现代大学英语听力2
Unit 4
Task 1
【答案】
1) They were orphans and had nobody to support them.
2) Each boy was given only one bowl of gruel for supper and no more — far from enough.
3) They boys were so hungry that they could not bear it any more. They decided that tone of them must ask the master for more gruel. Olive Twist was chosen by casting lots.
4) He never thought that any boy would dare to ask for more food than the given portion. Therefore, he was both surprised and angry on hearing Oliver’s request.
5) He was struck on the head by the master and pushed out of the room. And for a week Olive remained prisoner in the cellar.
【原文】
Oliver Twist had no parents and lived in the workhouse.
The room in which the boys had their food was a large stone hall. Each boy was given one bowl of gruel and no more. The bowls never needed washing. The boys polished them with their spoons. But still the boys were hungry.
Oliver Twist and the other boys suffered from slow starvation for three months. At last they got so wild with hunger that one of the boys, who was tall for his age, said:
"If this goes on, I am afraid I shall eat the boy who sleeps next me." He had wild hungry eyes and the boys believed him. The boys gathered and thought of a plan.
"One of us must walk up to the master at supper this evening and ask for more gruel," said one boy.
"Let us east lots," said another. "In that way we shall see who must go up to the master and ask for more."
So they cast lots. The lot fell to Oliver Twist. He had to go up to the master and ask for more
gruel.
The evening came. The boys took their places and quickly ate up their gruel. Then they looked at Oliver. He rose from his place, bowl and spoon in hand, went up to the master and said, "Please, sir, I want some more." The master was a fat, healthy man, but he turned pale.
"What!" he said at last.
Oliver repeated: "Please, sir, I want some more."
The master struck Oliver on the head and pushed him out of the room.
For a week Oliver remained a prisoner in the cellar.
Task 2
【答案】
A. 1) F 2) F 3) T
B.
1) d 2) b
【原文】
Mark Twain was a famous American writer. There were many stories about him. One day Mark Twain was fishing. A stranger came along.
"Good morning!" said the stranger.
"Good morning!" said Mark Twain. "Nice weather we're having!"
"Very nice indeed," said the stranger. "How was fishing?"
"Very good. I caught three trout here yesterday in just about an hour."
"Is that so?" said the stranger.
"Yes. I'm very fond of trout."
"By the way," said the stranger, "do you happen to know who I am?"
"No, I haven't any idea," said Mark Twain.
"Well, I'm the game warden of this county," said the stranger. "Fishing is not allowed here."
Mark Twain paused a minute. Then he asked:
"By the way, do you know who I am?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, I am the biggest lia
r in the country."
Task 3
【答案】
A.
Name: Lewis Carroll
Occupation: mathematics; Oxford University
Literary works: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; 1865;
Through the Looking-Glass; 1871
B.
These stories are about a dream world in which Alice meets strange creatures and has interesting adventures.
【原文】
Which would you rather be? A mathematician or a writer? Perhaps you will never be faced with this kind of choice. Lewis Carroll was both a mathematician and a writer. He was a lecturer in mathematics at Oxford University. But he is better known as the author of two of the most famous children’ s books that have ever been written: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. The author’s real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, but he preferred to use the pen-name “Lewis Carroll” when he wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and this is the name we remember him by.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1865, when its author was 33 years old; it was followed by Through the Looking-Glass in 1871. Both books were written for a real girl called Alice, but they have been read by millions of children since they were first published. These stories are about a dream world in which Alice meets strange creatures and has interesting adventures . I’m sure you know this already, but if you don’t, you had better read the stories yourselves.
Task 4
【答案】
the Greeks, closed the gates of the city and stayed behind the walls, the Greeks, a huge wooden horse, hide inside it, the horse, they stopped, hid their ships, Greek prisoner, the horse, The Greek soldiers, the wooden horse
【原文】
Many, many years ago there was a war between the Greeks and the Trojans. The Greek ships sailed up to the city of Troy. When the Trojans saw the Greek ships, they closed the gates of their city and stayed behind the walls. The Greeks attacked the city many times, but could not take it. Then one of the Greeks thought of a plan. The Greeks made a big wooden horse and had some soldiers hide inside the horse. In the morning the Greeks burned their camps and sailed away. Only the big wooden horse remained in front of the city gate.
But the Greek ships did not sail far. The Greeks stopped at a place near Troy, where the Trojans could not see them, and hid their ships. At first the Trojans wanted to burn the wooden horse, but a Greek prisoner said, "Don't bum the horse. Bring it into Troy. It will help you."
The horse was very big, and the Trojans could not bring it in through the gate. They had to make a hole in the wall. Then they brought the wooden horse into the city. The next day was a holiday in Troy. At night all the Trojan soldiers fell asleep after a heavy festive drinking.
The Greek ships came back to Troy in the night. When everything was quiet, the Greek soldiers came out of the wooden horse and opened the gates of the city. The Greek army came into the city, kille
d many Trojans and took the city.
Task 5
【答案】
A.
1) c 2) a
B.
1) All the animals thought that he was the king of beasts. Actually he was a coward. He was afraid of human beings and other big animals. He roared only to scare them away and never really hurt them.
2) Dorothy and her dog wanted to get back to Kansas. The Scarecrow wanted some brains and the Tinman wanted a heart. The Lion wanted to have courage.
【原文】
The following story has been taken from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. The book is a modern fairy tale and is one of the great favorites of American children.
One day a tornado carried away Dorothy and her dog Toto from their home in Kansa sand landed them in the wonderful land of Oz. Here they made friends with two strange fellows, a scarecrow and a tin man. The four were now on their way to the Emerald City where the Great Oz lived.
Just as the Tinman spoke there came from the forest a terrible roar, and the next moment a great Lion rushed into the road. With one blow of his paw he knocked the Scarecrow to the edge of the road, and then he hit the Tinman with his sharp claws. But, to the Lion's surprise, he could make no mark on the tin, though the Tinman fell over in the road and lay still.
