2011 06
11.M :I left 20 pages here to copy ,here’s the receipt
W : I’ m sorry ,sir ,but we are a little behind ,could you come back in a few minutes ?
Q: what does the woman mean ?
12.W: I hope you are not to put out with me for the delay ,I had to stop for the Fred’s home to pick up a book on my way here
M : well , that’s not a big deal ,but you might at least phone if you know you will keep someone waiting Q : what do we learn about the women ?
13.W : Mark is the best candidate for chairman of the student’s union , isn’t he ? M :well ,that guy won’t be able to win the election unless he got the majority vote from women students ,and I am not sure about it ?
Q :what does the man mean ?
14.M : sorry to have kept you waiting ,Madam , I’ve located your luggage, it was left behind in Paris and won’t arrive until later this evening
W : oh ,I can’t believe this ,have it been to delivered to my hotel then ,I guess Q :what happened to the woman’s luggage ?
15.W：I don’t think we have enough information for our presentation. But we have to give it tomorrow. That doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it.
M: Yeah, at this point, we’ll have to make do with what we’ve got. Q: what does the man suggest they do? 16.M: I’m taking this great course psychology of language. It’s really interesting. Since you’re psychology major, you should sign up for it.
W: Actually, I tried to do that. But they told me I have to take language studies first. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
17.W: Can you believe the way Larry was talking to his roommate? No wonder they don’t get along.
M: Well, maybe Larry was just reacting to something his roommate said. There are two sides to every story you know.
Q: What does the man imply about Larry and his roommate?
18.M: We don’t have the resources to stop those people from buying us out. Unless a miracle happens, this may be the end of us.
W: I still have hope we can get help from the bank. After all, we don’t need that much money. Q: What do we learn about the speakers from the conversation? 长对话原文
Conversation One
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
W: You know I've often wondered why people laugh at the picture of a big belly businessman slipping on a banana skin and falling on his bottom. We are to feel sorry for them.
M: Actually, Laura, I think we laugh because we are glad it didn't happen to us. But of course there is also a kind of humorous satisfaction in seeing somebody self-important making a fool of themselves. W: Yes, and there are a lot of jokes about people who are too fat or physically handicapped, you know, deaf, or short-sighted things like that. After all, it's not really funny to be like that.
M: Oh, I think that's because we're embarrassed. We don't know how to cope with the situation. Perhaps we are even a bit frightened we may get like that, so we laugh. M: What about the custard pie routine? W: What do you mean 'custard pie routine'?
M: You know, all those old films where someone gets so outraged with his boss, He picks up a custard
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pie and plasters it all over the other person's face.
W: That never makes me laugh much, because you can guess what's going to happen. But a lot of people still find it laughable. It must because of the sort of the thing we'd all love to do once in a while and never quiet have the courage to.
M: I had an old aunt who used to throw cups of tea at people when she was particularly irritated. She said it relieved her feelings.
W: It must have come a bit expensive.
M: Not really. She took care never to throw her best china.
19. Why does the man say we laughed when we see some self-important people making fool of themselves? 20. Why do some people joke about those who are fat or handicapped according to the man?
21. Why do many people find it funny to see someone throwing a custard pie on their boss's face? 22. Why do the man say she would drop cups of tea at people occasionally? Conversation Two
W：Your name Sanjay Kumar is that correct? M：Yes, madam.
W：You claim you are traveling on a scholarship from Delhi University. M：That's right.
W：Now it seems that a hand gun was found in your luggage. Do you admit that? M：Yes, but„
W：According to the statement you made, you had never seen the hand gun before it was found in your bag. Do you still maintain that? M：But it's true. I swear it.
W：Mmm, you do realize Mr. Kumar that to bring a hand gun into Hong Kong without proper authorization is a serious offense.
M：But I didn't bring it. I „ I mean I didn't know anything about it. It wasn't there when I left Delhi. My bags were searched. It was part of the airport security check.
W：Maybe so, but someone managed to get that hand gun onto the aircraft or it couldn't have been there. M：Someone but not me.
W：Tell me , where was your personal bag during the flight?
M：I had it down by my feet between me and the man in the next seat.
M: He was the only person who could have opened my bag while I was asleep. It must have been him. W: I see. Have you any idea who this man was?
M: He told me his name, Alfred Foster. He was very friendly, after I woke up that is. He hadn't spoken before.
W: Alfred Foster, we can check that on the passenger list.
M: He said he had a car coming to meet him. He offered me a lift. W: Oh, Why should he do that?
M: So he can get his handgun back, that's why. Please find him, Madam. Questions 23-25 are based on the conversation you have just heard 23. What is Sanjay Kumar suspected of? 24. What do we know about Alfred Foster ?
25. What does Sanjay Kumar ask the woman to do finally? 听力理解短文原文 Section B Passage One
Everyone is looking for a good investment these days. And with stocks, currencies and companies all
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crashing, some are finding that taking the trip of a lifetime is actually a smart move right now. Prices are good, crowds are fewer and the dividends like expanded worldview, lifelong memories, the satisfaction of boosting the global economy—can't be easily snatched away. Sylvia and Paul Custerson, a retired couple from Cambridge, England, recently took a 16-day vacation to Namibia, where they went on bird-watching excursions. Later this year, they are planning a trip to Patagonia. \"We're using our capital now,\" says Sylvia, \"And why not? We're not getting any interest in the bank. If it's a place we really want to go, then we will go. We may as well travel while we're fit and healthy. \"
Some travel agents are thriving in spite of the economy. \"We've had more people booking in the first quarter of this year than last,\" says Hubert Moineau, founder of Tselana Travel, which is planning to introduce a new program of longer adventure trips, including polar expeditions and cruises in the Galápagos. \"We're hearing things like, 'We don't know what the situation will be in six months so let's travel now' \Toft, managing director of the U. K. tour operator Explore has been surprised to see an increase in last-minute bookings of high-priced trips to such places as India, Bhutan and Nepal. \"It seems people would rather give up something else than the big trip,\" he says. Travel has become a necessity. It's just how we travel that is changing.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. According to the speaker, why are some people willing to spend their money on travel these days? 27. What is Tselana Travel planning to do, according to its founder?
28. According to Ashley Toft, managing director of Explore, what is changing now with regard to travels? Passage Two
Somehow the old male and female stereotypes no longer fit. Men and women in this country haven’t been fulfilling their traditional roles for some time now. And there seem to be fewer and fewer differences between the sexes. For instance, even though more women than men are still homemakers without paying jobs, women have been taking over more responsibility in the business world, earning higher salaries than ever before and entering fields of work that used to be exclusively male areas. At office meetings and in group discussions, they might speak up more often, express strong opinions and come up with more creative and practical ideas than their male colleagues. Several days ago, my 23-year-old daughter came to me with some important news. Not only had she found the highest paying job of her career, but she’d also accepted a date with the most charming men she’d ever met.
“Really?”, I responded,” tell me about them.”
“Receptionist in an attorney’s office and a welder at a construction site.” She answered in a matter-of-fact way. The interesting thing is my daughter’s date is the receptionist and my daughter is the welder. The old stereotypes of men’s and women’s work have been changing more quickly than ever before, except perhaps in my own marriage.
“Who's going to mow the lawn? ” I asked my husband this morning. “Oh, I will,” he answered politely. ”That's men's work. ”
“What?” Irritated, I raised my voice. “That's a ridiculous stereotype. I'll show you who can do the best job on the lawn.”
The work took 3 hours and I did it all myself.
Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
30. What might women do at office meetings nowadays according to the speaker? 31. Why did the speaker mow the lawn herself that morning? Passage Three
Florence Hayes is a journalist for the Green Ville Journal, the daily newspaper in town. Specifically she covers crime in the Green Ville area. This responsibility takes her to many different places every week
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——the police station, the court and the hospital. Most of the crimes that she writes about fall into two groups: violent crimes and crimes against property. There isn’t much violent crime in a small town like Green Ville, or at least not as much as in the large urban areas. But assaults often occur on Friday and Saturday nights, near the bars downtown. There’re also one or two rapes on campus every semester. Florence is very interested in this type of crime and tries to write a long article about each one. She expects that this will make women more careful when they walk around Green Ville alone at night
Fortunately, there were usually no murders in Green Ville. Crimes against property make up most of Miss Heyes’ reporting. They range from minor cases of deliberate damaging of things to much more serious offenses, such as car accidents involving drunk drivers or bank robberies but Florence has to report all of these violations from the thief who took typewriters from every unlock room in the dormitory to the thief who stole one million dollars worth of art work from the university museum. Miss Hayes enjoys working for a newspaper but she sometimes gets unhappy about all the crime she has to report. She would prefer to start writing about something more interesting and less unpleasant such as local news or politics, maybe next year
Florence Hayes Green Ville
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 32 What is Florence Hayes’ main responsibility as a journalist? 33 What does the speaker say about security in Green Ville?
34 What do we learn about crimes against property in the Green Ville area? 35 What would Florence Hayes prefer to do? 复合式听写原文
Section C Compound Dictation In America, people are faced with more and more decisions every day, whether it’s picking one of thirty-one ice cream flavors, or deciding whether and when to get married. That sounds like a great thing, but as a recent study has shown, too many choices can make us confused, unhappy, even paralyzed with indecision. ‘That’s particularly true when it comes to the work place’, says Barry Schwartz, an author of six books about human behavior. Students are graduating with a variety of skills and interests, but often find themselves overwhelmed when it comes to choosing an ultimate career goal. In a study, Schwartz observed decision-making among college students during their senior year. Based on answers to questions regarding their job hunting strategies and career decisions, he divided the students into two groups：maximizers, who consider every possible option, and satisficers, who look until they find an option that is good enough. You might expect that the student who had undertaken the most exhausted search would be the most satisfied with their final decision, but it turns out that’s not true. Schwartz found that while maximizers ended up with better-paying jobs than satisficers on average, they weren’t as happy with their decision. The reason why these people feel less satisfied is that a world of possibilities may also be a world of missed opportunities. When you look at every possible option, you tend to focus more on what was given up than what was gained. After surveying every option, a person is more acutely aware of the opportunities they had to turn down to pursue just one career. 2010 12 Q11.
W: This is one of our best and least expensive two-bedroom listings. It’s located in a quiet building and is close to bus lines.
M: That may be true, but look at it, it’s awful. The paint has peeled off and the carpet is worn and
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the stove is ancient.
Q: What can we infer from the conversation?
Q12.
M: The pictures we took at the Botanical Garden should be ready tomorrow.
W: I can’t wait to see them. I’m wondering if the shots I took is as good as I thought.
Q: What is the woman eager to know?
Q13.
W: The handle of the bookcase is broken. Can you have it fixed by next Tuesday?
M: Let me see. I need to find a handle that matches, but that shouldn’t take too long.
Q: What does the man mean?
Q14.
M: This truck looks like what I need but I’m worried about maintenance. For us, it will have to operate for long periods of time in very cold temperatures.
W: We have several models that especially adapted for extreme conditions. Would you like to see them?
Q: What’s the man’s demand from the conversation?
Q15.
M: I think your boss will be very upset when he gets your letter of resignation.
W: That may be so. But in the letter, I just told him frankly I could no longer live with his poor management and stupid decisions.
Q: What do we learn about the woman?
Q16.
W: I’d like to exchange the shirt. I’ve learned the person I bought it for is allergic to wool.
M: maybe we can find something in cotton or silk. Please come this way.
Q: What does the woman want to do?
Q17.
M: Excuse me Miss, did anyone happen to turn in a new hand bag? You know it’s a birthday gift for
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my wife.
W: Let me see. Oh, we’ve got quite a lot of women’s bags here. Can you give me more detailed information, such as its color, the size and the trade mark?
Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?
Q18.
W: What’re you going to do with the old house you inherited from your grandfather?
M: I once intended to sell it. But now I’m thinking of turning it into a guest house, because it’s still a solid structure.
Q: What does the man plan to do with his old house?
长对话：
W: there is an element there about the competitioner, isn’t there? Because British railways are a nationalized industry, there isn’t any one railway system in the country. If you don’t like a particular kind of big beans, you can go on by another; but if you don’t like the particular railway, you can’t go on using another
M: some people who write to me say this. They say that if you did not have a monopoly, you would not be able to do the things you do. Well, I don’t think we do anything deliberately to upset our customers, we have particular problems. Since 1946, when the Transport Act came in, we were nationalized.
W: Do you think that is a good thing? Has it been a good thing for the railways, do you think, to be nationalized?
M: Oh, I think so, yes, because in general, mosts of the transports are all around. Let’s face the fact, the car are arrived the cars are here to stay. There is no question about that
W:So what’s your saying then? Is it if the railways haven’t been nationalized, they would simply have disappeared?
M: Oh, I think they would have. They are disappearing fast in America. The French railways lose 1 billion pounds a year, the German railways, 2 billion a year. But you see those governments are preparing to pour the money into the transport system to keep it going
W: So, In a sense, you call between two extremes. On the one hand, they are trying not to lose too much money, and on the other hand, you’ve got to provide the best service.
M: Yes, you are right
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard
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22. What does the woman say about the British railways?
23. What do some people who write to the man complain about?
24. What does the man say threatens the existence of the railways?
25. What does the man say about the railways in other countries?
篇章：
Passage 1
Among global warming’s most frightening threats is the prediction that the polar ice caps will melt, raising sea level so much, that coastal cities from New York, to Los Angeles, to Shanghai will be flooded. Scientists agree that they key player in this scenario is the West Antarctic ice sheet. A Brazil size mass frozen water that as much as 7,000 feet thick, unlike floating ice shelves which have little impact on sea level when they break up, the ice sheet is anchored to bedrock will blow the sea surface. Surrounded by an open ocean, it is also vulnerable. But Antarctic experts disagree strongly on just how unstable it is. Now new evidence reveals that all are most of the West Antarctic ice sheet collapsed at least once during the past 1.3 million years-- a period when global temperatures probably will not significantly higher than they are today. And the ice sheet was assumed to have been stable. In geologic time, a million years is recent history. The proof which was published last week in Science comes from a team of scientists from Uppsala University in Sweden and Californian Institute of Technology who drill deep holes near the edge of the ice sheet. Within samples collected from the solid substance lying beneath the ice, they found fossils of microscope marine plants which suggests the region was once an open ocean, not solid ice. As Herman Ankleherd, a co-author from Californian Institute of Technology says, “The West Antarctic ice sheet disappeared once and can disappear again.”
Questions 26 to question 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Question 26: What is one of the most frightening threats of global warming according to the passage?
Question 27: What did scientists disagree on?
Question 28: What does the latest information reveal about West Antarctic ice sheet?
Question 29: What does scientists’ latest finding suggest?
Passage2
It’s always fun to write about reserch you can actually try out yourself.Try this. Take a photo and upload it to Facebook, then after a day or so, know what URL link to the picture is and then delete it. Come back a month later and see if the link works. Chances are, it will. Facebook isn’t alone here. Researches at Cambridge University have found out nearly half of the social netwworking sites don’t delete pictures immediately when a user request they be removed. In general, photo-centric websites like Phlica were found to be better at quickly removing deleted photos upon request. Why did deleted photos deck around so long?
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The problem relates to the way data restored on large websites. While your personal computer only keeps one copy of a file., large-scale services, like Facebook, rely on what are called Content Delivery Networks to manage data and distribution. It’s a complex system where we render data to mutil-intermedia devices usually to speed up access to files when millions of people are trying to access the service at the same time. But because changes aren’t reflected across Content Delivery Networks immediately, ghost copies of files tend to linger for days or weeks. In the case of Facebook, the company says data may hang around until the URL link questioned is reused, which is usually after a short period of time, though obviously that time vary considerably.
Question 30 What does the speaker ask us to try out?
Question 31 What accounts for the failure of some websites to remove photos immediately?
Question 32 When will the unwanted data eventually disappear from Facebook according to the company?
Passage3
Enjoy an iced coffee, better skip dinner or hit the gym afterwards. With the Cancer Charity warning that some iced coffees contain as many calories as a hot dinner, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) conducted a survey of iced coffee sold by some popular chains in Britain including Starbucks, Cafe Nero and Costa Coffee to give the calories as studies increasingly link obesity with cancer. The worst offender, a coffee from Starbucks had 561 calories, other iced coffees contained more than 450 calories, and the majority had an excess of 200. Health experts advise that the average women should consume about 2000 calories a day and a man about 2500 calories to maintain a healthy weight. Dieters in for 1000 to 1500 calories a day. The fact that there is an iced coffee on the market with over a quarter of a woman’s daily calories allowance is alarming. Doctor Rachel Thompson, science programmer manager at London-based WCRF, said in a widely reported statement, this is the amount of calories you might expect to have in an evening meal, not in a drink. The WCRF has estimated that 19 thousand cancers a year in Britain could be prevented if people lost their excess weight, with growing evidence that excess body fat increases various cancers. If you are having these types of coffee regularly. Then they will increase chances of you becoming overweight, with in turn increases your risk of developing cancer as well as other diseases such as heart disease, she added.
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
Q33: What warning does some health experts give?
Q34: What does the author suggest people do after an iced coffee?
Q35: What could British people expect if they maintain the normal body weight according to the WCRF?
复合式听写：
Psychologists are finding that hope plays a surprisingly vital role in giving people a measurable advantage in zones of diverse as academic achievement, bearing up in tough jobs and coping with tragic illness. And by contrast, the loss of hope is turning out to be a stronger sign that a person may commit suicide than other factors long thought to be more likely risks. Hope’s proved a powerful predictor of outcome
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in every study we’ve done so far.” said Doctor Charles R Snider. A psychologist who has devised a scale to assess how much hope a person has. For example, in research with 3920 college students, Doctor Snider and his colleagues found that the level of hope among freshmen at the beginning of their first semester was a more accurate predictor of their college grades than were their SAT scores or their grade point averages in high school-the two measures most commonly used to predict college performance. Students with high hope set themselves higher goals and know how to work to attain them.” Doctor Snider said. When you compare students of equivalent intelligence and past academic achievements, what sets them apart is hope. In devising a way to assess hope scientifically, Doctor Snider went beyond the simple notion that hope is merely the sense that everything will turn out all right. That notion is not concrete enough and it blurs two key components of hope.” Doctor Snider said. Having hope means believing you have both the will and the way to accomplish your goals whatever they may be.
2010 06 Section A
Short Conversation
11. M: Oh, I’m so sorry I forgot to bring along the book you borrowed from the library.
W: What a terrible memory you have! Anyway, I won’t need it until Friday night. As long as I can get it by then, OK?
Q: What do we learn from this conversation?
12. W: Doctor, I haven’t been able to get enough sleep lately, and I’m too tired to concentrate in class. M: Well, you know, spending too much time indoors with all that artificial lighting can do that to you. Your body loses track of whether it’s day or night. Q: What does the man imply?
13. M: I think I’ll get one of those new T-shirts, you know, with the school’s logo on both the front and back.
W: You’ll regret it. They are expensive, and I’ve heard the printing fades easily when you wash them. Q: What does the woman mean?
14. W: I think your article in the school newspaper is right on target, and your viewpoints have certainly convinced me.
M: Thanks, but in view of the general responses, you and I are definitely in the minority. Q: What does the man mean?
15. M: Daisy was furious yesterday because I lost her notebook. Should I go see her and apologize to again? W: Well, if I were you, I’d let her cool off a few days before I approach her. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?
16. M: Would you please tell me where I can get batteries for this brand of camera?
W: Let me have a look. Oh, yes, go down this aisle, pass the garden tools, you’ll find them on the shelf next to the light bulbs.
Q: What is the man looking for?
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17. M: Our basketball team is playing in the finals but I don’t have a ticket. I guess I’ll just watch it on TV. Do you want to come over?
W: Actually I have a ticket. But I’m not feeling well. You can have it for what it cost me. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
18. M: Honey, I’ll be going straight to the theatre from work this evening. Could you bring my suit and tie along?
W: Sure, it’s the first performance of the State Symphony Orchestra in our city, so suit and tie is a must. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
Long Conversations
Conversation 1
M: I got two letters this morning with job offers, one from the Polytechnic, and the other from the Language School in Pistoia, Italy.
W: So you are not sure which to go for?
M: That’s it. Of course, the conditions of work are very different: The Polytechnic is offering two-year contract which could be renewed, but the language school is only offering a year’s contract, and that’s a different minus. It could be renewed, but you never know.
W: I see. So it’s much less secure. But you don’t need to think too much about steady jobs when you are only 23.
M: That’s true.
