[听力教程]2第二版第三单元文本

Unit 3

Section One Tactics for Listening

Part 1 Phonetics-Stress, Intonation and Accent

1. A: Do you want some grapes?

B: No, thanks, I don’t like them.

2. A: What do you think of Scotland?

B: I’ve never been there.

3. A: My son’s called David.

B: How old is she?

4. A: Can I book a table for tonight, please?

B: Certainly. How many is it for?

A: There’ll be three of them.

5. A: Can you get some cornflakes?

B: Do you want a large or small packet?

A: A small one.

Exercise:

1.A. b B. a 2. A. b B: a 3. A: b B: a

4. A: b B ：b A: a 5. A. b B. a A. a When we talk about a territory, we mean a defended space. Animals have their

territories, which they mark out with their personal scent. The scent is their territorial

signal. Human beings have other territorial signals. There are three kinds of human

territory, marked by different territorial signals.

First, there are the Tribal Territories, which in modem terms are known as

countries. Countries have a number of territorial signals. The borders are often

guarded by soldiers and they usually have customs barriers, flags, and signs. Other

signals of the tribal territory are uniforms and national anthems. These signals are

important, because they warn the visitor that he is entering a foreign country and,

while he is there, he must behave like a visitor.

Second, there is the Family Territory, at the center of which is the bedroom. This

is usually as far away as possible from the front door. Between the bedroom and the

front door are the spaces where visitors are allowed to enter. People behave differently

when they're in someone else's house. As soon as they come up the driveway or walk

through the front door -- the first signals of family territory -- they are in an area

which does not belong to them. They do not feel at home, because it is full of other

people's belongings -- from the flowers in the garden to the chairs, tables, carpets,

ornaments, and other things in the house. In the same way, when a family goes to the

beach or to the park for a picnic, they mark out a small territory with towels, baskets,

and other belongings; other families respect this, and try not to sit down right beside

them.

Finally, there is the Personal Territory. In public places, people automatically mark

out an area of personal space. If a man enters a waiting room and sits at one end of a

row of chairs, it is possible to predict where the next man will sit. It won't be next to

him or at the other end of the room, but halfway between. In a crowded space like a

train, we can't have much personal territory, so we stand looking straight in front of us

with blank faces. We don't look at or talk to anyone around us.

Exercise A:

1. When we talk about a, we mean a space.

2. These are because they the visitor that he is entering a country.

3. People behave 4. In places, people automatically an area of personal space.

5. It be to him or at the otherA Territory

I. Territory, a defended space

A. Territory is marked by

a. Animals mark out their territories with their , their territorial signals.│

b. Human beings have three kinds of human territory, marked by different territorial signals. II. Three kinds of human territory

A. a. Countries have a number of territorial signals.

1.The

2. and nationalB. a. Family Territory

1. 2.

b. When a family goes to the beach or to the park for a picnic, they mark out a small territory with C. a. In public places people automatically b. In a crowded space, we part 1 Dialogues

—I recently touring around America found there was a chap I was with ... He ... we

were booked in by an American organization into a hotel, paid for by them, but

they would not let him go through the lobby to his room unless they had a credit

card number to prove that he was a human being that was trustworthy, {right, right}.

In other words we've got to the stage now with credit cards, however friendly you

look, however wealthy you look, or however nice you look ... (That's right, it

doesn't matter, they just want to see that number.) Excuse me, where is your credit

card?

—Because you know you can't rent a major automobile in the States, you know, you

can't rent without, without using a credit card, you can't, you know like you were saying, go into a hotel ...

—I think that what's underneath that is the society in which you're only good if you have numbers attached to you, (Mm.) that are computerised, (Yeah.) and can trace you, and everybody's insured against everybody else (Yeah.) and ... that side of credit I find rather upsetting.

— It's kind of ugly, isn't it?

— Like a lot of people ，it's a great facility, if you're disciplined with it.

1.D 2. D 3. C

Dialogue 2 Card Insurances

— I'll tell you about one awful experience that happened to me, erm, I took out, erm ... one of these card insurances that cover all your cards (Mm.) should your cards be stolen and I had my handbag snatched* in a store and immediately got the store security, who were very quick, got me into their office and we phoned all of the credit cards that I had on me, within ten minutes.

— Which is what they tell you to do?

—Yeah. When, I suppose by the time we’d got to all of them it about half an after the bag had been snatched. Got up to the top floor of the office, started ringing round, and the whole thing was done within half an hour. Erm, when the bag was snatched it went through apparently a chain of people, out of the store, and it went two miles away and they managed to ... three different people had spent over ￡2,000 on four of my cards ...

—But you're only liable* for the first 50.

—I wasn't liable for any of it. Because thank goodness I had this insurance. —None of it. Yeah.

—But ...

—Touch wood* quick. That was ...

—.. They'd spent it within twenty minutes of stealing.

—That's incredible, isn't it?

—And the thing that absolutely horrified me was I was close to limits on two of the cards, the ones that I do clear every month (Mm – mm.) I was close to the limit I'm allowed on those, and they, both of those cards they went into banks, said they were me, and got (No!) well over what the top limit would have been.

