefore the red bus remains an iconic symbol of the city./In Britain bus-type vehicles used for long distances / or where it is not possible to get on at any stop / and buy a ticket are always called coaches rather than buses. / Buses have been used on the streets of London since 1829, / and in 1855 the London General Omnibus Company or LGOC was founded / to regulate the horse-drawn omnibus services then operating in London. / LGOC began using motor omnibuses in 1902, / and manufactured them itself from 1909./ The last LGOC horse-drawn bus ran on 25 October 1911, / although independent operators used them until 1914. (155 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 20American FoodMany meals in America are arranged around popular television shows. / People like to eat in front of the TV, / and they sit in a chair or on a sofa. / Cooking in the USA is not just hamburgers, pizza and fast food. / However, the American fast food restaurant chains / have been very successful at introducing American-style fast food around the world. / Now people from many lands believe / it is what everyone eats all the time in the USA. /Most traditional American foods were introduced by the early European immigrants / but modified to take advantage of the locally available ingredients. / Fried chicken, meatloaf, baked potato, corn, baked beans and apple pie / would be considered traditional American dishes. /Regional cooking varies from state to state / and is highly influenced by the types of ingredients locally available, / as well as the cultural background of the people that settled in the area. / (165 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 21New YorkThe City of New York has been the most populous city in the United States since 1790, / while the New York metropolitan area / ranks among the most populous urban areas in the world. / A leading global city, / it exerts a powerful influence over worldwide finance, culture, fashion and entertainment. / As host of United Nations headquarters, / New York is also an important center for international affairs./ The city's estimated population exceeds 8.2 million people / living in just under 305 square miles,/ making New York City the most densely populated major city. / New York is notable among American cities for its high use of mass transit, / much of which runs 24 hours, / and for the overall density and diversity of its population. / The city is sometimes referred to as "The City that Never Sleeps", / while other nicknames include Gotham and the Big Apple. /(153 words)_____________________________________________________________________Passage 22Public SchoolPublic-school education is the most common form of education in the United States / and is provided mainly by local governments, / with control and funding coming from three levels: / federal, state, and local./ Curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies are set / through locally elected school boards by jurisdiction over school districts. / The school districts are special-purpose districts / authorized by provisions of state law. / Generally, state governments can and do set minimum standards / relating to almost all activities of primary and secondary schools, / as well as funding and authorization to enact local school taxes to support the schools. / The federal government funds aid to states and school districts / that meet minimum federal standards. / The first tax-supported public school in America was inMassachusetts. / The vast majority of adults born in the U.S. have attended a U.S. public school. / (149 words)_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 24French FriesFrench fries, or french-fried potatoes are thin strips of potato / that have been deep-fried. / They are popular in many countries / and go by many names in various languages. / A distinction is sometimes made between fries and chips. / North Americans often refer to any elongated pieces of fried potatoes as fries, / while in other parts of the world, / long slices of potatoes are sometimes called fries to contrast them with the thickly cut strips, / which are often referred to as chips. / French fries can contain a large amount of fat or oils from frying. / Some researchers have suggested / that the high temperatures used for frying such dishes may have results harmful to health. / In the United States about ¼ of vegetables consumed are prepared as French fries / and are proposed to contribute to widespread obesity. / Many restaurants now advertise their use of unsaturated oils. / (158 words) Passage 25MoneyMoney is anything that is generally accepted as payment / for goods and services and repayment of debts./ The main uses of money are as a medium of exchange, / a unit of account, and a store of value. / Some authors explicitly require money to be a standard of deferred payment. / The dominant form of money is currency. / The term "price system" is sometimes used / to refer to methods using commodity valuation or money accounting systems. /Money is used as an intermediary for trade, / in order to avoid the inefficiencies of a barter system, / which are sometimes referred to as the 'double coincidence ofwants problem'. / Such usage is termed a medium of exchange. / In economics, money is a broad term that refers to any financial instrument / that can fulfill the functions of money. / Modern monetary focuses on the liquidity of the financial instrument used as money. / (158 words)_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 26NewspapersA newspaper is a publication containing news, information, and advertising. / General-interest