Little Toto, now that he had an enemy to face, ran barking towards the Lion. The great beast had opened his mouth to bite the dog. Dorothy feared that Toto would be killed. She forgot all danger and rushed forward. She slapped the Lion upon his nose as hard as she could, and cried out:
"Don't bite Toto! You should be ashamed of yourself, a big beast like you, to bite a poor little dog!"
"I didn't bite him," said the Lion, as he rubbed his nose with his paw where Dorothy had hit it.
"No, but you tried to," she said in anger. "You are nothing but a big coward."
"I know," said the Lion, and he hung his head in shame. "I've always known it. But how can I help it?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. But how can you hit a stuffed man like the poor Scarecrow?"
"Is he stuffed?" asked the Lion, in surprise, as he watched her pick up the Scarecrow and set him upon his feet, while she patted him into shape again.
"Of course he's stuffed," replied Dorothy. She was still angry.
"That explains it. He really went over easily," said the Lion. "It surprised me to see him turn around so. Is the other one stuffed also?"
"No," said Dorothy, "he's made of tin." And she helped the Tinman up again.
"He really hurt my claws," said the Lion. "When they scratched against the tin it made a cold shiver min down my back. What is that little animal you are so kind to?"
"He is my dog, Toto," answered Dorothy.
"Is he made of tin, or stuffed?" asked the Lion. "Neither. He's a meat dog," said the girl.
"Oh. He's a curious animal, and seems really small, now that I look at him. No one thinks of biting such a small, little thing except a coward like me," c
ontinued the Lion sadly.
"What makes you a coward?" asked Dorothy. She looked at the great beast in wonder, for he was as big as a small horse.
"I don't know," replied the Lion. "I suppose I was born that way. All the other animals in the forest expect me to be brave, for the Lion is everywhere thought to be the King of Beasts. I learned that if I roared very loudly every living thing was afraid and got out of my way. Whenever I've met a man I've been very much frightened; but I just roared at him, and he has always min away as fast as he could go. If the elephants, tigers and bears ever tried to fight me, I would run away — I'm such a coward; but just as soon as they hear me roar, they all try to get away from me, and of course I let them go."
"But that isn't right. The King of Beasts shouldn't be a coward," said the Scarecrow.
"I know it," said the Lion, and he wiped a tear from his eye with the tip of his tail. "It is a great sorrow, and it makes my life very unhappy. But whenever there is danger, my heart begins to
beat fast."
"Perhaps you have heart disease," said the Tinman.
"It may be so," said the Lion.
"If you have," continued the Tinman, "you should be glad, for it proves you have a heart. For my part, I have no heart; so I can't have heart disease."
"Perhaps," said the Lion, "I am a coward because I have a heart."
"Have you brains?" said the Scarecrow.
"I suppose so. I've never looked to see," replied the Lion.
"I am going to the great Oz to ask him to give me some," remarked the Scarecrow, "for my head is stuffed with straw."
"And I am going to ask him to give me a heart," said the Tinman.
"And I am going to ask him to send me and Toto back to Kansas," added Dorothy.
"Do you think Oz can give me courage?" asked the Cowardly Lion.
"Just as easily as he can give me brains," said the Scarecrow.
"Or give me a heart," said the Tinman.
"Or send me back to Kansas," said Dorothy.
"Then if you don't mind, I'll go with you," said the Lion, "for life is hard without courage."
"You will be very welcome," answered Dorothy, "for you will help to keep away the other wild beasts. I think they must be more cowardly than you if they allow you to scare them so easily."
"They really are," said the Lion, "but that doesn't make me any braver, and as long as I know myself to be a coward I shall be unhappy."
So once more the little company set off upon the journey. The Lion walked at Dorothy's side. Toto did not like the Lion at first, because he could not forget how nearly he had been crushed between the Lion's great jaws; but after a time he became more at ease, and before long Toro and the Cowardly Lion became good friends.
Task 6
【答案】
A.
1) Civil War
2) first, equality
3) battlefields, bloodiest
4) ordinary
B.
1) d 2) c
【原文】
Walt Whitman is often called the poet of American democracy. He lived during the American Civil War,
and he admired President Abraham Lincoln very much.
Whitman was the first American poet who wrote about tree equality among all people. In a poem called "Song of Myself" he compared himself to all other people, and he found no difference. He wrote:
"...every atom belonging to me... belongs to you."
In the same poem Whitman spoke up for women. He wrote:
"The Female equally with the Male I sing."
He also wrote:
"In the faces of men and women I see God." and "A great city is that which has the greatest men and women."
Whitman understood war and the results of war. He worked in a hospital, taking care of wounded men. In a description of northern soldiers who had returned from prisons in the south he wrote: "The sight is worse than any sight of battlefields or any collection of wounded, even the bloodiest." In Whitman's words: "The real war will never get in the books."
Whitman was the first important American poet to write about ordinary people, using ordinary language.
Task 7
【答案】
A.
1) A red, red rose that’s newly spring in June and the melody that’s sweetly played in tune.
2) He will love her till all the seas are dried and the rocks melt in the sun. his love will last as long as the sands of life run(there is life on earth).
3) Yes, he is, and he will come back no matter how far it is.
B.
June---tune I---dry sun---run while ---mile
【原文】
O, my love is like a red, red rose,
That is newly sprung in June.
O, my love is like the melody,
That is sweetly played in tune.
As fair are you, my lovely lass,
So deep in love am I,
And I will love you still, my Dear,
Till all the seas go dry.
Till all the seas go dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun!
O I will love you still, my Dear,
While the sands of life shall run.
And fare you well, my only Love,
And fare you well a while!
And I will come again, my Love,
Although it were ten thousand mile!
