新世纪视听说第二册听力原文及答案

新世纪大学英语视听说教程2的optional listening 原文及答案免费下载

Unit One, Book 2 Listening 1

Boy: Hey, Grandma, what’s in this box?

Grandma: Oh, nothing really… Just a few old keepsakes. B: Keepsakes?

G: Young man, you know what a keepsake is ! B: No, I don’t. I really don’t.

G: Well, it’s something you keep. It’s something that gives you a lot of memories.

B: Oh. What’s this?

G: Now don’t go just digging around in there! ... Hmmm, let’s see…. that’s my first diary. B: Can I….?

G: No, you can’t read it! It’s personal! I wrote about my first boyfriend in there. He became your grandfather!

B: Oh, ok…. Well then, what’s that? It has your picture in it. G: That’s my passport. YOU can see, I traveled to Europe by ship. B: What’s that big book?

G: My yearbook. It’s my high school book of memories. B: Class of 1961! Boy, that’s old!

G: That’s about enough out of you, young man. I think it’s time we put this

box away and…

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Listening 2

At the age of thirteen, I took my first trip alone. I went to visit my grandparents in Los Angeles. I felt very nervous about traveling so far, but my mother said, “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.” I got on the airplane and talked for a long time to a very nice woman who sat next to me. My

grandparents met me at the airport and took me to their home. I stayed there for two weeks, and I had so much fun with them! It was my first time in Los Angeles, and I saw lots of really interesting places. In the end, I didn’t want to go home! Listening 3 Making memories

A popular new hobby is scrapbooking---making beautiful books to hold special memories. Scrapbook pages can include photos, drawings, journal entries. It’s not hard to make a scrapbook that you will enjoy for many years. Here are the steps..

1. Choose a theme for your scrapbook pages. Some examples: “School days,” “ Family travel,” “Memories of my grandparents,” “ Baby’s first year.”

2. Select photos for each page. Two or three really good photos are better than ten so-so photos.

3. Find other paper keepsakes to use with your photos. Look for old newspaper clippings, postcards, tickets, report cards, letters--- anything made of paper. Use your imagination!

4. Design the pages. Put photos and keepsakes together on each page and move them around until you find a layout that you like.

5. Glue your photos and keepsakes into place. Then decorate your pages with felt pens, paint, and stickers. Use your imagination!

6. Label your pages. This is the most important step! Remember to write down the “5 Ws” of your photos: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. This will make your scrapbook much more interesting and valuable in the future.

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Listening 4

Yearbooks in the United States

Most high schools in the United States publish a yearbook. The yearbook comes out once a year, usually in the spring. It is a record of the school year---- a “book of memories” for the students.

Inside a yearbook is each student’s photo. The seniors are graduating soon, and their photos appear first. Next are the juniors. They are one year behind the seniors. Next come the sophomores, or second-year students. The last photos are the first-year students, the freshmen. The yearbook is not only about students. The teachers have photos, too.

The yearbook also has photos and descriptions of sports teams, academic subjects, and extracurricular activities. These are activities students do after school, such as the chess club and Spanish club. There is even a yearbook club. Students in this club write, design, and take photos all year for the yearbook. At the end of the year, the book is printed.

In the yearbook, some students receive special titles. The seniors vote and choose the “class clown”( a funny student), the “ most likely to succeed” ( a student everyone thinks will be successful), and the “ best dressed” (a student with a good fashion sense). There are also other awards and categories.

Students typically sign each other’s yearbooks. This is especially important for the seniors, because they are graduating. Students write notes to each other, such as, “ We had a lot of fun,” or “ I’ll never forget you.” They also write about all the fun and funny experiences they shared in school together. Keys:

OL1: A. 2-passport; 1-diary; 3-yearbook B. 1. boyfriend 2. Europe, ship 3. sixties

OL2: B. 1.13; 2. To vist his grandparents; 3. Yes. He talked for a long time to a nice woman; 4. He had lots of fun with his grandparents and he saw lots of interesting places. In the end, he even didn’t want to go home.