W: What about the salaries? M: Well, the Pistoia job pays much better in the short term. I’ll be getting the equivalent of about ￡22,000 a year there, but only ￡20,000 at the Polytechnic. But then the hours are different. At the Polytechnic I’d have to do 35 hours a week, 20 teaching and 15 administration, whereas the Pistoia school is only asking for 30 hours teaching. W: Mmm„
M: Then the type of teaching is so different. The Polytechnic is all adults and mostly preparation for exams like the Cambridge certificates. The Language School wants me to do a bit of exam preparation, but also quite a lot of work in companies and factories, and a couple of children’s classes. Oh, and a bit of literature teaching.
W: Well, that sounds much more varied and interesting. And I’d imagine you would be doing quire a lot of teaching outside the school, and moving around quite a bit.
M: Yes, whereas with the Polytechnic position, I’d be stuck in the school all day.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard: Q19. What do we learn about the man from the conversation? Q20. What do we learn about the students at the Polytechnic?
Q21. What does the woman think of the job at the Language school?
Conversation 2
Good evening and welcome to tonight's edition of Legendary Lives. Our subject this evening is James Dean, actor and hero for the young people of his time. Edward Murray is the author of a new biography of Dean.
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W: Good evening, Edward. M: Hello Tina.
W: Edward, tell us what you know about Dean's early life.
M: He was born in Indiana in 1931, but his parents moved to California when he was five. He wasn't there long though because his mother passed away just four years later. Jimmy's father sent him back to Indiana after that to live with his aunt. W: So how did he get into acting?
M: Well, first he acted in plays at high school, then he went to college in California where he got seriously into acting. In 1951 he moved to New York to do more stage acting. W: Then when did his movie career really start?
M: 1955. His first starring role was in East of Eden. It was fabulous. Dean became a huge success. But the movie that really made him famous was his second one, Rebel Without a Cause, that was about teenagers who felt like they didn't fit into society. W: So how many more movies did he make?
M: Just one more, then he died in that car crash in California in 1955.
W: What a tragedy! He only made three movies! So what made him the legend he still is today?
M: Well I guess his looks, his acting ability, his short life, and maybe the type of character he played in his movies. Many young people saw him as a symbol of American youths.
Q22 What is the woman doing?
Q23 Why did James Dean move back to Indiana when he was young? Q24 What does the man say James Dean did at college in California? Q25 What do we know about James Dean from the conversation?
Section B
Passage 1
The time is 9 o’clock and this is Marian Snow with the news.
The German authorities are sending investigators to discover the cause of the plane crash late yesterday on the island of Tenerife. The plane, a Boeing 737, taking German holiday makers to the island crashed into a hillside as it circled while preparing to land. The plane was carrying 180 passengers. It’s thought there are no survivors. Rescue workers were at the scene. The British industrialist James Louis, held by kidnapper in central Africa for the past 8 months, was released unharmed yesterday. The kidnappers had been demanding 1 million pounds for the release of Mr. Louis. The London Bank and their agents who had been negotiating with the kidnappers have not said whether any amount of money has been paid.
The 500 UK motors workers who had been on strike in High Town for the past 3 three weeks went back to work this morning. This follows successful talks between management and union representatives, which resulted in a new agreement on working hour and conditions. A spokesman for the management said they’d hope they could now get back to producing cars, and that they lost lots of money and orders over this dispute.
And finally the weather. After a code start, most of the country should be warm and sunny. But towards late afternoon, rain will spread from Scotland to cover most parts by midnight.
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Questions 26 – 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26 What does the news say about the Boeing 737 plane? 27 What happened to British industrialist James Louis? 28 How did the 3-week strike in High Town end?
29 What kind of weather will be expected by midnight in most parts of the country?
Passage 2
Juan Louis, a junior geology major, decided to give an informative speech about how earthquakes occur. From his audience and analysis he learned that only 2 or 3 of his classmates knew much of anything about geology. Juan realized then that he must present his speech at an elementary level and with a minimum of scientific language. As he prepared the speech, Juan kept asking himself, “How can I make this clear and meaningful to someone who knows nothing about earthquakes or geological principles?” Since he was speaking in the Midwest, he decided to begin by noting that the most severe earthquake in American history took place not in California or Alaska but at New Madrid, Missouri in 1811. If such an earthquake happened today, it would be felt from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean and would flatten most of the cities in the Mississippi valley. That, he figured, should get his classmates’ attention. Throughout the body of the speech, Juan dealt only with the basic mechanics of the earthquakes, carefully avoid technical terms. He also prepared visual aids, diagramming photo line, so his classmates wouldn’t get confused. To be absolutely safe, Juan asked his roommate, who was not a geology major, to listen to the speech. “Stop me,” he said, “any time I say something you don’t understand.” Juan’s roommate stopped him four times. And at each spot, Juan worked out a way to make his point more clearly. Finally, he had a speech that was interesting and perfectly understandable to his audience.
Questions 30 – 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. Q30 What did Juan Louis learn from the analysis of his audience? Q31 How did Juan Louis start his speech?
Q32 What did Juan ask his roommate to do when he was making his trial speech?
Passage 3 Esperanto is an artificial language, designed to serve internationally as an auxiliary means of communication among speakers of different languages. It was created by Ludwig Lazar Zamenhof, a polish Jewish doctor specialized in eye diseases. Esperanto was first presented in 1887. An international movement was launched to promote its use. Despite arguments and disagreements, the movement has continued to flourish and has members in more than 80 countries. Esperanto is used internationally across language boundaries by at least 1 million people, particularly in specialized fields. It is used in personal contexts, on radio broadcasts and in a number of Its popularity has spread form Europe, both east and west, to such countries as Brazil and Japan. It is, however, in China that Esperanto has had its greatest impact. It is taught in universities and used in many translations, often in scientific or technological works. EL POPOLA CHINIO, which means from people’s China, it’s a monthly magazine in Esperanto and it’s read worldwide. Radio Beijing’s Esperanto program is the most popular program in Esperanto in the world. Esperanto vocabulary is drawn primarily from Latin, the Roman’s languages, English and German. Spelling is completely regular. A simple and consistent set of endings indicates grammatical functions of words. Thus for example, every noun ends in “o”, every adjective in “a”, and basic form of every verb in “i”. Esperanto also has a highly productive system of constructing new words from old ones.
Questions 33 – 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. Q33 What does the speaker tell us about Esperanto?
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Q34 What is said about the international movement to promote the use of Esperanto? Q35 What does the speaker say about Esperanto in China?
Section C
George Herbert Mead said that humans are \"talked into\" humanity. He meant that we gain personal identity as we communicate with others. In the earliest years of our lives, our parents tell us who we are:\"You're intelligent.\" \"You're so strong.\"
We first see ourselves through the eyes of others. So their messages form important foundations of our self-concepts. Later, we interact with teachers, friends, romantic partners and coworkers who communicate their views of us. Thus, how we see ourselves reflects the views of us that others communicate.
The profound connection between identity and communication is dramatically evident in children who are deprived of human contact. Case studies of children who are isolated from others reveal that they lack a firm self-concept, and their mental and psychological development is severely hindered by lack of language.
Communications with others not only affects our sense of identity, but also directly influences our physical and emotional well-being. Consistently, research shows that communicating with others promotes health, whereas social isolation is linked to stress, disease, and early death.
People who lack close friends have greater levels of anxiety and depression than people who are close to others. A group of researchers reveal scores of studies that trace the relationship between health and interaction with others.
The conclusion was that social isolation is statistically as dangerous as high blood pressure, smoking and obesity. Many doctors and researchers believe that loneliness harms the immune system, making us more vulnerable to a range of miner and major illnesses.
答案
Section A
11. A The man failed to keep his promise.
12. C The woman should spend more time outdoors. 13. D It is not a good idea to buy the T-shirt. 14. B Most readers do not share his viewpoints. 15. A Leave Daisy alone for the time being. 16. A Batteries.
17. D The man can get the ticket at its original price. 18. A The speakers will dress formally for the concert. 19. D He is undecided as to which job to go for. 20. C They are all adults. 21. B Varied and interesting. 22. C Hosting a television show.
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23. A He lost his mother.
24. B He got seriously into acting.
25. B He has long been a legendary figure.
Section B
26. C It crashed when it was circling to land. 27. A He was kidnapped eight months ago.
28. A The management and union representatives reached an agreement. 29. B rainy
30. C Very few of them knew much about geology.
31. B By noting where the most severe earthquake in U.S. history occurred. 32. C Stop him when he had difficulty understanding.
33. D It is a tool of communication among speakers of different languages. 34. D It has supporters from many countries in the world. 35. D It has had greater impact than in any other country.
Section C
36. intelligent 37. foundations 38. romantic 39. reflects 40. profound 41. dramatically 42. deprived 43. hindered
44. research shows that communicating with others promotes health, whereas social isolation is linked to stress, disease, and early death.
45. A group of researchers reviewed scores of studies that traced the relationship between health and interaction with others.
46. loneliness harms the immune system, making us more vulnerable to a range of miner and major illnesses.
2009年12月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
11.W: Did you use credit cards on your vacation last month in Europe?
M: Sure I did. They certainly beat going around with a wallet full of big bills. But carrying lots of cash is still very common among some older people traveling abroad. Q: What does the man say about some elderly people?
12.W: Rod must be in a bad mood today. What’s wrong with him?
M: He was passed over in the selection process for the dean of the admissions office. He’d been hoping for the position for a long time. Q: What does the man mean?
13.M: What a great singer Justin is! His concert is just awesome. And you’ll never regret the money you paid for the ticket.
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W: Yeah. Judging by the amount of the applause, everyone was enjoying it. Q: What does the woman mean? 14.W: I received an email yesterday from Henry. Do you remember? He was one of the chairpersons of our students union.
M: Yes, but I haven’t heard from him for ages. Actually I’ve been out of touch with him since our first reunion after graduation.
Q: What do we learn about the speakers?
15.M: Driving at night always makes me tired. Let’s stop for dinner.
W: Fine. And let’s find a motel, so that we can get an early start tomorrow. Q: What will the speakers probably do? 16.W: Let’s look at the survey on consumer confidence we conducted last week. How reliable are these figures? M: They have a 5% margin of error
Q: What are the speakers talking about?
17.W: Look at this catalogue, John. I think I want to get this red blouse.
M: Err, I think you’ve already one like this in blue. Do you need every color in the rainbow? Q: What does the man mean?
18.W: This notice says that all the introductory marketing classes are closed. M: That can’t be true. There’s supposed to be 13 of them this semester. Q: What does the man mean? Conversation One
M: I see on your resume that you worked as a manager of a store called “Computer Country”. Could you tell me a little more about your responsibilities there?
W: Sure. I was responsible for overseeing about 30 employees. I did all of the ordering for the store, and I kept track of the inventory.
M: What was the most difficult part of your job?
W: Probably handling angry customers. We didn’t have them very often, but when we did, I needed to make sure they were well taken care of. After all, the customer is always right. M: That’s how we feel here too. How long did you work there?
W: I was there for three and a half years. I left the company last month. M: And why did you leave?
W: My husband has been transferred to Boston. And I understand your company has an opening there too. M: Yes, that’s right. We do. But the position won’t start until early next month. Would that be a problem for you?
W: No, not at all. My husband’s new job doesn’t begin for a few weeks. So we thought we would spend some time driving to Boston and stop to see my parents.
M: That sounds nice. So tell me, why are you interested in this particular position?
W: I know that your company has a great reputation, and a wonderful product. I’ve thought many times that I would like to be a part of it. When I heard about the opening in Boston, I jumped to the opportunity. M: Well I’m glad you did.
19. What was the woman’s previous job?
20. What does the woman say was the most difficult part of her job? 21. Why is the woman looking for a job in Boston?
22. When can the woman start to work if she gets the job? Conversation Two W: Today in the studio we have Alberto Cortez, the well-known Brazilian advocate of the anti-global movement. He’s here to talk about the recent report, stating that by 2050 Brazil will be the one ot the word’s
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wealthiest and most successful countries. Alberto, what do you say to the report?
M: You know this isn’t the first time that people are saying Brazil will be a great economic power. The same thing was said over a hundred year ago. But it didn’t happen. W: Yes, but you must admit the world’s a very different place now.
M: Of course. In fact I believe there’s maybe some truth in the prediction this time around. First of all, though, we must remember the problems facing Brazil at the moment. W: Such as„?
M: There’s an enormous gap between the rich and the poor in this country. In Sal Paulo, you can see shopping malls full of designer goods right next door to the slam areas without proper water and electricity supplies. A lot of work needs to be done to help people in those areas improve their lives. W: What needs to be done?
M: Education, for example. For Brazil to be successful, we need to offer education to all Brazilians. Successful countries like South Korea and Singapore have excellent education systems. Brazil needs to learn from these countries.
W: So you are hopeful for the future.
M: As I said earlier, I’m hopeful. This isn’t an easy job. We need to make sure that these important opportunities for Brazil aren’t wasted, as they were in the past. 23. What does the recent report say about Brazil? 24. What problem does Alberto say Brazil faces now?
25. What does Alberto say about economically successful countries? Section B Passage One
Wilma Subra had no intention of becoming a public speaker. After graduating from college with degrees in chemistry and microbiology, she went to work at Gulf South Research Institute in Louisiana. As part of her job, she conducted field research on toxic substances in the environment, often in minority communities located near large industrial polluters. She found many families were being exposed high, sometimes deadly, levels of chemicals and other toxic substances, but she was not allowed to make her information public. Frustrated by these restrictions, Subra left her job in 1981, created her own company, and has devoted the past two decades to helping people fight back against giant industrial polluters. She works with families and community groups to conduct environmental tests, interpret test results, and organize for change. Because of her efforts, dozens of toxic sites across the country have been cleaned up, and one chemical industry spokesperson calls her “a top gun for the environmental movement.”
How has Wilma Subra achieved all this? Partly through her scientific training, partly through her commitment to environmental justice. But just as important is her ability to communicate with people through public speaking. “Public speaking,” she says, “is the primary vehicle I use for reaching people.”
If you had asked Subra before 1981, “Do you see yourself as a major public speaker?” She would have laughed at the idea. Yet today she gives more than 100 presentations a year. Along the way she has lectured at Harvard, testified before Congress, and addressed audiences in 40 states, as well as in Mexico, Canada, and Japan. 26. What did Wilma Subra do as part of her job while working at Gulf South Research Institute? 27. What did Wilma Subra leave her job in 1981?
28. What results have Wilma Subra’s efforts had in the part two decades? 29. What does the speaker say has contributed to Wilma Subra’s success? Passage 2
One of the biggest challenges facing employers and educators today is the rapid advance of globalization. The market place is no longer national or regional, but extends to all corners of the world. And this requires a global ready workforce. Universities have a large part to play in preparing students for the 21st century
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labor market by promoting international educational experiences. The most obvious way universities can help develop global workforce is by encouraging students to study abroad as part of their course. Students who have experienced another culture first hand are more likely to be global ready when they graduate. Global workforce development doesn’t always have to involve travel abroad however. If students learn another language and study other cultures, they will be more global ready when they graduate. It is important to point out that students also need to have a deep understanding of their own culture before they can begin to observe, analyze and evaluate other cultures. In multi-cultural societies, people can study each other’s cultures, to develop intercultural competencies, such as critical and reflective thinking, and intellectual flexibility. This can be done both through the curriculum and through activities on campus, outside of the classroom, such as art exhibitions, and lectures from international experts. Many universities are already embracing this challenge, and providing opportunities for students to become global citizens. Students themselves, however, may not realize that when they graduate, they will be competing in a global labor market, and universities need to raise awareness of these issues amongst undergraduates. Questions 30-32
Q30: What is one of the biggest challenges facing employers and educators today? Q31: What should students do first before they can really understand other cultures? Q32: What should college students realize according to the speaker? Passage 3
To see if hair color affects a person’s chances of getting a job, researchers at California State University asked 136 college students to review the resume and photograph of a female applicant for a job as an accountant. Each student was given the same resume. But the applicant’s picture was altered, so that in some photos her hair was golden, in some red and in some brown. The result? With brown hair, the woman was rated more capable, and she was offered a higher salary than when she had golden or red hair. Other studies have found similar results. Many respondents rate women with golden hair with less intelligent than other people, and red heads as more temperamental. Women with red or golden hair are victims of the common practice of stereotyping.
A stereotype is a simplistic or exaggerated image that humans carrying in their minds about groups of people. For example, lawyers are shrewd and dishonest is a popular stereotype. Stereotyping can occur in public speaking classes. When trying to choose a speech topic, some males think that women are uninterested in how to repair cars, while some females think that men are uninterested in creative hobbies, such as knitting and needle point. We should reject stereotypes, because they force all people in a group into the same simple pattern. They fail to account for individual differences, and the wide range of characteristics among members of any group. Some lawyers are dishonest, yes! But many are not. Some women are uninterested in repairing cars, yes! But some are enthusiastic mechanics. Questions 33-35
Q33: What did researchers at California State University find? Q34: What is the popular stereotype of lawyers?
Q35: Why does the speaker say we should reject stereotypes? Section C
The ancient Greeks developed basic memory systems called mnemonics. The name is derived from their Goddess of memory \"Mnemosyne\". In the ancient world, a trained memory was an immense asset, particularly in public life. There were no convenient devices for taking notes, and early Greek orators delivered long speeches with great accuracy because they learned the speeches using mnemonic systems.
The Greeks discovered that human memory is largely an associative process that it works by linking things together. For example, think of an apple. The instant your brain registers the word \"applehe shape, color, taste, smell and texture of that fruit. All these things are associated in your memory
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with the word \"apple\". This means that any thought about a certain subject will often bring up more memories that are related to it. An example could be when you think about a lecture you have had. This could trigger a memory about what you're talking about through that lecture, which can then trigger another memory. Associations do not have to be logical. They just have to make a good link. An example given on a website I was looking at follows, \"Do you remember the shape of Austria? Canada? Belgium? Or Germany? Probably not. What about Italy though? If you remember the shape of Italy, it is because you have been told at some time that Italy is shaped like a boot. You made an association with something already known, the shape of a boot. And Italy shape could not be forgotten once you had made the association.\" 2009年6月英语六级真题听力原文 短对话：
11. W: I forgot to tell you that Fred called last night to borrow your sleeping bag.
M: Oh, I saw him at the gym this morning, but he didn’t say anything. So he must have asked somebody else. Q: What does the man imply? 12. W: These summer days are getting to be more than I can take. It was even too hot to go to the pool yesterday. M: Hang in there. According to the weather report we should have some relief by the end of the week. Q: What does the man mean?
13. W: Well, tonight we have Professor Brown in our studio to talk about the famous oil painting of Queen Victoria. Good evening, professor.
M: Good evening, madam, my pleasure to be here tonight. Q: What is the woman doing?
14. M: The plants next to the window always look brown. You wouldn’t know by looking at them that I water them every week.
W: Maybe they don’t like direct sunlight. I had the same problem with some of my plants. And a little shade helps them immensely.
Q: What does the woman imply? Long conversation one
W: You’re the editor of Public Eye. What kind of topics does your program cover?
M: Well, there are essentially domestic stories. We don’t cover international stories. We don’t cover party politics or economics. We do issues of general social concern to our British audience. They can be anything from the future of the health service to the way the environment is going downhill.
W: How do you choose the topic? Do you choose one because it’s what the public wants to know about or because it’s what you feel the public ought to know about?
M: I think it’s a mixture of both. Sometimes you have a strong feeling that something is important and you want to see it examined and you want to contribute to a public debate. Sometimes people come to you with things they are worried about and they can be quite small things. They can be a story about corruption in local government, something they cannot quite understand, why it doesn’t seem to be working out properly, like they are not having their litter collected properly or the dustbins emptied.
W: How do you know that you’ve got a really successful program? One that is just right for the time? M: I think you get a sense about it after working in it in a number of years. You know which stories are going to get the attention. They are going to be published just the point when the public are concerned about that. Q19-21
19. What kind of topics does Public Eye cover? 20. How does Public Eye choose its topics?
21. What factor plays an important role in running a successful program? W: Hi, Professor Smith. I hear you’ve written a book titled Visions.
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M: Yes. It explains how science will revolutionize the 21st century. W: Could I ask you some questions concerning the book? M: Sure.
W: Are you optimistic about the future?
M: Generally, yeah. If we go back to the year of 1900, most Americans didn’t live beyond the age of 50. Since then, we’ve had improvements in health care and technology. There is no reason why these won’t continue far into the 21st century.
W: Are we ready for the changes that will come? M: Changes are already happening. The future is here now. We have DNA, microchips, the internet. Some people’s reaction is to say, we are too old; we don’t understand new technology. My reaction is to say, we must educate people to use new technology now.
