大学英语听说3Unit 3

Unit 3

II. Basic Listening Practice

1. Script

W: Chinese students are often too shy to say anything in class. M: I think they don’t speak because their culture values modesty，and they don’t want to be showing off. Goes back to Confucius.

Q: Why don’t Chinese students say in class according to the man? C) They are modest.

2. Script

W: The government is doing something at last about sex discrimination in the work place. Women deserve the same pay as men for the same work.

M: Yeah. In the United States, women earn only 70 percent of what men get for the same job. It’s a situation that has to be changed. Q: What does the man say about the women? A) They earn less than men.

3. Script

W: I admire Michael Dell. He had a dream to be the world’s largest manufacture of personal computers, and he has realized that dream.

M: And he dropped out of university to become a success. I wonder if there is a lesson in that.

Q: What do we learn about Michael Dell from the dialog?

D) He succeeded in his career though he did not complete his education.

4. Script

M: Successful entrepreneurs are often self-made people who have a vision and know where they are going.

W: But do they enjoy life like you and me, or is money their only concern? Q: What are the two speakers’ attitudes toward successful entrepreneurs? D) The man admires the entrepreneur but the woman does not.

5. Script

W: Do you agree that equal opportunity for all in an educational system is important？

M: Yes, but we have to recognize that all of us are not of equal ability. Q: What does the man imply？

A) We should acknowledge differences between students.

III. Listening In

Task 1: Competition in America

Script

Alan: What are you reading, Eliza?

Eliza: An article on America competition.

Alan: Competition is everywhere. Why so much fuss about it, Miss Knowledge?

Eliza: Don’t make fun of me. According to the author, competition is especially

important in American life. They’re taught to complete from early childhood. When children play games, they learn how to beat others.

Alan: And many girls want to look more attractive than the girls sitting next to them

in class. Do you think that way?

Eliza: Don’t be silly. Let’s get back to the point. When children are growing up, they

complete with one another in their studies.

Alan: Isn’t that also true of students in other nations? As we all know, many Asian

students would kill for a high test score and grab every opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge over others.

Eliza: American boys find great pleasure in competing with each other in sports,

according to the author.

Alan: I do like sports. When our football team beats the other team, I feel great…

makes me want to shout out loud. But isn’t that normal throughout the world? Eliza: American people also compete with each other at work and at climbing the

social ladder.

Alan: But there’s such competition in other countries as well.

Eliza: You’re right in a sense, but the author says the idea of competing is more

deeply rooted in the minds of Americans. They’re even taught that if you lose and don’t feel hurt, there must be something wrong with you.

Alan: I hear that some Asians put emphasis on cooperation. Which approach do you

think makes more sense?

Eliza: It’s hard to say. Anyway, it’s just culture difference.

Question and key:

1. What is the dialog mainly about?

C) Varies aspects of American competition. 2. What is the woman reading?

A) Reading an article on American competition.

3. What do children learn from playing games according to the woman? C) Competitiveness.

4. What does the man say about Asian and American students? B) Competition exacts among both Asian and American students.

5. What does the woman think more sense, competition or cooperation? D) It’s difficult to arrive at a definite conclusion.

Task2: Americans’ work ethic

Script and key

For 400 years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their“work ethic”. Its (S1) roots were in the teachings of the Christian Puritans who first settled in (S2) what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their (S3) moral duty to work at every task to please God by their (S4) diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill, and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a (S5) sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow Bible’s (S6) teachings, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” Therefore, American have for (S7) centuries believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. (S8) Even as children they were taught, “If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.”

But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of “ climbing the ladder” so as to increase their status, financial position, and sense of self-worth.

(S9) In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsively. The word “workaholic”describes an individual who is as addicted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol.

They are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally. (S10) Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are extremely productive. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholics upholds those values.

Task3: Cross-cultural tips on doing business

Script

Countries from around the globe, such as Germany, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia, conduct a lot of business in China-the biggest market in the world. Here are some tips to help you deal more successfully with people from those nations.

Firstly, you must be punctual with the Germans. Being even five minutes late makes a poor impression. Being punctual is also very important with Americans and the British. But while it’s important to be on time for business meetings, nobody expects you to be punctual for a social event. Half past seven is really means a quarter to eight, or even eight o’clock! With Russians, always be on time, but don’t be surprised if your Russian contact is very late! It is not unusual for them to be one or even two hours late!

In the business environments of those four countries, it is best to wear formal clothes of dark colors. In Russia, designer clothes are rather common. However, don’t be surprised if you go to an office in the U.K., on a Friday and find everyone wearing jeans. Many companies in the U.K. have “dress down Fridays”, when people wear casual attire.