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OL3: B. 1. Scrapbooking is making beautiful books to hold special memories. Photos, pictures, etc. can be included in scrapbooks. 2. Old newspaper clippings, postcards, tickets, report cards, letters.

3. The “5 Ws” of the photos: who, what, where, when and why. 4. “School days”, “Family travel”, “Memories of my grandparents”，“Baby’s first year”. 5. Use imagination to design the pages, and then decorate them with felt pens, paint and stickers.

OL4: A 1. Most high school in the US; 2. Because they are graduating soon. 3.Yes; 4. At the end of the year. 5.It means a student with a good fashion sense.

B. 2. photo; 3. seniors; 4. sports; 5. yearbook; 6. titles; 7. sign; 8.

memories OL5

1. choose; 2. wear; 3. bracelet; 4. ring; 5. favorite keepsake; 6. pendant; 7. she was in college; 8. had no friends; 9. remind her to be strong; 10. perfect jewelry.

Unit 2, Book 2 Optional Listening 1 1

Man: Where are you running to, Paula?

Woman I have Connie’s wallet. I need to give it to her. M: Come on. I’ll help you. W: I don’t see Connie anywhere.

M: Look! She’s over there. Standing at the bus stop. W: Oh yeah, I see her. Connie! Connie!

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M: She doesn’t see us.

W: You’re right, It’s too noisy, and she’s talking to someone. 2

M: Well, here we are. This is my mom’s house. W: It’s beautiful.

M: Hey, Jen. Are you okay?

W: I’m just a little nervous. It’s my first time meeting your mother M: Come on. Don’t worry. Here she is now. W2: Hi, Tim!

M: Hi, Mon. I’d like you to meet Jen. W2: Hi, Jen. It’s very nice to meet you. W: It’s nice to meet you, too. Mrs. Harris. 3

M: Hey, Anne. Where are you going? W: I’m going to the library to study. M: For what? It’s only 7:00 a.m.! W: My final exams. They’re next week. M: Wow, well, good luck! W: Thanks!

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Okinawa is an island off the coast of Japan. The people on Okinawa, the Okinawans, may have the longest lives and healthiest lifestyles in the world. Researchers did a study. They started their study by looking at city and town birth records from 1879. They didn’t expect to find many centenarians in the records. They were very surprised to find so many old and healthy people living in Okinawa. The United States, for example, has 10 centenarians per 100,1000 people. In Okinawa there are 34 centenarians per 100,100 people! What is the Okinawans’ secret? First, they eat a healthy diet. They eat many fresh fruits and vegetables. They also eat fish often and drink a lot of water and green tea. But researchers think that the Okinawans have other healthy habits as well. They don’t do hard exercise such as weightlifting or

jogging--- instead, they prefer relaxing activities like gardening and walking. Researchers say that older Okinawans also have a good attitude about aging. They sit quietly and relax their minds with deep breathing exercised. They also enjoy massage. Keys:

OL1: A. We should support and celebrate local food tradition; B. 1. fast; 2.life; 3. farmers; 4. Europe; 5. members.

OL2: A. Adam: buttery; Janet: spicy; Abby: sweet; Minh: healthy. OL3: A. F T F F T F; B Capsacin is a chemical in the chile that produces heat and makes your mouth feel hot. It has no flavor or smell. Habanero is the hottest chile pepper in the world. It it bright orange and grows in the Caribbean.

OL4: A. What they eat: fresh fruits and vegetables, fish; What they drink: water, green tea; How they exercise: gardening, walking How they relax: deep breathing exercises, massage.

OL5: 1. contest; 2. tomatoes; 3. adding; 4. spicier; 5. comes off; 6. gets covered with; 7. judging starts; 8. tastes the other dishes; 9. has ever tasted; 10. win the test. Unit 4, Book 2 Optional Listening 1

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1.

Interviewer (Int): Hi, what’s your name? Gio: Gio.

Int: Hi, Gio, Where are you from? G: Milan, Italy.

I: Welcome to New York, them! G: Thank you.

I: Where are your clothes from?

G: My brother. I’m always borrowing clothes. I: How would you describe your style?

G: Casual, I guess. I’m not very innovative. I just wear the same thing all the time. 2. I: Hi, there. Elena: Hi, I: Who are you? E: I’m Elena.

