全新版大学英语听说教程第二版3听力原文及答案Unit1-12

全新版大学英语第二版听说教程第三册听力原文及答案

Unit 1

Text 1

Dating with My Mother (Part One)

After 22 years of marriage, I have discovered the secret to keep love alive in my relationship with my wife, Peggy. I started dating with another woman.

It was Peggy's idea. One day she said to me, 'Life is too short, you need to spend time with the people you love. You probably won't believe me, but I know you love her and I think that if the two of you spend more time together, it will make us closer.' The 'other' woman my wife was encouraging me to date is my mother, a 72-year-old widow who has lived alone since my father died 20 years ago. Right after his death, I moved 2,500 miles away to California and started my own life and career. When I moved back near my hometown six years ago, I promised myself that I would spend more time with mom. But with the demands of my job and three kids, I never got around to seeing her much beyond family get-togethers and holidays.

Mom was surprised and suspicious when I called and suggested the two of us go out to dinner and a movie.

'What's wrong?' she asked.

'I thought it would be nice to spend some time with you,' I said. 'Just the two of us.'

'I would like that a lot,' she said.

When I pulled into her driveway, she was waiting by the door with her coat on. Her hair was curled, and she was smiling. 'I told my lady friends I was going out with my son, and they were all impressed. They can't wait to hear about our evening,' Mother said.

Exercise 1: 1. c 2. a 3.b

Questions:

1. What would make the speaker closer to his wife, Peggy?

2. What do you know about the speaker's mother?

3. Which of the following adjectives best describes Peggy?

Exercise 2:

1. She suggested that her husband spend more time with his mother. She said to her husband, "Life is too short, but you need to spend time with the people you love. You probably won't believe me, but I know you love her and I think that if the two of you spend more time together , it will make us closer."

2. 1) ...she was waiting by the door with her coat on and she had her hair curled.

2) She had told her lady friends about this.

Text 2

Dating with My Mother (Part Two)

We didn't go anywhere fancy, just a neighborhood place where we could talk. Since her eyes now see only large shapes and shadows, I had to read the menu for both of us.

'I used to be the reader when you were little,' she said.

'Then it is time for you to relax and let me return the favor,' I said.

We had a nice talk over dinner, just catching up on each other's lives. We talked for so long that we missed the movie.

'I'll go out with you again,' my mother said as I dropped her off, 'but only if you let me buy dinner next time.'

I agreed.

'How was your date?' my wife asked when I got home that evening.

'Nice...nicer than I thought it would be,' I said.

Mom and I get out for dinner a couple of times a month. Sometimes we take in a movie, but mostly we talk. I tell her about my trails at work and brag about the kids and Peggy. Mom fills me in on family gossip and tells me about her past. Now I know what it was like for her to work in a factory during the Second World War. I know how she met my father there, and know how they went through the difficult times. I can't get enough of these stories. They are important to me, a part of my history. We also talk about the future. Because of health problems, my mother worries about the days ahead.

Spending time with my mom has taught me the importance of slowing down. Peggy was right. Dating another woman has helped my marriage.

Exercise 1: 1. c 2. d 3. d

Questions:

1. What does the story mainly tell us?

2. Which of the following is true?

3. What can you learn from the story?

Ex. 2 1. took// out to dinner// neighborhood

2. nicer than he expected.

3. A couple of times.

4. the importance of slowing down//his marriage

Unit 2

Text1

What a Coincidence! (Part One)

Andrew had always wanted to be a doctor. But the tuition for a medical school in 1984 was 15,000 dollars a year, which was more than his family could afford. To help him realize his dream, his father, Mr. Stewart, a real estate agent, began searching the house-for-sale ads in newspapers in order to find extra business. One advertisement that he noted down was for the sale of a house in a nearby town. Mr. Stewart called the owner, trying to persuade him to let him be his agent. Somehow he succeeded and the owner promised that he would come to him if he failed to get a good deal with his present agent. Then they made an appointment to meet and discuss the thing.

As good things are never easy to acquire, the time for the appointment had to be changed almost ten times. On the day when they were supposed to meet at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Stewart received another call from the owner. His heart sank as he feared there would be another change of time. And so it was. The owner told him that he couldn't make it at three but if he would come right then, they could talk it over. Mr. Stewart was overjoyed. Leaving everything aside, he immediately set out to

drive to the house.

As he approached the area, he had a strange feeling of having been there before. The streets, the trees, the neighborhood, all looked familiar to him. And when he finally reached the house, something clicked in his mind. It used to be the house of his father-in-law! The old man had died fifteen years ago but when he was alive, he had often visited him with his wife and children. He remembered that, like his son Andrew, his father-in-law had also wanted to study medicine and, failing to do so, had always hoped that one of his two daughters or his grandchildren could someday become a doctor.