W: Is world population going to be a big problem?
M: Yes, and no. I think that world population will stop increasing as we all get richer. If you are a part of the middle class, you don’t want or need 12 children. W: Will there be a world government?
M: Very probably. We will have to manage the world and its resources on a global level because countries alone are too small.
W: Will we have control of everything?
M:I think we’ll learn to control the weather, volcanoes and earthquakes. Illness won’t exist. We’ll grow new livers, kidneys, hearts, and lungs like spare parts for a car. People will live to about 130 or 150. For 2000 years, we have tried to understand our environment. Now we’ll begin to control it. Q22-25 are based on the conversation you just heard.
22. What does Professor Smith say about most Americans around the year of 1900? 23. What does Professor Smith advice we do?
24. When will the world population stop growing according to Professor Smith? 25. What does Professor Smith think human beings will be able to do? 2008年12月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
11. M: I’m asked to pick up the guest speaker Bob Russel at the airport this afternoon, do you know what he looks like?
W: Well, he’s in his sixties, he stands out, he’s bald, tall and thin and has a beard. Q: What do we conclude from the woman’s remarks about Bob Russel?
12. M: I am considering dropping my dancing class. I am not making any progress. W: If I were you, I stick with it. It’s definitely worth time and effort. Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?
13. W: You see I still have this pain in my back, this medicine the doctor gave me was supposed to make me feel better by now.
M: Maybe you should’ve taken it three times a day as you were told. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
14. M: Frankly, when I sat the back of the classroom, I can’t see the words on the board clearly.
W: Well, you’ve been wearing those same glasses as long as I’ve known you. Why not get a new pair? It wouldn’t cost you too much.
Q: What does the woman imply about the man’s glasses?
15. W: How come the floor is so wet? I almost slipped, what happened?
M: Oh, sorry! The phone rang the moment I got into the shower, anyway, I’ll wipe it up right now. Q: Why was the floor wet according to the man?
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16. M: The instructions on the package say that you need to some assembly yourself. I’ve spent all afternoon trying in vain to put this bookcase together.
W: I know what you mean, last time I tried to assemble a toy train for my son and I almost gave up. Q: What does the man find difficult?
17. M: I’m getting worried about Jenny’s school work. All she talks about these days is volleyball games and all she does is practice, training and things like that.
W: Her grades on the coming exams will fall for sure. It’s high time we talk(ed) some sense to her. Q: What are the speakers probably going to do?
18. W: Do you understand why the local people are opposed to the new dam up the river?
M: They are worried about the potential danger if the dam should break. The river is very wide above the proposed site.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation? Now you’ll hear the two long conversations: Conversation One
W: Mr. White, what changes have you seen in the champagne market in the last ten to fifteen years? M: Well the biggest change has been the decrease in sales since the great boom years of the 1980s when champagne production and sales reached record levels. W: Which was the best year?
M: Well the record was in 1989 when 249 million bottles of champagne was sold. The highest production level was reached in 1990 with a total of 293 million bottles. Of course since those boom years sales have fallen. W: Has the market been badly hit by the recession?
M: Oh certainly, the economic problems in champagnes’ export markets that’s Europe, the United States, Japan, and of course the domestic market in France, the economic problems have certainly been one reason for the decrease in champagne sales. W: And the other reasons?
M: Another important factor has been price. In the early 90s, champagne was very overpriced, so many people stop buying it. Instead they bought sparkling wines from other countries, in particular from Australia and Spain. And then there was another problem for champagne in the early 90s. W: What was that?
M: There was a lot of rather bad champagne on the market. This meant the popularity of good sparkling wines increased even more. People was surprised by their quality and of course they were a lot cheaper than champagne.
W: Do you think the champagne market will recover in the future?
M: Oh, I’m sure it will. When the economic situation improves, I believe the market will recover. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. What does the man say about champagne in the 1980s?
20. Why did sparkling wines become more popular than champagne in the early 90s? 21. What does the man think of the champagne market in the future? Conversation Two
W: Right, well, in the studio this morning, for our interview spot is Peter Wilson. Peter works for Green Peace. So, Peter, welcome.
M: Thanks a lot. It’s good to be here.
W: Great! Now, Peter, perhaps you can tell us something about Green Peace and your job there.
M: Sure. Well, I’ll start by telling you roughly what Green Peace is all about. I actually work in London for the Green Peace organization. We’ve been going for a few decades and we’re a non-violent, non-political organization. We’re involved in anti-nuclear activity, conservation and protection of animals and
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protection and support of our eco-system. I’m the action organizer and arrange any protests. W: Right! A pretty important role, Peter. What sort of protest would you organize?
M: Well, recently we’ve been involved in anti-nuclear campaigns. I, personally arranged for the demonstration against radioactive waste dumping in the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve got a few small Green Peace boats that we harass the dumping ship with.
W: Say? Hold on, Peter. I thought you said your organization was non-violent. What do you mean by \"harass\"? M: Well, we circle round and round the ships and get in the way when they try to dump the drums of nuclear waste in the sea. We talk to the men and try to change, you know, yell at them to stop. We generally make ourselves as much of a nuisance as possible.
M: Well, people may think differently of your methods, but there’s no doubt you’re doing a great job. Keep it up and good luck. And thanks for talking with us.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversations you have just heard.
22. What is the man’s chief responsibility in the Green Peace organization? 23. What has Green Peace been involved in recently?
24. How does Green Peace try to stop people from dumping nuclear waste? 25. What is the woman’s attitude towards the Green Peace’s campaigns? Section B Passage One
To find out what the weather is going to be, most people go straight to the radio, television, or newspaper to get an expert weather forecast. But if you know what to look for, you can use your own senses to make weather predictions. There are many signs that can help you. For example, in fair weather the air pressure is generally high, the air is still and often full of dust, and far away objects may look vague. But when the storm is brewing, the pressure drops, and you are often able to see things more clearly. Sailors took note of this long ago, and came up with the saying, “The farther the sight, the nearer the rain.” Your sense of smell can also help you detect the weather changes. Just before it rains, odors become stronger, this is because odors are repressed in a fair high pressure center. When a bad weather low moves in, air pressure lessens and odors are released. You can also hear an approaching storm. Sounds bounce off heavy storm clouds and return to earth with increased force. An old saying describes it this way, “Sounds traveling far and wide a stormy day will be tied”. And don’t laugh at your grandmother if she says she can feel a storm coming. It is commonly known that many people feel pains in their bones or joints while the humidity rises, the pressure drops, and bad weather is on the way.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard:
26. Why does the speaker say we can see far away objects more clearly as a storm is approaching? 27. What does the speaker want to show by quoting a couple of old sayings? 28. What does the passage mainly talk about? Passage Two
Many days seem to bring numerous tasks and responsibilities. All of which apparently must be tackled right away. You spend a day putting out files, but by the end of the day, you haven’t accomplished any of the really important things you set out to do. In desperation, you draft a “to-do” list, but most days, you can make little progress with it. When you look at the list each morning, a big fat cloud of doom is right at the top. Those difficult, complex, important tasks, that are so crucial to get done, and so easy to avoid. Plenty of us create a “to-do” list to address feelings of being overwhelmed, but we rarely use these tools to their best effect. They wind out being guilt-provoking reminders of the fact that will over-committed and losing control of our priorities. According to Timothy Pikle, a professor of psychology at Carlton University in Ottawa, people often draw up a “to-do” list, and then that’s it. The list itself becomes the day’s achievement, allowing us to feel we’ve done something useful without taking on any real work.
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In fact, drawing up the list becomes a way of avoiding the work itself. Too often, the list is seen as the accomplishment for the day, reducing the immediate guilt of not working on the tasks at hand by investing energy in the list, says Pikle. When a list is used like this, it’s simply another way in which we lie to ourselves.
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have heard.
29. What is the problem that troubles many people nowadays according to the speaker? 30. According to the speaker, what too many people do to cope with their daily tasks? 31. According to psychologist Timothy Pikle, what do people find by the end of the day? Passage Three
In many stressful situations, the body’s responses can improve our performance. We become more energetic, more alert, better able to take effective action. But when stress is encountered continually, the body’s reactions are more likely to be harmful than helpful to us. The continual speeding up of bodily reactions and production of stress related hormones seem to make people more susceptible to heart disease. And stress reactions can reduce the disease fighting effectiveness of the body’s immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to illnesses ranging from colds to cancer. Stress may also contribute to disease in less direct ways by influencing moods and behavior. People under stress may become anxious or depressed, and as a result may eat too much or too little, have sleep difficulties or fail to exercise. These behavioral changes may in turn be harmful to the health. In addition, people are more likely to pay attention to certain bodily sensations such as aches and pains when they are under stress and to think that they’re sick. If the person were not under stress, the same bodily sensations might not be perceived as symptoms and the person might continue to feel well. Some researchers have suggested that assuming the role of a sick person is one way in which certain people try to cope with stress. Instead of dealing with the stressful situation directly, these people fall sick. After all, it is often more acceptably in our society to be sick and to seek medical help than it is to admit that one can not cope with the stresses of life. Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
32. What does the speaker say about people who encounter stress once in a while? 33. What does the speaker say frequent stress reactions may lead to? 34. What are people more likely to do when they are under stress? 35. What does the passage mainly talk about? Section C
Now listen to the passage:
One of the most common images of an advanced, Western-style culture is that of a busy, traffic-filled city. Since their first（36）appearance on American roadways, automobiles have become a（37）symbol of progress, a source of thousands of jobs and an almost inalienable right for citizens’ personal freedom of movement. In recent（38）decades, our “love affair” with the car is being（39）exported directly to the developing world, and it is increasingly（40）apparent that this transfer is leading to disaster.
American’s almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large（41）percentage of the American public used mass transit. A（42）combination of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless（43）convenient and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled（拆除）.（44）Our air quality now suffers from the effects of pollutants emitted directly from our cars. Our lives have been planned along a road grid — homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between.
Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail.（45）The problems caused by motorized vehicles in the West are often magnified in developing nations. Pollution control measures are either not strict or nonexistent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans.（46）Movement in some cities comes to a virtual standstill
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as motorized traffic competes with bicycles and pedestrians.
In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing nations. 2008年6月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
11. M: Good news, I’m not going to have surgery after all. The doctor says I can start working out again soon and maybe play football like before in a few weeks.
W: That’s terrific. It would be great if you could get back in shape in time for the World Cup. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
12. M: I really need to make some extra money. You know I’ve practically spent my entire budget for this semester.
W: Why not check out the new cafeteria at Market Street? I think there are still a few openings suitable for seniors like you.
Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?
13. M: I hear John left his cat in your care while he’s on vacation abroad. How are you getting along with it?
W: Well, it never comes when I call it. It spills its food and sheds all over the place. I can’t wait till John gets back.
Q: How does the woman find the cat?
14. W: Hello, Professor White, I got my grade in the mail this morning, but I think there might be a mistake in my mark.
M: Yeah, I’ve got several calls just like yours. There must be a problem with the computing system. It should be straightened out in a couple of hours. Q: What does the man mean?
15. M: Professor Johnson, last night when I was putting the finishing touches on my paper, a computer failure completely wiped out my files, do you think I can have another day to retype it?
W: I’m sorry, Rod. I’m leaving for a conference tomorrow and I’ll be away two weeks. I suppose you could send me an E-copy.
Q: Why does the man say he can’t submit his assignment on time?
16. W: I just called the travel agency, it’s all set. On June l st, we are heading for the mountains and will be camping there for a whole week.
M: Have you checked the academic calendar? My classes aren’t over until the 8th. Q: What does the man imply?
17. W: I thought there was still time for me to apply for a student loan. But someone just told me that the closing date was last Tuesday.
M: Are you sure? I thought we still had another month. Wait, I’ve got a brochure right here. Last Tuesday was the opening date.
Q: What does the man imply?
18. W: Look at all the pollutants going into the air from those factories. Do you think they’ll ever get that under control?
M: Now with the new laws in effect and social awareness increasing, we are sure to turn things around. Q: What does the man mean? Conversation One
W: Tell me, Peter, what makes Harrods so famous?
M: Well, it’s the biggest department store in the UK. And its food hall and the Egyptian hall are very famous. People come to Harrods just to see them. W: What is special about the food hall?
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M: It sells many different kinds of food. For example, it has 250 kinds of cheese from all over the world and more than 180 kinds of bread. Customers also love all the different kinds of chocolate. They buy a hundred tons every year.
W: That’s amazing! And why is the Egyptian hall so famous?
M: Well, when people see it, they feel they are in another world. It looks like in Egyptian building from 4,000 years ago. And it sells beautiful objects. They are not 4,000 years old, of course. W: Is it true that Harrods produces its own electricity?
M: Yes, it does.70%, enough for a small town. To light the outside of the building, we use 11,500 light bulbs.
W: Really? Tell me, how many customers do you have on an average day? And how much do they spend? M: About 30,000 people come on an average day. But during the sales, the number increases to 300,000 customers a day. How much do they spent? Well, on average, customers spend about 1.5 million pounds a day. The record for one day is nine million pounds. W: Nine million pounds in one day?
M: Yes, on the first day of the January sales.
W: Harrods says it sells everything to everybody, everywhere. Is that really true? M: Oh, yes. of course! Absolutely everything! 19. What is the food hall of Harrods noted for?
20. What does the Egyptian hall seem like to the customers? 21. What may customers find surprising about Harrods?
22. About how many customers come to Harrods on an average day? Conversation Two W: Hi Kevin!
M: Hi Laura, long time no see! What have you been up to lately? W: Not much. I can assure you. And you?
M: Much the same except I do have some big news. W: Come on. This suspense is killing me.
M: No, really, what have you been doing these past few weeks? The last time I saw you, you were looking for a new job. W: Well, that’s not exactly true. I was thinking about changing jobs. Luckily, they offered me a new position in the accounting department.
M: A step up in the big business world.
W: I wouldn’t exaggerate, but I am pleased. I had been hoping to get a promotion for a while. So when it finally came through, I was relieved. Actually, that’s why I was looking for a new job. I just didn’t want to work there anymore if they weren’t going to recognize my efforts.
M: Right, sometimes you can do your best and it seems like the others don’t know you exist. I hope the money’s better.
W: I got a reasonable raise, now enough about me. I’m dying to hear your news. M: I am getting married.
W: No, you said you’d never get married.
M: That was then and this is now. You’ve got to meet Andrea, she’s great! W: This is all news to me. I didn’t even know you were dating. M: We weren’t. We’ve just been dating for two weeks now. W: And you getting married?
M: I know. I can’t help it. I just know she’s the one. W: Well, congratulations! That’s fantastic!
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M: Thanks, I’m glad to hear you feel way.
23. What was the woman doing when the man last saw her? 24. Why does the woman say she was relieved?
25. Why is the woman surprised at the man’s news? Section B Passage One
Water scooters are water vehicles that look very much like motorcycles. Nowadays, speedy, colorful water scooters are gaining in popularity. They can travel anywhere a small boat can and particularly popular with young people. The rising popularity of the craft has raised the question of water scooter regulation. In this case, the argument for strict regulation is compelling. Water scooters are a particularly deadly form of water recreation. For example, two women were vacationing in Longboat Key while they were floating on the rubber boat along the shore, a water scooter crashed into them and kill them. Also water scooter operators have been killed or seriously injured in collisions with other water craft. Others have been stranded at the sea when their scooters either failed or sank far from shore. Many water scooter operators are inexperienced and ignorant of navigational rules, which increase the potential for accidents. The increasing popularity of the scooter has aggravated the problem, providing more water vehicles to compete for the same space. Crowded water waves are simply an open invitation to disaster. In addition to the inherent operational hazards of water scooters, they are proving to be an environmental nuisance. Beach residents complain of the noise of the scooters. The Pacific Whale Foundation on the west coast expressed concern that the scooters are frightening away an endangered species of whale that migrates to Hawaii for breeding. Regulations such as minimum operating age, restricted operating areas and compulsory classes in water safety are essential. Without such regulations, tragedies involving water scooters are sure to multiply, which makes many beaches unsafe for recreation.
26. What does the speaker say about water scooters?
27. What is mentioned as one of the causes of water accidents?
28. In what way are water scooters said to be an environmental nuisance?
29. What does the speaker propose to ensure the safety of beaches for recreation? Passage Two
It seems to me that neighbors are going out of style in America. The friend nest door from whom you borrowed for eggs or a ladder has moved and the people in there now are strangers. Some of the traditional stories of neighborliness are impractical or silly and maybe just as well that our relations with our neighbors are changing. The saying in the Bible “Love thy neighbor” was probably a poor translation of what must have originally been, “respect thy neighbor”. Love can be called up on order. Fewer than half the people in the United States live in the same house they lived in five years ago. So there is no reason to love the people who live next door to you, just because they happen to wander into a real estate office that listed the place next door to yours. The only thing neighbors have in common, to begin with, is proximity and unless something more develops that isn’t reason enough to be best friends. It sometimes happens naturally, but the chances are very small that your neighbors will be your choices friends or that you will be theirs, either. The best relationship with neighbors is one of friendly distance. You say “hello”, use small talk if you see them in the yard, you discuss problems as they arise and you help each other in an emergency. The drive way or the fence between you is not really a cold shoulder but a clear boundary. We all like clearly-defined boundaries for ourselves.
30. What does the speaker say about the relations among neighbors nowadays?
31. Why does speaker say it may be difficult for people to love their neighbors? 32. What should neighbors do in the speaker’s opinion? Passage Three
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Articles in magazines and newspapers and special reports on radio and television reflect the concern of many Americans about the increasing drop-out rate in our junior and senior high schools. Coupled with this fact is the warning that soon we will no longer have a work force to fill the many jobs that require properly educated personnel. The high student drop-out rate is not a recent development. Ten years ago, many urban schools were reporting drop-out rates between 35 and 50 percent. Some administrators maintain that drop-outs remain the single greatest problem in their schools. Consequently, much effort has been spent on identifying students with problems in order to give them more attention before they become failures. Since the drop-out problem doesn’t start in senior high school, special programs in junior high school focus on students who show promise but have a record of truancy—that is staying away from school without permission. Under the guidance of counselors, these students are placed in classes with teachers who have had success in working with similar young people. Strategies to motivate students in a high school include rewarding academic excellence by designating scholars of the month, or by issuing articles of clothing, such as school letter jackets formerly given only to athletes. No one working with these students claims to know how to keep all students in school. Counselors, teachers and administrators are in the frontlines of what seems at times to be a losing battle. Actually, this problem should be everyone’s concern since uneducated, unemployed citizens affect us all.
33. Why are many Americans concerned with the increasing drop-out rate in school? 34. What do we learn about the student drop-out problem in America?
35. What is mentioned as one of the strategies used to motivate students? Section C
I’m interested in the criminal justice system of our country. It seems to me that something has to be done, if we’re to survive as a country. I certainly don’t know what the answers to our problems are. Things certainly get complicated in a hurry when you get into them, but I wonder if something couldn’t be done to deal with some of these problems. One thing I’m concerned about is our practice of putting offenders in jail who haven’t harmed anyone. Why not work out some system whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of incurring another debt by going to prison and, of course, coming under the influence of course, coming under the influence of hardened criminals. I’m also concerned about he short prison sentences people are serving for serious crimes. Of course one alternative to this is to restore capital pu8nishment, but I’m not sure I would be for that. I’m not sure it’s right to take an eye . The alternative to capital punishment is longer sentences but they would certainly cost the tax-payers much money. I also think we must do something about the insanity plea. In my opinion, anyone who takes another person’s life intentionally is insane; however, that does not mean that the person isn’t guilty of the crime or that he shouldn’t pay society the debt he owes. It’s sad, of course, that a person may have to spend the rest of his life, or a large part of it in prison for acts that he committed while not in full control of his mind.
2007年12月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
11. M: The biological project is now in trouble, you know, my colleague and I have completely different ideas about how to proceed.
W: Why don’t you compromise (让步，妥协)？Try to make it a win-win situation (双赢) for you both. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?
12. M: How does Nancy like the new dress she bought in Rome?
W: She said she would never have bought an Italian style dress if she had known Mary Had already got such a dress.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
13. M: You are not going to do all those dishes before we leave, are you? If we don’t pick up(开车接) George
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and Martha in 25 minutes, we’ll never get to the theater on time.
W: Oh, didn’t I tell you Martha called to say her daughter was ill and they could not got tonight? Q: What is the woman probably going to do first?
14. M: You’ve been hanging on to the phone (打电话不挂断) for quite a while. Who were you talking with? W: Oh, it was Sally. You know, she always has the latest news in town and can’t wait to talk it over with me.