I: And where are you from?

E: I’m from right here in New York.

I: A hometown girl. And your clothes are from…?E: A store in my neighborhood. There was a sale.

I: Great! How would you describe your personal style?

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E: Retro. It’s fashionable now.

I: It looks old-fashionable now. ….in a good way, of course. 3.

I: Good evening. What is your name? V: Vicki.

I: You look beautiful. V: Thank you

I: That dress is very stylish.

V: My mother gave it to me. It was tailor-made! I: Wonderful. Where are you from, Vicki! V: I’m from Hong Kong.

I: How would you describe your personal sense of style? V: Classic, I suppose. I like to dress up. Optional Listening 2 1

A: I’m new in town and I’d like to make some friends. What should I do?B: You ought to join a sports club. A: But I don’t like sports.

B: You could look for friends on the Internet. 2

A: I don’t know what to wear to the party tonight. What should I wear?

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B: You could wear your new jeans or your black pants. A: It’s a formal dress party.

B: Oh, then you shouldn’t wear pants after all. You definitely ought to wear a dress.

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A: I still don’t understand this grammar. What should I do?

B: You had better get some help or you will fail the test. It’s on Thursday.A: Maybe I could take the test on Friday. That would give me extra time. B: Well, you had better not delay. There’s not much time!

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Optional Listening 3 A--A sense of style

1. I’m a salesclerk in a woman’s clothing store. My boss is great, but she has a very strict dress code. We have to wear long skirts, black shoes, no jewelry, and on and on. It’s really boring, so I’m planning to dye my hair red. What do you think?

2. I love my girlfriend, but she complains a lot about my clothes. She doesn’t want to go anywhere with me because I always wear old jeans and a T-shirt. I don’t care about looking like a fashion magazine. I just want to be comfortable! What’s your advice? B

1. I’m a salesclerk in a woman’s clothing store. My boss is great, but she has a very strict dress code. We have to wear long skirts, black shoes, no jewelry, and on and on. It’s really boring, so I’m planning to dye my hair red. What do you think?

Expert’s opinion: Sorry, but I have to side with your employer. A business wants to have a particular look, so they tell you what to wear. If you want to show off your individual style, you had better do it in your free time.

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2. I love my girlfriend, but she complains a lot about my clothes. She doesn’t want to go anywhere with me because I always wear old jeans and a T-shirt. I don’t care about looking like a fashion magazine. I just want to be comfortable! What’s your advice?

Expert’s opinion: I think you ought to have a serious talk with your girlfriend and explain how you feel. We all have our own style and taste. In my opinion, she thinks too much about appearances. Optional Listening 4

Today I started my new part-time job as a trendspotter. I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. Well, guess what? It was a lot of fun! I’m telling all my friends, “You should think about becoming a trendspotter, too”

On Saturday morning, we had to report to a recording studio by 10 a.m. The “Trends Coordinator,” Mandy, explained the schedule. Then she gave us a tour. That was really cool!

Next we sat around a big table in a room. They gave each person three cards. One card said “Yes—All the way!” Another said, “It’s OK.” The third one said, “No way!” We listened to about 10 different songs. After each song we had to hold up a card. They played some hip hop, rock, heavy metal; and dance music. The heavy metal was “No way” for me.

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Do you know the rock group called “Gifted”? They’re really popular right now. Well, they have a new CD coming out. We saw six different CD covers. (I guess they are trying to choose one.) This time, we didn’t have cards. Instead, we just talked about the covers we liked. Mandy asked us questions, “Which ones do you like?” “Why do you like them?” “Would you buy a CD with this cover?”

We finished at 12:30. We will meet again next week at a boutique downtown. We will look at some new fashions. Each week we go to a different location. Oh yes, we also received a free CD for our tour. This “job” doesn’t pay, but we get a free stuff! That’s all for now! Keys

OL1: A Elena: New York Vicki: Hong Kong

B. Gio: brother/usual Elena: store in neighborhood /retro, old-fashioned Vicki: mother, classic

OL2：A. f c b B. 1. You could look for friends on the internet. 2. You shouldn’t wear pants. You definitely ought to wear a dress. 3. You had better get some help or you will fail the test. You had better not delay taking the test.