Exercise 1:1. b 2. a 3. d 4. c

Questions:

1. Who are the two main characters in the story you have just heard?

2. How did Mr. Stewart get to know the owner of the house?

3. What problem did Mr. Stewart have?

4. What is the coincidence in the story you have just heard?

Exercise 2:

1984 / son / medical school / tuition / afford it / realize / newspaper ads / extra business / advertisement / succeeded / agent / changed / phone call / put aside / doing / immediately / familiar / father-in-law's / visited / his father-in-law alive / coincidence Text2

What a Coincidence! (Part Two)

When he entered the house, Mr. Stewart was even more amazed to find that the house was decorated exactly as he had remembered it. He told the owner about this and the latter became intrigued too. However, they were in for even greater surprises. It so happened that in the middle of their discussion, a postman came to deliver a letter. And the letter was addressed to Mr. Stewart's father-in-law! Were it not for Mr. Stewart's presence there and then, the letter would be returned as no person of that name lived in the house any longer. As the postman demanded a signature on the receipt slip, Mr. Stewart signed for his long-deceased father-in-law. Mystified, the owner urged Mr. Stewart to open the letter and see what it contained. The letter was from a bank. When he opened it, two words immediately met his eye -- 'For education'. It was a bank statement of an amount his father-in-law had put in years ago for his grandchildren's education needs. With the interest it had earned over the years, the standing value of the amount came to a little over $15,000, just enough money to cover the tuition of Andrew's first year at a medical college!

Another thing that is worth mentioning is about the postman. The original postman, who had worked in this neighborhood, called in sick that day. So the postman, who was new to the area, came to deliver mail in his place. Had it been the old postman, the letter would undoubtedly be returned to the sender as he knew full well that no person bearing that name lived in that house any longer.

The miracle was a blessing for Andrew. With the money given to him by his grandfather he was able to study medicine. Now he is a doctor in Illinois.

Exercise1：

1. The house was decorated exactly the same as Mr. Stewart remembered it

2. Mr. Stewart happened to be in the house when a postman came to deliver a letter

to his father-in-law who had died 15 years ago.

3. The old postman had called in sick that day, and the postman who came in his

place was not familiar with the neighborhood. Other wise the letter would have been returned to its sender.

Exercise 2:

1. He was intrigued.

2. A bank statement.

3. his father-in-law had put an amount of money in the bank for his grandchildren's education.

4. A little over $15,000.

5. He could use the money to cover the tuition of his first year at a medical college.

6. He is a doctor in Illinois.

Unit 3

Text 1

Krimali (Part One)

On the morning of the devastating earthquake that struck India in 2001, Krimali, a girl of 17, had just left home to go to an interview for a position of a sales clerk. She was pleased with her green and yellow flowered dress, but felt something wasn't quite right about her hair. She returned home, removing her shoes and leaving them at the door.

Moments later, the earthquake struck. Ceilings and walls in the building shook in the deafening noise. Then everything began crashing down.

Krimali and her immediate family escaped serious injury but were unable to make their way out. The ceiling of an entire room towered above the only possible escape route. Completely detached on three sides, the huge slab clung to an outside wall on its fourth side. To an observer, it could drop at any moment.

People were screaming and didn't know what to do. Krimali decided to act. Carefully she climbed barefoot up and down the debris until she reached a point just beneath the swaying ceiling. About four meters below were uneven pieces of concrete, broken glass and smashed furniture, all mixed with sharp spikes of iron. She knew if she could manage to get down to the ground level, she could make her way to safety. She paused to figure out the best way down. As there wasn't any good place to jump, she just jumped. Luckily, she landed in a crouch, her feet missing any sharp edges. Emboldened by her good fortune, Krimali knew it was up to her to persuade others to follow.

Exercise 1: Ex 1 1-2 c c Ex 2 1-8 T F F F F T T F

Text 2

Krimali ( Part Two)

Krimali planned to rescue her family first, but just then she heard a woman from two storeys above screaming for someone to save her two-month-old baby.

"Throw the baby to me," Krimali shouted. "I can catch her!"

The woman refused. Krimali told the woman to wrap the baby in bed sheets and then toss her down. Crying uncontrollably, the mother wrapped the little girl but still

would not part with her baby. As the mother tried to decide what to do, Krimali intently watched the concrete ceiling hanging above her. Finally the mother tossed the baby. Krimali made a clean catch. A bright smile lit up the woman's face. "I'll be back!" Krimali called out, hugging the child to her as she hurriedly picked her way out to where survivors had gathered.

She gave up the baby, then asked if any of the men there would come back with her to help others trapped in the building. No one came forward, for they were all afraid of that swaying ceiling. But for Krimali, a small girl of 154 centimeters in height and weighing about 50 kilos, her fears had been lifted by what she had accomplished.

On her way back into the ruins, she saw part of a large door. It was extremely heavy but she managed to drag it to the spot just below the hanging ceiling. By placing it on the ruins, she created something like a sliding board. With Krimali coaching her, the baby's mother partly jumped and partly rolled down the board to the ground level. Krimali led her through the debris to her baby.

In the hours that followed Krimali made countless rescue missions into the building, each time in the shadow of the huge ceiling. Thanks to her courage, about two dozen men, women and children were saved.