newspapers often feature articles / on political events, crime, business, entertainment, society and sports. / Most traditional papers also feature an editorial page / containing columns that express the personal opinions of writers./ Supplementary sections may contain advertising, comics, and coupons./ Newspapers are most often published on a daily or weekly basis, / and they usually focus on one particular geographic area where most of their readers live. / Despite recent setbacks in circulation and profits, / newspapers are still the most iconic outlet for news and other types of written journalism. /By the late 1990s，the Internet posed an ongoing challenge / to the business model of most newspapers in developed countries. / Many newspapers around the world launched online editions / in an attempt to follow or stay ahead of their audience. / However, in the rest of the world, newspapers continue to grow. / (160 words)_____________________________________________________________________Passage 27The History of TeaAfter water, tea is the most widely-consumed beverage in the world. / The Chinese have consumed tea for thousands of years. / People of the Han Dynasty used tea as medicine. / China is considered to have the earliest records of tea consumption, / with records dating back to the 10th century BC. / Legend has it that master Lao Zi was saddened by society's moral decay and, / sensing that the end of the dynasty was near, / he journeyed westward to the unsettled territories, / never to be seen again./ While passing along the nation's border, / he encountered and was offered tea by a customs inspector, / who encouraged him to compile his teachings into a single book / so that future generations might benefit from his wisdom. / This then became known as the Dao De Jing, a collection of Laozi's sayings. / A national custom of offering tea to guests began in China. / (158 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 28ChristmasEvery year after Thanksgiving, / most people’s thoughts turn to Christmas. / It is the time when professing Christians are supposed to focus on Jesus Christ. / It is the day we celebrate as the birthday of Jesus. / There are special Christmas services in Christian churches all over the world. / But many of the festivities of Christmas do not have anything to do with religion. / Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards / are the modern ways of celebrating the Christmas in the world. / And the Christmas has become popular /when Christmas cards appeared in 1846 / and the concept of a jolly Santa Claus was first made popular in nineteenth Century. / Christmas is thought by most to be a wonderful time, / focusing the participants on /giving, family togetherness, beautiful music and decorations, / feasting on special foods and singing Christmas carols throughout the neighborhood. / (150 words)Passage 29For years, students were assured that with a college degree in hand / they could acquire an excellent job. / In recent years, however, several developments / havesignaled the onset of a change / in the supply-demand relationship in the services of higher education. / Teachers with terminal degrees far outnumber / the available teaching positions in many disciplines. / The chairman of a science department today / may receive three to four hundred applications / for a position that once attracted only half a dozen. / Administrations of colleges and universities must be prepared / to enter into competition with all other suppliers of products and services. / Today’s students are in touch with the reality of the world, / and they realize that while a degree may obtain the first job for them, / keeping the job and advancing depend upon the education behind the degree. (148 words)_____________________________________________________________________ Passage 33Credit Card SecurityCredit card security relies on the physical security of the plastic card / as well as the privacy of the credit card number. / Therefore, whenever a person other than the card owner / has access to the card or its number, / security is potentially compromised. / Once, merchants would often accept credit card numbers / without additional verification for mail order purchases. / It's now common practice to only ship to confirmed addresses / as a security measure to minimize fraudulent purchases. / Some merchants will accept a credit card number for in-store purchases, / but many require the card itself to be present, / and require a signature. / A lost or stolen card can be cancelled, / and if this is done quickly, / will greatly limit the fraud that can take place in this way. / (141 words)____________________________________________________________________ Passage 34Independent FilmmakingFilmmaking also takes place outside of the mainstream / and is commonly called independent filmmaking. / Since the introduction of DV technology, / the means ofproduction have become more democratized./ Filmmakers can conceivably shoot and edit a film, / create and edit the sound and music, / and mix the final cut on a home computer. / However, while the means of production may be democratized, / financing, distribution, and marketing remain difficult to accomplish outside the traditional system. / Most independent filmmakers rely on film festivals / to get their films noticed and sold for distribution. / However, the Internet has allowed for relatively inexpensive distribution of independent films; / many filmmakers post their films online for critique and recognition./ Although there is little profitability in this, / a filmmaker can still gain exposure via the web. (139 words)____________________________________________________________________。