—Really! Well it just goes to show, you could walk into a bank and get more than you could possibly ever pay off*!

—I couldn't probably, because I go in, and they say, "No, you've spent it all already? —Right, right.

1. F 2. F 3, F 4. T 5. T 6. T 7. F 8.T

Part 2 Passage

Credit Cards

The system of bank credit cards operates in much the same way as a store credit account except that the holder is not restricted to making purchases in one place.

Cards can be presented at any place where the bank card sign is displayed, and that could be at a shop, a service station, a hotel, a restaurant or in fact at all kinds of

businesses.

The sales assistant imprints the card details onto a sales voucher* which the customer signs, and the card is then returned to the customer. Each month the bank sends the holder a credit card statement setting out where purchases were made and totalling what is owing. A payment has to be made within 25 days of the date of the statement, but not necessarily the full amount. If the customer pays in full within this time the use of the card does not cost anything, But if he decides to pay only the minimum repayment shown on the statement –￡5 or 5% of the outstanding* balance*, which- ever is the greater -- he automatically chooses to use the system's extended repayment facility. The remaining balance is then carried forward and attracts interest at the rate of 2.25% per month.

Bank credit cards are more versatile than store credit accounts in that they also enable people to obtain cash .Any bank displaying the bank card sign will arrange a cash advance* for a card holder, whether or not be is one of their own customers. For money drawn in this way the bank makes a charge at the rate of 2 25% a month calculated. cash advances appear on the monthly bank card statement.

The bank credit card system operates entirely separately from cheque accounts but nevertheless it is a customer's previous relationship with his bank that is used as a guide to the amount of credit he will be extended. When a card is issued a personal credit limit is imposed indicating the maximum that can be owing at any one time. This is confidential* between customer and bank and does not appear on the card. Exercise A:

The system of bank credit cards operates in much the same way as a store credit account except that the holder is not restricted to making purchases in one place. Bank credit cards can be presented at any place where the bank card sign is displayed and in fact at all kinds of businesses. Bank credit cards also enable people to obtain cash. Exercise B:

1. A 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. D 7.B 8. B

Exercise C:

1. Bank credit cards can be presented at any place where the bank card sign is

displayed, e.g. at a shop, a service station, a hotel, a restaurant, etc.

2. Each month the bank sends the holder a credit card statement setting out where purchases were made and totalling what is owing,

3. The customer can pay in full within 25 days of the date of the statement or he can pay only the minimum repayment shown on the statement

4. Because they also enable people to obtain cash.

5. When a card is issued a personal credit limit is imposed indicating the maximum that can be owing at any one time.

Part 3 News Thousands of public workers have begun to demonstrate violently against a retirement reform plan passed by Brazilian lawmakers Wednesday. Demonstrators

clashed with riot police in front of Congress after the chamber of deputies approved the measure. Brazilian media reports say at least 60 people were injured. Some demonstrators said the president had betrayed them by seeking approval of the measure in Congress. The measure is designed to cut retirement assistance, raise the retirement age of public workers and tax their retirement money. The government says the changes are necessary to save the government thousands of millions of dollars. Exercise A:

This news item is aboutExercise B:

Thousands of public workers have begun to violently against a reform plan passed by Brazilian lawmakers Wednesday. Demonstrators the measure.

Some demonstrators said the president had measure in Congress. The measure is designed to cut , raise the retirement age of public workers and tax their News Item 2

According to a report to Congress, more than 4.5 million students endure sexual misconduct* by employees at their schools, from inappropriate jokes all the way to forced sex.

The best estimate available shows nearly one in l0 kids faces misbehaviour ranging from unprofessional to criminal sometime between kindergarten and 12th grade.

The report, delivered to Congress on Wednesday, is the first to analyze research about sexual misconduct at schools.

Some educators took issue with the way the report combines sexual abuse with other behaviours such as inappropriate jokes, in one broad category of sexual misconduct.

Exercise A:

This news item is about Exercise B:

1.B 2. D 3. C 4. A

News Item 3

The recession and the prospect of another strike in Hollywood could combine to make it a miserable New Year of the entertainment business.

The global credit crunch is making it much more difficult for studios to get funding for big budget pictures. High-earning actors are being asked to lower their expectations and accept more modest salaries.

The screen Actors Guild has said it will ballot its 120,000 members on a possible strike, it needs a 75 percent vote in favor before a walkout can be authorized by the union ’s leaders.

The mood of many is that no is not the time to rock the boat and that the fight

over payments for work on the Internet should wait until a later date.

Exercise A:

This news item is aboutExercise B:

1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. T 6. F

Section Four Supplementary Exercises

Parent-Teacher Associations

6 million people in the United States belong to parent-teacher associations*, or PTA. PTA's work is to help schools and students in their communities.