Exercise 1:

Questions :

1-2 d b

Exercise 2:

1. Because she was afraid Krimali might not be able to catch her.

2. Because she thought the bed sheets could somehow protect the baby from being hurt if she failed to catch her.

3. Because they were afraid of the swaying ceiling.

4. To make it easier and safer for people to get down.

5. About two dozen were saved.

Unit 4

Text 1

A Marriage Agreement (Part One)

(Tom and Linda have signed a marriage agreement. Both agree not to break the rules outlined in the agreement. John, a reporter, is talking to them about the agreement.) John: Tom, Linda, first I'd like to ask you why you decided to write this unusual agreement.

Tom: We found that many problems are caused when a person has different expectations from his or her spouse. We wanted to talk about everything openly and honestly before we started living together.

Linda: Also we both know how important it is to respect each other's pet peeves. Like, I can get very annoyed if others leave stuff -- clothing, papers, everything! -- lying around on the floor. It really bugged me, so we put that in the agreement.

John: This is mentioned in Article 1: Cleaning Up, isn't it? It says, "Nothing will be left on the floor overnight. Everything must be cleaned up and put away before going to bed."

Tom: Then I'll know clearly what Linda's expectations are.

John: I see. What about Article 2: Sleeping? It says, "We will go to bed at 11 p.m. and get up at 6:30 a.m. except on weekends." I'm sure some people hearing this will think that this agreement isn't very romantic.

Tom: Well, we disagree. We think it's very romantic. This agreement shows that we sat down and talked, and really tried to understand the other person. A lot of problems occur in a marriage when people don't talk about what they want.

Linda: That's right. When we disagreed about something, we worked out a solution that was good for both of us. I would much rather have Tom really listen to me and understand my needs than give me a bunch of flowers or a box of candy.

Exercise 1: 1. b 2. c 3.a

Questions:

1. Which statement best summarizes the marriage agreement between Tom and Linda?

2. According to Tom, what will give rise to problems in a marriage?

3. What can be inferred about Linda from the conversation?

Exercise 2:

1. Because she wanted to understand each other's expectations so that potential problems could be avoided and they could live happily together.

2. Cleaning up. Everything must be cleaned up and put away before going to bed.

3. Sleeping. Time for bed: 11pm; time to get up: 6:30am except on weekends. Text 2

A Marriage Agreement (Part Two)

John: Linda, do you spend a lot of time checking to see if the other person is following the rules? Arguing?

Linda: No, not at all.

Tom: A lot of couples argue because they don't understand each other's expectations. I think we spend less time arguing than most couples because we both know what the other person expects.

John: What happens if one of you breaks a rule?

Tom: Well, that's in Article 13 of our agreement.

John: Is it? Oh yes, Article 13: Breaking Rules. "If you break a rule, you must apologize and do something nice for the other person to make it up."

Linda: Yeah, like last time Tom broke the rule of driving.

John: What's the rule?

Linda: The rule is we must ask for directions if we are driving and get lost for more than five minutes.

John: What happened?

Tom: We were driving to a friend's wedding, and we got lost. Linda wanted to stop at a gas station to ask for directions, but I thought I could figure it out.

Linda: Then we drove forty miles in the wrong direction and ended up being late for the wedding.

Tom: So I took her out to dinner. I knew what I should do to apologize.

John: That's very important, I think, knowing how to apologize. By the way, do you

plan to update your agreement at all? What if things change in your life and a rule doesn't work anymore?

Linda: We've thought about that too. Article 14 states that we must review this agreement once a year and make necessary changes.

John: Well, it was really nice talking to you both. Thank you very much for your time. Tom & Linda: Thank you.

Ex. 1 1-3 c c a

Ex. 2

1. get lost// five minutes // driving // stop // directions

2. breaking rules // break a rule // apologize and do something nice for the other

person to make it up

3. reviewing the contents of the agreement // review this agreement once a year //

make necessary changes

Part B

Text 1

Ashley

Ashley was reading a magazine when she came across an article about antibiotics and other drugs discovered in European rivers and tap water. If such drugs were present there, she reasoned, they might also be found near her home in West Virginia. Ashley feared that antibiotics in the waters could lead to resistant bacteria, or supergerms, which can kill untold numbers of people.

The girl, then 16, began testing her area's river -- the Ohio. With a simple device she herself had designed, she collected 350 water samples from the Ohio and its tributaries over ten weeks. Reading scientific journals, she taught herself to analyze the samples. It was the most scientifically sound project for someone her age.

Her experiment, one of the first of its kind in the United States, showed that low levels of three antibiotics are indeed present in local waters. Ashley's study won the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize, a virtual Nobel Prize for teenagers. She received a $5,000 scholarship and an audience with Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria.

Her interest in science was sparked by walks in the woods with her mother. But it was the day-to-day stuff -- how water comes to the tap, how rain sticks to glass, that most fascinated her. "Science is not a dead thing," she says. "It's happening all around us."