In conversation, the British and the Americans love humor and talking about sports. The weather is also a good topic of conversation with the British, but you should avoid political talk. With the Russians, say positive things about their country, and avoid making complaints. The Germans, however, prefer to get straight down to business!

Remember that with the Germans, once a deal has been agreed upon, you can’t change it! With the Americans, money is more important than relationships, whereas with Russians it’s important to get to know your contacts well. Also, don’t be surprised if a British meeting seems like a chaos, with everyone participating and giving opinions!

Remember these tips and you will be on your way to a successful international career.

Question and key:

1. What is true of the Americans and the British in term of punctuality? D) They are punctual for business meetings, but less for social events? 2. In which country do people have “dress down Fridays”? A) The U.K.

3. What can you infer about the Russians from their conversation? D) They are patriotic.

4. How can you do business well with the Russians? A) You should know your contacts well.

5. What is the speaker’s attitude toward the four nationalities? C) He is neutral to all of them.

IV. Speaking Out

MODEL 1: Americans glorify individualism. Script

Susan: John, I was looking for you. Where have you been hiding all morning? John: Well, I caught Professor Brown’s lecture on American individualism. Susan: Oh, how did you find it?

John: Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe (1) individual interests rank above everything else.

Susan: Sounds interesting. (2) It’s a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism

Professor Wang talked about last semester.

John: But you should know that the individualism in the United States (3) is not necessarily an equivalent for selfishness. Susan: Then what does it mean in the States?

John: They believe (4) all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they

emphasize individual initiative and independence.

Susan: There could be something in that. Of course (5) an oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else.

John: So, it’s all the necessary for foreigners to understand American culture, or

they can’t hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West.

Susan: Maybe that’s the reason nuclear families outnumber extended families in the

United States.

John: Right on! You’re catching on fast! Susan: Now let me ask you a question. John: Shoot. Go ahead.

Susan: (6) Why do Americans cherish individualism more than oriental people? John: I don’t know. Anyway, Professor Brown didn’t say.

Susan: One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at

an early age. They learn independence early, so it’s deeply rooted.

John: Wow. That’s an intelligent guess!

Model2: What do you think are the reasons

for that difference?

Script

Susan: Do find that people in America often walk faster than people in China?

American (1) always seems to be in a hurry. John: It’s hard to come to a definite conclusion. Some Americans walk in a

leisurely way, and some Chinese hurry all the time. But on the whole, I think you’re right.

Susan: (2) What do you think are the reasons for that difference? John: Americans treasure time. For them, time is tangible. It’s a thing. “Time is

money.” You can “spend time”, “waste time”, “save time”. You can even “kill time”!

Susan: (3) Does this strong sense of time affect their lifestyle?

John: Sure. If you’re 20 minutes late for a business appointment, the other person

or persons will be annoyed. They may not trust you anymore.

Susan: But as far as I know, English-speaking people may be 15-30 minutes late for a

dinner party.

John: That’s true. For an informal occasion like that, punctuality is not so important.

Also, a boss may keep his employees waiting for a long time.

Susan: But if his secretary is late, she’s in trouble. She will probably receive a

reprimand.

John: How true!

Susan: The American worship of time probably (4) let them to create fast food.

John: I agree. And (5) globalization shrinks the differences between cultures. Now

people everywhere are rushing, and anywhere you go, you find Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Susan: But plenty of Chinese are still making appointments saying, “If I am late, wait

for me.”

John: But with more intercultural, I think (6) the gap will eventually be bridged,

and Chinese will be hurrying everywhere.

Model3: That’s the secret of their success. Script

Chris: Hey, Sue, how’s the math class going? Are you head of the class?

Susan: Are you kidding? There’s a bunch of foreign students in the class-from China

somewhere-and (1) they’re on top.

Chris: Why do you think so many Chinese students excel in math? It’s been my

observation that the Chinese students are usually the best.

Susan: In class they don’t say much, but (2) they definitely get the best marks.

Chris: I think part of it is their work ethic. (3) They never skip in class, and they pay

attention.

Susan: One Chinese student in my class (4) did homework each day until the early hours. He never took a break, watched TV, or went out for a beer.

Chris: (5) That’s the secret of their success: hard work and diligence.

Susan: It’s so unfair. I could probably do better if I worked harder, but that’s no fun. I

think learning should be more fun.

Chris: Someone with a knowledge of chess would find a chess tournament

fascinating. But if you don’t have the knowledge, then you won’t understand the significance of the moves, and you’ll be bored.