Task 8
【答案】
1) Tall stories, that is, unlikely ones.
2) Because he wanted to be a member of a certain club.
3) He went there because he was told that a lion came there each evening to drink water.
4) Sixteen times.
5) He killed sixteen lions.
【原文】
A famous French writer who wrote many books about England and the English people once wrote about the Englishman's fondness for improbable or tall stories. In one of his books about the First World War, an English priest tells the following story:
He had wanted to become a member of a certain club in Africa. In order to become a member, each person had to shoot at least one lion. The priest had never shot an animal in his life. So, armed with a rifle and accompanied by a young African boy, the priest set out one evening for a pool in the jungle where he was told a lion came each evening to drink. He waited patiently for a few hours until shortly before midnight when he heard a rustling noise. Sure enough a few yards away the head o
f a lion appeared above a bush that separated the priest and the pool. He aimed and fired. The head of the lion immediately fell behind the bush but a moment later reappeared. So the priest aimed and fired again. The head of the lion immediately fell behind the bush but a moment later reappeared. The priest fired again: the same result. He remained calm because he knew he had brought sixteen bullets with him. After his fourth attempt his aim seemed to become more and more inaccurate. In fact, after his fifteenth attempt the African boy had to warn him, "This is your last chance. If you miss this time, we are in trouble."
The priest then realized how serious the situation was, so he took a deep breath, aimed very carefully and fired. They waited a moment, then slowly counted up to twenty: the head of the lion did not reappear. The priest was certain that at last he had shot his lion. They rushed forward together to the spot behind the bush. And what do you think they found? Sixteen lions.
Task 9
【答案】
I. a young prince who lived on land
A. rose to the surface of the sea and waited for the prince to come to her
B. never came
II. a witch
A. changed her fish’s tail into a pair of human legs
B. she gave the witch her tongue
III. the prince’s palace
A. her feet hurt terribly
B. didn’t love her
Ⅳ. a young princess
A. drive back into the sea
B. a spirit of the air and lived forever
【原文】
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. In Copenhagen harbor, you can see a statue of the Little Mermaid. I wonder if you know her story. It's a sad one.
That Little Mermaid fell in love with a young prince who lived on the land. Every night she used to rise up to the surface of the sea and sit staring at his palace, waiting for him to come to her. But he never came.
Finally she visited a witch. The witch changed her fish's tail into a pair of human legs so that she could go and live on land. But in return, the Little Mermaid had to give her tongue to the witch, so that she could never sing or speak again. She loved the prince so much that she gave it happily.
She went and lived in the prince's palace, and every night, she danced for him, although her strange new feet caused her terrible pain. But she didn't mind the pain. She waited and waited for the prince to fall in love with her.
But, although the prince liked the Little Mermaid very much, he didn't love her. He fell in love with a young princess and they got married. On their wedding night, the Little Mermaid sadly dived back into the sea. She had no tail now, only legs, and she thought that she would die. She didn't die, though. Because of her kind heart, she became a spirit of the air and lived forever.
Task 10
【答案】
A.
1) b 2) c 3) b 4) a 5) a
B.
No. 1[e] No. 2 [b] No. 3 [a] No.4 [d] No.5 [c]
【原文】
1) A wolf thought that by disguising himself as a sheep he could get enough to eat. So he put on a sheepskin and joi
ned the flock without being discovered. At sunset the shepherd shut him with the sheep in the fold. Then he felt hungry, so he picked up his knife and killed one of the sheep for his supper. But it was the wolf that he killed.
2) A bird in a cage at a window used to sing during the night. A bat which heard her came up and asked why she never sang by day, but only by night. She explained that there was a good reason: she was caught while she was singing in the daytime, and this had taught her a lesson. "One must be careful before one is caught, not after," said the bat.
3) Monkeys are said to have a strange habit. When twins are born to them, the mother will take care of only one of the twins. She will hold it tightly to her breast and neglect the other. But the one taken care of will die because it cannot breathe freely, while the neglected one will grow up strong and healthy.
4) A gnat alighted on a bull's horn. After it had stayed there a long time and felt like moving on, it asked the bull if he would like it to go now. "I didn't notice when you came," replied the bull, "and I shall not notice if you go."
5) A reed and an olive tree were quarrelling one day. They wanted to see which one was the stronger. Finally the olive tree said to the reed, "You are weak. You are easily bent by the wind." But the reed did not say a word. Before long a storm arose. The reed was tossed about and bent by the winds, but it was not hurt. The olive tree stood bravely against the storm and was broken by its force.
Task 11
【答案】
I.
A. struck a rock and began to break up.
B. sank too
C. had survived
II.
A. he was tied very firmly by a large number of fine ropes.
B. about forty little men shot at him with their arrows, which hurt like needles.
C. the little men gave him all the bread, meat and wine they had.
III.
was seven feet by three feet, equipped with twenty-two wheels and pulled by fifteen hundred little horses
【原文】
Gulliver was travelling by ship. The ship struck a rock and began to break up. Some of the sailors and Gulliver got away in a boat, but that sank too. In the end Gulliver was the only person who survived-who didn't drown. He kept on swimming, and just managed to reach land. By that time it was already evening. Gulliver kept on walking, but by then he was so exhausted that he lay down on the grass, and fell sound asleep.
He slept until the following morning. When he woke up, he could not move. His arms and legs were tied to the ground, very firmly, and so was his hair. There were a large number of very fine, thin ropes across his body, he discovered, and these prevented him from moving.
Gulliver could just manage to look down his body — that was all he could do — and there he saw, advancing up his body, about forty little men. These little men were only about six inches high. They were dressed as soldiers, and each one carried a bow and arrow. Gulliver shouted out, and when he
did this, all the soldiers ran away, though they gradually came back again.