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OL3 A. b a B. Sorry, but I have to side with, want to show off, in your free time.

have a serious talk, style and taste, too much about appearance. OL4 B. 1. She was nervous and didn’t what to do. 2. She had to report to a recording studio by 10 a.m. 3. They had to decide which song was “OK”, and which one was “No way”. 4. They just talked about the covers they liked. 5. They are going to look at some new fashions. C. 1. doesn’t pay, Not a good salary 2. week, Not month 3. six CD covers, not one CD cover 4. a “ No way” card, Not an “It’s OK ” card OL5: 1. jogging; 2.more and more; 3. disagrees; 4. increase; 5. gets tired; 6.stop to rest; 7. had better; 8. get some ice cream; 9. of all athletes; 10.afer a workout. Unit 5, Book 2 Optional Listening 1

Mike: …So, we can look forward to warmer temperature. It’ll be a good weekend for the beach. Over to you, Alexa.

Alexa: Thank you for that weather report, Mike. And finally, this story just in. … We have a report that a local man, Nick Brown, saw some strange lights. He was driving home at about 10 p.m. He said the lights

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were bright and they moved across the sky. He stopped at a gas station and talked to a police officer about the lights. The police officer had seen the lights, too.

M: Hmmm, … that’s strange story. What happened next?

A: Well, Mr. Brown took some pictures, but there was no film in his camera. Finally, he called his wife on his cell phone. But by that time, the lights were gone.

M: Well, I know that there is a legend around here about mysterious lights … a lot of local people have seen the lights. It’s starting to seem like those lights really exist.. What do you think, Alexa? A: I don’t believe it. I think it’s some kind of hoax! Optional Listening 2

It was raining heavily. I couldn’t see clearly. I drove slowly. Suddenly, I saw a young girl. She was dressed neatly and standing in the middle of the road. I was surprised! Somehow, I stopped the car quickly. “What are you doing?” I asked. She looked at me strangely but didn’t answer. “Are you OK?” I asked. “I’m fine,” she answered. Then she smiled happily and walked away quietly. Nervously, I drove to my hotel and checked in. I told the clerk about the little girl. “Do you know her?” I asked. “Oh

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yes,” he said calmly. “That’s Mary Anne. She died five years ago on that road. It was a car accident during a rainstorm.” Optional Listening 3 A. The Tunguska mystery

It was early morning, June 30, 1908, in eastern Russia. Suddenly, a terrible explosion rocked the forest in Tunguska. People fell to the ground, and all the trees for 2000 square kilometers were down. People heard the explosion 800 kilometers away, and the fire burned for many weeks. B. What caused this terrible explosion? A century later, scientists are still trying to find the answer. Here are some possible explanations.

1. An asteroid: Asteroids are very large pieces of rock that goes around in space and sometimes hit the planet. They can cause lots of damage. Some of them weigh as much as 100,00 tons. If an asteroid hit the earth, it would cause a huge explosion.

2. A comet: Comets are giant balls of gas, ice., and rock with long tails. They travel through space in a regular pattern. Encke’s Comet was near Earth in1908, and it’s possible that a part of it broke off and hit the earth. 3. An UFO accident: Some people believe that a spaceship crashed into the ground in Siberia and its engine exploded.

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4. An extraterrestrials might have wanted to destroy the earth, so they aimed their weapons at Earth and set fire to the forest.

5. A scientific experiment: Another idea is that scientists made a mistake during an experiment with electricity. A man named Nikola Tesla tried to build a “supergun” that used electricity. Maybe it was a test of his gun and it didn’t work correctly. Optional Listening 4

Q. Where is Marfa and what exactly is it famous for?

A. Marfa is a small town in west Texas in the United States. It’s famous for the “Marfa mystery lights”

Q. What are the mystery lights exactly?

A. No one knows for sure. There are many different ideas about that. Q. Can you describe them?

A. That’s a difficult question. Different people see different lights. They are not always the same. I can say that they appear after sunset in the sky. They dance mysteriously in air and vanish. Then they suddenly reappear. Q. Some people say they are car headlights. Do you think so?