Q: What to we learn about Sally from the conversation? 15. W: It’s always been hard to get this car into first gear (挂一挡)，and now the clutch seems to be slipping. M: If you leave the car with me, I will fix it for you this afternoon. Q: Who is the woman probably speaking to?
16. M: Kate, why does the downtown area look deserted now?
W: Well, there used to be some really good stores, but lots of them moved out to the mall.’ Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
17. W: I find the lounge such a cozy place to study in. I really like the feeling of sitting on the sofa and doing the reading.
M: Well, for me the hardest part about studying here is staying awake . Q: What does the man mean?
18. W: There mosquito bites are killing me. I can’t help scratching.
M: Next time you go camping, take some precaution, say, wearing long sleeves . Q: Why does the man suggest the woman wear long sleeves? Conversation One
M: Hello, and welcome to our program, “Working Abroad”. Our guest this evening is a Londoner, who lives and works in Italy, Her name’s Susan Hill. Susan, welcome to the program (19). You live in Florence, how long have you been living there?
W: Since 1982. But when I went there in 1982, I planned to stay for only 6 months(20). M: Why did you change your mind? W: Well, I’m a designer, I design leather goods, mainly shoes and handbags, Soon after I arrived in Florence, I got a job with one of Italy’s top fashion houses, Ferregamo. So, I decided to stay. M: How lucky! Do you still work for Ferregamo?
W: No, I’ve been a freelance designer for quite a long time now, since 1988, in fact. (21) M: So does that mean you design for several different companies now?
W: Yes, that’s right. I’ve designed many fashion items for a number of Italian companies, and in the last four years, I’ve also been designing for the British company, Burberrys. (21) M: What have you been designing for them? W: Mostly handbags and small leather goods.
M: How’s the fashion industry in Italy changed since 1982?
W: oh, yes. It’s become a lot more competitive (22). Because the quality of products from other countries has improved a lot. But Italian quality and design is still world-famous. M: And do you ever think of returning to live in England?
W: No, not really. Working in Italy is more interesting. I also love the Mediterranean sun and the Italian life style.
M: Well, thank you for talking to us, Susan. W: It was a pleasure.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. Where does this talk most probably take place?
20. What was the woman’ s original plan when she went to Florence?
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21. What has the woman been doing for a living since 1988?
22. What do we learn about the change in Italy’s fashion industry? Conversation Two
M: So, Claire, you’re into drama? W: Yes, I have a master’s degree in Drama and Theatre. At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph.D. Program. M: What excites you about drama?
W: Well, I find it’s a communicative way to study people and you learn how to read people in drama. So usually I can understand what people are saying, even though they might be lying. (23) M: That would be useful.
W: Yeah, it’s very useful for me as well. I’m an English lecturer, so use a lot for drama in my classes, such as role plays. And I ask my students to create mini-dramas. They really respond well. (24) At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph. D. course. I would like to concentrate on Asian drama and try to bring Asian theatre to the world’s attention. I don’t know how successful I would be, but, here’s hoping. M: Oh, I’m sure you’ll be successful. Now, Claire , what do you do for stage fright?
W: Ah, stage fright! Well, many actors have that problem. Get stage fright every time I’m going to teach a new class. The night before, I usually can’t sleep. M: What? For teaching?
W: Yes. I get really bad stage fright. But the minute I step into the classroom or get onto the stage, it just all falls into place. Then I just feel like: Yeah, this is what I mean to do. And I’m fine (25). M: Wow, that’s cool!
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 23. Why does the woman find study in drama and theatre useful?
24. How did the woman’s students respond to her way of teaching Englsih? 25. What does the woman say about her stage fright? Section B Passage One In January 1989, the Community of European Railways presented their proposal for a high speed pan-European train network, extending from Sweden to Sicily, and from Portugal to Poland by the year 2020. (26) If their proposal becomes a reality, it will revolutionize train travel in Europe. Journeys between major cities will take half the time they take today. (27) Brussels will be only one and a half hours from Paris. The quickest way to get from Paris to Frankfurt, from Barcelona to Madrid will be by train, not plane. When the network is compete, it will integrate three types of railway line: totally new high-speed lines with trains operating at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour, upgraded lines which allow for speeds up to 200 to 225 kilometers per hour, and existing lines for local connections and distribution of freight. If business people can choose between a 3-hour train journey from city-center to city-center and 1-hour flight, they’ll choose the train (28), says an executive travel consultant. They won’t go by plane any more. If you calculate flight time, check-in and travel to-and-from the airport, you’ll find almost no difference. And if your plane arrives late due to bad weather or air traffic jams or strikes, then the train passengers will arrive at their destination first. (28) Since France introduced the first 260-kilometer per hour high speed train service between Paris and Lyon in 1981 (29), the trains have achieved higher and higher speeds. On many routes, airlines have lost up to 90% of their passengers to high speed trains. If people accept the Community of European Railways’ Railways’ Plan, the 21st century will be new age of the trains. Question 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. What is the proposal presented by the Community of European Railways? 27. What will happen when the proposal becomes a reality?
28. Why will business people prefer a 3-hour train journey to a 1-hour flight?
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29. When did France introduce the first high speed train service? Passage Two
Western doctors are beginning to understand what traditional healers have always known that the body and the mind are inseparable. (30) Until recently, modern urban physicians heal the body, psychiatrist the mind, and priests the soul. However, the medical world is now paying more attention to holistic medicine, which is an approach based on the belief that people’s state of mind can make them sick or speed their recovery from sickness. Several studies show that the effectiveness of a certain drug often depends on the patients’ expectations of it. For example, in one recent study, psychiatrists at a major hospital tried to see how patients could be made calm. (31) They divided them into two groups. One group was given a drug while the other group received a harmless substance instead of medicine without their knowledge. Surprisingly, more patients in the second group showed the desired effect than those in the first group. In study after study, there’s a positive reaction in almost one-third of the patients taking harmless substances. How was this possible? How can such a substance have an effect on the body? Evidence from a 1997 study at the University of California shows that several patients who received such substances were able to produce their own natural drug, that is, as they took the substance their brains released natural chemicals that act like a drug. (32) Scientists theorized that the amount of these chemicals released by a person’s brain quite possibly indicates how much faith the person has in his or her doctor. Question 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.
30. According to the speaker, what are western doctors beginning to understand? 31. What does the recent study at a major hospital seem to prove?
32. What evidence does the 1997 study at the University of California produce? Passage Three
So we’ve already talked a bit about the growth of extreme sports like rock-climbing. As psychologists, we need to ask ourselves (35): Why is this person doing this? Why do people take these risks and put themselves in danger when they don’t have to? One common trait among risk-takers is that they enjoy strong feelings or sensations. (33) We call this trait sensation-seeking. A sensation-seeker is someone who’s always looking for new sensations. What else do we know about sensation-seekers? Well, as I said, sensation-seekers like strong emotions. You can see this trait in many parts of a person’s life, not just in extreme sports. For example, many sensation-seekers enjoy hard rock music. They like the loud sound and strong emotion of the songs. Similarly, sensation-seekers enjoy frightening horror movies. They like the feeling of being scared and horrified while watching the movie. This feeling is even stronger for extreme sports where the person faces real danger. Sensation-seekers feel the danger is very exciting. In addition, sensation-seekers like new experiences that force them to push their personal limits. For them, repeating the same things everyday is boring.(34) Many sensation-seekers choose jobs that involve risk, such as starting a new business or being an emergency room doctor. These jobs are different everyday, so they never know what will happen. That’s why many sensation-seekers also like extreme sports. When you do rock-climbing, you never know what will happen. The activity is always new and different.
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
33. According to the speaker, what is a common trait among risk-takers? 34. What do sensation-seekers find boring? 35. What is the speaker’s profession? Section C
If you are like most people, you’ve indulged in fake listening many times. You go to history class, sit in the third row, and look squarely (36) at the instructor as she speaks. But your mind is far away, floating (37) in the clouds of pleasant daydreams. Occasionally (38) you come back to earth: the instructor writes an important term on the chalkboard, and you dutifully (39) copy it in your notebook. Every once
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in a while the instructor makes a witty (40) remark, causing others in the class to laugh. You smile politely, pretending that you’ve heard the remark and found it mildly humorous (41). You have a vague sense of guilt (42) that you aren’t paying close attention, but you tell yourself that any material (43) you miss can be picked up from a friend’s notes. Besides, the instructor is talking about road construction in ancient Rome and nothing could be more boring (44). So back you go into your private little world. Only later do you realize you’ve missed important information for a test.
Fake listening may be easily exposed, since many speakers are sensitive to facial cues and can tell if you’re merely pretending to listen. Your blank expression and the faraway look in your eyes are the cues that betray you inattentiveness (45).
Even if you’re not exposed, there’s another reason to avoid fakery: it’s easy for this behavior to become a habit. For some people, the habit is so deeply rooted that they automatically start daydreaming when a speaker begins talking on something complex or uninteresting (46). As a result, they miss lots of valuable information.
2007年6月英语六级真题听力原文
11、 W: Jim, you are on the net again! We are going to get off. It s time for the talk show!
M: Just a minute dear! I m looking at a new jewelry site. I want to make sure I get the right gift for mom s birthday.
Q: What is the man doing right now?
12．W: I ve never seen you have such confidence before in the exam!
M: It s more than confidence! Right now I felt that if I got less than an A, it will be the fault of the exam itself.
Q: What does the man mean? 13．W: Just look at this newspaper! Nothing but murder, death and war! Do you still believe people are basically good?
M: Of course I do! But newspapers hardly ever report stories about peace and generosity. They are not news! Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
14．M: Tom must be joking when he said he plans to sell his shop and go to medical school.
W: You are quite right! He s just kidding! He s also told me time and time again he wished to study for some profession instead of going into business.
Q: What will Tom probably do according to the conversation?
15．W: I hear your boss has a real good impression of you, and he is thinking about giving you two more days off each month.
M: I hope not. I d rather get more work hours I can get enough bucks to help out my two kids at college. Q: What does the man truly want?
16．M: I heard you took a trip to Mexico last month. How did you like it?
W: Oh, I got sick and tired of the hotel and hotel food! So now I understand the thing: East, west, home s best!
Q: What does the woman mean?
17．W: I m worried about Anna. She s really been depressed lately. All she does is staying in her room all day.
M: That sounds serious! She d better see a psychiatrist at the counseling centre. Q: What does the man suggest Anna do?
18．M: I could hardly recognize Sam after we got that new job! He s always in a suit and tie now. W: Yeah. He was never liked that in college. Back then, he went around in old T-shirts and jeans. Q: What does the speaker say about Sam? Conversation 1
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M: Hi, Anna! Welcome back! How’s your trip to the States?
W: Very busy. I had a lot of meetings, so, of course, I didn’t have much time to see New York. M: What a pity! Actually, I have a trip there myself next week.
W: Do you? Then take my advice, do the well-being in the air program. It really works. M: Oh, I read about that in a magazine. You say it works?
W: Yes, I did the program on the flight to the States, and when I arrived at New York, I didn’t have any problem, no jet lag at all. On the way back, I didn’t do it, and I felt terrible. M: You’re joking!
W: Not at all, it really meant a lot of difference. M: En. So what did you do?
W: Well, I didn’t drink an alcohol or coffee, and I didn’t eat any meat or rich food. I drink a lot of water, and fresh juice, and I ate the noodles on the well-being menu. They’re lighter. They have fish, vegetables, and noodles, for example, and I did some of the exercises of the program. M: Exercises? On a plane?
W: Yes. I didn’t do many, of course, there isn’t much space on a plane. M: How many passengers do the exercises? W: Not many.
M: Then how much champagne did they drink?
W: A lot! It was more popular than mineral water.
M: So, basically, it’s a choice. Mineral water and exercises, or champagne and jet lag. W: That’s right! It’s a difficult choice.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard. 19. Why did the woman go to New York?
20. What does the woman say about the well-being in the air program? 21. What did the woman do to follow the well-being menu? 22. What did the woman say about other passengers? Conversation Two:
W: Morning. Can I help you?
M: Well, I’m not rally sure. I’m just looking.
W: I see. Well, there’s plenty to look at it again this year. I’m sure you have to walk miles to see each stand.
M: That’s true.
W: Er„, would you like a coffee? Come and sit down for a minute, no obligation. M: Well, that’s very kind of you, but„
W: Now, please. Is this the first year you’ve been to the fair, Mr„. M: Yes, Johnson, James Johnson.
W: My name’s Susan Carter. Are you looking for anything in particular, or are you interested in computers in general?
M: Well, actually, I have some specific jobs in mind. I owe a small company, we’ve grown quite dramatically over the past 12 months, and we really need some technological help to enable us to keep on top of everything. W: What’s your line of business, Mr. Johnson? M: We’re a training consultancy.
W: I see. And what do you mean “to keep on top”?
M: The first thing is correspondence. We have a lot of standard letters and forms. So I suppose we need some kind of word processor.
W: Right. Well, that’s no problem. But it may be possible for you to get a system that does a lot of other
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things in addition to word processing. What might suit you is the MR5000. That’s it over there! It’s IBM compatible.
M: What about the price?
W: Well, the MR5000 costs 1,050 pounds. Software comes free with the hardware. M: Well, I’ll think about it. Thank you.
W: Here’s my card. Please feel free to contact me.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you’ve just heard: 23. Where did the conversation take place? 24. What are the speakers talking about? 25. What is the man’s line of business? Passage 1 The new year always brings with the cultural tradition of new possibilities. We see it as a chance for renewal. We begin to dream of new possible selves. We design our ideal self or an image that is quite different from what we are now. For some of us, we roll at dreamy film in our heads just because it’s the beginning of a new year. But we aren’t serious about making changes. We just make some half-hearted resolution and it evaporates after a week or two. The experience makes us feel less successful and leads us to discount our ability to change in the future. It’ not the change is impossible but that it would lose(?) unless our resolutions are supported with plans for implementation. We have to make our intentions manageable by detailing the specific steps that will carry us to our goal. Say your goal is to lose weight by dieting and cutting off sweets. But one night you just have to have a cookie. And you know there’s a bag of your favorites in the cupboard. You want one, you eat two, you check the bag and find out you’ve just shot 132 calories. You say to yourself, “What the hell!” and polish off the whole bag. Then you begin to draw all kinds of unpleasant conclusions about yourself. To protect your sense of self, you begin to discount the goal. You may think – “Well, dieting wasn’t that important to me and I won’t make it anyhow.” So you abandon the goal and return to your bad habits.
26 What do people usually wish to do at the beginning of a new year? 27 How can people turn their new year’s resolutions into reality? 28 Why does the speaker mention the example of sweets and cookies? Passage2
25 years ago, Ray Anderson, a single parent with a one-year-old son witnessed a terrible accident which took place when the driver of a truck ran a red light and collided with the car of Sandra D. The impact of the collision killed Sandra instantly. But her three-month-old daughter was left trapped in the burning car. While others looked on in horror, Andersen jumped out of his vehicle and crawled into the car through the shadowed rear window to try to free the infant. Seconds later, the car was enclosed in flames. But to everyone’s amazement, Andersen was able to pull the baby to safety. While the baby was all right, Andersen was seriously injured. Two days later he died. But his heroic act was published widely in the media. His son was soon adopted by relatives. The most remarkable part of the story unfolded only last week. Karen and her boyfriend Michael were looking through some old boxes when they came across some old newspaper clippings. “This is me when I was a new born baby. I was rescued from a burning car. But my mother died in the accident,” explained Karen. Although Michael knew Karen’s mother had died years earlier, he never fully understood the circumstances until he skimmed over the newspaper article. To Karen’s surprise, Michael was absorbed in the details of the accident. And he began to cry uncontrollably. Then he revealed that the man that pulled Karen from the flames was the father he never knew. The two embraced and shed many tears, recounting stories told to them about their parents. 29 What happened twenty-five years ago?
30 What does the speaker say about Michael’s father?
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31 Why did Michael cry uncontrollably when he skimmed over the newspaper article? Passage3
Americans suffer from an overdose of work. Regardless of who they are or what they do. Americans spend more time at work than that any time since World War II. In 1950, the US had fewer working hours than any other industrialized country. Today, it exceeds every country but Japan where industrialized employees load 2155 hours a year compared with 1951 in the US and 1603 in the former West Germany. Between 1969 and 1989, employed Americans add an average of 138 hours to their yearly work schedules. The workweek has remained above 40 hours. But people are working more weeks each year. Specifically pay time off holidays, vacations, sick leave shrink by 50% in the 1980s. As corporations have experienced stiff competitions and slow in growth of productivity, they have pressed employees to work longer. Cost-cutting lay-offs in the 1980s reduce the professional and managerial runs, leaving fewer people to get the job done. In lower paid occupations where wages have been reduced, workers have added hours in overtime or extra jobs to preserve their living standards. The government estimates that more than 7 million people hold a second job. For the first time, large numbers of people say they want to cut back on working hours even it means earning less money. But most employers are unwilling to let them do so. The government which has stepped back from its traditional role as a regulator of work time should take steps to make shorter hours possible. Question 32-35 are based on the passage you’ve just heard
32. In which country do industrial employees work the longest hours? 33. How do employed Americans manage to work more hours?
34. Why do corporations press their employees to work longer hours according to the speaker? 35. What does the speaker say many Americans prefer to do? Compound dictation
Nursing, as a typically female profession, must deal constantly with the false impression that nurses are there to wait on the physician. As nurses, we are licensed to provide nursing care only. We do not have any legal or moral obligation to any physician. We provide health teaching, assess physical as well as emotional problems, coordinate patient related services, and make all our nursing decision based upon what is best or suitable for the patient. If in any circumstance we feel that a physician’s order is inappropriate or unsafe, we have a legal responsibility to question that order, or refuse to carry it out. Nursing is not a nine-to-five job with every weekend off. All nurses are aware of that before they enter the profession. The emotional and physical stress, however, that occurs due to odd working hours is a prime reason for a large of the career dissatisfaction. It is sometimes required that we work overtime, and that we change shifts four or five times a month. That disturbs our personal lives, destruct our sleeping and eating habits, and isolates us from everything except job related friends and activities. The quality of nursing care is being affected dramatically by these situations. Most hospitals are now staffed by new graduates, as experienced nurses finally give up trying to change the system. Consumers of medically related services have evidently not been affected enough yet to demand changes in our medical system. But if trends continue as predicted, they will find that most critical hospital care will be provided by new, inexperienced, and sometimes inadequately trained nurses. 2006年12月英语六级真题听力原文
1.W: Do you know why Mary has such a long face today?
M: I don’t have the foggiest idea! She should be happy especially since she got a promotion yesterday. Q: What did the speakers mean?
2.M: Hi, Johanna! Are you interested in going to an Art Exhibition on Sunday? A friend of mine is showing some of her paintings there. It’s the opening night. Free drinks and food! W: Well, actually, I don’t have anything planned. It sounds kind of fun! Q: What did the man invite the woman to do on Sunday?
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3.M: You did an excellent job in school! You were indeed a great student! Where did your drive come from?
W: Academic achievements were important to my parents as immigrants. Education is where it all begins. My mother in particular tries to get me interested in school. Q: what do we learn about the woman from the conversation?
4.M: I hear the Sunflower Health Club on Third Street is good!
W: Not right now! I used to go there. I thought it was great because it was real cheap. But the problem was it was always crowded. Sometimes, I had to wait to use the machines. Q: What does the woman say about the Sunflower health club?
5.W: Tom is very excited! Just yesterday he received his doctoral degree and in a few minutes he’ll be putting the ring on Sarah‘s finger.
M: He’s really such a luck dog! Sarah is a lovely bride and tonight they are going to Hawaii on their honeymoon!
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
6.W: Your chemistry examination is over, isn’t it? Why do you still look so worried?
M: I don’t know. It wasn’t that the questions were too hard, or they were too many of them. But I’m still feeling uneasy because the exam didn’t seem to have much to do with the course material. Q: What does the man mean?
7.W: Your wife told me that you eat out four or five times a week, I really envy you!
M: Don’t envy me! It’s for business. In fact, I’m sick and tired of restaurant food! Sometimes, I just prefer a home-cooked meal.
Q: Why does the man say he often eats out?
8.W: I was amazed when I heard Tony played piano so expertly! From the way he talked, I thought he was just starting his lessons.
M: Oh, no! That’s the way he always talks!
Q: What can we infer about Tony from the conversation?
9.M: What do you think of people suing McDonalds for making them fat?