Gulliver decided to try to escape. He managed to break some of the ropes, and he was also able to free his head. But when he began to move, the soldiers shot at him with their arrows. These arrows were small but sharp like needles, and they hurt Gulliver. He decided to keep still and when he did so, the soldiers stopped shooting at him with their arrows.
By this time Gulliver was feeling very hungry, so he put his finger to his mouth, to show the little people that he needed food. They understood this, and they brought him bread and meat. Gulliver ate all the bread and meat, and then indicated that he was thirsty. Again he was understood, and the people brought him wine. In fact Gulliver drank all the wine that was available — all they had.
After that one of the king's officers came up to Gulliver. He spoke to him, and indicated that he had to go to the city, to the capital of the island. This was what the king had ordered. Guliver asked to be set free, but the officer refused. Gulliver again thought of trying to escape, but he remembered those arrows which the soldiers had shot at him, and he decided to do nothing. In any case he soon fell asleep, because of all the wine he had drunk.
While he was asleep, the people on the island made arrangements — got everything ready — to take Gulliver to the capital. They managed to get him on a cart which they had built specially to take him to the city. It was seven feet long, and three feet wide, and it had twenty-two wheels in all. It took about three hours to get Gulliver on the cart, and fifteen hundred horses to pull the cart to the city.
Task 12
Aesop was a very clever man who lived in Greece thousands of years ago. He wrote many good fables. He was known to be fond of jokes. One day, as he was enjoying a walk he met a traveler, who greeted him and said, “Kind man, can you tell me how soon I shall get to town?”
“Go,” Aesop answered.
“I know I must go”, said the traveler, “but I should Like you to tell me how soon I shall get to town.”
“Go,” Aesop said again angrily.
“This man must be mad,” the traveler thought and went on.
After he had gone some distance, Aesop shouted after him, “You will get to town in two hours.” The traveler turned around in astonishment. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?” he asked.
“How could I have told you before?” answered Aesop. “I did not know how fast you could walk.
Unit 5
Task 1
【答案】
A.
1) People’s ideas on permanent education.
2) One is an ordinary “man in the street”. The other is an educational psychologist.
3) The first person thinks this idea of permanent education is crazy. He can’t understand people who want to spend all their lives in school. The second person thinks the idea of permanent education is practical because people are never really too old to go on learning.
B.
1) was;
hated; stand; got out 2) all their lives 3) certain limits; age limits
【原文】
Two people are interviewed about their ideas on education. One is an ordinary "man in the
street"; the other is an educational psychologist.
The man in the street:
When I was at school, I hated it. I couldn't stand it. I wasn't happy until I got out. I think this idea of permanent education is crazy. I know some people go back to school when they're older, go to language classes at the local "tech" and all that, but I can't understand people who want to spend all their lives in school.
The educational psychologist:
The idea of permanent education is practical because we're never really too old to go on learning. Of course, there are certain limits, but they aren't age limits. For example, let's say a man past sixty tries to learn how to play football. It's foolish for him to do that, but only because his body is too old, not his mind!
Task 2
【答案】
A.
Age Schooling
Four Nursery School
Five The Infants’ School
Seven The Junior School
B.
1) He stayed there for a year.
2) He has faint, but very pleasant memories of it. He had fun and played games---including story-telling, drawing, singing and dancing.
3) He began t have more formal lessons and even worry about exams.
4) The exam was called the “Eleven Plus”. Students took the exam to see what kind of secondary school they would get into.
【原文】
John is talking to Martin about his primary schooling.
Martin: Did you go to a state primary school?
John: Yes, I did. I went to a nursery school first, at the age of four, but this was purely voluntary. There was a good kindergarten in our neighbourhood so my parents decided to send me there for a year.
Martin: Can you still remember it?
John: Yes, I have faint, but very pleasant memories of it. It was a delightful place, full of fun and games. As in most nursery schools, work — if you can call it that — consisted of storytelling, drawing, singing and dancing.
Martin: You probably don't remember but you must have missed it when you left — you know, when you went to the Infants' School at the age of five.
John: I suppose I must have, but you know, right up to the age of seven, school life was very pleasant. It was only later in the Junior School that we began to have more formal lessons and even worry about exams.
Martin: Really? Did you have to do exams at that age?
John: Yes, we used to then. We had to take an exam at the age of eleven called the "Eleven Plus" to see what kind of Secondary school we would get into. But this exam has disappeared nowadays.
Task 3
【答案】
A.
1) compulsory; the ages of 5 and 16; state-funded; independent
2) available; at a nursery school; in the nursery class at a primary school
3) preparatory; primary; aged 5 to 13
4) enter the state education system; at the age of 5; secondary school
5) 7, 11, 13 or 16; gain admission at 11 or 13; the Common
Entrance Examination
6) one further year; Advanced Supplementary Examinations; Advanced Level Examinations
7) classroom; laboratory; work independently; undertake research for projects
8) vocational; conventional
9) secondary education; with A-levels; further; higher
B.
1) GCSE stand for the General Certificate of Secondary Education. It is normally take at the age of sixteen.
2) Students usually study form 8 to 12 subjects over two years.
3) Some subjects take account of the work students do throughout the year, while others are assessed entirely by examination.
【原文】
Education in the United Kingdom is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen, and is provided by two kinds of schools: state-funded schools and independent (fee-charging) schools.
Children education
Pre-school or pre-preparatory education: pre-school education is available in both the independent and the state systems. Many children start their education at the age of three or four at a nursery school or in the nursery class at a primary school.
Preparatory education: in the independent system, preparatory (or primary) education is available for children aged 5 to 13.
Primary education: most children in the United Kingdom enter the state education system when they go to primary school at the age of five and generally move to secondary school or college at the age of 11.