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A. No. I don’t. A man first saw the mystery lights over 100 years ago. The man was Robert Ellison and the year was 1883. Of course we didn’t have cars in 1883.

Q. What do you think causes the lights?

A. There are many theories. The Native Americans thought the lights were stars falling to Earth. Some people think uranium gas causes the lights. Other people suggest that ball lightning does it. Ball lightning is lightning in the shape of circle. It often appears just after a rainstorm. Q What are some of the weirdest ideas about the lights?

A. Well, some people call them “ghost lights”. They think ghosts do it. That’s the strangest idea. Some say they are UFOs. I don’t think so. Q. What do the experts say?

A. They can’t figure it out. Some engineers even came from Japan one time. They studied the lights, but couldn’t solve the mystery. Q. Are the local people scared?

A. No, actually, they aren’t. They like the lights. And every year in early September there is a big town festival to celebrate the mystery lights. Keys

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OL1: A. 从左至右：4-5-1-2-3 B. Nick Brown, police officer, local people OL 2:

A. 1. A young girl standing in the middle of the road; 2. Because it was raining heavily

3. He stopped the car quickly; 4. She said “I’m fine.” and walked away quietly.

5. He said the girl was Mary Anne and was killed in a car accident five years ago.

B. heavily; clearly; slowly; neatly; quickly; strangely; happily; quietly; Nervously; calmly; OL3

A. 1. A terrible explosion; 2. In eastern Russian; 3. June 30, 1968. B. (first row) 4, 1, 3 (second row) 5, 2

C. 1. a part of it broke off 2. lots of damage 3. its engine exploded 4. used electricity 5. set fire to the forest OL 4

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A. 2. a 3. h 4. d 5. g 6. e 7. b 8. c

B. 1. different people see different lights 2. Robert Ellison saw the lights in 1883.

3. The Native Americans thought the light were stars failing to the Earth 4. A team from Japan studied the lights, but couldn’t solve the mystery. OL 5 1. solve; 2. it’s very likely; 3. stole; 4. apartment; 5. showing; 6. has an alibi; 7. it isn’t true; 8. walks in; 9. take out; 10. thief. Unit 6, Book 2 Optional Listening 1 Conversation 1

Woman: Morning, Simon. Wow, you look tired.

Man: Oh, I didn’t sleep very well last night. I had a weird dream. I was in a classroom at school, but I didn’t have any clothes on. No one looked at me, but I was really embarrassed. Conversation 2

Woman: Jesse, Jesse, Wake up. You’re having a nightmare.

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Male child: Oh, what a terrible dream. I dreamed I was on a dark street. Suddenly, there was a large dog behind me. It ran toward me, but I couldn’t move.

Woman: Don’t worry, Jesse. It was only a dream. Go back to sleep. Conversation 3 Man1: Morning Tim.

Man2: Morning. Hey, I had an amazing dream last night. I was on a beautiful boat. The sun was warm and the ocean was really blue. I jumped into the water, and I began to swam with the fish. The thing is, I can’t swim. But in the dream, I could. It was pretty cool. Optional Listening 2

I had an amazing dream last night. I was standing outside of an strange big house. The house was painted pink, a very rare color for a house. It had a lot of big windows, either round or rectangular. The house had large square pillars and twisted columns. I was thinking there must be a big living room, several bedrooms, a kitchen, and a guest room in such a big house. I was wondering whose house this was when I suddenly heard a voice from somewhere: “My lord, welcome home.” Wow, this was my dream house.

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I went inside and walked into my living room. It was spacious. There were sofas, a table, a big-screen TV, and a stereo system. It was pretty cool. All my best friends were there, too. But somehow they didn’t speak, didn’t smile, and didn’t even move. And then suddenly they all disappeared. I was scared. What a terrible dream.

