现代大学英语听力基础教程 听力部分文本 unit6

Task 3

A: You're not looking very . What's the matter with you?

B: Oh, nothing special. I'm just a bit A: With the job?

B: With everything, with catching the same train every morning, sitting in the same office all day, watching the same television programs.

A: You need a holiday.

B: It wasn't always like this, you know.

A: what do you mean?

B: Well, our great-great-grandfathers had more fun, didn't they? I mean, they for their food and their own vegetables and did things for themselves. We do the same sort of job for years and years. There's no Tuition

A: You need a holiday. That's what's the matter with you.

Task 4

A: Can I help you?

B: Yes, I want to fly to Chicago on Wednesday, 7th, and return on Friday, 9th.

A: Of October?

B: No, November. How much is the fare?

A: Fares are cheaper if you stay over Saturday night.

B: Thanks, but unfortunately I've already arranged some business here

that Friday. So I'll just have to pay the extra cost.

A: What time of day would you prefer? Morning or afternoon?

B: Morning, because I have to be there by early evening. Is there a meal? A: Yes, they'll be serving breakfast, and you'll also see a movie.

B: What movie?

A: In both directions they'll show a feature film.

B: Sounds good, but what's the fare?

A: $850, .

B: That's more than I expected.

Hanger closet aisle section

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Task 5

A: And welcome once again to " People Today". Now it's time for our "Eye on the World" Section, with Mark Perkins. Mark!

B: Thanks, Anna. Yes. In tonight's "Eye on the World" We go to Japan. Now, everyone knows people in Japan work long, hard hours, but just what do people do in their free time? Well, we did a survey of leisure activities in Japan, and here is the Top 10. In the first place is eating out. As you can see, eating out is by far the most popular free-time activity. In the second place comes driving. Y es, it appears Japanese people like nothing more than driving around cities and into the countryside in their free time. It may seem strange to you and me, but there you are! Next, in

the third place, is traveling within Japan... to all those lovely temples and gardens, I guess. The fourth is, guess what, Anna?

A: I've no idea.

B: Karaoke, of course. Lots of people enjoy singing along with their favorite songs. Then in the fifth place we have watching DVDs and videos, followed by listening to music. But just look what we have here in the seventh place-- trips to museums and zoos. Then way down in the eighth place comes going to bars, and after that, gardening. I guess not so many people in Japan have gardens. And finally in the tenth place we have playing the lottery. And who wouldn't want to win lots of money? Back to you, Anna.

A: Thanks, Mark. Now, let's go to see...

Task 6

People have always wanted to know about the past. Children like to remember and talk about fun things they did. They like to hear stories about their parents' lives. People wonder about what happened before they were born.

Sometimes, people learn about the past to solve a problem they have now. They might ask questions like these: how did we get into this mess? What can we do to get out of it?

Y ou can learn about the past in many ways. The most important way is by

studying written records. About 5,000 years ago, people learned to write down what happened to them. Perhaps a man had been bought or sold. Famous kings and queens wanted their deeds recorded. They wanted people in the future to know how great they were.

History is the written record of the past. The period since people learned to write is called historic times. The period before people learned to write is often called prehistory. In addition, it is known as prehistoric. "Pre" means "before". We can learn much about the past from written records. But many things were never written. And most writings from the past have been lost. However, we can still learn much about the past from other things people have left behind. In some places, there are ruins of cities built thousands of years ago. Ruins are the remains of things built in the past. They can still tell us many things about the people who built them.

People who dig up and study old ruins are called archaeologists. Studying ruins adds to what we know about historic times. But the remains of buildings and other things are all we know of prehistoric peoples. These things give us many clues about the ways people lived before they learned to write. besotted

As you might guess, the farther we go back into history, the less we know for sure about what happened. We have to make more and more guesses. We know a lot about what happened 50 years ago. We know less about

what happened 500 years ago. We know even less about what happened 5,000 years ago. In general, the longer ago something happened, the less we can know about it.

Task 7

The Indians also used smoke to send signals. They made a fire, and put wet grass on it. Then they covered the fire with a wet blanket. After a few moments, they took the blankets away again. This made a cloud of smoke. They could send simple messages in this way. One cloud of smoke meant "danger". Two clouds meant "Everything is all right". Three clouds meant "Help".

In the thick forests of Africa, it used to be difficult to travel from village to village. But drums could be heard from many miles away. People in this part of the world discovered that they could use their drums for sending messages. They did not use a special code like the Morse Code. They made their drums "speak" Like people. They did this by playing tunes that sounded like simple sentences in their languages.

The Incas of South America never developed a way of writing their languages, but they used to send messages by tying knots in rope. Men used to run with such knotted ropes from town to town along the Inca roads. Many of these rope messages have been found, but nobody can understand what they mean.

Task 8

A: Have you read this? The article about that new survey...

B: Yes, I took a glance. It seems pretty obvious to me. You don't really need a survey to tell you this, do you?

A: Well, I don't know. It isn't that simple, is it? I mean some people like living in the country...

B: yeah, and you can see why -- less stress, less traffic, less smog... But I don't think it's just a question of what you like...

A: No, it's more like a question of work and money...

B:Yeah, the main question why many people don't want to live in the country is because they can't find a job there.

A: This article here agrees that it's easier to find work in large cities, but it doesn't agree it's the main important reason.

B: Why not?

A: It says it might be the main reason for older people, but for younger people, even if jobs are easily available in the country, they still would rather stay in large cities.

B: I see the point. There's the lure of the bright lights of the cities... A: Yes, night life, music, and youth culture in general, you know.