Susan: So what you’re saying is knowledge requires hard work, and knowledge

makes things interesting. I’m not against knowledge; (6) I just want to learn in an interesting way. What’s more, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.“

Ⅴ let’s talk

International Slavery Museum Script

The international Slavery Museum has opened at Albert Dock, in Liverpool. Many people travelled from all over the world to celebrate the opening on 23rd of August.

The museum is a place of reflection, contemplation and education.

It tells the story of the cruel acts of the transatlantic slave trade, the stories of the lives of the millions of Africans people, who were forced from their homelands onto ships that sailed to unknown lands where they were made to work on farms and in mines in harsh conditions without dignity or payment.

Liverpool is one of the many British seaports that became very rich from money made transporting goods such as cotton and sugar, produced by African slaves.

One of the most important parts of the museum’s exhibits are the stories of the lives of people who live all over the world today, whose family history can be traced to the Africans whose lives were changed forever by the transatlantic slave trade.

It has taken four years of the hard work and planning to organise the creation of the museum, and its opening year is a very significant date because in 2007 we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

This was a law made in 1807; it banned all British people from taking part in the slave trade. Later in 1833 all people who had been forced into slavery to work for British companies were freed.

Key:

1. It tells the story of the cruel acts of the (1) transatlantic slave trade, the stories of the lives of the millions of African people, who were forced from their homelands onto ships that sailed to (2) unknown lands where they were made to work on farms and in mines in harsh conditions without (3) dignity or payments.

2. Liverpool is one of the many British seaports that became very (1) rich from many made transporting goods such as (2) cottons and sugar, produced by African slaves.

3. One of the most important parts of the museum’s exhibits are the stories of the lives of people who live (1) all over the world today, whose (2) family history can be traced to the Africans whose lives were (3) changed forever by the transatlantic

slave trade.

4. Because 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. 5. A law made in 1807; it (1) banned all British people from (2) taking part in the slave trade. Later in 1833 all people who had been forced into (3) slavery to work for British companies were (4) freed.

Ⅵ Further listening and speaking

Listening Task1 Punctuality

Script

To Americans, punctuality is a way of respect for other people’s time. Being more than 10 minutes late to an appointment usually calls for an apology and maybe an explanation. People who are running late often call ahead to let others know of the delay. Of course, the less formal the situation, the less important it is to be exactly on time. At informal get-togethers, for example, people can arrive as much as 30 minutes past the appointed time. But they usually don’t try that at work.

American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks in advance. Once the time is fixed, it takes almost an emergency to change it. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is convenient. Only very close friend will just “dropped in” unannounced. Also, people hesitate to call others late at night for fear they might already be in bed. The time may vary, but most people think twice about calling after 10:00p.m.

To outsiders, Americans seem tied to the clock. People in some Eastern cultures value relationships more than schedules. In these societies, people don’t try to control time, but to experience it. Many Eastern cultures, for example, view time as a cycle. The rhythm of nature- from the passing of seasons to the monthly cycle of the moon-shapes their view of events. If they have wasted some time or let an opportunity pass by, they are not very worried, knowing that more time and opportunities will come in the next cycle. But Americans often want to jump at the first opportunity. They are unwilling to stand by idly and give up the opportunity.

The early American hero Benjamin Franklin expressed that view of time like this: “Do you love life? Then do not waste time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”

Question and key:

1. When people are running late in America, what do they do? C) They call ahead to inform others of their delays.

2. What do Americans do after the time for an appointment is fixed? B) They change it only when there is an emergency.

3. How do people in Eastern cultures view relationships and schedules? A) Relationships are more important than schedules.

4. Why aren’t some Eastern people worried if they let an opportunity pass by? C) Another opportunity will come in next cycle. 5. What was Benjamin Franklin’s view of time? D) It is part of life.

Task2: Our personal space

Script

Our personal space, that piece of the universe we occupy and call our own, is contained within an invisible boundary surrounding our body. As the owners of this area, we usually decide who may enter and who may not. When our space is invaded, we react in a variety of ways. We back up and retreat, stand our ground as our hands become moist from nervousness, or sometimes even react violently. Our response shows not only our unique personality, but also our cultural background.

For example, cultures that stress individualism such as England, the United States, Germany, and Australia, generally demand more space than collective cultures do, and tend to aggressive when their space is invaded. The idea of space is quite different from the one found in the Mexican and Arab cultures. In Mexico, the physical distance between people when engaged in conversation is closer than what is usual north of the border. And for Middle Easterners, typical Arab conversations are at close arrange. Closeness cannot be avoided.