0.A Kind NeighborMr. and Mrs. Jones’ apartment was full of luggage, packages, furniture and boxes. Both of them were very busy when they heard the doorbell ring. Mrs. Jones went to open it and she saw a middle-aged lady outside. The lady said she lived next door. Mrs. Jones invited her to come in and apologized because there was no place for her to sit. “Oh, that’s OK.” said the lady. “I just come to welcome to your new home. As you know, in some parts of this city, neighbors are not friendly at all. They are some apartment houses where people don’t know any of their neighbors, not even the ones next door. But in this building, everyone is very friendly with everyone else. We are like a big happy family. I am sure you will be very happy here.” Mr. and Mrs. Jones said, “But madam, we are not new dwellers in this apartment. We’ve lived here for two years. We are moving out tomorrow.”1.That Isn’t Our FaultMr. and Mrs. Williams got married when he was twenty-three, and she was twenty. Twenty-five years later, they had a big party, and a photographer came and took some photographs of them. Then the photographer gave Mrs. Williams a card and said, “They’ll be ready next Wednesday. Y ou can get them from studio.”“No,” Mrs. Williams said, “please send them to us.”The photographs arrived a week later, but Mrs. Williams was not happy when she saw them. She got into her car and drove to the photographer’s studio. She went inside and said angrily, “Y ou took some photographs of me and my husband last week, but I’m not going to pay for them.”“Oh, why not?” the photographer asked.“Because my husband looks like a monkey,” Mrs. Williams said.“Well,” the photographer answered, “that isn’t our fault. Why didn’t you think of that before you married him?”2.A Guide's AnswerIn 1861, the Civil War started in the United States between the Northern and the Southern states. The war continued with great bitterness until 1865, when the Northerners were victorious. However, even today, many Southerners have not forgotten their defeat, or forgiven the Northerners.A few years ago, a party of American tourists were going round one of the battlefields of the Civil War with a guide who came from one of the Southern states. At each place, the guide told the tourists stirring stories about how a few Southern soldiers had conquered powerful forces of Northerners there.At last, one of the tourists, a lady who came from the North, stopped the guide and said to him, “ But surely that the Northern amp3y must have won at least one victory in the Civil War?”“Not as long as I’m the guide here, madam,” answered the Southern guide.3．A Qualified PilotThe captain of a small ship had to go along a rocky coast, but he was unfamiliar with it, so he tried to find a qualified pilot to guide him. He went ashore in one of the small ports, and a local fishemp3an pretended that he was a pilot because he needed some money. The captain took him on board and asked him where to steer the ship.After half an hour, the captain began to suspect that the fisheman did not really know what he was doing and where he was going.“Are you sure you are a qualified pilot?” he asked.“Oh, yes,” answered the fisheman. “I know every rock on this part of the coast.”Suddenly there was a terrible crash from under the ship. At on ce the fisheman added, “And that’s one of them.”4.Living Things ReactY ou and all organisms live an environment. An environment is made up of everything that surrounds an organism. It can include the air, the water, the soil, and even other organisms.An organism responds to changes in its environment. When an organism responds to a change, it reacts in certain ways. All living things respond in some way.Have you ever noticed how plants and insects respond to light? Plants bend toward light. Insects fly toward light.Living things also respond in other ways. The leaves on some trees respond to a change in season. In autumn, they change colors and then fall off the branches Animals also respond to a change in season. Squirrels save nuts for the winter. Bears sleep through the winter in a cave.Y ou respond to your environment in many ways, too. Y ou may shiver if you are cold. What other ways do you respond to changes in your environment?5.Flowering PlantsWhat are the parts of a flower?Flowers can have male parts and female parts. The female parts make eggs that become seeds. The male parts make pollen. Pollen is a powdery material that is needed by the eggs to make seeds. To make seeds, pollen and eggs must come together. The wind, insects, and birds bring pollen to eggs. Many animals love flowers’ bright colors. They also like a sugary liquid in flowers. This is called nectar. While they drink nectar, pollen rubs off on their bodies. As they move, some of this pollen gets delivered to the female flower parts.Over time, the female parts turn into fruits that contain seeds. Animals often eat the fruits and the seeds pass through their bodies as waste. The animals do no know they are working for the plants by planting seeds as they travel to different places!Useful words and Expressions:1. flowering 开花的2. pollen 花粉3. powdery 粉状的4. sugar 含糖的，甜的5. nectar花蜜，甘露6. rub 磨擦6.Finding the Direction and LocationHow can you tell which direction? By day, look for the Sun. It is in the east in the morning and the west in the afternoon. At night, use the Big Dipper to help you find the North Star. It would be better to bring a compass because its needle always points north.How