Secondary education (including the General Certificate of Secondary Education and equivalents)
Most pupils enter independent boarding schools at the age of 7, 11, 13 or 16. To gain admission at 11 or 13, some pupils sit an exam called the Common Entrance Examination. At 16, they enter the school to study in its sixth form (for A-levels and equivalent qualifications).
All UK secondary schools, both state and independent, teach pupils at least until the age of sixteen and prepare them for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or equivalent qualifications. Significant numbers of international students enter the UK secondary education system when they are either eleven or thirteen. Many attend independent boarding schools.
GCSEs in vocational subjects are normally taken at the age of 16. Following these, students can do one further year of academic study before taking Advanced Supplementary examinations (AS-levels).
Alternatively, there are career-based qualifications, such as General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) or vocational A-levels, which can be taken after one or two years of study. All these courses give access to university or further study.
Students usually study from 8 to 12 GCSE subjects over two years. Most students study a core of statutory subjects and choose additional subjects from a list.
On any GCSE course, you receive formal tuition in the classroom and laboratory but are also encouraged to work independently and undertake research for projects, often outside school hours. Educational visits, either on yo
ur own or as part of a small group, are often part of the timetable. Some subjects take account of the work you do throughout the year, while others are assessed entirely by examination. Examinations are independently marked and graded. GCSE grades range from A (the highest) to G.
New GCSEs in vocational subjects are a career-based version of the GCSE. Eight subjects are available: Art and Design, Business, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Leisure and Tourism, Manufacturing, and Science. One vocational GCSE is equivalent to two conventional GCSEs. As with other GCSEs, grades range from A (the highest) to G.
Sixth-formers usually finish their secondary education at the age of eighteen with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, then go on to study at either further or higher education level.
Task 4
【答案】
A.
Topic of This Discussion: Corporal Punishment
Interviewees Position on This Topic For/Against Arguments/Reasons
Kate For It’s difficult to teach children these days, when many of them know they won’t get jobs. It’s hard to control the class if you can’t punish them. Some children need discipline.
Rolf Against It always has been difficult to be a teacher. But you don’t have to use violence. It’s impossible to teach students about nonviolence and being good citizens when you are violent yourself.
Jane Against
Raoul For Its’ impossible to teach the rest of the class of you have one student who constantly misbehaves. It’s bad for the others.
B.
1) F 2) F
【原文】
Kate: Yes, it's difficult to teach children these days, when many of them know they won't get jobs. It's hard to control the class if you can't punish them. I often hit them with a ruler. Of course, in my part of Scotland we're allowed to hit them, and I think it's necessary — some children need discipline.
Interviewer: What do you think, Rolf? I know you feel very strongly about corporal punishment.
Rolf: I don't agree with Kate. I know it's difficult to be a teacher, but I think it always has been. But you don't have to use violence. It's impossible to teach students about non-violence and being good citizens when you are violent yourself.
Interviewer: What do the Welsh think, Jane? Rolf thinks corporal punishment is wrong.
Jane: Yes, I think so too.
Interviewer: And Raoul?
Raoul: Well, I think it's sometimes necessary. When one child constantly disobeys, you have to beat him, or else send him away — maybe to a special school. It's impossible to teach the rest of the class if you have one student who constantly misbehaves. It's bad for the others.
Interviewer: Did anyone beat you when you were at school?
Raoul: Well...
Task 5
【答案】
A.
1) Because the television program by that name can now be seen in many parts of the world.
2) This program is very popular among children. Some educators object to certain elements in the program. Parents praise it
highly. Many teachers also consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned from “Sesame Street” are in the same class with children who have not watched the program.
3) In order to increase the number of children who can watch it regularly.
4)
1. The reasons may include the educational theories of its creators, the support by both government and private businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks
2. Perhaps an equally important reason is that mothers watch “Sesame Street” along with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on “Sesame Street”.
3. The best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching it feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more.
B.
1) six million; regularly; half; economic; racial; geographical
2) fifty; Spanish; Portuguese; German; one hundred thousand; English; every two weeks
3) songs; stories; jokes; pictures; numbers; letters; human relationships
【原文】
Sesame Street" has been called "the longest street in the world. That is because the television program by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world. That program became one of America’s exports soon after it went on the air in New York in 1969.
In the United States more than six million children watch the program regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation’s pre-school children, from every kind of economic, racial, and geographical group.
Although some educators object to certain elements in the program, parents praise it highly. Many teachers consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned from “Sesame Street” are in the same class with children who have not watched the program.
Tests have shown that children from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have benefited from watching "Sesame Street". Those who watch it five times a week learn more than the occasional viewers. In the United States the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who can watch it regularly.
In its American form "Sesame Street" is shown in nearly fifty countries. Three foreign shows based on "Sesame Street" have also appeared in Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Viewers of the show in Japan buy one hundred thousand booklets with translations of the English sound track every two weeks.
The program uses songs, stories, jokes and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relations. But there are some differences. For example, the Spanish program, produced in Mexico City, devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching separate letters.
Why has "Sesame Street" been so much more successful than other children's shows? Many reasons have been suggested. People mention th
e educational theories of its creators, the support by the government and private businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks. Perhaps an equally important reason is that mothers watch "Sesame Street" along with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on "Sesame Street". But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching it feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more.
Task 6
【答案】
A.
1) It is to have all public schools connected to the Internet computer system and have computers available for all students.
2) Its web site provides information about the school, the teacher and their mail addresses. It also lists student events and organizations.
3) They learn numbers and letters. They also learn how to use the computers they will need later in their education.
B.
1) 1994; 35%; Last year; 89%
2) universities; colleges; urge; require
【原文】
One of the goals of American education officials is to have all public schools connected to the Internet computer system and have computers for all students. Government studies show that in 1994 only 35 percent of American public schools were connected to the Internet. Last year, that number reached 89 percent.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a large university in the southern state of Virginia. Officials at Virginia Tech say computers are very important to a student's education. All students at Virginia Tech have been required to have a computer since 1998.