By the sixth grade, she was winning at science fairs. She has won $70,000 in prize money, which she has put aside for college. She plans to attend Harvard University. "I want to make my own discoveries, and not just read about what others have done," she said. Her teachers predict that she will one day win a Nobel Prize. Exercise 1: 1. D 2. D

Questions:

1. What is the story mainly about?

2. Which of the following best describes the way the speaker tells the story?

Ex. 2 Testing //river // if there were antibiotics // resistant // 350 water samples // the samples // Low levels // three // Water Prize // 5000 / Sweden’s

Text 2

Young People Say No to Smoking

On February 16, 2001, the teens from a youth group called REBEL launched their advertising campaign at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. By now just about everybody has heard the "Not for Sale" commercial on television and the radio against tobacco companies. What many people don't know is that teenagers from West New York and across New Jersey worked on various aspects of the campaign, and even appeared in some of the advertisements. The campaign organizer thought it would be better than using actors if actual REBEL members were in the commercials. REBEL, which stands for Reaching Everybody by Exposing Lies, is a statewide youth initiative against tobacco companies. The movement, which began in November last year, carries the message that teens no longer want to be targeted by tobacco companies in their advertisements. Knowing that peer pressure on teens to smoke or do drugs is one of the biggest problems that teens face, the group is working hard to ensure that their message reaches all teenagers at New Jersey schools.

When the group was first formed, there were only five members, all eighth grade students. But by this summer the group had grown to close to 90 members. At a recent recruiting party, a pizza and pool party, at the West New York swimming pool, more than 50 new members were attracted to the group.

"We don't think that too many people would be interested," said Jackie, one of its founding members. "But everyone knows our message. They know who we are now."

Exercise 1:

1. Reaching Everybody by Exposing Lies

2. They launched an advertising campaign to call on youth to fight against tobacco companies by starting the "Not fro Sale" commercial on television and radio.

3. They intend to spread the message that teenagers no longer want to be targeted by tobacco companies in their advertisements.

Exercise 2: 1. c 2.a 3.c 4.c 5.b

Questions:

1. When did REBEL launch their advertising campaign?

2. How many members did REBEL have by the summer of 2001?

3. Who are the members of REBEL?

4. What did REBEL do for their campaign against tobacco companies?

5. What did REBEL do recently?

Unit 6

Text 1

Being a Police Officer Is a Stressful Job

Interviewer: Welcome to our program, Sam.

Sam: Thank you.

Interviewer: Sam, how long have you been a police officer?

Sam: I've been a police officer for thirty years.

Interviewer: Thirty years. And you've had different types of assignments on the police force, I guess.

Sam: Yeah, I've done everything from patrol to undercover work to detective work, and now I'm supervising investigations.

Interviewer: Sam, I think most people would say that being a police officer is a very stressful job. Would you agree?

Sam: Yes, it's definitely a stressful job. But it depends on your assignment.

Interviewer: So, what's probably the most stressful assignment you can have?

Sam: I'd say patrol is the most stressful assignment.

Interviewer: That's interesting! In what way?

Sam: Well, I guess the biggest part of the stress is the fear factor -- the fear of the unknown.

Interviewer: What do you mean, Sam?

Sam: Well, in patrol work, you don't know from moment to moment who you are talking to or what their reaction is going to be to justify your presence. Let's say, for example, a patrol officer stops someone for a traffic violation. It seems as though that would be a very low-stress situation.

Interviewer: Yes, it is a very low-stress situation.

Sam: But the truth is, there are more police officers injured during a routine stop. Interviewer: Really?

Sam: Really! That's why all police officers are taught from the very beginning to be aware of their surroundings. People back over policemen, people shoot policemen, people jump out at policemen -- different kinds of things. So that's probably the most stressful time.

Interviewer: I see. Let's take a break and then we'll move on to our next topic.

Sam: All right.

Exercise 1: 1. d 2. c 3.a

Questions:

1. What's the relationship between the two speakers?

2. What does Sam mainly talk about?

3. What do you know about Sam?

Exercise 2:

Sam has been a police officer for 30 years. He has done everything from patrol to undercover work. He has also done detective work and now he is supervising investigations.

Sam thinks being a police officer is a very stressful job, but it depends on the assignment one has. In his opinion the biggest pert of the stress is the fear of the unknown and patrol is the most stressful assignment.

Text 2

Stress Reducers

Interviewer: Sam, you've talked about the police officers' stressful time. Now let's move on to the next topic. So far as I know, there's a connection between stress and illness. Do you think that there's a higher percentage of illness among police officers than in the general population? I mean, do they get more colds or anything? Is this really true?

Sam: Yes, it is, and the stress level not only manifests itself in daily health --

whether or not you've feeling well on any given day. It also manifests itself in things like ulcers, heart disease -- police officers tend to have a higher rate of heart disease and ulcers than people in other professions.

Interviewer: Really? That's documented?

Sam: Yes, it's documented. And also the divorce rate among police officers is much higher.

Interviewer: Is there something that the police department does to help you deal with this stress?

Sam: Yes, there are several programs that most police departments have in place. One is an exercise program where some part of your day is spent on some type of physical exercise. They've found that's a great stress reducer. Besides, there's also a psychological program with counseling for officers to help them reduce their stress. And there are several discussion groups as well. They've found that sometimes just sitting around and talking about the stress with other officers helps to reduce it. So, those things are available.