do you know how far you have gone? Y ou could count every step. Each step is about twofeet. Y ou’d better wear a pedometer which is a tool that counts steps. If you know where you started, which direction you are heading, and how far you have gone, you can use a good map to figure out exactly where you are.Today there is a new way for travelers to figure out where they are. It is the GPS. It has 24 satellites that orbit the earth and constantly broadcast their positions. Someday you may carry a small receiver as you hike and use GPS to find out if you are there yet!Useful Words and Expressions:1. dipper北斗七星2. compass 罗盘3. pedometer 步数计4. GPS= Global Position System全球定位系统5. orbit 轨道，绕……轨道而行6. receiver 接收器7.WavesHow does light get from the sun to the earth? How does music get from the stage to the audience? They move the same way-----in waves!Light and sound are fomp3s of energy. All waves carry energy, but they may carry it differently. Light and sound travel through different kinds of matter. For example, light waves cannot move through walls, but sound waves can. That is why you can hear people talking in another room even though you cannot see them. The energy of some waves is destructive. An earthquake produces seismic waves.Catch a wave. Ask a friend to stand a few feet away from you. Stretch a spring between you. Shake the spring to transfer energy to it. What happens? The spring bounces up and down in waves. When the waves reach your friend, they bounce back to you!Light waves travel 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles) per second! They can also travel through a vacuum. That is why light from the sun and distant stars can travel through space to the earth! Useful Words and Expressions;1. destructive 破坏的2. seismic地震的3. vacuum真空8.SoilsThere are many different kinds of soils. Different soils have different types of rock and minerals in them. Some soils have more water in them than others. Some soils might have more plant and animal material in them, too.Different kinds of soils are found in different parts of the world. There are several kinds of soils found in the United States. In some areas, the soil has a lot of clay. Other soils are very sandy. Loam is a kind of soil that has a good mixture of clay and sand.In some places, soil layers are very thick. Lots of plants grow in places with a thick soil layer. In dry and windy places soil layers are much thinner. Layers of soil on mountains are thin because gravity pulls the soil downhill.The type of soil in a particular place affects what kinds of plants can grow there.Useful Words:1. clay 黏土，泥土2. loam 肥土3. layer 层4. gravity 地心引力，重力5. downhill 往下9.CrisisLife is a contest! Who will win? A bluebird and sparrow both compete for space to build their nests. A fast-growing maple tree and slower-growing dogwood compete for the sunlight they both need. Oil competes with coal and nuclear power as an energy source for electric power plants! There is a problem. There is a limited amount of space for birds, sunlight for trees, and energy for people! If we do not cut back on our uses of some of our resources, someday they will be gone! How can we use energy today and know we will have enough to go around in the future? We can choose alternate, or replacement, energy resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources.Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources.Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable. What other ways can we conserve our sources? How can we make sure there is always enough to go around?Useful words and expressions:1. bluebird 蓝知更鸟2. sparrow 麻雀3. dogwood 山茱萸4. power plant 发电厂，发电站5. alternate 替换物6. nonrenewable resources 不可再生资源7. conserve 保存，保藏10.America’s Worst SurpriseDecember 7, 1941 was one of the worst days in American history. Nearly all Americans who are old enough to remember that day can still remember what they were doing at the moment they heard “the news”. The news was that America had been attacked!Shortly before 2:00 P.M., a radio dispatch came into Washington from Honolulu, Hawaii. “Air Raid, Pearl Harbor—This is no drill.” Japanese planes had begun an attack on the largest American military base in the Pacific. They first destroyed planes on the ground. Then they bombed the ships in the harbor.No one had expected the attack. So no one was prepared for it. And it did not take long for Japanese to do their damage. When the smoke cleared, the Navy counted its losses. Eighteen ships had been sunk or badly damaged. Nearly 150 planes had been destroyed. More than 2,400 Americans had been killed and more than 1,200 wounded.Useful Words and Expressions:1. dispatch 派遣，急件2. air raid 空袭3. drill 军事训练，操练4. Pearl Harbor 珍珠港11.Great Depression in the U.S.In 1929, the bill started to come in. American industry had produced too many goods. Americans could not afford to buy all of them. So factories had to cut down on their production. Many workers lost their jobs. Investors tried to get their money back. But businesses did not have enough money to pay them. Banks tried to get their money back from investors. But the investors could not pay, either. Too many people owed money. And few of them could pay their bill. During the next few years, business got worse and worse. By 1932, banks all over the country were closing.People without money could not buy goods. So more businesses closed. More and more people lost their jobs. By 1932, more than 12 million Americans were jobless. Millions more were earning barely enough to live on. The country was in a great depression they had never experienced before.Useful Words and