B: Yeah, what's the thing they now talk about?" Leisure-time activities"? A: " Free-time facilities".

B: Yeah, that was it. Pubs, clubs and things like that.

A: Yeah, and movie theatres, libraries, museums, exhibitions...

B: And discos and the chance to meet other young people.

A: Apart from the social side of things, the article also mentioned a few things. More opportunities for continuing their education, better facilities for their children in future, better living conditions in general.

B: Well, the survey seems to make quite a lot of sense.

Task 9

We wee spending our holiday in Cyprus and one day we decided to climb a mountain. It was an unwise thing to do in the heat of the summer, I suppose, but we were bored with swimming and lying in the sun all day long, and wanted to do something different for a change. There were four of us altogether in the party, two American students, another girl and me. We only took two packs, both of which were quite heavy so the boys agreed to carry them. In each of the packs we put two sleeping bags, some tinned food and chocolate and a water-carrier.

We didn't know which side of the mountain to climb and we didn't have a map, but we thought that one side looked easier to climb so we set off. It was about midday ( we never got up early on holiday) and the sun was high in the sky. It was terribly hot. Because it was so hot we wore sandals, thin skirts and shorts. We had to hurry to catch the bus up to the foot of

the mountain and we forgot our hats and sunglasses.

The way up the mountain was rocky, and the sharp rocks cut our sandals badly, so badly in fact that they fell to pieces. Also the wild bushes scratched our legs painfully. After a few hours we were so thirsty that we drank all the water. We didn't worry about this because we had heard all about the clear mountain streams in that part of the country. We weren't hungry at all, so we didn't touch the food. Then we found an old well by a shepherd's hut. We filled our water carriers with water and the old shepherd gave us some goats' milk to drink and some goats' cheese to eat. One of the American boys didn't like the milk so he drank the water. Then we set off again.

After walking for about an hour, the American boy was violently sick. Of course we had to turn back. It was getting dark and we lost our way. Nobody back in the town knew we had gone up the mountain. We couldn't see and one of the boys fell down and broke one of his legs. We tried to sleep but couldn't because of the intense cold. We were terrified.

Task 10

D: Dan W: Windy S: Shop assistant

D: I can't believe this traffic!

W: Well,...it's rush hour.

D: We'll never make it on time.

W: Yes, we will! Oh, there's a little market. Let's stop and get some soda. D: We are late. We don't have much time..

W: Look! it's a drive-through. It'll be quick. We don't even have to get out of the car.

D: Oh, OK.

S: Hi.

W: Hi. We'd like some soda. Do you have coke?

S: Cans or bottles?

W: Cans.

D: How about getting some potato chips too?

W: OK. And some potato chips, please.

S: That's $ 5.50.

W: Here you are.

D: You Americans are funny! You're married to your cars.

W: What do you mean?

D: I mean, you don't like to get out of your cars! You have drive-in stores, drive-in restaurants, drive-in banks. I even went to a drive-in movie last week.

W: Yeah, I guess that's true. The country is becoming one big highway. I was reading that there are about 5 million miles of highways in this country now.

D: Do you know what else I find interesting?

W: What?

D: The American love for car sports!

W: Oh, yeah. Car racing. It always attracts large crowds... And have you ever heard of the demolition derby?

D: Demolition derby?

W: Uh-huh. A bunch of cars crash into each other, until only one car is still running. That car is the winner.

S: Oh! That sounds interesting! Why don't we go someday?

Task 11

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Supermarkets are big stores that provide a wide choice of foods and products. In the United States, traditional supermarkets are facing fierce competition from even bigger stores. They are also facing competition from stores with more choices of fresh, natural foods.

The first supermarkets opened in the 1930s. New technologies for freezing and processing foods helped create goods that could be stored for a long time. Long-distance shipping meant that many different groceries could be kept in one big center.

Many supermarkets are chains, stores owned by one company. Price competition is fierce in the grocery industry. Most Americans still spend

the most money at supermarkets. But traditional supermarkets have lost some of their business. Many people are changing where they buy groceries. They are also changing the kinds of groceries they want.

New competitors are winning business because they are even larger than supermarkets. And they have lower prices.

Wal-mart Supercenters sell groceries as well as clothes, tool, electronic equipment and everything else. Costco membership stores are also known for low prices. Discount stores like Wal- Mart and Costco buy their goods in huge amounts and sell at prices that supermarkets usu cannot equal.

Competition has also come from stores, like Whole Food Market, that sell natural foods. Prices for these goods are higher. Americans are concerned about prices. But many will pay more for organic foods. Organic producers must show that their products are free of added chemicals or drugs.

The market for organic foods is small but growing quickly. At the same time, traditional supermarkets have slowing growth. Some have had to cut jobs. One large chain in the southeast, Winn-Dixie, sought protection from its creditors in February.

Y et supermarkets are changing too. Many have cut prices. And many are offering more fine foods and organic products.

Since 2000, Americans have bought more organic food from supermarkets than from any other kind of stores. Also, supermarkets are

able to offer greater choices of similar products than might be found at their discount competitors.

Task 12

Helen ’s eyes were not very good, so she usu wore glasses. But when she was 17, she began to go with a young man. She never wore her glasses when she was with him. When he came to the door to take her out, she took her glasses off, and when she came home again and he left, she put them on.

One day her mother said to her, ” Helen, why do you never wear your glasses when you are with Jim? He takes you to beautiful places in his car, but you don’t see anything.”

“ Well, mother, ” said Helen, “ I look prettier to Jim when I am not wearing my glasses—and he looks better to me too!”

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