Each student's living area at Virginia Tech has the necessary wires to link a computer to the Internet. The students can send and receive electronic mail, use the World Wide Web part of the Internet and link with other universities, all without leaving their rooms. They can also use their computers to send electronic copies of their school work to their teachers. And they can search for books in the school's huge library.
Most major American universities and colleges strongly urge or require new students to have a computer. Most colleges and universities also have large rooms where students can use computers for classwork.
American high schools also have computers. Many have their own areas on the World Wide Web. If you have a computer you can learn about Fremont Union High School in Sunnyvale, California, for example. Its web site provides information about the school, the teachers and their electronic mail addresses. It also lists student events and organizations.
Young children also use computers in school. Smoketree Elementary School, in Lake Havasu, Arizona is a good example. The school also has a World Wide Web site. It tells about the school and the teachers and has an area for young children. These young children use computers in school to learn numbers and letters. They also learn how to use the computers they will need later in their education.
T
ask 7
【答案】
A.
I. spoken; written
A. saying poetry aloud; giving speeches
B. advanced degrees; field of study; custom; candidates; doctor’s degree
II. written
A. nineteenth
B. the great increase in population; the development of modern industry
C.
1. objective; personal opinions; memory of facts and details; range of knowledge; a fairer chance; easier; quicker; learning
2. essay; ling answers; broad general questions; the element of luck; put facts together into a meaningful whole; really knowing much about the subject; have trouble expressing their ideas in essay form; examiner’s feelings at the time of reading the answer.
III.
unsatisfactory; along with
B.
b
【原文】
In ancient time the most important examinations were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome , testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.
In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject. This custom exists today as part of the process of testing candidates for the doctor's degree.
Generally, however, modern examinations are written. The written examination, where all students are tested on the same question, was probably not known until the nineteenth century. Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase in population and the development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state examination, timed exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by managers, resembles a group of workers at an automobile factory. Certainly, during examinations teachers and students are expected to act like machines. There is nothing very human about the examination process.
Two types of tests are commonly used in modern schools. The first type sometimes called an “objective” test. It is intended to deal with facts., not personal opinions. To make up an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has only one correct answer. Along with each question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that look like answers to students who have not learned the material properly.
For testing a student's memory of facts and details, the objective test has advantages. It can be scored very quickly by the teacher or even by a machine. In a short time the teacher can find out a great deal about the student's range of knowledge.
For testing some kinds of learning, however, such a test is not very satisfactory. A lucky student may guess the correct answer without really knowing the material. For a clearer picture of what the students knows, most teachers use another kind of examination in addition to objective tests. They use “essay” tests, which require students to write long answer to broad general questions.
One advantage of the essay test is that it reduces the element o
f luck. The student cannot get a high score just by making a lucky guess. Another advantage is that it shows the examiner more about the student’s ability to put facts together into a meaningful whole. It should show how deeply he has thought about the subject. Sometimes, though, essay tests have disadvantages, too. Some students are able to write rather good answers without really knowing much about the subject, while other students who actually know the material have trouble expressing their ideas in the essay form.
Besides, on an essay test the student's score may depend upon the examiner's feelings at the time of reading the answer. If he is feeling tired or bored, the student may receive a lower score than he should. Another examiner reading the same answer might give it a much higher mark. From this standpoint the objective test gives each student a fairer chance, and of course it is easier and quicker to score.
Most teachers and students would probably agree that examinations are unsatisfactory. Whether an objective test or an essay test is used, problems arise. When some objective questions are used along with some essay questions, however, a fairly clear picture of the student's knowledge can usually be obtained.
Task 8
Americans know that higher education is the key to the growth they need to lift their country, and today that is more true than ever. Just listen to these facts. Over half the new jobs created in the last three years have been managerial and professional jobs. The new jobs require a higher level of skills.
Fifteen years ago the typical worker with a college degree made 38 percent more than a worker with a high school diploma. Today that figure is 73 percent more. Two years of college means a 20 percent increase annual earnings. People who finish two years of college earn a quarter of a million dollars more tan their high school counterparts over a lifetime.
Unit 6
Task 1
【答案】
A.
[d]—[b]—[a]—[e]—[c]
B.
a
【原文】
Laura usually leaves the offices of Quest Productions at about 5 o'clock, but last Monday she left at 5:30. She wanted to get home by 6:30 and she ran to the bus stop but she couldn't get on a bus. There were too many people and not enough buses. Laura was desperate to get home so she decided to go by tube.
In the station she went to one of the automatic ticket machines but she didn't have enough change, so she had to join the queue at the ticket window. She bought her ticket and ran to the escalator. Laura went to the platform and waited for the tube. It arrived and the crowd moved forward.
Laura was pushed into the train. It was almost full but she was given a seat by a man with a moustache. Laura thanked him and sat down. She started to read her newspaper. In the tunnel the train stopped suddenly and Laura was thrown to the floor together with the man with the moustache. Somebody screamed. The lights went out. It was quarter past 6 on a cold, wet December
evening.
Task 2
【答案】
A.
1) a 2) b 3) d 4) c
B.
1) T 2) T 3) F
C.
wondered; television plays; exciting; every cigarette lighter; tape recorder; held in a certain way; the touch of a gold ring against the hand of; reveal; How wrong they were
【原文】
X was a secret agent. He had rented a furnished room in a provincial town not far from the public park and had been there two weeks. He was standing at the window looking out at the dull beds of geraniums, the park gates and the cold, uninviting statue of Queen Victoria that stood across the street from him, It was raining hard and the few people who passed by looked wet and miserable. X was miserable, too. How, he wondered, could anybody think there was anything interesting about the life of a secret agent? He knew it was because people had seen so many television plays about glamorous spies that they thought the life of a secret agent was exciting. They were convinced that every cigarette lighter concealed a secret tape recorder; that a fountain pen held in a certain way would open a locked door, that the touch of a gold ring against the hand of an enemy would make him reveal all his secrets. How wrong they were! He looked round his room. The wallpaper was in the worst possible taste, the pictures horrible, the carpet worn, dirty and faded; and he was cold. This was the third Monday he had come to the window to look out. He prayed it would be the last.