Expressions:1. bill 帐单，票据foot the bill付账，负责2. cut down on 减少3. depression 沮丧，萧条Great Depression大萧条12.A Place of Our OwnWe are all usually very careful when we buy something for the house. Why? Because we have to live with it for a long time. We paint a room to make it brighter, so we choose the colors carefully. We buy new curtains in order to match the newly decorated room, so they must be the right color. We move the furniture round so as to make more space—or we buy new furniture—and so on. It is an endless business.Rich or poor, we take time to furnish a room. Perhaps some people buy furniture in order to impress their friends. But most of us just want to enjoy our surroundings. We want to live as comfortably as we can afford to. We spend a large part of our lives at home. We want to make a small corner in the world which we can recognize as our own.13.Travel for WorkY ou can see them in every airport in the world. They are businessmen and women who have to travel for their work.When they first applied for the job, they may have thought of good food and hotels, huge expense accounts and fashionable cities. Now they have to sit in airport lounges, tired and uncomfortable in their smart clothes, listening to the loudspeaker announce “The fight of Tokyo, or Berlin, or New Y ork is delayed for another t wo hours.” Some people say to me, “How lucky you are to be able to travel abroad in your work! Y ou can go sightseeing without paying any money by yourself!” They think that my job is like a continual holiday. It is not.There are advantages, of course, and I do thin I am lucky,14.A Free Dress Every WeekThe temptation to steal is greater than ever before especially in large shops and people are not so honest as they once were.A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. The woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was h er daughter. Believe it or not, the girl “gave” her mother a free dress every week!15.TimeTime is tangible. One can gain time, spend time, waste time, save time, or even kill time. Common questions in American English reveal this concrete quality as th ough time were a possession. “Do you have any time?”, “Can you get some time for this?”, “How much free time do you have?” The treatment of time as a possession influences the way that time is carefully divided.Generally, Americans are taught to do one thing at a time and may be uncomfortable when an activity is interrupted. In businesses, the careful scheduling of time and the separation of activities are common practices. Appointment calendars are printed with 15-,30-, and 60-minute time slots. The idea that “there is a time and place for everything” extends to American social life. Visitors who drop by without prior notice may interrupt their host’s personal time. Thus, calling friends on the telephone before visiting them is generally preferred to visit ors’ dropping by.Useful words and expressions:1. tangible 切实的2. kill time 消磨时间3. reveal 显示，揭示4. scheduling 行程安排5. slot 缝隙6. drop by 随便访问7. preferred 首选的16.CartoonistsIn a good cartoon, the artist can tell in a few lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs. The cartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader to his way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a political campaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues in Congress or at meetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplied with current materials.A clever cartoonist may cause laughter because he often uses humor in his drawings. If he is sketching a famous person, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, for instance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to widen an already broad grin. This exaggeration of a person’s characteristics is called caricature. The artist uses such exaggeration to put his message across.Useful Words and Expressions:1. cartoonist 漫画家2. campaign 活动3. controversial 争论的，争议的4. sketch 素描5. prominent 卓越的6. exaggerate 夸张7. lengthen 延长8. grin 露齿笑17.Water PollutionWater is very important to us. Factories and plants need water for industrial uses and large pieces of farmland need it for irrigation. Without water to drink, people die in a short time.Today most water sources are so dirty that people must purify water before drinking. Water becomes dirty in many ways: industrial pollution is one of them. With the development of industry, plants and factories pour tons of industrial wasters into rivers every day. The rivers have become seriously polluted, and the water is becoming unfit for drinking or irrigation. The same thing has also happened to our seas and oceans. So, the problem of water pollution is almost worldwide. Scientists of many countries have done a lot of work to stop pollution. The polluted water in some places has become clean and drinkable again. Perhaps one day the people in all towns and cities will be drinking clean water. That day, we believe, is not very far off.18.Making a ComplaintComplaining about faulty goods or bad services is never easy. But if something you have bought is faulty or does not do what was claimed for it, you are not asking for a favor to get it put right. Complaints should be made to a responsible person. Go back to the shop where you bought the goods, taking with you any receipt you may have. In a small store the assistant may also be the owner so you can complain direct. In a chain store, ask the manager. If you telephone, ask the name of the person who handles your enquiry, otherwise you may never find out who dealt with the complaint later. If you do not want to do it in person, write a letter. Stick to the facts and keep a copy of what you write. At this stage you should give any receipt numbers, but you should not need to give receipts or other papers to prove you bought the article.19．