As is the case with most of our behavior, our use of space is directly linked to the value system of our culture. In some Asian cultures, for example, employees do not stand near their bosses; the extended distance demonstrates respect. Extra interpersonal distance is also part of the cultural experience of the people of Scotland and Sweden, for whom it reflects privacy. And in Germany, private space is scared.

Key: 1. T 2. F

3. T 4. F 5. F

Task3: We don’t know what to do with them.

Script

A Russian, a Cuban, an American businessman, and an American lawyer were passengers on a fast train speeding across the French countryside. As time wore on, they gradually became friendly with one another, introducing themselves and shaking hands. Eventually, the Russian took out a large bottle of vodka and poured each of his traveling companions a drink. Just as the American businessman was sipping the vodka and praising its fine quality, the Russian hurled the half-full bottle out of the open window.

“What did you do that for?” asked the startled American businessman.

“Vodka is plentiful in my country,” said the Russian. “In fact, we have thousands and thousands of liters of it-far more than we need.”

The American businessman shook his head and leaned in his seat, obviously baffled by the Russian’s reasoning .

A little later, the young Cuban passed around a box of fine Havana cigars. The men enjoyed this treat and made admiring remarks about the pleasure of smoking good Havana cigars. At that very moment the Cuban took a couple of puffs of his cigar and then tossed it out of the open window.

“I thought the Cuban economy was not good this year,” the American businessman said,

“Yet you threw that perfectly good cigar away. I find your actions quite puzzling.” “Cigars,” the Cuban replied, “are a dime a dozen in Cuba. We have more of them than we know what to do with.”

The American businessman sat in silence for moment. Then he got up, grabbed the lawyer, and threw him out of the window.

Key:

1. The Russian hurled the half-full bottle of vodka out of the open window.

2. He answered, “Vodka is plentiful in my country. In fact, we have thousands and thousands of liters of it-far more we need.”

3. The businessman said, “I thought the Cuban economy was not good this year. Yet you threw that perfectly good cigar away. I find your actions quite puzzling. ”

4. He replied, “Cigars are a dime a dozen in Cuba. We have more of them than we know what to do with.”

5. The American businessman sat in silence for moment. Then he got up, grabbed the lawyer, and threw him out of the window. He did that probably because he thought there were too many lawyers in the United States.

Viewing and speaking

Reviving the image of tea

1. Script and key

Voice-over: Walk down any high street and you can’t help noticing the explosion of

trendy coffee shops. The old style of cafes are gradually (1) disappearing to make way for the caffeine culture. As people become espresso fiends and cappuccino connoisseurs, designer coffees are (2) kicking the traditional British beverage-tea-off the menu. But there are still a few oases of calm.

[On-screen text: Charlotte Grindling.]

Voice-over: Charlotte Grindling is a design guru and a tea fanatic. Charlotte: I’ll have a pot of house blend please. Waitress: OK, and a cream.

Charlotte: Yes, thank you. Here we are in a quintessentially English (3) tea shop. I

love these places. Look, they even give you a doily. But the problem is that tea is undergoing an (4) image crisis. You think of your granny, tea at four, the flat cap. But with the explosion of the new coffee shops hitting the high street, the question is: How is tea going to (5) update its image？

Voice-over: One tea manufacturing company saw a niche in the market for a chain

of tea shops to (6) compete with the American-style coffee shops that dominate the high street. But to compete successfully, they needed a tea machine that made quality tea as (7) fast as the coffee machines make coffee. They turned to the company Design Bridge for help.

David: I’m David. Richard: I’m Richard.

David: We work for Design Bridge. Richard: And we design things like that. David: And that. Richard: And that.

David: Yeah, and that. Richard: And this one.

David: In fact, all of these.

Voice-over: David and Richard are (8) product designers. They’re responsible for

repackaging many familiar high street brands. Repackaging tea was just one of their briefs and it was because of the (9) contacts that they made with the tea company that they got the job of designing the tea machine.

[On-screen text: David Helps.]

David: we met up with our client in a place (10) similar to this, and he said he

wanted a tea machine to fit into a load of tea shops he was launching the year after. So he all spun around and looked at that, and said actually I think that’s the sort of thing we (11) want.

[On-screen text: Richard Rees.]

Richard: The trouble is there it’s a beautiful coffee machine. It’s been around for 30

years, it’s got this gorgeous Italian styling: lots of chrome, lots of stainless steel, but we weren’t sure whether that style was what we needed for a tea machine. So that was our (12challenge: What’s the right style for a new tea machine?

Voice-over: Faced with creating a new product from scratch, David and Richard

would need a design brief. The brief is crucial because they need to know about the (13) consumer before they can design the product. There is a (14) traditional way of finding out what the consumer wants and creating this design brief.

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