As if in answer to his prayer, a certain meeting he had been sent to investigate was about to take place. He took out his camera. Just beneath the statue two women had stopped to speak. He knew one of them, and it was she who pointed in his direction. The other woman looked up towards him and in that brief moment he photographed her.
Task 3
【答案】
A.
Names Ideal Careers
Harry Sailor
Nora Farmer(if she were a man)
Robert Civil engineer
Peter Racing driver or explorer
B.
1) a 2) b 3) c 4) b 5) d
【原文】
Harry: Well, Robert, have you made up your mind yet what you want to do when you leave college?
Nora: Oh Harry. Surely he's a bit young to decide on his career. He hasn't even got to college yet.
Harry: Not at all, Nora. It's wisest to decide in good time. Look at me, for example. I really wanted to be a sailor, but now I spend my days sitting at a desk in an office. Yes, it's silly to train for the wrong job. And after all, Robert will be going to college soon.
Nora: Now if I were a man I'd be a farmer. To see the crops growing--that's my idea of a good life.
Harry: Yes, and to see the money rolling in is more important still.
Robert: Well, that's not the way I look at it, Dad. It's the job I care about, not the money.
Harry: Maybe not; but you'll learn to care about the money too, when you've got a family to keep.
Nora: And of course Peter — well, he's keen to be a racing driver, or else an explorer.
Robert: Oh, Peter's not old enough to make up his mind about such thin
gs.
Harry: You haven't answered my question yet, Robert. What would you like to do?
Nora: Are you sure you don't want to be a farmer, Robert? Or a market gardener?
Robert: No, I'm sorry Mum, but I don't want to at all. I'd rather be a civil engineer. I want to build roads and bridges.
Harry: Not ships? Isn't it better to be a shipbuilding engineer?
Robert: Look here, is it my career we're planning, or yours?
Harry: All fight, all right, there's no need to lose your temper. But you'd better win that scholarship first.
Task 4
【答案】
I. correspondents; columnist
A. may not need either
B. to go to places where events take place and write stories about them
II. first; bigger; better; who will soon leave to work for other people
III. working hours; free time; work long hours to begin with
【原文】
Here are some of the things a young man or woman should not do when he first asks an editor for a job:
He should not tell the editor that he wants to be a foreign correspondent or a columnist. Very probably the editor does not need either. He wants a reporter who will go to such places as government offices and police stations and write a true story of what is happening there. Being a foreign correspondent or a columnist will come later.
A young person should not tell tile editor that newspaper work is only the first step on the way to bigger and better jobs, such as those in government. The editor must take a lot of time and trouble teaching someone to be a good newspaperman or woman. He does not like the idea of teaching people who are soon going to leave him to work for someone else.
A young journalist should accept the working hours and free time the editor gives him. As a new journalist, it is very probable that he will work longer hours than others and work on weekends. The editor did the same when he was a young newspaperman with no experience. He expects a journalist to understand how things are on a newspaper.
Task 5
【答案】
A.
1) acd 2) abe
B.
1) she is the wrong sex 2) she wears the wrong clothes
【原文】
SYLVIA: We've got a new manager in our department.
LARRY: Oh? You hoped to get that job, didn't you?
SYLVIA: Yes, I did.
LARRY: I'm sorry. That's too bad. Who is it? Who got the job, I mean?
SYLVIA: Someone called Drexler. Carl Drexler. He's been with the company only two years. I've been here longer. And I know more about the job, too!
LARRY: Hmm. Why do you think they gave it to him and not to you?
SYLVIA: Because I'm the wrong sex, of course !
LARRY: You mean you didn't get the job because you're a woman?
SYLVIA: Yes, that was probably it! It isn't fair.
LARRY: What sort of clothes does he wear?
SYLVTA: A dark suit. White shirt. A tie. Why?
LARRY: Perhaps that had something to do with it.
SYLVIA: You mean you think I didn't get the job because I come to work in jeans and a sweater?
LA
RRY: It's possible, isn't it?
SYLVIA: Do you really think I should wear different clothes?
LARRY: Well. . . perhaps you should think about it.
SYLVTA: Why should I wear a skirt? Or a dress?
LARRY: I'm not saying you should. I'm saying you should think about it. That's all!
SYLVIA: Why should I do that? I'm good at my job! That's the only important thing!
LARRY: Hmm. Perhaps it should be the only important thing. But it isn't. Not inthis company.
Task 6
【答案】
A.
Former Jobs When Laid-off Why Laid-off
1st man Car salesman Recently Low sales, due to the increase of interest rates
2nd man Worker at a vacuum cleaner plant 10 months ago Plant moved to Singapore where workers are paid much less
B.
1st speaker(bcd) 2nd speaker(ae)
C.
1) F 2) F
【原文】
Al: Is this the right line to file a claim?
Bob: Yeah. It's the same line for everything. You just stand here and wait.
Al: Oh. Is there always such a long line?
Bob: Every week. Sometimes longer. Is this your first time here?
Al: Yes.
Bob: What happened? Your plant closed down?
Al: No. I'm a car salesman, or, I was a car salesman. But we just aren't selling cars. It's the interest rates. Two years ago, I averaged ten new cars a month. Do you know how many cars I sold last month? One. One car to a lady who had the cash. But the interest rates are up again. The boss let three of us go. How about you?