W: Well. Its food doesn’t make you fat. But eating too much of it does! How about chocolate and ice cream? Are they all responsible? It’s silly!
Q: What does the woman think of the lawsuit against McDonalds?
10.M: I’m terribly sorry ma’am, but your flight has been cancelled. I won’t be able to put you on another one until tomorrow morning.
W: Well, I certainly hope the airline’s going to put me up somewhere tonight. Q: What did the woman request the airline do? Passage one
You have probably heard of the DuPont company, which was founded by a family of the same name. But do you know about the museum that one of the family members began? Henry Francis Du Pont was an heir to Delaware’s DuPont Company fortune. He was one of the first serious collectors of American decorative art objects: furniture, textiles, paintings and other objects made in United States between 1640 and 1840. American furniture and household objects had been considered inferior to those from Europe. But Du Pont helped develope a new appreciation for American decorative arts. He created a legendary show plays for these objects on his family estate just outside Wilmington, Delaware. In 1951, it was open to the public as the Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum. The museum assembled objects from Du Pont’s collection into 175 period rooms, each with examples of American antiques and decorative arts that followed a certain theme of period in early American history. For example, the Du Pont dining room has furniture dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. And because this was the time when the United States became a new nation, there’s a patriotic
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theme in the room. Another example is the Chinese parlor, which has furnishings that would reflect American’s fascination with Asian culture during the 18th century. In these period rooms, Du Pont believed he could tell the story of the early United States through furniture and other decorative arts. 11. What is Henry Francis Du Pont noted for? 12. What was the purpose of Du Pont’s efforts? 13. How were the objects on display arranged? Passage two
According to David Grattle, a British language expert, the idea that English will become the world language is outdated. And people are more likely to switch between two or more languages for routine communication in the future. The share of the world’s population that speaks English as a native language is falling. Instead, English will play a growing role as a second language. A population speaking more than one language is already the case in much of the world and is becoming more common in the United States. Indeed, the census bureau reported last year that nearly one American in five speaks a language other than English at home, with Spanish taking the lead, followed by Chinese. Grattle works for British consulting and publishing business. He anticipates a world with the share of people who are native English speakers slips from 9% in the mid 1990s to 5% in 2050. Grattle says, “Up until 1995, English was the second most common native tongue in the world, trailing only Chinese. By 2050, Chinese will continue its predominance with Hindi Woodoo of India and Arabic climbing past English and Spanish nearly equal to it.” In contrast, an American language expert, David Harrison noted that the global share of English is much larger if you count second language speakers, and will continue to rise even as the proportion of native speakers declines. Harrison disputed listing Arabic in top three languages because varieties of Arabic spoken in such countries as Egypt and Morocco are mutually incomprehensible.
14. What does David Grattle say about the use of languages for daily communication in the future? 15. Why doesn’t David Harrison include Arabic as one of the top three languages? 16. What can we infer from the passage? Passage three There are about 1 million blind people in the United States. The largest and most influential organization of blind people in this country is the National Federation of the Blind. Its officials say the nation doesn’t have any colleges or universities that serve only blind students. They say the reason for this is that blind people must learn to live among people who can see. American colleges and universities do accept blind and visually impaired students, and they provide services to help these students succeed. For example, colleges find people who write down what the professor say in class and they provide technology that can help blind students with their work. However, experts say colleges can best help blind students by making it clear that the students should learn to help themselves. One blind American student named T recently made news because he graduated from medical school from the University of Wisconsin. He said technology was one of the reasons he succeeded. He used a computer that read into his earphone what he was typing. He also used a small printer that permitted him to write notes about his patients in the hospital. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. National Federation of the Blind officials say blind students from other nations do come to the United States to attend college. Some can even get financial aid. The Federation awards about 30 scholarships each year that have no citizenship requirement. 17. According to officials of the National Federation of the Blind, why are there no special colleges for blind students only?
18. According to experts how can colleges best help blind students?
19. What is one of the reasons given by T as a blind student for his success?
20. What can blind students from overseas do to study in America according to the National Federation of the Blind?
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2006年6月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. M: Mary, could you please tell Thomas to contact me? I was hoping he would be able to help me out with the freshmen orientation program next week.
W: I would certainly tell him if I saw him, but I haven't seen him around for quite a few days. Q: What does the woman mean?
2. M: Susan, I am going to change the light bulb above the dining room table. Will you hold the ladder for me?
W: No problem. But be careful while you're up there. Q: What does the man want the woman to do?
3. W: It's freezing cold. Let me make some coffee to warm us up. Do you want a piece of pie as well? M: Coffee sounds great. But I'm going to have dinner with some friends in a while, so I'd better skip the pie.
Q: What does the man mean?
4. W: How come Jim lost his job?
M: I didn't say he had lost it. All I said was if he didn't get out and start selling a few cars instead of idling around all day, he might find himself looking for a new job. Q: What does the man say about Jim?
5. M: Hello, Mary. This is Paul at the bank. Is Tony home?
W: Not yet. Paul. I don't think you can reach him at the office now, either. He phoned me five minutes ago to say he was stopping for a hair-cut on his way home. Q: Who do you think the woman probably is?
6. W: Oh! Boy! I don't understand how you got a ticket today. I always thought you were slow even driving on the less crowded fast lane.
M: I'm usually careful. But this time I thought I could get through the intersection before the light turned.
Q: What do we learn about the man?
7. W: Your dog certainly seems to know you are his master. Did you have to punish him very often when you trained him?
M: I found it's much better to praise him when he obeys and not to be so fussy when he makes mistakes. Q: What does the man say about training dogs?
8. M: I am afraid there won't be time to do another tooth today. Make sure you don't eat anything like stakes for the next few hours, and we'll fill the other cavity tomorrow.
W: All right. Actually, I must hurry to the library to return some books. Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?
9. W: I am worried about Jenny going to college. College students are so wild nowadays.
M: Actually, only a few are like that. Most students are too busy studying to have time to cause trouble. Q: What does the man imply?
10. W: You didn't seem to be terribly enthusiastic about the performance.
M: You must be kidding. I couldn't have clapped any harder. My hands are still hurting. Q: What does the man think of the performance? Section B Passage 1
Born and raised in central Ohio, I'm a country girl through and through. I'm currently studying to become a physical therapist, a career path that marks a great achievement for me. At Ohio State University, admission into the physical therapy program is intensely competitive. I made it pass the first cut the first year
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I applied, but was turned down for admission. I was crushed, because for years I have been determined to become a physical therapist. I received advice from friends and relatives about changing my major and finding another course for my life. I just couldn't do it. I knew I could not be as happy in another profession. So I stilled myself, began to work seriously for another year and reapplied. Happily I received notice of my admission. Later, I found out that less than 15% of the applicant had been offered positions that year. Now in the first two years of professional training, I couldn't be happier with my decision not to give up on my dream. My father told me that if I wanted it badly enough, I would get in. Well, Daddy, I wanted it. So there. After graduation, I would like to travel to another country, possibly a Latin American country and work in a children's hospital for a year or two. So many of the children there are physically handicapped but most hospitals don't have the funding to hire trained staff to care for them properly. I would like to change that somehow.
11. What is the speaker's field of study?
12. According to the speaker, what contributed to her admission to Ohio State University? 13. Why does the speaker want to go to a Latin American country? Passage 2
Gabriela Mistral was once an ordinary teacher in a small village school in Northern Chile. Towering mountains separate her village from the world outside. Gabriela Mistral was only fifteen when she began teaching, but she was a good teacher. She helped the minds of her students' scale the mountain walls and reached out to the world beyond. For eighteen years, Gabriela devoted her life to the poor farm children of Chile's Northern valleys. During part of this time, she was director of schools in all of Chile. Before long, many countries recognized her as a great friend of children and the leader in education. In 1922, she was invited to Mexico to help organize the rural school system. Two years later, Gabriela Mistral came to the United States where she served as a visiting professor in several colleges. In New York City, a group of teachers helped to finance the publication of her first book of poetry. Some of her books have been translated into six different languages. She gave the income from some of her books to help poor and neglected children. Beginning in the 1920's, her interests reached out to broader fields. Statesmen asked her advice on international problems. She tried to break through the national barriers that hindered the exchange of ideas among the Spanish speaking peoples of South America. She tried to develop a better understanding between the United States and countries of Latin America. In 1945, she gained worldwide recognition by winning the Nobel Prize in literature, the first Southern American to win the prize. 14. Where did Gabriela Mistral start her teaching career?
15. How did Gabriela Mistral help the poor children of her hometown? 16. Why did many countries think highly of Gabriela Mistral? 17. How did Gabriela Mistral become famous all over the world? Passage 3
Over time animals have developed many ways to stay away from predators. A predator is an animal that hunts and eats other animals. Hiding is one of the best ways to stay alive. Some animals hide by looking like the places where they live. To see how this works, let's look at the sea dragon. It is a master of disguise. The sea dragon is covered with skin that looks like leaves. The skin helps the dragon look like a piece of seaweed. A hungry meat eater would stay away from anything that looks like seaweed. Other animals stay safe by showing their colors. They want other animals to see them. Scientists call these bright colors--warning colors. You have probably seen animals that have warning colors. Some grasshoppers show off their own bright colors. Those colors don't just look attractive; they tell their enemies to stay away. Of course, hungry predators sometimes ignore the warning. They still go after the grasshopper. If that happens, the grasshopper has a backup defense. It makes lots of foam. The foam tastes so bad that the predator won't do it again. Color doesn't offer enough protection for some other animals. They have different defenses
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that help them survive in the wild. Many fish live in groups or schools. That's because there is safety in numbers. At the first sign of trouble, schooling fish swim as close together as they can get. Then the school of fish makes lots of twists and turns. All that movement makes it hard for predators to see individuals in a large group.
18. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
19. What protects the sea dragon from the meat eater's attack? 20. According to the passage, why do many fish stay in groups? 2005年12月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. M: The Dean just announced that Dr. Holden’s going I’ll miss you guys while I’m working here in the library.
W:I knew it all along! He’s the obvious choice. All the other candidates are no match for him! Q: what do we learn about the two speakers? 2.W: Hey, let me know how your summer’s going! I’ll miss you guys while I’m working here in the library. M: I’ll be working, too! But I’ll send you an email or call you once in a while. When we all get back to school, we can have a party or something. Q:what do we learn about the two speakers?
3.W: I know it’s the end of the season, but those peaches are such a bargain that I couldn’t help buying them! Have one please!
M: Thank you! Actually, they seem pass their prime. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
4. M:The assignment on physics is a real challenge. I don’t think I can finish it on time or by myself. W: Why don’t we join our feet together? It may be easier then. Q: What does the woman suggest?
5.M: Jean really lost her temper in Dr.Brown’s class this morning.
W: Oh? Did she? But I think her frankness is really something to be appreciated. Q: What does the woman mean?
6.W: We heard that when you are a kid, you submitted a story to Reader’s Digest.
M: Well, I don’t remember this story exactly, but my idea of a great time then was a pad of lined paper and a new blue pen. I thought myself as a Reader’s Digest member at the age of six. Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
7. M: Your son certainly shows a lot of enthusiasm on the tennis cournt. W: I only wish he’d show as much for his studies. Q: What does the woman imply about her son?
8. W: We suppose to meet John here at the railway station. M: That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Q: What does the man imply?
9.M: Professor Stevenson, as an economist, how do you look upon the surging Chinese economy? Does it constitute a threat to the rest of the world?
W: I believe China’s economic success should be seen more as an opportunity than a threat. Those who looked upon it as a threat overlooked the benefit of china’s growth to the world’s economy. They also lack the understanding of elementary economics.
Q: What does Professor Stevenson think of China’s economy?
10. W: Our school has just built some new apartment near campus, but one bedroom runs for 500 dollars a month.
M: That’s a bit beyond the reach of most students!
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Q: What does the man mean? Section B
Passage One
I had flown from San Francisco to Virginia to attend a conference on multiculturalism. Hundreds of educators from across the country were meeting to discuss the need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum. I took a taxi to my hotel. On the way, my driver and I chatted about the whether and the tourists. The driver was a White man in forties. ‘How long have you been in this country?’ he asked. ‘All my life!’ I replied, ‘I was born in the United States.’ With strong southern accent, he remarked, ‘I was wondering because your English is excellent.’ Then I explained as I had done many times before, ‘My grandfather came here from China in the 1880s. My family has been here in America for ever a hundred years.’ He glanced at me in the mirror. Somehow, I didn’t look American to him. My appearance looked foreign. Questions liked the one my taxi driver asked make me feel uncomfortable. But I can understand why he could not see me as an American. He had a narrow but widely shared sense of the past: a history that has viewed Americans as descendants of Europeans. Race has functioned as something necessary to the construction of American character and quality in the creation of our national identity—American has been defined as ‘white’. But American has been racially diverse since our very beginning on the Virginia shore, where the first group of Englishmen and Africans arrived in the 17th century. And this reality is increasingly become visible everywhere.
11.What was the theme of the conference the speaker was to attend?
12.Why did the taxi driver ask the speaker how long he has been in the US? 13.What message did the speaker wish to convey? Passage Two
Laws have been written to govern the use of American National Flag, and to ensure proper respect for the flag. Custom has also governed the common practice in regard to its use. All the armed services have precise regulations on how to display the national flag. This may vary somewhat from the general rules. The national flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is folded. Unfold the flag first, and then hoist it quickly to the top of the flagpole. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. Do not use the flag as part of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not print it upon cushions, handkerchiefs, paper napkins or boxes. A federal law provides that the trademark cannot be registered if it comprises the flag, or badgers of the US, When the flag is used to unveil a statue or monument, it shouldn’t serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled. If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fall to the ground, but let it be carried high up in the air to form a feature of the ceremony. Take every precaution to prevent the flag from soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.
14.How do Americans ensure proper respect for the national flag?
15.What is the regulation regarding the raising of the American National Flag? 16. How should the American National Flag be displayed at an unveiling ceremony? 17.What do we learn about the use of the American National Flag? Passage Three
In some large American city schools, as many as 20-40% of the students are absent each day. There are two major reasons for such absences: one is sickness, and the other is truancy. That is staying away from school without permission. Since school officials can’t do much about the illness, they are concentrating on reducing the number of truancy. One of the most promising schemes has been tried in Florida. The pupils there with good attendance have been given free hamburgers, toys and T-shirts. Classes are told if they show improved rates of attendance, they can win additional gifts. At the same time, teachers are encouraged to inspire their students to come to school regularly. When those teachers are successful, they are also
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rewarded. “we’ve been punishing truancy for years, but that hasn’t brought them back to school,” One school principal said. Now we are trying the positive approach. Not only do you learn by showing up every day, but you earn. In San Francisco, the board of education has had a somewhat similar idea. Schools that show a decrease in deliberate destruction of property can receive the amount of money that would be spent on repairs and replacements. For example, 12,000 dollars had been set aside for a school’s property damages every year. Since repair expenses of damaged property required only 4,000 dollars, the remaining 8,000 dollars was turned over to the student activity fund. “Our democracy operates on hope and encouragement,” said the school board member. “Why not provide some positive goals for students and teachers to aim at?” 18. which reason for students’ absences is discussed in great detail? 19. who will benefit from the scheme being tried in Florida?
20. what measure has been taken in San Francisco to reduce the destruction of school property? 2005年6月18日六级听力原文
1. M: What do you think of the government’s new tax cut proposal?
W: Though it may give some benefit to the poor, its key component is the elimination of tax on dividends. That means the rich will get richer.
Q: What does the woman think about the government’s tax cut proposal? 2. M: Jenny, remember this: a job worth doing at all is worth doing well.
W: Oh, yes, I certainly won’t forget it. But don’t expect me to stick to the job just because it pays a few more bucks. A life of continuous exploration is a life worth living. Q: what can be inferred about the woman from the conversation?
3. M: I found that one of my schoolmates uses drugs. How can I help him, Mom?
W: stay away from him, son. Never think that you can talk him out of the habit if he is addicted. But perhaps you can talk to your teacher about the matter. Q: what’s the woman’s advice to her son?
4. W: I don’t know how you can eat so much yet never put on any weight, son. Your father’s got the same luck. I can’t take a bite without calculating how many calories I am taking. M: But remember Aunt Louise, Mom? She ate a lot and never gained a pound. Q: Who is worried about gaining weight?
5. W: Did you turn off the lights and check the locks on all the doors?
M: Yes, I told the Johnsons that we’d be gone for two weeks. They promise to keep an eye on the house for us.
Q: What are the two speakers going to do?
6. M: hurry up, Linda! I hear that there are not many tickets left for the football match. W: I am ready now, let’s go. It is the early bird that catches the worm. Q: Why did the man ask the woman to hurry up?
7. W: Did you hear that the convenience store next to the gas station was held up last night? M: Yes, I heard it on the radio this morning. Q: What happened to the convenience store?
8. M: Congratulations! I just heard about your acceptance in the law school. Do you think you would join your brother’s firm after graduation?
W: Not likely. He is a tax lawyer, and I am going to major in criminal law. Q: What does the woman mean?
9. M: Excuse me, but could you tell me how to get to the Friendship Hotel? I thought it was on this corner, but I seem to have made a mistake.
M: I am sorry, but I am a stranger here myself. Maybe you can try calling them. There is a phone over there outside the department store.
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Q: What does the woman mean?
10. M: how is it going, Mary? You look a little overwhelmed.
W: Exactly. You know, I’ve got a million things to do and all of them have to be finished in the next 30 minutes.
Q: What does the woman mean? Compound Dictation
Certain phrases one commonly hears among Americans capture their devotion to individualism. “Do you own thing.” “I did it my way.” “You’ll have to decide that for yourself.” “You made your bed, now lie in it.” “If you don’t look out for yourself, no one else will.” “Look out for number one.” Closely associated with the value they place on individualism, is the importance American’s assign to privacy. Americans assume that people need some time to themselves or some time alone to think about things or to recover their spent psychological energy. Americans have great difficulty understanding foreigners who always want to be with another person who dislikes being alone.
If the parents can afford it, each child will have his or her own bedroom. Having one’s own bedroom even as an infant, fixes in a person the notion that she is entitled to a place of her own where she can be by herself, and keep her possessions. She will have her clothes, her toys, her books, and so on. These things will be hers, no one else’s. Americans assume that people will have their private thoughts that might never be shared with anyone. Doctors, lawyers, psychologists and others have rules governing confidentiality that are intended to prevent information about their clients’ personal situations from being know to others.
American’s attitudes about privacy can be hard for foreigners to understand American’s houses, yards, and even their offices can seem open and inviting. Yet, in the minds of Americans, there are boundaries that other people are simply not supposed to cross. When those boundaries are crossed, an American’s body will visibly stiffen and his manner will be cool and aloof. 2005年1月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. M: I’m looking for an unfurnished two-bedroom apartment, but all your apartments are furnished. W: We can take care of that. We can simply remove the furniture. Q: What does the woman mean?
2. W: I don’t agree with Mr. Johnson on his views about social welfare. He seems to suggest that the poor are robbing the rich.
M: He might have used better words to express his idea. But I’ve found what he said makes a lot of sense. Q: What does the man mean?
3.W: I’ve been studying all the time, but I still can’t see any improvement in my grades.
M: Maybe instead of studying in your dorm, you’d better go some place where there are fewer distractions. Q: What does the man advise the woman to do?
4. W: The seminar originally scheduled for today has been cancelled. The hours I’ve spent preparing for it are totally wasted.
M: Not really. As far as I know it’s been postponed till next week. Q: What does the man say about the seminar?
5. M: Hi, Janet, I hear you’ve just returned from a tour of Australia. Did you get a chance to visit the Sydney Opera House?
W: Of course I did. It would be a shame for anyone visiting Australia not to see this unique creation in architecture. Its magnificent beauty is simply beyond description. Q: What do we learn from this conversation?
6. M: Sherry, how are you doing with your thesis?
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W: Oh my thesis. That’s something I definitely don’t want to talk about right now. I finished my draft some time ago. But my supervisor said I should do more research if I want to achieve the quality that he expects of me.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation about the woman’s thesis?
7. W: I can’t believe Karen is late for such an importance occasion as a job interview. I reminded her time and again yesterday.
M: You should have known her better by now. Everything you tell her goes in one ear and out the other. Q: What does the man imply?
8. W: Hi, Joe, I wonder if you could do me a favor and tell the professor I’ve lost my voice. So I can’t attend this morning’s class. I need time to study for tomorrow’s exam.
M: I don’t think it’s wise to say so. Since you’re not going to give the lecture, you might as well simply skip the class and apologize to the professor later. Q: What will the woman probably do?