Members give their time to serve on committees. They plan school projects and special activities, such as sales and other events to assist schools. Members also serve as activists for children's issues* before government agencies and other organizations. There are national, state and local PTA organizations. PTA groups exist in the 50 American states and the District of Columbia. The PTA also operates in the United States Virgin Islands and in Department of Defense schools in the Pacific and Europe. These are schools for children of American military families.

Three women are responsible for establishing the Parent-Teacher Association. Two of them, Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, established the Congress of Mothers in 1897. Both women lived in Washington, D.C.

Alice Birney proposed the plan for the group in 1895. Two years later, she met Phoebe Hears who provided the money to start the organization. Later, fathers, educators and other interested citizens joined the group. It then changed its name to the National Congress of Parent-Teacher Associations.

Selena Sloan Butler is considered the third founder of the PTA. She established and served as the first president of the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers. In 1970, the congress united with the National PTA.

The National PTA provides members with, among other things, information online about educational issues. It publishes a free newsletter called "This Week in Washington" on its website. It tells about developments that affect education.

There are critics of the National PTA. In a recent book, education researcher Charlene Haar says the positions of the group mainly serve the interests of teachers unions. PTA spokeswoman Jenni Sopko says the group speaks for parents, students and teachers, and is not influenced by the unions. She also notes that other countries have used the PTA in the United States as an example to develop their own parent-teacher associations.

Exercise A:

1. It stands for parent-teacher associations.

2. Its work is to help schools and students in their communities.

3. Six million people in the United States belong to parent-teacher associations.

4. She established and served as the first president of the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers.

5. The National PTA can provide its members with information online about

educational issues.

Exercise B:

1. The plan to establish PTA group was proposed in by Alice Birney. Two years later, she met Phoebe Hearst who money to start the organization. Later, fathers, educators and other2. Members of PTA's should give their time to serve on for children's issues before government and other organizations.

3. PTA groups exist in the American states and the District of Columbia. The PTA also operates in Department of Defense schools in the . These are schools for children of American 4. The Nation PTA a free newsletter called "website. It tells about developments that education.

5. There areof the National PTA. An education researcher Charlene Haar says the positions of the group mainly of teachers unions.

Exercise C:

Your opinion

Directions: Listen to the passage again and give your opinion on the following topics. " PTA 's work is to help schools and students in their communities."

1. Is it necessary for schools in China to have PTA ?

2. What roles can PTA play at schools in China?

3. If your parent is selected as the member of PTA . will you support him/her?

Passage 2 Your Legal Rights in the Sales

Just who is doing the favour for whom in the sales? Are the shops really giving us shoppers a chance to buy bargains? Or are we just helping them to clear their shelves twice a year to make way for new lines* -- buying up* the rubbish they would otherwise throw away?

In most sales there is a bit of both. Some bargains are more genuine than others. Some price claims are true, while others are misleading or plain false.

If the sale notice says "Coats -- reduced from ￡30 to ￡10” it should ,by law ,be true.

The rules are that, unless a shop says otherwise, the coats must have been on sale at the higher price for at least 28 consecutive days in the previous six months. They can, however, get around it by saying "Last week ￡30. Now ￡10."

Be a bit suspicious about a ticket which just says "Sale price ￡5.' It may mean the goods are specially bought in for the sale and does not necessarily indicate any reduction.

And there is nothing to prevent the shopkeeper boasting: "Worth ￡50, only ￡20' or even "Normally￡300, only ￡150."

Another practice which is frowned upon, though not illegal, is an imprecise offer, like "Up to ￡l0 off latest models." It gives no clear idea of how much you have to spend or exactly what you have to buy to benefit.

If you see a price claim you do not believe or feel to be misleading, you can

complain to the local Trading Standards Office -- the town hall will put you in touch. If you see a notice saying "No refunds on sales goods," ignore it, but don't forget it. It is illegal for shops to say this and you should report it to the Trading Standards Officer. He can order the signs to be removed.

Sale or no sale, nothing can remove your right to your money back if the goods are faulty. If on the other hand, you just change your mind about something you buy in the sale the shop does not have to give you anything back.

Goods labelled "seconds" have their own peculiar problems. You cannot expect something described as "seconds" to be perfect in every way, but the shop has no right to sell you anything that is not fit for the purpose for which it was made.

A "slightly imperfect" kettle should still boil water and you can demand your money back if it doesn't. So take your spectacles with you and never be afraid to ask what is substandard about the thing you are about to buy.

Exercise A:

You have the right to know the true price. You have the right to know the quality of goods. Sale or no sale, nothing can remove your right to your money back if the goods are faulty.

Exercise B:

I.A 2. D 3. C 4. B 5. A 6. D 7. C 8. B Exercise C:

1. In most sales, some bargains are more genuine than others and some price claims are true, while others are misleading or plain false.

2. Because they want to make way for new lines.

3. The shopkeeper's boasting, like "Worth ￡50, only￡20" or even "Normally ￡300, only ￡150"; and an imprecise offer, like "Up to ￡l 0 off latest models?'

4. The shop has no right to sell you anything that is not fit for the purpose for which it was made.

5. When you just change your mind about the things you buy in the sale.