英语期末听力材料

180308听力短文1

A View of Happiness

Dr. Smith has proposed a reasonable, if perhaps somewhat oversimplified1,view of happiness. According to his theory, happiness might be described as a state of (1)_____. And when human or certain animals achieve that balance, they end to remain in that condition in order to repeat the happy feeling.

To (2)_____ this, we may study the action of two magnets. When their positive and negative poles meet, they are comfortably joined, and they remain there. In other words, they have attained a balance or state of happiness. If on the other hand, one of the poles is reversed, and positive pole is pressed against positive pole, there is (3)_____, instability,imbalance or a state of unhappiness.

Animals with some degree of intelligence seem to find happiness in reinforcement. Once they have gained one or more of their goals such as food, and water, they learn to repeat the actions that led to (4)_____ of those goals.This repetition or reinforcement2 produces a state of balance or sense of happiness.

According to this theory, only animals with a significant capacity to learn should be able to experience happiness. But in truth learning can take place through

surprisingly simple short-term actions such as scratching an itch, followed by pleasure, followed by more scratching, and so on. Thus learning can occur with almost no (5)_____ thought.

For human beings, blessed with the ability to reason, goals are not limited to the (6)__________ of basic needs. Indeed, there is a strong (7)_____between happiness and the fulfillment3 of long-term goals. Even if humans strive for goals that are more complex and longer-term than the animals’ goals, once those goals are gained, happiness is reinforced. Questions:

1. Why does the speaker mention “magnets”?

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Oversimplify丨vt.使......过分地单纯化. vi.过分地单纯化 Reinforcement丨n.加固；增援；援军；加强 3

Fulfillment丨n.履行；实行；满足（感）

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2. What does the speaker say is special about the goals of human beings? 3. Which of the following best captures the main idea of the passage?

180308听力短对话1 1. Script

W: I get furious at work when my opinions aren’t considered just because I’m a woman.

M: You should air your view more emphatically4 and demand that your voice be heard.

Q: What is the woman complaining about? 2. Script

M: I’m beside myself with joy. I’m so lucky. Guess what? I’ve won a lot of money in the lottery.

W: Yeah? Well,you do know that money is the root of all evil, right? Q: What does the woman mean? 3. Script

W: Mary was furious. Her son wrecked up her car.

M: He shouldn’t have driven a car without a driver’s license. He‘s still taking driving lesson.

Q: What do we know about Mary’s son? 4. Script

M: Susan, I hear you’re going to marry that guy. Some people think you’ll regret it. W: Is that so? Only time will tell. Q: What does the woman imply? 5. Script

M: Mary, I just want to say how sorry I was to learn of your mother’s passing. I know how close you two were?

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Emphatically丨adv.着重地；强调地；断然地

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W: Thank you. It was so sudden. I’m still in a state of shock. I don’t know what to do.

Q: Which of following is true? 180308听力长对话1

Mary: Darn! You’ve spilled red wine on me. My new dress is ruined.

John: I’ m terrible sorry! What can I do to help? Here’s some water to wash it off. Mary: Stop splashing5 water on me! Oh, this is so embarrassing! I’m a mess. John: Well, you do look a little upset. Please don’t blow up. Don’t lose your cool. Mary: Hmm, you’ve got the nerve talking like that! Who would’t fly off the handle? This dress cost a fortune.

John: You look really cute when you’re mad. I kid you not. Some people do look attractive when they are in a rage.

Mary: This is very expensive dress. I saved for months to buy it, and now it’s ruined. Look at this stain!

John: Accidents do happen. Give me your dress, and I’ll take it to the cleaners. Mary: Sure! You want me to take it off right here in public and give it to you? I don’t even know you!

John: This might be a really good time to get acquainted6. I’m John Owen.

Mary: Mmm, at least you’re polite. I guess I really shouldn’t have flared up. After all, it was an accident. I’m Mary Harvey.

John: Come on. I’ll take you home. You can change your clothes, and I’ll get the dress cleaned for you.

Mary: Now you’re talking. Thanks. You’re a real gentleman.

John: You’d better believe it. I’m glad to see that you’ve cooled down. Feel look a bite to eat afterward? I’m starving.

Mary: Ok. You’re pretty good. I’m not nearly as mad. If you can get this stain out, I’ll be very happy.

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Splashing丨n.泼洒，喷洒 v.飞溅（splash的ing形式）；溅湿

Acquainted丨adj.熟识的；知晓的；有知识的 v.使了解（acquaint的过去分词）

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John: I’ll try my best. But if I can’t get the stain out, please don’t let your happiness turn to wrath. Questions:

1.Which of the following would be the best title for the dialog7? 2.Why does the woman get angry?

3.What does the man say to please the woman when she looks angry? 4.What is the man’s final proposal? 180309听力短文2

Plastic Surgeries for Men

Script

Men are turning to plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures to brighten up their appearances at a faster rate than women, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

Men’s use of fat injections to soften deep wrinkles leaped (1)_____ percent last year from the previous year. Women’s use of the injections fell (2)_____ percent, according to a survey by the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive8 Surgeons.

Men’s use of botox9 injections to eliminate frown lines rose 88 percent, while women’s botox use fell 8 percent.

And for smoothing skin, the use of laser resurfacing among men rose (3)_____percent, the survey showed. Meanwhile, women’s use of laser resurfacing dropped 38 percent during the same time period.

The number of men getting nose jobs rose (4)_____ percent, while the number of women doing so rose 5 percent.

Typically, men and women visiting plastic surgeons for cosmetic reasons were age 40 to 59.

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Dialog丨n.对话；会话

Reconstructive丨adj.重建的；改造的 9

Botox丨n.肉毒杆菌；肉毒杆菌毒素；肉毒杆菌毒素制剂；波托克斯

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The study said (5)_____ percent of men and (6)_____percent of women tell their doctor that looking younger is the reason they are choosing cosmetic surgery.

By about 18 percent, men are more likely than women to say they want facial cosmetic10 surgery for work-related reasons.

The study was conducted by written questionnaires from January 20 to March 3 among more than 2,600 members of the association, who focus on treatment of the face, head, and neck.

By comparison, in the previous year, women’s use of botox rose

(7)_____percent while men’s fell (8)_____ percent; women’s use of laser resurfacing rose 13 percent while men’s fell 19 percent; women’s use of fat injections fell 17 percent and men’s fell 54 percent. Questions:

1.What is true of men and women’s use of fat injections?

2.How much greater is the percentage of women choosing cosmetic surgery to look younger than the percentage of men?

3.What is true of men and women using botox in the previous year? 180309听力短对话2 1. Script

W: Did you hear? Helen got modeling job! She’s going to be sashaying down the catwalk.

M: Wow, that’s great! All that walking practice really paid off. And for once she won’t be complaining about being so tall. Q: Why did Helen get the modeling job? 2. Script

M: Julia, come and see the Miss America contest on TV. All those beautiful girls are walking around in bathing suits, so the judges can decide who has the best figure. W: Bah! That’s the worst kind of exploitation. They are treating women like toys for people to enjoy. I would never take part in this kind of contest.

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Cosmetic丨adj.美容的；化妆用的 n.化妆品；装饰品

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