Where Do the British LiveNearly everyone in Britain would like to own their own home and, whether they do or not, they are prepared to put time and money into decorating and furnishing it or even making structural alterations to it. Because of the climate and because of the expense involved in going out for the evening, the British spend a lot of time at home and a large part of their social life takes place there.Y oung people tend to stay with their families longer these days as accommodation is expensive but, when they move away to a job or college, there are various options open to them. They can get lodgings with a landlady. This means that they rent a room in someone’s house and have breakfast with the family. They can also get a bed-sitting room, that is to say one self-contained room in which they can cook, live and sleep. Alternatively, they can share a rented flat or house with a group of young people, perhaps the most popular option of all.Useful Words and Expressions:1. lodging 寄宿处2. bedsit 卧室兼起居室3. bed-sitting 卧室兼起居室的4. self-contained 设备齐全的20.Will Computers Replace Human Beings?We are in the computer age today. The computers are working all kinds of wonders now. They are very useful in automatic control and data processing. At the same time, computers are finding their way into the home. They seem to be so clever and can solve such complicated problems that some people think sooner or later they will replace us.But I do not think that there is such a possibility. My reason is very simple: computers are machines, not humans. And our tasks are far too various and complicated for any one single kind of machine to performer.Probably the greatest difference between man and computer is that the fomp3er can do things of his own while the latter can do nothing without being progmp3med. In my opinion, computers will remain nothing but an extension of our human brains, no matter how clever and complicated they may become.21.ArtistsEvery artist knows in his heart that he is saying something to the public. Not only does he want to say it well, but he wants it to be something which has not been said before.What visual artists, like painters, want to say is easy to make out but difficult to explain, because painters translate their experiences into shapes and colors, not words. They seem to feel that a certain selection of shapes and colors, out of the countless billions of possible, is exceptionally interesting for them and worth showing to us.Most artists take their shapes and colors from the world of nature and from human bodies in motion and response; their choices indicate that these aspects of the world are worth looking at, that they contain beautiful sights. Contemporary artists might say that they merely choose subjects that provide an interesting pattern, that there is nothing more in it. Y et even they do not choose entirely without reference to the character of their subjects.Useful words and Expressions:1. visual artist 视觉艺术家2. selection 挑选，选择3. exceptional 例外的，异常的4. motion 运动，动作5. indicate显示，象征6. contemporary 当代的，同时代的7. without reference to 不论，与……无关22.Professioanl Sports in the U.S.Professional sports are not only very popular in the United States, but also a big business. The most popular sports are baseball, football and basketball. Each sport has its own season and individual teams have millions of supporters. Professional teams are named for the cities where they are located. For example, the Lakers are in Los Angeles. The strongest supporters of theLakers are residents of Los Angeles and Southern California. When the Lakers play, many people in Los Angeles enthusiastically follow the game. When we mention “NBA”, almost every one knows it ahs some relationship with U.S. professional basketball. However, what does it really stand for? NBA is short for the national basketball association.N.B.A is gaining new fans and supporters around the world. Basketball has been called the “national pastime”. However, football is the most popular professional sport in the U.S.. American football is different from international football, which Americans call “soccer”. Both games require strength and specialized skills. Useful Words and Expressions:1. be named for 被指定为2. be short for 是……的简称3. stand for代表23.“How to” BooksBooks which give instructions on how to do things are popular in the United States today. Thousands of these “how to” books are available. In fact, there are about for thousand books with titles that begin with the words “how to’.Many “how to” books give advice on careers. They tell you how to choose a career and how to succeed in it. Many of these books help people to use their free time better. Some people want book which will give them useful infomp3ation about sports, hobbies and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. They prefer books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like plumbing and electrical wiring or on how to redecorate or enlarge a house.Why have “how to” books become so popular? Probably because life has become more complex. Today people have far more free to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve, “how to” books help people to deal with mod ern life.Useful words and Expressions:1. step-by-step 按部就班的2. redecorate 重新装饰，再装饰3. complex 复杂的，综合的24.Don’t give upIf we would ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere. If we would learn