Interviewer: And what do you do, personally, to help you deal with the stress of your job, Sam?

Sam: Well, during the baseball season, I'm the biggest baseball fanatic, and I will either be reading about baseball, or listening to baseball, or watching baseball. Another thing I try to do is to get some sort of exercise every day. And then I work hard at keeping up my personal relationships, especially my relationship with my wife. Fortunately I get along very well with my wife. When I come back home, I can talk about my day with her, and then just forget about it.

Exercise 1: 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. T

Statements:

1. The dialogue is mainly about how police officers can deal with stress.

2. According to Sam, most police officers enjoy good health.

3. According to Sam, the divorce rate among police officers is higher than among people in other jobs.

4. Counseling is the most effective program to help police officers relieve stress.

5. Sam knows how to reduce his stress.

Exercise 2:

1. ... One is an exercise program, another is a psychological program with counseling for officers. And there are several discussion groups as well for officers to sit down and talk about their stress with other officers.

2. 2)...He tries to get some sort of exercise every day.

3)...his personal relationships, especially his relationships with his wife.

Unit 7 The Business World

Kenneth: Hello, my name is Kenneth Johnson. I have an appointment with Mr. Andrew Song.

Laura: Oh hello, Mr. Johnson, I'm Laura Lee. We've spoken on the phone a couple of times. Nice to meet you.

Kenneth: It's nice to be here.

Laura: Oh — let me take your coat.

Kenneth: Thanks.

Laura: Let me get you a drink, Mr. Johnson.

Kenneth: Yes, I'd like a cup of tea, if possible, thanks.

Laura: Sure. With milk or lemon?

Kenneth: With lemon, please — and sugar. Two spoons.

Laura: Right.

Laura: Did you have a good trip?

Kenneth: Absolutely, no problems.

Laura: That's good. You flew, didn't you?

Kenneth: Yes, that's right, and then I took a taxi down here from the airport.

Laura: Oh, that's good. Kunming can be a little wet at this time of year ... you'll have to come back in summer.

Kenneth: Oh, I'd like that. I always like coming to China. Miss Lee, I wonder if I could send a fax from here. It's rather urgent.

Laura: Yes, of course. Shall I show you to the machine or shall I take it?

Kenneth: Oh, it would be better if you could take it — here's the number.

Laura: Fine. Would you like a newspaper to read — or The Economist?

Kenneth: No, it's okay — I can prepare some work while I'm waiting.

Laura: Right, I'll get this off for you.

Kenneth: Thanks. Oh — one other thing. I need to send some flowers to my wife. Today is the fifth anniversary of our marriage. I think some flowers from your beautiful city would be rather appropriate, don't you?

Laura: Oh, sure! Right, I'll get you a number of a florist. I expect you'll want to send a special message with the flowers.

Kenneth: Yes, I'll think of one.

Laura: Oh, here's Mr. Song. Andrew, this is Mr. Johnson. He's just arrived.

Andrew: Hello, Mr. Johnson. Pleased to meet you and welcome here.

Kenneth: Thanks.

Andrew: Now shall we go inside and let me explain the program to you?

Kenneth: Sure.

Andrew: I think we've sent you an outline for the day — if you agree, we could start with a video which explains some of our services and then we could have a look at a few reports on campaigns.

Kenneth: That'll be good.

Conversation 1

Ex. 1

1. In Mr. Andrew Song’s office

2. Boss and secretary

3. To see Mr. Andrew Song on business

Ex. 2 1-5 d b a b c

Conversation 2 At a Business Meeting

Chairman: Okay, I think we should start now. It's ten o'clock.

Voices: Okay / Right / Yeah.

Chairman: Well, we're here today to look at some of the reasons for the decline in

profits which has affected this subsidiary. You've all seen the agenda. I'd like to ask if anyone has any comments on it before we start. Voices: No / It's fine / No.

Chairman: Right, well, can I ask Sam Canning, Chief Sales Executive, to open up with his remarks?

Sam: Thank you, Bernard. Well, I think we have to face up to several realities and what I have to say is in three parts and will take about twenty minutes.

Chairman: Er, Sam? we don't have much time — it's really your main points we're most interested in.

Jane: Yes. Can I ask one thing, Mr. Chairman? Isn't this a global problem in our market?

Chairman: Sorry, Jane, I can't allow us to consider that question just yet. We'll look at the global question later. Sam, sorry, please carry on.

Sam: Well, the three points I want to make can be made in three sentences. First, sales are down, but only by 5% more than for the group as a whole. Secondly, our budget for sales has been kept static — it hasn't increased, not even with inflation, so we're trying to do better than last year on less money. Thirdly —

Jane: That's not exactly true ...

Chairman: Jane, please. Let Sam finish.

Sam: Thirdly, the products are getting old — we need a new generation.

Chairman: So let me summarize that. You say that sales are down but not by so much, that you've had less money to promote sales and that the products are old. Is that right?

Sam: In a nutshell.

Chairman: Does anyone have anything to add to that?

Jane: Well, on the question of funding I have to disagree ...