9. M: After high school, I’d like to go to college and major in business administration. I really like power and enjoy telling people what to do.
W: You’re very ambitious. But I’d rather spend my college days finding out what children are interested in. Child’s psychology is for me.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
10. M: It seems the restaurants here have little business these days.
W: That’s true. But ours is a scenic resort. And this is not the busy season. When summer comes, you’ll see armies of tourists waiting in line in order to get a seat.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation about the restaurants in the town? Section B Passage One
Both John and Sue joined the staff of a successful public relations firm in New York during the same year. They had just completed their PR degrees at a nearby university and were thrilled to be hired by one of the finest PR firms in the city. John’s first assignment was to create a promotion campaign for a client who was putting a new game on the market. Initially Sue was assigned to work with a sportswear company on a marketing concept for its newest line of clothing. As time passed and work with their respective first clients became more and more difficult, John and Sue realized that they had been assigned two of the toughest clients in town. Although John completed his assignments quickly and successfully, he was furious when he learned that the boss had deliberately assigned him a difficult client. In response he not only complained to his colleagues but also to the boss’s secretary. Sue, on the other hand, had a more difficult time satisfying her first client and she took several additional months to actually complete the assignment. However, she just laughed when she heard that the boss had made the assignment purposely. Over the next two years, John worked reluctantly with each assignment and problem that he encountered. Sue accepted each assignment cheerfully. And when problems arose, she responded with her characteristic “No problem, I can handle it.” Although Sue took longer to complete her projects than John and both were equally successful on the assignments they completed, Sue was given the first promotion when there came a vacancy. 11. What’s the relationship between John and Sue now?
12. Why was John was furious after he finished his first assignment? 13. What’s Sue’s attitude to difficult tasks? 14. How does the story end? Passage Two
American visitors to Eastern Asia are often surprised and puzzled by how Asian cultures and customs differ from those in the United States. What’s considered typical or proper social conduct in one country may
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be regard as odd, improper or even rude in the other. For example, people from some Eastern Asian countries may begin a conversation with a stranger by asking personal questions about family, home or work. Such questions are thought to be friendly, whereas they might be considered offensive in the United States. On the other hand, people in most Asian cultures are far more guarded about expressing their feelings publicly than most Americans are. Openly displaying annoyance or anger, yelling, arguing loudly and so forth is considered ill-mannered in countries such as Japan. Many Eastern Asians prefer to hold their emotions in check and instead express themselves with great politeness. They try not to be blunt and avoid making direct criticisms. In fact, they often keep their differences of opinion to themselves and merely smile and remain silent rather than engage in a confrontation. By comparison, Americans are often frank about displaying both positive and negative emotions on the street and in other public places. Americans visiting Asia should keep in mind that such behavior may cause offense. A major difference between Americans culture and most Asian cultures is that in Asia, the community is more important than the individual. Most Americans are considered a success when they make a name for themselves.
15. How would some Asians start their conversation when they meet for the first time? 16. What would a Japanese do when he feels annoyed?
17. What is encouraged in American culture according to the passage? Passage Three
In order for a chemical to be considered a drug, it must have the capacity to affect how the body works. No substance that has the power to do this is completely safe. Drugs are only approved after tests have demonstrated that they are relatively safe when used as directed and when their benefits outweigh their risks. Thus some very dangerous drugs are approved because they are necessary to treat serious illnesses. Many people suffer ill effects from drugs called side effects, even though they take the drug exactly as directed. The human population contains a great variety of genetic variation, but drugs are tested on just a few thousand people. When a particular drug is taken by millions, some people may not respond in a predictable way, even though the drug has been tested. A patient may also acquire a tolerance for a certain drug, which means the patient has to take ever larger doses to produce the desired effect. Tolerance may lead to habituation, in which the person becomes so dependent on the drug that he or she becomes addicted to it. Addition causes severe psychological and physical disturbances when the drug is taken away. Finally, drugs often have unwanted side effects. This usually causes only minor discomfort, such as a skin rash, headache or sleepiness. Certain drugs, however, can produce serious adverse reactions. 18. Under what circumstances are drugs approved?
19. Why do many people suffer side effects from a drug even though they take it as directed? 20. What will happen when patients acquire a tolerance for a certain drug? 2004年6月六级听力原文
1. W: Oh, Dick. You are wearing a black jacket but yellow trousers. It’s the strangest combination I’ve ever seen.
M: I know. I got up late and dressed in a hurry. I didn’t realize my mistake until I entered the office. Q: What does the woman think of the way Dick dressed?
2. M: Excuse me. But has anyone turned in a brown leather wallet? I’ve lost my wallet. It contains my driver’s license and also some family pictures that are pretty important to me.
W: Oh, yes. We had a wallet brought in this morning. Wait here just a minute, please. Q: What would the woman probably do?
3. M: Excuse me, Madam. Is the air-conditioning on? This room is as hot as a furnace.
W: Sorry, sir. A new epidemic called SARS is threatening us right now. As a preventative measure, we are told to let in fresh air by opening the windows and not to use the air conditioners. Q: What does the woman mean?
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4. M: You look quite different from what you used to.
W: Sure. I started exercising regularly two years ago and went from 253 pounds to a healthy 160 pounds and that is the only thing I did not give up halfway. Q: What do we know about woman?
5. M: I wonder if you find my experience relevant to the job.
W: Yes, certainly. But if only you had sent your application letter a week earlier. Q: What does the woman imply?
6. W: Shouldn’t someone go pick up the clothes form the laundry? They were ready three hours ago. M: Don’t look at me, mom. Q: What does the boy mean?
7. M: Er... Hi, could you tell me where electronic products are displayed? I want to see some TVs, digital video cameras, DVD players, that sort of thing.
W: Well. Several countries are displaying electronic products. China’s selection is very large this year. You might as well go to the east wing first to take a look at a Chinese booth. Q: Where is the conversation most probably taking place? 8. M: Well, what did you think of the movie?
W: I don’t know why I let you talk me into going. I just don’t like violence. Next time you’d better choose a comedy.
Q: What can we infer from the conversation?
9. W: Who do you think should get the job? How about Mr. Becket?
M: Mr. Becket? I’m not sure. He is a nice fellow, of course, and easy to get along with. But I doubt his professional expertise. I want someone who can get the job done. Q: What do we learn from the conversation about Mr. Becket?
10. M: Do you think home video players will replace movie theatres and force them out of the entertainment business?
W: We’re certainly faced with the grave challenge from the DVD industry. That’s why I think we have to revolutionize our concept of movie showing. As I see it, the movie theatre should not just be a place to watch a film, but a place to meet people.
Q: What does the woman think of the movie theatre? Passage One
Few people can stand for the spirit of earlier America as much as Benjamin Franklin. He lived through almost the whole of the 18th century. He was born six years after the century began, and died ten years before it ended. During this time, he saw the American colonies grow from tiny settlements into a nation and he also contributed much to the new state. He was deeply interested in science and natural history and his experiments with electricity and lightning led directly to the invention of the lightning rod. He was also interested in improving the conditions of his fellow men. He was involved in a number of projects in his native Philadelphia, including the setting up of a library, and a university, a philosophical society and fire-prevention service. He worked hard to enable the American colonies to gain independence from Britain. As ambassador to France, he encouraged the French to help George Washington. After the war, he attended the American Constitutional Congress. This was his last contribution, for he died late that year. He is still fondly remembered by Americans as one of the creators of the United States. Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard. 11. What did the speaker say about Benjamin Franklin? 12. How did Franklin help George Washington?
13. According to the passage, what is Franklin still well remembered as? Passage Two
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Yuppies are young people who earn a lot of money and live in a style that is too expensive for most people. If you’re invited to a yuppie dinner party, don’t be surprised if you’re offered freshly-cooked insects as a first course. While the idea of eating fried insects fills most of us with horror, insect-eating is becoming highly fashionable. For example, in the media industry, successful executives are often seen to eat fried or boiled insects from time to time while working at their desks. These safe-to-eat insects can be found and ordered on the Internet. And young people are logging on to exotic food websites and ordering samples of prepared insects to serve at their dinner parties. Although the idea of eating insects is probably disgusting to most of us, few people would claim that pigs, chickens, and some kind of seafood we often eat are examples of great beauty. One day, insects could be marketed and sold as food item in supermarket. According to their fans, they are not only high in protein and low in fat, but also very tasty. But until our attitudes to food change fundamentally, it seems that insect-eaters will remain a select few. Questions 14 to 17 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. Why did the speaker say we might be surprised at the yuppie dinner party? 15. Where can the people order the unusual food mentioned by the speaker? 16. Why are some yuppies attracted by the unusual food?
17. What does the speaker say about the future of this type of unusual food? Passage Three
Many people dislike walking to the bank, standing in long lines and running out of checks. They are dissatisfied with that bank’s limited hours, too. They want to do some banking at nights and on weekends. For such people, their problems may soon be over. Before long, they may be able to do their banking from the comfort of their own home, any hour of the day, any day of the week. Many banks are preparing online branches or Internet offices, which means that people will be able to take care of much of their banking business through their home computers. This process is called “interactive banking”. At these online branches, customers will be able to view all their accounts, move money between their accounts, apply for a loan and get current information on product such as credit cards. Customers will also be able to pay their bills electrically and even email questions to their bank. Banks are creating online services for several reasons. One reason is that banks must compete for customers who will switch to another bank if they are dissatisfied with the service they receive. The convenience of online banking appeals to the kind of customer banks most want to keep. That is, people who are young, well-educated and have good incomes. Banks also want to take advantage of modern technology since they have moved to 21st century. Questions 18 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
18. What is one of the reasons for people’s dissatisfaction with traditional banks? 19. What kind of customers does online banking most appeal to? 20. Why do banks create online services according to the passage?
2004年1月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. M: Did you see Martha just now? I want to ask her to go with us to the concert tonight. W: She must be around somewhere. You may still be able to catch her. Q: What does the woman mean?
2. W: I can't bear the air pollution in this city anymore. It is getting worse and worse. M: You said it. We've never had so many factories before. Q: What does the man mean?
3. M: Just think I went through so much work on my paper only to get a C.
W: Well, I don't think grades are everything. What you have learned in the process will prove useful in your future work.
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Q: What does the woman imply?
4. M: My brother is coming this weekend, and I was thinking the three of us could go out to dinner Saturday night. Any suggestions?
W: It's up to you. I don't know the restaurant here that well. Q: What does the woman mean?
5. W: I couldn't have won the award without your assistance. Thank you very much. M: You have been working so hard. You deserve the honor. Q: What do we learned from the conversation?
6. M: I'd like to sign up for some voluntary work with the environment council. I hear it is a great way to connect with the community.
W: It sure is. But you'll have to put in a lot of hours. So you must leave some room in scheduling your time.
Q: What does the woman imply?
7. W: Can you tell me when I can leave here doctor? I have some important business to attend to.
M: That depends on how your condition reacts to our treatment. You may leave as soon as the bleeding stops. I think that will take a couple of days. Q: What does the doctor mean?
8. M: I'm told that Alice is trying to find a job in an electronics company. W: As far as I know, she is good at anything but electronics. Q: What does the woman mean?
9. M: Jimmy is going on a journey tomorrow. Shall we have a farewell dinner tonight? W: Do you think it's necessary? You know he will be away just a few days. Q: What does the woman mean?
10. M: I thought you were going to call me last night about the plans for the conference on language teaching. W: Sorry, I should have, but Tom and Jane stopped by and stayed until midnight Q: What do we learn from the conversation? Section B Passage One
The Golden Gate Bridge joins the beautiful city of San Francisco with the suburbs to the north. Each day about one hundred thousand automobiles cross the bridge taking people to and from the city. More than half of them cross the bridge during the morning and evening rush hours when traffic is so heavy the trip is not pleasant. Now however there is at least one group of happy commuters. These are the people who travel under the bridge instead of on it. They go to work by boat and enjoy it so much that most of them say they will never go by car again. The ferry they take is spacious, quiet and comfortable. Commuters can enjoy the sun on deck. In the morning they can have breakfast in the coffee shop. And in the evening they can order a drink in the bar while looking at the beautiful scenery. The trip takes only 30 minutes and is not very costly. Best of all, being on a boat seems to make people more friendly toward each other. There has already been a marriage of two commuters who met on the ferry. Because the ferry has been so successful, there are plans to use other still larger boats. There is also a proposal for a high speed boat that will make the trip in only 15 minutes. But not everyone is happy about that. A lot of people feel that half an hour is just enough time to relax.
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. According to the speaker how do commuters feel about crossing the Golden Gate Bridge by car? 12. What does the speaker say about ferry commuters?
13. How do commuters respond to plans for the future of the ferry? A) Many welcome the idea of having more bars on board.
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Passage Two
How many teeth have you had filled in the past two years? If you follow the advice of Dr. Faustick you may be able to reduce the number of your visits to a dentist. Dr. Faustick conducted a two-year survey to find out how to prevent or reduce dental decay. 946 students took part in an experiment. 523 students cleaned their teeth within ten minutes of eating when possible they used a toothbrush, when this was impossible they washed their mouth thoroughly with water. The remaining 423 students merely cleaned their teeth when they went to bed and when they got up in the morning. All the students had their teeth X-rayed at the end of the first and second years. At the end of the first year, the night and morning group had three times as many decayed teeth as the clean after each meal group. At the end of the second year the latter group had 53 percent fewer decayed teeth than the former group. Dr. Faustick has cleaned his teeth after meal for thirteen years and has not had a single decayed tooth. He pointed out that sugar is a major agent in dental decay. Particularly the sugar in sweets, cakes, and soft drinks. Ideally you should keep a tooth brush in your pocket and use it immediately after you have finished eating. When this is impractical you can at least make sure that you have a drink of water and let the water through your teeth to force out any particles of food. 7 of out 10 people loose at least half of their teeth by the time they are fifty. Many have a complete set of false teeth by that time. In any case neither toothache nor a visit to a dentist is very pleasant. So it is worthwhile making an effort to keep you own teeth as long as possible. The main preventative agent is simply water.
Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. According to the passage what kind of food is most likely to cause dental decay? 15. What does the passage tell us about the condition of Dr. Faustick's teeth? 16. What does Dr. Faustick suggest to prevent dental decay? Passage Three
The worldwide Organization of the Red Cross stems from the ideal of Henri Dunant, a Swiss Banker. In 1838 at the age of ten, Dunant was taken by his father to visit a prison, there he saw prisoners chained together exercising in the yard and breaking stones along the road. This experience left a deep impression on him. And made him determined to do something for convicts and slaves and for all who were oppressed and deprived of their liberty. On 24th June 1859 while on his way from Geneva to France, Dunant witnessed the battle between the French and Austrian armies. It was one of the fiercest battles of the 19th century. Shocked by the lack of medical supplies and attention given to the wounded, Dunant decided that volunteer service had to be organized. He gathered together a number of women who attended the hundreds of wounded soldiers of all nationalities and helped the surgeons as best they could. From that battle Dunant determined to form a body of people who would rally together in times of war and attend to the needs of wounded and dying. Dunant held that a suffering human being should be helped for his own sake only and without regard to race, religion, or political beliefs. Many Europeans states supported him and 22nd August 1864 the first Geneva Convention was signed. This lays down that once a soldier is wounded he and everyone else who comes to his help ceases to be an enemy. A symbol by which the relief workers could be recognized was devised. As a tribute to Switzerland, the symbol was the Swiss flag was reversed. That is a red cross on a white ground. So the Red Cross was born.
Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 17. What first led Henri Dunant to think of helping the oppressed?
18. What did Henri Dunant do during the battle between the French and Austrian armies? 19. What was Henri Dunant's belief when he found the Red Cross? 20. What was Henri Dunant's belief when he found the Red Cross?
2003年9月英语六级真题听力原文
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Section B
1.W: I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend the lecture last Monday. I’ve heard it was quite a success. M : Well, you can make it up. Another presentation on the same topic is scheduled for the same time next Monday.
Q: What do we learn from this conversation?
2. W: I certainly would like to buy the fur coat I saw in the department store, but I don’t have enough money.
M: Well, if you had budgeted your money better, you would be able to buy it now. Q: What does the man imply?
3. W: Mr. Dahli, I’ve just checked my new apartment. The kitchen sink is leaking.
M: Okay Donna. It’s no big deal. I’ll have a maintenance man come over and fix it right away. Q: What will the man do?
4. M: I saw your advertisement in the morning paper concerning the XMO model. The lens seems to be excellent and the flash is not bad, but don’t you think the price is a little steep? W: I think it’s a good buy. The price includes the leather case, you know. Q: What did the man dislike about the camera?
5. M: Can you believe I had to pay $ 30 for a haircut at Sadermale.
W: You should try the place where I so. It’s only 15, but it takes a while to get an appointment. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?
6. W: I am completely exhausted. Why don’t we dine out tonight? I don’t remember the last time you took me out to dinner.
M: That’s not a bad idea. There’s a new Mexican restaurant around the corner. They say it’s good. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?
7. M: Shall we go to John’s house-warming party this weekend? Everyone is invited. W: Well, you know what John’s parties are like. Do you think I will go again? Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?
8. M: The university is going to hold an interesting competition on computer programming. Many of my friends have signed up for it. How about you?
W: Do you think I could ever win anything if I took part in it? Q: What do we learn from the conversation about the woman?
9. W: You’ve been working like a horse. You should take a vacation. M: Tell that to the stack of papers on my desk. Q: What can be inferred from the conversation?
10. M: Hi, Mary. I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you doing with your new job? W: Not so well. I feel like a fish out of water doing that job. Q: What does the woman mean? Section B
Graffiti is drawing or writing often found in a wall in public places. These drawings and writings are usually rude, humorous, or political. The words “ Graffiti” comes from an Italian word meaning address. Graffiti provides a record of the past because people have written on walls for centuries. Cave drawings are the earliest examples we have of the art of graffiti.
Writing on walls is a way to comment on the world we live in. Women’s liberation groups in Britain, for example, have used to sell goods.
Yesterday’s graffiti can be today’s foreign attraction. When the Berlin wall came down in 1989, people found that it was covered with graffiti from all over the world. Graves of famous of famous people, like rock-star Jim Morrison, are covered with written messages from fans.
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Graffiti is also a popular art form. Graffiti pictures have gained respect in artistic circles. Today, graffiti is likely to be found hanging inside modern, New York apartments as well as in downtown streets. In New York, graffiti pictures have been sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Graffiti artists have been paid to use their art to brighten up dull environments.
But graffiti can bring us trouble. Scenes of natural beauty and important landmarks have been spoiled by mindless graffiti. The London underground authority has spent about 2 million pounds a year on removing graffiti from trains and stations. If you are caught doing it, you can be sent to person. In Britain, the maximum sentence for this type of crime is ten years.
Whether you think graffiti is mindless violence against property, or a living art form, its popularity suggests that it is here to stay.
11. What do women’s liberation groups in Britain do with graffiti? 12. What do some New Yorkers think of graffiti?
13. Why does the speaker cite the example of graffiti in the London underground?
The Asian elephant is one of the world’s rarest animals. Unfortunately, its sad condition has
not been as well publicized as that of the African elephant. This is because Asian elephant’s ivory supplies only a small percentage of the world ivory trade. In fact, we know very little about the Asian elephant. They live in the remote forests of southern Asia and it is therefore very difficult to study them. Most knowledge of Asian elephants is from those that have been captured, or tamed, Asian elephants are easier to tame than African elephants. The elephants you see in the circuses and zoos are nearly always Asian. The major reason for the decline of Asian elephants is the harm to their forests. The huge increase in the human population has caused the destruction of the Asian forest for human population. As a result, the Asian elephants are compelled to scatter in different areas. Originally they lived all over the continent, but now there are only small isolated populations left. These isolated elephant populations are vulnerable to extinction.
While Asian elephants are threatened by illegal capture and detaining, they are also killed for ivory and skin. In July 1990, a British wildlife group uncovered a black market for elephant skin. Elephants are shot in the forest along the border between Thailand and Burma, and their skin was sold to factories in Bangkok. Their skin is made into shoes, belts, suitcases, wallets, etc., to sell to tourists. 14. What’s the difference between the Asian elephant and the African elephant? 15. Where does most knowledge of Asian elephants come from? 16. What’s the major cause in the decline of Asian elephants?
After the early period of settlements, the first sharp increase in immigration took place in the 1830’s and 1840’s. This brought to America flocks of people from northern Europe who lost employment in the Industrial Revolution, and then a great number of Irish people who fled from famine. German political refugees arrived shortly after. Many immigrants from northern and western Europe settled on farms in the Middle-west. The Irish became construction laborers on roads, bridges, and railroads.