I then went to the kitchen. It was also spacious. There were all kinds of kitchen equipment, including a gas stove, a refrigerator, and an oven. There also many electric appliances, such as a microwave oven, an electric mixer, and a food processor. I liked the food processor the most, which made life much easier. There was also a dining table in the middle of the room. The whole family was sitting around the table, waiting for the meal to be served. But the fridge was empty, and the gas stove didn’t work. And there was no electricity at all for the microwave oven and the the food processor. The hungry kids started to cry. I was in despair. And then suddenly I woke up. Optional Listening 3 Sleep and dreams

Scientists know that the brain is very active when a person is sleeping. There are five stages, or parts, of sleep. Stage 1 starts after you fall asleep. If there is a noise or a bright light, you wake up very easily. In stage 2,

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your brain waves are very slow. In stage 3 and 4, you are in deep sleep. It’s very difficult to wake up then. Your body rests and grows during these stages. Stage 5 is when you dream. Your eyes move a lot, and your brain waves are fast. This stage of sleep is very important for your memory. After stage 5, you wake up a little, and then stage 1 starts again. We go through the five stages of sleep four or five times every night, so we have many dreams in one night.

How much sleep do you need? The answer depends on your age. Babies should sleep 15 to 16 hours every day. Children and teenagers need 9 or 10 hpurs of sleep, but older people only need 6 to 8 hours. If you sleep for only four hours one night, you may just feel tired the next day. But many nights of bad sleep can be bad for your health. People who don’t get enough sleep get sick more often. And sleep is very important for learning. It’s one reason why students should go to bed early. Optional Listening 4 The meaning of dreams

For centuries, people have asked: why do we dream? What do our dreams mean? Today, science doesn’t have definite answers to these questions, but we do know some things about dreams. First, we all dream, often 4 to

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5 times a night. Second, we don’t usually remember most of our dreams. And finally, when we dream, our brains are very active.

Thousands of years ago, people began to study dreams. In many cultures, people believed dreams were messages from spirits or gods. Later, the ancient Greeks and Romans had a new idea: Dreams come from a person’s mind. Doctors studied dreams to help sick or worried people. I n the past, some cultures used dreams to predict the future. They thought dreams could help a person choose a husband or wife, guess a baby’s birthday, or starts a business. IN some places, this practice is still common.

Today, scientists think dreams are about our thoughts and feelings. Our minds send us messages about our lives. Unfortunately, many messages are often strange or confusing. People wake up and think: What did that dream mean?

So, how can you understand the messages in your dreams? Think about the events in the dream. What do they say about your life ? For example, one common dream is about flying. Sometimes this dream means you feel free or want freedom. Other times it means you feel afraid. What do your dreams tell you about your life? Keys:

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OL 1: no one; couldn’t; run; can’t swim.

OL 2: A. 1. pink; 2. living room, kitchen; 3. large.

B. 1.True; 2. False; didn't speak or smile; 3. False; all; 4. False; sitting; 5. True OL 3:

A. 1. Stage 5; 2. Stage 1; 3. Stage 2; 4. Stage 3 and 4.

B. 1. Four or five times; 2. In Stage 3 and 4; 3. Fifteen to sixteen hours a day; 4. Sleep is important for learning. OL 4:

. 1. many times; 2. don't remember; 3. very active; 4. Greeks and Romans; 5. call tell us about hour daily lives. B. True; 2. True; 3. False; 4. False. OL 5

1. strange; 2. daytime; 3. pajamas; 4. laughed; 5.reminded him of; 6. hugged; 7. shook Roberto’s hand; 8.ballet dancer; 9. finished talking; 10. showed Roberto a surprise.

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Unit7, Book 2 Optional Listening 1

Mark: I participated in the Nebuta Festival last August. It was a lot of fun! First, I went to a local shop to rent a haneto--- that’s the costume you wear. It’s easy …..anyone can do it and anyone can dance in the festival. The parade is loud and beautiful. People beat drums and dance around. The only bad part was when I injured my ankle from too much dancing! At night, After the parade, we watched some beautiful floats go down the river.

Marissa: I spent two months traveling through India with my best friend. One of my best memories is the Holi Festival. WE went to a local store and bought some colored powder. Then we mixed it with water. On the day of the festival, someone gave me a water pistol. I filled it with my colored water and started shooting everyone. I even sprayed a police officer! What a mess! It took a long time before the color came out of my skin.