Conversation 2

Ex. 1 1-2 b c

Ex 2. to discuss the causes of the decline in profits // 10 :00a.m. // Chief Sales Executive

1. Sales are down but not by too much

2. The budget for sales hasn’t increased even with inflation

3. The products are old

Unit 8 The Environment Part B Exercise 1

Every day people in Hong Kong get rid of 15 million plastic bags. They weigh about 600 tons. This is not including the tens of thousands of plastic bags people dump at the beaches and in local waters, which have caused serious pollution. These bags cost taxpayers over $70 million a year to deal with. Some of the bags are destroyed by burning. The problem with this is that, when they break down, they release poisonous chemicals, which can cause cancer. The chemical poisons penetrate into the earth. In order to attract the public's attention to the problem of plastic bags and to reduce the number of bags used at the same time, the Retail Management Association launched the Use Fewer Bags Campaign. In the first stage of the campaign, 1,500 retail stores aimed to reduce the number of plastic bags given away to customers by 10 per cent. This has been achieved. The second stage of campaign

will focus on the number of plastic bags given away in markets. "Ideally, people going to buy food in the markets should carry their own reusable bags, such as canvas bags, that can be washed," said a campaign coordinator. She stressed that the campaign had two objectives. Besides reducing the number of plastic bags used, she hoped that the campaign would increase the public's overall awareness of environmental problems.

Ex. 1 1-3 c a d

Ex. 2 15 million // at the beaches // and in local waters // serious pollution // $ 70 // burning // cancer-causing chemicals// the number of plastic bags used // the public’s overall awareness of environmental problems // the public’s overall awareness of environmental problems //1500 // customers //10 // markets

Passage 2 The Rhine River Exercise 1

The River Rhine is Western Europe's most important waterway. Rising in the Alps, it passes through Switzerland, Germany, France and Holland, before flowing into the North Sea. But for decades, industrial and domestic waste flowed untreated into the river and, not surprisingly, the Rhine was seriously polluted from the 1950s to the 1970s. Fish disappeared and it was dangerous to swim in it. Then in 1986 a fire at a chemical plant in Basel, Switzerland, caused tons of pesticides to leak into the river. Thousands of fish died. That was a wake-up call for the countries along the Rhine. They realized that they really had to get together and clean it up and keep it clean. Otherwise it could be the death of the Rhine. Switzerland, Germany and France now work together in Basel to keep the river clean. At various points, water is extracted and checked every six minutes, twenty-four hours a day. And industries that pollute the river can be traced and fined. Thanks to international cooperation, the river is on the path to recovery. At Basel, in the evening summer sun, the river has a festive atmosphere. People walk leisurely along the river banks, listening to live music, and pause for a drink in one of the many open-air cafes. On the vast river itself, boats from Germany sail slowly past the old town of the city, towards the more modern structures of the chemical industries.

Passage 2

Ex. 1 1-3 d c b

Ex. 2

1. Western Europe 、、 waterway

2. seriously polluted// Fish // dangerous to swim in it

3. A fire broke out // tons of pesticides to leak into the Rhine

4. The countries //realized // clean it up // keep it clean

5. Every six // 24 hours

Unit 9 The Single Currency

As firework displays ushered in the euro from Paris to Athens, Rome to Madrid, curiosity drove Europeans to cash machines at midnight December 31, 2001 for the first look at the brightly colored new notes. More than 300 million Europeans began changing their old currencies for the euro in the most ambitious currency changeover in history. To prepare for the large demand, banks across the euro zone disabled

200,000 ATMs in the afternoon, changing software and loading them with euro notes. Altogether 15 billion banknotes and 52 billion coins — worth 646 billion euros, or $568 billion — have been produced for the switchover. Knowing how people can be attached to their national currencies, architects of the euro expressed hope that it will help realize dreams of a united Europe. Across the continent, officials welcomed the euro as a sign of economic stability — a new symbol to bind 12 nations on a continent at the heart of two world wars. "We will become a greater Europe with the euro," EU Commission President said in Vienna, shortly after he used the new currency to buy flowers for his wife. "We shall become stronger, wealthier." His view was shared by Helmut Kohl, the former German chancellor, who with the late French leader Francois Mitterr had championed the single currency to bring peace and security to Europe. Kohl wrote in a newspaper, "A vision is becoming a reality. For me, the common currency in Europe fulfills a dream. It means there is no turning back from the path toward unification of our continent." The original nations that adopted the euro were: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Those staying out are Britain, Sweden and Denmark.

Passage 1 1-3 b b d

Ex. 2

1. midnight // 31 // 2001 // the new notes / new currency

2. 300 million // 15 billion // 52 billion // 646 billion // 568 billion

3. greater Europe // stronger // wealthier

4. championed // peace and security

Passage 2

Buckingham Palace and other royal residences open to the public do not accept euros at their gift shops and entry turnstiles. The new currency was launched in 12 European Union countries on January lst, 2002, but Britain was not one of them. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the decision not to accept the euro was purely a business one and not a political statement. The retail outlets at the official residences have never accepted any other currencies. It is simply because as very small retail outlets, they don't have the facilities for changing currencies. However, many retail outlets in Britain have prepared to accept the new currency since millions of tourists are expected to visit the country every year. In 2002 alone, visitors from the euro zone were estimated to spend more than 6.55 billion euros in Britain. Major department stores Debenhams and Marks & Spencer and a big electronics retailer accept euros, but only on a limited basis initially. Twenty-nine of Marks & Spencer stores, primarily those in tourist locations, have at least one cash register on each floor to process euro transactions. Its other stores have at least one designated area — either a register or a customer service desk — where the currency is accepted. Products are not priced in euros, however, and change is given in British money. The British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain will only join the single currency if economic conditions are right. A series of recent opinion polls show many Britons oppose the euro and see it as against Britain's sovereignty.