In the 1880’s, a tremendous flood of immigrants began coming in, this time largely from southern and eastern Europe. To most Americans, these newcomers seemed far more strange than the early settlers. Their languages, customs, and ways of life were very different from those of Americans. The newcomers moved into the poorest neighborhood of the large cities. They tended to stay together and cling to their old ways. As they were accustomed to poverty, they were willing to work for very low wages. This made other workers, especially those in labor unions, afraid that the immigrants with the lower wage level would take away jobs from them. Indeed, organized labor became one of the key opponents of continued immigration.
This opposition finally led to the posting of immigration law in the 1920’s,which restricted further
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immigration. In 1965, these unfair laws were replaced by a new immigration act, which granted equal opportunities to foreigners, regardless of their place of origin. Asians, like Koreans and Vietnamese, soon began to arrive. Many of these newcomers have worked very hard to establish themselves in their new land. 17. Why did northern European people come to settle down in the United States? 18. What did the labor unions worry about?
19. What was the purpose of the immigration law passed in the 1920’s? 20. What do we know from the passage about Asian immigrants?
2003年6月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
Question 1 W: Raise your head a little bit and hold the saddle and smile a little. You look wonderful posing like that. Shall I press the shutter? M: Wait a minute. Let me put on a cowboy hat. [Q] What are the speakers doing?
Question 2 M: I m still waiting for my sister to come back and type the application letter for me. W: Why bother her. I ll show you how to use the computer. It s quite easy. [Q] What does the woman mean?
Question 3 M: Hey, where did you find the journal? I need it, too.
W: Right here on the shelf. Don t worry, John. I ll take it out on my card for both of us. [Q] What does the woman mean?
Question 4 M: Thank you for your helpful assistance. Otherwise, I d surely have missed it. The place is so out of the way.
W: It was a pleasure meeting you. Good bye! [Q] Why did the man thank the woman?
Question 5 W: We are informed that the eleven thirty train is late again. M: Why did the railway company even bother to print a schedule? [Q] What do we learn from the conversation?
Question 6 M: Maybe I ought to subscribe to the Engineering Quarterly. It contains a lot of useful information.
W: Why not read it in the library and save some money? [Q] What is the woman s advice to the man?
Question 7 M: Maybe I ought to subscribe to the Engineering Quarterly. It contains a lot of useful information.
W: Why not read it in the library and save some money? [Q] What is the woman s advice to the man?
Question 8 M: Mr. Smith, our history professor, announced we would be doing two papers and three exams this semester. I wonder how I m going to pull through when two other courses have similar requirements. W: Well, can t you drop one course and pick it up next semester? [Q] What does the woman suggest the man do?
Question 9 W: Renting a Conference Room at the hotel will cost us too much. We are already running in the red.
M: How about using our dining room for the meeting? [Q] What s worrying the woman?
Question 10 W: Jerry, can you pick me up after work today? I left my car at the garage. M: I m afraid I can t. I have scheduled an appointment with a client at dinner time. [Q] What is the man going to do?
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Section B Passage One
A few months ago, millions of people in London heard alarms all over the town. Emergency services, the Fire Departments, the Police, hospitals, and ambulances stood by, ready to go into action. In railway underground stations, people read notices and maps ,which told them where to go and what to do in the emergency. This was Exercise Flood Call, to prepare people for a flood emergency. London wasn t flooded yet, but it is possible that it would be. In 1236 and in1663, London was badly flooded. In 1928, people living in Westminster, the heart of London, drowned in floods. And in 1953, one hundred people, living on the eastern edge of the London suburbs were killed, again, in the floods. At last, Greater London Council took actions to prevent this disaster from happening again. Though a flood wall was built in the 1960s, Londoners still must be prepared for the possible disaster. If it happens, 50 underground stations will be under water. Electricity, gas and phone services will be out of action. Roads will be drowned. It will be impossible to cross any of the bridges between north and south London. Imagine: London will be like the famous Italian city, Venice. But this Exercise Flood Call didn t cause panic among Londoners. Most people knew it was just a warning. One lady said, \"It s a flood warning, isn t it? The water doesn t look high to me.\" Question 11: What happened in London a few months ago?
Question 12: What measure was taken against floods in London in the 1960s? Question 13: What can we learnt from the lady s comment? Passage Two
America s national symbol, the bald eagle, almost went extinct twenty years ago, but it did made a comeback. In fact, the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service is considering the possibility of taking it off the Endangered Species List. Once, more than fifty hundred pairs of bald eagles nested across the country, but by 1960 that number had fallen below four hundred. The chief killer was the widely used DDT. Fish, soaked up DDT, died, and were washed up on shores, where bald eagles feasted on them.DDT prevented eagle egg shells from thickening. The shells became so thin that they shattered before the babies hatched. Fortunately, in 1972, a law was passed to ban DDT, which saved the bald eagle from total wipeout. And since then wild life biologists had reintroduced bald eagles from Canada to America. The result was that last year U.S. bird watchers counted eleven thousand six hundred and ten bald eagles in the country.If it were dropped from the Endangered Species List, the bald eagle would still be a threatened species. That means the bird would continue to get the same protection. No hunting allowed, and no disturbing of nests. But bald eagles still face tough times. The destruction of their natural homes could be the next DDT causing eagle numbers to drop quickly.
Question 14: What was the main harmful effect of the pests killer DDT on bald eagles?
Question 15: What measure did the wild life biologist take to increase the number of bald eagles? Question 16: According to the speaker, what is the possible danger facing bald eagles? Passage Three
If the earth gets hotter in the new century, what will harm animals and the plants which animals depend on for survival? The question offers another way of looking at the \"Greenhouse Effect\".People have talked about the general problem of \"Global Warming\" for some time. But they were usually worried about things like whether to buy a home on the coast. Biologists and other scientists turn their attention to plants and animals at an important meeting that took place last October. They reviewed evidence that plants and animals are sensitive to climate. Since the Ice Age ended ten thousand years ago and warmer temperatures returned to the northern latitudes, many species have migrated north. If the predictions about the Greenhouse are correct, temperatures will rise by the same amount in the next one hundred years as they did in the past ten thousand. Will animals and plants be able to adapt that quickly to change in the environment? Many won t. Certain species will probably become very rare. Experts say plants under climate stress will be very
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open to disease and fire. Forest fires may become more common. That, in turn, may harm animals that depend on the trees for food or (而非for) shelter. Any preserves we set up to protect endangered species may become useless as the species are forced to migrate along with their natural homes. Change is a part of life, but rapid change, says scientist George Woodwell, is the enemy of life.
Question 17: What is the concern of ordinary people about the \"Greenhouse Effect\"? Question 18: What has happened since the end of the ICE AGE?
Question 19: What will be a possible threat to plants in the future?
Question 20: According to the passage, what will probably happen to the endangered species?
2003年1月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. M: How well are you prepared for your presentation? Your turn comes next Wednesday. W: I spent a whole week searching on the Net, but came up with nothing valuable. Q: What does the woman say about her presentation?
2. W: Good morning, Jack. Late again? What is the excuse this time?
M: I'm awfully sorry. I must have turned the alarm off and gone back to sleep again. Q: What so we learn from the conversation?
3、 W: Excuse me. But could you tell me where I can change American dollars into British pounds?
M: There's a bank round the corner. But I'm afraid it's already past its closing time. Why don't you try the one near the railway station? Q: What dose the man mean?
4、 M: Could I speak to Dr. Chen? She told me to call her today. W: She's not available right now. would you like to try around three? Q: What does the woman tell the man to do?
5、W: Oh, dear. I'm afraid I fail again in the national test. It's the third time I took it. M: Don't be too upset. I have the same fate. Let's try the fourth time. Q: What does the man mean?
6、 W: Professor Smith, I really need the credits to graduate this summer. M: Here in this school the credits are earned, not given. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
7、 M: How did you go to Canada, Jane? Did you fly?
W: I was planning to, because of such a long trip by bus or by train. But Fred decided to drive me to join him. It took us two days and a night.
Q: What can we infer from the conversation?
8、 M: How do you like the way I've arranged the furniture in my living room? W: Fine, but I think the walls could do with a few paintings. Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?
9、 W: I don't imagine you have any interest in attending that lecture on drawing, do you? M: Oh, yes, I do, now that you remind me of it.
Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
10. M: You are my campaign manager. What do you think we should do to win the election? I'm convinced I'm the best candidate for the chairman of the student union.
W: We won't be able to win unless we get the majority votes from the women students. Q: What is the man doing? Section B Passage One
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There are some serious problems in the Biramichi River. The local Chamber of Commerce, which represents the industries in the area, hired me as a consultant to do a one-year study on fishing in the Biramichi River and write a report for them. This is my report.
One of the major problems in the Biramichi River, is that the level of the oxygen in the water is too low. Several chemicals have displaced the oxygen. This chemical pollution has two sources: The factories which dump polluted water directly into the river and the local community, which dumps untreated human wastes into the river. The local town government has already spent 2 million dollars on waste water treatment projects. But it would cost another 27 million to complete the projects. It would take at least 15 years for the town to collect enough revenue from taxes to complete these projects. The factories here employed 17 000 people, and in the area where there is very little alternative employment, it is not economically practical to close or relocate the factories. Also, the factories can not afford to finance chemical treatment plants by themselves.
Another problem is that the members of the Biramichi fishing cooperative are overfishing. Fishes are caught when they are on the way upstream to lay eggs. Consequently, not enough fish are left to reproduce in large numbers. The members of the cooperative say that they have already reduced their annual catch by 60 percent. However, my study indicates that they took fewer fish because there were fewer fish to catch, not because they were trying to preserve fishes. Passage Two
Everybody has to die someday. But nobody likes to think about it. Even so, at some time in their lives most people manage to think about the question of how to make a will.
If you have already made yours, it's probably just a few pages of wring, stating that you wish to leave everything to your family. That's the kind of will that the majority of people make. However, there are plenty of ways to make your will more interesting if you want to.
To begin with, you don't have to write it on paper. One man wrote his will on an envelope, another on a door, and the third on an egg. For some people, the most important part of their will is the part that says how they want to be buried. Mrs . Sundrew West, a rich widow from Texas, decided that she wanted to be buried with her favorite car. In 1973, Mr. Green, a dentist from England, left most of his money to the nurse who worked for him if, in 5 years, she wouldn't wear any kind of make-up or jewelry or go out with men. Finally, let's hope that your will is not like that of Dr. Wagner, who lived in America one hundred years ago. His family, who had not been to see him for years, suddenly began to visit him when he became ill. What was worse, each person suggested to Dr. Wagner that they would like something to remember him by when he died. Greatly annoyed with them, Dr. Wagner wrote a will that would do this: To each of his four brothers, he left one of his legs or arms. His nephew got his nose, and his two nieces each got an ear, his teeth went to his cousins. Then he set aside one thousand dollars to pay for cutting up his body and the rest of his money, he left to the poor. Passage Three
In recent years, there has been an unusually large number of divorces in the United States. In the past, when two people married each other, they intended to stay together for life. While today many people marry, believing that they can always get divorced if their marriage does not work out.
In the past, a large majority of Americans frowned on the idea of divorce. Furthermore, many people believed that getting a divorce was a luxury that only the rich could afford. Indeed, getting a divorce is very expensive. However, since so many people have begun to take a more casual view of marriage, it is interesting to know that the costs of getting a divorce are lower. In fact, wherever you go in the United States today, it is not unusual to see newspaper ads that provide information on how and where to get a cheap divorce.
Hollywood has always been known as the divorce capital of the world. The divorce rate among the movie stars is so high that it is difficult to know who is married to whom. Today, many movie stars change husbands
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and wives as though they were changing clothes. Until marriage again becomes a serious and important part of people's lives, we will probably continue to see a high rate of divorce. 2002年6月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. W: The deadline for the sociology and computer courses is the day after tomorrow. M: But I haven’t decided which courses to take yet. Q: What are the man and woman talking about？
2. M: I’m looking for an apartment with a monthly rent to around 200 dollars in this neighborhood. Can you give me some advice on that?
W: Well, it’s rather hard to find anything for less than 300 dollars around here. Rents are lower in the suburbs, but you’ll need transportation if you choose to live there. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
3. W: Well, tonight we have Professor Brown in the studio to talk about his recent book Fashion Images. Good evening, professor.
M: Good evening, and thank you for inviting me here this evening. Q: What is the woman doing?
4. M: Have you run up against any problems in getting your passport renewed? W: I haven’t started applying yet.
Q: What do we know from the conversation?
5. M: I must point out that trials of new medicine are expensive and you can never guarantee success. W: But there’s a very good chance in this case. I do hope you’ll go ahead in the view of the potential benefit to mankind.
Q: What are the two speakers talking about?
6. W: What’s the difference between a lesson and a lecture?
M: Well, they are both ways of imparting knowledge. But the main difference is that you participate in a lesson whereas you just listen to a lecture. A lecture is generally given to a much larger group. Q: What does the man mean?
7. W: It’s awfully dark for 4 O’clock. Do you think it’s going to rain?
M: You’d better do something about that watch of yours. It must have stopped hours ago. Mine says 7. Q: What conclusion can we draw from this conversation? 8. M: You’re looking a little overwhelmed.
W: Exactly. You know I got a million things to do and all of them have to be finished within 3 hours. Q: What does the woman mean?
9. M: Ah-Ah. Looks like I’m going to be a little late for class. I hope Professor Clark doesn’t start on time today.
W: Are you kidding? You count such a watch by the time he starts his class. Q: What can be inferred about Professor Clark?
10. M: I’m both excited and nervous about the job interview this afternoon.
W: Take it easy. Just wear tidy and clean clothes and response truthfully to inquiries. Remember, honesty is the best policy.
Q: What do we learn about the wan? Section B Passage 1
Jean Brown has been married for 12 years. She has 3 children, and lives in the suburb outside Columbus, Ohio. When her youngest child reached school age, Jean decided to go back to work. She felt that she should contribute to the household financies. Her salary can make a difference between the financial struggle and
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secure financial situation for her family. Jean also felt bored and frustrated in her role as a homemaker and wanted to be more involved in life outside her home. Jean was worried about her children’s adjustment to this new situation. But she arranged for them to go stay with the woman nearby after school each afternoon. They seem to be happy with the arrangement. The problem seem to be between Jean and her husband, Bill. When Jean was at home all day, she was able to clean the house, go grocery shopping, wash the clothes, take care of the children and cook 2 or 3 meals each day. She was very busy of course. But she succeeded in getting everything done. Now the same things need to be done, but Jean has only evenings and early mornings to do them. Both Jean and Bill are tired when they arrive home at 6 P.M. Bill is accustomed to sitting down and reading the paper or watching TV until dinner is ready. This is exactly what Jean feels like doing. But some one has to fix the dinner and Bill expects it to be Jean. Jean has become very angry at Bill’s attitude. She feels that they should share the household jobs. But Bill feels that everything should be the same as it was before Jean went back to work. 11. Why did Jean want to go back to work?
12. How did Jean spend her days before she went back to work? （C） 13. What problem arose when Jean went back to work? （A） 14. What does the story try to tell us？（B） Passage 2
The decade for natural disaster reduction is a program designed to reduce the impact of natural disasters throughout the world. With support from the United Nations, countries will be encouraged to share information about disaster reduction. For instance, information about how to plan for and cope with hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. One of the most important things the program plans to do is to remind us of what we can do to protect ourselves. For example, we can pack a suitcase with flashlights, a radio, food, drinking water and some tools. This safety may help us survive a disaster until help arrives. Besides, the program will encourage governments to establish building standards, emergency response plans, and training programs, These measures can help to limit the destruction by natural disasters. The comparatively mild effects of the northern California earthquake in 1989 are good evidence that we do have the technology to prevent vast destruction. The recent disasters, on the other hand, prove that people will suffer if we don’t use that technology. When a highway collapsed in northern California, people were killed in their cars. The highway was not built according to today’s strict standards to resist earthquakes. Individuals and governments have to be far-sighted. We should take extra time and spend extra money to build disaster safety into our lives. Although such a program can’t hold back the winds or stop earthquakes, they can save people’s lives and homes.
15. What is the purpose of the program mentioned in this passage? （） 16. What can we learn from the northern California earthquake in 1989? 17. Why did the highway in northern California collapse? Passage 3
Living at the foot of one of the world’s most active volcanoes might not appeal to you at all. But believe it or not, the area surrounding Mount Etna in Italy is packed with people. In fact, it is the most densely populated region on the whole island of Sicily. The reason is that rich volcanic soil makes the land fantastic for forming. By growing and selling a variety of crops, local people earn a good living. For them, the economic benefit they reap surpasses the risk of dying or losing property in one of the volcano’s frequent eruptions. People everywhere make decisions about risky situations this way. That is, by comparing the risks and the benefits. According to the experts, the side of the risk depends on both its probability and seriousness. Let’s take Mount Etna for example. It does erupt frequently, but those eruptions are usually minor. So the overall risk for people living nearby is relatively small. But suppose Mount Etna erupted everyday, or imagine that each eruption there kills thousands of people. If that were the case, the risk would be
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much larger. Indeed, the risk would be too large for many people to live with. And they would have to move away.
18. How do people make decisions about risky situations? 19. What do we know about Mount Etna from the passage?
20. What will people living near Mount Etna do in the face of its eruptions?
2002年1月英语六级真题听力原文
1.W: Is the rescue crew still looking for survivors of the plane crash?
M: Yes, they have been searching the area for hours, but they haven't found anybody else. They will keep searching until night falls.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
2.M: How many students passed the final physics exam in your class?
W: Forty, but still as many as 20 percent of the class failed, quite disappointing, isn't it? Q: What does the woman think of the exam? 3.W: Lots of people enjoy dancing, do you?
M: Believe it or not, that is the last thing I want to do. Q: What does the man mean?
4.W: Jane, I am having difficulty with all the theoretic stuff we are getting in our computer course. M: Oh, that part I understand. What I can't figure out is how to make it work in our program. Q: What is the man's problem?
5.W: Did you see Mary somewhere around?
M: Yes, she is in the campus bank, applying for the student's loan. Q: What was Mary doing?
6.W: The space shuttle is taking off tomorrow.
M: I know, this is another routine mission. It is first flight with four years ago. Q: What are they talking about?
7.M: When are we supposed to submit our project proposals, Jane?
W: They are due by the end of the week. We've only two days left. We'll just have to hurry. Q: What does the woman mean?
8.W: When I go on a diet, I eat only fruit, and that takes off weight quickly. M: I prefer to eat whatever I want, and then run regularly to lose weight. Q: How does the man control his weight?
9.W: John, can you tell me what in the book interested you most? M: No, well, nothing specific, but I like it overall. Q; What did the man think of the book?
10.W: How do you like the car I just bought?
M: Well, it seems to run well, but I think it needs a new paint job. Q: What does the man think of the car? Passage 1
Nilrikman and others of the halfway research group have done some research into the differences between average and good negotiators. They found negotiators with the good trait record and studied them in action. They compared them with another group of average negotiators and found that there was no difference in the time that the two groups spent on planning their strategy. However, there were some significant differences on other points. The average negotiators thought in terms of the present, but the good negotiators took a long-time review. They made lots of suggestions and considered twice the number of the alternatives. The average negotiators set their objectives as single points. We hope to get two dollars, for example. The
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good negotiators set their objectives in terms of range, which they might formulate as \"We hope to get two dollars, but if we get one dollar and fifty, it will be all right.\". The average negotiators tried to persuade by giving lots of reasons. They use a lot of different arguments. The good negotiators didn't give many reasons. They just repeated the same ones. They also did more summarizing and reviewing, checking they were understood correctly.
11.What do good negotiators and average negotiators have in common? 12.According to the speaker, what would good negotiators do?
13.According to the speaker, what does the average negotiator usually do? Passage 2
To most of us sharks are the most dangerous fish in the sea and they attack humans. However, according to Doctor Clark, who has studied the behavior of sharks for twelve years, humans are not normally on the shark's menu. What do sharks feed on, mainly fish and other sea animals? Doctor Clark also found that sharks don't eat as much food as people think. For instance, a nine-year-old shark only needs two pound of food a day to keep healthy. But she says, sharks sometimes starve and at other times they fill themselves with what they have killed. Around the world, there are only about one hundred shark attacks on humans each year, ten of which proved fatal. But consider this, in the US alone, about three million people are bitten by dogs each year. Of these, thirty people die. If sharks bite you, says Doctor Clark, the reason is usually because of the mistake you natural food. For example, say you went underwater-fishing and saw a shark, you could be in trouble. The shark might go for the injured fish you had attacked and take a bite of you at the same time. If you go into a shark's territory and threaten it, it might try to bite you. That's because sharks are territorial and tend to guard their territory. Like dogs, they protect the area they think is their own.