Bob: I worked at a vacuum cleaner plant with about fifty workers. We put in a good day's work. But the machinery was getting old. As a matter of fact, the whole plant was old. So the management decided to build a new plant. You know where? In Singapore. The workers here made about seven dollars an hour, a couple of people made eight or nine an hour. You know how much they're paying the workers in Singapore? $2.50 an hour! Anyway, all fifty of us got laid off.
Al: How long ago was that?
Bob: They closed down ten months ago.
Al: Any luck finding another job?
Bob: Nothing. I have one, sometimes two, interviews a week. Last week I thought I had something. They liked my experience with machines. But I never heard from them again.
Al: At least you know something about machines. All I can do is talk.
Bob: Maybe you'll talk yourself into another job. Good luck. I'll see you here next week.
Al: I hope not. I hope I'll have something by then.
Task 7
【答案】
A.
1) F 2) F 3) T 4) F 5) T 6) F
B.
1) According to the first speaker, it is frustrating because the teacher cannot see clearly the results of his efforts.
2) According to the second speaker, English language teaching is a good job, because it guarantees a stable income and regular working hours and means less pressure. He also likes the way elderly teacher are.
【原文】
Interviewer: Do you prefer what you're doing to teaching?
John Smith: Yes, one of the things I found a bit frustrating about teaching was that it was rather,
very intangible than
um, especially if you're teaching in England and most of the students know quite a lot of English before they arrive. They learn a lot of English outside the classroom, in pubs or coffee shops or other places, with the families they're living with. It's very difficult to pin down how much they learn from your actual lesson, whereas in marketing um, again there are lots of areas that are gray rather than black or white, but there are quite a few other areas where one can see quite clearly the results of one's efforts.
Interviewer: What did you do after you quit your job in advertising?
Second Man: In fact, I became a journalist and I worked as a freelance. I didn't have a full-time job with any newspaper. I just had to contribute things as they came along and 1 wrote for magazines, and I did quite a lot of broadcasting for the VOA. Well, this was in a way the opposite of advertising because I enjoyed it a lot but I found it very hard to earn enough money to live on.
Interviewer: And then you decided to be a teacher?
Second Man: Well, and so I thought. Well, I must do something which produces an income that I can be sure of. While I was working as a journalist I had done an article for a magazine about the English language teaching world and m fact I had come to the school where I now teach as a journalist and interviewed a lot of the people. And I thought it seemed a very nice place and I thought that the classes I visited had a very, very nice feeling about them, and so I thought, well, I'll see if they'll have me.
Interviewer: Why do you prefer teaching to advertising?
Second Man: Well, partly because in teaching you work regular hours. It I advertising you just had to stay at the office until the work was finished [I see.] and it could be three o'clock in the morning. [Oh, dean] Also you were very often made to work at weekends. Often some job would come up that was very important and they said it had to be finished — it had to go into the newspapers next week.
Interviewer: So there was a lot mom pressure.
Second Man: There was a lot more pressure in advertising. Also, the people I worked with when I was first in advertising were young hopeful people like myself. By the end I was working with a lot of old people who quite honestly were awful. And I kept looking at them and saying, "Am I going to be like that?" And I thought if I am I'd better get out, whereas the English language teachers I saw, who were older people I thought, well, they seemed quite nice. And I wouldn't mind being like that myself.
Task 8
【答案】
The interview with Michale:
Does he work? No.
Why or why not? The work he used to do was not what interested him and what he likes to do cannot earn him enough money to support himself.
What are the advantages of not having to work? 1) You do not have to get up it you don’t feel like it.
2) You can spend your time on the things you want to do.
Why does he feel justified in not working? He believes he does
things which are enjoyable for him and useful to people and the community.
The interview with Chris:
What is the value of work in the current society? Very little value other than supporting oneself and ones family.
What are the two main aspects of work? 1) It is a bread-winning process.
2) The activities in it can be valuable to society.
What does he think of the work of a car factory worker? He thinks it harmful to both the environment and the society, for cars add to pollution and consume the scarce resources.
What does he think of the work of a doctor? He thinks it a valuable job in any society.
What kind of job does he do? He is perhaps a university teacher.
What does he think of his work?
He regarded his job a “white collar” job, which he does with his mind and receives mental satisfaction from it.
【原文】
Matthew: Michael, do you go out to work?
Michael: Not regularly, no. I... I used to; I used to have a job in a publishing company, but I
decided it wasn't really what I wanted to do and that what I wanted to do wouldn't earn me much money, so I gave up working and luckily I had a private income from my family to support me and now I do the things I want to do. Some of them get paid like lecturing and teaching, and others don't.
Matthew: What are the advantages of not having to go to work from nine till five?
Michael: Ah... there' re two advantages really. One is that if you feel tired you don't have to get up, and the other is that you can spend your time doing things you want to do rather than being forced to do the same thing all the time.
Matthew: But surely that's in a sense very self-indulgent and very lucky because most of us have to go out and earn our livings. Do you feel justified in having this privileged position?
Michael: Yes, because I think I use it well. I do things which I think are useful to people and the community and which I enjoy doing.
Matthew: Chris, what do you think the value of work is?
Chris: Well, I think in our present-day society, for most people, work has very little value at all. Most of us go out to work for about eight to nine hours of our working day. We do things which are either totally futile and totally useless or have very little justification whatsoever, and for most of us the only reason for working is that we need to keep ourselves alive, to pay for somewhere to live, to pay to feed our children.
Matthew: But surely people wouldn't know what to do if they didn't have to go to work?
Chris: Well, again this raises the sort of two main aspects of work. Should we think of 'work only as a sort of bread-winning process, and this is very much the role it has in current society, or should we take a much wider perspective on work and think of all the possible sort of activities that human beings could be doing during the day? I think the sort of distinction currently is between say, someone who works in a car factory and who produces cars which are just addi