EX1

1-3 d c c

Ex. 2

1. When economic conditions are right

2. The polls show that many Britons oppose the euro and see it as harming Britain’s

sovereignty

3. Because as very small retail outlets they don’t have the facilities for changing

currencies

4. More than 6.55 billion euros

Unit 10 partB exercise1

In the golden fields of Kansas, corn is growing very well. Britain's biggest cinema success is under production. Although there are no stars, no special effects, no publicity, it is still guaranteed to make more money than all but the biggest hit movies. What is it? Popcorn. Last year, cinema popcorn sales in the UK and Ireland made £20 million plus, way ahead of most films. Only a handful of extremely successful movies could beat it.

If it were not for popcorn, soft drinks and ice cream, British cinema would be as dead as the music hall. A recent survey found that every single screen in the country needed another source of income just to keep operating. Perhaps three or four films a year make money at the box office. The other films just help cinemas tick over, and pull in people to buy popcorn and sweets.

Even when a cinema is showing a must-see film, the operator is working on paper-thin profits. He must fill every seat to cover the film company's costs. Film distributors regularly demand half the money taken at the box office; with big films they can charge between 69 percent and 89 percent of the takings. Cinemas still have to pay staff and running costs out of what's left. This is where popcorn and sweets come into the picture.

A large carton of popcorn from a supermarket costs only a little over 90p. Cinemagoers, however, can pay up to £4 for one large helping. At one very expensive cinema in London's West End, for example, a carton costs £3.95.

Eating popcorn while watching a movie is said to be a real pleasure. The difference between buying popcorn at a cinema and a supermarket is just like that between buying wine in a restaurant and at an ordinary shop. It costs twice as much or more.

Passage 1 Ex. 1 1-2 c d

Ex. 2 popcorn // successful // 20 million // soft drinks // ice cream // three // four // box office // half the moeny // 69 percent // 89 percent // a little over 90p // 4 // 3.95

Passage2

Hollywood's true heroes are losing their jobs. Stuntmen and stuntwomen who entertained cinemagoers by falling from the sky, swimming with sharks and driving fast cars have been replaced by technology. After surviving generations of street fights, high falls, and setting fire to themselves, the people behind top actors' most exciting scenes have had nearly all their work substituted by computers. The most dangerous and costly stunts can now be achieved by mixing computer graphics with live action.

In the mid-1990s there were 12,000 registered stunt people, but more than half of them had difficulty finding work. Sometimes, six or seven teams would be working on a film. Then, after a few days, the producers would come in and say, "You can go home."

The reason was simple: cost. Computer technology made it possible to create stunts which would either be too expensive or too dangerous to attempt. One example was in "Mission Impossible", starring Tom Cruise. In a scene Cruise was seen flying from an exploding helicopter onto the back of a speeding train. In fact, the image of the actor was simply added onto the scene using computers.

With the rise of digital technology, insurance companies became more reluctant to cover real stunts. "If they know it can be done safely with visual effects, the companies will not insure real stunts," said a veteran stunt coordinator.

Many in the industry believe stunt people should develop expertise in the new technology, acting as advisers on the virtual stunts. Some, however, think that stunt people can survive in their traditional careers. They believe that audiences won't accept stunts produced by computers for too long

Ex. 1 1-3 b c d

Ex. 2

1. falling

2. swimming

3. driving

4. setting fire

5. fights

6. flying // exploding helicopter // back of a speeding trian

Unit 11 Left-handedness Part B Exercise 1

Research has shown that 90% of people naturally use their right hands for most tasks. But hundreds of millions of people use their left hands. Then why are some people left-handed? Scientists have been trying to answer that question for many years. A study done in 1992 found that men are more likely to be left-handed than women. It also found that Asian or Hispanic people are less likely to be left-handed than white people, black people, or North American Indians. Some cultures accept people who do things mostly with their left hands. Others do not. Scientists want to know the reason for left-handedness because it is closely linked to mental problems and language difficulties. One idea about the cause of left-handedness is the genetic theory. It says that people are right- or left-handed because of genes passed to them by their parents. For example, it has been shown that the handedness of adopted children is more likely to follow that of their birth parents than their adopted parents. Other evidence of genetic involvement can be found in some families. One famous example is the left-handed members of the present British royal family. These include Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Prince William. Another idea is that right-handed people are born with the gene for it. But about 20% of people do not have the right-handed gene. These people could be either left- or right-handed. This idea may explain why two babies who have the same genes use different hands. In 18% of identical twins one twin is right-handed, and the other is left-handed. Probably both

twins lack the right-handed gene so each has a chance to be either right- or left-handed. Some scientists believe that the cause of handedness could include both genetics and development.]