14.What does the passage say about the eating behavior of sharks? 15.When might a shark attach humans?
16.What do we learn from the passage about sharks? Passage 3
Science fiction writers have often imagined humans going to live on the Mars. But these days, scientists are taking the idea seriously. It has a great deal to recommend it, since it might solve the problem of overcrowding on the earth. But obviously, it would not be worth making the effort unless people could live there naturally. If the atmosphere were like that of the earth, this might be possible. But in fact it is mostly carbonoxidite. Apart from that, there are other problems to be overcome. For example, the temperature would have to be raised from 6 degrees below zero to 15 degrees above it. Scientists who study Mars have laid down the program that they can follow. To begin with, they will have to find out whether life has ever existed on the planet of Mars in the past. Secondly they will have to make a reliable map of its surface. And finally, they will have to make a list of the gases. Above all, they will have to discover how much nitrogen it possesses. Since nitrogen is four fifths of the air we breathe, they are surprising optimistic about raising the temperature on Mars and believe it could be down in hundred years. It will take a bit longer, though, to transform the atmosphere so that human beings could live there. Scientists estimate this will take one hundred thousand years. 17.Why are scientists interested in Mars?
18.What is the one of the things that must be done if a man can live on Mars?
19.Why do scientist want to find out whether there is sufficient nitrogen on Mars? 20.What is the prospect of people living on Mars?
2001年6月英语六级真题听力原文
1） W:I’m trying to find out how this dishwasher works, the manual is in French, I can’t wait for Bill
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to translate it for me.
M:Don’t worry, Mary, I can do the dishes before the machine starts to work. Q:What does the man mean?
2) M:The doctor said if I kept smoking, I would increase my chances of having a heart attack. W:Did he suggest reducing weight ,too?
Q:What does the woman think the man should also do?
3) W:The people next door are making so much noise,I just can’t concentrate on . M:Why don’t you stay at the library? It’s much quiet there. Q:What does Tom mean?
4) M:This is hopeless, these figures still don’t add up right, let’s do the calculations over again. W:Yes ,but why not do them tomorrow? It’s very late now. Q:What does the woman suggest they do?
5) M:To collect a data for my report, I need to talk to someone who knows that small city very well. I was told that you lived there for quite a long time.
W:Oh ,I wish I could help, but I was only a child then. Q:What does the woman imply?
6) M:Are you moving into a new house? Need a hand with those boxes?
W:That’s okay, I can manage. They look big ,but aren’t very heavy actually. Q:What does the woman mean?
7) M:It’s good you brought the books back.
W:I thought you might need novels at the weekend. Thanks for letting me use them. Q:What do we know about the woman from the conversation?
8) M:Do you want to turn on the air conditioner or open the window? W:I love fresh air if you don’t mind.
Q:What can be inferred from the woman’s answer?
9) W:Hi, Michael, I can hardly recognize you ,why are you dressed up today? Are you going to the theatre? M:No, actually, I just had an interview at the photo studio this morning. Q:What do we learn about Michael from this conversation? 10) M:Good morning ,what can I do for you ?
W:I’d like to have my emergency brake fixed. The car rolls when I park it on the hill. Q:Where does the conversation most probably take place? Passage one
Last August, Susan and 42 other students got wet and dirty while removing six tons of garbage from the river running across their city. They cleaned up the river as part of a week-long environmental camp. Like one in three American rivers, this river is so polluted that it’s unsafe for swimming and fishing, still, Susan, who has just completed her third summer on the river clean-up ,scene has changed in this river. “Since we started three years ago, the river is getting a lot cleaner”, she says. Environmental scientists praised the teenagers for removing garbage that can harm wild life. Waterbirds, for example, can choke on plastic bottle rings and get cut by scrap metal. Three years ago, when the clean-up started, garbage was everywhere, but this year, the teenagers had to hunt for garbage. They turn the clean-up into a competition to see who could find the most garbage and unload their boats fastest. By the end of the six hour shift, they have removed enough garbage to fill more than two large trucks. “Seeing all their garbage in the river makes people begin to care about environmental issues,” Susan says. She hopes that when others read that she and her peers care enough to clean it up, maybe they will think twice before they throw garbage in the river. Questions 11-13 are based on the passage you have just heard. 11.What does the passage tell us about American rivers?
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12.What did the students find when they came to the river this year?
13.What is the expected reaction of the local people to the students’ efforts? Passage two
Why do we cry? Can you imagine life without tears? Not only do tears keep your eyes lubricated, they also contain a substance that kills certain bacteria so they can’t infect your eyes. Give up your tears ,and you’ll lose this on-the-spot defense. Nobody wants to give up the flood of extra tears you produce when you get something physical or chemical in your eyes. Tears are very good at washing this irritating stuff out .Another thing you couldn’t do without your tears is cry from joy, anger or sadness. Humans are the only animals that produce tears in response to emotions, and most people say a good cry makes them feel better. Many scientists, therefore,believe that crying somehow helps us cope with emotional situations. Tear researcher, Winifred, is trying to figure out how it happens. One possibility he says is that tears discharge certain chemicals from your body, chemicals that build up during stress. When people talk about crying it out,“I think that might actually be what they are doing”, he says. If Fred is right, what do you think will happen to people who restrain their tears? Boys, for example ,cry only about a quarter as often as girls once they reach teenage years, and we all cry a lot less now than we did as babies .Could it possibly be that we face less stress? Maybe we found another ways to deal with it ,or maybe we just feel embarrassed.
Questions 14-17 are based on the passage you have just heard. 14.What’s the topic discussed in this passage? 15.What is Winifred trying to find out?
16.What does the passage say about teenage boys and girls?
17.What’s the difference between human beings and other animals when shedding tears?
Passage three
Imaging this：you wake up each morning to find your sister lying beside you, to get dressed and tie your shoes, you use one hand and she uses another. You do everything out together, too, even sitting on the same chair at lunch and riding on the same bicycle. That’s what life is like for six-year-old Betty and Abby. Like most twins, the two girls look very much alike, but unlike most twins, Betty and Abby share parts of the same body .Twins like Betty and Abby are rare. Only about 40 sets are born in the United States each year. Few survive as long as Betty and Abby .That’s because twins often share vital organs, like a heart or brain. The shared organs are often badly shaped and may not be strong enough to support both twins. But Betty and Abby each has her own head, heart and stomach which function normally .Because she has three or four lungs which provide plenty of oxygen for both twins. Most of their completely shared organs lie below the waist. Betty And Abby live relatively normal lives. They attend a regular school ,and each does her own school work .They prefer to do some projects together, though ,for example, to cut out paper dolls ,one twin holds the paper, while the other uses the scissors. But sometimes, the girls don’t want to do the same thing, for example, sometimes they want to play with different toys. What do they do then? “We toss a coin”, says Abby .
Questions 18-20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 18.In what aspect ,do Betty and Abby differ from most twins?
19.What does the passage tell us about twins who share parts of the same body? 20.What does the passage say about the education of the twin girls?
2001年1月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. W: Have you heard about the plane crash yesterday? It caused a hundred and twenty deaths. I am never
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at ease when taking a flight.
M: Though we often hear about air crashes and serious casual deeds, flying is one of the safest ways to travel.
Q: What do we learn from this conversation?
2. W: I have a complaint to make, Sir. I had waited ten minutes at the table before the waiter showed up, and I finally got served. And I found it was not what I ordered.
M: I am terribly sorry, madam. It's a bit unusually busy tonight. As a compensation, your meal will be free.
Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place? 3. M: I can't find my pen. I need to write a letter.
W: I'll look for it later. Right now I need you to help fix the shelf before paint it. Q: What would they do first?
4. M: Mrs. Winter, I need your advice, I want to buy a dress for my wife, can you tell me where I can get one at a reasonable price?
W: Sure, go to Richard's. It has the latest styles and gives a 30% discount to husbands who shop alone.
Q: What do we know about Richard's shop?
5. M: My headaches are terribly. Maybe I need more sleep.
W: Actually, you need less sun and some aspirin. It would help if you wear a hat. Q: What does the woman think is the cause of the man's headache?
6. M: Did you know this: after almost ten years in the United States, with such a strong accent. W: Yes, but he is proud of it. He says it is a part of his identity.
Q: What does the conversation tell us about Mr. Li? Li still speaks English.
7. W: This is Mrs. Starched, my heater is not getting any power and weatherman says the temperature is to fall below zero tonight. Could you get someone to come over and fix it?
M: This is the busiest time of the year, but I'll speak to one of our men about going over some time today.
Q: Who did Mrs. Starched want to come over?
8. M: Though we didn't win the game, we were satisfied with our performance.
W: You did a great job. You almost beat the world's champions. It's a real surprise to many people. Q: What do we learn from this conversation?
9. W: Sorry I did not come yesterday, because I had a temperature. Could you tell me the requirement for my term paper?
M: The theme of your paper can be about business management or touring resources in China, and the length of the paper should be no less than fifteen pages.
Q: What is the most probable relationship between the two speakers?
10. W: I don't think we should tell Tom about the surprising party for Lucy. M: It's all right. He promised not to tell, and he does not make promises likely. Q: What does the man mean? Section B Compound Dictation
The human body is a remarkable food processor. As an adult, you may consume over a ton of food per year and still not gain or lose a pound of body weight. You are constantly harnessing, and consuming energy through the intricate mechanism of your body in order to remain in energy balance. To maintain a given body weight, your energy input must balance your energy output. However, sometimes the overall energy balance is upset, and your normal body weight will either fall or increase .
The term body image refers to the mental image we have of our own physical appearance, and This can be
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influenced by a variety of factors，including how much you weigh and how that weight is distributed. Research has revealed that about 40 percent of adult men and 55 percent of adult women are dissatisfied with their current body weight. Similarly findings have also been reported at high school level，mainly with female students. At the college level, a study found that 85 percent of both male and female first year students desired to change their body weight. The primary cause of this concern is the value that American society is in general a society to physical appearance. Thinness is currently an attribute that females desire highly. Males generally desire muscularity. The vast majority of individuals who want to change their body weight do it for the sake of appearance: most want to lose excess body fat. while a smaller percentage of individuals actually want to gain weight.
2000年6月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1.M: Have you had the brakes and tires checked? And do you have enough money? W: I've taken care of everything and I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful trip. Q: What is the woman going to do?
2.M: The new sales manager says he has never met you before.
W: We've been introduced about three times. He seems a little forgetful. Q: What do we learn about the new sales manager?
3.W: I don't understand why this book for self-study doesn't have answers to the questions. M: But it does. You can find them at the back of the book. Q: What does the man say about the self-study book?
4.W: We mean to let everyone know about the charity concert, but we don't have enough money for advertising. M: How about using the school radio station? They broadcast free public-service announcement. Q: What does the man suggest they do?
5.M: By the way, Jane, did you talk to the consultant about our health program?
W: I contacted his office, but his secretary said he would be out for lunch until two. Q: What does the woman mean?
6.M: I don't know whether to ask Joe or Cora to draw the posters. W: What difference does it make? They're both excellent artists. Q: What does the woman imply about Joe and Core?
7.M: Mary is in charge of the art and music section; and Charles, the sports page. What about you? W: I'm responsible for the editorials. Q: Where does the woman work?
8.M: I ran into our friend Mark yesterday on the street, and he said he hadn't heard from you for two months. W: Yes, I know, but I've been too busy to phone him. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
9.M: I'm really exhausted. But I don't want to miss the film that comes on at W: If I were you, I'd skip it. We both have to get up early tomorrow. And anyway, I've heard it isn't that exciting. Q: What does the woman mean?
10.M: I thought the librarian said we could check out as many books as we need without our library cards. W: That's right, but not those reference books. Q: What does the woman mean? Section B Passage One
The piano and violin are girls' instruments. Drums and trumpets are for boys. According to psychologists Susan Onco and Michael Balton, children have very clear ideas about which musical instruments they should
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play. They find that despite the best efforts of teachers, these ideas have changed very little over the past decade. They interviewed 153 children aged between 9 and 11 from schools in northwest England. They asked them to identify 4 musical instruments and then to say which they would like to play most and which they would least like to play. They also asked the children for their views on whether boys or girls should not play any of the 4 instruments. The piano and the violin were both ranked more favorably by girls than by boys, while boys prefer the drums and trumpets. There was broad agreement between boys and girls on which instruments each sex should play and the reasons vary. And while almost half of all boys said they avoid certain instruments because they were too difficult to play, only 15% of girls gave that as a reason. Earlier studies indicated that very young school children aged between 5 and 7 showed no bias in choosing musical instruments, but their tastes become more clear between the ages of 8 and 10. One survey of 78 teachers suggested that after that age both boys and girls begin to restrict themselves to the so-called male or female instruments.
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. Why did Susan and Michael interview children aged between 9 and 11? 12. Why do many of the boys avoid certain instruments?
13. Which group of children have a bias when choosing musical instruments? Passage Two
In the 1970s, the famous Brazilian football player Pele retired from the national team of Brazil and became a professional player for a team in New York. Football, or soccer, wasn't very popular in the United States at the time. Few North Americans knew anything about this fast-moving sport. There was no money to pay professional players and there was little interest in football in high schools and colleges. When Pele and other international stars began playing in various US cities, people saw how interesting the game was and began to go to the matches. It is now common for important games to have fifty to sixty thousand fans. Support from the fans is important to the football. The fans cheer enthusiastically for their favorite players and teams, who respond by playing better than before. In most World Cups, the home team, or the team from the host country usually plays better than most people expect. In 1966, 1974 and 1978, the home teams of England, West Germany and Argentina all won the World Cup. The World Cup is called that because teams from every continent have played in it. However, since the Cup began, all of the winning teams have been from Europe or South America. Teams from Asia or Africa always do well but they haven's yet won. Mexico played surprisingly well in the 1970 Cup, which a hosted, but it wasn't among the 4 final teams. Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard. 14. Why wasn't football a popular sport in the U.S. in the 1970s?
15. When does a football team have the best chance to win the World Cup? 16. How did Mexcio do in the 1970 World Cup? Passage Three
The world's smartest adolescence in mathematics and science are Singapore, according to a global survery of educational achievement. In the 3rd International Mathematics and Science Study, 13-year-olds from Singapore achieved the best scores in standardized tests of maths and science that were administered to 287,896 students in 41 countries in 1994 and 1995. The survey suggests that science and maths education is especially strong in the Far East. While well behined those top scores, students from Australia earned higher marks in maths than their counterparts in England, who in turn did better than American students. The study collected information on the students' teachers and homes. Not surprisingly, the highest-scoring students had well-educated parents or came from homes containing study-aids such as computers, dictionaries or even such elemental facilities as desks. The study shows that boys generally did better than girls in science, but there was little difference between them in maths. Boys scored better than girls in physics and chemistry. There were no sex differences in the life and environmental sciences. In addition to being
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tested, students in the project were asked how proficient they thought they were in maths and science. Students in some countries, such as Columbia and Kuwait, had an overly optimistic view of their sills. Meanwhile, some of the best students from Japan and Korea for example were needlessly pessimistic even though they did far better in maths than almost all of other students.
Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
17. Of the 4 groups of students, who scored the lowest in maths according to the survey? 18. What kind of students are most likely to become top scorers? 19. In what way do Columbian students differ from Japanese students? 20. In which subject did boys score higher than girls?
2000年1月英语六级真题听力原文 Section A
1. M: I hope I won't oversleep, I've simply got to catch the first flight to New York. W: If I were you, I'd request the wake-up call from the hotel reception. Q: What does the woman advise the man to do?
2.M: Next, shouldn't we get a telephone installed in the hall? W: Fixing the shower pipe is far more important. Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
3.M: I've noticed that you get letters from Canada from time to time. Would you mind saving the stamps for me? My sister collects them.
W: My roommate already asked for them. Q: What does the woman imply?
4.M: What's the matter? You've been sitting there for ages just staring into space. W: I told the Brownings I'd send them a postcard. Now I don't know what to say. Q: What is the woman doing?
5.M: My chemistry project is in trouble, my partner and I have totally different ideas about how to proceed. W: You should try to meet each other halfway. Q: What does the woman suggest?
6.M: I'm getting. We are supposed to do out assignment on the computer. But I have difficulty getting access to the computers in the library.
W: I understand the way you feel. I'm looking forward to the day when I can afford to get my own. Q: What does the woman mean?
7.M: The visiting economist is speaking tonight. But Dr. Johnson doesn't seem to think much of him. W: That's because Dr. Johnson comes from an entirely different school of thought. Q: What do we learn from the woman's remark?
8.M: I'm sorry I missed the football game, but I had a terrible cold. W: You didn't miss anything. We couldn't have played worse. Q: What does the woman mean?
9.M: I think I'm going to give up playing tennis. I lost again today. W: Just because you lost? Is that the reason to quit? Q: What does the woman imply?
10.M: Jane, what would you do if you were on vacation overseas and lost all your money and credit cards? W: Well, I guess I'd probably sell my watch and camera, or I might get a job as a waitress somewhere till I made enough money to buy a plane ticket to return home. Q: What are they talking about? Section B
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Passage One
Most people know what a hotdog is. It's a sausage in a roll. But do you know why it's called a hotdog? Well, the long red sausage which goes into a hotdog is called Frankfurter. It got its name from the German town Frankfurt. The sausages were very popular, but hot frankfurters were difficult to sell in crowds. One man, Harry Stevens, had the job of feeding the crowds in baseball games. He had an idea, why not put the Frankfurters in long hot bread rolls? This made them easy to sell. The red hots had a hot and attractive taste, and became very popular. But in 1903, an American cartoonist drew a long German sausage dog in place of the Frankfurter. So an Frankfurter in a roll soon became known as a hotdog. It was a joke, but some people really thought the sausages contained dog meat. For a while, sales of hotdogs failed, but not for long. Questions 11to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard. 11. What is a Frankfurter?
12. What was Harry Stevens' job?
13. Why did the sales of hotdogs decrease for some time? Passage Two We all scream for water when thirsty. But do you know in very hot, dry weather, plants also make faint sounds-as if they are crying out for help? You see, in a plant's stem, there are hundreds of water pipes that bring water and minerals from the soil all the way up to the leaves. As the ground turns dry, it becomes harder and harder for the plants to do this. In severe droughts, plants have to fight to pull out any water available. Scientist Robert Winter has found out that when it is really bad, their water pipes snap from the tension like rubber bants. When that happens, the whole plant vibrates a little. The snapping pipes make noises 10,000 times more quiet than a whisper. Robert knows that healthy, well-watered plants are quiet. He also knows that many insects prefer attacking dry plants rather than healthy plants. How do the insects know which are healthy plants and which are not? Robert thinks that the insects may listen for the plants that cry. And then they may buzz in to kill. To test this theory, Robert is using a device that can imitate plant cries. He attaches it to a quiet, healthy plant so that the plant sounds thirsty. Then he watches the insects to see if they attack more often than usual. If he is right, scientist could use the insects' ability against them. They could build traps that imitate crying plants, so that when the insects buzz in to eat, They won't buzz out.
Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard. 14. What do plants do when they are thirsty? 15. What plants do many insects tend to attack?
16. What could scientists do if Robert's theory proves to be true? Passage Three
People enjoy taking trips. But what are the reasons they leave home? One reason is for education. People travel because they want to broaden their horizons, to learn about other people and other places. They are curious about other cultures. When people are tourists, they get a quick look at different ways of living. Even a short look at another kind of lifestyle is an important lesson. On a trip, a person can learn directly-by visiting museums and historic spots. What does a tourist learn who sees the art museums, visits the historical palaces, and other scenic spots in Paris, and shops along the River Seine? He gets a vivid picture-a real-life-one of the French people. He learns about their attitudes: how they feel about business, beauty, and history. What about the tourist to goes to HongKong? Does he get the same information that he could get from a book? He might read that HongKong is crowded, that there is less than 200 square meters of space for each person. But seeing and feeling the lack of space will impress him much more. He might read that there are nearly 200 vehicles for every kilometer of roadway, but the sight of so many vehicles parked along the roadside will be a much more vivid lesson. The tourist to HongKong will never forget the contrasts-the straight verticle lines of the tall modern buildings and the moving lines of boats that people live in.
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Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard. 17. Why do people leave home to travel according to the passage? 18. What do we learn from the passage about Paris? 19. What impression will a tourist get of HongKong? 20. What does the passage tell us about travelling?
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