our lessons in school, we must be diligent and not give up whenever we come to anything difficult. We shall find many of our lessons very hard, but let us consider that the harder they are the better they will do to us if we will preserve and learn them thoroughly.But there are some among us who are ready to give up when they come to a hard example in mathematics, and say, “I can’t do this.” They never will if they feel so. “I can’t” never does anything worthwhile, but “I’ll try” accomplishes wonders.Let us remember that we shall meet with difficulties all through life. They are in the pathway of everyone. If we will only try and keep trying, we shall be sure to conquer and overcome very difficulty we meet.25.How High Can Y ou Jump?Fleas trainers have observed a strange habit of fleas while training them.Fleas are trained by putting them in a cardboard box with a top on it. The fleas will jump up and hit the top of the cardboard box over and over and over again. As you watch them jump and hit the lid, something very interesting becomes obvious. The fleas continue to jump, but they are no longer jumping high enough to hit the top.When you take off the lid, the fleas continue to jump, but they will not jump out of the box. They will not jump out because they cannot jump out. Why? The reason is simple. They have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high, that is all they can do!Many times, people do the same thing. They restrict themselves and never reach their potential. Just like the fleas, they fail to jump higher, thinking they are doing al they can do.Useful Words and Expressions:1. cardboard 纸板2. lid 盖子3. conditioned 有条件的，习惯于……的4. restrict 限制，约束be restricted within narrow limits 限于狭窄的范围内be restricted in one’s movements 行动受限制26.Apology HelpsIt is never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how often you have judged roughly, you said unkind things, and pushed yourself ahead at the expense of a friend. Then count the occasions whe n you indicated clearly and truly that you were sorry. A bit frightening, isn’t it? It is frightening, isn’t it? It is frightening because some deep wisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is disturbed; and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and regret expressed.A heartfelt apology can not only heal a damaged relationship but also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or judged too roughly, or just neglected, do something about it right now.Useful Words and Expressions:1. push ahead 捉紧进行2. at the expense of 在损害……的情况下3. mysterious神秘的4. moral 道德的5. disturbed 扰乱的6. stay out of 不参与……，置身于……之外7. heartfelt 衷心的，真心真意的8. roughly粗糙地，概略地27.SleepWhy is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired? There is no one answer that applies to every individual. It is possible to feel “tired” physically and still be unable to fall asleep, because while your body may be exhausted, you do not feel sleepy. It is not so easy to simply “turn off”. Lack of sleep complicates matters even more. Experts say adults need at least seven to eight hoursof sleep a night to function properly. When you get less sleep than that on consecutive three nights, you begin to accrue for “sleep debt”. As sleep debt increases your body experiences a stress response. Now a vicious cycle has been created: Y ou experience the feeling of being more and more tired, but your body is increasingly stimulated. “Power sleeping” for more hours on weekends is only a temporary solution. There is no substitute for getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis.Useful Words and Expressions:1. overtire 使过度疲劳2. apply to 将……应用于3. consecutive 连续的，连贯的4. accrue 自然增加，产生5. vicious恶的vicious cycle 恶性循环6. stimulate 刺激，激励7. substitute for 代替……，替换……28.Why Some People Are PoorThe poverty line is the minimum income that people need for an acceptable standard of living.People with incomes below the poverty line are considered poor.As the general standard of living rises,the poverty line does,too.Therefore,even with today’s relatively high standard of living,about 10 percent of the people in the United States are below the poverty line.Economists suggest several reasons.For one thing, more than half of the poor people are not qualified to work.By law, children less than 16 years old can not work in many industries;many companies do not hire people over 65 years old,which is considered the normal retirement age.Some poor adults do not look for jobs for a variety of personal reasons.Other poor people look for a job but can’t find one.Many poor adults never went to high school.Therefore,when they look for jobs,they have few skills that they can offer29.Old AgeMany people mistakenly believe that old age is a time of increased illness and loneliness.In fact, people do not suddenly change when they reach the age of 60 or 65.Consequently,We should not expect more mental illness among the 60 to 70 age group than among the 50 to 60.Furthermore,although more parentsand their married children live in separate households than ever before,this is usually by choice. It is not because children now tend to neglect their parents when they become old.It is also wrong to believe that old age seriously affects a person’s mental abilities.There is clear proof that people who were eager to learn and who welcomed new experiences in their middle age,continue to do so in the old age. It is true that older people tend to take longer to learn something new than young people.Nevertheless,if they are given sufficient time,they learn as well as young people do.30.Nowadays few of us read books after we leave school.。