Passage 2 Does Being Left-handed Affect One's Life?

There are approximately 30 million left-handed people in the United States, and several hundred million more around the world. Most right-handed people have never even considered the possibility that there might be any serious issues affecting left-handers. Even among all of these left-handed people, there are many different opinions about what these issues are and which issues might be most important to them. Some left-handers think that being left-handed is a positive factor in their lives, and they feel that there are no serious issues affecting them. Others think that being left-handed is not a significant factor and has not affected their lives one way or another. There are also some left-handers who have no opinion and have never given any thought to what being left-handed has meant to them. But the majority of left-handed people find that being left-handed is at least a small disadvantage and a minor source of frustration in their lives. There are many things that right-handed people take for granted that are quite difficult for left-handers. These include many basic skills like learning to write, learning to use scissors and other hand tools and utensils, and learning various crafts and other activities. Sometimes left-handers are puzzled by equipment designed for right-handers, and other times they are confused by instructors and instructions geared toward teaching right-handers. For some left-handed people this amounts to occasional difficulties and minor inconveniences. For other left-handers it is a lifetime full of failures and frustrations that may lead to much more serious problems.

Unit 12 Biodiversity Part B Exercise 1

The importance of biodiversity seems obvious to us.We enjoy the beauty of biodiversity when we take a walk in the park,take a trip to the zoo or a wild area,read books or watch TV shows about strange creatures in foreign lands.Some people believe that biodiversity is important simplybecause it is so wonderful.Some think there are philosophical or spiritual reasons for biodiversity.But there are other reasons why it is so important.The loss of biodiversity will change the balance of life on Earth.If an ecosystem is destroyed,

many species adapted to that ecosystem may very likely be destroyed as well.If that species is whatscientists call "keystone",a whole ecosystem may depend on it.Biodiversity is also important in its direct benefits to people.Plants give us the air we breathe;animals and plants supply us with the food we eat;and organisms and microorganisms clean the air,regulate floods, recycle waste, and control pests.Biodiversity also has economic and health benefits.Both industry and agriculture depend on it for raw material and other things.And medicine is even more dependent on biodiversity.In China, more than5,000 species of plants are used for medicinal purposes.Many species which were thought "useless" at first are found to be valuable.And this is a further threat from the loss of biodiversity.

Passage 2How Many Species Are There?Exercise 1

Isn't it surprising that scientists have a better understandingof how many stars there are in the galaxy

than how many species there are on Earth?Their estimates of global species diversityvary from 2 to 100 million species.Most people agree on an estimate of somewhere near 10 millionand yet only 1.5 million have actually been named.Current knowledge of species diversity is limited.This problem becomes more seriousbecause there is a lack of a central database or list of the world's species.New species are still being discovered —even new birds and mammals.On average, about three new species of birds are found each year,and since 1990, 10 new species of monkeys have been discovered.Other groups are still far from being completely described;an estimated 40 percent of freshwater fishesin South America have not yet been classified.Scientists were startled in 1980by the discovery of a huge diversity of

insects in tropical forests.In one study of just 19 trees in Panama,960 new species of beetles were discovered.As scientists begin investigating other little-known ecosystems,like the soil and the deep sea,"surprising" discoveries of species become commonplace.There is nothing strange about this, though,since as many as a million undescribed species are believed to livein the deep sea.And one gram of a small-sized piece of land might hold 90 million bacteriaand other microbes.How many species these communities contain is still anyone's guess.

Questions

1. Which of the following is true?

2. How many species are there on Earth according to most scientists?

3. In which of the following groups is the discovery ofnew species not mentioned in the passage?

4. What can you learn from the passage?

5. Which of the following best reveals the main idea of the passage?

Unit14：

Women in Business

Most women in France work. Their average salary is about 75% that of their male co-workers, even though laws passed in 1972 require 'professional equality' between the sexes.

The good news is that women are increasingly moving into middle management. A handful are top executives. The higher their position, the harder it is to balance family and career. A 38-year-old woman who graduated from the prestigious National School of Administration remembers that when she took a senior post in a ministry, her male colleagues assured her, 'You are one of us, one of the guys.' But when she became a mother, they stuck to age-old traditions that she couldn't follow-long lunches and late-night meetings. 'It was too much pressure and I felt like I was being sabotaged,' she says.

For those who want to balance family with a job, as opposed to a high-pressure, high-visibility career, France is a haven. Women marry later, on average, than in America -- at age 25. And they stay in the workforce. Part-time jobs are easy to find. Maternity benefits are generous, with over six months of paid leave. Women who've raised three or more children are entitled to a state-funded pension. The quality of publicly funded education for children is high. And abortion is not only legal, but it's paid for by the state.

French businesswomen dress elegantly, argue intelligently and play hardball at the negotiating table. They show their wit, intellect, ability to make puns and understanding of politics, history and literature. Unlike most American female

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