Optional Listening 2

Dan: Ok, Marcia, that’s it. I think we’re finished with the planting. Marcia: Yeah, Dan, we should review the details one more time.

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Dan: All right.

Marcia: So, Dan, let’s see … you’re going to meet Mom and Dad an 8:00 at the restaurant, right? Dan: That’s right.

Marcia: Remember to keep them at the restaurant until 9:30. That’s really important. Don’t come home early!

Dan: I know, I know. You need time to prepare for the party. Marcia: Exactly. They can’t come home early … or it will ruin the surprise.

Dan: After I go to the restaurant, what are you going to do?

Marcia: I’m going to put up the decorations for the party. And I’m going to call the guests and tell them to come over. Dan: Also, don’t forget to pick up the cake. Marcia: You’re right.

Dan: This is exciting. Boy, are Mom and Dad going to be surprised!. Optional Listening 3

Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

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Mardi Gras falls on a Tuesday about six weeks before Easter, a holiday in March or April. Before Mardi Gras even begins, there are over seventy parades of dazzling floats. Come join us for a festival you will never forget!

Tips for visitors:

Plan ahead. Many hotels start taking reservations for Mardi Gras in August. To get the room you want, call early, don’t wait until January. Plan your transportation. Many Streets are closed to cars, and bus and streetcar schedules are often changed.

Get here early. Plan to arrive about four hours ahead of any big parade. For the popular Sunday night parade, find a space in the morning. You might need a jacket, sunglasses, an umbrella, or all three.

Catch Mardi Gras “throws”. People ride on floats in the parades and give “throws” to the crowd. Jump up to catch beads, plastic coins, cups, and toy animals. Bring a plastic bag to hold your treasures. Optional 4

A groundhog is a small animal covered with brown fur. It lives in a hole in the ground. During the winter, it stays underground and sleeps and eats.

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When people see the groundhog in the winter, they think spring is coming soon.

Punxsutawney Pete is a groundhog. He lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On February 2, Pete’s hometown comes alive--- as many as 30,000 sightseer gather to celebrate Groundhog Day. Beginning in the morning, they watch for Pete to come out of his hole. Most years he comes out, sees his shadow, and runs back into the hole. That means there will be at least six more weeks of cold, wintery weather. Occasionally, Pete comes out of his hole and stays outside for a while. That’s a good sign. It means that spring weather will arrive soon.

After Pete appears, the people of Punxsutawney celebrate. There is a barbecue, a colorful festival in the park, a souvenir show and a sale, and even a storytelling festival. There is a lot to do in this little town on Groundhog Day!

Pete is a famous groundhog. In 1986, he met the president of the United States. There was a big Hollywood movie made about him in 1993. And in 1995, he was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, a popular TV talk show.

Unfortunately, Pete has seen his shadow about 85 percent of the time since the tradition started in 1887. Let’s hope next year is different.sss

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Keys: OL 1:

A. Mark: Nebuta; Marisa: Holi. B. Mark: 2,4,1,3; Marisa: 2, 4, 3, 1. OL 2

A. 1. c; 2. a. B. M; D; M; M; D. s

C. gets very crowded; after you arrive; The most important event; just relax and have fun; before; finishes; OL 3

A. FTFTFT

B. 1. You might need a jacket, sunglasses, an umbrella, or all three. 2. Get there early, about 4 hours ahead of big parades. For the Sunday night parade, find a space in the morning.

3. Start making reservations in August. Don’t wait until January. 4. People ride on floats in the parade and give “throws” to the crowd. 5. Before Mardi Gras even begins, there are over 70 parades of dazzling floats.

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6. Many streets are closed to cars, bus and streetcar schedules often changed. OL 4

1. F; Not large black, but small brown; 2. T; 3. T; 4. F; Not 1995, but 1993; 5. F; Not doesn't usually see, but usually sees. OL 5

1.bring; 2.would like to; 3. promised; 4. project; 5. invites; 6. agrees and calls; 7. is interested in; 8. go to the party; 9. funny part; 10. planning to go.

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